GreatMan Podcast

Churches are often the only organizations that budget to impact men on a regular basis. But most churches miss the mark. This week, Stephen speaks directly to men’s ministries. (Though, as always, all are welcome here in the GreatMan Podcast.) Listen in to discover how a men’s ministry should function, who’s doing it well in the U.S., and why you can’t afford to miss out on bringing in the men. Se...

There’s a certain list of people that every man needs to make: an enemies list. This isn’t bitter or vindictive. It’s actually an experience that will help you “uncrush” the soul and increase your capacity for living a life full of love and generosity. Listen to this episode. Identify who has harmed you. (Make sure this list is real and truthful.) Then gain victory over the wounding, damaging expe...

Throw out whatever you may think about John McCain politically. Today we’re discussing one remarkable talent McCain developed as a boy – and how it prepared him to become a leader of men years later. This one habit even inspired Stephen to create a Notes folder on his iPhone called “The McCains.” Listen in to find out what’s in the folder and how Stephen uses its contents to inspire a GreatMan cul...

Every man creates a culture by the way he lives. That culture can be positive or negative, constructive or destructive. If you’re listening to this episode, you’re being charged to create a culture around you in which men can bring the problems of their souls to the surface. You don’t have to be a “counselor” or have any special knowledge in psychology in order to do this. It can be really simple....

Most men using foul language think it makes them cool and accepted. Why? What do you think that the habit of cussing is compensating for in your soul? Don’t let cussing compensate for lack of strong character or strong manhood in your life. Don’t let cussing make you intellectually or emotionally lazy. What aren’t you saying because you rely on these easy words? In this episode, Stephen unpacks mu...

There’s a connection between pornography and the sexual abuse brought to light by the #MeToo movement. Most porn depicts women as willing for anything. It portrays women as “wanting it” – to put it in a crass locker room phrasing. Women in porn are typically shown as resistant, but willing to have their virtue compromised by a man who is persistent. This causes men to believe that women need to be...

Suicide rates among middle-aged and older men are skyrocketing. According to a recent report from Esquire on suicide in the U.K., “…if you are a man between 20 and 49, you're more likely to die from [suicide] than cancer, road accidents or heart disease.” Gentlemen, suicide is closer to us than it’s ever been. This is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Let’s get the help we need. See Pri...

Most guys have a hope that some man is going to come along and take them under his wing and teach them all the things they need to know about life. They’re waiting for superman. The reality is, the “super-mentor” or “super-dad” is not likely to show up. Good news: we can take a modular approach to mentoring. One of the arts of manhood is learning to pursue different mentors and father figures for...

One of the things that distinguishes a mature man from an immature boy is his ability to get what he needs. Men, you’ve probably heard Stephen say this before: you need a certain amount of rowdiness and adventure in your lives. A reasonable pursuit of these things will make you a better man – for yourself and for those you lead. So, take stock of what you need. Figure out how to get it. And go aft...

We all sustain wounds in this life. But what are the messages we allow those wounds to inscribe upon our souls? Do you view an experience in your life as a profound injustice? Are you misinterpreting failures? Allowing harsh words or criticisms to define you? Where do your thoughts go when you’re alone and some memory of the past pops into your head? Men, the disease of self-pity is a cancer that...

Men are about twice as likely to become alcohol-dependent as women. They’re twice as likely to binge drink and twice as likely to be drunk drivers. This is not a campaign against drinking. But it is a campaign for being thoughtful about your stance on alcohol and in control of your consumption. This is an essential episode for all men. Listen now… Photo by Adam Wilson on Unsplash for the National...

This week, Stephen urges men to consider doing something for their fathers (or father figures) that he did for his own dad years ago. Note: this episode is intentionally being released several weeks before Father’s Day because it might take some extra thought and effort for many of you. So, listen now! This one specific act of honoring your father can have a profound impact on your own life and ev...

In 2015, Stephen recorded a podcast about why men engage in affairs. It was widely discussed and helped a great many men avoid the trap of an extramarital affair. Now, for the first time ever, we're airing that episode on The GreatMan Podcast. Guys, even if you can't imagine yourself ever becoming involved in this kind of behavior, you need to listen to this episode. Together, we'll examine the ma...

Travis Reinking is morally responsible for killing four and wounding four others at a Waffle House in the early hours of Sunday morning. However, he was enabled – almost directly – by a father who gives every evidence of being ill-informed, unengaged, and… to some extent… uncaring. Men, we are suffering from an absence of fathering. It’s a lost art, and it requires your investment. But we can corr...

In order to be a great man – a righteous man – you have to be intentional. It will. Not. Happen. Naturally. Most men have been deposited into their adult years directly from whatever culture they were created in: sports, military, physical labor, etc. Many never move beyond these phases. They never gain a righteous vision of what it means to be a man. They don’t enlist the help of others to fulfil...

We are teaching a false view of manhood if we tell our sons (and ourselves) that real men don’t cry. Real men do cry. They feel strong emotion and turn to their friends in times of need for both practical and emotional support. Stephen’s advice for every man: Feel your emotions, but don’t give vent without checking them. A mature man feels everything and checks his desires before acting on them. S...

Stephen crams in as many answers as he can to your questions! Here are just a few: What technique most helps you stay in shape while traveling? What did you abuse the most before you came to understand what it means to be a great man? What’s the greatest criticism you have of modern men? What’s the biggest change you ever made when it came to being a man? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr...

The statistical outcomes regarding unmarried men and women living together are troubling. Why? For one, this type of arrangement is a “half step.” When you start making half steps in one area of your life, it’s hard to be wholehearted and to make confident decisions in other areas of your life. When you get another person involved in these half steps, things can get especially complicated. What st...

How would you explain manhood to a world that only knows the idiot version? The abusive version? The terrorist version? Unfortunately, this is the only type of man that many people recognize. Of course, if you listen to this podcast, you know that real masculinity is defined by strength and power in the service of others. A true man develops his strength so that he can use it to better serve his w...

Men are made for adventure. Yet so many guys are “over-domesticated.” You know how it goes: gradually, the pressures and duties of daily life begin to take over. We spend our time taking care of our homes, families, cars, and careers, while we neglect attending to our inner zeal and passion. Men, you need to have regular activities in your life that force excitement and adventure upon you. Every m...

Nikolas Cruz’s concerning behavior was noticed by foster parents, neighbors, and officials. Many of the alarms concerning the Parkland shooter came from women, in particular. Where were the men in his community? Think of the radically different outcome that could have come about had a good and noble man stepped into Nikolas Cruz’s life. How could a band of brothers have produced different results?...

Whether you’re a Christian or not, Billy Graham displays traits of manhood worthy of admiration and modeling. In his 99 years, Graham displayed seven traits in particular: 1. He stayed close to the wild. He loved hunting, animals, and nature. 2. He kept it clean sexually – keeping travel plans secret, not meeting alone with women, and staying accountable with his team. 3. He admitted his mistakes....

About 30 young men were on a discussion board looking for information that they just couldn’t find anywhere else... no fathers or brothers to talk to. Sadly, they were all completely wrong about the topic. Men, if we want to restore noble manhood, we have to foster a culture where conversations can happen. Older men, develop a culture around you in which you’re willing to share the lore of manhood...

“A people without a heritage are easily persuaded,” said Karl Marx. Men usually face one of two problems today: they either have no sense of heritage, or they only know of a negative heritage. Part of the art of being a man is discovering the good and noble heritage that runs through you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-...

Marxism assumes that there is a pie only so big and that we are all in competition for a piece of the pie. In other words, if you become a multimillionaire, then you are taking something from others. Stephen believes that the pie is ever-expanding. If you find success in business, then you are enlarging the pie and creating more opportunity for others. This is important to remember at a time when...