Order of Man

Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle another round of Ask Me Anything questions, covering career ambition, fatherhood, divorce, sobriety, friendship, faith, Stoicism, hunting injuries, masculinity, money and men's brotherhood. They discuss the hidden costs of achieving your goals, how to rebuild trust with your children, why friendships require intentional effort, and how to redefine your sense of worth beyond income. 
They also explore whether Christian principles and Stoic philosophy can coexist, adapting outdoor pursuits after injury, and what to do when others misunderstand your men's group. Throughout, the conversation emphasizes intentionality, responsibility, consistency, connection and surrounding yourself with men committed to growth.
 
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Recording Setup & Connection Issues
04:37 - Kipp Returns from Europe
06:30 - The Hidden Cost of Career Success
13:33 - Can You Overdo Affection as a Father?
19:36 - Rebuilding Trust After Divorce
27:57 - Sobriety and Finding Fun Without Alcohol
37:07 - Maintaining Long-Distance Male Friendships
39:55 - Christianity, Stoicism and Truth
46:46 - Staying Connected to the Outdoors After Injury
48:59 - When Your Wife Makes More Money
54:41 - Defending Brotherhood Without Defending It
56:46 - The Iron Council
57:45 - Staying Connected with Order of 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

Most of us think courage is something you either have or you don't. But what if it's actually a decision you make over and over, the same way you'd train a muscle? Today's conversation is about what happens when you stop asking "what if I fail" and start asking, "let's find out." We get into why 90% of what we fear never happens, how to raise kids with grit in a culture built for convenience, and why the most dangerous thing a man can do isn't the risk he takes…it's the potential he leaves untapped.
My guest today, Alex Harris, has summited Everest, walked unsupported to the South Pole, and made the first-ever unsupported crossing of Arabia's "Empty Quarter" on foot. But this isn't a conversation about extreme sports. It's about the mindset that separates the guy who stays inside the fence from the guy who goes and finds out what's on the other side of the wall. If you've ever felt like you're sitting on something you haven't had the guts to go pursue, this one's for you.
 
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction & Hiking the Zion Narrows
04:55 - Changing Risk Profile & Fatherhood
08:45 - Evaluating Risk vs. Reward
09:49 - Broad Peak Expedition & Turning Point
14:18 - Lower-Risk Adventures & Family
18:52 - Cultivating Adventure in Children
22:21 - Building Grit and Life in South Africa
23:51 - Media Narratives vs. South African Realities
26:51 - Reasons for Immigrating to Texas
32:41 - The Journey to US Citizenship
36:56 - Cultural Differences and Adapting to Texas
46:17 - Unplanned Path to Becoming an Extreme Athlete
50:39 - Curiosity and Unlocking Potential
53:57 - Redefining Failure and Managing Fear
01:01:27 - Forging Untrodden Paths & The Arabian Desert
01:06:00 - A Unique Moment in Cave Exploration
01:11:41 - Purpose, Choice, and Stifled Curiosity
01:15:30 - Where to Connect with Alex Harris
 
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

Communication is one of the most powerful tools we have. It allows us to connect with people, share ideas, build relationships, rally people around a common cause, keep people safe, and create opportunities.
But communication can also become the thing that holds you back.
In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan breaks down five practical ways men can become more effective communicators - not by simply talking more, but by becoming more intentional about how they use their words, listen, and connect with others.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - If You Can't Communicate, You Can't Win
00:48 - Why Communication Matters
03:04 - Communication: Your Key or Your Killer
04:15 - #1: Say Less but Mean More
07:41 - #2: Listen to Understand
10:09 - Use Your Two Ears and One Mouth
10:45 - #3: Match Your Tone to the Stakes
15:04 - Why Your Tone Matters
17:25 - #4: Use Small Talk as Leverage
19:32 - Small Talk Creates Connection
21:55 - #5: Own Your Words
24:42 - Express Yourself and Lead
27:04 - Say What You Mean
28:50 - Follow Through on Your Words
31:14 - Words Only Have Weight When You Back Them Up
32:23 - The Five Keys to Better Communication
33:23 - Join the Iron Council
 
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 Alan Placer tackle ten questions from men dealing with family, identity, fatherhood, marriage, pain, career, and personal responsibility. They discuss how to set boundaries when financial gifts come with strings attached, what to do when a teenage son is drawn toward extreme online communities, and how to separate identity from a sport or physical ability. 
They also explore recognizing your parents as imperfect human beings, building self-respect without external validation, navigating disagreement over having another child, and understanding the limits of financial provision in marriage. The episode closes with a spirited debate over what actually qualifies as a sport.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - The Great Sport Debate
07:03 - When a Financial Gift Comes With Strings
11:35 - Embarrassing Habits at 25
18:19 - Helping a Son in Extreme Online Spaces
28:05 - Chronic Pain: Strength or Stubbornness?
37:31 - Identity After a Physical Setback
44:41 - Don't Punish Your Child for Your Past
52:10 - Building Self-Respect Without Validation
59:05 - When Dad Stops Being a Hero
01:05:59 - When Husband and Wife Disagree About Another Child
01:15:17 - When Providing Hurts Your Marriage
01:22:31 - The Sport Debate Continues
01:26:18 - War Room Invitation
 
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 of what passes for leadership advice today is polish. You say the right things, avoid conflict, perform confidence until you believe it yourself. This episode is about the opposite. We're talking about what happens when you stop performing and start operating: how to build relationships that are actually real instead of transactional, how to handle conflict without flinching or blowing it up, and why the most effective leaders aren't the cleanest; they're the ones willing to own their flaws and use them.
We get into the idea of the "antihero." He's not a villain, not a saint, but someone pragmatic enough to do what the moment requires instead of what looks good on camera. We talk about credibility versus performative influence, why so much content today is loud but hollow, and how the stories we tell ourselves (culturally and individually), shape whether we actually grow or just look like we are. If you're tired of leadership advice that sounds good and does nothing, this one's for you.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - The Power of Real Relationships
05:44 - Why Transactional Relationships Destroy Trust
07:16 - How to Handle Conflict Like an Adult
10:50 - There Is No Magical Phrase for Communication
12:45 - The Problem With Contrarian Content
16:55 - The Anti-Hero Advantage
21:41 - Why "Regular Guys" Don't Always Get Heard
25:26 - Pragmatism, Influence and Social Capital
28:50 - Understanding Your Conflict Archetype
33:30 - Integrating Your Dark Side
39:14 - Do the Ends Justify the Means?
44:05 - Why You Don't Have to Be Liked
46:17 - Dealing With Internal and External Conflict
50:17 - Why Culture Has Replaced Self-Development
53:55 - The Truth Just Isn't Sexy
55:53 - The Five Skills Everyone Needs
59:35 - The Value of Admitting Your Own Ignorance
01:03:00 - Learning to Challenge Your Own Ideas
01:04:00 - When Communication Goes Wrong and What to Learn From It
 
Order Ryan's latest book, The Masculinity Manifesto on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Masculinity-Manifesto-Establishes-Influence-Credibility/dp/1684513316
 
Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready.
https://orderofman.link/battle-ready
 
Download the NEW Order of Man Twelve-Week Battle Planner and maximize your week. https://orderofman.link/12-week-planner-app
 
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