Human Connection is my life's work and passion.
I lead authentic relating training workshops, offer individual and group coaching, and am the author of the book, Authentic Relating: A Guide to Rich, Meaningful, Nourishing Relationships.
I’m the co-founder of ART International and previously ART’s CEO and Senior Course Leader – the world’s largest authentic relating training company, and the co-founder of The Realness Project nonprofit organization – dedicated to bringing authentic relating to prison inmates. I’m also a coach, teacher, author, and a parent to four very authentic kids.
I’ve been at the forefront of the authentic relating movement for the last twelve years, and am deeply passionate about giving people the skills and tools to create the most fulfilling relationships, conversations, and interactions imaginable.
"Authentic Relating"
A Guide to Rich, Meaningful, Nourishing Relationships
This book is the complete guide to having better, deeper, richer relationships and interactions with everyone in your life. Easy to learn and easy to apply, the skills and tools of authentic relating work in everyday life, from casual conversations to heated conflict.
Ryel compiles the very best practices, tools, and resources from over a decade of obsessive study and application of authentic relating, along with lots of exercises and practical examples.
“Take this book into your heart and the gold will be yours.” – Matt Licata, PhD
Private Coaching
With over 25 years of experience as a teacher, coach, and trainer, I draw upon an extensive knowledge base and deep embodiment of authentic relating and conscious connection.
Private coaching sessions empower clients to immediately and sustainably transform the quality of their relationships everywhere, with everyone – at home, at work, with lifelong partners and old friends, with new acquaintances and first dates.
What People are Saying
"Ryel is a really skillful coach. I was amazed at how he helped me enormously after only a couple sessions. Through the lens of authentic relating, Ryel really helped me slow down - my natural tendency is to always live life in the fast lane. Incredibly, after only one session, I managed to stop my bad habit of eating sugar - Ryel helped me reclaim my innate personal power with this vice. Ryel has enormous experience with authentic relating, so he can bring a lot of space and skill to a coaching session. I already can’t wait to have more sessions with him!"
"Ryel is an outstanding mentor and coach who helped me understand how deep and powerful authentic relating can go in shaping my conscious relationships both with other humans in every possible social context, and most importantly with myself. His extreme brightness, eloquence, and ability to listen acutely on one side, combined with his warmth, softness and openheartedness on the other, make his services much more effective than any other form of therapy I know of."
"Traversing my inner landscape with Ryel at my side has been one of the most rewarding and fruitful explorations of my life. I feel that our work together has supported me in remembering who I am and the process of returning to wholeness. In our 1:1 coaching sessions he brings SO much with him- a rare blend of wisdom, mountain like presence, medicine and play. A million gratitude’s for both Ryel’s guidance and the opportunity to encounter the one in me who is most me."
About Ryel
Ryel is the co-founder and previous CEO and Senior Course Leader at ART International, and is the lead designer of ART’s courses and programs. Ryel has delivered over a thousand training sessions in dozens of countries all around the globe over the course of his ten years at the forefront of the rapidly expanding authentic relating movement and community. Ryel led ART to become the predominant authentic relating training company in the world, and regularly appears at conferences, festivals, and on podcasts. He is also the co-founder of The Realness Project, dedicated to bringing authentic relating training to prison inmates.
Prior to co-founding ART International, Ryel was the co-founder and visionary behind Virtuance, one of the world’s largest providers of real estate photography, and the co-founder and visionary behind Pink Mammoth, a creative arts collective and Burning Man camp based in San Francisco. Ryel is an avid pilot, rock climber, long-distance hiker, father to four children, and author of The Ultralight Backpacker, the definitive guide to ultralight backpacking.
Join my private circle to receive teachings, exercises, and tips for bringing authentic relating into your relationships and conversations.