Joe Rogan Experience #2489 - Ryan Bingham
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Ryan Bingham's role on 'Yellowstone' was a natural fit due to his real-life background in rodeo and ranching, which he credits for his acting ability.
- ❖Living in nature, particularly the mountains, provides a spiritual and grounding experience that lifts the 'weight of civilization' and heightens senses.
- ❖A six-week hunting guide school in Montana taught Bingham essential wilderness survival skills, including fire-starting in wet conditions and backcountry first aid.
- ❖Joe Rogan and Bingham criticize California's environmental policies, citing the controversial eradication of non-native deer on Catalina Island and the mismanagement of wolf reintroduction in Colorado.
- ❖The uncontrolled population of wild pigs in Texas and axis deer in Hawaii highlights the ecological impact of introduced species and the challenges of management.
- ❖Bingham's music career began organically by playing at rodeo afterparties, with community encouragement being a significant factor in his development.
- ❖Hard manual labor jobs, like stacking hay or insulation work, are crucial for young people to develop work ethic and understand what they don't want to do in life.
- ❖The internet and platforms like YouTube have democratized music creation and sharing, allowing independent artists like Oliver Anthony to achieve massive success without traditional record deals.
- ❖Bingham's uncle taught him that success in bull riding, and life, is 'all mental' – a belief in 'I know I can and I will,' emphasizing confidence over cockiness.
Insights
1The Therapeutic and Spiritual Impact of Nature
Both Joe Rogan and Ryan Bingham emphasize the profound, almost 'drug-like' effect of being in nature. Bingham describes his guide school experience in Montana as life-changing, where he felt 'this is where I need to be.' Rogan elaborates that nature taps into human DNA, signaling a 'fertile, beautiful place' that excites natural reward instincts, making people feel 'more normal' and lifting the 'weight of civilization.'
Bingham's account of his six-week hunting guide school in Montana, where he felt he might never return to civilization (), and Rogan's description of mountains as 'nature's art' that gives a 'drug' like feeling ().
2Critique of California's Environmental Policies and Bureaucracy
Joe Rogan and Ryan Bingham express strong disapproval of California's approach to wildlife and disaster management. They highlight the controversial plan to eradicate non-native mule deer on Catalina Island and the perceived incompetence in managing wildfires, specifically the lack of prepared reservoirs. They argue that excessive regulation and bureaucracy hinder practical solutions and disconnect decision-makers from on-the-ground realities.
Discussion of the plan to eradicate 2,000 mule deer from Catalina Island () and the criticism of officials for not having reservoirs ready during wildfires ().
3The Organic Evolution of a Music Career
Ryan Bingham's transition from bull riding to music was an organic, community-driven process. He started by learning guitar from a neighbor, then making up songs about rodeo adventures for friends. His first public performances were at rodeo afterparties, encouraged by a rodeo company owner. This grassroots support and the ability to earn money playing music, compared to manual labor, solidified his path.
Bingham's story of learning guitar in Laredo (), writing songs about rodeo adventures (), and playing at Mac Altiser's rodeo afterparties ().
4Resilience and Character Development Through Hardship
Both speakers emphasize that engaging in difficult, manual labor or high-risk activities at a young age builds resilience, work ethic, and mental fortitude. Bingham's bull riding experience taught him to 'channel that anxiety or fear' into action. Rogan suggests that such experiences teach young people what they don't want to do, motivating them to find alternative paths while instilling valuable life lessons.
Bingham's account of stacking hay and his bull riding injury () and Rogan's comment that manual labor jobs 'teach you work ethic' and 'what you don't want to do' ().
5The Democratization of Music and the Rise of Authentic Artists
The internet and digital platforms have revolutionized the music industry, making it easier for artists to record, share, and gain an audience without traditional gatekeepers. The success of artists like Oliver Anthony, who achieved viral fame with a single song recorded simply, exemplifies this new paradigm. This shift supports authentic, heart-felt music and allows artists to maintain control over their careers.
Discussion of Oliver Anthony's viral success with 'Rich Men North of Richmond' () and Rogan's advice to him not to sign restrictive contracts ().
Bottom Line
The 'Yellowstone effect' has significantly driven up prices for horses and fueled a desire for cowboy culture, indicating a widespread yearning for a perceived 'simple, difficult life' and connection to primal instincts among urban populations.
This trend points to a market opportunity for authentic, experience-based businesses that cater to this desire for ruggedness, self-sufficiency, and connection to nature, even if it's vicarious or recreational.
Develop and market 'authentic' rural experiences, such as ranch stays, wilderness survival courses, or guided hunting/fishing trips, specifically targeting urban dwellers seeking to reconnect with primal lifestyles. Leverage storytelling and media to highlight the genuine skills and challenges involved.
In areas with strong community bonds (like rural Texas or Alaska), problem-solving for local issues (e.g., road blockages, animal management) often relies on informal networks and direct action from neighbors with practical skills and equipment, bypassing bureaucratic hurdles.
This highlights a fundamental difference in governance and community reliance between rural and urban areas. Over-reliance on centralized government in urban settings can lead to inefficiency and a loss of local agency and practical skills.
