Tangentially Speaking with Chris Ryan

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -2:47 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. The world cup, seen through the eyes of an anthropologist. The significance of Barca. Why it’s “more than a club.” Why Argentinians can be so obnoxious. How being alone in Spain can feel less lonely than being among Americans. Tangentially Speaking is a reader-supported publication.

Dave has been around. He spent eight years in the navy, lived in Bali for a while, led hundreds of intimacy workshops, explored non-monogamous relationships and intentional communities, been to Burning Man five times, studied with various gurus and legit teachers, and doesn’t take any of it (including himself) too seriously. He writes self-reflective songs and sings them from the heart. He leans into his fears and nurtures vulnerability in himself and others. He’s on a path, in other words.

Rick (center) with Geddy and Alex, from Rush. With almost 800 episodes in the archives, new listeners (and old) often ask me for recommendations. In response, I’ll occasionally re-post some of my favorites. This was my first conversation with Rick Beato (Episode 420, 5/18/2020). On what Rick Beato actually does for people who love music: Chris Ryan: “He is like the Anthony Bourdain of music. He takes you to a place you’ve never been — or you have been, but you just never noticed it the way he does.

“What’s Up, Doctopher?” is a free occasional newsletter. To gain access to all that juicy bonus content including ROMAs, TOMAs, AROMAs, travel updates, AMAs, What Makes this Book Great?, the DJCPR series, and an exclusive forum where you can interact directly with others in the Tangentially Speaking community, please consider becoming a paid subscriber for $5/month or $50/year — less than a buck a week! If you’ve already subscribed, much obliged.

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -16:56 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Took this shot of the pyro-cumulus cloud formed by the fire just over the mountains. It’s creating its own weather systems. Crazy. Accents. The World Cup. How soccer strategies reflect on contemporary American politics. Marvin Harris, Cannibals and Kings, and the Big Man theory of leadership. If that sounds intriguing, please subscribe: Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Chris Ryan.

Jan is a historian specializing in telling the stories of the many extraordinary women of the Old West — many of them madams and prostitutes. She’s written many books, including: Brothels, Bordellos & Bad Girls: Prostitution in Colorado, 1860-1930, Red Light Women of the Rocky Mountains, and Extraordinary Women of the Rocky Mountain West (available via Amazon or Jan’s site.) Tangentially Speaking with Chris Ryan is a reader-supported publication.

I love talking with Kevin about cutting-edge technology. He’s up to his neck in the stuff. He doesn’t just dabble in it. He’s practically submerged in it. I hope you enjoy this conversation with someone who knows what’s happening, because he’s one of the people making it happen. Here’s the tool Kevin and his colleagues put together to map the honestly and confidence of AI responses.

If you prefer to watch our conversation about Bob’s book, The God Test, here’s the video. Thanks for supporting this podcast.

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -1:30:13 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Robert Wright is the New York Times bestselling author of The God Test: Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning. His previous books include: The Evolution of God (a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), Nonzero, The Moral Animal, Three Scientists and their Gods (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award), and Why Buddhism Is True.

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -7:43 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Would it be such a bad thing if Iran nuked up? Robert Thurman lived a great life. Fukuyama on our innate lack of gratitude for liberal democracy. Some great writing advice. A beautiful song in mystery languages. Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Chris Ryan.