The Outpost Podcast

👉 Join the brotherhood and step into the community:https://www.outpostmen.com/brotherhoodLearn more about Radical Mentoring: https://radicalmentoring.comBooks & Resources- Wild at Heart: https://tinyurl.com/2ckaufpb- Fathered by God: https://tinyurl.com/ycxzprwj- Becoming A King: https://tinyurl.com/mrynyd6s- Killing Lions: https://tinyurl.com/yvs5xjn8⸻What if the greatest battle a man faces isn't what he does... but who he believes he is?In this second conversation of our series with Pete Loescher, President of Radical Mentoring, we explore one of the most foundational questions every man must answer: What defines my identity? Why do so many men build their worth on performance, success, relationships, or circumstances instead of living from the security of being God's beloved sons?This isn't just a conversation about identity.It's a conversation about learning to trust the heart of the Father.Throughout this episode, Pete shares how his own father wound shaped the way he viewed God, what changed through the influence of wise mentors, and how suffering, grace, and fatherhood became some of God's greatest tools for teaching him what it truly means to live as a beloved son.We discuss:- What truly defines a man's identity- Why so many Christian men struggle to receive God's love- The difference between living from sonship and living for approval- How our earthly fathers shape our view of God as Father- Why suffering often reveals where our identity is rooted- The subtle lie that God is holding out on us- What it means to trust God's goodness in every season- How fatherhood and hardship reshape a man's heart- Why identity changes the way we lead, love, and endure- Practical steps toward living as God's beloved sonOne of the questions we kept coming back to was this:If everything you use to define yourself was taken away, who would you still believe you are?Until a man settles his identity in the Father's love, he'll spend his life trying to earn what has already been freely given. But when he begins living as a beloved son instead of performing for approval, everything from his purpose, relationships, leadership, and resilience begin to change.Pull up a seat.Welcome to The Outpost.

👉 Join the brotherhood and step into the community: https://www.outpostmen.com/brotherhoodIntentional Marriages: https://www.intentionalmarriages.netEmotionally Healthy Spirituality: https://tinyurl.com/5n7yan3rFind a Counselor: https://counselingreferrals.org/refer…**Books & Resources**Wild at Heart: https://tinyurl.com/2ckaufpbFathered by God: https://tinyurl.com/ycxzprwjBecoming A King: https://tinyurl.com/mrynyd6sKilling Lions: https://tinyurl.com/yvs5xjn8⸻What if your emotions have been telling a story... and you've never stopped to listen?In this debrief episode of our series with Russ West, we sit back down around the table to unpack the lessons that challenged us the most. Together, we reflect on how emotional intelligence intersects with biblical manhood, why our reactions often reveal something deeper, and what this series taught us about becoming more self-aware husbands, fathers, leaders, and disciples of Christ.This isn't another interview.It's a conversation about what changed us.Throughout this discussion, we revisit some of the most impactful ideas from the Russ West series, including the hidden question many men are asking—*"Do I have what it takes?"*—the stories behind our strongest emotional reactions, the role of emotional intelligence in marriage and fatherhood, and why every man needs sages and brothers speaking into his life.We discuss:• The biggest lessons we took away from our conversations with Russ West• Why every man's emotions tell a story• The connection between emotional intelligence and biblical masculinity• How hidden wounds shape the way men lead, love, and react• Why self-awareness is essential for spiritual growth• What marriage and fatherhood reveal about a man's heart• The importance of counseling, brotherhood, and wise mentors• Why emotional intelligence is about awareness, not becoming more emotional• How these conversations challenged us personally• Practical ways men can begin growing in emotional intelligence todayOne of the questions we kept coming back to was this:What story are your emotions telling?Every man has blind spots. Every man has wounds. And every man has a story that shapes the way he responds to life. Emotional intelligence isn't about suppressing emotions or becoming more emotional—it's about understanding what's happening beneath the surface so we can become the men God created us to be. That's the lesson we kept coming back to throughout this series, and it's one we hope every man takes with him.Pull up a seat.Welcome to The Outpost.

