Dare to Disrupt

In this episode, host Ryan Newman talks with Bobby Morgan, founder and CEO of Prosperitas Enterprises. Its flagship system, Live Prosperous, trains and inspires individuals, teams, and organizations to build the resilience and emotional strength to thrive through life’s inevitable storms. He is also the founder and CEO of Talaria Media, a premium film, television, and digital media company operating out of Los Angeles and Nashville. Morgan shares his journey from growing up on his family’s dairy farm to building companies focused on resilience, leadership, and storytelling. The conversation explores his early fascination with electronics and how he worked alongside his father and grandfather to integrate technology into the dairy farming process. Morgan also reflects on battling cancer while a student at Penn State, an experience that shaped his perspective on perseverance and purpose. Morgan discusses how his career led him to work with Navy SEALs and launch a startup whose first client was the White House, along with the lessons he learned operating in high-pressure environments. He also shares insights into founding and growing Talaria Media, his perspective on the current film industry landscape, and his work with the Invent Penn State Brand Academy to bring the Live Prosperous resilience training program to Penn State student-athletes. Later in the episode, current Penn State student Aryan Vir joins the conversation. Aryan is studying cybersecurity analytics and operations in the College of IST. He is the founder of Crypton, a startup focused on building identity infrastructure for a password-less internet using device-based cryptographic authentication. This past spring, Aryan participated in the Bardusch Family IdeaMakers Challenge during Penn State Startup Week. Aryan and Bobby discuss what startups should spend less time doing, how AI will impact the film and TV industry, and advice for students looking to grow their startup and know when to pivot. Episode Chapters 0:00 - 9:06 Growing up on a dairy farm, interest sparks in electronics and music 9:06 - 13:30 Battling cancer while at Penn State 13:30 - 17:48 Modernizing communications systems for Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces 17:48 - 21:42 Launching Morgan Franklin, a national security and business consulting startup 21:42 - 25:12 Inspiration behind leaving Morgan Franklin and pivoting businesses 25:12 - 32:04 A peek at some of Talaria Media's upcoming film and TV projects 32:04 - 34:57 Live Prosperous' work with The Penn State Brand Academy and Invent Penn State 34:57 - 36:13 Rapid Fire Round 36:13 - 51:38 Student Questions 36:13 - 38:08 Deciding which opportunities are worth pursuing 38:08 - 40:32 What startups should stop focusing their energy on 40:32 - 44:12 Encountering and overcoming challenges and failures 44:12 - 46:30 What would Bobby do if he had to start over from scratch 46:30 - 49:36 How AI will impact the film/media industry 49:36 - 50:45 How much curiosity is too much The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

This special commemorative episode features host Ryan Newman reflecting on six key themes that emerged from 50 conversations with Dare to Disrupt guests. Throughout the episode, listeners will hear memorable quotes and moments from past interviews. The first theme is identifying a problem worth solving. The second is having the courage to leave one’s comfort zone and fully pursue an idea. The third explores the inevitable failures and setbacks that come with challenging the status quo. The fourth highlights the importance of community and support systems like Penn State, without which many of these journeys may not have been possible. The fifth examines the odds many entrepreneurs have had to overcome, including experiences with extreme poverty — a reality that resonates with many who attended a land-grant university. And the sixth centers on a theme that extends beyond entrepreneurship and speaks to our shared humanity: the stories of individuals who have faced life-and-death challenges along their journey.   Episode Chapters 0:00 - 3:26 Opening Comments/Reflections from Ryan 3:26 - 6:09 Theme 1: Identify a Problem in Need of Solving 6:09 - 9:45 Theme 2: Having the Courage to Leave 9:45 - 12:17 Theme 3: Learning From Failures 12:17 - 14:55 Theme 4: The Value of a Community such as Penn State 14:55 - 22:18 Theme 5: Starting with Nothing 22:18 - 28:48 Theme 6: Facing Mortality 28:48 - 34:10 Inspiration from Garry Gilliam, and Ryan's thoughts on AI and importance of storytelling The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

