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

In this Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan and Kipp kick things off with a lighthearted but revealing conversation before diving into listener questions on purpose, vision, balance, and meaning.

They explore why men struggle to articulate what they want, how early conditioning shapes silence, and what happens when men open up and feel shut down. The discussion also tackles work-life balance, daily meaning versus long-term purpose, and why purpose is built through action, not found through thinking alone.

00:00 Christmas Check-In and Opening Banter 01:12 Viral Knife Story and Public Reactions 09:42 AMA Begins: Getting the Most from the Iron Council 16:57 Vision vs Character Traits 19:34 Why Men Are Conditioned Not to Want 20:17 What Happens When Men Open Up 30:53 Work, Home, and Community Balance 39:20 Finding Meaning in the Mundane 47:29 Purpose Is Built Through Action 50:16 Christmas Reflections and 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

You know about breath work. You know about cold exposure. It's a thing all the major "influencers" tell you to do. I had some skepticism myself and that's why I wanted to have this man, the original cold exposure and breath work guy on himself, Wim Hof!

He is a man who has redefined the limits of the human mind and body. Known globally as The Iceman, Wim Hof has shown millions of people how to take control of their physiology through breath, cold exposure, and mindset. From climbing mountains in nothing but shorts to teaching everyday men how to regulate stress, build resilience, and reconnect with their primal strength, Wim's work challenges everything we think we know about comfort, health, and human potential. Today, we're talking about cold, breath, discipline, and what it really means to return to our factory settings as men.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction and Creative Rituals 01:30 Daily Cold and Breathwork Ritual 03:02 Shutting Off the Thinking Brain 05:07 Stress, Cortisol, and Modern Life 07:24 Cold Exposure Myths and Shortcuts 10:05 Minimum Effective Dose of Cold 12:34 Enduring Extreme Cold 14:28 Cold Exposure and Better Sleep 17:09 Breathing, Detox, and Biochemistry 21:35 Carbon Dioxide vs Oxygen 23:45 Ancient Practices, Modern Brains 27:50 Purpose, Presence, and Feeling Alive 30:11 Fulfillment Beyond Words 36:50 Getting High on Your Own Supply 38:11 Faith, Soul, and Inner Purpose 43:26 Motivation, Discipline, and Cold 46:50 Intuition and Better Decisions 50:00 Dopamine, Depression, and Energy 51:02 Final Thoughts and Where to Learn More

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 don't need more information - they need fewer lies.

The most common lie? "I'm fine."

In this Friday Field Notes episode, Ryan breaks down why "fine" is how men drift, how standards quietly erode, and why most men wait until catastrophe forces them to take their life seriously.

This isn't an emotional exercise. It's a logical, factual audit of your body, relationships, finances, mission, and integrity - with no stories, no excuses, and no rationalizations.

Ryan challenges you to stop protecting your weak spots, identify where you're cutting corners, and draw one non-negotiable line in the sand that you enforce daily.

You don't rise to your potential. You fall to what you tolerate.

This episode will push you to:

• Take an honest inventory of your life
• Cut distractions, excuses, and self-deception
• Set one standard that changes everything
• Stop waiting for pain to force change
• Start today - not January 1st

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 - The Lie of "I'm Fine" 01:55 - How Men Drift Without Realizing It 03:02 - Why You Must Audit Your Life 05:21 - Body, Marriage, Finances, Mission 07:01 - Where You're Lying to Yourself 09:02 - You Fall to What You Tolerate 10:41 - What Weakens You Is a Liability 11:23 - One Non-Negotiable Standard 12:13 - Discipline Doesn't Wait 13:14 - Stop Waiting for Catastrophe 15:23 - Audit Your Life Before It's Too Late 17:47 - Iron Council & Final Charge

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 and Kipp Sorensen tackle the number one issue facing men today: money. From scarcity mindset and debt to retirement planning, investing, and raising financially responsible kids, the conversation blends practical financial wisdom with deeper insights on discipline, self-belief, and values.

