The CLIMB with Teko Bailey: For Men Ready to Rise in Purpose

Glenn T. Stanton is the director of Global Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family and the author of several books on marriage, gender, and family. On this episode of The Climb, Glenn and Teko dig into where the term "toxic masculinity" actually came from, why Glenn argues it's the wrong word for a real problem, and what healthy masculinity looks like in scripture and in practice. They als...

The Hele Fitness co-founder on burnout, emptiness, and learning to trust God's timing over his own hustle Episode Description: Gus Mello is the co-founder of Hele Fitness, which grew from a 10x10 storage unit into a company operating across Hawaii, Brazil, Canada, and Guam. On this episode of The Climb, Gus opens up about the season where he had everything he'd worked for — the money, the business...

Kent Evans is the co-founder of Manhood Journey and author of Don't Bench Yourself. On this episode of The Climb, Kent unpacks why so many good men quietly disqualify themselves the moment they fail as a husband, father, or leader — and lays out what it actually takes to get back in the game. Kent and Teko talk about the difference between criticism worth listening to and criticism that isn't, the...

Elio Alcindor is a Christian father, gospel artist, and the founder of the Canadian SELAH Music Awards. On this episode of The Climb, Elio opens up about the sudden loss of his wife, the two years he spent wrestling with God afterward, and how he found his way back to faith while raising three young kids on his own. This conversation is for any father who has ever felt like God went silent right w...

Teko Bailey sits down with fitness coach and calisthenics trainer Michael Castro to explore the connection between physical health, spiritual growth, and becoming the man God created you to be. Michael shares his journey from traditional weightlifting into calisthenics, explaining why bodyweight training develops more than strength—it builds mobility, discipline, and a deeper connection to how the...

Teko Bailey sits down with Glenn Stanton, Director of Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family, to discuss marriage, family, fatherhood, and why many men are struggling to build lasting relationships in today's culture. Drawing from decades of research in sociology, anthropology, and theology, Glenn explains why marriage has historically been the foundation of healthy societies and why comm...

Teko Bailey sits down with German to talk about faith, obedience, and what it really means to follow God when the path is uncertain. German shares his journey of learning to trust God beyond comfort and control. In seasons where clarity was limited, he was faced with a choice: rely on his own understanding or step forward in obedience. Through those moments, he began to realize that faith is not p...

Teko Bailey sits down with former NFL quarterback Jeff Kemp to talk about leadership, identity, and why many men slowly drift at home without realizing it. After years in professional football, Jeff recognized that success on the field could not define who he was off of it. That realization led him into a deeper understanding of identity rooted in faith, not performance — and a calling to help men...

Teko Bailey sits down with Christian artist and worship leader Daniel Richter to talk about identity, surrender, and what it means to put Jesus at the center of your life. Daniel shares his journey from mainstream success — touring, record deals, and a gold-certified single — to a defining moment where everything shifted. After praying for direction, the doors he expected to open suddenly closed....

Teko Bailey sits down with Henk, a Netherlands-born horseman and former Dutch Army officer, to explore leadership, trauma, and what horses reveal about a man’s inner world. As a child, Henk dreamed of working with horses. Instead, he followed family tradition into the military, serving eight years in the Dutch Army and eventually deploying to Lebanon. That season forced him to confront the fragili...

Teko Bailey sits down with Dr. Clarence Shuler, widely known as The Love Doctor, to talk about marriage, leadership at home, and why many men unintentionally drift from friendship with their wives. Dr. Shuler explains how men often find identity in what they do rather than who they are, which slowly erodes emotional connection in marriage. He challenges the idea that marriage survives on duty alon...

Teko Bailey sits down with Garry, a South Africa–based businessman and missionary, to talk about integrated leadership — faith, family, health, and business lived as one life, not competing priorities. Garry shares how his journey through property development and ministry reshaped his understanding of stewardship. Rather than separating “sacred” and “secular,” he explains why business itself can b...

Teko Bailey interviews fatherhood creator and author Glen Henry about one central truth: you cannot lead your family well until you learn how to father yourself first. Glen explains how many men try to show up strong for their wives and children while neglecting their own inner work, emotional health, and identity. Glen shares the personal journey that led to his new book, Father Yourself First, i...

