Grow to AMaasing: Recent Episodes
Tony Maas
Welcome to the Grow to AMaasing Podcast! This podcast is hosted by a regular guy (whose last name, Maas, rhymes with amazing!) trying to make his world a little bit better every day - as a man, a husband, and as a father. Join me in that journey to being amazing!
This podcast will incorporate book reviews, interviews, and provide information to help you hopefully grow a little and learn something more to help you on your journey to being amazing.
Being faithful. Being filled with faith and being sustained by it and THROUGH it. There's a lot to faithfulness, whether it be to your spouse, your family, your beliefs, to God, and so much more.
In this episode of Word of the Week I take a little dive down what that means for Jill and I right now. We're in a time of transition, working to build some new businesses we've felt called to start, and that process is at times difficult and painful. It's also very fulfilling at the same time.
Living the life you've been called to do can be scary, it can be painful, it can take you in directions you never thought you'd go. That's where we are now, and we're working hard with God's blessings to get there.
I hope you like this episode! Subscribe and share, and thank you for listening!
Priorities. In life, in work, in family, we can't escape having them. We all have to make the right choices on what to do when, and why.
I've been struggling with them over the last month, and I go into brutally honest details about that in this episode. But I'm back in the saddle, although Grow to AMaasing is going to be scaled down for just a bit while I adjust to my new priorities in life.
We're not going away, we're not dying, and we'll be back as large as ever! Thank you for listening even through my absence!
In this episode I talk about our family's priorities, how we set them, and why they're changing, and why Grow to AMaasing needs to take a bit of a back seat, at least for a while, so I can deal with some higher priorities.
Please visit my family's lifestyle channel on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/amaasing_life/ - @amaasing_life. And on TikTok if you're more for that platform. You'll see more from us there every day!
And if you like what you hear, please share, subscribe, and review!
Thank you again for listening!
Hope. Desmond Tutu said it well when he said, "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."
I'm in the middle of that at the moment... so this podcast is raw and real. This is one of those times when you have to fall back on faith, hope, and love, and know that the future is not set, that with God's help we can make the future so much more than it appears to be right now.
One of my biggest weaknesses is how I fight the darkness - I tend to withdraw and isolate, rather than reaching out and engaging and working through it, or at least not shutting others out. Hope is weak for me at times like that, and times like I'm in right now.
How do I work through it? With faith, prayer, and rebuilding my hope one nugget at a time. By truly leaning on God as He works, and by believing in Him and His message with all my heart.
I hope this episode is one that speaks to you. Please share and let me know!
Since it's Thanksgiving week, I thought it'd be a good idea to talk about what I'm thankful for. And what even the word THANKFUL means to me in the first place. Is it ego-driven, or humble and truly thankful with open, heartfelt gratefulness?
I have much in my life to be thankful, and I try to call out the major parts of that, and dive into it a little bit - my faith, my wife, my family (my boys and extended family both!), and so much more.
I don't know that we take enough time in today's society to be truly thankful for everything we've all been blessed with, both good and bad. Even negative events can be turned around and made into a force for goodness - maybe losing that job opens up the door to a better opportunity, maybe being sick forces one to focus more on their health and family when recovered. And so on, with so many more examples it's hard to imagine.
So, this Thanksgiving and every day thereafter, be truly THANKFUL for every part of your life!
Be sure to share the podcast and review it on your favorite platforms!
There's a lot of negative press around these days for the typical family unit and in particular, what it means to be a strong and healthy man within a family, being a good husband and dad.
I'm not going to comment on all the negativity, I'm focusing on what I can do as a man, a husband, and a dad to positively influence my world. That's what this podcast is about.
What's the difference between a father and a dad? As the saying goes, any idiot can become a father, but it takes a man to become a dad. But what are the characteristics that define a dad?
I've learned a few of them, so while I may not be a perfect example of a dad, I'm doing my best to get better at those characteristics every day.
Things like:
- Having your crap together as a man, and being a child of God.
- Loving their mother FIRST (although AFTER loving God and taking care of yourself).
- Being there, and being present, in all phases of life.
- Being kind, strong, and loving.
And much, much more. I'm sure I could come up with 50 more principles with just a little thought, but these and seven more were the ones that jumped out at me.
