Founder’s Journal

This does not claim to be an account of facts but rather of personal experiences. May you find inspiration for your own journey.

Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

“I will not die an unlived life”

Statistically 85% of men who suppress their inner Beast are wrestling with fear of death. The greater the unlived life, the greater the death anxiety. For the unintegrated man, death is not just the end of biological function; it is the terrifying deadline on a life he never actually piloted.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

The Tyrant is Just a Terrified Boy

Shocking. But predictable. Gen Z men have grown up watching their fathers and older brothers fulfill the Good Boy contract only to end up burnt out, divorced, and deeply unfulfilled. We don't fix this by doubling down on the "Good Boy" narrative and telling men to be quiet.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

The Spear in the Chest: Why Your Crisis is Actually an Initiation

If you feel like the shaman in this image today—pierced by life, confused, or hurting—I invite you to shift your perspective. You are not broken. You are being invited to let the "old you" die so that a more authentic, powerful, and compassionate version of yourself can be reborn.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

Body as a Gateway - Systema & Bodywork

What if unlocking your full potential starts in your body, not just your mind? I share how Russian Systema and bodywork—key parts of the FewGoodMen curriculum—helped me release tension, reconnect with my strength, and feel fully present.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

Clay and Soul - The Art of Being Fully Present

Finding your center of gravity, being fully present, letting go off your ego and not being afraid to start all over again. Mindful ceramics lets you explore the core principles of FewGoodMen in a hands-on, creative way—helping you build new skills while reconnecting with presence and intention.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

Seamanship as a compass to larger life

I can’t think of a more precise, complex, effort-requiring and useful discipline to be used as a metaphor for, and actual embodiment of the man’s midlife passage. 

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

Let the man ride!

Yes - half of you are rolling eyes, the other half nodding, feeling a surge of adrenaline. It's not just a machine of freedom and direct confrontation with mortality. In midlife, the motorcycle becomes a powerful declaration of authenticity and one’s direction. Ready to feel alive again? It's time to let the man ride.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

5 Signs You Are Being Called to a Larger Life

If tears of pride surprise you when seeing your sapling grow, you might be hearing life’s quiet call. You notice who lifts or drains you, crave work that touches your hands and heart, and wonder about the legacy you want to leave. Maybe it’s time to step into your next chapter.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

A man in the park

For a man on his journey of self-discovery, nature is not merely a pleasant backdrop; it is an active, essential force for healing and transformation. In this park, he is both pilgrim and sanctuary-seeker. He is drawn to the mother he never fully knew, seeking the quiet, unconditional nurture that human hands sometimes fail to give.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

Mission Chirripó 2025 Highlights

This is the pinnacle of our retreats, my signature experience for a small curated group of six men who have previous experience with deep inner work. It is a journey that takes courage, but the rewards are great, as its effects are deep and truly life changing. Designed as a proper reset, it helps you to leave behind what no longer serves you and see what is next for you in life.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

Top 3 Challenges Men Bring to Retreats—and How to Move Beyond Them

Over the years I see a similar pattern in the three main challenges that participants share and that very well reflect my own struggles. These three themes quietly shape a man’s life, often without him even realizing the full cost. These are not just minor frustrations—they ripple through his personal relationships, his leadership, and ultimately, his sense of self. 

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

10 Things Your Partners Thank Us For

We’ve been receiving messages from the wives and girlfriends of the men who come on our retreats. Reading them is a reminder of why we do this work—because something truly shifts in a man when he steps fully into himself, and those shifts ripple out into the lives of the people he loves. Here are the top 10 things partners are noticing and praising.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

My Hero’s Journey

At first, the Hero’s Journey, as described by Joseph Campbell, seems like a purely logical concept—but its precision is almost scary.

I have traveled the world, been to Formula 1 paddocks, VIP lounges of Champions League, craziest parties but the real adventure started when I embarked on the journey of exploring the inner realms of myself.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

Red Path of The Heart

This is my basic philosophy. It made me more curious and helped me to open my mind. This is huge because before hitting 40 I became a bit jaded with life, thought I experienced it all, becoming almost cynical. Feeling stronger, being healthier and more stable in everyday life. Less dependant on what others think. It made me a humble and a better person.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

TEMAZCAL, rebirth in the womb of Mother Earth

Coming from a culture where sauna is an integral part of keeping both our spirit and body healthy, I consider Temazcal one of the most beautiful Mesoamerican traditions. 

Bringing the whole community together regularly to go through the ritual process of purification, healing and renewal, while showing gratitude to all the elements is truly a meaningful, yet still challenging experience. 

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

Yagé, becoming one with nature

A cold reminder that there is no space for our mind during rituals and times when we seek to reach the “higher inteligence”. After reading Graham Hancock’s Supernatural, and hearing so many stories from my friends my mind was racing with expectations and still after the 3rd serving of Ayahuasca I found myself sitting by the fire, still not “feeling” anything. It was only after the Shaman told me to be ok with it and go get some rest in the hammock that I switched off my mind and the journey had begun.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

Overcoming Fears with KAMBO

Kambo is a gift of nature. A traditional Amazonian medicine made from the secretion of a giant monkey frog. On physical level it removes stored toxins and waste from liver, lymphatic system and intestines. On emotional level it releases suppressed fears and bottled up emotions. In my experience it also helps dramatically to overcome lethargy and mental fog.

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Jiri Rakosnik Jiri Rakosnik

Shaman’s PLUMA

In marketing we call it great storytelling. For Shamans it is weaving purpose and intention into everything they do so that it carries the desired energy. Whether that means singing a joyful song when making a meal, or declaring clear intentions for every item added to an altar or a despacho. 

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