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Episode 129 -  A world where every temporal necessity is given and every environmental factor optimized is a world poised for flourishing.  Plentiful food and drink.  Adequate space and healthy conditions.  Safety and comfort and communal harmony.  You couldn't imagine a more perfect existence; it'd be a veritable Utopia.  Except that there's no such thing.  And that's a curious fact--for mice, and for men. Ben watermelons his way back to his junior high days and channels his inner Vanilla Ice as lead for this episode, while Chad busts out his sociological magnifying glass to offer his "illustrious" analysis as co-host.  The two use the results of a mouse experiment from the '70s to springboard into a discussion about the perils of Progress.  In what ways does mouse behavior in the "Universe 25" experiment mirror that of modern human society?  What about material prosperity and relative societal safety makes us particularly susceptible to self-induced crisis?  What can men, as leaders and fathers, do to head off our progression toward an utopian way of life so as to avoid its inevitable pitfalls? SHOW NOTES: Universe 25 Mouse Experiment :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ReBJfxHjFU

Episode 128 - Nobody likes being told a lie.  That is, unless you agree up front to go along with the lie.  But what if you've gone along with the lies so long, you're not so sure you know what’s true anymore?  Maybe what's real is only a matter of what you're willing to go along with.  Enter five foot-five, one-hundred- and fifteen-pound girl-boss action heroes.  Enter Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson.  Enter the Feminist Fatale. Chad classes up as a cruiserweight and takes his first official swing at feminism's fatal flaws, while his possibly-welter, but probably-super lightweight, co-host Ben Neff, loves to tap in.  The two ring a bell that most likely cannot be un-rung by calling out the emperor's fantastically feminist clothes.  Is it misogynistic to feel a little too faked-out when yet another pretty, petite female actress wins in a fist fight with a man more than twice her size?  Ought not women be offended when the only way for today's female movie characters to be heroic is by acting like men?  How might a seemingly harmless feminist idea actually turn out to be fatal?  SHOW NOTES: Chad's resource market research:   Strong Women: 15 Action Movies Starring Badass Women (screenrant.com) Andrew Klavan episode referenced: Hello, Lady Ballers (youtube.com) Brett Cooper's episode referenced:  The "Girl Bosses" Are Waking Up (youtube.com)    

Episode 127 - This mighty good guest is a coffee aficionado if there ever was one!  Jeff Hazel is the owner of Hazelnut Coffee Company, a very popular coffee shop in Celina, Ohio.  He also roasts beans under his own label, Old Hatch Coffee Roastery, supplying beans for other coffee shops.  Jeff joins the podcast to discuss, debate, and otherwise educate listeners on what's arguably one of man's favorite drinks! Chad, the smooth-finishing Frenchman by heritage, is the frontline interviewer on this episode; Ben Neff helps navigate as the small-to-medium-bodied, (possibly) decaffeinated cohost.  The two steep in the many fun facts their guest shares about coffee, while wishing they could be sipping on their subject matter (were it not for the late hour).  What are the many ways one might make coffee, and what are the how's and why's behind each?  What are some of Jeff's secret tips and tricks for maximizing the goodness of a cup of coffee (what to drink out of, what kind of water to use, what kind of milk to use, etc)?  How, from Jeff's point of view as a coffee shop owner, can coffee bring people together as a community in a unique way?      SHOW NOTES: Jeff's coffee shop Facebook Page:  Facebook Jeff's roastery:   OLD HATCH COFFEE ROASTERY (oldhatchroastery.com)

Episode 126 -  Picture a roadside diner, a cozy spot with booths and tables for four.  Inside the air is thick with grease and the smell of all-day coffee; there's the white-noise clatter of cooking and plates and silverware.  Then notice the lunch patrons, some sitting together, others alone.  The waitresses are taking orders, joking and smiling.  It's a familiar scene all over America, a routine acted out by millions daily.  And then, there in this diner, picture Ben sitting off at a table on his own - doing one of his favorite things. Ben is the adventurous social scientist analyzing the wildly commonplace for this episode, as Chad interprets the scene to see if he can cover Ben's claim to have a found a phenomenon worth capturing.  The two ponder the potential significance of men taking meals in restaurants alone.  What about the familiarity and routine of stopping at a diner to eat can be comforting and almost therapeutic?  Is there anything superficial, or even sad, about men regularly taking lunch alone at a restaurant?  How could the communal setting of a diner or coffee shop indicate a craving for connection for those who make a habit of going?            

