Episode #1 feat. Chester Trocha

What happens when a man crosses the threshold from striving and achievement into meaning and soul?

In this first episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Chester Trocha to talk about his experience of the Men’s Rites of Passage (MROP)—not as a lecture or abstract explanation, but as a real, personal story. Chester reflects on the impact of Pilgrim Park, the power of ritual and council, the tenderness that surfaced after the weekend, and how the rites became a “slow burn” that reshaped his inner life over time. If you’ve felt a tug in your own soul—especially at a crossroads—this conversation is for you.

Episode Highlights

Why MROP is an initiation, not just another retreat
The role of nature, place, and “connection”
Ritual, mystery, and the power of men’s council
What shifted (slowly) after returning to everyday life
How centering prayer / the “morning sit” became foundational

Links & Resources

Choosing Presence (Sponsor): https://choosingpresence.org
Practicing Presence App: https://choosingpresence.org/app
Illuman MROP page: https://illuman.org/mrop
Adam's Return by Richard Rohr: https://amzn.to/3PzVESH
Falling Upward by Richard Rohr: https://amzn.to/4uUM64P
Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr: https://amzn.to/47qLNVp
Host: https://brianmueller.com

Credits

First and foremost, thank you to Chester Trocha for sharing his journey and his heart with us today.
Thank you to Fr. Richard Rohr and the men of Illuman who have stewarded the Men’s Rites of Passage since 1996.
Thank you to Jim Heaney and Jim Taylor for their dedication to Choosing Presence.

Music Credits:

Slow Mo Dreams by Soundroll
Becoming a Legend by Vens Adams

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