What if the thing standing between you and your creative life isn't talent, but the story you've told yourself about who gets to be an artist? Ratatouille knows. Remy wasn't blocked by ability. He was blocked by a world that said a rat had no business in the kitchen. And that's exactly what Kirsten Hirst discovered when she stopped trying to recreate someone else's picture and finally started making her own.

Kirsten Hirst is the Director of Revenue Operations at RCG Law Group, a practicing collage artist, and the daughter of an architect and a writer. She has spent years sitting at the intersection of analytical thinking and creative identity, and in this conversation she unpacks why insecurity, not lack of talent, is the real block that keeps most people from ever owning the creative side of who they already are.

Using Pixar's Ratatouille as a powerful metaphor, Ryan and Kirsten dive into the belief that "not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere." Together they unpack how creativity shows up in unexpected places like business strategy, architecture, marketing, and personal growth.

3 Actionable Takeaways

1. Buy a mixed media journal for $8 to $10, grab some old books from the thrift store, and make one collage a day for a month. What you learn about your creative blocks will be more valuable than any class.

2. List your childhood favorites — food, movie, TV show, favorite outing — then start doing those things again. Stop outsourcing joy to some future version of your life and let yourself be a kid.

3. Try on the identity of an artist before it feels like it fits. It's not something you aren't. It's something you've been afraid to admit you already are.

Yes And Land explores the leadership lessons, relationship dynamics, and hard choices hidden in the stories we love. Hosted by Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney at RCG Law Group, Disney enthusiast, and business coach for law firm owners at Altium Advisors, each episode connects familiar narratives to real-world wisdom you can actually use.

New episodes every Thursday.

What if the path to harmony requires breaking first? Brave isn't just about a rebellious princess, it's about what happens when perfectionism, expectations, and fractured relationships force you to explore a new path.

3 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS:

1. The Gratitude List - Write down 20 specific things you're grateful for TODAY. Not general things. Be specific. Why it works: If you weren't grateful for it, would you want God to take it away? That question makes the list get real long, real fast.
2. Lead with Humility - Be open to being wrong. Listen to understand, not to respond.
3. Lead with Curiosity - In your next conversation, ask 3 more questions before sharing your perspective.

Try one this week and comment which you're starting with!

In this episode, Ryan Brown, founder of Ideal Practice and Reprieve Women's Recovery Center, shares his journey from high-functioning alcoholic to creating a sanctuary for women in addiction recovery. Using Brave as our lens, we explore what it means to break free from perfectionism, face your authentic self, and rebuild relationships that seemed too fractured to heal. Ryan's story includes:

    - Breaking his back in 2007 and the Oxycontin prescription that started everything

    - Years of hiding alcohol addiction while running a successful business

    - A heart attack in Central Park at age 38 (leather-bound in an ambulance)

    - The DUI that forced him to confront reality

    - Entering rehab in 2021 after a moment of complete emptiness

    - How God directed him to buy a house in the mountains

    - The miraculous pivot to creating an all-women's recovery center

Whether you're navigating addiction, rebuilding after hitting rock bottom, exploring a major life change, or trying to repair a fractured relationship, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom about humility, harmony, and hope.

ABOUT RYAN BROWN: Ryan Brown is the founder of Ideal Practice, a credentialing and contracting company serving medical providers across all 50 states. In 2023, after his own journey through addiction and recovery, he co-founded Reprieve Women's Recovery Center in Mountain Green, Utah—a residential treatment facility specifically designed for women seeking healing and long-term growth. Over 150 women have graduated from Reprieve's program in its first two years.

Connect with Ryan:

    🔗 LinkedIn: [link]

    🗄Ideal Practice: [link]

    🏡Reprieve Women's Recovery Center: [link]

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    📚 "Rising Strong" by Brené Brown

    🎬 Brave (2012)

💬 Continue the conversation:

• Have you made your gratitude list of 20? Share one thing from it below.
• What's a conversation where you could lead with curiosity this week?
• Have you experienced a "wisp moment" where something bigger guided you?

👉 Subscribe to Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson on YouTube for thoughtful conversations about growth, resilience, and what comes next.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Yes And Land on all podcast platforms and share it with someone who believes connection still matters.

#Brave #AddictionRecovery #DisneyAnalysis #WomensRecovery #FindingHarmony #Sobriety #MentalHealthRecovery #LeadershipLessons #YesAndLand #DisneyForAdults #RecoveryStory #Gratitude

You don't need authority to be a mentor. You just need experience and the willingness to share it. The Intern shows exactly how—and so does the attorney who went from pharmacy to patents to divorce law.

