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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 disguising cowardice as wisdom, and take one actionable step back into the arena. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Marks of Physical Labor 02:15 - The Unseen Bruises of a Man's Heart 04:50 - Theodore Roosevelt's "Citizenship in a Republic" 06:15 - The Man in the Arena 08:00 - Why Wounds Are Proof of Effort, Not Weakness 10:40 - Responding to Haters and Cheap-Seat Critics 15:45 - What True Sacrifice Looks Like 18:25 - Building Calluses on the Heart Through Resistance 22:30 - Sovereignty: Getting Back in the Ring 29:20 - Wisdom vs. Cowardice: Protecting vs. Avoiding 31:45 - Weekly Challenge: Re-Engage With What Bruised You 33:50 - Iron Council War Room 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
Welcome to Blackline Field Notes, our weekly LinkedIn newsletter and companion conversation here on The Line.In this episode, Joshua D. Mellott explores Blackline Field Notes – Issue 002: Reputation Is Built Before the Bid. He shares why your reputation begins long before someone ever calls you, influences every opportunity you're given, and continues long after the project is complete.More than your work, your daily decisions, communication, character, and consistency shape the reputation others come to trust.Blackline Field Notes is dedicated to sharing practical lessons and hard-earned experience from those who have gone before you, helping you build a stronger career, business, and legacy in the skilled trades.Remember: your reputation is building.--------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...-------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott... / joshuadmellott LinkedIn: / TikTok: / ucc11qg6hxwp7tmvmr_sv7vg --------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltdInstagram: / blacklinelt. .Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...LinkedIn: / YouTube: / @blacklineltd Website: https://www.blacklineltd.com/--------------------------EXPLORE THE PODCASTSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
In this episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen sits down with Julia Maltby, a Principal at Fengate Asset Management who has lived the full venture capital lifecycle. Julia started as the first employee at Plum Alley Investments, ran partnerships at WeWork during its hyper-growth phase, spent over five years rising from Associate to Principal at Flybridge Capital, and even ran her own seed fund, Deco Ventures, before moving to the LP side at Fengate in 2025. Today, she invests in early-stage VC funds and direct opportunities across North America.Julia offers a brutally honest perspective on what she wishes every emerging manager knew about fundraising. She explains why LPs value process over outputs, why founder references from failed companies are more valuable than those from winners, and how GPs can stop leaving first meetings as a “polite maybe” and start qualifying LPs like a sales funnel. She also pulls back the curtain on LP-to-LP communication (which she says is 10X stronger than GP gossip), shares tactical advice on building data rooms that actually get read, and reveals how Fengate pre-approves co-investments to move at startup speed.Whether you're a GP in the middle of a raise, an LP sorting through an endless stack of emerging manager pitches, or just curious what venture looks like from every seat at the table, this episode is for you.From Liberal Arts to Venture Capital (02:07)* Julia's unconventional path from studying architecture and social inequality to becoming one of venture's most respected emerging investors.* How a cold LinkedIn message landed her first job in venture capital.* Why having no finance background became an advantage instead of a limitation.Learning Venture from the Ground Up (04:13)* Building crowdfunding platforms and SPVs before venture became mainstream.* Why early-stage investing means wearing product, operations, and fundraising hats.* Lessons learned from saying “yes” before knowing exactly how to do the work.Inside WeWork's Hypergrowth Machine (05:11)* Joining WeWork during its explosive expansion and learning from one of startup history's fastest growth stories.* What Adam Neumann got exceptionally right about building mission-driven teams.* The leadership lessons worth keeping and the scaling mistakes worth avoiding.The Flybridge Investing Framework (10:39)* Why durable venture investing starts with disciplined systems rather than intuition alone.* The importance of pricing integrity and staying focused on core business strengths.* How evaluating customer urgency shaped Julia's investment philosophy.Becoming a Solo GP (14:14)* Launching Deco Ventures with Flybridge's support.* The challenges of making investment decisions without partners.* Why every solo GP needs trusted people whose job is to challenge—not validate—their thinking.What Makes a Venture Manager Truly Different? (18:00)* Why there isn't just one formula for becoming a successful GP.* Understanding your competitive advantage instead of copying other managers.* How LPs think about portfolio fit beyond fund performance.The Data Room Mistakes GPs Keep Making (23:18)* Why withholding information often slows fundraising rather than helping it.* Julia's advice: send everything instead of drip-feeding documents.* How GPs should reference-check LPs before sharing sensitive materials.Looking Beyond Markups and Valuations (27:16)* Why portfolio KPIs matter more than inflated funding rounds.* How disciplined reserve strategies separate thoughtful investors from reactive ones.* Using follow-on decisions as a measure of investment discipline.The Power of Great References (31:45)* Why founders from failed companies often provide the strongest references.* How LP references reveal governance, transparency, and communication quality.* Why perfect references can actually make LPs more skeptical.Stop Leaving Meetings as a “Maybe” (34:35)* The questions every GP should ask before ending a fundraising meeting.* Understanding the difference between genuine interest and structural misalignment.* How qualifying LPs like a sales pipeline saves months of wasted fundraising.Building Better Co-Investment Relationships (37:06)* How proactive communication makes co-investments move faster.* Why LPs build internal pipelines long before deals officially launch.* The importance of giving institutional investors time to prepare.The Future of Early-Stage Venture (39:27)* Why Julia remains optimistic despite today's challenging fundraising environment.* The growing divide between mega-funds and smaller venture firms.* Why smaller funds continue delivering meaningful returns that often go unnoticed.Using AI to Build Better LP Portfolios (41:17)* How Fengate uses AI to understand portfolio exposure across hundreds of startups.* Moving beyond broad fund branding into detailed market analysis.* Why better portfolio intelligence leads to better future investment decisions.About Julia MaltbyJulia Maltby is a Principal at Fengate Asset Management, where she invests in early-stage VC funds and direct opportunities across North America. She has lived the full VC lifecycle: she was the first employee at Plum Alley Investments, ran partnerships at WeWork, spent 5+ years rising from Associate to Principal at Flybridge Capital, and founded her own seed fund, Deco Ventures. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and writes about her LP experiences on her Substack, Julia's Field Notes.Connect with Julia Maltby on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juliamaltbyLearn more about Fengate Asset Management: https://fengate.com/Read Julia's Field Notes:Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com
Boll & Branch spent 12 years doing the unfashionable thing: perfecting the product first and figuring out distribution second. Chief Commercial Officer Katia Unlu joins Phillip and Brian on today's episode to discuss Boll & Branch's store expansion strategy, an AI-generated damage claim that went viral, and the case for stimulation over substitution. That's Not How the Waffle Blanket Tears Key takeaways: Brands of the DTC era that failed were distracted by over-indexing on one hero product and not focusing on customer experiences that drive retention and brand love. Boll & Branch opens stores where their customers and ICP already live. A human CX team caught an AI-generated image in a fraudulent damage claim thanks to the team's sharp knowledge of the brand's fabric and tear patterns. This is human expertise and technological advancement meeting in the middle. Boll & Branch's AI tools aim to stimulate the customer relationship rather than flatten it. The 2027 playbook is boring, but it works. Focusing on the fundamentals is key. [00:23:12] "People might buy something they enjoy, but they will actually defend what they love." – Brian Lange [00:29:45] "There's no shortcut for what real-life consumer insights can give you when you just go and talk to people in stores." – Katia Unlu [00:43:50] "We very much don't want to substitute. We don't have an AI bot on our website that you can even ask questions to." – Katia Unlu Associated Links: Boll & Branch Scott Tannen's LinkedIn post on AI-generated return fraud at Boll & Branch Read our in-store retail space analyses: Field Notes on Future Commerce More on human vs. agent: Episode 447: The Agent Has Left the Building Explore our Word of Mouth Index Check out Future Commerce on YouTube Check out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and print Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A fast‑moving Field Notes breakdown with Dr. Frank Rohwer and Dr. Todd Arnold, digging into the data behind Frank's headline‑grabbing claim that duck hunting does not negatively impact duck populations. We revisit the conversation, address the reaction, and walk through the science that backs it up — clear, candid, and straight from the experts.Website and Social Media Links: Delta Waterfowl: https://deltawaterfowl.org Facebook: /DeltaFans/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deltawaterfowl/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeltaWaterfowl/Delta Waterfowl: https://deltawaterfowl.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeltaFans/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deltawaterfowl/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeltaWaterfowl/
Blackline Field Notes | Issue 001: Every Contract Is a Proposal. Welcome to Blackline Field Notes, our weekly series where we share notes from the field—real experiences from our team, our clients, and the men and women we've had the privilege of working alongside throughout the skilled trades.The goal is simple: to share lessons learned, mistakes made, and practical insights that can help you build your business, advance your career, and navigate your own journey in the trades.These are shorter, one-on-one conversations that expand on each week's Field Notes newsletter. In this first issue, Joshua D. Mellott shares lessons from more than 20 years as a specialty contractor, covering contract writing, contract negotiation, and some of the costly pitfalls he experienced early in his career.Whether you're starting your own company, leading an established business, managing projects, or reviewing contracts for your organization, this conversation is designed to help you better protect yourself, your team, and the people who depend on you.The biggest takeaway is simple:Every contract is a proposal. It isn't something you have to accept exactly as it's written. Learning when to ask questions, negotiate terms, and protect your organization can make all the difference.Step up to the line. --------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...-------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott... / joshuadmellott LinkedIn: / TikTok: / ucc11qg6hxwp7tmvmr_sv7vg --------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltdInstagram: / blacklinelt. .Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...LinkedIn: / YouTube: / @blacklineltd Website: https://www.blacklineltd.com/--------------------------EXPLORE THE PODCASTSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Reflections on the 2026 honeyberry season with Brett Amundson, Farm Manager of Farm Lola in Wrenshall, Minnesota.
