Heroic Stories

Why are so many fathers missing from family life, and what can ordinary men do about it? Deacon Joe Grote shares the story behind his book 'Where Have All the Fathers Gone?' and opens up about fatherhood, male friendship, resilience, family sacrifice, and the kind of heroism that begins at home. From St. Maximilian Kolbe to a family bakery collapse, this conversation explores what men owe their wives, children, friends, and the people placed in front of them every day.

Visit Deacon's Website: https://deaconjoegrote.com/

See Catholic Speakers: https://heroicmen.org/speakers

What You’ll Learn

✅ Why Deacon Joe Grote sees St. Maximilian Kolbe as a model of heroic masculinity

✅ What men’s groups are doing right when they create deep brotherhood over decades

✅ How losing a family business led Joe into a new mission of service and ministry

✅ Why the roles of husband, father, and friend sit at the center of his message

00:00 Meeting Deacon Joe Grote

01:21 Heroism in Auschwitz

02:53 Heroic where placed

04:03 Fatherhood, resilience, and staying alive

05:40 40 years of brotherhood and strength

12:07 The bakery story

16:44 Anxiety attack

17:56 The 26-mile walk home

23:49 Called into ministry

25:11 Where Have All the Fathers Gone?

27:47 The missing fathers crisis

35:01 What men can do now – husband, father, friend

39:40 Who he wants to help

#HeroicMen #Fatherhood #CatholicMen #Masculinity #Storytelling

What does St. Joseph reveal about courage, fatherhood, truth, and masculine leadership? Jose Miguel Pulido explores St. Joseph’s dream and the power of naming Jesus as an act of love, truth, and leadership. This a passionate, Scripture-filled discussion on why St. Joseph still matters, why men need to find their voice, and why fatherhood remains a gift in the life of the family and the Church.What You’ll Learn✅ Why St. Joseph’s dream in Matthew 1 matters so deeply✅ How naming Jesus becomes an act of leadership and truth✅ Why Jose calls men a gift, grace, and problem-solvers✅ How fatherhood, legacy, and St. Joseph connect across generationsTIMESTAMPS00:59 Intro01:10 Heroic story question01:21 Why Christ came through family02:20 Joseph’s dream and mission04:35 Joseph, son of David06:31 What babies are for07:21 Love as Joseph’s mission09:11 Joseph’s courage to stay12:03 St. Joseph speaks14:39 Why men need a voice16:10 Truth, problems, leadership18:30 Men as gift and grace22:41 Why men are a gift25:27 The law of love27:08 Why presence matters30:08 Why St. Joseph matters31:00 Loving your father more32:20 Advice from grandfather34:58 Jose on his dad36:29 Final message to men36:42 The sacred name of Jesus #StJoseph #CatholicMen #HeroicStories

What happens when a man faces the deepest wound of his life… and chooses forgiveness? Bob Kroll shares his story of growing up in an abusive home, carrying explosive anger into his own family, and the moment everything changed at a retreat that forced him to confront the “father wound.” His story exposes a hidden pattern affecting millions of men—and what it actually takes to break it.CatholicSpeakers.com Profile | Visit website What You’ll Learn✅ What the “father wound” is and why it shapes men✅ How unforgiveness traps men in anger and isolation✅ The exact moment forgiveness rewired his life✅ How healing one man can transform generations

A filmmaker who nearly lost everything to addiction explains why real masculinity isn’t flexing harder—it’s surrender, service, and choosing the unseen daily fight. Andrew Peloso (VEK Labs) shares how David’s story hits him now: God calls the “wrong fit,” forms him in ordinary days, and turns weakness into courage. Plus what recovery taught him about humility, connection, and becoming a husband and father.

For Garrett Hines, heroism isn’t bravado, but obedience. From the little-known story of Beninus walking into fire, to the brutal realities faced by Saint Patrick in pagan Ireland. He recounts his own collapse as a missionary overseas, the complete loss of prayer that followed, and how Catholic traditions rebuilt his interior life. Hines maps a handful of heroes — saints, statesmen, warriors, and fictional kings — united by their refusal of comfort and willingness to suffer for what mattered. He closes with a blunt charge to modern men: go all in, because anything less than a life aimed at holiness will eventually fail.

