Sunday Firesides: Love Endures

When a tragedy — a serious accident, an unexpected death — befalls someone, friends and family quickly spring into action. Emergency room lobbies are crowded with visitors; hospital rooms are filled with flowers; mailboxes are stuffed with sympathy cards; doorsteps are laden with meals.  It’s hard for loved ones not to think of the victim and their...

1d

How to Tame the Dad Sneeze

Kate and I have been happily married for over 15 years and have worked together on AoM for 13 of those years. But despite being around one another 24/7, we never get bored of each other nor do we get on each other’s nerves.  There has been one significant exception, one point of contention, however, over this decade and a half of otherwise wedded bliss: ...

3d

Embrace Reading for the Sake of Reading

It’s rare that I read a book without a pencil in hand, eager to underline and take notes and think about ways I can turn that reading into some practical benefit. Would this author be good on the AoM podcast? Is there anything in here that would make good source material for an article? Should I be writing down that interesting nugget about how [figure...

3d

Podcast #675: The Humble, Narcissistic Leader

Research, not to mention anecdotal observation, shows that a lot of narcissists end up in leadership positions. That’s because the qualities narcissism enlarges into extremes — confidence, assertiveness, a sense of destiny — help people rise to the top. Unfortunately, the same qualities of narcissism that help an individual obtain a leadership position,...

4d

6 Ways to Measure Your Body Fat

If you’re like a lot of dudes, your goal for the coming year is “to lose weight.” Really though, you don’t want to lose weight, you want to lose fat. And this distinction matters because it relates to how you’re going to measure progress towards your goal.  The most common way to measure fat loss is with a garden variety bathroom scale. But the number...

5d

Podcast #674: How to Land Your Dream Job

Chances are, you’ve got a job right now. Chances are even good that you have a pretty decent job. But there’s also a good chance that you often desire something more from your work life. Not just a better job, but the kind of job you’ve always wanted. A dream job. Whether you’re currently employed or not, my guest today has concrete advice on how to...

6d

Sunday Firesides: Contentment Through Contrast

A question that has been oft contemplated and discussed, is why it is that Scandinavian countries routinely report some of the highest happiness levels in the world, and especially, how these peoples manage to endure a particularly long, dark, and cold winter while remaining relatively cheerful. Some say it’s because of the popularity of saunas in...

2w

How to Build a Campfire That Will Last Through the Night

When it comes to wintertime adventuring, a campfire is what keeps you cozy and comfortable, and in a survival situation, alive. The downside of fire as a heat source, of course, is that it is consumable; it needs regular feeding to stay alive. This isn’t a big issue in the daytime, when you can keep adding wood to your fire at will. But at night, constantly...

2w

How to Wash a Sweater (Without Ruining It)

Did you get a new sweater for Christmas? Lucky you! A nice sweater is as easy to wear as a sweatshirt, but can be both warmer and more handsome.  Unfortunately, your new sweater isn’t as easy to clean as a sweatshirt. The particular properties of wool, from which sweaters are commonly made, coupled with their knitted nature, makes this garment prone...

2w

Podcast #673: The Complex Coolness of Steve McQueen

Performances by the actor Steve McQueen in classic films like The Great Escape and Bullitt earned him the nickname “The King of Cool.” But behind the scenes, McQueen‘s character was complex in nature: he could be both difficult and demanding and kind and generous; someone who could act aloof, but care about things deeply. My guest has traced both...

2w