A good man is present. This week on the podcast, Stephen tells two stories that illustrate a great principle of noble manhood: leadership by presence. Tune in to find out what Stephen discovered about Abu Ghraib while he was embedded with US troops in Iraq. Then follow a different tale that is unfolding this very moment at a high school in Shreveport, LA. Mentioned in this episode: “Dads help curb violence at Louisiana high school” (via CBS News) Faith of the American Soldier by Stephen Mansfiel...
Oct 26, 2021•14 min•Ep. 212
If you’ve had struggles with money and finances, you’re not alone. Stephen has had his share of troubles, too. Listen in as Stephen shares about some of his failings in this department as a man and a leader. Those of you who have also grown up in a military household may especially identify with some of the forces perpetuating a personal finance knowledge deficit. The good news is that we can overcome this. First, sit down and honestly evaluate your finances. Then, get help. Find resources and s...
Oct 19, 2021•18 min•Ep. 211
Your words are powerful. Are you speaking gently and wisely to those you love and lead? A man says the things that need to be said, and he says them consistently. This is a part of taking responsibility for your field. Do not leave unfinished business. Think through the things that you need to address with your friends and family. Do not take for granted time to do this. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info...
Oct 12, 2021•18 min•Ep. 210
Think of the supercharged world we live in: hyper, nervous, and loud. One of the great gifts a righteous man gives to his friends, family, and world is the power of Big Calm. A man has Big Calm when there is peace in his soul, even in the midst of crisis. He may not know exactly what to do. He may even know there’s a certain amount of danger. But he’s calm and settled. He ponders carefully and radiates his calm into the immediate situation around him. John Wooden had this characteristic. If you ...
Oct 05, 2021•12 min•Ep. 209
Men have a unique gift for rituals and are deeply impacted by them. In this episode, Stephen shares some of his own rituals, as well as those he’s observed in families, companies, and bands of brothers. Discover the importance of rituals and learn how to build them into every aspect of your life. When you embed rituals into your life, you engage in constantly reaffirming what kind of man you are. This episode originally aired on November 10, 2020. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy ...
Sep 28, 2021•12 min•Ep. 208
Why, in today’s men’s movement, is the attitude around alcohol akin to passing a bottle back-and-forth behind the high school gym? Guys, what’s with the centrality of alcohol? The obsession? In this episode, Stephen talks about his own relationship with alcohol – no, he’s not a teetotaler – as well as what he has observed in his travels. Men, remember, whatever is of ultimate concern in your life becomes a religion to you. This episode originally aired on October 29, 2019. See Privacy Policy at ...
Sep 21, 2021•16 min•Ep. 207
In aptitude tests, women are superior to men in every regard except for abstract thought and aggression. That’s where the art of the quest comes in. Men need quests in their lives. You constantly need to do something to prove yourself––if only to yourself. Your quest can be physical or spiritual, so long as you are pursuing a goal through challenge and adversity. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sep 14, 2021•13 min•Ep. 206
Men have an obligation to provide for their families after death. It is unbelievably easy for a man to do this through relatively inexpensive term life insurance and burial insurance. If you have an insurance agent in your network, reach out to them and set this up. If you don’t, Stephen backs Ramsey Solutions’ recommendations. (Stephen is in no way compensated for this endorsement.) Don’t shrink away from this issue out of fear or smallness. Great men consider the condition of those they leave ...
Sep 07, 2021•15 min•Ep. 205
Men, one of the keys to a great marriage is that you must fight the battle of the negative narrative. The positive things in your relationship are clear and easy to celebrate. For example, your wife is beautiful, loving, hard-working, and so on. But it is the negative things about a spouse (real or perceived) that can take root in your brain almost subconsciously. Before you realize it, the mind will nurture a poisonous, negative narrative. If you allow the negative narrative to take root, it wi...
Aug 31, 2021•12 min•Ep. 204
Part of restoring noble manhood is that you stand guard over everything in your field. Your role as a man is to help everything within your reach rise to fulfilling its destiny. In this episode, Stephen lays out the specific steps involved in the process. From observation to implementation, this is your battle plan, men. Every step here is actionable, and you can start today. No excuses… let’s go! This episode originally aired on January 28, 2020. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy ...
