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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

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.

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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.

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.