Here’s a place for everyone to put in their two cents, ask me questions, engage with each other, etc. I’m not 100% sure how this works, but let’s figure it out together. Everyone and every idea is welcome, as long as we’re keeping it friendly and relaxed.
Hey all. I'll leave this open so conversations can continue here, but I'll be moving my attention to the May Open Thread that I just opened (paying subscribers only). Please come say hi over there if you're looking for me. As always, thanks for your input and attention.
I sent this to the email linked on your website but thought I might post it here for good measure:
I know you don't know me, but your podcast has had a major impact on me over the years. For example, hearing you talk about Spain was one of the major contributing factors that influenced my decision to move there in 2016 (and the Trump administration, it seems). You actually responded to one of my intro snippets about this many episodes ago. Since then, I've returned to the US; however, I'll be in Madrid May 12 - June 1 visiting friends.
In your most recent episode you mentioned that you are currently in Madrid too. I know it's a longshot, but I'd love to buy you a beer and talk literature (I'm a composition and literature teacher at a small community college), travel, the downfall of Western civilization, psychedelics, and more.
Hope you are well. I'm not sure if it's possible to message me directly here, but feel free to email me at cpunkosdy@gmail.com if you're available to meet up in Madrid.
Hey Chris. Long time listener, first time commenter. Actually that's only half true, you've kindly responded to one of my emails way back in 2015 (the Colin Craveiro episode).
Since then I've travelled in Asia, gotten married in America, had two kids, returned to Sweden, and a whole bunch of other things. I honestly doubt any of that would have happened without Tangentially Speaking, so thank you Chris and everyone else for making this podcast a possiblity. It's a true gem.
Unfortunately, because of bureaucratic cruelty, my wife's residency here in Sweden has been denied and we are looking at anywhere from 6 to 15 months on the road with the kids because of this. There's no way we are accepting being apart while we wait to the new application, so it's going to be an interesting puzzle ahead of us.
Anyway, I don't really have anything useful to contribute with unfortunately, just wanted to drop by and say thank you. All the best to everybody.
Hey. Thanks for your note. I hope your forced exodus ends up being one of those things you look back on and say, "Damn, that turned out to be great!" Glad you're part of this community.
Thanks! We are certainly trying our best to look at it as a "got robbed in Barcelona" moment, and a unique opportunity to explore places like Cyprus, Galicia, Montenegro before our son starts school. All while being together and present for each other.
Hey everybody, I was just wondering, to send a listener intro in, do we just email it to chrisryanphd@gmail.com?
I have sent a couple emails to Chris to that email in the past and I remember I got a response, but I wasn't sure if things have changed because of Substack?
Thanks,
Andrew
EDIT: I just looked down and saw that Chris had already addressed this in a previous post. You've gotta' send it to: introsnips@gmail.com
I’m wondering if you have any advice for a teacher attempting to guide kids through the climate crisis. I teach Grade 5 and am constantly struggling with how I should approach it. I often weave climate change and other environmental issues into my lessons, but have avoided talking about it with too much doom and gloom. I figured if we’re on a sinking ship anyway, there’s no point in getting them worried. I’d at least like for them to enjoy their childhoods as much as possible before they have to deal with this.
But recently I realized they already know how bad it is. I’ve given them some fairly open projects where they could pick their own topic, and many of them chose climate change and deforestation. From their work I realized they’re terrified for their futures and very aware of how this will impact them.
Knowing this, how can I help them, if at all? I’ve done work with them around how to reduce our carbon footprint, political activism for the environment, etc. but I often wonder if there’s any point. It really resonated with me when you talked about how things will probably have to get worse before they get better. Part of me wants to give them hope and encourage them to take action (this is also what I’m expected to do as per the curriculum). But as you’ve said before, sometimes giving hope in a situation that is pretty hopeless can hurt more than it helps. So if I opt not to give them false hope...what else can I do?
I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on this. Sending love and gratitude for everything you do and the positive impact you’ve had on my life. And Hi to the TS community!
I'm a long time listener from Bristol UK and just wanted to express my gratitude to you for creating such a wholesome podcast and community. Your podcast has helped me through some important life moments, from giving me the confidence to go travelling and in the past 6 months both a relationship coming to an ending and my father passing away. I have really enjoyed all the music and art suggestions so I thought I would post my own if anyone wants to listen to it :) https://soundcloud.com/karmsounds
I’m in Vancouver and just got to my hotel room went looking for ice (I’m running a marathon tomorrow) no damn ice! I was complaining to myself and then listen to the last ROMA... Life’s kind of funny sometimes haha
Has anyone seen the new documentary Legacy, on amazon? Narrated by Sting, it tells the story of the earth through the perspective of energy. It starts with the evolution of life in the ocean, trees and animals. From there it continues to follow humanity mostly through the lens of energy. It ends up heavily covering the story of fossil fuels and what it has allowed us to do with it (massive overpopulation, globalization, climate change, 6th mass extinction, deforestation). It looks like it was mostly shot by drone. There is such a combination of beautiful and heartbreaking shots. It hit me pretty hard. I've been thinking about it all week.
Does it make a difference either way? I think of it like this:
If free will is an illusion, how would we know? And if it's not, we are still left with the same problem.. how could we possible know?
How could we ever pinpoint the causal relationship between a thought and an action for example? Isn't it equally plausible that our thoughts arise as a side effect from the actions our bodies are already on their way to undertake for example?
Did I reach for that cup of coffee because I willed a desire to have a sip of coffee into existence, or was I already reaching for the coffee and the "thought" followed as soon as whatever part of me that is able to have a conscious experience caught on?
Obviously I don't know, and I think ultimately all we have available is to pick the option we prefer to be true, since there is no way to verify either.
What do you think? Is there a meaningful distinction between thoughts and decisions for example or are we kidding ourselves when we say we make our decisions?
Regarding free will, here are some questions that come up and I am curious what you think (or anyone else that would like to respond): (1) do persons with intellectual deficits have free will? If not, where is the cut-off at?(2) do animals have free will? (3) do you have free will when in an altered state, such as drunk or high? (4) If we have free will, how is that compatible with individuals struggling with behavior they want to change, such as losing weight or exercising? (5) How do you define free will? (6) Is free will defined differently by believers versus non-believers?
I have Free Willy….on vhs. Just kidding, i struggle with this question all the time. i know theres that Vonnegut “everything is purely coincidental” but then Alan Watts says everything is so perfect that if like that one tiny spot on your car or that tiny little scratch on your computer screen wasnt there the whole world would be thrown off. His example is that when you zoom in on a sweater there is chaos amongst the threads but you zoom in more and the threads are perfect, zoom in more chaos again, then zoom again, perfection and on and on and on. Then like all chaos is an illusion and everything is exactly perfect how it should be. I kinda like the latter. it kinda seems like it. Like the further you stray from something u know u should be doin the more youre pushed back in sort of thing haha. Idk great question. Sorry for the dumb Free Willy joke.
I believe free will is just an illusion. Most people delve into the realm of neuroscience when discussing free will, but most neglect looking at the science of behaviorism. I would highly recommend reading Beyond Freedom and Dignity and About Behaviorism, both written by B.F. Skinner. Essentially, the argument is that the behavior of organisms is lawful and as a result our behavior is a reaction to environmental influences. A good way to think about it is if all variables were held constant, and we were in the same situation again, would we behave the same way? In essence, the science of behaviorism (and hard determinism) would hold that we would. Imagine the movie Groundhog Day without Bill Murray remembering what he did the day before. Free will would assert that he could make different decisions, and likely would, hard determinism would assert that every day he would react to his environment in exactly the same way. Just my two cents on the subject.
Hello everyone. I am scheduling a listener meet-up in Fresno CA and am extending this invitation to anyone and everyone who may want to go. I thought it would be a nice way for those of us in California's Central Valley to connect with one another. It will be on May 28, 2022 at Summer Fox Brewing Company in Fresno at 3:00 PM. I have included a link to the brewery (the meetup will be at the Fresno location). If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to respond to this post. I look forward to meeting up with those of you who may be able to make it. Cheers. https://summerfoxbrewing.com
I have been following Steven Donziger’s saga ever since his episode with you. Thanks for bringing his story to light. For me it is one of the most important issues of the day for its intersection of environmental contamination, big oil, and the capture of the justice system by corporations. For those who aren’t familiar I encourage you to explore it. For those who have not followed, Steven was just released after 993 days of detention for a misdemeanor contempt of court where, as an attorney he refused to provide his client privileged data to Chevron. The longest sentence for such a “crime” by a factor of 10 orchestrated by a corporate court after the justice department declined to prosecute. He is a hero in my eyes for how he has endured this with such grace all for the greater good.
Apr 27, 2022·edited Apr 27, 2022Liked by Chris Ryan
So, just wanted to add my 2 cents. I haven't been much engaged in online posting since Reddit became more mainstream, so it's been a few years of not much activity on my part. However, I do miss feeling connections with kindred spirits, so here I am.
Chris, thanks for everything you do. My friend Ryan introduced me to you some good 6 years ago or so.. time flies. You've been the "fatherly" voice I never had, which I know it's not a new thing to you. Thanks for having been that voice in my life.
Anyways, in the off chance there's a lesbian or bi woman who'd like to talk to a fellow woman who's into women, who's a 4 or 5 on the Kinsey scale, and who'd be open for a "monogamish" relationship down the line, feel free to reach out to me however that happens on this app. Thanks!
Hey im facing a similar situation you faced in your 20s where you had to break up with your girlfriend because she wanted kids and you didn't..
I'm 28 and in the same boat right now. I genuinely dont know what to do. I love her but I don't want kids any time soon if at all. Does that mean I don't truly love her since I wouldn't do *everything* for her?
If that woman didn't want kids would you still be with her? Sometimes the idea of settling down scares me more than being alone. Why is that? Why don't I want kids? Is it just my age or do I fear my own creations?
