The Art of Manliness Podcast: "The Preparation — An Adventure-Driven, Skill-Building Alternative to College for Young Men"

Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Brett McKay
Guest: Matt Smith (author of "The Preparation")

Overview:

This episode explores a bold, hands-on alternative to the standard college path for young men. Matt Smith, co-author of The Preparation (with his son Maxim and Doug Casey), presents a 4-year, 16-cycle curriculum designed to develop Renaissance men—self-reliant, competent, and grounded in virtue. The conversation critically examines why college no longer fulfills its traditional role, how young men can reclaim agency and competence, and what practical adventures and skills the new model entails.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why College is No Longer Enough

• Rising tuition, mounting student debt, and a rapidly changing job landscape (notably due to AI & automation) leave many young men anxious and disillusioned with higher education.
• Traditional college no longer guarantees jobs or meaningful personal growth; over half of high school grads now attend, diminishing its distinction.
• Quote (Matt Smith, 04:42):

  "We've seen people that have specialized in the fields they were told to go into, like computer science, come out and not be able to find a job when they get out of school. ... They now no longer have options because they have to service that debt from college."

2. The Drift and Mimetic Desire

• Without clear guidance or meaningful rites of passage, young men drift—defaulting to what their peers do or what they see online.
• Mimetic desire (Rene Girard/Luke Burgess): We copy what others desire, which can be negative if our models are shallow or absent.
• Quote (Matt Smith, 08:38):

  "We look to others for what they appear to want, and then it becomes our own want. ... It's not genuine. It's not really authentic."

3. The Renaissance Man as an Alternative Ideal

• The Preparation seeks to inspire men to become "Renaissance men," not just specialists or knowledge accumulators, but people who can shape their world and take action.
• Citing figures like Leon Battista Alberti, Ben Franklin, Louis L’Amour, and historical adventurers, Smith emphasizes being as important as doing or having.
• Quote (Matt Smith, 12:58):

  "The difference between a polymath and a real Renaissance man is a polymath knows a lot, but a Renaissance man uses that knowledge to create, to shape the world around them."

4. Developing a Personal Code: ‘Be, Do, Have’

• Central to the program is first establishing a personal code: rules for conduct (what not to do), virtues to aspire to, and a growing list of accomplishments.
• Quote (Matt Smith, 20:01):

  "Have is what everyone is oriented to generally ... But the only thing that actually matters is B. ... The essence of B is the thing that I, I find is very motivating to young men."

5. The Curriculum Structure: 16 Hands-On Cycles Over 4 Years

Cycle Structure:

• Four years, each divided into 4 quarters ("cycles")

• Each cycle contains:

  • Anchor Course: Main hands-on challenge (EMT, building a house, Muay Thai in Thailand, etc.)
  • Academic Component: Online or self-guided courses related to the Anchor
  • Elective Activities: e.g. chess, music, skydiving
  • Reading List
  • Reflection/Accountability: Written reports or public updates

• 40 productive hours per week (including activities like gym time).

• Quote (Matt Smith, 29:41):

  "Each year is broken up into four quarters. ... Each cycle basically has a few key components. The most important one we call the anchor course."

6. Examples of Anchor Cycles

The Medic (EMT Certification)

• Most accessible; builds real-world confidence, provides economic viability, and opens unexpected opportunities (ex: fighting wildfires for substantial pay).
• Quote (Matt Smith, 33:55):

  "The anchor course is just getting your EMT certification... He spent one summer last summer fighting fires in Oregon making $600 a day."

The Builder (Shelter Institute, Maine)

• Learn to design/build a house; demystifies construction and massively increases self-reliance.
• Quote (Matt Smith, 37:33):

  "The first two weeks are really the most important one because they really, you go through the entire process of exactly understanding how do you handle plumbing and electrical..."

The Cowboy and Horsepacking

• "Cowboy Academy" and mule packing in Idaho; develops humility, patience, leadership, and connects with the archetype of American self-reliance.
• Quote (Matt Smith, 40:53):

  "Learning to, like, deal with these animals and to feel comfortable around them is really important..."

