Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan

Latest Episodes:

704 - AROMA 4 (from Los Barriles, Baja Sur) Feb 23, 2026

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com

We respond to questions from listeners about therapy, whether shame fuels eroticism, why neither of us wants to have kids (or dogs), and whether we are in an “age inappropriate” relationship.

703 - AROMA 3 Feb 20, 2026

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Greetings from the lagoon in the oasis town of San Ignacio, Baja Sur, Mexico. We talk about our (maybe) upcoming retreat this summer in Montana, answer a few listener questions (Chomsky/Pinker and Epstein), talk about the wind at our backs, and driving in Baja.

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

702 - AROMA 2 (From Culver City, CA) Feb 11, 2026

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com

I tell my Peter Attia story and we explore the nature of evil on Epstein Island. Are we all evil? How can we know? Are there justifications for the worst crimes? How can we minimize the harm we cause when we live in a world in which harm is unavoidable?

700 - Goldie Mariola (Death Doula/Earthship Captain) Feb 02, 2026

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One of the best things about Crestone is that it attracts people like Goldie. She came here to build an Earthship with her partner, Matt, and everyone agrees that it’s a richer place with them in it. She’s a big part of the annual Crestone Energy Fair and works with the Crestone End of Life Project as a death doula, helping people on their way to whatever comes next.

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

699 - James Meacham (Ethicist, Philosopher, former Minister) Jan 28, 2026

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In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about James’ journey from ministry to technology, the importance of critical thinking and humility, the role of ideology in political discourse, and the philosophical roots of Unitarianism. We even get into the nature of belief and behavior, and the implications of animal consciousness. Are critters dreaming all the time? We discuss the importance of detribalization in modern society and the role of love in ethical decision-making. Hope you enjoy it.

James’ Substack is here.

I had this conversation with an interesting guy named Piero San Giorgio recently.

Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “Temazcal,” by Monsters of Folk. Outro: “Rock Bottom,” by Colby Kent.

If you buy from Amazon, my link is here. (You can click on it once, then bookmark that as your go-to Amazon link so it’ll always work.)

Buy some merch from my mom here.

Grab a copy of my books: Sex at Dawn, Civilized to Death, Tangentially Reading, Talking Drugs, and Talking Sex here.

Find other Tangentialistas around the world!

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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

698 - ROMA 105 Jan 25, 2026

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com

Looking for silver linings of very dark clouds. Muss es sein? Es muss sein. Beethoven. Lessons learned from hopping a coal train in the Finger Lakes. Why do I ban listeners? Lee Atwater. Reagan. Carter. Is our current crisis the bitter fruit of what was planted in 1980? Answ…

697 - ROMA 104 Jan 19, 2026

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com

What is the connection (if any) between football, musicals, dancing, and prostitution Some thoughts on Tears for Fears. A bunch of other random nonsense.

696 - ROMA 103 Jan 15, 2026

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com

This one gets dark at the beginning. Could this Epstein/Trump stuff be worse, much worse than even a cynical old bastard like me could have imagined? Stuff that’s been bending for decades all feels like it’s breaking now. What does Occam’s Razor have to say about ICE raids in Minneapolis? Or Trump’s obsession with Greenland? Tariffs? Putin?

695 - Liam (Evolving Love Podcast) Jan 12, 2026

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Liam and his wife, Abbey have been together for over thirteen years and have been consensually non-monogamous for eleven of those years. Their podcast, Evolving Love, seeks to help people find whatever relationship structure works best for each couple hoping to nurture depth and authenticity.

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

694 - ROMA 102 Jan 10, 2026

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com

Listener voice memos. Am I a good mentor? If “the medium is the message,” what’s the message of the podcasting medium? Is non-monogamy a behavior decision, a relationship configuration, or an inner state? If it’s an inner state, how can we determine compatibility with a potential partner? How can we really know what we want/need, and how to communicate …

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