Tangentially Speaking With Dr. Christopher Ryan

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comIn which I rip Fareed Zakaria a (new) new one, talk about the abject stupidity of the intelligensia, play a song sung by a bunch of cool alley cats, applaud a Scott Galloway rant on the hypocrisy of the American ruling class and ponder “Dover Beach,” a poem by Matthew Arnold.

David was raised in a conservative Christian reality that he eventually came to question, without questioning his love and respect for the people around him. How do we negotiate that kind of growth, where we step away from a shared reality without hurting the people we were sharing it with? That’s an eternal question of the highest order. 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

Jeff Mauer is the brains behind I Might Be Wrong, here on Substack. He was head writer for Last Week Tonight, with John Oliver and before that, wrote speeches at the EPA. He’s smart, funny, and thoughtful — and savvy enough to shut the fuck up when Chris Rock walks into the room. 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

When I first came across his Instagram account, I assumed he was a comedian of some sort, as he is so deft at taking the piss out of the New Age, Shamanic, Mother-Aya nonsense. Then I read his essay on Substack and realized that this dude is very, very smart and his humor — like all the best humor — is fueled by wisdom, compassion, disappointment, and rage. 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

Anya and Nadia have helped lead our retreats in Montana for the past few years. In this conversation, we talk about the different kinds of movement they’ve studied and teach and how — along with Cameron and Melayne — we try to create a place and time where people can get very real with themselves and each other. Learn more about the event here.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “The Fade Out Line,” by Phoebe Killdeer and The Short Straws. Outro: “Smoke Alarm,” by Carsie Blanton.My Amazon link is here. 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

Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “Tear,” by Red Hot Chili Peppers. 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

Allene would never describe herself in such grand terms, but the fact is that she’s spent a long career in law working hard to defend and promote the fundamental decency that is at the heart of the American justice system — or should be. 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

Thank you Daniele Bolelli, Douglas Rushkoff, Jesse Damiani, Michael Scarmack, and many others for tuning into my live video with Daniel Pinchbeck! Join me for my next live video in the app. 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

Erin is closing in on her PhD in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. We’ve been very close since 1/1/16 and she’s one of my all-time favorite people. If I get arrested and have one call, her phone might be ringing. She’ll be joining us at the Becoming Uncivilized event at the Budokon compound this summer. Consider joining us!Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “Low Rider,” by War. Outro: “Smoke Alarm,” by Carsie Blanton.My Amazon link is here. 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

Thank you Nikita Petrov, Lacey Delayne, Dr Doug, Andrew Ramos, Eamon Cullen, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. 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.comIn this, the first walking ROMA episode, I ramble: Our world is ruled by unloved men. What’s it mean to be “driven?” Would the spirit of the angry prepper be ok with what we’ve done with his cabin?

You know those kids — toddlers, even — where you see the fully-formed person in their eyes? That’s how this guy has always been for me. He was cracking me up and blowing my mind before he could pronounce my name. Smart, kind, and very wise for his age (or any age). 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.comMy friend Riley Morton is a film-maker, documentarian, world traveler, back country skier, deep thinker and all-around badass. He and I sat down for about six hours over two days and he picked my brain about who I am, who I’ve been, and the experiences and ideas that formed the foundation for what eventually became a book called Sex at Dawn.

Does Trump have the wrong answers to the right questions? It feels like things are falling apart, but have they been falling apart for a long time? How long? When did this process of collapse begin? Why do intelligent people sometimes say incredibly stupid things? Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. Paid version: Outro: “Politic Amagni,” by Amadou and Miriam.Amazon link is here. 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

Simon first came on the scene as an MTV personality, then starred in the Scary Movie franchise, appeared in a slew of TV shows, and toured the world as parody rapper, Dirt Nasty. Now he’s appearing in films with the likes of Al Pacino and Vince Vaughn. What a trip! 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

My uncle Dan died on February 13th, my birthday. Here’s a look back at his life and mine. 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

Young guy writes a Substack piece about his favorite author, Cormac McCarthy. It gets a few reads, and turns out that one of those readers knows old Cormac and actually reads him the piece. In fact, she’s known and loved old Cormac for 40+ years. She corresponds with the young guy and eventually decides he’s the right person to tell her story, which is a love story that began almost half a century ago, when she was a homeless 16 year-old girl who randomly met a not yet famous author in his 40s sitting by the pool at a run-down motel in New Mexico. Crazy, wild love story/lifelong friendship commences. Young guy writes this forbidden love story, publishes it in Vanity Fair in prissy, easily offended 2024, and all hell breaks loose.Vincenzo’s Substack is here. Vincenzo’s professor’s Substack is here.Dare to join us in Montana this summer!If you’re gonna buy stuff on Amazon, please use this link.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “Star People,” by George Michael. “Come on in My Kitchen,” sun

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comA few of the questions I ponder in this one: How can we distinguish what’s true for me from what’s just true? How can we tell when the shit’s hitting the fan? Is it always hitting the fan? When is a dress not a dress? How is a bikini like “the N-word?” Was Trump inevitable? Do we choose our world, or are we just observers? Intro music “Brightside of the…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comWhat does it mean to be a “consenting adult?” (Thoughts on the Neil Gaiman mess.)Why podcast?David Milch: “People who are unable to turn their wishes into passions … sit passively in mute outrage, anticipating disasters.” The original article accusing Gaiman is here. Kat Rosenfield’s thoughts are here. Information about the Becoming Uncivilized event is

This conversation was originally recorded in September, 2018, when Theo was famous, but not yet FAMOUS. We talked about his recent trip to China, whether mental health issues can be considered a luxury, the ethics of sleeping with married women, Louis CK’s fall from grace, obscure masturbation techniques, and the strangeness of fame. The main thing I felt re-listening to this conversation was just how real Theo was/is. He seems to instinctively understand the power of vulnerability. No pretense with this guy.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “Big Time,” by Peter Gabriel. Outro: “Party at the End of the World,” 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