How did King Solomon's masons really cut the stones for the Temple? What if a mythical bird and a piece of wood from paradise were the answer?  This week, we explore the Kebra Negast with Masonic author Bro. Austin R. Shifrin, who sheds light on a fascinating chapter from his new book, "No Common Fire."

Show notes and links: 

• Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.
• Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!
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• Yes, we're on Instagram.
• Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.
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Join us for a groundbreaking conversation with Right Worshipful Brothers Kanjin Cederman, Fahimul Islam, and Yatri Trivedi – the Grand Lodge of New York's first Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu Grand Chaplains. In this inspiring episode, we explore their unique journeys to Freemasonry, the significance of their groundbreaking appointments, and how their diverse spiritual paths enrich the timeless principles of the fraternity. 

Show notes and links: 

• Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.
• Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!
• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.
• Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.
• Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.

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• Yes, we're on Instagram.

This is the first “murder mystery” episode on our podcast and there is no bigger story in Freemasonry than “the Morgan Affair.” This year marks the 200th anniversary of the 1826 disappearance of William Morgan, an event that ignited a firestorm of anti-Masonic sentiment and nearly destroyed the fraternity in America. To separate fact from fiction, we are honored to host Dr. Ann Bunch, author of the definitive work, "The William Morgan Affair: Masonic Mystery in Upstate New York." She’ll lead us through her investigation, sorting the historical truth of the event, its devastating aftermath, and how Modern Freemasonrs can acknowledge this pivotal moment in the history of our Ancient and Gentle Craft.

Show notes and links: 

• Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.
• Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!
• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.
• Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.
• Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.

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• Yes, we're on Instagram.

Hot takes alert! Does the study of Kabbalah, Tarot, and other esoteric traditions have a place in modern Freemasonry, or is it, as our guest argues, a "big stupid distraction from one's actual Masonic work"? We sit down with WB Bull Garlington, author of the provocative white paper "Messoterica." Listen as Bro. Bull makes the brutal case that the modern obsession with esoterica is nothing more than “a waste of time.”

Show notes and links: 

• Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.
• Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!
• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.
• Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.
• Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.

• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
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• Yes, we're on Instagram.

Who will be #1? Last week, we kicked off our annual countdown of the Top 10 Most Listened to Craftsmen Online Podcast episodes of 2025. Our annual tradition continues this week as we reveal the Top 5 episodes... working our way to Number One! Want to hear the full Top 5 episodes? Click on the links below to listen on Spotify. Enjoy!

Top 5 Most Listened to Craftsmen Online Podcast Episodes for 2025:

5. RW Rev. Kanjin Cederman — Square and Compass, Mind and Buddha
4. WB Metal Drew - Corn, Wine and Oil: Decoding the Wages of a Master Mason
3. WB Will Rothery - "Now What?" The First Steps After Your Third Degree
2. Bro. Matthew Brockbank — Survey Says: Why Are Men Leaving Lodges and What We Can Do To Get Them Back
1. WB Nathan St. Pierre — How Preston-Webb Ritual Shaped American Freemasonry

Season 6 of the Craftsmen Online Podcast starts next Monday (01/12), with WB Bull Garlington and our episode on "Messoterica: Why Esoteric Study is a Waste of Time."

Have a safe and happy New Year!

Show notes: 

• Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.
• Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!
• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.
• Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.
• Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.

• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.

We kickoff our annual year-end tradition, counting down the Top 10 Most Listened to Craftsmen Online Podcast episodes of the year! Join RW Michael Arce, as we start with episodes #10-6 this week. Want to hear the full episodes of our finalists? You can click the link below and enjoy!

The Most Listened to Craftsmen Online Podcast Episodes of 2025

10. WB Nathan Schick — Moses, the Fire Bush, and the Secret Name of God
9. Bro Chris Ruli — Forging a Nation Masonic Leadership During American Political Crises
8. Agueybana Lodge UD - The First Puerto Rican Lodge in the Grand Lodge of New York
7. Bro. Jason Short - Freemasonry's Mystic Tie: A Band of Brothers
6. Bro. Angel Millar — Unveiling Memphis-Misraim

We pick up the countdown with the Top Five Most Listened to Craftsmen Online Podcast Episodes next Monday. Season 6 starts Monday, January 12, 2026. Have a safe and happy New Year!

Show notes: 

• Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.
• Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!
• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.
• Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.
• Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.

• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.

Welcome to our Holiday Special! Join RWB Michael Arce, as he shares his holiday tradition inspired article "It's a Wonderful (Masonic) Life." May you have a safe, warm, Holiday Season. Enjoy!

Show notes and links: 

• Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.
• Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!
• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.
• Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.
• Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.

• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
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• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.

He might jokingly call himself a "Masonic has-been," but RW Chad Kopenski is one of the most forward-thinking Masonic educators today. A Past Master, including the Ohio Lodge of Research, and a founder of the Royal Scofield Society for the Grand Lodge of Ohio, Chad brings his professional lens as an educator to the Craft to ask a fundamental question: What is the purpose of our Ritual? In this episode, Bro. Kopenski unpacks his powerful program, "Rethinking Ritual." Using the vivid and relatable analogy of a traditional family Christmas dinner, he challenges us to look beyond mere memorization and see our ceremonies as a conscious, intentional act of identity-building and connection.

Show notes: 

• Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.
• Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!
• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.
• Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.
• Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.

• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
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• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.

WB Ted Cross, Past Master of the Arizona Lodge of Research, returns to explore "The Masonic Mind." We’ll learn what truly sets Freemasonry apart from other social groups, fraternal orders, and community organizations. Bro. Cross offers a psychological lens, examining the underlying mechanisms, rituals, and philosophical tenets that contribute to Freemasonry's enduring appeal, its impact on individual psychology, and how it fosters a distinct sense of brotherhood and personal growth.

Show notes: 

• Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.
• Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!
• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.
• Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.
• Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.

• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
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• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.

Ever wondered what goes on inside Job's Daughters International? This episode pulls back the curtain as we chat with Melody Chin, the dynamic Honored Queen of Bethel 36, Towson, Maryland and her father, WB Sam Chin, the sitting Master of St. John’s Lodge No. 11 in Washington, DC. Together, we’ll  explore the day-to-day life within a Bethel, the significance of the Honored Queen role, and from a parent’s perspective — how Job's Daughters empowers young women to become confident and compassionate leaders. Get a unique glimpse "beyond the ritual" into the heart of this impactful organization through this Masonic family’s inspiring story.

Show notes: 

• Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.
• Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!
• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.
• Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.
• Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.

• Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.
• Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!
• Yes, we're on Instagram.