Episode #29 feat. Jay Gallamore

What happens when a retired naval pilot—who used to schedule his Saturday naps days in advance—steps out of his head and into his heart?

In this twenty-ninth episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Jay Gallamore to discuss his 2024 initiation at Shrine Mont, Virginia. Jay shares his journey of navigating PTSD, divorce, and the unraveling of his life, ultimately finding a tighter steering wheel for his spiritual path through Illuman. He opens up about the shock of the "mirror gauntlet," balancing his "three buckets" of life, and why the radical inclusivity of men's work needs to consciously make space for military veterans and first responders.

Episode Highlights

• The Wide Road: How hitting rock bottom with PTSD and a crumbling marriage sparked a profound spiritual journey.
• The Mirror Gauntlet: The emotional shock of witnessing the deep childhood wounds of other men during ritual.
• Head to Heart: Transitioning from a highly analytical, schedule-driven life to a grounded morning meditation practice.
• Military Men & Radical Belonging: A candid discussion on the tension conservative or military men might feel in progressive spiritual spaces, and the need for true inclusion.
• The Three Buckets: Learning the hard way to balance family, religion, and volunteer work without overcommitting.

Links & Resources

• Brian Mueller (Host)
• BriansPoems.com
• Illuman MROP
• Choosing Presence (Sponsor)
• Practicing Presence App
• The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
• Adam's Return by Richard Rohr
• Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr
• Trust Stillness by Brian Mueller

Credits

• First and foremost, thank you to Jay Gallamore for sharing his journey and his heart with us today.
• Thank you to Fr. Richard Rohr and the men of Illuman who have stewarded the Men’s Rites of Passage since 1996.
• Thank you to Jim Heaney and Jim Taylor for their dedication to Choosing Presence.

Music Credits:

• Slow Mo Dreams by Soundroll
• Becoming a Legend by Vens Adams