Most men don't need more information - they need fewer lies.

The most common lie? "I'm fine."

In this Friday Field Notes episode, Ryan breaks down why "fine" is how men drift, how standards quietly erode, and why most men wait until catastrophe forces them to take their life seriously.

This isn't an emotional exercise. It's a logical, factual audit of your body, relationships, finances, mission, and integrity - with no stories, no excuses, and no rationalizations.

Ryan challenges you to stop protecting your weak spots, identify where you're cutting corners, and draw one non-negotiable line in the sand that you enforce daily.

You don't rise to your potential. You fall to what you tolerate.

This episode will push you to:

• Take an honest inventory of your life
• Cut distractions, excuses, and self-deception
• Set one standard that changes everything
• Stop waiting for pain to force change
• Start today - not January 1st

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 - The Lie of "I'm Fine" 01:55 - How Men Drift Without Realizing It 03:02 - Why You Must Audit Your Life 05:21 - Body, Marriage, Finances, Mission 07:01 - Where You're Lying to Yourself 09:02 - You Fall to What You Tolerate 10:41 - What Weakens You Is a Liability 11:23 - One Non-Negotiable Standard 12:13 - Discipline Doesn't Wait 13:14 - Stop Waiting for Catastrophe 15:23 - Audit Your Life Before It's Too Late 17:47 - Iron Council & Final Charge

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 the number one issue facing men today: money. From scarcity mindset and debt to retirement planning, investing, and raising financially responsible kids, the conversation blends practical financial wisdom with deeper insights on discipline, self-belief, and values.

Ryan breaks down Dave Ramsey's baby steps, explains Roth vs. traditional IRAs, challenges popular budgeting rules, and shares how to instill abundance thinking in your family. A must-listen for men looking to build wealth without losing perspective.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Financial stress and the current economy 03:46 Physical baseline and discipline 08:59 Scarcity vs. abundance mindset 19:23 Dave Ramsey's seven baby steps 26:01 Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA 34:45 The 50-30-20 budgeting rule 37:29 Building wealth in an underpaid career 45:08 Teaching kids financial discipline 56:18 Iron Council and end-of-year 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

Too many men today aren't struggling because they lack information. They're struggling because they're drowning in noise. And, I think it's time we start unpacking why the "modern masculinity" space has become obsessed with hot takes, call-outs, online outrage, and performative "accountability" - and why none of it builds strong men, meaningful connection, or lasting improvement.

Today I'm joined by my friend, Jack Donovan, to talk about why gossip masquerades as moral authority, how "calling men out" often replaces real accountability, the difference between integrity, honor, and reputation, why social media rewards division, not leadership, the dangers of pedestalizing others—and why men need a code to live by.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Studio Setup & Creative Work 02:24 - Why the Right Needs to Create Culture 04:22 - The Problem With Hot Takes 06:06 - Engagement vs. Building a Movement 08:17 - Writing as Intellectual Discipline 10:16 - AI Art, Aesthetics, and Snobbery 12:01 - Giving People the Benefit of the Doubt 14:11 - Funding Art and Leaving a Legacy 17:07 - Storytelling as Masculine Power 19:33 - Integrity as Aesthetic Congruence 21:09 - Integrity vs. Disintegration 23:14 - Faith, Ritual, and Mental Wholeness 25:16 - Philosophy as a Code of Conduct 26:50 - Honor as Reputation 30:13 - Tribalism and Dehumanization 33:18 - Why Men Gossip 36:49 - Malicious Gossip vs. Accountability 41:14 - Reality TV Culture and Privacy 44:43 - Judging Without Context 46:22 - The Danger of Moral Pedestals 49:32 - Hubris and Public Failure 52:31 - The Trust Recession 55:29 - Projection and False Narratives 58:51 - Redemption and Change

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 obsess over goals - the outcomes, the achievements, the shiny targets. But goals don't build men. Standards do. In today's Field Notes, Ryan breaks down why standards define your identity, how they outperform goals in every way, and why your life only changes when you elevate the rules you live by. He shares powerful examples, including recovering from a major injury, why men fail when they rely on motivation, and how to build standards that make you unshakable.

Ryan also outlines a four-step framework to reset your identity, eliminate weak standards, and cement the behaviors that transform your life. If you want 2026 to be different, this episode explains exactly where to start.

Key Takeaways Goals are emotionally dependent, standards are identity-based. Standards keep you anchored in the present - goals keep you trapped in the future. Goals collapse under adversity; standards strengthen you because they're non-negotiable. A man becomes powerful when he lives by a code with zero negotiation. Your life changes when your identity upgrades, not when your goals get bigger.

Four-step framework to build standards that stick: -Identify the man you refuse to be. -Build non-negotiables in all four quadrants (Calibration, Connection, Condition, Contribution). -Build accountability. -Enforce consequences when you violate your own standards.

