Entrepreneurial Thinkers with Rob Ryan

Is Hip Hop music the key to an EdTech revolution for schools and kids? What happens when a gangster rapper turns his mic and mind toward changing lives instead of chasing fame? In this inspiring episode, Rob sits down with Roy Scott, former rap artist turned CEO of Healthy Hip Hop , a platform blending beats and education to uplift the next generation. Roy shares how he flipped his past into purpo...

Welcome back to Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob! After a short break to rest and recharge, we’re back with a powerful episode that brings together three remarkable entrepreneurial journeys — all rooted in vision, resilience, and pragmatic optimism. In this full-length special, we reflect on recent conversations with three outstanding Mexican entrepreneurs: 🔹 Gaby Estrada , Co-founder of Vexi, transf...

In this episode of Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob , Rob opens up about two powerful conversations that reignited his passion for purpose-driven storytelling and meaningful connection. First, he sits down with longtime mentee and now dear friend, Oligaby Leal, who made the bold decision to step down as CEO of a leading logistics company in Mexico to pursue a life aligned with her own purpose—not some...

This is a must listen episode for any millennial or Gen-Z leader or professional. What happens when you reach the top, very early in your career—only to realize it’s not where you want to be? In this inspiring and very personal conversation between friends, Rob, the Mentor, talks with Olivia Leal, his long time mentee and two time CEO, who made the bold choice to step away from her role as CEO in...

In this powerful episode of Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob , we take a moment to reflect on what truly matters—in life, in business, and in our shared humanity. At a time when uncertainty and division feel louder than ever, I’ve found hope and clarity through conversations with some of the most empathetic and visionary entrepreneurial thinkers in our community. This week’s episode brings together th...

What if the key to fixing America’s broken healthcare system came from outside the system itself? Can we deliver top class care, to working class people as the inalienable right that it should be for everyone? In this episode, Rob sits down with Bismarck Lepe, CEO of MiSalud Health, to talk about why they’re going all-in on fixing the $5 Trillion dollar healthcare industry. Bismarck, the child of...

This week on Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob, we take a breath—together. In a moment of deep personal reflection and civic unrest here in Los Angeles, I found grounding and perspective through an extraordinary conversation with Councilmember Nithya Raman—an advocate, a leader, and the first South Asian woman elected to LA’s City Council in its 245-year history. This episode of Entrepreneurial Thinker...

Can local government work for everyone? Can individual citizens like you, make a difference in your neighborhoods and Cities? Can elected officials think differently about a City’s challenges and opportunities, to build better? Rob sits down with CouncilPerson Nithya Raman — the first South Asian woman elected to L.A.'s City Council in the City’s 245 year history — for a candid, but hopeful an...

This week on Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob, we dive into the messy, complex, and often beautiful truth behind building big things—whether it's billion-user tech platforms or transforming a city the size of a small nation. Inspired by the eye-opening book How Big Things Get Done (recommended by former guest Thomas Logstrup Riebs), Rob reflects on the challenges, trade-offs, and deep human elements b...

What if the secret to thriving in chaos, while building your company, isn’t hustling harder—but leading with purpose? How do you build products to serve billions of users, but not lose sight of their individual humanity? In this deep conversation, Rob sits down with Sara Hicks, leadership coach, author and founder of The Intentional Organization. Together, they unpack the rise of LA's tech eco...

This week, we dive deep into the heart of what drives us, as we reflect on an incredible conversation with returning guest Jessica Bedoya, Founder and Managing Partner of the LARA Fund—a private equity firm focused on infrastructure across Latin America. But this episode is about so much more than just private equity… Jessica’s story lit a fire in us. She’s a true underdog—young, Latina, and leadi...

Think Latin America is too risky to invest in? Think women can’t lead in traditional Private Equity? Think again! In this episode Rob sits down with Jessica Bedoya, Founding Managing Partner of the LARA Fund, to reveal why the region is full of such untapped potential, in many countries that most investors regularly overlook. From booming sectors to cultural insights that matter, Jessica shares th...

This week’s episode is one of those rare gems that hits deep, challenges your thinking, and leaves you feeling fired up and hopeful. We sit down with Matt Schaar from Accion Venture Labs for a powerful and thought-provoking discussion on the real purpose of capital in today’s world. From his unlikely path as a rocket scientist to becoming an impact investor, Matt shares a journey that reminds us a...

