It doesn’t matter what the exterior looks like, a vehicle with an empty tank isn’t going to run. Working on the gas tank for his 1978 Jeep CJ-7, BT asks a pointed question: what’s in your tank? The ability to recognize the state of your tank (full, half-full, or empty) and know how to fill it again is a crucial skill for a life that’s moving forward and taking new ground. Recorded live in his garage, BT shares some thoughts about what will, and what won’t, fill your tank. For the month of July, ...
Jul 08, 2025•16 min
When BT found his dream restoration vehicle, a 1978 Jeep CJ-7, he had no idea just how much time, effort, and money it would cost him. But with his eyes focused squarely on the end goal, he kept moving forward, even when it was uncomfortable and difficult. Recorded live in his garage, he explains how the physical reality of counting the costs of this project directly mirrors the spiritual principle of what it takes to follow Jesus. For the month of July, we’re reliving Brian’s 3-year Jeep restor...
Jul 01, 2025•15 min
Fatherhood is a fight to the finish, but how do you know if you are winning? In this live talk, recorded at Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, Brian unpacks the three F’s that all great fathers do. They (a) follow a framework, (b) they stand tall as a figure worth emulating, and (c) they finish. Whether you are a biological dad or not, you can still be a father that has a profound impact on the world. Watch the full episode on YouTube here .
Jun 24, 2025•51 min
Finishing doesn’t just complete projects, it changes you. In part two of a powerful conversation, Brian and Petey discuss finishing as a way of life. Petey shares how he overcame $1 million in debt, is healing from the sudden death of his wife, and how finishing is connected to confidence. Watch the full episode on YouTube here . If you missed part 1, find it here .
Jun 17, 2025•35 min
Lots of people start things… very few finish. Recorded live at the Barndo, where BT is restoring a WW2-era Dodge Power Wagon, he is joined by his friend, Peter Standhart. Petey is a gear head, a former Army helicopter pilot, and a man who won’t quit. In part one of this two-part conversation, the pair talk cars, choppers, and why finishing what you start has the power to change your life. Watch the full episode on YouTube here .
Jun 10, 2025•31 min
Instead of something to be feared, Bobby Gruenewald has always seen technology’s potential for good. One day, while waiting in a long line at the Chicago airport, he wondered: could technology improve his lagging Bible-reading habit? Bobby pulled on that string, and the YouVersion Bible App was born. Launching as one of the 200 original free apps on the Apple App Store, YouVersion has changed the way the world reads scripture. As the app approaches 1 billion installs, Bobby reflects on the early...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 7 min
BT and Matt Chandler sit down for an hour of questions pulled at random from a fishbowl. Covering topics as wide-ranging as food and fatigue, to family rhythms and the mystery behind the biblical book of Revelation, it’s an unpredictable ride filled with aggressive gold. Watch the full podcast episode on YouTube, here .
May 27, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Memorial Day, the un-official kickoff to summer, is just days away. For many people, summer means a different pace of life. But a summer slowdown doesn't mean you stop taking ground—in fact, it might be exactly what you need to take your life to the next level in the fall. In this One Question deep-dive, Brian shares his plans for the summer, why rest is integral to a life that works, and a hack to discover what type of rest will revitalize you the most. Watch the full podcast episode on YouTube...
May 20, 2025•26 min
Harrison Scott Key thought his life was moving in the right direction. An award-winning humor writer, with two successful books under his belt, he was working on his third when everything hit the fan. His wife, the mother of his three girls, and a woman who spent nearly every Sunday of her life in church, was asking for a divorce. Why? She was in love with someone else. Who? The next door neighbor. Initially preparing for the messy aftermath that would inevitably follow, Harrison was confronted ...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Austin Knight thought he had life by the horns, until he was fired, and dumped by his girlfriend, on the same day. Facing the task of starting over, he had two routes to choose from—the ease and stability of a corporate job, or joining the U.S. military as a paratrooper. He chose the harder route, and wouldn’t change it for the world. A part of the Arctic Angels, the United States’ only Arctic Paratrooper unit, Austin shares his aggressive story from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage,...
