Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan

Theo Rossi is an American actor, producer, and podcast host (THEOry). He's best known for his portrayal of Juan Carlos "Juice" Ortiz on the FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014). He is also known for his portrayal of Hernan "Shades" Alvarez in Luke Cage (2016–2018). Despite his fame and success, Theo has both feet on the ground and is a no BS dude. You can listen to Theo picking my brain on his podcast here. This episode sponsored by Kettle and Fire. 15% off your first order when you use code CHRIS at checkout. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "Old Green House," by Sail Cassady (Colin Craveiro) -- Check out the video here; “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

Together with Saagar Enjeti, Krystal Ball co-hosts Rising, a show featuring sharp political analysis seemingly free of commercial bias. Ball has worked for over a decade as a political consultant, analyst, and journalist -- having appeared on MSNBC, Real Time with Bill Maher, Fox News, and elsewhere. Ball has published two books: The Populist's Guide to 2020: A New Right and New Left are Rising (2020, with Saagar Enjeti), and Reversing the Apocalypse: Hijacking the Democratic Party to Save the World (2017). Follow Krystal on Twitter: @krystalball This episode sponsored by Kettle and Fire. 15% off your first order when you use code CHRIS at checkout. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; “To Ndje” by Kaissa; “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

Rick Beato is a multi-instrumentalist, music teacher, producer, dad to Layla and Dylan, and host to three deaf animals (2 dogs and a cat). His YouTube show (What Makes This Song Great?) is the best guide to the magic and mystery of music I know. This episode sponsored by nobody at all. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; “Kid Charlemagne” by Steely Dan; “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

Matt and Winston lived in China for years, learning to speak the language, love the people, and distrust the government. Their insights are surprising and fascinating.  This episode sponsored by Kettle and Fire. (Use code CHRIS for 15% off your order -- free shipping for 6 or more items.) Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; “Smoke Alarm,” by Carsie Blanton. Matt - http://youtube.com/laowhy86 Winston - http://youtube.com/serpentza ADVChina - http://youtube.com/advchina ADVPodcasts - http://youtube.com/advpodcasts   Documentaries - Conquering Southern China https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B06W52SN47/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Conquering Northern China  https://vimeo.com/ondemand/conqueringnorthernchina Stay Awesome China  https://vimeo.com/ondemand/stayawesomechina 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

A reading and discussion of "What You Can't Say," a very powerful essay by Paul Graham, that shows the importance of tolerating thoughts and statements that may be "offensive," "inappropriate," and/or "heretical." More importantly, Graham shows how to find wisdom in our taboos and prohibited speech and thoughts. This episode sponsored by nobody at all. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; “Bill Lee,” by Warren Zevon. 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

Bryan Callen is an American actor, comedian, and podcaster. He is most known for his recurring role as “Coach Mellor” on ABC’s Schooled and The Goldbergs; which he has played since 2014. Callen has also appeared in such TV and films as Kingdom, 2 Broke Girls, Ride Along, Hangover 1 & 2, Sex and the City, Old School, MADTv, Entourage, Californication, and many more. Callen performs in theaters and comedy venues across the world, but most often can be seen at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. His third one-hour comedy special, “Complicated Apes”, topped the iTunes charts upon its release in March, 2019, and is also available on Amazon. Callen is co-host of the top-rated iTunes podcast, The Fighter & The Kid alongside Brendan Schaub. Bryan is also a regular on The Joe Rogan Experience and Fight Companion podcasts. This episode sponsored by people who send me money! Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; “Civilized to Death” by Colby Kent and the Stomping Ground; “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

My discussion of "Cat Person," by Kristen Roupenian. The story offers a subtle, nuanced look at power, eroticism, and the confusion that often results when a man and a woman try (and fail) to understand each other, taking us inside the heads of people who share physical space -- but are miles apart.  This episode sponsored by nobody at all. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; “Mean Flower,” by Joe Henry. 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

"Cat Person" offers a subtle, nuanced look at power, eroticism, and the confusion that often results when a man and a woman try (and fail) to understand each other, taking us inside the heads of people who are together -- and yet miles apart. This episode sponsored by nobody at all. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; “Wicked Little High” by Bird York; “Lost Cause,” by Beck. 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

Mike had a tennis scholarship to college, but things went a different way. Within a few years, he was helping to run Reality Kings, one of the biggest Internet porn companies in the world, and managing the career of Kimbo Slice, who Rolling Stone called "The King of the Web Brawlers." Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; “Uluaki Fepaki” by Joel Havea Trio; “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

This first episode of What Makes This Book Great (WMTBG) features "The Liar," one of my favorite short stories, by Tobias Wolff. Music: "Home Again," by Michael Kiwanuka; "Lovely Day," by Bill Withers. Find me on Instagram or Twitter. Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. 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