GreatMan Podcast

One of the arts of great manhood is getting yourself straight about your father. For those of you who have wonderful relationships with your father, great. Dive deep. Drink it in. You won’t have him forever. For those of you who have mediocre relationships, dig in. Go further. You will be surprised at the riches to be found. If you had a horrible or absent father figure, Stephen challenges you to...

A part of the British monarch’s funeral rites involves friends, knights, aides, and family members stepping up to the corners and sides of the coffin to stand vigil. This tradition comes from an ancient practice of warriors honoring their deceased commanders or kings by surrounding them with protection. Ponder your life through this question: who will stand vigil for you? Are you living a life of...

Men need manly, sacred space: a space in the home or outside of it. As Stephen prepares for a move, he describes the manly sacred space he has enjoyed for the past 17 years in Nashville. Men from every station in life have walked in and exclaimed, “Man, I wish I had something like this!” It’s nothing fancy. Just some paint and furniture. But it provides a place apart. A quiet retreat. For some men...

Lying is a cancer of the soul and a cancer on great manhood. According to a survey by the University of Notre Dame, the average American tells 11 lies per week. Nearly three out of four of those lies are told to friends and family members. If a man is secure in himself, he doesn’t need to lie to enhance himself. Get centered so you can live a life of integrity. Speak the truth as you know it. Be t...

Posit this with us: If there is a God and if He created you, then He created you as a man. Of course, we all sustain wounds and deformities that pierce the soul and heart, keeping us from becoming the men we are meant to be. But, again, if there is a God and if He made you, then He desires for you to fulfill your destiny of becoming a great man. In this episode, Stephen offers encouragement and tr...

Joshua asks, what is the purpose of initiation and ritual among men? Learn why men are wired for rituals and seasons – and what you can do to build and foster ritual in the lives of your sons and the men around you. From childhood to adolescence to marriage to fatherhood, rites of passage have the power to profoundly shape and guide noble lives. Harness their power and make them a part of your too...

Men are about twice as likely to become alcohol-dependent as women. They’re twice as likely to binge drink and twice as likely to be drunk drivers. This is not a campaign against drinking. But it is a campaign for being thoughtful about your stance on alcohol and in control of your consumption. This is an essential episode for all men. Listen now… Photo by Adam Wilson on Unsplash for the National...

One of the things that distinguishes a mature man from an immature boy is his ability to get what he needs. Men, you’ve probably heard Stephen say this before: you need a certain amount of rowdiness and adventure in your lives. A reasonable pursuit of these things will make you a better man – for yourself and for those you lead. So, take stock of what you need. Figure out how to get it. And go aft...

We used to believe the brain was a closed system. Now we’re finding that the brain is very malleable. We are not dealt a single hand of cards at birth. In fact, the human brain is constantly changing and evolving. In this episode, Stephen discusses the number one way in which the brain is shaped and influenced. If you want to be a better man, it’s essential that you master the very specific area o...

Men are made for adventure. Yet so many guys are “over-domesticated.” You know how it goes: gradually, the pressures and duties of daily life begin to take over. We spend our time taking care of our homes, families, cars, and careers, while we neglect attending to our inner zeal and passion. Men, you need to have regular activities in your life that force excitement and adventure upon you. Every m...

Please note: This episode includes sexual content. Parents, consider listening alone first, then discussing with your sons. Pornography is at the root of many issues in our world, from domestic abuse to sex trafficking. In this hard-hitting episode, Stephen drills down on one specific problem: porn-induced erectile dysfunction. Younger men are now experiencing ED as a result of regular use of porn...

The great principles and truths that guide us to success and effective living are often quite simple. Stephen shares a basic concept that has changed his life: maintaining a sense of calm. One of the gifts that men can give to the world and themselves is calmness. A good man is centered. He is connected to God. He does not get rattled by everything that happens. He believes in destiny, and he step...

