The Sovereign Man Podcast

"Sometimes you're chosen, you don't choose."

War has a way of stripping life down to raw essentials: courage, instinct, and the will to keep moving when everything says quit. This story captures what it means to face disaster head-on—losing an engine, losing flight controls, even watching a brother bleed out beside you—and still finding a way to fight for life. It's a lesson in focus: chaos screams in your ear, but survival demands calm action.

In this episode, we hear firsthand how one split-second decision meant the difference between life and death and the details put you right in the cockpit of a falling Apache.

Brian Slade is a decorated Apache pilot, Air Force and Army veteran, and author of Cleared Hot. His story of survival and post-traumatic growth turns battlefield chaos into lessons every man can live by.

Learn more & connect:

Book: Cleared Hot: Lessons Learned About Life, Love, and Leadership While Flying the Apache Gunship in Afghanistan and Why I Believe a Prepared Mind Can Help Minimize PTSD

In combat, before a pilot can release weapons, they need authorization from a ground controller or mission lead. When the controller says "cleared hot," it's the official go-ahead to engage the target with live fire.

https://a.co/d/aC46EWQ

You're invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you're there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

⚔️ If this episode hit, rate & review The Sovereign Man Podcast on Apple Podcasts: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1580828975 Scroll to "Ratings & Reviews", tap the stars, and write one line on what you're taking action on. Your review is how the next man finds this. Respect. Nicky On Spotify? Tap ★ on the show page.

"Just because I'm a dad, that doesn't mean that I'm going to be good at it unless I learn."

Fathers shape more than just family routines—they set the tone for leadership, love, and legacy. A man's ability to step into growth, create safety, and live by example is what keeps marriages alive and children thriving. At its heart, fatherhood isn't about perfection, but about the pursuit of becoming better each day.

The guest reminds us that thriving families start with men who show rather than tell. Whether it's modeling patience with kids, leading without control, or keeping marriage on the front burner, it's action—not advice—that builds trust and intimacy. He shares raw stories of failure, recovery, and the importance of community as the crucible where fathers sharpen each other.

Larry Hagner, founder of The Dad Edge and author of The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood, has spent the last decade equipping thousands of men to lead with strength, vulnerability, and faith. His work continues to guide fathers toward deeper connection and resilience.

Learn more & connect:

https://thedadedge.com/

https://thedadedge.com/podcast/

Also in this episode:

• The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood by Larry Hagner

• Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

• Building a Non-Anxious Life by Dr. John Delony

• No More Mr. Nice Guy by Dr. Robert Glover

• The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

You're invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you're there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

⚔️ If this episode hit, rate & review The Sovereign Man Podcast on Apple Podcasts: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1580828975 Scroll to "Ratings & Reviews", tap the stars, and write one line on what you're taking action on. Your review is how the next man finds this. Respect. Nicky On Spotify? Tap ★ on the show page.

"And it is nothing more than a construct you've created because you don't want to change, or you're afraid of change, or you're afraid of the truth inside of the lie. And inside of that lie lies the transformation you actually seek."

A strong men's group isn't just a pit stop for fixing a single problem—it's a forge where character is hammered, sharpened, and kept battle-ready for life's curveballs. The real value comes from staying in the fire long after the immediate issue is solved. Surface wins—like a better marriage or a stronger career—are just the entry point. The deeper transformation comes from years of honest feedback, blind-spot exposure, and seeing other men walk through the storms you haven't faced yet.

Geoff Tomlinson drives home that lasting change requires long-haul commitment. Short-term fixes often mask the real issues that quietly resurface later. Staying means you not only face your own lies and patterns but also learn through the struggles of other men—divorce, loss, career upheaval—before they happen to you. And over time, you give back, becoming the man who asks the question that changes someone else's life.

Geoff Tomlinson has spent 28 years in men's work, helping men move beyond quick fixes into true transformation. He's seen first-hand how the right group of committed men can reshape a man's relationships, career, and inner life. Known for his direct approach, Jeff blends decades of hard-earned wisdom with practical tools to keep men sharp, self-aware, and battle-tested.

You're invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you're there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

⚔️ If this episode hit, rate & review The Sovereign Man Podcast on Apple Podcasts: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1580828975 Scroll to "Ratings & Reviews", tap the stars, and write one line on what you're taking action on. Your review is how the next man finds this. Respect. Nicky On Spotify? Tap ★ on the show page.

"When life throws you the inevitable curveball—your dad dies, your wife leaves, your kid gets sick—you need to be ready. You need armour. And that armour is built in men's circles."

