Men at the Movies Podcast

After 220+ episodes and five years, this is the final episode of the Men at the Movies podcast. The audio run ends here — but the show isn't ending, it's changing shape, and it continues on YouTube ( @menatthemovies ). A fitting film to go out on. George Bailey spends most of It's a Wonderful Life convinced he wasted it, until he's shown what the world would be without him in it. P...

What do you do when God transforms you — and nobody believes it? Pastor Jim Domen lived as a gay man for five years. Then Jesus changed everything. The problem? The church doubted it, skeptics called it a lie, and the state of California tried to pass a law making it illegal to even tell his story. It turns out Jim's favorite movie isn't just a movie. It's a mirror. Captain America: Th...

Spotify put the original episode in jail for showing the clips from Star Wars: A New Hope. So unfortunately, this episode has no clips--however, if you'd like to engage in the full episode, visit https://youtu.be/nRP8201-qgk to view the episode in its entirety on the YouTube channel. Every man arrives at the moment where he has to answer the question: Am I really who I think I am? Luke Skywalk...

You're not stuck. You're in the first act. The Men at the Movies Star Wars episode is in Spotify jail — music licensing, no bond available. So while we wait, here's what you didn't see. Paul sits outside with a cigar and shares two raw pre-show conversations: one with Sam Ainslie about how MATM got started, and one with Eric about superheroes, the hero's journey, and what the s...

What if you finally found the ones who made you — and the answer tried to kill you? Prometheus is one of the most theologically loaded sci-fi films ever made, and most people missed it. In this episode, Paul sits down with visual artist and filmmaker Michael Errigo to dig into the questions buried at the heart of the film: Where do we come from? What do we owe our Creator? And what happens when th...

Field of Dreams isn't a baseball movie. It's about a man pursued by a loving Father, haunted by his past, and invited into restoration he didn't think was possible. Sam Ainslie has been on the Wild at Heart board for twenty years. He came to this conversation reluctantly. He left with something he didn't expect. In this episode we explore what it looks like when God won't stop...

Everyone wants to be a champion. No one wants to get punched in the mouth. In this episode of Men at the Movies, we explore  Cinderella Man  through the real life story of Leo Clark. On the verge of playing professional basketball, Leo’s dream ended with one injury. What followed were even heavier blows: the death of his father, homelessness, and more than 60 straight rejections looking for work....

At some point, most men bury the boy they used to be—not because they wanted to, but because life demanded it. In Disney's The Kid, 40-year-old Russ Duritz is forced to confront his 8-year-old self, the boy he thought was long gone. Pablo Ceron lived this story when a marriage crisis forced him to face the younger self he'd tried to forget. In this episode, Pablo shares his journey from a...

Mark Evans was the black sheep—trapped in a Welsh village that didn't understand his dreams, pushed into an art world that didn't want what he created. He knows what it's like to be dead and hear the voice of love calling across space and time. His story threads through The Matrix and Far and Away—two films about men who refuse to stay trapped, who risk everything for the impossible, and who disco...

What if the long road is not a delay, but preparation? In this episode of Men at the Movies, filmmaker Daniel Chesnut shares how a winding journey through surfing, filmmaking, and seasons of waiting shaped his calling long before the work ever mattered. We talk about story as a mirror, why encounter matters more than output, and how reflecting a man’s story back to him can awaken something sacred....

What if the life you're building is costing you the life you actually want?  Jack Campbell thought he had everything—until he wakes up one Christmas morning living the life he walked away from thirteen years ago. The mysterious glimpse he didn't ask for opens his eyes to all that he had been missing, forcing him to answer a central question: who will he choose?  In this episode, Paul McDon...

"Is the ship out of danger?" Spock's first question to Kirk after sacrificing himself wasn't about his own survival—it was about whether his life counted for something. Part 1 forced Kirk to accept death is coming. Part 2 asks the harder question: What will you lose your life for? Khan's superior genetics bought him nothing but wasted rage. Spock's sacrifice bought new li...

To support Amanda Ross, go to https://give.pioneers.org/s-donate and fill out the form using “Amanda Ross” and Account #101561 Make checks payable to “Pioneers” with “Account #101561” on the memo line and mail to: Pioneers, 10123 William Carey Drive, Orlando, FL 32832 Captain Kirk doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario—but life doesn’t play by cheat codes forever. In The Wrath of Khan: When the Ch...

When power slips away, what happens next reveals who we truly are. In  Netflix’s Adolescence , both Jamie and Eddie face the collapse of control—one through domination, the other through despair. Jamie’s need to feel powerful drives him deeper into destruction, while Eddie breaks under the guilt of realizing he couldn’t rescue his son. In this episode of  Men at the Movies , we talk about what it...

“I don’t know what I’m doing here.” Eddie whispers as his 13-year-old son sits in a police cell accused of murder. It’s a confession every father feels but rarely admits — standing in the chaos, with no way out and no guarantee you won’t make it better. In this episode of Men at the Movies , Paul McDonald and Simon (host of the Restoring Authentic Men podcast) unpack Part 1 of Netflix’s Adolescenc...

Chris Farley’s Tommy Boy isn’t just comedy gold—it’s a story every man can relate to. Underneath the chaos is a powerful message: how do you move from being the beloved son to stepping into your role as a king? In this episode of Men at the Movies , we explore how Tommy’s failures, friendships, and moments of courage point us to the truth about identity, responsibility, and what it takes to lead....

Paul McDonald sits down with Rory Lawrence from The Dangerous Man Podcast to explore the brutal honesty of Lone Survivor. This isn't just a war movie - it's a powerful metaphor for spiritual training and the brotherhood required to survive life's battles. From BUDS Hell Week to the mountains of Afghanistan, discover how Marcus Luttrell's story reveals what it takes to become a spir...

When Coach Boone wakes his players at 3 AM for a run to Gettysburg, he's not just building physical endurance - he's forcing a confrontation with the deeper battle they're all fighting. Paul McDonald sits down with Leo Clark (Texas basketball coach) and Conrad Schottel (Colorado) to explore how this 1971 integration story reveals timeless truths about unity, respect, and the courage to...

Bob Wiley is terrified of everything… and that just might save him. In this episode Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney dive into What About Bob? to explore how baby steps, awkward sailing trips, and even death therapy reveal God’s plan to turn fear into freedom. We cover: why desperation can be a gift the lie of self-reliance vs the power of community divine interruptions that reroute your life Grab t...

Buddy Young Jr. hears that first roar of laughter and everything changes. In this episode of Men at the Movies , host Paul McDonald sits down with Christian comedian Bob Smiley to break down Mr. Saturday Night (1992) and what it teaches men about courage, identity, and family. Find the study guide here . We talk about: Why the spotlight can feel safer than your own living room “You cannot let the...

Preview ► Camel treks, lit-match stoicism, and why great stories still point us to purpose. Study Guide Visit this link to download a one page PDF to serve as a study guide. To join the newsletter to receive updates of new episodes and receive the study guide, visit menatthemovies.com/subscribe . Show notes Miles Spencer road-tested Lawrence of Arabia in real life—1,100 miles on camel, horse, and...

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, we discus the movie Ronin. The term ronin refers to a class of samurai who are basically masterless warriors. Action reveals your character, which reveals your master. While you might think you don’t have a master, your choices and your actions reveal who or what that ruler might be. Whenever there is any doubt, there is not doubt. Join us as we discover...

Paul McDonald and Wailer Giles engage in a detailed discussion about the film On A Clear Day, which tells a profound story of a man who is earnestly trying to figure out how to live his life better and find deeper meaning in a world that often feels broken. At the center of this narrative, a son longs deeply for his father’s approval, desperately seeking validation and recognition. Conversely, a f...

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, we share our first ever live recording. JB and I discussed Click at a men’s retreat and how Michael’s character is a lot like us. He has a lot of pressures to try to balance, but he feels like he’s failing at all of them. He keeps looking forward for what comes next, and misses out on today. It’s like chasing a carrot, but what will it cost him and us to...

Paul McDonald talks with Greg Allan Martin about his calling as both a lawyer and an actor. They also discuss the show Shadrach and why it's a watchable series for the whole family. About Greg: Greg Allan Martin, a powerful and commanding presence onscreen, currently can be seen as a series regular playing a rugged rancher in the new SONY/Affirm Originals series SHADRACH, that just premiered o...