In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explores the powerful concept of “Will it Make the Boat Go Faster?”, a mantra for making decisions that drive real progress. Inspired by Olympic rower Ben Hunt-Davis, Ryan shares how this mindset can be applied to career growth, relationships, health, and personal goals. He discusses the importance of setting clear objectives, testing strategies, and adjusting when necessary.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - Introduction to the concept
01:42 - The Olympic rowing story
03:12 - Applying the mantra to life
07:43 - Decision-making and pivoting
09:45 - The importance of self-review
12:00 - Measuring progress objectively
14:32 - Eliminating distractions and staying focused
16:47 - Upcoming event: The Men's Forge

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 a variety of topics, including building wealth, establishing healthy boundaries, and balancing hobbies with responsibilities. They explore how to lead effectively, the tiers of accountability, and the importance of fostering integrity in relationships and organizations.

With personal insights, practical strategies, and engaging humor, Ryan and Kipp deliver actionable advice for men striving to improve their personal and professional lives.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 Headlines and Updates
13:52 Expanding Wealth and Financial Planning
24:12 Boundaries vs. Walls in Relationships
29:39 Masculine Projects and Fulfillment
34:28 Leading Leaders: Navigating Operational Challenges
44:51 Accountability: Supporting Others with Integrity
1:00:37 Becoming the Best Dad Possible
1:07:35 Strengthening Spiritual Practices

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

“Men aren’t emotional.”
“Men are more logical than their female counterparts.”
“Men don’t cry.”

These are all things you’ve heard whether they’ve been directed at you or not. But the reality paints a different story. Men are emotional. But that’s not to say that we ought to let ourselves be led by our emotions alone.

Dr. Ethan Kross understands this well as a man who researches how we, as humans, both feel and react to those feelings. Today, we talk about how to deal with intrusive thoughts, how to address the dark thoughts we often experience, what it actually means to “control” your emotions, how to become more emotionally fit, and how you can regulate your emotions – even the “negative” ones – so they don’t regulate you.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - The Unwritten Rule About Men and Emotions
01:57 - Emotional Strength: A Navy SEAL's Perspective
03:32 - Can We Control Our Emotions?
06:57 - Dark Thoughts and Emotional Awareness
08:15 - Myths About Managing Emotions
13:43 - Emotions: Tools for Resilience and Growth
15:55 - The Link Between Love, Hate, and Emotional Investment
20:41 - The Art of Emotion Regulation
26:07 - Emotional Fitness: A Multi-Tool Approach
30:14 - The Power of Mental Time Travel
41:17 - Public Speaking and Emotional Influence
49:39 - Over-Regulation and Exhaustion
52:26 - Leveraging Environmental Regulators
55:10 - The Value of Negative Emotions
59:13 - The Power of Finding Common Ground
01:00:38 - Closing Thoughts and How to Connect with Ethan Kross

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 dives into the powerful concept of the stories men tell themselves and how these narratives shape their identity, success, and outlook on life. Ryan challenges listeners to rewrite negative scripts, adopt a victor mindset, and use their inner dialogue to build resilience and purpose. He emphasizes the importance of self-talk, taking responsibility, and reframing experiences as opportunities for growth. This inspiring episode will leave you reflecting on your own story and the impact it has on who you are and who you’re becoming.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 Introduction
02:30 The impact of stories on identity
04:50 Reframing negative narratives
09:10 Self-talk and identity shaping
15:50 Victim vs. victor mindset
22:25 Lessons from the words we use
31:50 Changing old stories
36:25 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 and Kipp Sorensen tackle thought-provoking topics like entrepreneurial mindset, rediscovering drive after setbacks, and the dynamics of relationships. They answer listener questions on building self-discipline, explaining love to kids, and navigating life’s challenges with resilience. Ryan and Kipp also share insights on avoiding victimhood and embracing personal responsibility, alongside their thoughts on leadership, success, and living intentionally. Packed with practical advice and inspiring conversations, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to level up in life and relationships.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 Introduction
04:02 You Are Your Own Boss
17:10 Non-Commercialized Gifts for Your Wife
20:16 Go-To Songs to Get Fired Up
24:40 Explaining Love to Preteens
31:22 Rediscovering Drive After Setbacks
42:32 Career, Status, and Relationships
51:16 Talking to Kids About Their Struggles
59:30 The Best Advice from Mentors
1:04:08 New Hunting Tactics

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

Stories are what make the world go ‘round. From selling a product, service, or podcast like this one, to dating, raising kids, and building friendships, the stories you tell yourself and others are going to either unlock doors and open opportunities…or close the doors before you even had to chance to see them there.

