When the Artwork of Manliness podcast began in 2009, we provided listeners one episode per week. Later, we expanded to 2 episodes weekly.
Beginning this yr, we’ll be returning to publishing one episode per week.
There are two large causes we’ve determined to do that:
1) We need to proceed to be extremely selective in selecting company.
We’ve at all times been extremely selective in selecting company to have on the present, on the lookout for individuals with fascinating, distinctive, edifying, and helpful concepts who’re capable of categorical these concepts articulately. The interviews virtually at all times heart on an writer and their guide, and whereas there are infinite so-so books and company on the market, we’re not on the lookout for so-so, we’re on the lookout for nice.
Now, with over a thousand books learn, and a thousand episodes recorded, we’ve hosted a few of the greatest thinkers (a number of occasions), coated lots of of topics (a number of occasions), and already highlighted many, lots of the greatest books on the market. Subsequently, it’s turn into tougher and tougher to keep up our normal of visitor choice — to search out subjects we haven’t already accomplished and accomplished properly, and to guide of us who’ve one thing contemporary and worthwhile to say.
We’ve by no means wished to search out ourselves ready the place now we have to guide somebody we solely assume is so-so merely to satisfy a contractually-obligated slot on the calendar. Shifting to 1 episode per week ensures that we will proceed to keep up our requirements of choice and solely provide our listeners episodes which might be actually helpful.
Every week, there shall be an episode that’s undoubtedly value listening to.
The pattern nowadays, after all, is for podcasts so as to add increasingly more episodes and even spinoff podcasts to be able to maximize downloads and thus income. However high quality has at all times mattered extra to us than earnings.
2) Shifting to 1 episode per week will enable us to spend extra time on our past love: writing.
This shift isn’t nearly doing much less—it’s about making room for one thing Brett and Kate have had the itch to do extra of the previous few years: deep, considerate writing.
Earlier than the AoM podcast turned a twice-a-week present, we had been capable of write extra longer-form articles, which we actually loved. We haven’t had a lot time for that since, and miss it.
We’ll be utilizing the time that opens up from shifting to 1 podcast episode per week to jot down articles for a brand new Substack we’re beginning: Dying Breed.
Now, we all know the thought of beginning a Substack might induce some eyerolls, as everybody and their mother is doing likewise.
However enable us to clarify why we’re actually enthusiastic about creating this new publication:
It offers us an opportunity to jot down on some subjects that don’t fairly match below the AoM umbrella. There are some issues we’d like to jot down about which might be a little bit exterior AoM’s purview, whether or not due to the actual matter or as a result of it’s one thing that simply wouldn’t be appreciated by the plenty and is healthier suited to a extra devoted viewers. It offers us an opportunity to jot down longer-form articles in a sustainable method. We perceive that the pattern of content material shifting behind paywalls is annoying for readers, however there’s a simple financial purpose it’s occurring: The income to be made out of net adverts has fallen one thing like 85% over the past ten years. There merely isn’t sufficient ROI in spending hours creating an in-depth, high quality article that shall be posted free of charge on an ad-supported web site. Paid Substack subscriptions make the effort and time spent on high quality articles sustainable.It offers readers a extra targeted and fewer fragmented studying expertise. It’s irritating as writers to have a textual content you’ve penned, which you assume has worth, damaged up with adverts for toenail clippers, and it’s irritating for readers not to have the ability to learn one thing holistically. Substack articles are ad-free, so you possibly can benefit from the content material with out distractions.It permits readers to remark. Within the early days of AoM, we had feedback on our weblog posts. However we took them off a decade again, as a result of their high quality different wildly, and it took an excessive amount of time and bandwidth to reasonable them. The anonymity and drive-by accessibility of an open remark part — the shortage of the need of getting pores and skin within the sport — sabotaged the standard of the dialog. However we’ve truly missed the feedback; it was enjoyable to have them and have the ability to work together with readers. The Substack setup will enable for feedback, whereas mitigating their former issues. Solely those that have paid for a subscription will have the ability to remark, thus filtering for these of us who do have pores and skin within the sport and have already made an funding in a wholesome dialogue.
Why “Dying Breed”?
When everybody’s compromisingI’ll be your diehardI’ll be there when water’s risingI’ll be your lifeguardcWe’re minimize from a stained glass mountainBaby, we’re a dying breed
—”Dying Breed” by the Killers
The identify and brand for our publication had been impressed by the Killers’ music “Dying Breed” off their album Imploding the Mirage. The music is primarily about dedication in marriage, and it resonates with us on that stage, and a pair others as properly.
We’ve been married for nearly twenty years now, and over that point, we’ve seen loads of {couples} break up, together with a seemingly disproportionate quantity who’re concerned in making their dwelling on-line. In a world that doesn’t prize til-death-do-you-part devotion, our union is as robust and joyful as ever.
