In this week's Ask Me Anything, Ryan and Kipp dive deep into goal setting, New Year's resolutions, discipline, personal systems, and the internal dialogue that derails many men. They discuss practical strategies for building momentum, tracking progress, leading communities, and staying accountable even when motivation fades.

Listeners ask about goal-setting frameworks, balancing long-term and short-term ambitions, and how to prioritize key areas of life. Ryan and Kipp also explore integrity, honesty, and the real influence every man carries - whether he acknowledges it or not.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 Discipline, systems & flexibility
03:50 Community goal-setting question
14:27 Internal dialogue & low points
21:46 New Year's resolutions
25:34 Balancing easy vs. long-term goals
30:11 Prioritizing life quadrants
34:19 Daily systems & accountability
45:21 Being influential and showing up
46:50 Promotions & call to action
48:03 Episode close

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

For something that we do every single day, and something that has the power to change every aspect of our life, we sure don't focus on, train, or develop it. And, that thing is conversation. Nothing great ever happened in your life without, first, a conversation – no promotions, no jobs, no clients, no dates, nothing.

My guest today, Payam Pakmanesh (known as "The Convo Guy") is here to explain why and, more importantly, how we can build and develop our ability to communicate more effectively. We cover the proper principles of communication, Adlerian Psychology and how it helps you focus on what you can control, the "Zoom Flow" model for deeper connection, how to make yourself more approachable, and becoming aware of how others perceive you.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Conversation as a Life-Changing Tool
01:06 - Why Men Struggle With Communication
02:33 - Nature vs. Nurture in Your Voice
03:18 - How Environment Shapes Language & Identity
04:19 - Film Yourself: The First Breakthrough Exercise
05:30 - Pausing, Filler Words & Leadership Presence
06:55 - Listening Critically to Yourself
07:48 - Buying Time vs. Fear of Silence
09:18 - Authenticity vs. Performance
11:03 - Why Humans Detect Inauthenticity
12:20 - Reading Engagement & Disengagement Cues
13:51 - The Power of Real Listening
15:10 - Faces, Interpretation & Owning Your Identity
16:28 - Getting Out of Your Own Head
17:55 - Fear of Judgement & Perfectionism
18:34 - Social Masks & Status Games
20:32 - Adlerian Psychology & Letting Go of Others' Opinions
21:43 - Book Structure & Thoughts on "Courage to Be Disliked"
22:06 - Biggest Communication Mistakes Men Make
24:25 - Auditing Your Stories & Mental Frameworks
25:19 - Choose Stories that Serve You
27:45 - Tracking Thoughts & Fact-Checking Beliefs
30:18 - Inner Peace as the ROI of Self-Development
31:22 - Misreading Signals from Others
33:44 - Why Hard Conversations Must Be Live
34:50 - Growth Through Discomfort
35:17 - Why Men Avoid Difficult Conversations
37:06 - Nice Guys, Suppressed Emotions & Blowups
38:10 - Joker Example: From Nice to Extreme
40:12 - Standards vs. Expectations
41:14 - Make the Implicit Explicit
42:26 - Experimenting Like a Scientist
43:31 - Everyone Is Human-Even High Status People
44:04 - Scripts vs. Flow in Communication
47:32 - Headphones, Avoidance & Missed Opportunities
48:27 - Disagreement Statements That Build Trust
50:37 - Context Creates Empathy
52:19 - Why Courage Earns Respect
54:01 - The Value of Small Talk
55:48 - The Elevator Test
57:06 - Why Communication Creates Opportunities
58:29 - Movie Character Communication Breakdown
59:55 - How to Work With Payam

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 challenges men to stop drifting through life and confront the apathy holding them back. He breaks down the five core actions that help men regain direction, eliminate complacency, and move with purpose. Ryan speaks candidly about distraction, burnout, and his own past patterns of escape, giving listeners a direct path to clarity and discipline. This episode offers a clear call for men to reclaim their focus, cut the noise, and commit to what actually matters. A powerful, practical reminder for anyone who feels stuck or overwhelmed.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 Introduction
00:22 Burnout and rising apathy
01:54 Why men are giving up
03:40 Know what you want
06:10 Delegate what drains you
08:45 Remove energy draining people
11:23 Go deep, not wide
14:50 Ryan's story of sedation
16:06 Stop escaping your life
18:34 Final message and 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

In this episode, Ryan and Kipp dive deep into what it means to be a man in modern relationships — how to lead with strength, clarity, and purpose without falling into the "nice guy" trap. They break down how to build trust, create safety and structure for your partner, and why healthy conflict is essential for growth.

You'll hear powerful insights on what truly turns your wife on (it's not what you think), why your marriage needs to feel like a sparring match instead of a competition, and how to help your wife flourish in her feminine role by being consistent, decisive, and dependable.

Whether you're married, dating, or just want to understand masculine leadership on a deeper level, this episode will hit hard.

Join the conversation and learn how to stop being a "nice guy" — and start being a strong, grounded man.

