The Brenton Peck Podcast

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links.Teri and I are starting something new this week. We're picking up Jordan Peterson's newest book, We Who Wrestle with God, and walking through it one chapter at a time. This is chapter one, and it starts with the idea that everyone around you is made in the image of God, which sounds simple until you try to actually live like it's true.We get into what it means to subdue the earth, and why that word has nothing to do with domination and everything to do with putting things in their proper place. From there Teri pulls out something most people miss entirely. The Hebrew word used to describe Eve, ezer kenegdo, is the same word used elsewhere in scripture to describe God as our help and our shield. It doesn't mean subordinate. It means potent ally, the kind you'd want beside you in a fight. We talk about what that actually changes about how marriage works, and why iron sharpening iron sometimes looks less like harmony and more like two sparring partners who refuse to let each other get soft.Somewhere in the middle of all this we go on a full detour into artificial intelligence, because Teri asked a question I couldn't leave alone. Can an AI actually be manipulated by the people who build it? As a software developer, I walk through why large language models are just statistics under the hood, why the data you feed them is a choice, and what happened when Google's AI started changing the race of historical figures. I also tell her about a project I tried building years ago to make an AI that studied scripture on its own.This is also the shortest episode we've put out, and that's on purpose. We're trying something different: shorter, chapter by chapter conversations instead of one long sitting.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastClips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastClipsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0agab3nx2RVMbALWG4Lvr4Substack: https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastWebsite: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comTeri Peck, co-host and creator of Peck's NestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pecksnestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pecksnestTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnestYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PecksNestAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine — Jordan B. Peterson: https://amzn.to/4vUvESd[00:00] Cold Open[01:58] Starting Chapter One: We Who Wrestle With God[02:36] What "Subdue" Actually Means[02:52] Why Nothing About Your Calling Is Deterministic[03:47] Does God Put Us In Our Place, Or Is It Our Choice[06:48] How Did Adam Know What To Name Every Animal[07:09] Did Humanity Lose Its Original, True Language[09:53] Will We All Speak One Language In Heaven[12:29] Who Teri Would Want To Have Dinner With From History[15:01] Nerding Out: Can AI Be Manipulated By Its Creators[19:40] Brenton's Own Attempt To Build A Biblically Grounded AI[23:13] Eve Was Called A Warrior Ally, Not A Subordinate[25:27] Marriage As Sparring Partners: Iron Sharpens Iron[27:23] Why Play Is Essential To A Strong Marriage[29:13] Why Adam Still Tried To Impress The Only Woman Alive[30:33] Wrap Up: Trying A Shorter Episode Format

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links.Jordan Peterson closes out 12 Rules for Life with two rules that hit different depending on who's reading them. Rule 11 says don't bother kids when they're skateboarding. Rule 12 says pet a cat when you encounter one on the street. Teri Peck joins me to finish the series, and what starts as a conversation about playground safety turns into something a lot bigger.We get into why a generation of kids has been raised behind padded edges and warning labels, and what that's actually cost them in confidence and self-reliance. From there we move straight into Peterson's chapter on privilege and the patriarchy, including a real story he tells about a boy who told his dad he was doing well in school, for a boy. That line says more about the state of education and masculinity than any statistic could, and it sets up a longer conversation about why boys check out when the rules of the game stop being theirs.Teri pushes back on me in a few places I wasn't ready for, including a TikTok-fueled debate about whether men actually sacrifice for their families, and a hard line about women who say they don't need a man. We also work through Peterson's idea that everything in life is either a tool or an obstacle, and what that means for how we treat other people without realizing it. By the end we're talking about resentment, presence, and the story behind Peterson's daughter's lifelong battle with juvenile arthritis, which reframes the whole pet a cat rule completely.This is the final episode in our 12 Rules for Life series.SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOWFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastWebsite: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comTeri Peck, wife, mother of three, and co-host of the Brenton Peck Podcast.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pecksnestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pecksnestTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnestYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PecksNestBOOKS / RESOURCES MENTIONEDAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.12 Rules for Life - Jordan Peterson: https://amzn.to/48b1fFCTIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS0:00 Introduction1:44 Rule 11: Don't Bother Kids When They're Skateboarding3:25 The Sacrifice Moms Don't Get Credit For5:46 Warning Labels and the War on Play8:49 Why New Rules Don't Stop Anyone10:51 Should We Childproof Every Playground?15:55 If Everyone's Privileged, Is Anyone Privileged?16:36 Why Men's Accomplishments Get Diminished17:37 Do Men Even Sacrifice for Their Families?21:09 "I'm Doing Well In School... For a Boy"23:49 School Choice and the Homeschool Debate31:28 When the Game Turns Into a Girls' Game33:06 "I Don't Need a Man"34:56 Why Women Marry Up and Men Marry Across39:21 The Pursuit of Goals Is What Gives Life Meaning40:28 Everything Is a Tool or an Obstacle48:56 The Two Reasons We Get Resentful50:43 Rule 12: Pet a Cat When You Encounter One on the Street51:49 What Superman Got Wrong About Story54:22 Noticing Comes Before Thinking58:55 Closing Thoughts

