Raised in a cult in Wisconsin, Ryan grew up “speaking in tongues.” He put these acting skills to good use by leaving the church to become a performer, touring his solo shows across the U.S., Canada and to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. One time, he was in a soap opera where he got to exclaim, “I could have sworn that was Gigi Morasco!” Realizing there was no more for him to achieve in daytime television, Ryan decided to instead make those things that come on during the soap operas. He attended Miami Ad School New York in Brooklyn (very misleading name), after which he joined Mekanism and finally Droga5. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Fast Company and Creativity, which is all way more rewarding (and far less creepy) than being in a cult.