A place for men to talk about the things that actually matter.
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The Foundry is a small, ongoing men's group in Spokane built around honest conversation, genuine curiosity, and meaningful friendship.No posturing. No fixing each other. No political agenda. No AI.
Start with a short application and a one-on-one conversation. There is no payment or obligation to join at this stage.
Most men have people in their lives. Far fewer have people who really know them.
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We have coworkers. Old friends. Neighbors. Other dads. People we grab a beer with or watch the game with.But adult life doesn't create many places where men regularly talk about what is actually happening beneath the surface.Marriage. Fatherhood. Work. Ambition. Fear. Anger. Friendship. Failure. Purpose. The decisions we're avoiding. The things we're not sure we can say out loud.The Foundry exists to create that place deliberately.
A different kind of friendship.
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The Foundry is a small group of men who meet every week for honest, substantive conversation.You bring your own experience. Other men bring theirs. Over time, you learn to speak more openly, listen with more curiosity, and know one another beyond the usual roles and small talk.There is a leader and a shared culture, but no one has a script for your life.The Foundry is a community of men practicing a different kind of friendship.
So what do you actually do at a men's group?
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A Foundry meeting lasts 90 minutes.We begin by slowing down and arriving together. From there, we check in with one another and explore a question, experience, or theme.There is structure, but no predetermined destination. A conversation might touch on marriage, work, fatherhood, loneliness, ambition, conflict, aging, or something nobody expected to talk about when they walked through the door.A group leader helps us tell the truth, listen well, and stay curious.
How we try to show up.
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The Foundry is built around two simple practices.
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Honest Awareness
Noticing what is actually happening inside ourselves and saying what is true, even when it is uncomfortable, unfinished, or uncertain.
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Genuine Curiosity
Meeting another man with a desire to understand him, without immediately judging, advising, diagnosing, or steering him.
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We practice these through C.O.R.E.:
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Candor
Can I say what is actually true?
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Objectivity
Can I listen without an agenda?
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Resonance
Can I allow myself to be moved by another man's experience?
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Expansiveness
Can I remain curious rather than assume I have him figured out?
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These are practices we develop together. You don't need to arrive already good at them.
You don't have to be in crisis to want deeper relationships.
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The Foundry might be for you if:
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- You have good people in your life, but wish some friendships went deeper.- You want a place to think out loud about the important parts of your life.- You want men around you who are willing to tell the truth.- You're willing to listen to men whose lives and beliefs may be different from yours.- You're willing to help create the quality of the group.
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The Foundry isn't therapy, a religious organization, a political group, or professional networking. Men of different backgrounds and beliefs are welcome. There is no prescribed model of masculinity you have to adopt.
Why The Foundry exists.
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I created The Foundry because I kept seeing the same paradox: men could be surrounded by people and still lack relationships where they felt genuinely known.After years of working with and mentoring men, I wanted to make room for a kind of friendship that adult life rarely creates on its own: honest, curious, and open to men with very different backgrounds and beliefs.
— Eli Snider, Founder
The same men. Every week.
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Trust grows through continuity. Foundry membership means joining an ongoing group, meeting weekly for 90 minutes, and making room in your life for the men in it.
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Founding membership · $125/month
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Membership begins with a conversation before you enter a group.
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1. Apply
Tell us a little about yourself and what you're looking for.
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2. Have a Foundry Conversation
Meet one-on-one with Eli, ideally in person, to get to know each other and explore the C.O.R.E. culture.
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3. Join a group
If it feels like a good mutual fit and a suitable group has space, begin your first month for $125.
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4. Experience it
Attend your first two meetings. If you decide it isn't for you, let us know within seven days of your second meeting. We'll refund your first month's payment in full and end your membership. You can also make that decision after your first meeting.
It starts with a conversation.
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You don't have to decide from a website whether The Foundry is for you.Start with a short application. If it seems like a potential fit, we'll meet one-on-one, answer your questions, and explore whether joining makes sense for you and the group.Good friendships rarely happen by accident.
