If you've ever lost everything (a business, a marriage, your sense of who you are) this conversation is proof that the collapse isn't the end of your story. Rick Trimmer walks through the exact math he and his wife used to climb out of $640,000 in debt: the thousand-day stretch with no pay, the decade of living on a thousand dollars a month, and the brutal conversations he had with himself and his wife about what they actually wanted. If you're in the hole right now, or you're scared of ever being in it, this is the blueprint for how a man digs out without excuses and without quitting on his family.

But this isn't just a comeback story; it's a lesson in delayed gratification and what winning the game really looks like. We'll cover how to build passive income, take advantage of opportunities that scare you, and chose freedom over the appearance of success. If you're tired of chasing a lifestyle you can't afford, or you're ready to start building something that actually lasts, this conversation gives you the mindset and the moves to get there.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - Episode Introduction

03:05 - Introduction to Rick Trimmer and Real Business Owners

05:08 - What Sets Entrepreneurs Apart: IQ, Drive, and Delusion

07:10 - Overcoming Weaknesses and the Power of Mentorship

09:12 - Leaving Corporate Life and Betting on Yourself

11:23 - The Reality of Financial Risk and Losing It All

13:32 - Repaying $640k Debt and Working 1,000 Days Straight

17:01 - Sacrifice, Top Ramen, and Building a Foundation

23:08 - Living on $1,000 a Month to Buy Freedom

29:05 - Getting Started in Real Estate and Finding Mentors

37:49 - Creative Financing and Acquiring Rental Properties

43:30 - Hitting the Passive Income Goal and Traveling the World

49:19 - Why Financial Freedom and Time with Family is Worth the Grind

54:57 - Consumerism vs. Real Wealth

01:00:55 - The Men's Forge and the Power of Live Events

01:04:29 - Saying "Yes" to New Opportunities

01:08:36 - Where to Connect with Rick Trimmer

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 single day, you wake up with a finite bank account of time, energy, integrity, and focus. But without realizing it, most men trade away their potential in thousands of unnoticed, micro-decisions.

In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the four dangerous trades men make every day on autopilot - from trading real progress for temporary fake peace, to sacrificing long-term character just to look good to others. If you're ready to stop bleeding your potential through a thousand small cuts and start living with deliberate intentionality, this episode is your wake-up call.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - The Finite Account: What Are You Trading Daily?

02:17 - Death by a Thousand Unintentional Cuts

03:40 - Trade 1: Fake Peace vs. Real Progress

06:27 - Stop Calling Cowardice "Patience"

08:14 - Trade 2: Doom Scrolling vs. Building Your Legacy

12:15 - When the Bill Comes Due: Facing the Receipt

13:00 - Trade 3: Quick Hits of Dopamine vs. Long-Term Satisfaction

15:21 - Trade 4: Outward Appearance vs. Personal Integrity

17:37 - The Cost of Owning Your Reality

19:54 - How to Reclaim Intentionality Today

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 and Kipp explore how men can break through life's transitional slumps and rebuild momentum. They answer viewer questions on keeping motivation alive after a health scare, finding purpose after military service, navigating the loss of a foster child, and handling sudden business success.

They also share practical advice on stepping up as an uncle and owning past mistakes to rebuild a damaged reputation.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - Episode Introduction

01:46 - Wholesome Character of the Day: Sophie Cunningham & Standing Up for Women's Sports

11:42 - Maintaining Clarity & Purpose After a Major Health Scare

19:22 - Rebuilding Identity and Mission After Leaving the Military

29:56 - Reconnecting with Family: Who Should Make the First all?

33:43 - Leading a Family Through the Grief of Foster Care

41:25 - What to Chase Next When You've Already Won

47:54 - Stepping Up as a Powerful Role Model Without Being a Dad

51:27 - Rebuilding Your Reputation When Everyone Knows Your Past Mistakes

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 special solo episode of Order of Man, founder Ryan Michler reflects on eleven years of podcasting, building a movement, and navigating personal evolution. Ryan interviews himself to extract actionable lessons for men leading families, starting businesses, or advancing their careers. He dives deep into why consistency beats talent every time, the costly "tuition payments" that come with entrepreneurship, and how to stand out in a saturated market.

Ryan also opens up about his darkest personal battles, including divorce and alcohol recovery, offering a candid look at accountability, resilience, and adaptability. Tune in to learn why maintaining your dignity and affording yourself grace are essential to becoming the man you were meant to be.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - Introduction & 11 Years of Order of Man

02:16 - Why Ryan Started the Podcast

06:49 - Business Mindset and Generating Income

09:08 - Why Consistency Beats Talent

11:30 - Paying Tuition: Learning from Costly Business Mistakes

13:58 - How to Stand Out in a Saturated Market

18:44 - Mastering Conversation and Everyday Lessons

23:28 - Evolving Interview Preparation and Adaptability

25:48 - True Accountability vs. Public Criticism

28:09 - Facing Personal Darkness and Choosing Not to Quit

32:55 - The Immutable Mission to Restore Masculinity

35:19 - Adapting to Cultural Shifts and New Technology

37:41 - Core Lessons: Grace, Adaptability, and Maintaining Dignity

39:42 - Conclusion & 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

Society often celebrates a man's physical labor- his calloused hands and strong back- while instructing him to hide or feel ashamed of his emotional scars. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, host Ryan Michler breaks down why carrying a bruised heart is not evidence of weakness, but proof that you actually showed up and lived.

