Savage Gentleman Podcast

On this episode, I sit down with World Master's Weightlifting Champion, multi-facility CrossFit owner, and good friend, James Ellis, to record a deep and lengthy conversation out in my barn. Despite achieving such high accolades and accomplishments, it seems these might be the least interesting things about him. After joining us at our second Legion of Savage Gentlemen Event, James shares some of his takeaways from the experience and we discuss his expertise in building a community (among many other things). It's pretty wild right full of insight and inside jokes that highlight the fact that there is strength in numbers...if we are willing to be open enought to allow others to walk close enough beside us along our journey.

In this long overdue special episode, we sit down with Dr. Josh Sharpe and have a live discussion on the evolution of Savage Gentleman as an idea, a company, and a way of life. We delve into the process of becoming a Savage Gentleman through experience and intention. He and I discuss how a man can cultivate both his Savage and Gentleman sides to reach the full potential of who he was created to be. Towards the end, we open up the floor for some Q&A and dive into the body - mind - spirit cycle. We touch on how this progression inspires and guides the process of becoming a Savage Gentleman and how it has become the thesis for our live experiences within the Legion of Savage Gentlemen.

What would it be like to suddenly flee your home and seek refuge in a new town with complete strangers? How would you cope with the physical and emotional stress of being the one your family looks to for protection from the imminent danger of war? Recently, I had the unique opportunity to speak with a young man who is living this experience right now in Ukraine. Our friend "Nick" joins us for a powerful discussion on his current situation there, and shares some of the mental and emotional struggles he is currently facing. We talk about the strategies he has put to use to help him manage living through a war, as well as the valuable lessons he is learning about himself and human nature.

In today's modern world, more and more of our time and attention is demanded of us. We are told from every direction how to think, what to buy, and where to look. And if we aren't careful, we can get so caught up in the noise and static that surrounds us, that our lives drift past without us realizing. To prevent this, our guest Ryan Michler sets boundaries in all aspects of his life. From his commitment to his own podcast, to allotting time for his family, to practicing his own personal development, he creates certain "non-negotiables" that form a boundary around his time and attention. In this episode, we talk about this process and how it allows him to maintain a healthy family/work balance in his own business, Order of Man. He also speaks to using boundaries in one's principles, to maintain your honor and integrity.

UFC Hall of Famer, former Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion, Randy Couture, joined us for some heavy hitting life lessons he's learned over the years. Making the transition from Army Veteran, to Collegiate Wrestler, to UFC fighter, to blockbuster actor, Randy talks about learning to find his purpose moving from one era in his life to the next. We talk about how he uses his "wrestler's mindset" to navigate through difficult times and how finding a likeminded community is so important for men.

The legendary Bert Sorin joins us on this episode to discuss how he uses his love of sport and the outdoors to sharpen his senses. In our conversation, he relates how he has been able to hone his senses through various experiences in order to make better and better decisions. We talk about how heightened sensitivity allows us to receive more feedback to guide us in both business, relationships, and everyday life. Bert is the President of Sorinex Exercise Equipment, 4 Time D1 Track and Field All-American, avid hunter and outdoorsman, and a helluva cool guy with one of best beards in the game. If you're into hunting, lifting, entrepreneurship, and being legendary, definitely give this one a listen!

In times of crisis there are well established protocols for communication. These are tried and true methods that have been documented for centuries and are the foundation for effective crisis management. Regardless of your political stance, we can all agree that the past 2 years have been one huge debacle, and we have all seen first hand some perfect examples of the ways NOT to manage a crisis.  Our returning guest today just so happens to be getting his doctorate in complex systems and global crisis management and has some unique perspective on the matter. As a former adventure tour guide, Ryan Palmer started his career in "phoenix tourism" in South America, establishing the infrastructure for tourists to return to post conflict war torn countries. This experience led him into consulting on global security and foreign affairs which spurred his desire to better understand the inner connectedness of complex systems. In this episode, he shares some insight into how things SHOULD be handled and we discuss some potential reasons why they haven't been, without even needing to don our tin foil hats.

Whenever I get a chance, I like to do a little live feed in our Savage Gentleman closed Facebook Group we call the "League of Savage Gentlemen." In this episode, I touch on some of the ethos of the group, get a little bit personal, and also dive a deeper into a few recent conversations. Specifically, I delve into the concept of men making art, something that seems to be a waning practice in modern culture. Art being created by men that embodies and exalts masculine ideals has fallen out of favor over the past decades. Sadly, this has resulted in a decline of these traits in society and an increase in the negative consequences a lack of masculinity brings. While some would prefer to tear down everything they dislike (and sometimes this is necessary) it is also equally if not more important to create something better to replace it. If this sort of thing is of interest to you, I highly recommend you hop over to Facebook and check us out with the link below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/322075035235080 Cheers, and I look forward to seeing some of you over there!