👉 Join the brotherhood and step into the community: https://www.outpostmen.com/brotherhoodIntentional Marriages: https://www.intentionalmarriages.netEmotionally Healthy Spirituality: https://tinyurl.com/5n7yan3rFind a Counselor: https://counselingreferrals.org/refer…**Books & Resources**Wild at Heart: https://tinyurl.com/2ckaufpbFathered by God: https://tinyurl.com/ycxzprwjBecoming A King: https://tinyurl.com/mrynyd6sKilling Lions: https://tinyurl.com/yvs5xjn8⸻What if the direction of your life was shaped more by the voices you listened to... than the decisions you made?In this final conversation of our series with Russ West, we step into our recurring Letter To My Younger Self discussion and explore the wisdom Russ wishes he had embraced decades earlier. Looking back over a lifetime of growth, mentorship, counseling, and emotional intelligence, Russ reflects on the lessons that changed the trajectory of his life.This isn't a conversation about living without regret.It's a conversation about becoming teachable.Russ shares why he wishes he had sought wisdom much earlier, how emotional intelligence and faith must be developed together, and why some of God's greatest gifts come in the form of mentors, counselors, coaches, and sages. Together, we discuss how pride keeps men from asking for help, why impressive decisions aren't always wise ones, and how intentionally seeking counsel can change the course of a man's marriage, career, finances, fatherhood, and walk with Christ.We discuss:• Why every man needs a sage speaking into his life• The life-changing impact of faith and emotional intelligence together• Why many men don't become teachable until life humbles them• How mentors, counselors, and accountability shape a man's future• The difference between making impressive decisions and wise decisions• Why seeking wisdom early can change your life's trajectory• The importance of curiosity and humility in personal growth• How God uses difficult seasons to refine our character• The value of mentoring others while continuing to be mentored yourself• What Russ would tell the younger man he used to beOne of the questions we kept coming back to was this:Who is speaking into your life?No man was meant to figure life out alone. The earlier we pursue wisdom from men who've gone before us, the better prepared we'll be for the challenges ahead. Emotional intelligence grows through humility, wise counsel, and a willingness to remain teachable for the rest of our lives.Pull up a seat.Welcome to The Outpost.

👉 Join the brotherhood and step into the community: https://www.outpostmen.com/brotherhoodIntentional Marriages: https://www.intentionalmarriages.netEmotionally Healthy Spirituality: https://tinyurl.com/5n7yan3rFind a Counselor: https://counselingreferrals.org/refer…Books & ResourcesRaising an Emotionally Intelligent Child: https://tinyurl.com/3rpf8hxpParenting with Love and Logic: https://tinyurl.com/2hfevt8eParenting Teens with Love and Logic: https://tinyurl.com/h4sm72rtDoing Life with Your Adult Children: https://tinyurl.com/4w4xpzvrKilling Lions: https://tinyurl.com/yvs5xjn8Wild at Heart: https://tinyurl.com/2ckaufpbFathered by God: https://tinyurl.com/ycxzprwjBecoming A King: https://tinyurl.com/mrynyd6s⸻What if your children are learning more from the way you live… than anything you’ll ever tell them?In this fourth conversation of our series with Russ West, we explore how emotional intelligence transforms fatherhood and why the way a father responds, reacts, and relates to others can shape his children for generations.This isn’t a conversation about becoming the perfect father.It’s a conversation about becoming a more intentional one.Russ shares how his own childhood wounds influenced the way he parented, why our greatest strengths can also become our greatest weaknesses, and how fathers can unknowingly pass emotional patterns down to their children. We discuss why children crave their father’s approval, the difference between coaching and criticism, and how our kids are constantly studying the way we handle conflict, failure, marriage, integrity, and everyday life.We discuss:• How a father’s emotional intelligence shapes his children • Why your children are always watching what you model • How childhood wounds can influence the way you parent • Why a father’s wounds can become both a strength and a weakness • The difference between giving your children approval and criticism • Why sons need to know they have what it takes • The importance of entering your children’s world and being present • How fathers model healthy conflict and emotional maturity • Why hard, healthy conversations matter with children of every age • How to build a generational legacy of emotional intelligence One of the questions we kept coming back to was this:What are your children learning about life, marriage, conflict, and character simply by watching you?Your children are studying you. They see how you respond when you’re angry, how you treat their mother, how you handle failure, and whether your actions match your words. Emotional intelligence in fatherhood begins with becoming aware of what we’re modeling today so we can intentionally shape the legacy we leave tomorrow. Pull up a seat.Welcome to The Outpost.

