True North Podcast

What happens when the man who makes you feel safe is also the person you're afraid of?

In Episode 107 of the True North Podcast, Carlton Thonton shares his deeply personal journey through childhood instability, his father's addiction, broken relationships, military service, and the unexpected ways he believes God was fathering him through it all.

Growing up in a pastor's home, Carlton Thonton witnessed a father who loved people deeply and devoted himself to ministry. But behind closed doors, his family was struggling. Addiction, conflict, and the absence of consistent fathering left Carlton searching for identity, security, and love.

As a young boy, Carlton experienced a moment that would shape his understanding of God for the rest of his life. After being left alongside a road with his younger brother, he remembers sensing God's presence and finding his way home.

That moment became the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning to recognize the Father's voice.

As Carlton Thonton grew older, the wounds of his childhood followed him into relationships, his understanding of masculinity, and his pursuit of validation. He eventually joined the Army National Guard, where he encountered unexpected mentors, discovered new strength, and began experiencing what it meant to be guided by fatherly wisdom.

From reading Proverbs by streetlight during basic training to earning the Iron Soldier award, Carlton shares how God continued to meet him in the moments when he felt afraid, unqualified, or alone.

In this episode:

• Growing up in a pastor's home marked by addiction and instability
• The impact of an absent father on a young man's identity
• How Carlton Thonton believes God guided him and his brother home as children
• Searching for love and validation through relationships
• Why knowing about God isn't the same as walking with Him
• Discovering your identity beyond performance and approval
• Learning to recognize God's voice in difficult seasons
• Finding fatherly wisdom through Scripture and unexpected mentors
• The role of fear in developing courage
• How the Army challenged Carlton's understanding of himself
• The story behind Carlton Thonton's Iron Soldier award
• Why every man needs brotherhood, discipleship, and authentic relationships
• Understanding that your life is part of a much bigger story

Carlton Thonton's story is a reminder that your past doesn't have to determine your future.

The wounds you've experienced, the mistakes you've made, and the places you feel unqualified don't have to be the end of your story.

God is still at work.

And there is more to the story you're living than you may realize.

Learn more about True North, Base Camp, and upcoming opportunities:

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#TrueNorth #TrueNorthPodcast #CarltonThonton #ChristianPodcast #ChristianMen #MensMinistry #FatherWounds #IdentityInChrist #ChristianTestimony #Discipleship #Faith #Healing

What happens when you spend your entire life trying to be strong enough, good enough, and capable enough to hold everything together?In Episode 106 of the True North Podcast, Jessica McKenzie joins James for a deeply personal conversation about her journey through grief, broken relationships, motherhood, healing, marriage, and ultimately discovering a God who was present through it all.After losing her father at a young age, experiencing difficult relationships, and spending years simply trying to survive, Jessica developed a belief that she had to do everything herself. If she could work hard enough, make the right decisions, and be good enough, maybe she could finally find the security and love she longed for.But that belief began to unravel when she discovered that God wasn't asking her to earn His love. He was inviting her into a relationship with Him.Jessica shares how that revelation changed her understanding of God, transformed her marriage, and eventually led her into ministry and the founding of Sacred Journey, a ministry creating opportunities for women to experience healing, freedom, and deeper intimacy with Jesus.In this episode:• Losing a parent and navigating grief at a young age • How childhood experiences shape our identity • The pressure to perform and earn love • Why trying harder isn't the same as experiencing healing • Learning to trust God after years of disappointment • How one book completely changed her understanding of God • Finding purpose and calling in the middle of brokenness • The unexpected journey into full-time ministry • The story behind Sacred Journey • Why women need opportunities for healing and restoration • What men and women can learn from each other's spiritual journeys • How to support your spouse after a life-changing retreat • The importance of creating space for lasting transformation Jessica also shares what's coming up for Sacred Journey, including the Captivating retreat on November 12–15, and a special gathering bringing the True North and Sacred Journey communities together on December 10.Whether you've been walking with Jesus for decades or you're just beginning to explore faith, this conversation is a reminder that your past does not disqualify you from the future God has for you.You don't have to keep surviving on your own strength.There is more.Learn more about True North, Sacred Journey, and upcoming events:https://truenorth.live#TrueNorth #TrueNorthPodcast #SacredJourney #ChristianPodcast #ChristianWomen #ChristianMarriage #Healing #IdentityInChrist #Discipleship #Faith #ChristianTestimony

What happens when the life you worked so hard to build falls apart?

