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The internet loves a clean arc: rock bottom, redemption, triumphant ending. Ryan “Hunger FF” James is not interested in that. We sit down to talk about Deeper, his anti-memoir that flips the usual memoir structure and tells the story from inside the mess, where addiction, desire, ambition, and identity collide in real time. If you’ve ever wondered what content creation does to a person over years of being watched, rated, and rewarded, this conversation pulls the curtain back.

Ryan shares how Deeper began as therapeutic writing with Pineapple Support and grew into a book built from sharp vignettes, brutal honesty, and dark humor. We get into harm reduction recovery and why the “middle” matters for people who don’t fit the black-and-white story of total sobriety versus total collapse. We also talk about the algorithm as an invisible monster that demands constant feeding, turning a persona into a job, a coping strategy, and sometimes a cage.

There’s physical reality here too: Ryan describes a freak accident that led to emergency surgery and living with a stoma, then what it took mentally to keep going when his biggest fear became real. We also pivot back to kink with practical fisting advice for beginners and younger “COVID fisting” newcomers: slow down, find experienced partners, use more lube than you think, and take aftercare seriously. After the interview, Ask Edge tackles leather mentorship boundaries and practical contest prep for aspiring titleholders.

If Deeper, harm reduction, BDSM podcast conversations, sex worker mental health, and creator burnout are on your radar, hit play. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the part that challenged you most.

Useful links:

• Buy Deeper on Amazon. Alternate link here.
• Buy signed copies of Deeper at Ryan's site. WARNING! NSFW!
• HungerFF.com / Ryan's main site
• Brolapse on Spotify or YouTube.

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Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.

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What if the secret to IML isn’t the perfect body or the flashiest gear, but ruthless intention and a calm breath before every answer? International Mr. Leather 2025, René Hébert, joins us for a rare, no-spin walkthrough of what it really takes to prepare, compete, and live the title year without losing yourself. From his first sash as Western Canada Leatherboy to Mr. Palm Springs Leather and the big stage in Chicago, René charts the skills that actually move the needle: community ties, stage comfort built in the Imperial Court, and a plan for every outcome.

We dig into the parts most folks only whisper about. Gear strategy starts with identity, not shopping lists; your bio must be defensible; and eight-minute interviews reward succinct, memorable answers over monologues. René explains how researching judges sharpens your read of vague questions, why the physique segment is more about vulnerability than abs, and how to design a 90-second speech with a clean arc and a hard-hitting closer. He also opens the back door on the title year: a dedicated inbox to tame hundreds of DMs, the real costs hidden in meals and rideshares, and the boundary work it takes to keep the sash from swallowing your life.

There’s more. We talk rule changes and the one-shot-only debate, forging a title year that reflects your values instead of copying past winners, and why immigration, trans rights, and current controversies will be on the table when judges meet you. René shares the shock of a forced move to Montreal, the strain of long-distance love, and the small daily practices that make resilience real. We close with practical advice for contestants and a listener Ask Edge on balancing kink with everyday life and building real friendships.

If you care about Leather, Kink, IML prep, interview strategy, speechwriting, boot black culture, or sustainable leadership, this conversation is your blueprint. Subscribe, share with your title class, and leave a review telling us the one tip you’ll use first.

For more great educational resources from René, check out his social media:

• TikTok @BuckHarder
• YouTube: @TheFriendlyBootblack
• IG: @rene_jacque_strappe
• Fb: IML2025

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Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.

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Stepping into Spain with a suitcase full of black leather and a head full of questions, we set out to test whether “international leather” is a real thing or a hopeful myth. From Madrid’s meetups to ILBS Sevilla’s tenth anniversary, through Torremolinos’ Eagle nights and Barcelona’s Boxer Café, we map how a shared aesthetic travels while each city protects its own pulse. The takeaway surprised us: gear is a language that crosses borders, but community lives in calendars, group chats, and carefully marked spaces for social connection versus cruising.

