Peter Anderson is an author, traveler, observer, story-teller, and a million other things. He’s the whole package. His books include, Heading Home: Field Notes (Conundrum Press), a collection of short essays, flash prose, and prose poems, which Colorado novelist Laura Pritchett describes as offering "gorgeous meditations on traveling, the natural world, small towns, parenting, and...the cultural eccentricities of of the modern day west." His collection of essays, First Church of the Higher Eleva...
Jul 26, 2023•2 hr 25 min
This is a follow-up to ROMA 66, in which I further discuss the dangers of ignoring or silencing people we disagree with. Here’s the profile of Andrew Tate I mention. Here’s “Fix Your Mind,” the video that distills some of his teaching. Here are my notes on the cycle I mention. * With the intention of making the world better , we deny obvious reality (race doesn’t exist, men and women are the same, trans women are just like biological women, it’s not too late to stop climate change, we can buy ou...
Jul 20, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Here’s the interview with Andrew Tate I mentioned. The Milgram study . The article calling Jonah Hill’s texts “monstrous.” Excellent conversation between Hasan Minhaj and Obama. That Fluidstance contraption I mentioned. Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. Outro: “Global House,” by Øystein Sevåg . A little something just for subscribers: 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...
Jul 15, 2023•40 min
Kizzen and Janet have not only been in and around Crestone for decades, they’ve played a large part in shaping it into the funky, unique little town that drew me in. The heart and soul of the local paper, the Crestone Eagle , from its founding until recently, they’ve seen it all — or most of it, anyway. It was an honor to sit at their table and talk about past, present, and future with these two wise and funny ladies. Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range . “Party at the End of...
Jul 12, 2023•1 hr 28 min
I’ve been a big fan of KnowMads for several years now. Finally got to hang with them for a while, if virtually. I’m an even bigger fan now. These dudes bring it all: a deep pocket, great stories, thoughtfulness, kindness, and lots of heart. Check their site for upcoming dates in the PNW. Very proud to debut “Imperfect,” a new tune that wraps up our conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substac...
Jul 07, 2023•1 hr 33 min
The Unabomber, EarthFirst, the Monkeywrench Gang , and the constant hum of humiliation in 2023. How to live in a shitstorm without getting covered in shit. Poem: “The Conditional,” by Ada Limón. Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range . Outro: “Skim Milk,” by Jemma and the Good Thing . 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...
Jul 05, 2023•53 min
Rich travels around the US with his dog, Louis, transforming plain, boring walls into scenes of imagination and beauty. Our conversation ranges from what lies on the other side of comfort, to how health challenges can inspire and inform one’s creative process, to the ups and downs of being an itinerant artist. Rich’s murals are sumptuous, full of life and color and even humor. If you have a blank wall that could use some added vitality, get in touch with this guy. richayers.art Intro music “Brig...
Jun 27, 2023•1 hr 27 min
Along with his buddy Ryan Nicodemus, Joshua hit a wall about a decade ago. These friends realized that they had it made, on paper, anyway. They had the money, the “good jobs,” the big house, the cars, the watches, the suits. What they didn’t have was peace of mind. Maybe they didn’t own stuff, the stuff owned them? Thus were born The Minimalists . I hope you enjoy this conversation, where Josh and I go beyond closet space to talk about how our consumerist illusions manifest in non-material realm...
Jun 21, 2023•1 hr 45 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com Note: If you’re hearing some mess in the first minute or so, please delete and download again (or just jump ahead a few minutes). The first version of this had an editing error. Apologies. My editing team has been given a stern talking to. Dipping back into it with “Nathan,” a very smart therapist/scientist in his early 30s who wanted to pick my brain ab…...
Jun 11, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Along with her partner, Peter, Miriam has walked the planet for the past decade or so. India, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Europe. They travel light and spontaneous. Here’s the program that convinced me to reach out to them, a very touching portrait of these unique, lovely people. In 2017 Miriam wrote the International bestseller Woman in the Wilderness . It was translated into German, Dutch, French, Portuguese and Chinese. In 2020 the sequel Wild at Heart came out. Intro music “Brightside of ...
