Entrepreneurial Thinkers with Rob Ryan

What if we've been thinking about innovation all wrong? For more than forty years, Rohit Shukla has worked quietly behind the scenes with entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, universities, governments, and global institutions to help turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. Along the way, he's helped thousands of innovators. Yet his greatest insight may be that innovation isn't...

What if the best trip you'll ever take doesn't begin with a passport... but with a different perspective? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers , Rob Ryan sits down with luxury hospitality expert, bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and Ask A Concierge founder Sarah Dandashy for a conversation that goes far beyond travel. Together they explore why the experiences that change us most ar...

Is the future of artificial intelligence really being built in massive data centers, or is there a smarter, more secure, and more cost-effective path forward? In this fascinating conversation, Rob Ryan sits down with longtime friend and technology entrepreneur Luis Perez Galvan, founder and CEO of Neogenesys, to explore the evolving world of enterprise technology, AI, cybersecurity, cloud computin...

Building a media brand from scratch isn't easy. 🎙️🏗️ In Part 2 of our summer special reflection episode, host Rob Ryan takes you behind the scenes of Entrepreneurial Thinkers .  Building a media ecosystem without a massive inheritance or celebrity status is a grind—but it's a journey made possible by community support. This week, Rob shares his personal takeaways on producing the show, hon...

What happens when you spend half a year picking the brains of the world’s most disruptive founders, tech leaders, and community architects? You get a crystal-clear map of where the world is heading right now. In this special reflection episode, host Rob Ryan looks back at the invaluable lessons learned from six months of intense entrepreneurial conversations. From the compounding speed of tech acc...

Do you ever feel like you’re living in a physical world built for the 1990’s? In this fascinating interview, Jerome Chang, founder of BLANKSPACES, the originator of the co-working concept here in Los Angeles, shares his expertise in architecture, design, urban development, the evolution of workspaces and the future of city planning, with our host Rob Ryan. They explore how our cities arrived at th...

What if you could walk into a packed stadium, grab a drink, and head straight to your seat—without ever pulling out a ticket, your wallet or standing in forever lines? In this very timely conversation, considering the upcoming World Cup 2026, Rob is joined by Christian Lau, Chief Technology Officer of LAFC (Los Angeles Football Club of the MLS), and BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, who shares his leade...

Are we completely rewriting the playbook on how humanity eats? 🧬🌱 Can we make food more accessible, less costly and better for us, all at once? In this very insightful interview, Priyanka Srinivas, Co-founder and Chief Hustle Officer of De3pbio, explores the world of food science, personalized nutrition, and the role of deep technology in transforming how we eat. Discover how science is shifting...

Are modern day sports experiences only for the rich VIPS? Can teams afford to lose their working class fans? Join us as we explore the visionary work of two former professional athletes, turned co-founders, Sebastien Bellin and Diederik Bots, of YouTopia Sports. These two are integrating technology and media to revolutionize the sports fan experience and empower clubs and teams to connect more ric...

Join us as we explore the transformative journey of Jason Varughese, founder and CEO of Pink Cloud, who leverages technology to revolutionize addiction recovery. Discover insights on de-addiction, hustle culture, and the power of personal stories in overcoming addiction. In this insightful conversation, Jason Varughese shares the journey of building Pink Cloud, a platform dedicated to recovery and...

What if the reason your city feels inefficient, confusing, or stuck… is actually fixable? In this episode, Nick Caputo—founder of Caputo Strategies and the non-profit, Livable Advanced LA, breaks down how local government really works (and why it often doesn’t). From his journey moving from Chicago to Los Angeles to his mission to reform LA’s city charter, Nick shares fresh, practical ideas on mak...

What does it really take to build a thriving community—and why does it matter now more than ever? In this episode, Rob Ryan sits down with The Community Collective team of Michelle Edgar and Ben Reiss to uncover how meaningful connections, arts, and culture can transform cities and lives. From relationship-building to bold visions for civic engagement in Los Angeles and beyond, this conversation r...

