Dan Ryder went from serving in the military to building a career in one of the most misunderstood industries out there: cryptocurrency. In this episode, Doug and Dan cut through the noise and talk about what crypto actually is, where the real opportunities are, and why Dan's book, The Hidden Digital Gold Rush, was written for the person who's curious but doesn't know where to start.

• Crypto has a reputation problem, and most of it is undeserved
• Decentralized finance (DeFi) is opening doors that traditional banking keeps locked
• The risks are real, and going in with your eyes open is the only way to play it
• 2026 could be a turning point for digital currency
• You don't need to be a tech expert or a hedge fund manager to get started

Dan Ryder is a military veteran turned entrepreneur and crypto educator. His bestselling book, The Hidden Digital Gold Rush, gives regular people a no-nonsense roadmap to understanding and investing in cryptocurrency.

In this conversation, Doug Crowe and Cynthia Kay dig into one of the hardest questions business owners face: Do I stay, or is it time to move on? Cynthia reflects on her path from investigative journalism to entrepreneurship, sharing how each chapter of her career taught her to recognize when something had run its course.

Drawing on her background in broadcasting, she explains how curiosity, pattern recognition, and self-awareness shaped her decision-making over time. Together, they explore what emotional readiness really looks like, why peer-to-peer learning matters so much to entrepreneurs, and how reinvention isn’t a single leap but a thoughtful, often uncomfortable process.

Key Takeaways

• You always have the option to choose differently or to walk away.
• A fading sense of passion is often the first signal that something needs to change.
• Emotional readiness is just as important as financial readiness when making a move.
• Peer-to-peer learning is one of the most powerful tools for business owners.
• Reinvention is a process, not a single decision and it’s more accessible than ever.

Get your copy of "Should You Stay or Should You Go" on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2P4wVuo

This week on the Author Your Brand Show, Doug Crowe sits down with Kathleen Lucente, founder and CEO of Red Fan Communications, to unpack what really happens when leaders face their toughest public moments. Drawing on experiences from 9/11 to global health crises and corporate upheavals, Kathleen explains how smart crisis communication can protect both people and brand reputation. She shows why every CEO needs a clear plan, an aligned leadership team, and an honest narrative before a crisis ever makes the news.

The conversation dives into the psychology of employees after traumatic events, the realities of data breaches and public protests, and the importance of practicing crisis scenarios so leaders can respond with confidence instead of panic. Kathleen also shares why she turns down ethically questionable “fix it” work and how values-driven communication builds long-term trust with customers, investors, and teams. Whether you’re running a startup or a global brand, this episode will change how you think about preparedness, reputation, and leadership under pressure.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Every organization needs a crisis communications plan before a crisis hits.

2. Internal communication and employee trust are just as important as external PR.

3. Practicing scenarios and simulations builds the muscle memory to respond well.

4. Ethical, transparent messaging is the foundation of a lasting reputation.

5. A clear brand narrative helps leaders turn high-stakes moments into opportunities for trust and credibility.

Learn more about Kathleen Lucente and Red Fan Communications at https://redfancommunications.com.