For local governments or community organizers, fostering 'mutual aid' networks and empowering residents with practical skills (e.g., through community workshops on basic repairs, emergency preparedness) could create more resilient and self-sufficient communities, especially in disaster-prone areas.
Opportunities
Wilderness Guide & Survival Schools
Establish comprehensive wilderness guide schools offering training in hunting, packing, wilderness first aid, traditional crafts (leatherwork), and animal care (shoeing horses). Focus on immersive, multi-week programs in remote, challenging environments to instill practical survival skills and a deep connection to nature.
Equine-Assisted Therapy Programs
Develop therapy programs utilizing horses for individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, or addiction. The primal connection and calming energy of horses can provide significant therapeutic benefits, as observed by Bingham and Rogan.
Independent Artist Empowerment Platform
Create a platform or consultancy that advises emerging musicians on how to leverage digital tools (YouTube, Spotify) for direct audience engagement and revenue generation, specifically counseling against restrictive traditional record deals, emphasizing talent, authenticity, and ownership of their work.
Key Concepts
Nature as Therapy
The idea that immersion in natural environments, away from modern distractions, can profoundly improve mental and physical well-being, reduce stress, and reconnect individuals with primal instincts and a sense of 'normalcy'.
Power of Mind Over Matter
A principle, taught to Bingham by his uncle in bull riding, that mental fortitude and unwavering confidence ('I know I can and I will') are more critical than physical strength or external circumstances in overcoming challenges and achieving goals.
Organic Career Progression
The concept that a career can develop naturally and incrementally from genuine passion, community support, and practical skills, rather than through a strictly planned or conventional path, leading to authentic and sustainable success.
Lessons
- Seek out immersive experiences in nature to reconnect with primal instincts and alleviate the stresses of modern life, even if it's just planting a garden or spending time outdoors.
- Actively pursue learning practical, hands-on skills (e.g., fire-starting, basic repairs, animal care) as these build resilience, self-sufficiency, and a deeper understanding of the world, regardless of direct career application.
- Cultivate strong local communities and mutual aid networks, as these provide essential support and practical problem-solving capabilities that can be more effective than distant bureaucratic systems, especially in emergencies.
- If pursuing a creative career, prioritize authenticity, direct connection with your audience, and ownership of your work, leveraging digital platforms to bypass traditional gatekeepers and avoid restrictive contracts.
Building an Authentic Creative Career in the Digital Age
Develop your craft organically, learning from peers and personal experience rather than solely formal training (e.g., learning guitar from friends and observation).
Start performing in supportive, low-pressure environments, using these opportunities to refine your skills and connect with an audience (e.g., playing at rodeo afterparties).
Leverage digital platforms (YouTube, Spotify) to share your work directly with a global audience, understanding that genuine talent and heartfelt expression can go viral without traditional industry backing.
Resist pressure to sign restrictive contracts, especially early in your career; prioritize ownership of your creative work and financial independence, as talent is your most valuable asset.
Notable Moments
Ryan Bingham's transformative experience at a six-week hunting guide school in Montana, where he learned essential survival skills and felt a profound connection to the wilderness, even considering not returning to civilization.
This highlights the deep human need for connection with nature and practical skills, offering a powerful counterpoint to modern urban living and its perceived comforts.
Joe Rogan's story of starting a fire in rainy Alaska using Fritos as kindling, demonstrating an unconventional but effective survival hack.
This illustrates the importance of resourcefulness and practical knowledge in extreme conditions, and the surprising utility of everyday items in survival scenarios.
Ryan Bingham recounting a severe bull riding injury where he headbutted a bull, knocking out teeth and tearing his lip, and then being dragged around, all without health insurance.
This vividly portrays the extreme risks and physical demands of his early bull riding career, underscoring the resilience and mental toughness required, and the stark realities of life without safety nets.
The rapid and massive success of Oliver Anthony with his song 'Rich Men North of Richmond,' going from a heavy equipment salesman to a viral sensation with 236 million views on YouTube and performing for 18,000 people at his first show.
This exemplifies the democratizing power of the internet in the music industry, allowing authentic talent to bypass traditional gatekeepers and achieve unprecedented reach and success.
Quotes
"I think we're doing something with ourselves to ourselves with civilization that we can't really fully appreciate because we're wrapped in it. And it's not until you get to nature where all that weight just gets lifted off of you and you feel more normal and you're like, 'Oh, this is where people are supposed to be.'"
"It's like your your body knows like this is a fertile, beautiful place that's filled with life and this should excite you. So all your natural human reward instincts are all like this is a place I should be."
"I learned pretty quick that the guitar felt a lot better in my hands than that shovel, dude."
"It doesn't matter how strong you are, you know, it's not about it's all mental. It's all in your mind, and it's all uh it's not I think I can, it's I know I can and I will."
"What I get out of music is like when I'm sitting at home in a room all by myself and letting that stuff pour out of me and I'm just just singing it to the wall. Like that's what's saved my life, you know?"
Q&A
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