Impactus podcast

Opioids are claiming the lives of thousands of Canadians from all walks of life. With more than 44,000 opioid-related deaths since 2016, the overdose crisis is one of the most severe public health crises Canada has ever faced, and men are much more likely to be affected by addiction than women. There is hardly a day that passes when we do not hear of the fentanyl issue in geopolitical, provincial,...

Despite the rise of people identifying as "non-religious" in Canada and the growing trends of secularism in our post-Christian culture, there is good news on the horizon. Alpha Canada released a 2024 report that indicated signs of hope and opportunity. It revealed: Post-pandemic, church leaders in Canada are perceiving an inexplicable spiritual openness and curiosity in our communities. This "spir...

Former England superstar football captain David Beckham recalls being sent off the field in the 1998 World Cup Finals: "It was probably the longest walk in my life…looking back, I'm not sure what thoughts were going through my mind: it was a swirl of fear, guilt, anger, worry, and confusion. "My head was spinning…I walked into the dressing room. The rules stated that I had to stay in there for the...

When you hear the word "warrior," what comes to mind? Maybe the movie Gladiator ? The WWF's Ultimate Warrior ? The latest UFC champion? Now, when you hear the word "disciple," what do you think of? Something very different? Maybe something incompatible with the first word? But what if these two terms could fit together? Our guest on this episode believes the words "warrior disciple" go hand in han...

Some of you may be old enough to remember the sitcom Eight is Enough , about a family with eight children trying to get by. Well, for our guest in this podcast, it's not eight, but ten! Today, we're going to speak with Jason Weening, a dad of ten who has dedicated his life to fatherhood and helping other dads along the way. Jason and his wife, Alli, have been married for 20 years. He speaks to par...

If you're a Marvel movie fan, Iron Man is probably familiar to you. In this episode of the Impactus podcast, we are excited to talk with a real-life "Iron Man"—a humble businessman from Hamilton, Ontario, who was the first Canadian to run not one, not two, but three Ironman races in three consecutive days for over 45 hours of physical exertion. But he wasn't running for himself but for a greater c...

Is "Men's Ministry" still a thing? Is it still relevant? Do we even need it? Here at Impactus, we like referring to this area as "Ministry to Men," and that's more than just semantics. We need a new understanding that men need  ministry , not just programs, and that men are called to  do  ministry in their churches and communities. On this podcast, we're delighted to have one of the most recogniza...

Families are under attack. Culture seems to be encroaching on us. Pressure comes from all angles…education, ideology, politics, and sometimes even the Church. But maybe there's a much more sinister battle at work—in our minds, hearts, and homes. In this podcast, we'll discuss " Fighting for Family " with Chris Bennett, who recently released a book under this title. Chris is a pastor, storyteller,...

If you were to rate your current experience reading or listening to the Word of God, how would you fare? If you're like most guys, Bible engagement can be challenging. While some are very disciplined with their time in the Word, others struggle to prioritize and focus. Our most recent Spiritual Health of Men Survey found that you aren't alone. We saw some decline from the previous year in the numb...

The pandemic wreaked havoc on our world like nothing else in our lifetime. The fallout continues with polarization, division, depression, isolation, distraction, and the disappearance of many people from inside the walls of the Church. But what if the events of the past few years were not a problem but an opportunity? What if God was using this time in our history to awaken people to His Kingdom a...

How could a two-year-old orphan boy, taken out of his country by mistake in 1975 from halfway around the world, now impact the world as a grown man in 2024? In this month's podcast, you'll hear a story of just how that happened! Google " Orphan 32 ," and you will read how Thanh Campbell was taken from his war-torn country of Vietnam and came to Canada as part of the last flight out of Saigon in 19...

If you were to rate the health of your marriage or family today, how would you score? 10/10, living in bliss? 5/10, with some challenges and struggles? Lower?   Marriages and families go through different seasons, but the good news is that you don't have to go through them alone. There are supports to help you and your family: counsellors, pastors, churches, and ministry organizations who are ther...

If you're a football fan, you're going to love this conversation, and if you're not a football fan, you're still going to love this conversation! On January 8, the 15-0 undefeated Michigan Wolverines under coach Jim Harbaugh won the US National College Championship , beating No. 2 Washington Huskies 34-13 before a crowd of 72,808 at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. What a game it was! In this podcast,...

Are you a man who lives your life with a sense of purpose and intentionality? We've heard it said that God "calls" people like pastors, teachers, and missionaries into ministry, but what about the rest of us? Do  we  have a "calling" on our lives? In this podcast, Dean sits down with Phil Wagler, who is certainly no stranger to Impactus! Phil lives in British Columbia with his family. He has recen...

If you were to rate your prayer life today on a scale of 1-10…how would you rate yourself? Of course, there is no easy rating scale for our relationship with God, but prayer is one of those areas of our spiritual lives that men consistently find difficult. At the start of this fresh new year, when topics around spiritual disciplines are common conversation, this is a great time to evaluate our pra...

Have you ever felt stressed, burdened, or overwhelmed by all the things you have to do? Then along comes the Church, and our relationship with God, and we look at all the things we "should" be doing, and we see more deficits and feel more guilt. Christians are called to live a life that glorifies God and blesses others. How do we do that when we're already feeling stretched to capacity? But what i...

Disclaimer: This conversation frankly discusses sensitive topics relating to sex and marriage that may not be age-appropriate for younger viewers/listeners. In this month's podcast, Dean sits down for a conversation with Sheila and Keith Gregoire. Sheila is no stranger to the  Impactus podcast, and we are happy to have her husband with us this time as well! Sheila is the face behind  Bare Marriage...

Disclaimer: This conversation discusses sensitive topics that may not be age-appropriate for younger viewers/listeners. In this podcast, Dean interviews Zachary Wagner, author of Non-Toxic Masculinity: Recovering Healthy Male Sexuality . Zachary hails from Chicago and currently lives in England as a PhD candidate at Oxford. He is also the editorial director of the Center for Pastoral Theologians ,...

In this episode, Impactus President Dean Brenton sits down with Men's Ministry legend Steve Sonderman! Steve is highly regarded as one of the pioneers of the Men's Ministry movement in America. He started one of the country's first Men's Ministries at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, WI. He is the founder of No Regrets Men's Ministries , including the annual No Regrets Men's Conference, which draws...

Have you ever had someone constant in your life pass away? Have you ever wondered how you might continue on when you lose someone so close to you? Stephanie shares her story of losing her  father to ALS. He was her rock and ever present in her life. Through her experience, she learned to trust more deeply in Jesus as the one who can fully be trusted. When life isn't going the way, we had hoped, we...

Are you concerned about the growing number of Canadian young adults who are leaving their faith behind? As parents, we hold a tremendous responsibility to ensure the transmission of faith to the next generation. How can we effectively disciple our children within the confines of our own homes? What steps can we take to pass on a strong foundation of faith to our children? These are not just ordina...

Have you ever struggled with your mental wellness or know of someone who has? Mental health in Canada is a huge concern. Some would say a crisis.   Men in Canada are less likely to s eek or receive mental healthcare than women and more likely to die by suicide. Suicide rates are 3x higher in men than in women, with men between the ages of 35-59 being the most vulnerable.   This is why it's essenti...

Welcome to the Impactus Podcast; we're here to equip men for a life of purpose and godly impact. In this episode, we are joined by Sheila Wray Gregoire, co-author of the book "She Deserves Better: Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self, and Speaking Up."   What if some Christian teachings have damaged our daughters and taught them to be small and invisible? What if some of the most c...

We have been blessed to have completed four conferences in Ottawa, Cambridge, Edmonton, and Winnipeg, where we ministered to over 2,500 men. We had some amazing speakers at these conferences, and one of those speakers was Matt Tapley. On this episode of the Impactus podcast, we get to have a deeper conversation with him.    Matt has been the Lead Pastor of Lakemount Worship Centre in Grimsby, Onta...

Have you ever wondered if you can break free of your past to live free and fulfilled? In this episode, we have a fascinating conversation about breaking the cycle of the brokenness of our past to find real success in our marriages, families, and relationship with God.   Our guest on this episode is Jean-Paul Beran, president of Focus on the Family Canada. Jean-Paul and his wife Susan were married...