Order of Man

In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler reflects on the public rise and fall of actor Shia LaBeouf to explore a deeper issue affecting men everywhere: isolation. While fame and success may amplify a man's strengths and weaknesses, they cannot stabilize him. Ryan argues that the real danger is not failure, but a lack of brotherhood and accountability. Through personal insight and hard-earned experience, he challenges men to build strong systems and surround themselves with brothers who will confront, support, and walk with them - especially when life begins to unravel. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Rise and Fall of Shia LaBeouf 04:36 - Success Amplifies, It Doesn't Stabilize 07:15 - No TMZ in Your Living Room 09:36 - Untouchable Men Become Unstable 12:05 - What Real Brotherhood Does 16:25 - Systems Over Willpower 18:51 - Fame Didn't Destroy Him 20:09 - Who Can Confront You? 21:02 - Submit to Accountability 22:48 - A Call to Build the 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

In this week's Ask Me Anything, Ryan and Kipp dive deep into ancestry, fatherhood, marriage, leadership, depression, and raising strong young men in a modern world. From guiding your kids with better standards, to rebuilding intimacy in marriage, to understanding what real vulnerability looks like, this episode is packed with practical wisdom. They also discuss how men often become their own biggest obstacle - and what to do about it. Plus, a conversation about movies that shape boys into men. If you're navigating fatherhood, marriage, or personal growth, this one hits home. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Ironman Training & Weekend Plans 09:05 - Family Ancestry & Legacy 15:51 - Raising Kids with Higher Standards 25:03 - What Women Mean by "Vulnerability" 28:47 - Are Movies a Good Way to Teach Boys? 40:35 - Marriage Struggles & Depression 53:02 - The Power of 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

There are things that happened to you that weren't your fault. Maybe your dad wasn't there. Maybe no one modeled strength, discipline, or direction. Maybe you were handed confusion instead of clarity and drift instead of standards. But while it may not have been your fault, it is your responsibility. And the moment you understand that is the moment your life begins to change. Today, my guest Frank Schwartz (Dark Helmet in the F3 Community, and I talk about what it means to stop blaming, stop guessing, and start leading. We'll unpack why so many men feel disconnected from purpose, how to build direction through fitness, fellowship, and faith, and why your community needs you to set the standard - not apologize for it. This isn't about shame. It's about ownership. And ownership is where power begins. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Time Passing & Becoming Grandfathers 01:32 - 100,000 Men & What They're Really Struggling With 02:39 - The Crisis of Purpose in Modern Men 05:01 - Why Brotherhood Changes Everything 06:21 - Leadership Without Pretending You Have It All Figured Out 09:59 - "It's Your Dad's Fault… Now It's Your Responsibility." 11:12 - Fitness as the Tool for Fellowship 14:16 - The Standard: Why Men Must Assimilate, Not Soften It 18:18 - Nice vs. Kind: The Truth About Real Love 20:23 - Candor: Telling Hard Truths & Demanding Them Back 23:58 - Nothing Gets Better Until Men Get Better 38:03 - A Battle to Fight: Turning Pain into Purpose 41:52 - Becoming a Higher Agency Man 44:44 - Changing Your Thinking & Building Momentum 47:47 - From "Can't Do" to "Can't Not Do" 49:31 - The Return to Virtuous Masculinity 52:24 - Why Men Need Tribe, Not Just Information 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, Ryan dives into five common phrases women say that often don't match what they actually mean. This isn't about deception or manipulation - it's about understanding human nature, attraction dynamics, emotional safety, and relationship leadership. If men build relationships on what's said instead of what's actually happening beneath the surface, they risk frustration, confusion, and disconnection. Ryan breaks down: - Why "I'm fine" rarely means fine - The truth behind "He's just a friend" - Why women don't actually want a "nice guy" - The myth of the "dad bod" preference - What's really behind "I don't need a man" The goal? Stronger relationships, better discernment, and healthier dynamics between men and women. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Why This Conversation Matters 01:00 - Lie #1: "I'm Fine" 05:10 - Lie #2: "He's Just a Friend" 09:58 - Lie #3: "I Want a Nice Guy" 14:39 - Lie #4: "I Like Dad Bods" 17:55 - Lie #5: "I Don't Need a Man" 23:37 - What This Is Really About 25:05 - The Men's Forge Event 26:02 - Final Thoughts & 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

In this week's Ask Me Anything, Ryan and Kipp dive into powerful listener questions from the Iron Council and Facebook group. They break down the difference between chasing and pursuing, how to handle employee resentment after promotions, and how childhood beliefs silently shape the man you become. The conversation moves into leading through chaos, navigating marital strain, protecting yourself during divorce, and the real risks and opportunities of AI. Raw, unfiltered, and highly practical - this episode is packed with leadership wisdom for men navigating business, marriage, and modern life. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 02:45 Chasing vs. Pursuing 07:42 Handling Employee Raise Fallout 22:13 Childhood Beliefs That Shape You 32:17 Leading Through Setbacks 41:17 When Is Enough Enough in Marriage? 45:45 The Truth About AI Risks & Leverage 01:06:06 Divorce Strategy & Legal Advice 01:09:17 The Last Time We Laughed Hard 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're living in a digital battlefield and most men don't even know they're fighting. The time we spend on our devices is unreal, and if it's free, you're the product. Algorithms and machine learning are engineered to hijack your attention, erode focus, and create compulsive habits. Today we're talking about auditing your digital life, removing the noise to find the signal, and building the discipline to guard your mind in an age of constant distraction. Joining me is Richard Ryan, author of The Warrior's Garden, built on the principle that it's better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war. We discuss digital detox, delayed gratification, accountability, and reclaiming the smallest locus of control so you can't be manipulated by the forces competing for your attention. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Recording Begins & Digital Reality Check 00:50 - The Attention Economy: You Are the Product 03:00 - Negativity Bias & Why Outrage Wins Online 07:00 - Screen Time Audit: The Lifetime Cost 10:00 - Subscription Culture & Hidden Digital Leakage 12:30 - AI & Cognitive Atrophy: Guarding Your Mind 14:00 - Digital Detox & Withdrawal Symptoms 16:00 - The "Dead Internet" Theory 20:45 - Expediency & The Death of Delayed Gratification 22:30 - The Marshmallow Study & Impulse Control 28:00 - Compulsive App Use & "First Pickups" 31:00 - Addiction Substitution & Dopamine Traps 36:00 - Accountability & Why 95% Succeed With It 38:00 - Gratitude as Mental Armor 41:30 - Optimism, Awareness & Opportunity 49:00 - Incentives Drive Outcomes (Politics & Power) 55:00 - Personal Responsibility Over Group Dependency 58:00 - True Diversity: Strength Through Capability 1:02:30 - Warriors Garden & 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 have lost initiation. There was a time when boys were tested before becoming men. They faced hardship. They endured pain. They returned changed - recognized as men. Today, that process is gone. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down: If you feel stuck, drifting, or chasing validation - this episode is for you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Men Have Lost Initiation 00:26 When Boys Knew They Became Men 02:50 The Cost of Extended Adolescence 05:10 Comfort Culture Is Weakening Men 07:25 "Where Have All the Real Men Gone?" 08:05 The Three Elements of Initiation 08:30 Removed From Comfort 09:24 The Benefit of Pain 11:15 The Trial: Facing Fear 12:56 Recognition and Acknowledgment 14:49 Drifting, Chasing, and the Integrity Gap 16:35 Nobody Is Coming to Initiate You 17:14 Voluntary Hardship 18:45 What Initiation Looks Like Today 19:45 Brotherhood Is Modern Initiation 20:51 The World Needs Grounded Men 21:15 Questions Every Man Must Ask Himself 22:21 Do Something Difficult This Week 23:47 Steadiness Over Loudness 24:35 Choose the Fire 25:00 Join the Iron Council 25:20 The Men's Forge Event 26:00 Final 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 Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen answer powerful questions from the Iron Council on leadership, fatherhood, faith, discipline, and personal responsibility. They explore how to eliminate noise and live an integrated life, coach teenage boys through cultural conflict, raise resilient children, and avoid bureaucratic leadership traps. The conversation also confronts modern church culture, challenges the pursuit of comfort over growth, and defines what it truly means to be present as a father - even when work demands time away. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 03:50 - Signal vs Noise and Life Integration 14:27 - Coaching Teens Through Cultural Conflict 22:52 - Leadership Systems vs Human Judgment 34:41 - Faith, Masculinity, and the Modern Church 47:29 - Helping Kids Find Their Passion 52:31 - Defining Presence as a Working Father 56:19 - Men's Forge Event 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 wide ranging conversation, Ian Wendt and Ryan Mickler sit down to talk about the evolution of podcasting, the mission behind Order of Man, and what it actually means to lead yourself and your family well. We get into the cultural confusion around masculinity, why so many men feel lost, and how responsibility, discipline, and standards are the antidote. Ryan shares how his own journey shaped his philosophy on leadership, marriage, fatherhood, and business. We unpack the tension between ambition and presence at home, the importance of brotherhood, and the cost of drifting through life without a clear code. This is not theory. It is practical, hard earned perspective on becoming a capable man in a world that constantly pulls you off track. If you care about growth, ownership, and raising the bar in every domain of your life, this one will challenge you in the right way. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00:00 - The Evolution of Podcasting 00:13:36 - Ryan's Origin Story and Order of Man 00:29:03 - The State of Masculinity Today 00:44:18 - Leadership, Standards, and Responsibility 00:59:03 - Marriage, Fatherhood, and Presence 01:14:32 - Building Brotherhood and Community 01:29:01 - Discipline, Business, and Personal Code 01:44:07 - Final Advice for Men Who Want More 01:58:34 - 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 believe confidence comes after certainty - once they make more money, gain more experience, or eliminate risk. In this Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler challenges that belief and explains why clarity, not certainty, is the real source of confidence. Ryan breaks down how ambiguity quietly drains a man's energy, why indecision exhausts the nervous system, and how avoiding clarity eventually leads to resentment, broken relationships, and missed opportunities. He also explains why most men don't lack clarity - they lack the courage to act on what they already know. This episode is a call to action: stop negotiating with clarity, make decisions, and move forward calmly, deliberately, and decisively. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Confidence vs Certainty 00:38 - Why Ambiguity Drains Men 02:32 - How Indecision Exhausts Your Energy 04:34 - Clarity Calms the Nervous System 05:45 - Confidence Is Calm, Not Loud 06:30 - Why Men Avoid Clarity 08:08 - Clarity Requires Courage 10:16 - "Patience" as Avoidance 12:19 - What You Avoid Will Confront You 14:00 - Clarity Is Respect, Not Aggression 15:52 - The One Question You Must Ask Yourself 17:02 - One Decision Can Change Everything 19:07 - Confidence Comes After Decision 21:22 - Final Challenge to Get Clear 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 tackle real-world questions from men across the globe. They discuss staying on the path after divorce, resisting the urge to chase new systems, and why consistency matters more than quick results. The conversation dives into parenting sons and daughters, raising boys through real-world apprenticeship, navigating estranged relationships with adult children, and how emotional regulation shapes leadership and influence. From fitness and fatherhood to boundaries, patience, and embodiment, this episode offers grounded wisdom for men committed to growth. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Weekend banter and life updates 03:35 - Systems after divorce and consistency 14:12 - Predictions, expectations, and relationships 21:26 - Taking young children into the outdoors 29:29 - Connecting with daughters as a father 35:55 - Teaching young men leadership and decisions 42:46 - Estrangement from children and self-leadership 51:48 - Men's Forge event announcement and CTA 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 does it mean to truly protect something you love? And, what are you willing to sacrifice to do it? Today's guest has gone farther into the wild than most people ever will, not for thrill or ego, but to defend one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. From the depths of the Amazon rainforest to the front lines of conservation, this is a conversation about courage, responsibility, and confronting fear head-on. My guest today is Paul Rosolie, a renowned explorer, conservationist, and storyteller whose life's work is rooted in protecting the Amazon and the creatures that inhabit it. We talk about what the jungle teaches you about yourself, the modern war on nature, and his powerful new book, Junglekeeper, which challenges us to stop outsourcing responsibility and start defending what matters, personally and globally. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction 01:15 - Encounter With an Uncontacted Amazon Tribe 04:10 - The Amazon Rubber Boom and Tribal Genocide 06:45 - Protecting the Last Wild Places 08:20 - Life Before Civilization 10:00 - Romanticizing Primitive Life vs Reality 12:35 - Modern Man's Disconnection From Nature 15:35 - Why the Wild Shapes Strong Men 18:45 - Artificial Fitness vs Real Work 20:25 - Is Saving the Amazon Even Possible? 23:45 - Hope, Despair, and Media Manipulation 26:00 - Overpopulation and Ecological Limits 29:00 - Letting Nature Regulate Itself 34:20 - Conservation vs Human Arrogance 37:05 - How Storytelling Saves Ecosystems 40:55 - Why Extreme Activism Backfires 43:45 - Hunters as Conservationists 46:50 - Dropping Out and Going All In 49:55 - Near-Death Encounters in the Wild 54:25 - From Adventurer to Protector 56:00 - Hope as a Weapon Against Despair 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

Healthy boundaries are essential - but most men don't know what they actually look like. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down eight practical boundaries every man must establish in his personal, professional, and romantic relationships to build respect, alignment, and long-term success. These boundaries aren't about control or ultimatums - they're about clarity, self-respect, and creating relationships that truly work. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Why Boundaries Matter 01:10 - Why Men Struggle with Boundaries 02:38 - Grace, Communication, and Relationships 03:05 - High Fences Make Great Neighbors 05:05 - Alignment in Healthy Relationships 06:15 - Boundary #1: Reciprocity 07:26 - Boundary #2: Initiation 08:50 - Boundary #3: Flow 10:55 - Boundary #4: Capacity 12:08 - Boundary #5: Self-Abandonment 14:45 - Boundary #6: Regulation 17:30 - Boundary #7: Exit Boundary 22:55 - Boundary #8: Potential 24:10 - Identifying Triggered Boundaries 26:05 - Communicating Boundaries Effectively 28:40 - Join Iron Council 30:05 - Final Thoughts & 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 Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan and Kipp tackle some of the most misunderstood challenges men face today. They break down how to establish clear and healthy boundaries - especially the role of reciprocity in relationships - and why unspoken expectations often lead to resentment. The conversation also explores the importance of physical touch between men and how appropriate, grounded connections build trust and brotherhood. Finally, they address jealousy, comparison, and social media, offering practical strategies for cultivating gratitude while still pursuing growth. This episode is a tactical, honest discussion on showing up as a grounded, intentional man in every area of life. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Opening 06:57 - UFC Commentary and Attention Spans 12:07 - Taking Ownership Around Authority Figures 19:42 - Carrot vs. Stick in Self-Discipline 26:20 - Physical Touch and Connection Between Men 31:47 - Choosing a Word or Theme for the Year 37:04 - Boundaries, Reciprocity, and Resentment 48:50 - Discipling and Mentoring Young Men 56:50 - Overcoming Jealousy and Social Comparison 01:03:51 - Raising Boys and Recommended 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

Most men don't realize how much of their anxiety, distraction, and frustration is tied to what they own—and what owns them. We live in a culture that constantly tells us to want more, buy more, and accumulate more, yet peace, clarity, and contentment feel further away than ever. Today's conversation is about pushing back against that noise and asking a harder, more honest question: When is enough, enough? My guest is Joshua Becker, author of Uncluttered Faith: Own Less, Love More, and Make an Impact in Your World. Joshua challenges the idea that minimalism is lifeless or empty and reframes it as an intentional act of stewardship, generosity, and purpose. We talk about consumerism, greed, anxiety, and the hidden cost of everything we own—and how living with less can actually free us to love people more deeply, live with greater clarity, and invest in what truly matters. This is a conversation about discipline, contentment, and creating a life that serves your mission—not your possessions. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Why Consumerism Fuels Misery 02:15 - The Inner Motivations Behind Overconsumption 04:49 - Selling With Integrity vs Manufacturing Need 07:10 - How Algorithms Shape Desire 11:44 - Purpose as the Filter for Consumption 14:42 - When Possessions Become a Burden 18:16 - Experimenting With Owning Less 21:13 - Reducing Phone Dependency 24:13 - The "Any Benefit" Mentality 28:01 - Wealth, Anxiety, and Possessions 32:20 - Wanting Less vs Earning More 34:06 - Money as a Magnifier 38:51 - What You Own Ends Up Owning You 44:17 - When Is Enough, Enough? 47:44 - Discovering You Have Enough Through Giving 51:59 - Generosity and Abundance 55:20 - Stewardship as the Antidote to Comparison 58:10 - Uncluttered Faith and the Hope Effect 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

Pain is part of life. Breakups, divorce, job loss, grief, frustration - every man faces suffering at some point. The difference between men who grow stronger and men who grow bitter isn't whether they suffer, but how they carry it. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explains what it really means to "suffer like a man." Not suppressing emotions. Not performing toughness. But learning how to metabolize pain into strength, discipline, clarity, and usefulness. Ryan shares five powerful principles that will help you stop wasting your suffering and start using it as fuel for growth, leadership, and resilience - in your work, your family, and your life. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Suffer Like a Man (Intro) 00:50 - Suffering Isn't the Problem 01:45 - Why Men Numb Pain 03:11 - When Suffering Makes You Bitter 04:56 - Stop Resisting Pain 06:10 - Name the Pain 06:58 - Contain It, Don't Leak It 07:23 - Explode or Implode 08:45 - Move Pain Through the Body 10:58 - Don't Waste Your Suffering 11:35 - Extract the Meaning 13:12 - Let Suffering Make You Useful 15:18 - Suffering Builds Strong Men 16:42 - Suffering Is Part of the System 18:05 - Final Charge to 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

In this Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle some of the most pressing questions facing modern men. From the pros and cons of testosterone replacement therapy to rites of passage for men who were never initiated, the conversation dives deep into masculinity, leadership, and responsibility. They explore how men can give advice with confidence, navigate today's confusing cultural signals around manhood, and prepare their sons for a challenging financial future. This episode is a powerful reminder that being a man is not a title - it's a daily commitment to action. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Opening & Current Events 04:55 - Testosterone & TRT 12:35 - Rites of Passage Into Manhood 22:45 - Giving Advice With Authority 33:20 - Masculinity, Adolescence & Maturity 42:30 - Preparing Sons for the Future 50:30 - Wrap-Up & 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

Today's conversation is a homecoming—back to the body, back to character, and back to what it means to be a man. My guest, Mark Walsh, challenges the modern habit of living entirely in our heads—cut off from sensation, boundaries, and responsibility. We talk embodiment not as fitness or aesthetics, but using physical training to develop character, emotional regulation, and presence. From Stoicism and shadow work to doing hard things on purpose, this episode is about reclaiming awareness, expanding range, and building the discipline required to choose better behavior. We also confront the cult of modernity: hyper-individualism, happiness culture, pleasure-seeking that produces pain, and the loss of religion, community, and moral formation. Mark makes the case that happiness is secondary to meaning and commitment and that true freedom is forged through discipline, not the absence of limits. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Opening & Introduction 02:31 - What Embodiment Really Means 05:44 - Objectification & Modern Culture 08:13 - The Four Disconnections 11:49 - How to Come Home to the Body 15:08 - Training Beyond Comfort Zones 18:15 - Freedom, Range, and Choice 22:27 - Culture, Tribe, and Identity 27:13 - Modernity as a Death Cult 31:00 - Structure, Religion, and Meaning 34:24 - Happiness vs Purpose 36:57 - Rock Bottom of Modern Society 41:44 - Family, Institutions, and Masculinity 46:10 - Get Offline and Live Fully 49:30 - Emotions, Stoicism, and Control 52:00 - War Zone Story & Masculine Instinct 55:14 - Practices for Becoming Human 56:46 - Where to Find Mark Walsh 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 today's episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler challenges one of modern self-help culture's most sacred ideas: vulnerability. While honesty, humility, and emotional awareness are essential to growth, Ryan makes the case that vulnerability - when practiced without discernment, responsibility, or purpose - often becomes performative, destabilizing, and counterproductive, especially for men in leadership roles. This episode is not an argument against emotion. It's an argument for self-mastery, containment, and earned honesty. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Intro 00:37 - Why Vulnerability Became a Sacred Cow 02:45 - Emotional Awareness vs Emotional Exposure 04:55 - Vulnerability Without Discernment = Emotional Exhibitionism 07:40 - Oversharing Shifts the Emotional Burden 09:50 - Why Emotional Dumping Kills Trust & Attraction 12:55 - Leadership Requires Stability, Not Collapse 14:40 - Transparency vs Discernment 16:30 - Honesty Is Not a Lack of Self-Mastery 17:40 - Regulation vs Repression 19:20 - Lessons from Stoic Men & Great Leaders 21:10 - Earned Vulnerability Explained 23:00 - Secure Containers, Not "Safe Spaces" 25:05 - Responsibility Over Emotional Relief 27:00 - What Men Actually Need More Of 28:20 - Vulnerability Is Not the Goal—Integrity Is 30:20 - Final Thoughts & 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 episode is being re-released in remembrance of Scott Adams, who has passed away on the 13th of January, 2026. This interview remains a meaningful reflection of his ideas, experiences, and voice, and it deserved to be shared again. My guest today, Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, joins me to talk about exactly why that is and the type of thinking he refers to as "Loserthink." It's also the title of his new book subtitled, How Untrained Brains are Ruining America. Today, we talk about the fact that being right and being wrong feel the same, how to determine what battles to fight online, how shaming and mockery can be used positively, and ultimately how you can avoid thinking like a loser. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS SCOTT ADAMS Gents, I am stoked to be able to introduce you to my guest today, Scott Adams. Before I do, I want to make sure I thank my friend, Jordan Harbinger, for introducing us. You may not know who Scott is right away but I'm sure you know Dilbert. Scott is the creator of Dilbert and the bestselling author of Win Bigly and his new book, Loserthink. Although Scott really started to gain attention and traction with Dilbert, his political commentary is, in my mind, just as, if not more, important. If you're interested, you can check out what he has to say on Twitter (@scottadamssays). He's never been afraid to ruffle a few feathers and I think that is why he has gained such a following – his ability to say what needs to be said and his ability to say it in a way that connects with so many of us. SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES Gentlemen, we're all aware of how important systems and processes are on our path to success but how many men have not created those systems in every facet of their lives. These are the same men who often wonder why that cannot seem to get ahead. This month, inside the Iron Council, we'll be exploring and deep-diving into the systems and processes I use and what the 500+ members are using to achieve maximum results. We'll help you unpackage your systems, explore what's working, remove what isn't, and rebuild a strategy that will ensure your success. If you'd like to know more and build your blueprint for success, band with us inside the Iron Council. You'll get the tools, challenges, assignments, camaraderie, and brotherhood needed to thrive. Again, join us at www.orderofman.com/ironcouncil. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/orderofman Connect with us on Instagram and Twitter Please leave us a rating and review Support Order of Man by picking up some new merchandise in our store