Photo by Michael Martine, Hamptonville, North Carolina, Oct 2018 Published 27 July 2026 e562 with Andy and Michael M – EMFCamp recap, whole lot of LEGO love, the game of life, a Playdate mini MMO, AR assisted murals and a whole lot more! Andy and Michael M start off with a recap of Andy's experiences at EMF Camp while Michael R is away for this episode. Andy shares his experiences, describes the “Monumental GameBoy”, how visitors to his campsite enjoyed playing his LEGO pinball machine and his updates to the EMF badge (such as Pigs in Space!). Check out the show notes below for a few visual links, including the Joust game for the Tildagon badge and more. Michael M went to an event at a local arcade in Chapel Hill and only noticed as he was leaving that they too had a Joust cabinet game. Andrzej Marczewski wrote an article in gamified.uk about the game of life – not the one by Hasbro or Conway – rather the game of life itself with resources to manage and protect. Andy and Michael enjoyed Andrzej's take, especially how he treated progress and score. Going from the macro to the micro, the team also took a look at the Playdate miniMMO PointlessQuest. Andy may give this a shot on his Playdate soon! Next, it's on to LEGO, and there are so many new cool drops from Billund. Andy already mentioned his pinball table during the EMF recap. After checking out the playable Donkey Kong game, the pair then takes a look at the new Star Trek Enterprise 1701 bridge. With 8 minifigs from the original series, and features such as the rocking command chair, transporter room actions and troubling Tribbles, there's something for every Star Trek fan. And the team just loved just how many LEGO bricks it took to make the Enterprise bridge set. Then, Andy and Michael take a look at how an artist created a mural using sketchar.io augmented reality – just like using transparencies and an overhead projector from days of yore. If that doesn't ring a bell, have a look at the YouTube from the Computer History Museum below. Many thanks to @lxs@fosstodon.org for sharing this mural designing video with us! Who is your favorite original Star Trek character? Have your bots
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 at orderofman.com/ironcouncil. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Friendship Trap Most Men Fall For 00:21 - Category 1: The Convenient Friend 04:55 - Category 2: The Default Friend 07:11 - Category 3: The Clown 11:02 - Category 4: The Casual Friend 15:04 - Category 5: The 2 AM Friend 18:10 - Why 2 AM Friendships Still Have Limitations 20:07 - Taking Responsibility for Your Relationships 22:25 - The 80/20 Rule of Male Vulnerability 26:47 - How to Build Intentional Brotherhood 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
A mid-year financial checkup can help farmers stay on track before the busy harvest season arrives.Austin Bailey, a commercial livestock lender with FCS Financial, says reviewing finances now allows producers to compare their current situation with the cash flow projections they made earlier this year."We've had a few surprises, but I think for the most part, the cash flows are still close," Bailey says. He notes final results will ultimately depend on yield and overall production.Hear more in the latest FCS Financial Field Notes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Step into the heart of America's premier plein air festival. The Plein Air Easton podcast takes you behind the easel and into the vibrant world of painters, collectors, judges, and volunteers who bring this celebration of art to life on Maryland's Eastern Shore. This episode, Avalon Media Manager Cecile Davis roams the streets of Oxford, capturing candid conversations with award‑winning artists as they chase light, weather sudden rainstorms, wrestle with when a painting is "done," and share how their styles evolve over time. You'll also hear from a passionate collector and longtime supporter who reveals what draws them to a painting, how they build meaningful collections, and why relationships with artists matter. Whether you're: A lifelong collector looking for insight into the art and artists you love An aspiring painter eager to learn from top plein air artists in the field Or an art lover discovering Plein Air Easton for the first time …this podcast will deepen your appreciation for the creative process and the community that supports it. Plein Air Easton is produced by the Avalon Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the cultural life of Maryland's Eastern Shore through the arts.
Most men despise small talk, dismissing it as shallow, fake, or a complete waste of breath. We skip the pleasantries and go straight to the agenda. But in this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down why avoiding small talk is quietly costing you massive life, career, and romantic opportunities. Small talk isn't about the weather or sports; it's a low-risk reconnaissance mission to establish trust, likeability, and respect. Ryan shares 4 actionable moves to stop trying to be "impressive" and instead leverage genuine curiosity to open doors you've been walking right past. Stop treating small talk like a nuisance - it's the gateway to your next big breakthrough. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Real Cost of Skipping Small Talk 02:35 - Low Risk Equates to High Opportunity 04:30 - The Instinctual Mistakes Men Make 06:47 - The True Function of Small Talk 08:34 - Curiosity Over Performance 12:55 - Move 1: Master the Follow-Up Question 16:40 - Move 2: Be Memorable, Not Impressive 18:50 - Move 3: The 48-Hour Follow-Up Rule 20:45 - Move 4: Treat Every Room Like It Matters 28:00 - Why Introversion Is Not an Excuse 29:40 - Your Weekend Assignment 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
Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:30:00 GMT http://relay.fm/penaddict/725 http://relay.fm/penaddict/725 I Will Admit When I'm Wrong But I'm Not 725 Brad Dowdy and Myke Hurley Brad and Myke took the 10 Fountain Pen Challenge this week, so tune in to hear what they would keep, and how difficult this proved to be! They also discuss ANOTHER LAMY Safari release, and stunning ne Field Notes. Brad and Myke took the 10 Fountain Pen Challenge this week, so tune in to hear what they would keep, and how difficult this proved to be! They also discuss ANOTHER LAMY Safari release, and stunning ne Field Notes. clean 4033 Brad and Myke took the 10 Fountain Pen Challenge this week, so tune in to hear what they would keep, and how difficult this proved to be! They also discuss ANOTHER LAMY Safari release, and stunning ne Field Notes. This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PENADDICT. Pen Chalet: Check out this week's special offer, and to get your code for 10% off. Links and Show Notes: Support The Pen Addict with a Relay Membership Submit Feedback Stationery Fest Brad's
Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:30:00 GMT http://relay.fm/penaddict/725 http://relay.fm/penaddict/725 Brad Dowdy and Myke Hurley Brad and Myke took the 10 Fountain Pen Challenge this week, so tune in to hear what they would keep, and how difficult this proved to be! They also discuss ANOTHER LAMY Safari release, and stunning ne Field Notes. Brad and Myke took the 10 Fountain Pen Challenge this week, so tune in to hear what they would keep, and how difficult this proved to be! They also discuss ANOTHER LAMY Safari release, and stunning ne Field Notes. clean 4033 Brad and Myke took the 10 Fountain Pen Challenge this week, so tune in to hear what they would keep, and how difficult this proved to be! They also discuss ANOTHER LAMY Safari release, and stunning ne Field Notes. This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PENADDICT. Pen Chalet: Check out this week's special offer, and to get your code for 10% off. Links and Show Notes: Support The Pen Addict with a Relay Membership Submit Feedback Stationery Fest Brad's
In this episode, we dive into what goes into setting the early teal season, including how wildlife managers use population data and harvest information to determine when and where the season takes place.Watch the full episode for an inside look at the science and decision-making behind one of waterfowl hunting's most anticipated seasons.#hunting #fyp #duck #duckhunting Website and Social Media Links: Delta Waterfowl: https://deltawaterfowl.org Facebook: /DeltaFans/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deltawaterfowl/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeltaWaterfowl/Delta Waterfowl: https://deltawaterfowl.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeltaFans/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deltawaterfowl/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeltaWaterfowl/
The growing season is filled with a host of challenges, including insect, disease, and weed pests, resistance concerns, agronomic issues, and soil fertility questions. The Field Notes program is designed for farmers and agricultural professionals as a weekly, 30-minute webinar to address all of your crop-related questions in real-time in an interactive, discussion-based format. We want to thank our sponsors, the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council along with the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council.
