IRON COUNCIL

— ORDER OF MAN PODCAST —

February 13, 2026

Men Have Lost Initiation | FRIDAY FIELD NOTES

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For most of human history, a boy knew exactly when he became a man.

There was no ambiguity. No self-declaration. No participation trophy version of masculinity.

There was initiation.

Across cultures - from Spartan warriors to Native tribes to frontier settlers - boys were removed from comfort, tested through hardship, and welcomed back as men. They were forged through adversity. They were recognized. They were marked.

Today? That process is gone.

In this episode, Ryan explains why modern men feel lost, why so many drift into extended adolescence, and why waiting for validation is destroying masculine strength.

He breaks down the three core components of initiation that have existed across all cultures - and explains how modern men can initiate themselves in a world that no longer does it for them.

This episode is a wake-up call.

If you feel like you’re drifting...
If you feel like you’re chasing comfort, validation, or status...
If you feel like something is missing...

It may be initiation.


In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

  • Why the disappearance of rites of passage is weakening men
  • The difference between boyhood and manhood
  • How comfort culture destroys masculine growth
  • Why pain is necessary for transformation
  • The three ancient elements of initiation
  • Why nobody is coming to initiate you
  • How to step into voluntary hardship
  • Why brotherhood is modern initiation
  • The difference between chasing validation and proving yourself

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