Ryan Koriya

Introduction & Early Life

Taryell Simmons: Welcome back to another episode of Rise Urban Nation, the podcast where Black and Pan-African innovators share the blueprints behind their journeys. I am your host, Taryell Simmons. Today's episode is going to shake your mind. What if I told you that rewiring your brain for success is essential? Today, we are joined by the soul mechanic himself, Ryan Koriya. From Zimbabwe to London, from stage to the coaching room, Ryan has transformed lives through holistic life coaching, integrative hypnosis, and authentic branding. He is on a mission to heal generational trauma, amplify mental resilience, and empower people to thrive with intention. Ryan, welcome to the show. Before we get into the tools and transformation, take us back. What was life like growing up, and what led you into holistic coaching and neuroplasticity?

Ryan Koriya: Amazing. Thank you for having me. It has taken us eleven months, but we are here. Currently, I am in the Canary Islands on Tenerife, setting up a base. I spent time in Zimbabwe earlier this year, followed by Poland and Ibiza. I was born and raised Zimbabwean. Southern African, landlocked, bordered by Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Mozambique. Growing up, it felt sheltered and conservative. I grew up Muslim in a Christian-based country, and being mixed-race brought an identity journey. Zimbabwe was an idyllic place with rich culture and family values, alongside the historical hangover of the Rhodesian War before independence in 1980. That heritage is the soil I come from.

Taryell Simmons: That cultural joy is always palpable. You also have a global story. From Zimbabwe to the UK, what parts of that journey shaped your values and led to becoming the Soul Mechanic?

Ryan Koriya: Zimbabwe was home until age twenty-three. The teenage years were economically tough, limiting career options. I was headhunted straight out of school to teach music because I was classically trained on violin and cello through government school programs. I originally wanted to be a pilot, but when flight school scholarships became inaccessible after 2001, music became my path. It took four years to obtain the paperwork and visas to reach London.

The London Scene and the Power of Showing Up

Ryan Koriya: In London, I spent seven years in the rock band scene, playing around the city and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. My mindset was clear: make the most of this opportunity. I left my nine-to-five office job to busk on the London Underground. One evening, songwriter Desmond Child saw me air-drumming with my headphones on a train and invited me to play cello at his showcase. Being out in the field makes magic happen. When I received my passport, I traveled to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Australia. I arrived in Australia with just two hundred pounds, stayed with family, and busked. I learned that as long as I have my voice, my guitar, and people around, I can create an emotional transference and healing.

Taryell Simmons: You stayed open to life guiding your pivots. When did the realization arrive that your voice and presence could serve people through holistic coaching and integrative hypnosis?

Ryan Koriya: Traveling serves as a mirror. People consistently told me that our conversations inspired them to take bold actions or shift their parenting. A friend remarked that I operated like a soul mechanic. Later, I watched Tony Robbins work with a man to resolve a severe stutter in minutes by addressing early childhood subconscious patterns. That showed me the power of neuro-linguistic programming. I then attended an online masterclass by British hypnotherapist Marisa Peer, which confirmed hypnosis as a powerful modality. I eventually trained with Melissa Tiers and Simone Soul, studying integrative hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, Emotional Freedom Techniques, and authentic marketing.

The Mind-Body Connection & Metaphysical Health

Taryell Simmons: Before we started recording today, I mentioned needing emergency back therapy and cupping for muscle strain and toxins. You immediately asked about the underlying reasons behind those physical symptoms.

Ryan Koriya: When looking holistically, we recognize that the conscious mind represents only five to eight percent of our awareness, while over ninety percent is unconscious. If physical back pain arises, that unconscious system is communicating. Metaphysical biology explores how physical symptoms correlate with emotional states. Upper or lower back strain often reflects carrying excessive responsibility or stress. What we process internally manifests throughout the physiological system.

Taryell Simmons: That aligns with my recent reflections during sound bath sessions. Looking inward, taking back power, and prioritizing long-term vitality ensure we operate from abundance rather than survival mode.

