Episodes

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 Podca...

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...

Send us a text 🎙 Episode Description (Podcast Platform Copy) What happens when faith meets film? In this episode, Craig Dehut — co-founder and CEO of Appian Media — shares how his team brings Scripture to life through stunning on-location documentaries in the lands of the Bible. He opens up about the faith required to fund a nonprofit media ministry, the powerful moments that shaped his understanding of God’s Word, and how visual storytelling can reignite our love for Scripture. If you’...

Send us a text Two years ago, Victor Anderson was a man wrecked by the world. Then God stepped in. In this powerful episode of The Valiant Forge Podcast, Victor shares his testimony of transformation — from living for himself to walking fully surrendered to God. He opens up about the power of grace, the battle to die to self daily, and how prayer and brotherhood have helped him grow stronger in faith. Through vulnerability and truth, Victor reminds us that no man is too far gone. God’s grace ...

Send us a text When former Army officer Nick Filoni hung up his uniform after 13 years of service, he thought he’d lost everything that defined him — courage, purpose, even identity. But what looked like the end of a mission became the beginning of a new one. In this powerful conversation, Nick opens up about: Losing his sense of purpose after leaving the militaryThe prayer that changed everything and brought his family to faithHow men can rebuild identity around Christ instead of careerThe d...

Send us a text In this soul-stirring conversation, Tom Snow shares his 40-year wilderness journey through ministry, burnout, spiritual dryness, and eventual restoration. From cussing God out in a parking lot to cracking jokes on a crash cart during heart failure, Tom’s story is a raw and redemptive testimony of grace. We explore the difference between religious performance and true intimacy, the dangers of false spirituality, and the call to become God’s mighty men—not by power, but by His Sp...

Send us a text Tom Snow’s testimony is a spiritual epic — a journey through guilt, grief, supernatural visions, and divine healing. After losing his mother to cancer, Tom believed his own scientific experiments had caused her death. When a tumor began growing inside him, he kept it secret, convinced he deserved to die. For months, he was haunted by visions of puff clouds drifting overhead, each showing life continuing without him. Then, in a moment of divine intervention, God spoke audibly — ...

Send us a text What happens when a man with nothing left finds himself face-to-face with God? In this gripping and emotional interview, we sit down with Dustin—a former convict, loyal to the streets, and nearly lost to despair—who shares the moment everything changed. From Las Vegas to St. Louis to Oakland, Dustin’s story is a raw journey through addiction, loyalty, brokenness, and the unmistakable call of God. He opens up about the night he nearly ended his life, the unexpected text that int...