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On this episode: Nate and Aaron check-in before and update on recent concerts and a hockey-arena trip   Nate and Aaron talk with Drew Reitzel. Drew shares from his story of prayer, conviction, and repentance. He talks about undivided allegiance to Christ in an age of cultural compromise. The conversation explores how divided hearts form, how grace exposes self-deception, and why real change starts internally before it reaches culture. Drew explains how his book, You Can't Serve Two Masters: Undivided Allegiance to Christ in an Age of Cultural Compromise, grew out of prayer and became a mirror for his own heart. He reflects on how writing the book exposed self-deception, including both self-condemnation and self-exaltation, and how truth brought both pain and freedom.   Book: You Can’t Serve Two Masters   Nov 13-15, 2026 Men’s Clinical Intensive   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The Intro and closing music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. Transitional music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

On this episode: Nate and Aaron continue their series on the “five naturals”, natural strongman. They explore why admitting weakness can feel counterintuitive, especially for men conditioned to lead, know, and control.   Nate and Aaron talk to Dr. Judson Brewer. Dr. Brewer explains how curiosity, awareness, and embodied experience can create real change without shame or self-attack. They discuss why will power alone usually fails and what actually helps people break habits, cravings, and anxiety loops.Brewer shares a neuroscience-based approach to addiction, anxiety, and habit change, with practical language for understanding cravings, vigilance, and identity. If you want a clearer map for working with unwanted behaviors, this conversation is both clinically grounded and deeply practical.     Nov 13-15, 2026 Men’s Clinical Intensive   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

Nate and Aaron talk with engineer Donggun Kim about building Sworn. Donggun helps answer how do you help someone change without flooding them with shame or unnecessary detail. He discusses a privacy-conscious content filter that alerts an accountability partner with just enough information to start a real conversation. Aaron and Nate reflect on why this approach matters in recovery, especially for people who need support without being exposed to potentially triggering details. Donggun shares his story of building Sworn after a personal spiritual turning point motivated by conversations in men’s groups and a desire to help people stay on the “good side of the internet”. He tells why this is different from older accountability tools with category-level alert instead of screenshots, browsing logs, or full URLs. Its also big on privacy.   Links: [email protected]     Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit Nov 13-15, 2026 Men’s Clinical Intensive   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

On this episode:Nate and Aaron talk about Aaron representing Samson at the AACCC then widen into general discussion about counseling, community, and why some good things can become substitutes for deeper relationships.   They talk to Dr. David Pendergrass. David shares that many men are taught from childhood to suppress vulnerability, which often turns normal emotions into shame instead of healing. He talks about how cultural history, especially Victorian stoicism and the aftermath of World War II, helped normalize emotional repression in Western Christianity. David unpacks Jewish concepts and how they compare to Christian thinking. He asks us to consider whether emotional suppression has been mistaken for spiritual maturity. David also asks how Paul, James, and Jesus describe the inner struggle with sin, desire, and the heart. All this and so much more.   Links: Dr. David Pendergrass   Books: Widen the Window by Elizabeth Stanley The Meaning of Your Life by Arthur Brooks.   Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit Nov 13-15, 2026 Men’s Clinical Intensive   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The opening and closing music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. Additional transition music https://tunetank.com/   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

John Lynch joins Nate and Aaron on the Pirate Monk Podcast to talk about the gospel identity that has shaped his life, ministry, and recovery. The conversation moves from his recent bike trip in Spain to the deeper spiritual work of moving from shame and striving toward being loved by God as you are.They discuss John’s journey from performance-driven religion to grace, the effects of shame, and why safe, honest community matters more than polished spirituality. The episode also previews his role at the upcoming Samson Summit. Nate and Aaron connect John’s adventurous, “all in” personality to his lifelong passion for gospel identity. John explains why his goal was not simply to teach the Bible verse by verse, but to help people see who they are in Christ. He traces that passion to his conversion at age 27, after years of pain and shame following the end of a relationship and his baseball career. John reflects on how seminary gave him information but not transformation, and how an authentic church community kept drawing him toward Christ. He shares how naming childhood sexual abuse, after keeping it hidden for 35 years, helped him experience grace more honestly. The conversation explores the difference between guilt and shame: guilt says you did something wrong; shame says something is wrong with who you are. John says the voice of shame is not the voice of God—and that God never says, “You’re too much for me.” John discusses creating “gospel places” where people can be fully known without being loved less. The episode previews John’s upcoming sessions at the Samson Summit and considers how vulnerability can help people walk alongside one another.   Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The opening and closing music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. Transitional music https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

