Strong Towers: Recent Episodes
Strong Towers
Strong Towers was born in late 2018 with a simple vision: Build up. Become strong.
Become good fathers, husbands, friends, colleagues, leaders, and followers. Become strong. More importantly, become capable. Become aware of and responsive to the thing within us that says, "there must be more...there has to be."
This begins with a commitment to journey into the frontier within each of us...to the unfinished places that are aching for understanding, restoration, and significance.
We welcome you to join us on this journey of discovery.
Summer is here! And with that comes our annual break in the action at Strong Towers. Thanks for hanging with us through Season 4 -- the vision casting and the life challenges and everything in between. As we step into summer, we find ourselves in real need of both rest and restoration and summer is always a great time to seek and savor it. So enjoy your summer, friends, and we'll see you back in the fall for another Strong Towers podcast.
How are you doing? No, seriously...how are you actually doing? Can you put words to it beyond the usual -- fine, tired, okay, etc. How aware are you of your inner world? And how do you handle it when your inner world suddenly feels a lot more public? Join Mike, Tom, and Jon for a much-needed conversation on the way we navigate our heart and our feelings and the profound good that comes when we learn to enter that space more regularly and confidently.
It finally happened -- the WHISKEY episode! If you've been listening for a while, you'll know our podcast tagline: "all topics - from brotherhood and faith to culture and whiskey." And in 2+ seasons we've talked about all of those things...except whiskey! So at long last, it gives us great pleasure to bring you the last piece of the puzzle...the missing link in the chain...the 4th horseman...Whiskey. And since we don't know much about whiskey, this is going to be a really interesting episode!
"Actions reveal belief 100% of the time." - Dallas Willard. What would a slow, thoughtful reflection on the actions of the last week reveal about the way you see yourself? Do you know who you are at a core level? There's a good chance we're going to talk about the topic of identity in a way you weren't expecting...which is all the more reason to pull up a chair and join the conversation with Tom, Mike, and Jon. You'll be glad you did!
What is your experience of daily intimacy, friendship, and reliance with God? Not Intellectually. Not philosophically. But as practically and tangibly as you can. What does it currently feel like to walk with God? And where do you feel like you're holding back? Join Tom, Mike, and Jon for an honest and open-hearted check-in on the thing we so often say matters most, but is often so challenging to cultivate.
Thanks to Alan Arnold, we've spent the last year wrestling with a revised and renewed sense of the significance of creativity. It matters... so much more than we expected, and in ways, we hadn't anticipated. Join Tom and Jon as they share the challenges and revelations of embracing a life of being creative.
How do you become wise? And once you do, how do you dispense that wisdom in ways that transform rather than bludgeon? Join Mike, Tom, and Jon as Mike shares the story of being on the receiving end of some powerful grandfatherly wisdom...and then learning how to pass it on to his own children.
In their later years, 98% of men say, "I wish I had worked less." Will you be one of those men if your current story does not change? Join Tom and Jon for an in-process conversation on rediscovering play in the midst of work.
The signs of spring are all around, and that's usually a wonderful invitation to get outdoors. But maybe we need outdoors more than we realize. Maybe the invitation is not just to get outside, but to connect with reality. Join Tom and Jon as they get pumped for spring, but even more so, share the restoration they find in the realness of nature.
After wrapping up our series on Mission and Vision, we thought we'd take a light-hearted lap around the "someday" projects -- those things we'd love to get to if time and money weren't an issue. So join Tom, Mike, and Jon for a little wishful thinking, a little creativity, a whole lot of joy.
In our final episode on Mission and Vision, we've definitely saved the best for last! The greatest adventure you will ever undertake is the discovery and restoration of who you are. And when you begin to uncover it, you will also discover a deep need in the world that you are uniquely designed and positioned to fill. Welcome to the rest of your life!
We're continuing with the peek behind the Strong Towers curtain on the topic of Mission and Vision. In our last episode, we touched on prioritizing Faith and Adventure in our growth and development. Today, we dig into Brotherhood and what we mean when we say it's central to who we are, what we do, and where we're going.
We're continuing to discuss the recent work Jon, Mike and Tom have done to solidify the mission and vision of the Strong Towers platform. Our first two core passions deserve a little explanation, so join us as we break down our fascination with faith and adventure.
At Strong Towers, we spent our holiday season much like everyone else. Some food, some family...and a back-to-basics overhaul of our entire platform! The start of a new year is always a great time to take stock of where you've been and where you're going, so come join us as we recap how we got to this point and where our vision for the future of Strong Towers may take us.
It's a bit late, but we wanted to take a last lap through 2021 before officially bidding it adieu. Some great moments that deserve a second look. Some significant challenges that still need to be processed. And a rather poignant conclusion -- we're not who we used to be. Join us as we kick off 2022 with a bang!
Happy holidays from all of us at Strong Towers! With Thanksgiving only recently in the rearview and all the wonder of Christmas just ahead, we're settling in for some of our favorite holiday festivities, traditions, and food. Pull up a chair and share in the nostalgia of the Strong Towers holiday episode.
Goats. Jiu-jitsu. Drywall. Need we say more? Check out this week's episode as Mike and Jon make sense of the craziness of learning.
Burned out? Worn out? Just plain tired? Plenty of that going around these days, but is there something deeper at work? And since that to-do list isn't going anywhere, what do we do? Pull up a chair and join the Strong Towers crew as we wade into the deeper waters of being "worn out."
Season 4 at Strong Towers has been all about the things that are stretching us this year; physical challenges, youth sports, faith, and the ongoing commitment to improvement. Along the way, we've found some literary gems that have proven incredibly beneficial. So please pull up a chair as we swap titles of books that are shaping (or reshaping) our world.
We haven't done a faith-focused episode in a while, but when the topic of the Great Commission came around recently it was too good to pass up. So join Tom, Mike, and Jon as we try to put into practice the call to follow, become a disciple, and invite others into the journey.
What do you do when you hit the phase where your kids start playing sports? You do a podcast about it, obviously. The nostalgia of our childhood, the challenge of being a sports parent, all of it. So put me in, coach!
"What's not working?" It's possibly one of the most disruptive and reorienting questions we've been asked. Disruptive because no one likes to acknowledge it, but reorienting because there are few things more helpful than taking an honest look under the proverbial hood. Put another way, "where are you fighting bravely and dying quickly?" Join Mike, Tom, and Jon as we answer that for ourselves and invite you to do the same.
Getting to our 100th episode feels like a pretty big accomplishment. Fortunately, Mike provided us with the perfect topic for this milestone -- undertaking the Pine Creek Challenge 100 Mile Ultramarathon. You truly don't want to miss hearing Mike open up about the motivations that brought him to such an endeavor and the things he learned about himself afterwards. It's powerful...just what 100 should be!
We’re back! Kicking off Season 4 at Strong Towers, we are psyched to be back in the studio again. We are looking forward to an incredible slate of topics, including our 100th episode! Welcome back to the journey of building up and becoming strong.
In this episode, we discuss. Transitions. “the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.”
Recently while Mike was running, the topic of Triathlons and the importance of your transition times came up in conversation. Often most athletes focus and train on the main disciplines, Swim, Bike, Run. However, your PR is achieved with the improvements of your transitions.
This got me thinking, oftentimes in life, we focus on the state or condition we’re currently in and where we will be next, but what about that transition time, have we prepared for that?
We're wrapping up this "influential people" series with a final reprise from the vault. We recorded our conversation with Allen Arnold back in Dec of 2020 -- you remember 2020, right? -- and the echoes of his message have been reverberating in my head ever since. Creativity isn't a side project. It's not the thing you do in retirement or after all the real work is done. Doing something creative is actually core to who we are and essential to the world around us. So take a listen, and then do something crazy -- go create.
When we think of the word "challenge", we most often think of pushing our body to the limit. One of our friends, Nathan Bramblett, has a lot of experience with that and so we'd thought we'd invite him to join our conversation. You won't want to miss this!
