ANSON FRERICKS | How DEI and Bud Light Died
I recorded this podcast with Anson Frericks, former Anheuser-Busch Executive, about a month ago before Trump took office and began putting the final nails in the coffin of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” (DEI) at the federal level. But, even before that, we saw the decline and predicted the ultimate downfall of DEI initiatives with very notable cases such as the Bud Light fiasco and subsequent boycott. Now, with Target, Amazon, Harley-Davidson, and more notable companies are dismantling these dangerous and destructive ideologies. Today, Anson and I talk about, why we’ve seen such a huge cultural shift against these policies, why companies truly started these policies in the first place (it wasn’t out of the goodness of their hearts), how consumers can take back culture through their purchasing power, and why DEI needs to die once and for all. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:41 - The Power of Authentic Branding 03:37 - Corporate America and Censorship 07:02 - When Companies Prioritize Politics Over Customers 11:34 - The Bud Light Controversy and Corporate Backlash 15:59 - The Influence of ESG and DEI on Big Business 21:39 - The Fallout of Anheuser-Busch’s Marketing Misstep 27:21 - Corporate America’s Struggle with Political Pressure 33:46 - The Shift in Advertising and Audience Connection 40:00 - How COVID and Social Movements Shaped Corporate Policy 46:02 - The Role of BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street 51:21 - The Future of Free Speech in Business 56:39 - The Power of Courageous Leadership in Shaping Industry 57:24 - The Next Era of Defense and Innovation 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
4 Feb 1h 10min
Will it Make the Boat Go Faster? | FRIDAY FIELD NOTES
In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explores the powerful concept of “Will it Make the Boat Go Faster?”, a mantra for making decisions that drive real progress. Inspired by Olympic rower Ben Hunt-Davis, Ryan shares how this mindset can be applied to career growth, relationships, health, and personal goals. He discusses the importance of setting clear objectives, testing strategies, and adjusting when necessary. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction to the concept 01:42 - The Olympic rowing story 03:12 - Applying the mantra to life 07:43 - Decision-making and pivoting 09:45 - The importance of self-review 12:00 - Measuring progress objectively 14:32 - Eliminating distractions and staying focused 16:47 - Upcoming event: The Men's Forge 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
31 Jan 18min
Prioritizing Masculinity, Leading Your Leaders, and Boundaries vs. Walls | ASK ME ANYTHING
In this week’s Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle a variety of topics, including building wealth, establishing healthy boundaries, and balancing hobbies with responsibilities. They explore how to lead effectively, the tiers of accountability, and the importance of fostering integrity in relationships and organizations. With personal insights, practical strategies, and engaging humor, Ryan and Kipp deliver actionable advice for men striving to improve their personal and professional lives. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Headlines and Updates 13:52 Expanding Wealth and Financial Planning 24:12 Boundaries vs. Walls in Relationships 29:39 Masculine Projects and Fulfillment 34:28 Leading Leaders: Navigating Operational Challenges 44:51 Accountability: Supporting Others with Integrity 1:00:37 Becoming the Best Dad Possible 1:07:35 Strengthening Spiritual Practices 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
29 Jan 1h 15min
DR. ETHAN KROSS | How Men Manage Their Emotions
“Men aren’t emotional.” “Men are more logical than their female counterparts.” “Men don’t cry.” These are all things you’ve heard whether they’ve been directed at you or not. But the reality paints a different story. Men are emotional. But that’s not to say that we ought to let ourselves be led by our emotions alone. Dr. Ethan Kross understands this well as a man who researches how we, as humans, both feel and react to those feelings. Today, we talk about how to deal with intrusive thoughts, how to address the dark thoughts we often experience, what it actually means to “control” your emotions, how to become more emotionally fit, and how you can regulate your emotions – even the “negative” ones – so they don’t regulate you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Unwritten Rule About Men and Emotions 01:57 - Emotional Strength: A Navy SEAL's Perspective 03:32 - Can We Control Our Emotions? 06:57 - Dark Thoughts and Emotional Awareness 08:15 - Myths About Managing Emotions 13:43 - Emotions: Tools for Resilience and Growth 15:55 - The Link Between Love, Hate, and Emotional Investment 20:41 - The Art of Emotion Regulation 26:07 - Emotional Fitness: A Multi-Tool Approach 30:14 - The Power of Mental Time Travel 41:17 - Public Speaking and Emotional Influence 49:39 - Over-Regulation and Exhaustion 52:26 - Leveraging Environmental Regulators 55:10 - The Value of Negative Emotions 59:13 - The Power of Finding Common Ground 01:00:38 - Closing Thoughts and How to Connect with Ethan Kross 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 Jan 1h 9min
The Stories You Tell Yourself Define You as a Man | FRIDAY FIELD NOTES
