#2489 - Ryan Bingham

Ryan Bingham shares stories from his rugged upbringing in Texas ranching and bull riding, his transition to music and acting, and reflections on nature's pull amid modern disconnection. With Joe Rogan, he contrasts rural self-reliance against urban bureaucracy, drawing from Montana filming on Yellowstone, wilderness trips, and California's challenges.

Ranching Roots and Rodeo Life

Bingham grew up cowboying in New Mexico and West Texas, stacking hay in 110-degree barns and building fences under his grandfather's guidance. These manual jobs built "farmer strength" and work ethic, teaching leverage and satisfaction from hard labor while clarifying what he didn't want long-term. At age 10, he started riding steers at junior rodeos, progressing to full bulls by his teens without helmets or vests. He rode professionally into his early 20s, facing injuries like knocked-out teeth and a lip torn off by a headbutt from a frustrated bull in Weatherford, Texas—stitched up without insurance in Dallas ER.

Rodeo culture fostered community: road trips with buddies, post-event dances, and no-fear mindset from his uncle's advice—"it's all mental, I know I can." This base of grit carried over; he notes riding uncontrollable beasts prepped him for music's low success odds and acting's anxiety.