Order of Man

If you've ever lost everything (a business, a marriage, your sense of who you are) this conversation is proof that the collapse isn't the end of your story. Rick Trimmer walks through the exact math he and his wife used to climb out of $640,000 in debt: the thousand-day stretch with no pay, the decade of living on a thousand dollars a month, and the brutal conversations he had with himself and his wife about what they actually wanted. If you're in the hole right now, or you're scared of ever being in it, this is the blueprint for how a man digs out without excuses and without quitting on his family.
But this isn't just a comeback story; it's a lesson in delayed gratification and what winning the game really looks like. We'll cover how to build passive income, take advantage of opportunities that scare you, and chose freedom over the appearance of success. If you're tired of chasing a lifestyle you can't afford, or you're ready to start building something that actually lasts, this conversation gives you the mindset and the moves to get there.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Episode Introduction
03:05 - Introduction to Rick Trimmer and Real Business Owners
05:08 - What Sets Entrepreneurs Apart: IQ, Drive, and Delusion
07:10 - Overcoming Weaknesses and the Power of Mentorship
09:12 - Leaving Corporate Life and Betting on Yourself
11:23 - The Reality of Financial Risk and Losing It All
13:32 - Repaying $640k Debt and Working 1,000 Days Straight
17:01 - Sacrifice, Top Ramen, and Building a Foundation
23:08 - Living on $1,000 a Month to Buy Freedom
29:05 - Getting Started in Real Estate and Finding Mentors
37:49 - Creative Financing and Acquiring Rental Properties
43:30 - Hitting the Passive Income Goal and Traveling the World
49:19 - Why Financial Freedom and Time with Family is Worth the Grind
54:57 - Consumerism vs. Real Wealth
01:00:55 - The Men's Forge and the Power of Live Events
01:04:29 - Saying "Yes" to New Opportunities
01:08:36 - Where to Connect with Rick Trimmer
 
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

Every single day, you wake up with a finite bank account of time, energy, integrity, and focus. But without realizing it, most men trade away their potential in thousands of unnoticed, micro-decisions.
In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler breaks down the four dangerous trades men make every day on autopilot - from trading real progress for temporary fake peace, to sacrificing long-term character just to look good to others.  If you're ready to stop bleeding your potential through a thousand small cuts and start living with deliberate intentionality, this episode is your wake-up call.  
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - The Finite Account: What Are You Trading Daily?
02:17 - Death by a Thousand Unintentional Cuts
03:40 - Trade 1: Fake Peace vs. Real Progress
06:27 - Stop Calling Cowardice "Patience"
08:14 - Trade 2: Doom Scrolling vs. Building Your Legacy
12:15 - When the Bill Comes Due: Facing the Receipt
13:00 - Trade 3: Quick Hits of Dopamine vs. Long-Term Satisfaction
15:21 - Trade 4: Outward Appearance vs. Personal Integrity
17:37 - The Cost of Owning Your Reality
19:54 - How to Reclaim Intentionality Today
 
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 "Ask Me Anything" episode, Ryan and Kipp explore how men can break through life's transitional slumps and rebuild momentum. They answer viewer questions on keeping motivation alive after a health scare, finding purpose after military service, navigating the loss of a foster child, and handling sudden business success.
They also share practical advice on stepping up as an uncle and owning past mistakes to rebuild a damaged reputation.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Episode Introduction
01:46 - Wholesome Character of the Day: Sophie Cunningham & Standing Up for Women's Sports
11:42 - Maintaining Clarity & Purpose After a Major Health Scare
19:22 - Rebuilding Identity and Mission After Leaving the Military
29:56 - Reconnecting with Family: Who Should Make the First all?
33:43 - Leading a Family Through the Grief of Foster Care
41:25 - What to Chase Next When You've Already Won
47:54 - Stepping Up as a Powerful Role Model Without Being a Dad
51:27 - Rebuilding Your Reputation When Everyone Knows Your Past Mistakes  
 
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 solo episode of Order of Man, founder Ryan Michler reflects on eleven years of podcasting, building a movement, and navigating personal evolution. Ryan interviews himself to extract actionable lessons for men leading families, starting businesses, or advancing their careers. He dives deep into why consistency beats talent every time, the costly "tuition payments" that come with entrepreneurship, and how to stand out in a saturated market.
Ryan also opens up about his darkest personal battles, including divorce and alcohol recovery, offering a candid look at accountability, resilience, and adaptability. Tune in to learn why maintaining your dignity and affording yourself grace are essential to becoming the man you were meant to be.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction & 11 Years of Order of Man
02:16 - Why Ryan Started the Podcast
06:49 - Business Mindset and Generating Income
09:08 - Why Consistency Beats Talent
11:30 - Paying Tuition: Learning from Costly Business Mistakes
13:58 - How to Stand Out in a Saturated Market
18:44 - Mastering Conversation and Everyday Lessons
23:28 - Evolving Interview Preparation and Adaptability
25:48 - True Accountability vs. Public Criticism
28:09 - Facing Personal Darkness and Choosing Not to Quit
32:55 - The Immutable Mission to Restore Masculinity
35:19 - Adapting to Cultural Shifts and New Technology
37:41 - Core Lessons: Grace, Adaptability, and Maintaining Dignity
39:42 - Conclusion & 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

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