Episode 125 - G.K. Chesterton once wrote, "We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our neighbor."  It can be the hardest thing, can't it, to see--to really notice--the people who live in our most direct proximity?  For all the "connectedness" that we presume to possess through things like social media, there's something too often lacking in our person-to-person neighborliness these days.  And that's not just a shame, it's a failure to heed a Gospel admonition. Chad sings a familiar little ditty as the lead vocals on this episode, while Ben stares smilingly ahead as co-host, humming along and changing out his jacket and shoes during the long (12 mins), opening banter.  The two contemplate the care demanded of Christians toward the people God's placed right next door us.  Who's the mystery neighbor that's given Chad and his family a schooling in the art of proper neighboring?  Are there things about our current cultural condition that make being a good neighbor more challenging?  And how can men lead the charge to reignite a neighborly spirit in our respective communities? SHOW NOTES: Mister Rogers Documentary:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEYI4UJMcc4 Full Length Chesterton quote:  https://www.breakpoint.org/chesterton-on-loving-neighbors/

Episode  124 -  Carter Hellwarth is first-year college student at Bowling Green State University studying communication and film production.  Carter grew up on a dairy farm in Mercer County, Ohio, was Class President of this graduating glass, and ranked near the top of his class at Parkway High School.  He also placed 2nd in the Nation at the 2023 National FFA Convention for Extemporaneous Public Speaking.   Ben takes on the role of mastermind behind this "sneak attack" of an episode, while Chad tries to fly under the radar by drafting off their guest & fellow Falcon's soaring altitude.  The two are determined to secret away the real answers to their "Should I Send My Kids to College" question from a real-life (and undercover) college student.  What was Carter's journey of discernment that landed him at a 4-year university, and why did he think that it was the right path to success for him?  Are there any ways in which Carter's upbringing and Christian faith have been tested while attending college?  How is Carter's first year at college going, and how has his pro-active approach to getting involved on campus been a critical part of his early experience?      

Episode 123 -  Since legalizing sports betting in January of 2023, the gambling scene in Ohio is going full tilt!  First there was Powerball and Mega Millions, then came the Casinos.  Now on the scene is the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings.  Gambling in Ohio is on the ascendency, and the sports betting variety is particularly popular with men (as high as 80% sports betting app users are men!).  And something about the trend bothers Ben.  Or does it? Ben, the consummate competitor and faithful fixer, is "all-in" as the lead for this episode, while Chad--Mr. Pennypincher himself--holds his cards close as co-host.  The two wager their opinions on this growing phenomenon and try to tease out its proper place in the life of a Mighty Man of Valor.  What is the allure of gambling in general, and is sports betting online more or less alluring than the traditional forms of gambling?  Does the Bible condemn gambling as sinful?  What are the personal and societal pitfalls to gambling, and are there certain segments of the population that are more susceptible to them?       SHOW NOTES: Stats on sports betting:  Sports betting in the U.S. - statistics & facts | Statista Catholic answer on gambling:  Isn't gambling a sin? How can you Catholics justify playing bingo in church? | Catholic Answers Q&A Got Questions answer on gambling:  Is gambling a sin? What does the Bible say about gambling? | GotQuestions.org

Episode 122 -  When a man knows the history of his ancestors, he knows his place in the world.  He knows the names of those who passed on his name; he knows how he came to be at the place he presently stands; he knows the kind of character he ought to (or ought not) emulate in order to bring honor to his family.  But when a man does not know the history of his ancestors, he's left adrift and grasping without direction.   Chad-son of Douglas, son of James, son of Victor, son of Albert, son of John, son of Frank, son of Joseph--takes the lead for this episode, as Ben lets on a little of his own newly found family history as co-host.  The two try to encourage curiosity towards the many rabbit holes of a personal family history.  What are Ben & Chad's family histories like?  How could you risk losing meaning when you detach or distance yourself from your past?  And what are some examples of how digging deep into genealogical details can yield new insights into, and appreciation for, the life handed down to us? SHOW NOTES:   Websites for geneological research: Ancestry® | Family Tree, Genealogy & Family History RecordsFind your family. Free Genealogy Archive | FamilySearch • FamilySearchGenealogy: Search your ancestors, Create your family tree, Find archival records, ... - GeneanetSearch Historical NewspapersFind a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records  

