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