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<p>For generations, the path to adulthood was straightforward: go to college, get a job, build a life. But many young men are beginning to question the college component of that path; tuition keeps rising, A.I. has made the professional landscape more uncertain, and there’s just a sense that after four years at college, guys graduate feeling like they haven’t been very challenged, haven’t much changed, and haven’t gained a lot of real confidence, competence, and concrete know-how.</p>
<p>My guest today, Matt Smith, has created an alternative to college — a 4-year, 16-cycle curriculum designed to shape participants into Renaissance Men: skilled, self-reliant, and grounded in character. Matt co-authored <a href="https://amzn.to/4mmne0q"><em>The Preparation</em> </a>with his son Maxim, who is currently working his way through the program.</p>
<p>In the first half of our conversation, Matt shares what kickstarted this idea and what’s lacking in the education model for young men today. We then turn to the nuts and bolts of The Preparation, and Matt walks us through several of the program’s hands-on cycles — including earning EMT certification, building a house, and training as a fighter in Thailand — and how gaining these real-world skills prepares a young man for whatever is next in life.</p>
<h2>Resources Related to the Podcast</h2>
<h2><b>Connect With Matt and Maxim Smith</b></h2>
<p><a href="https://amzn.to/4mmne0q"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-190753 aligncenter" src="https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2025/09/71zhvuhyLL._SL1293_.jpg" alt="Book cover of ";The Preparation"; by Doug Casey, Matt Smith, and Maxim Smith featuring a white compass rose on a dark blue background, reflecting themes of adventure-driven education and skill-building." width="325" height="420" srcset="https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2025/09/71zhvuhyLL._SL1293_.jpg 325w, https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2025/09/71zhvuhyLL._SL1293_-320x414.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 325px) 100vw, 325px"/></a></p>
<h2>Listen to the Podcast! (And don’t forget to leave us a review!)</h2>
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-manliness/id332516054?mt=2"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-111440 size-full" src="https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2020/02/listen-apple-podcasts.jpg" alt="Apple Podcast." width="300" height="77"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://overcast.fm/itunes332516054/the-art-of-manliness"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-111443 size-full" src="https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2020/02/overcast-1.png" alt="Overcast." width="300" height="79"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2vJHmWhhcMQRXtTruuFWTJ"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-111444 size-full" src="https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2020/02/spotify.png" alt="Spotify." width="300" height="109"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://art19.com/shows/the-art-of-manliness/episodes/d2247d0b-efa8-4e5f-a0b1-9a2749ed6934">Listen to the episode on a separate page.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://rss.art19.com/episodes/d2247d0b-efa8-4e5f-a0b1-9a2749ed6934.mp3">Download this episode.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://rss.art19.com/the-art-of-manliness">Subscribe to the podcast in the media player of your choice.</a></p>
<h2>Transcript Coming Soon</h2>
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<br /><a href="https://www.artofmanliness.com/people/fatherhood/podcast-1085-the-preparation-an-adventure-driven-skill-building-alternative-to-college-for-young-men/">Source link </a></p>
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Podcast #1,085: The Preparation — An Adventure-Driven, Skill-Building Alternative to College for Young Men
