ABOUT RYAN

Dropping the Mask - Breaking the Illusion

When I lost my dream job, it felt like the world was turning upside down. Everything I thought was secure—my career, my identity—suddenly felt hollow. In that moment, I was faced with a choice: keep numbing the discomfort or let myself feel it fully and let it transform me. I chose transformation.…..

That moment was my awakening. I looked at the life I had constructed through clear eyes and realized it no longer aligned with who I was becoming. The final push came when I asked myself, Is this truly the life I want? The answer was a resounding no. It was time to let go of my old identity, to walk away from selling alcohol, and to reclaim the parts of myself I had neglected for too long. As the first step on this journey, I quit drinking entirely, committing to face my life with a presence and clarity I had never known before.

The Leap: Embracing the Unknown

The unknown felt like stepping into a fog, without a map to guide me. All I had was an inner calling that refused to be silenced. Leaving behind the familiar world of my old career brought up fears and questions: Who am I if I’m not defined by my job? What can I offer to the world now?

In those early days, I felt like I was wandering through a dense fog, unsure of where to turn. But as I took those first steps, allies and guides began to appear. I was drawn to the transformative power of coaching, rites of passage, and nature-based practices. Joining the Denver chapter of the Man Uncivilized men’s group, I discovered the strength that comes from shared vulnerability among men—something I had never experienced before. Here, I began to understand that true strength isn’t found in perfection, but in the willingness to be seen fully, flaws and all.

I immersed myself in training: ontological coaching, nature-informed leadership, and rites of passage. Nature became my classroom, teaching me that the wild world outside could illuminate the untamed parts within myself and my clients. Every new experience reaffirmed my commitment to this path, and I began to see how deeply we can transform when we align with our authentic selves.

Transformation: Turning Wounds into Wisdom

Despite all the progress, I was confronted with a moment that nearly broke me—a period of deep ego-shattering when everything I thought I knew about myself unraveled. I hit rock bottom emotionally, spiritually, and professionally, questioning everything I stood for.

But in that darkness, I found something more profound than I ever expected: the realization that our deepest wounds carry the seeds of our greatest gifts. It was a revelation that became the cornerstone of my coaching philosophy. Pain, courage, and vulnerability were no longer obstacles to overcome—they were the alchemical ingredients needed for transformation.

This insight fueled my coaching practice, The Bridger Coaching, where I guide others in transforming their own pain into a source of power and purpose. Witnessing my clients connect with their true selves, embracing both their light and shadows, reaffirmed that the wild—both within and outside—holds the key to profound change.

The Path Forward - Working With Me

With each client I support and each group I lead, The Bridger Coaching continues to expand. What began as a personal journey evolved into a mission to guide leaders, changemakers, and seekers back to themselves and the world around them. My work has grown not just in numbers but in depth—leading to programs like The Mirror, where participants explore their inner and outer wilderness in community.

Today, my focus is on diving deeper into myth, instinct, and nature-rooted leadership. Soon, I’ll be launching the Deep End podcast, creating a space for conversations that explore the intersections of the wild within and the wild outside, inviting others into the journey of transformation.

My mission is now more than just coaching—it’s about fostering deep connection, cultivating profound insight, and empowering transformational leadership. I’m here to walk alongside those ready to step into their own threshold moments, to embrace the wild unknown, and to emerge on the other side with clarity and purpose.

Together, we can create ripples that extend far beyond ourselves, shaping not just our lives but the world we touch.

If you’re ready to embark on your own journey of transformation and discovery, I invite you to connect with me. Let’s explore how we can create the conditions for your deepest intentions to emerge and thrive.

THE WISDOM THAT SHAPES ME

  • True transformation comes from embracing the wildness within and around us.

  • Connection is the foundation—within ourselves, with others, and with our purpose.

  • Clarity arises from self-awareness and the courage to act.

  • Purpose isn’t found—it’s created by living intentionally.

  • Our wounds are the keys to our greatest gifts.

  • Life is a continuous journey of growth, always evolving.

Coming Soon

My Guides

Accomplishment Coaching -ICF Accredited 

Kedar Brown Rights of Passage Council - Quest 1

School of Lost Borders - Dr. Scott Eberle and Cynthia Morrow - Quest 2

Darren Silver - Great Earth School - Nature Informed Leadership/ Quest 3

Centre for Healing - Trauma Informed Certificate for Coaches

Francis Weller - Alchemizing Grief and Sorrow, Alchemy of Initiation

Siobhan Asgharzadeh - Grief Tending

Duey Freeman - Freeman Developmental Model/ Reichian Body Structures 


Michael Gay - Myth and Maps of the Wilderness

Traver Boehm -Aligned Leadership and UNcivilized Coach

Connor Beaton - Shadow Work