50 States of Mind

Ryan and guest Luke discuss his move from Northern England to NYC and listen to interviews with Amber—owner of Backwards Distillery—as well as the Mayor of Casper, WY and former Gov. Mike Wallace.

Ryan and guest Louise discuss Scottish versus American humor before listening to an interview with an interfaith pastor, two apprentices at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, and three COMICON attendees.

Ryan and guest Ioan discuss why the directness democracy isn't keeping pace with technological advances, what redistributive policies look like in the UK and US, and discuss a trip to the ruins of the world's largest asylum in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Ryan and guest Michelle talk about birds, Hawaiian language, ea, and the military presence on the island state.

Ryan and guest Anne talk about the hometown theatre companies that changed us and the differences between major arts hubs, then listen to conversations with a conservative radio host in New Orleans and the owner of the Demo Divas demolition company. 

Follow Anne at @mygirlanne for a good time.

Ryan and native Virginian Brandon talk about Liberty University (one of the largest Christian universities in the USA), the marriage between religion and politics, then listen to interviews with a Tennessee state rep. and a tap dancer in Centennial Park. 

50 States of Mind Season 3, coming to an earbud near you in January 2022. 

Ryan and guest Emma read the self-published children's book "Healthy Holly: A Healthy Start for Herbie" and discuss how this deranged, unreadable, and sometimes offensive book led to the resignation and imprisonment of the Mayor of Baltimore.

Picture evidence here: https://bit.ly/2X1IOPt

Ryan and Mississippi-native Caroline talk about misconceptions about the South, Debutante culture, losing her home in Hurricane Katrina, and changing her accent while living in the North, then discuss an interview with a Northerner-turned-Southerner and Dean of the Ole Miss Law School.

Ryan and travel companion Michael rehash the story of how they were nearly drugged, kidnapped, and murdered in the town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico by serial killer accomplices and discuss the nefarious local Toy Box Killer who murdered 69 people and whose legacy lives on.

Ryan and Penny Rosfjord - fmr. chair of the Woodbury County Democratic Party and Iowa State Central Committee member -  discuss the importance of the Iowa Caucus to train both candidates and organizers, then listen to interviews with a community organizer protesting the construction of a polluting insulation factory in Jefferson County and the Mayor of Wheeling, Glenn Elliott.

Learn more about the fight against Rockwool here: https://bit.ly/2VIVxWy

Ryan talks with actress Maddie Weinstein about how COVID will change theatre/film, The Bachelor, and our own political narratives, then discuss interviews with Harrison Center for the Arts founder Joanna Taft, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, and Anne Surak from Exhibit Columbus.

You can check out Maddie's work in "Beach Rats" on Hulu and "Alex Strangelove" on Netflix.

Ryan and guest Juan talk about the crisis in Juan's home country of Venezuela, the corruption of the government, and the political implications of the word socialism, then listen to interviews with a 2016 presidential candidate and the former Inspector General of the Dept. of the Interior. 

Ryan and writer/comedian Alex Heller discuss her American/Norweigan marriage, the cultural/economic differences between the two countries, and the merits and failings of higher education, then listen to interviews with residents of the Earthhaven mountain commune, the president of High Point University, and the Mayor of Winston-Salem.

Follow Alex's hilarious meme page: @thementallytrillest 

With 13 days before the Iowa Caucus, Ryan drives to Lamoni, Iowa (pop. 2,324) and knocks on doors to ask residents everything you've ever wanted to know about the caucus process, who they're supporting, and who might prevail in the 2020 Iowa Caucuses. 

In a special episode, hear about the upcoming "50 States of Mind" book that inspired the podcast and listen to the prologue chapter about a Hillary rally gone wrong 13 days before the 2016 election. 

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From Kansas City, Ryan talks to presidential candidate Seth Mouton about his role as the only combat veteran in the Democratic primary, what's driving him crazy about the 2020 race so far, and his work co-hosting a TV program talking to Iraqi people on the ground during his four tours overseas.

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Nancy talk about Nancy's hometown of Glasgow, gun violence in America versus "a doin'" in Scotland, how Nancy charmed a man who threatened to shoot her tires on a visit to Detroit, and whether Trump will be reelected in 2020,  before listening to interviews with a waitress from the Upper Peninsula, performing arts teacher/talent developer Jeff Crowley in East Lansing, and the first Muslim-American candidate for Governor Abdul El-Sayed in Ann Arbor.

