What does it actually take to start a men’s group that lasts?

In this episode, Dan Berger sits down with Tony Delmercado and Kris Derentz — co-chairs of Fellows & Fire Pits — to unpack how a small backyard gathering evolved into a thriving men’s community.

This conversation isn’t about theory. It’s about structure, participation, leadership, exclusivity, accountability, and the unglamorous early push required to get something like this off the ground.

They cover everything from heart warmers and group chats to membership criteria, vibe checks, and why men especially need intentional space as they get older.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a men’s group — or strengthening one you’re already part of — this episode gives you the real blueprint.

Episode Themes

• Why men need structured connection
• Lower barrier to entry, higher barrier to retention
• The power of conscious exclusivity
• Designing agendas that drive depth
• Heart warmers vs surface-level icebreakers
• Participation as the core success metric
• Leadership without hierarchy
• Referral, vibe checks, and protecting culture
• Why momentum matters early on

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
01:20 – What Fellows & Fire Pits is
02:07 – What makes a good member
04:04 – Heart warmers and vulnerability
06:06 – Anatomy of a great meeting
07:55 – When members get asked to leave
09:27 – Events and cadence
11:01 – Ideal group size
12:54 – Conscious exclusivity
14:18 – Why men need spaces like this
18:22 – Advice for starting your own group
21:16 – Leadership structure
24:06 – Belonging and accountability
27:13 – Final thoughts

About the Guests
Tony Delmercado is Founder & CEO of Hawk Media and co-chair of Fellows & Fire Pits, a men’s group focused on authenticity, connection, and growth.

Kris Derentz is Founder & CEO of EquippedMD and co-chair of Fellows & Fire Pits, where he helps steward membership, culture, and participation.

Website: firepitmensgroup.com

About the Assemble Podcast
Welcome to the Assemble Podcast. I’m Dan Berger, founder of Assemble Hospitality Group.

We build purpose-designed spaces for small team offsites and retreats, because the biggest things happen in the smallest rooms.

This show explores retreats in all forms—corporate, lifestyle, wellness, and endurance training—and the culture shifts that happen when people step away from the everyday. You’ll hear lessons from operators, facilitators, and leaders who design experiences that move the needle.

Our goal: give you the playbook for building clarity, trust, and belonging on your team—or in your community.

Learn more: assemblehospitality.com

Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

Credits: Hosted by Dan Berger, Founder & CEO of Assemble Hospitality. Recorded at Assemble’s Boise Retreat House. Produced by KazCM, part of the QuietLoud Studios podcast network. Distributed on SportsEpreneur.