In this Friday Field Notes, Ryan dives into the inevitable challenges every man faces—and how you can rise above them. Being a male is a matter of birth, but being a man is earned through responsibility, capability, and leadership. Ryan outlines practical ways to prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually so that you can protect, provide, and preside when it matters most.

Whether it’s solving problems under pressure, anticipating threats, regulating emotions, or empowering others, this episode will challenge you to step up and live as the man you were meant to be.

SHOWNOTES

00:00 – Intro

00:10 – Not every male is a man: challenge defines manhood

02:34 – True leadership reveals itself when things go wrong

04:50 – The power of anticipation and situational awareness

09:23 – Building capability in every area of life

11:45 – Manhood as a profession: constantly improving yourself

14:08 – Emotional regulation and creating safety

16:20 – Helping others solve their own problems

18:47 – Sovereignty: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual strength

20:37 – Becoming the man people look to in crisis

22:30 – Promotion: Join the Iron Council

23:45 – Next week’s episode preview with Jack Carr

24:30 – Closing and grassroots call to share the podcast

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• Why challenge is the defining feature of manhood

• How to adopt the mindset of a problem-solver

• The importance of anticipation and situational awareness

• Building capability: financial, physical, and skill-based

• Regulating your emotions and creating safety for others

• Helping others solve their own problems

• Why manhood is a profession that requires constant improvement

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 dig into building and protecting the relationships that matter: how to communicate needs, spot relationships that no longer serve you, rebuild trust with children after long absences, and strike the balance between work, service, and family.

Along the way Ryan shares a harrowing (and hilarious) zipline rescue that reinforces why we should hold our loved ones close. Practical advice, real-world boundaries, and quick tactical habits (like rotating one-on-one lunches with kids) make this episode a toolkit for men working to show up better at home and in community.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 — Intro & topic setup
04:26 — Topic: building relationships (Iron Council prompt)
10:20 — Q: William Pennell — communicating needs
15:47 — Q: Jeremy Kofi — when relationships stop serving
20:45 — Q: Travis Gare — reentering your son's life after absence
31:10 — Q: Matthew Jenkins — prioritizing time with family
40:16 — Q: Christopher Jackson — reclaiming masculine energy
45:19 — Q: Eric Tyler — inner work before showing up in relationships
53:15 — Q: James Grayson — politics, faith and difficult conversations
59:39 — Ryan’s zipline story & closing thoughts
01:05:55 — Final sign-off / Iron Council promo

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 1992, John Gray released, “Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus.” It was important work then. It is just as (if not, more so) important today. Why do we as men struggle to understand what women are thinking and saying? And, why do women struggle just as much in understanding us?

My guest today, Vanessa Bennet, author of “The Motherhood Myth,” and psychotherapist sheds some light on the reasons, including an inside look at what women are thinking and why. Today, we talk about the misunderstandings between men and women, why women aren’t interested in being with you as one of their children, why women are looking for leadership and respect from men, what is healthy womanhood and manhood, why safety is a key factor in attractiveness for women, and what it really means when a woman says, “I want a man who is vulnerable.”

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 — Intro & Costa Rica setup
02:02 — Miscommunication Between Men & Women
09:17 — Shadow Work & Shame
13:06 — Myths of Motherhood
18:07 — Finding the Middle (Pendulum Theory)
21:36 — Rupture & Repair in Relationships
30:10 — Choosing vs Needing: Desire & Partnership
33:06 — Leadership vs Dominance (What Women Want)
42:48 — Don’t Fix — Build Competence & Autonomy
50:26 — Safety & Parenting (why reliability matters)
59:43 — Preemptive Communication & Vulnerability
1:00:39 — Integrity & Follow-Through (why actions matter)

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