Order of Man

Most of what passes for leadership advice today is polish. You say the right things, avoid conflict, perform confidence until you believe it yourself. This episode is about the opposite. We're talking about what happens when you stop performing and start operating: how to build relationships that are actually real instead of transactional, how to handle conflict without flinching or blowing it up, and why the most effective leaders aren't the cleanest; they're the ones willing to own their flaws and use them. We get into the idea of the "antihero." He's not a villain, not a saint, but someone pragmatic enough to do what the moment requires instead of what looks good on camera. We talk about credibility versus performative influence, why so much content today is loud but hollow, and how the stories we tell ourselves (culturally and individually), shape whether we actually grow or just look like we are. If you're tired of leadership advice that sounds good and does nothing, this one's for you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Power of Real Relationships 05:44 - Why Transactional Relationships Destroy Trust 07:16 - How to Handle Conflict Like an Adult 10:50 - There Is No Magical Phrase for Communication 12:45 - The Problem With Contrarian Content 16:55 - The Anti-Hero Advantage 21:41 - Why "Regular Guys" Don't Always Get Heard 25:26 - Pragmatism, Influence and Social Capital 28:50 - Understanding Your Conflict Archetype 33:30 - Integrating Your Dark Side 39:14 - Do the Ends Justify the Means? 44:05 - Why You Don't Have to Be Liked 46:17 - Dealing With Internal and External Conflict 50:17 - Why Culture Has Replaced Self-Development 53:55 - The Truth Just Isn't Sexy 55:53 - The Five Skills Everyone Needs 59:35 - The Value of Admitting Your Own Ignorance 01:03:00 - Learning to Challenge Your Own Ideas 01:04:00 - When Communication Goes Wrong and What to Learn From It   Order Ryan's latest book, The Masculinity Manifesto on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Masculinity-Manifesto-Establishes-Influence-Credibility/dp/1684513316   Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready. https://orderofman.link/battle-ready   Download the NEW Order of Man Twelve-Week Battle Planner and maximize your week. https://orderofman.link/12-week-planner-app   Support the Order of Man mission by picking up merchandise: https://orderofman.link/support-the-mission   Connect with us on the socials: Instagram https://orderofman.link/instagram Facebook https://orderofman.link/facebook-page Twitter https://orderofman.link/twitter-ryan   Join the Order of Man Facebook group: https://orderofman.link/facebook-group  

In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler tackles the cultural double standard between misogyny and misandry. While modern discourse frequently condemns the hatred of women, systemic contempt toward men - misandry - is often ignored or dismissed as simple individual preference.  Ryan breaks down the etymology of these terms and addresses critical disparities facing men today, including family court bias, false accusations, workforce declines, and the alarming male suicide rate. Moving beyond victimhood narratives, he distinguishes raw masculinity from true manliness, demonstrating how masculine traits are not inherently toxic but require proper direction. Tune in to understand why society must evaluate both sides of the aisle to cultivate genuine accountability, strength, and human flourishing. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Defining Misogyny vs. Misandry 02:26 - The Double Standard in Cultural Discourse 04:46 - Etymology and the Power of Words 09:40 - Custody Bias and Courtroom Discouragement 10:45 - The Impact of False Accusations 12:01 - Labor Force Declines and Biological Aptitude 14:30 - The Male Suicide Epidemic and Empathy Gaps 15:45 - Rejecting the Victimhood Scoreboard 18:56 - Masculinity vs. Manliness: Harnessing Raw Power 23:18 - Stop Neutering Young Men 25:21 - Taking Sovereignty Over Your Worth   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Ryan Michler is joined by Alan Placer for this week's Ask Me Anything, tackling eight questions about fatherhood, masculinity, family, legacy, grief, mentorship, co-parenting, and business. They discuss when helping an adult child becomes enabling, what it means to be a real man, showing up for a parent with dementia, and navigating a child's relationship with a good stepfather. They also explore letting go of an inherited business legacy, dealing with infertility, becoming a mentor before you feel ready, and the hidden cost of being constantly available to your business. Along the way, Ryan and Alan return to a common theme: responsibility, boundaries, progress, and choosing to show up as the kind of man you want to be. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Opening & Alan Placer Joins the AMA 01:26 - The Lindsay Clancy Trial & Personal Responsibility 09:26 - Supporting an Adult Child Without Enabling Him 17:01 - What Makes a Real Man? 24:36 - Showing Up for a Parent With Dementia 35:08 - Co-Parenting With a Good Stepfather 43:28 - Letting Go of a Legacy Your Child Didn't Choose 49:01 - Carrying the Grief of Infertility 56:18 - What Qualifies a Man to Be a Mentor? 1:02:16 - The Hidden Cost of Always Being Available 1:10:13 - Wrapping Up With Alan Placer   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Most men will never come close to the kind of suffering Brent Oliver has lived through. And, that's exactly why this conversation matters. Today we're talking about the difference between a man who lets his circumstances define him and a man who decides, moment by moment, that he's still the one in control. You're going to hear what it actually looks like to rebuild a body and a mind from nothing, and why the story you tell yourself about your pain determines whether it makes you dangerous or makes you soft. This episode is about the strength to overcome the worst moments of your life and the idea that these moments aren't happening to you, they're shaping you into either a weapon or a victim. Brent breaks down why he refused to let anyone see weakness, why he refuses pain medication to this day, and why "effort equals outcome" isn't a slogan for him; it's the only reason he's alive. If you've ever used your circumstances as an excuse to coast, this conversation is going to make that a lot harder to do. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 01:04 - Connecting with Ryan 03:58 - The Tragic 1991 Motorcycle Accident 05:59 - The "N of 1" Medical Study 10:12 - Understanding Incomplete Quadriplegia 12:30 - Relearning Muscle Control & Function 15:08 - Rejecting Prognoses & Forging the Mind 16:49 - A Turning Point Night in the Hospital 21:15 - Victim Mentality vs. Becoming a Good Weapon 22:15 - True Strength & Modern Vulnerability 27:26 - Overcoming the Fear of Being a Burden 31:22 - What Separates Warriors from Victims 36:21 - Choosing Mindset Over Pain Medication 38:21 - Dealing with CRPS & Severe Phantom Pain 39:42 - Mind Control, Focus, and Detachment Techniques 46:14 - Finding a Path Forward Through the Outdoors 49:55 - Perspectives on Dark Moments & Hope 55:33 - Advocating for Outdoor Accessibility and the Disabled Community 01:04:33 - How the Artificial Larynx Works 01:07:17 - Brent Oliver Foundation & Closing Thoughts  Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Are you stepping in to fix everyone else's problems at the expense of your own mission, household, and peace of mind? In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler unpacks the Karpman Drama Triangle—a psychological pattern where men rotate between the roles of Victim, Persecutor, and Rescuer.  Ryan reveals why rescuing often stems from ego rather than love, and how stripping people of natural consequences cripples their growth. Learn how to transition into the Empowerment Triangle by practicing true vulnerability, setting clear assertive boundaries, and offering care that builds capability rather than dependency. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The High Cost of Rescuing Others 01:35 - The Karpman Drama Triangle Explained 01:50 - Role 1: The Powerless Victim 02:22 - Role 2: The Controlling Persecutor 03:20 - Role 3: The Overreaching Rescuer 07:12 - Cycling Between Roles & Covert Contracts 11:45 - Why Consequences Are Essential for Growth 16:26 - Introducing the Empowerment Triangle 18:29 - True Vulnerability vs. Making Excuses 20:47 - Assertiveness and Setting Boundaries 23:07 - When Rescuing Is Actually Appropriate 25:27 - Weekly Challenge & War Room Announcement    Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

This week's Ask Me Anything explores the challenges men face when life tests their identity, discipline and relationships. Ryan and Kipp discuss balancing fitness with family, staying sober, managing anger, rebuilding identity after losing a career, navigating divorce and fatherhood, reconnecting with the outdoors, and defining a meaningful legacy. Along the way, they emphasize personal responsibility, healthy boundaries, reflection, identity, and developing the skills and values that endure beyond circumstances. They also share practical strategies for handling temptation, anger and conflict, while highlighting the importance of brotherhood, challenge and time away from the noise of everyday life. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Jiu-Jitsu Camp and the Importance of Brotherhood 02:03 - Imposter Syndrome, Vulnerability and Earning Your Place 06:34 - Fitness, Marriage and Being Present as a Father 12:56 - Staying Consistent After Quitting Alcohol 19:14 - Getting Control of Anger 30:10 - Identity Beyond Your Career 37:01 - Divorce, Resentment and Protecting Your Kids 40:20 - Why Men Are Drawn to the Outdoors 46:33 - What Legacy Really Means 49:58 - Iron Council and the Upcoming War Room   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Pornography addiction isn't a willpower problem. It's a brain problem and, understanding the mechanics changes everything about how you fight it. Today, we go deep into the neuroscience: what edging actually does to your reward system, why desensitization and hypo-frontality reshape how your brain processes stress and pleasure, and why getting exactly what you want can leave you more depressed than before you started. We also unpack what "Rat Park" study reveals about addiction and isolation, and why the opposite of sobriety isn't willpower; it's connection. My guest, Sathiya Sam, and I go beyond the behavior to the coping mechanism underneath it, what porn is really substituting for, what predicts who struggles with it, and why quitting cold turkey rarely works without addressing the root. You'll learn the real skills required to overcome it, why a satisfied heart rarely wanders, and how to build an identity that doesn't need to prove itself through control or escape. If you've ever wondered what's actually happening in your brain when you engage — or how to build something stronger in its place — this episode gives you the science and the path forward. Contact Sathiya Sam: www.thelastrelapsebook.com www.deepcleancoaching.com/innercircle SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction and AI's Impact on Pornography 03:20 - Emotional Connection and AI Sex Bots 05:39 - Dopamine, Variable Returns, and Edging 08:00 - Supernormal Stimuli and Accessibility 10:32 - Meeting Psychological Needs vs. Physical Drive 14:12 - The Rat Park Experiment & Connection vs. Addiction 18:16 - Meaninglessness as the Primary Driver of Vice 22:00 - Practical Skill Building Beyond Behavior Manipulation 24:52 - Connection, Control, and Validation 27:23 - Mainstream Pornography and Aggressive Content Trends 31:40 - Physical Transformation After Breaking Addiction 33:27 - Overcoming 48 Years of Addiction 38:23 - Identity Shifts and Rethinking 12-Step Frameworks 44:00 - Anchoring Identity Outside of Temporary Roles 47:00 - Who You Are and Who Told You 52:17 - Authentic Conviction vs. People Pleasing 56:30 - Public Apologies vs. Personal Alignment 01:00:02 - The Myth That Pornography Only Affects One Person 01:01:59 - The Four Neurological Effects of Pornography 01:03:33 - How Pornography Distorts Relational Intimacy 01:10:50 - Hypofrontality, Sensitization, and Stress Responses 01:18:45 - Replacing Addiction with Purpose 01:22:00 - Where to Find Sathiya Sam and The Last Relapse   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Whether caused by a minor slip-up or a major rupture like infidelity or financial betrayal, every man will eventually face the grueling challenge of restoring broken trust. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler outlines 12 non-negotiable principles for rebuilding trust when it's been shattered. Time alone won't fix your mistakes - only deliberate, sustained, and unselfish action will. Learn why explaining away your issues destroys credibility, how to stop keeping score during the process, and why true reform requires changing your character without demanding immediate validation. Tune in to discover how to own your failures, match your repair to the break, and lead with unwavering integrity.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction & Recording From Maine 01:35 - 12 Steps to Rebuilding Broken Trust 02:00 - Rule 1: Time Doesn't Fix Trust, Action Does 02:40 - Rule 2: You Don't Decide When Trust Is Restored 04:40 - Rule 3: Explaining Isn't Owning 07:35 - Rule 4: Match the Repair to the Break 08:45 - Rule 5: Privacy Is Not a Privilege 11:15 - Rule 6: Consistency Beats Intensity 14:15 - Rule 7: Your Apology Has an Expiration Date 16:55 - Rule 8: Stop Asking for Trust 19:15 - Rule 9: Tolerate Being Tested 21:15 - Rule 10: Stop Keeping Score 22:50 - Rule 11: Fix the Rupture Where It Happened 25:30 - Rule 12: Accept That Some Trust Never Returns 29:50 - Order of Man War Room Call to Action   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

This week's Ask Me Anything tackles real questions about fatherhood, marriage, friendship, faith, addiction, parenting, and personal responsibility. Ryan and Kipp discuss why becoming a first-time father can feel more frightening than exciting, how to reconnect with an emotionally absent father, and how to take surface-level friendships deeper. They also explore balancing work and family, finding your way back to faith, essential backcountry gear, recovering after an alcohol relapse, and navigating a teenage son's growing independence. Along the way, they share practical frameworks for turning fear into action, building trust, creating deeper relationships, and leading without relying on force or rescue. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Opening and War Room discussion 02:09 Selling through value instead of pressure 06:25 War Room September session 07:23 Wholesome segment: wealth, capitalism and medical innovation 12:32 First-time fatherhood fears 17:04 Reconnecting with an emotionally absent father 22:42 Taking male friendships deeper 28:00 Balancing providing and being present at home 35:41 Finding your way back to faith 42:59 Essential backcountry gear 48:43 Relapsing after sobriety 54:00 Parenting a teenager who is pulling away 59:45 War Room call to action   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Your brain is either getting stronger or getting weaker. There is no neutral, gentlemen. Today Jim Kwik breaks down why comfort, convenience, and cognitive offloading to AI are quietly making men mentally soft, and what it actually takes to build what he calls "cognitive reserve" which is the difference between a man who stays sharp, independent, and capable as he ages and one who doesn't. We get into why peace comes from capacity, not comfort, why self-trust is built by keeping promises to yourself instead of anybody else, and Jim's personal framework for using AI to sharpen your thinking instead of replacing it. If you feel like your focus is slipping, your discipline softening, or your identity too wrapped up in a job title that could be taken from you tomorrow, this episode might be the reset.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Shift from Achievement to Fulfillment 03:51 Avoiding Modern Distractions & Media Outrage 06:00 Developing Mental Sovereignty in the Age of Information 08:20 The Danger of Cognitive Surrender to AI 11:35 Comfort Crisis and the Value of Struggle 14:01 Building Human Intelligence Through Challenge 18:44 How Modern Conveniences Weaken Mental Muscles 21:33 Navigating Difficult Conversations & Growth 25:50 Building Self-Trust by Keeping Promises 28:08 Character, Wealth Transfer, and Raising Resilient Kids 31:00 Understanding Cognitive Reserve and Brain Health 35:21 Cognitive Offloading vs. Building Real Intelligence 37:40 The B.U.I.L.D. Framework for Using AI 41:02 Overcoming Childhood Labels and Traumatic Injury 46:44 What AI Can Never Replace in Humans 48:38 The H.U.M.A.N. Framework for Personal Evolution 52:27 Decoupling Your Identity From External Roles 57:08 Standing in the Arena and Overcoming Criticism 01:00:03 Why Adaptation is Critical for Modern Leadership 01:03:51 Limitless Daily: The 5-Minute Morning Mental Upgrade 01:09:00 Protecting Your Morning Attention Window   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Are you consuming endless podcasts, books, and sermons but finding your life stuck in the exact same spot? In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the critical difference between being a roaring river and a stagnant swamp.  Most men don't have an information problem—they have a direction problem. Unapplied knowledge turns into a shallow, rotting pond that breeds resentment, irritability, and inaction. Discover how to establish rigid boundaries ("banks") in your life, implement the 48-Hour Rule for immediate execution, cap your inputs, and surround yourself with real accountability so your knowledge actually flows into meaningful strength. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 The Analogy of Two Waters 01:30 Why a River Needs Banks to Have Power 02:26 You Don't Have an Information Problem 04:55 What Boundaries and Banks Actually Do 06:05 The Danger of Stagnant Knowledge 08:00 How Unused Insight Rotates into Resentment 09:45 Action Rule 1: The 48-Hour Rule 11:30 Action Rule 2: Single-Point Accountability 12:50 Action Rule 3: Cap Inputs, Raise Outputs 16:00 Feeding Everything Downstream   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle four powerful questions in this week's Ask Me Anything, covering stepfatherhood, confidence versus arrogance, addiction and sobriety, and the challenge of coaching your own child. They discuss why a biological father and a dad aren't necessarily the same thing, how confidence is earned, why temptation may never completely disappear, and how fathers can balance high standards with grace. Ryan also gets candid about a time he pushed a young athlete too hard and reflects on what truly matters when raising and leading children. The episode closes with an invitation to the upcoming Order of Man War Room.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 00:37 - Wholesome Segment: Guns and Shooting 09:54 - Viewer Questions Begin 10:17 - Stepfatherhood and the Meaning of "Dad" 19:08 - Confidence vs. Arrogance 26:06 - Sobriety, Temptation and Addiction 35:26 - Coaching Your Own Child 46:13 - War Room Invitation and Closing   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

