Order of Man

How do you become a better man, lead your family, and navigate life's toughest challenges? Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen explore the power of brotherhood, explaining how meaningful relationships create possibility, accountability, and growth. They answer five listener questions covering freezing during confrontation, leading as a stepfather, helping an adult child become independent, raising resilient children, and moving beyond a troubled past. Along the way, they discuss conflict resolution, personal responsibility, repentance, and the importance of taking action rather than seeking validation. Plus, learn how the Iron Council can help you build stronger connections and become the man you're meant to be. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction and Opening 00:40 - Brotherhood, Purpose, and Meaningful Conversations 01:44 - Why Men Need a Band of Brothers 04:12 - Inspiration: From Motivation to Action 07:08 - The Power of Accountability and Connection 11:16 - Ideas, Growth, and the Value of Brotherhood 12:56 - Self-Determination: Autonomy, Mastery, and Relatedness 17:10 - Handling Confrontation and Protecting Your Family 21:32 - Preparing for Conflict Through Training 29:16 - Leading as a Stepfather 35:54 - Supporting Adult Children Without Enabling Them 43:25 - Raising Resilient and Grateful Children 47:11 - Moving Beyond Your Past and Reputation 48:17 - Why You Don't Need to Prove You've Changed 50:30 - Repentance, Making Amends, and Personal Growth 53:25 - Iron Council: Take Action Before the Year Ends 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 Michler exposes the trap of "mental masturbation" and breaks down ten ways men deceive themselves into thinking they are engaged in self-care and personal development when they are actually stalling. From buying unused courses and hoarding unread books to hiding behind fitness routines and blaming past trauma, Ryan highlights how noble distractions prevent real growth. Learn why true self-work requires action, accountability, and execution rather than endless planning or talking. Tune in to audit your habits, eliminate comfortable excuses, stop going at it alone, and build the frameworks and network needed to step up and become the man you were meant to be. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction & Recapping Real Self-Care 02:10 - 1. Buying Courses You Never Use 02:55 - 2. Doom Scrolling & Social Media Traps 04:20 - 3. Waiting Until You're "Ready" 05:35 - 4. Blaming Others & Making Excuses 07:45 - 5. Going At It Alone 09:55 - 6. Collecting Books You Never Read 12:00 - 7. Chasing Bright & Shiny Objects 14:25 - 8. Talking More Than Doing 17:00 - 9. Hiding in the Gym or Office 18:55 - 10. Quitting When Things Get Hard 21:35 - Self-Assessment Exercise & Scoring 23:30 - Frameworks, Networks & The 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

Every man will eventually find himself in water over his head. A business that's sinking, a marriage that's struggling, a season of life where you can't see the shore. Most men panic. They thrash around, burn through their energy, and make emotional decisions they regret for years. The men who make it through aren't stronger or more talented. They stay calm, focus on what they can control, and take the next breath. My guest today, former Navy SEAL Andy Stumpf, knows this better than anyone. We talk about the drownproofing evolution at BUD/S and what it really teaches, why you should have emotional responses but never make emotional decisions, and the "chunking" approach he says is the most useful tool he's ever had. We also get into why most guys who quit regret it for decades, the difference between being a quiet professional and a silent one, why telling the truth is always enough, and what real wealth looks like once you stop chasing more. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction & Catching Up 01:10 Master Jiu-Jitsu Competitions & Mindset 02:50 The Reality of Jiu-Jitsu Culture 04:15 Demystifying the BUD/S Drownproofing Test 07:15 Emotional Control in Real-World Situations 09:15 Practical Stoicism and Objectivity 12:00 Leveraging Time to Prevent Emotional Decisions 14:15 Technology Usage and Healthy Digital Boundaries 17:00 Gen-Z and Connectivity Fatigue 19:40 The Quiet Professional vs. Silent Professional 21:30 The Importance of Absolute Truth and Integrity 24:00 Taking Personal Ownership vs. Making Excuses 26:50 The Chunking Strategy for Achieving Goals 33:00 Daily Writing Discipline for Drownproof 35:00 Navigating Regret, Failure, and Pivoting 38:30 Talent vs. Relentless Work Ethic 40:25 Mindset for Survival and Overuse Injuries 43:40 Transitioning Out of Military Service & Identity 46:15 Exploring Aviation and Unforeseen Opportunities 49:30 Authentic Relationships vs. Strategic Networking 51:20 Guarding Your Inner Circle 54:00 Snowboarding, Flying, and Lifelong Learning 55:35 The Surprising Origin of Writing Drownproof 57:40 Measuring Impact Beyond Money 59:45 Redefining Wealth and Financial Freedom 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 Ask Me Anything, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen discuss the importance of living intentionally, making the most of time with loved ones, and taking responsibility for personal decisions. They debate the death penalty and the public broadcasting of executions before answering listener questions about dating after divorce, fatherhood after children leave home, staying consistent when progress slows, and handling workplace disappointments. The conversation also explores firing a friend who isn't performing, the value of honest feedback, and why clear communication matters in difficult situations. Finally, they discuss how fathers can encourage their children to embrace outdoor adventures and family experiences. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Opener 00:50 - Making the Most of Life and Time with Loved Ones 03:04 - The Death Penalty and Public Executions 10:33 - Attention, Incentives, and Personal Responsibility 14:37 - Dating After Divorce: When Should Your Kids Meet Someone New? 21:11 - Fatherhood After Your Children Leave Home 27:23 - Staying Consistent When Results Stop Being Exciting 32:22 - Drifting Through Life vs. Acting Intentionally 34:27 - Shackleton's Expedition and the Power of Intentionality 39:55 - Pride vs. Knowing Your Worth at Work 48:55 - The Importance of Honest Feedback 53:54 - Hiring Your Best Friend: Can You Fire Him Without Losing the Friendship? 01:02:01 - Why Uncertainty Creates Stress 01:05:42 - Getting Your Teenager Interested in Outdoor Adventures 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 Michler breaks down why the popular concept of "vulnerability" is being misconstrued in modern culture . By definition, vulnerability means susceptibility to harm and weakness - traits that undermine a man's core responsibility to protect, provide, and preside . Rather than glorifying weakness for sympathy, men should replace vulnerability with humility, honesty, and discernment . Ryan explains how to identify weaknesses to shore them up, share truthful struggles only with trusted brothers who have earned your trust, and avoid the twin traps of total isolation or emotional leaking . Plus, learn details about the upcoming Order of Man War Room event focused on overcoming five foundational fears every man faces . SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction: The Problem with "Vulnerability" 02:19 - Defining Vulnerability: Why It Means Weakness 03:10 - The Castle Analogy: Shoring Up Defenses 04:46 - What to Use Instead: Humility and Honesty 07:00 - The Dopamine Trap of Modern Vulnerability 08:00 - Applying Humility in Real Life 10:00 - Living in Honesty and Dealing in Reality 15:36 - Discernment: Who Has Earned Your Trust? 19:12 - Protecting the Skeleton Key 21:00 - The Two Dangers: Walled Off vs. Leaking 26:40 - Order of Man War Room Invitation 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 forget a man's name two seconds after he says it, your memory isn't the problem. You weren't listening. That's the case my guest today, two-time USA Memory Champion Ron White, makes, and he backs it up with a system any man can use: ask yourself one well-worded question before you shake a hand, pin the name to the most distinctive feature on the face, and review it before the forgetting curve wipes it out. We also build a mind palace in real time using the furniture in my studio. Ron shows how the same method lets you give a speech without notes, retain what you paid to learn at a conference, carry a to-do list in your head, and remember the script when a customer objects. We get into why action and emotion lock things into long-term memory, the major system and character-action-object method he used to memorize a deck of cards in record time, and why memory comes down to training and intention, not talent. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Epsiode Introduction 04:20 - Connecting with Corey 04:44 - The "Brain Athlete" Shirt & Andy Elliott's Advice 07:06 - 3-Minute Street Hacks for Learning Fast 08:13 - The Mind Palace System for Public Speaking 12:07 - Walkthrough: Memorizing Five Speech Points 15:07 - Visuals, Action, & Emotion in Memory 20:30 - Practical Everyday Memory Applications 23:56 - Overcoming the "Bad with Names" Excuse 25:40 - Calming Brain Chatter with Focused Questions 28:13 - Linking Names to Facial Features 32:20 - USA Memory Records & The Major System 38:42 - Advanced Memory Palace: Character-Action-Object (CAO) 46:43 - How Rhythm and Music Lock In Information 48:38 - Body and Vehicle Palaces for Daily To-Do Lists 52:59 - Retaining Key Points from Conferences & Seminars 01:00:15 - Review Systems & The Phone Flashcard Hack 01:04:15 - How a Telemarketing Call Launched Ron's Memory Career 01:06:10 - Keynote Speaking & Memorizing Sales Scripts 01:09:20 - Memorizing 7,500 Fallen Soldiers & Media Audits 01:11:43 - Guest Socials and Course Info 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 five questions from the Order of Man community in this episode of Ask Me Anything. They discuss making a major career change after decades in public service, finding forgiveness after betrayal, setting boundaries while serving family and friends, navigating different faiths within a marriage, and protecting a teenage daughter without damaging the relationship. Along the way, Ryan and Kipp explore entrepreneurship, AI, service, martyrdom, grace, parenting, dating, and the importance of maintaining influence through trust rather than control. The conversation also includes a wholesome discussion about defending the people we care about and a look at Ryan's new studio and Origin gear. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - New Studio, New Setup 10:50 - The Importance of Nuance 17:40 - Origin Boots and Hunting Gear 21:55 - Retirement, Risk and Entrepreneurship 35:00 - Why Retirement Isn't the Goal 39:49 - Forgiveness After Betrayal 50:59 - When Everyone Depends on You 57:00 - The Trap of Martyrdom 1:00:36 - When Spouses No Longer Share a Faith 1:08:32 - Protecting Your Daughter Without Pushing Her Away 1:14:10 - Setting Boundaries With Your Daughter's Dates 1:18:13 - Closing and Final 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

Most men live their lives actively ignoring the pain and suffering they have experienced, leading to destructive behavior, self-sabotage, and sedation. In this solo episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the five core wounds every man must address to build healthy relationships with himself and his family. Ryan details the unblessed, betrayal, humiliation, abandonment, and failure wounds, explaining exactly how they manifest in our daily lives. Moving beyond theory, he provides simple, highly tactical fixes for each wound so you can begin the healing process immediately. Whether you need to practice delegating a task to build trust or making amends for a past mistake, these steps will help you take back responsibility. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Five Wounds Men Ignore 02:05 - The Unblessed Wound 04:26 - The Betrayal Wound 09:06 - The Humiliation Wound 14:26 - The Abandonment Wound 19:10 - The Failure Wound 25:11 - Implementing the Five Fixes 27:37 - The Iron Council and New Studio 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 of us think courage is something you either have or you don't. But what if it's actually a decision you make over and over, the same way you'd train a muscle? Today's conversation is about what happens when you stop asking "what if I fail" and start asking, "let's find out." We get into why 90% of what we fear never happens, how to raise kids with grit in a culture built for convenience, and why the most dangerous thing a man can do isn't the risk he takes…it's the potential he leaves untapped. My guest today, Alex Harris, has summited Everest, walked unsupported to the South Pole, and made the first-ever unsupported crossing of Arabia's "Empty Quarter" on foot. But this isn't a conversation about extreme sports. It's about the mindset that separates the guy who stays inside the fence from the guy who goes and finds out what's on the other side of the wall. If you've ever felt like you're sitting on something you haven't had the guts to go pursue, this one's for you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction & Hiking the Zion Narrows 04:55 - Changing Risk Profile & Fatherhood 08:45 - Evaluating Risk vs. Reward 09:49 - Broad Peak Expedition & Turning Point 14:18 - Lower-Risk Adventures & Family 18:52 - Cultivating Adventure in Children 22:21 - Building Grit and Life in South Africa 23:51 - Media Narratives vs. South African Realities 26:51 - Reasons for Immigrating to Texas 32:41 - The Journey to US Citizenship 36:56 - Cultural Differences and Adapting to Texas 46:17 - Unplanned Path to Becoming an Extreme Athlete 50:39 - Curiosity and Unlocking Potential 53:57 - Redefining Failure and Managing Fear 01:01:27 - Forging Untrodden Paths & The Arabian Desert 01:06:00 - A Unique Moment in Cave Exploration 01:11:41 - Purpose, Choice, and Stifled Curiosity 01:15:30 - Where to Connect with Alex Harris 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 Alan Placer tackle ten questions from men dealing with family, identity, fatherhood, marriage, pain, career, and personal responsibility. They discuss how to set boundaries when financial gifts come with strings attached, what to do when a teenage son is drawn toward extreme online communities, and how to separate identity from a sport or physical ability. They also explore recognizing your parents as imperfect human beings, building self-respect without external validation, navigating disagreement over having another child, and understanding the limits of financial provision in marriage. The episode closes with a spirited debate over what actually qualifies as a sport. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Great Sport Debate 07:03 - When a Financial Gift Comes With Strings 11:35 - Embarrassing Habits at 25 18:19 - Helping a Son in Extreme Online Spaces 28:05 - Chronic Pain: Strength or Stubbornness? 37:31 - Identity After a Physical Setback 44:41 - Don't Punish Your Child for Your Past 52:10 - Building Self-Respect Without Validation 59:05 - When Dad Stops Being a Hero 01:05:59 - When Husband and Wife Disagree About Another Child 01:15:17 - When Providing Hurts Your Marriage 01:22:31 - The Sport Debate Continues 01:26:18 - War Room Invitation 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 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

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

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