What happens when local news disappears—and who decides which stories get told? In this thought-provoking episode, Rob Ryan sits down with Michele Siqueiros, CEO of LA Local, to explore the critical role of local journalism in building trust, informing communities, and strengthening democracy. Michele shares her journey into nonprofit media, the challenges facing traditional news outlets, and how...

What if one of the most powerful forces driving the U.S. economy is still widely misunderstood? In this inspiring and data driven episode, Rob Ryan sits down with Arturo Cázares, CEO of the Latino Business Action Network (LBAN), to unpack the rise of Latino entrepreneurship—and why it matters now more than ever. From his journey as a child immigrant to leading a national movement, Arturo shares po...

What if entrepreneurs and investors could take money off the table without giving up control of their company? In this eye-opening episode, Rob sits down with Antonia Rojas, Managing Partner at Attom Capital, to explore the rise of direct secondary offerings in Latin America—and why they’re changing the game for founders. The two discuss the history and context of Secondary Offerings, from unlocki...

What if the very habits you think are driving your success are secretly killing you? In this powerful and unexpectedly personal conversation, Rob sits down with Wellness and Longevity Advisor, Lynnette Astaire to unpack the hidden cost of hustle culture — and why burnout is not the price of ambition. Together, they explore how high performers can shift from constant optimization to true sustainabi...

What happens when three ambitious, successful, Latina food entrepreneurs join forces instead of going it alone? In this episode, our host, Rob Ryan sits down with Jocelyn Ramirez, Regina Trillo, and Stefanie Garcia Turner—the founders of the newly combined TUYYO Foods—to uncover the story behind their bold merger of their three independently successful food brands into one stronger company. They s...

how do Angelenos see themselves? How does the world see Los Angeles? CEO of Cultural Insights Agency, ThinkNow, joins the show to release their latest marketing research report and discuss why Los Angeles is the Nation’s coming attractions! Life and Business happens here first, and the City is about to step onto the world’s biggest stage where the brand opportunities are massive. In this episode o...

What makes one city a magnet for founders while others struggle to keep talent around? In this episode, Rob Ryan talks with Neal Bloom about why San Diego has quietly become one of the most collaborative and founder-friendly entrepreneurial ecosystems in the country. Neal breaks down what really fuels innovation—community, connection, and what he calls “interaction density”—and why building a deep...

What if the future of work isn’t about getting a job—but learning how to create jobs? In this episode of *Entrepreneurial Thinkers*, our host Rob Ryan sits down with Logan Herzog, Executive Director at RISE, an entrepreneurship program based in north western Indiana, to unpack the state of entrepreneurship education in the U.S. and why traditional schooling may be falling short for the next genera...

Who decides which ideas get funded — and whose voices get left out? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, our host Rob sits down with Paige Hendrix Buckner , CEO of All Raise , to pull back the curtain on the world of venture capital and the inequities shaping it. From her unconventional path from teaching fourth graders to Non-profit, and startup tech leadership, Paige shares why changing...

What if the AI shaping your future didn’t belong to Big Tech — but to you? In this eye-opening episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Rob sits down with Matt Wright, co-founder and CEO of Gaia, to unpack the hidden power dynamics behind today’s AI boom. From who really owns your data to how open-source AI could level the playing field, Matt explains why decentralization may be the key to a more ethi...

What if great ideas aren’t failing, but the system is? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Rob visits with co-founders, Jenny Flores and Grace Lee, of AMH Catalyst Center, to learn why access to capital remains one of the biggest obstacles for women founders—and how they’re working to change it. From redefining how venture and private capital operates to using AI and blockchain to increas...

Can an airport be a catalyst for local economic growth?! What if business could be one of the most powerful tools for social change? In this thought-provoking episode, Rob sits down with entrepreneurial activist and community leader Karim Webb to understand how he is an entrepreneurial thinker about business, activism, and where community impact intersect with economic empowerment. From the massiv...

Can an entrepreneur grow faster with someone else’s idea? And, what if franchising wasn’t just for big corporations—but was a powerful tool for everyday entrepreneurs to scale their brands?? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Rob sits down with Gregory Ugwi, co-founder of WeFranch, to discuss how franchising is evolving in today’s data-driven economy. From Gregory’s unexpected journey fr...