Intentional Guy

The Power of Standing Firm: Lessons on Strength and Conviction In this episode, we explore what true strength looks like for men today—how to stand firm in your convictions while leading with humility. We examine how society often mislabels resilience and what it really means to be courageous in the face of opposition. Key topics: The societal fear of strong men and how control is the real motive...

Your Son's Phone Is Not His Friend — It's Not About Trust, It's About Protection When I was a kid, seeing pornography took real effort — you had to go looking for it. Today, your son doesn't have to look for anything. It's already in his pocket. In this episode, I talk directly to parents about the generation being raised on smartphones — and why "I trust my kid" is the wrong starting point. This...

Where's the Line? — The Test No One Ever Handed You This episode is for the man who's tried to stop and didn't know who to call. We're talking honestly about pornography — how it grows, why willpower alone usually isn't enough, and a real, research-based way to know if it's become more than a habit for you. I also share something I've never said this directly before: why I went to a 12-step room i...

In this deeply personal episode of The Intentional Guy Podcast , Mike Chestnut shares a conversation that changed his understanding of recovery forever. Many men believe recovery ends when the pornography stops. But what if your wife is still carrying wounds you've never taken the time to understand? This episode explores the hidden impact pornography has on marriage, why wives often experience it...

Do you actually want to be free? Not the church answer. Not the answer you'd give your pastor. The real answer. In this powerful episode of The Intentional Guy Podcast, Michael Chestnut challenges men to confront one of the most important questions they'll ever answer: Do you want freedom more than comfort? Freedom from pornography. Freedom from lust. Freedom from secrecy. Freedom from shame. Draw...

75% of Christian men report viewing pornography. 82% say no one is helping them. This isn't just a pornography problem—it's a silence problem. In this episode of The Intentional Guy Podcast, Michael Chestnut tackles one of the most difficult and important conversations facing the church today. Drawing from research by Barna and Pure Desire Ministries, Michael explores the reality of pornography's...

The word headship has been misunderstood, misused, and in many cases weaponized. Some men have treated it like a position of authority, while others have become so afraid of getting it wrong that they've completely stepped back from leading altogether. In this episode of The Intentional Guy Podcast, Michael Chestnut takes a fresh look at Ephesians 5 and challenges husbands to rethink biblical lead...

🎙️ Replay Wednesday: One of the Most Powerful Stories We've Ever Shared Some episodes deserve a second listen. This is one of them. For this special Replay Wednesday , we're bringing back Joe's incredible story—but with additional content and deeper conversation that wasn't included in the original release . Joe's journey is one that sounds almost unbelievable: a young Army officer whose loyalty t...

He was abused, trafficked, and told no one would believe him — then God rewrote his story. In this powerful episode, Mike Chestnut sits down with Pastor Mark Sowersby, author of Forgiving the Nightmare , to discuss a topic most men stay silent about: childhood abuse and the long road to forgiveness. Mark was abused from age 7 to 14 — physically, emotionally, sexually, and trafficked by his own ste...

Two years ago, Michael Chestnut sat down with Ebon Sharp for one of the most honest and impactful conversations on the Intentional Guy Podcast. In this powerful throwback episode, Ebon shares his journey from growing up in the streets, becoming a young father, facing the consequences of poor boundaries, and experiencing God's grace, redemption, and restoration in his marriage. This timeless conver...

THE SECRET EXIT — Why Your Loopholes Are Keeping You Stuck The Intentional Guy Podcast ---------------------------------------------------------------- Samson was the strongest man who ever lived. And he wasn't taken down by an army. He wasn't taken down by a weapon. He was taken down by a door he refused to close. Sound familiar? In this episode, we go deep into one of the most overlooked parts o...

In this episode of The Intentional Guy Podcast, we tackle a conversation most men avoid — the dangerous place between honesty and full surrender. A man reached out and admitted he was struggling with pornography. That took courage. But what happened next revealed something deeper that many men never realize: Sometimes “almost honest” is still hiding. This episode is not about shame. It’s about tru...

This episode is not for the faint of heart. This is a raw, unfiltered, no-excuses conversation about the silent destruction that pornography is causing in the lives of men, marriages, and the next generation — and why most people are too afraid to say what needs to be said. Michael Chestnut, author of Exposed , speaks from personal experience. He lost everything — his reputation, his relationships...

The conversation delves into the mental health struggles of men, the experience of brokenness, and the journey of restoration and purpose. It emphasizes the importance of reaching out for help and the potential for surviving and using one's experience to help others. Takeaways Men's mental health struggles Rest and recovery in brokenness Chapters 00:00 The Weight of Brokenness 06:02 God's Restorat...

A cracked pot carried water every day, ashamed that it leaked along the road. But the man carrying it smiled and said, “Look at your side of the path.” Flowers had bloomed everywhere the broken pot leaked. 🌱 Maybe God is using the very thing you wish He would remove. Your pain may be watering someone else’s healing. 👇 If this spoke to you, leave a comment: “God can use my cracks.” #Christian #Fa...

What if the thing you keep avoiding is the very thing keeping you weak? In this episode of Intentional Guy, we dive into the powerful story of Benaiah — the warrior who chased a lion into a pit on a snowy day and killed it. Most men have never heard of him, yet his story paints one of the strongest pictures of Biblical masculinity in all of Scripture. This episode is about: confronting passivity f...

This episode offers honest, practical insights for men navigating difficult moments, emphasizing that God's presence is strongest in our weakness. If you're feeling overwhelmed or unseen, this is a powerful reminder that you're not alone and that there is purpose within your struggle. Key Topics The reality of feeling unseen and misunderstood in tough times God's promise that His strength is made...

The conversation explores the importance of godly brotherhood and the purpose of masculinity. It delves into the impact of isolation, the model of masculinity seen in Jesus and biblical figures, and the responsibility of cultivating intentional friendships. The speaker encourages taking action today to invest in and be sharpened by other men, emphasizing the need for accountability and growth in g...

The conversation explores the theme of freedom in identity and the importance of receiving grace. It delves into the idea of the light revealing one's true self, the struggle of flawed men of faith, the process of losing and finding identity, choosing honesty over hiding, simple steps to freedom, and the concept of no condemnation in Christ. Takeaways Freedom in identity Receiving grace Chapters 0...

Episode 104 Dylan Arms Story

That’s my word for 2026—and it’s not just a theme, it’s a decision. In this powerful New Year’s Day episode of The Intentional Guy Podcast , I open up about why offense has been quietly stealing my peace, damaging relationships, and fueling negative thinking—and how God has been calling me to something better. This episode was recorded hours after I found out I was being laid off , making the mess...

What happens when darkness meets redemption? In this powerful episode, Mark Cooley shares his raw and transformative testimony of overcoming addiction, crime, and a traumatic past through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. From childhood trauma and rebellion to experimenting with drugs and black magic, Mark's story takes you through the depths of despair to the heights of spiritual freedom. Aft...

BROTHERHOOD OF 5 | The Men Every Man Needs Before the BattleQuick question: How many real friends do you have? Not acquaintances. Not work buddies. Real brothers who would show up at 2 AM when you're falling apart? This past year, isolation nearly broke me. Depression hit hard, and instead of reaching out, I hid. I pushed away the very men God placed in my life to carry me through the fire. But fi...

This milestone episode features my close friend Joe Mikalajunas sharing one of the most powerful redemption stories you'll ever hear. What would you do if you had to choose between your brother and your future? Joe made that choice—and it cost him four years in federal prison. But that prison cell became the place where everything changed. From Army officer to federal inmate to dishwasher to CEO.....

Every man leads someone — whether he realizes it or not. In this episode of The Intentional Guy Podcast, Michael Chestnut reminds us that leadership isn’t about power, position, or platform — it’s about presence. Through powerful examples like Tim Tebow and Brian Pursell, we explore what it means to lead with humility, consistency, and faith — even when no one’s watching. You don’t need a micropho...