Virtuous Men Podcast

Sloth, perhaps better known today as laziness or idleness, is unique in that it is not defined by evil actions, but rather by inaction. A slothful man may well be aware of the harm being done to his family, friends, community or country, yet will ultimately refuse to do what is needed to bring about change. Because of his belief that he can do nothing to fix the problems around him, he allows fear and vice to be his masters. Perhaps most horribly of all, a slothful man refuses to offer his strength to a world that desperately needs it. One of literature’s most striking examples of Sloth is Lord Denethor, a character featured in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic masterwork The Lord of the Rings. When he experiences a great loss, he becomes so overwhelmed with his own emotions that the city he leads grows more and more vulnerable to the greatest evil of the age. 

Envy is a deep-seated discontentment with what one has when compared to others. It is a sin that combines feelings of covetousness, jealousy, and selfishness. The envious man can never show genuine happiness for the success of others, because he is always left comparing it to himself and questioning its merit - always seeing it as a slight against himself. One of history’s most devastating examples of envy is perhaps America's greatest hero-turned-villain, Benedict Arnold. In this episode, we’ll delve into his life as an American patriot during the Revolutionary War, how he rose through the ranks to become one of George Washington’s most trusted generals, and how his envy led him to betray the country he had once fought so hard to defend.

Hosted by Jamie Adams.

Gluttony is the over-consumption of food and drink to the detriment of the consumer and those less fortunate. A gluttonous man hoards for himself what he could give to others. It is a sin defined by materialism, hedonism, and a belief that there is only the eternal present. While a gluttonous man is many things, he is, above all else, a worshiper of idols. One such example of this destructive vice is the little-known Reginald III, a man whose tragic tale graphically reveals what happens when we refuse to refrain from good things that can also destroy us. 

Hosted by Scott Einig.

Correction: Upon further research, we discovered after publishing this episode that the events of the story took place in the modern-day Netherlands, not in England. We apologize for the oversight.

Lust is the overwhelming desire for something that yields physical gratification. The object of one’s lust is often forbidden or considered deviant. The desire most thought of when considering lust is that of a sexual nature. Nearly every man can relate to this kind of lust because most have fallen prey to and continue to battle against it. We can easily consider some of the most obvious examples of lust, but often ignore the temptation festering in our own minds and how we are just one step away from falling into its clutches. One man who succumbed to such a trap was the most celebrated leader of the ancient Kingdom of Israel - King David. In this episode, we’ll explore what led to his rise to power and how he nearly threw it all away when he allowed lustful temptation to get control of him. 

Hosted by Jamie Adams.

Wrath is characterized by rash, unwise and destructive actions brought on by anger, jealousy or vengeance. In the eyes of a wrathful man, everything he does is justified to himself, no matter how horrible his actions may be. One of American history’s most infamous examples of wrath occurred after the Civil War on the border of Kentucky and West Virginia. It was a conflict between two families whose names would be forever linked after the terrible tragedies finally came to an end. They were the Hatfields and McCoys.

Hosted by Scott Einig.

Greed is an uncontrollable, unquenchable desire to acquire more of something by any means necessary. The greed of an individual not only leads to the ultimate demise of themselves, but can directly result in the deprivation of others. The greed of some men sets the bar so high that few would debate its validity. One such man was Napoleon Bonaparte. In this episode, we’ll explore the life of the infamous French military commander and discover how his odious desire for more led to not only his own downfall but to the demise of one of the largest armies ever assembled and their empire along with it. 

Hosted by Jamie Adams.

Pride is the inner conviction that one’s beliefs, actions and achievements are above all others. A prideful man believes that he has all the answers, that he should not be questioned, and that those who oppose him are wrong. One of the 20th century’s most notorious examples of pride was the infamous cult leader Jim Jones. His lifelong descent into pride came to an unforgettable conclusion that still continues to confound and horrify us to this day.

Hosted by Scott Einig. 

*Due to graphic and disturbing content, this episode may not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised*

Coming soon, something different from Virtuous Men.

For the month of October, we will be exploring the opposite of virtue: sin. In each episode, we will discover one of The Seven Deadly Sins (Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth). We’ll tell the story of a man who personified each one, and the opposing virtue needed to defeat it. Join us for our latest Minipod Season - The Seven Deadly Sins.

Episode 1 will be available 10/10/22 with new episodes available every Monday through the end of November.

In this episode of Loose & Unscripted we'll share tidbits of wisdom we've learned over the years, take a deep-dive into Kipling's famous poem If, and share what's coming up on the Virtuous Men Podcast.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIwtyAQqsQqR0ARXBqhb60w

*Warning: This episode includes stories of the victims of sex trafficking and is not suitable for younger audiences. 

To find out more about getting into the fight to end sex trafficking, visit:

https://fightforme.net/

https://savinginnocence.org/

For resources mentioned in this episode, visit: https://fightforme.net/resources/

To reach Alan directly: [email protected]