Reason Bound

Ryan Michaels
  • 5.0 (13)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED MONTHLY
Reason Bound

Recording from Tokyo, I have on guests to discuss social issues, politics, and what's happening in the world. It's not what people believe, but why they believe it that I find most interesting.

  1. #44: Trade Ideas

    APR 8

    #44: Trade Ideas

    A lontime friend Andy Connel joins Ryan on Reason Bound to discuss something we both with we had more of and less of: options. In a supermarket it can be overwhelming with 40 different flavors of Cheerios, but what about in life? One option many have been conditioned to not consider, is picking a skilled trade for a career. Andy discusses his own history that led him to a career in the trades as well as many things learned along the way. Using The Hechinger Report and others as a reference, they discuss the future of the U.S. economy, jobs, and ultimately why choosing a skilled trade for a career is coming into fashion.

    1h 35m
  2. #43: Generational Mental Health

    MAR 9

    #43: Generational Mental Health

    Denise Johnson joins Ryan for this episode of Reason Bound to discuss generational mental health. When people are faced with trauma, getting professional help up to and including medication management can have an extremely positive effect on their lives. In spite of this, having mental health issues is still often stigmatized, with some going so far as to suggest depression, etc, doesn't exist or sum up mental health problems as: "white people issues". A guide for dealing with mental health needs from the American Psychological Association is discussed as well as home/school life and ethnic group differences in navigating mental health issues. The importance of breaking the cycle of generational dysfunction before bringing children into this world is heavily emphasized via a piece in Scientific American titled: "How Parents’ Trauma Leaves Biological Traces in Children".

    59 min
  3. #42: Drag Queen Controversy

    JAN 5

    #42: Drag Queen Controversy

    An Aussie named Ben joins Ryan to discuss the big drag queen issues that have been in the news the last several years seemingly nonstop. On this (weirdly) very heated topic, sober and reason-bound commentary seem sparse. Ben and Ryan discuss what exactly "drag" is, what its components can be and what its components don't have to be. As they say: "context is king", and exploring context is a good way to avoid sounding like a frothing at the mouth lunatic when discussing this issue.

    1h 38m
  4. #41: Balancing On Life's Penny Board

    11/29/2024

    #41: Balancing On Life's Penny Board

    Tej Singh joins Ryan to discuss work life balance and reminisce on their time together in Japan during the global pandemic. Tej worked for years as a career coach and shares suggestions for a good cover letter and resume/cv format in the discussion of critical things to consider when deciding what line of work to enter into for a career. Balancing work and life is one of the healthiest things one can do and as the only one to work with Ryan in both corporate and creative work environments, Tej is the perfect person to discuss how to optimize a lifestyle that deals with both.

    1h 23m

  5. 07/25/2024

    Interlude: My Suicidal Ideation as a result of Progressive Insurance

    This is an update for those who've asked. I've had suicidal ideation from Progressive Insurance deciding to try and milk me for even more money in asking many intrusive questions about my roommate and interpreting my driving to work in a way to take even more money from me than we had agreed when I prepaid 6 months of coverage.  This is a prime example of why I don't put out content as often. The liars and con artists at Progressive Insurance did nothing for me but instill severe suicidal ideation. Stay away.

    12 min
  6. #40: Personality Typecast

    06/29/2024

    #40: Personality Typecast

    The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is probably the most famous personality test in the world. Mari Buljo returns to Reason Bound to discuss this personality test with a skeptical Ryan. How far should people read into the validity of these tests, what is the history of the MBTI creation, and how much of a difference is there between these personality tests and a horoscope? Mari is one of Ryan's favorite guests and they first cover some history of how they met and interacted in class together in Tokyo.

    1h 6m
  7. #39: Latin Xplanations

    04/09/2024

    #39: Latin Xplanations

    Denise Johnson returns to Reason Bound to discuss blending cultural identities centered on what it means to be Latino/a, Chicano/a, Hispanic, and so on. Denise talks with Ryan about connecting with roots, hertiage, and how one's own culture can interact with another. It's a good conversation between long time friends that sparked ideas about what it means to be identity X or Y.

    51 min
  8. #38: Fighting For Fairness: Japan's Tozen Union v.s. Gaba Corporation

    11/06/2023

    #38: Fighting For Fairness: Japan's Tozen Union v.s. Gaba Corporation

    Ryan welcomes a panel from Japan's Tozen union to discuss working conditions at a prominent English school (eikaiwa) in Japan. A slew of bad policy decisions from Gaba Corporation including forcing instructors (treated as independent contractors by the corporation) into a qualified invoice system, has led to union action and recent strikes. Another new horrific policy announcement would see teachers fined per lesson if they become unable to teach, which could even result in a negative paycheck. In addition to demanding an end to the qualified invoice system requirements, Gaba Instructors, who have not received a raise since 2008, are fighting for a modest raise of 200 yen per lesson ($1.33 U.S. as of the currency exchange rate on 11/06/23). Ryan and the panel discuss the importance of unions, past victories Tozen has achieved for workers, and how Gaba instructors as well as counselors can join the union and strengthen bargaining power in the fight for fair working conditions. Tozen union panel guests include the Tozen Union Gaba Workers Union Executive President Musashi Sakazaki, Tozen Union Gaba Workers Union General Secretary Mitch Brown, Tozen Union Gaba Workers Union Member Paul Bowen, and Tozen Union Deputy Finance Officer and Organizer Louis Carlet.

    1h 43m
See All (47)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Recording from Tokyo, I have on guests to discuss social issues, politics, and what's happening in the world. It's not what people believe, but why they believe it that I find most interesting.

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Michaels
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2017 Ryan Michaels
  • Show Website
    Reason Bound

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