In Episode 105 of the True North Podcast, Wes Lane joins us to share the story of his walk with God, from a young man determined to become a successful trial lawyer to a season of failure, surrender, public leadership, loss, rest, and ultimately discovering a much bigger purpose for his life.

Wes spent much of his twenties with little interest in God. His ambition was straightforward: become a successful, wealthy trial lawyer. But after leaving law, starting a business, going deeply into debt, and watching his first marriage end, Wes found himself at the bottom of a life he had tried to build on his own.

That brokenness became the beginning of something new.

Wes returned to God and found older men who discipled him and helped him learn what following Jesus actually looked like. Eventually, he returned to law and became the District Attorney for Oklahoma County, where his faith continued to deepen and his understanding of God began to expand.

Years later, losing an election would once again strip away the identity and position he had known. But what looked like failure became another season of preparation.

In this episode:

• Building your identity around success and achievement
• What happens when your plans fall apart
• Coming back to Jesus after years away
• The importance of older men and spiritual mentorship
• Discovering that God is bigger than you thought
• Learning to recognize and hear God's voice
• Finding God's purpose for your life
• Following Jesus in your career and sphere of influence
• Losing a public position and entering a season of rest
• Why rest is more than simply doing nothing
• Recognizing God's presence in suffering and uncertainty
• How apparent failure can become preparation for what God has next

Wes describes biblical rest as cultivating an awareness of the presence of God. His story is a reminder that God is present in the success, the loss, the waiting, and the fire.

What the world calls failure may not be the end of your story at all.

It may be preparation.

Learn more about True North:
TrueNorth.live

#TrueNorth #ChristianPodcast #WesLane #ChristianMen #MensMinistry #Faith #HearingGod #Purpose #Discipleship #SpiritualGrowth

What could happen if the Church stopped competing and started operating together?

In Episode 104 of the True North Podcast, we continue the conversation from Episode 103 as Joseph shares the second half of a personal journal entry that he believes came through time spent listening to Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The central invitation is simple: Arise.

The conversation explores what that could mean for the Church, our communities, our families, and our individual lives. Joseph, James, and Taylor discuss the unity they are seeing across Oklahoma City, the growing hunger for authentic faith, and what it could look like for churches, businesses, ministries, and individuals to stop operating from competition and begin collaborating for the Kingdom.

They also talk about the role True North hopes to play in that movement. Not as the answer, but as a place where people can encounter God, ask questions, find community, and be connected with others who can help them take their next step.

In this episode:

• Why unity within the Church matters
• Competition vs. collaboration in the Kingdom
• What God may be doing across Oklahoma City
• The growing intersection of faith and the marketplace
• Why the next generation is hungry for something real
• Creating margin to hear from God
• Why True North prioritizes encounter over formulas
• Removing distractions, even good ones
• Spiritual warfare and taking responsibility for the places God has given us
• The role of humility in breaking down division
• Why we need each other to accomplish the mission
• What it actually means to “arise”
• How to respond when you feel God stirring something in you

There is no one formula for awakening. For one person, it may mean creating margin. For another, it may mean letting something go. For someone else, it may begin with prayer, community, or simply saying yes to Jesus.

True North does not have all the answers. Our desire is to help point people toward the One who does.

If something in this conversation stirs you, ask God what it means for your story and what He is inviting you into next.

Learn more, connect with us, or join us at an upcoming event:

TrueNorth.live

#TrueNorth #ChristianPodcast #ChristianMen #MensMinistry #ChurchUnity #KingdomOfGod #HearingGod #Discipleship #HolySpirit #SpiritualGrowth

What does it actually look like to hear God’s voice, walk intimately with Him, and live for His Kingdom instead of building your own empire?

In Episode 103 of the True North Podcast, the guys unpack a word Joseph received after intentionally making margin to listen to God. What began as something personal became an invitation to the Church: rise up, awaken, make margin, and learn to faithfully follow the voice of God.

