Manhood Restored

Episode 120 - 

A traditional liberal arts education is an endangered species of the Western world.  In modern parlance, the phenomenon of "going to college" is what's accessible to our children post high school.  While "going to college" can admittedly mean a of variety of things (technical schools, 4-year state universities, Ivy Leagues, etc), what it commonly looks like on the ground is a far cry from the old liberal arts conception of education and involves a trajectory rife with ideological and moral hazards that parents ought to give an honest evaluation of.

Ben masterfully leads this episode, looking at the topic from every angle, while Chad bellows and blusters along as the underachieving co-host.  The two give a critical shakedown of the default answers parents often give to their kids' post-secondary choices.  What are the significant risks inherent in sending your kids to college, and are those risks outweighed by the benefits?  If things are in fact so bad, how did Ben and Chad manage to survive their time at college?  And what are some intentional things that Christian parents can do to help their kids prepare for, and discern through, these kinds of important decisions?

SHOW NOTES:

Resources mentioned by Ben:

• Sayers, 1948, Lost Tools : Learning.pdf (archive.org)
• Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation - Kindle edition by Hegseth, Pete, Goodwin, David. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
• Full text of "The Abolition of Man" (archive.org)

Episode 119 -

Looking for a kick in the pants as you wind down 2023 and ramp up for a New Year?    Well, you're in luck!  Because Chad's fresh off a failure and feeling a little rowdy.  He's tasted him some humble pie and, finding it rather helpful, he can't resist the urge to imitate the late, great Kobe Bryant and share the Humble all around with some in-your-face straight talk!

Chad, coming to grips with his "loser" status, proceeds to rip it, MR-style, as Ben keeps up as co-host with his own big word and various voices.  The two cohesively call out a number of categories where men might aim at becoming Mightier in 2024.  Men: what ways are you stubbornly settling?  Are you the master of your desires or are you mastered by them?  Can you honestly say you've got your life's priorities in proper order?  And which man-demanding cause have you taken up during the last year?

SHOW NOTES:

Kobe Bryant - Soft Like Charmin (youtube.com)

Soft Kobe Bryant GIF - Soft Kobe Bryant No - Discover & Share GIFs (tenor.com)

Episode 118 - 

We once again fire up the four-microphone format known as the MAN TALK!  Taking on this audacious question, our mic'd up Mighty hosts and co-hosts compare notes, tell stories, and sit with the topic long enough to see where the question will lead.  Hang to the end and you'll hear how each man concludes when the conversation comes to an end.  (We'd love to hear your input on the topic as well, dear listener!  Email:  [email protected] )

Dr. Joshua Steinke and Matt Roessner are Men of Valor in their own rights, both at the helm of heroically large families!  Joshua--the proud owner of two Nissan NVs--is the father of seven children, while Matt (and this isn't a typo) is the father of nine!  Both help lend perspective to Chad (7 kids) and Ben's (4 kids) leading question, as the four fathers ride "27 deep" in this BIG discussion episode.  How did each man end up being a father of a big family, and what is it like--the good, the bad, the ugly--raising so many kids?  How does each man respond to the criticism that big families are a drain on scare resources and leave some of the kids wanting for individual attention?  And what are some of the benefits a large family brings into the culture at large?  

Episode 117 - 

It's official:  Ben is a hunter!  (Chad is still--most certainly--not.)  Ben nabbed yet another buck this hunting season, and the process by which he accomplished that kill made him feel like he'd finally arrived.  What about this year's hunt brought him this sense of achievement?  Now having found it, he tells his story and shares how he believes other men should strive for the same.

Ben scopes out an episode based on his hunting experience and leads the charge, as Chad wanders into unchartered territory as the co-host still sporting the same stereotypical salesman getup (khakis & polo for life!).  The two gut this topic for all its meaty content.  How is hunting a great example of a skilled activity that requires patience and the honing of a craft to become successful?  What about being both immersed in nature and needing to be quiet while hunting can be so spiritually rewarding?  And can Ben sell the salesman, Chad, on giving hunting a try?  

Episode 116 -

Whether you're married 5 years or 50, looking back on the early days in your relationship with your spouse can bring about feelings of great nostalgia.  The excitement of thinking she might be the one; the deep desire to have her become yours forever; moving into your first home together: these are memories with strong emotional resonance.  They are the things we sing songs about!  But how well, as the years go by, do we see the present moments of our marriage and the storybook ones of our past as being part of a connected whole?

Chad grabs the lead mic to twang out a tune for this episode, while Ben's on the backup vocals hitting a nasally note as co-host.  The two reminisce about their relationships with their wives, searching for meaningful threads that tie their present marriages back to past memories.  What is a newly engaged couple dreaming of when they decide to share the rest of their lives with each other?  What are some of the stories Chad and Ben recall about the early years of their respective marriages?   What does it mean that two "become one flesh" (Mark 10:8) in marriage, and how can that oneness help us better understand the meaning of married love? 

SHOW NOTES:

Book read in episode:  Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry | Goodreads

Andrew Peterson song referenced:  Andrew Peterson - Dancing in the Minefields
 (Official Video) - YouTube

Alan Jackson song (in episode title):  https://youtu.be/TTA2buWlNyM

    

Episode 115 -

Coach Joe Kennedy took an 8-year court battle over the First Amendment all the way to the Supreme Court...and won!  He was an assistant varsity football coach for Bremerton High School in Washington state.  He'd made a commitment to God that he was going to give thanks at the end of each game, but that was met with disapproval from his school district.  The defense of his rights made it to the court's highest level, and on June 27th of 2022 his right to pray was upheld.  His new book "Average Joe", which released in October of 2023, is available for purchase nationwide.  Joe is a twenty-year Marine veteran, and he and his wife, Denise, are parents to four children.