On this episode: Nate gives info on the Samson Summit. Aaron talks to Michael.   Aaron talks story work with Mike Snapp. Michael shares his history with his dad, step-dad, military, flying planes, porn, affairs, wives, girlfriends, recovery, and helping her heal. Mike shares how Samson Society was a big stepping stone to his recovery, growth, and healing. He talk about his d-day and how helping her heal has helped repair his marriage. He also shares his need for counseling and internal family systems work has and is continuing to help him to grow into the Christian man and husband he desires to be.     Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

On this episode: Just Aaron and Mariel.   Aaron interviews Dr. Mariel Buqué.  Dr. Buqué is a psychologist, trauma-care specialist, creator of the Generational Trauma Therapy Method, podcaster, and author of Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. She explains how family history, biology, nervous-system patterns, and present-day experiences can interact—and how people can begin creating healthier patterns for themselves and future generations. Other topics include defining triggers, cellular memory, nature, nurture, epigenits, and nervous system sensitivity.   Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma Break the Cycle Podcast DrMarielBuque.com     Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

In this episode, Aaron Porter and Josh Bales discuss the importance of authentic community, the role of music and ministry, and the personal growth that comes from shared experiences among men. They explore how vulnerability and presence can transform relationships and spiritual journeys. Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

On this episode: Nate and Aaron reflect on their recent men’s gathering in Birmingham. Men arrived without expectation, and opened up and shared.   Nate and Aaron welcome Elizabeth Stanley for a thoughtful conversation about trauma, nervous system regulation, and emotional resilience. Drawing from her military service, academic research, and personal experience with PTSD and depression, Liz explains the “window of tolerance”—the range in which our thinking brain and survival brain can work together. She explores why chronic stress can lead to overachievement, collapse, unhealthy coping habits, and repeated patterns we struggle to understand.The conversation also examines why feeling better is not always the same as healing, how dysregulation spreads through families and organizations, and why recovery must include the body—not just intellectual insight or willpower.Liz introduces her Mindfulness Based Mind Fitness Training and shares a simple starting point: paying attention to the body’s points of contact with the chair, floor, and surrounding environment to help the nervous system recognize safety. Book: Widen the Window: Training Your Brain and Body to Thrive During Stress and Recover from Trauma Website: elisabeth-stanley.com Online training: Mindfulness Based Mind Fitness Training (MMFT), including an on-demand course hosted through Sounds True LinkedIn: Liz Stanley, PhD Mailing list: Available through her website, with access to an audi         Canadian Samson Summit Sept 18-20 Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

Brannon and Tyler Patrick   On this episode: Nate goes straight to the interview because Aaron has the food poisoning.   Nate talks to Brannon and Tyler Patrick. Brannon and Tyler are brothers who are therapists, hosts of a call-in podcast called Therapy Brothers, and lead community retreats to help men become trustworthy. The brothers support both spouses, specializing in sexual addiction and betrayal therapy. They give first steps, if you are fresh, or maybe returning. Brannon and Tyler share how spouses can become blind to one another, not being able to see past their own hurts, and ways to see the other. They also discuss not killing sex to be a good man, curiosity about what’s driving the appetite, shame, and how both persons in a marriage are loved. Listen in to hear more.    Therapy Brothers Rising Son   Canadian Samson Summit Sept 18-20 Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