The Fighter (Muay Thai in Thailand)

• Combines world travel with focused martial arts study, culminating in a potential real fight; builds grit, cross-cultural competence, and purpose-driven travel.
• Quote (Matt Smith, 43:41):

  "You go to Thailand and ... enroll in Muay Thai camp. ... They will come out of that not being the same person."

Other Possible Cycles

• Entrepreneurship: Start a business in 3 months.
• Survivalist: Attend a primitive living school.
• Sailor: Navigation and crew certification in South America.
• Welder, Heavy Equipment Operator, Pilot, etc.

7. Cost & Logistics

• The full, ideal path: approx. $70,000 for four years—still less than many colleges.
• Can be made more affordable by omitting the most expensive cycles; students are encouraged to finance as they go.
• Quote (Matt Smith, 32:49):

  "The total cost of that over four years is about $70,000. ... You can work your way through it."

• Matt’s son Maxim has done so: “He’s never asked me for money. ... After two years, he’s got a little bit more money than he did when he started.” (50:08)

8. Outcome: The Uncertain, Yet Expansive Future

• The program intentionally increases participants’ "surface area of luck” and opportunity.
• No single, guaranteed next step—just increased agency, resilience, and capacity.
• Quote (Matt Smith, 48:32):

  "Did. When have we known for sure where anything we did was going to take us in reality? ... The world is full of opportunity for him already. He says no to things, opportunities all the time."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mimetic Desire (09:47):
  B (Brett McKay): "Mimetic desire can be a positive force if your model is noble and good and positive. But a lot of young men don't have that."
• On Cultural Role Models (10:14):
  C (Matt Smith): "There aren't heroic figures for them to look up to except, I guess, superheroes, which is nonsense."
• On Building Self-Esteem (21:16):
  C: "Set up these rules for yourself. ... This is the formation of self-esteem. This is the formation of the self itself."
• On Entrepreneurship (46:07):
  C: "He doesn't have to make money, you know. Fail. I mean, I'm not an entrepreneur. I've started many businesses and some succeeded, some have failed. But the things you learn along that process is quite good."
• On Optionality (18:38):
  C: "It just increases their total decision set. ... The more, like the way I guess you put it, surface area they touch. But I have to include people they touch within that as well."
• On Adults Joining In (51:45):
  C: "A lot of these anchor courses are not done by kids. ... We had a 71-year-old write to us the other day, said, 'I'm starting, I'm going to start doing this.'"

Important Timestamps

• 00:52–04:14: Smith’s inspiration for the book—the anxiety his 17-year-old son felt and the inadequacy of current models for manhood.
• 06:02–07:56: How AI and changing economies deepen young men’s uncertainty.
• 08:38–10:44: Mimetic desire shapes young men—and why models matter.
• 11:21–13:57: Renaissance man as an answer: knowledge + creative action.
• 20:01–24:48: The 'Personal Code' and how it roots the curriculum.
• 29:41–32:49: Structure and cost of The Preparation—including how cycles are built.
• 33:55–36:56: The EMT cycle—why it’s first, and its real-world benefit.
• 37:33–40:43: The Builder cycle—building a house as a foundation of competence.
• 40:49–43:31: The Cowboy cycle—reconnecting with heritage and grit.
• 43:41–45:35: The Fighter (Muay Thai) cycle—testing courage, seeing the world.
• 46:07–47:27: Entrepreneurship, sailing, welding, heavy equipment, and more: overview of other cycles.
• 48:32–50:27: The big ‘then what?’—how opportunity and confidence unfold post-program.
• 51:45–53:12: Can adults do this? Absolutely—these cycles aren’t age-limited.

Resources & Further Exploration

• The Preparation book: Amazon (available in paperback and illustrated hardcover)
• ThePreparation.com: Community Substack, updates, and participant reflections
• Maxim Smith’s journey & proof of work: maximsmith.com

For Listeners:

If you want to understand the program, visit ThePreparation.com or grab the book. For those seeking an alternative school of life—full of adventure, mastery, and self-knowledge—Matt Smith’s proposal is a compelling blueprint.

“I would much rather spend time with people who have done a lot of stuff... but if the person is not a good person, I mean, if they don’t have virtue... they’re not people I want to be around.”
—Matt Smith (24:52)