In this Friday Field Notes episode, Ryan Michler breaks down what it really means to be vulnerable “like a man.” He challenges the popular narrative that vulnerability is strength in itself and instead explains how it should be used as a tool for growth. Ryan outlines why discernment matters, how goals must shape openness, and why solutions must accompany weakness.

Listeners will walk away with a sharper, more practical understanding of vulnerability—stripped of fluff and grounded in responsibility. This episode is a call for men to embrace honesty without falling into the trap of empty exposure.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – Rethinking vulnerability
02:30 – Vulnerability as weakness
04:40 – Exercising discernment
09:00 – Setting goals for openness
11:20 – Pairing vulnerability with solutions
18:00 – Vulnerability plus solutions equals results
20:20 – Iron Council promotion
22:45 – 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

In this Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler dives into daily efficiencies, planning systems, and the power of structure in building a productive life. He answers listener questions on balancing flexibility with discipline, handling unexpected events, creating rituals around planning, and becoming an early riser.

Ryan also shares practical tactics like using buffers, after-action reviews, and categorizing different types of days to stay consistent and effective. Whether you’re aiming for better routines or long-term growth, this conversation offers actionable strategies you can apply immediately.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – Introduction and episode setup
02:14 – Balancing flexibility and structure
06:59 – Consistency with non-traditional work schedules
11:44 – Daily tactics for continual growth
16:30 – Handling the unexpected in planning
21:10 – Becoming an early riser
25:50 – Making daily planning a ritual
33:57 – Closing thoughts and resources

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

Over time, it’s likely that you have drifted off course. Like a boat without a navigator, it’s easy to let the current of reality, overwhelm, and frustration take you off course. My guest today, Larry Hagner has been a father for over two decades and knows firsthand what the drift looks like as a dad and how to steer yourself back on course.

Today, we talk about staying awake and vigilant when it comes to leading your wife and kids, the first “domino” to fall before things go horribly wrong, how to get your wife back on course if she starts to drift, in what ways do you become lethargic, monotonous, and bland in your life (and, what to do about it), and learning to build “conversations of curiosity.”

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction and Catching Up
00:11 - Larry’s Knee Injury Discussion
04:33 - The Forge Event Recap
04:57 - The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood Book Launch
07:47 - Understanding the Drift
09:17 - Introducing Lance: The Avatar of the Drift
15:30 - Helping Your Spouse Overcome the Drift
16:12 - Getting Out of the Drift as a Man
23:51 - Coaching Consistency in Men
29:57 - Being a Man of Your Word
31:02 - Motivating Your Wife Respectfully
36:56 - Impact of Kids on Relationships
38:02 - Motivating and Guiding Children
41:50 - Creating Psychological Safety for Kids
47:22 - Building Trust Through Questions
53:30 - Navigating Single Fatherhood
55:09 - Finding Common Ground with Your Child
59:35 - Connecting with Larry and The Forge Event

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 Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explores how men can confront and overcome betrayal in both personal and professional life. Drawing from his own recent experiences, Ryan offers practical strategies and hard-earned insights to help men navigate betrayal with strength, clarity, and integrity. He emphasizes respect, self-control, and learning valuable lessons rather than succumbing to anger or despair. This episode is a call for men to rise above hardship, establish healthy boundaries, and move forward with resilience and purpose.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – Introduction
02:15 – Facing betrayal in life and business
04:37 – Responding with respect and rationality
06:50 – Treating innocent bystanders gracefully
09:12 – Learning the lessons from betrayal
11:32 – Recognizing red flags early
13:54 – Building strong boundaries
18:43 – Final thoughts and encouragement

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

Join Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen in this engaging AMA episode of the Order of Man podcast. They kick off with light-hearted banter on Labor Day plans and "fake holidays," then dive into a headline sparking debate: Cracker Barrel's logo change and why people fixate on trivial issues.

