Episodes

Send us Fan Mail In this Valiant Monday episode, Mark breaks down what Paul actually meant when he wrote “renew your mind” in Romans 12:2 — and why most men misunderstand it. Renewal isn’t a quick refresh. It’s a renovation. A tearing down of old identities, old patterns, old environments, and old neurological wiring. Mark shares the process that saved him from blowing up his life — and how God rebuilt him from the inside out. You’ll learn: • What “renewing your mind” means in Greek (anakainō...

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation with Pastor Phil Tague, we dig into what it means to move from airbrushed Christianity to covenant faith. We talk about why so many men struggle with intimacy with God, how surrender unlocks spiritual strength, and why leading your family spiritually starts with simply going first. Phil shares his story of burnout, sabbatical, healing from church hurt, and how God rebuilt his identity from the inside out. We also explore David’s cave of Adullam and what i...

Send us Fan Mail This week I’m talking about something that’s been sitting heavy on my heart: the decisions we make as men, and how Romans 12:2 is the starting point for all of it. I’m not giving you a full masterclass on “the code” today — this episode is really the beginning of a journey I’m taking right alongside you. As I said in the episode, “Where you are in your life… are a result of the decisions and the choices you’ve made.” That hit me hard, and I think it’ll hit you too. I’m also s...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Matt Kutz brings a powerful and practical look at biblical masculinity, contextual intelligence, and what it means for Christian men to lead with clarity, wisdom, and strength. From the unforgettable “Vulcan Death Grip” story to the R4 Model (Recognize, Reorder, Respond, Reflect), Matt shows how understanding the context of a moment can transform the way we respond to our wives, children, coworkers, and the world around us. If you’ve ever felt confused, discouraged, or un...

Send us Fan Mail A man without direction drifts — and I’ve lived that. In this Holy Week solo episode, we look at the clarity Jesus carried into His final days and how that same clarity can anchor you today. We walk through four powerful truths from Holy Week: • Purpose over pressure (John 12:27) • Community before the battle (Luke 22:14–20) • Honesty over hype (Hebrews 5:7–8) • Finishing the assignment (John 17:4) Direction isn’t about knowing the whole plan — it’s about knowing the next ste...

Send us Fan Mail in this powerful conversation, Alex Sanfilippo, founder of PodMatch, shares the raw and honest story of how God met him at rock bottom and rebuilt his identity from the ground up. From selling golf balls at age 10, to losing everything in the 2008 crash, to sitting in a church parking lot battling shame and fear — Alex opens up about the moment God’s presence changed everything. “I walked in and felt like Jesus was hugging me… saying no matter what you’ve done, I love you the...

Send us Fan Mail Jake Doberenz grew up in the church, armed with theology, certainty, and the confidence of a teenager who believed he had everything figured out. But college humbled him — and God rebuilt him. In this powerful conversation, Jake shares how pride, control, and intellectualism became idols in his life, and how God used mentors, Scripture, and unexpected experiences to reshape his faith. We talk about: • The difference between knowing God and walking with God • Why modern idols ...

Send a text Dr. Stephen Finney's truly inspirational story shows how one can overcome adversity through faith. His journey, marked by a profound spiritual awakening and overcoming addiction, is a testament to the power of Jesus Christ. He grew up in an oxygen tent, lived as an outcast, died on a hospital table, saw an angel in the sky, became a drug‑addicted stripper riding with the Hells Angels… and then Jesus Christ pursued him with relentless love. Doctor Stephen Phinney’s story is o...

Send a text In this powerful conversation, Mark sits down with Ryan Reichert — retired Army lieutenant colonel, author, and founder of Our Protector LLC — to unpack a story of addiction, surrender, and supernatural transformation. Ryan spent decades grinding through life on his own strength: deployments, injuries, prescription drug abuse, alcoholism, and the collapse of a 25‑year relationship. But everything changed when he finally surrendered to God. He shares how the Holy Spirit rebuilt his...

Send a text In this powerful conversation, Mark sits down with Paul from Where Did You See God? to explore what it really means to be an ambassador of Christ — not in theory, but in the messy, unpredictable reality of everyday life. Paul shares how a simple question — “Where did you see God today?” — convicted him during full‑time ministry and reshaped the way he approaches fatherhood, calling, and spiritual attentiveness. He opens up about the heartbreak of miscarriage and the moment he had ...

Send a text This episode is a vulnerable and deeply encouraging conversation with pastor and author Dan Nichols, whose son Landon survived three open‑heart surgeries and now lives with half a heart. Dan shares how suffering reshaped his faith, how he wrestled with God in the atrium of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and why trusting God’s heart matters when you can’t trace His hand. We explore what spiritual leadership looks like inside the home — prayer, Scripture, apologizing to yo...

Send a text Former Navy chaplain Greg Woodard joins Mark to share the blueprint strong men follow to stay whole — relationally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Greg draws from years of counseling men in high‑pressure environments and offers practical steps for building resilience, balance, and self‑awareness. This episode is a guide for men who want to grow into the leaders God designed them to be. Gregory Woodard | Transform Your Life Now Want to be a guest on The Valiant Forge Podcas...

