What happens when the place that shaped your faith is also the place that wounds you? In this first part of a 2-part episode, Michael Krommendyk takes us through his journey from growing up in church to stepping into ministry and eventually stepping away from it all. He opens up about the weight of expectations, the quiet moments of doubt, and the small discoveries of grace that reshaped his story. This episode isn’t about answers, it’s about noticing the questions that hit hardest and the spaces where healing actually begins. Listen if you’re curious about what it looks like to wrestle honestly with faith, identity, and the messy middle of life. 

If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at 

https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollective

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Dive into the heart of fatherhood with the Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood – the ultimate guide for dads seeking to instill godly values in their sons. Experience the transformative journey of intentional fathering as you navigate modern rites of passage and empower your son to become a beacon of strength and kindness in society.

Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood available on Amazon.com.

This episode starts with punctuation, of all things, and somehow lands on one of the most grounded ways to close out a year. Jesse and Chris talk about how many of us end December with a question mark, an exclamation point, or a long, tired comma that never gives us a real pause. What if this time you ended with a period instead. The kind that lets the year be exactly what it was and lets you name who you have actually become. It is a simple idea with surprising weight, and the guys invite you into it with tenderness, honesty, and a pretty unforgettable image of God’s hands cupped around your becoming. 

If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at 

https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollective

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Dive into the heart of fatherhood with the Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood – the ultimate guide for dads seeking to instill godly values in their sons. Experience the transformative journey of intentional fathering as you navigate modern rites of passage and empower your son to become a beacon of strength and kindness in society.

Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood available on Amazon.com.

In this episode of the Restorative Man podcast, Jesse French and Cody Buriff engage in a deep conversation with Tim Helwege about the multifaceted nature of fitness and health. They explore personal stories of strength, the underlying motivations for pursuing fitness, and the impact of shame narratives on men's health. Tim emphasizes the importance of understanding one's 'why' behind fitness goals, the significance of long-term vision in health, and the concept of stewardship of the body. The discussion also touches on navigating body image issues and finding balance in caring for one's physical self.

If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at 

https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollective

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Dive into the heart of fatherhood with the Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood – the ultimate guide for dads seeking to instill godly values in their sons. Experience the transformative journey of intentional fathering as you navigate modern rites of passage and empower your son to become a beacon of strength and kindness in society.

Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood available on Amazon.com.

As the year winds down, Chris and Jesse invite us into a different kind of reflection by asking what it might look like to receive a report card from your kids about how they actually experience you as their dad. Instead of performance or pressure, this simple tool opens the door to honest connection, real curiosity, and conversations most families never slow down enough to have. They walk through how the fathering report card helps you engage your kids, and how the kids’ self-report offers a calm space for them to reflect on their own growth as well.

You can download the fathering report card here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1puPydshtrgkZ2gZ0lF3vvKSMwCCLHo7n/view?usp=drive_link

And if you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at 

https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollective

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Dive into the heart of fatherhood with the Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood – the ultimate guide for dads seeking to instill godly values in their sons. Experience the transformative journey of intentional fathering as you navigate modern rites of passage and empower your son to become a beacon of strength and kindness in society.

Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood available on Amazon.com.

This week, Chris and Jesse dive into the overrated and underrated parts of December and it is such a fun ride. They share family stories about cutting down Christmas trees, losing kids in snow wells, and why some traditions feel grounding while others just wear us out. You will hear honest reflections on Christmas music, the pressure to reflect at the end of the year, and the longing for simple moments of peace. More than anything, this conversation invites you to notice what actually brings delight and rest in your own holiday season. Join us for an easygoing, thoughtful episode that might help you enter December with a little more presence and a little less pressure.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Dive into the heart of fatherhood with the Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood – the ultimate guide for dads seeking to instill godly values in their sons. Experience the transformative journey of intentional fathering as you navigate modern rites of passage and empower your son to become a beacon of strength and kindness in society.

Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood available on Amazon.com.

Chris just got back from California, where he spent the weekend with all three of his grown kids — and came home with some fresh reflections on fatherhood. In this episode, he and Jesse talk about what it means to still be a dad when your kids are adults and don’t need you in the same way anymore. They unpack three postures of fathering — out front, behind, and next to — and what each one asks of us as men. You’ll hear stories about letting kids fail, learning to respect them as adults, and realizing that parenting doesn’t end, it just changes. It’s an honest, funny, and heartfelt look at what growing alongside your kids can really look like.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Dive into the heart of fatherhood with the Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood – the ultimate guide for dads seeking to instill godly values in their sons. Experience the transformative journey of intentional fathering as you navigate modern rites of passage and empower your son to become a beacon of strength and kindness in society.

Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood available on Amazon.com.

Ever had a family plan that looked great on paper but fell apart somewhere around hour twenty-four? In this episode, Jesse shares a road trip story that turned from “adventure” to “are we there yet?” and back again, while Chris helps him uncover what was really going on beneath the chaos. Together they talk about how easy it is to chase efficiency and forget to set our families and ourselves up for success. But maybe the meltdown wasn’t failure after all. Maybe it was the moment that revealed what was lost, what was gained, and what actually matters when we invite others into our story.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Dive into the heart of fatherhood with the Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood – the ultimate guide for dads seeking to instill godly values in their sons. Experience the transformative journey of intentional fathering as you navigate modern rites of passage and empower your son to become a beacon of strength and kindness in society.

Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood available on Amazon.com.

Ever notice how certain family traditions just stick, not because of what you do, but because of who you become together? In this episode, Chris and Jesse talk about why rhythms like Thanksgiving trips, Christmas tree rituals, or even peeling apples as a family can quietly shape who we are. They explore how small, repeated moments turn into anchors of identity, grounding us when life feels scattered. You’ll hear stories that are both hilarious and deeply human, from failed traditions that burned (literally) to ones that became sacred. Maybe it’ll have you wondering what stories your own family rituals are telling.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Dive into the heart of fatherhood with the Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood – the ultimate guide for dads seeking to instill godly values in their sons. Experience the transformative journey of intentional fathering as you navigate modern rites of passage and empower your son to become a beacon of strength and kindness in society.

Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood available on Amazon.com.

Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is stop producing. In this conversation, Jesse French and Cody Buriff talk about what it means to let parts of our lives “lay fallow”—to rest, to pause, and to trust that unseen work is still happening beneath the surface. They explore why rest isn’t laziness, but wisdom, and how our constant drive to achieve can actually rob us of long-term health. Together they wrestle with questions about control, trust, and the fear of slowing down. It’s an honest look at what happens when men choose to stop forcing growth and let God do His quiet work.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Dive into the heart of fatherhood with the Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood – the ultimate guide for dads seeking to instill godly values in their sons. Experience the transformative journey of intentional fathering as you navigate modern rites of passage and empower your son to become a beacon of strength and kindness in society.

Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood available on Amazon.com.

Sometimes the most important work isn’t in the harvesting but in the sorting that follows. Cody and Jesse talk about what it means to “thresh” our stories—to separate what’s real and life-giving from what’s just been protecting us. They explore how our masks and old ways of coping can hide the truer parts of who we are. Together they wonder what it looks like to name both the pain and the glory of how we’ve shown up this year. It’s an honest look at how reflection, curiosity, and the presence of others help reveal the man God is still shaping in us.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Dive into the heart of fatherhood with the Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood – the ultimate guide for dads seeking to instill godly values in their sons. Experience the transformative journey of intentional fathering as you navigate modern rites of passage and empower your son to become a beacon of strength and kindness in society.

Man Maker Project: A Father's Guide to Initiating His Son into Manhood available on Amazon.com.