We're compatible in every other way for the most part but being a father isnt something I feel I need to do. Do I have kids and sacrifice my own desires for hers? Is that true love?
How do I navigate this painful process of assessing my love and future? I fear that the answer isn't determined by right or wrong but something more akin to a spectrum of acceptance of pain? I'm too close to this and can't accurately understand my own positions it feels like. I seek your guidance and ty for the podcast I've been listening for years now.
Please don't have a child for the sake of your relationship. Your love of her has no relation to whether you're willing to have a kid - love doesn't require you to do *everything* for the other person.
Don't forget that this is another human life we're talking about. Not just a cute baby - that lasts for only the briefest of times. But a human who is going to grow up. One that will experience pleasure as well as suffering, someone who will have to work their entire life, who will laugh, cry, who will age and watch their family and friends pass, and will then themselves succumb to aging and die.
I don't say this to be negative, but this isn't just a cuddly toy or goldfish - instead a human who will spend 80+ years on this planet with all of the ups and downs that life brings. You need to be absolutely sure you want to take on that responsibility - and it doesn't sound like you do. Which is perfectly fine.
1. The Greenhouse Effect is threatening everybody, and the best way to slow it down is not to balloon the population.
2. When a woman has a baby, it becomes the main focus of her life. Not you any more. This is the way it should be. Babies are helpless, they can’t survive unless the mother gives her full attention to them. But this is a big cause of failing marriages. (See Oprah Magazine, “4 Reasons Why Husbands Feel They Hate Their Wives.”)
3. A baby needs full devotion, and costs lots of money too. If having a baby is a great cause that you really want to dedicate your life to, then go ahead.
I hope this is helpful. I'm no expert, these are just some thoughts.
In one or two old episodes you have mentioned you're a big fan of Star Trek (TOS), which always struck me as odd, seeing your attitude with regards to modern civilization and technology --at the risk of falling into stereotyping, most of the Trekkies I know love getting all the new electronic gadgets and dream of one day traveling into space.
So, how do you reconcile that? Or were you into ST mainly because of Uhura and the Orion slave girls? ;)
It had a lot to do with the green woman Kirk wandered off with in one episode. It also had a lot to do with Uhuru. I was into the philosophical issues they were trying to explore, more than the militaristic nonsense. My real favorite show as a teenager was Kung Fu.
Do you follow Yanis Varoufakis at all? I think you'd have a great conversation. I'm just finishing his book "Another Now". Excellent comparison of our current reality and one that could have happened beginning with the 2008 financial crisis.
Who remembers the name of the walking tour guide from Galway, Ireland? Can't find the podcast and forgot to find it before I got to Ireland... Help a brother out...
Nearly every day my local mainstream news webpage likes to publish a new story of male infidelity of some kind told by an aggrieved female party. I acknowledge it's possible, even probable that men are more unfaithful on average than woman but reporting like this leaves a very uneven impression of infidelity in relationships imo. And even if they are interested in printing stories about unfaithful women I feel men in general would be way too embarrassed to inform the world that their partner cheated on them. One things for sure though, advertising that you've left your unfaithful partner on such a large platform is a good way of letting the world know your back on the market again :) P.S. Thanks for all the entertaining content Chris, you're one of my favorite people
I am looking for a poem (by Walt Whitman perhaps) that was referenced in a long ago episode where the author goes down to the water in contemplation and vulnerability and there he hears his name for the first time: his poetic identity, is revealed to him by the water itself.
What is the name of this poem and is it by Whitman?
Fuzzy memory me oh my, thanks for the reply! Goofy that I login to this page to check your response 'as it appears'. "What does it mean?!" Probably nothing. Or perhaps a simple 'nip slip of the universe' ; )
Letter to everyone! I just started a discord to talk about all things art. If you want to join, kick back, and talk about all things art, here’s the place: https://discord.gg/cJrX2VhE
A very random input here, but I just thought some people might enjoy this. A jazz band called Snarky Puppy did a session with a Dutch symphonic orchestra and the result is a journey of absolute musical bliss.. And it's even more enjoyable to watch because the musicians are so clearly doing what they love. Not sure if it suits more "mainstream" musical tastes.
Your thoughts on the obsessive nature of the American with longevity specifically? Most people are obsessive or are a true fanatic with some sort of thing here in the states….
"Your country has no sense of the ridiculous," a Spanish doctor once told me. I think this contributes to the American tendency to take things to extremes. I also think that because American culture is so materialistic, we tend to obsess over the here and now. Even religious people in the US don't seem to REALLY believe in the afterlife, otherwise, why all this focus on wealth ("abundance")? When you don't believe in any sort of continuity beyond death, living longer is the only option.
Could you talk about your decision not to have kids? Was it actually a decision you can pinpoint to a moment or timespan in your life, or did things just sort of workout that way? How did you navigate relationships in your 30s and 40s as someone childfree? Was it ever the kicker that ended an otherwise great relationship? (Bonus: as a 31-year-old man, where the heck do you meet women who also don't want kids?)
I really appreciate you asking this! I am a 29 year old woman who has been on the fence about having kids for years. I started listening to Tangentially Speaking over 7 years ago and have always appreciated the perspective Chris has given on the decision to not have kids. I talk to people about the decision to have kids or not all the time and the one response I get (mostly from people with kids) is how impressed they are by how much thought I’m giving it! This has been the most eye opening revelation for me, most people don’t make a conscious decision to have kids! Also there are plenty of women out there that don’t want kids 😊
I've always known. There have been moments of doubt, of course, and times when I'm acutely aware of how lovely it is for some of my friends to look at their families and feel so much love and accomplishment, but this is similar to how I feel when I see how happy my gay friends are. I'm thrilled for them, but that doesn't make me want to be gay. I kinda feel that way about kids, like it's just not who I am. I would have had to live an entirely different life to have had kids in the only way that would've been congruent for me. (Give them stability, focus, support -- financial and emotional, etc.) There were so many other things I wanted to do in my life, and I just never felt pulled to give them all up for the experiences of being someone's father.
Yes, it has been an issue occasionally, but not in "an otherwise great relationship." The fact that we looked at life so differently meant that there were other areas where we weren't on the same page. As for meeting women, it gets easier once you're beyond the asteroid belt of 25-35 or so, when women have either had kids or are comfortable not having kids.
What do you think about having Alex Epstein (author of “The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels”) on your podcast? Two great minds pursuing the same purpose, human flourishing.
Just looked up the book. I don't think it would be a fruitful discussion. His underlying premise is so far from mine that we'd never find common ground for a conversation. He thinks that burning coal/oil have made the world a better place (by fueling the development of civilization), while I'm convinced that this has been a disaster for humanity and the other life forms on this planet.
Hey Chris, the reason I thought it would be a great discussion (not just because Alex is very smart and polite and not at all aggressive or an ass) is because he uses the example of a person from ~200-300 years ago who all of a sudden found himself in our world today and how he would think that the water is cleaner, the air is cleaner and there’s no horse and human feces on the street. “Where did all the shit go?” he would say, and of course everyone agrees (including me). But no one has challenged him on what a person from 15,000 years ago would say. That’s where you would come in. I would love to hear what he has to say when challenged with that question.
Anyway, thanks so much for responding to my message. You’ve given me a lot to think about with your book. 🚐🇺🇸
That would be one question/challenge to his thesis. Another would be, "What do you mean, 'All the shit is gone'? Have you been to India? China? Most of Asia is covered in shit. Been to Africa?" The whole thing about the world getting cleaner is so Euro-centric. Sure, we export most of our garbage and industry, so if you just sit around in Europe, the world looks clean. Actually get out into the world, and it looks different.
I recently became aware of DALL-E 2 (https://openai.com/dall-e-2/), an AI technology that can create amazing artwork based on text inputs. It blows my mind! 🤯
Yeah, I would be worried if I was a professional digital artist or graphic designer because it's going to be increasingly harder for humans to compete with this technology. I don't understand how this technology actually works, but it seems like it would eventually be able to replicate almost any artistic style, which could influence many people (but not everyone) to put less value on artists' unique styles.
Good idea hope it works. Hey Chris you know those car bumper stickers that say “baby on board” or it might be a yellow caution triangle with a drawing of a baby on it. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said “ kids off in this bitch” LMAS 😂
I'll settle for you and Pinker debating on Rogan (While we're talking about things that'll never happen). I love Rogan but I don't understand his Pinkerish views of civilization. I can respect and admire the optimism but it just feels disingenuous.
Hey everyone. I saw a sign yesterday that said "Everyone wants to talk, few want to think, and no one wants to listen." Love the idea of this new format and opening it up for friendly discussion and community. Already seems to be kicking off.
Happy to help with the new process. As a bonus, I'll ask a question:
You know the quote by Mark Twain that says: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts." With that in mind, where would you recommend people travel to, and why, so that they can experience something to the effect of Mark Twain's quote? Maybe give two options where money really isn't an issue for the traveler, and another where budgetary constraints are a variable for the traveler.
Hey Manly. We met in Hawaii, no? Depends on the traveler. Spain, where I am now, is pretty interesting in terms of how they deal with work/pleasure. Small servings of high quality food leaves you feeling good, healthy, and not fat. Beautiful women not ashamed to be women. The presence of the past is palpable. For other people, India could be a needed mind-blower (but you've got to stay at least a month or two). It really depends on what the person is trying to learn. Mexico has some really lovely places and people. You can get very far away in Mexico if you go to a village.
Yup, we met in Hawaii (on the Big Island specifically). I'm always traveling and watch where you go to see if we may randomly be in the same area again. At the rate you and I travel, I'm sure we'll end up meeting at some bar somewhere again. I oftentimes get asked this - where should I travel - question from people who either: a) can travel with money not being an issue and B) those who want to travel but have budgetary concerns, and I find it difficult to give good travel advice in hopes of giving them the mind-opening experience they may desire. I gotta get myself to India one day. Peace brother.
