Mental Bulkheads: Why the Olympic Survived and the Titanic Didn't | Ryan Garney | TEDxBeverly Grove

Creative operations leader Ryan Garney opened his TEDxBeverlyGrove 2026 talk with the story of two nearly identical ocean liners, the Olympic and the Titanic, one that survived a collision and one that sank. What followed was not a history lesson. It was a personal account of losing his father while running a high pressure job, and the collapse from never processing the grief. Drawing on neuroscience and his breakdown, Garney closes with the line that gives the talk its title: three mental bulkheads that keep the ship from sinking. Ryan Garney is a creative operations leader who has spent over a decade managing teams through high-pressure production environments in entertainment and media. A Triple Crown Award Recipient from Toastmasters International, he has competed in the World Championship of Public Speaking and served as Immediate Past President of the West Hollywood Toastmasters Chapter, leading the club to President's Distinguished status and recognition as one of the top clubs in District 1. Known for blending history, neuroscience, and lived experience,

At TEDxBeverlyGrove
Ryan Garney will share “Mental Bulkheads: Why the Olympic Survived and the Titanic Didn’t—and What That Teaches Us About Leading Through Crisis.” When pressure hits all at once, most leaders get flooded. Bulkheads are how you stay operational: contain the breach, protect the mission, and make decisions that don’t spread panic through the whole ship.

‍ This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx