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Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan

Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan

By: Chris Ryan
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Tangentially Speaking is dedicated to the idea that good conversation is organic, uncensored, revelatory, and free to go down unexpected paths with unconventional people.

chrisryan.substack.comChris Ryan
Art Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 684 - Gabe Polsky (Filmmaker: The Man Who Saves the World?)
    Oct 31 2025

    This one happened fast. A week ago, a publicist reached out to ask if I’d possibly be interested in helping to promote a documentary about a guy (a white guy) who thinks he’s supposed to bring together the native people of South and North America — whose combined teachings will then spread across the planet and save us all. My first impression was that this one sounded crazy, possibly racist, and not something I really want to spend time on. But the fact that the director had worked with Werner Herzog caught my attention. (I love me some Werner Herzog.) So I agreed to check out a screener, and last night, Anya and I sat down to watch at least the first few minutes — reluctantly.

    WTF?! We were hooked immediately, watched the whole thing in amazement, and this afternoon, less than 24 hours later, Gabe Polsky and I sat down to talk about his film. If it’s playing anywhere near you, trust me, go see it. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll get a little confused and grossed out … but you will not — guaranteed — get bored.

    Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “I Saved the World Today,” by The Eurythmics. Outro: “Invocation (A Prophecy),” by Richard Bona.

    Follow the film on Instagram.

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

    Buy some merch from my mom here.

    Find other Tangentialistas around the world!

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    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • 683 - Before the Dawn, with Riley Morton (Part 4 of 4)
    Oct 30 2025
    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com

    In this last episode of the series, Riley Morton and I talk about the period beginning when I chose to write about prehistoric human sexuality in graduate school through the writing and publishing of Sex at Dawn. It gets personal. I talk about how some of my own sexual experiences informed my thinking about how sexuality functioned in ways I hadn’t considered and I get into Cacilda’s crucial participation in the creation of our book.

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    4 mins
  • 682 - ROMA 96
    Oct 26 2025
    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.com

    Words that mean both what they mean and the opposite of what they mean. Early days of learning Spanish and the psychological repercussions of not knowing exactly what you’re saying. When philosophy conflicts with reality. Open borders. “The past was horrible!”

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    3 mins
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