
The Inner Entrepreneur
171 episodes — Page 2 of 4
Why You Don't Have What You Want - Norman Wolfe #213
Bitesize: The Wealth Trap: Why More Money Doesn’t Create Freedom - Mike Brown #212
6 Words That Changed My Business Forever - Inner Mentor (15) EP208
The Two-Minute Practice That Will Change Your Life | Lisa Broderick #210
Bitesize: How to Think Like an Entrepreneur #209
Inner Mentor (15) Matthew Perry & The Lie of Success #208
The 5 Behaviours That Shape Your Financial Future #207
Bitesize: The Hidden Driver Behind Every Decision You Make #206
Inner Mentor (14) When You've Built a Business And Missed Your life #205
From Broke Teacher to Billion Dollar Founder - Mark Pentecost #204
Bitesize: Why Smart People Still Procrastinate | Fuschia Sirois #203
Inner mentor (13): You’re Wasting Your Time (And You Know It) # 202
Why We Stay in Toxic Relationships (And How to Let Go) | Ginny Priem #201
Bitesize: The Hidden Cost of a Successful Exit #200
Inner Mentor (12) The 3 Questions That Will Change Your Life #199
Do We Have A Soul? Kris Land #198
Do We Have A Soul? Kris Land #198
Bitesize - The Peak Performance Mindset with Enda McNulty #197
Inner Mentor (11): The Real Reason You Feel Stuck (It’s Not Strategy) #196
The Real Cost of Coming Out at 52 - Anne Marie Zanzal #195
Bitesize: The World Is a Mess — Here’s How to Live Anyway #194
Ep 197Inner Mentor (10): How I Escaped a Business That Was Killing Me #193
In this episode of the Inner Mentor Series, Paul chats about a moment that changed everything—a cold January morning when he believed he was having a heart attack. Sitting at his desk, overwhelmed, exhausted, and on the edge, he was forced to confront a hard truth: the business he had worked so hard to build was now running him. What started as ambition and success had quietly turned into pressure, stress, and a life completely out of alignment. From that wake-up call came a shift—not just in how Paul ran his business, but in how he approached his life. In this episode, he shares the deeper lesson behind the experience and the seven steps that ultimately gave him his time, freedom, and clarity back. This is not about systems or quick fixes, but about taking ownership, building the right team, and designing a business—and a life—that actually works for you. About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 195Why Most High Achievers Still Feel Like Frauds - Jonathan Cave #192
In this episode, Paul sits down with Jonathan Cave, who, by 40, had reached the “holy grail” of big-law success: a partner track that was about to culminate in senior partnership. From the outside it looked like the dream—money, status, the house in the suburbs of Geneva, a young family. But inside, Jonathan was falling apart: chronic stress, recurring back pain, anxiety in the simplest moments, and a life that felt more like performance than presence. When the offer came, it forced two questions he couldn’t unhear: Do I want it?… and Would I actually be happy and fulfilled if I take it? Nine months later, the answer was clear—so he walked away from the firm and from the legal world entirely. About the Guest Jonathan Cave is the founder of My Philosophy, where he works with high achievers around the world to help them align their inner world with their outer life. He is also the author of The Tree and the Mountain: Dare to Become. Website: jonathancave.com About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 194Bitesize: The Lie We Tell Ourselves About Drinking #191
Full episode: https://youtu.be/8CTNmzVX1FA?si=W-S4er06qq4JOweq https://open.spotify.com/episode/7iTrVixuErDHxP5Io0UF5E?si=zgcdk0hpS0yDVnQSq-UaeA In this bite size episode Paul chats with Karolina Rzadkowlska, alcohol-free coach and author. Karolina challenges one of the most normalised habits in modern life — social drinking — by exposing the quiet tension many people feel but rarely question. She shares her own journey from a “healthy during the week, undo it at the weekend” lifestyle to discovering that alcohol wasn’t enhancing her life, but masking a deeper lack of fulfilment. What looked like balance was actually a cycle of progress and setback, and once she stepped away, she began to see alcohol not as a reward, but as a distraction from a life that wasn’t fully aligned. The conversation goes deeper than just giving up alcohol. Karolina breaks down the beliefs many people hold — that alcohol relaxes you, boosts confidence, or makes socialising easier — and shows how these are often illusions rooted in biology and conditioning. For entrepreneurs especially, she reframes the question: not “Do I have a problem?” but “Is this still serving the person I’m becoming?” The real shift isn’t about restriction — it’s about awareness, identity, and building a life where you no longer need the escape.
