🔥 Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!

Brian Mueller
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Education

Follow Me to the M-R-O-P! is a podcast for men considering the Illuman Men’s Rites of Passage (MROP). Through real, honest conversations with men who’ve been through the rites, we share what the experience is actually like—so you can discern whether this initiation is the right next step for you. - https://mroptalk.com

  1. 6d ago

    Episode #31 feat. Nine Lives with Jeff King

    Why am I sharing an episode from another podcast on our feed? Because understanding the Enneagram is an incredibly powerful tool for the masculine spiritual journey—and I wanted to share a conversation that dives deep into it! Rest assured, there is also plenty of relevant discussion here about Illuman and the Men's Rites of Passage. In this special thirty-first episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, the tables are turned as host Brian Mueller becomes the guest on Nine Lives with Jeff King: Live Your Best One. Jeff, a counselor and coach with the Narrative Enneagram, interviews Brian about his experience navigating life, faith, and community as an Enneagram Type One (The Reformer). Episode Highlights The Enneagram as a Spiritual Tool: Why understanding your personality type is essential for growth, and how the "Type One" drive for perfection can be both a gift and a heavy burden.What is Mine to Do?: Learning to discern the difference between healthy responsibility and codependent fixing.The Origins of Illuman: Brian reflects on Richard Rohr’s early New Jerusalem community in Cincinnati, the history of the MROP, and the deep, universal hunger for authentic brotherhood.Poetry and the type 1-to-4 connection: How stepping into creative expression through mystic poetry allowed Brian to silence his inner critic and process the grief of his divorceChoosing Presence: Reclaiming meditation and contemplative prayer as a deeply Western, Christian tradition of the heart. Links & Resources Jeff KingNine Lives with Jeff King (podcast)Brian Mueller (Host)BriansPoems.comIlluman MROPThe Universal Christ by Richard RohrAdam's Return by Richard RohrBreathing Under Water by Richard RohrTrust Stillness by Brian Mueller Credits First and foremost, thank you to Jeff King for allowing me to share an episode of his podcast - Nine Lives with Jeff King: Live Your Best One.Thank you to Fr. Richard Rohr and the men of Illuman who have stewarded the Men’s Rites of Passage since 1996. Music Credits: Slow Mo Dreams by SoundrollBecoming a Legend by Vens Adams

    Episode #31 feat. Nine Lives with Jeff King

  2. Jul 20

    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 (Host)BriansPoems.comIlluman MROPChoosing Presence (Sponsor)Practicing Presence AppThe Universal Christ by Richard RohrAdam's Return by Richard RohrBreathing Under Water by Richard RohrTrust Stillness 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 SoundrollBecoming a Legend by Vens Adams

    Episode #30 feat. Mike Clawson

  3. Jul 13

    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 (Host)BriansPoems.comIlluman MROPChoosing Presence (Sponsor)Practicing Presence AppThe Universal Christ by Richard RohrAdam's Return by Richard RohrBreathing Under Water by Richard RohrTrust Stillness 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 SoundrollBecoming a Legend by Vens Adams

    Episode #29 feat. Jay Gallamore

  4. Jul 6

    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 AnnagailChoosing Presence (Sponsor)Practicing Presence AppIlluman MROPThe Universal Christ by Richard RohrAdam's Return by Richard RohrThe The Solace of Fierce Landscapes: Exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality by Belden LaneBrian Mueller (Host) 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 SoundrollBecoming a Legend by Vens Adams

    Episode #28 feat. Jared Adams

  5. Jun 29

    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 TitusChoosing Presence (Sponsor)Practicing Presence AppIlluman MROPThe Universal Christ by Richard RohrAdam's Return by Richard RohrThe Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart: A Poetry Anthology by Robert Bly, et al.Brian Mueller (Host) 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 SoundrollBecoming a Legend by Vens Adams

    Episode #27 feat. Mark Titus

  6. Jun 8

    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)Practicing Presence AppIlluman MROPAdam's Return by Richard RohrBrian Mueller (Host) 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 SoundrollBecoming a Legend by Vens Adams

    Episode #26 feat. Ken Beck

  7. Jun 1

    Episode #25 feat. Dave Kraybill

    What happens when an academic who built his entire identity around achievement suffers a major heart attack, only to be found sitting in his hospital bed still frantically emailing his co-workers? In this twenty-fifth episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Dave Kraybill for a profound conversation about his 2024 initiation at Aravaipa Canyon, Arizona. Dave, a retired agricultural economist who spent 11 years working in Africa, shares how a therapist’s simple recommendation led him to discover Illuman after years of treating his body like a machine and overworking to earn esteem. Dave reflects on his journey from a Mennonite farming community—where rhythm and drumming were viewed as "potentially evil"—to crossing the creek at Aravaipa and entering a completely different, deeply somatic world. He speaks movingly about overcoming performance anxiety during a grief ritual, finding a powerful metaphor in a resilient desert plant, and applying Richard Rohr's wisdom that "pain that is not transformed is transmitted". Whether you are struggling to stay present in your relationships or wondering if you should attend the Men's Rites or the Elder Rites, Dave’s wisdom provides a brilliant roadmap for the second half of life. Episode Highlights Not Performance, But Prayer: How a single piece of instruction from a ritual leader shattered Dave's lifelong performance anxiety.The Plant in the Rock: Discovering a beautiful metaphor for flourishing in impossible circumstances during his desert solitude.The Hospital Wake-Up Call: Realizing his foundation was flawed when he immediately resumed working after a major cardiac event.The "Glow": Returning to his men's group after the rites radiating an unexplainable, transformative energy.Men's Rites vs. Elder Rites: Dave's practical counsel on how to discern which initiation experience is right for you based on your unresolved wounds. Links & Resources Choosing Presence (Sponsor)Practicing Presence AppIlluman MROPAdam's Return by Richard RohrBrian Mueller (Host)Aravaipa Canyon Ranch and Retreat Center Credits First and foremost, thank you to Dave Kraybill 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 SoundrollBecoming a Legend by Vens Adams

    Episode #25 feat. Dave Kraybill

  8. May 25

    Episode #24 feat. Al Selder

    What happens when a retired engineer sitting in the Arizona desert suddenly starts singing Doris Day, only to realize he's being called to help heal the brokenness of other men? In this twenty-fourth episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Al Selder for an inspiring conversation about his 2005 initiation at a YMCA camp in Oracle, Arizona. Al shares how trusting the invitation of other men led him to one of the very first rites held outside of Ghost Ranch, where Weaver Richard Rohr guided him into a profound period of self-reflection. Al recounts a mystical vision of quaking leaves and running water he experienced in the desert—a vision that ultimately led the Arizona chapter to discover the sacred, liminal grounds of Aravaipa Canyon. He speaks about his transition from simply attending the rites to taking on the monumental task of running the kitchen for over 90 men, eventually becoming the chapter's convener. From the poignant "starfish story" of helping just one person, to the beautiful realization that his own adult son is now seeking out council circles, Al's story is a testament to the quiet, generational power of service. Episode Highlights "Que Sera, Sera": Why a Doris Day song and the memory of his late father-in-law sparked a lifelong commitment to men's work.The Vision of Aravaipa: A mysterious desert vision of running water that led to finding a sacred retreat space with a deep, complex history.The Starfish Story: Remembering that you don't have to change the whole world—you just have to make a difference for the man standing in front of you.Feeding the Brotherhood: The logistical feat of managing a kitchen and camp for 92 men in the middle of a remote canyon.Generational Ripples: The joy of witnessing his son decide to start his own council circle after years of observing the work. Links & Resources Choosing Presence (Sponsor)Practicing Presence AppIlluman MROPAdam's Return by Richard RohrBrian Mueller (Host)Doris Day - Que Sera SeraAravaipa Canyon Ranch and Retreat Center Credits First and foremost, thank you to Al Selder 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 SoundrollBecoming a Legend by Vens Adams

    Episode #24 feat. Al Selder
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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3 Ratings

About

Follow Me to the M-R-O-P! is a podcast for men considering the Illuman Men’s Rites of Passage (MROP). Through real, honest conversations with men who’ve been through the rites, we share what the experience is actually like—so you can discern whether this initiation is the right next step for you. - https://mroptalk.com

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