#7 Confronting Darkness, Global Lobsters, and Building a Business from the Ground Up - Ryan Jones

Curious AF

Guest: Ryan Jones, Founder & CEO at Refuel Creative, Digital Adelaide Organizer, EO Adelaide Board Member, Speaker, Marketer, and Digital Technology Specialist
Host: Luke Biermann, Managing Director of Mechanical Seal Engineering Pty Ltd, Councillor of Pump Industry Australia, Forum Chair of Entrepreneurs Organisation Adelaide, and Founder of Hard Stuff Podcast
Confronting Darkness, Global Lobsters, and Building a Business from the Ground Up - In this episode of The Hard Stuff Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Jones, founder & CEO of Refuel Creative, to explore the real, unfiltered struggles of entrepreneurship. Ryan shares his raw experiences with mental health, business challenges, and scaling a global company while staying resilient.

Inside This Episode:
- The dark side of leadership—navigating mental health struggles in business
- The unexpected emotional cost of firing an employee
- Why chasing success over happiness leads to burnout
- How scaling globally is the key to escaping a stagnant market
- That time Ryan shipped live Australian lobsters across the U.S.

If you're an entrepreneur, business leader, or someone looking for real-life inspiration, this episode is for you!

ABOUT CURIOUS AF PODCAST

Curious AF is the evolution of what started as The Hard Stuff Podcast. Initially focused on guests who’d done hard things—ultra marathons, building businesses, overcoming personal challenges—it’s now becoming a broader platform to explore anything and everything I’m genuinely curious about.
The new direction is more personal and wide-ranging. I want it to feel like a space where I can follow my curiosity and have real conversations with people who inspire, challenge, or fascinate me.
For further information, contact:
Podcast Host - Luke Biermann
General Inquiries: [email protected]
Instagram: @curiousaf.podcast