Ryan breaks down Dave Ramsey's baby steps, explains Roth vs. traditional IRAs, challenges popular budgeting rules, and shares how to instill abundance thinking in your family. A must-listen for men looking to build wealth without losing perspective.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Financial stress and the current economy 03:46 Physical baseline and discipline 08:59 Scarcity vs. abundance mindset 19:23 Dave Ramsey's seven baby steps 26:01 Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA 34:45 The 50-30-20 budgeting rule 37:29 Building wealth in an underpaid career 45:08 Teaching kids financial discipline 56:18 Iron Council and end-of-year 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

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

I know you've felt like, in the past, you've been hesitant to share your true feelings and beliefs. Maybe you didn't want to offend that woman you were pursuing. Or, maybe you didn't want to upset your boss and run the risk of losing your job. Or, maybe you were afraid of what society or social media would say if you shared your true thoughts. My guest today, Father Stephen Gadberry, is familiar with all of that in a way that many of us relate with. As a Catholic priest, US Air Force Veteran, and American Ninja Warrior competitor, he knows how compelling public criticism can become. Today, Father Gadberry and I talk about discipline, what "turning the other cheek," really means, how to handle false accusations, what true accountability actually means, the difference between your "vocation," and "occupation," and how God will speak to all of us.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 00:22 Masculinity and the Church 01:20 Growing Up Rural and Military 02:20 Has the Church Become Soft? 04:00 Culture, Covid and Truth 05:40 Truth vs Feeling Good 06:50 What Does "Love at All Costs" Mean? 08:20 Learning to Speak Truth Boldly 10:30 Men and Zero-F Attitudes 11:30 Tempering Instincts and Temptations 13:40 Crash and Burn Lessons 15:40 Discipline and "Doing Hard Things" 17:15 Small Things Shape Big Character 18:45 Christian Persecution Today 21:20 Should Christians Fight Back? 23:40 Violence, Duty, and Discernment 25:20 Bold, Relatable Preaching 27:20 Conviction vs Condemnation 30:00 Accountability Done Right 31:40 Guiding Boys and Raising Men 34:10 Real Discipline and Real Consequences 38:50 Guilt, Shame, and Responsibility 41:15 Preaching While Imperfect 45:10 His Calling and Vocation 53:15 Hearing God's Voice 56:30 Silence and Spiritual Clarity 57:50 Real Masculinity and Faith 59:00 Where to Follow Father Stephen

In this Friday Field Notes, Ryan explains why so many men have lost the ability to speak up for themselves and how cultural conditioning has silenced masculine confidence and clarity. He covers the cost of silence, how lack of self advocacy leads to resentment and instability, and why reclaiming your voice is a foundational leadership skill. Ryan also provides practical language men can use in relationships, work, friendships, and with themselves to rebuild confidence and assertiveness.

This episode is a direct challenge to the mindset that staying quiet keeps the peace. Ryan shows that speaking up is not selfish. It is responsible and necessary if you want to protect, provide, and preside for the people you care about.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Intro 00:53 Why men lost their voice and the conditioning that caused it 03:02 The consequences of silence and suppressed needs 04:48 Self-advocacy is not selfish. It is a responsibility 06:55 The cost of silence and becoming a punching bag 10:22 How suppressed frustration shows up in destructive ways 12:34 Advocating early or resenting later 14:07 How to advocate in relationships 16:18 How to advocate at work 17:17 Advocacy with friends and brothers 17:55 Advocating with yourself and ending excuses 18:58 Clarity equals courage and consistency 19:51 The three-step framework for self-advocacy 23:38 How to communicate needs clearly 26:03 Holding the line and enforcing boundaries 28:23 Self-advocacy and leadership 30:53 Iron Council and the power of counsel from other men 32:38 Final call to action. Get your voice back

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