Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan

Latest Episodes:

AROMA 11.11.26 Nov 11, 2026

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

We respond to listener comments concerning whether romantic love is real, intimacy with people other than "intimate" partners, and the challenges in developing deep, vulnerable connections in a world that pushes us toward superficiality.

AROMA 11.3.26 (More on Intimacy) Nov 03, 2026

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

We respond to listener comments/questions, Part 1. (We only got to two of the seven I printed out.) What does a new relationship feel like for people who aren’t “falling in love?” Can we find intimacy if we’re coming from a scarcity mindset, or does it require some sense of not-needing-it?

David Levitt (Cognitive Scientist, Musician & AI Researcher) Nov 02, 2026

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How can I summarize this guy? Dr. David Levitt is a cognitive and computer scientist, experimental and theoretical physicist, software engineer, virtual and augmented reality innovator, entrepreneur, musician and writer. He went to Yale at 16, and MIT at 20, where he earned a PhD in AI by teaching a machine to compose jazz.

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

Remembering Steve Herman Oct 24, 2026

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I got an email yesterday telling me that one of my favorite people, Dr. Steve Herman, had died of a sudden heart attack. Steve (a psychologist) worked with legal professionals to help them think more clearly about an issue that all too often blinds even the most level-headed among us with blind rage: allegations of sexual abuse of children. Precisely because these crimes are so offensive to people in our society, we tend to jump to conclusions, often hurting many innocent people in the process — including children. This isn't an easy thing to talk about, but Steve did it with intelligence, balance, and a deep sense of humanity. He will be missed. (Originally recorded 1/2/2015.)

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

Josh Spodek Oct 19, 2026

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Joshua Spodek PhD MBA is the premier voice in sustainability leadership. He hosts the award-winning This Sustainable Life podcast, bestselling author of Sustainability Simplified, Initiative, and Leadership Step by Step, professor at NYU, and leadership coach.

He holds a PhD in astrophysics and an MBA from Columbia, where he studied under a Nobel Laureate and helped launch a satellite.

He visited North Korea twice, swam across the Hudson River twice, has done burpees daily since 2011 (250,000 and counting), hasn’t filled a load of garbage since 2019, hasn’t flown (by choice) since March 2016, unplugged his refrigerator since September 2021, disconnected his apartment from the electric grid in May 2022, and his carbon footprint is about 1 ton per year. He blogs at joshuaspodek.com.

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

AROMA 10.13.26 (What is Intimacy?) Oct 14, 2026

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

What is “intimacy?” Is partial intimacy possible? Is “falling in love” really just falling into our own projections? What are we projecting? What are we protecting? Can we truly love without constantly risking the loss of who/what we love? Is it worth the risk?

Marcus Daniels (Musician, Former Cave Man) Oct 12, 2026

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Marcus grew up in a ghetto in Ohio, moved to Appalachia as a teenager, then to a houseboat among mangroves on Key West til the hurricane hit, stopped for a while in a cave outside of Crestone, and is now building a house for his family here. He’s a success story, if I’ve ever heard one. Dude is full of talent and wisdom, and he makes living in Crestone a lot richer for the rest of us.

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

AROMA 10.06.26 Oct 06, 2026

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

Trigger warning. This is a conversation about sexual assault.

The obligatory commentary on the Cornell case. But really, we don’t know the details about that particular case, so it’s more about these kinds of cases. He said, she said, they said, he changed his story, she recanted, they said something else and the lawyers said to say nothing at all.

Spencer Grey (Japan/Travel) Oct 05, 2026

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Originally from South Africa, Spencer has lived around the world. He’s been in Japan long enough to learn the language and get real insight into the cultures. I’ve never been, but I’m fascinated by the place.

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

Shane Gardner Sep 29, 2026

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Shane has spent the past few years building out a schoolbus, and now he’s taking it out on the road. His first stop was Crestone.

Our previous podconvo was ten years ago.

Follow Shane’s travels on his Instagram.

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

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