Miguel has become a good friend, due to his always-smart comments on many episodes of this podcast, his help with editing and graphic design, and his insights on everything from UFOs to Mexican culture and history (which can be found at The Daily Grail). I always enjoy our conversations, and am thrilled we finally got around to recording one! Miguel's graphic design site, and his Twitter. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "God's Child," by Selena and David Byrne; "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

Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. Too bad it’s usually boring as sh*t. Enter Kyle Creek, aka "The Captain," the ultimate storyteller who brings history to life (and to your life) in this hilarious, intelligent, brutally honest, and crude compendium to events that happened before any of us were born. Find F*cking History on Amazon here, and The Captain on Twitter and Instagram. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "Contract on the World Love Jam," by Public Enemy; "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

Beth Ryan, my younger sister, has lived in a multitude of places and now resides in Los Angeles. She attended college in Boston and worked for two start-up computer companies. Wanting to get a better work-life balance, she took a year off and traveled around the world. This trip allowed her to find her passion and her voice.  She now runs a non-profit called Stepping Forward LA (www.steppingforwardla.org) supporting foster youth who age out of the foster care system. She was my first "listener" and probably has more embarrassing stories of me than anyone else. Stepping Forward LA Instagram feed. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "I Wish," by Stevie Wonder; "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

Julie Carr married my dad, Frank Ryan in 1960, and had me two years later. My sister, Beth, was born four years after that. While raising us, she worked as a teacher in Middle and High Schools and in various administrative positions. She's smart, sweet, and a hell of a mom. She doesn't do social media, bless her heart, but you can leave her messages when you order swag from "the cottage," as many of you have done over the years -- much to her delight. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "All Along the Watchtower," by Bob Dylan; "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

Daoist Monk Yun Rou (his name means Soft Cloud) has been called the new Alan Watts for his Daoist teachings and the zen Gabriel Garcia-Marquez for his works of magical realism set in China. Born Arthur Rosenfeld in New York City, he received his academic education at Yale, Cornell, and the University of California. He was ordained a monk at the Chun Yang (Pure Yang) Daoist Temple in Guangzhou, China. His award-winning books, optioned for film in both Hollywood and Asia, bridge spirituality, philosophy, and history. From 2010 – 2013, he hosted the national public television show "Longevity Tai Chi with Arthur Rosenfeld." Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "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

Callie is the original bada$$. She spends months at a time alone in the wilderness with her goats, living off the land. She was among the last three people on this season's "Alone," on the History Channel, lasting 89 days before frostbite ender her run. (This episode is co-hosted with Anya Kaats, host of A Millennial's Guide to Saving the World.) Learn more about Callie at caprakhan.com // Instagram: caprakhan Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "Long Time Coming," by Leela James; "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

Andrew has been a pal since he showed up in Topanga in the same van I drive (2006 Dodge Sprinter), with a cool little mutt named Pele and a plan to drive from Alaska to Chile. He and his wife, Tiffany (and Pele) got as far as Costa Rica before things went sideways. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "I Got So High (That I Saw Jesus)," by Warren Delaney, "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

J.R. Martinez is a burn survivor (over 40% of his body) and Army veteran who, after many surgeries and months of healing, went on to win Dancing with the Stars, become a New York Times best-selling author, star in the television series All My Children and become a keynote speaker at events all over the world. Dude's on quite a ride. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "Take a Ride" by The Vegabonds;  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 falling behind on the ROMAs, so here's a mega-ROMA. Lotsa music, lotsa my dumb opinions on things like toilet paper, camp chairs, sexual communication, the Me Too movement, and how to have a good time on a sinking ship. Hope you find something of value in this tossed salad. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Inner City Blues,” by Marvin Gaye; "Moment of Surrender," by Nick Mulvey; "I Don't Want to Be a Billionaire," by Theo Katzman; "Two Warm Hands," by Out of the Pine; "Mississippi," by Afroman.  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 Kaats hosts A Millennial's Guide to Saving the World podcast, and co-hosts Whore Rapport, with Erin Ginder-Shaw. Anya consistently challenges her listeners to reconsider what's really going on within discussions of gender, power, sexuality, spirituality, regenerative agriculture, trauma, grief and community. Through curiosity, creativity and conversation, Anya hopes to encourage others to dream new dreams, ask new questions & interpret the world in new ways.  Anya's Instagram and Website Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "Border Country" by The Paper Stars;  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