Virtual Freemasonry A replacement for traditional Lodges? In the 21st Century, there is no shortage of technologies that can facilitate communication. With the advent of social media, many people have resorted to getting less and less involved in physical activities and social events. Among the changes we have seen with the adoption of social media as a "replacement" for human interaction, is a growth in the number of people that resort to Virtual Freemasonry as their number one source of Masoni...
Jul 31, 2019•48 min•Ep. 48
Masonic Music for Lodges A few episodes ago we sat down for a conversation with Brother Joscar Poerschke, composer and pianist. This talented Brother has put together a collection of music designed to accompany our beautiful rituals. When played by an experienced musician or simply by playing it through a Bluetooth speaker, these songs have the potential of elevating the ritual experience to another level. We hope you enjoy the insights Brother Joscar shared about his creative process and how th...
Jul 22, 2019•14 min•Ep. 47
How does a Meaningful Lodge Experience look like? When you first set foot into a stated meeting as a Master Mason, was the experience everything you expected it to be? Do you think that your Lodge's meetings have room for improvement? On this episode of The Winding Stairs, I sit down with Bro. Manny Lozada of Orange Blossom Lodge No. 80 in Sunny Kissimmee, Florida. We had a conversation about how we can make our Lodge meetings more memorable and meaningful. Listen as we share some small and easy...
Jul 15, 2019•35 min•Ep. 46
In this episode, I sit down for a conversation with a very talented Brother who is a composer, writer, and film-maker. As the Director and Producer of films like 33 & Beyond and the upcoming documentary titled “Illuminated”, Bro:. Royal pulls back the curtain on Fraternal Orders like Freemasonry and the Illuminati with accuracy and impeccable style. Support for The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast This program is made possible in part by the generous support of our exclusive group of suppo...
Jul 08, 2019•35 min•Ep. 45
Masonic Lodge Secretary The Masonic Lodge Secretary is one of the Lodge Officer positions. A very challenging Masonic leadership position that could be incredibly fulfilling when performed in an organized manner. In this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, the secretary of Waco Lodge No.92 -Bro:. Robert Marshall- joins us for a conversation about being a Masonic Lodge Secretary, Masonic Leadership, and some of the challenges that come with these responsibilities. Support for The W...
Jun 30, 2019•30 min•Ep. 44
Masonic Ritual Music may not be prominent in today's Lodges, but being one of the most evolved Liberal Arts, it can have a profound effect in an initiates experience. Join me as I share an amazing composition for Piano by W. B. Joscar Poerschke that can be used in your Lodge Ritual today.
Mar 02, 2019•33 min•Ep. 43
100 Days | A Conversation with Robert Bone of In The Chair Podcast When we are about to start something we've never done before, we often feel overwhelmed. But why should we go through so much trouble, when so many others have gone this way before us? On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we have a conversation with W:. Bro. Robert Bone, host of In The Chair Podcast. Brother Bone is a professional magician and mind-reader and on this episode, he shares some of the techniques he has adapted from...
Jun 28, 2018•42 min•Ep. 42
Do you love Masonry? Do you love playing with Lego Building Blocks? If you answered yes to these two seemingly disparate questions, then you are up for a treat! On this episode of The Winding Stairs, I speak with Bro. Joshua Poole about a proposed model of The House of The Temple, which has the potential of being added to the Architecture line of Legos. The good thing is that you can help us make this a reality. To vote for the House of the Temple Set, visit: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/1597...
Apr 20, 2017•19 min•Ep. 41
Do you know yourself? Really, think about it... Do you really know yourself? http://www.TheWindingStairs.com/KnowThyselfBook I had the pleasure of sitting with Bro. Michael "The Voice" Schiavello to speak about the proper way to use the lessons of Freemasonry (What some may call the Secrets of Freemasonry) to improve one's life. The lessons that have been part of Freemasons for centuries have left an indelible mark in our society, and to incorporate those lessons into our lives should be one of ...
Dec 29, 2016•39 min•Ep. 40
22 Months | A Conversation with Bro. Jon Ruark On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we finalize our conversation about One Day Classes by confronting our opinion with hard facts. Bro. Jon Ruark conducted a comprehensive survey of Freemasonry Membership and participation for this very purpose. On this episode, we will discuss reasons why One Day Classes may not work, When are ODCs appropriate and what can be done to increase participation and a sense of satisfaction from the members of the Craf...