Aug 24, 2021•13 min•Ep. 203
As we face a new round of COVID challenges, ask yourself these questions: when I am around others, what do people feed on that’s good and noble in my life? What morally and spiritually nutritious things do my words and actions encourage to grow? The way you lead at home or among your band of brothers is a way of creating a culture. Culture is whatever is encouraged to grow. What do you encourage in the midst of difficult seasons? Anger and bitterness? Or strength and positivity? See Privacy Poli...
Aug 17, 2021•10 min•Ep. 202
Smack talk is a healthy part of manhood. Sure, it’s fun. But it’s also a way that men nurture, teach, and train one another. It can be a very constructive tool. It can also be dangerous. Learn where to find the line. In this episode, Stephen discusses the appropriate and inappropriate use of humor, as well as red flags to look for in yourself. If humor doesn’t come naturally to you, follow the advice found here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at htt...
Aug 10, 2021•11 min•Ep. 201
Does great manhood ever feel like a big “project” to you? Does it feel like some massive undertaking like going to law school or building a house? It doesn’t always have to be like that. Today, let’s have some fun and talk about the small things that go into great manhood. Stephen shares some of his many micro-disciplines in areas such as health, learning, and romance, that have become a part of his regular routine. Men, we are habit-driven creatures. Let’s maximize the opportunity this presents...
Aug 03, 2021•16 min•Ep. 200
When you were in school, you probably had to read Lord of the Flies, the story of some English schoolboys who descend into barbarism while stranded on an island. But have you heard the true story that contrasts William Golding’s tale? In 1965, a group of boys stole a whaling boat and tried to sail 500 miles to Fiji. After eight days at sea, driven by the wind without food or water, they spotted an island named 'Ata – just a speck in the Pacific. For 15 months, they were lost to the world. This i...
Jul 27, 2021•13 min•Ep. 199
Stephen submits a proposal for your consideration, one that could turn the course of masculinity in our generation: the development of an academic minor in men’s studies. Tune in to find out what this program would look like, as well as why Stephen firmly believes it should be an 18-hour minor and not an academic major. If you work in academia or have the ability to give to the development of this program, be sure to listen and consider how you may become involved. See Privacy Policy at https://...
Jul 20, 2021•14 min•Ep. 198
Many of you have a band of brothers. But are you connecting in a way that produces true growth? Stephen issues a stern challenge: from time to time, you MUST sit in the same room as each other and look each other in the eye. Yes, Zoom and phone calls are okay for maintaining relationships when you are separated by distance or busy schedules. But in-person connection is critical. Men have an innate ability to consider people physically. We can pick up a lot of information from observing how a per...
Jul 13, 2021•12 min•Ep. 197
Clothes don’t make the man, but they do reveal the man. Over the next three months, Stephen challenges you to dress one-click up from your normal. If you’re stuck at a grunge uniform-level, make a change. Learn how to dress appropriately for the moment. You’ll find that increased awareness of your appearance and positive changes will result in greater control and confidence. You’ll be happier, and so will others around you. Tune in, and seek help from your band of brothers if you need further gu...
Jul 06, 2021•12 min•Ep. 196
Did you know that men today have testosterone levels at an all-time low? Testosterone levels have been dropping every year. Stephen recently had to experience Low-T as part of a medical procedure, which resulted in the commonly associated lack of energy and drive. In this episode, he discusses some of the problems and solutions associated with Low-T. Tune in, and talk to your doctor about making some changes if you need to do so. Everything from how we sleep to how we exercise can affect testost...
Jun 29, 2021•16 min•Ep. 195
Stephen speaks about a type of man he’s been in the past: a type of man he doesn’t want you to be. Perhaps you know the type – the guy who’s always one offense away from breaking off a relationship, one offense away from lashing out. This kind of man has wounds, and the wounds are so painful that if he hears any offense, it almost overwhelms him. He lacks the tools to address them. So he runs. Tune in, and let’s sort out the healthy response to offense. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr...
Jun 22, 2021•16 min•Ep. 194
Radical generosity is a trait of noble manhood. A great man makes generosity a part of the legacy he leaves. We also know from history and every religion that the generous man prospers. When we give we open up channels of receiving in return. In this episode, Stephen encourages you to start building “consistent generosity” into your concept of great manhood. (And, no, great generosity does not require great monetary wealth.) You can also give directly to GreatMan or contribute by choosing GreatM...
Jun 15, 2021•18 min•Ep. 193
Stephen wants to help you get ahead of the curve. Before summer gets here… before you’re busy with vacation, plans, kids’ activities… set your mind to completing these four challenges. From exercising the mind and body to building the spirit, these four specific challenges will help you in your pursuit of living a life of noble manhood. Don’t miss this opportunity to reset your habits and change your course in life for the better! This episode originally aired on April 2, 2019. See Privacy Polic...
Jun 08, 2021•13 min•Ep. 192
We are living through a critical time in history. Now, more than ever, we need good, noble, righteous, honorable, Great Men to arise. We need to encourage each other, to become stabilizers in our society, to rescue the young, and to help one another in living for the glory of God. Our generation can turn around manhood’s current downward trajectory. In this episode, Stephen discusses the seven fires that need to burn in the soul of men: 1) The Fire of Heritage 2) The Fire of Battle 3) The Fire o...
Jun 01, 2021•17 min•Ep. 191
Everyone you know is fighting a great battle. Stephen shares the story of one of the great battles of his own life: moving from Berlin to West Des Moines, Iowa, as a teenager in the 1970s. One thing got him through: a vision for rising up and conquering the moment. What battle do you face today? What does your day of victory look like? What’s your battle plan? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 25, 2021•14 min•Ep. 190
To paraphrase the sociologist Camille Paglia, a woman simply is, but a man must become. Masculinity is risky and elusive. It must be called out by other men. In this episode, Stephen unpacks the “why” behind his belief in the need for quality boys’ schools. We need more resources for a better understanding of boys and what they require in terms of education, mentorship, and growth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-s...
May 18, 2021•24 min•Ep. 189
Clothes don’t make the man, but they can reveal the man. Stephen shares a recent experience attending a reception for a former state governor. While the women were wisely and appropriately dressed, many of the men were dressed like five-year-olds with white tennis shoes, jeans, and untucked plaid short-sleeved shirts. While this outfit might be fine for a backyard barbecue with your buddies, it doesn’t communicate the honor and respect such an event demands. Clothes communicate. Know how to dres...
May 11, 2021•22 min•Ep. 188
We tend to live in a bubble that is free from critical input. This is dangerous. We ought to have constant, loving, constructive feedback in a culture of noble men. In this episode, Stephen teaches how to ask the tough questions that will help you see yourself as you are. Prepare yourself to ask bold questions this summer, and may you be a greater man for it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 04, 2021•19 min•Ep. 187
Jesus and John Wayne is a book by Kristin Kobes Du Mez that Stephen disagrees with. But he wants you to read it. Tune into this podcast to find out what Professor Du Mez gets right about the modern Christian men’s movement… and what she gets completely wrong. In this episode, Stephen critiques both the book’s invalid assumptions and straw man arguments while also validating and appreciating some of the questions and challenges the author poses to those of us pursuing noble manhood. Get a copy, r...
Apr 27, 2021•28 min•Ep. 186
There is stunning scientific and anecdotal evidence that men experience a dramatic change in their souls and bodies when regularly engaging in an activity that is hard, challenging, or a little bit dangerous. Most of you listening to this podcast live relatively luxurious, Western lives. When you are constantly enveloped in luxury, you become dull, shaped by domesticity. Yet men are made to conquer. In this episode, Stephen teaches you how to challenge yourself for at least a few minutes a day t...
Apr 20, 2021•20 min•Ep. 185
Growing up, boys need men other than their fathers to speak into their lives. As a teenager raised on military bases, Stephen was on the receiving end of this relationship often. Officers and other men on base would help guide and support Stephen and other soldiers’ sons. Men, in the same way that your band of brothers has eyes on you, it’s important that you ensure men of integrity have eyes on your sons, too. We need the “other.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California P...
Apr 13, 2021•13 min•Ep. 184
"Basically, we found that the persistence of a person's brain in holding on to a negative stimulus is what predicts more negative and less positive daily emotional experiences,” report psychologists at the University of Miami in a recent study. “That in turn predicts how well they think they're doing in their life." A GreatMan has a transcendent attitude toward life. He rises above the small things that happen. A bighearted manly soul – the happy warrior we’re all called to be – gets on top of t...
Apr 06, 2021•16 min•Ep. 183