Drawing from Theodore Roosevelt's famous "Man in the Arena" speech, Ryan reframes past failures, divorces, addictions, and losses as valuable badges of effort. Stop sitting on the sidelines in the cheap seats. Learn how to build calluses on your heart, stop disguising cowardice as wisdom, and take one actionable step back into the arena.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - The Marks of Physical Labor

02:15 - The Unseen Bruises of a Man's Heart

04:50 - Theodore Roosevelt's "Citizenship in a Republic"

06:15 - The Man in the Arena

08:00 - Why Wounds Are Proof of Effort, Not Weakness

10:40 - Responding to Haters and Cheap-Seat Critics

15:45 - What True Sacrifice Looks Like

18:25 - Building Calluses on the Heart Through Resistance

22:30 - Sovereignty: Getting Back in the Ring

29:20 - Wisdom vs. Cowardice: Protecting vs. Avoiding

31:45 - Weekly Challenge: Re-Engage With What Bruised You

33:50 - Iron Council War Room Announcement

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 answer real questions from men striving for personal growth. They share candid insights on breaking free from social media comparison, staying emotionally present without checking out, and stepping up as a father without a roadmap.

The duo also dives deep into rebuilding trust after business betrayals, finding resilience through backcountry hunting, and overcoming self-doubt in leadership. Tune in for practical advice on building character, dynamic family life, and leading with radical authenticity.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - Intro & News Headlines

05:05 - Wholesome Anniversary Segment

11:56 - Beating Social Media Comparison

18:58 - Calm Under Pressure vs. Emotionally Checked Out

30:36 - Fatherhood Without a Father Figure

41:11 - Rebuilding Trust After Business Betrayal

47:07 - Character Lessons in the Backcountry Wilderness

52:40 - Leading Through Faith and Doubt

01:01:38 - The Line Between Providing and Spoiling

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 relationship you're in is running a test you don't even know you're taking. And, most men are failing it in slow motion. Today's guest built his reputation calling out the exact moments men hand over their frame without noticing: the pedestal-building, the concessions that pile up one at a time until there are a thousand of them, the "I appreciate your energy" while she's quietly checking out. This isn't theory. It's the pattern behind every man who woke up one day wondering how he ended up as her Plan B in his own home.

We're getting into "shit tests" and why they never stop, why contempt is the clock counting down on a marriage, and why the "go plan" is the same as the "stay plan" might be the most freeing sentence you hear all year. We'll cover a few of the 7 spokes of a high-value man, some of the the 21 red flags and 16 green flags worth knowing before you commit, and why proximity, familiarity, and exclusivity are what actually build attraction. If you've ever felt like you're auditioning for your own life, this episode is your wake-up call.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - Introduction and Social Media Platforms

03:47 - Male Friendships and Testing Boundaries

05:08 - The Rise of the "Boss Girl" Avatar

06:51 - Why Modern Men Struggle with Masculinity

11:09 - Taking Frame Back in Relationships

14:18 - The Process of Betatization and Concessions

17:44 - Decisiveness and Leading in Dating

21:08 - How Cultural Narratives Weaken Men

24:36 - Tuning Into Your Inner Asshole

28:02 - Establishing Boundaries and Determinative Action

33:17 - Addressing Toxic Masculinity Accusations

37:10 - Handling Competency and Shit Tests

39:28 - The Fishing Boat Analogy for Maintaining Attraction

42:45 - The 7 Spokes of a High-Value Man

48:58 - Avoiding Bitterness and the Black Pill Mentality

53:45 - Major Red Flags to Avoid in Dating

55:25 - The Controversy Around Women and Tattoos

57:55 - Green Flags to Look for in a Partner

01:00:48 - Overview of 'Top Shelf Man' 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

Most men go their entire lives running on substitute friendships without realizing their tank is completely empty. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the 5 types of men in your life - from the convenient neighbor to the group chat clown - and reveals why only one of them will actually stand by you in a crisis. Learn how to audit your inner circle, eliminate friction-free surface relationships, and build genuine 2 AM friendships through intentionality and radical honesty.

Ready to surrounding yourself with high-caliber men? Join the Iron Council brotherhood at orderofman.com/ironcouncil.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 - The Friendship Trap Most Men Fall For

00:21 - Category 1: The Convenient Friend

04:55 - Category 2: The Default Friend

07:11 - Category 3: The Clown

11:02 - Category 4: The Casual Friend

15:04 - Category 5: The 2 AM Friend

18:10 - Why 2 AM Friendships Still Have Limitations

20:07 - Taking Responsibility for Your Relationships

22:25 - The 80/20 Rule of Male Vulnerability

26:47 - How to Build Intentional Brotherhood

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