Over these 20 years, we’ve additionally seen quite a lot of digital shops come, go, and alter themselves past recognition. We’re proud that AoM shouldn’t be solely nonetheless round and thriving, we’ve by no means bought out our rules or watered down our high quality for the sake of clicks and downloads. In a web based ecosystem by which many influencers and publications are prepared to chase tendencies, sacrifice the issues that made them nice within the first place within the neverending pursuit of relevancy, and do no matter dance company algorithms are at the moment dictating, we’ve tried to march to the beat of our personal drummer and put respect for ourselves and our followers first.
The phrase “dying breed” not solely encapsulates how we function in our private {and professional} lives, it embodies the ethos that can underlie our publication. The articles we’ll be writing will talk about subjects that don’t get talked about as usually as they deserve and be aimed toward an viewers that appreciates and is enthusiastic about concepts and values that may appear more and more uncommon, however shouldn’t be misplaced and not using a struggle. When you worth depth over virality, long-term dedication over fast wins, and timeless knowledge over trending takes, then Dying Breed is for you.
What Are We Going to Be Writing About on Dying Breed?
Consider Dying Breed as our equal of a musician’s aspect venture — like when Loss of life Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard created The Postal Service or Weezer’s Matt Sharp shaped the Leases. These ventures weren’t full departures from the unique band’s core sound, however gave these artists larger area to discover new territories of their music.
That’s Dying Breed: recognizably us, however with the liberty to do issues on a barely completely different wavelength from AoM.
Each Brett and Kate have stuff they’ve been chewing on for years and want to share with others, however could be a greater slot in a special format than on the AoM weblog.
So what kinds of subjects are you going to search out on Dying Breed?
Listed here are some tentative themes we plan on hitting:
The enterprise of creating a dwelling on-line, whereas attempting to keep up your dignityThe intersection of expertise, philosophy, and mediaFaith in a secular ageThe function of luck and talent in lifeThe philosophy of ambitionMaking sense of the “Triumph of the Therapeutic”A deep dive into the historical past of “wellness tradition”And far more!
If any of these subjects sound fascinating to you, subscribe to Dying Breed. Whereas AoM is aimed toward males (although we’ve at all times had some very devoted feminine readers), Dying Breed shall be for women and men alike. So come one, and are available all.
Bringing Again Sunday Firesides
For the final 5 years, Sunday Firesides — quick, thought-starting, devotional-esque items — grew into certainly one of AoM’s hottest options. The Firesides took a hiatus this yr, however will be returning in 2025, solely within the Dying Breed Substack, which we really feel is a greater residence for them.
What Do You Get When You Subscribe?
Once you turn into a Dying Breed subscriber, you’ll obtain:
Deep Dives: Each week, we’ll publish a longer-form article exploring historic figures, forgotten virtues, cultural phenomenon, and timeless knowledge.Sunday Firesides: Every Sunday, you’ll obtain a considerate reflection that will help you begin your week. All of the archives of beforehand printed Firesides shall be out there solely on Dying Breed as properly.Neighborhood Dialogue: Drop a line within the remark part to work together with Brett, Kate, and different Dying Breed readers.Centered, Advert-Free Studying Expertise: No distractions, no sponsored content material, no algorithms — simply considerate writing crafted that will help you assume deeper and stay higher.
For $5/month or $50/yr, you’ll obtain two high quality items weekly, plus entry to our rising library of archived content material and our group of like-minded readers.
Immediately Assist the Work We Do!
For the previous 17 years, we’ve supplied free content material by means of Artwork of Manliness, serving to thousands and thousands of readers stay higher lives. Your subscription to Dying Breed is a method to instantly help our work and assist us proceed creating considerate, helpful, and edifying content material for years to return, each within the DB publication and right here on the Artwork of Manliness. When you’ve gotten one thing out of the stuff we’ve put out at AoM for nearly 20 years now, a subscription to Dying Breed could be a much-appreciated method to give again.
We’re Not Abandoning AoM! And AoM Will Proceed to Be Free!
Whereas we’re beginning a brand new venture with Dying Breed, we’re nonetheless dedicated to the Artwork of Manliness.
Our plan is to proceed publishing at the least one article right here every week together with one podcast episode every week. We’ll additionally proceed publishing the ever-popular Odds & Ends every Friday. And the traditional illustrated guides we’re identified for will proceed as properly.
AoM will proceed to be 100% free.
There shall be no paywall to learn AoM.
When you subscribe to AoM’s weekly or day by day e mail, that can proceed to be despatched out and can stay free.
The podcast will proceed to be free.
Mainly, nothing is altering at AoM besides the amount of latest stuff we put out every week.
For individuals who’ve been with us for the reason that early days once we had been posting about security razors and Victorian gents’s etiquette, thanks for rising with us.
For individuals who joined someplace alongside the way in which, welcome to the subsequent chapter.
Whether or not you persist with the free AoM content material, be part of us over at Dying Breed, or each — we’re simply grateful to have you ever alongside for the experience.
Keep manly. Get motion.