Joseph shares how his own journey of hearing God began in 2019—and why it was messy, frustrating, and uncertain at first. Over six years, what once felt difficult became something he describes as necessary to his daily life.

The conversation moves into the difference between Kingdom and empire. Our culture gives us obvious measurements for success: income, houses, cars, businesses, influence, and status. But what does God measure? Where is your heart? Where does your attention go? What comes out of you when life doesn’t go according to plan?

They also unpack what it means to “rise up” when fear, anxiety, scarcity, busyness, self-reliance, and everyday problems try to take over.

In this episode:

• How Joseph learned to hear God’s voice
• Why intimacy with God takes time
• What to do when quiet time feels frustrating or unproductive
• Why you don’t need to wait for another spiritual high
• Learning to recognize God’s voice among all the other voices
• Kingdom vs. empire
• How fear and anxiety reveal where we’re placing our trust
• What “rising up” actually looks like in everyday life
• Moving from scarcity toward trust in God’s provision
• Why the mundane moments may be where spiritual maturity actually happens
• Choosing faith before you feel mature enough
• The invitation for the Church to awaken and move

You don’t have to wait for the next camp, conference, worship night, or mountaintop experience to encounter God. The invitation is available today.

Make margin. Learn His voice. Follow where He leads.

Learn more about True North:
TrueNorth.live

#TrueNorth #ChristianPodcast #ChristianMen #MensMinistry #KingdomOfGod #HearingGod #Faith #Discipleship #SpiritualGrowth #HolySpirit

What if the reactions, anger, isolation, shame, or patterns showing up in your life are pointing toward places Jesus wants to heal?

In Episode 102 of the True North Podcast, Joseph Lashwood, Lee Cantrell, and James unpack the healing stream of Jesus’ ministry and recap what happened at The Frontier. They explore what inner healing can look like, why revisiting the past is not the same as living in it, and how Jesus can bring restoration to wounds that were never fully tended.

Through deeply personal stories, they discuss childhood wounds, isolation, pornography, shame, father wounds, false agreements, hearing the voice of God, and learning to invite Jesus into the places we would rather hide.

This conversation also explores how men can walk alongside one another in healing through curiosity, grace-filled acceptance, compassion, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

You’ll hear about:

• Why following Jesus doesn’t mean every part of your heart is already healed
• How past wounds can influence present reactions
• The false agreements we make in moments of pain
• Why inner healing isn’t about living in the past
• How to invite Jesus into painful memories
• The importance of hearing God’s voice
• How shame and isolation keep wounds hidden
• Curiosity, compassion, and grace when entering another man’s story
• Why healing cannot be rushed or forced
• How Jesus restores identity, belonging, love, and freedom

You don’t have to keep dragging every wound from your story behind you. Jesus is inviting you into restoration, freedom, and deeper intimacy with Him.

If this conversation stirred something in your heart and you want someone to walk with you, reach out to True North.

Learn more about True North:
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#TrueNorth #ChristianPodcast #MensMinistry #InnerHealing #ChristianMen #Discipleship #Jesus #Healing #IdentityInChrist #SpiritualGrowth

What happens when everything you've built your identity on begins to fall apart?Hunter Hill shares the powerful story of reaching the lowest point of his life, facing the possible loss of his career, praying for the first time in more than a decade, and discovering that Jesus had been pursuing him all along.What followed was a series of God-ordained moments that led Hunter to True North, Base Camp, deep healing, and a completely transformed life.In this episode you'll hear:• The desperate prayer that changed everything• Why success without Jesus left him empty• How Base Camp transformed his marriage and family• Breaking free from the "poser" identity• Learning to hear God's voice• The healing power of Christian brotherhood• Discovering your true identity in Christ• Why margin has become one of God's greatest gifts• Using woodworking and craftsmanship to share the Gospel• What it looks like to say "yes" to Jesus every dayHunter's story is a reminder that no one is too far gone for God's grace and that surrender often becomes the beginning of the greatest chapter of your life.If this conversation encouraged you, be sure to subscribe and share it with someone who needs hope today.Learn more about True North:True North#TrueNorth #ChristianPodcast #MensMinistry #Faith #Jesus #Discipleship #ChristianMen #Healing #IdentityInChrist #Testimony