3 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS:

1. Put Down Distractions and Observe - Stop scrolling. Look around. Someone near you needs guidance but won't ask. Why it works: Mentorship opportunities are everywhere, but you'll miss them if you're distracted.
2. Look for Struggle (Not Just Failure) - Find someone working on something hard. Approach gently: "I've done this before. Want to know what worked for me?" Why it works: People are more open to "here's my experience" than "here's what you should do."
3. Lead with "Here's My Experience..." - Never: "You're doing it wrong." Always: "When I faced this, here's what I did and what happened." Why it works: Sharing experience gives people agency. Telling them what to do takes it away.

Try one this week and comment which you're starting with!

In this episode, Kenton Walker, attorney who took the road less traveled (pharmacist → patent litigator at AmLaw 100 firm → family law attorney) joins me to explore what real mentorship looks like when you don't have a title, program, or formal authority. Using The Intern as our framework, we discuss how Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) becomes invaluable not through his tech knowledge (he has none) but through his experience, presence, and willingness to guide without taking over. Kenton's known at RCG Law Group as "the paralegal whisperer" and his approach mirrors Ben's: mistakes are expected, trust is earned through consistency, and the best mentors are guides, not commanders.

We discuss:

- Why Kenton left a successful patent litigation career to start over in family law

- How mentorship works when you're not anyone's manager or supervisor

- The power of "here's my experience" vs. "here's what you should do"

- Why letting people make mistakes (and fixing them together) builds trust

- How The Intern's Ben Whittaker mentors through principles, not technology

- Why explaining the "why" behind what you do is mentorship anyone can practice

Whether you're early in your career wondering how to add value, mid-career feeling like you should be mentoring but don't know how, or experienced but lacking a formal leadership title, this conversation shows you exactly how to start.

ABOUT KENTON WALKER: Kenton Walker is an attorney at RCG Law Group with one of the most unconventional paths to family law you'll hear. After working as a pharmacist at Johns Hopkins Hospital System and in the pharmaceutical industry, he went to law school and spent 22 years litigating patents for pharmaceutical companies—both in-house and at an AmLaw 100 firm. When he was ready for a new chapter, he chose family law and discovered his passion for mentoring others without needing a formal leadership role. Known affectionately as "the paralegal whisperer," Kenton's approach to mentorship centers on sharing experience, building trust through mistakes, and guiding without commanding.

💬 Continue the conversation:

• Who in your life could use a "here's my experience" conversation this week?
• What's one mentorship opportunity you're missing because you're distracted?
• Have you ever been mentored by someone without a title? How did they do it?

👉 Subscribe to Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson on YouTube for thoughtful conversations about growth, resilience, and what comes next.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Yes And Land on all podcast platforms and share it with someone who believes connection still matters.

#TheIntern #RobertDeNiro #Mentorship #LeadershipWithoutTitle #FamilyLaw #CareerChange #MentorshipMatters #YesAndLand #ExperienceOverExpertise #ParalegalWhisperer

What if safety is actually the most dangerous choice you can make? Tangled isn't about a girl with magical hair—it's about recognizing when comfort has become a prison and finding the courage to step into your own life.

3 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS:

1. Name your current emotions you're experiencing
2. Identify and name the emotions you want to have and visualize experiencing those emotions
3. Take that first step out of the tower

Try one this week and comment which you're starting with!

In this episode, Sophie Gardner—President of Ultimate Advisors and Director of Client Solutions at RCG Law Group—joins us to explore what it really takes to leave the tower. Sophie's unconventional journey through real estate, private equity, and high-level business strategy reveals how fear, familiarity, and outside doubt keep so many people stuck, and how gratitude, visualization, and intentional decision-making can set you free.

Using Tangled as our framework, we unpack Rapunzel's journey from the tower to the world, examining what it means to question the voices that claim to protect you while actually limiting you. We discuss:

- Why comfort is often the real trap, not the obvious dangers

- How Mother Gothel represents the voices (internal and external) that keep us small

- The difference between fear that warns and fear that paralyzes

- Sophie's path from conventional expectations to building her own unconventional career

- How to distinguish between seasons that require perseverance vs. seasons that call for change

- Why stepping into the unknown doesn't mean abandoning what's working

- The role of gratitude in creating clarity during uncertain transitions

- How visualization helps your brain see possibilities it couldn't before

- What happens when you finally question the limiting beliefs you've carried

Whether you're feeling stuck in your career, contemplating a major life change, questioning a relationship dynamic, or simply sensing that "comfort" has stopped serving you, this conversation offers practical tools for recognizing when it's time to leave the tower, and how to do it with intention, not just reaction.

ABOUT SOPHIE GARDNER: Sophie Gardner serves as President of Ultimate Advisors and Director of Client Solutions at RCG Law Group. Her unconventional career path through real estate, private equity, and business strategy has given her unique insights into what it takes to build a life and career on your own terms. Sophie specializes in helping clients navigate complex transitions with clarity, confidence, and strategic thinking.