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links.Teri is back for Rules 9 and 10 of Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life, and these two chapters land harder than anything in the series so far. Rule 9 asks you to assume the person you're listening to might know something you don't. Rule 10 tells you to be precise in your speech. Together, they trace what actually breaks communication down and what it costs when you let it go too long.Rule 9 opens with a simple observation: most of us listen to confirm what we already believe. Brenton and Teri follow that thread from disagreements about how to clean a kitchen in early marriage to the tribal fracture in politics, and land on something Brenton's grandfather used to say about offense and personal responsibility. The conversation goes further from there, into therapy, false memories, and a question worth sitting with: when you walk into a therapist's office believing something is wrong with you and that they can fix it, what have you already agreed to accept?Rule 10 is where it gets pointed. Peterson walks through a man who says "I hate my wife" out loud for the first time, and how those words create a reality that wasn't there before. Brenton and Teri dig into why words spoken in anger don't disappear, why venting to friends about your spouse costs more than it relieves, and the children's book Peterson references about a dragon that fills an entire house because nobody would acknowledge it. They also get personal: a bag of jalapeno chips, two and a half months of bed rest, 19 credits of upper division math, and what a family actually does to the direction a man chooses to go.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastClips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastClipsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0agab3nx2RVMbALWG4Lvr4Substack: https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastWebsite: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comTeri Peck, co-host and creator of Peck's NestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pecksnestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pecksnestTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnestYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PecksNestBooks MentionedAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.12 Rules for Life — Jordan Peterson: https://amzn.to/48b1fFCThe Righteous Mind — Jonathan Haidt: https://amzn.to/41KJ2LrThere's No Such Thing as a Dragon — Jack Kent: https://amzn.to/43U7Ql6Mikey and the Dragons — Jocko Willlink: https://amzn.to/43lWIgF[00:00] Introduction[01:40] Rule 9 — Assume the person you're listening to might know something you don't[02:23] Two people, two ways to clean a kitchen — what early marriage reveals[05:54] Tribalism and why we stop listening across groups[10:47] The salvation issue — why Brenton doesn't argue about everything[16:45] "Only I can choose to be offended" — grandpa's saying[23:01] Can therapists plant things in your mind?[31:04] Memory isn't objective — tools and obstacles[38:33] The communication skill that changed their marriage[43:02] When a man said "I hate my wife" — why spoken words become real[46:02] Who you vent to matters more than you think[50:54] Rule 10 — Be precise in your speech[56:32] The dragon that fills the house — what ignoring problems actually does[58:29] Don't let small things become massive dragons[1:03:28] Do men actually sacrifice for their families?[1:06:37] What having a family did to Brenton's trajectory[1:09:10] 19 credits of upper division math and teaching himself to code[1:15:05] Men need respect like women need love[1:20:12] Parenting as a team — the unified front[1:22:41] Roughhousing and what fathers actually build in their kids[1:25:57] When marriages fall apart slowly — and what to do before they do