I hope you enjoy this episode, I'd love to hear some feedback on it on my Instagram page, @tonymaas1.
"Proactive" is defined as "creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened".
I sometimes struggle with that, although it may or may not be strictly proactivity I'm talking about. I struggle with getting up off the couch and making things happen. With starting the work to get the outcome I'm shooting for. With taking the bull by the horns.
So while the word "proactive" is the word of the week, there's lots more I can fit under that umbrella.
In this episode I dive into my proactive mindset (and lack thereof sometimes) and go over the steps I'm going to be taking to improve my level of proactivity in life. Do you want a specific outcome? Do you want a direction in your life? The only way it's going to happen is by proactively getting out there and DOING IT.
Hope you enjoy! Please subscribe, share, and review!
It's time for more clarity on where Grow to AMaasing (rhymes with amazing) is going. We're 38 episodes in on the podcast, things are picking up steam, and to keep the momentum going I want to open up about some of our upcoming plans for Grow to AMaasing.
First, I walk through the targeted Functional Areas of Grow to AMaasing. How can we get better every day, in every part of our life? How does Extreme Ownership plan a part in all of them? What are the functional areas of Grow to AMaasing that we'll be targeting over the upcoming weeks and years?
What else comes after that? It's one thing to talk about growth, but how do we achieve it? I dive into that on this episode also and give a little preview of my - and my wife's - commitment to Grow to AMaasing.
I hope you stick around for the ride. We're not done yet, far from it! We're just getting started!
Ah, consistency. The 'uniform application of something'... whatever that something might be. Effort. Love. Praise. Supporting my wife. Creating this podcast. Working out. Building my faith life. Building my business.
I struggle with you, consistency.... I struggle. And I'm struggling now. I've gotten out of my routine through no one's fault but mine, and I'm fighting to get back into it.
In this episode I get open about my struggles, and talk about my plan to get back on track. Starting now. Who's with me? Anyone else out there struggling, or am I the only one?
I'll keep you updated on the results of this. Consistency of effort in all phases of life is one of the most important keys to success.
Thank you for supporting the podcast!
What do you get when you survive childhood trauma, fight through personal health and mental wellness challenges, and come out the other end a stronger person in spite of it all?
You get someone like Cheryl Killilea, my guest on the podcast this week. Cheryl and I go way back, but her story is so, so much more than that!
Cheryl's personal journey to health and wellness started over 20 years ago when she discovered that exercise, healthy nutrition and self care were the missing links in helping her lose fat, gain strength, increase self confidence, and deal with stress as a single mom.
Cheryl's defining moment came when she was laid off from her corporate sales position and decided to change careers at the age of 40. She initially worked as a Personal Trainer at the La Crosse, Wisconsin area YMCA for 5 years and still currently teaches cycling classes.
She knew she wanted to offer more than just physical training and took a leap of faith on November 2017 and opened up a private fitness and wellness studio with an amazing view of Lake Onalaska.
Her goal with clients is to create a private a safe space for them to reconnect with their body physically and mentally, examining all areas of wellness to create a customized plan to meet client needs though all seasons of life.
Her faith and spiritual journey is a strong part of the story as well, and I was happy to dive deep into that part of her life.
Please check Cheryl out at www.changinglanesfitness.com, or on Instagram at @fitgrl4ever, or on Facebook!
Just a reminder that suicide is a permanent solution to any problem you're having. If you need help, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255
I hope you enjoy this episode!
How do you handle it when things go unexpectedly wrong? Do you always, always buckle down and make do with what you've got? Do you handle it well? Are you mentally flexible enough to handle change? Can you divorce your emotions from your actions, and let those emotions lie fallow, while you take action and deal with the situation?
I sometimes struggle with that, and I go into a recent example of that in this podcast. It seems like a little thing, being flexible... but it can trip you up when you least expect it. Like it did for me last Sunday.
I highly recommend studying the philosophical school of thought called Stoicism to understand how to handle adversity and unexpected occurrences, and how to have a flexible, agile mind. Ryan Holliday has a series of books on it, and you can read translations of many of the original thinkers on Stoicism, including Marcus Aurelius.
I hope you enjoy this episode and get something valuable from it - as always, please review the podcast and share it with your friends!
Living life on your own terms, ready for the challenges it brings. Taking some chances. Not living carelessly, but intentionally, challenging yourself to live fully and completely.
Christian Schauf, the CEO of Uncharted Supply, a Utah-based survival and preparedness company, is doing his best to live life uncharted - exploring the unknown, taking chances, and working hard to discovery where his journey can lead him.
I'm so excited to have him on! We hail from the same small town - Barron, Wisconsin (coincidentally the name of his dog) - and he's a successful entrepreneur, musician, and outdoors lifestyle advocate. Since his early days in his band Catchpenny, playing for our soldiers overseas and recording multiple albums, to marketing and business development for multiple companies, and now to his successful venture with Uncharted Supply (www.unchartedsupplyco.com), he's got an inspiring story with enough twists and turns to make your head spin!
Hope you enjoy this episode and get some great inspiration for moving outside your comfort zone from it!
Confidence is one of those traits that plays directly into your approach to life. Where does your gaze go when walking down the street? Straight ahead, looking for challenges, meeting life head-on? Or down at your feet, beaten and broken? Or at your phone, disengaged and out of touch with the real world?
Many times in life I've suffered from a crisis of self-confidence. I've times of depression and anxiety in my life, and times when I've failed and fallen short.
I dive into that a bit in this episode and talk about the strategies I've used to build up my confidence and walk the path of LIVING. And living CONFIDENTLY.
Justin Wise, a good friend of mine, is back for episode 32!!! Justin was a guest on Episode 12, where he was open and described his journey of redemption and faith, and dove deep into his life in pretty much every area.
I asked him back on today just to catch up again after six months and see how he's doing - with himself, his family, and his business.
We talk a lot about goal-selling in all areas of your life, and how to maintain a laser-like focus on those goals. We went a little deeper than expected into his Daddy-Daughter trip to Seattle, but it's a good discussion that hopefully gives you some perspective on the blessings in your life and some ideas on how to connect with your kids.
Justin, thank you so much for being open and coming back on the podcast again. You're an inspiration to me and I hope your ideas and thoughts are to others as well.
Perseverance - continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.
Jason Gardner (30-year Navy SEAL) said it best on Episode 26 of the podcast when he talked about his BUD/S selection training - "I was either going to graduate or I was going to die trying".
Or Teddy Roosevelt.... "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming..."
There are lots of times in my life I've had to persevere to overcome tough times. I talk about a few of them in this episode, as well as highlight some of the strategies I use to fight and win those battles. Perseverance, especially in this day and age, is something we could all use more of.
I hope you enjoy this episode and, more importantly, get something you can use out of it! Please review us, subscribe, and share with your friends!
Origin USA, based in Farmington, Maine, ranked this year (2021) as Inc’s 215th fastest growing private company in the United States. Origin grew 2,034% in one year. In the middle of a pandemic! They more than doubled their employment and blew away their revenue goals. In a pandemic.
Brian Littlefield is the Chief Product Officer of Origin’s Jocko Fuel division, managing the R&D of all Jocko Fuel nutraceutical products. Prior to starting his CPO role, he was also instrumental to the rise and growth of Origin from a small company manufacturing jiu jitsu uniforms into what it is today and what it will be tomorrow – America’s next big brand. I’m very excited to have him on, as Origin has been a company I’ve followed and been a customer of for years.
This one’s a deep dive into a 100% American-owned, American-sourced manufacturing company. Everything Origin sells – including its supplements and energy drinks – is Made in America, from “dirt to shirt”.
This one is long, but worth it. Brian has succeeded through hard work, a little bit of luck, but mostly because he and Pete Roberts and the team at Origin refused to quit in the many times when the chips were down. They were bringing manufacturing back to Maine and would not be denied. Entrepreneurship at its best!
I hope you enjoy Brian’s and Origin’s awesome story. Please check Brian out on Instagram at @brian_origin, and Origin at originmaine.com or on Instagram at @originusa.
As always, please share this one, comment, and review!
Change is one of the scariest things people can imagine. We all get comfortable, in our relationships, in our habits, in our job, in every facet of our lives. But unless we grow, and change, and sometimes FORCE that change on ourselves, we don't become more tomorrow than we were today.
That's what this episode is about - how do you change, become better, become MORE, and make it an experience (or at least try to) you enjoy along the way? Listen and see what I've got to say!!!
