ABOUT RYAN
Ryan Neal is a musician, keynote speaker, and brain tumor survivor who transforms personal adversity into powerful inspiration, blending resilience and rhythm to remind audiences that the hardest battles can spark new beginnings.
At six, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. A miracle saved his life.
At eight, doctors found another — still with him today.
At ten, he lost hearing in his left ear for good.
Most would call that an ending.
Ryan calls it his beginning.
Pictured: Ryan post-brain surgery, 1998.
Through every surgery, scar, and moment of uncertainty, he discovered the importance of living each day to the fullest. That resilience now fuels everything he does. From writing and performing music to inspiring audiences with his story on stage.
After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Michigan, Ryan worked in IT, HR, ophthalmology, and sales. But his free time was spent chasing his true calling: music. He taught himself music production, audio engineering, honed his craft as a multi-instrumentalist, how to DJ and eventually made the move to Nashville to pursue music full-time.
Since then, Ryan has carved a path as a genre-bending artist, blending funk, soul, and pop into a sound he calls Motown Bounce. His talent and energy led to a national spotlight when he was discovered on Instagram by a television executive and cast on ABC’s The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart. He’s performed across the country, from intimate stages to major festivals, and continues to push his artistry into new spaces as a live performer, DJ and producer.
But Ryan’s impact goes beyond music. As a keynote speaker, he transforms his personal journey into a message of resilience, courage, and possibility. He blends storytelling with live performance, creating experiences that move audiences to rethink what’s possible in their own lives.
Today, Ryan is building a movement where music meets message — and mindset becomes momentum. Whether behind a microphone or on stage with a guitar, he’s proof that even the hardest battles can spark brand-new beginnings.
