Entrepreneurial Thinkers with Rob Ryan

What if the biggest catalyst for startup innovation wasn’t Silicon Valley—but the United States government and it’s US Space Force? 🚀 In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Rob visits with Roxanne Aragon, Program Director at the Disruptive Technology Index (DTI), one of the Key leaders in the Space & Defense Technology economy in Southern California, to uncover how public funding progra...

What if a personal tragedy sparked you to change your life plan, and the world? Can someone build the next Tesla like company, but better. In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Rob crosses the Atlantic, from Los Angeles to Lagos, Nigeria, to talk with Frederick Akpoghene, Founder and CEO of JéGO Technologies, to explore how his journey through tragic loss led him to tackle one of Africa’s b...

The final Stoppage Time in this format… but what a way to go out! In this episode, we slow down, reflect, and talk about what really matters as 2025 wraps up: the people in your life. I share insights on how to stop chasing new connections for the sake of it, and instead invest deeply in the amazing people you already know and trust. Think of it as a roadmap for building stronger, more meaningful...

What happens when a successful big-law partner decides the system is broken—then sets out to rebuild it? In this episode, Rob sits down with Manuel Deó, a former Big Firm Partner, who left the traditional legal world to become the Co-Founder and CEO of AMBAR, a “modern operating system” for today’s Big Corporate Legal industry, designed to give lawyers more freedom and clients a better experience....

This week on Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob, I take a moment to reflect on the people who show up for us when we need it most—the friends, mentors, and chosen family who remind us who we are when pressure and self-doubt start creeping in. After a week filled with conversations about building, storytelling, and sustaining this creative life, one powerful exchange with a longtime friend shifted my per...

Think accountants just crunch numbers? Think they’re boring compliance people? Think again. In this episode, Rob and Richard Fleischman, Partner at Haynie & Company, dive into the dramatic evolution of CPA firms over the last twenty years—and why today’s accountants are becoming indispensable strategic partners for growing businesses. They unpack how strong client relationships, industry colla...

It’s Friday and we’re back with another Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob! This week, we dive into one big theme that kept showing up in every conversation I had: the power of telling your unique story. From my chat with LA startup lawyer Alex Bruno to conversations with founders, mentees, and friends, I was reminded that even in an era dominated by AI, our humanity and our personal stories remain our...

What can one of LA’s best local lawyers teach us about scaling your business? Can Lawyers make it easier to do find and do business with them? In this episode, Rob and Alex Bruno, Founder and Lawyer at the Bruno Group, break down the essential legal fundamentals every entrepreneur needs in place before scaling, while also talking about the importance of storytelling and building great relationship...

Welcome back to Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob — the special USA holiday-weekend edition! 🇺🇸🦃 In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, Rob dives into a wide-ranging conversation that blends gratitude, personal reflection, and one of the most important workplace topics of 2025: how, where, and why we work. Fresh off Thanksgiving week (bum knee and all!), Rob unpacks the evolving debate aroun...

What if the key to better work isn’t another policy—but more play, curiosity, and humanity? In this episode, Rob visits with one of Los Angeles’ up and coming young entrepreneurs, Stephen Hargett, Founder at Wrkspace, to explore how our relationship with work is rapidly evolving. They discuss how the pandemic reshaped workplace expectations, why rigid mandates fall short, and how intentional, huma...

Welcome back to Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob! This week’s episode takes us into one of the most important skills we can develop in today’s chaotic information universe— the art of becoming a “Critical Ignorer.” Inspired by my recent conversation with scientific researcher, author, and social-science communicator Matthew Facciani (a.k.a. the Bill Nye of the Social Sciences ), this Stoppage Time div...

Ever wonder why smart people fall for (mis) or disinformation—and why it’s so hard to change someone’s mind? In this episode, Rob visits with Matthew Facciani, accomplished researcher, Author, podcaster and as Rob calls him, the “Bill Nye the Science Guy” of Social Sciences. They dig into how identity, emotion, and social media collide to shape what we believe. They unpack the rise of polarization...