Hello Chris, all the way from Sydney Australia. Would it be possible if you could do a movie, documentary or TV series for one of your "What makes this thing great" segments? I would love to check out what kind of cinema you are into. I know you have spoken about how music is a huge part of your life (I think it ranks somewhere between shitting and sex in your list of life appreciations/priorities) along with literature, but it would be cool to pick some movies that you consider great and do some episodes on that.
Hey Alex. Cool idea, though I don't have the skills to put together film clips as I talk about them as I do with literature. I did a thing a week or so back that I'm intending to make a series called "Voices in My Head," about what I'm reading, watching, listening to, where I'll be talking about things. Just watched "The Alpinist" last night on Netflix. Wild.
Hey Chris, I’m curious how many times a week yourself and everyone deems appropriate amount of days to drink during a week. When I’m traveling I drink about 5 times a week (beer and wine) and sometimes beat myself up for enjoying it so much
Hi Jay, I had the same feeling the last few years (it feels like one is operating at a 5/10 or something) . I love my wine and beer but realised that it was taking way more from me than giving.
Breaking down ethanol is different for everyone and it took me 30 years to realise this. It brakes down in 2 phases. The first phase produces a substance that is physically and mentally harmful, before it get processed to a harmless acid in the 2nd phase. The presence of harmless acid also applies the "brakes" (telling your brain you had enough). The body needs to rid itself from the harmful substance as quickly as possible but it seems that there is a scale on how fast individuals are capable of doing this.
Personally it takes longer for me to break down (and the "brake" to apply). The exposure to it takes its toll over the years. The alcohol high lasts about 20 minutes these days after which I just get progressively tired. Hangovers lasts 2 days sometimes. My resting heart rate also skyrockets which is an indicator that my body has an issue.
The worst thing however is the mental effects in that it removes the joy from everyday things. I you find yourself saying no to more things, it is partly (sometimes mostly) the alcohol. I took a break from it for 90 days and apart from my resting heart rate recovering I got my weekends back and enjoy the little things way more. I will keep drinking, but hopefully reduce my tolerance for the stuff and take more frequent hiatuses to reduce the physical and mental impacts.
I you are young and genetically lucky, the above will not apply for a long time and hopefully never. I am lucky that I still process the stuff in a way that I can control it and not become physically dependent on it (for now...).
Hey Jay. If you are concerned, then it likely is becoming too much. I personally let alcohol sneak up on me slowly over some years and it became a real problem. The same has happened with many people I have known. Of course it can simply be a fun lubricant but the fact that you are asking this question shows me there may be something to investigate. I would recommend taking a short break altogether (a month or so) and at the same time engaging in some more activities that open you up, i.e. group discussions, therapy, etc. It's a great way to see a little more clearly the role alcohol may be playing in a dependence way and not a simple fun way. I hope I don't come off as prudish - I am just very concerned for folks after what happened in my life. Alcohol can really sneak up and become a problem in a way many other substances cannot.
Hey Drew. If you're willing to discuss it, how did you know drinking had become a problem for you? Was there a particular experience, or was it just a creeping sense that you wanted to cut back, but weren't?
Sure, I am willing to share. I want to begin by saying that I agree with your assessment that at the end of the day, these matters are extremely variable by individual. The blanket of commonality I believe lies in the fact that we nearly always "listen to what our body is saying" more accurately when we are treating ourselves with kindness and taking the time to learn about ourselves. Alcohol surely became a much greater issue for me because I didn't really have the skills to listen to my body or understand how to care for myself in other ways.
When I was 15, my parents divorced and essentially from then on I did not live with either of them. My father was largely absent and involved with his new partner and my mom was psychologically unstable. I lived in my older brother who was 18 in our childhood home along with some mid 20's roommates my dad rented to. I began drinking some then, and slowly developed a habit, which I'm sure was largely due to the pain of my parents' divorce and feeling abandoned/ignored. I drank pretty regularly through that time and through college. I managed well, made friends, got shit done, but there was a lingering feeling that I had a lot to offer the world and wouldn't be able to do it while drunk and lethargic most of each day.
Still, a couple years would pass until age 24. Much of the life was the same, I had a loving girlfriend, steady work I was passionate about, and yet felt very depressed. My dreams began taking very dark turns, I noticed symptoms of withdrawal after not drinking for only 8 to 10 hours. I had a background in psychology/biology and was not entirely naïve as to what was happening. I wish I could say I identified the problem and took the initiative to change course, but really life forced my hand. My mind kept telling me on repeat how worthless and shitty I was, how life would be better without me here. The final straw was when I had a dream that I got up in the middle of the night and called my father to tell him I couldn't go on and I was going to kill myself. That startled me and I actually awoke, and did in fact call my dad but was moreso pleading that I wanted to live but could only think of killing myself. My girlfriend watched me until the morning where we checked me into the hospital. They gave me some drugs to help withdrawal (supposedly) and that began my journey to a better version of myself.
The next week was a horror show of withdrawal, seeing visions, seeing myself jump from window, stab myself, anything to get over the pain. Each day I crawled another inch toward the future I thought could potentially be different. I was attending group therapy through the hospital and there I really learned for the first time to look inside, identify my emotions, and to connect with others in this way. Furthermore, I realized more and more that the better version of me that I presented the world would directly translate into a better situation for both me and everyone around me, which is truly what I was after.
I am now 6 years sober. Not having alcohol as a crutch really pushed me to learn what it takes to truly connect with those around me, to engage more without reservation, and honestly to find myself a person that is genuinely worth knowing and loving. I know alcohol took on the role it did largely due to the fact that I was in so much pain, so I don't demonize it generally. However, when someone is in more pain, a little more confused perhaps about life, I have more concern over the role some substances like alcohol can play.
I appreciate your curiosity Chris. I hope this could help someone. I'm open to any questions or discussion if any of you want to chat. A fun side note is that 6 months into sobriety (2016) I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail, which really catapulted me toward a brighter future. It was on that trail that a young man recommended Tangentially Speaking. Chris' voice in my head definitely played a part clarifying the path forward for me during that time.
Thank you all for being here engaging in thoughtful discussion.
I'm not an expert, but I think this is very individual, and what and how much you drink is as important as how often. I've read studies that say any alcohol at all is harmful, and others that say that moderate drinking seems to correspond to lower death rates. I think your body probably tells you when you're drinking too much. The trick is to learn (or relearn) how to hear/listen to what your body is saying.
Hey Chris, I'd love to subscribe to substack, but they only accept credit card payments. I've tried to avoid getting one, but I geuss I'll need one now! Well, might be a good idea anyway for future travels, but I wish they would accept paypal as well.
Before I start, let me admit that marriage does work sometimes. We all know couples who stay together and enjoy each other’s company their whole lives.
But marriages often fail. A man finds a girl who is beautiful and who is devoted to him. Then the years go by, and the beauty fades. Just look at any website or magazine that features beautiful girls. Beautiful girls are nearly all under 25, or maybe 35 at most.
Worse, children come along and the wife is no longer so devoted to him. That’s as it should be. Children are helpless, they need a mother’s care and devotion. But the man may feel let down.
In Oprah magazine, see the article “4 Reasons Husbands Feel Like They Hate Their Wives:” The main reason is, “her role as a Mom may leave you feeling neglected.” (August 1, 2019).
Of course, there are many other reasons why marriages don’t work, but these are the two inherent ones which must be dealt with in every marriage.
Our genetic heritage is important too. For tens of thousands of years, we humans have lived in tribes. Civilization has only been around for maybe six thousand years.
When a modern girl comes to the time for a baby, she first has to find a man, not only to get pregnant but so he will look after her in the difficult job of having and caring for the baby. At least, that’s the norm.
(This is the part that I get from Chris’s work.) A tribal girl, however, never had to worry about such things. The tribe would look after her and help care for the baby. The tribe members knew very well that in fifteen or twenty years they might be dependent on the babies of now.
The young woman’s main job was to provide those babies, so she would mingle with the men freely. She would share herself and make love all around. The baby would thus have many fathers to depend on.
An echo of this in our times is the fact that woman tend to be noisy in sex. The noises are called copulative cries. She is advertising to other men around that she is ready for sex.
Sharing is the most important thing in a tribe. If a young woman limited herself to one man, there might be resentment and division.
It may seem strange to modern people to think of a girl sharing herself, but there are many reverberations of it in modern times. Girls like to show off. They like to wear sexy clothes and act sexy. Parents and schools may call it bad, but girls still perform freely.
In a high school play, there are generally three times as many girls as guys who want to be in it. A model loves to show herself off to a crowd of admirers/customers. At a strip club, a girl performs happily to attract many men.
Marriage is an awkward adaptation to civilization, a world where people no longer live in tribes. When we all settled down and began agriculture, people had property (homes, fields, livestock) and inheritance began. It became important for a man to know who his children were. Hence marriage.
It has never worked very well. The girl longs to play around. So do the guys. As they did in the tribe.
What’s the answer?
I think men are attracted mainly to young women. Even men who are married are attracted to girls.
In my ideal world, girls would be applauded for being sexy and providing sex to many men. Strippers, porn models, prostitutes – they are all providing a worthwhile and enjoyable service. They are in the mainstream of our genetic heritage.
Men are overwhelmingly attracted to sex with young women, and we would all be better off if we admitted it and stopped trying to label it as bad. Marriage is an awkward adaptation to modern civilization, and many of us would be better off with girls.
Be married if you want to, and have kids. Make your girl friend into a MOM – which stands for marriage, offspring, and mortgage.
For my part, I think marriage is better avoided. Better to work hard and save your money. Then, as you get older, you’ll be able to inspire a continual stream of girls under 25. It’s good for your health. They make you feel young.
Counter point. I’m 61 and while I see plenty of and can appreciate beautiful young women, I find myself much more attracted to “older” women who’ve lived and gained experience, self knowledge and self confidence, and fully possess their sexuality. A few lines and wrinkles well earned can be sexy as hell!
Thanks Chris. I just started my account, found yours, and am (sic) humbled. I like your writing style and intelligent views. Mine is more country. After years of offering my opinions even without requests I decided it was time. I have been against social media for a couple of decades but Substack is a good fit. Keep up the good work brother.
First time user here from Brooklyn;) coming from a much needed respite from the island of Turks … waiting to here of a sabbatical got approved so I can hit the road!
Hola Chris, I have a random question for you - about the situation in Venezuela, after having heard the subject crop up occasionally in your podcasts - most recently an early episode with the great Daniele Bolelli.
I'm currently in Peru which is full of Venezuelan migrants, about 1.3 million of them have come here for a better life - and if you speak to over 95% of them they will tell you the 'official narrative' concerning the situation in their home country: Maduro is a dictator, Socialism has failed, the govt are buying votes from the poor, the elections are rigged and so on ... but if I then ask the same people about the effect of the US economic blockade / sanctions / embargo, they rarely know anything about it. Or, if they do, they brush it off as a minor factor.
One time I was on a long taxi drive out of Lima and was lucky enough to have an extremely intelligent and politically engaged Venezuelan as my taxi driver. He was a civil engineer in Caracas and had to move to Peru in order to support his family - a familiar story - but he did not hate his country's government and proceded (over our 45 min journey) to tell me about his take on the political and economic situation there. Everything he told me correlated exactly with what I had read in books, articles and documentaries I had seen over the years by investigative journalists & intellectuals whom I follow (John Pilger, Chris Hedges, Noam Chomsky, Matt Taibbi, Glenn Greenwald, Aby Martin, Max Blumenthal, Ben Norton, Aaron Mate... among others).
In a nutshell, his take went something like this ... Maduro's government aren't perfect, neither was Chavez's before him - but which government, anywhere in the world, is perfect? But, even if they were perfect, even if the entire government was full of the most intelligent, economically astute, incorruptible, empathic, strong and trustworthy people you could imagine ... it wouldn't matter, because you can't do shit when you've got a global hegemon for a neighbour who are strangling your economy with sanctions - the modern equivalent of the medieval siege. They have all that oil but they can't sell it for dollars or euros, they can't import equipment to maintain their refineries and ports, they couldn't even import medicines to help their population during the pandemic. My own country, the UK, which has basically become a proxy / vassal of the US Empire since WW2, recently seized billions of dollars worth of Venezuelan gold held in the Bank of England - refusing to release it when the govt asked for help with pandemic relief efforts.
In addition to the sanctions, if they weren't enough, they also have the CIA and all its myriad of fake NGOs and think tanks, actively working to sabotage the country from within - working with international corporations and also the Venezuelan elite who detest their own government and have been wanting the US to help them return Venezuela to the good old days when most Venezuelans couldn't read or write, and no one got healthcare - ever since Chavez took over and began what he called the 'Bolivarian revolution'.
As a result of the sanctions of Russia, the US recently sent a delegation to Venezuela asking them to denounce Russia in exchange for an easing of sanctions and an end to the ridiculous attempt to proclaim Juan Guiado as president ... a laughable scheme dreamt up by the Trump administration. Venezuela refused to denounce Russia but it seems that they did manage to secure a lifting of some of the sanctions because their economy is now beginning to recover and inflation is lowering - what a surprise! The US needs its cheap oil from somewhere, and the Gulf states are refusing to increase production to reduce oil prices.
The gall and the chutzpah of the US govt never fails to amaze me ... after all the devastation they've inflicted on the Venezuelan people, they expect their govt to forgive and forget and join them in geopolitical games against Russia.
Anyway, rant over... I just wondered if/how your perspective has changed on the situation in Venezuela over the years - and if you've read the book 'The Open Veins of Latin America' and /or seen the documentaries 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' and 'The War on Democracy' which give a great overview of the recent history of the country with the largest proven oil reserves on the planet, as well as the history of South America in general.
Hey Rob. I've seen "The Revolution Will..." but not the others. I'm no expert on Venezuela, but I get what you're saying. It's essentially the same thing in Cuba. Strangle the country, then complain that it doesn't breathe properly. In international affairs, I'm rarely interested in anything but following the money, if I'm trying to figure out what's REALLY going on. All the other narratives seem to just be covers for that. Honestly thought, I don't think the US has any more or less chutzpah than any other government. They're all playing the same games in the end. The US just adds a big scoop of hypocrisy to their arm-twisting. Israel is just as bad, if not worse.
100% re. following the money to get to the truth. I don't think the US Empire (I write this to emphasise the important distinction between US citizens and the state machinery of empire) are particularly unique in their hypocrisy and chutzpah; the British Empire were just as bad - only not quite as powerful, destructive or global in their reach (not for want of trying!). Israel, like the UK, Aus, Canada, NZ, Japan ... and most of Europe for that matter ... are basically proxies for US power when it comes to geopolitical matters. Cheers and all the best, once again, with the move to Substack.
FINALLY got around to subscribing after an insane month at work. Congrats on the move to SubStack Chris. Looking forward to being an active member of the community. Working on getting my BW bus fully outfitted. Once done I Would love to meet up on the road with Scarlett JoVanson and other road Tangentialists. Until then, keep up the good work.
I’m in south Florida. Not looking to make my bus a full time home as I love my house but am certainly interested in seeing more of the country out the safaris once she is fully outfitted
Great! I wish you luck in your endeavors. If you have any build questions I may be able to offer some insight and or resources after doing my entire build.
Hey Chris loving the switch to Substack, seems to be the perfect platform for you. Loving all the new content, but don’t kill yourself my man. Hope all is well with you and Anya!
Much love, Jack (we met briefly in Vegas)
Also if there’s any tangentialists in Dallas, beers on me!! ✌🏻
I have a question, or more like a hopeful request, but first want to give some personal context so that you might be able to imagine where I'm coming from:
I am a 31 year old "American" guy who's single, without children, and living on his own (so lots of freedom of choice); and I thankfully have no financial burdens that render me "stuck" in my current life situation.
Since I (hopefully) have many years ahead of me, I see so many different potential iterations for the not-yet-lived future of my life. And I certainly still am getting to "know myself" and to understand what things I even truly LIKE in life!!
And I seem to think about this so often, and often wish that I didn't...
Of course, I'm not about to ask you to advise me on what to "do with my life" ...
Instead, what I'm most interested to hear are some of the Reflections and Insights you can share about some of the numerous visions you may have had for your future while you were still in your early adulthood, and how those may have narrowed.
You're obviously a really bright guy, capable of most anything, so I can only assume during early adulthood you had a long list of potential versions of You in your mind.
Or put differently and more vaguely: In what meaningful ways has your relationship to the future, and thinking about your personal future, changed over the years? In what ways have you honed your personal decision-making process so as to cut out the superfluous visions?
There's likely a better and more succinct way to get at the point I'm trying to reach, but regardless, I still think hearing you ROYA a bit about whatever reflections this may bring up for you could be interesting and helpful!
Hi John, a little practice - pull up your bank statements, search history online, favorite saved images, texts with context with your top mates. See what patterns, themes of importance pop out. Scan your body for the feelings associated with these focuses, conversation topics, purchases etc. Start keeping a list of what you value, what you find important. Don’t rush this list, bring it around with you for a month and see what rises.
Others can sense a true alignment of interests. We can sense a brain and being that is fully lit up about the subject of their focus. It has a contagious and cumulative effect and positive affect.
Aloha Chris & the TS tribe,
Am working on holding a psychedelic conference in Hawaii.
This was the last ( and only ? ) one . http://www.levity.com/eschaton/allchemicalsplash.html
Anyone attend or know someone who attended this one ?
Chris, I promise you'll like this one better than the LV one you spoke at recently :-)
Let's work on bringing Dr. McKenna, & Paul Stamets over.
Hey all. I'll leave this open so conversations can continue here, but I'll be moving my attention to the May Open Thread that I just opened (paying subscribers only). Please come say hi over there if you're looking for me. As always, thanks for your input and attention.
Hi Chris,
I sent this to the email linked on your website but thought I might post it here for good measure:
I know you don't know me, but your podcast has had a major impact on me over the years. For example, hearing you talk about Spain was one of the major contributing factors that influenced my decision to move there in 2016 (and the Trump administration, it seems). You actually responded to one of my intro snippets about this many episodes ago. Since then, I've returned to the US; however, I'll be in Madrid May 12 - June 1 visiting friends.
In your most recent episode you mentioned that you are currently in Madrid too. I know it's a longshot, but I'd love to buy you a beer and talk literature (I'm a composition and literature teacher at a small community college), travel, the downfall of Western civilization, psychedelics, and more.
Hope you are well. I'm not sure if it's possible to message me directly here, but feel free to email me at cpunkosdy@gmail.com if you're available to meet up in Madrid.
Hey. I responded to your email. Sorry to miss you, but I'm already down near Granada.
Hey Chris. Long time listener, first time commenter. Actually that's only half true, you've kindly responded to one of my emails way back in 2015 (the Colin Craveiro episode).
Since then I've travelled in Asia, gotten married in America, had two kids, returned to Sweden, and a whole bunch of other things. I honestly doubt any of that would have happened without Tangentially Speaking, so thank you Chris and everyone else for making this podcast a possiblity. It's a true gem.
Unfortunately, because of bureaucratic cruelty, my wife's residency here in Sweden has been denied and we are looking at anywhere from 6 to 15 months on the road with the kids because of this. There's no way we are accepting being apart while we wait to the new application, so it's going to be an interesting puzzle ahead of us.
Anyway, I don't really have anything useful to contribute with unfortunately, just wanted to drop by and say thank you. All the best to everybody.