Jun 06, 2023•1 hr 26 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com John Colapinto has written two novels, About the Author (2001) and Undone (2015). In 2000, he published As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl (2000), about the tragic case of David Reimer , who had undergone a sex change as an infant after a medical mishap....
May 26, 2023•1 hr 36 min
“The bad news is you’re falling through the air, nothing to hang on to, no parachute. The good news is, there’s no ground.” ― Chögyam Trungpa Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. Outro: “Too Much Reality,” by Brett Newski . 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...
May 18, 2023•55 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com Trying something a little different here. A guy we’re agreeing to call “Nathan” wrote to me asking for some life advice, but suggested it could be interesting to record our conversation, in that much of what he wanted to talk about could be useful to many people, not just him. Seemed like an interesting idea, so we went for it....
May 15, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Alex wrote a book called Quantum Criminals: Ramblers, Wild Gamblers, and Other Sole Survivors from the Songs of Steely Dan (beautifully illustrated by Joan LeMay). It’s a fantastic book about one of the most interesting bands of all time. They were a rock/pop/jazz band that wasn’t really a band, decided not to tour cause it was too much hassle, settled for nothing short of perfection, had no interest in fame, so cool they didn’t care a whit about being cool. I’m guessing Banksy is a fan of Steel...
May 11, 2023•1 hr 31 min
Should we be excited or concerned about AI? Is technology learning to mimic us or are we learning to mimic technology? Who’s colonizing whom? I talk about some upcoming interviews I’ve got cooking. 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
May 03, 2023•59 min
Dr. Turner Osler studied anthropology at Princeton, before becoming a surgeon and research epidemiologist. After 30 years working at the University of Vermont’s trauma center, Dr. Osler left the operating room and began a career as a research epidemiologist, which required hours of sitting at a computer, resulting in unrelenting back pain. Being an expert on the spine, he decided to try to design a chair that would work with, rather than against human anatomy and physiology. This is a public epi...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr 38 min
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 thi...
Apr 19, 2023•44 min
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...
Mar 11, 2023•55 min
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 t...
Feb 27, 2023•2 hr 31 min
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...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 37 min
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 Ke...
Jan 24, 2023•1 hr 32 min
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...
Jan 21, 2023•34 min
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...
Jan 12, 2023•1 hr 49 min
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, vi...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 34 min
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...
Dec 21, 2022•49 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com In 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.
Nov 30, 2022•34 min
I “met” Charlie when he wrote to gently correct me on some nonsense I’d said on the podcast about climate change. I could tell from the content of his email that he knew what he was talking about, and I could tell from the tone of his email that he was a good dude. So I asked if he’d be willing to join me to talk about climate change next time I was in the area (he teaches at University of California, Irvine). Eventually, it came to be. Then we had dinner. Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by...
Nov 17, 2022•2 hr 6 min
My friend Allison Pelot was a gymnast from about the age of 5 to 22. Then, she studied pre-physical therapy before switching over to exercise science and personal training. She went on to study holistic health, energy work metaphysics, spirituality and whatever seemed related to physical health, holistic healing, and using food to both regenerate our bodies and keep them healthy. Her book is called Finally Thriving: Your Guide to Empowered Wellness . She’s also Murphy’s mom — episodes 121 and 54...
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr 30 min
Murphy first appeared on this podcast seven years ago, in episode 121. He was 13 1/2 years old at that time, getting ready to swim across the river of adolescence. Seven years later, he’s experienced many of the things he was anticipating then. He’s every bit as thoughtful, kind, and insightful as I figured he’d become. If you sometimes feel despair about “kids these days,” people like Murphy can melt your cold, cold heart into a puddle of liquid hope. This is a public episode. If you'd like to ...
Oct 19, 2022•1 hr 23 min
I’ve known Stanley Krippner since the mid-1990s, when he invited me to join him on a three week trip to Brazil. He’s a world-famous researcher and author who has has hung out with everyone from Timothy Leary to Alan Watts to the Grateful Dead. He and I have traveled together to all over the planet, from a shamanism conference in Bavaria to a Psychoneuroimmunology conference in Buenos Aires to an adventure in search of the desert spirits in Morocco. We entered the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric A...
Oct 05, 2022•1 hr 28 min
