Order of Man

In this episode, Ryan Michler explores the ancient concept known as the "Ulysses Pact" and explains how it can help modern men build discipline, avoid self-sabotage, and stay committed under pressure. Drawing from Homer's Odyssey, Ryan breaks down why willpower alone often fails and how intentional systems, accountability, and pre-commitment strategies create lasting change.
 
Through practical examples involving finances, alcohol, work-life balance, and relationships, he shows how men can protect themselves from moments of weakness before temptation ever arrives. Ryan also shares the importance of brotherhood, structure, and personal responsibility in becoming the man one is meant to be.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Why Men Break Promises to Themselves
01:56 - The Story of Odysseus and the Sirens
04:15 - The Nature of Temptation and Self-Sabotage
06:06 - Why Willpower Is Not Enough
08:23 - Understanding the Ulysses Pact
10:38 - How Stress Destroys Rational Decision-Making
12:47 - Financial Discipline Through Pre-Commitment
16:03 - Alcohol, Accountability, and Better Decisions
18:10 - The Workaholic Trap and Family Presence
20:10 - Managing Conflict and Emotional Reactions
22:30 - Five Principles of the Ulysses Pact
23:39 - Building Friction Into Bad Habits
25:00 - Why Accountability Is Essential
26:00 - The Power of Specific Commitments
27:00 - Respecting Your Future Self
29:05 - Ryan's Challenge to Build Your Own Pact
30:26 - Brotherhood, Iron Council, 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

What if the sacrifices you make aren't actually about service... but identity?
In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the dangerous trap many men fall into: building their entire identity around suffering, responsibility, and sacrifice. Drawing from philosophy, psychology, and personal experience, Ryan explores how men unconsciously become martyrs - believing their worth is tied to how much pain they can endure.
From Carl Jung's concept of the persona and shadow, to Stoic philosophy and Sartre's idea of "bad faith," this episode challenges men to ask a difficult question:
Are you sacrificing for something... or sacrificing as something?
 
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - The Question That Changed Everything
01:05 - Becoming "The Responsible One"
03:35 - The Persona Men Build
05:35 - When Suffering Becomes Identity
06:45 - The Trap of Proving Your Worth
07:20 - Sartre and "Bad Faith"
09:20 - The Mindset of the Martyr
10:40 - Stoicism and Virtuous Suffering
12:15 - Why Men Perform Sacrifice
13:20 - Carl Jung and the Shadow
15:15 - The Hidden Patterns of Martyrdom
16:00 - Keeping Score in Relationships
17:10 - Why Martyrs Refuse Help
18:50 - Resentment Disguised as Dedication
21:05 - "I Had No Choice"
22:15 - Why Nobody Loves a Martyr
24:05 - Martyrdom vs Purpose
25:05 - The Story Your Kids Learn From You
26:15 - Losing Yourself in Responsibility
27:30 - How to Break the Pattern
28:00 - Name the Performance
28:50 - Reclaim Your Sovereignty
29:55 - The Boy Still Carrying the Weight
31:20 - Conscious vs Compulsive Sacrifice
32:10 - Building Identity Beyond Suffering
33:20 - A Man Who Knows Who He Is
34:35 - The Epictetus Quote
35:20 - Learning to Put the Weight Down
36:10 - Suffering With Purpose
37:00 - Final Thoughts on Martyrdom
37:45 - Share This With Another Man
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

Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorenson tackle hard truths about masculinity, leadership, discipline, and faith in this AMA episode. They discuss why many men struggle to lead confidently at home, how toxic behavioral patterns become comfortable, and what real brotherhood and accountability look like. The conversation dives deep into self-awareness, responsibility, relationships, and the danger of using faith as an excuse for passivity. Along the way, they share practical advice for helping struggling friends, becoming a man worth following, and building stronger purpose-driven lives. 
Packed with candid stories, sharp insights, and actionable takeaways, this episode challenges men to stop avoiding reality and get to work.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 Episode kickoff
00:46 Ryan's rant on biohacking culture
04:32 Why men focus on what they obsess over
06:00 Lacrosse fundraiser and leadership lesson
10:19 Ego, purpose, and mission-first thinking
17:16 Leading a wife who doesn't want to be led
27:24 Masculinity resources and recommended books
29:23 Why men repeat destructive patterns
36:07 The power of brotherhood and accountability
48:32 Helping a friend who refuses help
58:26 Faith, responsibility, and ownership
01:03:35 Why men are called to work
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

