141: Live Life on Your Terms | Hunter McIntyre

My guest today, Scott Payne, spent more than two decades working with some of the most notorious biker gangs, illegal drug operations, and neo-Nazis. And, it would be hard to even imagine some of the things he’s seen and experienced in his decades-long career as an FBI Special Agent. Today, Scott and I talk about what it takes to be a successful undercover agent, the lines that get blurred when working with some of the most dangerous criminals in the world, how to keep your cool under pressure (including the time a notorious biker gang stripped him in a basement to search him for the wire he was wearing at the time), and how a man transitions back into his ordinary life after one of the most dangerous jobs he could do. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Undercover Beginnings 02:25 - First Drug Buy 04:37 - Dark Humor Coping 06:32 - No Honor Among Thieves 15:06 - Infiltrating Neo-Nazis 26:07 - Blurring the Lines 35:31 - Illegal Activity Question 41:08 - Drug Protection Deal 47:59 - Basement Strip Search 01:00:55 - Wife’s Prayer 01:08:34 - Missing the Field 01:12:51 - Book 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

1 Apr 1h 24min

In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explores the provocative idea of "making yourself a more dangerous man." Far from advocating volatility, Michler redefines danger as effectiveness—knowing your goals, communicating with precision, and embodying conviction. Through personal anecdotes and actionable insights, he challenges men to reject wishy-washiness, embrace deliberate presentation, and overcome imposter syndrome by simply doing the work. With a blend of tough love and humility, Michler inspires listeners to step boldly into their potential. Tune in for a raw, motivating call to action, and discover how to join the Iron Council at orderofman.com/ironcouncil. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:24 - Introduction: Defining a Dangerous Man 02:45 - Knowing Your Target 05:09 - Clarity Through Journaling 07:09 - Mastering Communication 11:03 - Looking the Part 15:42 - Judging by Appearance 17:47 - Being the Part 21:01 - Stepping Into the Unknown 23:27 - Building Humble Conviction 28:57 - The X Factor Equation 31:20 - Closing: Join the 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

28 Mars 25min

In this AMA episode, Shawn and Kipp tackle thought-provoking questions from listeners on personal growth, leadership, and mindset. They discuss teaching kids about success without overwhelming pressure, the role of humor in strong leadership, and the power of service. They also address workplace challenges, helping introverts engage, and balancing social life with family responsibilities. Tune in for deep insights, practical advice, and candid conversations on becoming a better leader, father, and man. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Introduction & Weekly Catch-up 02:08 – Teaching Kids About Personal Growth and Fulfillment 18:16 – The Role of Humor in Leadership and Family Life 23:51 – Voluntary Sacrifice and Service for the Greater Good 31:35 – Handling Workplace Conflict and Leadership Challenges 40:02 – Encouraging an Introvert to Engage with a Group 46:49 – Rebuilding a Social Circle While Managing Family Life 50:54 – Iron Council & Men’s Forge Event Promotion 52:22 – Closing Thoughts & How 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

26 Mars 53min

We’re all somewhat familiar with our three-letter agencies but rarely, if ever, do we consider what some of the most intelligent people on the planet can teach us about communication, influence, and deception. But my guest is keenly aware of all three and how to implement powerful strategies to build trust, develop credibility, and get people to do what you want. His name is Jeffrey Sanow and he spent years as a Senior Intelligence Office with the CIA. Today, we talk about what the CIA looks for in its officers and assets, how to empower people to fail the right way, removing barriers to communication, the balance between compliance and rebelliousness, and the hard and soft skills of getting people to follow you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – The Importance of Communication Skills 02:00 – Why We Struggle with Listening 05:20 – The “Reloader” Problem in Conversations 09:15 – How to Interrupt Effectively in a Conversation 12:30 – The Role of Ego in Active Listening 18:00 – Lessons from CIA Training on Communication 21:40 – What It’s Like to Be a CIA Operations Officer 27:45 – Leadership Lessons from Intelligence Work 32:30 – Why Writing Skills Are Critical in Any Career 39:00 – Encouraging Innovation and Thinking Outside the Box 44:20 – How Intelligence Officers Recruit Spies 50:10 – The Psychology Behind Why People Share Secrets 56:30 – Applying CIA-Level Awareness to Everyday Life 1:00:45 – Jeffrey’s Book and Global Experiences 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

