Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan

Uncle Dan, Christopher Ryan's outspoken uncle known for his unconventional life, reflects on profound themes in this moving installment. He shares heartfelt anecdotes on navigating personal relationships, aspirations for flight, and the chaos of childbirth. The discussion touches upon his journey through faith, health struggles, and the importance of resilience. Uncle Dan's experiences with grief and the complexity of male friendships offer a unique lens on life's unpredictable nature. This touching tribute encapsulates a life well-lived and deeply felt.

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,” sung by Chris Thomas King. 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.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

Theo Von, a comedian and podcaster known for his candidness, dives into a range of intriguing topics. He reflects on his trip to China and its cultural quirks while exploring the strange allure of fame. The conversation touches on mental health as a societal issue, the ethics of relationships, and personal addiction experiences. With a blend of humor and vulnerability, Theo shares childhood misunderstandings and candid thoughts on authenticity in comedy, making for a deep yet entertaining discussion.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comCameron has been studying and sharing martial arts, yoga and mobility for over 30 years producing hundreds of highly skilled teachers world wide. He currently lives and runs Budokon University Montana with his wife Budokon University Director Melayne Shayne.Come decivilize yourself with us in Montana this summer. More info h…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comPete and I entertain a few questions and we talk by the fire. Among them: What is soul? Is there a purpose in learning these lessons as we get older? Are silence and solitude necessary components to the soul’s maturity? Are silence and solitude even available in a world overrun by the “attention economy?”

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comSome stuff I didn’t get to yesterday. Who was inside Aubrey Plaza’s consciousness, watching her have a stroke? Do podcasters like Rogan and Theo Von have a responsibility to change what they do in light of their massive audiences?Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. Outro: “That’s What I Got,” by Marcelo D2.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comA few of the issues stumbled over: The complicated ethics of revenge against a corporation. Yet more evidence that we don’t live in the real world. On old creeps like Woody Allen, Cormac McCarthy, and me. And more!Here’s the article about Cormac McCarthy I mentioned and the response from The Guardian.Here’s that holiday Amazon link.Intro music “Brightsi…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com— Responses to comments on the Wim Hof thing.— Is football like sex work? — How to behave in the End Times.— A few words in defense of Woody Allen and Joe Rogan.— The night Daryl Hanna asked me to sign a copy of Sex at Dawn.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “Party at the End of the World,” by Carsie Blanton. “Accidentall…