Hey. Thanks for your note. I hope your forced exodus ends up being one of those things you look back on and say, "Damn, that turned out to be great!" Glad you're part of this community.
Thanks! We are certainly trying our best to look at it as a "got robbed in Barcelona" moment, and a unique opportunity to explore places like Cyprus, Galicia, Montenegro before our son starts school. All while being together and present for each other.
Hey everybody, I was just wondering, to send a listener intro in, do we just email it to chrisryanphd@gmail.com?
I have sent a couple emails to Chris to that email in the past and I remember I got a response, but I wasn't sure if things have changed because of Substack?
Thanks,
Andrew
EDIT: I just looked down and saw that Chris had already addressed this in a previous post. You've gotta' send it to: introsnips@gmail.com
Hi Chris!
I’m wondering if you have any advice for a teacher attempting to guide kids through the climate crisis. I teach Grade 5 and am constantly struggling with how I should approach it. I often weave climate change and other environmental issues into my lessons, but have avoided talking about it with too much doom and gloom. I figured if we’re on a sinking ship anyway, there’s no point in getting them worried. I’d at least like for them to enjoy their childhoods as much as possible before they have to deal with this.
But recently I realized they already know how bad it is. I’ve given them some fairly open projects where they could pick their own topic, and many of them chose climate change and deforestation. From their work I realized they’re terrified for their futures and very aware of how this will impact them.
Knowing this, how can I help them, if at all? I’ve done work with them around how to reduce our carbon footprint, political activism for the environment, etc. but I often wonder if there’s any point. It really resonated with me when you talked about how things will probably have to get worse before they get better. Part of me wants to give them hope and encourage them to take action (this is also what I’m expected to do as per the curriculum). But as you’ve said before, sometimes giving hope in a situation that is pretty hopeless can hurt more than it helps. So if I opt not to give them false hope...what else can I do?
I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on this. Sending love and gratitude for everything you do and the positive impact you’ve had on my life. And Hi to the TS community!
Hey Alexandra. I'll respond to this in the May BROMA. Thanks for the topic, sad as it is.
Thank you Chris!
Hey Chris and Tangentalists!
I'm a long time listener from Bristol UK and just wanted to express my gratitude to you for creating such a wholesome podcast and community. Your podcast has helped me through some important life moments, from giving me the confidence to go travelling and in the past 6 months both a relationship coming to an ending and my father passing away. I have really enjoyed all the music and art suggestions so I thought I would post my own if anyone wants to listen to it :) https://soundcloud.com/karmsounds
Much love
Rhys
Rhys your music is the perfect soundtrack for reading these threads/writing...keep it up please!
Ah thanks so much! Glad you are enjoying it :)
"Wholesome?" I'll take it!
I’m in Vancouver and just got to my hotel room went looking for ice (I’m running a marathon tomorrow) no damn ice! I was complaining to myself and then listen to the last ROMA... Life’s kind of funny sometimes haha
Chris, Aloha from Kona.
Let's have a meet up here someday.
Please write your erotic memoir.
Consequences be damned. Provoke the cxl cult with thought provoking literature.
Thx for all U do.
Hope to C U soon.
Sian
Has anyone seen the new documentary Legacy, on amazon? Narrated by Sting, it tells the story of the earth through the perspective of energy. It starts with the evolution of life in the ocean, trees and animals. From there it continues to follow humanity mostly through the lens of energy. It ends up heavily covering the story of fossil fuels and what it has allowed us to do with it (massive overpopulation, globalization, climate change, 6th mass extinction, deforestation). It looks like it was mostly shot by drone. There is such a combination of beautiful and heartbreaking shots. It hit me pretty hard. I've been thinking about it all week.
Free will.... Do we have it or is it just an illusion?
It seems to me that all of our thoughts just "arise" of themselves into consciousness. We have no idea what out next thought will be.
That in the same way the ocean is "waving", our minds are "thinking".
Curious to hear everyone's thoughts...whether you choose them or not 😂
Does it make a difference either way? I think of it like this:
If free will is an illusion, how would we know? And if it's not, we are still left with the same problem.. how could we possible know?
How could we ever pinpoint the causal relationship between a thought and an action for example? Isn't it equally plausible that our thoughts arise as a side effect from the actions our bodies are already on their way to undertake for example?
Did I reach for that cup of coffee because I willed a desire to have a sip of coffee into existence, or was I already reaching for the coffee and the "thought" followed as soon as whatever part of me that is able to have a conscious experience caught on?
Obviously I don't know, and I think ultimately all we have available is to pick the option we prefer to be true, since there is no way to verify either.
What do you think? Is there a meaningful distinction between thoughts and decisions for example or are we kidding ourselves when we say we make our decisions?
Regarding free will, here are some questions that come up and I am curious what you think (or anyone else that would like to respond): (1) do persons with intellectual deficits have free will? If not, where is the cut-off at?(2) do animals have free will? (3) do you have free will when in an altered state, such as drunk or high? (4) If we have free will, how is that compatible with individuals struggling with behavior they want to change, such as losing weight or exercising? (5) How do you define free will? (6) Is free will defined differently by believers versus non-believers?
Just a few thoughts.
I have Free Willy….on vhs. Just kidding, i struggle with this question all the time. i know theres that Vonnegut “everything is purely coincidental” but then Alan Watts says everything is so perfect that if like that one tiny spot on your car or that tiny little scratch on your computer screen wasnt there the whole world would be thrown off. His example is that when you zoom in on a sweater there is chaos amongst the threads but you zoom in more and the threads are perfect, zoom in more chaos again, then zoom again, perfection and on and on and on. Then like all chaos is an illusion and everything is exactly perfect how it should be. I kinda like the latter. it kinda seems like it. Like the further you stray from something u know u should be doin the more youre pushed back in sort of thing haha. Idk great question. Sorry for the dumb Free Willy joke.
I believe free will is just an illusion. Most people delve into the realm of neuroscience when discussing free will, but most neglect looking at the science of behaviorism. I would highly recommend reading Beyond Freedom and Dignity and About Behaviorism, both written by B.F. Skinner. Essentially, the argument is that the behavior of organisms is lawful and as a result our behavior is a reaction to environmental influences. A good way to think about it is if all variables were held constant, and we were in the same situation again, would we behave the same way? In essence, the science of behaviorism (and hard determinism) would hold that we would. Imagine the movie Groundhog Day without Bill Murray remembering what he did the day before. Free will would assert that he could make different decisions, and likely would, hard determinism would assert that every day he would react to his environment in exactly the same way. Just my two cents on the subject.
I've heard better arguments for the lack of free will. I'd love to be convinced that it exists if anyone has a good take on it.
Hello everyone. I am scheduling a listener meet-up in Fresno CA and am extending this invitation to anyone and everyone who may want to go. I thought it would be a nice way for those of us in California's Central Valley to connect with one another. It will be on May 28, 2022 at Summer Fox Brewing Company in Fresno at 3:00 PM. I have included a link to the brewery (the meetup will be at the Fresno location). If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to respond to this post. I look forward to meeting up with those of you who may be able to make it. Cheers. https://summerfoxbrewing.com
I have been following Steven Donziger’s saga ever since his episode with you. Thanks for bringing his story to light. For me it is one of the most important issues of the day for its intersection of environmental contamination, big oil, and the capture of the justice system by corporations. For those who aren’t familiar I encourage you to explore it. For those who have not followed, Steven was just released after 993 days of detention for a misdemeanor contempt of court where, as an attorney he refused to provide his client privileged data to Chevron. The longest sentence for such a “crime” by a factor of 10 orchestrated by a corporate court after the justice department declined to prosecute. He is a hero in my eyes for how he has endured this with such grace all for the greater good.
I have also been following it since that episode... thanks for the post agree wholeheartedly
So, just wanted to add my 2 cents. I haven't been much engaged in online posting since Reddit became more mainstream, so it's been a few years of not much activity on my part. However, I do miss feeling connections with kindred spirits, so here I am.
Chris, thanks for everything you do. My friend Ryan introduced me to you some good 6 years ago or so.. time flies. You've been the "fatherly" voice I never had, which I know it's not a new thing to you. Thanks for having been that voice in my life.
Anyways, in the off chance there's a lesbian or bi woman who'd like to talk to a fellow woman who's into women, who's a 4 or 5 on the Kinsey scale, and who'd be open for a "monogamish" relationship down the line, feel free to reach out to me however that happens on this app. Thanks!
Hey im facing a similar situation you faced in your 20s where you had to break up with your girlfriend because she wanted kids and you didn't..
I'm 28 and in the same boat right now. I genuinely dont know what to do. I love her but I don't want kids any time soon if at all. Does that mean I don't truly love her since I wouldn't do *everything* for her?
If that woman didn't want kids would you still be with her? Sometimes the idea of settling down scares me more than being alone. Why is that? Why don't I want kids? Is it just my age or do I fear my own creations?
We're compatible in every other way for the most part but being a father isnt something I feel I need to do. Do I have kids and sacrifice my own desires for hers? Is that true love?
How do I navigate this painful process of assessing my love and future? I fear that the answer isn't determined by right or wrong but something more akin to a spectrum of acceptance of pain? I'm too close to this and can't accurately understand my own positions it feels like. I seek your guidance and ty for the podcast I've been listening for years now.
Please don't have a child for the sake of your relationship. Your love of her has no relation to whether you're willing to have a kid - love doesn't require you to do *everything* for the other person.
Don't forget that this is another human life we're talking about. Not just a cute baby - that lasts for only the briefest of times. But a human who is going to grow up. One that will experience pleasure as well as suffering, someone who will have to work their entire life, who will laugh, cry, who will age and watch their family and friends pass, and will then themselves succumb to aging and die.