On this episode: Nate updates on Allie. Aaron is glad to have a co-host. And they reflect on the importance of a listening ear over preaching.   This week A.I. makes the notes and sucks at punctuation and conversational language. (Also, the normal notes guy gets sassy, see below.) How do you like it? Send feedback to [email protected]   Steve Cuss joins Nate Larkin and Aaron Porter for a wide-ranging conversation about trauma care, leadership anxiety, and the unseen emotional patterns that shape families, teams, and ministries. Cuss draws on his years as a hospital chaplain and his work with Capable Life to show why naming anxiety matters, why reactivity spreads, and how judgment-free curiosity can lead to real change.In this episode, the hosts and Steve Cuss discuss: How Cuss went from Perth, Australia to hospital chaplaincy in Knoxville and eventually to leadership coaching in Colorado. What trauma and death taught him that Bible college and seminary could not. Why chaplaincy stripped away pithy theology and exposed the gap between head knowledge and lived faith. The difference between acute anxiety and chronic anxiety, and why chronic anxiety is often invisible. How reactivity functions like a contagious emotional field in families, teams, and institutions. Why childhood vows and hidden assumptions often live in the body, not just the mind. The role of nonjudgmental regard in helping people change without becoming defensive. Practical first steps for breaking reactivity patterns by noticing, naming, and tracing the recurring cycle. How leaders can stop offloading anxiety onto others and start taking responsibility for the tone they generate. Why curiosity, repentance, and respectful confrontation can change a relational system. Key Frameworks: Acute anxiety vs. chronic anxiety - Acute anxiety is a real-time response to actual danger. Chronic anxiety is a false-threat response that becomes automated and hidden. Reactivity - Cuss’s practical name for chronic anxiety, especially when it spreads through relationships and teams. Emotional fields / hula hoops - A metaphor for how anxiety moves between people and becomes contagious in close contact. Childhood vows - Subconscious agreements formed early in life to avoid pain, which later become limiting beliefs. Notice, then name - The first move toward change is to identify what is happening instead of explaining it away. Notable Quotes: Copy (AI calling from CB) “The great gift of chaplaincy is it forces you to survive by being a human being.” Copy (10-4 good buddy) “Reactivity plus power is catalytic.” Copy (Breaker Breaker) “I need a somatic solution.” Action Items (business meeting jargon): Notice one recurring reactive pattern in your home, staff, or marriage this week. Ask whether your response is for the other person or for self-soothing. Name the pattern out loud instead of treating it as “just the way things are” Before advising, pause and ask what curiosity or compassion would look likeReduce the emotional “hula hoop” you bring home from work or conflict     Canadian Samson Summit Sept 18-20 Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The Introduction and Closing music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. Transitional music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

On this episode: Nate does promotions. Aaron flies solo.    This week: Aaron has a wonderful conversation with Pesa Shayo. Pesa and his wife Whitney Shayo help couples find unity in the most tested areas of marriage. Pesa shares how both members in a couple can be right and also work together. He discusses how in-laws aren’t the problem, but they find weaknesses and wedge their way in. Pesa gives lots of guidance on boundaries when other factors are at play. And Aaron suggest you figure out the cost of free money before taking it.   Links and Books: Live Your Best Marriage     Canadian Samson Summit Sept 18-20 Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store)   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

This week: Aaron talks to Dr Arielle Schwartz. Dr Arielle Schwartz is a psychologist’s teacher, author, blogger, and also leads courses and retreats. She shares her story of childhood complex PTSD. Complex PTSD is defined too. Discussing the different types of therapy practices that have helped her and what she uses to help others heal. There is guidance on how to move forward when the abuser is still and a$$hole. She affirms the value of community in growth and recovery. She also shares that acting out is a symptom of trauma. Listen in for all this and far more.   Links and Books: Dr Arielle Schwartz     NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store) Canadian Samson Summit Sept 18-20 Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

The Foundation of Marriage with Casey Caston   This week: Nate and Aaron talk Ireland. Aaron is 50! And, if you’ve read it, share your thoughts on the Silas book here.   Nate and Aaron talk to Casey Caston. Casey talks about how he slept on the couch the night he got married. This began his studies into what makes a healthy marriage. He shares that you don’t need more marriage therapy but processes and tools to heal and grow a marriage. Casey gives 4-steps to a really good apology. He gives guidance to the offended and the offender. He also shares that you shouldn’t be trying to change your partner, you should be changing yourself, for yourself. Other topics include: forgiveness and boundaries, men’s reset track, boredom in marriage, intentional time for your spouse, and more.   Links and Books: Marriage 365 The Marriage Habit: 10 Simple Practices to Build a More Intentional, Thriving Relationship     NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store) Canadian Samson Summit Sept 18-20 Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The opening and closing music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. Transitional music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

In this episode Aaron sails the Pirate Monk ship alone. Aaron talks to Troy Dircks. Troy is an author who wrote: Elite Mindset: Breaking Free from Pornography Addiction: Rewrite your brain, Reclaim your Life. Troy shares his journey to grow and heal from sexual abuse at six and later pornography addiction. He shares practical steps, the importance of vulnerability, and how small habits can transform your life. Troy also discusses the physical transformation and healing of the brain with books, exercise, and community engagement.   Links: Elt Mindset Troy Dircks Instagram Books: Elite Mindset: Breaking Free from Pornography Addiction: Rewrite your brain, Reclaim your Life   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store) Sacred Impact Men’s Retreat August 13-17, 2026 Canadian Samson Summit Sept 18-20 Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to [email protected].     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com. The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.