New Times & New Men

An outline for the future of the Substack and my plans going forward

In recent weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to contemplate the future of this Substack and my associated channels, and I’m pleased to say I’ve reached a conclusion.

As explored in my recent video New Times Call For New Men, I don’t believe political solutions are possible at present—the talons of modernity sink too deep, and even supposed rebels to the system end up swallowed by it and reformed (pun intended) in its favour.

When it comes to the world, liberalism has all-out dominance.

Yet this doesn’t mean the battle is over. This means the best way forward, at least in my view, is in spiritual rebirth and realignment with our tradition.

It’s via this process that we create the men of tomorrow—grounded, wise and ready for a new era. Men whose roots sink deep into the land and the spirit. Men able to withstand the coming storms without corruption. The elders of tomorrow.

This fits neatly with my true calling.

My passion in life is spiritual and personal transformation. Having experienced this myself after once being a ‘lost boy of modernity’, it feels like the missing piece of the puzzle, the key to a more meaningful, positive existence individually and collectively.

I know this won’t get the views of topical, political content, but it does feel true. It does feel vital. A more worthy pursuit.

The Mission

Before Richard The Fourth came into fruition, alongside my day job, I ran a small coaching/transformation business. I ran one-on-one work, group work, men’s groups. It was quiet, under the radar, but deeply rewarding.

I worked with men going through transformational processes: dark nights of the soul, breakdowns, breakups, addictions and breakthroughs. It wasn’t about clout or clicks. It was about offering modern men paths of masculine and spiritual initiation that have disappeared from our world.

Yet, after experiencing the addictive pull of algorithm chasing and riding the drama of the news cycle (with the Richard The Fourth YouTube channel), I’ve come to see that such a world isn’t really for me. If I’m honest, I’ve started to feel it takes a part of your soul. Exactly what I’m looking to reawaken.

We’re living in a crazy time. Yet I’m not sure it’s best met with endless videos about ‘wokery’ that wind people up while offering no solutions. It’s easy to point the finger at a fallen world, but much harder to point it back at yourself and become willing to transcend your limitations, get honest about your shortcomings and do the work necessary to honour the greatness of our tradition.

This next chapter is for the men who feel that something is cracking open—and it’s a major opportunity for rebirth.

So What’s Changing?

From now on, this Substack will be focused mostly on dealing with the chaos of modernity (work, women and the world) and transformation (spiritual, personal and collective).

If you subscribed for politics, I understand if this isn’t for you. There are many fantastic creators in that space already, mind, so it’s not much of a loss.

Yet for those of you who resonate with this direction, let’s use these dark times to energise a reawakening deep within.

What to Expect Going Forward:

- 1x weekly post: on transformation, masculine spirituality, culture, etc
- Optional Zoom group (coming soon)
- More focus on the new YouTube channel with more grounded, spiritually-focused content
- Exclusive interviews, reflections, and eventually, retreats, courses, and a brotherhood

- I’ll still upload on Richard The Fourth, but probably not as regularly, and the videos are likely to be more philosophical

Thanks for taking the time to read. Feel free to DM if you’d like to reach out.

Richard