Activating Curiosity, Leading Change in Construction, hosted by Ryan Ware, guiding AEC leaders to commit to sustainable change.

I’m Ryan Ware, a change leadership coach, consultant, and speaker working primarily in the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) ecosystem. My work focuses on helping leaders build stronger relationships with change so they can navigate uncertainty with more confidence, curiosity, and agility.

My podcast focuses on leadership, operations, innovation and human behavior, especially how people experience change inside complex environments like construction. Each episode explores how leaders think, decide, communicate, and adapt when the ground is shifting beneath them.

The show blends thoughtful conversations with industry leaders, practitioners, and thinkers, along with solo reflections and short-form insights. While the context is often construction and innovation, the themes are universal: trust, psychological safety, decision-making under pressure, and what it actually takes to lead humans through change.

My listeners are primarily future-focused leaders in construction and adjacent industries, project managers, executives, operations leaders, and emerging leaders who are navigating growth, transformation, or disruption and want practical, human-centered perspectives rather than surface-level “leadership hacks.”
 

I started podcasting because it felt like the most human medium for the conversations I was already having. I’ve always been an avid podcast listener, especially shows that allow for long-form thinking, nuance, and reflection, and I wanted a space where leaders could slow down and think out loud about change instead of reacting to it.

I wanted to create a platform to explore how leaders actually experience change, to learn alongside my guests, and to give voice to perspectives that often get lost in fast-moving project environments.

I launched the podcast in parallel with my speaking, consulting and coaching work. From idea to first episode took a few months to clarify the purpose, format, and tone. I didn’t want the show to feel rushed or overly produced; I wanted it to feel thoughtful, grounded, and useful from day one. Something that would resonate with all in the AEC industry.
 

The podcast is released on a consistent cadence, typically 3 episodes per month, 2 guest discussions and a bonus episode. Each episode takes numerous hours for guest coordination and prep, to recording, editing, and publishing and post episode release marketing.

Like many podcasters, I run this alongside a full-time consulting and coaching practice. The key has been integration rather than separation: podcast conversations often inform my client work, and client insights often shape podcast topics. That overlap makes the time investment feel additive rather than extra.

Financially, the podcast has been self-funded as part of my business. In keeping costs low, hosting, basic editing support, and software subscriptions are done by me. I see it less as a standalone media product and more as a long-term investment in relationships, learning, and thought leadership.
 

Podcasting has been incredibly valuable, and I currently do not have revenue, but is a long term goal from sponsorships and marketing. While I’ve experimented with light sponsorships and partnerships, the primary return has been learning, relationships, and credibility.

The goal is that many guests become long-term collaborators, clients, or peers. Conversations on the podcast often open doors that wouldn’t exist through cold outreach or traditional marketing. The show also sharpens my thinking, explaining ideas out loud forces clarity in a way writing alone doesn’t.

From a career perspective, the podcast reinforces my positioning as a thoughtful voice in change leadership within the construction ecosystem. It’s also deeply fulfilling on a human level for me. I truly enjoy honest, curious conversation.
 

My setup is intentionally simple and reliable. I use professional-grade microphones, Riversidefm recording software audio editing, along with Canva for creating images for sharing on social media.

Guests typically come from my professional network, referrals, LinkedIn conversations. I’m less interested in “big names” and more interested in people with lived experience and thoughtful perspectives and are leading change in the AEC industry with a human first approach.

Preparation usually includes light research and some fundamental, curiosity driven questions. I want the conversation to feel natural and responsive. Interviews are recorded remotely via Riversidefm, which allows me to connect with guests across geographies.
 

Discovery happens primarily through podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify, along with organic sharing on LinkedIn. Word of mouth plays a bigger role than any paid marketing at this time.

LinkedIn has been the most effective channel by far for me, sharing short reflections, episode clips, or ideas sparked by conversations tends to resonate with my audience. I also repurpose episodes into articles, blogs, and client-facing insights, which keeps the content alive beyond the initial release.

I use SEO/AI tools to help ensure titles and descriptions align with the podcast's focus and relevance to help build trust. The right listeners tend to find the show when the message resonates.
 

Start with curiosity, not downloads. The most meaningful podcasts come from genuine interest in the conversation, not looking for instant gratification from chasing metrics.

One thing I learned early is that consistency beats perfection. You don’t need the best gear or a massive audience to start, you need a clear point of view and a willingness to learn in public.

Helpful resources include listening widely, studying interview styles I admire, and remembering that podcasting takes time. I treat it like a practice, not a campaign.
 

You can learn more about my work and podcast at my website and on LinkedIn, where I’m most active. I also share reflections, resources, and updates through my blog and articles.
https://activatingcuriosity.buzzsprout.com
https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankware/