Tangentially Speaking With Dr. Christopher Ryan

In this third and final (for now) episode with “Nathan,” we talk mainly about the creative process and how to pursue “success” without being ensnared in ego and shallow motivations. What incentives to creativity are legitimate, and not just chasing after fame, fortune, power or immortality? What might a truly “optimized” life look like? This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comMichael just got back from riding his bike from Alaska to Chile. A few years ago, he rode all over China, Mongolia, Burma, Thailand, and Malaysia, to Singapore. Dude has lived!

Hamilton Morris is an American journalist, documentarian, and scientific researcher. He is the creator and director of the television series Hamilton's Pharmacopeia, in which he investigates the chemistry, history, and cultural impact of various psychoactive drugs. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

Moby and Lindsay are pals, neighbors, and amateur tick-removal specialists. We talk about their new podcast, the many uses of dental floss, the mysterious birthday gift I gave Moby years ago and it’s unexpected repercussions, and the lures and dangers of fame and fortune. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

Peter Anderson is an author, traveler, observer, story-teller, and a million other things. He’s the whole package. His books include, Heading Home: Field Notes (Conundrum Press), a collection of short essays, flash prose, and prose poems, which Colorado novelist Laura Pritchett describes as offering "gorgeous meditations on traveling, the natural world, small towns, parenting, and...the cultural eccentricities of of the modern day west." His collection of essays, First Church of the Higher Elevations (Conundrum Press) explores the ecology of story, spirituality, and landscape. His poems have appeared in various anthologies including New Poets of the American West (Many Voices Press) and Storied Wheels (Somos Publications). His latest project, an anthology of placed-based writings called Reading Colorado: A Literary Road Guide, came out from Bower House Books in May of 2023. Apply for the Sex at Dawn Budokon retreat here. The Byrna anti-bear weapon is here.The article about “Border Country” is here.My conversa

This is a follow-up to ROMA 66, in which I further discuss the dangers of ignoring or silencing people we disagree with. Here’s the profile of Andrew Tate I mention. Here’s “Fix Your Mind,” the video that distills some of his teaching. Here are my notes on the cycle I mention.* With the intention of making the world better, we deny obvious reality (race doesn’t exist, men and women are the same, trans women are just like biological women, it’s not too late to stop climate change, we can buy our way out of global collapse, etc.);* We silence and shame anyone who openly questions these narratives: fire professors who say there may be innate differences in math skills between boys and girls (Larry Summers), cancel culture, deplatforming, etc.* Control acceptable language: force us to use weird pronouns and respect whatever identity people claim, Latinx, “non-men,” “people with vaginas,” n-word, c-word, etc.* This creates a huge market for anyone willing to speak these forbidden truths. But it’s very risky. So wh

Here’s the interview with Andrew Tate I mentioned. The Milgram study. The article calling Jonah Hill’s texts “monstrous.” Excellent conversation between Hasan Minhaj and Obama. That Fluidstance contraption I mentioned.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. Outro: “Global House,” by Øystein Sevåg.A little something just for subscribers: This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

Kizzen and Janet have not only been in and around Crestone for decades, they’ve played a large part in shaping it into the funky, unique little town that drew me in. The heart and soul of the local paper, the Crestone Eagle, from its founding until recently, they’ve seen it all — or most of it, anyway. It was an honor to sit at their table and talk about past, present, and future with these two wise and funny ladies.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “Party at the End of the World,” by Carsie Blanton.If you use Amazon, please consider using this link, which will divert some of what you spend away from a certain bald billionaire toward a balding thousandaire who could use the extra scratch. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve been a big fan of these guys for several years now. Finally got to hang with them for a while, if virtually. I’m an even bigger fan now. These dudes bring it all: a deep pocket, great stories, thoughtfulness, kindness, and lots of heart. Check their site for upcoming dates in the PNW. Very proud to debut “Imperfect,” a new tune that wraps up our conversation. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