Dec 20, 2016•38 min•Ep. 39
Blue Lightning | A Conversation with Bro. Chris Hodapp On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we tackle a very contentious topic, One Day Classes. I recently asked The Winding Stairs Facebook Group Members "What is your opinion about One Day Classes in Freemasonry?" and the result was shocking. Not only did I discover that the majority of respondents had a negative opinion regarding One Day Classes, but many held some sort of animosity towards Brothers who have joined the fraternity in this mann...
Dec 14, 2016•36 min•Ep. 38
Behave Like a Mason The 4 Places you are expected to behave like a Mason Where should we behave like a Mason? The answer should be simple, Everywhere. However, I selected four places where your behavior as a Mason can have a rippling effect. The benefits derived from behaving as a Mason in these specific circumstances will yield exponential benefits to your life. During this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, I reveal the project that has kept me busy for the best part of this ye...
Nov 10, 2016•28 min•Ep. 32
On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we tackle a very contentious topic, One Day Classes. I recently asked The Winding Stairs Facebook Group Members "What is your opinion about One Day Classes in Freemasonry?" and the result was shocking. Not only did I discover that the majority of respondents had a negative opinion regarding One Day Classes, but many held some sort of animosity towards Brothers who have joined the fraternity in this manner. Dismayed by the negative dynamics that I witnessed ...
Aug 26, 2016•27 min•Ep. 37
Living Stones A conversation with Robert Herd On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we have a conversation with Brother Robert Herd, publisher of Living Stones Magazine. Bro. Herd discusses his early days in Freemasonry, the importance of the Liberal Arts and Sciences in Freemasonry. For those Brothers who may not be getting from their Lodge what they expected when they initially joined, there is sound advice to make your experience significantly better. On this episode we discuss Bro. Herd's p...
Jan 28, 2016•23 min
Living Stones A conversation with Robert Herd On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we have a conversation with Brother Robert Herd, publisher of Living Stones Magazine. Bro. Herd discusses his early days in Freemasonry, the importance of the Liberal Arts and Sciences in Freemasonry. For those Brothers who may not be getting from their Lodge what they expected when they initially joined, there is sound advice to make your experience significantly better. This is episode 1 of 2 from a very infor...
Dec 30, 2015•25 min•Ep. 34
The Pact A conversation with Robert P. Lewis On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we have a conversation with Former Green Beret and Author Bro:. Robert P. Lewis. He joins us for an insightful conversation about his life journey and the role that Freemasonry has had in it. He recounts that his life changed after the events of September 11 and we will learn how those events and the subsequent decisions he made have reshaped his life. [clear] Do you enjoy The Winding Stairs? Please take one minu...
Sep 30, 2015•32 min•Ep. 33
Measured Improvements You can't improve what you don't measure. As we continue to mature, we become aware of areas of our life that need improvement. Although we might have the right intention to improve upon those areas of our life, we may fail to make any significant progress, if we fail to keep some sort of record of our progress. We may fall into a false sense of security, that convinces us that we are making progress merely because we are aware of the situation. This is not an effective way...
May 19, 2015•16 min•Ep. 31
Replacing Habits Hijacking the triggers that keep you stuck! We are creatures of habits. Sometimes we unconsciously fall into cycles and habits that are very challenging to overcome. It is not that we are not strong enough, but the mechanism by which we adopt these habits is very effective and to be able to replace these behaviors, we need to understand how it all works. I recorded this brief installment of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, while going out for a jog. As soon as I was done ...
Apr 20, 2015•16 min•Ep. 30
5 Art Mediums That Support The Pillar of Beauty We continue our conversation with Masonic Artist Ryan J Flynn. Which 5 Art Mediums support the Pillar of Beauty in Freemasonry? On the second installment of our conversation with Bro. Ryan Flynn, we discuss 5 Art Mediums that help support the effective visual lessons in Masonic Education. Learn, which are our top 5 mediums for depicting lessons in Morality and Virtues. On this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, we have the privilege...
Apr 13, 2015•35 min•Ep. 29
Art in Freemasonry | The Pillar of Beauty Masonic Artist Ryan J Flynn joins us for an informative conversation about the importance of Art in Freemasonry. The Masonic Lodge is supported by three pillars, which are Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. Great importance should be given to each one of these, as they have a very important purpose in the instruction of the Mason. We have inherited a rich Artistic history in Freemasonry, but the Pillar of Beauty can often be neglected in the pursuit of strengt...
