Happy Father's Day!

To celebrate with you, we decided to compile a "best of" podcast episode from this past year. This will give you something to do on this special day, since you definitely don't have anything better to do...right? It's like an annual recap. Take a trip down memory lane with us to some of our favorite highlights from our past year of podcasting. Thank you for being along for the ride. As always, remember: you are not a father on accident. So go be a father on purpose!

Links below to the episodes in order of clips used, go back and give them a listen!

• Ep 155: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/fathers-day-2024/
• Ep 164: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/the-forge-movie-with-alex-and-stephen-kendrick/
• Ep 165: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/ep-165-walking-through-adversity-with-darren-walter/
• Ep 167: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/what-jeff-zaugg-learned-about-awesome-dads/
• Ep 168: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/jim-ramos-helps-men-get-dialed-in/
• Ep 170: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/orv-kimbrough-and-the-keys-to-freedom/
• Ep 173: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/dont-bench-yourself/
• Ep 192: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/josh-kubler-on-gospel-centered-parenting/
• Ep 197: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/cameron-arnett-on-playing-the-part-of-jesus/
• Ep 207: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/becoming-a-curious-father-with-mark-batterson/
• Ep 193: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/mac-powell-on-being-a-present-parent/

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• Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15
• Grab some fresh beans! https://rangecoffee.com/

• Join the Fatherhood Guard as a monthly donor: https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/fatherhood-guard/

• Buy Kent's latest book: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon
• Read the new State Of Biblical Fatherhood report here: http://manhoodjourney.org/sobf
• Find tools to share the report here: https://manhoodjourney.org/sobf-tools

• Have a topic you want us to touch on? Well, get in touch! Send us an email at: [email protected]

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About our hosts:

• Kent Evans is the Executive Director and co-founder of Manhood Journey, a ministry that helps dads become disciple-makers. After a twenty-year career as a business leader, he embarked on biblical Fatherhood ministry projects. He's appeared on television, radio, web outlets and podcasts. He's spoken at parenting and men's events. He's authored four books. The first, Wise Guys: Unlocking Hidden Wisdom from the Men Around You, was written to help men learn how to find mentors and wise counsel. The latest, Don't Bench Yourself: How to Stay in the Game Even When You Want to Quit, aims to help dads stay present in their roles as fathers and husbands even when they feel like giving up. Kent's life has been radically affected by godly mentors and his lovely wife, April. They have been married thirty years and have five sons and one daughter-in-law. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

• Lawson Brown is husband to his high school sweetheart, a father of two young adult daughters, has been a business leader since 1995, and is a former Marine. He served as a small group leader for teenage boys for many years, helped start the Christian media ministry City on a Hill Productions, then later Sanctuary – a new church in Kennesaw, GA – where he served as its leader for Men's Ministry. Lawson's journey of faith has always been centered in a grounding from his wife, Audrey, and supported throughout by many men who he's found as brothers along the way. His family is nearing an empty nest phase and has recently relocated to the Florida Gulf Coast beaches area.

In today's episode, we have the privilege of sharing our conversation with pastor and author Mark Batterson. Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the author of 24 books including the New York Times bestselling The Circle Maker as well as In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, and, most recently, A Million Little Miracles. As Mark likes to say, "There's only 2 ways to live your life - as if nothing is a miracle, or as if everything is."

His advice to dads is pretty straightforward: love your family as God has loved you. While this is simple, that doesn't mean it's easy. We get into some practical ways to love our kids as our Father has loved us. "How are your kids going to learn to say sorry if they don't hear it from you?" "We have to help our kids cultivate holy, non-anxious curiosity." "You can't force feed your kids Scripture...but you can live it." "We create the world our kids live in through our words." These are just some of the nuggets of wisdom from today's episode with Mark. We hope this conversation is encouraging, enlightening, and inspires you to go forth as a dad with refreshed love and kindness towards your kids.