As always, please, please share and subscribe if you enjoy what you hear!
My wife Jill puts me on the hotspot with a little Q&A... not so much me questioning HER, this time, but I asked her to come up with questions for ME....
- How do you define success?
- What does it mean to you to 'grow to amazing'?
- In what areas of your life do you feel you have achieved an amazing life?
- What are your top 5 most defining moments of your life that have made you who you are now?
- What kind of legacy do you want to leave for your loved ones when you are gone?
- Where do you see yourself in one year?
- What needs to change in the present to get you where you want to be?
- What areas of life have you settled on?
She knows how to ask some good ones, that's for sure! But then again, she's ALWAYS been good at that.
Next time SHE goes on the hot seat.
Hope you enjoy! As always, like, review, and subscribe!
Depression. I've struggled with it for much of my adult life. It sucks. It sucks the life out of you. And it can be insidious, coiling its tendrils around your heart and soul and dragging you toward the darkness.
But you don't have to let it happen. You can choose to fight, to get help, and to turn things around. I know because I did all those things, and while I still struggle at times, I've learned to not let my negative emotions, my failures, my struggles, define me.
I get pretty real in this episode and open up a lot on my history. But I also talk about my work to get out of it.
If you're struggling and can't figure out what to do, and think there's only one way out, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, at 800-273-8255!!! Someone will help you, no questions asked.
Please share this episode if it helps you.
On this episode I'm happy to welcome Jason Gardner, retired Navy SEAL Master Chief with 30 years of service to our country, with combat leadership experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. He brings perspective from every level of leadership from being a front line SEAL sniper to the SEAL Team FIVE Command Master Chief.
He's an incredible font of information on leadership, fatherhood, and life in general. I've been following him on Instagram since hearing him on Jocko Willink's podcast. The way he's living his life, being all-in on his marriage, hearing about his business working with Echelon Front, and how he's building his family all speak to his dedication to Extreme Ownership and taking ownership of every aspect of his life.
I hope you enjoy this episode.... it was great for me to get new perspectives on fatherhood, life, and hear leadership thoughts straight from the mouth of one of the people I seriously respect in this area.
Thanks for your time, Jason!
Please like, share, and subscribe!
Accountability. A word many people today don't know the meaning of. Or at least how to apply it unflinchingly to themselves. I'm trying, I don't always succeed, as I call out in this episode. I also try to provide a quick glimpse at some techniques and suggestions for how to overcome your struggles with accountability.
I'm learning along with you - I struggle with personal accountability a lot. Hope you find a nugget to help you on your accountability journey in this episode!
Courage in adversity. Dealing with adversity in as positive of a manner as you can.
I haven't always done that. I'm trying to, and part of this life living in a camper is to push my boundaries and grow. And I've REALIZED that I HAVEN'T always handled adversity that well, choosing to hide from it rather than face it head-on.
How do you handle adversity?
I talk about some skills I've learned and reinforce the concepts I've learned to start dealing with adversity better. Fortitude is more than just surviving. It's about grace, and faith, and courage.
Two years ago today I had surgery to save my life from a huge blood clot. The clot extended from my left ankle to my belly button, and only through the grace of God and skill of my surgical team am I here today.
Today's episode is a bit of a retrospective of that whole time in my life as well as giving me a moment to give thanks for being here today, for my wife, who was 8 months pregnant and a ROCK through all of this.
It's also a reminder that life is precious, and we need to appreciate that and live a life that sucks the marrow out of every part of it. That we take advantage of the opportunities we're given, and that we figure out what our dreams are in every part of our life and live them - but that doesn't mean forsaking our families or those important to us. It means living a whole, full life where love, grace, and fulfillment are found for everyone in your family, to the best of your ability.
Hope you enjoy this one. And listen carefully, because it's a challenge to live a life where you're not wasting it.
How have you lived your life? Have you felt a continual sense of failure, of never quite reaching your potential? I have at times. And yet.... and yet... why? I have an awesome life. A wife I love, four boys that are incredible, and a family that is exceptional.
Failure is a close mate to the word 'regret'. Do you feel regret for choices not made, or choices made incorrectly?
I talk about all this and how to work your way out of it in this week's Word of the Week. Hope you enjoy. Like, subscribe, and share, please!