If you're being honest, you know something has shifted in this culture. Most of us feel it even if we can't name it. The language has changed, the standards have changed, emotional performance has replaced principled conviction, and the men willing to hold a hard line are being told to sit down and apologize. Today's guest, Dale Partridge, doesn't apologize. And. He makes the case for why you shouldn't either.
We cover the philosophical and cultural forces driving the effeminization of men and society, why a man without a defined worldview is a man who can be pushed around, the political and moral landscape men are being asked to navigate right now, and what it practically looks like to reclaim the kind of masculinity this culture is working overtime to erase. We don't pull punches on this one.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Episode Introduction
01:22 - Reuniting After 8 Years
02:08 - Why Culture Has Become More Polarized
04:22 - The Failure of Multiculturalism
07:01 - "Young Men Are Tired of Being Told Not to Notice Reality"
08:56 - Speaking Honestly in a Politically Correct Culture
09:58 - Feminization of Society & Institutions
12:03 - Masculinity vs Effeminacy
14:26 - "We're in an Era of Masculine Recovery"
16:24 - Reclaiming Masculinity Instead of Redefining It
17:46 - Men, Conflict & Power
20:33 - Weak Leadership in Modern Churches
21:55 - Why Young Men Are Returning to Church
24:20 - The Manliness of Christ
25:33 - Morality, Politics & Trump
26:40 - Creedal vs Confessional Christianity
30:38 - Christian Unity & "Unite the Clans"
33:11 - Protestantism & America's Origins
38:19 - Separation of Church and State Explained
45:58 - Why Morality Requires Authority
48:05 - Politics as Religion
50:10 - Why Men Need a Worldview
52:54 - The Modern Church as a "Social Club"
53:52 - Ryan's Spiritual Experience in Iraq
55:35 - The Biggest Threats to Western Civilization
57:20 - "The Three Dragons" Facing Society
59:33 - Feminism & Repealing the 19th Amendment
01:01:49 - Immigration, Nationalism & Assimilation
01:05:12 - Christian Nationalism Explained
01:06:12 - America's Relationship with Israel
01:08:31 - Why Difficult Conversations Matter
01:10:16 - Launching "American Grit"
01:11:48 - Ryan Praises Dale's Courage
01:13:21 - Social Media Growth & Cultural Shift
01:14:42 - Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up
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

What happens when a man loses his mission?
In this powerful Friday Field Notes episode, Ryan Michler breaks down why purpose is not optional for men - it's essential. Drawing from military experience, personal stories, and alarming statistics around depression, suicide, addiction, and isolation, Ryan explains why so many men feel lost today and how to reclaim direction.
Using the acronym MISSION, Ryan walks through a practical framework to help men identify meaning, build identity, serve others, develop skills, pursue interests, overcome obstacles, and take the next step toward a purpose-driven life.
If you've felt stuck, numb, disconnected, or unsure of your next move, this episode is a direct challenge to stop drifting and start building a mission worthy of your life.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction
00:33 - The Soldier Returning Home
02:58 - The Crisis Facing Men Today
04:32 - Why Men Need Mission
05:05 - M = Meaning
06:55 - I = Identity
08:40 - S = Service
13:05 - The Power of Generational Impact
14:30 - S = Skills
16:20 - I = Interests
18:45 - O = Obstacles
21:23 - N = Next Step
22:55 - Mission, Depression & Isolation
24:20 - Young Men Without Purpose
26:05 - Why Great Men Had Missions
27:20 - Final Challenge to Men
28:25 - Iron Council Invitation & Outro
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