In this Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan and Kipp dig into how men adapt when life throws setbacks their way. From injuries and burnout to financial risk and career pressure, they break down how to adjust without regret and keep moving forward. The conversation covers smart risk management, why momentum doesn't have to die after failure, and how boundaries protect your family, finances, and future. This AMA is a masterclass in resilience, decision-making, and staying productive through uncertainty.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - Holiday catch-up
03:49 - BHAGs, quarterly planning, and long-term vision
11:09 - Iron Council changes and system efficiency
18:54 - Injury, momentum, and recalibration
28:42 - Entrepreneurial risk and acceptable loss
38:48 - Masculinity, culture, and cycles of chaos
43:20 - Work overload, boundaries, and family protection
56:42 - Seasonal depression and staying in the game
01:02:28 - Balancing growth across life quadrants

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

It seems anymore that people are operating increasingly out of extremes without any context, nuance, or understanding. I get it – outrage sells. And, to some degree, I've been guilty of it myself. But I've found myself as I get older – wanting to go find a piece of land and work on my canoe – rather than engage in what social media has diminished us too.

My guest today, Brady Pesola, would agree and, he's made a life out of studying ancient philosophy combined with practical, nuanced modern insight. Today, we talk about social independence, the "Golden Mean," what he calls "The Stop Light" theory, meta-cognition, and the concept of the Grayman and how it can help you operate as a man.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Welcome Back & Reconnecting
01:03 - The Breakdown of Modern Communication
04:52 - Hive Mind, Social Media & Framing Bias
06:53 - Marketing Yourself vs Manipulating Emotion
09:17 - Finding the Right Tribe
12:27 - Value, Reciprocity & Relationships
14:48 - Technical Interruption & Reset
16:46 - The Golden Mean vs Extreme Success
20:35 - Sacrifices, Success & Contentment
24:55 - Adversity, Resilience & Upbringing
27:11 - Red Light vs Green Light Theory
29:59 - Perspective on Inconvenience & Gratitude
33:18 - When Red Lights Save You
36:47 - Grace for Yourself & Others
38:24 - "I've Never Done This Before" Mindset
41:37 - Road Rage, Ego & Consequences
47:00 - Measuring Self-Awareness
48:20 - Metacognition & Emotional Control
52:49 - The Gray Man Concept
55:42 - Mental Discipline Over Appearance
58:02 - Ego, Posturing & Survival
01:00:13 - Where to Find Brady
01:03:33 - Outro & Recording Wrap

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 and uncompromising message: success never happens by accident. He challenges listeners to confront the ways they may be drifting through life, reacting to circumstances rather than intentionally leading themselves.

Ryan explores how comfort, avoidance, and distraction quietly compound into years of lost potential, and contrasts that with the strength and freedom created through discipline, structure, and brotherhood. This episode calls men to choose hardship on purpose, define their standards, and begin taking directional action immediately instead of waiting for motivation to arrive.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 Introduction to the Drift
02:29 Weakness as the Default Setting
04:56 The Deceitful Nature of Drift
07:19 Mistaking Activity for Productivity
09:43 Structure, Discipline, and Freedom
13:26 Chaos Versus Ownership
15:03 Drift Creates Weak Default Patterns
16:22 Blindness to the Cliff
18:15 Choosing Your Struggle
19:42 Direction Before Motivation
20:23 Standards and Daily Requirements
21:30 Brotherhood as an Antidote
24:34 Identifying Where You Are Drifting
26:58 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