Ep 196Inner Mentor (9): How I Built a Business That Doesn’t Need Me #190
In this episode of the Inner Mentor series, Paul challenges one of the most seductive ideas in entrepreneurship — the belief that you can build a business that runs itself. It’s the dream sold everywhere: step back, remove yourself from the day-to-day, and let systems do the work. But in reality, this belief leads more entrepreneurs into frustration, failure, and eventually being pulled back into the business they tried to escape. Paul shares the truth from decades of experience: businesses don’t run themselves — people run them. Real freedom doesn’t come from systems, it comes from building the right team, setting the right standards, and leading with clarity. This episode breaks down the critical difference between delegation and abdication, and why the entrepreneurs who get this right don’t disappear from their business — they evolve their role within it. About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 191The Culture Catalyst: Scaling Impact Through Conscious Leadership - Jaclyn Orent #189
In this episode, Paul sits down with Jaclyn Orent— a “Cultural Catalyst”—to explore a radically different way of thinking about culture change. Instead of starting with “fix the organisation,” Jaclyn argues the real leverage point is the individual: the leader’s identity, consciousness, and inner state become the source code that ripples outward into teams, companies, and communities. Together they unpack what a Cultural Catalyst actually is, why identity-driven change creates “pull” instead of grind, and how culture transformation becomes possible when people move from fear/force into power/love—and stay willing long enough for new patterns to take root. About the Guest: Jaclyn’s weekly Cultural Catalyst mastermind (and network info): culturalcontribution.com About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: 👉 https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan
Ep 192Bitesize: EQ - The #1 Skill for leaders #188
Links to full episode: https://youtu.be/mlsMwS3tfVY?si=CBWw4FiLQyveaNbo https://open.spotify.com/episode/30QqrmpkWiXnyclOEroqC8?si=Gp3Qe0CvTdCkYHxm21Mi9Q In this bitesize episode, Paul chats with Dr. Diana Dimitrova to explore why high performers often suppress intuition, how emotional disconnection shows up in leadership, and the real cost of building companies while losing connection to our inner compass. We discuss why intuition is not “soft” or irrational, but a form of intelligence we all have—and how it becomes even more valuable as AI accelerates. We talk about the emotional masks leaders wear, why vulnerability enhances credibility, and how to design cultures where people feel safe to speak up, learn, and grow. About the Guest Jerry Colonna is a renowned executive coach, former venture capitalist, and the founder of Reboot.io. He is widely known for his work with CEOs, founders, and leaders, helping them navigate the intersection of leadership, identity, and emotional well-being. Jerry is the author of Reboot and Reunion, where he explores radical self-inquiry, compassion, and the inner work required to lead and live with authenticity. About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: 👉 https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan
Ep 193The Inner Mentor (8): Don't Hit Send - Why Decisions Made in Anger Create Chaos #187
We've all been there — the email that makes your blood boil, the message you want to fire back instantly, the moment anger threatens to make your decisions for you. In this episode of the Inner Mentor Series, Paul shares a powerful personal story from a high-stakes multimillion euro deal, where one furious Saturday morning email nearly derailed everything. Instead of reacting, he paused — and what happened next changed how he makes decisions to this day. He walks through his simple four-step process for managing emotional responses in business, relationships, and life: Awareness — recognise the state you're in Pause — do nothing until you're calm Reframe — look at the situation with fresh eyes Respond — from a place of calm, not chaos If you've ever said something you couldn't take back, lost a deal, or damaged a relationship because you reacted in anger — this one's for you. "Decisions made in anger create chaos. Decisions made in calm create results." About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 190The Paralysed Man Who Walked Across America - The Fergus Farrell Story #186