Our last episode on influential people brought back a host of memories of others that have been pivotal in our growth. One of those phenomenal people is Morgan Snyder. We had the pleasure of interviewing him last year on the topic of Mentorship, and it quickly became one of our favorite episodes. So as a tip of the cap to our friend and guide...and to ensure you don't miss this powerful episode...we wanted to run it back to the top of the list. Enjoy!
As we were reflecting on last week’s episode, we got to thinking about all of the cool people we have gotten to have conversations with on the show. That got us down the road on recognizing the people who had influence on our lives in all sorts of areas. Join us as we dig into who these people were and what they mean to us.
We got to sit down with Shawn Bolz and Bob Hasson for an incredible conversation on combining faith and work. Shawn & Bob encourage anyone and everyone that hearing God’s voice is not just for those in traditional ministry; and that there are Kingdom marketplace ventures waiting to be birthed through those who would lean into what God is saying.
Check out their new book - Wired to Hear: Connecting God’s Voice to Your Life, Influence, and Career.
It's time for the lightning round! Welcome to Part Two of 21 Questions -- there's still no points and no prizes, but we're having a blast nonetheless! Life-changing purchase under $100? Advice you would give your 18 year-old self? Get your buzzers ready, 'cause it's game time!
Thought it might be fun to take a short break from interviews and topical conversations to ask the hard questions and get some hard answers. What superpower does Mike wish he had? What's Tom's favorite childhood toy? Join us for 21 questions that provide a little levity, a lot of nostalgia, and more depth than we were expecting.
After releasing "Listening - Pt 1" last week, we realized there was some serious potential for a follow-up conversation that included the feminine perspective. Fortunately, our wives were ready and willing to join us and offer their insights, wisdom, and vulnerability as we all continue to improve on this essential relationship skill. They're pretty much the best...we know you'll agree!
"Are you listening?" Heard that one before? In school, in relationships, at work...we often think we do a good job of taking in information and acting on it. But what if there's more to listening? Join Tom, Mike, and Jon for Part 1 of a 2-part episode on moving beyond information to the heart behind communication.
We know things have been a little uncertain for a while now, but spring showed up as promised! And with it the reminder of just how powerful, essential, and...if we're being honest...dangerous HOPE can be. Join Mike, Tom, Jon, and special guest, Shawn Ludeker, as we dare to let hope come out of its 2020 hiding place and play.
A little late this week, but definitely worth the wait! Earlier this year one of our good friends, and a member of a solid group of guys we do life with, moved away to be closer to extended family. While sad for us, the move has disconnected our brother from a support system that we have all come to truly appreciate in our lives. Join us as we sit down with our buddy Shawn to talk about the importance of having a strong men’s group in your life and how to find or start a group when you find yourself without one.
We're retooling some things here at Strong Towers in preparation for the launch of Season 4 later this year. Rather than sweeping changes, we're continuing to tweak and fine-tune...making micro-adjustments in favor of whole-sale change. I think there might be a larger lesson there than I first realized.
Happy anniversary! It's been a year - almost to the day - since virtually all of our lives underwent unexpected and uncomfortable change. What better way to wrap up this series on Discomfort than by doing some honest soul-searching in the ways we were tried, tested, and transformed over these last 12 months.
Discomfort in finances? Of course! Discomfort in faith? Absolutely! Discomfort in brotherhood? Amen! Discomfort in creativity? You betcha! Turns out your creativity is absolutely on the same level...just as critical, just as opposed. Join Tom and Jon as we revisit some pearls of wisdom from the star of S3e12, Alan Arnold, and talk about the need to fight through the discomfort in creativity as fiercely as we battle for finances, faith, and brotherhood.
Money - check! Faith - check! But rather than politics, let's get to the uncomfortable 3rd rail in many conversations between men: deeply personal brotherhood. Not with your colleagues. Not your poker buddies. Rather, the one or two guys that would walk through fire with you and know you better than your own parents, How do you work through the discomfort to get that kind of friendship? We're not 100% sure, but we've got a couple thoughts.
There's 3 things you don't usually talk about in public: money, faith, and politics. Last week we dove headfirst into the heart behind money. This week we're tackling faith and trying to get to the bottom of why it's just so...well...uncomfortable for us to talk about with others. Join us for this conversation with Tom, Mike, and Jon, and let the discomfort continue!
