GreatMan Podcast

When it comes to toasts, many men have a tendency toward smack talk and humor. While there’s nothing wrong with sarcasm or humor – it can even be a useful tool – this approach is often rooted in insecurity. It also makes the talk about you, the speaker, not the subject. Feel free to use humor, but also speak words that call out the person’s destiny. In this episode, Stephen shares how he plans for...

This football season, you’ve probably seen a huge amount of advertising for online sports gambling. In this episode, Stephen addresses the issue bluntly without getting preachy. Gambling is going to be a great seduction focused on men in our generation. Unfortunately, it’s only going to get worse. Draw your moral line now, and certainly pull in your band of brothers for help. Stephen’s strong sugg...

Do you know the true, historically accurate Thanksgiving story? The Pilgrims are often under attack these days, but these godly men and women sacrificed much, giving their lives to bring the Gospel to the new world. They laid a foundation our nation would do well to remember. Tune in and recall the heritage and the purposes to which the Pilgrims were devoted. And while you listen, think of who may...

Men have a tendency toward cowardice when it comes to how they treat women. Men tend to think that what a woman allows, sexually, is what is appropriate. A man should know in advance what his ethical code will allow. We must eliminate this cowardly notion that what happens between a man and woman is determined solely by what a woman will permit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...

The GreatMan Podcast is typically “big picture.” Not today! This episode is crucial for every man to hear. Stephen gets granular, talking through some of the nuts-and-bolts that should be a part of every man’s life. These are the things you absolutely must do – for yourself, your family, and those in your sphere of influence. Listen up. But most importantly, take action. This episode originally ai...

Growing up in a military household, and moving as many as ten times in nine years, Stephen became a master liar. All that changed when he became a Christian at the age of 18. Take stock of yourself. Are you deceiving yourself or others? Do you lean toward falsehoods? If you are lying, why? A good man is devoted to the truth, the raw truth. Conquer lying. Build the good and noble in your life, and...

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...

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 over...

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 http...

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 rad...

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....

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...

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://art1...

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...

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 w...

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!...

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 i...

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 adv...

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 h...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 s...

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. Tun...