This special episode is from and an interview for CHEST Magazine with Savage Gentleman educator, Matt Beaudreau. A former MMA fighter, turned school teacher and administrator, he now consults Fortune 500 companies while also running ACTON Academy and his Apogee program he co-founder with Tim Kennedy. In our conversation, Matt explains how his experience in the public, private, and collegiate education system pushed him to create his own schools. We discuss how boys today are lacking an "agoge" type coming of age, and how he is working to recreate a more positive environment for building better men.

Lucas O'Hara was an Army sniper and executive bodyguard, who now runs his Grizzly Forge blacksmith shop out of the Black Rifle Coffee headquarters in Salt Lake City. After spending the morning designing and forging a new knife for Savage Gentleman, we sit down for a deep conversation about his process, his mentality, and his story of transition throughout his life. Continuing with the theme of overcoming adversity, I run into a snag in when the camera shuts off midway through. After troubleshooting the problem and a bit of backtracking on the parts were lost, we quickly get back on track. Proving that sometimes, the best thing we can do is to keep moving forward and make the best of what we have. (It also proves that I should never be trusted to manage the audio and video equipment solely by myself, as I am still a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal when it comes to technology).

I once again sit down in the NonProphet studio, this time to record a long overdue session with Mark Twight. Mark is a prolific writer and photographer, that is best known for his accomplishments in the world of alpine climbing and the fitness industry. His exploits in the mountains (and the training he endured to facilitate them), earned him an advisory position with the U.S. military and subsequently connected him to the realm of Hollywood, where he was responsible for training the actors of the film "300" and "Justice League". In our conversation, we discuss his passion for firearms and shooting, his foray into the world of personal defense, his ability to pivot and transition through life, and most notably how his own efforts and autonomy inspire and impact others. This is our longest episode to date, but it is replete with wit and wisdom from a man who has just about done and seen it all, making it worth every minute.

Recently, my friend Will Jenkins came into town and took me on my very first proper quail hunt. After a successful afternoon in the field, we sat down with some Glenfiddich and recorded a conversation about the day's events and Will's latest endeavor, TryUpland.org. We delve into the serenity of upland hunting, the merits of trying new things, being both a mentor and mentee, defining success, carving out a path in the world and learning as you go. Will is an avid outdoorsman who runs a blog called "The Will to Hunt" and has worked in the industry with the likes of Donnie Vincent and many others.

We once again welcome our friend Jack Donovan to the show to discuss his most recent book, "Fire in the Dark". Like a modern day Prometheus, Jack's writing and philosophy help illuminate the way for many men looking for guidance and his latest piece is no exception. Along with his book release, we talk about about why ideals are necessary, the all importance of Tik Tok, being "Real" versus being an "Ideal", and giving ourselves the license to inspire others.

At certain points of our life, we all seek to make some changes to ourselves. Quite often, these are soley directed toward our external appearance, which is actually just a reflection of our internal and external environments. In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Erin and Michael Blevins in the NonProphet Podcast Studio to discuss some of their methods for changing one's environment both inside and out. Though our conversation centered around the Carnivore diet, nutrition, exercise, and Batman, the biggest take away was using these things to improve someone's overall quality of life, not just to look a certain way. You can learn more about Erin Blevins and her latest book "The Essential Carnivore Diet Cookbook" on her website: https://www.shutupwork.com/ To check out more of Michael's work and the nebulous "Space Program" you can check out his website here: https://www.nonprophet.media/

Being a dad isn't easy and there's no training manual to follow, but that doesn't mean we still can't gain an edge... Our guest, Larry Hagner of the Good Dad Project and the Dad Edge Podcast, joins us to chat about some of the invaluable lessons he's learned along the way. We talk about teaching our children physical literacy, how to be autonomous, and the importance of creating space between our reactions and our response.

Yesterday, I was in the shop and decided to go live on Instagram to have an open and candid conversation on how we have gotten here and how we can start to fix things. This is a raw and unedited recording of what was discussed regarding the death of George Floyd, the protests and riots, and the current state of affairs. We welcome your input in continuing the discussion and working together to help rectify the problems we are facing. Cheers, - Josh

It wasn't long ago when the barbershop was the place where men could discuss ideas and exchange different viewpoints. A place to not only groom one's appearance, but also one's mind. It was the contemporary version of the ancient Greek and Roman forums. In an effort to resurrect this time-honored tradition, we teamed up with our buddies over at Throwbacks Barber Company to bring you a new series we are calling "Man Behind the Cut". For our first episode, Vincent "Rocco" Vargas sits down with our very own, Josh Tyler, to discuss fatherhood, his fighting career, and the idea behind Savage Gentleman.

