Ryan Stream – Retired Army Veteran, TEDx Speaker, Best-Selling Author, Award-Winning Musician, Entrepreneur.
Ryan Stream is a powerhouse of resilience and transformation.
From sleeping in homeless shelters and losing his family to foster care, to the devastating loss of his biological mother to suicide, battling addiction, Injuries to surviving two tours in Afghanistan
—Ryan’s life is a testament to the power of perseverance. He is a TEDx speaker, best-selling author, award-winning musician, two-time war veteran, and entrepreneur with a mission to build an army of leaders who inspire change in work, school, and life.
Ryan’s journey is raw. As a child in foster care, he fought depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities, failing college four times. The trauma of losing his mother at a young age left a deep scar, but it also fueled his determination to rise above the darkness and rebuild his life.
His time in the military brought even greater challenges—during two tours in Afghanistan, 23 of the 32 soldiers in his platoon were injured, and one was killed. Despite the trauma and struggles with PTSD, Ryan emerged stronger, channeling his pain into purpose.
In 2017, after losing his job, Ryan hit rock bottom. Driving 120 mph with plans to crash into a cement pillar, he chose, at the last second, to swerve and fight instead of giving up. That moment of defiance changed everything.
Even after a devastating coal mining accident crushed his hand, leading to multiple surgeries, and a semi truck accident that shut down a freeway for six hours, Ryan refused to quit. His unique talents—performing blindfolded and playing piano, country, and rap music—helped him continue to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.
Through his dynamic keynotes and transformative courses, Ryan shares the tools that helped him turn his life around. He teaches individuals how to be better students, employees, and leaders by embracing the power of choice, clarity, consistency, connections, and the courage to face your giants. Ryan empowers others to overcome mental health struggles, build self-belief, and foster resilience.
With degrees in Psychology and Family Science, and successful ventures in business—including running three companies—Ryan proves that no challenge is too great to overcome. His mission is clear: to empower people to create winning environments at work, in school, and in life.
"Rock bottom is the perfect place to rebuild. So build, and rise!
