In this episode, we meet Ryan, who grew up in the small town of Yeovil, Somerset, a traditionally working-class area hit hard by the 2008 crash. After his parents lost their business, they rebuilt their lives through hands-on work. His dad as a plumber and his mum as a cleaner, instilling in Ryan the value of resilience and humility.

Although strong academically, Ryan was drawn to creativity, inspired by his dad’s love of music. This passion led him to study the arts at university, a move that opened doors to opportunities far beyond his hometown. Through a university placement, Ryan landed his first teaching role in London, marking a major step away from small-town life and into the creative sector.

Despite his success, Ryan remains grounded in his working-class roots. He speaks openly about class divides, the challenges of navigating professional hierarchies, and the need for more support for students from similar backgrounds. Today, he uses his experience to mentor and guide young people, offering the advice he wishes he’d had.

🔹 Topics covered:

- Growing up working class in rural England

- How the 2008 crash shaped his family’s future

- Creativity as a route out of limitation

- Navigating seniority and workplace culture

- Giving back through mentoring and advice

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Grant Funds:

- https://www.ukgamesfund.com/

- https://tranzfuser.com/

Also here is an additional bonus clip in case you wanted to watch some of his grandads famous West Country Yap - https://youtu.be/WjTIFkWJctY?t=243

Thanks for listening!

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