Order of Man

In this Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle some of the most pressing questions facing modern men. From the pros and cons of testosterone replacement therapy to rites of passage for men who were never initiated, the conversation dives deep into masculinity, leadership, and responsibility.
They explore how men can give advice with confidence, navigate today's confusing cultural signals around manhood, and prepare their sons for a challenging financial future. This episode is a powerful reminder that being a man
is not a title - it's a daily commitment to action.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Opening & Current Events
04:55 - Testosterone & TRT
12:35 - Rites of Passage Into Manhood
22:45 - Giving Advice With Authority
33:20 - Masculinity, Adolescence & Maturity
42:30 - Preparing Sons for the Future
50:30 - Wrap-Up & 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

Today's conversation is a homecoming—back to the body, back to character, and back to what it means to be a man. My guest, Mark Walsh, challenges the modern habit of living entirely in our heads—cut off from sensation, boundaries, and responsibility. We talk embodiment not as fitness or aesthetics, but using physical training to develop character, emotional regulation, and presence. From Stoicism and shadow work to doing hard things on purpose, this episode is about reclaiming awareness, expanding range, and building the discipline required to choose better behavior.
We also confront the cult of modernity: hyper-individualism, happiness culture, pleasure-seeking that produces pain, and the loss of religion, community, and moral formation. Mark makes the case that happiness is secondary to meaning and commitment and that true freedom is forged through discipline, not the absence of limits.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Opening & Introduction
02:31 - What Embodiment Really Means
05:44 - Objectification & Modern Culture
08:13 - The Four Disconnections
11:49 - How to Come Home to the Body
15:08 - Training Beyond Comfort Zones
18:15 - Freedom, Range, and Choice
22:27 - Culture, Tribe, and Identity
27:13 - Modernity as a Death Cult
31:00 - Structure, Religion, and Meaning
34:24 - Happiness vs Purpose
36:57 - Rock Bottom of Modern Society
41:44 - Family, Institutions, and Masculinity
46:10 - Get Offline and Live Fully
49:30 - Emotions, Stoicism, and Control
52:00 - War Zone Story & Masculine Instinct
55:14 - Practices for Becoming Human
56:46 - Where to Find Mark Walsh
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 today's episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler challenges one of modern self-help culture's most sacred ideas: vulnerability. While honesty, humility, and emotional awareness are essential to growth, Ryan makes the case that vulnerability - when practiced without discernment, responsibility, or purpose - often becomes performative, destabilizing, and counterproductive, especially for men in leadership roles.
This episode is not an argument against emotion. It's an argument for self-mastery, containment, and earned honesty.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Intro
00:37 - Why Vulnerability Became a Sacred Cow
02:45 - Emotional Awareness vs Emotional Exposure
04:55 - Vulnerability Without Discernment = Emotional Exhibitionism
07:40 - Oversharing Shifts the Emotional Burden
09:50 - Why Emotional Dumping Kills Trust & Attraction
12:55 - Leadership Requires Stability, Not Collapse
14:40 - Transparency vs Discernment
16:30 - Honesty Is Not a Lack of Self-Mastery
17:40 - Regulation vs Repression
19:20 - Lessons from Stoic Men & Great Leaders
21:10 - Earned Vulnerability Explained
23:00 - Secure Containers, Not "Safe Spaces"
25:05 - Responsibility Over Emotional Relief
27:00 - What Men Actually Need More Of
28:20 - Vulnerability Is Not the Goal—Integrity Is
30:20 - Final Thoughts & 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

This episode is being re-released in remembrance of Scott Adams, who has passed away on the 13th of January, 2026. This interview remains a meaningful reflection of his ideas, experiences, and voice, and it deserved to be shared again.

My guest today, Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, joins me to talk about exactly why that is and the type of thinking he refers to as "Loserthink." It's also the title of his new book subtitled, How Untrained Brains are Ruining America. Today, we talk about the fact that being right and being wrong feel the same, how to determine what battles to fight online, how shaming and mockery can be used positively, and ultimately how you can avoid thinking like a loser.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Augmenting your intelligence
Wrestling with social media
A "slippery slope"
Linear thinking
Predictable variables to success
Influencing other people
Enlightened selfishness
Succeeding at systems
Mental addiction
Adding to your talent stack
There's always a deeper level
Engaging in "loser think"
Determining a stranger's thoughts
SCOTT ADAMS
Gents, I am stoked to be able to introduce you to my guest today, Scott Adams. Before I do, I want to make sure I thank my friend, Jordan Harbinger, for introducing us.

You may not know who Scott is right away but I'm sure you know Dilbert. Scott is the creator of Dilbert and the bestselling author of Win Bigly and his new book, Loserthink.
Although Scott really started to gain attention and traction with Dilbert, his political commentary is, in my mind, just as, if not more, important. If you're interested, you can check out what he has to say on Twitter (@scottadamssays). He's never been afraid to ruffle a few feathers and I think that is why he has gained such a following – his ability to say what needs to be said and his ability to say it in a way that connects with so many of us.
SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES
Gentlemen, we're all aware of how important systems and processes are on our path to success but how many men have not created those systems in every facet of their lives. These are the same men who often wonder why that cannot seem to get ahead.

This month, inside the Iron Council, we'll be exploring and deep-diving into the systems and processes I use and what the 500+ members are using to achieve maximum results. We'll help you unpackage your systems, explore what's working, remove what isn't, and rebuild a strategy that will ensure your success.
If you'd like to know more and build your blueprint for success, band with us inside the Iron Council. You'll get the tools, challenges, assignments, camaraderie, and brotherhood needed to thrive.

Again, join us at www.orderofman.com/ironcouncil.
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In this weekly Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan and Kipp open with reflections on consistency, discipline, and what long-term success actually requires. They then tackle listener questions on deeply held beliefs, fatherhood, masculinity, and how perspectives change with age and experience.
The conversation moves into practical advice on building strong male circles, writing and publishing a book, and preparing for marriage with clarity and intention. As always, the episode blends personal insight, hard-earned lessons, and actionable guidance for men committed to growth.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Welcome and Consistency
09:08 - Question on Strong Beliefs and Doubt
17:00 - Fatherhood, Leadership, and Manhood Expectations
29:09 - Finding High-Caliber Men and Brotherhood
36:32 - Writing and Publishing a Book
44:27 - Preparing for Marriage
50:24 - Iron Council Update and Closing
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