The whole gang is back together to catch up. Andy recaps his Field Notes–filled wedding, starts a new job, and falls down a serious wristwatch rabbit hole — from Bluetooth-modded Casio F-91Ws to a Draplin x Timex Scout. Johnny's loving a $30 Asvine piston-filler, a possibly haunted Cedar Pointe, and a Rhodia Goalbook in Peacock, while Tim is deep in World Cup fever and cheap-but-good Pen+Gear black pencils. Plus: Blackwing's 250 drop, Nahvalur's Fireworks Nautilus, and a locked-in promise that next episode is a Pencil Primer all about wood. For this episode, we recorded video, available to Patreon subscribers! If you're a patron, head over to see our faces and visual examples of many of the things we discuss. And if you're not a patron, join us at any level and you can see this and other supplemental content at any time!Show Notes & LinksMurchie's Tea (Victoria, BC) — Scottish breakfast blendForestChoice #2 pencil — still $5 a pack at Pencils.comField Notes Explore America: Northern California — Golden Gate National Recreation Area edition (with Big Sur and Muir Woods)Range Leather notebook coverBound to Be Beautiful by Bari Zaki — from Bari Zaki Studio in ChicagoNo Man's SkyAsvine P90 piston-fill fountain pen (~$30)Organics Studio Walt Whitman Leaves of Grass inkGeneral's Cedar Pointe #1Baron Fig x Caroline Weaver Archer pencilRhodia Goalbook in PeacockJames Corden's live after-match World Cup show on TubiThe Art of Simple Living by Shunmyo MasunoReplica J. Thoreau & Son pencil from The Shop at Walden PondMoleskine Cahier XL notebook — $9.99 at WalmartCasio F-91W and the Ollee Watch Bluetooth mod (~$60)Casio Vintage series — calculator, world-time, and the Alien wrist-communicator lookalikeTimex Weekender, Timex Expedition, and a Draplin Design Co. x Timex ScoutFitbit Air ($99) — strap-only tracker people pair with analog watchesPaper & Pencil (Chicago) custom Stationery Day Field Notes — including a stamp-collecting editionDelfonics Rollbahn Micro — the impossibly tiny new size, found at MaidoThe Blackwing 250 Collection — red, white, and blue pencils, plus the 250-box with a gold one (only 50 sets)Musgrave America250 Cedar Box Set — 2 dozen red, white, and blue Ceres pencilsField Notes: The Founding DocumentsNahvalur Nautilus Fireworks limited editionPen+Gear round black #2 pencils — back-to-school find at WalmartPanini World Cup sticker album — $2 packs, 450+ stickers
In this episode of Friday Field Notes, host Ryan Michler tackles a critical societal crisis: the rise of vanishing fatherhood. With nearly half of all men between the ages of 25 and 45 currently childless, Ryan breaks down why this trend isn't just an economic narrative, but a profound crisis of belief. He exposes the cultural lie that children are a restriction on personal freedom and contrasts it with data showing that 90% of fathers find fatherhood to be their deepest source of joy. True purpose comes from shouldering responsibility, not chasing comfort. Tune in to learn why raising righteous children is the ultimate battlefield for our culture. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 00:45 - The Fatherhood Statistics Shock 02:24 - Belief Systems vs. Economic Stories 04:27 - The Joy of Fatherhood vs. Societal Expectations 06:37 - The True Cost of Opting Out 08:50 - The Danger of Fragile and Rudderless Men 11:02 - The Birth Rate Collapse and Cultural Decay 13:19 - Reclaiming Culture Through the Next Generation 15:28 - Forfeiting the Cultural Fight 17:28 - Raising Righteous Children as the Mission 19:13 - Shifting from Dopamine to Legacy 19:57 - Step Up and Find the Courage 22:00 - A Call to Action for Modern Fathers 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
The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.Join the Newsletter at: MidPack Musings SubStackSupport the MidPacker Pod on Patreon.Check Out MPP Merch Make sure you leave us a rating and review wherever you get your pods.Looking for 1:1 Ultra Running Coaching? Check out Troy's Coaching Page STOKED TO PARTNER WITH PLAY ON RELIEF - 20% off your first orderGO BREWING - 20% off your first orderUSE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDSRENDEZVU.CO - Check out the Gear I love our purchases support me directlyField Notes is back after a short break, and Troy has plenty to catch up on. Fresh off Western States week, he shares the moments that have stuck with him most, from Hans Troyer's fearless front-running to Vincent Bouillard's emotional victory, Jenn Lichter's breakout performance, and why Zack Miller remains his favorite ultrarunner of all time.The conversation then shifts from the sport to real life. Troy opens up about the decision to skip Laurel Highlands, why launching a new business changed his priorities, and how entrepreneurship and ultrarunning have more in common than most people realize. Rather than chasing races, he's embracing a season of enjoying the trails, building fitness, and preparing for a few exciting adventures later this year.He wraps things up with an update on his upcoming plans, thoughts on Hardrock, and a look at where the MidPacker Pod is headed for the rest of the season.Episode HighlightsWestern States reflections beyond the results.Why Hans Troyer's race reminded Troy of the Icarus story.Vincent Bouillard's memorable win and what it says about today's sport.Jenn Lichter's incredible Western States debut and why she's one to watch.Why Zack Miller continues to embody everything Troy loves about trail running.Is 2026 an "asterisk year" at Western States because of the cooler weather?The decision to skip Laurel Highlands and prioritize family and business.Introducing Lead Fōrj, Troy's new B2B lead generation agency.Summer running without the pressure of chasing races.Plans for the Barkley Fall Classic waitlist and an unsupported Pitchell FKT attempt.Excitement surrounding Hardrock and the return of mountain racing.Training TakeawaysConsistency often matters more than constantly chasing races.Sometimes the smartest training decision is saying no to an event.Building a business and training for ultras require many of the same skills: patience, resilience, and long-term thinking.Enjoying running for its own sake can be just as valuable as structured race preparation.Troy's Links IG: @Troyontherun @MidpackerpodRTL Ultra Coaching Lead FōrjRelevant LinksWestern States Endurance RunLaurel Highlands UltraHellbender 100Barkley Fall ClassicHardrock 100Partner Links: PlayOn Relief - https://playonrelief.comAll Natural, Fast Acting, Long Lasting, Targeted ReliefUse MIDPACKER for 20% off your first orderGo Brewing - https://gobrewing.com/discount/MIDPACKERNA Beers for people that enjoy brews that taste great and are better for you.Use MIDPACKER for 20% off your first orderRendezvu.Co - https://www.rendezvu.co/troy-meadowsCheck out the Gear I love our purchases support me directlyVacation Races - https://www.vacationraces.comEpic Races on public lands near the most iconic National Park in the US.Use MIDPACKER at checkout for 15% the registration of any Ultra, Half, or TrailfestRun Trail Life - https://runtraillife.comFind Official MPP Merch on RTL!!Freetrail - https://freetrail.comVisit Freetrail.com to sign up today.MidPacker Pod, Field Notes, Troy Meadows, Western States, Hardrock 100, Laurel Highlands, Barkley Fall Classic, Hans Troyer, Vincent Bouillard, Jenn Lichter, Zack Miller, Hellbender 100, Lead Forge, entrepreneurship, summer running, trail running, ultrarunning, Pitchell, FKT, Asheville, HOKA, Go Brewing, Play On Relief, Rendezvu
Ukrainian Field Notes / 9 July 2026 / with Maksym Son, Dmytro Bereziuk and Vlad PochebulaProduced for Resonance FM by Gianmarco Del ReTracklist:Svitlana Nianio – Кіпариси 2023Volyn Field – Перелітні ПташкиVolyn Field – Днини (Софі Янц)Turbinaria – SpirulariaМихайлове Чудо – сс. Галків і МанькиМихайлове Чудо – с. ГубаріDvaTry – Valsembased / TIM PACHE / 41th – DCBLxVYHORStÿr – Kontrabanda
The growing season is filled with a host of challenges, including insect, disease, and weed pests, resistance concerns, agronomic issues, and soil fertility questions. The Field Notes program is designed for farmers and agricultural professionals as a weekly, 30-minute webinar to address all of your crop-related questions in real-time in an interactive, discussion-based format. Resource Links:https://www.mda.state.mn.us/about/mnfarmerstresshttps://www.mda.state.mn.us/farm-suicide-prevention-campaignhttps://extension.umn.edu/stress-and-change/rural-stresshttps://www.sciencesocieties.org/certified-crop-adviser/already-certified/ceus#other-ceusWe want to thank our sponsors the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, along with the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council.