You've been told the Epstein case is closed. It's not. It's a blueprint - for how blackmail, sex, and power get used to buy silence at the highest levels of American government, and why the people who could stop it never do. Today's guest has spent decades chasing this story further than almost anyone alive, and what he's found doesn't end with one dead man in a Manhattan jail cell. Nick Bryant joins me to talk about the Franklin Scandal, the CIA's fingerprints on decades of cover-ups, why the "uniparty" protects itself no matter who's in office, and what it actually looks like to draw a line in the sand when the people meant to hold power accountable are the ones compromised. If you've ever wondered why nothing changes no matter who you vote for, this conversation is the answer you didn't want but need to hear. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Epstein Justice Fight 03:22 - Why Mainstream Media Shut Him Out 06:19 - Nick Bryant's Personal Story 11:27 - Political Division and CIA Blackmail 16:05 - Iraq, Government Lies and No Accountability 24:00 - How Politicians Are Compromised 28:40 - Arrogance, Sex and Greed 35:57 - The Uniparty and Political Corruption 41:35 - The Epstein Cover-Up 45:45 - Sean Combs, Clive Davis and Powerful Networks 49:40 - The "Conspiracy Theorist" Label 52:27 - The Franklin Scandal and Hollywood 56:50 - Bringing the Right and Left Together 59:28 - The Education System Scam 01:00:20 - The Disappearing American Dream 01:03:36 - Inflation, Money Printing and Healthcare 01:05:37 - Why Americans Can't Afford Homes 01:08:48 - Poverty, Food Insecurity and Homelessness 01:10:40 - Homelessness and Cognitive Development 01:19:43 - Drawing the Line 01:20:51 - Fighting for Epstein Justice   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Summer is ending, and for many men, structure and discipline went out the window right along with it. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down why waiting for external calendars to rebuild your life is a major mistake. Instead of treating the end of summer like a burden to survive, learn how to systematically reclaim your standards and rebuild your personal routine in three non-negotiable steps: locking in your wake time, adding daily physical movement, and tackling deep work in proper order. As the leader of your household, setting this cadence isn't just about personal discipline—it's about orchestrating stability for your entire family.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Reclaiming Structure After Summer 01:18 - The Pitfall of Waiting for External Structure 03:46 - Step 1: Lock In Your Wake Time 06:06 - Step 2: Rebuild Your Body with Daily Movement 08:12 - Step 3: Rebuild Your Work Foundation 10:15 - Setting the Household Cadence 13:00 - Raw Masculinity vs. Disciplined Manliness 14:14 - Execute Out of Duty, Not Guilt 15:38 - War Room Announcement & Wrap-Up     Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

This episode of Ask Me Anything tackles the real-life challenges men face as they age, lead families, navigate friendships and raise children. Ryan and Kipp discuss making peace with physical decline, giving teenagers room to develop independence, and questioning popular self-help advice.  They also explore how to rebuild trust after betrayal, what masculine leadership looks like when raising daughters, and how to manage anger without repeating the patterns of our fathers. The conversation closes with a deeply personal discussion about lessons inherited from fathers, the danger of confusing exhaustion with productivity, and finding a healthier balance between work, relationships and life. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Weekly Recap & Staying on the Path 02:51 - Wholesome Hero: Training for Real Life 10:17 - Making Peace With an Aging Body 18:26 - Raising a Sixteen-Year-Old 24:22 - The Most Overrated Self-Help Advice 30:44 - Rebuilding Trust After Betrayal 38:43 - Protect, Provide & Preside With Daughters 43:34 - Anger Without Becoming Your Father 50:15 - What We Unlearn From Our Fathers 55:40 - The War Room: Restoring Order   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

If you've ever lost everything (a business, a marriage, your sense of who you are) this conversation is proof that the collapse isn't the end of your story. Rick Trimmer walks through the exact math he and his wife used to climb out of $640,000 in debt: the thousand-day stretch with no pay, the decade of living on a thousand dollars a month, and the brutal conversations he had with himself and his wife about what they actually wanted. If you're in the hole right now, or you're scared of ever being in it, this is the blueprint for how a man digs out without excuses and without quitting on his family. But this isn't just a comeback story; it's a lesson in delayed gratification and what winning the game really looks like. We'll cover how to build passive income, take advantage of opportunities that scare you, and chose freedom over the appearance of success. If you're tired of chasing a lifestyle you can't afford, or you're ready to start building something that actually lasts, this conversation gives you the mindset and the moves to get there. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 03:05 - Introduction to Rick Trimmer and Real Business Owners 05:08 - What Sets Entrepreneurs Apart: IQ, Drive, and Delusion 07:10 - Overcoming Weaknesses and the Power of Mentorship 09:12 - Leaving Corporate Life and Betting on Yourself 11:23 - The Reality of Financial Risk and Losing It All 13:32 - Repaying $640k Debt and Working 1,000 Days Straight 17:01 - Sacrifice, Top Ramen, and Building a Foundation 23:08 - Living on $1,000 a Month to Buy Freedom 29:05 - Getting Started in Real Estate and Finding Mentors 37:49 - Creative Financing and Acquiring Rental Properties 43:30 - Hitting the Passive Income Goal and Traveling the World 49:19 - Why Financial Freedom and Time with Family is Worth the Grind 54:57 - Consumerism vs. Real Wealth 01:00:55 - The Men's Forge and the Power of Live Events 01:04:29 - Saying "Yes" to New Opportunities 01:08:36 - Where to Connect with Rick Trimmer   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Every single day, you wake up with a finite bank account of time, energy, integrity, and focus. But without realizing it, most men trade away their potential in thousands of unnoticed, micro-decisions. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the four dangerous trades men make every day on autopilot - from trading real progress for temporary fake peace, to sacrificing long-term character just to look good to others.  If you're ready to stop bleeding your potential through a thousand small cuts and start living with deliberate intentionality, this episode is your wake-up call.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Finite Account: What Are You Trading Daily? 02:17 - Death by a Thousand Unintentional Cuts 03:40 - Trade 1: Fake Peace vs. Real Progress 06:27 - Stop Calling Cowardice "Patience" 08:14 - Trade 2: Doom Scrolling vs. Building Your Legacy 12:15 - When the Bill Comes Due: Facing the Receipt 13:00 - Trade 3: Quick Hits of Dopamine vs. Long-Term Satisfaction 15:21 - Trade 4: Outward Appearance vs. Personal Integrity 17:37 - The Cost of Owning Your Reality 19:54 - How to Reclaim Intentionality Today   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

In this "Ask Me Anything" episode, Ryan and Kipp explore how men can break through life's transitional slumps and rebuild momentum. They answer viewer questions on keeping motivation alive after a health scare, finding purpose after military service, navigating the loss of a foster child, and handling sudden business success. They also share practical advice on stepping up as an uncle and owning past mistakes to rebuild a damaged reputation. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 01:46 - Wholesome Character of the Day: Sophie Cunningham & Standing Up for Women's Sports 11:42 - Maintaining Clarity & Purpose After a Major Health Scare 19:22 - Rebuilding Identity and Mission After Leaving the Military 29:56 - Reconnecting with Family: Who Should Make the First all? 33:43 - Leading a Family Through the Grief of Foster Care 41:25 - What to Chase Next When You've Already Won 47:54 - Stepping Up as a Powerful Role Model Without Being a Dad 51:27 - Rebuilding Your Reputation When Everyone Knows Your Past Mistakes     Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

