ABOUT
The Craftsmen Online Podcast is the only Masonic Podcast endorsed by the Grand Lodge of New York.
Most public discussion about Freemasonry stay on the surface or chases myths. Craftsmen Online cuts through that noise. Every Monday morning, we examine the Craft with discipline and intellectual honesty. Hear in-depth interviews with Masonic authors, historians, and fraternal leaders explore the origins of ritual, the lessons of operative tools, and the duty Freemasons are charged with in our communities and life.
Your Host
Right Worshipful Brother Michael Arce, co-founder of Craftsmen Online, is the voice you hear hosting our podcast. Before his Masonic journey, Bro. Michael enjoyed a 25-year career in broadcasting, working across various formats and radio stations.
Every Monday morning you'll be greeted with a fresh episode, packed with insight from our top-notch guests. And we're not just sticking to the usual topics - we're unraveling the history of the Craft, diving deep into ritual secrets, and exploring the myths, legends, and Sacred Text connections of Masonry. Plus, we're sneaking in discussions about Masonic leadership, running lodges, and even going way beyond the Masonic universe to talk about comic books, Colonial-era adult beverages, Artificial Intelligence, and more.
ON PATREON
Beyond the Public Feed
Look, anyone can listen for free on a commute, take what they need from an episode, and go about their day. There is nothing wrong with that. But the public broadcast is just the front porch.
When you join Patreon community, you walk through the front door and pull up a chair at the table. You stop being a listener, you become a supporter. We do not run a tip jar. We offer access to the room where the real work happens.
Here is what you get when you step inside:
- Ad-free Listening. Annoying commericials? Gone. Done. No more skipping. No more interuptions.
- Subscriber Extra Episodes. When the formal interview ends, the real talk usually begins. Supporters get the unfiltered conversations—the candid debates, personal stories from our guests, and deep-dive discussions that are too raw or specific for the public feed.
- Working Papers for your Lodge. Every sitting Master, Warden, and Lodge Education Officer knows the Sunday night panic of asking: “What do we have planned for Masonic education this week?” Curated from our episodes, these are field-tested, Lodge-ready briefs built for immediate floor delivery.
- Collector-Edition Lapel Pin. A true sign of a Mason is also our gift to Master Supporters: A Craftsmen Online Podcast lapel pin. Our "thank you" to you for your monthly gifts after 90-days.
The best part: we give you a FREE 7-day trial to see if Craftsmen Online on Patreon is a good fit for you! Ready to get started?
BLOG
The Measure of a Mason
Discover why the true measure of a Mason is found beyond the Lodge room — in restraint, mutual respect, and living our principles in daily life and online.
The Three Levels of Masonic Meaning
Discover the three levels of Masonic meaning — Ritual, Information, and Speculative — and learn how to build a deeper personal understanding of our Craft’s symbols.
Introducing The Craftsmen Working Papers
Introducing the Craftsmen Online Working Papers. The answer to, “What do we have planned for Masonic education this week?”
Masonic Brotherhood: Why No Mason Stands Alone
Freemasonry rejects total self-reliance. Real brotherhood requires active mentorship, humility, and mutual aid. Learn how your actions shape the next generation.
Overcoming Embarrassment in Lodge Ritual
How do we overcome this feeling of embarrassment so we can feel comfortable in coming and participating in Masonic Ritual?
Never Forget September 11
“Never Forget.” A peom for 9/11 written by VW Daniel J Martin, Assistant Grand Lecturer, Old 17th Masonic District, Grand Lodge of New York
The Lost Word
An exploration of the Masonic story of the Lost Word through the lens of grief, ruptured relationships, and discovering what can still be carried forward after loss.
Embracing Intentional Discomfort
For our Fraternity, the comfort trap shows up in our strategic and operational planning.
Benjamin Franklin’s Notebook
A plain notebook can hold what the work would otherwise lose: sequence, changes, delays, and the difference between intention and fact. Bro. Benjamin Franklin understood the same thing in another form.