This special 50th episode of the Dare to Disrupt podcast was recorded live at the Smeal College of Business. It features a compelling conversation with Asia Grant—creative entrepreneur, content creator, and founder of Scent Social Club. Through its Nolita Perfume Tour, Scent Social Club offers an immersive experience that helps participants discover their signature fragrance. An award-winning perfumer, Asia has spent hundreds of hours researching, developing, and sourcing fragrances. She is also the founder of Redoux, a New York City–based fragrance and skincare company. Asia and Ryan discuss her pursuit of prestige alongside a deeper mission to become the person she was meant to be, her experience balancing a full-time role at IBM while building Redoux in her parents’ basement during the pandemic, and how she strategically built a network in New York City’s beauty industry. They also explore supply chain challenges, the inspiration behind Scent Social Club, social media strategy, and more. At the top of the episode, enjoy a bonus fireside chat between host Ryan Newman and Penn State Smeal College of Business Dean Corey Phelps, recorded live to kick off the event. They reflect on key lessons and takeaways from the first 49 episodes of the podcast, discuss different approaches to problem-solving, and explore concepts from Dean Phelps’ book, Cracked It! How to Solve Big Problems and Sell Solutions Like Top Strategy Consultants. This episode and live event was sponsored by the Smeal College of Business, Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, and OriginLabs. Episode Chapters 0:00:00 – Fireside Chat with Smeal Dean Corey Phelps: Problem-solving, Innovation, and Disruption 26:38 – Asia Grant – Fearless from the Start: Public Speaking and Big Goals 31:47 – Why Penn State: Networks, Opportunities, and Growth 38:19 – Chasing Prestige to Betting on Herself as a Student 45:26 – The Motivation and Fear That Fueled Her Creativity 46:50 – No Job Offers, No Problem: Building Her Own Beauty Brand 51:44 – Networking Her Way to Revenue and Recognition in New York 59:43 – When to Pivot: Reinventing After Supply Chain Setbacks 1:07:59 – Audience Q&A: Advice and Insights on Building Partnerships and Managing Social Media The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Patrick Kinney, CEO of Keystone Agency Partners, shares his remarkable journey from hitchhiking to Penn State Hazleton without a dollar to his name to leading transformative growth in the insurance industry. What began as a determined search for any job—despite not even knowing what insurance was—turned into a 30+ year career at Travelers, where he rose to Executive Vice President and developed a product that generated $5 billion for the company. Growing up in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Patrick built his career on resilience, resourcefulness, and a deep commitment to people-centered leadership. In this episode, he reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his path, including a life-changing job interview that set everything in motion. After retiring from Travelers, Patrick entered an entirely new chapter—stepping into the startup world as CEO of Keystone Agency Partners. He shares what it’s like to transition from a large corporate environment to a high-growth, entrepreneurial company, and the guiding principles he’s carried with him along the way. Later in the episode, current Penn State student Arnav Aggarwal joins the conversation. Arnav is a freshman at Penn State in the BS/MD accelerated medicine program. With mentorship from Happy Valley LaunchBox, Arnav is developing Campus Cabs, a student-run mobility solution aiming to provide safer, more affordable campus transportation. Arnav and Patrick discuss how Patrick’s 22 guiding principles apply in practice, the insurance and liability considerations founders should keep in mind, the value of an MBA, and the advice Patrick would give his younger self. Episode Chapters 0:00 - 4:49 A challenging start in Kensington, PA 4:49 - 9:44 Patrick's mother convinces him to go to college, experience at Penn State Hazleton 9:44 - 11:15 Becoming a logistics major at Penn State University Park 11:15 - 20:18 A life-changing job interview with Travelers  20:18 - 24:17 Applying street smarts to the insurance industry 24:17 - 25:43 Putting pen to paper on 22 guiding principles as a reflection on his career 25:43 -29:57 Jumping into the startup world with Keystone Agency Partners post-retirement 29:57 - 34:56 How Keystone Agency Partners is disrupting the insurance industry 34:56 - 37:07 Rapid