In this special solo episode of Order of Man, founder Ryan Michler reflects on eleven years of podcasting, building a movement, and navigating personal evolution. Ryan interviews himself to extract actionable lessons for men leading families, starting businesses, or advancing their careers. He dives deep into why consistency beats talent every time, the costly "tuition payments" that come with entrepreneurship, and how to stand out in a saturated market. Ryan also opens up about his darkest personal battles, including divorce and alcohol recovery, offering a candid look at accountability, resilience, and adaptability. Tune in to learn why maintaining your dignity and affording yourself grace are essential to becoming the man you were meant to be. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction & 11 Years of Order of Man 02:16 - Why Ryan Started the Podcast 06:49 - Business Mindset and Generating Income 09:08 - Why Consistency Beats Talent 11:30 - Paying Tuition: Learning from Costly Business Mistakes 13:58 - How to Stand Out in a Saturated Market 18:44 - Mastering Conversation and Everyday Lessons 23:28 - Evolving Interview Preparation and Adaptability 25:48 - True Accountability vs. Public Criticism 28:09 - Facing Personal Darkness and Choosing Not to Quit 32:55 - The Immutable Mission to Restore Masculinity 35:19 - Adapting to Cultural Shifts and New Technology 37:41 - Core Lessons: Grace, Adaptability, and Maintaining Dignity 39:42 - Conclusion & Call to Action   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Society often celebrates a man's physical labor- his calloused hands and strong back- while instructing him to hide or feel ashamed of his emotional scars. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, host Ryan Michler breaks down why carrying a bruised heart is not evidence of weakness, but proof that you actually showed up and lived. Drawing from Theodore Roosevelt's famous "Man in the Arena" speech, Ryan reframes past failures, divorces, addictions, and losses as valuable badges of effort. Stop sitting on the sidelines in the cheap seats. Learn how to build calluses on your heart, stop disguising cowardice as wisdom, and take one actionable step back into the arena.     SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Marks of Physical Labor 02:15 - The Unseen Bruises of a Man's Heart 04:50 - Theodore Roosevelt's "Citizenship in a Republic" 06:15 - The Man in the Arena 08:00 - Why Wounds Are Proof of Effort, Not Weakness 10:40 - Responding to Haters and Cheap-Seat Critics 15:45 - What True Sacrifice Looks Like 18:25 - Building Calluses on the Heart Through Resistance 22:30 - Sovereignty: Getting Back in the Ring 29:20 - Wisdom vs. Cowardice: Protecting vs. Avoiding 31:45 - Weekly Challenge: Re-Engage With What Bruised You 33:50 - Iron Council War Room Announcement  Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

In this "Ask Me Anything" episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen answer real questions from men striving for personal growth. They share candid insights on breaking free from social media comparison, staying emotionally present without checking out, and stepping up as a father without a roadmap. The duo also dives deep into rebuilding trust after business betrayals, finding resilience through backcountry hunting, and overcoming self-doubt in leadership. Tune in for practical advice on building character, dynamic family life, and leading with radical authenticity.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Intro & News Headlines   05:05 - Wholesome Anniversary Segment   11:56 - Beating Social Media Comparison   18:58 - Calm Under Pressure vs. Emotionally Checked Out   30:36 - Fatherhood Without a Father Figure   41:11 - Rebuilding Trust After Business Betrayal   47:07 - Character Lessons in the Backcountry Wilderness   52:40 - Leading Through Faith and Doubt   01:01:38 - The Line Between Providing and Spoiling   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Every relationship you're in is running a test you don't even know you're taking. And, most men are failing it in slow motion. Today's guest built his reputation calling out the exact moments men hand over their frame without noticing: the pedestal-building, the concessions that pile up one at a time until there are a thousand of them, the "I appreciate your energy" while she's quietly checking out. This isn't theory. It's the pattern behind every man who woke up one day wondering how he ended up as her Plan B in his own home. We're getting into "shit tests" and why they never stop, why contempt is the clock counting down on a marriage, and why the "go plan" is the same as the "stay plan" might be the most freeing sentence you hear all year. We'll cover a few of the 7 spokes of a high-value man, some of the the 21 red flags and 16 green flags worth knowing before you commit, and why proximity, familiarity, and exclusivity are what actually build attraction. If you've ever felt like you're auditioning for your own life, this episode is your wake-up call.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction and Social Media Platforms 03:47 - Male Friendships and Testing Boundaries 05:08 - The Rise of the "Boss Girl" Avatar 06:51 - Why Modern Men Struggle with Masculinity 11:09 - Taking Frame Back in Relationships 14:18 - The Process of Betatization and Concessions 17:44 - Decisiveness and Leading in Dating 21:08 - How Cultural Narratives Weaken Men 24:36 - Tuning Into Your Inner Asshole 28:02 - Establishing Boundaries and Determinative Action 33:17 - Addressing Toxic Masculinity Accusations 37:10 - Handling Competency and Shit Tests 39:28 - The Fishing Boat Analogy for Maintaining Attraction 42:45 - The 7 Spokes of a High-Value Man 48:58 - Avoiding Bitterness and the Black Pill Mentality 53:45 - Major Red Flags to Avoid in Dating 55:25 - The Controversy Around Women and Tattoos 57:55 - Green Flags to Look for in a Partner 01:00:48 - Overview of 'Top Shelf Man' and Where to Connect     Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Most men go their entire lives running on substitute friendships without realizing their tank is completely empty. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the 5 types of men in your life - from the convenient neighbor to the group chat clown - and reveals why only one of them will actually stand by you in a crisis. Learn how to audit your inner circle, eliminate friction-free surface relationships, and build genuine 2 AM friendships through intentionality and radical honesty.   Ready to surrounding yourself with high-caliber men? Join the Iron Council brotherhood at orderofman.com/ironcouncil.     SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Friendship Trap Most Men Fall For 00:21 - Category 1: The Convenient Friend 04:55 - Category 2: The Default Friend 07:11 - Category 3: The Clown 11:02 - Category 4: The Casual Friend 15:04 - Category 5: The 2 AM Friend 18:10 - Why 2 AM Friendships Still Have Limitations 20:07 - Taking Responsibility for Your Relationships 22:25 - The 80/20 Rule of Male Vulnerability 26:47 - How to Build Intentional Brotherhood    Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Ryan and Kipp dive into another Ask Me Anything episode covering friendship, leadership, masculinity, marriage, and purpose. They begin by discussing George Washington's remarkable character and why understanding history matters today. Listener questions lead to conversations about finding true brothers instead of surface-level friends, accepting difficult personal feedback, evaluating modern masculinity influencers, and navigating marriage when a wife earns more than her husband. Along the way, Ryan shares personal stories about leadership, divorce, and conviction, while Kipp offers practical insights on authenticity, self-leadership, and intentional living.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Pre-show conversation 11:47 – George Washington discussion 19:21 – Finding brothers instead of casual friends 27:22 – Difficult personal feedback and growth 42:30 – Choosing trustworthy voices on masculinity 51:19 – Should men be the primary provider? 1:03:18 – Iron Council preview invitation 1:04:18 – Closing thoughts   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Most men think attraction is something that happens to them (a switch their wife either flips or doesn't). Keith Yackey burns that idea to the ground. After two divorces, he built a framework around one brutal truth: you don't get what you want, you get what you are. If she's not leaning in anymore, that's not a mystery. That's a mirror. In this conversation, Keith breaks down the five dials every man is quietly failing (parent, partner, producer, player, and power) and hands you the exact language to rate yourself against them. We get into why scheduling sex builds more desire than spontaneity ever will, why "I did it for you" is the worst thing a man can say, and why the guys who stop chasing anything eventually get left by everything. This isn't theory. It's the same math Keith used to go from a 19 out of 100 to the best marriage of his life. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Welcome to Mickler Manor 01:53 Montana Knife Company Gift & Blood Brothers 04:06 Learning How to Receive Help as a Man 08:23 Do Men Need to Hit Rock Bottom? 10:36 Realizing You Are the Common Denominator 12:55 Becoming a Better Coach Through Failure 14:38 Why Men Need Stories of Struggle 18:42 Purpose, Mission, and Identity Over Ego 22:33 The Raw Truth About Relationship Dynamics 24:42 Extreme Ownership vs. Victim Mentality 28:53 What a "Fulfilled" Woman Wants 32:43 The Power of Boundaries and Saying "No" 36:57 The Importance of Brotherhood and Male Tribes 40:13 Overt vs. Covert Communication in Marriage 42:27 Overcoming Complacency in Relationships 46:20 Creating Novelty & Building Consistency 50:32 Self-Validation and Holding High Standards 54:42 Leading with Intention 58:34 Captain of the Vessel vs. Passengers 01:02:35 Support, Peacemaking, and Shared Joy 01:06:31 Direct Communication and Expressing Desires 01:12:45 Why Scheduling Intimacy Works 01:16:53 The 5 Dials of Long-Term Attraction 01:23:10 Rating Yourself and Fixing Your Relationship Grade 01:29:32 Modeling Love and Setting the Container 01:32:52 Connecting with Keith Yackey & Married Game Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Most men despise small talk, dismissing it as shallow, fake, or a complete waste of breath. We skip the pleasantries and go straight to the agenda. But in this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down why avoiding small talk is quietly costing you massive life, career, and romantic opportunities. Small talk isn't about the weather or sports; it's a low-risk reconnaissance mission to establish trust, likeability, and respect. Ryan shares 4 actionable moves to stop trying to be "impressive" and instead leverage genuine curiosity to open doors you've been walking right past. Stop treating small talk like a nuisance - it's the gateway to your next big breakthrough.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Real Cost of Skipping Small Talk 02:35 - Low Risk Equates to High Opportunity 04:30 - The Instinctual Mistakes Men Make 06:47 - The True Function of Small Talk 08:34 - Curiosity Over Performance 12:55 - Move 1: Master the Follow-Up Question 16:40 - Move 2: Be Memorable, Not Impressive 18:50 - Move 3: The 48-Hour Follow-Up Rule 20:45 - Move 4: Treat Every Room Like It Matters 28:00 - Why Introversion Is Not an Excuse 29:40 - Your Weekend Assignment   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

In this week's Ask Me Anything, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen kick things off by discussing the latest UFC headlines, Conor McGregor's return, Patty Pimblett's impressive performance, and what happens when people tie their identity to something that eventually expires. They also unpack the recent Yellowstone bison incident and the lessons it teaches about respecting nature and recognizing danger. Then they answer listener questions on authenticity, difficult conversations in marriage, job loss and identity, misconceptions in the manosphere, seeking a father's approval, dementia, and whether hunting builds better men or simply reinforces lessons learned elsewhere.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Cold Open 01:48 Episode Begins 06:51 UFC Headlines: Patty Pimblett, Conor McGregor & Identity 16:12 Yellowstone Bison Attack & Lessons from Nature 25:30 AMA: How to Live Authentically 42:40 AMA: Job Loss, Identity & Being a Provider 48:31 AMA: The Worst Advice in the Manosphere 52:45 AMA: Making Peace with a Father Facing Dementia 1:04:16 AMA: Does Hunting Build Better Men? 1:09:00 Closing Thoughts   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Men are drowning in a culture that rewards the appearance of strength. You've likely heard the term, "ripped, rich, and rare." It misses the one thing that actually builds it: the willingness to fail, feel it, and let their kids watch them do it. Today's guest calls this the "Upside Down Game," the con every man eventually has to walk away from if he wants to become someone worth following. This conversation goes straight at the blindness most men carry about themselves, the resistance that waits for every man trying to change, and why the hardest thing on earth isn't becoming a warrior; it's accepting your own humanity first. Kyle Carnohan joins me to talk about the greatest awakening happening among men right now, and what it actually looks like to raise kids who can hold frame in a world built to knock them off it. We get into the difference between being calm and being a pushover, why "non-reactive" doesn't mean passive, and how a strong spine and a soft heart aren't opposites, they're the whole point. If you've ever wondered whether your kids are learning more from your failures than your victories, this episode will answer that question whether you're ready for it or not.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction and Reconnecting 01:09 - The State of Modern Podcasting vs. Real Connection 03:22 - The Great Awakening: Transitioning from Promotion to Realness 05:24 - Embracing Failure, Disaster, and Finding Faith 07:23 - The Struggle for Men to Accept Their Humanity 09:22 - Falling in Love with the Process Over the Outcome 10:00 - Finding Peace in Major Life Hardships 11:51 - Teaching Children Resilience Through Witnessing Hardship 14:38 - Spotting Your Blind Spots and Learning to Continually Reconcile 19:40 - The Importance of Finding an Accurate Mirror in Life 21:30 - Navigating Different Personalities Under One Roof 22:38 - Unconditional Love and Radical Non-Reactivity in Parenting 27:11 - Stripping Away the Tough Guy Persona 30:20 - Overcoming the Need to Force and Strong-Arm Your Family 32:18 - Maintaining a Calm Nervous System Amidst Household Chaos 36:36 - Commanding Respect vs. Demanding Compliance 39:38 - The Societal Shift and Misconceptions of Kindness in Men 41:56 - The Balance: Hard Man with a Soft Heart 45:01 - Maintaining Your Frame vs. Being a Pushover 48:45 - The Courage Required for Calm, Loving Pursuits in Conflict 50:51 - Holding the Line Calmly with Children 54:12 - How Raising Righteous Children Saves the Culture 56:05 - Yielding the Glory and Fighting Alongside Men 58:21 - Connecting with Kyle and Closing Thoughts   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

In this episode of Friday Field Notes, host Ryan Michler tackles a critical societal crisis: the rise of vanishing fatherhood. With nearly half of all men between the ages of 25 and 45 currently childless, Ryan breaks down why this trend isn't just an economic narrative, but a profound crisis of belief.  He exposes the cultural lie that children are a restriction on personal freedom and contrasts it with data showing that 90% of fathers find fatherhood to be their deepest source of joy. True purpose comes from shouldering responsibility, not chasing comfort. Tune in to learn why raising righteous children is the ultimate battlefield for our culture. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 00:45 - The Fatherhood Statistics Shock 02:24 - Belief Systems vs. Economic Stories 04:27 - The Joy of Fatherhood vs. Societal Expectations 06:37 - The True Cost of Opting Out 08:50 - The Danger of Fragile and Rudderless Men 11:02 - The Birth Rate Collapse and Cultural Decay 13:19 - Reclaiming Culture Through the Next Generation 15:28 - Forfeiting the Cultural Fight 17:28 - Raising Righteous Children as the Mission 19:13 - Shifting from Dopamine to Legacy 19:57 - Step Up and Find the Courage 22:00 - A Call to Action for Modern Fathers    Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

In this week's Ask Me Anything, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen kick things off by reflecting on the Fourth of July and discussing why hope, personal agency, and responsibility are at the heart of what makes America unique. They then answer listener questions on fatherhood without a positive role model, rebuilding trust after discovering a spouse's hidden debt, choosing a simple life over chasing an empire, and whether to confess a long-hidden pornography addiction.  Throughout the episode, they explore integrity, personal responsibility, and what it truly means to live as "the man in the arena"—making difficult choices that lead to lasting character and stronger relationships. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 01:40 - Hope Is What Makes America Great 13:31 - Fatherhood Without a Blueprint 22:32 - Your Wife's Secret Credit Card: Rebuilding Trust 34:09 - Is It Wrong to Want a Quiet Life? 39:02 - Should You Confess a Hidden Porn Addiction? 51:07 - Final Thoughts & Iron Council   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

There's a war being waged on masculinity and femininity, and it's not an accident. Men are being told their strength is toxic. Women are being told their softness is weakness. The result is a generation of frustrated men, disenfranchised sons, and homes with no anchor. Today's guest calls it what it is: a deliberate weaponization of the sexes against each other, and it starts in the home. Jake Woodard joins me to break down the difference between masculinity and manliness, why cities are quietly stripping men of their edge, and what it actually looks like to raise a son into a man. We get into red flags and green flags for both sexes, what it means to be a "masculine shield" for the woman in your life, and why "strong spine, soft heart" might be the most important phrase you hear all year. If you're a man trying to lead your home, or a woman wondering how to inspire the man in yours, this one's for both of you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Masculinity Under Attack 03:53 Can Single Mothers Raise Masculine Boys? 07:48 The Masculine Shield Women Build 13:09 Taking Responsibility Instead of Blame 15:05 Why Nice Guys Lose Attraction 17:32 Leadership During Uncertainty 23:43 The Problem With Red Pill Influencers 27:57 Why Fatherhood Is the Greatest Success 30:10 Healing Childhood Trauma Through Accountability 36:18 Does Change Require Rock Bottom? 39:51 Masculinity vs. Manliness 44:53 Green Flags Every Man Should Develop 48:38 What Women Should Look For In A Man 51:17 The Power of Tenderness in Marriage 54:19 A Man Provides. A Woman Multiplies. 56:08 Women Are Amplifiers 58:00 Your Partner Reflects Your Leadership 01:00:37 Building a Home Instead of Just a House 01:02:13 Why Women Stop Trusting Men to Lead   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

