🔥 Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!

Episode #30 feat. Mike Clawson

What happens when you spend five years pouring your heart and soul into building a business, only to have it completely fall apart through no fault of your own? In this thirtieth episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Mike Clawson from Austin, Texas, to discuss his 2022 initiation at Johnsonburg, New Jersey. Mike opens up about arriving at the rites carrying the heavy grief of a lost "passion project" and a suddenly unmoored identity. As a former administrator for Illuman, Mike offers a unique behind-the-scenes perspective on the organization, while reflecting on the challenges of dropping his own guard to be truly vulnerable with other men. Episode Highlights * The Disorienting Loss: Navigating the grief of a failed business venture and learning that "it is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose." * Lover and Magician: Why the MROP focuses more on the emotional depth of the Lover and Magician archetypes, rather than the traditional King and Warrior energies. * The Rain and the Woods: The somatic, visceral power of sitting alone in the freezing rain to excavate unresolved grief. * Human Work vs. Men's Work: Mike’s perspective on why the inner work of the rites transcends gender, even if men specifically need a male-only container to feel safe enough to begin it. * Redefining Ikigai: Shifting away from the Western obsession with "grand purpose" to find meaning in the simple, everyday things that get you out of bed. Links & Resources * Brian Mueller [https://brianmueller.com] (Host) * BriansPoems.com [https://brianspoems.com] * Illuman MROP [https://illuman.org/mrop] * Choosing Presence [https://choosingpresence.org] (Sponsor) * Practicing Presence App [https://choosingpresence.org/app] * The Universal Christ [https://amzn.to/4wffnXU] by Richard Rohr * Adam's Return [https://amzn.to/3PzVESH] by Richard Rohr * Breathing Under Water [https://amzn.to/452VLKQ] by Richard Rohr * Trust Stillness [https://amzn.to/4ucJLRv] by Brian Mueller Credits * First and foremost, thank you to Mike Clawson for sharing his journey and his heart with us today. * Thank you to Fr. Richard Rohr and the men of Illuman who have stewarded the Men’s Rites of Passage since 1996. * Thank you to Jim Heaney and Jim Taylor for their dedication to Choosing Presence. Music Credits: * Slow Mo Dreams by Soundroll * Becoming a Legend by Vens Adams

Episode #29 feat. Jay Gallamore

What happens when a retired naval pilot—who used to schedule his Saturday naps days in advance—steps out of his head and into his heart? In this twenty-ninth episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Jay Gallamore to discuss his 2024 initiation at Shrine Mont, Virginia. Jay shares his journey of navigating PTSD, divorce, and the unraveling of his life, ultimately finding a tighter steering wheel for his spiritual path through Illuman. He opens up about the shock of the "mirror gauntlet," balancing his "three buckets" of life, and why the radical inclusivity of men's work needs to consciously make space for military veterans and first responders. Episode Highlights * The Wide Road: How hitting rock bottom with PTSD and a crumbling marriage sparked a profound spiritual journey. * The Mirror Gauntlet: The emotional shock of witnessing the deep childhood wounds of other men during ritual. * Head to Heart: Transitioning from a highly analytical, schedule-driven life to a grounded morning meditation practice. * Military Men & Radical Belonging: A candid discussion on the tension conservative or military men might feel in progressive spiritual spaces, and the need for true inclusion. * The Three Buckets: Learning the hard way to balance family, religion, and volunteer work without overcommitting. Links & Resources * Brian Mueller [https://brianmueller.com] (Host) * BriansPoems.com [https://brianspoems.com] * Illuman MROP [https://illuman.org/mrop] * Choosing Presence [https://choosingpresence.org] (Sponsor) * Practicing Presence App [https://choosingpresence.org/app] * The Universal Christ [https://amzn.to/4wffnXU] by Richard Rohr * Adam's Return [https://amzn.to/3PzVESH] by Richard Rohr * Breathing Under Water [https://amzn.to/452VLKQ] by Richard Rohr * Trust Stillness [https://amzn.to/4ucJLRv] by Brian Mueller Credits * First and foremost, thank you to Jay Gallamore for sharing his journey and his heart with us today. * Thank you to Fr. Richard Rohr and the men of Illuman who have stewarded the Men’s Rites of Passage since 1996. * Thank you to Jim Heaney and Jim Taylor for their dedication to Choosing Presence. Music Credits: * Slow Mo Dreams by Soundroll * Becoming a Legend by Vens Adams

Episode #28 feat. Jared Adams

What happens when a touring worship leader from Dodge City leaves his intellectual scaffolding in the woods and realizes that "dead men don't swat flies"? In this twenty-eighth episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Jared Adams for a fascinating conversation about his 2012 initiation at Pilgrim Park, Illinois. Jared, a freelance creative and touring singer-songwriter, shares how he arrived at the rites exhausted by the cognitive dissonance of his Reformed and Evangelical upbringing. Guided by the "apophatic" shepherding of Weaver Belden Lane, Jared learned the profound power of putting down his notepad, embracing beginner's mind, and surrendering to the magic of the woods. Episode Highlights * Dead Men Don't Swat Flies: Jared recounts laying prostrate in a meadow during his day of death, realizing he had to surrender his physical comfort and let the ants crawl over him to truly honor the ritual. * The "I Am" Breakdown: The terrifying moment in his first council circle when he ran out of polite, dictionary-ready adjectives and was forced to drop his facade. * Ruined for the Show: How the profound authenticity of sitting in a circle of men made it impossible to return to the performance-driven "fog machines" of Sunday morning worship leading. * Building the Youth Rites: Jared's decade-long involvement in helping create a 24-hour initiation for teenage boys, and his excitement to finally experience it with his own son, Cohen. * The Locksmith Epilogue: Accidentally locking his keys in the car after the rites, leading to hours of profound reflection on a stump with Father Bob. Links & Resources * Annagail [https://annagail.net/] * Choosing Presence (Sponsor) [https://choosingpresence.org] * Practicing Presence App [https://choosingpresence.org/app] * Illuman MROP [https://illuman.org/mrop] * The Universal Christ [https://amzn.to/4wffnXU] by Richard Rohr * Adam's Return [https://amzn.to/3PzVESH] by Richard Rohr * The The Solace of Fierce Landscapes: Exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality [https://amzn.to/4xWDXP3] by Belden Lane * Brian Mueller (Host) [https://brianmueller.com] Credits * First and foremost, thank you to Jared Adams for sharing his journey and his heart with us today. * Thank you to Fr. Richard Rohr and the men of Illuman who have stewarded the Men’s Rites of Passage since 1996. * Thank you to Jim Heaney and Jim Taylor for their dedication to Choosing Presence. Music Credits: * Slow Mo Dreams by Soundroll * Becoming a Legend by Vens Adams

Episode #27 feat. Mark Titus

What happens when a filmmaker and recovering alcoholic heads to a river to grieve his father, only to find an audiobook calling him to the wilderness? In this twenty-seventh episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Mark Titus for a deeply moving conversation about his May 2024 initiation in Deroche, British Columbia. Mark, an advocate for wild salmon and indigenous communities in Bristol Bay, shares his powerful journey of surrendering his armor and crossing the threshold into sacred space. He reflects on the "ritual of death," the mystical synchronicity of the number seven, and how the rites served as a master's course in his 12-step recovery journey. From reading Iron John in his twenties to discovering The Universal Christ while steelhead fishing, Mark's story is a beautiful testament to staying on the path of love, even in the midst of career crossroads and profound grief. Episode Highlights * The Golden Boy: Arriving in "The Nest" and weeping at the sight of a wild man holding a golden boy. * Dying Before You Die: Confronting mortality in the ritual of death and finding true presence. * The Synchronicity of Seven: The profound poetry of arriving at the rites exactly seven months after his father's death, with seven years of sobriety, and being assigned to cabin seven. * A Master's Course on Recovery: How the rites accelerate the spiritual journey of the 12 steps without the rigidity of institutional religion. * Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart: The ongoing legacy of Robert Bly's poetry shared between lifelong friends. Links & Resources * Mark Titus [https://linktr.ee/markdtitus] * Choosing Presence (Sponsor) [https://choosingpresence.org] * Practicing Presence App [https://choosingpresence.org/app] * Illuman MROP [https://illuman.org/mrop] * The Universal Christ [https://amzn.to/4wffnXU] by Richard Rohr * Adam's Return [https://amzn.to/3PzVESH] by Richard Rohr * The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart: A Poetry Anthology [https://amzn.to/4aVtk50] by Robert Bly, et al. * Brian Mueller (Host) [https://brianmueller.com] Credits * First and foremost, thank you to Mark Titus for sharing his journey and his heart with us today. * Thank you to Fr. Richard Rohr and the men of Illuman who have stewarded the Men’s Rites of Passage since 1996. * Thank you to Jim Heaney and Jim Taylor for their dedication to Choosing Presence. Music Credits: * Slow Mo Dreams by Soundroll * Becoming a Legend by Vens Adams

Episode #26 feat. Ken Beck

What happens when an 8th-grade math teacher, who often felt more comfortable in the presence of women than talking sports with men, enters the deep woods of Minnesota and reconnects with his own sense of masculinity? In this twenty-sixth episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Ken Beck for an incredibly honest and refreshing conversation about his 2013 initiation at Osprey Wilds. Ken shares his journey of overcoming his intimidation by other men, discovering his own unique "flavor of masculinity," and the profound relief of releasing a long-held secret shadow in council. Ken reflects on the Midwest "John Wayne" stoicism he grew up with, the slow "ironing board" process of true transformation, and the power of learning to hold space for others without trying to cure or fix them. Whether you are a young man still building your container or an older man feeling stuck despite your outward accomplishments, Ken’s insights offer a beautiful invitation to step into radical vulnerability. Episode Highlights * The Ticks and the Boulder: Ken recalls finding a liminal rock between the forest and the plains for his wilderness solitude. He spent the time sharing the space with ticks that had fallen from the oak trees where the deer fed. * A Different Shadow: Ken attended the rites intending to grieve his father's death, but unexpectedly found himself releasing a hidden, shameful story from his teaching career instead. * His Own Flavor of Masculinity: Moving past the cultural expectation of the "protector/fixer," Ken discusses finding comfort in his unique identity and moving past the fear of male spaces. * The Ironing Board: Why transformation isn't always a sudden light switch, but a slow, gradual process of smoothing out the wrinkles over time. * Advice for Young Men: The importance of building a strong container in your 20s and 30s, while recognizing that those achievements won't save you when a real crisis eventually hits. Links & Resources * Choosing Presence (Sponsor) [https://choosingpresence.org] * Practicing Presence App [https://choosingpresence.org/app] * Illuman MROP [https://illuman.org/mrop] * Adam's Return [https://amzn.to/3PzVESH] by Richard Rohr * Brian Mueller (Host) [https://brianmueller.com] Credits * First and foremost, thank you to Ken Beck for sharing his journey and his heart with us today. * Thank you to Fr. Richard Rohr and the men of Illuman who have stewarded the Men’s Rites of Passage since 1996. * Thank you to Jim Heaney and Jim Taylor for their dedication to Choosing Presence. Music Credits: * Slow Mo Dreams by Soundroll * Becoming a Legend by Vens Adams