Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan

Neal is a writer, actor, director, and standup comic. He's been involved in everything from Half Baked to The Chappelle Show to Saturday Night Live to the White House Correspondent's Dinner to The Daily Show. His most recent special, called 3 Mics (Netflix) is a work of true genius. 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

Amy Baldwin is a Somatic Sex and Relationship Coach, Certified Sex Educator as well as co-owner of a mother-daughter owned pleasure boutique called Pure Pleasure Shop. Amy has a passion for promoting shame-free, pleasure-focused sexuality education while emphasizing the deep emotional and energetic forces behind great sex and intimate connection, offering everything from how-to workshops to erotic empowerment retreats. 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 answer emails about 3-way etiquette, experience vs. thinking, introverts who want to travel, Burning Man, and the Path of Totality. 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

Hunter Maats is an author, scholar, and co-host of the Mixed Mental Arts podcast. 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

Lyle Estill is a writer, environmentalist, and entrepreneur who thinks way beyond the bottom line. He has founded companies, grown enterprises, and traveled successfully through the business world for several decades -- primarily in alternative energy. 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 he was young, Godi had a dream that he would leave his small village far behind, but come back to help. Now he's living that dream by directing forest preservation projects in the Congo while raising money and awareness in the U.S. 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

Is "pussy" a bad word? Can marriage survive infidelity? Are middle-class white Americans disgusting? 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

Ryan and Matt (Veterans for Entheogenic Treatment) are working to bring ayahuasca-assisted therapy to veterans suffering from treatment-resistant PTSD. 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

Michael Wood was on the "other side" of the drug war when he realized that it was a colossal waste of money, effort, and time. Rather than just ride it out to retirement, he walked away and became a passionate advocate of reform in how the United States handles criminal justice. 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

Kabui was born and raised in Kenya. He came to the US to study, and has been based in North Carolina ever since. He's a medical anthropologist, chef, and food activist working to bring the wisdom of an African village into contemporary American dialogue. 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

Stanley Krippner is one of the most interesting, funny, kind-hearted men I know. We chatted in his room at the Oakland Marriott about channeling spirits, altered states of consciousness, life after death, and the importance of a good breakfast. 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

Alisa's path to the heart of the community at Sparkroot Farm has been winding and hilly, to say the least. 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 Joseph is an American independent filmmaker and activist. He is best known for the Zeitgeist film series, which he wrote, directed, narrated, scored, and produced. He is the founder of the related The Zeitgeist Movement. (Wikipedia) 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

Toby is continuing a family legacy of film-making. He's a cinematographer, director, whatever it takes. He's been traveling the world with a camera for over 15 years searching for the perfect frames and images. His adventures have brought him from Steven Spielberg sets to Cambodian mine fields to the North Pole. 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

Chris D'Elia is an American stand-up comedian, actor, presenter, writer, and comedy singer. He is known for playing Alex Miller on the NBC sitcom Whitney and for the role of Danny Burton on the sitcom Undateable, also on NBC. 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 McNairy is the Chief Medical Officer at Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica. 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

Gerry made millions, lost them, then made even more. But he was miserable. He'd checked every box on the scorecard of life, but still felt he was losing. Then life took a turn that led him to found the world's first medically licensed center using traditional Amazonian plant medicine. 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

Special 4th of July episode. 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

On the impermanence of love (and everything else), concern for parents, why getting out of the nest can be crucial. 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 Debra was 17, she fell in love with a man 30 years older than she who happened to be an Italian prince known throughout Europe for his creatively bohemian lifestyle. They had two sons together, one of whom is my friend Tao Ruspoli (episodes 3 and 115). Debra was generous in sharing some of her incredible life story with me -- but more importantly, in sharing her very clean and unpretentious approach to a life that's rich in pretty much every way possible. 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

Kaj spent 5 years as a Navy SEAL before getting a Master's from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and then moving into journalism—first with CNN, and currently with VICE TV. He's the friendliest badass dude you'll ever meet. 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 talk about the Rythmia Life Enhancement Center (where I recorded this), men's obsessions with their dicks, and my thoughts on male-female relations in other cultures I'm familiar with. 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

Don is one of the most well-traveled, thoughtful, talented men I've met in a long time. Join us for a few beers as we talk about his time in the Marines, what it's like to sleep on a cot hanging thousands of feet above the ground, the plight of orphans around the world, and the challenges of photographing beautiful women. 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

Calla Rose is a brilliant, open-hearted woman with a passion to help guide the world toward the light. Her work straddles politics, environmental activism, business consulting, and a few other areas I'm not smart enough to recognize. 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

