Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan

What a woman! Deborah Copaken has slept in caves in Afghanistan, produced documentaries, raised three kids, and written best-selling books on the A train under the cold streets of Manhattan. She's smart, funny, tough, and honest. A perfect podcast guest, in other words. Deborah on Instagram and Twitter . Find me on Instagram or Twitter . This episode is sponsored by Lelo , maker of the world's fin...

Welcome to another Ramblin' ROMA. Lots to cover in this one. I talk about: Current events (of course); How/why to compliment the women/men in your life; Why we need to think globally, but act locally; The life and death of my friend Diego Fresco; Why there's no shame in changing course in life; Some suggestions for taking advantage of COVID; Ideas for how to communicate with people enthralled with...

Hear that? That's the sound of shit hitting the fan. In this episode (not for the faint of heart), I trace current events back to the marriage of modern advertising and politics in the 1980s and the fragmentation of media. We're in for a wild ride, folks. It's just beginning.  Find me on Instagram or Twitter . Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks ba...

Eleanor Janega is a very smart, very funny medieval historian, specializing in late medieval sexuality, apocalyptic thought, propaganda, and the urban experience in general, and in central Europe more particularly. She teaches medieval and early modern history at a number of universities across London. She considers herself to be "a sad, sad medievalist," who hopes to "explain the medieval influen...

In this episode, I answer listener questions about whether to savor or defend a world that may be dying, how to be single but not alone, how to choose a safe place to make a stand, and my feelings about the holiday season. Check What Makes This Thing Great? Find me on Instagram or Twitter . Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Intro mus...

In this episode, I talk about how to think independently, why it's an important skill, and how to cultivate it -- all while dipping in and out of Paul Graham's essay, " How to Think for Yourself ." 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, "Disturbed,...

Anya and Erin are two of my all-time favorite people. Whore Rapport is their podcast, where they explore and discuss a version of sexuality that is healthy, strong, and aware, by "delving into topics such as gender, orientation, intimacy, and power without pathologizing desire, victimizing femininity, or demonizing masculinity." Follow Whore Rapport on Instagram and Patreon . This episode sponsore...

For my money, Rick Beato is the most knowledgeable, most enthusiastic, most open-hearted guide to the world of music. Dude can break a song down to its essence without draining its magic and beauty. Quite the opposite, in fact. After a few episodes of What Makes This Song Great? , you'll understand music -- and hear it -- in a whole new way. Here's a link to our previous conversation . Follow Rick...

Dr. Ted Achacoso attained a college degree in biology at the age of 18 and a doctor of medicine at the age of 22. A polymath who has professionally trained in interventional neuroradiology, pharmacology, neurology, medical informatics, neuro-interventional radiology interventional endocrinology, and nutritional medicine. Dr. Achacoso's current mission revolves around HOMe: "Health Optimization Med...

"Hey Chris, this is Whitney. I love the podcast! You should come visit me in the pyramid next time you're in Montana." It had been four decades since I'd heard from Whitney Lake, who was a legend at Cazenovia High School in 1979-80. His reputation for brilliant disruption greeted me when I moved to town, halfway through senior year. He still excels at brilliant disruption. He lives in a pyramid he...

Chad came to my attention via his always thoughtful, articulate posts on the Tangentially Speaking subReddit. I wanted to know the guy behind this intelligence. I'm really glad he agreed to come on the podcast. Chad's musings on Substack can be found here . Find me on Instagram or Twitter . Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “B...

Rutger Bregman is a historian and author. He has published five books on history, philosophy, and economics. His books Humankind (2020) and Utopia for Realists (2017) were both New York Times Bestsellers and have been translated into more than 40 languages. He also dared to speak truth to billionaires at Davos and provoked Tucker Carlson to melt down into a pool of frustration and rage. Rutger's s...

My fetid thoughts on the perfect sh*tstorm that is sweeping through America in 2020. Find me on Instagram or Twitter . Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. Music: “Morning in America,” by Durand Jones and the Indications . This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, vis...

After extensive adventures in Europe, Joey Rositano found himself on Jeju Island, South Korea, teaching English. During those initial years he heard about a mysterious practice of shamanism on the island that he decided to explore for himself. What he found was the fascinating world of mystical shrines, indomitable grandmas, and spirits among us. Rositano set out to record the voices and stories o...

Tim Cahill is one of the best writers of his generation. His work is funny, surprising, and deep. I first read him back in the 80s, when I was a young dirtbag hitchhiking to Alaska in search of adventure and a disgusting job. (Found both.) He's inspired generations of writers, travelers, and humorists. Here's a link to Tim's conversation with Kyle Thiermann . Find me on Instagram or Twitter . Plea...

Eric Weiner is a popular speaker and author of the New York Times bestseller The Geography of Bliss , Man Seeks God , The Geography of Genius and The Socrates Express . He is a former foreign correspondent for NPR and the author of numerous articles about travel and culture. He spent a decade overseas for NPR, based in New Delhi, Jerusalem and Tokyo. This episode is sponsored by Lelo . Find Eric o...

I respond to some of the feedback I've received in the past day or two in response to my posts on wearing masks. The article I mention in  Nature  is here . Music: "I Don't Think You Understand," by Goliath Flores. 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

Some thoughts on the difference between ignorance and stupidity, competing authority figures, the corruption of institutions, and the role of common sense in navigating all of the above. Music: "Watch it Fall," by Billy Strings. 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 commercial-free episode of What Makes This Book Great? includes listener responses to "Cat Person," and a reading of Ursula K. LeGuin's story, " The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas ," written in 1974. 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. This...

Jake and Belinda are close friends of mine and have been married to each other since before either of them can remember. This is what happens when the three of us hang out WITHOUT wine. Belinda's show on YouTube , Twitter , Instagram . Jake on Twitter , Instagram . Find me on Instagram or Twitter . Please consider supporting this podcast. This Amazon affiliate link kicks a few bucks back my way. I...

TK Coleman is a writer, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, teacher, and a few other things -- but that's enough to give you the idea. He's smart, funny, thoughtful, and overflowing with optimism. We talk about race, Muhammed Ali, and whether the free market can save us from the free market. Learn more about TK and what he's up to at fee.org/rev1 . TK on Instagram and Twitter . Find me on Instagra...

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...

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...

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.steppingforwa...

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...