Advertise on podcast: The Lion and The Bear | A Podcast For Men

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ Feminism is often assumed to be a moral good—synonymous with dignity, justice, and compassion. But what happens when its ideas are examined through the lens of Scripture and history? In this episode, we take a careful, biblical look at feminism across its waves and explore how it has reshaped the household, diminished fatherhood, and replaced covenant with systems. Using the concept of the “longhouse,” we trace how responsibility has been displaced, authority flattened, and formation outsourced—often with devastating consequences for men, women, and especially children. We walk through each wave of feminism, examine key figures and assumptions, and contrast them with the biblical vision of manhood, womanhood, marriage, and family. Along the way, we address common questions: Did Jesus elevate women? Didn’t feminism correct real injustices? What about women working outside the home? And what does Scripture actually say about flourishing? This episode is not about nostalgia or resentment. It is about truth, responsibility, and recovery. It is a call for Christian men to understand the times, reclaim the goodness of God’s design, and faithfully hold the line—for the sake of their homes, their children, and the generations to come. If you care about biblical masculinity, fatherhood, marriage, and what truly leads to life under God’s design, this episode is for you. Support the show

What kind of man is still asking for mountains at eighty-five? In this episode, we dive into the powerful life of Caleb in the Bible — a man Scripture says had “a different spirit” and “followed the Lord fully.” From slavery in Egypt to the edge of the Promised Land, from forty years of wilderness wandering to battles in old age, Caleb’s story is a blueprint for Christian men who want to live with courage, patience, and unshakable faith. Caleb wasn’t famous for speeches, titles, or public recognition. He was known for something rarer: steady obedience over a lifetime. While others gave in to fear, Caleb trusted God. While others complained in the wilderness, Caleb kept walking. And when the promise finally came due, he didn’t ask for comfort — he said, “Give me this mountain.” This episode explores: • The background of Caleb and what it meant that he was a Kenizzite  • The 12 spies and the moment Caleb stood against the crowd  • What it looks like to trust God when everyone else is afraid  • How to stay faithful during long seasons of waiting  • Caleb at 85 and what it means to finish strong as a man  • Why biblical masculinity is marked by perseverance, not flash Support the show

Is masculinity the problem — or has the well simply been poisoned? In this episode of our Hold the Line series, we push back against one of the loudest cultural messages of our time: that manhood itself is harmful. From the phrase “toxic masculinity” to the steady reshaping of boys, fathers, and male leadership, Christian men are increasingly told that strength is dangerous, assertiveness is oppressive, and traditional masculinity must be suppressed. But Scripture tells a different story. Masculinity isn’t toxic. It’s God-designed, and it’s good. What’s broken isn’t manhood — it’s the human heart. Using the picture of a poisoned well, this episode explains why culture is trying to abandon masculinity instead of redeem it, and why the gospel offers a better way. The solution is not erasing men. It’s restoring men under the lordship of Christ. We answer three crucial questions every Christian man must wrestle with: • What has masculinity, rightly ordered, given the world  • What happens when masculinity is undisciplined and unredeemed  • What the gospel actually demands of a man You’ll hear a clear, biblical vision of manhood shaped by Jesus — not passive, not abusive, not self-serving, but strong, sacrificial, steady, and surrendered to God. This episode is for husbands who want to love their wives well, fathers who want to raise grounded kids, and men who want to stand firm in a culture that no longer knows what men are for. Because it really is good to be a man — when that man belongs to Christ. Topics in this episode: biblical masculinity toxic masculinity explained Christian manhood fatherhood and leadership redeeming masculinity Jesus as the model of manhood how Christian men should lead strength under control Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ In this episode, we tell the powerful true story of John Bunyan, the 17th-century preacher and author of The Pilgrim’s Progress—one of the most influential Christian books ever written. Born into poverty, shaped by war, and crushed under deep spiritual struggle, Bunyan’s life was anything but easy. But through suffering, doubt, and years behind bars, God forged in him an unshakable faith that still strengthens believers today. You’ll hear how a rough village tinker became a bold gospel