Wolf & Iron | Virtues, Skills, Manliness!

I've been fairly absent from the scene since the last podcast drop in July of 2023. In this episode, I catch you guys up to what's been going on in my world and some thoughts on the future of Wolf & Iron.

There are a lot of books on entrepreneurship, marriage, and raising kids. In fact, you're likely to gain some needed wisdom on any of these subjects just by being with and observing people who are in that season of life. However, when it comes to the second half of life, let's say 40 onward, it can feel pretty lonely.   My guest today is Chris Bruno and he's the author of Sage: A Man's Guide into His Second Passage. Chris brings focus into the oftentimes nebulous second stage of a man's life. In our conversation we talk about mid-life crises, reconnecting with our boyhood as we grow older, and avoiding the pitfalls so many men fall into as they begin to realize their youth is a thing of the past.

In this episode I share my experience of one year as a student of Krav Maga, the Israeli Self-Defense system taught all over the world to Special Forces, military, and individuals like myself. I'll go through why I chose Krav and how it's increased my situational awareness and confidence. Every man needs to be training to defend his life or the lives of those he could protect. This includes weapons training -- firearms in particular -- but also hand-to-hand, multiple attackers, car jackings, active shooters, and so on. Be ready, not just willing. Krav Maga can get you there.

There are two complimentary natures in manhood; the warrior and the poet. Today, the man who can simultaneously appreciate the finer arts and yet stand strong in adversity seems to be a rare breed. My guest on this episode, John Lovell, calls men to this noble undertaking and shares his guiding principles in his book The Warrior Poet Way. This is the book I wish i had when I was in my early 30s and starting my journey of manhood in earnest. The Warrior Poet Way keeps the reader engaged while also imparting much needed wisdom in a man-to-man, relatable. Listen to the episode, then get a copy of the book. You'll be a better man for it.

Vivek Ramaswamy is a presidential candidate worth listening to. He has the right ideas for America and is pushing for a dismantling of many agencies, including the FBI and CIA, and believes that America needs a common identity. I agree. We do. But, he is Hindu. While he has been open about being raised Hindu and still considers himself and his family Hindus, he was also raised with a good deal of knowledge and influence from Christianity. The questions I pose in this episode are these: If an American President is 99% of what you want -- Conservative, Independent, beholden to the people, etc. -- does it matter if he is a Christian or not? What are the implications for a non-Christian President? Does the American identity need to be explicitly Christian or can it be more of a set of ideals and principles apart from a specific religion? I give my answers at the end of the podcast, but these are great questions and ones we need to answer. Vivek isn't the first and he certainly won't be the last.

Eugen Sandow is a name most men ought to know. He also had a physique people believed could only be achieved in the imagination or sculpted in marble. He's known as the father of bodybuilding, but in this episode I don't want to focus on how jacked he was. Rather, I use his story to drive home a deeper point. One that we've been missing for most of our lives.

It's far too easy to get caught up in the latest scandal, political issue, hot topic, etc. It's also easy to go down the rabbit hole of self-improvement, learning more than we are actually doing. We can begin to feel that the path to success is too difficult because of all the nuances we've put into our heads instead of focusing on the practical...the basics.

As our other business, Rustic and Main, can attest people are still getting married. Nearly 2 million weddings happen in the US every year. However, the median age for marriage is now 30 and the divorce rate is still very high at nearly 40%. What people want from marriage and what they bring to a marriage have changed dramatically in the last 25+ years.

AI is here and to be honest, I'm both amazed and a bit terrified. It's astonishingly brilliant and at the same time deeply concerning. It's key that we, as men, don't bury our head in the sand on this and just assume the worse will happen. This is rapidly changing our world and we need to be up to speed on this and involved in the development. Currently, the AI that we have access to doesn't have the reasoning capabilities that AI of the sci-fi movies displays. It mimics reason but it doesn't understand truth in the same way that we do. As AI moves in this direction, though, it will need some basis of truth -- how the world actually works -- and with truth comes the need for a necessary bias.

It's important for parents to realize two things: 1. Our kids are experiencing a different world and a higher degree of temptation than we did. 2. They think that it's normal. Our job, as people who grew up in a different time, is to remind them of how things used to be and to let them know that the world they have been born into misses out on some very human experiences.

Although I still have a lot to learn, I've picked up a few helpful tips in writing and publishing 2 books. If you're getting started on your own book or you're just interested in the topic, you'll love this episode. Plus, I have a special thank you for all of you who have purchased from the Wolf & Iron store AND something special to be watching for! Check out both books here:  Tending the Fire: Ignite Your Heart and Live Life as a Man The Guy's Guide to Pocket Knives    

When you look around do you see the need for more rule followers or independent, free-thinking men and women with an ingrained rebellious nature? I think we know the answer to that! Rebels are needed. They've always been needed but without training -- either by consequences or by parents -- they'll set fire to anything that burns. It's our job as fathers, uncles, etc. to help them to see the good in their fiery spirit and to use it to pursue justice.

Unless you've been under a rock you've probably heard about something called ChatGPT. And if you have heard of it, some of you would like to go back under the rock rather than see what the world is becoming. AI is here and it's going to change things. ChatGPT just happens to be the eye-opening tool that makes this undeniable. In truth, it's pretty incredible...and it's only getting started. As the world progresses with technology we have seen so many of the blessings of living in a modern age. But we've also seen the pull towards laziness and ease. Men have a quiet desire to live their lives more fully and yet give in to the world of entertainment and abdication of responsibility so readily. AI will definitely present new challenges for men, but also incredible opportunities for those of us who can wield it.

Growing up both poor and middle class, I gained a mindset that actually limited me in many ways. I didn't realize how deeply inset certain thoughts patterns were and how they impacted so many areas of my life. In this episode, I talk about the ingrained beliefs we carry with us when we come from limited means.

There's a common quote which has the best of intentions, but also has a serious error. Some men believe they can be good in their heart and yet never display the actions to back up their belief. Belief is always backed by action. Speaking of action: https://wolfandiron.com/foundry

While our native tongue should always be Peace, a man needs to be a capable and willing defender of life. In this episode I share some insights from my first 6 months in Krav Maga and the first 2 weeks of concealed carry. If you're thinking about getting started in self-defense and/or firearms training then be sure to subscribe to the podcast and check out the Wolf & Iron YouTube channel. I'll be posting more content out there shortly.

Regardless of how crazy the world seems at times, we truly live in a remarkable time. The world is filled with possibilities and many of them are within reach. But, with all of the paths available to us, we can still only select one or two. The potential we see can often stall us in our takeoff. In this episode I talk about why purpose should be our focus and how as Christians we can trust in God's plan for our lives. p.s. I mention my book, Tending the Fire, in this episode. You can get a signed copy here.

I've noticed something: women have more natural markers for time and the seasons of life. They are the ones who typically bring out the different dishes or clothes, or get together to celebrate a new life entering the world. Men...not so much. But we need to. We need markers on our timeline of life. In this episode I talk about how, as men, we need to take the time to celebrate the seasons of life instead of just letting them all rush by.

There is a real power in your willingness to acknowledge the decisions that you made when you were not aware you were making them. Perhaps it's because you were a kid at the time, or maybe you went through a traumatic experience that shaped who you are. In this episode, I share some personal details from my own life that has helped me grow as a man and I hope can help you as well.

Let's face it, most men are disengaged from the vitality they should have in life. They're asleep at the wheel, content to let life pass them by while they take it easy. It may sound cliché, but life is meant to be lived and lived to the fullest.

It's far too common for us to use certain phrases that excuse the true work we're not doing to grow. Adding a warrior status to the challenges you face doesn't do any good unless you're truly fighting a battle.

Society is sorely lacking an innate culture of masculinity. There used to be clubs, communities, and social standards for men. I'm not saying all of it was good, but the standards and community it forged was something we're missing today. This episode is more of a question than a solution. What would the elements of a modern day man culture include?

From anxiety and depression to fear of anything untried and unknown...fear is having its way with people these days. There's a simple reason for it and a solution that we can all employ.

It's official! Guilds have been launched! If you're new to The Foundry or you're just curious as to what a Guild looks like, this one is for you.

America hasn't bounced back from the hit we took due to COVID regulations. Employers are having a hard time finding people to work, and the people that are showing up aren't the same quality as the ones who left. We've seen this coming for some time, but it appears that it has finally arrived: Our culture is catching up with us. You and I are seeing the fallout we predicted. The good news is that it's easier than ever before to be a standout star.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! After more than a year of planning, testing, and preparing, we have launched Guilds inside The Foundry. I'm looking for more Guild leads and men to band together and take this to the next level!

Reaching midlife is a time for celebration and a time for reflection. It's also a good time to own the direction of your life and get real about the man you want to be for your remaining years.

We truly live in an amazing time. We're advancing so quickly that we are living to see our sci-fi dreams come true -- and will likely live to see them become nightmares. Humanity gets the credit for getting us this far. It was us that sailed around the world, visited the moon, built robots for Mars and so on. The list of accomplishments are many and we will continue to be part of our achievements in the future, but we won't get all the credit.

Men are sentimental by design. God put within us a heart that connects with the idea of legacy and the meaning of things beyond the superficial. But, our current culture promotes a life of transient pleasures -- a life without attachments or lasting significance. This mindset is making men miserable. We need to get back to thinking long term and appreciate the sentimental nature within us.

Media is severely disrupting out ability to attach to a family the way we should and it's leading to an epidemic of anxiety and depression. Here's what you need to know.

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation..." - Henry David Thoreau It's true. By the time a man reaches his late 20s he often feels missionless. He drifts around, with a lot of things to do but without that sense of deep fulfillment and purpose. In this episode I talk about how our missions change in life and how there is one mission most men should be about.

Although the true best age to get married is when you find the lady who's right for you, there are some reasons why a man should get married sooner than later. So many people in our culture today are focused on themselves, be really they are only focused on their present self, not their future self. Marriage and family are one of the greatest missions a man can have in his life, and yet the majority put it off for as long as possible.

I started following Maj Toure over a year ago after seeing one of his shirts with a simple, but provocative phrase: Make Politicians Afraid Again. He has a heart to help black Americans understand the rights inherent to all men and declared in our Constitution. He's the founder of Black Guns Matter and the Solutionary Lifestyle and is a firm believer in the independent spirit that was so popular at the start of our nation. And he's not afraid to call out those who vie for our attention while doing little or nothing to actually make a difference.

What happens when we remove ourselves from nature for a few generations? How is our thinking about life, death, and reality compromised when we no longer have the foundational teachings of nature? I discuss these things in this episode and hopefully inspire you to spend time in the great out of doors.

I wanted to use a cool title for this one like Cutting Edge Marketing, Honed in Marketing Strategies, or Stabby Marketing Stab Stab, but I know that no one is going to search for that (although that last would have been a winner!) The truth is, marketing has been changing at a rapid pace but there are some strategies that never fail. In this episode I talk to Montana Knife Company Co-Owner and Marketing Director Brandon Horoho. We discuss marketing a USA made knife brand, Montana Knife Company's growth and ethos, and strategies that work when popular advertising platforms don't allow your products.

It's hard to find a movie or TV show these days that isn't pumped full of the woke agenda. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if the rest of the movie was good, but unfortunately, seeing the world through a woke filter changes how you view relationships and reality, thus making it nearly impossible for woke writers to create a story that really hits home.

Men love movies! We're moved by the epic battles and struggles -- but also by the friendships and the thought of having something to really fight for. David Dusek gets it. His ministry Rough Cut Men helps guys connect through the films we love. To slow things down a bit and help us discover our heart as men. In this conversation, David Dusek and Mike Yarbrough discuss how to connect with a brotherhood in a world that is pushing isolationism.

My first lesson in Krav Maga began this past Monday and it was a lot of fun! I'll keep you guys posted as a progress until I'm at the Steven Seagal level and then I'll just ghost everyone.

It's painfully obvious that men are lacking the "fire in the belly" that they ought to have. They long for it, but many of them don't have a clear understanding of the spirited drive that a man should have in different areas of his life.

Regardless of how the internet makes it look, business is never easy. Sure, there are seasons where things are swimming along, but most of the time there are new problems to solve. That's a lot of fun, but for a guy with a lot of irons in the fire, limited time makes it difficult to grow as quickly as I would like.

What if what we know about relationships is mostly wrong? What if our expectations for how a relationship should work are way off? That's what 2x podcast guest and author Eric Barker writes about in his new book, Plays Well With Others. We dive into a few topics from the book, I share some personal stories, and we laugh at his wall coverings!

Many Christians will be familiar with Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." While we most likely have heard that the "pattern of this world" is the sinful world in which we live, there may be more of a personal pattern that we need to replace with a new, transformed mind.

The recent shootings in Uvalde along with the many tragedies over the last 2 decades should be bringing us closer together when it comes to gun rights, but of course politicians and the media uses it to divide us. However, when these tragedies happen we are all bumping up against the same undeniable conclusion, one that should unite us as Americans rather than divide us.

Most men allow life to come to them, while others run after it, making the most of the time we're granted. Bert Sorin is a man on a mission, and in this episode we talk about building on an American dream, hard work, life at the top, and how to have a legendary life.

I love running barefoot. There was a time when I thought I may never be able to run again without enduring a week of painful walking afterwards. Graham Tuttle gets this and coaches people on how to run, move, and listen to their bodies to become the best advocates for their health.

Every man wants to be more rugged, resilient, and self-reliant. It's in our bones to be competent providers regardless of the situation. Clint Emerson's new book The Rugged Life is a great resource to learn how to care for yourself and your family whether in the suburbs or the wilderness.

So, Elon has bought Twitter, making Twitter a potentially awesome comeback story. In this Foundry Friday episode I share some thoughts on this and some cautions if you decide to jump back into Twitter now that it's more open to free speech.

We just ironically celebrated Mother's Day while simultaneuously seeing women protest to have the right to have abortions. It looks like the abortion debate is about to become relevant again with the SCOTUS decision looming. Here are some thoughts to help clarify the issue and cut through the language we've used for so long.

I took a trip out west to pick up a 31 year old vehicle at the height of gas prices. Worth it? Listen to this special episode to find out!  

Dang, I missed an episode last week! But, we have some good stuff on the way. Here's a quick episode to help you guys stay in the know about my new van (it's awesome), a new line of coffee based on the life and legend of Theodore Roosevelt, upcoming podcast guests, and more.

We all need to learn the difference between something we truly desire vs something we only wish could happen. Otherwise, we'll end up with too many options and a lot of disappointment.