Hey. I hope you missed me as much as I missed you! This is the podcast where I explain where I’ve been for the past few weeks and why. I also talk about some ways to get in touch with each other, including the retreat that photo is teasing, and facilmap. I missed you all. But I’ve finally dug out my recording gear, so I’m back, baby!Music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; “Masterpiece,” by Big Thief, covered by Tara, of Raapta. 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

Thoughts while driving:— Why are teenagers so unhappy?— Are we drowning in a bullshit tsunami?— Shouldn’t there be a word for the current partner of your ex?— Are there love songs written to a former partner? 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

Eric Czuleger is currently banned from entering Turkey due to an accusation that he is a spy. He is not a spy. He is however, the author of books and plays as well as long form nonfiction and journalism. Most recently he spent a year living and working in countries that don’t exist. His travel book, You Are Not Here: Travels Through Countries That Don’t Exist, will be released when it’s good and ready. 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 is a breathwork coach from the UK. After 15 years in the corporate world, Mike decided to leave to teach breathwork full time. Mike has trained with many of the world’s leading breathwork innovators; such as Wim Hof, James Nestor and Patrick McKeown. 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

At age nine, Marc was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome due to incessant vocal and motor tics that interfered with every aspect of his life. Every medical professional concluded that his condition was uncontrollable and incurable, but Marc overcame Tourette’s in 2013, drawing from innovations from courses in emotional intelligence (NXIVM), using only mind over body, and sheer will. (Adapted from Marc’s website.) Marc is a passionate advocate for NXIVM’s founder, Keith Raniere, arguing that Keith didn’t get a fair trial and that his actions have been misrepresented in the media.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “Only a Fool Would Say That” by Steely Dan; Outro: “Homens,” by Manu Chao. 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

Are you a proud optimist? A glass half-full sorta person? How much is too much to spend on feline medical care? Should I stay or should I go? Do we actually love our pets or just convince ourselves we do? Is there wisdom to be found in ruthlessness? 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

Tony grew up in an intentional spiritual community in West Virginia that many called a hippie commune. His new book, Red, White & Blind looks at how censorship, propaganda, and disinformation are woven into American history and are becoming increasingly corrosive in the digital 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

On September 16, 1994, sixty-two students at Ariel School in Zimbabwe witnessed something incredible. In his fantastic documentary, Ariel Phenomenon, Randall Nickerson explores the close encounter these schoolchildren experienced. Over twenty-five years later, this incident is still fresh in their memories. They continue to search for answers – and the courage to speak their truth. 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 respond to a lobster fisherman’s question about why he gets restless in relationships. I yammer on about the difference between a “romantic” approach to loving women vs. an “epic” approach, and how each can play out in terms of loving her righteously. 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 which I talk about the difference between scarcity and value, and how conflating scarcity with value gets us into trouble. Diamonds aren’t your best friends. A few words about some of the reasons we’re in Crestone and the life-boat we’re designing.