Donald Miller is an expert storyteller and an expert and helping other people articulate and share theirs. Today, we talk about why humans are so interested in storytelling, what foundational elements make a good story, the importance of a “story loop,” to get other to buy-in to what you’re sharing by making them part of the story. Whether you’re a marketing professional or just want to help your son deal with his first bully at school, this podcast is for you.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction
00:22 - Hobbies and Interests
00:53 - Fly Fishing Buddies
01:15 - Nashville and Culture
02:26 - Why Move to Nashville?
03:06 - Are People Really that Kind?
03:23 - Population Growth in Nashville
04:27 - Concerns about Assimilation
05:51 - Portland Used to be a Great City
07:44 - Austin is a Great City, too
08:40 - The Power of Stories
09:34 - Why are Stories so Powerful?
10:30 - Stories as an Attention Device
11:06 - Stories in the Bible
12:12 - Truth and Stories
12:17 - Stories Equip Us for Threats
13:03 - Stories Shape Identity
14:19 - What Sort of Stories Work?
14:28 - Braveheart and the Writer
15:39 - Cultures Shaped by Stories
16:52 - Personal Stories in Church
18:10 - Opening Story Loops
18:51 - Rom-Com Story Loops
20:11 - How to Open Story Loops
20:38 - Leadership and Story
23:05 - Casting a Vision
24:55 - Catastrophic Failure
25:23 - What is Your Family Against?
26:17 - A Structure for Family Life
27:21 - What is Your Family For?
28:11 - The Vibe of Your Family
28:50 - Sound Bites and Repetition
30:02 - Shaping Identity
31:18 - Context is Key
32:15 - Truth with a Capital "T"
33:09 - Hitler and Churchill
33:59 - Hitler's Narrative
35:18 - Territorial Sovereignty
36:19 - Xi Jinping's Narrative
37:54 - Moral Responsibility
38:50 - Don's Core Belief
40:17 - Israel and Palestine
41:20 - Missing Christ in the Israeli-Palestinian Narrative
41:54 - What Makes a Compelling Story?
42:18 - Compelling Story Elements
44:23 - External and Internal Journeys
45:04 - External, Internal, and Philosophical Conflict
48:04 - The Hero is Transformed
49:23 - Affirmation from Mentors
51:15 - The Market in Men
51:55 - John Eldridge
52:32 - Answering the Internal Struggle
52:59 - Separation from God
54:57 - God's Love is Immovable
55:41 - Human Love Needs Human Meriting
56:46 - Nancy Duarte
56:51 - Story of Bullying
58:50 - Bullies and Evil
59:17 - StoryBrandAI
01:00:59 - Telling Stories About Core Values
01:02:02 - The Power of AI in Storytelling
01:02:53 - Jocko Willink and Tough Narratives
01:03:24 - Conclusion and Where to Connect

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 delves into the tragic events of the LA fires to uncover critical lessons about preparedness, responsibility, and leadership. He emphasizes the importance of self-reliance, accountability in governance, and practical approaches to safeguarding our families and communities. Drawing from real-world examples and personal reflections, Ryan challenges listeners to think critically about their own preparedness and role in protecting their loved ones. Tune in to discover five powerful lessons learned from this devastating event and how they can inspire you to become a better protector, provider, and presider in your own life.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 Introduction
03:05 Scope of the LA fires
05:34 The importance of self-reliance
08:50 The government's ineptitude
15:09 Rejecting ineffective policies
20:06 Addressing crime and punishment
24:06 Balancing human needs with nature
27:26 Supporting disaster relief efforts

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 episode of Ask Me Anything, Ryan Michler takes on an engaging solo session to address viewers’ thought-provoking questions. Covering topics like combating complacency, building confidence, improving communication, overcoming insomnia, escaping the comparison trap, and fostering a positive relationship with finances, Ryan delivers actionable advice and personal experiences. Packed with practical wisdom, this AMA is a must-listen for anyone seeking to enhance their mindset, leadership, and overall growth as a man.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 - Introduction
02:31 - Combating complacency
06:18 - Building confidence and resilience
16:46 - Communication skills and reading strategies
23:54 - Overcoming insomnia
29:46 - Breaking free from complacency
31:13 - Escaping the comparison trap
39:08 - Knowing when to pivot vs. quitting
46:42 - Coaching challenges with children
54:51 - Developing the right financial mindset

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