The Joe Rogan ExperienceRyan Bingham on Joe Rogan: Why Ranch Work Builds Stage Nerve
Texas ranch work and Yellowstone sets gave Bingham a fear-floor reset; physical discomfort, he says, transfers to stage confidence in ways comfort never can.
CHAPTERS
Austin/Texas community vs. California—where Ryan feels at home
Joe and Ryan start by talking about Ryan’s relaxed live performance at a McConaughey charity event and how supportive the Austin/Hill Country scene is for songwriters. Ryan explains why he’s moving back to Texas after years in Topanga Canyon, describing the mental “weight” that lifts once he crosses the Texas state line.
Yellowstone, Montana allure, and why locals push back on newcomers
They pivot to Yellowstone and Ryan’s character, with Ryan describing how fun it was to film—and how he spent off-days fly fishing and vanishing into the mountains. Joe and Ryan discuss Montana pride, resentment toward out-of-state transplants, and why harsh winters shape a protective local identity.
Mountains as “nature’s art” and the addictive pull of wilderness
Joe and Ryan describe the emotional, almost drug-like effect of big mountain landscapes. They frame it as something encoded in human biology—our reward systems lighting up when we see fertile land, water, and sky.
Ryan’s six-week Montana guide school: mules, survival, and sensory reset
Ryan recounts attending a backcountry hunting guide school in Montana that became life-changing. He describes living under tarps, packing mules and horses, snow in June, and realizing how little you truly need once you’re immersed in wilderness.
Firecraft, wilderness skills, and Joe’s Alaska “Fritos kindling” story
They swap practical survival details: fire-building in wet conditions, flint/rod techniques, and how hard bow drills really are. Joe tells a story from a soaked Alaska hunt where lighting a fire with Fritos felt like the biggest victory of the trip.
Alaska ruggedness and the “you need your neighbors” mindset
Joe describes Alaskans as unusually friendly and community-minded because the environment is unforgiving. Ryan connects that to Texas-style neighbor help—tractors, welding, and practical know-how—contrasting it with the cost and friction of getting things done in California.
Horses, kids, and the primal calming effect of animals
Ryan talks about keeping horses for his kids and watching city visitors relax once they connect with animals. Joe and Ryan discuss equine therapy and the idea that humans and horses have an ancient bond that still impacts our mental health.
Hunting culture threads: MeatEater, Remi Warren, and Montana solitude
They discuss hunting media and Ryan’s connection to Remi Warren while filming in Montana. Ryan describes choosing an off-grid cabin deep near wilderness borders to disappear from the production world and spend time in remote country.
Axis deer on Lanai: intense bowhunting and invasive-species realities
Joe and Ryan trade stories about hunting axis deer in Hawaii, especially Lanai—where deer outnumber people massively. They cover why bowhunting them is so hard, how wind changes stalking, and how constant pressure makes them hyper-alert.
Invasive animals and controversial wildlife management (pigs, deer, wolves)
The conversation expands to feral hog explosions in Texas, eradication plans on Catalina, and California’s complicated approach to predators. Joe critiques relocating problem wolves into livestock areas and argues policy decisions are often made by people disconnected from on-the-ground realities.
Living with predators in California: mountain lions, coyotes, and the fire escape plan
Ryan describes mountain lions near his Topanga home and the constant vigilance required when you have kids and pets. They criticize California’s predator policies (and expensive wildlife crossings), then Ryan recounts evacuating horses during major fires and how terrifying wind-driven events can be.
From bull riding to songwriting to Yellowstone: Ryan’s improbable “movie plot” career path
Ryan tells the origin story: learning guitar from a mariachi song (“La Malagueña”), writing songs on rodeo road trips, and getting early gigs through rodeo after-parties. He explains how Taylor Sheridan brought him into Yellowstone via music connections, and how bull riding trained him to manage fear on camera.
Bull riding injuries, risk, and the mental edge that shaped his life
Ryan details a brutal injury where he lost teeth and nearly lost part of his lip, all while lacking health insurance. They discuss how that kind of risk recalibrates your view of fear and makes later challenges—touring, fame, acting—feel manageable by comparison.
Authenticity, the country/americana resurgence, and creating without contracts
After a break, they talk about how cowboy imagery shifted culturally and how today’s audience is hungry for authentic stories and real instruments again. They discuss the internet’s power to launch artists (Oliver Anthony), avoiding predatory deals, and why songwriting is therapy worth protecting.
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