As we approach the historic 250th anniversary of America's founding, Ryan Michler delivers a stark, counter-cultural challenge to modern men. We live in a society hyper-focused on immediate gratification, digital clout, and instant feedback loops. But true legacy requires a longer horizon. By examining the immense, unglamorous sacrifices of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, Ryan maps out the blueprint for moving past temporary, ego-driven personal empires toward lasting institutions. Discover four actionable strategies to practice delayed returns, extend your time horizon, and aggressively plant the generational trees whose shade you may never personally sit under.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 00:26 - The 250th Anniversary of America's Founding 01:00 - The Sweltering Reality of Philadelphia, 1776 02:30 - What the Founders Never Lived to See Complete 03:50 - The Ancient Wisdom of Planting Trees for Future Shade 04:21 - Breaking Free from Modern Immediate Gratification Loops 05:50 - John Adams and the True Cost of Generational Freedom 08:00 - Thomas Jefferson: Calculating Decades in the Dirt 10:00 - George Washington's Ultimate Power Move: Stepping Down 12:14 - The Strategy of Extending Your Time Horizon 14:30 - Building Lasting Institutions vs. Fleeting Personal Empires 21:31 - Why "Order of Man" is Not the Ryan Michler Show 24:11 - Tactical Discipline: Training Yourself for True Patience 26:36 - The Field Notes Challenge: Perform a Zero-Payoff Action 28:36 - Changing Your Stars and Redefining Your Family Trajectory     Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

In this week's Ask Me Anything, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle some of the toughest questions men face today. They discuss whether purpose is something you discover or build, how to find closure after losing a parent, and what it takes to save a struggling marriage before it's too late. They also talk about accountability between friends, rebuilding your life after alcohol, returning to faith, and introducing your children to difficult experiences like hunting without letting your own ego get in the way. Plus, they kick things off with a spirited debate about when, if ever, violence is justified in defense of your family.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Welcome & Recent Iron Council Conversations 03:07 - Is Violence Ever a Wholesome Activity? 14:38 - Grieving an Unfinished Relationship with Your Father 25:08 - Finding Purpose When You Feel Stuck 34:06 - Can a Marriage Be Saved Before It's Too Late? 41:03 - Rebuilding Friendships After Getting Sober 44:54 - Holding Friends Accountable Without Becoming Judgmental 51:26 - Returning to Faith or Just Seeking Structure? 57:29 - Teaching Your Son to Hunt Without Letting Ego Get in the Way Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Most men think preparedness is a bunker full of gear and ammo. My guest today, Mike Glover, knows better. A Green Beret, former CIA contractor, and founder of Fieldcraft Survival has spent his life teaching men that real readiness is a mindset before it's a skillset and that the hardest terrain you'll ever navigate isn't in the wilderness, it's the purgatory of your own worst chapter. In this conversation, Mike opens up about hardship, redemption, and what it took to pick himself up when the ground gave way beneath him. We get into why men today aren't weak so much as broken down, physically, hormonally, and spiritually. And, we talk about what it takes to rebuild. We talk about purpose and identity, the difference between the people who scatter and the people who'll always have your back, and why being targeted only sharpened his clarity about who he is and what he's built. This is a raw, unflinching look at accountability, manhood, and the courage to say what needs to be said. Mike doesn't hedge, and neither do we. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Mike's public redemption story 02:23 - Why men think about giving up 05:08 - Is fatherhood enough of a purpose? 07:29 - Rendering yourself obsolete as a father 09:42 - Why mortality gives life meaning 12:35 - Surviving public controversy 15:37 - Why people judge what they don't understand 18:02 - Avoiding bitterness after betrayal 19:23 - The "Three Rows at Your Funeral" lesson 22:42 - Whose criticism actually matters 24:08 - Why criticism often reveals your own insecurities 28:36 - Stress, preparedness, and real-world emergencies 32:12 - American Contingency and government scrutiny 37:00 - The danger of putting influencers on pedestals 39:10 - Tribalism and following the crowd 40:26 - Why not everyone becomes a leader 43:08 - Natural selection and modern society 45:52 - Government investigations and censorship 51:16 - Why prepared citizens matter 55:20 - The Second Amendment and balance of power 58:41 - Why conservatives need to become more vocal 01:00:58 - Rebuilding Fieldcraft Survival 01:03:22 - Mike's mission moving forward   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Most men carry a wound they rarely talk about—and it often begins with their relationship with their father. Whether your dad was absent, emotionally unavailable, overly critical, or simply unable to give you what you needed, that experience can quietly shape your identity, relationships, ambition, anger, and even the way you parent your own children. In this episode, Ryan shares his own story of growing up without a present father and explores how the "father wound" influences countless men long into adulthood. More importantly, he explains why understanding the wound isn't about making excuses—it's about taking responsibility, breaking generational cycles, and becoming the man your children need. If you've ever found yourself chasing approval, struggling to feel "enough," or determined not to repeat your father's mistakes, this conversation is for you.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 The Father Wound Most Men Never Discuss 02:36 Growing Up Without a Present Father 04:52 The Hidden Cost of Father Absence 06:40 What the Father Wound Really Is 08:54 How the Wound Shows Up in Adult Men 13:21 Understanding Isn't the Same as Blaming 14:45 Grieve It—Don't Bury It 15:52 Becoming Your Own Father 18:43 Stop Waiting for His Approval 21:02 Breaking the Generational Cycle 22:30 Forgiveness Is Not the Finish Line 24:41 Build Your Band of Brothers (Iron Council) 26:06 Final Thoughts   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

the role of sports, politics, masculinity, and national pride. They then tackle listener questions on building meaningful male friendships later in life, reigniting a flat marriage, overcoming destructive habits, breaking generational patterns in fatherhood, exploring faith beyond traditional religious texts, and preparing mentally for a first archery elk hunt. Along the way, Ryan shares personal lessons from his divorce and recovery journey while both hosts offer practical guidance on leadership, relationships, personal growth, and becoming a stronger man. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Father's Day Reflections 03:50 UFC at the White House: Wholesome or Not? 11:03 Building Male Friendships After 30 21:45 Marriage Feels Flat: Where Do You Start? 31:39 Ryan on Divorce, Drinking & Real Change 39:16 Breaking Generational Patterns in Fatherhood 48:34 Faith Beyond the Traditional Canon 55:58 Mental Preparation for First Elk Hunt 59:29 Listener Feedback, Social Media & Closing Thoughts   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Every day, men are dying. Not in some abstract, far-off statistic, but in your town, in your circles, maybe in your own family. They're isolated, disconnected, and being told the very things that make them men are the things that need to be fixed. Meanwhile, the culture cheers on the idea that hating men is a sign of strength, the family courts treat fathers as optional, and any space built exclusively for men gets torn down before it can do any good. Somewhere along the way, we decided men were the problem. My guest today says that's a lie, and he's got the platform to prove it. George from The TinMen joins me to talk about why men are checking out, dropping out of therapy, and ending their own lives at staggering rates, and what it actually takes to turn that around. This isn't about coddling men or excusing them. It's about telling the truth: men aren't broken, the system around them is. We get into male friendship, the war on masculinity, the family court system, and why "man up" might be the worst advice we ever gave. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Welcome to The Tin Men & Men's Emotional Expression 03:09 Are Men Talking—Or Are We Failing to Listen? 05:17 Why Therapy Isn't Working for Many Men 07:45 The Power of Shoulder-to-Shoulder Conversations 08:29 Grief, Brotherhood & Opening Up 11:02 Normal Responses to Difficult Experiences 14:00 Men as Individuals, Not Categories 16:53 When Talking Alone Isn't Enough 21:59 Why Society Pushes Back on Men's Issues 24:18 Boys, Education & Cultural Messaging 28:33 Building Better Men in Everyday Life 34:18 Health, Education & Structural Change 38:43 How Boys Learn Differently 43:36 Misunderstanding Boys' Behavior 46:15 Grassroots Solutions vs Government Solutions 48:24 Why Men Need Male Spaces 52:04 The Loss of Men-Only Communities 54:47 Brotherhood, Belonging & Better Outcomes 59:28 Final Thoughts & Where to Find The Tin Men   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Most men never receive training for fatherhood - but that doesn't make the role any less important. In this week's Friday Field Notes, Ryan shares 7 strategies to become a better father and explains why your presence, discipline, standards, and personal growth matter more than you think. Your kids are watching how you lead, how you respond to adversity, and how you show up every day. Whether your children are young, grown, or somewhere in between, these principles will help you become the father they remember and respect. This isn't about perfection. It's about intentional fatherhood. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Why Fatherhood Matters 02:58 Be Present, Not Just Around 04:50 Model the Man You Want Them to Become 07:09 Discipline Without Losing the Relationship 10:28 Let Your Kids Struggle 13:28 Tell Them Who They Are 17:56 Build Something Together 19:48 Father From a Full Tank 28:55 Iron Council & Final Challenge 29:36 Final Father's Day Message & Outro   If one of these principles hits home, choose one and apply it this weekend. Join Iron Council: https://orderofman.com/ironcouncil   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Ryan and Kipp open with a conversation about building, creating, and the satisfaction that comes from seeing your work in the world before diving into another Ask Me Anything. This week, they tackle questions on approval seeking, self-development investments, measuring progress, unpopular opinions, intuition, instant gratification, rebuilding after divorce, and designing an intentional reset year. They also discuss why progress often feels invisible, how to involve family in personal goals, and why growth requires structure instead of endless information gathering. If you're trying to become more intentional and build a life with purpose, this episode delivers a practical perspective. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Intro & catching up 06:48 - Approval seeking vs being likable 20:10 - Investing in self-development 24:30 - Measuring personal growth 26:42 - Unpopular opinions 35:49 - Escaping instant gratification 39:30 - Taking an adult gap year 45:53 - Showing progress to others 53:00 - Getting spouse buy-in for big goals 01:07:00 - Why systems beat information 01:09:30 - Wrap up   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