Ben stands with our guest and comes under center as lead play-caller for this episode, while Chad can't help himself as he signals from the sideline with his ritual gesturing.  The two cheer with all their fellow Americans as this guest lays out the simple truth of what it takes to stand up (or kneel) for your God-given rights.  What was it about Coach Kennedy's desire to thank God at the end of games that was so offensive that he was going to lose his job over it?  What compelled Joe to endure such a long, difficult court battle to see his rights vindicated, and what was it like being the center of such a high-profile case?  Finally, what kind of advice would Coach Kennedy have for other people facing similarly difficult situations? 

SHOW NOTES:

Coach Joe's website:   Coach Joe Kennedy

Connect with Joe:  

• (3) Facebook Personal
• (3) Facebook Coach Joe Kennedy Page

Buy Coach Joe's new book:  Average Joe: One Man's Faith and the Fight to Change a Nation: Kennedy, Joseph A.: 9781684515097: Amazon.com: Books

Episode 114 -

When it comes to unpopular Catholic moral teachings , this one ranks right up there!  Whether you're a Catholic or a non-Catholic Christian, the Church's stance is an equal opportunity offender.  Or perhaps, more accurately put, it's a controversial stance that's considered equally out-of-touch and irrelevant (and, therefore, is mostly ignored).  All that means for Manhood Restored is this:  it sure sounds like a great topic to bring up! 

Chad foresees a fecund future as he furrows the field of this episode, while Ben's indentured to the hard labor of coming along to corral the promised yield as co-host.  The two brave the strain of an uncomfortable conversation--disagreeing, agreeing, and agreeing to disagree--hoping for some kind of harvest.  Why does Chad consider contraception a "secret weapon" in the Culture Wars (see minute 57)?  What exactly is the Catholic Church's teaching about contraception, and does it make sense at all to Ben's Protestant sensibilities?  And what has been Chad and his wife's experience while following this teaching during their married life? 

SHOW NOTES:

Catholic teaching referenced (CCC 2360-2370):  Catechism of the Catholic Church (usccb.org)

What is Natural Family Planning:  What is NFP | Fertility Awareness Classes | Couple to Couple League International (ccli.org)

First Things article quoted by Chad:  The Dark Future of Over-the-Counter Contraception | Jonathon Van Maren | First Things

Stat cited linking Abortion to Contraception:  About Half of U.S. Abortion Patients Report Using Contraception in the Month They Became Pregnant | Guttmacher Institute

 Episode 113 - 

The attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7th, 2023 has set off a maelstrom of political turmoil on the global stage.  From the intense outrage over the disturbing details of the terrorist's actions to the strange show of support for them from elitists in academia and media, it's deep, murky waters for an average person to wade through.  Despite that fact, what's clear is this: we are witnessing a significant historical event, one which we'd do well to attempt to understand.

Ben leads with gratitude as the host for this important episode, as Chad comes along as a concerned co-host grappling with the issue's complexity.  The two talk through some of the latest headlines as well as the historical backdrop to this conflict, searching for an average man's workable understanding.  What are we to make of the demonstrations on college campuses in support of Palestine?  Is there a proper posture that Christians should take on this situation, given the very Jewish roots of their religion?  Why has there been, and is there still, such vehement hatred of Israel and the Jewish people?      

SHOW NOTES:

The 6 Day War:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i3uIz7hoYs 

Yom-Kippur War:  https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/golda-meir-and-the-miracles-of-the-yom-kippur-war/ 

Miracle at Golan Height (reenactment): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNXwhv8Mooo 

Episode of Andrew Klavan:  Stream Ep. 1152 - This Present Darkness by The Andrew Klavan Show | Listen online for free on SoundCloud

Resource from Ben's Challenge:

1. Pray for the peace of Israel.
2. Study on the history of Israel.
3. Give and support how you are able.  

https://www.oneforisrael.org/ 

Episode 112 -

Deacon Marty Brown has been a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for 13 years.  He currently serves the St Isidore the Farmer Family of Parishes and is the Facilities Manager at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in St Mary's, Ohio.  Prior to becoming a deacon, Marty worked in various fields - construction, welding, mechanics, groundskeeping, firefighting, as well as being a lifelong farmer.  He and his wife, Angie, have been married 40 years; they have 4 children and 12 grandchildren.

Ben jumps off this interview episode hoping to soar to new heights of understanding, as Chad packs a parachute, taking every Catholic precaution as the co-host.  The two take a leap into this conversation and quickly find themselves drafting behind the momentum of their guest's story of faithfulness to God's will.  What were some of the dramatic ways that God helped Marty discover his calling to be a deacon?  How can putting your trust in the Holy Spirit enable you to see big and little choices as opportunities to serve God?  And how does the spirit of fear often undermine the discernment process? 

Franz Reichelt Failed 1912 Eiffel Tower Jump
 

Episode 111 -

All throughout life, we find ourselves making a multitude of decisions.  Some are small and insignificant; others are major, the kinds that are like crossroads.  When we are in the midst of making those big decisions (Should I change my job?  Should I marry this girl?  Should we move our family to a new town?), discerning the right Choice can be downright difficult.

Ben puts the magnifying glass over this question as the episode's Sherlock Holmes, and Chad twists the ends of his imaginary stash while helping Ben get to the bottom of things.  The two puzzle over wise ways to discern life's biggest choices and what role God has in the process.  When it comes to these "crossroad" types of decisions, is there ONE right path that God wills for you--like one person meant for you to marry?  How important of a role should other people and their opinions play in decision making?  Is it possible to prepare for future big decisions before you even know what those decisions will be?       

SHOW NOTES:

Article by Peter Kreeft on Discernment