I don't say this to be negative, but this isn't just a cuddly toy or goldfish - instead a human who will spend 80+ years on this planet with all of the ups and downs that life brings. You need to be absolutely sure you want to take on that responsibility - and it doesn't sound like you do. Which is perfectly fine.
I'll address this in the next ROMA.
Hi Bo, Just three things to think about:
1. The Greenhouse Effect is threatening everybody, and the best way to slow it down is not to balloon the population.
2. When a woman has a baby, it becomes the main focus of her life. Not you any more. This is the way it should be. Babies are helpless, they can’t survive unless the mother gives her full attention to them. But this is a big cause of failing marriages. (See Oprah Magazine, “4 Reasons Why Husbands Feel They Hate Their Wives.”)
3. A baby needs full devotion, and costs lots of money too. If having a baby is a great cause that you really want to dedicate your life to, then go ahead.
I hope this is helpful. I'm no expert, these are just some thoughts.
In one or two old episodes you have mentioned you're a big fan of Star Trek (TOS), which always struck me as odd, seeing your attitude with regards to modern civilization and technology --at the risk of falling into stereotyping, most of the Trekkies I know love getting all the new electronic gadgets and dream of one day traveling into space.
So, how do you reconcile that? Or were you into ST mainly because of Uhura and the Orion slave girls? ;)
It had a lot to do with the green woman Kirk wandered off with in one episode. It also had a lot to do with Uhuru. I was into the philosophical issues they were trying to explore, more than the militaristic nonsense. My real favorite show as a teenager was Kung Fu.
Kane!
Chris, thanks for setting this up!
Do you follow Yanis Varoufakis at all? I think you'd have a great conversation. I'm just finishing his book "Another Now". Excellent comparison of our current reality and one that could have happened beginning with the 2008 financial crisis.
D
Seen him in a few interviews. Seems very smart. Haven't read any of his books.
He's a fan of Ursula K LeGuin and Kim Stanley Robinson. I feel like they have had a hand in some of how he views potential futures.
Thanks!
Headed to Antigua and Lake Atitlan Guatemala next week, Any recommendations from anyone on what to make sure to see? Thanks Fam
Not sure if it's in your budget, but my buddy Tim's place is awesome: https://www.airbnb.com/users/76637281/listings
awesome ill check it out! Thanks!
Who remembers the name of the walking tour guide from Galway, Ireland? Can't find the podcast and forgot to find it before I got to Ireland... Help a brother out...
I think you're confusing me with another podcaster. I haven't been to Galway.
Nearly every day my local mainstream news webpage likes to publish a new story of male infidelity of some kind told by an aggrieved female party. I acknowledge it's possible, even probable that men are more unfaithful on average than woman but reporting like this leaves a very uneven impression of infidelity in relationships imo. And even if they are interested in printing stories about unfaithful women I feel men in general would be way too embarrassed to inform the world that their partner cheated on them. One things for sure though, advertising that you've left your unfaithful partner on such a large platform is a good way of letting the world know your back on the market again :) P.S. Thanks for all the entertaining content Chris, you're one of my favorite people
I am looking for a poem (by Walt Whitman perhaps) that was referenced in a long ago episode where the author goes down to the water in contemplation and vulnerability and there he hears his name for the first time: his poetic identity, is revealed to him by the water itself.
What is the name of this poem and is it by Whitman?
Keep on keepin' on.
I may have mentioned "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry," as it's one of my favorites, but it isn't quite the way you remember it.
Fuzzy memory me oh my, thanks for the reply! Goofy that I login to this page to check your response 'as it appears'. "What does it mean?!" Probably nothing. Or perhaps a simple 'nip slip of the universe' ; )
Letter to everyone! I just started a discord to talk about all things art. If you want to join, kick back, and talk about all things art, here’s the place: https://discord.gg/cJrX2VhE
A very random input here, but I just thought some people might enjoy this. A jazz band called Snarky Puppy did a session with a Dutch symphonic orchestra and the result is a journey of absolute musical bliss.. And it's even more enjoyable to watch because the musicians are so clearly doing what they love. Not sure if it suits more "mainstream" musical tastes.
I hope links work in here..
https://youtu.be/jLRw-Ahq22k
Your thoughts on the obsessive nature of the American with longevity specifically? Most people are obsessive or are a true fanatic with some sort of thing here in the states….
"Your country has no sense of the ridiculous," a Spanish doctor once told me. I think this contributes to the American tendency to take things to extremes. I also think that because American culture is so materialistic, we tend to obsess over the here and now. Even religious people in the US don't seem to REALLY believe in the afterlife, otherwise, why all this focus on wealth ("abundance")? When you don't believe in any sort of continuity beyond death, living longer is the only option.
This is Rad. Still doin those voicemails? If so, how does one contribute? Cheers,
Fo sho. introsnips@gmail.com
Could you talk about your decision not to have kids? Was it actually a decision you can pinpoint to a moment or timespan in your life, or did things just sort of workout that way? How did you navigate relationships in your 30s and 40s as someone childfree? Was it ever the kicker that ended an otherwise great relationship? (Bonus: as a 31-year-old man, where the heck do you meet women who also don't want kids?)
I really appreciate you asking this! I am a 29 year old woman who has been on the fence about having kids for years. I started listening to Tangentially Speaking over 7 years ago and have always appreciated the perspective Chris has given on the decision to not have kids. I talk to people about the decision to have kids or not all the time and the one response I get (mostly from people with kids) is how impressed they are by how much thought I’m giving it! This has been the most eye opening revelation for me, most people don’t make a conscious decision to have kids! Also there are plenty of women out there that don’t want kids 😊
I've always known. There have been moments of doubt, of course, and times when I'm acutely aware of how lovely it is for some of my friends to look at their families and feel so much love and accomplishment, but this is similar to how I feel when I see how happy my gay friends are. I'm thrilled for them, but that doesn't make me want to be gay. I kinda feel that way about kids, like it's just not who I am. I would have had to live an entirely different life to have had kids in the only way that would've been congruent for me. (Give them stability, focus, support -- financial and emotional, etc.) There were so many other things I wanted to do in my life, and I just never felt pulled to give them all up for the experiences of being someone's father.
Yes, it has been an issue occasionally, but not in "an otherwise great relationship." The fact that we looked at life so differently meant that there were other areas where we weren't on the same page. As for meeting women, it gets easier once you're beyond the asteroid belt of 25-35 or so, when women have either had kids or are comfortable not having kids.
Hey Chris,
What do you think about having Alex Epstein (author of “The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels”) on your podcast? Two great minds pursuing the same purpose, human flourishing.
Thank you.
Just looked up the book. I don't think it would be a fruitful discussion. His underlying premise is so far from mine that we'd never find common ground for a conversation. He thinks that burning coal/oil have made the world a better place (by fueling the development of civilization), while I'm convinced that this has been a disaster for humanity and the other life forms on this planet.
Hey Chris, the reason I thought it would be a great discussion (not just because Alex is very smart and polite and not at all aggressive or an ass) is because he uses the example of a person from ~200-300 years ago who all of a sudden found himself in our world today and how he would think that the water is cleaner, the air is cleaner and there’s no horse and human feces on the street. “Where did all the shit go?” he would say, and of course everyone agrees (including me). But no one has challenged him on what a person from 15,000 years ago would say. That’s where you would come in. I would love to hear what he has to say when challenged with that question.
Anyway, thanks so much for responding to my message. You’ve given me a lot to think about with your book. 🚐🇺🇸
That would be one question/challenge to his thesis. Another would be, "What do you mean, 'All the shit is gone'? Have you been to India? China? Most of Asia is covered in shit. Been to Africa?" The whole thing about the world getting cleaner is so Euro-centric. Sure, we export most of our garbage and industry, so if you just sit around in Europe, the world looks clean. Actually get out into the world, and it looks different.
Don’t have to go that far. Just check out the men’s bathroom at Grand Central Station.
Thanks for opening up this space, Chris.
I recently became aware of DALL-E 2 (https://openai.com/dall-e-2/), an AI technology that can create amazing artwork based on text inputs. It blows my mind! 🤯
This YouTube video is good intro: https://youtu.be/U1cF9QCu1rQ
Crazy. It's like we're exporting our imaginations or something. This is going to put a lot of artists/graphic designers out of business!
Yeah, I would be worried if I was a professional digital artist or graphic designer because it's going to be increasingly harder for humans to compete with this technology. I don't understand how this technology actually works, but it seems like it would eventually be able to replicate almost any artistic style, which could influence many people (but not everyone) to put less value on artists' unique styles.
A long time ago, you did a podcast with Neil Strauss. Any chance of another happening at some point?
I also really enjoyed that conversation with Strauss.
Possibly. We've done at least three.
Good idea hope it works. Hey Chris you know those car bumper stickers that say “baby on board” or it might be a yellow caution triangle with a drawing of a baby on it. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said “ kids off in this bitch” LMAS 😂
When are we getting another Shrimp Parade?
Probably never.
I'll settle for you and Pinker debating on Rogan (While we're talking about things that'll never happen). I love Rogan but I don't understand his Pinkerish views of civilization. I can respect and admire the optimism but it just feels disingenuous.
Too bad, but those were the best! Times, they are a'changin'!
Hey everyone. I saw a sign yesterday that said "Everyone wants to talk, few want to think, and no one wants to listen." Love the idea of this new format and opening it up for friendly discussion and community. Already seems to be kicking off.
Happy to help with the new process. As a bonus, I'll ask a question:
You know the quote by Mark Twain that says: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts." With that in mind, where would you recommend people travel to, and why, so that they can experience something to the effect of Mark Twain's quote? Maybe give two options where money really isn't an issue for the traveler, and another where budgetary constraints are a variable for the traveler.