See Garret's Icons: garretthines.com

What if the most powerful kind of heroism isn’t loud, celebrated, or even noticed—but lived quietly every single day? In The Quiet Heroism of Fatherhood, Rob Astorino shares what it really means to be a man, a father, and a leader when no one’s watching. From the pressures of public life and politics to the deeply personal moments of raising children, he reveals why showing up consistently matters more than any title or achievement. This episode dives into faith, family, sacrifice, and the unseen battles men fight to stay present for the people who need them most. If you’ve ever wondered what actually defines a great man—or how to become one—this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about success, purpose, and legacy.https://catholicspeakers.com/profiles/rob-astorino | ABOUT HEROIC MEN |Heroic Men strengthens men to become missionary disciples, to bring more men to Jesus Christ. Get the best Catholic media for men on our brotherhood-building platform - let's leave no man behind.Website: https://heroicmen.orgHeroic Map: Find an event near you: https://heroicmen.org/mapJoin the Heroic Brotherhood: Our only community: https://heroicmen.org/brotherhoodHeroic Merch: Show your support for this heroic mission: https://store.heroicmen.orgDonate now: Join the Heroic Alliance: https://heroicmen.org/alliance| FOLLOW ON SOCIAL |Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heroicmanhoodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heroicmanhood/TIMESTAMPS00:00 The Essence of Heroism with Rob Astorino01:15 Quiet Heroes in Everyday Life07:39 The Impact of Fatherhood16:16 Navigating Parenthood and Professional Life21:02 Spirituality and Family Dynamics26:26 Transitioning to Empty Nesting30:53 Everyday Heroism

What happens when a professional hockey enforcer—known for fighting on the ice—walks away from fame, money, and identity to pursue something deeper?In this powerful episode of Heroic Stories, former NHL enforcer John Scott shares the surprising journey that transformed his life. From the intense world of professional hockey to becoming a father of eight and a man deeply rooted in faith, John opens up about the battles most fans never see.He talks about the pressure of life in the NHL, the culture of hockey locker rooms, and the identity crisis that hit after retirement. Despite achieving what many dream of—fame, money, and success—John discovered it didn’t bring the fulfillment he expected. That realization set him on a 10-year journey that eventually led him to embrace the Catholic faith.John shares the struggles that made the decision difficult, why he walked away from parts of his old lifestyle, and how faith reshaped his priorities as a husband and father. He also reflects on the quiet heroism of his own dad, the lessons he learned about sacrifice, and why raising strong, faithful children matters more than anything he accomplished in hockey.https://catholicspeakers.com/profiles/john-scottTIMESTAMPS00:00 – What heroism really means01:37 – D-Day and the courage of soldiers03:49 – The pressure of fighting in the NHL04:41 – The hardest decision: becoming Catholic06:06 – Studying the faith before committing08:14 – Hockey culture vs living the faith12:12 – His father’s sacrifice after the tornado13:32 – Losing his identity after retiring from hockey15:46 – Discovering real happiness after fame24:32 – The biggest struggles young people face today

What happens when a single phone call sends your life in a completely different direction? In The Call That Sent Him to Iraq (And Changed His Faith), Tom Pazili shares the moment he was asked to deploy to Iraq as a civilian advisor immediately after the war—and the prayer, fear, and faith that followed.

This conversation explores what it means to live a mission-focused life when everything in you wants comfort and certainty. Tom recounts leaving behind safety to step into a war zone with no military training, trusting that the call to serve something greater was worth the risk. From surviving rocket attacks to attending Mass inside Saddam Hussein’s palace, his story reveals how moments of danger and uncertainty can deepen faith in ways ordinary life never could.

But the story doesn’t end there. Tom also shares another life-altering decision—leaving New York with his family during COVID after his wife lost her job over a religious vaccine objection. Faced with uprooting their entire life, they chose faith over comfort and stepped into the unknown once again.

