Pirate Monk Podcast

"We set out to create a safe church -- not just pockets of safety within the church." - James Reeves This conversation makes me want to move to DFW so that I can attend this church!  Nate and Aaron talk with Pastor James Reeves about his church, City on a Hill in Fort Worth TX, and how it was intentionally created as a safe place for Christians to be real - kind of like Samson Society!  He also di...

Nate and Aaron have a chat with Chandler Rogers, a man young in years but with insights far beyond his age.  He understands the importance of connection, so he and some friends have developed Relay, an app that helps people stay connected and accountable along the road to recovery. It makes it easy to find and maintain tight-knit support in a team-based environment. Visit https://joinrelay.app  to...

Registration for this weekend's virtual retreat (January 14-15, 2022) is available at https://samsonhouse.regfox.com/samson-society-virtual-retreat-2022 Our guest for this episode is long-time friend of the program T.C. (Tom) Ryan.  For more information about Tom and his ministry, please visit https://www.livingintegrated.org/    Tom's book, Ashamed No More, is available here . You can find out mo...

Today, we share Nate's closing chapel message from the 2021 National Samson Retreat.  This is a  challenging must-hear for everyone in recovery.   If you have feedback for the podcast, please drop a note to piratemonkpodcast@gmail.com .   The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. For more information on this ministry, please visit  samsonsociety.com .  Support for...

To wrap-up the 2021 Annual Samson Retreat in Eva TN, Aaron sits down with our keynote speaker, Jim Cress, and takes questions from the audience of attendees.  Find out more about Jim at jimcress.com . The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. For more information on this ministry, please visit  samsonsociety.com .  Support for the women in our lives who have been i...

Today we interview Michael Feighan , formerly of Whitecross to talk about his formative years in music, the adoption of his daughter, working through depression and anxiety, and how all of these things contributed to his newly-released solo album, Someone Prayed . Michael graciously provided the music on this episode. For more information on this ministry, please visit  samsonsociety.com .  Suppor...

In this episode, the guys discuss the subject of Narcissism, especially as it relates to groups, with Jeromy Deibler .  Jeromy is a musician, certified Enneagram and life coach, and pastor. His goal is to help people build connections with others and with God and to show others what God is like.   The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. For more information on th...

"While I don't want to advocate for indulging the urges, I want to champion the deeper desires and the longings and the aches that are behind those urges.  With whatever type of porn you might find attractive or arousing, or whatever has been your particular version of it, underneath that is a good and holy beauty and strength that comes from God, and if we can tap into that, then we can bless it...

"It is so much better to have sex with your wife for who she is -- having sex because you love her, not having sex because you love sex." Nate and Aaron interview friend and returning guest, Noah Filipiak , about the release of his new book - Beyond the Battle: A man’s guide to his identity in Christ in an over-sexualized world . The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson So...

In this special episode, Nate and Aaron remember Father Thomas McKenzie,  an early member of the Samson Society in the Nashville area, who was killed along with his older daughter in a car accident a few days ago (Aug 23, 2021).  They share some of their memories of Thomas, and then we hear from Fr. McKenzie himself in two homilies - first, his final message from this past Sunday, and then a 2014...

"He was never put on this earth to heal me -- the only one who was put on this earth to heal me is Jesus." Nate speaks with Lyschel Burket of hoperedefined.org ., a ministry supporting women impacted by sexual betrayal through coaching, groups, intensive retreats and safe online community.  Her contact email is support@hoperedefined.org . Then, a group of ladies from the Sarah Society join Nate to...

Aaron is back - and this time, he's pissed!  OK, not really, but it's great to have the compadres back together again for a discussion of the journey into manhood.  Nate interviews Aaron's buddy, Jim Ramos, author of Strong Men, Dangerous Times and host of the Men in the Arena podcast ( meninthearena.org ).  They break down the Five Essentials Every Man Must Possess to Change His World. The music...

Mini-meeting on the topic of "Surrender". Nate interviews Jasper Hall, president of Pure Hope about equipping believers to serve out of their brokenness in a sexually broken world and leading their families and communities to flourish.  You can find more information at purehope.net .   The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. For more information on this ministry,...

Mini-meeting on the topic of "Habits". Nate interviews psychologist and therapist Bill and Kristi Gaultiere about the six phases of spiritual growth and development.  You can find more information at soulshepherding.org and journeyofthesoul.org .   The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. For more information on this ministry, please visit  samsonsociety.com .

Aaron has a fascinating conversation with John Alarid ( johnalarid.com ), a heroin addict who became a missionary, then imprisoned for attempted murder, and now a pastor ministering in Springfield MO at Freedom City Church ( freedomcitychurch.org ).  To hear more of John's story, you can get his ebook (currently free) at myprisonbecameapalace.com . The music on this podcast is contributed by membe...

"Dignity believes, and respect believes, and unconditional positive regard believes that being fully human is a beautiful thing, and that the essence of a person agrees with all of the things that God says about them that's true." The Mini-Meeting returns on the topic of Abandonment. Then Aaron interviews Teresa McBean, who pastors Northstar Community, which blends recovery and faith in Richmond V...

"I honestly cannot tell you which decade was worse...Brokenness doesn't just end the second [the abuse] stops...The ramifications of that act ripple into decades later." Nate sits down to speak with Tim Rountree - a child abuse detective, a pastor, and a victim himself of childhood sexual abuse.  He explores how hope emerges even in the wake of unspeakable evil.  ( outcryconcepts.com ) Resources f...

Nate interviews Gary Wilkerson of World Challenge (an outgrowth of Teen Challenge), a ministry dedicated to helping the needy of the world in many different ways, including those caught in addiction and poverty. Topics include the pitfalls of performance-based religion, family history, parenting, and the importance of community.  https://worldchallenge.org/ https://teenchallengeusa.org/ https://ww...

To celebrate 300 episodes, we get to know Nate and Aaron a little bit better.  The host for this special episode is our good friend, Tom Ryan (known to some of you as T. C. Ryan) author of Ashamed No More: A Pastor's Journey Through Sex Addiction.    Tom has just released two free recovery resource packages on his website:  livingintegrated.org . Both packages have pdf content and homework with a...

"I don't think that God's goal in the universe is to lessen the amount of sin.  I think His primary goal is to increase the amount of connection between Him and His people." Today's guest is therapist Matt Wenger, who works with guys dealing with porn and sex addiction.  In the course of that work, he recognized that Christian men have unique challenges in their journey to healing from this addict...

Nate gives Aaron a PSA about severe weather before they are joined by Nate's long-time friend, Steve Zehr, who shares how he was shaped by his 35-year marriage to Susan, who struggled with mental illness. Steve's book is titled In Sickness and in Health and he can be reached at sd.zehr@gmail.com .    The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. For more information on...

Nate has an inspiring conversation with his brother, Dan.  After a series of strokes, Dan was left unable to speak and was told by doctors that he would never speak again.  But Dan didn't accept that prognosis.  Through hard work and sheer determination, he discovered his own path for healing, proving the incredible resilience of the human brain.  The parallels with the recovery journey are eviden...

First, a discussion of Nate's blog about Ravi Zacharias ( https://natelarkin.net/ravi-and-me/ ) and some feedback he has received.  Then, an interview with Bonny Burns - podcaster, coach and member of the leadership team for the Sarah Society - the sister organization which has grown out of a group of women impacted by the choices of Samson Society guys.  Topics include healthy sexual intimacy, Bo...

How do we deal with the inevitable pain that comes into our life?  Nate gives an update on recent struggles with Allie's health before having a discussion with Seth Haines, who shares his own season of severe anxiety related to the health of his infant son, the even deeper pain of a seemingly absent God, and his subsequent slide into alcoholism in an attempt to numb the pain.  The music on this po...

The guys respond to a couple of notes from the mailbag before having a great discussion with Morgan Snyder ( becomegoodsoil.com ) about discovering the heart of Father as we discover our true sonship. Can we answer the questions - Where do I feel uncomfortable in the realm of masculinity? How do I recover ALL of what God wants for me?  The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Sam...