Listener questions cover helping kids handle bullies, pacing new relationships, picky eaters, prioritizing battle plan tactics, monetizing podcasts, hard-fought life lessons, and staying focused amid chaos. Packed with practical advice on masculinity, family, and self-improvement.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Opening Banter and Setup
00:58 - Weekend Plans and Labor Day Discussion
02:45 - Headline: Cracker Barrel Logo Controversy
11:50 - Helping Kids Navigate Bullies
25:11 - Pacing a New Relationship
37:23 - Dealing with Picky Eaters
40:38 - Prioritizing Battle Plan Tactics
43:23 - Monetizing Podcasts and Iron Council Origins
45:45 - Biggest Hard-Fought Lessons
01:07:22 - Maintaining Focus in Crises
01:21:49 - Episode Wrap-Up and Calls 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

You ever seen an old house and think, “Man, I’d love to fix that up.”? Or, an old truck, and imagine the day where you and your children would drive around in that thing? Or, maybe an old project you’ve been meaning to finish but never got around to it?

My guest today, Tye Nichols, feels the same way. In fact, he’s invested thousands of his own money to put into an abandoned golf course he’s had visions of reviving. Today, we talk about his dream of reviving his golf course, Fairway Fields. We talk about finally believing in yourself, casting vision so other people will believe in you, overcoming doubters on your path, what to do when times get tough, and whether or not to “sell out” when it comes to chasing a dream.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – Catching Up After Years
01:00 – Family Life and Moving Back to Maine
02:50 – Why Buy an Abandoned Golf Course?
05:55 – Building Trust and Taking Advice from the Right People
07:15 – Ordinary vs. Extraordinary
09:20 – Lessons from Jocko and Realizing People Are Just People
13:10 – Humility, Work Ethic, and Earning Opportunities
16:50 – Big Dreams for Fairway Fields
19:30 – Reimagining a Rural Golf Course
24:30 – Taming Nature and Learning the Hard Way
26:45 – Local Support and Community Excitement
28:30 – Making Ends Meet While Building a Dream
32:40 – Long-Term Vision and Scaling Up
34:40 – Overcoming Doubts and Finding True Commitment
37:10 – Support from His Wife and Family
39:25 – Turning Away from a Rough Past
41:00 – Rock Bottom and Deciding to Change
42:30 – Why Strangers Believe in His Vision
45:55 – People Want to Support, Not Tear You Down
47:30 – Advice for Men with Big Dreams
49:30 – Where to Connect with Tye

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 Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explores the crucial question of how to initiate boys into manhood. Drawing from personal experience as a father and mentor, Ryan outlines key principles such as separation, challenge, risk, and meaning that help shape rites of passage.

He emphasizes the importance of deliberate and intentional practices for raising boys into strong, capable men—especially in a society that often resists such growth. This episode offers fathers, mentors, and even single mothers clear considerations for guiding the next generation of men.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:40 – The challenge of raising boys in today’s culture
03:00 – Separation from women in rites of passage
05:27 – Building challenge and risk into the process
07:50 – Age-based milestones for boys
10:05 – Responsibility, puberty, and independence
12:21 – Honoring achievements with meaning
14:33 – Public celebration and recognition
16:58 – Marking and family mottos
19:16 – Reintroduction as young men
21:37 – Course promotion and final 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

In this week’s Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle powerful questions from the Order of Man community. From knowing which battles are worth fighting, to bringing God into past trials, to addressing blind spots at work without sounding like a complainer — they cover practical wisdom every man can apply. They also dive into handling public haters, having hard conversations about addiction, and reflecting on past interviews. Honest, challenging, and inspiring — this one’s packed with lessons for intentional living.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – Opening and headlines
08:07 – Choosing your battles
19:45 – Inviting God into past trials
29:50 – Approaching leadership with blind spots
41:01 – Telling your wife about addiction
48:27 – Responding to public haters
56:45 – Interviews Ryan would redo
01:02:41 – Promotions and 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