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links.Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life has a way of turning simple-sounding rules into two-hour conversations. Teri and I worked through Rules 7 and 8, and both of them went further than expected.Rule 7 is pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient. That sounds simple until you try to define meaningful. We got into whether meaning can ever be purely personal or whether it has to account for the individual, the family, the community, and humanity as a whole. Teri pushed back on constraints, we disagreed about whether too many choices paralyze people, and worked through a real debate about whether Christians are still under the Old Testament law. We also talked about a season early in our marriage when I was hauling boxes off a truck at Shopco on Christmas break while Teri was pregnant, and why that wasn't expedient, it was meaningful.Rule 8 is tell the truth, or at least don't lie. A lie doesn't just mislead. It rewires the person telling it. We worked through narcissism and self-loathing as two versions of the same deception, how small lies get encoded into habit, and what that does to a marriage over time. Then into the heaviest ground in the book: Peterson's argument that every human being is capable of great evil. The Auschwitz guards were ordinary people shaped by incremental corruption. The Holocaust started with a lie. And the closing argument: it is not good to be a weak man. You cannot protect against monsters if you are not capable of being a monster yourself.Part of an ongoing read-through of 12 Rules for Life with my wife Teri. Rules 9 and 10 are next.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastClips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastClipsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0agab3nx2RVMbALWG4Lvr4Substack: https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastWebsite: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comTeri Peck, co-host and creator of Peck's NestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pecksnestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pecksnestTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnestYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PecksNestBooks MentionedAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos — Jordan B. Peterson: https://amzn.to/48b1fFC[00:00] Introduction[0:01:58] Rule 7: Pursue What Is Meaningful, Not What Is Expedient[0:05:44] Does Vacuuming the Carpet Count as Meaningful?[0:09:21] Why Meaning Can't Stop at the Individual[0:13:25] The Paralysis of Too Many Choices[0:22:00] Meaning Over Comfort: Working Temp Jobs While Teri Was Pregnant[0:26:14] Cain and Abel: What Makes One Sacrifice Better Than Another?[0:28:58] Are Christians Still Under the Old Testament Law?[0:43:09] The Future Is a Judgmental Father[0:45:11] Rule 8: Tell the Truth, or at Least Don't Lie[0:51:19] Narcissism and Self-Loathing Are the Same Lie[1:06:28] Getting Out of the Basement: Starting With the Smallest Possible Win[1:10:37] How Lying Gets Encoded in a Marriage[1:12:02] When Truth Becomes a Weapon[1:19:00] Peterson's Foundation: Suffering Is the One Thing You Can't Argue Away[1:20:22] The Holocaust Started With a Lie[1:39:36] Normal People Doing Terrible Things: The Auschwitz Guards[1:42:18] Andrew Tate, Capability, and the Danger of Being a Weak Man[1:45:06] You Can't Protect Against Monsters If You're Not Capable of Being One[1:46:10] Coming Up: Rules 9 and 10

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links.Brenton and Teri are back for their third conversation on Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life — this time covering Rules 5 and 6. Rule 5 is the one that makes parents uncomfortable: "Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them." Rule 6 is the one most people skip: "Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world."The conversation goes places you don't expect. Peterson's argument isn't really about what annoys you as a parent — it's about the fact that your kids will face a world that has no patience for what you let slide at home. Society doesn't give warnings. It just punishes. Brenton and Teri work through what that actually means in practice: what discipline is for, why gentle parenting falls short, how punishment should end the moment it ends, and why consistency matters more than intensity.Midway through, Teri shares something personal. She's three weeks out from a hysterectomy — miserable, exhausted, not herself — and she talks about what she's been reaching for to get through it: gratitude. Not as a feeling, but as a discipline. Making lists. Finding the dogs. The warm house. The people who brought meals. It's one of the most grounded and honest things she's said on the show.They close with Rule 6 and Peterson's core point: don't tear down a fence before you understand why it's there. That applies to traditions, to institutions, to the structure of your own life. Clean up what you can control before you blame the world for what you can't.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastWebsite: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comTeri Peck, co-host and creator of Peck's NestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pecksnestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pecksnestTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnestYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PecksNestBooks & Resources MentionedAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos — Jordan Peterson: https://amzn.to/48b1fFCHappiness Is a Serious Problem — Dennis Prager: https://amzn.to/4dN2c95

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links.Brenton's wife Teri is back, and this time they're working through chapters three and four of Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life — Rule 3: Make Friends With People Who Want the Best for You, and Rule 4: Compare Yourself to Who You Were Yesterday, Not to Who Someone Else Is Today.This one gets personal fast. Teri admits she's been comparing herself to other stay-at-home moms and feeling like she's falling short. Brenton unpacks why vices need no explanation but success always does. They get into the metagame of marriage — why being right and keeping the connection alive are often mutually exclusive — and why silence, when you have something to say, is its own form of deception.They also work through Peterson's idea of treating yourself like a stranger you're responsible for helping: how do you actually negotiate with yourself, motivate yourself, and take the next right step when you're overwhelmed? The vacuum-in-the-doorway story says more about human nature and meaningful personal transformation than most self-help books do in three hundred pages.This is a husband and wife thinking out loud together — not performing, not lecturing — just working through ideas that matter and letting it be honest.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastClips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastClipsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0agab3nx2RVMbALWG4Lvr4Substack: https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastX: https://x.com/BPeckPodcastWebsite: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comTeri Peck, co-host and Brenton's wifeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pecksnestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pecksnestTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnestYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PecksNestBooks / Resources MentionedAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.12 Rules for Life — Jordan Peterson: https://amzn.to/48b1fFC

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links.Brenton and Teri sit down to work through the first two rules of Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life — and what starts as a book discussion turns into something much more personal. Rule 1 forces a reckoning with order, chaos, and why most people are terrified to face the unknown. Rule 2 asks a harder question: why do people take better care of their dogs than themselves?Teri comes in with pages of notes and questions Peterson didn't fully answer for her — including why chaos is framed as feminine, what it actually means that every human being carries the potential for the worst evil in history, and whether the double standard around pornography and romance novels is something women want to keep ignoring. The conversation doesn't stay comfortable for long.They also get into self-sabotage as a form of identity preservation, why disagreement feels like a physical threat, the "wine mom misery bonding" culture Teri is done defending, what it means to stand up straight when you're not just talking about your posture, and how you can be your own most capable tormentor — because no one knows your weaknesses better than you do.Follow the show:Website: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comTeri PeckFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pecksnestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pecksnestTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnestBooks MentionedAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.12 Rules for Life — Jordan Peterson: https://amzn.to/48b1fFCThe Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion — Jonathan Haidt: https://amzn.to/41KJ2Lr[0:00:00] Intro[0:01:58] First Impressions[0:04:38] Order and Chaos — Peterson's Core Framework[0:05:10] Why Peterson Assigns Gender to Order and Chaos[0:07:26] Chaos Is Not Bad — It's Unclaimed Potential[0:09:26] Chaos as Uncharted Territory — Death, Loss, and the Unknown[0:13:25] People Will Fight to Protect a Lie Rather Than Face Chaos[0:15:55] Why Disagreement Feels Like a Threat to Your Identity[0:17:59] Yin and Yang — One Foot in Order, One Foot in Chaos[0:24:31] Church Splits and the Entropy of Shared Belief[0:29:24] Dreams Shed Light on the Places Reason Hasn't Reached[0:35:28] Lobsters, Hierarchy, and Why Peterson Starts Here[0:37:06] Win Cycles, Loss Cycles, and the Pareto Distribution[0:43:17] Romance Novels and the Double Standard Nobody Names[0:47:27] The Way Society Treats Men[0:48:47] ChatGPT Called Your Husband a Useless Oaf[0:50:11] What Does "Wine Mom Culture" Cost a Marriage?[0:51:04] God Spoke Words to Bring Order to Chaos — Words Have Power[0:54:01] You Need Seven Positives to Balance One Negative[0:58:09] Choosing How You See Your Spouse[0:59:15] Stand Up Straight — But He's Not Just Talking About Posture[1:00:54] Body Language, Predators, and How You Carry Yourself[1:02:09] Facing Chaos Voluntarily vs. Being Forced Into It[1:05:42] Rule 2 — Treat Yourself Like Someone You're Responsible For[1:06:05] Why People Take Better Care of Their Dogs Than Themselves[1:10:45] Depression Cycles and Why People Quit Their Medication[1:16:44] Should Asylums Come Back? The Question Peterson Raises[1:24:58] Men Are the Builders — And "We Don't Need Men"[1:28:15] Good Men, Hard Times, and the Cycle of Civilization[1:31:03] Is America in Good Times or Bad?[1:37:05] Who's Fault Is It? Teri and Brenton Disagree[1:39:03] The Feminization of the Church[1:41:03] The Snake Inhabits Every Soul — Peterson on Adam and Eve[1:43:43] I Can Protect You From Everything Except Yourself[1:47:44] Knowledge of Good and Evil — And How We Use It on Each Other[1:49:08] Self-Sabotage as Identity Preservation[1:51:51] Where Did We Learn to Use Psychological Attacks?[1:58:23] Render Them Competent, Not Just Protected[2:01:05] Should You Let Your Daughter Get Her Heart Broken?[2:04:18] Peterson's Closing to Rule 2 — If We Lived in Truth

