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June 27, 2023 58 mins

"What feels your heart up with joy???" words that Ryan lives by. He says that Humanity as been wounded. Look him up on National Geographic....the King of Weed.

Ryan John Phillips is an author, producer and humanitarian. Phillips" journey to extraordinary change began after a series of serious challenges that derailed his hockey career that included extreme abuse, major injuries, and addiction. Ryan's been sober now for 7 years and takes pride in helping others overcome substance abuse and achieve sobriety.

He was incarcerated in 2002 in a United States maximum federal prison for 18 months for the distribution of 100 pounds of marijuana that led to later diagnosis of complex post traumatic stress disorder in 2015, but that didn't hold him back....

Ryan was given a lifetime ban from entering the United States, separating him from the love of his life, his daughter Sadie. Trying to cope with his life, he embarked on an adventure throughout Southeast Asia helping to shed awareness towards human trafficking and child sex slavery resulting in the manifestation of spiritual growth as a Christian, and social activism. Ryan was given a pardon as a humanitarian in 2012 for his efforts by the Department of Homeland Security as a free man.

Through the prisms of his life, Phillips has been featured on National Geographic's hit show "Locked up Abroad" as "The King of Weed", spoke on two TedX Talks on Mental Health and Sex Trafficking. Phillips speaks through the power of pure storytelling. Phillips' rode his bicycle across four countries in 2019 to raise awareness for mental Health, the highlight was Canada the second largest landmass in the world. Overcoming many of his own issues with mental health, primarily concussions from sports.

Ryan continues to have a passion for helping people heal through lived experiences and are struggling and reaching out for help.

You can follow Ryan on instagram: @theofficialryanphillips

You can follow Christy on instagram: @lifestrugglespodcast and @thechristycollier

Ryan also has a clothing line that helps to raise funds for his missions.

Please visit :https://www.gangstersgonegod.com

If you would like to help others that are experiencing any struggles that you have had and would like to be a guest on our show, please contact Christy @ strugglesarehard@gmail.com

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