Spokane, Washington · No payment required to apply
A small group. An ongoing commitment. Room for real conversation.
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The Foundry brings the same men together each week to build friendship through honest conversation and genuine curiosity.You don't need a crisis, a particular belief system, or experience in a men's group. You do need a willingness to show up, listen, and contribute.Spokane · Weekly · 90 minutes · $125/month founding membership
A circle you can come to know.
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Foundry groups are small, with 3-9 men, including the group leader. You join a particular ongoing group with a regular meeting time. This gives you the chance to learn one another's stories and build trust over time.Each group has a leader. His role is to protect the conditions for a good conversation: shared time, confidentiality, honesty, and curiosity. He participates in the group and helps it stay grounded in its culture.He isn't there to lecture, diagnose, or supply answers to your life.
What happens in 90 minutes.
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arrive
We begin with a few quiet minutes to settle in. This may include simple, comfortable breathing to help us leave the rush of the day behind. No experience is needed.
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check in
Each man has a chance to share what is present for him: something happening in his life, something he's carrying, or something he wants to explore.
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explore
We spend most of the meeting in conversation. A weekly question or theme can open the door, but the conversation follows what matters to the men in the room. We practice understanding over offering solutions.
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close
We take a moment to notice what we're leaving with and close the meeting together.
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You aren't required to deliver a polished story or disclose anything before you're ready. Honest conversation can start with “I'm not sure what I'm feeling” or “I'd rather listen tonight.”
The way we relate matters as much as what we discuss.
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Honest Awareness means paying attention to our own experience and speaking from it. We make room for uncertainty, mixed feelings, and truths that don't come out neatly.
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Genuine Curiosity means letting another man surprise us. We try to understand his experience without making him a project or steering him toward our preferred answer.
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Together, these practices shape the C.O.R.E. of our culture.
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Candor
Saying what is actually true and showing up authentically, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain. We speak from our own experience rather than hide behind general opinions about how people should live.
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objectivity
Listening without an agenda and letting go of the need for a particular outcome. You can care about someone without deciding where his conversation needs to end.
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resonance
Allowing ourselves to be moved by what another person is experiencing without immediately trying to fix it. Sometimes being understood matters more than receiving a solution.
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expansiveness
Approaching each other with a sense of wonder rather than assuming we already have someone figured out. Familiarity doesn't have to become certainty.
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These are ongoing practices, not a test you have to pass. We learn by noticing, often with good humor, when we drift away from them and trying again.
Every man helps create the group.
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Show up consistently. Make weekly attendance a priority. Life happens; let the group know when you need to miss a meeting. If regular attendance isn't realistic, talk with us before joining.Protect confidentiality. Keep other men's identities, stories, and personal details within the group. Don't record meetings. You may share what you learn about yourself without revealing someone else's experience.Speak honestly and respect boundaries. You choose what you share. Be truthful about your experience, and respect another man's choice about what he is ready to discuss.Listen with curiosity. Make room for others. Wait to be asked before giving advice, and notice when understanding turns into correcting, debating, or trying to fix someone.Take responsibility for your participation. Membership is a commitment to the other men as well as to yourself. Be willing to receive feedback, acknowledge your impact, and help maintain the culture.
Get to know the culture before you enter the circle.
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apply
Complete a short application about yourself, your availability, and what interests you about The Foundry. There is no application fee.
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Have a Foundry Conversation
If it seems like a potential fit, you'll meet one-on-one with Eli, ideally in person. You'll get to know each other, explore C.O.R.E., discuss expectations, and ask questions. There is no obligation to join.
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Make a mutual decision
If you both want to proceed, we'll identify a suitable group and confirm its schedule. If the right group doesn't have space, you can choose to wait. We don't collect membership payment while you're waiting for placement.
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Begin as a member
Once your group and start date are agreed, pay your first month's membership and attend your first meeting. You enter with an understanding of the culture and a commitment to participate.
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The Foundry Conversation gives prospective members a personal introduction while allowing existing groups to keep their meetings focused on the men who belong to them.
Founding membership · $125/month
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Membership includes your initial one-on-one Foundry Conversation, a place in an ongoing group, and weekly 90-minute meetings with a group leader.The application and Foundry Conversation are free. Payment begins after a mutual decision to join, when your group placement and start date are confirmed.
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Why a founding rate?
The Foundry is in its early stages. Founding members help establish the culture and community that future groups will inherit. The current founding rate is $125/month. Any future change to your rate will be communicated in advance.
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Your first two meetings
If you decide The Foundry isn't right for you after either of your first two meetings, email Eli within seven days of your second meeting. We'll refund your first month's $125 payment in full and cancel your membership. No explanation is required.
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Continuing membership
Membership renews monthly. There is no long-term contract. To stop, email Eli before your next renewal. Your membership continues through the period you've paid for, and no further payment is collected. Outside the introductory refund, unused meetings aren't refunded.
Friendship deserves a place in adult life.
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Most of us understand that a good marriage, a healthy family, and meaningful work take attention. Friendship often gets whatever time is left.The Foundry exists to give men a regular place to know one another beyond the roles they fill and the responsibilities they carry.
A place I wanted to see more of.
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I'm Eli Snider. I started The Foundry because I kept encountering men who had full lives and plenty of people around them, but very few relationships where they could speak openly about what mattered most.I wanted to create a place where we could bring more of ourselves into friendship: the questions we haven't resolved, the feelings we don't quite understand, and the parts of life that don't fit easily into everyday conversation.I also wanted men with different beliefs and backgrounds to feel at home in the same room. We don't have to agree about everything to become important to one another.The Foundry is my attempt to make that kind of room a regular part of life.
My role is to help make better conversations possible.
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My background includes years of working with and mentoring men, a Master of Divinity, and an MBA. I'm also a husband and a father.That experience informs how I organize and facilitate The Foundry. But the group isn't built around my answers. Its value comes from what the men create together through consistent participation, honesty, and curiosity.I meet with prospective members before they join so we can get to know each other and talk about the culture they'll be entering.
Why "The Foundry"?
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A foundry is a place where metal is melted and cast into new forms. The name speaks to what can happen when we bring the raw material of our lives into a shared space.Life brings heat: marriage, children, work, loss, responsibility, success, aging, and uncertainty. Honest conversation gives us a place to understand what those experiences are shaping in us.There is no predetermined mold for the men who join. The point is to become more honest about who we are and more capable of meaningful friendship.
Let's begin by getting to know each other.
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If this sounds like a place you've been looking for, start with a short application. We'll explore whether The Foundry is a good fit for you and the group.
A few things you may be wondering.
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You don't need experience in a men's group to belong here. These answers should help you understand what to expect. You can ask more during your Foundry Conversation.
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About the Group:
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is this therapy?
No. The Foundry is a facilitated friendship group, not mental-health treatment. Conversations can be personal and supportive, but leaders aren't acting as clinicians, and membership doesn't replace professional care.
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Is it religious?
No. Men of faith, men without faith, and men who are unsure are welcome. You can discuss your beliefs as part of your life; no shared religious belief or practice is required.
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Is it political?
The Foundry has no political agenda. Men with different views can belong. We focus on personal experience and understanding rather than campaigning, persuasion, or political debate.
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Do I need to believe something particular about masculinity?
No. There is no prescribed model of how a man should be. We value honesty, responsibility, and curiosity, while leaving room for different ways of living and being a man.
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Is this a self-improvement program?
There is no curriculum of goals you have to achieve. You may grow through the experience, but you aren't a project to be fixed. The focus is how we relate to ourselves and one another.
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Who is it for?
Adult men who want deeper friendship and are willing to show up consistently, keep confidence, and listen with curiosity. You don't need to be in crisis or have a dramatic story to tell.
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What ages are the men?
The Foundry is for adults. Age is less important than a willingness to participate in the culture. We'll discuss the current groups and possible fit during your Foundry Conversation.
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How large are the groups?
Groups have 3–9 men, including the leader. They stay small enough for each man to participate and for members to get to know one another over time.
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Where do you meet?
We currently meet in a private space at a member's home in Spokane. You'll learn the location and schedule before deciding to join. Meeting addresses are shared directly rather than posted publicly.
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Participating:
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What if I'm introverted or have never done this before?
That's okay. You don't need to be outgoing or know the right words. The one-on-one introduction helps you understand the culture, and you can take time to find your voice in the group.
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Do I have to share things I don't want to share?
No. You decide what you're ready to discuss and can pass. We invite honest participation, but trust grows through choice, not forced disclosure.
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Is everything confidential?
Members agree to keep one another's identities, stories, and personal details within the group, and meetings aren't recorded. We take that commitment seriously, but can't guarantee another person's behavior. We discuss boundaries and any safety-related limits before you join.
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What if I miss a meeting?
Let the group know. Occasional absences are part of life; regular attendance matters because the men rely on one another. Monthly dues reserve your place and don't change with individual attendance.
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Will people give me advice?
Our default is to listen and understand. Advice isn't the point of the group. If you want ideas or feedback, you can ask; otherwise, members practice asking before offering solutions.
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What if we disagree?
Agreement isn't required. Respect is. We make room for different perspectives while asking members to stay curious, speak from their own experience, and avoid turning conversation into a contest.
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What happens if someone undermines the culture?
The leader addresses it directly and invites a change in behavior. Repeated breaches of confidentiality, respect, or participation may mean someone cannot continue in the group. Protecting trust is part of the leader's responsibility.
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Joining and Membership:
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How do I join?
Apply, have a one-on-one Foundry Conversation, and decide together whether there's a suitable group for you. Once your group and start date are confirmed, pay your first month's membership and attend as a member.
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What is a Foundry Conversation?
It's a one-on-one conversation with Eli, ideally in person. You get to know each other, explore C.O.R.E., discuss the group and its expectations, and ask questions. It's free and carries no obligation to join.
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Can I visit a group before joining?
Our usual introduction is the one-on-one Foundry Conversation. This helps protect the trust in existing groups. If you join, you enter as a member, with a refund option after your first two meetings.
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Does applying mean I'll be accepted?
No. We consider mutual fit, availability, and the needs of the group. An application starts a conversation; it doesn't guarantee placement or require you to join.
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What if there isn't space in a suitable group?
You can choose to wait for an opening or a new group. We don't collect membership payment until your group placement and start date are confirmed.
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What does it cost?
Founding membership is $125/month for weekly 90-minute meetings in an ongoing group. Your initial Foundry Conversation is included; applying and having that conversation are free.
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Why does membership cost money?
Dues support the work of organizing groups, introducing new members, facilitating meetings, and maintaining a consistent experience. You're contributing to a deliberately formed community, and your participation matters as much as your payment.
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Does meeting at a home change what I'm paying for?
Membership supports the ongoing group, its facilitation, and the care taken in bringing men into it. A private home gives us a personal setting for that work. The current founding rate reflects this early stage of The Foundry.
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Will the price go up if you move into a dedicated space?
The current founding rate is $125/month. A future move would not automatically change your dues. If your rate changes, you'll hear about it in advance and can decide whether to continue.
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How does the introductory refund work?
If you leave after either of your first two meetings, email Eli within seven days of your second meeting. We'll refund your first month's $125 payment in full and cancel your membership. No explanation is required.
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Is there a long-term contract?
No. Membership renews monthly. Email Eli before your next renewal to cancel. Your membership continues through your paid period, with no further charge. Outside the introductory refund, unused meetings aren't refunded.
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Can I bring a friend?
Please invite him to apply. Every prospective member begins with a Foundry Conversation before joining a group, so everyone enters with an understanding of the culture.
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Interested? Start with a conversation.
A short application is the first step. You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out.
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Apply today.
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Provide a little info about yourself and Eli will reach out to you and arrange a Foundry Conversation. No obligation to join; it's a chance for you to learn what we're all about.
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