No matter your age or health, you need to make the habit of getting an annual medical exam a regular discipline in your life. Many of the diseases that can kill or seriously debilitate you are not things that you can detect yourself. Yeah, it might be uncomfortable. No, you’re not going to like it. But routine annual exams are a crucial part of being a great man. You owe it to yourself and your fa...

In one of Stephen’s favorite films, Legends of the Fall, there are two brothers who embody different spirits of manhood. Alfred is refined. Tristan is wild. There’s a scene where Alfred turns to Tristan and says, “I followed all of the rules, man’s and God’s, and you followed none of them. And they all loved you more.” Men live in tension between innate wildness and societal rules. Yes, rules are...

Build the culture around you through the stories you tell. Words are the fast-track in culture building. Weed out the dark and disillusioning, and fill in with the inspiring and encouraging. This summer, Stephen challenges you to evaluate what you’re talking about on a regular basis. Are you constantly griping or mired in negativity? What are you telling most often, and what does that encourage to...

In this special episode recorded for both the GreatMan Podcast and the Stephen Mansfield Podcast, Stephen reflects on the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Tune in for a discussion of gun laws, school security, but most importantly: the powerful role that family and community can play in preventing troubled young men like the Uvalde shooter from taking such brutal and vio...

After the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters, NASA became very risk-averse in their corporate culture. As a result, they didn’t have any major failures. They also capped innovation. SpaceX, on the other hand, failed and failed often. Elon Musk built a corporate culture that turned those failures into fuel for growth. Similarly, when you attempt something daring and new, there will be...

Men need both a team and a purpose or they will go about digging holes in their lives. Going it alone, they will allow themselves to be destroyed by addiction, excess pleasure, and past traumas. They will crash. Stephen illustrates the point by sharing a story he recently heard Bedros Keuilian tell. Men, find a band of brothers and get to work on fixing the problematic areas of your life before a...

Many a man has discovered the power of rebellion in his teenage years. It feels good. It makes you feel alive. A little bit of opposition and rebellion can even be healthy. But don’t get stuck there. If you allow rebellion to become a primary force in your life, you live constantly in a state of reaction. When rebellion and anger thrive in your soul, you are not able to pursue a destiny or take ho...

The strength and glory of a man are exhibited when he takes responsibility. It’s at the heart of noble manhood. Owning your responsibility is more than just checking off a list of household chores. (Though that’s part of it.) Being responsible in a manly way includes taking charge in the broader sense of your “field” – that is, your relationships, obligations to community, and self. Take responsib...

Men have an ability to set radiating goals. When you set a big radiating goal, your life naturally aligns in support of that goal. Stephen shares his big radiating goal in this episode and encourages you to do the same. Set your goal completion for four months from now. Ideally, you will make it physical, aggressive, and largely outdoors. Keep it achievable, but aggressive, and let it radiate thro...

Do you ever feel discouraged about where you are in life? Did you know that there is a benevolent conspiracy underway, leading you to a destined moment? In fact, the mundane and challenging parts of your life are building greatness within you. Though you may not see it, your weaknesses are being refined into skills that will lift you to great heights. Don’t miss this encouraging and powerful episo...

The poet Thomas Babington Macaulay wrote in “Lays of Ancient Rome” – And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers, And the temples of his Gods. Churchill memorized all 1,200 lines of this poem and quoted from it often in his wartime addresses. Stephen sees the poem’s sentiments coming to life today in the lives of men in Ukraine. You see, men are not meant to l...

If you are attempting to live out a code of noble manhood, you aren’t alone. You are part of something Stephen’s never talked about before on the GreatMan Podcast: a fellowship of men in the world. Tune in as Stephen discusses the global pursuit of great manhood, and what it means to care about righteous manhood across racial, ethnic, and national lines. Now, let’s get to the work that’s set out b...

At just 44 years old, Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, is calling his nation to greatness. Stephen discusses Zelensky’s unique path to the Presidency, his admirable leadership qualities, and his ability to rouse his people. Despite having a military budget one-tenth the size of Russia’s, Zelensky’s Ukraine is holding its ground. Tune in to find how this man has lit up his nation, and...