Episode 121 - Joel Penton is a former defensive tackle and national champion for the Ohio State University Buckeyes, as well as a Danny Wuerffel Trophy recipient (the "humanitarian Heisman").  He is the author of three books and the founder and CEO of LifeWise Academy--a groundbreaking program providing Bible education to students in over 300 of our nation's public schools, during school hours.  He is a widely sought-after speaker with over 1,000 live audiences having taken in his message.  Joel and his wife Bethany live in Columbus, Ohio, with their five children. Ben loads his sling and shines his helmet for this giant guest interview, while Chad backs Ben up with his armory of big words as co-host.  The two take up a great conversation with this purveyor of the Gospel in the public-school setting.  How is it possible--through LifeWise Academy--that public school students are legally allowed to study the Bible during school hours?  What kinds of opposition has LifeWise Academy faced from secular and anti-religious groups?  And if someone is interested in brining Bible education to their school district, what are the steps necessary to make that happen? SHOW NOTES: LifeWise in the headlines: More than 300 public schools nationwide will learn from the Bible this year (foxnews.com) LifeWise website (how to initiate in your school):  During School Hours - LifeWise Academy Joel's latest book telling of LifeWise successes:  Amazon.com: During School Hours: WHY and HOW LifeWise Academy is Reinstalling Religious Education into the Public School Day: 9798987617519: Penton, Joel: Books  

Episode 120 -  A traditional liberal arts education is an endangered species of the Western world.  In modern parlance, the phenomenon of "going to college" is what's accessible to our children post high school.  While "going to college" can admittedly mean a of variety of things (technical schools, 4-year state universities, Ivy Leagues, etc), what it commonly looks like on the ground is a far cry from the old liberal arts conception of education and involves a trajectory rife with ideological and moral hazards that parents ought to give an honest evaluation of. Ben masterfully leads this episode, looking at the topic from every angle, while Chad bellows and blusters along as the underachieving co-host.  The two give a critical shakedown of the default answers parents often give to their kids' post-secondary choices.  What are the significant risks inherent in sending your kids to college, and are those risks outweighed by the benefits?  If things are in fact so bad, how did Ben and Chad manage to survive their time at college?  And what are some intentional things that Christian parents can do to help their kids prepare for, and discern through, these kinds of important decisions? SHOW NOTES: Resources mentioned by Ben: Sayers, 1948, Lost Tools : Learning.pdf (archive.org)Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation - Kindle edition by Hegseth, Pete, Goodwin, David. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.Full text of "The Abolition of Man" (archive.org)

Episode 119 - Looking for a kick in the pants as you wind down 2023 and ramp up for a New Year?    Well, you're in luck!  Because Chad's fresh off a failure and feeling a little rowdy.  He's tasted him some humble pie and, finding it rather helpful, he can't resist the urge to imitate the late, great Kobe Bryant and share the Humble all around with some in-your-face straight talk! Chad, coming to grips with his "loser" status, proceeds to rip it, MR-style, as Ben keeps up as co-host with his own big word and various voices.  The two cohesively call out a number of categories where men might aim at becoming Mightier in 2024.  Men: what ways are you stubbornly settling?  Are you the master of your desires or are you mastered by them?  Can you honestly say you've got your life's priorities in proper order?  And which man-demanding cause have you taken up during the last year? SHOW NOTES: Kobe Bryant - Soft Like Charmin (youtube.com) Soft Kobe Bryant GIF - Soft Kobe Bryant No - Discover & Share GIFs (tenor.com)

Episode 118 -  We once again fire up the four-microphone format known as the MAN TALK!  Taking on this audacious question, our mic'd up Mighty hosts and co-hosts compare notes, tell stories, and sit with the topic long enough to see where the question will lead.  Hang to the end and you'll hear how each man concludes when the conversation comes to an end.  (We'd love to hear your input on the topic as well, dear listener!  Email:  [email protected] ) Dr. Joshua Steinke and Matt Roessner are Men of Valor in their own rights, both at the helm of heroically large families!  Joshua--the proud owner of two Nissan NVs--is the father of seven children, while Matt (and this isn't a typo) is the father of nine!  Both help lend perspective to Chad (7 kids) and Ben's (4 kids) leading question, as the four fathers ride "27 deep" in this BIG discussion episode.  How did each man end up being a father of a big family, and what is it like--the good, the bad, the ugly--raising so many kids?  How does each man respond to the criticism that big families are a drain on scare resources and leave some of the kids wanting for individual attention?  And what are some of the benefits a large family brings into the culture at large?