Best Brian Mattocks Podcasts (2025)

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The Entered Apprentice Mason Series – Part III: The Cultivation of Wonder 6:36

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1d ago6:36

6:36

At the systemic level, the Entered Apprentice teaches that the true foundation of wisdom is wonder. To see as a beginner is to live in curiosity — to acknowledge that every person, at every stage of life, is still learning. This episode invites reflection on how the beginner’s mind reveals unity within diversity, and how awareness of our shared unc…

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The Entered Apprentice Mason Series – Part II: The Humility of Following 7:24

3d ago7:24

7:24

To follow well is to learn deeply. In this episode, we explore the relational dimension of the Entered Apprentice — the apprenticeship of humility, listening, and repetition. Progress in Masonry and in life begins when we release the need for mastery and learn to serve the work itself. This is where obedience becomes understanding. 🔑 Key Takeaways …

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Digital Marketing Convo with Luke Eccles 28:49

4d ago28:49

28:49

Dive into the dynamic world of digital marketing with the self-taught maestro Luke Eccles on this episode of "Hard To Market Podcast". From the roots of social media marketing to the blossoming tree of AI integration, Luke shares insights on authentic content, niche marketing, and the beauty of learning through failure. Here are a few topics we’ll …

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The Entered Apprentice Mason Series – Part I: The Work of Beginning 7:17

5d ago7:17

7:17

Every Masonic journey begins with openness — the willingness to learn, to labor, and to make first attempts. In this episode, we explore the behavioral dimension of the Entered Apprentice: the mindset of curiosity and the courage to start imperfectly. True initiation is not marked by ceremony alone, but by the decision to engage with life as a lear…

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Dark Rhetoric Series – The Game of Definitions: When Meaning Becomes a Maze 7:16

8d ago7:16

7:16

When reason fails to persuade, some retreat into semantics. This episode explores the game of definitions — a rhetorical tactic that twists clarity into confusion. By constantly redefining words, manipulators trap conversations in endless loops, transforming truth-seeking into a contest of control. 🔑 Key Takeaways The game of definitions transforms…

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Dark Rhetoric Series – Baiting: How Provocation Becomes Power 7:04

10d ago7:04

7:04

Baiting is the dark art of pulling others off balance. In this episode, we unpack how manipulators provoke emotional reactions to seize control of the narrative. What begins as a seemingly innocent jab or challenge often becomes a battle for composure — a test of who can stay centered while the other weaponizes volatility. 🔑 Key Takeaways Baiting p…

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Dark Rhetoric Series – Ad Hominem: How Ego Replaces Evidence 7:03

12d ago7:03

7:03

When logic fails, ego often steps in. In this episode, we explore the ad hominem attack — the rhetorical sleight of hand that targets a person instead of their ideas. By shifting focus from argument to identity, manipulators trade truth for dominance, and discourse for dismissal. Recognizing this move is the first defense against its power. 🔑 Key T…

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Dark Rhetoric Series – Gatekeeping: How Power Hides Behind Standards 6:30

15d ago6:30

6:30

At its surface, gatekeeping appears to be about quality, tradition, or protecting standards — but beneath it lies a hunger for control. In this episode, we explore how gatekeeping functions as a subtle form of exclusion, transforming shared ideals into barriers. When standards become instruments of ego, the pursuit of excellence turns into the defe…

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Dark Rhetoric Series – Tone Policing: How Control Masquerades as Civility 7:24

17d ago7:24

7:24

When emotion enters a conversation, truth often follows close behind — but so does discomfort. In this episode, we examine tone policing, a manipulative tactic that silences authenticity under the guise of calm. By exploring how this rhetorical maneuver transforms vulnerability into disqualification, we uncover what genuine civility truly demands o…

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Dark Rhetoric Series – Weaponized Ignorance: When Not Knowing Becomes a Shield 9:13

19d ago9:13

9:13

Ignorance can appear humble—an admission of “not knowing.” But when used strategically, it becomes a shield and a weapon: a way to flatten discourse, deflect accountability, or silence expertise. In this episode, we examine the mechanics of weaponized ignorance—how it masquerades as curiosity while concealing hostility—and what it takes to meet it …

