Clemenz With a ”Z” Podcast

This is the start of a new tradition and ritual for me in my personal life as well as this platform.  I will be holding the space for a quick communion message to help us focus on the freedom that following Jesus and God can bring.   This week's passage will be Matthew 11:28-30.  I also mentioned a book called "How Not to Speak of God" by Peter Rollins as well as a cartoon by David Hayward the "Na...

Hey everybody!  This is another segment in the "we were in a cult?" series here on the balanced male podcast.  I got to have a great conversation with another ex member of the ICOC, Myron on how he got involved with the ICOC and his departure from the ICOC and his views on if the ICOC was a cult.   If you were a member or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story...

What's up everyone!  This is the last episode of 2023 and it was a great one!  In this DADTALK I brought on a rad dad of 2 young girls.  We talked about everything from fatherhood, religion, and and the pressures of landing and taking off from a aircraft carrier.   He has also developed a great app for kids called "Kiddie Bank". Check out the app here: https://kiddiebank.app/ Thanks for all your s...

What's up everyone!  This episode was a fun one.  I brought on a veteran to the show Morgan to spend some time just geeking out on music that we love.  We talked bands we loved, concerts that we loved, missing CDs and Tapes, and some of our guilty pleasure songs and bands.  It was one of those conversations where we could have gone on for hours and I feel like he and I barely scratched the surface...

What's up everyone.  This episode is another installment in the "We were in a cult?" segment of the podcast.  I was able to sit down with another former member Todd to share his experience growing up in the ICOC, and what it was like leaving the church after high school and then coming back in his adulthood. If you were a member or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share...

In this DADTALK episode I was able to talk with DAD Nick Adams.  Nick Adams is not only the father of 4, he also runs a youth camp in northeast Tennessee called "Pathfinders" and he is the author of the book:  "Being the Dad You Wish You Had".   His book explores the power you have as a dad and helps you overcome the fears and self-limiting beliefs that try to hold you back.  The book is equipped...

What's up everyone.  This episode is another installment in the "We were in a cult?" segment of the podcast.  I was able to sit down with another former member and "DADTALK" alum Joe  to share his experience in the church.  He also shed a little but of light on what it was like to be met and brought into the church vs. being born into the church like the previous guests.   If you were a member or...

What's up everyone!  In this episode I talk about the power of pausing and resting in our lives and the lessons I have learned from pausing and not pausing.  I discuss the 5 reasons and benefits I have found from incorporating this in my life.   We Pause to: Focus, to calm(breathe), to listen, to reset/recover, and most importantly to celebrate.   Thanks for listening and for all of yall's continu...

What's up everybody?! This episode is a continuation of my story growing up in the toxic church system.  I focus on how church manipulated us in to giving money and our time.   Thank you all for your support and listening to this podcast.  I love you all! If you were a member or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and h...

What's up guys.  This episode is another installment in the "We were in a cult?" segment of the podcast.  I was able to sit down with another former member Shannon to share her experiences of growing up in the church and what is what like leaving the church.  Shannon is also the host of a great podcast called "paring down podcast".  In the podcast she talks about decluttering your home and your li...

This episode was definitely a divided podcast!  In this DADTALK episode I brought on Jeremy who is from Alabama.  This was tough for me being that I am from Georgia.  We were able to look past our cultural differences and have a great conversation about fatherhood, growing up in the south, and the difficulties in having a parent dealing with dementia.  I do need to add that somewhere in this episo...

What's up everyone?!  In today's episode I talk about something called the theology of convenience and the dark side of faith.  What I mean by this is how sometimes when we engage with faith, the bible, and god we are coming to it to find answers, prove we are right, or just out of fear.  This can be a slippery slope and can be a dangerous place to be.  I discuss how engaging in this way only buil...

What's up guys.  This episode is another installment in the "We were in a cult?" segment of the podcast.  I was able to sit down with another former member Luke.  During the conversation, Luke shared his story in the church and coming out at a young age.  If you were a member or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and h...

What's up everyone.  Today's episode is the first in what I hope will be many many more conversations about growing up in the ICOC.  I was able to sit down with a friend of mine and former member of the church Keisha to have a conversation about our lives in the church and try to answer the question:  "We were in a cult?".  It was a great discussion and I am grateful for her sharing her story with...

What's up everybody?! This episode today is my 50th episode on the balanced male podcast series!!  Today's episode is a dadtalk with an old friend named Steve Gibson.  Steve is a dad of 2 adult girls and directs one of my favorite places on the planet the camp swamp with his amazing wife Racheal.  In this dad talk we discuss process the grief of losing a young daughter, fostering children, and try...

Hey everyone!  In this episode I shed more light on voicing your needs.  In this episode talk about how it has helped me in my handling my emotions, my mental health and strengthened my relationships.  I know its an area where we all can use a little help.  Check it out!

Hey guys new episode alert!  This episode is the 25th DADTALK episode here on the Balanced Male Podcast.  I finally got to sit down with a dad I have wanted on the podcast for a while.  New Andrew is a rad dad of 2 kids and the brother in law of one of my old guests and friends Jim.  We got to sit down over some delicious red breast whiskey and talk all thing fatherhood, religion, and life.  I als...

Hey guys!  This episode is a DADTALK  and it with a old friend of mine named Alex.  Alex is rad dad of three young girls.  Even though I had some video issues we were still able to make it work and had a great conversation on all things fatherhood.  He has a great perspective on being present and intentional as a dad.  I know you guys will enjoy this one.  

What is up guys?!  This episode is a pillar talk focused on my physical fitness journey, specifically two things that I saw robbed me of joy and momentum.  I talk about how much I compare myself to others, and that I am trying to celebrate the "inches" or little victories in my physical fitness journey.     Check it out!

What's up guys!  This episode is a quick one.  I talk about the power of habits and how creating intentional habits in my life has saved my mind.  Check it out!

What's up guys!  This episode It was an extension of his eulogy I spoke about my father a few years ago.  In this episode I talk about lessons that I learned from my father Dan.  Theses were lessons I either learned indirectly through observations during his life or directly from him in situations and conversations.  I think these lessons are important not just for me in in my life but for all of...

Whats up guys!  This is the third installment of my friend Andrew and I's discussion on male initiation.  In this discussion we talk about the last 2 truths of male initiation:  You are not in control and you are going to die.  We also talk about the need for men to have elders in their lives.  I hope you all enjoy!

Hey guys!  Here's another dad talk.  This one was with a rad dad of 3 kids who is local to Virginia Beach.  We had a great time discussing fatherhood, astrology, all the rad shows in this town, and sticking to your core beliefs/values in parenting.  I hope you guys enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed talking with him.  

Hey guys in this episode I share more about my life in the church following one man's vision for the lord.  We took things for face value and that shouldn't be the way we follow God, read the bible, or engage with life's questions.     If you want to read the book I mentioned, its titled:  "Asking Better Questions of the Bible."  By Marty Solomon.  He is also host of the BEMA podcast series which...

Well guys for this dad talk Morgan (father of 3 all under 6!!) and I just jumped in and started talking.  It was a great conversation and was super tough to stop.  We both thought that we could have gone down more rabbit holes and directions but 2 and a half hours is probably long enough.  I hope you guys enjoy this dad talk as much as we did making it.