Along the way, Tom reflects on the importance of being mission-focused, the heroes who shaped him—from St. Thomas More to John Paul II—and why modern men must rediscover purpose, courage, and trust in God.

https://catholicspeakers.com/profiles/tom-basile

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Why men choose the harder path

3:17 – Real heroes still exist today

5:22 – Police trauma and positive psychology

7:36 – Be mission focused in life

10:24 – Decision to go to Iraq

12:04 – Leaving New York after COVID

14:44 – The great magisterium of God

16:51 – Mass inside Saddam Hussein’s palace

21:54 – Losing his father young

25:01 – Heroes: Aquinas, Thomas More, John Paul II

One Prayer Changed His Life began with what looked like panic attacks during Mass… but turned into a spiritual battle he never saw coming.

He thought he was a “good Catholic.” Married 27 years. Successful business. Two daughters. But he hadn’t been to confession in decades. No real prayer life. Lukewarm. Comfortable. Until week after week, something gripped him in the pew — racing heart, overwhelming heat, a voice urging him to walk out.

Then he prayed one desperate prayer:

“Lord Jesus Christ, free me from this affliction and I will serve You forever.”

What happened next shattered his old life.

In this powerful episode, he shares the dramatic moment of deliverance, the sudden loss of his wife, the supernatural sign that followed, and how suffering became the doorway to mission. From men’s ministry to Catholic radio to prison outreach, his life became proof that heroism isn’t born — it’s made through surrender.

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| ABOUT HEROIC MEN |

Heroic Men strengthens men to become missionary disciples, to bring more men to Jesus Christ. Get the best Catholic media for men on our brotherhood-building platform - let's leave no man behind.

Website: https://heroicmen.org

Heroic Map: Find an event near you: https://heroicmen.org/map

Join the Heroic Brotherhood: Our only community: https://heroicmen.org/brotherhood

Heroic Merch: Show your support for this heroic mission: https://store.heroicmen.org

Donate now: Join the Heroic Alliance: https://heroicmen.org/alliance

| FOLLOW ON SOCIAL |

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heroicmanhood

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heroicmanhood/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Tom Hornacek

01:56 Journey from Lukewarm to Disciple

04:32 The Impact of Prayer

07:40 Suffering and Its Role in Faith

10:24 Community and Support in Faith

13:23 Facing Life's Challenges

17:32 Grief and Healing

21:56 Faith and Service

26:57 Finding Love Again

27:47 Miracles

32:39 Practical Evangelization

39:22 The Importance of Prayer and Trusting God

Joe Halsell runs a construction company, and drank hard to handle life. Then Exodus 90 forced him to face what was actually enslaving him.

AA made it real by dropping him into a “barrier free” room of men offering unconditional help — “24-7, here’s my cell phone number.” It taught him to shut off the spotlight, strip away ego, and live by a hard rule: “Your very life depends upon the degree to which you serve others.”

Now he’s turning that arc into a book and a practice — daily prayer, examen, and Friday bed deliveries instead of the bar — aimed at the man who thinks his life’s over, because “it’s not… it’s just beginning.”

ABOUT HEROIC MEN:

Heroic Men strengthens men to become missionary disciples, to bring more men to Jesus Christ. Get the best Catholic media for men on our brotherhood-building platform - let's leave no man behind.

Get the app: https://heroicmen.org

Find a ministry near you: https://heroicmen.org/map

Join the Heroic Brotherhood: https://heroicmen.org/brotherhood

Donate now: https://heroicmen.org/donate

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Joe Hallsell

02:39 — Exodus 90 cracked everything open

04:05 — The addiction he couldn’t outrun

05:27 — The phone call that forced the truth

08:23 — AA and a room full of brothers

09:52 — When his son got leukemia

10:54 — “This couldn’t be for nothing”

14:45 — Generational sin and stopping the cycle

25:49 — Masculinity without the spotlight

27:45 — “Your life depends on serving others”

35:33 — Trading the bar for service

39:04 — The man he’s trying to reach