👉 Join the brotherhood and step into the community: https://www.outpostmen.com/brotherhoodIntentional Marriages: https://www.intentionalmarriages.netEmotionally Healthy Spirituality: https://tinyurl.com/5n7yan3rFind a Counselor: https://counselingreferrals.org/refer…Other BooksWild at Heart: https://tinyurl.com/2ckaufpbFathered by God: https://tinyurl.com/ycxzprwjBecoming A King: https://tinyurl.com/mrynyd6s⸻What if the greatest challenges in your marriage aren’t being caused by your spouse… but by wounds you haven’t yet recognized?In this third conversation of our series with Russ West, we explore how emotional intelligence transforms marriage and why some of the strongest emotional reactions between husbands and wives often have roots that reach far beyond the present moment.This isn’t a conversation about communication techniques.It’s a conversation about understanding the person behind the reaction.Russ explains why emotional safety is foundational to a healthy marriage, how past wounds shape present conflict, and why emotionally intelligent couples learn to pursue understanding before trying to solve problems. Together, we discuss why many husbands become defensive when challenged, how emotional flooding affects conflict, and why marriage often becomes God’s greatest tool for exposing the areas of our hearts that still need healing.We discuss:• Why marriage reveals what’s happening beneath the surface• How emotional intelligence changes the way couples handle conflict• Understanding emotional flooding, Tigers, and Turtles• Why emotional safety is essential for a thriving marriage• How childhood wounds often shape present-day reactions• Why listening to understand is more powerful than listening to respond• The difference between solving conflict and managing it well• How defensiveness quietly damages intimacy• Practical ways husbands can grow in emotional intelligence• Why healthy marriages are built through curiosity, humility, and graceOne of the questions we kept coming back to was this:What if your strongest reactions in marriage have less to do with your spouse… and more to do with the story you’ve been carrying for years?Emotional intelligence doesn’t eliminate conflict. It helps us understand what’s happening beneath it. As men grow in self-awareness, humility, and emotional maturity, they become better husbands, better leaders, and more faithful reflections of Christ.Pull up a seat.Welcome to The Outpost.

👉 Join the brotherhood and step into the community: https://www.outpostmen.com/brotherhoodIntentional Marriages: https://www.intentionalmarriages.netEmotionally Healthy Spirituality: https://tinyurl.com/5n7yan3rFind a Counselor: https://counselingreferrals.org/referrals/newWhat if the greatest obstacle to becoming the man God created you to be… is something you’ve never learned to recognize?In this second conversation of our series with Russ West, we move beyond Russ’s personal story and into what he’s learned after spending the last 15 years mentoring hundreds of men through marriage, fatherhood, leadership, and life’s biggest challenges.This isn’t a conversation about personality.It’s a conversation about the masculine soul and our emotions.Russ explains why so many men spend their lives trying to prove themselves, why emotional intelligence is often misunderstood or avoided, and how hidden fears, wounds, and the need for validation quietly shape the decisions we make every day. Drawing from years of mentoring more than 450 men, he shares the common patterns he sees across generations and why emotional intelligence is one of the most overlooked yet essential disciplines for becoming a mature, Christlike man.We discuss:• What mentoring hundreds of men has revealed about the masculine soul• The universal question many men are trying to answer: “Do I have what it takes?”• Why men often seek validation through achievement, success, and status• How insecurity quietly shapes leadership, relationships, and decision-making• Why men tend to blame circumstances instead of looking inward• The connection between emotional intelligence and spiritual maturity• Why capability and integrity are such powerful emotional triggers• What separates the men who continue to grow from the men who stay stuck• The role of brotherhood, counseling, and mentorship in a man’s formation• Practical ways men can begin growing in emotional intelligence todayOne of the questions we kept coming back to was this:What if the life you’re trying to build and the way you react to emotional conflict is actually being shaped by wounds you’ve never taken the time to understand?Emotional intelligence isn’t about becoming more emotional. It’s about becoming more aware. Through this your fears, insecurities, and reactions no longer dictate the kind of husband, father, leader, and disciple you’re becoming.Pull up a seat.Welcome to The Outpost.

👉 Join the brotherhood and step into the community: https://www.outpostmen.com/brotherhoodIntentional Marriages: https://www.intentionalmarriages.netEmotionally Healthy Spirituality: https://tinyurl.com/5n7yan3rWhat if the greatest threat to a man’s future isn’t his circumstances… but his blind spots?In this first conversation of our series with Russ West, we explore the story that launched Russ’s pursuit to understand emotional intelligence and why its so important for men today.At 34 years old, Russ’s world was shaken when his wife told him she no longer wanted to be married. What followed was a painful season of counseling, self-discovery, and confronting the realities of how his lack of emotional intelligence was impacting every area of his life.This isn’t a conversation about becoming more emotional.It’s a conversation about becoming more aware.Russ shares how hidden wounds, fear of failure, insecurity, and the need for validation often drive the reactions, decisions, and relationships of men without them even realizing it. We discuss why so many men misdiagnose their problems, how emotional intelligence affects leadership, marriage, fatherhood, and work, and why growth begins when a man takes ownership of what’s happening beneath the surface.We discuss:• The moment that changed the course of Russ’s life• How counseling introduced him to emotional intelligence• Why men often overreact without understanding why• The hidden wound of inadequacy many men carry• Why capability and integrity are such powerful triggers• The connection between emotional intelligence and leadership• Understanding emotional flooding, Tigers, and Turtles• How past wounds shape present reactions• Practical ways men can grow in self-awareness• Why emotional intelligence impacts every area of lifeOne of the questions we kept coming back to was this:What if the problem isn’t what’s happening around you… but what’s happening inside you?Most men spend years trying to fix circumstances, relationships, careers, or frustrations without realizing that the deeper issue may be something they’ve never stopped long enough to examine.Pull up a seat.Welcome to The Outpost.

👉 Join the brotherhood and step into the community: https://www.outpostmen.com/brotherhoodTake the Archetype Test Here:https://assessment.70x7.org/70x7-path-to-forgivenessVisit Mark’s Organization, 70x7 Here:https://www.70x7.orgWhat if men were bridge builders?After four powerful conversations with Mark Goodman on forgiveness, reconciliation, judgment, mercy, and healing, the three of us sat back down around the table to discuss the lessons that challenged us the most.This isn’t another interview.This is a debrief.A candid conversation about the ideas that stuck with us, the areas where we still have work to do, and the truths that continue to challenge how we lead our families, friendships, businesses, and relationship with God.Throughout this discussion, we revisit some of the most impactful concepts from the Mark Goodman series, including the dog bite and infection analogy, becoming mercy givers instead of mercy takers, the connection between judgment and anger, and the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation.We discuss:• Why forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing• The dog bite vs. infection analogy and what it reveals about unforgiveness• Why judgment often leads to anger, blame, and resentment• What it means to become a mercy giver• Building your side of the bridge even when the other person doesn’t• The challenge of loving people more than we desire revenge, justice, or being right• How unresolved wounds impact marriages, families, leadership, and friendships• Why self-awareness and self-assessment are critical for spiritual maturity• What bridge-building leadership looks like for men todayOne of the questions we kept coming back to was this:What if men were bridge builders?What would happen if men stopped keeping score, stopped waiting on others to move first, and chose to lead with mercy, humility, and forgiveness?Pull up a seat.Welcome to The Outpost.