The Ari C.R. Podcast

Wrath James White is a badass motherfucker who writes badass things for other badass motherfuckers. Wrath is a J.F. Gonzales Splatterpunk Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a Bram Stoker Award nominated poet.He is the author of such extreme horror classics as The Resurrectionist (now a major motion picture titled, Come Back to Me), Succulent Prey, If You Died Tomorrow I Would Eat Your Corpse, and most recently The Bug Collector, Rabbit Hunt (a racial role reversal of the “redneck psychopaths in the woods” trope), its prequel Emily, as well as more than two dozen other works. He has co-written books with Edward Lee, J.F. Gonzalez, Matt Shaw, and Kristopher Rufty.We talked about the meaning of splatterpunk and how it differs from extreme horror, how Wrath imbues his characters with humanity despite the tortures they inflict and endure, his move to Thailand, his experience as a competitive fighter, how political correctness impacts the genre, and much, much more. We touch on the relationship between SM and horror and how to write about SM ethically (while not advancing harmful stereotypes, for example).Find Wrath’s books on Amazon and on his website. Follow him on Substack Wrath James White. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arichaseramos.substack.com/subscribe

How did shibari start out as a means of restraining and punishing prisoners and turn into a modality of healing? What should you know before getting started in shibari?Listen to host Ari Chase-Ramos, the author of over 28 erotic novellas, interview shibari artist Heather Rhea Dawn. Heather has been a Shibari artist since 2018, weaving a rich tapestry from my background in massage, dance, Tantra, breathwork, and Contact Improvisation.For her, Shibari is far more than the art of rope tying — it is the creation of sacred space for transformation, relaxation, and awakening through the body. Each knot and every touch are infused with intention, love, and deep listening. Within this container, healing and exploration unfold, inviting surrender through primal energy, playful expression, motherly care, and sensuality.Find Heather on Instagram at @EcstaticRope This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arichaseramos.substack.com/subscribe

Chiang Mai, a city of just over a million people, has more jazz musicians than cities many times its size. One of those jazz singers is Lily Timer, a warm and friendly woman from Russia who was shining from her silver fingernails to her bright smile when I met her at Creativitea to record this podcast. I mix it up with Lily, who has been involved in the local scene for over three years and has just performed as Mary Magdalene in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and she tells me how she got into jazz, what inspires her about Thailand, and why you should put you high heels and a lovely dress on and come enjoy jazz with her!Lily is a Chiang Mai-based jazz vocalist who sings in bands including The (Stolen) Moment, Jazzmai, and LBB band at venues such as The Mellowship Jazz Club, Noir CMI Jazz, Camelia Cafe at Nimman. She played Mary Magdalene in the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar in September 2025. Through jazz music, she bringing people beauty and connect across cultures. Living in Thailand for half a decade, Chiang Mai has become a second home for her, as it has inspired her musical journey.Ari Chase-Ramos is a storyteller, comedian, and the author of over two dozen novellas, including Domination Diaries and The Thai Mistresses. He has performed standup comedy and storytelling in Chiang Mai, at the Moat House, High School, and the Free Bird Cafe; Bangkok's Golden Hour; and the Lit Lounge in Seoul. Every Friday, he hosts the Ari C.R. Podcast and Open Mic at Creativitea.Find Ari's erotic novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4m6buzOListen to the S&M podcast on Spotify, and leave a review if you enjoy it!Previous Podcast Episodes This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arichaseramos.substack.com/subscribe

