Meet Ryan, Our New Marketing Director

Say hi to Ryan, one of Random Agency's newest team members! We can't wait to get to know him and what better way to do that than a Q & A?

First, the obvious question: Why did you choose Random Agency?

Is it lame to say that Random chose me? I bet everybody says that. Maybe not. Either way, I did feel a bit of a magnetic pull towards the Random universe, as I've admired what the company has been doing from a far. Transparently, Random co-founder John Patterson and I worked together at a previous agency, and him and I clicked pretty much from day one. While our career paths went in separate directions after a year of commiserating, I always hoped to work with John again in the future. When I decided to make a move from my previous position, John and Lauren were the first folks I rang up. Lucky for me, they decided to take a chance on me and bring me into the fold. I honestly couldn't be happier to be here!

Tell us three cool things about yourself.

1. I play in a few bands (I mean, can you get any cooler?) and write songs; it's basically what defines me and gives me an outlet that has allowed me to see the world and get through tough times.
2. I have an amazing 11-going-on-12-year-old son named Emitt who is a burgeoning basketball star; I absolutely love watching him play and am 100% his biggest fan.
3. I've ran around 15 half-marathons, one full marathon, and spend most of my Sunday mornings running between 10 and 15 miles; some would argue that this is actually uncool because of how much running can suck (and I would agree, sometimes it does), but I personally love it and credit it with helping me become a better person.

Favorite TV show?

Um, yeah. I watch A LOT of TV, embarrassingly. But I feel like everybody does, so whatever. That said, it's hard to pick just one show, but some of the best I've seen in recent years are Severance, Ted Lasso, Succession, Barry, Fargo, Westworld, Yellowjackets and Game of Thrones. I'm also a sucker for terrible, raunchy, substanceless reality TV, most notably Vanderpump Rules and Love is Blind.  

If money was no object, where would you go and what would you do?

I would absolutely love to take my son to watch the NBA Finals courtside - doesn't matter the team, doesn't matter the place per se, but a perfect scenario would be a game 7 in the hometown of the team who ends up winning that night. It would be amazing to watch all that from that close, and see them crown a champion after playing 7 hard-fought games. 

What's in your refrigerator right now?

Food.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

The ability to sleep for 1 hour but make it feel like 8 or 9 hours - just so I could get more done during the day.

What's your favorite childhood memory?

Too many to count, but I have one that sticks out where my grandma took me out on a fun day when I was probably 11 or 12 years old. We went golfing, we drove around, we ate something called a loose burger at a restaurant that I can't remember the name of. It wasn't anything completely or totally special, but I think about that day a lot when I think of her. She was an awesome person and I miss her.

Name one thing you wish you could do better.

Just one? I just should probably say something related to mental health or handling tough situations better, but for real, I wish I could actually cook something edible that didn't resemble hot garbage on a summer day. I mean, I probably could if I tried, but I've been lucky to be surrounded by great cooks all my life. I can make a mean grilled cheese, though.

Which three things would you take to a desert island?

My guitar, my son, and my girlfriend. We would probably die but at least we would be together and I could sing us some songs about how it would have been smarter to bring a knife or harpoon or some twine or something.

What is the last book you read?

Smart Brevity by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen and Roy Schwartz  & How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy

What is your favorite account to follow on Instagram?

Even though I don't drink anymore (sober for 6 years, baby!), I love @drunkpeopledoingthings - it's a great reminder to stay off the sauce and it also is a never ending source of people falling, getting slapped, jumping off of rooftops, running into street lamps, and just, generally, acting a fool. I'm happy there are people out there willing to embarrass themselves on the internet so I don't have to (anymore).