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Liberation Begets Liberation 7:02

22d ago7:02

7:02

When you’ve untangled your own loops, you start to see the loops in others. Real help begins when projection ends—when you can observe behavior cleanly, without the need to rationalize, explain, or fix. In this episode, we explore how self-liberation becomes the groundwork for liberating others. The clearer you see, the more naturally you can act i…

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Everyone You Know Starts Out as an Imaginary Friend 7:03

24d ago7:03

7:03

Before we ever meet someone as they truly are, we meet the version of them in our minds—the story we create based on fragments, memory, and meaning. In this episode, we explore how relationships begin in imagination, shaped by projection, perception, and expectation. Freemasonry challenges us to see others—and ourselves—more clearly by learning to …

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We do live in a simulation - The real question is who's? 7:17

26d ago7:17

7:17

By Brian Mattocks

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Choosing Real Community Over Algorithms 8:45

29d ago8:45

8:45

Algorithms can provide us with endless streams of curated content, but they cannot replace authentic community. In this episode, we reflect on the difference between being passively fed online and actively engaging with real people—whether in Lodge, in gatherings, or even in authentic online spaces where relationships are mutual. Freemasonry calls …

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The Square and the Lens: Depths of Focus in the Craft 7:21

1M ago7:21

7:21

Focus is often misunderstood as an on-or-off switch—something you either have or don’t. In this episode, we reframe focus as a spectrum of depth: near, mid, and distant, across both time and space. Freemasonry teaches us to bring the Square to our focus, aligning our attention not just on what is immediate, but on what lies ahead, ensuring our work…

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Tracing the Path to This Moment 6:33

1M ago6:33

6:33

Every present moment is the result of countless causes: generations of ancestors, chance encounters, technological progress, and the choices we and others have made. In this episode, we pause to reflect on the extraordinary convergence that brings us here, now. The Craft reminds us that the present moment is sacred—an opportunity shaped by history …

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Beyond Silence: What Freemasonry Teaches About Risk and Openness 8:06

1M ago8:06

8:06

Silence can be powerful—but beyond silence lies the deeper work of vulnerability. In this episode, we examine what vulnerability really means, why it feels risky, and how openness allows us to grow in relationship with others. Freemasonry challenges us not only to be quiet in reflection but to risk exposure in ways that create genuine connection an…

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The Lodge in Stillness: Silence as a Tool for Growth 7:51

1M ago7:51

7:51

Silence is more than the absence of noise—it is a discipline, a tool, and a posture of openness. In this episode, we explore how cultivating silence creates space for reflection, helps us solve problems, and resists the distractions of modern life. Just as the Lodge is prepared for sacred work, so too must we prepare ourselves with the stillness ne…

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The Lodge and the Open Space: Making Room for Growth 7:49

1M ago7:49

7:49

Patterns and rituals give us structure—but they can also crowd out possibility. In this episode, we explore the Masonic lesson of creating space: setting aside time, habits, and expectations so new opportunities can arise. Just as the Lodge is a sacred space made ready for work, so too must we make space in our lives to welcome growth and transform…

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From Stone to Ashlar: Softening the Hardened Heart 7:12

1M ago7:12

7:12

In tumultuous times, it is easy to harden ourselves against pain and call it strength. But endurance without openness risks becoming pride in suffering for its own sake. In this episode, we explore how the Craft reframes suffering not as identity, but as catalyst—inviting us to soften the heart of stone and move toward refinement, compassion, and t…

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The Pillar of Faith: Testing What We Truly Trust 7:10

2M ago7:10

7:10

Faith is more than religion—it is the unseen ground upon which we build our lives. In this episode, we explore faith as the foundation for identity, belief, and behavior. Freemasonry challenges us to examine what we actually place our trust in, and whether those foundations are strong enough to carry us through adversity, growth, and change. 🔑 Key …

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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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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The Pavement We Stand On: History as Context, Not Completion 7:45

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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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Yin and Yang in the Mortar: What Compassion Teaches the Builder 5:52

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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…