Men are built to carry weight—but not alone. One of the most dangerous lies a man can believe is that he only needs support when things are falling apart. In truth, the real work begins after the emergency is handled. This episode tackles the mistake men make when they treat personal growth like a one-time project instead of a lifelong process.

Tomlinson shares his journey from being a self-described "intellectual bully" to leading one of the world's largest men's organizations. He talks about how mentorship, direct accountability, and emotional honesty sharpened him into the man he wanted to be. His message is blunt: men need other men to face their biggest blind spots.

Tomlinson is a former president of MDI (Men's Division International), a leader in men's work for nearly three decades, and a successful entrepreneur in financial services. He mentors other leaders and helps men stay committed to the hard path of growth.

Learn more & connect:

https://www.mentordiscoverinspire.org/

You're invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you're there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

⚔️ If this episode hit, rate & review The Sovereign Man Podcast on Apple Podcasts: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1580828975 Scroll to "Ratings & Reviews", tap the stars, and write one line on what you're taking action on. Your review is how the next man finds this. Respect. Nicky On Spotify? Tap ★ on the show page.

"When you and I say we're suffering from stress, we're never really suffering from stress. That's a myth. It's like a unicorn. All right. What we're really struggling with are various problems in our life."

A lot of men think stress and anger are just part of life—stuff you have to manage, suppress, or push through. But what if we've been sold a lie about what those things even are? Stress isn't some disease you catch; it's just a word we slap on real-life problems we haven't solved yet. And anger? That hot, righteous feeling? Turns out, it usually comes from looking at something the wrong way.

Dr. Mort Orman breaks down the three mental filters that cause anger—and how to stop falling for them. He shares how your brain quietly convinces you that someone else is to blame, even when that's not the full story. With the right lens, you can stop being hijacked by your emotions and start solving real problems while demonstrating the strength of of your masculinity.

Mort Orman's been teaching men how to take control of their emotional lives for over 40 years. He's a physician, author, and probably one of the calmest men alive.

Learn more & connect:

• Dr. Mort Orman's Amazon Author Page

• https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Dr.-Mort-Orman/author/B0CRPXMXQ2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Also in this episode:

• Sterling Institute of Relationship

• https://sterling-institute.com/

• Jordan Peterson's Peterson Academy

• https://petersonacademy.com/

You're invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you're there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

⚔️ If this episode hit, rate & review The Sovereign Man Podcast on Apple Podcasts: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1580828975 Scroll to "Ratings & Reviews", tap the stars, and write one line on what you're taking action on. Your review is how the next man finds this. Respect. Nicky On Spotify? Tap ★ on the show page.

"The freedom in being wrong is growth, it's expansion, it's newness."

Most men aren't taught how to process pain—they're taught to hide it. And when that pain turns into isolation or hopelessness, there's often no one there to catch it. This episode confronts the silence head-on, bringing clarity to why men must reclaim sacred, confidential spaces with other men. Not to fix each other—but to be witnessed, to be heard, and to remember they're not alone.

Andy Grant reveals how suicidal ideation nearly cost him everything, and why he's now committed to making suicide among men a rarity, not the norm. He shares why masculine-only groups are critical to healing, the difference between being "right" and being "happy," and how unspoken thoughts can turn poisonous when trapped in the mind too long. This isn't therapy—it's brotherhood.

Andy Grant is a men's coach, speaker, and the host of the Real Men Feel podcast. He's also the creator of TheAndyGrant.com and founder of RealMenFeel.org, where he offers men's circles, meditations, and resources to support mental wellness, emotional freedom, and authentic masculinity.

Learn more & connect:

• Andy Grant's site: https://www.theandygrant.com

• Podcast: https://www.realmenfeel.org

You're invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you're there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

⚔️ If this episode hit, rate & review The Sovereign Man Podcast on Apple Podcasts: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1580828975 Scroll to "Ratings & Reviews", tap the stars, and write one line on what you're taking action on. Your review is how the next man finds this. Respect. Nicky On Spotify? Tap ★ on the show page.

"Where fathers go, families go."

Kids don't just need screen limits—they need real-world play to grow strong minds and healthy confidence. Without play, they miss out on building imagination, solving problems, and learning how to work with others. Dads play a big role in bringing that back.

Shannon Coulter shares her story of becoming a stepmom to three kids who didn't know how to play. That moment set her on a mission to figure out what was happening to kids—and why smartphones were at the center of it. She explains how screens are rewiring children's brains and how play can rebuild what's been lost. Her message is clear: it's time for dads to lead their families away from screens and back to life.

Shannon Coulter is a stepmom, parenting advocate, and founder of Planet FASA—a tool to help parents get their kids off screens and playing again. She's building an app that gives simple, fun activity ideas and shows how play can build strong kids and stronger families.