preacher… why he refused to stop preaching even when it cost him his freedom… and how a prison cell became the birthplace of a story that has guided Christian men for over 300 years. We also talk about why The Pilgrim’s Progress is still one of the best books Christian men can read today, and how fathers can use it (and great kid-friendly adaptations) to disciple their children in courage, perseverance, and faith. Topics in this episode: The life and conversion of John BunyanThe real story behind The Pilgrim’s ProgressFaith under persecutionSpiritual doubt, assurance, and perseveranceWhy Christian men need stories of grit and convictionDiscipling your kids through classic Christian booksSupport the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ What happens when a culture abandons moral truth and replaces it with personal preference? In this episode of The Lion and the Bear, Drake Holderman calls Christian men to hold the line against moral relativism—the belief that right and wrong are subjective, negotiable, and dependent on feelings, culture, or circumstance. Beginning with the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 and tracing its cultural ripple effects through no-fault divorce, Roe v. Wade, and the redefinition of marriage, this episode exposes how moral relativism quietly reshaped American life by mocking conviction and sidelining God’s authority. What began as embarrassment toward biblical certainty has matured into confusion, fractured families, unanchored children, and men unsure of their role or voice. This episode confronts hard questions with biblical clarity: What is moral relativism, and why is it so destructive?How silence from men allows lies to advance uncheckedWhy children and families suffer when adults refuse moral clarityHow biblical masculinity collides with a culture allergic to convictionWhat Scripture actually calls men to do in a confused worldDrawing from Scripture, history, cultural data, and the example of King Josiah, this episode makes a compelling case that when God’s Word is honored, life flourishes—and when men stand firm, generations are strengthened. This is not a call to outrage.  It is a call to clarity, courage, and responsibility. If you are a Christian man who wants to lead your home, protect your family, and stand confidently on God’s truth without apology, this episode is for you. Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ What does it mean for Christian men to hold the line in a culture that no longer believes in truth, courage, or responsibility? In this foundational episode of The Lion and the Bear, Drake Holderman introduces a bold new series aimed at Christian men who refuse passivity and are ready to stand firm in a world pressing hard against biblical truth. Hold the Line is a series for men who want to live fully in Christ, protect their families, strengthen their churches, and walk boldly in truth without fear. If you are a Christian man seeking conviction, biblical masculinity, and clarity in a confused world, this episode is for you. Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ This episode is a compilation of 10 powerful quotes for men that build a biblical and battle-tested vision of masculine life. Drake connects Scripture, history, and hard truth to help you reject drift and recover purpose. You will hear why manhood begins with God, why God measures the heart, why becoming a man is a choice, why the arena is where men are formed, how hard times can forge strength, why so many men live in quiet desperation, and how repentance and obedience restore a man’s soul. And then, you will receive a final charge: go forward and fear no darkness. If you want to be a man of consequence in your home, your church, and your generation, press play and step into the weight. Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ Vlad the Impaler is remembered as a monster. History tells a harder truth. In the 15th century, as the Ottoman Empire surged westward, one small Christian borderland stood in the way. Wallachia was poor, exposed, and outmatched — yet it refused to fall. At its center stood Vlad III Dracula, a ruler shaped by captivity, forged in fear, and willing to become hated if it meant his people survived. This episode explores the real story behind Vlad the Impaler — not the vampire myth, but the man who used terror, guerrilla warfare, and psychological strategy to halt the most powerful empire of his age. We examine Ottoman expansion, the Forest of Stakes, night raids, scorched earth tactics, and the brutal moral tension between protection and cruelty. For men today, Vlad’s story raises an uncomfortable but necessary question:  What is the cost of protecting what cannot protect itself? This is a story about borders, faith, fear, leadership under pressure, and the dangerous weight of responsibility. Not a tale of saints or villains — but of a man of consequence who stood between his people and annihilation. Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ In this episode, we confront one of the defining battles facing Christian men today: the war between chastity and lust. In a culture saturated with pornography, temptation, and sexual confusion, purity is often portrayed as repression or fear. Scripture tells a very different story. Drawing from the ancient stories of Odysseus and Jason facing the Sirens, this episode reveals two biblical truths every man must grasp: temptation cannot be ignored, and willpower alone is never enough. Victory comes through preparation, submission, discipline, and a stronger allegiance. Rooted in 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5, Job 31:1, and 1 Corinthians 6:18–20, we explore why purity is not about moral restraint alone, but about lordship, honor, purpose, and spiritual authority. Lust does not merely affect behavior; it reshapes the heart, fractures intimacy, clouds judgment, and weakens a man’s calling. Purity restores clarity, strength, and freedom. This episode speaks directly to Christian men struggling with: Lust and pornographySexual temptation and disciplineShame-based faith vs covenant strengthReclaiming spiritual authority and focusBuilding habits that protect purity rather than pollute itYou’ll learn why purity is a worship issue, why it requires a warrior mindset, and how replacing temptation with a stronger song leads to lasting victory.  If you are a man who wants to live free, focused, honorable, and mastered by Christ rather than impulse, this episode is for you. Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ What if you could read your obituary while you were still alive In 1888 Alfred Nobel did exactly that. A newspaper mistakenly announced his death and labeled him the merchant of death. That single moment became a mirror that forced Nobel to confront what his life had actually been about and what it could still become. In this episode of The Lion and the Bear we explore how one man’s accidental obituary sparked a radical shift from accumulation to generosity and why his story matters deeply for Christian men today. We connect Nobel’s awakening to the words and encounters of Jesus especially the contrast between the Rich Young Ruler and Zacchaeus two wealthy men two encounters with Christ and two very different legacies. This episode speaks directly to the modern pressure men carry The weight of being a provider  The quiet drift from provision to greed  The temptation to measure worth by income success and possessions  The fear of failing those we love You will hear why greed is not just about money it is about orbit about whether a man’s life revolves around himself or is poured out for something greater. This is a call to Christian men who want more than financial success  More than survival  More than a full bank account and an empty legacy If you have ever wondered Am I living to have or living to give  What kind of man am I becoming  What story will my sons and daughters tell about me This episode will challenge you steady you and call you higher. Because you cannot change your past but in Christ you can absolutely rewrite your legacy. Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ Before he became a symbol of Christmas, Saint Nicholas was a real man who lived with conviction, courage, and sacrificial faith. In this episode of The Lion and the Bear, we tell the true story of Saint Nicholas of Myra. Born into wealth and left orphaned by plague, Nicholas chose generosity over comfort, quietly giving his inheritance to rescue the poor and protect the vulnerable. His faith shaped not only how he gave, but how he stood firm when truth was under attack. From secret acts of mercy to bold defense of Christ at the Council of Nicaea, Nicholas lived a life marked by action, integrity, and obedience to Jesus. He confronted corruption, protected the innocent, and refused applause for his good works. This episode invites Christian men to look past the legend and rediscover a life surrendered to Christ, reminding us that faithfulness lived over a lifetime leaves a legacy that outlasts any myth. Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ What does real strength look like for a Christian man? In an age obsessed with comparison, competition, and proving dominance, Scripture offers a radically different vision of manhood — one rooted not in envy or pride, but in Spirit-formed strength. In this episode of The Lion and the Bear, we tell the true, gripping story of heavyweight boxing legends Joe Louis and Max Schmeling — two men shaped by rivalry, race, politics, and global pressure — and the unexpected kindness that defined their legacy. Set against the backdrop of 1930s boxing, Nazi propaganda, and national identity, this episode explores how Joe Louis chose honor over humiliation and kindness over resentment — even toward the man who once defeated him. Long after the crowds were gone and the gloves were hung up, Louis quietly paid Schmeling’s rent, covered his medical bills, and ultimately arranged his funeral. This is not a call to softness.  