When Tshenda, a ceremonial leader, was living in Seattle, Washington, she dominated women (and some men, if they were respectful enough) for five years for fun and pleasure. One day, her sub came to her and said she had a fantasy she didn’t think Tshenda could create. Oh, really? Tshenda relishes the challenge. What was the fantasy? Alien abduction. Well… She could do it… And she’ll tell you about it on Episode 5 of Ari’s Strange & Marvelous life.To hear the full story—as well as the story of Tshenda staging a consensual kidnapping at a sub’s workplace, Ari’s first experience being the slave to a dominatrix at a Gangnam karaoke bar, Ari’s experience with cigarette play, and Ari and Tshenda discussing where to draw the line between safe kink and abuse—subscribe on Substack or Patreon to listen to the full 76-minute podcast. All revenue from new subscriptions from this podcast will be shared between Ari and Tshenda.Free listeners can access the 45-minute free episode and hear some excerpts of those discussions and much, much more, including why Tshenda thinks men need to connect with their spiritual sides.Embracing the wisdom of her Black Caribbean and Taíno heritage, Tshenda weaves together ancient traditions and modern spirituality to create transformative experiences. She is an herbal medicine woman, certified hypnotherapist, meditation and NLP practitioner, breathwork facilitator, and ceremonial leader for cacao and ancestral plants with eight years of experience.In addition to that, she has also presided over other kinds of ceremonies through her work as a dominatrix.Known for her gentle and nurturing presence, she supports others in releasing fear and emotional heaviness, reconnecting with their true nature, and restoring inner harmony. But what is more important is my dedication to use my own journey to guide to the ultimate peaceful presence, so you can finally start creating the life you are meant to live, reaching serenity.Follow Tshenda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gladys_amour_en_conscienceRead her travel and awakening ebooks: https://gladysdintimille.systeme.io/serenity-travel-storeAri Chase-Ramos is a storyteller, comedian, and the author of over two dozen erotic novellas, including Domination Diaries and The Thai Mistresses. His performances have been featured on stages in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Itaewon, and in dungeons in Tokyo and Seoul. Every Friday, he hosts the Ari C.R. Podcast and Open Mic at Creativitea. He has been a part of dominatrix-led ceremonies, too—on the other side of the whip.Find Ari's erotic novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4m6buzOSubscribe to Ari’s Substack:Or listen to the full episode by subscribing to his Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/arichaseramosListen, rate, and review the podcast on Spotify This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arichaseramos.substack.com/subscribe

In July, I interviewed Ella Light about her erotica writing. We both loved our talk, and we wanted to get into it more. Continuing our interview by audio chat, I could respond to what she was saying in real time, and we could banter. Everyone loves podcast banter!So we talked via Zoom. I recorded it in the podcast studio of RealSpace, a digital nomad socializing and coworking hub in Chiang Mai. They were nice enough to offer me an hour in their studio. However, we were only limited to the free 40 minutes on Zoom because "I'm a digital nomad, but not one of the ones that spends a lot of money on this kind of thing."Ella talked about how she finds inspiration from her life—past and present. When I was single and I was dating, I was having lots of sexy conversations with a lot of people. As soon as I say I'm an erotica author, people tell me their fantasies, which is just the best market research ever. So then I would be like, oh, this is fantastic.And then those would become... Yeah, those would become stories...We both agreed, as I said, that erotica is “one of the most honest genres of writing.”Ella also talked about her work as an online dominatrix dedicated to bringing out the best in her subs. I've had so many people seek me out who, for lack of a better word, are at rock bottom. They've just been through a suicide attempt, or they've just lost their job, or they're just, you know, they're at a low point. It's so misunderstood. People see it as, you know, 'oh, you just get to yell at people and they give you money.' And it's so much more than that. It is really a service, and it's something that, I think, for the most part, a lot of people just don't have access to.Punishing a masochist can be difficult, though:It's a fine art trying to punish a submissive masochist... because, of course, they love a lot of punishment. So sometimes I have to do something really evil, like make them write lines, which no one likes.Read the latest twist in Ella’s “Choose Your Own” adventure about Theo, the librarian who knows just what his readers are fantasizing about:Listen to the podcast on Substack, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, or watch Ari’s video of the interview YouTube: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arichaseramos.substack.com/subscribe

The United States is quickly descending into dictatorship. American cities are being invaded by armed soldiers—and it’s not a foreign government but rather an illegitimate homegrown regime that send the troops. Trump says he might send the military to attack Chicago next. This was, in part, the inspiration for Taeyoung’s Republic, Book 1: The Rise of Fascism in America & Asia, the first four chapters of which are available in text on my Substack.While every American has to suffer the consequences of Trump’s restrictions on civil liberties and his price hikes via tariffs and more, some Americans are being hit harder than others. The administration has cracked down on minorities, particularly transgender individuals, especially hard. Last week, Trump tried to access the personal information of trans people who had procedures done at hospitals across the country. While he is trying to find names, social security numbers, and health records of private citizens who didn’t commit any crimes, he still refuses to release files on Jeffrey Epstein.So for Episode 3 of the Strange & Marvelous podcast, I did something a little different. I talked to Kassandra, a trans woman who left Ron DeSantis era Florida three months ago for Thailand. Listen to what she has to say about living as a trans woman in America the past couple of years and what she fears going forward. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arichaseramos.substack.com/subscribe