In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler dives into the powerful concept of the stories men tell themselves and how these narratives shape their identity, success, and outlook on life. Ryan challenges listeners to rewrite negative scripts, adopt a victor mindset, and use their inner dialogue to build resilience and purpose. He emphasizes the importance of self-talk, taking responsibility, and reframing experiences as opportunities for growth. This inspiring episode will leave you reflecting on your own story and the impact it has on who you are and who you’re becoming. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 02:30 The impact of stories on identity 04:50 Reframing negative narratives 09:10 Self-talk and identity shaping 15:50 Victim vs. victor mindset 22:25 Lessons from the words we use 31:50 Changing old stories 36:25 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
24 Jan 38min
You Are Your Own Boss, What Men Value in Women, and Fighting Against Victimhood | ASK ME ANYTHING
In this "Ask Me Anything" episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle thought-provoking topics like entrepreneurial mindset, rediscovering drive after setbacks, and the dynamics of relationships. They answer listener questions on building self-discipline, explaining love to kids, and navigating life’s challenges with resilience. Ryan and Kipp also share insights on avoiding victimhood and embracing personal responsibility, alongside their thoughts on leadership, success, and living intentionally. Packed with practical advice and inspiring conversations, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to level up in life and relationships. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 04:02 You Are Your Own Boss 17:10 Non-Commercialized Gifts for Your Wife 20:16 Go-To Songs to Get Fired Up 24:40 Explaining Love to Preteens 31:22 Rediscovering Drive After Setbacks 42:32 Career, Status, and Relationships 51:16 Talking to Kids About Their Struggles 59:30 The Best Advice from Mentors 1:04:08 New Hunting Tactics 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
22 Jan 1h 12min
DONALD MILLER | Build Influence and Authority Through Telling Stories
Stories are what make the world go ‘round. From selling a product, service, or podcast like this one, to dating, raising kids, and building friendships, the stories you tell yourself and others are going to either unlock doors and open opportunities…or close the doors before you even had to chance to see them there. Donald Miller is an expert storyteller and an expert and helping other people articulate and share theirs. Today, we talk about why humans are so interested in storytelling, what foundational elements make a good story, the importance of a “story loop,” to get other to buy-in to what you’re sharing by making them part of the story. Whether you’re a marketing professional or just want to help your son deal with his first bully at school, this podcast is for you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction 00:22 - Hobbies and Interests 00:53 - Fly Fishing Buddies 01:15 - Nashville and Culture 02:26 - Why Move to Nashville? 03:06 - Are People Really that Kind? 03:23 - Population Growth in Nashville 04:27 - Concerns about Assimilation 05:51 - Portland Used to be a Great City 07:44 - Austin is a Great City, too 08:40 - The Power of Stories 09:34 - Why are Stories so Powerful? 10:30 - Stories as an Attention Device 11:06 - Stories in the Bible 12:12 - Truth and Stories 12:17 - Stories Equip Us for Threats 13:03 - Stories Shape Identity 14:19 - What Sort of Stories Work? 14:28 - Braveheart and the Writer 15:39 - Cultures Shaped by Stories 16:52 - Personal Stories in Church 18:10 - Opening Story Loops 18:51 - Rom-Com Story Loops 20:11 - How to Open Story Loops 20:38 - Leadership and Story 23:05 - Casting a Vision 24:55 - Catastrophic Failure 25:23 - What is Your Family Against? 26:17 - A Structure for Family Life 27:21 - What is Your Family For? 28:11 - The Vibe of Your Family 28:50 - Sound Bites and Repetition 30:02 - Shaping Identity 31:18 - Context is Key 32:15 - Truth with a Capital "T" 33:09 - Hitler and Churchill 33:59 - Hitler's Narrative 35:18 - Territorial Sovereignty 36:19 - Xi Jinping's Narrative 37:54 - Moral Responsibility 38:50 - Don's Core Belief 40:17 - Israel and Palestine 41:20 - Missing Christ in the Israeli-Palestinian Narrative 41:54 - What Makes a Compelling Story? 42:18 - Compelling Story Elements 44:23 - External and Internal Journeys 45:04 - External, Internal, and Philosophical Conflict 48:04 - The Hero is Transformed 49:23 - Affirmation from Mentors 51:15 - The Market in Men 51:55 - John Eldridge 52:32 - Answering the Internal Struggle 52:59 - Separation from God 54:57 - God's Love is Immovable 55:41 - Human Love Needs Human Meriting 56:46 - Nancy Duarte 56:51 - Story of Bullying 58:50 - Bullies and Evil 59:17 - StoryBrandAI 01:00:59 - Telling Stories About Core Values 01:02:02 - The Power of AI in Storytelling 01:02:53 - Jocko Willink and Tough Narratives 01:03:24 - Conclusion 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
21 Jan 1h 10min
5 Lessons Learned From the LA Fires | FRIDAY FIELD NOTES
In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler delves into the tragic events of the LA fires to uncover critical lessons about preparedness, responsibility, and leadership. He emphasizes the importance of self-reliance, accountability in governance, and practical approaches to safeguarding our families and communities. Drawing from real-world examples and personal reflections, Ryan challenges listeners to think critically about their own preparedness and role in protecting their loved ones. Tune in to discover five powerful lessons learned from this devastating event and how they can inspire you to become a better protector, provider, and presider in your own life. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 03:05 Scope of the LA fires 05:34 The importance of self-reliance 08:50 The government's ineptitude 15:09 Rejecting ineffective policies 20:06 Addressing crime and punishment 24:06 Balancing human needs with nature 27:26 Supporting disaster relief efforts 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
17 Jan 30min
