Most men never receive training for fatherhood - but that doesn't make the role any less important.

In this week's Friday Field Notes, Ryan shares 7 strategies to become a better father and explains why your presence, discipline, standards, and personal growth matter more than you think.

Your kids are watching how you lead, how you respond to adversity, and how you show up every day. Whether your children are young, grown, or somewhere in between, these principles will help you become the father they remember and respect.

This isn't about perfection. It's about intentional fatherhood.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 Why Fatherhood Matters
02:58 Be Present, Not Just Around
04:50 Model the Man You Want Them to Become
07:09 Discipline Without Losing the Relationship
10:28 Let Your Kids Struggle
13:28 Tell Them Who They Are
17:56 Build Something Together
19:48 Father From a Full Tank
28:55 Iron Council & Final Challenge
29:36 Final Father's Day Message & Outro

If one of these principles hits home, choose one and apply it this weekend.

Join Iron Council:
https://orderofman.com/ironcouncil

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 and Kipp open with a conversation about building, creating, and the satisfaction that comes from seeing your work in the world before diving into another Ask Me Anything. This week, they tackle questions on approval seeking, self-development investments, measuring progress, unpopular opinions, intuition, instant gratification, rebuilding after divorce, and designing an intentional reset year.

They also discuss why progress often feels invisible, how to involve family in personal goals, and why growth requires structure instead of endless information gathering. If you're trying to become more intentional and build a life with purpose, this episode delivers a practical perspective.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - Intro & catching up
06:48 - Approval seeking vs being likable
20:10 - Investing in self-development
24:30 - Measuring personal growth
26:42 - Unpopular opinions
35:49 - Escaping instant gratification
39:30 - Taking an adult gap year
45:53 - Showing progress to others
53:00 - Getting spouse buy-in for big goals
01:07:00 - Why systems beat information
01:09:30 - 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

We've never been more connected, and we've never been more alone. Men have endless ways to reach each other and almost no reason they'll actually use them. We don't reach out. We don't check in. We won't pay another man a compliment without slapping "no homo" on the end of it to make sure nobody mistakes us for caring. And somewhere along the way, we decided that the first flowers a man receives should arrive at his funeral.

This week, AJ Kazmierczak joins the show to tear that pattern apart. We get into why connection is the single most valuable skill a man can build, how to develop it on purpose, and why most guys would rather avoid the discomfort of self-auditing than face what's actually holding them back. We talk accountability, discernment, evolving without losing yourself, and what it really costs to be the kind of man other men want in their corner.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - Episode Introduction
01:30 - Reconnecting After Montana Knife Company
05:20 - Why Men Are More Connected Yet More Isolated
08:00 - The Lost Art of Complimenting Other Men
12:57 - Building Relationships Through Small Conversations
16:24 - Accountability and Encouragement in Unexpected Places
21:16 - Why Communication Skills Matter More Than Credentials
24:47 - Whose Opinions Should Actually Matter
31:21 - Creating an Identity Instead of Fitting In
35:49 - Authenticity, Attention, and Standing Out
38:36 - Evolving Without Losing Yourself
42:55 - Why Honest Feedback Is So Rare
45:09 - Self-Auditing and Becoming More Self-Aware
49:08 - Fast Decision Makers vs Overthinkers
51:59 - The Problem With Being the "Nice Guy"
54:14 - Technical Reset + Bringing It Home
55:12 - Redefining What It Means to Be Alpha
57:36 - Family, Purpose, and Building a Meaningful Life
01:00:18 - Connection, Conversation, and Community
01:01:12 - Winter Strong, Sorenex, and Future Plans
01:02:59 - Final Thoughts 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

Modern culture often treats masculinity as something dangerous that needs to be suppressed, softened, or apologized for. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler challenges that narrative and draws a critical distinction between masculinity and manliness.

Masculinity, Ryan argues, is the raw, God-given force within men - the drive to compete, build, protect, lead, and conquer. It is neither good nor bad on its own. Manliness, however, is what happens when that force is refined, disciplined, governed by principle, and directed toward a righteous purpose.

Ryan outlines five practical ways to forge masculinity into manliness: attaching your strength to a mission, submitting yourself to discipline, living by a code, serving others, and embracing voluntary hardship. He explains why purpose, responsibility, and self-mastery are essential for becoming the man you're meant to be.

If you've ever wrestled with what it means to be a strong man in today's world, this episode offers a framework for harnessing your natural gifts and turning them into something valuable for yourself, your family, and your community.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 Introduction
00:07 The Lie We've Been Told About Masculinity
02:32 Masculinity vs. Manliness
04:58 Why "Toxic Masculinity" Gets It Wrong
07:17 Responsibility Over Shame
09:14 Choosing Who You Become
11:22 1. Attach Your Masculinity to a Mission
15:47 2. Submit Your Masculinity to Discipline
19:11 3. Govern Masculinity with Principles
23:08 4. Aim Your Strength in Service of Others
25:27 5. Embrace Voluntary Difficulty
28:46 Happiness vs. Fulfillment
30:18 Why Men Are Not the Problem
32:09 Becoming a Man in Command of Himself
33:13 Iron Council Invitation
34:02 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

Two hosts, five powerful listener questions, and a conversation that moves from comparison and fatherhood to relationships, self-awareness, and personal growth. Ryan and Kipp open with a quick catch-up before diving into questions from listeners on feeling behind in life, protecting children from cultural influence, rebuilding relationships with adult children, navigating difficult conversations with a spouse, and developing greater self-awareness.