Check out Mark's latest book:

https://www.markbatterson.com/books/a-million-little-miracles/

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• Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15
• Grab some fresh beans! https://rangecoffee.com/
• Buy Kent's latest book Don't Bench Yourself here: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon

• Read the new State Of Biblical Fatherhood report here: http://manhoodjourney.org/sobf
• Find tools to share the report here: https://manhoodjourney.org/sobf-tools

• Have a topic you want us to touch on? Well, get in touch! Send us an email at: [email protected]
• Become a monthly donor and a member of the Fatherhood Guard: https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/fatherhood-guard/

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About our hosts:

• Kent is an author, speaker, and the co-founder and executive director of Manhood Journey. Kent and his wife April live in Louisville, KY, and they have five sons.
• Lawson is a business executive and a military veteran. He and his wife Audrey live on the gulf coast of Florida, and have two daughters.

Today's episode is a little different than normal. We need your help. As many of us know, the world is suffering from a fatherlessness crisis. Homes without dads abound, and with that reality comes many consequences. We want to stop that. However, the first step towards winning a battle is always realizing that you're in one. That's why we're releasing the State Of Biblical Fatherhood report. With over 6,000 survey responses, this report will help shed some light on what it looks like when homes are left without Christian dads to lead them. This isn't just doom and gloom though. We want to light a fire under you. Your family needs you, now more than ever. Go read the report and share it with your friends, your family, and your pastor. Just click the links below.

We also want to extend the opportunity for you to join the Fatherhood Guard. The Fatherhood Guard is our group of monthly supporters who make it possible for us to do things like creating this report and all the other work we do. Your support is making a difference in homes and families worldwide. For any monthly donation, you get to be one of our core supporters, and maybe even get a cool hat...but of course we know you wouldn't do it just for that...would you? But truly, the greatest gift you get is the chance to pay it forward. As of 2025, we have reached over 2 million dads with some piece of content. Help us reach the next 2 million. You have the ability to get this show in the hands (the ears?) of more and more dads by supporting our work. Consider joining the Fatherhood Guard today by going to https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/.

We always say it, but we never want to forget it: you are not a father on accident, so go be a father on purpose.

• Read the SOBF report here: http://manhoodjourney.org/sobf
• Find tools to share the report here: https://manhoodjourney.org/sobf-tools

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• Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15
• Grab some fresh beans! https://rangecoffee.com/
• Buy Kent's latest book Don't Bench Yourself here: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon

• Have a topic you want us to touch on? Well, get in touch! Send us an email at: [email protected]
• Become a monthly donor and a member of the Fatherhood Guard: https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

About our hosts:

• Kent is an author, speaker, and the co-founder and executive director of Manhood Journey. Kent and his wife April live in Louisville, KY, and they have five sons.
• Lawson is a business executive and a military veteran. He and his wife Audrey live on the gulf coast of Florida, and have two daughters.

Ever tried to warn your kids about something and had them roll their eyes so hard it echoed? As dads, we've been down some rough roads—and part of our job is helping our kids avoid the same potholes. But how we offer that wisdom can make all the difference. Come on too strong and we sound like a lecture. Stay too quiet and we miss a chance to guide them. If you want to be heard and influential with your kids, this one's for you.

In today's episode, Kent and Lawson dive into how to offer wise counsel that connects, using Solomon's masterclass in Proverbs 7 as a guide. They tackle questions like:

• How do we talk about modern dangers—porn, fame, vanity, etc.—without sounding like we're yelling from a mountaintop?
• How do we guide with humility, not certainty?
• How do we root our advice in relationship, share it through story, and still make the consequences clear?

At the end of the day, our kids don't need a fortune-teller. They need a father who's humble, present, and willing to step in, without being a know-it-all. Let's dive in.

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• Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15
• Grab some fresh beans! https://rangecoffee.com/
• Buy Kent's latest book Don't Bench Yourself here: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon

• Have a topic you want us to touch on? Well, get in touch! Send us an email at: [email protected]
• Become a monthly donor and a member of the Fatherhood Guard: https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

About our hosts:

• Kent is an author, speaker, and the co-founder and executive director of Manhood Journey. Kent and his wife April live in Louisville, KY, and they have five sons.
• Lawson is a business executive and a military veteran. He and his wife Audrey live on the gulf coast of Florida, and have two daughters.