Money, money, money! It's amazing how much of our life often seems inextricably tied to money...and equally amazing how rarely we truly talk about. We'll offer no tips, tricks, or investments here, but with the wisdom and experience of our friend, Alex Voorhees, we'll take an even deeper dive into our relationships with money in the hopes of finding understanding, freedom, and abundance in ways we might never have imagined.
Goal-setting is a good thing. Challenging ourselves to push past our usual limits is a very good thing. But what about intentionally asking to be made uncomfortable? We're not talking about roughing it in the wilderness here, but we are talking about pursuing the frontier areas of our life that make us feel ill-equipped, unsure, and wildly uncomfortable. We usually avoid those areas like the plague, but what if discomfort is exactly where we need to go?
Many of us have been hip-deep in New Year's goals since the calendar switched over...and some of have just been happy to be living in any year other than 2020. But is it possible we said goodbye to 2020 too quickly? Might we need to linger over one of the more difficult 12-month periods in recent memory to ensure we've actually given ourselves time to grieve the hurt, pain, and loss that accompanied such trying times? Take a listen, and then take a moment for yourself.
Happy 2021 from all of us at Strong Towers as we celebrate both the new year and our 2-year anniversary as a podcast. It's been a wild ride this past year, and we're curious to see what the next 12 months hold for us all. Join us as we look back on all 2020 held and then battle plan for the year ahead.
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" Well...sort of. It's 2020 after all, so nothing's quite the same. But nevertheless, we circled the virtual chairs one last time before the calendar changes to ring in our favorite holiday. Favorite traditions, hopes for the coming weeks, and all the holiday cheer you could ask for. Merry Christmas to all of you from all of us at Strong Towers.
Did you know that you're a wildly creative person? If you don't believe it, ask Allen Arnold. Allen's worked with creative people for decades, and has now channeled his own creative juices to produce "Chaos Can't." This book reveals how the best parts of you are thwarted, opposed, and undermined by forces designed to keep you from offering the truest parts of yourself to the world around you. This was an AMAZING conversation. We know you'll love it!
The series on "Challenge" back in Season 1 was one of our all-time favorites...both to talk about and also be, well, challenged by. A year has come and gone, and we thought it would be worth it to revisit the topic and see how things have changed. The conversation that ensued was surprising, encouraging, and convicting all at the same time. Hope you find it to be so as well.
We met Travis 2 years ago, around the same time we started Strong Towers. After hearing just a little of the story of his side-business, Dynasty Brewing, we knew we wanted the chance to record an episode with him. Two years later, thanks to our friend, Jeff Kuzma (Ego - Season 2, Episodes 8&9), we got the chance. Added bonus...both Jeff and Dynasty's brew master, Favio, joined us for the conversation. You're going to love this episode! And then you're going to want to go check out Dynasty Brewing!
We found it! The lost episode on technology has returned from the furthest corners of time and space...and our gig bag...with some pearls of wisdom on breaking free from techno-slavery whilst still enjoying all that's good in our 21st century existence. Now if only we could remember what's in it...
Between recent episodes on favorite movies and our love of learning, we got to talking about some of our favorite books. Then we decided to actually record that conversation since we were having so much fun with it. So pull up a chair as Tom, Mike, and Jon share some of their favorites -- the ones that entertain, inspire, and make great gifts (just in time for the holidays!).
At Strong Towers, we have deep ties to education. Two of us were professional teachers, all 3 of us have been trainers/mentors, and all three of us have married educators. When you put it that way, it's shocking we didn't do an episode on education long before now. But in the midst of COVID and distance learning, we wanted to sit down with a dear friend, Kathy Bales, and talk about education...both as teachers, but also as life-long learners.
Statement of the obvious: 2020 has been a test for us all. There's been much in the last 10 months that has been physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually challenging, disruptive, or unexpected. As a result, we're all trying to find relief wherever we can. The question is do we need relief or restoration?