Connect with Sophie:

    🔗Instagram: [link]

    🗄Altium Advisors: [link]

💬 Continue the conversation:

• What's one "Mother Gothel voice" you've been listening to?
• When did comfort stop serving you and start trapping you?
• What's your "tower" right now?

👉 Subscribe to Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson on YouTube for thoughtful conversations about growth, resilience, and what comes next.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Yes And Land on all podcast platforms and share it with someone who believes connection still matters.

#Tangled #Rapunzel #MotherGothel #ComfortZone #CareerChange #BreakingFree #LeavingTheTower #YesAndLand #DisneyAnalysis #FearVsFamiliarity #DisneyForAdults

What if Gaston wasn't actually the villain? Beauty and the Beast might not be exactly what you think, and the lessons about reframing your story.

3 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS:

1. Think about the story you want to be able to tell about yourself, and the best version of yourself.
2. Identify several people that you truly admire, and study their traits
3. Model yourself after those people and start developing those traits.

Try one this week and comment which you're starting with!

In this episode, Joey Carlson, entrepreneur, attorney, and expert in helping people rebuild after divorce, joins us to explore Beauty and the Beast through a completely different lens. From Joey's journey building businesses in unexpected places (yes, including recruiting workers from American Samoa for a Utah turkey farm) to helping divorce clients rewrite their narratives, this conversation unpacks the power of storytelling in business, law, and life. We discuss:

    - A controversial hot take: Is Gaston actually the misunderstood hero of Beauty and the Beast? Or at least not the villain.

    - How reframing narratives unlocks solutions where none seemed possible

    - Joey's path from snow cones to cell phones to staffing underserved communities

    - Why divorce is an opportunity to rewrite your story, not just survive it

    - Lessons from entrepreneurship about believing your own vision

    - The difference between empathy and empty platitudes when someone's struggling

    - ‎How Jelly Roll rewrote his story (click here to listen to his interview)

    - Why "it's going to be okay" doesn't help (and what does)

Whether you're navigating divorce, rebuilding after a business failure, or trying to tell a better story about your life, Joey's insights on vision, belief, and patience will give you practical frameworks for moving forward.

ABOUT JOEY CARLSON: Joey Carlson is an attorney and entrepreneur who has built businesses ranging from rural cell phone stores to innovative staffing solutions for underserved communities. Having personally navigated divorce, Joey now works with RCG Law Group helping clients reframe their narratives and build hopeful futures through one of life's most challenging transitions.

Connect with Joey:

    🔗 Carlson Legal Group: Click here

    📱 IG: Click here

💬 Continue the conversation:

• Team Gaston or Team Beast? Defend your choice in the comments!
• Which of the 3 actions are you trying this week?
• What's a story in your life that needs reframing?

ABOUT YES AND LAND: Yes And Land explores the leadership lessons, relationship dynamics, and hard choices hidden in the stories we love. Hosted by Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney, Disney enthusiast, and business coach for law firm owners. Each episode connects familiar narratives to real-world wisdom you can actually use. Here, we say "Yes" to the reality of yesterday and today. And we say "And" to the possibility, growth, and imagination of tomorrow.

New episodes every Thursday.

👉 Subscribe to Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson on YouTube for thoughtful conversations about growth, resilience, and what comes next.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Yes And Land on all podcast platforms and share it with someone who believes connection still matters.

#BeautyAndTheBeast #DisneyAnalysis #Gaston #DivorceRecovery #Storytelling #Entrepreneurship #RewritingYourStory #YesAndLand #DisneyHotTake

What if leadership finds you before you're ready? Andor isn't your typical Star Wars hero, and that's exactly what makes his journey such an important lesson for modern leaders. From Hollywood to Star Wars, this episode unpacks purpose, grit, and unexpected leadership.

3 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS:

1. Pivot with Purpose - When your path changes, ask "What am I optimizing for?" not "What went wrong?" Why it works: Reframing creates agency.
2. Build for 10, Not 10 Million - Deep connection with a small community beats shallow reach. Why it works: Trust compounds; attention doesn't.
3. Take the first step. Put your content out there. You don't need perfect, just the courage to start.

Leadership doesn’t always arrive with a title. Sometimes it shows up as a moment that demands action. In this episode of Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson, Ryan sits down with Just Blane, CEO of Ride The Wave Media and one of the most prolific audio producers in modern media, to explore what it really means to lead when you didn’t ask for the job.

From growing up on a Tennessee farm to producing over 11,000 shows across iHeart, NBC, and Apple Music, Blane shares how curiosity, empathy, and perseverance shaped his career. Along the way, the conversation weaves in pop culture, Disney, and Star Wars’ Andor to reveal why the most powerful leaders are often the most reluctant ones.

Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or trying to show up authentically in relationships, this conversation gives you practical frameworks grounded in both Disney magic and real-world leadership.

Connect with Just Blane:

    🔗 Ride the Wave Media: Click here

    📱 LinkedIn: Click here

💬 Continue the conversation:

• What's YOUR biggest takeaway from Andor?
• Which of the 3 actions are you trying this week?
• What Disney movie/show should we analyze next?

ABOUT YES AND LAND: Yes And Land explores the leadership lessons, relationship dynamics, and hard choices hidden in the stories we love. Hosted by Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney, Disney enthusiast, and business coach for law firm owners. Each episode connects familiar narratives to real-world wisdom you can actually use. Here, we say "Yes" to the reality of yesterday and today. And we say "And" to the possibility, growth, and imagination of tomorrow.

New episodes every Thursday.

👉 Subscribe to Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson on YouTube for thoughtful conversations about growth, resilience, and what comes next.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Yes And Land on all podcast platforms and share it with someone who believes connection still matters.

#Andor #StarWars #DisneyPlus #DisneyForAdults #YesAndLand #ReluctantLeader #PurposeDriven

What if emotional intelligence is the real superpower in a world full of automation? Elemental isn't just about fire and water, it's about learning to lead with authenticity and connection in a tech-driven age.

3 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS:

1. Ask yourself "What am I good at?" and write it down
2. Ask your closest friend "What am I good at? What are my biggest strengths?" and write it down
3. Then ask yourself, "What am I not good at?" and write that down too. This can help you prepare better when your weaknesses arise and know how to respond.

In this episode, Miriam Dixon, Marketing Director at South Valley Chamber of Commerce and Disney College Program alum, joins me to explore Elemental's themes around emotional intelligence, authentic leadership, and staying human in automation-driven work. We discuss:

• Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever in the age of AI
• How the Disney College Program teaches you to "earn your ears" through service
• The difference between genuine connection and performative networking
• What Elemental reveals about leading through difference and discomfort
• How to navigate career pivots while staying true to your values

Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or trying to show up authentically in relationships, this conversation gives you practical frameworks grounded in both Disney magic and real-world leadership.

Connect with Miriam:

    🔗 South Valley Chamber: Click here

    📱 LinkedIn: Click here

💬 Continue the conversation:

• What's YOUR biggest takeaway from Elemental?
• Which of the 3 actions are you trying this week?
• What Disney movie should we analyze next?

ABOUT YES AND LAND: Yes And Land explores the leadership lessons, relationship dynamics, and hard choices hidden in the stories we love. Hosted by Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney, Disney enthusiast, and business coach for law firm owners. Each episode connects familiar narratives to real-world wisdom you can actually use. Here, we say "Yes" to the reality of yesterday and today. And we say "And" to the possibility, growth, and imagination of tomorrow.

New episodes every Thursday.

👉 Subscribe to Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson on YouTube for thoughtful conversations about growth, resilience, and what comes next.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Yes And Land on all podcast platforms and share it with someone who believes connection still matters.

#Elemental #DisneyAnalysis #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipLessons #DisneyForAdults #YesAndLand #AuthenticLeadership

Episode Summary

What happens when we stop responding to life, conflict, and pain with “but” and start responding with “yes, and”?

In this opening episode of Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson, Ryan introduces the core philosophy behind the podcast: validation as the starting point for growth. Drawing from personal experience, relationships, leadership, and lessons borrowed from improv comedy, Ryan explores how acknowledging someone’s lived experience creates space for empathy, connection, and meaningful conversation. This episode unpacks why even well-intentioned responses can feel dismissive, how curiosity outperforms judgment, and why being a peacemaker doesn’t mean avoiding disagreement.

Inspired by storytelling, pop culture, and the creativity of shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway, Ryan reframes “yes, and” as both a communication skill and a life practice. From marriage and parenting to leadership and navigating hard seasons, this conversation invites listeners to honor what they’ve been through without staying stuck there. The goal isn’t fixing people or winning arguments, but creating space for hope, growth, and kindness.

If you’re craving deeper conversations, better communication, and a mindset for moving forward without erasing the past, Yes And Land is your new landing place.

Resources & References

• Whose Line Is It Anyway (improv comedy inspiration)
• Storytelling through Disney films
• Fantasy novels by Brandon Sanderson

Listen, Subscribe & Connect

📺 YouTube 👉 https://YouTube.com/@yesandland

🌊 Visit Ride The Wave Media 👉 https://www.ridethewave.media

💛 Subscribe, follow, and share if this episode resonated with you. Your support helps grow conversations rooted in empathy, curiosity, and connection.

Welcome to Yes And Land.