What if venture capital wasn’t just about profit, but about people ? Does everyone need to raise Venture Capital? Wouldn’t you love to invest with purpose? In this episode, Rob sits down with his friend Matt Schaar of Accion Venture Lab, to unpack how investing in underserved communities, around the world, is reshaping the future of finance and how the Accion Group has been leading the way for mor...

In this week’s extended Stoppage Time episode, we dive into reflections and fresh takeaways from my fascinating conversation with Scottish entrepreneur Chris Herd — the founder of Firstbase, which was recently acquired by AppDirect after raising millions in venture capital from top-tier firms like Sequoia and Andreessen Horowitz. Joining us from his hometown of Aberdeen, Chris shares powerful insi...

What if the next big startup hub isn’t in the United States — but in Scotland? Are there lessons to be learned in how to build entrepreneurial ecosystems anywhere, that can be culled from this old, small Port City in far northeastern Scotland. Rob sits down with one of the earliest leaders in “Remote Work” enablement, and arguably one of Scotland’s top Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Chris Herd, founder...

Welcome back to Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob ! This week’s episode is a powerful deep dive into the realities of career burnout, rediscovering your purpose, and reshaping your mindset—featuring the brilliant Goli Kalkhoran, founder of Lessons from a Quitter . We unpack three big takeaways from our energizing conversation on Entrepreneurial Thinkers Episode 158, “Quitting Your Career to Save Your L...

Do you hate your job? Do you sometimes fantasize about what you’d do with your life if not in the job you have today? What if quitting isn’t failing—but finally listening to yourself? In this inspiring, thoughtful episode, Goli Kalkhoran joins Rob to unpack the real story behind walking away from “success.” From leaving a prestigious law career to launching her podcast, “Lessons from a Quitter”, a...

In this episode, we unpack powerful insights from Episode 157 of Entrepreneurial Thinkers , featuring Matt Petersen, CEO of LACI (Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator). But this isn't just a recap—it's a passionate, real-world call to action about why cities are the true drivers of climate progress, how the transition to a clean green economy is not just idealistic—but economically inevitable , and why...

What if saving the planet could also save the economy? Is our move to a greener and cleaner planet inevitable, regardless of the politics of any one era? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers , Rob sits down with Matt Petersen, CEO of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), and long time leader of Climate policy across the United States, and arguably the world, to talk about how the clea...

Hey hey! You might’ve just noticed us pop up in your audio feed—and we’re so glad you did. After releasing 35+ episodes exclusively on YouTube in 2024, Stoppage Time is now available every Friday right here too! Each week, Uncle Rob shares his raw, real-time reflections on the world around us—connecting stories from the Entrepreneurial Thinkers series, unpacking current events, and diving deep int...

Do you know where Spotify was created? Do you know how much innovative technology comes from Northern Europe? What happens when Nordic innovation meets the fast-paced world of U.S. entrepreneurship? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers , Rob sits down with Thomas Logstrup Riebs, the Los Angeles based partner at Traksjon, the expansion agency of record, helping Nordic and European companies...

After a much-needed 6-week hiatus, Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob returns—and not just with a show, but with purpose, perspective, and a renewed sense of direction. In this powerful comeback episode, Uncle Rob opens up with real talk about what’s been going on behind the scenes: from the harsh realities of the start of 2025, wildfires in LA, the state of our democracy, to the very real grind of tryi...

Can VR help rebuild neurons and slow dementia? Can technology be used to supplement our humanity instead of replacing it in the age of Ai? In this episode, Rob sits down with Jack Abbott, Chief Resilience Officer at ReviveXR and Chief Joy Advocate at Made For Joy from San Diego, to explore the entrepreneurial thinking of “Joy” in our industries and lives. They explore how technologies like VR and...

Is it still important to be awake or “Woke” to cultural changes? Do you think you’re an entrepreneurial thinker? Hint; Rob thinks you are and tells you how to become one! Have you ever wanted to know more about Rob and his story? Well, nearly five years, hundreds of episodes, and a mission that's more relevant than ever—Rob shares what it takes to keep amplifying the voices that matter most? I...