Send us a text Former Oklahoma City firefighter Matt Carter has lived through more chaos than most men will ever face — tornadoes, trauma, and even the Oklahoma City bombing. But nothing compares to the night his wife found him unresponsive, not breathing, and slipping into eternity. For over forty minutes, Matt was in cardiac arrest. Paramedics were seconds away from calling time of death… until one of them said, “Let’s give one more round.” What happened next reshaped Matt’s identity, his f...

Send us a text Too many men feel like they’re barely holding it together — carrying pain, pressure, and responsibility while quietly falling apart inside. In this episode, Rory Paquette shares how God met him in the middle and helped him recover from trauma, loss, and even a near‑death moment that left him with only a 20% chance to live. Rory grew up in a broken home, raised his siblings as a teenager, built a successful real‑estate company, and then lost everything in 2008. That collapse led...

Send us a text Christian men struggling with faith, obedience, and spiritual drift need this conversation. Jake Giffen shares how taking possession through obedience, not strength, transformed his walk with God. Christian men often feel stuck, tired, or spiritually numb, believing they need more strength before they can move forward. In this raw and honest episode of The Valiant Forge , Jake Giffin shares how obedience, not confidence or emotional readiness, became the turning point in his faith...

Send us a text Christian apologetics, God’s existence, philosophy, and worldview collide in this powerful conversation with David Libby about why believing in God isn’t optional—and why reason, morality, and truth depend on Him. In this episode, David Libby returns to The Valiant Forge Podcast to unpack the bold claim at the heart of his new book: believing in God isn’t just a preference — it’s the only worldview that actually makes sense of reality. We explore philosophy, apologetics, ethics...

Send us a text Father wounds, achievement addiction, Christian identity, and men’s transformation — Dr. Jack shares how success, pain, and faith shaped the mountain within every man. In this powerful episode, Dr. Jack reveals the hidden story behind a life that looked wildly successful on the outside — global travel, elite athletes, business success — yet was driven for decades by a deep father wound and an addiction to achievement. He opens up about hitting rock bottom alone in a hospital ro...

Send us a text As I look back on this year, God reminded me of something powerful: The places that feel small, ordinary, or overlooked are often the very places He’s asking us to stand our ground. In this end‑of‑year episode, I share what God has entrusted to me, what He’s doing through the Valiant Forge community, and what’s coming in 2026. I also unpack the story of Shamma, one of David’s mighty men — a man who stood firm in a simple bean patch while everyone else ran. His courage reveals s...

Send us a text This episode is personal. I’m sitting down with my dad to talk about the night he finally said yes to God, and how that single decision changed the direction of our family forever. This is not a polished testimony or a church-stage story. It’s raw and honest. We talk about running from God, addiction, prayer that doesn’t quit, and what it looks like when a man finally surrenders instead of walking away. My dad shares the moment he ran from the altar, the night he came back, ...

Send us a text In part 2 of this special Best Of episode, Mark brings together the most powerful answers to his signature question — inspired by 1 Samuel 22 — about what men would say to those who feel disheartened, disgruntled, and discouraged. These are words forged in fire, spoken by men who know the weight of struggle and the hope of redemption. Whether you're in the cave or climbing out of it, this episode is a reminder: you're not alone, and you’re not beyond restoration. Want to be a...

Send us a text in this special Best Of episode, Mark brings together the most powerful answers to his signature question — inspired by 1 Samuel 22 — about what men would say to those who feel disheartened, disgruntled, and discouraged. These are words forged in fire, spoken by men who know the weight of struggle and the hope of redemption. Whether you're in the cave or climbing out of it, this episode is a reminder: you're not alone, and you’re not beyond restoration. Want to be a guest on Th...

Send us a text in this episode of The Valiant Forge Podcast, TS Wright shares his journey of visions, discipleship, and bold faith. From receiving divine visions in 2003 to launching multiple podcasts and writing a discipleship curriculum, TS reveals how training in God’s Word prepares us to live courageously. We explore how to discern God’s voice, test the spirits, and embrace truth as the foundation of discipleship. If you’ve ever wondered how to move from vision to bold action, this conver...

Send us a text In this episode, Mark sits down with Chad for a raw and enriching conversation about how Christian men can steward their money, their time, and their mission with purpose. They explore what it means to build wealth that doesn’t compromise your soul, why discipline is a spiritual practice, and how true abundance starts with obedience. Chad opens up about his journey, his approach to faith-led financial planning, and the deeper “why” behind the numbers. Whether you're managing yo...

Send us a text In this conversation, Mark sits down with Eric to explore what it really means to become a godly man, a present father, and a spiritual leader in the home. Eric shares his journey from a difficult childhood to discovering faith, developing responsibility, and building a legacy his children can stand on. This episode is a reminder that real discipleship begins at home and that every man can grow into the role God is calling him to. Key Takeaways • Why fatherhood starts with spir...