In this episode, Paul sits down with Fergus Farrell, former rugby player, entrepreneur, and author of Rebuilding a Man, whose life changed in an instant on 26 October 2018. What began as a simple task—lifting a bench in his yard - ended in a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left Fergus paralysed from the waist down and in constant nerve pain. As Fergus recounts the day, what stands out isn’t just the physical trauma, but the mindset behind it: even while lying on the ground unable to move his legs, he was still directing staff and running his business. The conversation opens up a powerful reflection on entrepreneurship, masculinity, control, and the cost of never switching off—how success can quietly break a man long before the body finally forces him to stop. About the Guest: https://fergusfarrell.com About the Host: Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul: You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 189Bitesize: Your Brain Is Lying to You (Here’s How) #185
Links to Full Episode: https://youtu.be/LJqHaTtCZrI?si=caUu1Xv7wcz97ctS https://open.spotify.com/episode/0if9FRU2ZmkU5yNGWp8Lj5?si=pQweB8lDSVqjQ2v_2h2ztg In this bite size episode Paul chats with Dr Michael Keane, neuroscientist and performance psychologist, about how much of what we attribute to “luck” is actually driven by our internal state—specifically our attention, biases, and awareness. Through simple but powerful examples, Dr Keane explains how our perception of the world shapes what we see (and miss), why we judge others more harshly than ourselves, and how our attention is constantly being pulled and manipulated in today’s environment. What feels external—bad luck, difficult people, stressful situations—is often rooted in how we’re wired to think and where we place our focus. About the Guest: https://www.drmichaelkeane.com/ About the Host: Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul: You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 188The Inner Mentor (7): How to Trust Your Gut (Without Ignoring Logic) #184
In this episode of Inner Mentor Series, Paul explores one of the most important questions in decision-making: how do you know when to trust your head, and when to trust your gut? The conversation breaks down the relationship between instinct, logic, and wise decision-making and explains why your heart should help set the direction of your life, why your mind is best used to assess risk and execute well, and why a strong gut-level “no” should never be ignored. This is a thoughtful conversation about learning to trust yourself, practicing intuition in small moments, and using both heart and head in the right order. About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 186Why You Think You’re Not Creative (But You Are) - Fredrik Haren #183
In this episode, Paul sits down with Fredrik Haren, known as “The Creativity Explorer,” to unpack what creativity actually is—and why so many smart, capable people mistakenly think they “aren’t creative.” Fredrik shares how his work evolved from being a creativity expert (having answers) to becoming a creativity explorer (living in questions), and how travelling across 75 countries changed his understanding of where ideas come from—and what blocks them. About the Guest Fredrik Haren is a global keynote speaker and author focused on creativity, innovation, and change. https://www.fredrikharen.com/ About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 185Bite-size: Wim Hoff, Breathwork & Cold Exposure with Niall O’Murchu #182
Links to Full Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4KFPkOLRBxSgxMXfghNrMU?si=Mj7_WyevQS-ChGVtFJZuzA https://youtu.be/H0WCxQWU7kY?si=cBkeGY2jlg9QwrFl In this bite-size episode of The Inner Entrepreneur, Paul sits down with Niall O'Murchu , one of Ireland’s leading wellness and breathwork experts. With over 23 years’ experience in mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, Niall is a Level 3 Wim Hof Method Instructor and the first Irish person to teach at the Wim Hof Academy. We explore how modern life keeps our nervous systems stuck in stress mode — and how simple practices like coherent breathing and cold exposure can reset your body and mind in minutes. ” #Breathwork #ColdExposure #WimHof #Mindfulness #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Calm #Focus #TheInnerEntrepreneur #PaulRyan
Ep 187The Inner Mentor (6): The €5 million Mistake #181