00:00 – Hunting stories and catching up
03:14 – Nice Guy vs. Good Husband: How to tell the difference
05:28 – Compliance vs. Commitment in relationships
07:42 – Marriage as a covenant, not a transaction
10:14 – The importance of defined roles and expectations
13:44 – Vetting your partner before marriage
15:09 – Why your wife is your sparring partner
16:39 – Handling sacrifices that go unseen or unacknowledged
20:36 – The difference between sacrifice and self-pity
24:28 – How to help your wife step into her feminine role
27:55 – The "bowl and water" analogy — structure and flow in marriage
29:38 – How predictability builds trust and safety
33:04 – How to turn your wife on (for real)
37:26 – When one partner wants more kids
42:23 – The future of relationships in a hookup culture
45:25 – The cost of the "I don't need a man" mindset
48:08 – The dangers of red-pill bitterness
50:19 – How to attract the kind of woman you want
50:45 – Iron Council and Divorce Not Death

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're listening to a men's self-help podcast so it's safe to assume that you're interested in becoming more disciplined, structured, and productive. But there is a side of discipline that many of the self-help gurus won't talk to you about – when discipline becomes a liability more than an asset.

My guest today, Craig Ballantyne, joins me to talk about what that even means, what it looks like, and what to do about it. We also cover why it's so important that you plan your days out months in advance, how to keep yourself from distractions but building in flexibility to your day, how much a man can get done in what he calls, "slivers of time," and why you should never paint yourself into a box you don't belong.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction
01:12 - Discipline and rigidity: the downside of structure
03:30 - Parenthood, resilience, and slivers of time
07:30 - The balance between discipline and flexibility
10:00 - Craig's life in Mexico and bilingual family life
14:30 - Managing distractions and time boundaries
17:30 - The true cost of meetings and decision-focused teams
21:00 - Structuring family and bedtime routines
25:00 - Delegation, priorities, and focusing on purpose
28:00 - Fear of delegation and how to fill your reclaimed time
30:00 - Deep work, planning, and monthly focus blocks
35:00 - Combating boredom and sustaining focus
37:00 - The myth of "always enjoying the grind"
41:00 - Planning the next month and long-term thinking
46:00 - Changing self-talk and removing limiting language
49:00 - Childhood patterns and self-imposed boxes
51:00 - Overcoming introversion and building social confidence
55:00 - Selflessness, service, and growth through discomfort
56:00 - Craig's books 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 think the X Factor - that magnetic presence of strong, capable men - is something you're born with. It's not. It's built through five rules that any man can follow.

In this Friday Field Note, Ryan Michler breaks down the simple, actionable formula that will make you more influential, bold, and courageous - and help you create the life and relationships you want.

The 5 Rules Every Man Must Follow:
Be Strong - build the trifecta: physical, mental, and emotional strength
Be Emotionally Stable - create safety and calm for your family and team
Be Kind - true kindness comes from power, not weakness
Be Discerning - not everyone deserves your time or vulnerability
Be Courageous - take action even when you're scared

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 - What Is the X Factor?
00:30 - The Myth of the X Factor
02:58 - Rule #1: Be Strong
07:18 - Rule #2: Be Emotionally Stable
11:11 - Rule #3: Be Kind
13:20 - Rule #4: Be Discerning
18:04 - Rule #5: Be Courageous
24:15 - The Iron Council Promo
24:50 - Closing 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 week's Ask Me Anything, Kipp and Shawn tackle listener questions from the Iron Council, diving deep into the practices of visualization, breaking mental limits, embracing mentorship, and persevering through pain.

The conversation turns raw as the hosts address loneliness, depression, and how men can build stronger connections through openness and authenticity. This episode reminds us that growth requires action, awareness, and brotherhood. Join Kipp and Shawn as they offer practical and heartfelt wisdom to help men live more purposefully and powerfully every day.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:05 - Opening & Dodgers Talk
01:08 - Promotion - Iron Council
02:16 - Ken's Question: Visualization Struggles
14:29 - Julian's Question: Breaking Limiting Narratives
28:36 - Dwayne's Question: Master vs Apprentice Learning
37:22 - Brian's Question: Fighting Through Pain
45:29 - Jeremy's Question: Blind Spots in Men
50:14 - Nana's Question: Handling Gossip & Slander
58:37 - Dustin's Question: Coping with Depression & Hopelessness
01:08:27 - 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

Whether we acknowledge it or not, there are certain behaviors and mindsets that are etched into our psyche by our fathers. And, if we cannot be aware of what they are, we lose any hope of having power over them and charting new paths for ourselves and our children.

Today, I'm joined by Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, to talk about the legacy his father left and how he is trying to break the string of mindsets that hindered, not helped. We talk about how do adapt when plans don't work, the power of the meritocracy, how to overcome the victimhood mentality, creating powerful and healthy outlets, and the mantras that have served him well and that he wishes to instill in his children.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – The New York Marathon disaster
02:00 – Pushing through with mantras
03:40 – Planning, pace, and preparation
05:30 – Travel stress and overcommitment
07:37 – The power of mental reframing
08:11 – Continuous forward motion
10:35 – Learning from past failures
11:58 – "On to Cincinnati" mindset
15:23 – Lessons from failure and legacy
20:29 – How his father inspired running
21:34 – Finding identity through running
23:35 – Parenting and discipline
25:32 – Lockdown marathon story
27:40 – Breaking generational cycles
30:57 – Lessons from his father's downfall
33:18 – The danger of victim mentality
37:17 – Teaching resilience to his sons
39:13 – Soccer as a meritocratic equalizer
42:07 – Shared humanity through sport
45:01 – The importance of men talking openly
46:01 – Running as leadership training
48:21 – Endurance, pacing, and goal setting
49:59 – The Running Ground book
50:38 – 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