Along the way they discuss intentional parenting, accountability, ownership, communication, and why the quality of your questions often determines the quality of your life.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 Intro & Hawaii recap
08:29 Comparison and feeling behind
21:00 Protecting your kids from culture
31:35 Rebuilding relationships with adult children
40:09 Talking to your spouse about difficult issues
51:19 Building self-awareness
01:08:59 Men's Forge event announcement
01:11:12 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

Every man carries forces that pull against each other. It could be the urge to numb out and the call to face it, the inheritance of his father's failures and the responsibility to break the chain. For Michael Millin, those opposing forces weren't a metaphor. They were the difference between a life lost to addiction and the 17 years of sobriety he's built since hitting bottom with his back against the wall.

Today, Michael and I talk about generational trauma, the instability of growing up with a father who came in and out of his life, and what it actually takes to stop running from the pain you've spent your whole life numbing. This is a raw conversation about alcoholism, faith, and the lie that we have to wrap our identity up in being broken. Michael shares how he went from mocking Christianity to wrestling honestly with God, how a single sober friend changed the trajectory of his life, and why enablers do more damage than they'll ever admit. If you've ever told yourself you weren't okay, this one is for you.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - Episode Introduction
01:04 - Fatherhood, addiction, and absent fathers
04:06 - Growing up with addiction and instability
05:33 - Ryan's recovery experience and AA discussion
06:28 - Watching a father relapse after 15 years sober
09:24 - Rock bottom, poverty, and getting sober
13:39 - What rock bottom actually looked like
16:03 - Recovery, Indonesia, and spiritual searching
17:18 - Christianity, marriage, and life transformation
20:29 - Finding an outlet and building a meaningful life
21:51 - Addiction, purpose, and destructive patterns
23:37 - Fatherhood and defining a personal mission
26:49 - Turning childhood pain into purpose
28:50 - Faith, doubt, and searching for God
32:43 - Generational cycles and breaking family patterns
35:56 - Accepting hard truths and personal responsibility
39:50 - Addiction, identity, and becoming okay internally
41:50 - Family trauma and inherited suffering
44:20 - Native American heritage and generational impact
50:30 - Spiritual warfare and healing
51:16 - The story behind A Life of Opposing Forces
53:20 - Surfing, sharks, and feeling alive
59:16 - Lessons from being new on the journey
01:00:10 - Relationships, faith, and changing direction
01:01:55 - Where to connect with Michael

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

Masculinity isn't inherently good or bad - it's a force. Like fire, it can be used to build or destroy. The real question isn't whether masculinity is the problem; it's whether a man has learned to direct it with discipline, character, and purpose.

In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explores the critical distinction between masculinity and manliness, then breaks down five immature archetypes that keep men from reaching their full potential. From the Man Child to the Jester, Ryan explains how these patterns show up in everyday life and what it takes to move beyond them.

If you're willing to take an honest look in the mirror, this episode may reveal exactly where you need to grow.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 Intro
00:17 Masculinity Is Not Inherently Good or Bad
02:26 Masculinity vs. Manliness
04:33 Being Good vs. Being Good at Being a Man
05:44 Manliness Requires Virtuous Direction
06:40 The Meaning of Arete
08:29 Masculinity Without Refinement
09:27 Archetype #1: The Man Child
15:31 Archetype #2: The Ghost
21:27 Archetype #3: The Tyrant
25:36 Archetype #4: The Martyr
30:49 Archetype #5: The Jester
34:45 Which Archetype Are You?
36:45 Iron Council Preview Invitation
38:05 Final Thoughts and Challenge

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 solo Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler tackles some of the most common challenges men face in midlife: complacency after success, leading a family without becoming controlling, overcoming conflict avoidance, dealing with regret, and building meaningful male friendships.

Ryan shares practical frameworks for finding purpose after you've achieved your goals, developing conviction without coercion, stepping into leadership at home, and letting go of past mistakes through accountability and changed behavior. He also offers candid advice on creating deeper connections with other men and why meaningful struggles are essential for growth and fulfillment.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:12 - Introduction and Iron Council Preview Call
01:20 - Staying Sharp After Success and Comfort
07:09 - Passing Faith to a Teenage Son Without Control
12:32 - The Midlife Emptiness Many Men Experience
15:28 - Overcoming Conflict Avoidance and People-Pleasing
30:50 - Leading Your Family Without a Power Grab
44:18 - How to Deal with Real Regret and Move Forward
55:32 - Why Men Struggle to Build Deep Friendships
01:05:30 - Where to Find Strong Male Relationships
01:06:55 - Final Thoughts 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