Discussing our favorite cinematic moments made us want to dig a little deeper into why they affect us so deeply. As a result, we got to have an awesome conversation about identity and the places we go to discover the truth of who we are. We also made a LOT more movie references! So take a listen and join the conversation.
Sometimes you just gotta have a little fun! Over the last few seasons, we've covered topics from fear and ego to future dreams and effective leadership. Today...it's favorite movie scenes. Why? The better questions is why not? But seriously, we've found that our favorite scenes speak to deep places within us...and as we share the scenes, we share a little bit about those deep places and the power of media to move us in unexpected ways.
A blanket in the park. It's one of the iconic images of a summer afternoon or a crisp fall day. It's the epitome of unhurried rest and soaking in a great setting and great friends. And when was the last time any of us actually did it?!? Take a listen as Mike, Tom, and Jon consider the allure of a day spent with no agenda other than connection and enjoyment.
Tired of hearing about "new normal" yet? For that matter, tired of trying to find some semblance of a rhythm or routine in the midst of so much change? Mike, Tom, and Jon swap stories about their attempts to find inspiration, motivation, and some sense of consistency over the last few months...and how it hasn't always looked like what we expected.
We're baaack! After a summer of...rest?...we're excited for a new season and a new theme for the fall episodes. We're all searching for sanity, stability, and hope right now, and so Strong Towers is offering a series of conversations this fall on every-day topics that ring true for most of us. Adjusting our morning routines to a new normal? Maintaining friendships and connection in the midst of COVID? Developing skills and carving out time for personal growth? Check, check, and check. You're gonna love Season 3!
We've learned a lot of lessons over this first year and a half of podcasting. One of them is to always leave the recorder on, because you never know when you'll stumble upon a great conversation. Another thing we've learned is the necessity of taking a break so that what we do here never becomes something we begrudgingly do here. So as hard as it is to hit pause in the midst of the most pivotal moments of our generation, we're doing it because we know we need it. But check out this episode because we threw in a couple nuggets on our way out.
George Floyd's shocking murder on May 25, 2020 is forcing people all over America and all over the world to have hard and long over-due conversations about the continued reality of race and racism in our time. At Strong Towers, while we certainly have no answers, we are working to have those conversations and process the hard feelings that are coming up in this moment. We offer this conversation in humility and we're grateful to have you join us as we all hope to see real change and real healing in our world.
If you've been tracking with us for the last couple weeks, you know we've really enjoyed getting some perspective on mentorship. Morgan Snyder, Alex Voorhees, and now the finale...Brooke Ackerman & Mike Haynes. They've been doing youth ministry for a few years together, and their insights into mentoring teens, adults, and each other are absolutely stellar. Take a listen...you'll be glad you did.
In last week's podcast, Morgan Snyder talked about every person having something to offer others in God's Kingdom. Even as we allow ourselves to be shown a better way by those that have gone before, we get to offer what we currently possess to those that are a step behind. Our friend, Alex Voorhees, has had to wrestle with this tension and was willing to offer some AMAZING insights as a younger man who's eager to learn and also willing to share what he has.
Mentorship begins with asking questions of those that have gone before you. One such man has been instrumental in each of our journeys of becoming better men, and we had the incredible opportunity to grab some mic time with him. This conversation with our mentor and friend, Morgan Snyder, is absolute GOLD waiting to be mined by those seeking the slow and steady path to becoming the kind of men and women to whom God can entrust His Kingdom. You'll come back to this one again...we promise.
Mentorship has as much (or more) to do with the questions asked as it does the answers given. There are some valuable lessons we've learned over the last few years of life, but one of the most important is this -- we don't know as much as we think we do. And there is the beginning of wisdom. Time to ask some questions.
We hope you caught the footage for Mike & Zach's 24-hour quarantined 30 mile race. This wee, we wanted to go behind the scenes and have a conversation about the path that led them to and thru this adventure of mind and body. How do you push yourself past your limits? Take a listen.
We're back. Kinda. Join us this week as we put away the microphones and pull out the cameras.