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Alex talk about Alex's work with the Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda, the need to view local knowledge as expert knowledge, and ISIS in East Africa, before listening to an interview with a former maximum security prisoner turned community organizer in Racine and learning about Appleton City Hall's unusual way of communicating with the community.

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From Oxford, Ryan and guests Christina and Esame discuss their respective homes of Greece and Nigeria, talk a little about American accents, and debate the grey areas of global climate change politics, before listening to an interview with former New Jersey Governor and E.P.A. Head Christine Todd Whitman about current Republican politics. 

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Ryan speaks to a panel of Oxford students and faculty about major takeaways from traveling through all 50 states and steps we can take to increase listening in our own communities. 

From Oxford, Ryan and guest Logan discuss Logan's childhood in South Africa, how America can learn from the aftermath of a populist president, and one Delaware community's struggle for a new library, before listening to an interview with the head librarian of the Dover Public Library about the changing purpose of libraries from book institutions to community centers. 

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Maddie discuss Maddie's move from Cameroon to Brighton, Cameroon's language civil war, "good woke" versus "bad woke", and a Christian interpretation of choice before listening to interviews in Erie with two McDonald's workers about voting rights and a fisherman about the word "deplorable", before traveling to Philly to listen to an Uber driver witnessing the opioid crisis and a tour guide at a "living" cemetery.

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From Oxford, Ryan and previous guests Maria (Mexico), Mako (Zimbabwe), and Ioan (U.K.), listen to interviews with attendees of a Trump rally in Cleveland, discuss finding community in a political movement, the failed systems that led to Trump's rise, and debate whether or not Ryan should have attended the rally, before each guest articulates what they'd most like to say to Trump supporters. 

Listeners can give their own thoughts on the episode by recording a voice message through the link below, to be included in next week's special episode. https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Lauren discuss Lauren's hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, the sociopolitical implications of "good hair", Lauren's decision not to vote in the 2016 election, and the lack of nuance in political discourse before listening to an interview with a Republican immigrant on the subway, a church community in Hell's Kitchen, and a writer in Rochester on the incentive for artists to relocate to smaller communities.

*Special thanks to the King's Hall Fund for a generous grant. Associate Producer: Mike Layer.

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Mustafa discuss Mustafa's upbringing in Pakistan, the effects of drones & the War on Terror on Pakistan, fasting during Ramadan, and the major differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims before listening to an interview with the pastor of a church in Sandy Hook as the community deals with the aftermath of the largest school shooting in American history. 

*Special thanks to the King's Hall Fund for a generous grant. Associate Producer: Mike Layer.

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Em talk about Em's homeland of Australia, the Emu Wars, Steven Bannon's visit to the Oxford Union, and the Australian health care system's blend of public and private insurance before listening to interviews with a conservative Brown University student, a woman struggling with homelessness, and two gas station attendants in rural Rhode Island.

*Special thanks to the King's Hall Fund for a generous grant. Associate Producer: Mike Layer.

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Jack (Jank) talk about Jack's hometown of Stratford-Upon-Avon, how physical space affects political outlooks, the Roosevelt family, and a mispronounced rendition of "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" before listening to interviews with the Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, "Breakfast George" in Roxbury, and candidate for Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor, Quentin Palfrey.

*Special thanks to the King's Hall Fund for a generous grant. Associate Producer: Mike Layer.

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Elaine talk about Elaine's connection to Ireland, the proper pronunciation of St. Patty's, the terrifying "wooden spoon", and work/life balance in Scandinavian countries compared to the U.S. and U.K. before listening to interviews with the Mayor of Portland, Ethan Strimling, and the first female Governor of Maine, Janet Mills.

*Special thanks to the King's Hall Fund for a generous grant. Associate Producer: Mike Layer.

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Mako talk about Mako's hometown of Kwekwe, Zimbabwe, her mother's historic election as the first black female mayor in Southern Africa, and the right to vote as they listen to interviews with Max, the Dartmouth College Dem president in Hanover, and talk about nomadic life in North Conway.

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Ioan discuss Brexit, the differences between American and British culture, and how weekly PMQs (Prime Minister Questions) hold British leaders accountable. They also hear interviews from Vermont locals: seniors in Winooski, the founder of Seventh Generation in Burlington, and the first transgender gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist in Fairlee.

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From Oxford, Ryan and guest Maria discuss Maria's hometown of Mexico City, why Americans give off an impression of entitlement, and listen to interviews with the mayor of Gambier and a bartender in East Cleveland, Ohio.

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