Tom is the father of a friend of mine. After chatting with him for a few minutes, I asked if he'd share a bit of his life story on the podcast. I'm glad he did. He's living a life of surprising adventure and depth, as you'll hear. 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

Sarah is young, but has covered a lot of ground already. Born and raised in a Mormon community in Utah, she felt compelled to strike out on her own path—a path that's led her as far as Australia, India, Myanmar, and Laos. 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

Hunter is an author, podcast host, and a very smart guy who has lived all over the world. He's dedicated to clear, critical thinking. We don't agree on everything, but our disagreements are fruitful. I always learn a lot in conversation with this guy. 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

Kyle Thiermann is a professional surfer and filmmaker from Santa Cruz, CA. When he’s not chasing building-sized waves around the globe he works with Discovery Digital Networks as an on-camera correspondent and producer. He also works closely with his main sponsor, Patagonia to beat up products and help implement solutions to the environmental crisis. 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

Eddie Ifft has been called one of the most underrated comics in America by the Onion and has performed to sold-out crowds in over 15 countries. He is co-host of one of the most successful podcasts in the comedy world called Talkin’ Sh*t. 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

Mostly talk about dysfunctional relationships and the essential sadnesses of modern life. 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

Daniel has written many books, the most recent being How Soon is Now: From Personal Initiation to Global Transformation. He's spent time with indigenous tribes, done extensive inner work with psychedelics (including an iboga experience in Africa), and engaged in serious thinking about where our species is headed. 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

Doctor Adi Jaffe is a UCLA trained addiction expert. But before he got involved in addiction research, he was a drug dealer and meth addict. For over eight years, his own drug use was out-of-control. After being arrested for the 4th time, and going to rehab twice, Adi managed to get his act together and steer his life back on course. 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

Love, drugs, travel, money, sex ... the usual. 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

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus are spreading the message that finding the good life may require dumping all the unnecessary crap we tend to accumulate and living foot-loose and fancy-free. 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

Why not to have kids, misuse of non-monogamy, why not check out of society, the end of friendships, on herpes, abandonment issues, the challenges of life with a beauty queen. 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

Ryan Cleek (@cleekndestroy) has been on all sides of mountain biking, as a champion racer, journalist, and award-winning filmmaker. We talk about danger, thrills, and what drives someone to try to jump over a canyon on a bicycle. 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

Jenny spent a year and change working for a construction company during the day and moonlighting in a dungeon at night, where she learned a lot about men, sex, power dynamics, and herself. Her book about the experience is called The Scarlet Letters: My Secret Year of Men in an L.A. Dungeon. 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

Moshe is a stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is the author of the 2012 memoir Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16. 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

Ron looked around at his neighborhood and saw a need for nutritious food, community, and knowledge. So he started planting seeds. 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

What constitutes success? Can a straight woman love a gay man? Is anyone living the American Dream? And a bonus story about watching a Buñuel film on LSD. 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

Hunter Maats is an author, podcast host, and international man of intrigue. He's been around the block a few times, and has given it a lot of thought. 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

Neil and I are joined by Marg, who helped raise Neil from a young age. We talk about music, books, what it was like to come to the US in 1968, and whether it was obvious that Neil was going to be a successful writer. 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

Hanging with Simon Rex is like being in a room full of people--all of them hyper-creative and funny as hell. He's an actor, comic, rapper, former model and VJ on MTV, has a massive following on social media, and makes a hell of a blueberry/kale smoothie. His Instagram feed is the most reliable source of hilarity I've come across in years. His show on Comedy Central, Typical Rick, is currently in production for its second season. 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

Go see Jake if you get the chance. He's a class act, except for when he's hanging out with me. Then he has no class at all. But that's my fault. 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

Michael Shermer is the Publisher of Skeptic magazine, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. He is the author of The Believing Brain, Why People Believe Weird Things, Why Darwin Matters, and others. His latest book is The Moral Arc, now out in paperback. 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 anti-Valentine's Day episode. What is love? Should we have kids? What about a three-way marriage? 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

Allan has enjoyed a long career as a standup comic and actor. You may have seen him in Mad Men, The Man in the High Castle, Hail Caesar!, and anywhere top notch comics are found. 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

In which I rant about the usual: Carrie Fisher, Karl Marx, Matt Le Blanc, micro-aggressions, love, sex, passion, and despair. 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

Robert Clarke is one of the world's foremost cannabis experts and author, most recently, of Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany (together with Mark D. Merlin). We met by chance in Hanoi in 2003 and have been friends ever since. 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

Patrick and Bryan are brothers who rode bicycles across the US, from Massachusetts to LA. Their trip is documented at livehigh.org. 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