Last season's podcasts on Challenge inspired Mike and Zach to purse physical, spiritual mental, and relational challenges. Join Mike and Zach on their 24-hour journey to complete the Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge. A challenge to run 5 miles every 4 hours for 24 hours over on our youtube page https://youtu.be/X-WCFu5Bp64
Check out last season's podcast on Challenge with Nathan Bramblett here https://www.strong-towers.com/podcast/episode/c357246d/s1-e20-challenge-physical
Another week of being home and another week of lessons learned. Jon and Mike take time to catch up and talk about our plans for the coming weeks...and the plans for Strong Towers in the months ahead.
It's Week 2 of our little corner of the world being directly affected by COVID-19, and we wanted to get a little face-time with each other and see what we're learning as we adjust to our new normal.
It feels like the world had changed a lot since last week...and whenever it feels like our world has suddenly changed we're often faced with two connected dilemmas. What do I believe to be true? What am I supposed to do based on what I believe? Mike, Tom, and Jon are going to maintain social distance on this episode and talk through that tension of wisdom, belief, and action.
"Admitting your ignorance is the beginning of wisdom," -Socrates. We recorded this episode prior to the US outbreak of COVID-19, but the theme of recognizing just how much we don't know has certainly had application and benefit long before this present moment. In fact, believe it or not, it's amazingly freeing. Care to try?
"Sleep is like the unicorn - it is rumored to exist, but I doubt I will see any." Dr. Seuss
Join Mike and Tom as they continue the conversation on Sabbath and rest.
Need a break? A vacation? Some time to recharge? Us too. Seems like those moments have been all too infrequent during the busy times of life...which seems to be all the time! So we're exploring a lifestyle change in the areas of Sabbath and rest, and you know what? Turns out it's not at all what we thought!
Mike often mentions the quote from Jim Rohn that we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with. Given that the 3 of us spend a fair amount of time with each other...and since we're on the topic of looking for inspiration in the year ahead...we wanted to take a moment and capture some of the ways that we've changed by being close to each other.
One month into 2020 and we're learning some new lessons about how to pursue our plans for the year ahead. Accomplishing a goal is one thing, but developing a lifestyle feels somewhat trickier. Where do you find yourself in that process of creating a shift in the way you live?
It's honestly been a few weeks since the 3 of us caught up -- on the mics or even just face-to-face. So we're taking some time to reconnect and share what God seems to be doing in our lives so far in 2020.
Hey, it's a little late, but that's okay. Join us as we discuss our hopes, goals, and new habits for the upcoming year.
Happy New Year! It's a little later than normal for that, but as we step into 2020 we wanted to give a nod to the best of 2019...and in particular, wanted to relaunch the most popular Strong Towers episode from 2019. Our conversation on Challenge & Land Navigation really struck a chord with a lot of us, and as we prepare for the year ahead, we wanted to follow our own advice and look backward in order to move forward into another year of building up and becoming strong.
If you missed Part 1 on Leadership with our friend, Nate Allen, then you need to stop whatever you're doing and go listen right NOW! If you already caught the first one then we know you're absolutely hooked and can't wait for Part 2. So dive right in!
We get to do a lot of fun things here at Strong Towers, and one of them is have amazing conversations with incredible people. We sat with our friend, Nate Allen, to reap the benefit of his knowledge and experience on a topic near and dear to our hearts -- how to take better care of the people we're responsible for, whether at work or at home. You're going to want to listen to this one a few times to soak it all in. Enjoy!
In the conclusion to this series on Sons of Our Father, Santiago, Tom, and Jon discuss the need to pursue and fight to make room for mentors, guides, and father-figures in our lives. If you missed the first two episodes, make sure you go back and check them out before hitting play on this gem. Merry Christmas from all of us at Strong Towers!
How do you get to where you want to be? If you're smart, you ask someone who's already been there to show you the way. In this episode, our friend James "Santiago" Colazy is going to do just that -- offer us the benefit of his wisdom and experience as a man who has asked this question of others and is now becoming the man he was made to be. This is a rare opportunity...don't miss it!
How did you become who you are? For better AND for worse, our future self was shaped in large part by the words and actions (or lack thereof) of one of the most influential figures in our early years: our father. Let's take a look at the road that brought us here as we also pause and consider the road ahead.
We've been realizing some things about thankfulness lately and wanted to share them as we celebrate this holiday week. Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Strong Towers!
They survived! Listen to Mike, Zach, and Nate sum up their experiences racing the Stockville. From climbing up steep hills to getting mad at the moon, the guys reflect on the race and what they learned.
3 guys. 39 miles. 2 days. 1 map. Mike Lara teamed up with fellow veterans Zach Detweiler and Nate Davis and put their minds and bodies to the test in the woods of Pennsylvania. Check out their pre-race conversation as they prepare to embark on The Stockville navigation race.
Thanks for coming back for round 2 on Ego. There was a lot of gold in the conversation with our friend, Jeff Kuzma, and so we're offering the second half here as we continue to navigate the minefield of self-worth.
Ego's a tricky thing. On the one hand, you're pretty amazing and you may not even realize it. On the other, telling everyone how great you think you are can be more than a little off-putting. How do we navigate this minefield of self-worth? Join the conversation with our friend, Jeff Kuzma, as we wade into the deep waters of Ego.
We had a lot to process after our two-part conversation on Fear with Kyle Hoffman over the last two weeks. So Mike, Tom, and I realized we needed one more go-around on the topic to figure out what we took away. Freel free to join in on the conversation.
The conversation on "Fear" with Kyle Hoffman was too much for one episode, so we're bringing you part 2 today...and it's POWERFUL! Listen to it once, and then listen to it again. You will not be disappointed.
We're excited to bring you the first in a two-part conversation with our friend, Kyle Hoffman. Kyle's a great man, husband, father, businessman, mentor...and fisherman!...and we're truly grateful that he was willing to share his story as we confront the specter that drives so many men to both great heights and deep darkness: FEAR. You do not want to miss this!
In this follow-up episode, Mike, Tom, and Jon continue the conversation on validation. We know we need it, but we don't always know where to find it. Listen in as we swap stories of successes, near-misses, and absolute train-wrecks in our search for the answer to our question.
Pretty much everyone has a question buried deep in the core of who they are that goes something like this: "am I good enough? Do I have what it takes? Am I going to be okay?" In this episode, Mike, Tom, and Jon chase after that core desire for validation and the places we often go to find it.
As we dive into Season 2, it seems like a good time to circle back to the major parts of our stories and see where things stand today. Listen as Tom, Mike, and Jon look back at how life has changed since Strong Towers first launched almost a year ago.
Strong Towers is back after our summer break! We're excited for all that Season 2 has to offer, so check out this first episode to see where we're heading!
It's official...Strong Towers is kicking off a 4-week summer break! But we wanted to send you off with a sneak peek of our upcoming content, as well as an introduction to some of the folks we listen to who can help you fill the next 4 weeks until the first episode of Season 2 drops on Sept 9th!
We've been re-launching some of the earliest Strong Towers episodes over the last few weeks and this time around Jon's story is making a comeback. You'll get to enjoy the beginning of the home adventure story as well as some reminders of things still in process. Thanks for sticking with us!
It's week 3 of the Strong Towers "summer break" and we're continuing the re-release of some of our earliest episodes. This week, you get the chance to revisit the story of the one and only Mike Lara -- from West-coast life to enlistment and deployments to marriage and fatherhood on the East-coast. Enjoy!
As we continue the summer pause here at Strong Towers, we hope you caught the re-release of our maiden episode last week. This week, we're giving you all the chance to get better acquainted with Tom Edwards as we relaunch the conversation of Tom's adventures in vocation, calling, love, and family. You won't want to miss it.
As promised, we're relaunching our very first episode! It's been a crazy first 6 months at Strong Towers, and as we pause and consider next steps we wanted to invite you back to the genesis of this adventure to see where it all started. Thanks for being part of Strong Towers!
In our final episode of the Challenge series, Tom, Mike, and Jon reflect on the six prior episodes and some of the absolute gems that we've taken away from our guests during the series, as well as our plans to keep Strong Towers building up and becoming strong next season. Thanks for staying with us on this journey!