In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur – Inner Mentor Series, Paul shares the story of a decision that saved him from a €5 million mistake. At the height of Ireland’s Celtic Tiger, his profitable business was preparing to expand into a third warehouse with significant borrowing. The numbers made sense and advisors confirmed the deal stacked up, but a quiet moment one evening forced Paul to question why he was taking on more risk when life was already good. Trusting that instinct, he walked away from the deal — a decision that proved critical when the global financial crisis hit just months later and his revenues dropped by over 55%. This episode explores the tension between logic and intuition, and why sometimes the most valuable voice in business is the quiet one inside you. About the Host: Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast - https://www.pauljryan.net/about/ Book a discovery: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 179You Built Your Business. Imagine Losing It - Jodi Scott #180
In this episode Paul chats with Jodi Scott, co-founder of Green Goo. When you build something from your kitchen table, you assume the biggest risks are competition, cash flow, or scaling too fast. Jody’s journey reveals a deeper vulnerability: what happens when success itself becomes unstable. Green Goo began as a family-built, plant-based alternative to chemical-heavy first aid — a product that had to win on efficacy before it could win on values. As the company scaled into major retail, Jody evolved from hands-on founder to leader responsible for culture, distribution, and strategic growth. About the Guest Jodi Scott is the co-founder of Green Goo, a plant-based first aid and body care brand focused on efficacy and clean ingredients. With a background in health psychology, she helped scale the company from farmer’s markets to major retail distribution. After a company sale and subsequent collapse, she led the 18-month effort to buy the brand back and rebuild. About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 180Bitesize: How to Fix Your Sleep - Dr Chris Winter #179
Listen to the full episode: https://youtu.be/bX9Z3Z9TyOM?si=9eL8-ITA7FuUSrfX https://open.spotify.com/episode/6teqVLqXhKyapTIqR9jHJZ?si=ZPccKlY9Qv-6vYYHOl1gmg Guest: Dr. Chris Winter is a neurologist and sleep medicine specialist with decades of clinical experience. He’s the author of The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child, and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast. He consults widely, including with elite athletes, on optimizing sleep for health, performance, and longevity. Host: Book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 184The Inner Mentor Series (5): Lessons from a Billionaire #178
Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/ In this Inner Mentor episode, Paul reflects on his recent conversation with billionaire entrepreneur Mark Pentecost. Mark’s journey didn’t begin with a billion-dollar vision — it began with a simple goal: earning an extra $500 a month for his family. Paul explores what that small dream reveals about ambition, belief, and why dreaming is a muscle most people stop using.
Ep 181The Right Way To Do Work Life Balance - Dr Travis Parry #177
In this episode, Paul sits down with Dr. Travis Parry to explore how one life-altering moment can completely reset your priorities—and your future. Travis shares how losing his father forced a deeper question: what kind of person do I need to become to live a life that truly matters? That reflection ultimately reshaped Travis’s work from traditional financial advising into a broader “legacy life planning” approach—one that integrates health, relationships, spirituality, and meaning alongside money. About the Guest Dr. Parry author of Achieving Balance and Marry and Grow Rich. https://www.balancedgrowthinc.com/ About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. Book a discovery call with Paul: https://pauljryan.net/
Ep 178Bitesize: The Hidden Danger of Being Smart | David Robson #176
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Kbb5crf3PObiZ8qVKUZkz?si=_ghwIkjuQLqWBL18lg6qmA https://youtu.be/ZrzakMjeX74?si=wxuNTKO-pPO1B_B0 In this bite size episode Paul chats with David Robson, award-winning science journalist and author. High intelligence feels like protection. It isn’t. David explains how sharp analytical ability can quietly become a liability when it breeds overconfidence. IQ may measure processing power, but it doesn’t guarantee rational thinking, sound judgment, or wise decisions. In fact, the smarter you are, the easier it can be to trust your intuition in areas where you lack real competence. The intelligence trap isn’t about ignorance — it’s about certainty. For entrepreneurs building under pressure, the edge comes from intellectual humility: the discipline to question assumptions, update beliefs, and separate expertise from ego. Engine power matters. But without perspective, you can still drive in the wrong direction. About the Guest David Robson is an award-winning science journalist and author. His work explores human intelligence, cognitive bias, and the psychology of decision-making. He is the author of The Intelligence Trap and other books examining how we think — and why we often get it wrong. About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/