As we've gone on this journey to travel the country in a 42' fifth wheel camper, I don't know that I've really sat down to think about how I've been forced to learn and grow as part of that journey. I had never owned a camper bigger than a pop-up prior to this, and that was fifteen or more years ago, and I didn't have it for long. So I had lots of learning and growing to do. I just didn't know HOW MUCH.
In this episode, a solo one with only yours truly, I run down some of the things I've learned along the way. Hope you enjoy!
growtoamazing #growtoamaasing #learningalways #extremeownership
Starting out a new feature on the podcast is my first entry in the Word of the Week. This week's word is FEAR.
How have I let fear control me in the past? Or yesterday, or ten years ago? What areas of my life have been affected by that fear?
More importantly, what strategies have I relied on to help me overcome my fears, moving onward and upward and overcoming challenges.
Hope you like the new addition to the podcast!
Eating some humble pie here. I've fallen off the rails with the podcast and a little with life. Family life is good, but I've struggled. So I'm calling myself on the carpet with this episode and resetting things. Reloading my attitude and pushing through the doubt and negative thoughts in my head to take the next step.
I also reveal a bit more about what I want Grow to AMaasing to be in the future. What focus areas I'm going to have. Where I'm spending my time learning, growing, and bettering myself, to set an example for my family.
Hope you enjoy!
NoLegsNoVisionNoProblem.... the mantra Matthew Bradford lives his life by. Matt is a retired member of the US Marine Corps. He was severely wounded by an IED in Haditha, Iraq in 2007 and lost both of his legs and his vision.
This moment put Matt on a detour and he would learn the true meaning of overcoming and adapting and growing to be amazing as a person and as someone supporting others dealing with difficult issues in their lives. He did not know the extent of his injuries until he woke up in Bethesda Naval Hospital three weeks later.
Matthew never lets his injuries define who he is or what he can do. Each obstacle is a new challenge. Over the years he has been inspired to share his story to motivate others through their own life challenges with his message of Just Walk. Even without Legs and Vision, you can still have No Problems.
You can find Matt at www.matthew-bradford.com, on Instagram at @m_bradford_usmc, on Facebook at No Legs No Vision No Problem, and last but not least on Twitter at @bionikmatt5.
His messages of perseverance in the face of troubles, of taking that next step when you don't want to or don't know what's coming, of just being there for others, really resonates for me. I hope you enjoy!
Please share this episode with others! As always subscribe, review, and share! Thank you!
Dan Paulus is a great friend who I've also long admired as he rose through the business ranks. He's worked hard, raised a good family, and always striven to lead with a servant-focused attitude, while also working hard to win and succeed.
He's been the CEO of multiple companies, a sales leader, and took his geography undergrad degree in directions he never could have imagined at the time. He pivoted in life when he needed to - when he WANTED to - and never let life drag him down. At the same time, he and his wife have a great relationship and he's raised some great kids.
I hope you enjoy this podcast, and forgive us for a little reminiscing from working together a while back. There are a ton of great business lessons and life lessons to be learned!
Please subscribe, share, and review the podcast!
Rebecca Stewart is a good friend and survivor of a traumatic childhood. She was and is a caretaker to her mother, and cheerleader to those that can't see the light at the end of their caregiving tunnel. It was in her caregiving that she experienced the worst emotional pain of her life. In this place she had an experience with the power of God that gave her the strength and guidance to find inner freedom in her caregiving.
Rebecca joins the podcast to bring her experiences to life, and I was so happy to have her on! She has shared her experience in her memoir Unbinding Love and complimentary access to her e-course - 10 Steps to Finding Peace in Caregiving.
She has built a community through her content creation on her podcast and Youtube channel titled Cheering Past Challenges.
You can find her on Instagram at Cheering Past Challenges and on Apple Podcasts at Cheering Past Challenges Podcast.
You are not alone if you're dealing with mental health challenges. Listen for some hope and help!
Rebecca Stewart is a good friend and survivor of a traumatic childhood. She was and is a caretaker to her mother, and cheerleader to those that can't see the light at the end of their caregiving tunnel. It was in her caregiving that she experienced the worst emotional pain of her life. In this place she had an experience with the power of God that gave her the strength and guidance to find inner freedom in her caregiving.