When tragedy strikes, how we react says a lot about our character and who we are as a person. Certain events are so catastrophic, they can even define entire generations. That is the case with September 11th, where men and women dropped everything to go and help their countrymen, and an entire nation banded together in unity. We spoke with one such individual, Fireman Rob Verhelst, who volunteered to sift through the ashes in the aftermath of the Twin Towers' collapse. In this episode, we talk about what he took from that experience and the thing that we was ultimately able to let go of.

Tanner Guzy, author of The Appearance of Power, joins us to discuss the idea of dressing with intention, and how dressing up doesn't just mean wearing a suit and tie. In this episode, we go over the nuances of how our appearance can affect our self-image just as much as how others may see us, which can determine our success in certain endeavors. He also brings up the notion of self-improvement LARPing, a phenomenon that many men fall prey to in this day and age of social media, where instant gratification can often supersede actual growth and real achievements.

This episode was recorded with our buddies over at ReadyMan, where we dropped in for their weekly Live Feed to discuss some different approaches for getting our asses up off the couch...  During our chat, we go over why most people typically lose motivation for working out and often fall short in reaching their fitness goals.

Author of Becoming a Barbarian, A More Complete Beast, and The Way of Men, Jack Donovan joins us to share some of his insight into masculinity and how he was able to balance out his gentleman side by becoming the savage he is today.

On this very special episode, we sit around the campfire with West Taylor at his ranch, and discuss our recent adventures exploring outlaw trails and riding mustangs for the very first time. (We also show some highlights from the trip as well!)

From fitness and martial arts to directing and acting, Alexander Buie  pours the same amount of passion and artistry into everything he does. A caricature artist by trade, he talks about the common misconceptions on making art for a living, and how everything we do can become our own artistic expression. *(If you're really into ASMR, then you're going to love this podcast. If not, you'll probably hate it).

Mike the Cop stops by to share some of his experience in law enforcement and life in general. We discuss the value of learning things the hard way by allowing people to make mistakes and the nuance of applying this to parenting.

We all have a calling in life, no matter who we are or where we come from. But often times, it can be difficult to know if we are actually following the right path. Recently, we had JR Baker in the studio to share some of his experience as a Pastor. We talk about how to find your calling, and ways to continue to answer the call even when your life seems to be leading you in the opposite direction.

Talking about how to drink like a gentleman with one of the most savage guys we know, Army veteran and former UFC Fighter, Damarques Johnson. We also delve into the transition from full-time fighter into fatherhood and the importance of surrounding yourself with "killers" in all facets of life.

For all the advances of the human race, the topic of fitness and training is still one of much debate. We can put a man on the moon, but we can't agree on what is the best approach to getting in shape and how to reliably motivate ourselves to do so. The reason is because there is no one solution that can be prescribed universally, and thus each individual must find the answer for themselves. The good news is, there are people who are experts in helping those who are willing to help themselves reach their potential. One such person is Michael Blevins of www.nonprophet.media , who stopped by to discuss the psychology of getting fit, and how if we learn to ask the right questions, we can discover the path to achieving our goals. 

Going over some of the life lessons we've learned from hunting, fishing, and just spending time with our grandfathers, who have served as our model for manliness. Along the way, Len Waldron, tells how he got his start in writing and shares the process of getting to write for some of the most prestigious publications in the outdoors industry. >> Check out some of his work at : http://waldronpond.com/

On this episode, JD Caputo joins us and we chat about some of his recent adventures. From competing in Rome in Medieval Armored Combat,  to his preparations for his amateur boxing debut. He also tells us about his time with Josh on the Discovery Channel survival show, "Ultimate Ninja Challenge" and his philosophy to constantly saying "Yes" to opportunities.

Josh linked up with Jake Dwyer and was invited to appear on the 1911 Syndicate Podcast, where they discuss fighting, mustaches, the origins of Savage Gentleman, and sending nudes. Needless to say, things get a little weird...

On this episode, Bert Kuntz drops in for a chat covering business, American manufacturing, and how not to be an asshole on the internet. Bert is a former 18D with the US Army Special Forces, co-star of the television show "The Selection", one of the owners of Bison Union Company, and a helluva good guy.

This episode touches on so many topics it was actually difficult to come up with a title. Recently, we had renowned tattoo artist Will_XX stop by for a chat about mastering your craft, parenting, and just life in general. He delves into finding purpose after getting out of the military and really getting the most out of life.

I swear the audio was crystal clear when we recorded this episode, but it seems that either aliens or the Illuminati must have tampered with it... Just kidding, we had some technical difficulties with our new equipment. In this episode, we talk about the lasting effects of 9/11 and how every idiot with a keyboard comes out of the woodwork to give some hair-brained conspiracy theory. We're not saying there aren't some things in the world that don't add up, but maybe just take off the tinfoil hat for a minute and sit this one out, champ.

We recently had the opportunity to head down to Guatemala with ReadyMan to help train some of their Special Forces and Secret Service. In this episode, Josh tells us of the adventure and what impact the country of Guatemala has on our security here in the US.

Do men really need to buy jewelry? And if so, what, when, and where should they buy? On this episode, we bring on Greg and Emma of The Jewelry Republic to discuss all things that glitter. From the historical origins to common myths and misconceptions, we break down everything you need to know about the jewelry industry. To see more from The Jewelry Republic, you can check our their website here: https://www.thejewelryrepublic.com/

West Taylor is one of the leading wild mustang trainers in the world. Prior to that, he worked in the IT field, with virtually no horsemanship experience. On this episode, we talk about how he re-invented himself and the parallels between training a war horse, and becoming a savage gentleman. Check him out at https://westtaylor.net

Everyone wants to be a rock star, but nobody wants to practice guitar...Matt DiRito of Pop Evil joins us, along with Paul Markel of Student of the Gun, to discuss what it takes to perfect your craft, and how few people are willing to put in the work to get to where they want to be. We also talk about Matt's charity organization, Star Treatments, which helps provide VIP transportation for children traveling to and from cancer treatments and hospital visits. ----------- http://startreatments.org/ ----------- Firearms instructor, Paul Markel, gives us some insight as to why men inherently believe they are good at shooting, fighting, and making love. ----------- https://www.studentofthegun.com/ -----------

After traveling around in the U.S. and Europe these past few weeks, we got to thinking about how often in we hear comments like: "[This] country does things this way, we should adopt their polices...Why can't do things like they do..." and so on. In this episode, we talk about our experiences abroad and just how feasible it would be do things like they do in Europe, here in America.

This is the first part of a series where we pit famous Savage Gentlemen from history against each other, to see who would win in a hypothetical fist fight. On this episode, we see Ernest Hemingway facing off against Theodore Roosevelt and Daniel Boone taking on Davy Crockett. We also go over a few current events, talk about the evolution of Savage Gentleman as a brand, and give away a listener exclusive discount code to the store.

Josh Brooks of Funker530 and veteran of the USMC, joins us to weigh in on the current debate regarding firearms here in America.

According to the media, men are "under attack". Tonight, we discuss masculinity in America and what that means to society these days. Joining us is radio host, author, and UFC veteran, Sean O'Connell.

Combat veterans, Doc T and JD Caputo, join us to discuss some of the issues that our veterans face everyday.

Going over the warrior code of ethics with historian, veteran, and edged weapons expert, JD Caputo.

There's a lot places you can get your haircut, but few of them will take the time to actually make you look your best. Tonight, we sit down in the barber's chair to talk about the history of men's grooming, and where to go to get a proper cut.

Tonight we discuss violence in video games and what effect they have on society. With Special Guests: Jeremy Horn and Guy White.

We sit down with James Yeager of Tactical Response and he pulls no punches in discussing his views on life, training, and politics. As a bonus, we also have best selling author, Chris Weatherman, (aka Angery American)to weigh in as well. Not surprisingly, things get out of hand pretty quickly...

On this episode, we talk about some of the dumbest things people still do - even in the age of information. Forks in electrical sockets, eating tide pods, and other things that would've made Darwin cry.

On this episode, we go over some of the most savage coming of age rituals from around the world. From diving off of towers to shoving canes into orifices, we talk about what it takes to become a man and how that process has evolved in modern cultures.

The Manspot joins us as we discuss what it means to be a dad, what we can do to become better dads, and how we as father's can make the world better by raising our children right.

Want to go on a real Adventure? Ryan Palmer joins us to tell you where to go to get an authentic experience that will get you off the beaten path.

Avid hunter, powerlifter, and entrepreneur, Baker Leavitt, stops by to continue the discussion on the State of Manliness...