As we were about to wrap up this series on challenge, it was lovingly brought to our attention that we had yet to address one of the greatest challenges that men face -- the challenge of loving well. So, with the help of Brooke Ackerman, Tom, Mike, and Jon are happy to offer an initial conversation on the challenge of loving the woman in our life.
When we think of the word "challenge", we most often think of pushing our body to the limit. One of our friends, Nathan Bramblett, has a lot of experience with that and so we'd thought we'd invite him to join our conversation. You won't want to miss this!
Join Tom, Mike, and Jon as they take a look back at where they've come from and the challenges of pushing on.
What's harder than taking on a new challenge? Sticking with it! Join Tom, Mike, and Jon as they discuss the challenge that affects all others...the challenge of perseverance.
As we continue the series on Challenge, we thought it might be fun to think about how we think when it comes to mental challenges in a man's life. So join in as Tom, Jon, and their friend, TJ Bramblett, dive into the masculine mind.
In a slight departure from our usual format, we're proud to offer an excerpt from a recent conference at Christian Fellowship Church in which Jon Ackerman, his wife, Brooke, and Todd Bramblett (our guest on Spiritual Challenge) dive deeper into the topic of how we can challenge ourselves to be more aware of the reality that God is constantly with us and constantly communicating his truth and love to us. We hope you enjoy!
It's been a busy few weeks. And it's Mother's Day! As we finally get some much-needed time in the studio together, we also wanted to honor the amazing women we know. So to all the moms, wives, and incredible ladies in our lives, THANK YOU for who you are and how you've changed us for the better.
Take a deep dive into the waters of spiritual challenge and growth with our friend and mentor, Todd Bramblett. Why not start in the place where many of us, as men, are least comfortable with being challenged...and the least aware of where to begin?
In this opening episode on Challenge, Mike, Tom, and Jon recap their experiences competing in a Ragnar race this past fall and the various ways in which the event tested, hardened, and shaped them.
A much-shorter-than-usual message on the heels of Easter weekend as we conclude our series on friendship and prepare to launch into a new series on challenge.
In the final episode on masculine friendship, Jon, Tom, and Mike join their wives for a conversation on the importance of friendship, the value-add at home of men pursuing deep friendships with each other, and the richness of a connected circle of close companions.
In part 3 in this series on friendship, we're joined by our friend, Brian, who offers some phenomenal insights on how our pursuit of close friends has far-reaching effects on both ourselves and those we love.
Close friendships with a small group of guys have always been and continue to be an essential element of a man's life. Join us as we continue the conversation in Part 2, addressing both additional barriers and obstacles as well as moments of actual success!
One of the greatest desires of a man's heart is for close, lasting, meaningful male friendships. It's also one of the hardest things to find. Join the conversation as Mike, Tom, and Jon share stories and insights on this elusive topic.
We're wrapping up Part 3 of our Work vs "Work" series with special guest Erik Schlener of Root and Marrow Farm. Erik has an atypical job in 2019 and has some profound insights to share through his experiences of pursuing his passions through work.
Work can bring life and "work" can suck the life out of us. Join us for Part 2 of a three-part series on work as we share our experiences in attempting to find the place that "work" belongs in our life so that we can create more space for passion and calling.
Man and work have been intimately connected concepts from the beginning. Work seems to have the power to bring a man to life...or to suck it out of him completely. So what's the difference between "work" and work?
The final episode in a five-part series on Chasing the Dream. Check out the amazing story from Rich Neel as he talks with Jon about discovering deep-seated passions that defy easy resolution.
The third in a four-part series on Chasing the Dream. Get to know Jon Ackerman as he traces his story from a life of safety and security to one of never seeming to know what's around the next corner.
The second in a four-part series on Chasing the Dream. Get to know Mike Lara as he traces his story from fatherlessness to being fathered to being a father to his boys.
The first in a four-part series on Chasing the Dream. Get to know Tom Edwards as he shares his story of being called out of public education and into the unknown.
Inaugural Strong Towers podcast. Get to know Tom Edwards, Mike Lara, and Jon Ackerman as we begin the adventure of chasing after the masculine soul.