The 2017 National Speech & Debate Association Middle School Coach of the Year, Ryan had been part of speech and debate for nearly 30 years as a middle school, high school and college competitor and coach, an instructor at camps such as Interprod, FFI, GMIF, and UTNIF, a coach with various nationally recognized programs across the country (Logan High School, CA, Stuyvesant High School, NY and Holy Ghost Prep, PA), and as the Director of Forensics at Phoenix Country Day School, AZ from 2012-2019. A former 3-time high school national finalist and 1-time college finalist himself (Duo/OO/Poetry), Ryan has had the privilege of working with and learning from some of the most interesting middle and high school students from a variety of backgrounds - culminating in over 40 national finalists and 4 NSDA High School National Champions and over 20 NSDA Middle School National Champions.  From 2012-2019, Phoenix Country Day School was awarded several Schools of Excellence in Speech at NSDA High School Nationals and the Overall School of Excellence for Speech & Debate at the NSDA Middle School National Tournament four times in 5 years. In 2020, during the pandemic, Ryan created, alongside several of the most recognizable coaches in the country, a performance piece that ran during online nationals called, "You Are Not Alone."  Ryan is currently ‘retired’ from speech and debate and is the Director of Advancement at Leysin American School in Switzerland.•In this episode, Robert and Ryan discuss what the changes in middle school forensics, the disappointment of not breaking when you’re expecting it, and the significance of the word “DING!” Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.