Ever heard the phrase, "you are what you eat?" What if we told you this: you are what you think. Not quite as catchy, but perhaps even more true. The reality is, for better or worse, we become what we behold. Our thought patterns are among the most important aspects of how we view ourselves, the world around us, our relationship to God, and everything else we go through or interact with on a daily basis. Thankfully, Scripture has a lot to say about where we should "set our minds" (Colossians 3, Romans 8, and Philippians 4, to name a few examples).

Just like the dial on an FM radio, we can choose where to tune our minds, and like it or not, whatever you "tune into" most consistently becomes the soundtrack of your life, and ultimately, the shape of your character. Let's dive into what God's Word says about our thoughts, and explore some of the obvious (and sometimes not-so-obvious) ways we can honor God with where we fix our minds.

• Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15
• Grab some fresh beans! https://rangecoffee.com/
• Buy Kent's latest book Don't Bench Yourself here: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon

• Have a topic you want us to touch on? Well, get in touch! Send us an email at: [email protected]
• Become a monthly donor and a member of the Fatherhood Guard: https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/

Struggling to connect and communicate well with your kids? You're not the only one. In this episode, Kent and Lawson explore why meaningful communication isn't just about saying the right words. It's about aligning your heart, ears, and mouth. Drawing from Luke 6:45, they unpack how what's stored in your heart inevitably spills out in your speech—for better or worse. Today's episode will help you learn how to shift from correction to connection with your kids. If you want your words to build trust instead of barriers, this one's for you.

Become a member of the fatherhood guard: https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/

Buy Kent's latest book Don't Bench Yourself here: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon

Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15

This week, we're helping dads everywhere not blow it on Mother's Day. Whether you're honoring your amazing wife and mother of your children, or your own mom (and don't forget your mother-in-law!), we've got tactical moves and biblical wisdom to help you show up like a pro. From handwritten notes to surprise chores and kid-powered tributes, this episode will give you some tools to make sure the moms in your life feel truly seen. We'll also look at how Jesus honored His mother—even while saving the world. Because let's be honest..."I forgot" is not a spiritual gift. Happy Mother's Day to all you mom heroes out there!

Become a member of the fatherhood guard: https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/

Buy Kent's latest book Don't Bench Yourself here: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon

Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15

Ever feel like fatherhood is just an endless loop of laundry, lunch-packing, and late-night Lego injuries? You're not alone—and you are making a difference. In this episode, we talk about the quiet strength it takes to do the "mundane" work of being a dad, and why that work might be more meaningful than it seems. From holding down a job that might not spark fireworks to praying for your family when you're running on fumes, we highlight five things godly dads don't get tired of doing. As Colossians 3:23 reminds us, the most ordinary things become sacred when done for the Lord...even remembering to grab your quarter from the Aldi cart for the hundredth time. So if you're worn out, hang in there. You're building something eternal, one routine at a time.

Become a member of the fatherhood guard: https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/

Buy Kent's latest book Don't Bench Yourself here: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon

Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15

In this special 200th episode (woo-hoo!), we wanted to talk about one of the most crucial topics when it comes to being a godly dad. If you ever feel like you're not good enough, you don't have it all figured out, or you're just confused on where to go next as a dad, we've got news for you: you're right. If it were completely up to us, we'd never be the fathers God has called us to be. The beauty of being a Christian is that we don't have to do it on out own. We are simply the vessels that God uses. Today, let's remind ourselves that we are not the source of wisdom, strength, or life, but we're the pipes that carry the flow of God's grace to our children.

• Become a member of the fatherhood guard: https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/
• Buy Kent's latest book Don't Bench Yourself here: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon
• Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15

Being a godly dad is tough. No one who's been down that road would argue with you there. However, it's easy to fall into the "good old days" trap of thinking this is just a recent development. Instead of trying to figure out who's had it the hardest over the course of history, let's make sure we understand why it's so hard: because Satan doesn't like godly dads discipling their kids. If you're a dad, we've got news for you. You're in a fight, and your enemy is the Enemy. However, God will equip you to take on these challenges as you trust in him. Today, let's confront the enemy's attacks on us and our families through the power of God's Word.

Free Survival Gear reading plan: https://manhoodjourney.org/survival-gear

Buy Kent's latest book Don't Bench Yourself here: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon

Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15