We unpack what happens when there’s no dedicated leather bar, how WhatsApp threads become glue, and why timing your trip around socials beats pinning your hopes on a single venue. You’ll hear how a plaza of 150 folks in full gear can erase language barriers, and why kindness at European events felt different from the quiet competitiveness we often bring to U.S. rooms. We talk practicality too—planning travel around local fetish nights, finding hosts through social platforms, and using familiar signals like boots, hankies, and uniforms to be legible without saying a word.

The journey closes on a raw note: navigating political dread and creative fatigue while choosing to keep making space for each other. We don’t pretend to have a script for hard times, but we do argue for small, sturdy practices—showing up, reaching out, and letting friendliness be infrastructure. If you’re plotting your next leather trip, looking for community in your own backyard, or just need a reminder that the language of gear still speaks loudly, this story-driven episode offers both a map and a nudge.

If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend who travels in gear, and leave a review with your city’s best leather social—we’ll shout out recommendations on a future show.

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Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.

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Resolutions fade. Rituals stick. We open the year by treating leather not as a fixed identity but as a living practice you can revisit, review, and revise on purpose. From evolving fetishes to smarter gear choices to relationship honesty, this episode lays out a clean framework for refreshing your kink life without the pressure of perfection or performative goals.

We start with a transparent year-in-review: audience growth, surprising geography, and the topics you replayed the most. Then we pivot into the heart of the show—how desire actually changes over time. I share why bondage shifted from being the entire scene to becoming a restraint tool, how cigar play moved from center stage to personal ritual, and why a simple, scheduled review can help you drop what no longer feeds you while reaching for what does. You’ll hear practical ways to audit your gear closet, gift what you don’t wear, and choose a long-term “next piece” that aligns with your evolving play.

The Ask Edge segment digs into real-world complexity. We validate submissive tops and dominant bottoms, separate D/s dynamics from sexual position, and explore how to educate a supportive but unsure partner with clear resources and honest conversation. We also talk about work-life boundaries for kinky professionals, why leather jock straps often fail on stage, and what actually matters in a dungeon. Spoiler: a sacred signal beats an expensive toy every time—think red lights, scent, music, and closing rituals that bring everyone back to earth.

If your leather life feels stuck or scattered, this conversation will help you build momentum with clarity, compassion, and control. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with one thing you’re revising this year—we’ll feature our favorites on a future show.

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Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.

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Ever wish someone handed you the map for approaching people in leather spaces without stepping on landmines? We unpack protocol as a living language—one that helps us communicate identity, negotiate consent, and feel like we belong—whether you’re navigating a bar, a dungeon, or a crowded inbox.

We start by reframing protocol from “rules for subs” to a shared system that binds everyone. Then we get practical: how to build pre-approach awareness, read the room, and use simple first contact—introductions and a handshake—to set a respectful tone. You’ll hear why theatrical submission backfires, how to extend honorifics “on credit” and assess whether they’re earned, and the safest way to approach collared folks, couples, or triads when you don’t know their internal dynamic.

We also translate those same principles into digital life. Thoughtful DMs beat “hey,” explicit photos without consent are out, and profile-reading is basic respect. On the community side, we cover play space etiquette—observing scenes, protecting space around implements, no unsolicited touch or photos—and why dungeon monitors are non-negotiable. We touch on event microcustoms, the tension between bar chatter and contest speeches, and how inclusivity and neurodiversity call for clearer signals and gentler corrections. Along the way, we share a story about the “never touch someone’s cover” custom and why small protocols can reveal who’s truly in community.

By the end, you’ll have concrete steps that turn awkwardness into invitation, and a template for creating your own personal protocol that signals values, boundaries, and openness. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s finding their on-ramp, and leave a review to tell us the one protocol you think more people should learn.

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Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.

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A suit can announce power to the room and whisper surrender to the one person who knows how to read it. We sit down with Doctor Tom, a self-described Sir and suit fetishist, to unpack how tailoring, uniform codes, and ritual details transform wool and silk into tools for desire. From Bond’s tux getting ripped to the scent of warm leather dress shoes, we trace the sensory and psychological threads that make suits a stealth fetish—hyper-visible to everyone, invisible to most.

