How to Build Purpose, Find Friends Who Support Sobriety, and Hold Brothers Accountable | ASK ME ANYTHING
Release Date: 07/01/2026
Order of Man
Summer is ending, and for many men, structure and discipline went out the window right along with it. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down why waiting for external calendars to rebuild your life is a major mistake. Instead of treating the end of summer like a burden to survive, learn how to systematically reclaim your standards and rebuild your personal routine in three non-negotiable steps: locking in your wake time, adding daily physical movement, and tackling deep work in proper order. As the leader of your household, setting this cadence isn't just about personal...
info_outlineOrder of Man
This episode of Ask Me Anything tackles the real-life challenges men face as they age, lead families, navigate friendships and raise children. Ryan and Kipp discuss making peace with physical decline, giving teenagers room to develop independence, and questioning popular self-help advice. They also explore how to rebuild trust after betrayal, what masculine leadership looks like when raising daughters, and how to manage anger without repeating the patterns of our fathers. The conversation closes with a deeply personal discussion about lessons inherited from fathers, the danger of...
info_outlineOrder of Man
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...
info_outlineOrder of Man
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...
info_outlineOrder of Man
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 -...
info_outlineOrder of Man
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,...
info_outlineOrder of Man
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...
info_outlineOrder of Man
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...
info_outlineOrder of Man
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...
info_outlineOrder of Man
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...
info_outlineIn this week's Ask Me Anything, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle some of the toughest questions men face today. They discuss whether purpose is something you discover or build, how to find closure after losing a parent, and what it takes to save a struggling marriage before it's too late. They also talk about accountability between friends, rebuilding your life after alcohol, returning to faith, and introducing your children to difficult experiences like hunting without letting your own ego get in the way. Plus, they kick things off with a spirited debate about when, if ever, violence is justified in defense of your family.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Welcome & Recent Iron Council Conversations
03:07 - Is Violence Ever a Wholesome Activity?
14:38 - Grieving an Unfinished Relationship with Your Father
25:08 - Finding Purpose When You Feel Stuck
34:06 - Can a Marriage Be Saved Before It's Too Late?
41:03 - Rebuilding Friendships After Getting Sober
44:54 - Holding Friends Accountable Without Becoming Judgmental
51:26 - Returning to Faith or Just Seeking Structure?
57:29 - Teaching Your Son to Hunt Without Letting Ego Get in the Way
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