The Intentional Man Podcast

Intentionally creating space for fun may seem unimportant but it can actually be a great way to make memories and deepen the relationships with your kids. Rusty shares how going "all in" on fun with your family may takes some planning but can pay dividends in laughter.

While it's important for us dads to invest in the serious and very important parts of raising our kids and leading our family, it's just as important for us to carve out time to be a fun dad. Our kids need to see us laughing, joking, relaxing, and enjoying our life - in a way that includes them. In this episode, Rick and Rusty share 8 ways you can score some "fun dad" points with...

Living a meaningless life can leave a man feeling discontent and unfulfilled. By looking at 3 principles: being intentional, being proactive, and setting long-term goals, a man can move from discontent to living a powerful life that makes a difference.

Maybe you're one of the many men who feel discontent with life. Marriage isn't what you hoped for. Your career is dragging. Others seem to be catching all the breaks. The truth is, lot's of guys - even those who seem very successful - reach a point in life when they stop and ask " is this all there is ?" We have good news - the answer is no. Your life can still have meaning a...

Even if you aren't in a leadership position, there's an excellent chance that you are still leading someone. A coworker, a family member, a friend - someone is watching how you live and using your life as guidance. So, are you doing it well? Rusty shares some tips on being a good leader whether in the spotlight or in the background.

Servant leadership is a popular form of leadership that had it's humble beginnings as far back as Bible times but was coined by Robert Greenleaf in 1970 while working for AT&T. Greenleaf was seeking a way to unite employees, regardless of position, toward a common mission. He found that a leader who is more accessible to those he or she leads has a much better chance of gaining their trust...

Authoritative. Authoritarian. They sound very similar but are very different parenting styles that can provide very different results. While rules play an important role in both parenting methods, rules are not the focus of authoritative parenting. Authoritative parenting seeks to instill a sense of confidence in a child by providing a safe, nurturing environment that includes rules but also lots...

Most fathers want to be good dads. We want our kids to love us, admire us, and even want to be around us. We want to be the kind of man that they are proud of – even if they don’t want us around when they’re with friends.  The trouble is, some of us guys aren't sure what it really means to be a good dad so we end up investing in the wrong areas and miss out on opportunities to make memories an...

In this short, Rusty discusses how we process anger - express, suppress, and calming - and how by getting to the underlying reason for anger will help a man control and eliminate unhealthy anger in his life - saving relationships, health, and wasted time distanced from those we love.

Anger is considered a secondary emotion . When a man feels misunderstood, unappreciated, disrespected, ashamed, or some other negative emotion, he may act out in anger simply because he has never learned how to show the other emotion. By intentionally the primary emotion, how to process them, and how to handle angry feelings in a healthy manner, a man can experience a better balanced and enjoyable...

Some men feel frustrated so often that it seems like a natural part of life. The fact is, frustration can impact our health and relationships by increasing stress, anger, irritability, and depression among other things. In this episode, learn frustration triggers to watch for, how frustration affects daily life, and six ways to address frustration so a man can live a more meaningful, less frustrat...

While frustration seems like a routine emotion for many men, living in a state of perpetual frustration can damage a man's self-confidence and relationships. In this episode, Rick and Rusty discuss how a man's frustration begins with feelings of weakness, inadequacy, or inability to change his circumstances and what steps he can take to resolve frustration and live a fulfilling, positive l...

In this episode, Rusty shares how being intentional with our thoughts can help win the battle against anxiety. Equally important, he points out, is the use of all available tools: prayer, family, friends, pastors, counselors, and doctors. By choosing to involve others and intentionally work toward change, a man can find lasting victory over this potentially debilitating struggle.

While feeling worry now and then may be normal, out of control anxiety can paralyze a man. In this episode, Rick and Rusty discuss some causes of anxiety, its effects on a man's life, and ways he can reduce anxiety and live a productive life with healthy relationships.

Feeling a lack of purpose or identity is one element that Dr. Jed Diamond's study attributes to IMS and a man's potential struggle with hypersensitivity. What does hypersensitivity look like? How does it affect a man's relationships? Learn more in this episode of The Intentional Man Podcast.

Continuing with their discussion of IMS, Rick and Rusty share the impact that hypersensitivity has on a man's relationships and why it is critical that he changes his perspective. In this episode they also answer the question: Is it ok for a Christian to get help from a counselor or doctor or should I just pray about it? Outline Review of Irritable Male Syndrome As a Christian, is it Ok to Get...

You've been feeling angry, frustrated, and irritated and your not sure why. Little things seem to trigger overreaction. Your wife and kids avoid you. What in the world has happened to the happy guy you used to be? In this podcast short, Rusty reviews the Monday discussion on Irritable Male Syndrome and shares how you can take steps to reverse the affects and once again be the fun-to-be-around...

Thousands of men are tired, frustrated, unmotivated, and angry but have no idea why they feel this way. Are they just old? Is it stress? Does their spouse enjoy making them miserable? It's probably none of the above. Many men suffer from what Dr. Jed Diamond calls Irritable Male Syndrome and by recognizing the symptoms and making a few life changes, a man can begin to enjoy living again. Join...

There will be people who want to speak into your life that are simply not qualified. Their goals do not align with yours. They do not share the commitment to faith that you do. They do not have your best interest in mind. Not only will they not challenge you, they will slow you down or may even cause you to quit altogether. While it is important to have pacesetters in your life, it is just as impo...

When a marathon runner wants to break a personal record, set a new world record, or just finish a race strong, his coach will select pacesetters that run alongside him during the race to ensure he keeps a pace that allows him to meet his goal. In life, it is just as important that we have men around us that are challenging us, encouraging us, and holding us accountable so that we will be successfu...

In this episode Rusty shares how we handle a "No" from God. How should we respond? Can we trust He knows better than we do? What if we think His answer isn't fair - or even right?

Saying no can be difficult but saying yes to everything isn't healthy or productive. In this episode, Rick and Rusty discuss why, when, and how a man should learn to confidently say no to a request and how this can improve his ability to do the more important things better.

Resolutions are for quitters - at least for 91% of people per year. In this episode, Rick discusses how to set yearly goals that will move you toward real change, not just good intentions.

Approximately 91% of people give up on their new year resolutions each year. Guys, it's time to abandon resolutions and set goals like a man. How can you set proper goals and attain real success when most others quit by the end of January? Rick and Rusty talk about 4 steps that can bring permanent change, not just temporary results, to a man committed to growth.

By considering where you invest the most time, you get a preview of your future legacy. In this episode, Rusty shares how to intentionally invest so that we leave the strong, godly legacy we should.