In Episode 38 of The Whetstone, Dark Helmet and The Plague dive into the rise of men’s movements, the crisis of masculine identity, and why most attempts to “fix men” fail. Their conclusion is simple and bold: no movement, no model, and no man can endure without a framework of faith.

This episode explores the difference between a true movement and a monetized brand, why F3’s decentralized leadership structure actually works, and how men can overcome the drift, the poser syndrome, and the pull of worldly accumulation. It’s a challenging, clarifying conversation for anyone trying to lead themselves or others.

HIGHLIGHTS

✅ Why the “masculinity revival” is exploding across culture
✅ What most men’s movements get wrong about identity
✅ The difference between a mission and a monetized model
✅ How decentralized leadership multiplies strength
✅ Poser syndrome, pride, and the hidden lies men live with
✅ Why faith is the only framework strong enough to sustain a man
✅ How to handle drift, doubt, and the cracks where “goo” seeps in
✅ What it means to relax, refit, and refocus at the end of a year

SOUND BITES

"Every masculinity movement in the world will fail without faith."
"If you leave the cracks open, the goo will always find its way in."
"Stop apologizing for being a man of conviction."
"We’re not a business. We’re a movement."
"The lies you believe become the identity you live from."

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 MudGear socks and masculine banter
03:30 Gratitude, veterans, and simple blessings
05:00 The rise of men’s movements and the masculinity revival
07:00 CrossFit, copycats, and imitation as affirmation
09:30 Bro culture, false prophets, and poser masculinity
13:00 Monetization versus mission
18:00 Church walls vs. real-world influence
21:00 Why decentralized leadership is anti-fragile
25:00 Tower of Babel and the spirit of accumulation
27:00 Poser syndrome, sad clown overlap, and identity lies
31:30 What high-priced bootcamps get wrong
34:00 Leadership that begins with faith
38:00 Drift, doubts, and defining what you really believe
43:00 The “goo in the cracks” metaphor
45:00 Relax, refit, and refocus during the end-of-year slowdown
48:30 Why F3’s brotherhood endures and multiplies

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Loving When We're Not At Our Best with Parker Palmer

Learning How to See with Brian McLaren

Hosts Reflect: Practical Ways to Listen to the Inner Light

The AI-powered Podcast Player