Ep 177The Inner Mentor Series (4): The Most Difficult Person in Your Life #175
Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://www.pauljryan.net/ In this episode of the Inner Mentor Series, Paul explores a hard but transformative idea: the most difficult person in your life is not your problem — they’re your lesson. Whether in business or in your personal relationships, the behaviours you tolerate quietly shape your culture, your standards, and ultimately your future. The tension you feel isn’t weakness — it’s information. Your nervous system often knows long before your mind admits that something is out of alignment. About the HostPaul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/
Ep 175Build a Business That Doesn’t Need You – Mark Fennell #174
In this episode, Paul sits down with Mark Fennell for a deeply honest conversation about why people tolerate situations that are clearly costing them their health, happiness, and sense of self. At the heart of the conversation is Mark’s childhood experience of severe bullying, and the moment he finally stood up for himself—not because he suddenly became brave, but because the pain of staying silent became greater than the fear of change. That same pattern, he explains, shows up repeatedly in adult life and in business: entrepreneurs staying stuck in roles they hate, tolerating toxic dynamics, or running companies that are slowly burning them out. As the conversation unfolds, the focus shifts from tactics to self-reflection, self-worth, and responsibility. Mark challenges the idea that business stress is purely operational, showing how control, micromanagement, reactivity, and difficult relationships often stem from unexamined beliefs and fear. The central insight is clear and quietly confronting: if nothing changes, nothing changes—and until the leader is willing to face themselves, neither will the business. About the Guest Mark Fennell is a high-performance life and business coach, author, and speaker with over 20 years’ experience working with entrepreneurs, leaders, and teams. His work focuses on self-worth, resilience, leadership under pressure, and helping people break patterns that keep them stuck personally and professionally. Mark is known for his practical, experience-led approach and his ability to translate deep inner work into real-world change. Website: https://markfennell.ie About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan
Ep 176The Business of Love: Creating a $1M Elite Matchmaking Empire - Amber Lee #173
In this Bitesize episode, Amber Lee shares how a near-death cardiac arrest became the wake-up call to launch her own firm, why self-awareness is the #1 predictor of dating success, and how real compatibility goes far beyond a great photo or a perfect résumé. From attachment styles to the quiet biases of wealth and status, this is a masterclass in modern matchmaking — and building a relationship that lasts.Amber Lee is the co-founder of Select Date Society, a boutique matchmaking firm serving high-achieving and high-profile clients with a 90% success rate. Trained by the Global Love Institute and the Gottman Institute, Amber blends rigorous vetting with relational science to create matches that last. https://selectdatesociety.com/about About the Host Paul Ryan is an eight-figure CEO, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. Paul works with seasoned entrepreneurs to help them clarify what’s next and align their life and business around what truly matters. https://pauljryan.net Work With Paul Paul helps seasoned entrepreneurs gain clarity, reduce overwhelm, and design a life and business that feels aligned—not just successful. Book a discovery call: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan Website: https://pauljryan.net
Ep 174The Inner Mentor Series (3): The Lie We All Believe #172
There’s a quiet voice that shows up at the worst possible moments — just before you step forward, just before you do something brave. It whispers, “I’m not good enough.” In this episode of The Inner Mentor Series, Paul explores the lie most of us believe about ourselves and why imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear with success. Drawing on conversations with seasoned CEOs and his own experience stepping onto a stage outside his comfort zone, he reveals why self-doubt is often a sign of growth — not inadequacy. About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: 👉 https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan
Ep 173How to Calm Your Nervous System Fast – Sarah Tobin #171