Welcome back to Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob — that sacred space between the end of a long week and the start of whatever the weekend has in store. This week, Los Angeles is gearing up for a rare “rainy winter” stretch, and I’m settling in with you for a thoughtful, creative, and energizing catch-up. In this episode, I reflect on another fast-moving week of 2025—from an eye-opening conversation wi...

What is “your brand” and How do you build one? In today’s noisy marketing landscape, how do you tell the story of your business, to clients and community?! Ever wonder why some brands just click with people? In this episode, Rob and his friend, Brand Strategist and Designer, Lynne Door uncover the real magic behind great branding—it’s not just about logos, it’s about storytelling, emotion, and aut...

Hey hey, it’s Uncle Rob! 👋 It’s Friday, November 7th, and we’re back for another episode of Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob — the weekly space where I slow things down, reflect, and share a few stories from the journey of life, leadership, and entrepreneurship. This week’s episode is a mix of nostalgia, storytelling, and reflection — all sparked by my latest Entrepreneurial Thinkers conversation wit...

Can you build a modern Nation on the collaboration between the best startup entrepreneurs, private capital and corporate executives? What happens when startups stop chasing hype and start solving real societal problems? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers , Rob sits down with long time Chilean innovation leader, Rocio Fonseca, Co-founder of Drei Ventures, to explore how Chile is becoming a...

Hey hey—it’s Friday, it’s Halloween, and it’s time for another round of Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob ! In this week’s episode, I’m catching up on life, reflecting on Halloween traditions (past and future), and diving deep into the week that was—new Entrepreneurial Thinkers episodes, big developments in California’s booming Life Sciences industry, and some personal thoughts on creativity, purpose,...

Is our Life Sciences industry the most under-reported unicorn in California’s industrial dominance? Can Life Sciences innovation survive the USA government’s assault on science? In this eye-opening episode, Rob sits down with friend Dave Whelan, to uncover how LA is rapidly transforming into a major player in biotech and health innovation. They discuss groundbreaking projects like UCLA’s new Resea...

Hey hey, Happy Friday, and welcome back to Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob — our weekly Friday ritual to pause, reflect, and connect. This week, Uncle Rob dives deep into one powerful theme that shaped both his professional and personal life: TRUST. From an inspiring conversation with best-selling author and workplace culture expert Minda Harts — exploring the seven trust languages and what it means...

Is trust dead at work? Maybe it is. Do you trust the folks you work with? Maybe not. Bestselling author, workplace culture expert and filmmaker Minda Harts says it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, she joins Rob, to explore the real reasons trust breaks down in organizations—and what leaders can do to rebuild it. From generational differences to communication gaps, Minda shares practical insigh...

In this episode of Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob , we dive deep into the power of storytelling, writing, and human creativity —and why these uniquely human skills matter now more than ever. As AI continues to evolve, there's an urgent need to protect the core of what makes us human: our stories, our words, and our voices. Rob reflects on the journey of building a podcast business rooted in comm...

What happens to our ability to tell stories, when machines can write everything for us? In this compelling conversation that explores a fundamental piece of our humanity. Rob sits down with author, professor, and former federal government attorney, Leta McCollough Seletzky, whose writing has been featured in the New York Times, Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post and elsewhere, to explore the futu...

Welcome back to Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob! In this week’s episode, Rob Ryan takes you on a deep, unfiltered journey through the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of life, business, and everything in between. From electric vehicles and entrepreneurial lessons to emotional sports moments and the power of family, this episode is a rich tapestry of real talk, personal growth, and current events. Ro...

While everyone is focusing on EV cars, who is looking out after the charger network to power all those cars? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Rob sits down here in Los Angeles, with Kameale Terry, the humble and innovative CEO of ChargerHelp, to explore the surprising gaps in clean energy infrastructure — and her teams’ bold ideas to build the diverse workforce needed to fix them. From...

This week on Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob we're diving deep into a concept we all know but often avoid: Tension. But what if tension isn't just stress, discomfort, or friction? What if it's also fuel — for innovation, creative thinking, and breakthrough growth? In this episode, Uncle Rob reflects on the everyday tensions we face as individuals, professionals, and citizens — from politi...