Wolf & Iron | Virtues, Skills, Manliness!

What does it mean to be an American? It's not a concept that we've really defined, but we have a history that helps us begin to piece together the roots of Americanism. In this episode I talk about our rustic heritage, using a cool story from history, and how US made brands like Origin USA are helping restore the American story of industry and creative independence.

I think every guy is fascinated by the life of a stuntman. We love to see the behind-the-scenes of movies and watch as these guys get blown up, beat up, bounced around...and then get up and do it again. Chris Romrell had his heart set on being a stuntman from an early age and he took action to ensure that happened. Now, as Chris Pratt's trusted stunt double, he's living out his calling and enjoying the heck out of life!

Now that I'm interviewing folks again, I've noticed some changes in the world of podcasting. Things aren't as straightforward as they used to be. Here's a bit of what goes on behind the scenes to make a podcast really stand out these days.

Every man knows in his gut that he needs to be more prepared for surviving -- and thriving -- in a world turned upside down. Whether it is a car accident or a societal collapse, we must be ready. My guest today, Mike Glover, is an expert in this area and shares his insights on both preparedness and what it's like to start a business that focuses on survival.

When I really think about it, I'm amazed at how intimate God is with us, his creation. Even from the very beginning, he is uniquely close to us and involved with us. I belive this says something about Him and also about the closeness we are intended for.

My guest today, Vic Verdier, is proof that age is just a number and that most men can experience their prime well into their 50s and 60s. In this episode we talk about what it takes to keep your body and testosterone operating at a high level as you age.

Here we are, mid-February, and most guys have already fallen off the wagon. Those new years goals are being left behind in favor of what we are used to and life is about to look like a repeat of previous years. But it dosen't have to be this way. In this episode I talk about how our brains work and why forming new habits, better habits, is so difficult.

I tried it. Hated it. But there's more to TikTok than it simply not being a good fit for me. Here are some thoughts on what it's doing to us and why I believe it's wrong for the future of human social interactions.

Henry David Thoreau famously wrote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to their grave with the song still in them." In this episode, I talk about what this means and focus on the "quiet desperation" part of this.

At this point, every parent worth their salt ought to know that our public education model is not working. Not only are our kids not learning the valuable lessons needed to make them the healthy and high-functioning adults of their generation, they are being indoctrinated with the principles that will ultimately lead many of them to a life that's destructive.

The Foundry kicked off in August of 2021 and since then we've grown and have some pretty awesome guys involved. Here is an inside look at what we have going on currently and what is coming up in 2022.

The good ol' days -- the last 5 years -- of advertising on Facebook and Google are behind us. Or, I can at least say that the strategy we've been used to is no longer going to work. Whether you are an entrepreneur or just interested in what's happening with marketing, this episode will be of interest to you.

People generally go with the flow. Whatever the easiest path is, or the most popular path, that's the one they take. We've already seen folks making jumps to other popular alternative platforms like Gettr, Rumble, and Parler (if that is still a thing). But, is this enough change to really make a difference?

Own your morning, rule the day! A manifesto is a public declaration of an aim or purpose. You've seen these in movies. Bad guys love manifestos. But you can -- and should -- create a manifesto for your morning routine. What will you cut out and what will you begin doing to make the most of each day.

We all see the mess that is social media, even before they began openly deplatforming and banning conservative voices. Big social made a quick shift from simply a means of connecting with people and brands we admire, to being a marketplace that is aggressively pushing a liberal agenda and squashing free speech. In order for any social platform to be successful -- even real life ones -- it has to be based on shared values. Otherwise, it will end up with folks fighting about their disagreements rather than positively engaging with their community.

Hint: 2022 is not going to crush itself! Intentionality separates the men from the boys -- and those who feel fulfilled and purposeful from those who complain about the state of their life. If you want 2022 to be a great year, you're going to have to do some things differently.

In this last podcast episode of 2021, I talk about some of the challenges 2021 brought to Wolf & Iron and also how YOU all helped straighten things out. I also spend some time talking about 2022, make a few predictions, and finish with a bit of what will be happening over in The Foundry in the new year.

There's simply nothing like meeting people IRL (in real life). Even a short exchange can add gravity to our online relationships and should be something we pursue. Don't allow online relationships to become the new standard of friendship. True friends make time for one another and are willing to go the extra mile (or miles) to connect.

In this episode I use my powers of prognostication to predict the future of social media. Interestingly enough, the future looks a lot like the past and removes power from the big tech companies.

COVID has caused a lot of families to reevaluate their expenses and income strategies. I've heard of an increase in men deciding to stay home with the kids while the mom goes to work at a higher paying job. While just about anything can work for a season, I have some warnings about doing this long term. Men are made to work. Here's why.