#418 Chris Ryan Interviews Me

Christopher Ryan, Ph.D is a big thinker buddy of mine who is a van lifer, wisdom dispenser, troublemaker, host of the podcast Tangentially Speaking, and co-author of Sex at Dawn and Civilized to Death. Even before co-authoring the *New York Times* best-seller, Chris was on a wild ride. After receiving a BA in English and American literature in 1984, he spent the next two decades traveling around the world, pausing in unexpected places to work at decidedly odd jobs (e.g., gutting salmon in Alaska, teaching English to prostitutes in Bangkok and self-defense to land-reform activists in Mexico, managing commercial real estate in New York’s Diamond District, helping Spanish physicians publish their research). In his mid-30s, Chris decided to pursue doctoral studies in Psychology. Drawing upon his multi-cultural experience, Chris’ research focused on distinguishing the *human* from the *cultural*, first by focusing on shamanism and ethnobotany—studying how various societies interact with altered states of consciousness and the sacred plants that provoke them—and later, by looking at similarly diverse cultural perspectives on sexuality. *If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on* Apple Podcasts*? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my* YouTube channel *and join my newsletter on* Substack*. It’s glorious. My first book, ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO, is available to* order today*.* This is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Or just drop a coin in a fountain and wish me one year of good luck. Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at thiermann.substack.com/subscribe