Hey Manly. We met in Hawaii, no? Depends on the traveler. Spain, where I am now, is pretty interesting in terms of how they deal with work/pleasure. Small servings of high quality food leaves you feeling good, healthy, and not fat. Beautiful women not ashamed to be women. The presence of the past is palpable. For other people, India could be a needed mind-blower (but you've got to stay at least a month or two). It really depends on what the person is trying to learn. Mexico has some really lovely places and people. You can get very far away in Mexico if you go to a village.
Yup, we met in Hawaii (on the Big Island specifically). I'm always traveling and watch where you go to see if we may randomly be in the same area again. At the rate you and I travel, I'm sure we'll end up meeting at some bar somewhere again. I oftentimes get asked this - where should I travel - question from people who either: a) can travel with money not being an issue and B) those who want to travel but have budgetary concerns, and I find it difficult to give good travel advice in hopes of giving them the mind-opening experience they may desire. I gotta get myself to India one day. Peace brother.
Hello Chris, all the way from Sydney Australia. Would it be possible if you could do a movie, documentary or TV series for one of your "What makes this thing great" segments? I would love to check out what kind of cinema you are into. I know you have spoken about how music is a huge part of your life (I think it ranks somewhere between shitting and sex in your list of life appreciations/priorities) along with literature, but it would be cool to pick some movies that you consider great and do some episodes on that.
Hey Alex, I just started a discord about art. If you want to join up, talk about art, and hang out, here’s the link: https://discord.gg/cJrX2VhE
Hey Alex. Cool idea, though I don't have the skills to put together film clips as I talk about them as I do with literature. I did a thing a week or so back that I'm intending to make a series called "Voices in My Head," about what I'm reading, watching, listening to, where I'll be talking about things. Just watched "The Alpinist" last night on Netflix. Wild.
Hey Chris, I’m curious how many times a week yourself and everyone deems appropriate amount of days to drink during a week. When I’m traveling I drink about 5 times a week (beer and wine) and sometimes beat myself up for enjoying it so much
Hi Jay, I had the same feeling the last few years (it feels like one is operating at a 5/10 or something) . I love my wine and beer but realised that it was taking way more from me than giving.
Breaking down ethanol is different for everyone and it took me 30 years to realise this. It brakes down in 2 phases. The first phase produces a substance that is physically and mentally harmful, before it get processed to a harmless acid in the 2nd phase. The presence of harmless acid also applies the "brakes" (telling your brain you had enough). The body needs to rid itself from the harmful substance as quickly as possible but it seems that there is a scale on how fast individuals are capable of doing this.
Personally it takes longer for me to break down (and the "brake" to apply). The exposure to it takes its toll over the years. The alcohol high lasts about 20 minutes these days after which I just get progressively tired. Hangovers lasts 2 days sometimes. My resting heart rate also skyrockets which is an indicator that my body has an issue.
The worst thing however is the mental effects in that it removes the joy from everyday things. I you find yourself saying no to more things, it is partly (sometimes mostly) the alcohol. I took a break from it for 90 days and apart from my resting heart rate recovering I got my weekends back and enjoy the little things way more. I will keep drinking, but hopefully reduce my tolerance for the stuff and take more frequent hiatuses to reduce the physical and mental impacts.
I you are young and genetically lucky, the above will not apply for a long time and hopefully never. I am lucky that I still process the stuff in a way that I can control it and not become physically dependent on it (for now...).
Oh, I forgot. Libido takes centre stage after an hiatus.
Hey Jay. If you are concerned, then it likely is becoming too much. I personally let alcohol sneak up on me slowly over some years and it became a real problem. The same has happened with many people I have known. Of course it can simply be a fun lubricant but the fact that you are asking this question shows me there may be something to investigate. I would recommend taking a short break altogether (a month or so) and at the same time engaging in some more activities that open you up, i.e. group discussions, therapy, etc. It's a great way to see a little more clearly the role alcohol may be playing in a dependence way and not a simple fun way. I hope I don't come off as prudish - I am just very concerned for folks after what happened in my life. Alcohol can really sneak up and become a problem in a way many other substances cannot.
Cheers (or not), Jay! :)
Hey Drew. If you're willing to discuss it, how did you know drinking had become a problem for you? Was there a particular experience, or was it just a creeping sense that you wanted to cut back, but weren't?
Sure, I am willing to share. I want to begin by saying that I agree with your assessment that at the end of the day, these matters are extremely variable by individual. The blanket of commonality I believe lies in the fact that we nearly always "listen to what our body is saying" more accurately when we are treating ourselves with kindness and taking the time to learn about ourselves. Alcohol surely became a much greater issue for me because I didn't really have the skills to listen to my body or understand how to care for myself in other ways.
When I was 15, my parents divorced and essentially from then on I did not live with either of them. My father was largely absent and involved with his new partner and my mom was psychologically unstable. I lived in my older brother who was 18 in our childhood home along with some mid 20's roommates my dad rented to. I began drinking some then, and slowly developed a habit, which I'm sure was largely due to the pain of my parents' divorce and feeling abandoned/ignored. I drank pretty regularly through that time and through college. I managed well, made friends, got shit done, but there was a lingering feeling that I had a lot to offer the world and wouldn't be able to do it while drunk and lethargic most of each day.
Still, a couple years would pass until age 24. Much of the life was the same, I had a loving girlfriend, steady work I was passionate about, and yet felt very depressed. My dreams began taking very dark turns, I noticed symptoms of withdrawal after not drinking for only 8 to 10 hours. I had a background in psychology/biology and was not entirely naïve as to what was happening. I wish I could say I identified the problem and took the initiative to change course, but really life forced my hand. My mind kept telling me on repeat how worthless and shitty I was, how life would be better without me here. The final straw was when I had a dream that I got up in the middle of the night and called my father to tell him I couldn't go on and I was going to kill myself. That startled me and I actually awoke, and did in fact call my dad but was moreso pleading that I wanted to live but could only think of killing myself. My girlfriend watched me until the morning where we checked me into the hospital. They gave me some drugs to help withdrawal (supposedly) and that began my journey to a better version of myself.
The next week was a horror show of withdrawal, seeing visions, seeing myself jump from window, stab myself, anything to get over the pain. Each day I crawled another inch toward the future I thought could potentially be different. I was attending group therapy through the hospital and there I really learned for the first time to look inside, identify my emotions, and to connect with others in this way. Furthermore, I realized more and more that the better version of me that I presented the world would directly translate into a better situation for both me and everyone around me, which is truly what I was after.
I am now 6 years sober. Not having alcohol as a crutch really pushed me to learn what it takes to truly connect with those around me, to engage more without reservation, and honestly to find myself a person that is genuinely worth knowing and loving. I know alcohol took on the role it did largely due to the fact that I was in so much pain, so I don't demonize it generally. However, when someone is in more pain, a little more confused perhaps about life, I have more concern over the role some substances like alcohol can play.
I appreciate your curiosity Chris. I hope this could help someone. I'm open to any questions or discussion if any of you want to chat. A fun side note is that 6 months into sobriety (2016) I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail, which really catapulted me toward a brighter future. It was on that trail that a young man recommended Tangentially Speaking. Chris' voice in my head definitely played a part clarifying the path forward for me during that time.
Thank you all for being here engaging in thoughtful discussion.
-Drew (from Santa Cruz meetup)
Thanks so much for sharing all this, Drew. That's a hell of a journey.
I'm not an expert, but I think this is very individual, and what and how much you drink is as important as how often. I've read studies that say any alcohol at all is harmful, and others that say that moderate drinking seems to correspond to lower death rates. I think your body probably tells you when you're drinking too much. The trick is to learn (or relearn) how to hear/listen to what your body is saying.
I do not have anything important to say. I just wanted to jump in the conversation and say hi to everyone I look forward to everyone's future posts.
Saying hi can be important. Hi!
Glad to see such rapid lively discussion!
We have not had the pleasure.
Hey Chris, I'd love to subscribe to substack, but they only accept credit card payments. I've tried to avoid getting one, but I geuss I'll need one now! Well, might be a good idea anyway for future travels, but I wish they would accept paypal as well.
They're going to add Bitcoin payment soon, I'm told.
Why Marriage Doesn’t Work
Before I start, let me admit that marriage does work sometimes. We all know couples who stay together and enjoy each other’s company their whole lives.
But marriages often fail. A man finds a girl who is beautiful and who is devoted to him. Then the years go by, and the beauty fades. Just look at any website or magazine that features beautiful girls. Beautiful girls are nearly all under 25, or maybe 35 at most.
Worse, children come along and the wife is no longer so devoted to him. That’s as it should be. Children are helpless, they need a mother’s care and devotion. But the man may feel let down.
In Oprah magazine, see the article “4 Reasons Husbands Feel Like They Hate Their Wives:” The main reason is, “her role as a Mom may leave you feeling neglected.” (August 1, 2019).
Of course, there are many other reasons why marriages don’t work, but these are the two inherent ones which must be dealt with in every marriage.
Our genetic heritage is important too. For tens of thousands of years, we humans have lived in tribes. Civilization has only been around for maybe six thousand years.
When a modern girl comes to the time for a baby, she first has to find a man, not only to get pregnant but so he will look after her in the difficult job of having and caring for the baby. At least, that’s the norm.
(This is the part that I get from Chris’s work.) A tribal girl, however, never had to worry about such things. The tribe would look after her and help care for the baby. The tribe members knew very well that in fifteen or twenty years they might be dependent on the babies of now.
The young woman’s main job was to provide those babies, so she would mingle with the men freely. She would share herself and make love all around. The baby would thus have many fathers to depend on.
An echo of this in our times is the fact that woman tend to be noisy in sex. The noises are called copulative cries. She is advertising to other men around that she is ready for sex.
Sharing is the most important thing in a tribe. If a young woman limited herself to one man, there might be resentment and division.
It may seem strange to modern people to think of a girl sharing herself, but there are many reverberations of it in modern times. Girls like to show off. They like to wear sexy clothes and act sexy. Parents and schools may call it bad, but girls still perform freely.
