Reflection on episode: This is a MANDATE Core episode, meaning we created this podcast to have vulnerable conversations just like this. Aaron was an absolute delight to interview and, as you can hear, did most of the talking while Ben and Joe sat back and listened. Aaron's raw vulnerability to be transparent with his story impacted so many of our listeners. Post-episode Aaron shared with us that many of his military brothers and sisters reach out to say thank you. This is must episode for any Mandate listener!

Episode Highlights:

Marine Corp Infantry & Sniper

Extensive & Exhausting Training

“Did you have to use your sniper training?”

Imposter Syndrome: People feeling like a fraud. You can’t or won’t take responsibility for things that happened to you.

70% of ADULTS are afflicted with Imposter Syndrome

Cope with imposter syndrome with unhealthy relationships with men = “One-up” (drinking, drinking & driving, fighting etc.)

“My friends and family think I’m tough! How do you tell your story when you haven’t experienced combat?”

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

We have to create an opportunity for men to talk with other people when struggling!

Reach out to Aaron – [email protected] or find on Facebook

Reflection on episode: Nate’s episode was really fun for Ben. He got to listen to Nate and Joe reflect on their experience with divorce and you can really hear the synergy between the two of them. We really hope that men out there heard Nate’s heart and passion for the roles we are responsible for playing as husbands. This was also an episode where we received significant feedback; positive and negative.

Episode Highlights:

"If you are not pursuing your wife, someone else will."

The highs and lows of a young marriage.

Nate could have pulled the victim card because of the circumstance, however through counseling & self-reflection he chooses to take ownership.

The discussion of sex before and after marriage. The discussion of sex before and after divorce. Pursuing a relationship with Jesus.

Reflection on Episode: This episode is where Mandate really started to gain an audience. Not only because Mayor TenHaken and his influence but also Joe and Ben having a clear agenda of where they wanted each episode to go. The moment at the start where Paul is talking about being invited onto Mandate and assuming we were going to talk about a Covid mandate was a real conversation we had with him. 

Episode Highlights:

“Leadership – Accept Blame & Deflect Praise”

What is your mission field today?

Good, Bad, & Ugly: The stories of being in the trenches during massive city growth, CV19, & local politics

Two MANDATE listener exclusives: Exciting news about Downtown Sioux Falls & is Paul going to put his name in again for mayor?

Joe & Ben React to the following:

Angela's Courageousness - There is potential for criticism and public judgement, she still presses on.

Joe's students and how they are handling mental health. We need to pay more attention to this.

Yearly body check, why not yearly brain/mind check...covered by insurance.

Ben was ready to leave the church. "All the things you were willing to leave the church for, why don't you pick up the cross and find a resolution."

Anxiety. Encouragement to have a conversation with your TRUSTED medical source.

Imprints you leave on your family as a father and husband will have generational effects; good and bad.

Submission to the role of fatherhood and taking the lead, we are losing our ability to do that.

Deposits of discipline, love, trust, concern, and joy.

NEW PATREONS! George and Laura, THANK YOU! patreon.com/mandatepodcast

Angela is an American News presenter, investigative journalist, philanthropist and author. She is best known as a co-anchor on KELOLAND News for KELO-TV in Sioux Falls, SD.

On May 16, 2018, Angela’s 21-year-old daughter, Emily, died of fentanyl poisoning. After returning to work after several months leave of absence, Kennecke told her story to KELOLAND viewers. Later that week, she appeared on CBS This Morning and several other national outlets to share her family's story. Angela was working on an investigation into South Dakota’s Good Samaritan Laws and overdose deaths.

In the weeks that followed, Angela and her husband Jeff started a non-profit organization called Emily’s Hope. This non-profit has helped raise thousands for the Avera Health Addiction Care Center in Sioux Falls and Emily’s Hope House, a sober living house.

For more information and resources:

Emily’s Hope: emilyshope.foundation/family-resources-1

Face it TOGETHER: wefaceittogether.org

Addiction Solutions 605: addictionsolutions605.com

Helpline Center: helplinecenter.org

"The most segregated time in American happens each week; on Sunday morning."

Food, sports, & sex: 3 global languages

The complete absence of pickup soccer in Sioux Falls. 

"I had to forgive my Dad."

Losing family and friends because of their proclamation as Christians. 

Zach is the Founding and Lead Pastor of C6. He was born and raised in Nigeria while Holly, his wife, was born and raised in Lennox, South Dakota. They have four kids together and are excited about this journey God is leading them in. Find Zack and C6 church online at c6church.com.

A powerful reaction episode from Joe & Ben on:

Apolonia's superpowers!

Turning the organizational triangle around. 

Vince Lombardi & Green Bay Packers quote.

The distinct similarities between performing arts and athletics.

The Intentionally Positive & Encouraging, Contagiously Optimistic presence that is Apolonia joins Joe & Ben this week on MANDATE.

Find her on all the social platforms to learn more about Apolonia and her work as a filmmaker, producer, and professional trained actress. Support the arts, at all costs!

The Fusion of Jack Black & Chumbawamba = Jeremy Walk Up Song

You have to start the conversation with the Vanilla Question

When you start to understand your own story you can successfully step into someone else’s.

The product is not the “thing”, the process is the "thing".

Thank you cards/notes or, call out moments of thankfulness IMMEDIATELY.

Sarah Krush NOT NOT NOT Sarah Kurtenbach

“How are you doing?”

Men, promote the women in your life!

If there is a man in your life who has made an impact, we dare you to connect and tell them why?

Call out people’s superpowers!

Founder and Owner of Throne Publishing, Jeremy Brown, joins Joe & Ben this week on Mandate and here is what we talk about:

The art of publishing books using Jeremy's very carefully crafted process.

The Burn Process: We throw everything into a fire and only the things of lasting value will stand the flames; diamonds for beauty, steel for strength, and gold for value.

Self-awareness is key for leadership because how do I know who I am if I don't even know my own story. 

Burn yourself out in a cause you care about and you will find yourself.

Values are what are important to you, convictions are what you sacrifice for.

Healing comes in moments, the best people can identify those and just sit in them.

Find Jeremy at thronepg.com