Croxteth-born social media personality StillRyan, real name Ryan Hall, has opened up about the Scouse trait that has inspired his rise to fame and revealed he is working on reflecting more on his achievements.
The 24-year-old has had a memorable few weeks, signing an exclusive content deal with TNT Sports, interviewing Prince William at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on World Suicide Prevention Day, and playing alongside football heroes at the Game4Hope charity match at Goodison Park.
A lesson in reflection
Speaking to the ECHO at a training session at Finch Farm on Friday, September 25, ahead of the charity match, Ryan admitted he struggles to appreciate his own success.
He said: "I don't reflect enough. It's something I speak about in therapy that I don't look back enough and appreciate the moment I've done because I'm so focused on going forward and I'm so set on my goals and ambitions."
The Game4Hope, held in aid of Everton In The Community and homelessness charity Shelter, saw Ryan line up against former Netherlands international Clarence Seedorf. He said: "Look at the players I get to play with. It's so fun. We watched these people and now I get to play with them and call some of them friends. It gives me a little tickle in my stomach that I'm playing with these people."
From TikTok to royal interview
Ryan's content creation journey began five years ago on TikTok, where his wholesome series asking people "what makes you happy" has earned him a legion of fans.
The "two chairs" format reached its highest profile guest yet this month when Ryan spoke to the Prince of Wales, who launched a suicide prevention kit, On Your Side, in Liverpool. The chat has been viewed more than 5 million times on Instagram alone.
Ryan praised Prince William's humble nature, telling the ECHO: "He's a good fella. He spoke about Aston Villa [who Prince William supports] and spoke about Everton. The fact that I got to sit with him and speak about those things was a moment in my career where I think, you know what, 'That was cool'."
A standout moment came when Ryan asked if they could meet for a Victoria sponge cake away from the cameras. He laughed: "A Victoria sponge cake, a cup of tea and we can talk about footy."
Roots in Croxteth
Throughout his rise, Ryan has remained true to his roots in Liverpool. He said the heart of his content derives from his upbringing in Croxteth.
He added: "When we're going through hard times as a city, all we've got is each other and I've grown up with that mentality. That's what all my content is. It's all about other people."
"It's about the person sitting opposite me on that chair, who I'm speaking to and asking questions. Liverpool has its own personality and it's a people driven personality. And I've got that inside me no matter what happens."
Asked what makes him happy, Ryan said: "I say it all the time, but I'll repeat, repeat, repeat. It's people who are involved in everything. If it's friends, families, relationships, it's a person. So being around people, that's what makes me happy."
After Team Merseyside ran out 3-2 winners in the Game4Hope, Ryan is determined to keep pushing forward while trying to appreciate the past more. He added: "TNT is cool. I told you I don't reflect enough. I'm just taking it day by day, moment by moment, to take it all in."