Ryan Koriya: Exactly. We are in a period where self-reflection and inner connection are becoming vital. Those who have explored these modalities can guide others through this inward transition with patience and care.

Overcoming Challenges & The Importance of Community

Taryell Simmons: Success in entrepreneurship includes real setbacks. What have been some of your biggest hurdles?

Ryan Koriya: Entrepreneurship requires immense passion because setbacks are inevitable. Isolation is one of the toughest challenges. There are moments when finances are tight, client inquiries are quiet, and you question your direction. People are focused on their own lives, which is natural. That is why community is essential. Doing anything entirely alone is an illusion. You need emotional and relational reserves to carry you through difficult seasons.

Taryell Simmons: When people close to you do not understand your vision, it is not personal. It is simply not their journey to carry. Showing up allows your true community to find you.

Ryan Koriya: Visibility is key. Many struggle with showing up on social media or speaking publicly due to limiting beliefs. Yet stepping forward is the only way your community can connect with your frequency.

Healing Generational Trauma Through Unshaming

Taryell Simmons: Generational trauma is often overlooked or dismissed in Black and Pan-African communities. How can we facilitate healthier conversations around healing?

Ryan Koriya: In survival contexts, discussing mental health was often seen as an unaffordable luxury. A common reaction is to avoid the past and simply move forward. However, ignoring an emotional wound is like expecting an improperly healed bone to function normally without medical realignment. Step one for anyone seeking to heal is unshaming. Identify where you carry guilt or shame regarding past hardships. Step two is realizing nothing is fundamentally broken. Trauma responses were natural protective reactions to difficult environments. Granting yourself compassion allows genuine healing to occur.

Demystifying Hypnosis & Brain Rewiring

Taryell Simmons: Modalities like hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming can encounter skepticism. How do you establish trust with clients?

Ryan Koriya: Education and vocabulary matter. Stage hypnosis creates misconceptions about losing control. In integrative hypnosis, clients remain awake, alert, and seated in conversation. I often describe my role as a human operating system engineer who helps rewire cognitive software. The client remains in the driver seat, while I act as a navigator helping reframe old obstacles into manageable pathways.

Taryell Simmons: Can you share a client breakthrough that demonstrates this transformation?

Ryan Koriya: A client in her sixties was crippled with fear ahead of a major hip replacement operation. During our session, we used conversational reframing and visualization to shift her perspective from seeing a hospital as a scary institution to viewing it as a supportive facility preparing her for renewed mobility. Days later, her anxiety had completely vanished. Her surgery went smoothly, and her physical therapist noted an exceptionally rapid recovery because her body was operating free from stress hormones.

Aligning Business and Intimacy Within the Personal Ecosystem

Taryell Simmons: What guidance do you offer emerging entrepreneurs and lightworkers navigating imposter syndrome?

Ryan Koriya: Remember that your specific lived experience makes you irreplaceable. Showing up authentically enables you to help people who may not resonate with anyone else. Surround yourself with communities that protect and nurture your vision. In business, treat your life as a complete ecosystem. Challenges in enterprise often mirror personal belief systems or relationship dynamics. By identifying and updating limiting subconscious scripts around self-worth and abundance, you allow your entire ecosystem to flourish.

Taryell Simmons: As we wrap up, what final advice would you share, and where can listeners connect with you?

Ryan Koriya: The world is evolving rapidly, and demand for direct mentorship and coaching is expanding. Focus on developing your inherent gifts and offering genuine value. You can find me on Instagram at @RyanKoriya, on Facebook, and through my website at https://RyanKoriya.com. I specialize in deep VIP coaching, mindset transformation, and relationship and intimacy alignment.

Taryell Simmons: Thank you, Ryan. Connect with Ryan through the links provided in our show notes. Make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and join us next week as we explore tech and culture with another pioneering leader. Keep rising.