100 episodes.What began as a simple audio podcast has become a platform reaching millions of people with stories of healing, freedom, and the Gospel.In this special 100th episode, James, Joseph, and Taylor reflect on the journey from episode one to today, sharing the behind-the-scenes stories, the impact of the podcast, and the vision God is continuing to unfold through True North.In this conversation you'll hear:• How the True North Podcast grew from 700 to over 20,000 followers• The stories behind millions of video views and lives changed• Why the mission has never been about numbers• The power of authentic testimony and storytelling• Why True North refuses to chase hype over transformation• What God has been doing through Base Camp, Frontier, Anchor, and discipleship• Joseph's new role as Discipleship Director• The vision for the future of True North Ministries• Why slowing down may be the most countercultural thing a Christian can doWhether you've been listening since episode one or this is your first episode, thank you for being part of the journey.Our prayer is that every episode points people toward deeper intimacy with Jesus, authentic community, healing, restoration, and the adventure of following God.If this podcast has encouraged you, consider subscribing, sharing it with someone who needs it, or supporting the mission of True North.Learn more about True North:True NorthThank you for 100 incredible episodes. Here's to whatever God has planned next.#TrueNorth #ChristianPodcast #MensMinistry #WildAtHeart #Discipleship #Faith #Jesus #ChristianLeadership #StoryMatters #Podcast

Can God use a fly fishing trip to transform a man's life?In this episode of the True North Podcast, Joseph sits down with Marshall and Jeremy, founders of Emerge Mission, to hear the incredible story behind a ministry that is helping men slow down, encounter God, and discover freedom in the outdoors.What started as one man's battle with anxiety became a calling to create life-changing experiences where men disconnect from the noise, spend intentional time with the Father, and build authentic community through fly fishing.This conversation explores:• Marshall's battle with crippling anxiety and fear• How surrender became the beginning of healing• Why God often builds us through suffering• The surprising connection between fly fishing and spiritual formation• The power of slowing down and listening for God's voice• Community, vulnerability, and authentic brotherhood• Why every man needs intentional time away from distraction• The mission behind Emerge and how they're changing lives one trip at a timeWhether you've never held a fishing rod or you've spent your life on the water, this episode isn't really about fly fishing.It's about surrender.It's about identity.It's about discovering that sometimes God meets us most powerfully when we step away from the noise and into His creation.Learn more about Emerge Mission or apply for a trip:https://emergeflyfishing.comLearn more about True North:Truenorth.liveIf this conversation encouraged you, subscribe to the channel, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review. Every share helps more men discover hope, healing, and purpose.#TrueNorth #EmergeMission #FlyFishing #ChristianMen #Anxiety #Healing #SpiritualGrowth #Brotherhood #Faith #Purpose

What does spiritual warfare actually look like in the life of a believer?

In this episode of the True North Podcast, James sits down with Joseph Lashbrook to unpack the teaching Joseph shared at our most recent Frontier gathering.

This year at Frontier, we're walking through The Four Streams, a framework that explores the ways Jesus ministered to people through Spiritual Warfare, Healing, Discipleship, and Counseling. Each month, we spend an evening diving deeper into one of these streams and learning how to partner with God in bringing restoration to ourselves and others.

This month's Frontier focused on Spiritual Warfare, and this conversation expands on that teaching by exploring topics like:

• What spiritual warfare really is
• Why identity in Christ matters
• The role of faith and wisdom
• How intimacy with God prepares us for spiritual battles
• Why every situation requires discernment instead of formulas
• How the Four Streams work together in bringing healing and restoration

Whether you attended Frontier or are hearing these teachings for the first time, our hope is that this conversation encourages you to pursue a deeper relationship with God and equips you to walk confidently with Him.

Join us at Frontier
Frontier happens on the second Thursday of every month at the True North offices in Oklahoma City. Each gathering is designed to equip men to live with greater freedom, purpose, and intimacy with God.

Learn more about True North:
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