INTERVIEW | Make Money by Protecting Your Paycheck with Attorney Ryan

Ryan Steiger, a former firefighter and workers' rights attorney, reveals how most people are unknowingly exploited at work due to a fundamental gap in education: no one teaches employees the rules of their own careers. In a powerful conversation with Travis, Ryan exposes systemic failures—from child labor violations in fast food franchises to churches requiring unpaid 'volunteer' hours that amount to wage theft. He argues that the American work ethic, rooted in Puritan values, glorifies suffering and overwork without delivering promised rewards. Despite being told to 'work hard and be grateful,' workers often end up sacrificing family, health, and financial stability for jobs that don’t value them. Ryan’s book, *Get It in Writing*, is a practical toolkit to reclaim power through documentation, negotiation, and legal knowledge—turning employees from passive workers into informed advocates. His journey from fire service to law, fueled by a toxic boss and personal burnout, underscores a radical truth: reinvention isn’t failure—it’s survival. By embracing lifelong learning and using free platforms like YouTube to educate, Ryan built a movement that empowers the working class not just to survive, but to thrive.