Teko Bailey sits down with Dove Award–nominated writer and producer Derek Winkley for a conversation about obedience, identity, and trusting God when progress feels slow or unseen. With a background rooted in church music and jazz, Derek brings a rare perspective shaped by creativity, faith, and leadership. In this episode, he shares openly about seasons where following God did not lead to immedia...

Teko Bailey interviews violinist and innovator Tracy Silverman about two things: parenting without control and keeping string music relevant today. Tracy says you can’t force kids to become who you want—push them and they push back. His goal as a parent and teacher is to help people find their “North Star,” what they truly care about. Tracy shares how he started young, making his pro debut at 13 w...

In this episode of The Climb, Teko Bailey sits down with worship artist and nurse practitioner Dimas Cortez to talk about faith that holds up under pressure, the long road to identity, and what it looks like to keep serving God when your home life is chaotic. Dimas traces his story from learning piano as a teenager after getting plugged into church—despite not coming from a musical family—to slowl...

In this episode of The Climb, Teko Bailey sits down with coach and educator Cam Hall to talk about fatherhood, health, and the cost of trying to be “the fit guy” while everything else in your life is on fire. Cam traces his story from growing up in poverty in small-town Canada—with a dad who worked constantly, a mom running split shifts at a coffee shop, and a teenage job in the back of that same...

In this episode of The Climb, Teko Bailey sits down with Dr. John Murray—educator, researcher, musician, husband, father, and soon-to-be grandfather—to talk about late blooming, father wounds, and building a life of purpose when your early years feel like chaos. John traces his journey from a rough neighborhood in eastern Canada, where crime and low expectations were normal, to being the “bookish”...

In this episode of The Climb, Teko Bailey sits down with Air Force veteran, medic, recruiter, and mortgage loan officer Don “The Mortgage Medic” Hecker to talk about fear, surrender, and what it means to be a present father when life spins completely out of control. Don walks through the day he thought he was flying to Miami for a bodybuilding show and gender reveal—and instead found himself racin...

In this episode of The Climb, Teko Bailey sits down with contemporary gospel musician and worship leader Theo Milford to talk about fear, obedience, and finally stepping into your calling. Theo shares the honest backstory behind releasing his debut album after nearly two decades of writing songs in private. Turning 40 gave him a jolt: he realized that leaving his music trapped on a phone voice not...

When life forces you to grow up fast, grit becomes part of your DNA. In this episode of The Climb, Teko Bailey sits down with entertainer, storyteller, and cultural voice Lanai Tabura to trace the journey from a pineapple field on Lānaʻi to award-winning media creator. Raised in poverty by a single mother, shaped by back-breaking plantation work, radio hustle, and the responsibility of cooking for...

When your worth is defined by applause, platforms, and pressure, worship can quietly turn into performance. In this episode of The Climb, Teko Bailey sits down with worship leader and songwriter Keagan Denney to talk about what happens when you strip all that away and make it only about Jesus. Raised under a piano in Pasadena, Texas, shaped by a ministry family, and refined through loss, financial...

When tragedy strikes, it tests everything you believe about yourself, your faith, and your purpose. In this episode of The Climb, Teko Bailey sits down with Greg Boyd—founder of Vienna Waits—to unpack how he rebuilt his life after losing his wife, Allison, to glioblastoma at just 34. From the depths of grief and fatherhood through COVID, Greg learned to live intentionally, parent with compassion,...

Gospel artist and worship leader Noel Robinson has spent more than three decades shaping the sound of modern worship across continents. From touring with legends like Ron Kenoly and Graham Kendrick to leading revival through his latest album Change the Atmosphere, Noel’s story is one of obedience, refinement, and faith tested in the fire. In this conversation with Teko Bailey, Noel unpacks what it...

Bret Green’s journey is one of fatherhood, growth, and courage. Known to millions as Dad Got Bars, his mix of music, honesty, and humor is reshaping how men talk about parenting and masculinity. Before becoming a viral voice for modern dads, Bret built a Hollywood career with roles in The Inspectors, How to Get Away with Murder, Stalker, and The Goldbergs. But it was fatherhood—not fame—that gave...