Rebecca joins the podcast to bring her experiences to life, and I was so happy to have her on! She has shared her experience in her memoir Unbinding Love and complimentary access to her e-course - 10 Steps to Finding Peace in Caregiving.
She has built a community through her content creation on her podcast and Youtube channel titled Cheering Past Challenges.
You can find her on Instagram at Cheering Past Challenges and on Apple Podcasts at Cheering Past Challenges Podcast.
You are not alone if you're dealing with mental health challenges. Listen for some hope and help!
Lieutenant Colonel Oak McCulloch served in the United States Army for 23 years and retired as a soldier with a wide variety of leadership experience, from infantry operations in Operation Desert Storm to disaster relief support for Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew.
Over the length of that career, LtCol McCulloch gained a deep insight into what it takes to learn to be and to function as a leader. He wrote his new book, Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be, to capture and distill all the knowledge gained during his life and during his Army career and beyond to help the next generation of leadership.
Oak is a dynamic speaker and his experience with leadership and leadership development is apparent. I highly encourage you all to check out his book here as well as his website, which is https://www.ltcoakmcculloch.com/.
I hope you enjoy this episode! As always, share, review, and subscribe! Thank you for listening, and thank you to LtCol McCulloch for coming on the podcast, and for his service to our great country!
"I figured if I just showed up to BUD/S and started training with the new class, they wouldn't kick me out". Who does that? After tearing ligaments and breaking a leg once earlier in the year in his first BUD/S class (the Navy SEAL introductory training course), Mike Massa jumped back in and showed the Navy his fortitude, never-quit attitude, and earned his way as an officer into the SEAL teams as part of Class 169.
Since then, Mike has pivoted multiple times as his life demanded, from corporate security executive, to consultant and software startup principal, to software security analyst and consultant, and now to bestselling science fiction author.
Mike is the author of multiple books written in John Ringo's "Black Tide Rising" universe in conjunction with John Ringo himself, and has contributed short stories to over a half-dozen published anthologies. His author page can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Mike-Massa/e/B073B69DDQ.
I've loved his books as well as his ability to roll with the punches of life and still move the game forward. Hope you enjoy this episode!!!
As always, please like, subscribe, and review the podcast!
Semper Stronger draws its name from the US Marine Corps motto, 'Semper Fidelis', or 'Always Faithful'.
Semper Stronger (@semperstronger on Instagram) is a Marine Corps husband-wife duo bringing fitness to the world in their own unique way, building a fitness community for their members.
Rebecca Rouse (@rebecca.rouse) and Captain Joel Del Rosario (@joellerblades) inspired me to kick some bad habits I'd let myself fall into and join their team of subscribers. Especially with our family going on the road, their program that provides (right now) either bodyweight or kettlebell-based workouts is great for my situation. It's also great for anyone with limited time, facilities, and equipment.
In this episode we take a deep dive into their history and find out what inspired their fitness journeys and path in life, and talk about what motivates them, as well as what customers can expect from Semper Stronger.
Check it out at www.semperstronger.com! Fitness is key to living healthy!
There are so many words that could describe this episode. I'm bit at a loss to narrow it down.
Success. Failure. Betrayal. Redemption. Faith. Forgiveness. Grace. Hard work. And love. Lots and lots of love.
In this episode I talk to a good friend of mine, Justin Wise (@thejustinwise on Instagram) about his journey.
It's not for the faint of heart. It's a story of betrayal and addiction. It's a story of hurt and wounding. But it's also a story of love, patience, forgiveness, fortitude, and redemption. Justin, his wife, and his family worked through his addiction and spousal betrayal to come out the other side a stronger family, one who never gave up, fought the fight to healing, and are coming out the other side.
If you are struggling or suffering now, whichever side of the equation you're on, there IS help out there. Please reach out to Justin, or to First Free Church in Onalaska, or your local church wherever that may be! First Free has Care Team First Responders available to help if you need it. Please call them at 608-782-6022 for more information.
Thank you for listening! As always, like, rate, subscribe, and share the podcast!
God created us to live lives of adventure, to take on challenges head-on, and to be the men we were destined to be. Many men, including myself, have shied away from that challenge in our lives.