We've never been more connected, and we've never been more alone. Men have endless ways to reach each other and almost no reason they'll actually use them. We don't reach out. We don't check in. We won't pay another man a compliment without slapping "no homo" on the end of it to make sure nobody mistakes us for caring. And somewhere along the way, we decided that the first flowers a man receives should arrive at his funeral. This week, AJ Kazmierczak joins the show to tear that pattern apart. We get into why connection is the single most valuable skill a man can build, how to develop it on purpose, and why most guys would rather avoid the discomfort of self-auditing than face what's actually holding them back. We talk accountability, discernment, evolving without losing yourself, and what it really costs to be the kind of man other men want in their corner.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 01:30 - Reconnecting After Montana Knife Company 05:20 - Why Men Are More Connected Yet More Isolated 08:00 - The Lost Art of Complimenting Other Men 12:57 - Building Relationships Through Small Conversations 16:24 - Accountability and Encouragement in Unexpected Places 21:16 - Why Communication Skills Matter More Than Credentials 24:47 - Whose Opinions Should Actually Matter 31:21 - Creating an Identity Instead of Fitting In 35:49 - Authenticity, Attention, and Standing Out 38:36 - Evolving Without Losing Yourself 42:55 - Why Honest Feedback Is So Rare 45:09 - Self-Auditing and Becoming More Self-Aware 49:08 - Fast Decision Makers vs Overthinkers 51:59 - The Problem With Being the "Nice Guy" 54:14 - Technical Reset + Bringing It Home 55:12 - Redefining What It Means to Be Alpha 57:36 - Family, Purpose, and Building a Meaningful Life 01:00:18 - Connection, Conversation, and Community 01:01:12 - Winter Strong, Sorenex, and Future Plans 01:02:59 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Modern culture often treats masculinity as something dangerous that needs to be suppressed, softened, or apologized for. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler challenges that narrative and draws a critical distinction between masculinity and manliness. Masculinity, Ryan argues, is the raw, God-given force within men - the drive to compete, build, protect, lead, and conquer. It is neither good nor bad on its own. Manliness, however, is what happens when that force is refined, disciplined, governed by principle, and directed toward a righteous purpose. Ryan outlines five practical ways to forge masculinity into manliness: attaching your strength to a mission, submitting yourself to discipline, living by a code, serving others, and embracing voluntary hardship. He explains why purpose, responsibility, and self-mastery are essential for becoming the man you're meant to be. If you've ever wrestled with what it means to be a strong man in today's world, this episode offers a framework for harnessing your natural gifts and turning them into something valuable for yourself, your family, and your community. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 00:07 The Lie We've Been Told About Masculinity 02:32 Masculinity vs. Manliness 04:58 Why "Toxic Masculinity" Gets It Wrong 07:17 Responsibility Over Shame 09:14 Choosing Who You Become 11:22 1. Attach Your Masculinity to a Mission 15:47 2. Submit Your Masculinity to Discipline 19:11 3. Govern Masculinity with Principles 23:08 4. Aim Your Strength in Service of Others 25:27 5. Embrace Voluntary Difficulty 28:46 Happiness vs. Fulfillment 30:18 Why Men Are Not the Problem 32:09 Becoming a Man in Command of Himself 33:13 Iron Council Invitation 34:02 Final Thoughts Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

Two hosts, five powerful listener questions, and a conversation that moves from comparison and fatherhood to relationships, self-awareness, and personal growth. Ryan and Kipp open with a quick catch-up before diving into questions from listeners on feeling behind in life, protecting children from cultural influence, rebuilding relationships with adult children, navigating difficult conversations with a spouse, and developing greater self-awareness. Along the way they discuss intentional parenting, accountability, ownership, communication, and why the quality of your questions often determines the quality of your life.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Intro & Hawaii recap 08:29 Comparison and feeling behind 21:00 Protecting your kids from culture 31:35 Rebuilding relationships with adult children 40:09 Talking to your spouse about difficult issues 51:19 Building self-awareness 01:08:59 Men's Forge event announcement 01:11:12 Outro Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Every man carries forces that pull against each other. It could be the urge to numb out and the call to face it, the inheritance of his father's failures and the responsibility to break the chain. For Michael Millin, those opposing forces weren't a metaphor. They were the difference between a life lost to addiction and the 17 years of sobriety he's built since hitting bottom with his back against the wall. Today, Michael and I talk about generational trauma, the instability of growing up with a father who came in and out of his life, and what it actually takes to stop running from the pain you've spent your whole life numbing. This is a raw conversation about alcoholism, faith, and the lie that we have to wrap our identity up in being broken. Michael shares how he went from mocking Christianity to wrestling honestly with God, how a single sober friend changed the trajectory of his life, and why enablers do more damage than they'll ever admit. If you've ever told yourself you weren't okay, this one is for you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 01:04 - Fatherhood, addiction, and absent fathers 04:06 - Growing up with addiction and instability 05:33 - Ryan's recovery experience and AA discussion 06:28 - Watching a father relapse after 15 years sober 09:24 - Rock bottom, poverty, and getting sober 13:39 - What rock bottom actually looked like 16:03 - Recovery, Indonesia, and spiritual searching 17:18 - Christianity, marriage, and life transformation 20:29 - Finding an outlet and building a meaningful life 21:51 - Addiction, purpose, and destructive patterns 23:37 - Fatherhood and defining a personal mission 26:49 - Turning childhood pain into purpose 28:50 - Faith, doubt, and searching for God 32:43 - Generational cycles and breaking family patterns 35:56 - Accepting hard truths and personal responsibility 39:50 - Addiction, identity, and becoming okay internally 41:50 - Family trauma and inherited suffering 44:20 - Native American heritage and generational impact 50:30 - Spiritual warfare and healing 51:16 - The story behind A Life of Opposing Forces 53:20 - Surfing, sharks, and feeling alive 59:16 - Lessons from being new on the journey 01:00:10 - Relationships, faith, and changing direction 01:01:55 - Where to connect with Michael   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Masculinity isn't inherently good or bad - it's a force. Like fire, it can be used to build or destroy. The real question isn't whether masculinity is the problem; it's whether a man has learned to direct it with discipline, character, and purpose. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explores the critical distinction between masculinity and manliness, then breaks down five immature archetypes that keep men from reaching their full potential. From the Man Child to the Jester, Ryan explains how these patterns show up in everyday life and what it takes to move beyond them. If you're willing to take an honest look in the mirror, this episode may reveal exactly where you need to grow.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Intro 00:17 Masculinity Is Not Inherently Good or Bad 02:26 Masculinity vs. Manliness 04:33 Being Good vs. Being Good at Being a Man 05:44 Manliness Requires Virtuous Direction 06:40 The Meaning of Arete 08:29 Masculinity Without Refinement 09:27 Archetype #1: The Man Child 15:31 Archetype #2: The Ghost 21:27 Archetype #3: The Tyrant 25:36 Archetype #4: The Martyr 30:49 Archetype #5: The Jester 34:45 Which Archetype Are You? 36:45 Iron Council Preview Invitation 38:05 Final Thoughts and Challenge   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

In this solo Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler tackles some of the most common challenges men face in midlife: complacency after success, leading a family without becoming controlling, overcoming conflict avoidance, dealing with regret, and building meaningful male friendships. Ryan shares practical frameworks for finding purpose after you've achieved your goals, developing conviction without coercion, stepping into leadership at home, and letting go of past mistakes through accountability and changed behavior. He also offers candid advice on creating deeper connections with other men and why meaningful struggles are essential for growth and fulfillment.  SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:12 - Introduction and Iron Council Preview Call 01:20 - Staying Sharp After Success and Comfort 07:09 - Passing Faith to a Teenage Son Without Control 12:32 - The Midlife Emptiness Many Men Experience 15:28 - Overcoming Conflict Avoidance and People-Pleasing 30:50 - Leading Your Family Without a Power Grab 44:18 - How to Deal with Real Regret and Move Forward 55:32 - Why Men Struggle to Build Deep Friendships 01:05:30 - Where to Find Strong Male Relationships 01:06:55 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Most men are surrounded by people and completely alone. They've got coworkers, neighbors, guys from high school they still text but nobody who will tell them the truth, call them forward, or sit with them when things go sideways. That's not friendship. That's just proximity. And the difference between those two things might be the most important gap a man can close in his life. Today I'm sitting down with Jimmy Rex, founder of We Are The They, author of BE ONE, and one of the most intentional men I know when it comes to building real brotherhood. We get into where men actually find high-caliber friends, how to tell the difference between a true friend and a liability, the masculine dynamics that make marriages and relationships work, and why most guys are betraying themselves long before anyone else gets the chance. This is a conversation that will change the way you think about the men in your life - and the ones who should be there but aren't. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Podcast Introduction and Montana Knife Company Gift Shifting Trip Plans to Montana and Wild Bear Sightings Connecting with Nature and Managing Phone Screen Time High School Pranks and Getting Arrested at a Church Event Exploring Masculine Softness, Vulnerability, and Leadership Tiptoeing into Asshole Territory to Set Healthy Boundaries The Qualifications of Church Leaders and Dating Advice Pitfalls Communication Languages and Understanding The Queen's Code The Role of a Coach and Pushing Boundaries in Sports Taking Action and Establishing Clear Boundaries in Marriage Prioritizing Women's Safety and the True Purpose of Men's Groups Critiques of Modern Vulnerability and the Value of Having a Plan Accountability Through Combat Sports and Jiu-Jitsu Overcoming the Ego and Inviting Friends to Highlight Blind Spots Two Critical Questions for Evaluating Received Feedback Colin Cowherd's Philosophy and Navigating Family Conflict Handling Social Media Group Misunderstandings and the Grace of Repair The Importance of a Sparring Partner and Jiu-Jitsu with Pete Roberts Finding Your Band of Brothers and Letting Go of Unproductive Roommates Household Management and Adam Lane Smith's Household CEO Model Orion Tarabin's Captain and Passenger Relationship Concept Reconciling Navigational Promises and the Power of Pre-Selection Net Worth and Jimmy's Investment Board Role with Dave Bateman Changing Your Personal Environment and Matching Partner Standards Proximity vs true Investment and Jimmy's Real Estate Systems Evaluating Competence, Discernment, and Destructive Patterns in Circles Distancing Low-Performing High School Friends and Surviving a $150,000 Scam Golfing in Southern Utah and Embracing Imperfect Execution      Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Most men don't lose control of their lives overnight. It happens slowly - through comfort, approval-seeking, distraction, blame, and outsourcing identity to culture and other people. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the five most common ways men surrender their sovereignty and explains how to reclaim authority over your life, decisions, standards, and future. This conversation challenges men to stop living reactively and start becoming the primary author of their lives.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Most Powerful Version of Yourself 01:28 - What Sovereignty Really Means 04:46 - Men Are In a Battle 07:01 - Approval-Seeking 11:36 - Addiction to Comfort 15:12 - Digital Dependency 21:24 - Abdication of Responsibility 26:58 - Identity Outsourcing 31:15 - Reclaiming Your Sovereignty 34:29 - Final Challenge & Resources   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Kipp and Jay tackle some of the toughest and most meaningful questions from the Iron Council community in this week's Ask Me Anything episode. They discuss emergency preparedness, victim mentality, ownership, leadership, family mission alignment, and how to navigate unresolved tension in relationships. The conversation also dives into finding purpose in difficult jobs and managing rage when justice feels out of reach. Along the way, they share practical leadership insights, powerful mindset shifts, and personal stories about family, service, and growth. This episode is packed with grounded advice for men trying to lead themselves and others more effectively. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00:00 - Pre-show conversation and traditions 00:12:52 - Emergency preparedness and taking action 00:22:00 - Ownership vs victim mentality 00:35:20 - Why After Action Reviews matter 00:45:05 - Pursuing a bigger family mission 00:57:20 - Do masculine principles apply to women? 01:03:15 - Handling rage when justice fails 01:15:20 - Resolving lingering tension in marriage 01:26:20 - Finding purpose in a job you hate 01:33:45 - Closing thoughts and sign-off   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

In this episode, Ryan Michler explores the ancient concept known as the "Ulysses Pact" and explains how it can help modern men build discipline, avoid self-sabotage, and stay committed under pressure. Drawing from Homer's Odyssey, Ryan breaks down why willpower alone often fails and how intentional systems, accountability, and pre-commitment strategies create lasting change.   Through practical examples involving finances, alcohol, work-life balance, and relationships, he shows how men can protect themselves from moments of weakness before temptation ever arrives. Ryan also shares the importance of brotherhood, structure, and personal responsibility in becoming the man one is meant to be. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Why Men Break Promises to Themselves 01:56 - The Story of Odysseus and the Sirens 04:15 - The Nature of Temptation and Self-Sabotage 06:06 - Why Willpower Is Not Enough 08:23 - Understanding the Ulysses Pact 10:38 - How Stress Destroys Rational Decision-Making 12:47 - Financial Discipline Through Pre-Commitment 16:03 - Alcohol, Accountability, and Better Decisions 18:10 - The Workaholic Trap and Family Presence 20:10 - Managing Conflict and Emotional Reactions 22:30 - Five Principles of the Ulysses Pact 23:39 - Building Friction Into Bad Habits 25:00 - Why Accountability Is Essential 26:00 - The Power of Specific Commitments 27:00 - Respecting Your Future Self 29:05 - Ryan's Challenge to Build Your Own Pact 30:26 - Brotherhood, Iron Council, and Final Thoughts   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

What if the sacrifices you make aren't actually about service... but identity? In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the dangerous trap many men fall into: building their entire identity around suffering, responsibility, and sacrifice. Drawing from philosophy, psychology, and personal experience, Ryan explores how men unconsciously become martyrs - believing their worth is tied to how much pain they can endure. From Carl Jung's concept of the persona and shadow, to Stoic philosophy and Sartre's idea of "bad faith," this episode challenges men to ask a difficult question: Are you sacrificing for something... or sacrificing as something?   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Question That Changed Everything 01:05 - Becoming "The Responsible One" 03:35 - The Persona Men Build 05:35 - When Suffering Becomes Identity 06:45 - The Trap of Proving Your Worth 07:20 - Sartre and "Bad Faith" 09:20 - The Mindset of the Martyr 10:40 - Stoicism and Virtuous Suffering 12:15 - Why Men Perform Sacrifice 13:20 - Carl Jung and the Shadow 15:15 - The Hidden Patterns of Martyrdom 16:00 - Keeping Score in Relationships 17:10 - Why Martyrs Refuse Help 18:50 - Resentment Disguised as Dedication 21:05 - "I Had No Choice" 22:15 - Why Nobody Loves a Martyr 24:05 - Martyrdom vs Purpose 25:05 - The Story Your Kids Learn From You 26:15 - Losing Yourself in Responsibility 27:30 - How to Break the Pattern 28:00 - Name the Performance 28:50 - Reclaim Your Sovereignty 29:55 - The Boy Still Carrying the Weight 31:20 - Conscious vs Compulsive Sacrifice 32:10 - Building Identity Beyond Suffering 33:20 - A Man Who Knows Who He Is 34:35 - The Epictetus Quote 35:20 - Learning to Put the Weight Down 36:10 - Suffering With Purpose 37:00 - Final Thoughts on Martyrdom 37:45 - Share This With Another Man Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready