The Crucible Project Podcast

In this special Veterans Day episode, Armando Batista, U.S. Service Member, sits down with host Martin Brooker, retired Commodore of the Australian Navy. They discuss their transformative journeys through Crucible and Armando shares how he confronted hidden wounds and because of it, now better understands his own behavior and connects more deeply with his family. Armando describes how Crucible’s i...

Mackenzie Wojta sits down with host Joy Dunning just 72 hours after her first Crucible retreat. Mackenzie shares some of the profound insights gained from confronting personal challenges and embracing vulnerability during a candid conversation about the journey toward authentic connection and self-discovery. "Don’t hold back—take that step. It’s worth the discomfort and the challenge." H...

Sandy Corrigan shares with host Joy Dunning how she shifted from a victim mindset to recognizing the gifts of leadership, responsibility, and service. After overcoming challenges like divorce and single motherhood, she found healing and rediscovered her voice. Now, she encourages others to embrace soul work and step into their full potential, including her own decision to enter the Mrs. Colorado 2...

Dr. Chris R. Mazzarella, PsyD, LCP discusses how The Crucible Project has made a positive difference in his counseling practice. He also shares personally how his Crucible retreat impacted his life and now benefits his clients, stating, “I’ve been in this profession for 27 years... Crucible is the real catalyst for lasting change. I know if my clients take advantage of this resource, it’s like six...

Nathaniel Harrison shares his Crucible journey with host Martin Brooker. He reflects on how the weekend opened him up to deeper authenticity, improved relationships with his family and work, and gave him a renewed sense of purpose in bringing "heaven on earth" to others. Nathaniel shares, "I went from resisting it with every fiber of my being to it becoming a turning point in my lif...

Host Jess Donovan sits down with Pastor and Crucible alum Matt Furr as he shares the impact of Crucible on his work in the church as Lead Pastor of a church in New Hampshire. Matt also shares how Crucible has helped him come alongside other pastors looking for a safe space to tend to their own souls and uncover barriers in their relationship with God. Here are some of the topics we cover in our po...

Tony Bradburn sits down with host Andy Spell to share his Crucible story and the impact it had on his identity. From attending his initial Crucible retreat and then staffing other weekends, Tony found a way to bring together all of his identities - "as a black man, as a believer, as someone who was adopted, that was a powerful experience for me. All of these parts of myself deserve to be inte...

Radio personality Robb Paolasso sits down with host Jay Mountjoy to discuss his Crucible journey, transformation, and living life on mission. Robb shares how attending a second-level weekend with Crucible, Mission and Purpose, sparked a renewed passion for radio and how he intentionally uses his platform to speak life now. He also discusses co-parenting, loss, making amends with adult children, an...

Host Tim Rush sits down with Dr. James Henderson, missionary and co-Founder and Director of Ashrei , a center for Spiritual Formation in Mexico City to discuss cross-cultural leadership, priorities, and balance. "Jesus has this extraordinary balance of God pouring into Him and then Jesus is able to pour Himself out to others and respond to whatever is the need right in front of Him with just...

After going through a period of harsh loss, Crucible Men’s Ministry Assistant Dan Ripple shares how Crucible "saved my life. It made all the difference in the world." Following his initial weekend, he participated in Crucible's two-year program and has found life and community volunteer staffing retreats and bringing soul work to other men. "We all have gifts and talents but to...

James Henderson, co-Founder and Director of Ashrei , a center for Spiritual Formation in Mexico City, shares his Crucible testimony with host Andy Spell. When asked what brought him to his Crucible retreat, James shares, "I didn’t like the man that I saw in the mirror. I was doing mission work and I felt like I was called to serve in the world that God loves and to do it cross-culturally, and...

Leadership Series: Roy Wooten, Executive Director of The Crucible Project , sits down with host Tim Rush to discuss his leadership journey. Hear more about Roy's early days in leadership as a teenager and what he has learned along the way about what true leadership is and how leaders go first both in work and vulnerability to pave the way for others.  Here are some of the topics we cover in o...

Dan Holzer and Fred Macaluso, the visionary founders of Project 5130 , sit down with host Joy Dunning to share their story and mission. Based on their transformative experiences with Crucible, Dan, and Fred created Project 5130 to mentor and disciple high school teens. Through candid stories and heartfelt reflections, they share how their program fosters authentic relationships, accountability, an...

Host Andy Spell interviews Brian Smith from the Crucible Connecticut men's community. Brian shares how Crucible helped him unearth some of the messages in his life that kept him stuck and starting to move forward. He also shares how Crucible has positively impacted his marriage and parenting as a blended family with unique challenges. Brian states, "I can walk my talk. I can be honest wi...

Jess Donovan, Crucible leader and Family Program Manager at her church in New Hampshire shares her observations on the multigenerational impact of Crucible, the intersection of Crucible and the local church, and how each generation can contribute to each other. Here are some of the topics we cover in our podcast episodes: Radical honesty and grace Spiritual growth Discipleship Mentorship Personal...

Pastor and Crucible Leader John Casey is interviewed by Leadership Series host Tim Rush about his leadership journey. He shared how his leadership really began by being a good student and doing what was needed. He stated, “One has to learn to lead yourself before being able to lead others.” He highly values doing things well, which has propelled his leadership. In his fifties, he learned that he a...

Terry Gjeldum shares with podcast host James Damey how he believed he was "stupid" most of his life. His greatest fear was that someone would find out he was stupid, and he lived with a lack of assertiveness and fear. During his Crucible retreat, he experienced an exercise where he learned that God does not think he is stupid. His parenting was impacted for the better, and his relationsh...

Terrance Foster, church and Crucible leader, shares how he became the leader he has always wanted in his life as he is interviewed by leadership series podcast host Tim Rush. Terrance describes listening as the most important skill he has developed in his leadership and the importance of listening as he leads his community, family, church, and The Crucible. He also shares the impact of The Crucibl...

Host Joy Dunning interviews Kenton Larson and Joe Troupe about the remarkable relationship between the two children's father and stepfather. When Kenton, the stepfather, experienced a Crucible retreat, it impacted his parenting of his stepchildren and his relationship with his wife. He and his wife encouraged Joe, the father, to attend a Crucible retreat, which he did during a dark time in hi...

Author, coach, and leader Jason Wilson continues his interview with Andy Spell, challenging men to be strong and comprehensive. He shares how the Crucible weekend brought healing in the source of his anger and allowed him to find compassion, empathy, and patience to nurture and care for his mother through her dementia journey. Allowing access to empathy significantly impacted his relationship with...

Jason Wilson, author of Cry Like a Man and Battle Cry and founder of The Cave of Adullam, is interviewed by podcast host Andy Spell.  They discuss Jason's viral video , which has over 3.2 million views worldwide and is titled Overcoming Barriers . Jason shares that men’s ability to be like Christ is limited by our focus on the world’s definition of masculinity. Jesus wasn’t all lion and no la...

Warning: Podcast host James Damey interviews Sexual Addiction Recovery Coach Scott Cone about the impact of men’s formative years on unwanted sexual behaviors. Scott shares his testimonial and The Crucible’s impact on his recovery as a healing community of healthy men where shame is defeated. He states, “Sobriety is not the opposite of addiction. Connection is.” He reports that all sexual acting o...

Deb Gustafson shares with podcast host Joy Dunning about her journey through sexual and spiritual abuse that has driven her mission to create a world where every survivor is believed and supported for as long as it takes. Deb reports on Crucible’s impact on her healing journey and the power of soul work in recovery. She reports her desire for every pastor or church leader who notices abuse temptat...

Valerie Rausseo, LCPC, shares with host Joy Dunning about the power of shame and how it has impacted both her private counseling practice clients and her own life. After losing her mother to cancer at 17 and being abandoned by her dad,  shame became utterly debilitating as she tried to find her place in the world. Through sharing, risking vulnerability, and the support of a community of others, Va...

Australian Shea Adams is interviewed by podcast host Martin Brooker about the impact of Crucible retreat on his lifelong challenge with anxiety. Shea shares how a bullying incident as a boy drove him to high anxiety around large groups of people. Such incidents caused him to be physically sick. Not trusting these emotions from an early age, Shea’s inner-world was full of judgements of others and h...