Home Podcasts The Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
The Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons

The Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons

Jon Ruark, Jason Richards, Nick Johnson, Juan Sepulveda & Robert Johnson 100 Episodes Aug 21, 2026

The Masonic Roundtable is a weekly panel of Masons from around the United States who discuss the latest and greatest in Masonic news, events, scholarship, and happenings. Join the conversation!

Episodes

The Masonic Roundtable - 0566 - 4 Out of 5 Men Want to Join: Here's Why Most Won't
The Masonic Roundtable - 0566 - 4 Out of 5 Men Want to Join: Here's Why Most Won't Aug 21, 2026 56:15 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we dive into shocking data revealing the massive barrier keeping interested men from ever stepping foot inside a lodge room. Thousands of potential candidates knock on the door every year, yet most walk away and never return. Our panel breaks down a staggering statistic (including why an eye-opening 83% of inquiries vanish into thin air) and explores wha
The Masonic Roundtable - 0565 - The Critical First Year
The Masonic Roundtable - 0565 - The Critical First Year Aug 14, 2026 01:01:28 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we tackle a critical moment in every Mason's journey: The First-Year Experience. We explore what needs to happen between a brother's initial raising and his first anniversary to turn his early curiosity into lifelong, meaningful participation. Our panel discusses how lodges can build effective mentorship frameworks, avoid dumping administrative burdens o
The Masonic Roundtable - 0564 - Right Here, Right Now
The Masonic Roundtable - 0564 - Right Here, Right Now Aug 7, 2026 52:39 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we turn our attention from abstract theory to actionable practice with a look at Things You Can Do Right Now to Make Lodge Better. We move past complaining about attendance or aging infrastructure to share immediate, practical steps that any brother, regardless of his title or rank, can take to elevate his local lodge experience. Our panel discusses quic
The Masonic Roundtable - 0563 - Followers or Thinkers
The Masonic Roundtable - 0563 - Followers or Thinkers Jul 24, 2026 52:13 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we ask a challenging and fundamental question about the modern purpose of our fraternity: Are we building thinkers or followers? We examine whether our lodges have shifted toward producing compliant members who simply memorize ritual and follow administrative rules, or if we are truly cultivating independent, philosophical minds. Our panel explores wheth
The Masonic Roundtable - 0562 - Is "Going Dark" Still Relevant?
The Masonic Roundtable - 0562 - Is "Going Dark" Still Relevant? Jul 10, 2026 55:31 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we open the floor to a spirited debate on a longstanding fraternal tradition, asking: Is "going dark" for the summer an antiquated practice? Historically, lodges paused meetings during the warmer months so brothers could tend to the harvests or escape the heat of unairconditioned halls. We question whether this custom still serves a purpose in 2026 or if
The Masonic Roundtable - 0561 - Masonic Founding Fathers
The Masonic Roundtable - 0561 - Masonic Founding Fathers Jul 3, 2026 01:05:28 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we transition from the broader abstract principles of early America to look directly at the individuals who stood at the intersection of history and the fraternity: the Masonic Founding Fathers. While popular folklore sometimes claims every signer of the Declaration of Independence was a brother, we separate history from myth to look at the genuine, docu
The Masonic Roundtable - 0560 - The Grand Masonic Experiment
The Masonic Roundtable - 0560 - The Grand Masonic Experiment Jun 26, 2026 58:42 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we delve into the foundation of a nation with The Grand Masonic Experiment. We explore how the early builders of the United States—men like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and numerous other founders—drew upon the principles, values, and architectural symbols of Freemasonry to construct a brand new republic. Our Knights discusses the alignment betw
The Masonic Roundtable - 0559 - Portable Education
The Masonic Roundtable - 0559 - Portable Education Jun 12, 2026 52:51 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we pack our bags and empty our pockets for a look at Masonic Traveling Necessities. Whether you're heading across the state or to a foreign land, being a "traveling man" requires more than just a map. We go round-robin to share our personal Masonic EDC (Every Day Carry), from the "can't-leave-home-without-it" dues cards and travel certificates to the pra
The Masonic Roundtable - 0558 - Short Attention Spans
The Masonic Roundtable - 0558 - Short Attention Spans Jun 5, 2026 01:02:43 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we tackle a defining challenge of our modern era: Masonry and the Cultural Decline of Attention Spans. We live in a world dominated by rapid-fire algorithms, endless scrolling, and instant gratification, which are fundamentally altering our ability to focus. Our panel explores the traditional, long-form practices of the Craft, such as memorizing dense ri
The Masonic Roundtable - 0557 - What's Next for a Past Master?
The Masonic Roundtable - 0557 - What's Next for a Past Master? May 22, 2026 57:04 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we explore the profound transition that comes when a leader steps down from the East: Adjusting to Life as a New Past Master. We delve into the sudden change of responsibilities, moving from the intense daily demands of running a lodge to the sudden quiet of the back benches. Our panel discusses the psychological shift of handing over the gavel, the impo
The Masonic Roundtable - 0556 - Prompt Engineering Your Lodge Experience
The Masonic Roundtable - 0556 - Prompt Engineering Your Lodge Experience May 15, 2026 01:08:50 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we explore the cutting edge of the digital age with Prompt Engineering Your Lodge Experience. We discuss how real-time generative AI can be utilized as a modern "working tool" to enhance various aspects of our fraternal life, from streamlining administrative tasks to deepening our educational research. Our panel examines the practical applications of AI
The Masonic Roundtable - 0555 - Architecting Meaning
The Masonic Roundtable - 0555 - Architecting Meaning May 8, 2026 01:06:47 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we explore the complex landscape of the male experience, focusing on the dual themes of Happiness and Loneliness. We examine the crucial differences between fleeting pleasure and true enjoyment, and how satisfaction is often forged through struggle rather than just ease. The Knights discusses the search for meaning through the lenses of coherence, purpos

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