In this episode, Paul sits down with EFT practitioner, trainer, and author Sarah Tobin to demystify EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), often called “tapping,” for complete beginners. Sarah explains tapping as a self-administered, body-based tool designed to calm the nervous system—helping switch off fight/flight/freeze so we can return to grounded neutrality (and sometimes even genuine positivity). She unpacks the core idea that emotions are “energy in motion,” and that when emotions aren’t fully processed—especially in childhood—they can become stuck and later show up as chronic stress, repeating patterns, limiting beliefs, or even physical symptoms. About the Guest Sarah Tobin is an EFT (tapping) practitioner and trainer, as well as an author and speaker. Her work focuses on helping people regulate their nervous system, safely process stored emotion, and shift the beliefs and patterns that keep them stuck. She’s also the creator of wisdom tools including her book Tapping Into You and The Rainbow Oracle deck. https://www.tappingwithsarahtobin.com/ About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan
Ep 172Bitesize: Greatness is Within You: Stop Playing Small - Dan Metcalfe #170
Bitesize: Why You’re Born Superhuman (You Just Forgot) - Dan Metcalfe In this powerful bite-size conversation, Dan Metcalfe shares a journey that sounds like fiction—but isn’t. From being scouted by Crystal Palace and trained under Brian Clough, to dancing in the West End in Andrew Lloyd Webber productions, to fracturing his spine on stage in Las Vegas and being told he may never recover—Dan’s story is about identity, resilience, and choice. Paralyzed, facing a system that would have preferred to manage him rather than restore him, Dan made a decision: he would not become a statistic. He would become the hero of his own life. What followed was not instant inspiration—but fear, anger, legal battles, and a slow, determined fight back. He began coaching football from a wheelchair. He rebuilt himself physically. And ten years later, he stood on the start line of Ironman Canada—not to prove he was the fastest, but to prove he could step forward again. About the Guest Dan Metcalfe is a speaker, coach, and performance mentor known for his “Born Superhuman” philosophy—helping individuals and teams reframe adversity, unlock resilience, and take ownership of their next level of growth. Links to full episode: https://youtu.be/E8QJcCrTUFY?si=7CC29uzJ0jqiIYiY https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZHDlZZiLdMNCNOE4oCF8q?si=POx4iJWjT8acW6blOVD8dg About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan
Ep 171The Inner Mentor Series (2): Listen to This Before You Hit Burnout #169
In this episode of The Inner Mentor Series, Paul explores a powerful but uncomfortable question: how are you measuring success — and is that measurement quietly shaping your life? Through two contrasting entrepreneur stories and his own wake-up moment, he challenges the default scoreboard of money, scale, and status, and invites you to consider a broader definition that includes peace of mind, alignment, health, relationships, and fulfillment. Because you can be winning externally while losing internally — and the scoreboard you choose will ultimately determine the life you live About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: 👉 https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan
Ep 168Life in a U.S. Maximum-Security Prison - Stacey Putka #168
In this episode, Paul sits down with Stacey Putka — and the conversation begins with a line most podcast intros never get to use: they met in prison. Paul shares what it was like entering Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility: handing over his phone and passport, being reduced to a badge number, and feeling that subtle loss of control that incarcerated people live with every day. Together, they unpack the emotional impact of walking into a room full of men serving serious sentences and discovering something unexpectedly human — real presence, eye contact, openness, and a level of vulnerability that challenged every stereotype. Stacey explains why she founded Breakthrough: because punishment alone doesn’t create healing, accountability, or safer communities. They tackle the hardest question head-on — are some people simply “bad”? — and Stacey offers a deeper framework: holding two truths at once (real harm was done, and real change is possible), while prioritizing accountability and protecting future victims through transformation. About the Guest Stacey Poka is the founder and Executive Director of Breakthrough, a U.S.-based nonprofit that delivers transformational programming inside prisons and provides practical, emotional, and community support after release. https://timetobreakthrough.org/about-us/ About the Host Paul Ryan is an eight-figure CEO and the host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast, where he explores what’s really going on beneath the surface of success — purpose, identity, values, leadership, and the inner work that shapes the outer results. https://pauljryan.net/ Work with Paul: Paul works with seasoned entrepreneurs to clarify what’s next and align their life and business around what matters most. https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan
Ep 169Bitesize: The Power of Slow: Why Doing Less Changes Everything | Carl Honoré #167
In this bite-sized episode, Paul sits down with Carl Honoré, the voice behind the global Slow Movement, to challenge one of modern life’s most damaging assumptions: that faster is always better. Carl reframes “slow” not as laziness or withdrawal from ambition, but as the discipline of finding the right speed for the task at hand. Drawing on neuroscience, culture, and everyday experience, he explains why multitasking is a productivity myth, how monotasking actually leads to better results, and why slowing down improves focus, creativity, relationships, and wellbeing — often while helping us get more done, not less. The conversation explores how constant acceleration is reshaping our brains, our work, and even our art — from shorter attention spans to the erosion of deep thinking. Carl also shares his own wake-up moment as a parent, the origin story behind In Praise of Slow, and why so many people tell him his work gave them “permission” to slow down. From mindful walking to cultural shifts around technology and boundaries at work, this episode is a powerful reminder that slow isn’t something we need to invent — it’s something we need to reclaim. About the Guest Carl Honoré is a bestselling author, speaker, and leading advocate of the global Slow Movement. His books, including In Praise of Slow, have been translated into dozens of languages, and his TED Talks have been viewed millions of times worldwide. 👉 https://www.carlhonore.com/ About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. 👉 https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: 👉 https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan
Ep 170The Inner Mentor Series (1): The Day I Met the Man I Never Want to Become #166
In this first Inner Mentor Series episode, Paul shares the pivotal experience that quietly reshaped the course of his life. Twenty years ago, despite outward success, he felt trapped in a business and life that drained him—until a last-minute decision to attend a weekend event in London changed everything. What began with skepticism and a firewalk evolved into a far deeper reckoning: a visceral confrontation with the future version of himself he was becoming, one of quiet misery, the other of purpose and fulfillment—Paul made a choice that would demand far more courage than he expected. Work with Paul: visit: https://pauljryan.net I work closely with a small number of clients - application required: 👉 https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan About the Host Paul Ryan is an 8-figure CEO, mentor, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast. Through the Inner Mentor Series, Paul shares personal stories and hard-won lessons from decades in business and personal development, helping entrepreneurs design lives of clarity, purpose, and fulfillment. ,
Ep 167How Leaders Unknowingly Build Toxic Workplaces - Kyle McDowell #165
What It Really Takes to Change Company Culture - Kyle McDowell #165 In this episode, Paul sits down with leadership author and culture-change advocate Kyle McDowell to unpack a hard truth: many “successful” corporate environments are quietly toxic—and leaders often help create the very dysfunction they later complain about. Kyle shares how, after decades in senior Fortune-level roles leading tens of thousands of people, he hit a point of apathy, burnout, and personal cost that forced a reckoning. The turning point wasn’t a new strategy—it was a new way of leading: human connection, real accountability, and the courage to stop rewarding fear-based results-at-all-costs leadership. About the Guest Kyle McDowell is a leadership speaker, consultant, and author of Begin With We, best known for his “10 We’s”—a set of behavioral principles designed to build cultures of accountability, trust, and excellence. https://kylemcdowellinc.com/ About the Host Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, mentor, and podcaster. https://pauljryan.net/ Work With Paul You can book a discovery call with Paul here: 👉 https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan