Best Brian Mattocks Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 199 - Bro. Clyde Snyder. 1:07:10

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2h ago1:07:10

1:07:10

Hello! Tonight we welcome Bro. Clyde Snyder of Millersville Lodge no. 476. He is a Veteran, a former fireman, and is now doing great work with Wreaths Across America. We talk about his experience in Vietnam, the fire service, and the various ways in which he is honoring our Veterans though his works. Jay "Laser" guest hosts while Tim and Jake are o…

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The Apron and the Ego: Rewriting the Story of Who We Are 7:46

10h ago7:46

7:46

Identity is less fixed than we imagine—it is the story we tell ourselves about who we are and who we want to be. In this episode, we explore the relationship between identity, ego, belief, and faith, and how Freemasonry challenges us to refine that story. Just as the apron marks a Mason’s work, so too does our self-story evolve as we discard what n…

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Cognitive Dissonance and the Work of the Craft 7:07

9h ago7:07

7:07

When our beliefs, identity, and behaviors don’t align, we face the uncomfortable tension of cognitive dissonance. In this episode, we examine how Masons often rewrite their identity narratives to justify behavior rather than making real change. The Craft calls us instead to reconciliation: to square our actions, refine our beliefs, and align our id…

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The Point Within the Circle: Reconciling Expressed Identity and Lived Belief 7:40

7h ago7:40

7:40

Identity is the story we tell ourselves and others. Belief is revealed by how we act. In this episode, we explore the tension between expressed identity and lived belief, and how Masonry challenges us to move beyond social labels toward a truer alignment. The conversation invites us to reflect on where our behaviors speak louder than our self-conce…

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Staying Unfinished - Holding Tension Between Work and Result 6:17

15h ago6:17

6:17

Advice often seems contradictory: focus on the work, but don’t ignore the results. This episode explores the paradox between process and outcome, using the Masonic lens of building a temple never truly complete. Through reflection and analogy, we consider how to balance patience with accountability—trusting the process without surrendering our resp…

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The Tyler’s Sword: Fear as Guardian of the Threshold 6:42

4d ago6:42

6:42

Fear is often painted as an enemy, but in truth it serves as one of our most vigilant protectors. In this episode, we explore fear as the Tyler’s Sword—standing guard at the threshold, sharpening our awareness, and signaling danger when it matters most. The challenge is learning when to let fear guide our vigilance and when to step past it into gro…

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Emotional Geometry: Giving Desire Its Shape 8:25

6d ago8:25

8:25

Desire is not inherently hedonistic or destructive—it is a force, like a line waiting for form. In this episode, we reframe desire as emotional geometry: a function that becomes meaningful only when given direction, boundaries, and proportion. By understanding the shape of our longings, we can refine raw appetite into purposeful action. 🔑 Key Takea…

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Emotional Logic: Understanding the Causes of How We Feel 7:19

14d ago7:19

7:19

Emotions feel immediate and uncontrollable—but Freemasonry reminds us that our long-term responses are shaped by our own discernment. This episode explores the logic behind our emotions, showing how circumstances may spark a reaction but our interpretations sustain it. By understanding emotional responsibility, we discover the power to refine our r…

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Depression, Endurance, and Growth: How to Know Which Is Which 8:08

19d ago8:08

8:08

Adversity is inevitable—but how we respond determines whether it becomes a weight, a test, or a path forward. In this episode, we distinguish between depression, endurance, and growth: three very different experiences that can look the same on the surface. The conversation challenges us to discern when we are stuck, when we are holding steady, and …

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The Rough Ashlar and the Burden: Making Sense of Challenge and Suffering 5:40

21d ago5:40

5:40

Life presents us with both chosen challenges and unchosen suffering. In this episode, we explore how Freemasonry helps us discern between the two, and how both play a role in shaping us into more refined stones. The conversation asks: what does it mean to grow through adversity, and how do we bear the burdens that are not of our choosing? 🔑 Key Tak…

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The Hoodwink and the Unknown: Learning to Trust Yourself 6:03

23d ago6:03

6:03

Self-trust is one of the most difficult—and most necessary—skills to develop. In this episode, we explore how risk-taking becomes the pathway to growth, why the unknown is a powerful tool, and how Freemasonry’s symbols remind us that trust is not blind, but cultivated through experience. Thank you Bro. Brenden P.M. Fritz Lodge #308 in Conshohocken …

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Beyond the Cornerstone: Why Leaders Must Build More Than One Pillar 7:30

26d ago7:30

7:30

Strong teams—and strong lodges—cannot rest on the shoulders of one or two exceptional members. In this episode, we explore the hidden risks of over-relying on “get it done” people, and how leaders can intentionally cultivate broader competence across their membership. The conversation challenges leaders to think beyond efficiency and toward sustain…

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Beyond Titles: What the Craft Teaches About Leading Well 8:32

28d ago8:32

8:32

Leadership in the Craft is more than a seat in the East—it’s a practice grounded in clarity, decisiveness, and service. This episode explores how to identify and resolve organizational friction, the importance of early wins, and the deeper responsibilities that come with guiding others in a Masonic context. 🔑 Key Takeaways True leadership starts wi…

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The Cycle of the Lodge: From Apprentice Eyes to Master’s Hands 7:31

30d ago7:31

7:31

Every Mason walks both paths: learning under guidance and leading with wisdom. This episode explores the cyclical nature of leadership and followership in the Craft—how the two inform each other, and how both are essential for the vitality of the Lodge. We look at the mentorship that shapes new Masons and the humility that sustains experienced lead…

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Beyond the Veil: What Freemasonry Demands Beyond Esotericism 6:19

1M ago6:19

6:19

Esotericism promises hidden power—but Masonry’s real strength comes from truths that have always been present. In this episode, we strip away the romantic fog of secrecy to uncover what remains when the illusion of “hidden knowledge” is gone. The conversation challenges listeners to anchor their work in what is real, enduring, and already within re…

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From the Cave to the Lodge: Escaping the Shadows of Superstition 8:55

1M ago8:55

8:55

From childhood superstitions to unexamined beliefs in adulthood, our development follows a one-way path. Drawing on the Platonic allegory of the cave, this episode explores how we move from the shadows of illusion toward the light of agency — and why, once we’ve stepped into that light, we can’t truly return to the darkness. Through a Masonic lens,…

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Episode 198 - Live at DeMolay Keyman Conference 2025 1:29:25

1M ago1:29:25

1:29:25

Hello! On this episode, we return to the Patton Campus in Elizabethtown, PA for a live appearance at the DeMolay Keyman 2025 Conference. After the usual opening we are joined by several young men representing various chapters from across the United States as well as a few adult leaders who assist with the operations of the youth organizations. We h…

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The Pavement We Stand On: History as Context, Not Completion 7:45

1M ago7:45

7:45

Freemasonry treasures its history, but history alone is not the work. In this episode, we explore how fascination with the craft’s past—its legends, figures, and origins—can sometimes obscure the immediate labor of self-improvement. Using the Pavement as our guiding symbol, we reflect on how historical study provides the ground beneath our feet but…

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Dialogue with the Disowned: The Second Person as Masonic Practice 7:36

1M ago7:36

7:36

Some voices within us remain silent—not because they have nothing to say, but because we’ve decided not to listen. In this episode, we explore the act of speaking from the perspectives we disown: parts of ourselves, others we reject, or emotions we avoid. By adopting the second person in writing and speech, we create space for these exiled parts to…

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Perspective Is a Ritual: How We Learn to See From Other Angles 7:06

1M ago7:06

7:06

Freemasonry teaches us to square our actions—but what lens are we using to observe them? In this episode, we explore how shifting between first, second, and third person perspectives reveals more than just situational awareness—it unlocks the rituals of self-observation, empathy, and clarity. Through everyday examples and symbolic reflection, we co…

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The Hoodwink Within: Uncovering the Patterns We Can’t See 7:22

1M ago7:22

7:22

Our most persistent behaviors are often invisible to us. In this episode, we explore the hidden mechanics of action and habit—how the mind shields us from the full pattern of cause and effect, and why self-reflection requires more than casual introspection. Using the metaphor of the Hoodwink, this conversation reveals how unconscious protections ca…

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When Willpower Fails: Rethinking the Virtue of Struggle 7:08

2M ago7:08

7:08

We’re taught that if we just try harder, we’ll succeed—and that virtue lies in the trying. But what if that’s not only wrong, but harmful? In this episode, we examine the myth of willpower as a moral virtue, and the emotional collapse that follows when effort alone doesn’t work. Whether it's in the lodge or in life, perseverance is not always the s…

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The right tool for the Job might not be Masonic 6:58

2M ago6:58

6:58

Masonic symbols aren’t sacred because they’re exclusive—they’re sacred because they work. In this episode, we examine the tools of the Craft not as relics, but as psychological instruments—designed to cut through illusion, habit, and excess. From the Gavel’s function of divestment to the metaphorical shedding of rind from fruit, we explore how symb…

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No One-Sided Coins: The mechanics of growth 7:41

2M ago7:41

7:41

Life doesn’t come with shortcuts through difficulty—and Freemasonry doesn’t pretend otherwise. In this episode, we confront the fantasy of a one-sided coin: a life full of good, free from challenge. It’s a delusion born from discomfort, not wisdom. True Masonic insight embraces contrast. The rough prepares the smooth. The pain often lays the founda…

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Why We Judge Without Knowing: The Symbolic Cost of Unconscious Evaluation 6:41

2M ago6:41

6:41

Much of our behavior is shaped by decisions we don’t realize we’re making. In this episode, we explore the invisible architecture of our minds—those automatic evaluations that happen beneath awareness and subtly steer our lives. The Craft asks us to build consciously, but when unconscious judgments take the lead, we begin laying bricks without a pl…

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Feeling Without Fixing: The Quiet Strength of Abiding With What Is 6:36

2M ago6:36

6:36

What do we do with our compassion when we can’t make a difference? In this episode, we explore the value of emotional resonance without intervention—the sacred practice of being with someone in their pain without trying to alter it. This is not passivity. It is an act of profound presence. The quiet strength of abiding asks us to bear witness, to m…

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The Gauge, the Gap, and the Wait: When Time Becomes the Test 7:21

2M ago7:21

7:21

Time doesn’t guarantee results—but it does reveal character. In this episode, we reflect on the symbolic and emotional dynamics of waiting: when our efforts don’t produce immediate outcomes, how do we respond? Drawing on the 24-inch gauge, we explore the space between patience and procrastination, and how understanding the probabilistic nature of r…

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Episode 197 - Bro. Rick Freedman, Director of the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania 59:23

2M ago59:23

59:23

Hello! On this episode, we welcome Bro. Rick Freedman, Director of the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania. He joins us to discuss his work at the Grand Lodge and extensive service in the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth organizations. After a great conversation, we hear the Masonic News, play Copious Dues, and in Larry's absence, lead the chicken…

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Yin and Yang in the Mortar: What Compassion Teaches the Builder 5:52

2M ago5:52

5:52

Compassion isn’t just a feeling—it’s a structural decision. In this episode, we explore the dual expressions of care: yin and yang, soft and active, receptive and agentic. Just as mortar binds stone with intention, care must be applied with precision—matched to the needs of the moment, not just the impulse of the helper. This is an invitation to no…

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The Craftsman’s Spiral: Growing in Freedom and Fullness 6:38

2M ago6:38

6:38

The work of becoming an enlightened craftsman isn’t a straight line—it’s a spiral. In this episode, we explore two vital and mutually reinforcing domains of growth: freedom, or our ability to act in the world, and fullness, the richness and resonance of our inner experience. As Masons and as people, we often fixate on one or the other. But it’s the…

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Built on Fiction: What Freemasonry Makes Up and Why It Matters 8:14

2M ago8:14

8:14

Every symbol in the Craft is made up—and that’s what makes them powerful. In this foundational episode, we explore the idea that all Masonic language, categories, and rituals are fabrications: symbolic constructs that help us relate to a world we can never fully describe. But fiction doesn’t mean falsehood. Just as science uses models to approximat…

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Fixing the Wrong Thing: The First Trap of Transformation 8:50

2M ago8:50

8:50

Before we can change, we often reach for what’s closest—not what’s deepest. In this episode, we explore the seductive logic of symptom management: why we lock the fridge when we're actually starving for something else. It’s a cautionary reflection on the first trap in personal growth—solving the wrong problem—and a reminder that transformation begi…

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Beyond Intention: Taking Off the Hoodwink of Self-Delusion 6:39

2M ago6:39

6:39

Some blind spots can’t be named, only noticed through their effects. In this episode, we go deeper into the practice of behavioral awareness, tracing unconscious patterns that reveal themselves not through what we say—but through what we keep doing. When our actions consistently betray our intentions, something unseen is at work. The Craft challeng…

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The Left Slipper and the Best Gift Ever 8:02

2M ago8:02

8:02

What if the best gift you could ever receive was the truth about yourself? This episode explores the Masonic symbol of the Left Slipper—representing a promise fulfilled—and reveals how personal honesty becomes the cornerstone of transformation. We examine what it means to confront the subtle lies we tell ourselves and the courageous work of alignin…

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The World Arises Around You: Crafting the Self as Instrument 7:30

2M ago7:30

7:30

If your experience is the only one you’ll ever fully know, how do you shape anything real? This episode explores the Masonic implications of subjective reality. Far from an excuse for self-centeredness, it’s a call to responsibility. The self is not the goal—it’s the instrument through which we build. 🔑 Key Takeaways Your perception shapes your exp…

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The Cornerstone of Awareness 7:10

3M ago7:10

7:10

Before a Mason can act, he must see. This episode reveals awareness as the true cornerstone of agency—not just the start of the Work, but the condition that makes meaningful change possible. Without it, all effort is misdirected. With it, the Gavel strikes true. 🔑 Key Takeaways Reducing suffering begins with cultivating clear, honest awareness. Awa…

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Episode 196 - PA State Senator James Malone 56:35

2M ago56:35

56:35

Hello! On this episode we welcome Pennsylvania State Senator, Bro. James Malone. He joins us to talk about his Masonic journey, life as a State Senator, and the inspiration that led to his life of service. Tim is out on assignment, but we manage to make it through, with the Masonic News, Quiet Moments, and Larry's Free Range Family bringing us home…

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The Ashlar and the Question of Growth 7:18

3M ago7:18

7:18

In a world full of disorder and limits beyond our control, why bother growing at all? This episode confronts that foundational question, exploring the symbolic Ashlar—rough and perfect—as a map for what transformation means when the external world resists it. The path of Masonic development is revealed not as control, but as choice. 🔑 Key Takeaways…

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The Oath and the Work: Escaping the Disappointment Trap 7:24

3M ago7:24

7:24

Why do so many men leave Freemasonry disillusioned? This episode explores the misunderstanding at the heart of that disappointment: the belief that the Masonic oath is a transactional agreement. By revisiting the symbolic and philosophical nature of the oath, we uncover a deeper truth—one that leads not to resentment, but to responsibility. 🔑 Key T…

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The Level and the Deferred Life Plan 6:06

3M ago6:06

6:06

This episode confronts the quiet danger of deferral—the belief that fulfillment lies somewhere beyond the present moment. Drawing on the Masonic symbol of the Level, it examines our relationship with time, mortality, and the myths of “someday.” True labor, it argues, cannot be postponed. 🔑 Key Takeaways Projecting fulfillment into the future often …

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You Are Not Your Results: The Mason’s Paradox 6:54

3M ago6:54

6:54

Drawing wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita and the tools of Freemasonry, this episode challenges a deep cultural illusion: that our value lies in our results. By reflecting on sacred labor, symbolic detachment, and what it means to build in faith, we examine the paradox every Mason must face—how to work without becoming what we make. 🔑 Key Takeaways The…

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The Gavel and the Temptation to Settle 7:33

3M ago7:33

7:33

What begins as well-earned rest can quickly become a barrier to growth. This episode explores the moment when satisfaction turns into stagnation—and how the symbolic Gavel can help us cut through the comforts that keep us small. Discomfort, it turns out, isn’t the enemy. It’s the invitation. 🔑 Key Takeaways Rest is necessary, but lingering too long…

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The Trowel and the Three Virtues: Building Faith, Hope, and Charity for a Modern World 8:00

3M ago8:00

8:00

What do the Masonic virtues of faith, hope, and charity ask of us today? This episode re-examines these foundational values through a modern lens, asking whether their original symbolic meanings are sufficient—or if the demands of the present require a deeper, more courageous application. As we stretch the trowel toward new forms of connection and …

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Episode 195 - Linda M. Jackson - the Widows Guild 59:53

3M ago59:53

59:53

Hello! On this episode, we welcome Linda M. Jackson, Director of Philanthropic and Widows Support for the Masonic Charities of Pennsylvania. She joins us to talk about her mission with the Widows Guild, the services they provide, and how Lodges can ensure that they are doing their part to support the spouses of our departed brethren. Larry gives us…

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We Meet on the Level — But We Are Not the Same 7:27

3M ago7:27

7:27

Freemasonry teaches equality at the altar, but we all walk in with different histories, insights, and levels of development. In this episode, we examine how symbolic aprons—Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, Master Mason—aren’t just rituals, but lenses. Recognizing where others stand isn’t condescension; it’s the gateway to real teaching, empathy, an…

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Find Me a Rock: The Futility of Leading for the Unwilling 7:55

3M ago7:55

7:55

In groups where few take ownership, even good leaders get stuck playing a losing game. This episode explores the “find me a rock” dynamic—where complaints are abundant but direction is absent. Whether in lodge or life, the message is clear: stop chasing unclear expectations, and start leading with clarity, courage, and purpose. 🔑 Key Takeaways Pass…

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Every Complaint Is a Tool - Start with the One You’re Holding 6:44

3M ago6:44

6:44

Compassion is vital—but it isn’t passive. In this episode, we explore how frustration, disappointment, and criticism can become instruments of growth. Whether you’re hearing complaints from others or harboring your own, each one holds a clue to what needs healing or building. And as always, the work starts with the only Freemason you truly control:…

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Freemasonry Among the Traditions: The Path, Not the Title 8:34

3M ago8:34

8:34

Across spiritual and philosophical lineages—from Bodhisattvas and Sadiqs to Philosopher Kings and Saints—there exists an aspirational identity: the just person, the moral actor, the wise one. In this episode, we explore how Freemasonry fits into this tradition—not as a title to be claimed, but as a path to be walked. You’re not a Master because you…

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The Work of a Master Mason: Governing the Self First 6:53

3M ago6:53

6:53

Following last episode’s exploration of insatiable desire, this conversation turns to recovery, regulation, and real compassion. Whether it’s addiction, avoidance, or emotional compulsion, the first labor of the Master Mason is internal. You cannot shape the world until you’ve learned to govern yourself—and that begins not with shame, but with care…

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Desire That Devours: What the Compasses Teach Us 6:29

3M ago6:29

6:29

In this episode, we explore the Buddhist realm of Hungry Ghosts - beings tormented by insatiable craving; and its profound parallels with the human condition. Whether it’s food, media, validation, or vice, desire often consumes us more than we consume it. Freemasonry offers symbolic tools, especially the Compasses, to set boundaries and cultivate r…