It seemed like Toni had done all the right things. She was the salutatorian of her high school. Graduated from an Ivy League school and two prestigious residency programs. She was working as a doctor and had delivered over 350 babies into the world. So why, at age 30, did she quit her career and begin backpacking the world?In the second episode of Strange & Marvelous, Ari C.R. chats with Toni—aka Dr. Tooni—about rebirthing your inner child, sparking your creativity, and how to become a digital nomad at any age. You will also hear excerpts from Dr. Tooni’s first time doing standup comedy.Updated and Corrected, Includes TimestampsDr. Tooni is a Chinese-American neurodivergent ex-physician turned cartoonist, author, sex educator, mental health & LGBT+ advocate, and nomad for 7 years. After hitting rock bottom trying to please her immigrant “Tiger Parents,” as an Ivy League gynecologist, she realized conditional love wasn’t true love, and started letting her authentic self show, even if the consequence was becoming cast out.Now, as a Dreams Doula, helping birth dreams instead of babies, she guides other Achievers, Pleasers, and Divergents to unconditional self love & re-birthing their Authentic Selves through art, writing, and teaching. Her courses include “Strip Off Shame,” “Transcend The Tiger,” and “Nomads’ Nest,” helping cure adult loneliness and build nourishing communities around the world. She also hosts the “Accept THEN Achieve” podcast and has published a memoir & healing guide “WHY YOU NO DOCTOR ANYMORE?! Honoring Your Family AND Yourself Too.” Her most popular comics include “The 5 Asian Love Languages” and “Lessons with Penelope C. Lit.” Find her art and courses at DrTooni.com.Ari Chase-Ramos is a storyteller, comedian, and the author of over two dozen erotic novellas, including Domination Diaries and The Thai Mistresses. His performances have been featured on stages in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Itaewon, and in dungeons in Tokyo and Seoul. Every Friday, he hosts the Ari C.R. Podcast and Open Mic at Creativitea in Chiang Mai, Thailand.Jump to Topic07:43 - Quitting Her Career as a Doctor15:34 - Third-Culture Kid18:10 - Should Unconditional Love Be the Norm?19:27 - Who Is Your True Self?22:29 - Drawing Cartoons, A Creative's Self-Doubt25:11 - Are A Child's Dream's Valid?30:17 - Lonelineness, Concerns That Prevent One From Becoming Nomad34:08 - Timothy Ferriss's Language Learning Hack35:13 - Nomading Before and After Pandemic37:05 - Discovering New Versions of Yourself39:55 - Nomading & Meeting People as an Introvert42:09 - Dr. Tooni's Upcoming Events43:49 - Ari Tells a Joke46:44 - Follow Dr. Tooni OnlineThe song playing during the introduction of the podcast is “Scars of January” by Alana Jordan. Strange & Marvelous (the S&M podcast) is published every Saturday and features interviews with artists, travelers, musicians, comedians, lifestylists, kinksters, and more. Subscribe to receive podcast episodes by email. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arichaseramos.substack.com/subscribe

Last week, I performed my first comedy and storytelling show, When Ari Met Nana. It was a 46-minute-long show about life, love, kink, and knowing oneself. As I wrote, In this solo show, When Ari Met Nana, I use humor and storytelling to share what I’ve learned along the way. My hope is that by laughing at my messes and mishaps, you’ll feel more empowered to explore your own desires—whether that’s kink, creativity, or just being brave enough to be yourself.Sign up as a paid subscriber to watch the full show, including exclusive excerpts from my erotic novellas, which are available for Kindle readers on Amazon.Free subscribers can enjoy this 27-minute podcast-friendly excerpt from the show.Ari Chase-Ramos: Diary of an Eroticist is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arichaseramos.substack.com/subscribe