25 Mars 1h 9min

In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explores the vital role brotherhood plays in men’s lives. Drawing from personal struggles like divorce and alcohol abuse, he highlights five key benefits—belonging, usefulness, insight, support, and accountability—and warns of the isolation plaguing modern men. Ryan emphasizes how authentic male connections combat loneliness and foster growth, sharing candid stories and practical wisdom. He also introduces the Iron Council, his brotherhood initiative, inviting listeners to join. This discussion inspires men to build meaningful bonds and reclaim purpose. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:07 - Introduction to Brotherhood 02:34 - The Cost of Isolation 07:27 - Benefit 1: Belonging 12:23 - Benefit 2: Usefulness 18:16 - Benefit 3: Insight 21:38 - Benefit 4: Support 27:42 - Benefit 5: Accountability 36:58 - Invitation to Iron Council 39:56 - Closing 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

21 Mars 41min

In this episode of the Ask Me Anything series, Ryan and Kipp discuss the importance of consistency, overcoming personal struggles, and maintaining balance in life. They answer viewer questions on topics such as handling grief, setting boundaries with family, staying disciplined during busy seasons, and dealing with an unruly dog. They also share insights on how small, consistent actions lead to lasting change. Whether you’re looking for practical advice or motivation, this episode has something for you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 – Introduction 02:45 – Reflecting on 10 years of Order of Man 09:25 – How to rest and enjoy without feeling guilty 19:32 – Dealing with grief and overcoming divorce 32:31 – Strategies to stay focused during busy seasons 42:24 – What books Ryan and Kipp are reading right now 55:35 – Talking to kids about drugs and addiction 60:11 – Setting boundaries with parents 01:07:54 – How to break tough news about a pet to a child 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

19 Mars 1h 19min

Out of the millions of men I’ve worked with over the last 10 years, I’ve heard everything from a deep disdain and animosity towards God and Jesus to a rich and abiding love for His word. For me, I fall somewhere in the middle as I wrestle with my own relationship with Him and towards my faith and spirituality. And, that’s the reason I really wanted to talk with a huge influence in my life, John Eldredge. Today, John and I cover what faith and spirituality really look like, how the distraction era has hampered our ability to draw close to Christ, whether or not Church is necessary on the path of spirituality, why finding truth is challenging but worth the struggle, how the “Doctrine of Popular Culture” gets it all wrong and how, maybe for the first time ever, you can experience Jesus. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS (00:00) - Exploring Spirituality and Religion Today (13:47) - Father-Son Relationships and Spirituality (20:43) - Fatherhood and Warrior Spirituality (29:15) - Seeking Purpose Beyond Self-Gratification (37:37) - The Masculine Journey (49:48) - Nurturing Individuality and Identity (01:01:42) - Connecting With Spirituality in Everyday Life (01:07:08) - Discovering the Ordinary Mystic   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

18 Mars 1h 16min

In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explores a powerful metaphor for masculinity. Drawing from nature, he contrasts the virtuous, leadership-driven traits of lions with the deceptive, self-serving behaviors of hyenas. Through five key distinctions—leading vs. following, earning vs. taking, brotherhood vs. matriarchy, fearlessness vs. deceit, and protection vs. predation—Ryan challenges men to embody the lion’s strength and integrity. With personal anecdotes and bold insights, he urges listeners to reject parasitic tendencies and pursue a legacy of righteous living. Join Ryan as he unpacks this analogy and offers a path to purposeful manhood. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction to Lions and Hyenas   02:29 - Lions Lead, Hyenas Follow   04:57 - Lions Earn, Hyenas Take   07:18 - Brotherhood vs. Matriarchy   09:40 - Fearless Lions, Deceptive Hyenas   12:03 - Protection vs. Predation   13:30 - Choosing Your Path   15:45 - Iron Council Promotion   17:53 - 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

14 Mars 18min