This is a call to biblical strength. Through Scripture, storytelling, and practical challenge, this episode confronts the hidden sin of envy that rots a man from the inside out and reframes kindness as spiritual warfare, a fruit of the Spirit, and evidence of a life under Christ’s authority (Galatians 5:22–23). If you are a Christian man wrestling with comparison, insecurity, jealousy, or silent rivalry — at work, at church, or even in your own home — this episode will challenge you to crucify pride and walk the harder road of Christlike strength. You are not fighting other men. You are fighting the lie that you are not enough. And kindness is how you win. Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ What if your job is not just a paycheck but a calling from God In this episode of The Lion and the Bear, we confront the difference between cutting rocks, building a wall, and building a cathedral. You will hear two unforgettable stories, a stonecutter with a kingdom vision and a NASA janitor who knew he was part of something bigger. Then we lay down five biblical truths about work that every Christian man needs right now. You will learn why work is woven into God’s design from Eden, why quiet faithfulness matters more than applause, how laziness sabotages a man’s life, how your work becomes worship when it is done for Christ, and why finishing what you start is a mark of maturity and grit. If you are a husband, father, leader, tradesman, entrepreneur, or simply a man who wants purpose and discipline, this episode will help you reclaim a biblical work ethic, renew your sense of mission, and build a legacy your sons can imitate. Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ Most men live with a bow string under tension — bills, deadlines, family demands, real responsibility, and a desire to protect and provide for the people they love. And when pressure builds, our instinct is to force results. Pull harder. Move faster. Control everything. But force doesn’t lead to accuracy. It leads to anger, frustration, and collateral damage. In this episode, we explore why patience isn’t passive at all — it’s precision under pressure. You’ll hear the story of a young archer learning a lesson every man needs: the arrow obeys patience, not force. Then we shift to Scripture and get intensely practical about how patience is formed, trained, and unleashed in a man’s real world. We’ll cover: Why white-knuckling self-control never worksHow trials become reps that build patient strengthWhat it means to rule your spirit like a warrior kingThe power of prayer to fuel patience the way protein fuels muscleHow to handle irritation, delay, and pressure without losing your peaceWhy a patient man is more dangerous, trustworthy, and effective than a reactive manMen who master patience are not soft. They’re steady. They’re safe. They’re wise. They become the husbands, fathers, leaders, and followers of Christ this world desperately needs. If you want to stop reacting and start ruling your spirit, this episode will give you the biblical framework and the battle-tested practices to do it. It’s time to breathe before you draw. Slow your mind before you move your muscles. And lead from a place of strength no hurry can imitate. Patient men hit what matters. Let’s become those men. Support the show

Support The Lion and The Bear: Give Online: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UBPUM8A8KQU4Y MTN Ops: https://rstr.co/mtnops/20135 Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FATHERFULL?ref=dashboard-header Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakeholderman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drake.holderman/ In July 1941, inside the barbed-wire geometry of Auschwitz, a siren sounded and ten men were chosen to die. One of them collapsed in grief for his wife and children. Then, in the silence that followed, a thin Polish friar stepped forward and changed the shape of history with a single sentence: “I want to take his place.” This episode tells the story of Maximilian Kolbe — a scholar, priest, and missionary — whose life of quiet strength prepared him for a moment of extraordinary sacrifice. We walk through the world he lived in, the choices he made long before Auschwitz, and the starvation bunker where he prayed, encouraged, and gave himself up for another man’s future. Kolbe’s life echoes the heart of Christ: stepping in, taking the burden, and offering himself where death and fear tried to rule. His courage wasn’t loud. It wasn’t dramatic. It was steady, sincere, and costly — the kind of strength every man needs to cultivate. Men of consequence serve, protect, and stand in the gap. Real leadership looks like self-giving love. Real masculinity looks like choosing responsibility. And sometimes, the difference between despair and hope begins when one man quietly steps out of line. Support the show