In a high school play, there are generally three times as many girls as guys who want to be in it. A model loves to show herself off to a crowd of admirers/customers. At a strip club, a girl performs happily to attract many men.
Marriage is an awkward adaptation to civilization, a world where people no longer live in tribes. When we all settled down and began agriculture, people had property (homes, fields, livestock) and inheritance began. It became important for a man to know who his children were. Hence marriage.
It has never worked very well. The girl longs to play around. So do the guys. As they did in the tribe.
What’s the answer?
I think men are attracted mainly to young women. Even men who are married are attracted to girls.
In my ideal world, girls would be applauded for being sexy and providing sex to many men. Strippers, porn models, prostitutes – they are all providing a worthwhile and enjoyable service. They are in the mainstream of our genetic heritage.
Men are overwhelmingly attracted to sex with young women, and we would all be better off if we admitted it and stopped trying to label it as bad. Marriage is an awkward adaptation to modern civilization, and many of us would be better off with girls.
Be married if you want to, and have kids. Make your girl friend into a MOM – which stands for marriage, offspring, and mortgage.
For my part, I think marriage is better avoided. Better to work hard and save your money. Then, as you get older, you’ll be able to inspire a continual stream of girls under 25. It’s good for your health. They make you feel young.
Counter point. I’m 61 and while I see plenty of and can appreciate beautiful young women, I find myself much more attracted to “older” women who’ve lived and gained experience, self knowledge and self confidence, and fully possess their sexuality. A few lines and wrinkles well earned can be sexy as hell!
Have you heard of the Mandela effect? Research it and let me know if you are interested in a discussion.
Thanks Chris. I just started my account, found yours, and am (sic) humbled. I like your writing style and intelligent views. Mine is more country. After years of offering my opinions even without requests I decided it was time. I have been against social media for a couple of decades but Substack is a good fit. Keep up the good work brother.
Thanks for your posts, Chris!
First time user here from Brooklyn;) coming from a much needed respite from the island of Turks … waiting to here of a sabbatical got approved so I can hit the road!
Hola Chris, I have a random question for you - about the situation in Venezuela, after having heard the subject crop up occasionally in your podcasts - most recently an early episode with the great Daniele Bolelli.
I'm currently in Peru which is full of Venezuelan migrants, about 1.3 million of them have come here for a better life - and if you speak to over 95% of them they will tell you the 'official narrative' concerning the situation in their home country: Maduro is a dictator, Socialism has failed, the govt are buying votes from the poor, the elections are rigged and so on ... but if I then ask the same people about the effect of the US economic blockade / sanctions / embargo, they rarely know anything about it. Or, if they do, they brush it off as a minor factor.
One time I was on a long taxi drive out of Lima and was lucky enough to have an extremely intelligent and politically engaged Venezuelan as my taxi driver. He was a civil engineer in Caracas and had to move to Peru in order to support his family - a familiar story - but he did not hate his country's government and proceded (over our 45 min journey) to tell me about his take on the political and economic situation there. Everything he told me correlated exactly with what I had read in books, articles and documentaries I had seen over the years by investigative journalists & intellectuals whom I follow (John Pilger, Chris Hedges, Noam Chomsky, Matt Taibbi, Glenn Greenwald, Aby Martin, Max Blumenthal, Ben Norton, Aaron Mate... among others).
In a nutshell, his take went something like this ... Maduro's government aren't perfect, neither was Chavez's before him - but which government, anywhere in the world, is perfect? But, even if they were perfect, even if the entire government was full of the most intelligent, economically astute, incorruptible, empathic, strong and trustworthy people you could imagine ... it wouldn't matter, because you can't do shit when you've got a global hegemon for a neighbour who are strangling your economy with sanctions - the modern equivalent of the medieval siege. They have all that oil but they can't sell it for dollars or euros, they can't import equipment to maintain their refineries and ports, they couldn't even import medicines to help their population during the pandemic. My own country, the UK, which has basically become a proxy / vassal of the US Empire since WW2, recently seized billions of dollars worth of Venezuelan gold held in the Bank of England - refusing to release it when the govt asked for help with pandemic relief efforts.
In addition to the sanctions, if they weren't enough, they also have the CIA and all its myriad of fake NGOs and think tanks, actively working to sabotage the country from within - working with international corporations and also the Venezuelan elite who detest their own government and have been wanting the US to help them return Venezuela to the good old days when most Venezuelans couldn't read or write, and no one got healthcare - ever since Chavez took over and began what he called the 'Bolivarian revolution'.
As a result of the sanctions of Russia, the US recently sent a delegation to Venezuela asking them to denounce Russia in exchange for an easing of sanctions and an end to the ridiculous attempt to proclaim Juan Guiado as president ... a laughable scheme dreamt up by the Trump administration. Venezuela refused to denounce Russia but it seems that they did manage to secure a lifting of some of the sanctions because their economy is now beginning to recover and inflation is lowering - what a surprise! The US needs its cheap oil from somewhere, and the Gulf states are refusing to increase production to reduce oil prices.
The gall and the chutzpah of the US govt never fails to amaze me ... after all the devastation they've inflicted on the Venezuelan people, they expect their govt to forgive and forget and join them in geopolitical games against Russia.
Anyway, rant over... I just wondered if/how your perspective has changed on the situation in Venezuela over the years - and if you've read the book 'The Open Veins of Latin America' and /or seen the documentaries 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' and 'The War on Democracy' which give a great overview of the recent history of the country with the largest proven oil reserves on the planet, as well as the history of South America in general.
Cheers,
Rob.
Hey Rob. I've seen "The Revolution Will..." but not the others. I'm no expert on Venezuela, but I get what you're saying. It's essentially the same thing in Cuba. Strangle the country, then complain that it doesn't breathe properly. In international affairs, I'm rarely interested in anything but following the money, if I'm trying to figure out what's REALLY going on. All the other narratives seem to just be covers for that. Honestly thought, I don't think the US has any more or less chutzpah than any other government. They're all playing the same games in the end. The US just adds a big scoop of hypocrisy to their arm-twisting. Israel is just as bad, if not worse.
100% re. following the money to get to the truth. I don't think the US Empire (I write this to emphasise the important distinction between US citizens and the state machinery of empire) are particularly unique in their hypocrisy and chutzpah; the British Empire were just as bad - only not quite as powerful, destructive or global in their reach (not for want of trying!). Israel, like the UK, Aus, Canada, NZ, Japan ... and most of Europe for that matter ... are basically proxies for US power when it comes to geopolitical matters. Cheers and all the best, once again, with the move to Substack.
FINALLY got around to subscribing after an insane month at work. Congrats on the move to SubStack Chris. Looking forward to being an active member of the community. Working on getting my BW bus fully outfitted. Once done I Would love to meet up on the road with Scarlett JoVanson and other road Tangentialists. Until then, keep up the good work.
Fellow vanlifer here currently in San Diego area. Where are you building your rig?
I’m in south Florida. Not looking to make my bus a full time home as I love my house but am certainly interested in seeing more of the country out the safaris once she is fully outfitted
Great! I wish you luck in your endeavors. If you have any build questions I may be able to offer some insight and or resources after doing my entire build.
Thanks i pretty much know how i want to outfit the interior just need time and $ to get it done
Hi Chris! I love when you read and talk about poetry and books! Can you do more please?
Planning to. Thanks for the encouragement.
Hey Chris loving the switch to Substack, seems to be the perfect platform for you. Loving all the new content, but don’t kill yourself my man. Hope all is well with you and Anya!
Much love, Jack (we met briefly in Vegas)
Also if there’s any tangentialists in Dallas, beers on me!! ✌🏻
Hi Chris!
I have a question, or more like a hopeful request, but first want to give some personal context so that you might be able to imagine where I'm coming from:
I am a 31 year old "American" guy who's single, without children, and living on his own (so lots of freedom of choice); and I thankfully have no financial burdens that render me "stuck" in my current life situation.
Since I (hopefully) have many years ahead of me, I see so many different potential iterations for the not-yet-lived future of my life. And I certainly still am getting to "know myself" and to understand what things I even truly LIKE in life!!
And I seem to think about this so often, and often wish that I didn't...
Of course, I'm not about to ask you to advise me on what to "do with my life" ...
Instead, what I'm most interested to hear are some of the Reflections and Insights you can share about some of the numerous visions you may have had for your future while you were still in your early adulthood, and how those may have narrowed.
You're obviously a really bright guy, capable of most anything, so I can only assume during early adulthood you had a long list of potential versions of You in your mind.
Or put differently and more vaguely: In what meaningful ways has your relationship to the future, and thinking about your personal future, changed over the years? In what ways have you honed your personal decision-making process so as to cut out the superfluous visions?
There's likely a better and more succinct way to get at the point I'm trying to reach, but regardless, I still think hearing you ROYA a bit about whatever reflections this may bring up for you could be interesting and helpful!
Thank you for what you do, wise Uncle! :)
-John
I'm going to do a monthly audio AMA. I'll talk about this on the next one. Stay tuned!
Hi John, a little practice - pull up your bank statements, search history online, favorite saved images, texts with context with your top mates. See what patterns, themes of importance pop out. Scan your body for the feelings associated with these focuses, conversation topics, purchases etc. Start keeping a list of what you value, what you find important. Don’t rush this list, bring it around with you for a month and see what rises.
Others can sense a true alignment of interests. We can sense a brain and being that is fully lit up about the subject of their focus. It has a contagious and cumulative effect and positive affect.
All the best on your journey.
Hi Chris thank you for writing C2D and SAD changed my life. Reached me where traditional medicine and therapy couldn’t.
Please can you debate Steven pinker live PPV on the nature of humanity? It will be a sell out!
I'd love to. We could do it in a boxing ring in Vegas. A couple of old white guys calling each other names. Fans would go wild!