Learn more & connect:

• Shannon Coulter's website: https://sscoulter.com

Also in this episode:

• Planet FASA: [No URL confirmed]

• The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina: https://www.citadel.edu

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt – [not confirmed link]

You're invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you're there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

⚔️ If this episode hit, rate & review The Sovereign Man Podcast on Apple Podcasts: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1580828975 Scroll to "Ratings & Reviews", tap the stars, and write one line on what you're taking action on. Your review is how the next man finds this. Respect. Nicky On Spotify? Tap ★ on the show page.

"I want to make sure that they don't have the missing link that I had."

When fathers vanish, so does the foundation of masculinity. This episode unpacks how fatherhood—especially in broken families—is not just about presence but about principles, persistence, and pain. The difference between a boy who becomes a man and one who never leaves the basement may come down to one thing: did a father light the path, even when his son wouldn't follow?

Brandon Held shares his raw, unfiltered journey from fathering three sons through divorce and distance to finding meaning in a mission to help other men. With military service, personal losses, and a brush with death behind him, his voice is one of hard-won wisdom. "I am lighting a path for you. All you have to do is walk down it." If you've ever questioned whether your sacrifices mattered—this one's for you.

Brandon Held is a father of three, a veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and Army, and the host of a men's mentorship podcast. His mission is simple: help young men avoid the pain he endured by sharing his own story—one mistake, one lesson, one breakthrough at a time.

Learn more & connect:

https://www.brandonheld.com/about

You're invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you're there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

⚔️ If this episode hit, rate & review The Sovereign Man Podcast on Apple Podcasts: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1580828975 Scroll to "Ratings & Reviews", tap the stars, and write one line on what you're taking action on. Your review is how the next man finds this. Respect. Nicky On Spotify? Tap ★ on the show page.

"Literally every moment is an opportunity for you to show up in a loving, caring, compassionate, strong way as you."

Masculine strength isn't just a barbell PR or your ability to fix a leaky faucet—it's a multidimensional system that needs alignment across body, heart, mind, gut, and spirit. This episode unpacks the "Five Mountains" framework: Physical, Emotional, Mental, Intuitive, and Spiritual development. Each one is essential for any man who wants to be more than a high-functioning man-child. This is about cultivating self-regulation, systems thinking, and the daily practices that make you more dangerous, more grounded, and more free.

Michael shares stories from his time training with Navy SEALs, working with special forces, and coaching high-level men. He explains how somatic psychology, evolutionary intuition, and tactical spiritual discipline converge to produce integrated performance. Whether you're a CEO, soldier, or simply sick of your own excuses, there's a toolset here for you.

Michael is a marriage and family therapist, policy analyst, somatic psychology expert, and high-performance coach to Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and now—men like you. He's the creator of the "Personal PhD," co-leader of Team Fudoshin, and someone whose brain moves faster than most people's morning coffee.

Learn more & connect:

https://www.teamfudoshin.com/

You're invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you're there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

⚔️ If this episode hit, rate & review The Sovereign Man Podcast on Apple Podcasts: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1580828975 Scroll to "Ratings & Reviews", tap the stars, and write one line on what you're taking action on. Your review is how the next man finds this. Respect. Nicky On Spotify? Tap ★ on the show page.

"Modern medicine is great for keeping you alive, but they can't teach you how to live well."

In a world wired to distract and deplete men, your body is the first battleground—and often the most neglected. This episode unpacks how modern health struggles aren't just about poor habits—they're the consequence of ignoring foundational principles like movement, nourishment, and recovery. A man's energy, clarity, and masculinity depend on reclaiming health as a non-negotiable priority.

Bryan Hardy lays out the anatomy of burnout and the biology behind low drive. He shares real-world strategies—backed by years of coaching and clinical experience—for optimizing digestion, detox pathways, and hormone balance. From 10-minute calisthenics to gut resets and testosterone-preserving protocols, he offers a roadmap for the tired man who still wants to win.

Bryan Hardy is a holistic nutritionist, men's health coach, and the founder of Revitalized Man. After surviving a ruptured appendix at 18, he committed to understanding human energy, vitality, and performance—especially for men who are fathers, executives, and leaders under pressure.

Learn more & connect:

Bryan Hardy's Website: https://revitalizedman.com

Free Testosterone Optimization Cheat Sheet: https://revitalizedman.com/nicky

You're invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you're there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

⚔️ If this episode hit, rate & review The Sovereign Man Podcast on Apple Podcasts: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1580828975 Scroll to "Ratings & Reviews", tap the stars, and write one line on what you're taking action on. Your review is how the next man finds this. Respect. Nicky On Spotify? Tap ★ on the show page.