In this episode I take dive into John Eldredge's book Wild at Heart, and talk about the source of that hesitation and lack of engagement, and how to battle it to the end and win.
And yes, someday soon I'm getting a motorcycle again!!!
You can find Wild at Heart at any bookstore, but here's a link to a new edition that's just come out!
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Heart-Expanded-Ed-Discovering-dp-1400225264/dp/1400225264/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
You have a gun in one hand, a stethoscope in the other. Which will you choose?
That was one of the choices Dr. Christine Waller had to face in her journey to where she is today. She's a wife, mother, surgeon, and above all a child of God. I'm so thankful she chose the stethoscope, because she was MY surgeon when I had a perforated bowel and needed a high level of care and surgery to correct the issue. Her compassion and empathy as my doctor and surgeon made my experience so much more of a positive experience than it could have been.
Her story is one of overcoming obstacles, persistence, resiliency, faith, and humility. A story of caring, and compassion, and a never-give-up attitude. A story of working hard on her family, her marriage, and making sacrifices (both by her and her family) to achieve her dreams.
I hope you enjoy this episode!
*** Note that any and all of Dr. Waller's statements in the podcast are her opinions alone, and not the opinion of her employer.
That's the reaction we got from many when we told them we were going on the road full-time with our younger boys.
Short episode this week - I talk about the genesis of our idea and dream to live a life traveling, working, and schooling our way around the country. What brought us there, where we are right now, and where we're going to be over the course of the summer.
If you want to keep up with our journeys, you can follow my wife, Jill, at https://www.instagram.com/amaasing_life/. We'll also be starting a YouTube channel up shortly as well. I'll publicize that when it's up and running.
Bottom line is - we're stepping out in faith to make this happen, and not waiting to live our dreams out. We hope you enjoy journeying with us!
On this episode of the podcast I welcome Pastor Steve Dawson, the Care Ministries Pastor at First Free Church in Onalaska, Wisconsin. We had a great conversation about his past, including good times and struggles, where he finds joy, and what brought him to First Free.
Steve truly has a heart filled with love for God, and it's brought out through his ministry and life's work. I hope you enjoy!
To find out more, please visit FirstFree.org/care!
Some quotes from the episode:
- When times are bleak, we both chose to turn towards one another, and work on it, and do the individual stuff we needed to do. I couldn’t change her, she couldn’t change me, I could only change me, and there was a lot I needed to change.
- It’s worth it to do that work (personal change). It’s hard at the time, you feel defensive, you feel like you can’t do anything right, but that’s continuing to be selfish.
- I’ve been here (in Onalaska/La Crosse area) two and a half years, and I’ve never been more content in my life.
- Dr. Siang-Yang Tan – Disciplines of the Holy Spirit – Helps understand “the power that can come from just getting away, getting quiet, and just meditating with the Lord.” Order on Amazon
Steve's 3 Part Series on Turning to God
Part 1 – Turning to God Part 1
Part 2 – Turning to God Part 2
Part 3 – Turning to God Conclusion
On this week’s podcast I’m taking a deeper dive into one of the most influential books in my life – Dr. Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life.
This one gets personal. It’s about making you better before fixing the world. It’s about YOU feeling you’re worthy of the effort. And it’s about finding your WHY. Why subject yourself to the pain of transformation, of change?
I try to dive deeply into some of the challenges I’ve faced in my life and how the perspectives found in the three rules I review for this episode have touched me and transformed my life. Yes, there's some controversy surrounding Dr. Peterson, and I talk about that as well. But I also challenge you, the listener, to look PAST that and really dive into the meaning of what he talks about and writes.
I hope you enjoy this episode and please, subscribe and review the podcast!
Welcome to the Grow to AMaasing Podcast!
I'm very happy to have USA Today bestselling author Michael Rothman on today's episode.
Mike (https://www.amazon.com/M-A-Rothman/e/B07FNWLN45?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vu00_i2) is an engineer first and foremost, with a background in the sciences, and somehow or another, this writing habit of his has turned into a bit more than just a run-of-the-mill hobby.
He primarily writes stories that focus on two things: technology and international intrigue. His books tend to span the genres of science fiction, techno-thriller, and mainstream thrillers.
When not writing, he enjoys cooking, learning about new technology, travel, and spending time with his family.
We had a great discussion about his upcoming book, The Plainswalker (preorder it here – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XDKGP87/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0), and take a dive into some of his other novels, including Darwin’s Cipher, The Code Breaker, and Primordial Threat. All are available on Amazon.com in both English and German.
Mike has a great approach to writing and to life, and his no-BS approach to both is refreshing and different in today’s world.
I hope you enjoy our discussion and deep dive into Mike’s journey with his writing!
Don’t forget to subscribe to and review the podcast!
My take on how God has affected and changed my entire life, how He continues to shape my future, and a bit more on my struggles, my transformation, and my life. So thankful to everyone at First Free Church in Onalaska for facilitating and providing the medium for me and my family's faith journey these last years.
In the podcast I mention a sermon from my church's senior pastor dealing heavily with living our lives in today's world. That sermon, by Senior Pastor Shane Holden, can be found here, and is a much more in-depth take on it than I can give: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63uDo8IZnos. The sermon covers Ephesians 4:1-6.
I'm just a regular guy taking a faith journey with God. Please comment, like, and subscribe if you'd like to hear more of the Grow to AMaasing Podcast!
Welcome to the Grow to AMaasing Podcast!
On this episode I welcome a longtime friend of mine, someone I've long admired for his ability to lead, to run successful businesses, and to win at the challenges of life. Don and I go way back to the early days of the company Postalsoft in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Don is a former software company executive, entrepreneur, professional four-wheeler racer (including world champion), and has done all that while building and maintaining a great family.
I hope you enjoy our discussion and deep dive into Don's journey, and some of our shared journey together.
Please subscribe and review us!
Take a deep dive into one of the most influential books in my library, Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.
This book is all about leadership and personal responsibility, and how to take ownership of every facet of your life. To say it's changed my outlook on life would be a gross understatement.
You can find Extreme Ownership on Amazon or any local bookstore. Also check out the Jocko Podcast (www.jockopodcast.com) or find Jocko and Leif on the social media platform of your choice.
I hope you enjoy my take on the book and a discussion of how it's influenced me. Hopefully you get something out of it also. Subscribe and review please! I want to know what you think!
growtoamazing #growtoamaasing #extremeownership
John Luthens is a published author, with two books under his belt - Taconite Creek and Writing Wild, both available via Cable Publishing and Amazon.com. John is also a wildlife and outdoors journalist for various publications in Wisconsin, including On Wisconsin Outdoors (www.onwisconsinoutdoors.com).
He's also a former neighbor and friend from way back in my high school days growing up in Barron, Wisconsin, and we got together to talk about his new book, our shared history, and how he's overcome challenges in his life to grow and find his best path in life.
You can find his books at either www.cablepublishing.com (for signed hardcopies) or Kindle versions at Amazon.com.
https://cablepublishing.com/product/writing-wild/
growtoamazing #growtoamaasing
Welcome to the Grow to AMaasing Podcast!
This episode is an introduction to your host, Tony Maas, and provides a glimpse into the types of topics we'll cover on the podcast.
I'm not an expert podcaster or self-help guru, I'm a regular guy just trying to make a difference in my life and in the life of anyone listening to this. I hope you'll come back and take a listen as I start to dive deep into conversations with friends, colleagues, mentors, and inspirational figures in my life. I'll dive deep into books and other mediums that have made a big difference to me.
Again, welcome to the podcast! You can also find video version of this podcast on www.youtube.com/growtoamaasing. Visit my Instagram page at @growtoamaasing as well! I'm hoping to build a community of people there, helping each other to grow and be better every day in their own lives.
Welcome to the Grow to AMaasing Podcast!!!
Here's a little meet-the-host video to give you a taste of what's coming with the podcast. I hope you enjoy the topics I bring, and find the content rewarding as we move through people and resources I've used to try to be just a little bit amazing in my own life.
Yes, the title - AMaasing - is a play on my last name - Maas. We pronounce ours so it rhymes with amazing, and while I'm not going to claim I've got all the right answers, I'm hoping to have at least one or two. Hence the title. And the word 'grow' implies that it's a never-ending journey.
I've fought some battles and had some amazing people come into my life over the years. I hope you find something in there to help you grow to be a little more amazing in your own life.
Please like and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform - Apple, Google, wherever.