EP 04 with Ryan Macleod
Sep 6, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min · 10 segments
Ryan Macleod is a designer, entrepreneur, community builder and the founder of Citizen Design Build on Vancouver Island. A Red Seal carpenter with a degree in the social sciences, Ryan has built a…
Ryan Macleod is a designer, entrepreneur, community builder and the founder of Citizen Design Build on Vancouver Island. A Red Seal carpenter with a degree in the social sciences, Ryan has built a company that brings together construction, design, apprenticeship and community development. Much of Citizen’s work today is done in partnership with First Nations communities, creating not only buildings, but opportunities for Nation members to train and build careers within the trades. Before construction, Ryan spent years touring and recording as a musician, and that creative life has never really left him. He is deeply interested in philosophy, spirituality, and the ways the things we build, from homes and businesses to communities, shape how we live. In this conversation, we talk about his work with First Nations communities through his company, Citizen Design Build, and why the company began bringing apprenticeship and trades training directly into its construction projects. For Ryan, the building itself is only part of the work. What matters just as much is what remains in a community when the project is finished. We also talk about communication, and how often we communicate from our own understanding rather than considering what the person in front of us actually needs to hear. That same question shows up in Ryan's approach to design. How do you understand the people you're building for well enough to create something that actually belongs to them? From there, the conversation goes into some less obvious places. Ryan talks about mindfulness, learning to become more comfortable with discomfort, and the space that can open up when we don't immediately react to what we're feeling. We talk about how that has changed the way he makes decisions, works with people and thinks about business. There is a thread running through much of our conversation about responsibility. Not in a heavy way, but in the very practical question of what happens when the decisions we make are guided by the effect they'll have on other people, rather than simply by what is easiest or most profitable. **Episode Links** https://www.citizenbuilding.ca/ **Chapters** 00:00 Introduction to Ryan McLeod and his background 02:18 Ryan’s childhood and early influences in construction and music 04:20 The role of design and envisioning in Ryan’s career 08:16 Communication as a core skill in community building 12:40 The importance of understanding the recipient in communication 15:00 Using construction for transformational change 16:13 Practical and ethereal ways of capacity building 20:09 Learning from mistakes and the value of transformative learning 23:50 The importance of slowing down and spaciousness in decision-making 30:17 Creating space for self-awareness and discomfort 36:12 The impact of social media and digital distraction 40:19 Parenting with consciousness and communication 50:19 The impact project with the First Nations community 56:22 Impact-driven business and impact principles 01:04:36 Reimagining a conscious future in design and impact **Summary**
Ryan Macleod is a designer, entrepreneur, community builder and the founder of Citizen Design Build on Vancouver Island. A Red Seal carpenter with a degree in the social sciences, Ryan has built a…
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