We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ryan Freeman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ryan, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Growing up, I used to have a horrible stuttering problem. It forced me to learn my trigger words and widen my vocabulary at a young age. One day, I screwed up my courage and tried out for the school play, The Wizard of Oz. Surprisingly, I landed the role of the Wizard. I was so excited (and terrified) that I memorized my lines in a single night. When our first practice came, I discovered a wild secret: when I was on stage presenting my lines, I didn’t stutter. For the first time in my life, I was able to more or less say exactly what I wanted to say. While it’s easy to take what may seem like simple things (walking, motion, talking) for granted, what happened to me that day at practice was life-changing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
First and foremost, I’m a writer. Currently, I have 18 published works and counting. The feeling I get whenever I can hold my first proof copy of a book in my hands is exhilarating. – Countless hours of work, craft, and care all bound up in a single volume. I’m also an experienced podcaster. I love ‘getting people off script’, down to what they really think about their community, themselves, and their culture.
Between these two passions, I’ve published countless magazine articles, co-created the What’s Up ABQ podcast with over 300k downloads, won several literary awards for memoirs and history, and inspired fan art from around the world.
I’ve also been an NBC affiliate producer, created viral Twitter campaigns, am a childhood cancer survivor, a pastor, and helped other writers navigate the publishing process.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I believe my three qualities/skills/areas of knowledge revolve around genuine connection with communities, tenacity, and heart.
One of my greatest living inspirations comes from the author Neil Gaiman who said, “Make. Good. Art. – Nothing else matters.’ Whatever it is you find yourself at, follow your art. Craft and hone it. This will inevitably take you on a wild ride through life as you continue nurturing your dreams and ambitions. Whatever it is, today, you’re working on, let it be your art. And always remember to sign your name on your creations. An artist always leaves their mark.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
The answer is a toss-up between George MacDonald’s Selected Works and James Victore’s Feck Perfuction. I love how they encourage and explain how to embrace your whimsy with whatever it is you’re doing. To “never work for assholes”, and to meter your motivations beyond a mere dollar definition.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ryanpfreeman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_p_freeman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanPatrickFreeman
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanpfreeman/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC842rl532nDJIudFcjwcqw
Image Credits
Originally created by Laura Faraci, I now own each image.