00:00 - Introduction 00:09 - Why Most Men Get Goals Backwards 01:20 - Goals Don't Build Men — Standards Do 02:33 - Examples of Weak vs. Strong Standards 04:34 - Ryan's Pec Tear: Standards in Adversity 06:24 - A Man Rises or Falls to His Standards 07:50 - Why Goals Fail Men 09:33 - How Goals Delay Action and Keep Men Stuck 11:23 - Goals Collapse Under Stress 12:57 - Standards Create Structure and Strength 14:38 - How Standards Transform a Man 16:10 - Standards Prevent Moral Drift 17:32 - Building Trust Through Consistency 18:57 - Standards Make Men Anti-Fragile 21:03 - Stop Waiting for "All Green Lights" 22:43 - Identity Before Action 23:28 - Fast Progress Comes From Identity Shifts 24:26 - The "Light Yourself on Fire" Lesson 25:14 - Reverse Engineering Goals Into Standards 25:57 - Step 1: Identify the Man You Refuse to Be 27:38 - Making Weak Behaviors Repulsive 29:31 - Step 2: Non-Negotiables in the Four Quadrants 31:32 - Step 3: Accountability 33:00 - Step 4: Enforce Consequences 33:42 - Final Challenge: Raise Your Standards 35:45 - Iron Council Promotion 36:33 - Preview Call Details

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 discipline, motivation, and the realities of staying committed when life gets heavy. They discuss sustaining purpose in long-term work, navigating burnout, and understanding the difference between quitting and evolving.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as Ryan opens up about the passing of his father and what it truly means to forgive and move forward. They also address why men seek validation, how to handle relationship breakdowns, and what books shaped them this year. Practical, grounded, and deeply human - this episode hits every level.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Opening & Morning Discipline 01:56 What Keeps You Driven? 11:26 Quitting vs. Evolving 20:02 Burnout and Battle Plans 26:05 Losing a Father & Processing Grief 34:56 Why Men Seek Validation 49:43 Most Impactful Books of the Year 56:12 Iron Council Preview Promotion 58:49 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

I know you've felt like, in the past, you've been hesitant to share your true feelings and beliefs. Maybe you didn't want to offend that woman you were pursuing. Or, maybe you didn't want to upset your boss and run the risk of losing your job. Or, maybe you were afraid of what society or social media would say if you shared your true thoughts. My guest today, Father Stephen Gadberry, is familiar with all of that in a way that many of us relate with. As a Catholic priest, US Air Force Veteran, and American Ninja Warrior competitor, he knows how compelling public criticism can become. Today, Father Gadberry and I talk about discipline, what "turning the other cheek," really means, how to handle false accusations, what true accountability actually means, the difference between your "vocation," and "occupation," and how God will speak to all of us.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 00:22 Masculinity and the Church 01:20 Growing Up Rural and Military 02:20 Has the Church Become Soft? 04:00 Culture, Covid and Truth 05:40 Truth vs Feeling Good 06:50 What Does "Love at All Costs" Mean? 08:20 Learning to Speak Truth Boldly 10:30 Men and Zero-F Attitudes 11:30 Tempering Instincts and Temptations 13:40 Crash and Burn Lessons 15:40 Discipline and "Doing Hard Things" 17:15 Small Things Shape Big Character 18:45 Christian Persecution Today 21:20 Should Christians Fight Back? 23:40 Violence, Duty, and Discernment 25:20 Bold, Relatable Preaching 27:20 Conviction vs Condemnation 30:00 Accountability Done Right 31:40 Guiding Boys and Raising Men 34:10 Real Discipline and Real Consequences 38:50 Guilt, Shame, and Responsibility 41:15 Preaching While Imperfect 45:10 His Calling and Vocation 53:15 Hearing God's Voice 56:30 Silence and Spiritual Clarity 57:50 Real Masculinity and Faith 59:00 Where to Follow Father Stephen

In this Friday Field Notes, Ryan explains why so many men have lost the ability to speak up for themselves and how cultural conditioning has silenced masculine confidence and clarity. He covers the cost of silence, how lack of self advocacy leads to resentment and instability, and why reclaiming your voice is a foundational leadership skill. Ryan also provides practical language men can use in relationships, work, friendships, and with themselves to rebuild confidence and assertiveness.

This episode is a direct challenge to the mindset that staying quiet keeps the peace. Ryan shows that speaking up is not selfish. It is responsible and necessary if you want to protect, provide, and preside for the people you care about.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Intro 00:53 Why men lost their voice and the conditioning that caused it 03:02 The consequences of silence and suppressed needs 04:48 Self-advocacy is not selfish. It is a responsibility 06:55 The cost of silence and becoming a punching bag 10:22 How suppressed frustration shows up in destructive ways 12:34 Advocating early or resenting later 14:07 How to advocate in relationships 16:18 How to advocate at work 17:17 Advocacy with friends and brothers 17:55 Advocating with yourself and ending excuses 18:58 Clarity equals courage and consistency 19:51 The three-step framework for self-advocacy 23:38 How to communicate needs clearly 26:03 Holding the line and enforcing boundaries 28:23 Self-advocacy and leadership 30:53 Iron Council and the power of counsel from other men 32:38 Final call to action. Get your voice back

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 Sorenson tackle a wide range of listener-submitted questions on leadership, relationships, accountability, confidence, and personal development. They dive into topics such as coming out of difficult life seasons, raising prices in business, being "unarmored" versus vulnerable, navigating age-gap relationships, reclaiming decisiveness in the home, and staying consistent with difficult tasks.