The Unabomber, EarthFirst, the Monkeywrench Gang, and the constant hum of humiliation in 2023. How to live in a shitstorm without getting covered in shit. Poem: “The Conditional,” by Ada Limón.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. Outro: “Skim Milk,” by Jemma and the Good Thing. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

Rich travels around the US with his dog, Louis, transforming plain, boring walls into scenes of imagination and beauty. Our conversation ranges from what lies on the other side of comfort, to how health challenges can inspire and inform one’s creative process, to the ups and downs of being an itinerant artist. Rich’s murals are sumptuous, full of life and color and even humor. If you have a blank wall that could use some added vitality, get in touch with this guy. richayers.artIntro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. Outro: “Smoke Alarm,” by Carsie Blanton. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

Along with his buddy Ryan Nicodemus, Joshua hit a wall about a decade ago. These friends realized that they had it made, on paper, anyway. They had the money, the “good jobs,” the big house, the cars, the watches, the suits. What they didn’t have was peace of mind. Maybe they didn’t own stuff, the stuff owned them? Thus were born The Minimalists. I hope you enjoy this conversation, where Josh and I go beyond closet space to talk about how our consumerist illusions manifest in non-material realms: death, love, aging, health, and spirit.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. Outro: “Smoke Alarm,” by Carsie Blanton.A little something just for subscribers: This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comNote: If you’re hearing some mess in the first minute or so, please delete and download again (or just jump ahead a few minutes). The first version of this had an editing error. Apologies. My editing team has been given a stern talking to.Dipping back into it with “Nathan,” a very smart therapist/scientist in his early 30s who wanted to pick my brain ab…

Along with her partner, Peter, Miriam has walked the planet for the past decade or so. India, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Europe. They travel light and spontaneous. Here’s the program that convinced me to reach out to them, a very touching portrait of these unique, lovely people. In 2017 Miriam wrote the International bestseller Woman in the Wilderness. It was translated into German, Dutch, French, Portuguese and Chinese. In 2020 the sequel Wild at Heart came out.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “Sometimes,” by Daniel Lanois. Outro: “Summertime,” by Fort Frances.My Amazon link.Ponderosa Millworks.A little something just for subscribers: This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comJohn Colapinto has written two novels, About the Author (2001) and Undone (2015). In 2000, he published As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl (2000), about the tragic case of David Reimer, who had undergone a sex change as an infant after a medical mishap.

“The bad news is you’re falling through the air, nothing to hang on to, no parachute. The good news is, there’s no ground.” ― Chögyam TrungpaIntro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. Outro: “Too Much Reality,” by Brett Newski. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comTrying something a little different here. A guy we’re agreeing to call “Nathan” wrote to me asking for some life advice, but suggested it could be interesting to record our conversation, in that much of what he wanted to talk about could be useful to many people, not just him. Seemed like an interesting idea, so we went for it.

Alex wrote a book called Quantum Criminals: Ramblers, Wild Gamblers, and Other Sole Survivors from the Songs of Steely Dan (beautifully illustrated by Joan LeMay). It’s a fantastic book about one of the most interesting bands of all time. They were a rock/pop/jazz band that wasn’t really a band, decided not to tour cause it was too much hassle, settled for nothing short of perfection, had no interest in fame, so cool they didn’t care a whit about being cool. I’m guessing Banksy is a fan of Steely Dan. Hope you dig the convo. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

Should we be excited or concerned about AI? Is technology learning to mimic us or are we learning to mimic technology? Who’s colonizing whom? I talk about some upcoming interviews I’ve got cooking. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Turner Osler studied anthropology at Princeton, before becoming a surgeon and research epidemiologist. After 30 years working at the University of Vermont’s trauma center, Dr. Osler left the operating room and began a career as a research epidemiologist, which required hours of sitting at a computer, resulting in unrelenting back pain. Being an expert on the spine, he decided to try to design a chair that would work with, rather than against human anatomy and physiology. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe