Podcasts
How do you stand out from the corporate crowd in today's competitive financial world? You manage your company's narrative. Learn how it's done. Join Tom Ryan, Co-Founder & CEO of ICR for the podcast series, "Welcome to the Arena." Hear candid conversations with CEOs, CFOs, and others who influence the fate of public or soon-to-be-public companies.
Featured Podcasts:
Episode 1: Nicole Miller Regan
There are no higher stakes than being a public or soon-to-be-public company. ICR Co-Founder and CEO, Tom Ryan, kicks off new podcast “Welcome to the Arena” with Piper Sandler’s Senior Research Analyst, Nicole Miller Regan. The pair discusses Regan’s hospitality stock picks and her time on the sell-side. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 2: Laird Bieger
In the second episode of Welcome to the Arena, ICR Co-Founder and CEO, Tom Ryan, sits down with Laird Bieger (Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Baron Capital Group) to discuss buy-side positioning and everything it takes for a company to attract capital. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 3: Don Duffy
Episode 3 of Welcome to the Arena features ICR President, Don Duffy. Tune in as he dives into a conversation with ICR Co Founder and CEO, Tom Ryan, surrounding the complexities of SPACs, their historical impact, and the role they have had in the recent market. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 4: Bob McCooey
As Senior Vice President of Nasdaq, Bob McCooey has encountered every side of the marketplace. Get an inside look at the logistics of securities exchanges and foreign markets as he joins Tom Ryan for Episode 4 of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 5: Rob Sharp
Tune in to Episode 5 of Welcome to the Arena to hear Tom Ryan’s insightful conversation with Co-CEO of Ramy Brook, Rob Sharp. The pair discusses relationships between private equity professionals and management in addition to everything that they can learn from one another. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 6: Harold Edwards
“When you decide to make your business a partnership with mother nature, you have to be prepared for her cruelty.” Episode 6 features Limoneira CEO Harold Edwards. He joins Tom Ryan to discuss the complexities of agribusiness, the marketing structures that have worked for his company, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 7: Miguel Martin
Join Tom Ryan and Aurora Cannabis CEO Miguel Martin for a glimpse into what actually goes on inside the dynamic cannabis industry. Conversation topics include the intricacies of recreational and medicinal usage, as well as taxation, legalization, and decriminalization. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 8: Russ Wheeler
It takes more than just a grill to make an outdoor kitchen a reality. In this episode of Welcome to the Arena, Russ Wheeler, CEO of BBQGuys, sits down with Tom Ryan for a conversation about the modern grill game and their like-minded community of barbecue-lovers. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 9: Eric Yunag
How could your company benefit if all of your technological efforts were connected? What will the next technological revolution look like? Eric Yunag, VP of Technology & Innovation at Convergint, joins Tom Ryan to answer this question and more in Episode 9 of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 10: Syed Raj Imteaz
Syed Raj Imteaz has seen it all when it comes to convertible securities, now serving as the Head of Convertible and Equity Derivatives Advisory at ICR Capital. He even once saved a company a cool $20 million. Check out his conversation with Tom Ryan for everything call spreads, capitol allocation, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 11: Katherine Fogertey
Shake Shack isn’t content to sit back – they’re leading the charge when it comes to fast food innovation. CFO Katherine Fogertey gives us a closer look at her team’s vision to expand beyond the ordinary in the restaurant industry through personalized experiences and enlightened hospitality. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 12: Paddy Spence & Amy Taylor
Sodas and other carbonated beverages aren’t frequently described as “healthy”, but Zevia wants to change that. In this episode of Welcome to the Arena, Tom Ryan sits down with Paddy Spence and Amy Taylor to discuss consumer health, sustainability in the beverage industry, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 13: Brian Gonick
Investing in stocks that the market has passed by is risky, but that’s exactly where Senvest Co-CIO Brian Gonick and his team find value. In Episode 14 of Welcome to the Arena, Tom and Brian discuss Senvest’s management, techniques adopted from the CIA, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 14: Jason Kelly
There is one stakeholder that’s often forgotten: the media. Episode 14 of Welcome to the Arena feature’s Bloomberg Quicktake Chief Correspondent Jason Kelly. He joins Tom Ryan for a conversation about business journalism and media relationships. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 15: Chris Rondeau
Gyms were particularly vulnerable during the pandemic. Planet Fitness CEO Chris Rondeau sits down with Tom Ryan in Episode 15 of Welcome to the Arena to talk about how they have weathered the storm and have even come out stronger on the other side. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 16: Steve Glenn
Companies that set themselves apart through innovation have a lot to gain. Plant Prefab CEO Steve Glenn joins ICR’s Tom Ryan in Episode 16 of Welcome to the Arena for a conversation on how his team does exactly that by setting standards for sustainability and efficiency. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 17: Stan Chia
Breaking into a market with existing prominent players can be daunting, but Vivid Seats is a prime example of how to do it right. In Episode 17 of Welcome to the Arena, CEO & Board Director Stan Chia sits down with Tom Ryan to discuss how they carved out a space for themselves in the ticketing industry. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 18: Lyndon Park
Opportunities arise for companies that start using ESG as an offensive tool rather than playing defense. ICR‘s Lyndon Park joins Tom Ryan to discuss investment strategies, shifting rating standards, and future ESG trends in Episode 18 of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 20: Dave Tayeh
Transparency and relationships in the private equity industry are becoming increasingly championed. Tom Ryan sits down with Investcorp‘s Dave Tayeh to discuss why in addition to how the private equity game has evolved over time, Investcorp’s mission, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 21: Dux Raymond Sy
If anyone understands the advantages of building brand into your business strategy, it’s AvePoint‘s Dux Raymond Sy. He joins Tom Ryan to discuss the characteristics of a memorable brand, recent digital marketing shifts in SaaS, and more in Episode 21. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 22: Andy Rothman
Investors are curious about the opportunities to be found in China’s fast-growing market. Matthews Asia Investment Strategist Andy Rotham offers an insider’s perspective into the role of China’s public companies, their economic policy, and more in this episode. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 23: Joth Ricci
COVID-19 mandates are relaxing, consumers are eager to rejoin the real world, and the beverage industry is bouncing back. In this episode, Dutch Bros Coffee CEO Joth Ricci discusses changes in consumer habits during the pandemic, Dutch Bros’ plans for expansion, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 24: Brian Kelsey
Building a talk show in your garage isn’t so different from building any other brand or business. In Episode 24 of Welcome to the Arena, Tom Ryan sits down for a conversation with Voice Actor & Host of Ten Minutes With, Brian Kelsey. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 25: Eli Manning and Drew Sheinman
There’s one fact that has been historically overlooked in private equity: human capital. In Episode 25, Eli Manning and Drew Sheinman discuss the value of the human element in private equity, their work at Brand Velocity Group, how they decided it was the right fit for Eli post-retirement from the NFL, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 26: Conor Flynn
Real Estate Investment Trusts are often misunderstood. However, they historically produce long-term capital appreciation. Kimco Realty‘s Conor Flynn explains how they can be a safe and lucrative bet in this episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 27: Farah Soi
This week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena is the first in a new mini-series, ICR Industry Reports, featuring some of ICR’s leading industry experts. Tom Ryan sits down with ICR Partner Farah Soi to discuss what makes a great CEO, how her clients are telling their ESG stories, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 28: Russell Fleischer
In the new episode of Welcome to the Arena, Russell Fleischer, General Partner at Battery Ventures, joins Tom Ryan to discuss the research-driven approach to choosing investments, the human aspect of mergers and acquisitions, how current market shifts are affecting the tech industry, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 29: Marc Silverberg
This episode of the Welcome to the Arena ICR Industry Reports mini-series features Partner Marc Silverberg. He joins Tom Ryan to discuss ICR’s Energy, Sustainability, & Modern Mobility investor relations practice, the path that led him to his current position, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 30: Kyle Kostesich
Your brand is your promise to your consumers, employees, and investors. In this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena, ICR‘s Executive Creative Director, Kyle Kostesich, sits down to discuss his path to his current role, the long term benefits of a creating a strong brand strategy, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 31: James Foster
Cybercriminals are getting bolder, and companies need a solution that evolves alongside the threat. This week’s podcast guest, ZeroFOX‘s James Foster, is doing critically important work in the development of effective cybersecurity solutions. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 32: Nino Ciappina
In this episode of Welcome to the Arena, Tom Ryan and PARTS iD CEO Nino Ciappina sit down to discuss why the iD stands out in the industry, how they’re handling market changes, how they’re preparing for the electric vehicle revolution, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 33: Jerry Morgan
In Episode 33, Jerry Morgan, President & CEO of Texas Roadhouse, sits down with Tom Ryan to discuss their company backstory, how they’ve been handling recent inflation and market changes, the company values that drive their business, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 34: Joseph Antoun MD, PhD
In episode 34 of the Welcome to the Arena podcast, Tom Ryan and L-Nutra Chairman and CEO Joseph Antoun sit down to discuss the health benefits of fasting, L-Nutra’s fasting mimicking technology, three areas of growth potential that they’re focusing on in their business, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 35: Brad Cohen
ICR Managing Partner Brad Cohen sits down with Tom Ryan in this episode to discuss the types of companies that are currently able to break into the public market, the importance of strong relationships with investors (especially in a down market), and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 36: Jeff Fischer
In this episode of Welcome to the Arena, Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics LLC‘s Jeff Fischer shares how they found an unusual solution to a shortage of essential supplies, how seeking FDA approval aided in mass rollout during the pandemic, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 37: Dave Prokupek
The human obsession with youth and beauty has been alive for thousands of years, and the aesthetics industry is only continuing to grow. Tom Ryan and Ideal Image CEO Dave Prokupek discuss the current state of industry, how it was affected by the pandemic, and more in this week’s episode. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 38: Greg McDowell
Tech companies are having to work harder than ever to prove their resilience in today’s increasingly noisy market. Greg McDowell, Head of Technology Investor Relations at ICR, explains this and more in the new episode of ICR Industry Reports. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 39: Jim Barr
While gyms were closed during the pandemic, at-home fitness equipment saw a huge boom in sales. Nautilus Inc. CEO Jim Barr explains how they managed the surge in demand, dealt with personnel changes, and more in the new episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 40: Scott Sanborn
Tom Ryan sits down with LendingClub CEO Scott Sanborn to chat about their consistent growth, their innovative debt management solutions that have helped over 4 million Americans, and more in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 41: Joe Folkman
In this episode of Welcome to the Arena, Joe Folkman, Co-Founder & President at Zenger Folkman, explains the foundational theory of his latest book, how to use data to cultivate trust in your business, why consistency is important when doing so, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 42: Henry Nassau
Dechert CEO Henry Nassau joins Tom Ryan to discuss what sets them apart from other law firms, the rise and fall of the dot-com bubble, current trends in economic globalization, and more in this week’s episode of the Welcome to the Arena podcast. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 43: John Mancini
In this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena, Mayer Brown‘s John Mancini explains his path to intellectual property litigation, why pre-IPO companies should prioritize protecting their IP rights, important vulnerabilities they should be aware of, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 44: Meaghan Montegari
In this episode of Welcome to the Arena, ICR‘s Meaghan Montegari and Tom Ryan discuss the current corporate access landscape, the value of clear and consistent marketing, and why access to data combined with a human touch is such a difference maker. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 45: Scott Hart
Episode 45 of Welcome to the Arena features StepStone Group CEO Scott Hart. He sits down with Tom Ryan to dive into the keys to managing a global firm, StepStone’s company mission, the unique aspects of their corporate culture, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 46: TJ Jiang
The SaaS industry has seen 5x growth in the last 7 years, but software vendor AvePoint was on the scene long before this boom. CEO TJ Jiang joins Tom Ryan in this episode to discuss their early years, their extraordinary long term growth, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 47: Joe Ennen
In this episode, SunOpta CEO Joe Ennen and Tom Ryan discuss the future of the sustainable food market, SunOpta’s innovative strategy and capacity-building achievements, the five factors that have fueled the growth of plant-based milk products, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 48: Nitin Chexal
Episode 48 features Palladius Capital Management CEO Nitin Chexal. He sits down with Tom Ryan to break down the “hotel-ification” of multi-family rentals, how Palladius scaled so rapidly, their focus on shallow bay assets and tactically contrarian approach, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 49: Gregg Nabhan
Tom Ryan and Bank of America‘s Gregg Nabhan discuss the past 4 decades of economic twists and turns, what’s on the horizon for the IPO market, his career highlights, and more in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 50: Noah Glass
Restaurants have rapidly gone digital in recent years, but it’s actually been a vision 20 years in the making. And it all started with today’s guest: Noah Glass, Founder and CEO at Olo. Check out his conversation with Tom Ryan in this episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 51: Dana Telsey
Telsey Advisory Group CEO and Chief Research Officer Dana Telsey shares what it’s like being one of the few women-owned firms on Wall Street, what she sees happening with the IPO market in the near future, and more in this episode of Welcome the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 52: Manny Hilario
At a time when many restaurants are cutting back on what they offer guests, The ONE Group is raising the bar on the dining experience. CEO and President Manny Hilario sits down with Tom Ryan to explain why in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 53: Kyle Kazan
Glass House Brands CEO Kyle Kazan explains the current state of the regulated cannabis market, the top challenges in the industry, what makes the Glass House Brands team great, and more in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 54: Todd Lachman
Tom Ryan and Sovos Brands President and CEO Todd Lachman break down why Todd started Sovos in the first place, why they went public when they did, the secret behind the famous Rao’s Sauce, and more in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 55: Tom Ryan
It’s been an amazing year for Welcome to the Arena. On this brief episode of the show, Tom Ryan, founder and CEO of ICR, and host of Welcome to the Arena shares his reflections on 2022, and looks ahead to 2023 and the 25th anniversary of ICR. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 56: John Carrington