They also discuss communication differences between men and women and how men can lead more effectively with clarity and purpose. A practical, direct, and insightful conversation for men committed to growth.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Intro 01:28 - Ascending out of a difficult season 07:20 - Raising prices with early clients 15:43 - Being unarmored vs. vulnerable 23:01 - Age-gap relationships 28:06 - Regaining accountability leadership 33:00 - Decision making in the home 42:29 - Doing hard, unappealing tasks 47:00 - Iron Council promotion & 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

There is no doubt in my mind that we, as a nation (and, across the world) are facing a moral confusion if not a complete moral crisis. And, unless righteous, bold men step up to the plate, we'll continue to see the moral decay of everything we love from our favorite institutions, to our families, and our neighborhoods, and even the threat of losing this great nation. That isn't hyperbole. Today, I am joined by John Lovell, founder of Warrior Poet Society and former Army Ranger to discuss what we as men can do about it. We talk about mercy and justice (and, how to satisfy both), why we should hate injustice, the dangers of communism and socialism, why we must unite behind Truth (with a capital T), why "happiness" is inferior to "joy," and why we should pursue peace if possible but truth at all costs.

00:00 - Introduction & Catching Up 01:20 - Why John Wrote "The Lions of Mercer" 03:49 - Justice, Fiction, and Catharsis 07:15 - The Cry for Justice 08:07 - Modern Culture and Victimhood 08:51 - Loving the Good vs. Hating the Evil 11:44 - Redemption, Failure, and Public Dogpiling 13:01 - Loyalty, Forgiveness, and Standing by Brothers 16:14 - What Is "The Good"? 18:27 - Justice, Mercy, and the Role of Christ 20:15 - Judgement, Hypocrisy, and Accountability 23:07 - Integrity and Personal Alignment 24:39 - Happiness vs. Joy 26:39 - Teaching Discipline and Long-Term Thinking 27:03 - You Can Only Replicate Who You Are 28:22 - Wrestling With Faith and Christianity 29:02 - The Dangers of Atheism & Moral Relativism 31:05 - America's Moral Foundation 32:42 - Who Decides Morality? 34:12 - Rise of Socialism & Cultural Rejection 35:38 - New York, Ideology, and Consequences 36:36 - Unity vs. Compromise 38:41 - What Makes Someone American? 39:58 - Parenting, Boyhood, and Raising Men 40:45 - Why Boyhood Resurrected Was Written 42:38 - Risk, Adventure, and Rite of Passage 46:14 - Finding Balance in Parenting 47:09 - Trust, Risk, and Leadership in Marriage 51:27 - Why Should Your Wife Trust You? 52:21 - Leadership, Submission, and Marriage Dynamics 55:49 - Biblical Structure for Marriage 59:04 - Loving Leadership and Wise Authority 01:00:54 - Closing Thoughts & Transition to IC Segment 01:01:15 - Where to Find John Lovell 01:02:13 - Q&A Teaser

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 Friday Field Notes episode, Ryan Michler delivers a direct challenge to men who've been giving away their power. He breaks down how modern culture, comfort, and conditioned beliefs push men into outsourcing responsibility - and how reclaiming sovereignty starts with ownership, discipline, and intentional action.

Ryan explains why accountability feels heavy, why most men avoid the truth, and why no one is coming to save them. He closes with practical steps to take back control and a reminder that transformative change begins from within. A hard-hitting message for men ready to stop drifting and start leading.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 Introduction 00:05 Outsourcing Power 02:31 Psychological Slavery 04:49 Responsibility Reveals Truth 06:40 No One Is Coming to Save You 09:29 What Can I Do About It? 11:54 Taking Control of One Domain 14:17 Surround Yourself With Better Men 16:40 Invest in Brotherhood 18:46 Power Comes From Within 20:31 Iron Council Invitation 20:45 Next Week's Episode Preview

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 the Ask Me Anything series, Ryan and Kipp explore what it means to build a meaningful life through intentional action, structure, and the pursuit of legacy. They tackle listener questions on community, communication, personal balance, spiritual leadership, and fatherhood - while offering grounded strategies men can apply immediately.

Through stories about friendship, divorce, fatherhood, and growth, they reveal how to keep life steady when things get chaotic and how to preserve what matters most.

This conversation blends humor, wisdom, and vulnerability in a way only these two can deliver.

00:00 Travel recap & St. Louis event 03:52 Introduction to legacy questions 04:12 How to build community from scratch 13:23 Communicating difficult truths 30:41 Getting life back under control 38:17 Signs of spiritual abuse 49:10 Leaving a legacy during divorce 54:56 Avoiding short-term comfort over long-term purpose 58:47 Legacy through connection with your children 01:01:30 Closing 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