This is The Forging of Men, a podcast to help fathers of sons raise their sons into the next great generation of men through faith, fitness, and outdoor adventure. In this episode Josh Vegors reflects on Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, explains the origin of ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday palms, and outlines the season’s purpose of fasting, prayer, repentance, and self-reflection.

He challenges listeners to start Lent by deciding what to say "yes" to—more prayer, gratitude, focused projects, and engagement with family—and then remove the distractions (like doom-scrolling) that steal time. Practical tips include using morning rituals for gratitude or prayer, reclaiming time for meaningful work and relationships, and using 40 days to build lasting habits.