Fire Round 37:07 - 50:38 Student Section 37:56 - 40:50 Adopting a strategic mindset as a founder 40:50 - 43:41 Insurance risks to consider for Arnav's startup 43:41 - 46:13 Proving a concept in a way that attracts long-term partners 46:13 - 47:50 The value of an MBA 47:50 - 50:38 Advice for Patrick's younger self About Patrick Kinney Patrick Kinney is the CEO of Keystone Agency Partners, the nation’s first broker network Patrick graduated from the Penn State Smeal College of Business with a bachelor’s in business logistics, and received his MBA in finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  About Arnav Aggarwal Arnav Aggarwal is a freshman at Penn State in the BS/MD accelerated medicine program. He is the founder of CareForAll, a nonprofit that mobilizes doctors across India to deliver free healthcare to underserved communities. During high school, he also launched LendingLibrary, a B2B platform now deployed nationwide, coordinating book exchanges within gated communities across India. More recently at Penn State, with mentorship from Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, Arnav is developing Campus Cabs, a student-run mobility solution aiming to provide safer, more affordable campus transportation. The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Jackie Foor is the Executive Director of the Consortium for Public Education, a nonprofit that connects schools with partners and resources to help students prepare for their futures.  In this episode, Jackie shares what it takes to run a successful and impactful nonprofit, reflects on how the collapse of the steel industry shaped the Pittsburgh region, and discusses the growing role of AI in education. She also explains how the consortium works to bridge the gap between what students learn in school and the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and in postsecondary education. Later in the episode, recent Penn State graduate student Edward Amoah joins the conversation. Edward recently earned his doctorate in ecology with a dual title in international agriculture and development and is currently a postdoctoral researcher and ICDS Rising Research Fellow. He is President of Nyansapo Labs, whose mission is to expand equitable access to targeted teaching and personalized learning through AI-enabled teaching and learning systems. Edward participated in the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps short course program, won the Nittany AI Challenge, and participated in the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program in the College of Engineering. Edward and Jackie discuss how the consortium goes about building relationships with workforce, as well as AI-adoption across schools and different industries.  Episode Chapters: 0:00 - 4:50 Growing up in Pittsburgh during the collapse of the steel industry 4:50 - 5:58 Penn State experience 5:58 - 10:45 The importance of grant writing 10:45 - 15:07 The mission of the Consortium for Public Education 15:07 - 20:55 Bridging the gap between workforce and education 20:55 - 26:13 What it means to lead a nonprofit as a social entrepreneur 26:13 - 31:08 The future of education 31:08 - 32:05 Advice for someone wanting to start a nonprofit 32:05 - 33:57 Rapid Fire Segment 33:57 - 47:35 Student Questions 35:03 - 39:58 Building trusting relationships with workforce 39:58 - 45:33 How AI can and should be implemented into the classroom, augmenting the workplace 45:33 - 47:35 Re-inventing K-12 education with work-based learning opportunities  About Jackie Foor Jackie Foor is the Executive Director of the Consortium for Public Education, a nonprofit that connects schools with partners and resources to help students prepare for their futures. Jackie graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s in secondary education from the College of Education, and received her master's in organizational leadership from Carlow University.  About Edward Amoah Edward recently earned his doctorate in ecology with a dual title in international agriculture and development and is currently a postdoctoral researcher and ICDS Rising Research Fellow. He is President of Nyansapo Labs, whose mission is to expand equitable access to targeted teaching and personalized learning through AI-enabled teaching and learning systems. Edward participated in the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps short course program, won the Nittany AI Challenge, and participated in the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program in the College of Engineering. The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.