Summary
Overview
Ryan Bingham shares his remarkable journey from bull riding to country music stardom and acting on Yellowstone. The conversation explores his cowboy roots in New Mexico and West Texas, the therapeutic power of songwriting, living off the land in Montana, and his organic progression from rodeos to music to television. Bingham reflects on community, resilience, modern fame, and staying authentic while navigating Hollywood.
Introduction and the McConaughey Event
Joe opens by praising Ryan's relaxed performance at Matthew McConaughey's charity event, noting how he brought a comfortable vibe to the crowd. Ryan expresses gratitude for the Austin community's support of songwriters and musicians, crediting them with helping build his career. They discuss the unique culture of Austin and Hill Country, with Ryan sharing his appreciation for how the community comes together to support the arts.
- Joe compliments Ryan's performance at the McConaughey charity event
- Ryan credits the Austin and Hill Country community for supporting songwriters
- Austin feels like real people compared to California
" I definitely wouldn't have the career I don't think if I wouldn't have been for the community around here in Austin and the hill country area and all of that stuff just supporting songwriters and music and the way that they do it's pretty incredible "
Yellowstone, Montana Living, and Nature's Pull
Ryan discusses playing Walker on Yellowstone and choosing to live remotely in Montana's wilderness during filming. He describes the spiritual quality of Montana's mountains and his transformative experience at a six-week hunting guide school. The conversation explores how spending time in nature strips away civilization's weight and reconnects people with their primal selves, with Ryan sharing stories of pack trips, sleeping under tarps, and learning survival skills.
- Ryan had one of the easiest jobs on Yellowstone, working 1-2 days a week and fly fishing the rest
- Montana's mountain beauty creates an overwhelming, almost drug-like feeling
- Ryan attended a six-week hunting guide school that was life-changing
- By the end of the guide school, Ryan felt he only needed scissors and fire-starting materials
" I remember one morning I woke up and it was in June, you know, but we were way back in there. And I woke up and the snow was coming down and I just kind of raised my head up and I was looking out at the horses and the snow was just falling down on their backs. And there was that moment in me. I was like, I don't know if I'm ever going back. "
" 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 "
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