May 06, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Couples Camp isn’t a sit-and-get seminar. It’s a 48-hour adventure, full of laughter, fun, campfires, worship, teaching, and encouragement for the most important team you are part of—your marriage. In this teaching, recorded live at Couples Camp, Brian shares three simple ways you can take your marriage to the next level. Find out more, and stake your claim for future camps, at couplescamp.us
Apr 29, 2025•24 min
Brian continues his conversation with UFC Hall of Famer and MMA Legend Rich Franklin. In the second half of this two-part conversation, Rich and Brian discuss the power of consistency, what a Hall of Famer eats (and avoids at all costs), small steps to kickstart an aggressive life, and why they both gravitate toward hunting. Watch the full episode on YouTube ( Part 1 | Part 2 )....
Apr 22, 2025•49 min
Rich Franklin is a legend, both inside and outside the Octagon. A middleweight title holder, and UFC Hall of Famer, Franklin built a career on toughness, fight IQ, and unbelievable resiliency—he once knocked out Chuck Liddell with a broken arm. Outside the ring, he’s just as driven. In business, in faith, and in his health, Rich Franklin has an unbreakable spirit that keeps him pushing forward. In part one of a two-part conversation, Rich and Brian discuss MMA, his storied UFC career, that unbel...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 3 min
BT does a deep dive on prayer, one of the most misunderstood and underutilized spiritual disciplines. He covers common questions like: “ What is prayer?”, “How do I do it?” and “How do I get it to work?” Full of aggressive and actionable tips to get more yeses when you pray—things like (1) be animated, (2) be specific, and (3) picture what you are praying for—this short episode just might unlock something new for you when it comes to talking with, and hearing from, God. Watch BT’s most recent we...
Apr 08, 2025•16 min
Lone wolves are sicker, weaker, and die earlier than wolves in a pack. While loneliness continues to climb, the aggressive take action against it. Pastor and author, Alli Patterson, returns to The Aggressive Life to unpack her newest book: Blueprint for Belonging . She walks through the five types of friendships everyone needs, where to find them, and how to grow each one. In a world built to keep us in silos, the aggressive move is to get, and stay, connected. Watch the full episode on Youtube ...
Apr 01, 2025•57 min
Dave and Ann Wilson have been helping others create the marriages they actually want for three decades—but their marriage wasn’t always one worth emulating. On their 10th wedding anniversary, Ann admitted that she had lost her feelings for Dave, taking him completely by surprise. Instead of arguing or fighting back, Dave took that moment to apologize and repent, and a new chapter for the Wisons began. With humor, vulnerability, and hard-won wisdom, the Wilsons share the secrets they’ve learned a...
Mar 25, 2025•54 min
Mark Williams is one of the masterminds behind some of the best TV and movies of the past decade. He was a writer and producer for Netflix’s smash Ozark . He produced Ben Affleck’s action films The Accountant and The Accountant 2 . He’s done movies with Liam Neeson, Alfie Allen, and Jon Bernthal. But his next big swing just might be the most aggressive of his career. In this conversation, Mark takes us behind the scenes of Hollywood movie production, unpacks why stories matter, and explains why ...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 12 min
When Ron Razete launched Peace, Love and Little Donuts, it was an incredible risk. After multiple failures in the entrepreneurial space, Ron and his wife, Marci, had their backs against the wall. With nowhere else to turn, she sold her car to finance the venture, and the couple opened their first brick and mortar store in Pittsburg. 15 years later, that risk has more than paid off, expanding to 30 locations in 11 different states. In this aggressive conversation with a long-time friend, Ron shar...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Studies are clear: screens dominate our waking hours. It’s not uncommon to spend 7-10 hours in front of one, every single day. We don’t like it, but feel powerless to change it. That’s where Darren Whitehead comes in. A pastor, and author of “The Digital Fast,” Darren leads others to experience the power and life change he discovered through intentional disconnection. In a hyperconnected world, a digital detox is an incredibly aggressive move. It’s time to put your phone down and start living....
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 9 min
The phrase “how to be a better husband” is Googled nearly 2x as much as “how to be a better wife.” Why is that? And how do you know if you’ve found a good answer? With nearly 40 years of experience, BT gives his perspective on that question. To be a better husband, he believes it involves seeing your marriage as a team, spending your energy toward it, having a plan, and making space for fun together. Claim your spot at Couples Camp here . Watch the full podcast on YouTube here ....
Feb 25, 2025•19 min
Does prophecy still happen today? Paul Maconochie thinks so, and that God is speaking to anyone willing to listen. Alongside BT, Paul unpacks the ways he hears from God, the risk it takes to share with others, and how we can learn to do the same. This aggressive conversation will push you out of your comfort zone and into a better place—because the more you risk, the more you grow. Watch the full podcast on YouTube here .
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Running has been in Dan Rebella’s blood for years, so when the ultimate challenge presented itself, he didn’t blink. In late 2024, Dan signed up for the inaugural running of The Great World Race—7 full marathons, on all 7 continents, in only 7 days. From the first race, in Antarctica, to the final in Miami Beach, Dan pushed himself to the utter limit, and came out the other side stronger. No matter if you like running or not, the lesson’s Dan picked up along the way about perseverance, faithfuln...
Feb 11, 2025•48 min
Culture is constantly selling us something. Michael Easter thinks it's time we stop buying. The best-selling author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain returns to the podcast to help us push back against the craving and consumerism that keep us in shackles. From understanding how slot machines keep you hooked, to the power of community, to why discomfort is always the path to a better life, this aggressive conversation is an engine to get you moving toward a better life. Watch the full leng...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 2 min
John Hope Bryant is a successful entrepreneur, author, and financial guru who believes financial literacy—understanding how to make, save, and spend money—is the civil rights issue of our era. And he’s doing something about it. He’s written best-sellers, advised presidents, and helped influence policymakers. But his most enduring work is as the CEO of Operation Hope, where John is helping teach financial literacy to all, giving everyday people the tools they need to make wise financial decisions...
Jan 28, 2025•58 min
Before we get too far into the New Year, it’s time for a Q&A episode. BT shares his thoughts on sports betting, how Santa Claus is like God, leading your family through deconstruction, and more. Before that, BT shares some big news coming for the podcast in 2025. The aggressive keep changing and adapting, and that includes us. Leave a rating and written review, get a free Aggressive Life sticker. Email Dirt for the details— dirt@briantome.com...
Jan 21, 2025•34 min
The first time Tara Dower got on the Appalachian Trail, she only lasted a handful of days before anxiety and mental health forced her to abandon her goal of through-hiking the 2,000 mile footpath. But she didn’t give up. In 2024, Tara got back on the A.T. with the goal of claiming the FKT—fastest known time. When she reached the finish line in only 40 days, she became the fastest human ever to cover every mile of the A.T. This down-to-earth and hard working woman will push you to keep making for...
Jan 14, 2025•54 min
If you’re going to have a spiritually potent life, you have to learn how to hear from God. In this 1 Question deep-dive, BT shares his method for hearing from God: a daily repetition of scripture, prayer, and making space to listen. It takes persistence and perseverance, but when you learn how to hear from God for yourself, your aggressive life will hit new strides. - Create your own custom Bible reading plan at bibleplan.org . - Read scripture along with Brian on the free spiritual fitness app,...
Jan 07, 2025•21 min
Earlier this fall, BT got to check off a bucket list item—appearing as a guest on The Art of Manliness podcast, one of the first, and most successful, podcasts aimed at a male audience. With over a 1,000 episodes under his belt, host Brett McKay has carved out a space that encourages, challenges, and helps men rise. In conversation with Brian, the pairs discuss what makes a man, the long haul of establishing friendships, and what it looks like to be a protector in the 21st century.
Dec 31, 2024•53 min
Michael Gabbard—better known as Gabby Claus—has built a life out of serving others. From his time as a paramedic, to a firefighter, to a city council member and beyond, Gabby unexpectedly found his favorite role behind a big white beard and red suit. In his 13th year as Santa, Gabby Claus has a simple mission: bring Christmas smiles to everyone he meets. From city parks to home visits, pictures in the NICU to praying for grieving families, Gabby’s heart is as bottomless as Santa’s sack of toys. ...
Dec 23, 2024•58 min
For years, Brian has staked his claim that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Now, he has stage time to explain why. As part of a weekend teaching series, “Christmas at the Movies,” Brian shares how Die Hard contains echoes of that original night in Bethlehem—from unideal family situations, to a hero that fights for his beloved. Recorded live at Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, Die Hard becomes a message of hope for everyone. Welcome to the party, pal.
Dec 17, 2024•41 min