Tom Ryan and Stem Inc. CEO John Carrington kick off the 2023 season of Welcome to the Arena with a conversation about John’s career trajectory, the ground-breaking software that Stem has built, and more in this episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 57: Molly Langenstein
Tom Ryan sits down with Chico’s President & CEO Molly Langenstein for a discussion about the company’s primary brands, the importance of their increasingly younger consumer base and multi-channel approach, and more in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 58: Michael Pengue
If you’re going to jump into the massive beverage world with a brand new product, you better have some incredible experience and a solid team behind you. This week’s guest on Welcome to the Arena, ZOA Energy CEO Michael Pengue, has just that. He joins Tom Ryan to share the ZOA Energy story and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 59: Cindy Hess
Cindy Hess, Partner at Fenwick, sits down with Tom Ryan in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena to discuss her incredible career working on some of the biggest deals in history, what she sees for big tech deals in 2023, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 60: Andy Wiederhorn
Tom Ryan sits down with FAT Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn for a conversation about FAT Brands’ history and plans for the future, his first acquisition with Fatburger, his must-haves when looking at new acquisitions, and more in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 61: Louis Chen
Tom Ryan sits down with Perfect Corp‘s Louis Chen in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena for a conversation about the total addressable market for the company’s technology, the growth potentials for their product, their strategy for acquisitions, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 62: Mark Walker
In this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena, Mark Walker breaks down the challenges and opportunities he saw when starting Direct Digital Holdings, explains what their performance looked like in 2022 and where they expect to see growth in 2023, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 63: Rob Arena
Tom Ryan sat down with Rob Arena to discuss his journey to wealth management at Global Atlantic Financial Group, break down how the industry has changed over time, explore the role of insurance companies today, and more in this week’s episode. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 64: Mei Mei Hu
Vaxxinity CEO & Co-Founder Mei Mei Hu tells Tom Ryan about the science behind Vaxxinity’s work, explains their mission statement and company goals, breaks down the story of what drew her to the biotech field, and more in this week’s episode of the Welcome to the Arena podcast. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 65: Matthew Doctor
Matthew Doctor sits down with Tom Ryan to explain his franchise career, outline the services provided under the Regis Corporation brand umbrella, break down their expansion plan, and more in this week’s episode of the Welcome to the Arena podcast. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 66: Tom Harrington
Transitioning from soda brand to water company certainly comes with risks, but it can also open the door for expansion and innovation. Primo Water Corporation CEO Tom Harrington tells us how he was able to make the shift seamless in this episode. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 67: Dr. Eddie Sullivan
We often hear that “the only constant is change” in healthcare. Tune in to this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena to hear how Dr. Eddie Sullivan, President & CEO at SAB Biotherapeutics, is on the cutting edge of an exciting new development. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 68: Robert Piconi
Energy Vault CEO Robert Piconi joins Tom Ryan to discuss his early career, the energy storage market, how Energy Vault has broken new ground on clean and effective energy technology, and more in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 69: Sarah-Marie Martin
In this week’s episode of the Welcome to the Arena podcast, Sarah-Marie Martin tells the story of how she ended up at Uber, explains what it’s like being a woman in a male-dominated field, offers some insight into the exciting direction that Uber is headed, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 70: John DiLullo
LiveVox CEO John DiLullo joins Tom Ryan for a conversation about LiveVox’s state-of-the-art cloud data platform, how they use and create AI solutions, the future of customer service and more in this week’s episode of the Welcome to the Arena podcast. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 71: Julie Smolyansky
By adapting to changing times, this Welcome to the Arena guest found a sweet spot in the growing probiotics market for their product to thrive. Lifeway Foods CEO Julie Smolyansky discusses the company’s history, the growing probiotics market, and more. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 72: Tom Nolan
In business, you have to want to win, but honest values go an incredibly long way. This week’s podcast guest, Kendra Scott CEO Tom Nolan, leads a company that is powered by that philosophy. He joins Tom Ryan to discuss the company’s humble beginnings and how far they’ve come. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 73: Sean O’Scannlain
The food industry relies on tight planning on logistics, but today’s guest has finely-tuned his company’s operations by taking advantage of tech innovations. Check out Tom Ryan’s conversation with Sean O’Scannlain, President & CEO of Fortune International, in this week’s episode of Welcome to the Arena. Listen to the Podcast
Episode 74: Sandra Campos
Tom Ryan sits down with Sandra Campos in this week’s episode to discuss her incredible career as a three-time CEO and two-time entrepreneur, the recent transformation she has seen in the retail industry, her partnership with Selena Gomez, and more. Listen to the Podcast