Apr 06, 2015•29 min•Ep. 28
Illuminati Rituals Revealed An interview with Bro:. Josef Wages, Editor of the book The Secret School of Wisdom How many times have you heard some outlandish Pop Culture claim about the Illuminati? The liberty with which people claim that there is a Secret Elite Group of people conspiring to bring about a New World Order, is simply fascinating. Is Beyonce and JayZ at the pinnacle of this great conspiracy? Are all these Hip Hop artists being murdered by this secret organization? I think the answe...
Mar 02, 2015•31 min•Ep. 27
Bound by Rituals How rituals influence Freemasonry, Society and our Personal Life. Rituals are extremely important in Freemasonry, but the importance of ritual extends far beyond into all aspects of our life. When we think of rituals, we often limit our imagination to spiritual ceremonies, but we engage in rituals on a daily basis. Do you have a specific set of steps that you follow every morning when you wake up? Do you have a predetermined sequence of things you do when you prepare to go out? ...
Feb 05, 2015•21 min•Ep. 26
No Stone Unturned A Way of Life for the Traveling Brothers We often go through life in a hurry. Whether it is because of our career responsibilities, our family's expectations or our over-commitment to the various organizations we support, we can miss out on many great life experiences unless we slow down and leave no stone unturned. On this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, you will become a passenger in our road trip up to Columbus Georgia. Brother Victor Rosario and I visited...
Dec 08, 2014•35 min•Ep. 25
Walter, The Ghost of the Retlaw Hotel How the Life and Legacy of a Brother Lives On It is prudent to remember that our time on this Earth is finite. That we ought to be diligent in improving ourselves in order to contribute to the life of those who surround us. Today I introduce you to Bro. Walter Schroeder, a man who decades after his death is giving people something to talk about. On this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, I share a portion of the life of Bro. Walter, a Busines...
Oct 31, 2014•26 min•Ep. 24
Unfinished Books Do you have a collection of books which you have not finished reading? Does it almost feel like that stack of books is calling out to you to finish reading them? That's how I feel too. On this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, I share with you 5 tips to go through that stack of unfinished books and increase the number of them that you actually finish. Of course, there are books which are better skimmed or used as reference books. Those you don't have to finish, ...
Oct 23, 2014•15 min•Ep. 23
Lessons from My Mother Chipping at The Stone I have to admit that I was very fortunate to have the Mother I had. She was very wise and charismatic. She was very talented and inspiring. I owe a lot to her for the Man I turned out to be and I hope that I am able to make her proud with the decisions I make in my life. I was very fortunate to spend the time I did with her before she was taken away too soon by Breast Cancer. I recorded this episode on October 10th, which would have been her Birthday....
Oct 11, 2014•24 min•Ep. 22
Chipping at The Stone Progress is found in the repetition of small strikes. We are that rough ashlar hewned from the Quarry. But our journey to become part of a perfect building doesn't happen abruptly. It is through small, calculated changes, which remove the superfluities from our life. Are you not making fast progress in becoming a better Man and Mason? Don't worry, you are not in this journey alone. In this episode of The Winding Stairs, I share some stories that prove that we are all in thi...
Sep 09, 2014•12 min•Ep. 21
Bridging the Inner Gap Look Inside Yourself It is sometimes easier to look at circumstances outside ourselves to blame for what happens in our life. But many times the problems in which we find ourselves is a direct result of things that are happening within us. As we continue exploring the podcast series Bridging the Gap, we turn our sights inward after two episodes of looking at circumstances outside of us. We have looked at how a Gap of Expectations and a Gap of Wisdom can interfere with our ...
Sep 04, 2014•36 min•Ep. 20
Bridging the Gap of Wisdom Second installment of the Bridging the Gap Series On the first installment of the series Bridging the Gap, we discussed how disappointment can be detrimental to the progress of a Mason. Disappointment can discourage a Man's pursuit of further goals, because it is a natural reaction to avoid those things which cause us pain or discomfort. In particular, Brothers who become disillusioned with Freemasonry, because of the seemingly unbridgeable gap that exists between his ...
Aug 04, 2014•25 min•Ep. 19
Bridging the Gap of Expectations in Freemasonry Avoiding disappointment and making the journey more fulfilling Before Men join Freemasonry, they might have an expectation of what really happens behind closed doors. That expectation, often-times fantastic and unrealistic, tends to be shaped by misinformation and ignorance. A members of this Fraternal organization, we should understand before hand, what people expect of us and how much of those expectations we can actually meet. Are you tired of h...
Jul 25, 2014•25 min•Ep. 18