RecFest 2026 was my fourth year going, and Jamie Leonard and the team knocked it out of the park once again. Taking a recruitment conference and mashing it together with a summer festival is no small task — but thousands of talent acquisition and employer brand people in a field at Knebworth showed that it just works.This year I went to find out what's on the minds of TA and EB people right now — and, more importantly, what they're doing about it — so I could share it here.Here's how the day unfolded, plus my own takes along the way.Doing AI vs Doing AI properly — complianceBefore I'd even got through the gates, I bumped into a few people I know and had the kind of catch-up where you spend the first few minutes trying to work out when you last saw each other. I asked one of them, someone who talks to senior people leaders every day, what crops up the most in conversations.Their answer, unprompted: AI — but specifically AI compliance. They told me about someone who was asked to AI themselves, and their own team, out of a job. And another situation where a CEO decided to “pick up AI” alongside people leadership and everything else — needless to say, it became a big addition to their to-do list, and it came with unexpected challenges.AI is moving from just talking about it to actually doing something about it. There's doing AI, and then there's doing AI properly. Get the compliance piece wrong, and it can create more problems than it solves. And don't expect AI to be a silver bullet - like with anything, for it work well you need to put the time and effort into it.Talent Acquisition and AI in 2026This year I wanted to spend more time at the talks than wandering the stands and chatting in the field — although I did plenty of that too. My first stop was Hung Lee (Recruiting Brainfood) on the Inspire Stage, taking us through what we need to know about TA and AI in 2026.Hung covered a lot of ground, but here were some of my takeaways:The pyramid is becoming a diamond. The traditional org shape — a big base of employees, fewer managers, fewer leaders still — is shifting. With fewer people doing the delivery work, and AI doing the heavy lifting underneath - that changes what the remaining humans need to be capable of. If you're going to have fewer people around AI, those people — managers and leaders included — need to understand both AI and people properly. There's no room left for a leader who only understands one half of that equation.Everyone's data is training data now. Hung shared a photo of a woman in India filming herself doing everyday tasks — chopping a mango, iPhone strapped to her head — paid specifically so that footage can be fed into AI models. Wow. What happens to the people doing that kind of task-based work once the model has learned what it needs from them?Recruiting is starting to look like executive search. Individual hires matter more because AI multiplies what one person can now produce, and recruiting capacity is shrinking because more of the process can be automated. That should free recruiters up for the genuinely human parts — mapping the market, building relationships with hiring managers, succession planning — rather than replacing them.“TA Plus” and proximity to value. If the transactional tasks get automated, the job becomes about adding value beyond the task: real relationships with the business, real understanding of what it's trying to achieve, not just working from the brief a hiring manager hands you. My comparison: it's like a football agent who can tell you exactly what value their player has delivered for the club, not just that they filled a squad slot.The future of early careers: the missing middle?Next up was a panel on early careers hiring — “The Missing Middle: Why cutting early careers today creates tomorrow's talent crisis.”The argument: AI is now capable of doing a lot of the entry-level tasks that used to be how people learned the ropes, which makes it tempting for organisations to cut early careers hiring significantly, or altogether. But that just pushes the problem further down the line. Early careers talent brings the fresh thinking, the comfort with new technology, the innovation a business needs to keep evolving.When your senior leaders are thinking short-term, ask them what will the impact on the business be in two to five years' time? Will leaving a hole of talent in the middle of the business make them more, or less, competitive?Something else from the panel was a great piece of advice wrapped up in a story - an intern who, within weeks of starting, built something that generated $100,000 for the business. That kind of story moves people far more than a slide of data ever will — exactly the kind of proof point employer brand teams should be capturing and telling, not sitting on.ROI matters, of course — but storytelling and relationship-building are what actually position the importance and impact of early careers talent internally.Working in employer branding in-house? You're the orchestrator, not the ownerOver on the EVP stage, James Ellis and Audra Knight brought some big energy about employer branding in-house. Treat employer brand as a business tool, not a TA tool or an internal engagement nice-to-have — if you can use it to solve an actual business problem, you become far more relevant in the room.There was a brutal little exercise thrown out to the audience: use ChatGPT to look at your website and ask it to pull out the key messages. Now do the same for your competitors and see the difference. The results will likely tell you that differentiation is lacking more than it should be in employer branding.There was a comforting message for EBers. Often, employer branding comes down to one person or a small team. As an employer brand person, you don't have the authority to tell the whole business what its story is — you're the orchestrator, not the owner. This really resonated with me - the job is surfacing the knowledge and experience that's already sitting inside teams and giving it a shape. That's also, not coincidentally, exactly the point I keep making about content: it's not a bolt-on to a business strategy, it's the front end of it.Culture and EVP: the Mars bar analogy“Insight to Impact with Great Place to Work: Building an Authentic EVP Rooted in Culture Data,” with Claire Knights (Chief Growth Officer, Great Place to Work) and Vicki Saunders (Founding Director, The EVP Consultancy), was a really interesting session on the foundations of authentic EVPs.It was interesting to see that Great Place to Work doesn't just see themselves as an accreditation body handing out badges — it's a data company. And the analogy Vicki used is that of a Mars bar: the ingredients, the bar itself, the wrapper, the tasting, and the reviews. You can have the glossiest wrapper in the industry, but if there's no substance in the bar, people find out fast — and increasingly, so does AI. In a world where LLMs are shaping how candidates form opinions about employers, generic marketing language with no proof points behind it just won't land.Interrogate your data, find your proof points, and look at the long-term pattern rather than a single good year. That's what makes an EVP true rather than a campaign — and the payoff has multiple benefits. Internally, people believe it because they can see it's real, which kills cynicism. Externally, the wrong people self-select out before they apply, and the right people arrive with fewer surprises when they join. Conversations between the talksThe conversations flowed from the tents to in between the agenda, and here are some of the things we talked about in the July sunshine.On the agency model. A properly interesting conversation about whether agencies still need to be the size they used to be, or whether a leaner model — bringing in the right specialist at the right moment — is actually the better way to work now. AI and monetisation: If AI makes things quicker does that mean agencies should charge less? Yes, and no - it depends. But AI in the hands of someone who doesn't know a specialism produces something generic, but AI in the hands of someone who really knows their craft produces something sharper. That's a big case for partners with real knowledge working alongside in-house teams.On the science of storytelling. A great conversation about understanding how people actually react to content, rather than just what they say they think about it — looking at the physical, almost instinctive response to a piece of video versus the polite feedback you get when you ask someone's opinion of it afterwards. It's a good reminder that there's real craft and science behind storytelling that works. Even when plenty of it can be done in-house, it's worth investing in content production experts, while also building your in-house capability - both help each other.On employee-generated video. A conversation about the real barrier many in-house teams face with video — it's rarely desire, it's headspace, resource, time and capability. In-house teams who decide to “do video” often only realise what it actually takes once they start doing it themselves. That's important for internal learning, and it shows that software which helps employees generate their own content really helps — but so does having the bandwidth to manage the process. Using partners in the right way can make all the difference.On hiring for storytelling. I chatted to a global brand who'd hired for a senior storytelling role a few months back — and what's interesting is that the role sits in comms, not TA. So it's not just a TA thing — storytelling is something that covers multiple touch points in a business, and therefore brings value in multiple places. Building the business case is about looking at the true strategic impact and ROI to the business. Companies are full of stories, so it's genuinely great to see it being taken seriously, and I hope more follow suit. I'll be picking this up in a future podcast episode.TA as a strategic partner? Amazon shows how it's doneAmazon took the Inspire Stage to talk about moving TA from vacancy filler to strategic business partner — it's great to see this shift actually happening, and it's not just conference talk. The question they left the audience with was a great mic-drop moment: If your business removed the TA function entirely, what would it lose beyond the ability to hire?If you're struggling to answer that, it's worth taking a proper look at how TA can genuinely help the business.It was great to see a panel of people actually making this happen — especially from a company like Amazon. The answer keeps coming back to the same place: have a deep understanding of what the business actually needs, and build relationships with stakeholders across it. You can't just ask TA questions — you have to ask business questions.AI is smart, humans are geniusThis session took aim at the traditional recruitment processes as ways to spot the people who are actually going to help a business grow through thinking differently and dealing with unknowns. As AI takes over the more “logical” parts of the process there's a danger of making things too logical. Tom Stevenson - Founder & CEO at Pynea made the case for assessing people against a future problem instead of asking questions with a clean, Google-able or LLM-able answer. Open-ended questions are harder to fake and harder for AI to answer generically on someone's behalf — which gives you a good read on how someone thinks.My take: Hung and Tom's point about CVs — that they capture a record of achievement but not the trait or mindset behind it — connects straight back to content. If you're creating opinion-led, story-led content that genuinely shows what it's like to work somewhere and who succeeds there, you're doing some of that assessment work before a candidate even applies. People self-select in — or, just as usefully, self-select out.Closing out at the EVP stageThe last session of the day? I went back to the EVP tent. A hot field, music getting louder outside, drinks flowing, and a speaker who said she was nervous but didn't show it once she got going. Nicola Plenderleith - Head of Talent Acquisition at Leyton - was great. She gave practical, take-it-away-and-do-it-Monday advice, and her core point was simple: your EVP isn't the polished version you've built, it's whether that promise actually shows up at every touchpoint someone experiences — from the first conversation with a hiring manager, to whether your career site would still be recognisably you with the logo covered up, to the rejection emails you send out. Go back and reread your own rejection emails. Do they sound like boilerplate, or do they sound like you? That was a genuinely good way to close the day.The Lean Guide to Employer ContentI'd brought a few copies of my recently published book: The Lean Guide to Employer Content along with me for the day, and it was great getting it into people's hands and talking about the why and what of it. The response was a valuable reaffirmation for writing the book.If you're in talent acquisition or employer branding and want a framework to build self-sustainable content creation in-house then you can find out more here. Why I love going to events like RecFestThe big takeaway for me is that it's worth going to events like this. It's a rare chance to meet multiple people in one place, and to take your team along so they can learn from others too. And it's just as important to have some good conversations and a few drinks in the sun — it might not feel like work, but stepping back and actually enjoying yourself is exactly what sends you back to work with energy and focus.If you see me at an event, pop over and say hi. ChrisHost, Employer Content MarketingFounder, Content Marketing Pod Ltd Get full access to Employer Content Marketing at www.employercontent.marketing/subscribe
In this mini 'field notes' episode, Claire shares her encounter with hearing mermaid music in a small fishing cove in 2019 and how she used her experience to help a friend to heal a past relationship. Plus, Claire shares some thoughts on connecting with mermaids and other elementals, and mermaid lore!The Heart of Pixieland: West-Country Faeries & TheirHaunts - Release date 13th July! We were taught that fairies vanished into old stories long ago.Yet many people today are encountering them — quietly, unexpectedly, in the midst of ordinary life.On Fairy Whispering, I speak with guests who have met these beings at the edges of perception and the thresholds of the everyday.To catch a fairy whisper, you have to listen closely… listen with me.✨ Join the Fairy Whispering Patreon Community for early-releaseepisodes, behind-the-scenes posts, and gentle creative extras:https://www.patreon.com/fairywhispering✨ Connect with Claire & FairyWhispering Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairywhisperingpodcast/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/fairywhispering YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fairywhisperingpodcastI'm Claire Casely — a Fairy Whisperer, researcher, and guide. Since childhood I've sensed the unseen and listened for messages from the Otherworld. My work is to bring awareness to the many beings who share the Earth with us, just a whisper away.Join me as we explore how fairies reach out, how they shape our lives, and the wisdom they offer from beyond the veil.
As we approach the historic 250th anniversary of America's founding, Ryan Michler delivers a stark, counter-cultural challenge to modern men. We live in a society hyper-focused on immediate gratification, digital clout, and instant feedback loops. But true legacy requires a longer horizon. By examining the immense, unglamorous sacrifices of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, Ryan maps out the blueprint for moving past temporary, ego-driven personal empires toward lasting institutions. Discover four actionable strategies to practice delayed returns, extend your time horizon, and aggressively plant the generational trees whose shade you may never personally sit under. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 00:26 - The 250th Anniversary of America's Founding 01:00 - The Sweltering Reality of Philadelphia, 1776 02:30 - What the Founders Never Lived to See Complete 03:50 - The Ancient Wisdom of Planting Trees for Future Shade 04:21 - Breaking Free from Modern Immediate Gratification Loops 05:50 - John Adams and the True Cost of Generational Freedom 08:00 - Thomas Jefferson: Calculating Decades in the Dirt 10:00 - George Washington's Ultimate Power Move: Stepping Down 12:14 - The Strategy of Extending Your Time Horizon 14:30 - Building Lasting Institutions vs. Fleeting Personal Empires 21:31 - Why "Order of Man" is Not the Ryan Michler Show 24:11 - Tactical Discipline: Training Yourself for True Patience 26:36 - The Field Notes Challenge: Perform a Zero-Payoff Action 28:36 - Changing Your Stars and Redefining Your Family Trajectory 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
In this special Field Notes episode, host Joel Brice sits down with Chris Williams, Senior Director of Industry Partnerships at Delta Waterfowl, to give listeners a preview of the 2026 Duck Hunters Expo in Des Moines, Iowa.Whether you're attending for the first time or returning for another year, this episode gives you an inside look at what makes the Duck Hunters Expo a must-attend event for duck hunters across the country.Duck Hunters Expo
Most men carry a wound they rarely talk about—and it often begins with their relationship with their father. Whether your dad was absent, emotionally unavailable, overly critical, or simply unable to give you what you needed, that experience can quietly shape your identity, relationships, ambition, anger, and even the way you parent your own children. In this episode, Ryan shares his own story of growing up without a present father and explores how the "father wound" influences countless men long into adulthood. More importantly, he explains why understanding the wound isn't about making excuses—it's about taking responsibility, breaking generational cycles, and becoming the man your children need. If you've ever found yourself chasing approval, struggling to feel "enough," or determined not to repeat your father's mistakes, this conversation is for you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 The Father Wound Most Men Never Discuss 02:36 Growing Up Without a Present Father 04:52 The Hidden Cost of Father Absence 06:40 What the Father Wound Really Is 08:54 How the Wound Shows Up in Adult Men 13:21 Understanding Isn't the Same as Blaming 14:45 Grieve It—Don't Bury It 15:52 Becoming Your Own Father 18:43 Stop Waiting for His Approval 21:02 Breaking the Generational Cycle 22:30 Forgiveness Is Not the Finish Line 24:41 Build Your Band of Brothers (Iron Council) 26:06 Final 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
What do CMOs and Formula One champions have in common? They're expected to perform under pressure, make split-second decisions, and keep showing up when the odds aren't in their favor. Recorded live at Cannes Lions 2026, Frontier CMO host Josh Spanier sits down with McLaren Chief Marketing Officer Louise McEwen and Formula One World Champion Lando Norris to explore how they're winning on and off the racetrack. In a world where most Formula One fans will never attend a race, they reveal how McLaren creates connections beyond race day and builds a brand that performs 365 days a year. Buckle up. This is McLaren's race to the top. 00:00:00 — Introduction & The Elite World Champion Group 00:01:00 — F1 Meets Cannes: Why McLaren Focuses on Creativity 00:02:20 — The Quest to the Front: How Putting Fans First Saved McLaren 00:04:30 — Taking Creative Risks: The Story of the Gulf Livery 00:05:15 — The "Drive to Survive" Effect & Media Value 00:06:45 — Engaging the 99%: Live Fan Events from London to Miami 00:08:35 — Brand vs. Athlete: Balancing Team Identity with Star Drivers 00:09:35 — Marketing the Narrative When the Team Isn't Winning 00:11:45 — The Rise of Female Fandom & High-Fashion Collabs 00:13:00 — Choosing the Right Global Partners & Activating Tech 00:14:05 — Making History: Lou McEwen's Podium Moment 00:15:35 — Lando Norris Joins the Show: Life as the Face of McLaren 00:16:35 — Sinking In: "I'm Freaking World Champion" 00:19:30 — Developing the Mental Resilience to Handle Tough Moments 00:21:10 — Naps & Twitch: Lando's Unconventional Pre-Race Routine 00:22:00 — Rapid Fire Game: Signal or Noise? 00:23:10 — Summary & Field Notes: 3 Takeaways for Frontier CMOs
The growing season is filled with a host of challenges, including insect, disease, and weed pests, resistance concerns, agronomic issues, and soil fertility questions. The Field Notes program is designed for farmers and agricultural professionals as a weekly, 30-minute webinar to address all of your crop-related questions in real-time in an interactive, discussion-based format. We want to thank our sponsors the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, along with the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council.
FCS Financials' senior vice president of marketing, Kate Lambert, says resources are available for young and beginning farmers, including the Connect program. “Today's farming environment doesn't allow somebody just to come in and just focus on production. They've really got to come in and be a CEO. They have to be thinking about all of the business risks, how they can mitigate those risks. And we want to make sure that we're doing our part to help them sharpen the skill set in that area.” Hear more in the latest FCS Financial Field Notes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Most men never receive training for fatherhood - but that doesn't make the role any less important. In this week's Friday Field Notes, Ryan shares 7 strategies to become a better father and explains why your presence, discipline, standards, and personal growth matter more than you think. Your kids are watching how you lead, how you respond to adversity, and how you show up every day. Whether your children are young, grown, or somewhere in between, these principles will help you become the father they remember and respect. This isn't about perfection. It's about intentional fatherhood. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Why Fatherhood Matters 02:58 Be Present, Not Just Around 04:50 Model the Man You Want Them to Become 07:09 Discipline Without Losing the Relationship 10:28 Let Your Kids Struggle 13:28 Tell Them Who They Are 17:56 Build Something Together 19:48 Father From a Full Tank 28:55 Iron Council & Final Challenge 29:36 Final Father's Day Message & Outro If one of these principles hits home, choose one and apply it this weekend. Join Iron Council: https://orderofman.com/ironcouncil 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
The growing season is filled with a host of challenges, including insect, disease, and weed pests, resistance concerns, agronomic issues, and soil fertility questions. The Field Notes program is designed for farmers and agricultural professionals as a weekly, 30-minute webinar to address all of your crop-related questions in real-time in an interactive, discussion-based format. We want to thank our sponsors the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, along with the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council.
Modern culture often treats masculinity as something dangerous that needs to be suppressed, softened, or apologized for. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler challenges that narrative and draws a critical distinction between masculinity and manliness. Masculinity, Ryan argues, is the raw, God-given force within men - the drive to compete, build, protect, lead, and conquer. It is neither good nor bad on its own. Manliness, however, is what happens when that force is refined, disciplined, governed by principle, and directed toward a righteous purpose. Ryan outlines five practical ways to forge masculinity into manliness: attaching your strength to a mission, submitting yourself to discipline, living by a code, serving others, and embracing voluntary hardship. He explains why purpose, responsibility, and self-mastery are essential for becoming the man you're meant to be. If you've ever wrestled with what it means to be a strong man in today's world, this episode offers a framework for harnessing your natural gifts and turning them into something valuable for yourself, your family, and your community. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 00:07 The Lie We've Been Told About Masculinity 02:32 Masculinity vs. Manliness 04:58 Why "Toxic Masculinity" Gets It Wrong 07:17 Responsibility Over Shame 09:14 Choosing Who You Become 11:22 1. Attach Your Masculinity to a Mission 15:47 2. Submit Your Masculinity to Discipline 19:11 3. Govern Masculinity with Principles 23:08 4. Aim Your Strength in Service of Others 25:27 5. Embrace Voluntary Difficulty 28:46 Happiness vs. Fulfillment 30:18 Why Men Are Not the Problem 32:09 Becoming a Man in Command of Himself 33:13 Iron Council Invitation 34:02 Final 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
What if the worldview functioning as an opiate today is not religion, but its absence? In this field notes episode of Inquiry, Kelly Chase examines atheism not as a private belief or philosophical conclusion, but as a very recent mass cultural formation that now functions as the default worldview of educated Western society. Beginning with Marx's famous claim that religion is the opiate of the masses, she asks whether modern secular materialism may now be serving a similar sedating function by making vast areas of human experience feel intellectually off-limits. From there, the episode turns toward elite metaphysics. The public is often told that materialism is the rational, mature, evidence-based position, yet many of the people and institutions shaping the future take seriously spirituality, consciousness, simulation theory, mysticism, ritual, and esoteric frameworks. The question is not whether any single belief system is true, but whether citizens trained to dismiss the symbolic and metaphysical have been given a map that cannot represent the terrain power is actually navigating. Finally, the episode considers the empirical and philosophical pressure points inside strict materialism: the hard problem of consciousness, near-death experience research, the PEAR Lab at Princeton, Dean Radin's work at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and anomalous findings that are usually met not with rigorous refutation but with studied disregard. These findings are not treated as proof of any particular metaphysics. They are treated as evidence that the question remains open, and that a genuine skeptic should apply suspicion not only to extraordinary claims, but to the dominant worldview that decides in advance which claims are allowed to count. Topics explored: Marx and religion | opiate of the masses | atheism as ideology | secularization | materialism | consciousness | the hard problem | non-material reality | elite belief | WEF and spirituality | Silicon Valley mysticism | simulation theory | René Girard | Peter Thiel | Elon Musk | Bohemian Grove | ritual and power | Skull and Bones | esotericism | operative metaphysics | near-death experiences | PEAR Lab | Dean Radin | anomalous cognition | mind-matter interaction | dogma and skepticism | worldview enforcement | social sanction | epistemic humility | the metaphysics of power Inquiry with Kelly Chase is brought to you by SpectreVision Radio.Produced in partnership with Voltage.fm. Referenced In This Episode A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right — Karl Marx (1843/44) The Death of Christian Britain: Understanding Secularisation 1800–2000 — Callum G. Brown (2001) Religion's Sudden Decline: What's Causing It, and What Comes Next? — Ronald F. Inglehart (2021) The Role of Faith in Systemic Global Challenges — World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on the Role of Faith (2016) Faith, the Internet and Improving the State of the World — World Economic Forum (2016) Facing Up to the Problem of Consciousness — David J. Chalmers (1995) Near-Death Experience in Survivors of Cardiac Arrest: A Prospective Study in the Netherlands — Pim van Lommel et al. (2001) Margins of Reality: The Role of Consciousness in the Physical World — Robert G. Jahn & Brenda J. Dunne (1987) Experiments Testing Models of Mind-Matter Interaction — Dean Radin (2006) The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena — Dean Radin (1997) Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World — René Girard (1978) I See Satan Fall Like Lightning — René Girard (1999) Support The Show Patreon: inquirywithkellychase.com Substack: inquirywithkellychase.substack.com Connect with Kelly Website: kellychase.media X: @kellychasemedia Instagram: @kellychasemedia TIMESTAMPS 00:27 Braving Belief Talk 01:26 Atheism as Opiate 02:22 How New Secularism Is 04:21 Elites Aren't Secular 07:03 Materialism's Blind Spots 08:35 Anomalies and Dogma 10:01 Social Enforcement of Belief11:53 A Better Skepticism 12:37 Waking Up to Metaphysics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ukrainian Field Notes / 11 June 2026 / with Iriy RecordsProduced for Resonance FM by Gianmarco Del RetracklistCruel blu - Кучеряві шториSecond Sort - vivid dreamshuman margareeta - fffffuuuuucccckkkkMertvi Dereva - 05 Отруйні Іклаnizhna - Tokyo Driftpants - Unrun CitizenAlexander Stratonov - The Sky in the Nets
Masculinity isn't inherently good or bad - it's a force. Like fire, it can be used to build or destroy. The real question isn't whether masculinity is the problem; it's whether a man has learned to direct it with discipline, character, and purpose. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler explores the critical distinction between masculinity and manliness, then breaks down five immature archetypes that keep men from reaching their full potential. From the Man Child to the Jester, Ryan explains how these patterns show up in everyday life and what it takes to move beyond them. If you're willing to take an honest look in the mirror, this episode may reveal exactly where you need to grow. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Intro 00:17 Masculinity Is Not Inherently Good or Bad 02:26 Masculinity vs. Manliness 04:33 Being Good vs. Being Good at Being a Man 05:44 Manliness Requires Virtuous Direction 06:40 The Meaning of Arete 08:29 Masculinity Without Refinement 09:27 Archetype #1: The Man Child 15:31 Archetype #2: The Ghost 21:27 Archetype #3: The Tyrant 25:36 Archetype #4: The Martyr 30:49 Archetype #5: The Jester 34:45 Which Archetype Are You? 36:45 Iron Council Preview Invitation 38:05 Final Thoughts and Challenge 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
Most men don't lose control of their lives overnight. It happens slowly - through comfort, approval-seeking, distraction, blame, and outsourcing identity to culture and other people. In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the five most common ways men surrender their sovereignty and explains how to reclaim authority over your life, decisions, standards, and future. This conversation challenges men to stop living reactively and start becoming the primary author of their lives. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Most Powerful Version of Yourself 01:28 - What Sovereignty Really Means 04:46 - Men Are In a Battle 07:01 - Approval-Seeking 11:36 - Addiction to Comfort 15:12 - Digital Dependency 21:24 - Abdication of Responsibility 26:58 - Identity Outsourcing 31:15 - Reclaiming Your Sovereignty 34:29 - Final Challenge & Resources 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
What if cat sitting isn't a side-service anymore, but one of the fastest-maturing lanes in professional pet care? Collin sits down with Beth Pasek (Finicky Cat), Shannon Hendon (Ocala Pet Sitting), and Grace Taylor (Furever Friends Cat Sitting) to unpack why cat-only services are growing, what "maturing" looks like in client expectations, and how education around stress, behavior, and enrichment is reshaping demand. They discuss how veterinary-adjacent care shows up in real homes (especially with medical cases) and why language, scope, and standards matter as specialization increases. The group also tackles pricing, staffing, team structures, and the realities of cash flow when revenue is seasonal and peaky. The takeaway: cat sitting is not a fad, it's segmenting, professionalizing, and creating new opportunities for operators who build standards and stick to them. Main topics: Cat sitting industry growth and maturity Cat stress, behavior, enrichment Medical cats and scope Pricing, staffing, team models Technology, automation, reliability Main takeaway: "Businesses live and die on cash flow." That's true in every industry, but it's especially true in cat sitting, where busy seasons can feel like a tidal wave and slow months can sneak up fast. The answer isn't panic pricing or breaking your standards to "stay busy." It's knowing your patterns, planning ahead, and building a model that's honest about the highs and lows. Your care can be excellent and still fail if the business side isn't stable. Cat sitting is growing, so let's build it to last. About our guests: Beth Pasek runs Finicky Cat Sitting and Behavior in Cleveland, Ohio, with a cats-only focus and deep experience supporting behavior and medical-needs cases. Shannon Hendon is the founder of Ocala Pet Sitting in Central Florida and the Vice President of the Florida Pet Services Association, bringing two decades of industry experience and a cat-only transition perspective. Grace Taylor owns Furever Friends Cat Sitting in Baltimore, leading a cats-only team specializing in medical cats and building systems to support high-touch care at scale. Together, they represent a wide range of approaches to feline-focused business models and standards. Links: Beth Pasek — Finicky Cat Sitting & Behavior (Cleveland, OH) Website: https://finicky.us/ About Beth: https://finicky.us/meet-the-owner Field Notes mentoring series: https://finicky.us/cat-behavior-beth-pasek Facebook: Search "Liz Pasek" on Facebook Instagram (@finickycat): https://www.instagram.com/finickycat/ Book — Understanding Cat Behavior: A Compassionate Guide to Training and Communication: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Cat-Behavior-Compassionate-Communication/dp/164739614X Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/understanding-cat-behavior-beth-pasek/1137311653 Target: https://www.target.com/p/understanding-cat-behavior-by-beth-pasek-paperback/-/A-90337331 Shannon Hendon — Ocala Pet Sitting LLC (Ocala, FL) Website: https://www.ocalapetsitting.com/ Meet the Owner: https://www.ocalapetsitting.com/meet-the-owner Cat Sitting page: https://www.ocalapetsitting.com/cat-sitting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-hendon YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE48Cv_QpYgNE6PSmzUspNg Grace Taylor — Furever Friends Cat Sitting (Baltimore, MD) Website: https://fureverfriendscatsitting.com/ Instagram (@fureverfriendscatsitting): https://www.instagram.com/fureverfriendscatsitting/ Built for Cats (Shannon & Grace's joint education platform) Facebook group "Built for Cats: The Business of Feline Care" — searchable on Facebook Speaker bio/overview: https://flpetassociation.org/home/speakers/ Organizations & Resources Mentioned Ohio State University — Indoor Pet Initiative (Dr. Tony Buffington's work on cat enrichment) Main site: https://indoorpet.osu.edu/ For cat owners: https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats Dr. Tony Buffington bio: https://indoorpet.osu.edu/people/tony-buffington-dvm-phd-dacvn Fear Free Pet Professionals (the Fear Free Certified® designation referenced) Main certifications page: https://www.fearfree.com/certifications/ Fear Free Pet Sitter Certification: https://fearfreepets.com/fear-free-pet-sitter-certification/ Feline Veterinary Medical Association (Feline VMA) — formerly AAFP — Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional designation https://catvets.com/ (Feline VMA) Cat Friendly Practice program info: referenced via https://catvets.com/ Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) — International Cat Show (held in Cleveland) CFA: https://cfa.org/ International Show & Expo: https://cfa.org/catexpo/ Florida Pet Services Association (FPSA) — Shannon is VP https://flpetassociation.org/ Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts!
What if the sacrifices you make aren't actually about service... but identity? In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the dangerous trap many men fall into: building their entire identity around suffering, responsibility, and sacrifice. Drawing from philosophy, psychology, and personal experience, Ryan explores how men unconsciously become martyrs - believing their worth is tied to how much pain they can endure. From Carl Jung's concept of the persona and shadow, to Stoic philosophy and Sartre's idea of "bad faith," this episode challenges men to ask a difficult question: Are you sacrificing for something... or sacrificing as something? SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Question That Changed Everything 01:05 - Becoming "The Responsible One" 03:35 - The Persona Men Build 05:35 - When Suffering Becomes Identity 06:45 - The Trap of Proving Your Worth 07:20 - Sartre and "Bad Faith" 09:20 - The Mindset of the Martyr 10:40 - Stoicism and Virtuous Suffering 12:15 - Why Men Perform Sacrifice 13:20 - Carl Jung and the Shadow 15:15 - The Hidden Patterns of Martyrdom 16:00 - Keeping Score in Relationships 17:10 - Why Martyrs Refuse Help 18:50 - Resentment Disguised as Dedication 21:05 - "I Had No Choice" 22:15 - Why Nobody Loves a Martyr 24:05 - Martyrdom vs Purpose 25:05 - The Story Your Kids Learn From You 26:15 - Losing Yourself in Responsibility 27:30 - How to Break the Pattern 28:00 - Name the Performance 28:50 - Reclaim Your Sovereignty 29:55 - The Boy Still Carrying the Weight 31:20 - Conscious vs Compulsive Sacrifice 32:10 - Building Identity Beyond Suffering 33:20 - A Man Who Knows Who He Is 34:35 - The Epictetus Quote 35:20 - Learning to Put the Weight Down 36:10 - Suffering With Purpose 37:00 - Final Thoughts on Martyrdom 37:45 - Share This With Another Man 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
What happens when a man loses his mission? In this powerful Friday Field Notes episode, Ryan Michler breaks down why purpose is not optional for men - it's essential. Drawing from military experience, personal stories, and alarming statistics around depression, suicide, addiction, and isolation, Ryan explains why so many men feel lost today and how to reclaim direction. Using the acronym MISSION, Ryan walks through a practical framework to help men identify meaning, build identity, serve others, develop skills, pursue interests, overcome obstacles, and take the next step toward a purpose-driven life. If you've felt stuck, numb, disconnected, or unsure of your next move, this episode is a direct challenge to stop drifting and start building a mission worthy of your life. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction 00:33 - The Soldier Returning Home 02:58 - The Crisis Facing Men Today 04:32 - Why Men Need Mission 05:05 - M = Meaning 06:55 - I = Identity 08:40 - S = Service 13:05 - The Power of Generational Impact 14:30 - S = Skills 16:20 - I = Interests 18:45 - O = Obstacles 21:23 - N = Next Step 22:55 - Mission, Depression & Isolation 24:20 - Young Men Without Purpose 26:05 - Why Great Men Had Missions 27:20 - Final Challenge to Men 28:25 - Iron Council Invitation & Outro 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
Have you ever wondered if all that doing is actually getting in the way of your creativity? What if I asked you to let yourself be less useful?This week I'm sitting down with photographer, documentarian, and creative force Lindsey Lerner, founder of Field Notes From the Work in the Wild, a stunning project on Substack that documents people in the messy middle of their most meaningful work.Lindsey started out as my creative coaching client and has since become one of my dearest friends and creative allies. And in this conversation, she gets radically honest about what happened when she finally stopped over-functioning, stopped building everyone else's dreams, and started making room for her own.We get into:-Why being less useful might be the most creative thing you can do-How to keep the faith when your path makes absolutely no sense-What it really means to ask for help, and why it's so hard for high achievers-How to braid your passions into something only you can create-Plus the moment Lindsey's wife said something so simple it rewired everything.If you've ever confused hustle for worth, or wondered if there's a more holistic, authentic way to create, this one is for you, cutie.And if you're in New York, Lindsey's bringing Field Notes to life on September 26th at Bronxlandia in the South Bronx. Subscribe to Field Notes on Substack to get first access to tickets: https://fieldnotesfromthework.substack.com/ Love you. Let's get into it.
Most men think they struggle with discipline, confidence, or motivation - but beneath all of it is a deeper issue: the inability to trust themselves. In this Friday Field Notes episode, Ryan Michler breaks down the concept of inner authority - what it is, why so many men lose it, and how to reclaim it in a world constantly demanding your attention, validation, and compliance. Ryan explores: Why modern men outsource their decisions How social media destroys self-trust The hidden resentment created by seeking approval The difference between wisdom and permission How to stop overexplaining yourself Practical ways to rebuild confidence and sovereignty If you've ever second-guessed yourself, needed external validation before making a move, or felt disconnected from your own instincts, this episode will challenge you to reclaim ownership of your life. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction 00:19 - The Problem Most Men Never Name 02:41 - A Question About Decision-Making 04:13 - Why Men Seek External Validation 06:38 - What Inner Authority Really Means 08:10 - Ownership, Accountability & Agency 10:10 - Criticism, Praise & Self-Trust 12:11 - How Men Lose Their Inner Authority 14:06 - Conditioning, Compliance & Institutions 15:57 - Relationships and Losing Your Voice 17:52 - Social Media and Validation Addiction 19:18 - Indecision and Overthinking 21:23 - Resentment From Outsourcing Your Life 22:02 - Success Without Fulfillment 24:17 - Ryan's Personal Crossroads Story 26:12 - How to Build Inner Authority 26:38 - Make Small Decisions 27:55 - Stop Asking Permission 28:45 - Stop Explaining Yourself 29:52 - Get Alone and Hear Yourself Think 30:43 - Do Difficult Things in Private 31:55 - Disagree Out Loud 33:05 - Track Your Wins 34:02 - You've Already Survived Hard Things 35:40 - Why Inner Authority Matters 36:35 - Iron Council Invitation 37:10 - Preview Call Details & Closing Remarks 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
This week on the Pinkbike podcast, we dive into the season's first World Cup in South Korea, where loose, sandy soil and questionable track builds created a "recipe for disaster." The drama peaked when a dangerous feature was closed mid-race after Lou Ferguson's crash, leading to confusion from off-site commentators. We also witnessed the bizarre saga of "Hardtail Man," a Polish rider on a dual-crown-equipped hardtail rig whose retro vibes turned into a safety hazard when elite riders nearly caught him during his run. The racing itself confirmed a massive "changing of the guard" as the new generation officially took over. Asa Vermette lived up to the hype with a clinical win, while Amaury Pierron proved he's back in "Terminator" mode by crashing yet still clawing his way to an incredible third-place finish. Between the Alran twins' calm "aura" and the Junior Women posting elite-level times, the depth of the field is reaching a fever pitch. Technically, the pits were buzzing over radical "trophy truck" bike setups and the legitimate podium success of belt-drive bikes. Looking ahead to Loudenvielle, it's clear the veterans are under heavy fire. Whether it's the raw speed of the Juniors or the return of a healthy Pierron, the "old guard" will have to find another gear to stay on the podium this season.
For so many of the good ones (the tender-hearted ones, the deeply sensitive ones, the ones who actually care) self-belief can feel almost… I dunno… sketchy and suspicious. Like, if I believe in myself too much, am I becoming arrogant? If I put myself out there, am I being self-important? If I talk about my work, am I turning into one of those cringy people who pontificates loudly on their cell phone outside the coffee shop, so everyone hears about their latest business venture? So here's what I've been thinking about lately: Being good is not enough. Having a beautiful heart is not enough. Having a meaningful mission is not enough. Having gifts, wisdom, depth, devotion, and love is not enough. Because there are plenty of people in the world using the weapon of self-belief for things that do not have the same heart, integrity, or healing inside of them. So what happens when the good ones refuse to pick it up? In this first installment of Field Notes from the Zero, I'm sharing a short inspirational message on why self-belief is not ego or arrogance. And it's definitely not becoming one of the people who hurt you. It is a sacred and necessary weapon that many of clients resist for decades before meeting me and engaging in this work. And if you are here to bring more light, healing, truth, beauty, service, or love into the world… you are going to need it (as much as you wish you didn’t). Book a Session with Nat >>> Your chart holds so many other secrets that we can decode together. Click here to book a session, and start the journey back to yourself, your superpowers and the glorious life you are here to create. BIGGEST hugs… ~ Your Spiritual Coach & Numerologist, Nat P.S. Make sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook so we can stay in touch. Theme music: “Gracias” by Milton Arias licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. The post Field Notes from the Zero: Why Self-Belief is a Necessary Weapon appeared first on Nat Olson.
In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler tackles a controversial but critical idea: what if free markets aren't the problem—but the proving ground for masculinity? Ryan breaks down how systems built on risk, accountability, competition, and earned success shape men into capable, resilient leaders. He contrasts this with the growing appeal of dependency-driven systems and explains why outsourcing responsibility may come at a deeper cost—your purpose, identity, and sovereignty. This is a direct, unfiltered look at what men lose when struggle disappears—and why the free market might be the arena men actually need. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Question No One Is Asking 00:34 - Free Markets & Masculinity Explained 02:12 - Struggle Is the Point 04:02 - Masculinity Under Fire 05:20 - The Rise of Dependency Thinking 06:09 - Sovereignty vs Security 07:54 - Personal Responsibility 09:50 - Risk & Reward 11:46 - Purpose, Work, and Male Disengagement 13:40 - Independence & Self-Reliance 15:26 - Earned Respect vs Entitlement 18:20 - The Power of Competition 21:46 - Justice vs Mercy 23:33 - The Lie About Capitalism (Cronyism) 25:40 - Consumerism & Empty Men 27:43 - Comfort Is the Real Threat 29:25 - Final Thoughts & Challenge 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
Most men don't struggle with competence - they struggle with how others treat them. In this episode, Ryan breaks down five practical, no-BS ways to earn respect without demanding it, begging for it, or pretending to be someone you're not. These are simple shifts in behavior that immediately change how people perceive you - at work, at home, and in every relationship. If you've ever felt overlooked, talked over, or taken for granted, this episode gives you the tools to take back control and command respect - quietly and effectively. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Intro: Why Respect Matters 01:55 - #1 Set Clear Boundaries 05:14 - Plan Your Response in Advance 07:39 - #2 Stop Over-Explaining & Apologizing 09:31 - #3 Raise Your Standards 11:47 - Practical Language Shifts 13:46 - #4 Be Reliable 15:43 - Close the Loop on Commitments 17:30 - #5 Address Disrespect Directly 19:25 - How to Respond Calmly in the Moment 21:31 - Final Thoughts + Recap 22:30 - Outro & 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
Kate Bowler is joined by Nadia Bolz-Weber and Sarah Bessey for an honest, funny, and deeply tender conversation about what it means to be people of faith right now. When the world feels overwhelming—personally and globally—they explore small acts of love, embodied community, and “cozy faith” as resistance to despair. From knitting circles and prayer shawls to church, doubt, and the stubborn choice to keep loving the world, this episode is about finding hope in ordinary, human ways. SHOW NOTES Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway Watch the live conversation on YouTube Nadia Bolz-Weber Sarah Bessey Evolving Faith Conference & Community Sacred Harp singing Braving the Truth by Rachel Held Evans (edited by Sarah Bessey) Books by Nadia Bolz-Weber — Pastrix, Accidental Saints, Shameless Books by Sarah Bessey — Field Notes for the Wilderness, A Rhythm of Prayer, Jesus Feminist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down what it really means to "quiet quit" your family - being physically present but mentally and emotionally checked out. He explains why this is one of the most dangerous and overlooked problems facing men today, how it happens, and what you can do to fix it before it costs you your marriage and your relationship with your kids. If you've ever found yourself distracted, disengaged, or just going through the motions at home, this episode is a wake-up call. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Quiet Quit at Home 00:40 - Why This Is So Dangerous 01:35 - The Shocking Stats on Fatherlessness 04:05 - Presence vs Engagement 06:20 - Why Men Don't See the Problem 08:05 - How Relationships Quietly Break Down 10:10 - What Quiet Quitting Looks Like 11:50 - The Root Causes (Exhaustion, Avoidance, Identity) 14:15 - Why Men Default to What They Can Measure 15:20 - Step 1: Define a Home Standard 17:00 - Step 2: Create a Threshold Ritual 18:20 - Step 3: Audit Your Attention 20:30 - Step 4: Schedule Hard Conversations 21:30 - Step 5: Build Accountability 22:30 - Final Warning: The Invisible Damage 23:30 - Be the Man Your Family Needs 24:20 - YouTube + Iron Council CTA 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
In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the 7 forms of masculine provision - a complete framework for showing up as a capable, present, and effective man in your family and community. If you've ever thought that working hard and paying the bills was enough, this conversation will challenge that assumption and give you a more complete standard to live by. You'll learn why provision goes far beyond finances - and how neglecting the other areas can leave your family lacking, even if the bills are paid. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Intro 00:48 The Problem with "Providing = Money" 02:27 The 7 Forms of Masculine Provision 03:10 #1 Financial Provision (The Floor, Not the Ceiling) 04:52 Are You Hiding Behind Work? 05:30 #2 Physical Provision (Protection + Capability) 08:10 Health, Awareness, and Responsibility 10:23 #3 Emotional Provision (The Hard One) 10:50 Emotionally Checked Out 12:25 Dealing With Your Own Issues 14:45 #4 Intellectual Provision (A Mind Worth Following) 17:01 Leading Through Curiosity and Thinking 19:25 #5 Spiritual Provision (Be the Anchor) 21:41 Creating Meaning for Your Family 23:48 #6 Time Provision (You Only Have So Much) 24:14 You Only Have 10 Summers 26:28 #7 Self Provision (The Foundation) 28:36 The Full Framework Recap 30:40 Iron Council + Forge Event 31:05 Subscribe + Closing 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
In this episode, Ryan Michler breaks down one of the most influential-and dangerous-movements shaping modern men: the manosphere. While much of its message contains elements of truth-strength, discipline, success-it ultimately promotes a distorted version of masculinity rooted in ego, domination, and consumption. Ryan draws a critical distinction between masculinity (amoral traits) and manliness (moral responsibility), arguing that strength without character leads to destruction, not leadership. He challenges men to reject surface-level success metrics-money, women, status-and instead focus on what truly defines a man: what he builds, carries, and gives. This episode is a call to step away from performative masculinity and toward a life of purpose, discipline, and service-to become the kind of man others can depend on. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Manosphere Is Shaping a Generation 02:10 - Why the Message Is So Seductive 04:32 - The Rise of Performative Masculinity 06:52 - Strength Without Character Is Dangerous 09:17 - Masculinity vs. Manliness Explained 12:29 - What Actually Defines a Man 14:25 - Why Success Doesn't Equal Fulfillment 16:31 - How Culture Is Failing Young Men 18:17 - The True Measure of a Man 21:26 - Men Are Starving for Direction 22:39 - A Question Every Man Must Answer 24:49 - What Real Masculinity Looks Like 26:48 - Iron Council & Final 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