Episode #25: Ryan Monopolus—Martial Artist, Filmmaker, Mystic
Fifth-degree black belt. World champion. Stunt performer and action choreographer on Spider-Man: No Way Home, Cobra Kai, Stranger Things, The Walking Dead. Director across 10+ countries. Started training at four. Never stopped moving.
Ryan Monolopolus turned martial arts discipline into Hollywood currency—designing the violence you see on screen while exploring the philosophy behind every punch. This conversation goes hard: how fighting shaped filmmaking, why optimism is non-negotiable, the intersection of technology and spirituality, and what it takes to build a life that refuses boredom.
From Buffalo dojos to blockbuster sets. From yoga mats to motion control rigs. From world championships to metaphysical rabbit holes.
This is the space where warrior meets artist. Where discipline meets imagination. Where the work never stops and the adventure never ends.
Topics: Martial arts philosophy, stunt choreography, international filmmaking, extended reality, creative leadership, spiritual optimism, and why coming home to train still matters.