We map the terrain where menswear meets military lineage: structured shoulders, tall collars, and the ceremonial logic that mirrors leather protocols. Doctor Tom shares practical starting points—why thrifting post-COVID is gold, how to spot quality construction, and why a good tailor is your best accomplice. We explore community “tells” like sheer dress socks and double Windsors, Instagram codes, and Recon tags, plus why excess is a signal and restraint often reads vanilla. Along the way we tackle elitism, access, and red flags, and we highlight a crucial reminder: suit fetish is gender inclusive, and gender-affirming tailors exist.

We also cross the aisle into leather—formal looks rebuilt in hide, the satisfaction of hierarchy, and the pleasure of rules you know well enough to break once, on purpose. In Ask Edge, we address accepting masochism, the need for mutual enjoyment in DS play, and resources for emotional fluency. Then we turn to kink on screen, calling out what lands and what misfires, and why some sacred spaces might be better served by community-made stories.

If suits have ever made your pulse quicken—or you want to build a look that doubles as a scene—this conversation gives you history, tactics, and permission to play. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves a good knot, and leave a review telling us your first suit memory.

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Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.

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Imagine discovering a time capsule that reveals the birth of leather culture—the codes, practices, and fierce spirit of resistance that shaped our community. Larry Townsend's Leatherman's Handbook, originally published in 1972, was exactly that: a revolutionary document that dared to say "your desires are valid" when society labeled kinky people as mentally ill.

When Edge first discovered this book as a young leather person in the late 1980s, it was nothing short of "a lightning bolt of revelation." Now, after decades of being virtually unobtainable (unless you were willing to pay $400 for a used copy), this foundational text has been reprinted, allowing a new generation to connect with leather's origins.

The available edition combines both the original 1972 text and Townsend's 1997 Silver Jubilee commentary, offering a fascinating dual perspective—showing leather culture at its emergence and then through the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis. What makes this historical document so surprisingly relevant today is its portrayal of leather's political roots. The central figure wasn't the leather uniform cop but the outlaw biker—a symbol of defiance against constant police harassment and criminalization.

This episode explores what parts of Townsend's vision remain valuable today: the accessibility of leather identity (requiring minimal gear investment), the importance of community protection and solidarity, and the understanding that leather practices have always varied by region rather than following rigid "Old Guard" protocols. Edge doesn't shy away from acknowledging the dated elements—the rigid roles, exclusionary focus on cis gay men, and terminology now considered offensive—while highlighting how our community has evolved beyond these limitations.

Whether you're a leather history buff or simply curious about the foundations of kink culture, this episode offers both historical context and thought-provoking questions about what parts of our heritage deserve reclaiming. The Leatherman's Handbook wasn't just a sex manual—it was the blueprint for a community of resistance and mutual support that continues to inspire us today.

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Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.

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What exactly is the "Old Guard" in leather culture? It's a question that sparks heated debates, reverent whispers, and sometimes bitter divisions within our community. This episode cuts through the mythology to reveal surprising truths about leather history and traditions.

Dr. Ty, clinical sexologist and leather title holder, joins Edge to share groundbreaking research from his dissertation defining the Old Guard. Rather than simply referring to the original leathermen of the 1950s, the term has evolved to describe a style of play centered on "obedience, structure and protocol." Most surprisingly, Dr. Ty's research reveals there was never a singular "way" of Old Guard practice—different cities developed different traditions long before national leather organizations formed.

The conversation challenges common assumptions about mentorship in leather communities. Despite the perception that Old Guard practitioners had formal mentoring structures, Dr. Ty's research found no statistical difference between how Old Guard and New Guard approached mentoring. This finding has inspired his work developing a more accessible mentoring program, addressing a critical gap for newcomers seeking guidance.

We also explore the often-conflated relationship between leather and kink identities, title holding traditions, and practical resources for those seeking knowledge. Dr. Ty shares details about his Kinky Book Club, which provides a non-sexual space for exploring leather history through literature and other media.

The episode concludes with an all-Texas edition of Ask Edge, featuring questions about advice for younger selves and the challenges of properly vetting title holders in today's community. Whether you're a leather veteran or just curious about these traditions, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on how we understand our shared history and build a more inclusive future.

Useful links:

• Dr. Ty on Instagram
• Kinky Book Club
• Playing Well with Others

Support the show

Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.