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links.Brenton sits down with his wife Teri to work through The Naked Marriage by Dave and Ashley Willis — and this one gets honest fast. They unpack what it actually means to be naked in a marriage: not provocatively, but the way Adam and Eve were naked in the garden — without shame, without hiding, without the armor people put on to protect themselves from the people they're supposed to be closest to.They get into why the word "fine" is the most dangerous four-letter word in a marriage, how trust and vulnerability actually build (one rung at a time, not all at once), and why cutting remarks don't motivate men to change — they just make them go quiet. Teri opens up about the questions that never stop running through her head — Does he still choose me? Am I enough? — and Brenton gets honest about what a man actually feels when his wife isn't happy.They also talk through the safeguards they've built against infidelity, why venting about your spouse to friends does more damage than most people realize, the difference between controlling and leading, and what "be fruitful and multiply" actually demands of a marriage. Ten years in, three kids deep, and they're still doing the work. This is what that looks like.Subscribe / FollowSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastWebsite: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comGuest LinksTeri Peck — host of Peck's NestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pecksnestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pecksnestTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnestYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pecksnestBooks / Resources MentionedAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.The Naked Marriage — Dave & Ashley Willis: https://amzn.to/4dNZkKRThe Five Love Languages follow-up — Gary Chapman: https://amzn.to/4c6WCPlHappiness Is a Serious Problem — Dennis Prager: https://amzn.to/4c4rnV0Love and Respect — Emerson Eggerichs: https://amzn.to/4vltkUF[00:00] Introduction[01:12] Introducing The Naked Marriage by Dave & Ashley Willis[02:20] What "naked" really means — back to Adam and Eve[04:30] Building on a firm foundation: love, vulnerability, and commitment[05:26] Why English only has one word for love[06:28] Stop taking your spouse for granted[07:52] The four-letter word in their marriage: "Fine"[09:57] What "fine" really stands for: faking, ignoring, neglecting, evading[11:27] Your marriage will never be stronger than your trust[12:19] The descending ladder: how vulnerability actually builds[19:11] Time is the currency of your relationship — but only intentional time[25:15] Men are more insecure than they let on[27:15] Happy wife, happy life — unpacked[29:06] A cutting remark or rejection can crush a man's spirit[33:15] Lack of respect rarely motivates a man to change[38:30] Even laughing at dad jokes can build his confidence[40:15] Do men prefer "thank you" over "I love you"?[47:48] The questions always churning: "Does he still choose me?"[52:26] The sunburn analogy: unhealed wounds make your spouse hurt you by accident[56:38] A rough first year — and what turned it around[57:46] The boundary that changed everything[01:00:59] Controlling is not the same as caring[01:02:19] The infidelity safeguards they actually use[01:03:25] Don't vent about your spouse to your friends[01:04:04] Bitterness is a trap — and a descending spiral[01:06:37] Husbands: love your wife as Christ loved the church[01:09:44] Tone matters more than you think[01:12:02] Don't speak negatively about your spouse in public[01:16:05] "Be fruitful and multiply" — what fruit actually means[01:19:11] What is your legacy as a married couple?[01:27:19] The small habits that make up a life

What happens when a man serving at a homeless mission realizes he has been busy doing Christian things—but not actually listening to God?In this episode, Jason Billester of Boise Rescue Mission Ministries talks about growing up between money and ministry, the car accident that nearly killed him, the heartbreak of miscarriage, his son’s emergency open-heart surgery, and the hard lesson that serving God is not the same as intimacy with God.We also get into prayer—how to pray, how to listen, how suffering changes your faith, and what ministry to broken people really looks like when it moves beyond theory.If you’ve ever wrestled with prayer, purpose, suffering, or what it means to actually trust God, this conversation goes there.Jason BillesterBoise Rescue Mission Ministrieshttps://www.boiserm.orgMore from Brenton Peck:https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.com#Prayer #ChristianFaith #Homelessness #Ministry #HearingGod00:00 Intro01:17 Boise Rescue Mission overview03:41 Growing up between millionaires and missionaries07:34 Why his grandma pointed him to Boise Rescue Mission08:54 “Get out” — the prayer challenge that changed his life09:51 The car accident that nearly killed him16:23 Miscarriages and their son’s emergency heart surgery26:39 How suffering shaped the way he serves broken people28:06 How Boise Rescue Mission helps people get back on their feet30:21 Why helping others is part of healing33:34 Money, tithing, and being useful to God39:13 The health scare that exposed a hollow prayer life41:58 PTL: Praise, Thank, Listen45:02 Why church activity isn’t the same as intimacy with God54:02 The fundraising dry spell and the prayer that changed everything1:02:54 How do you actually learn to pray?1:10:06 Why he and his wife pray together every morning1:22:00 How to pray for Boise Rescue Mission1:23:25 The story of Ray1:27:39 From chasing success to becoming significant1:33:48 Everyone is welcome1:35:50 Why Boise Rescue Mission takes no government funding1:38:14 How to tour, volunteer, and help

What do you fear most for your kids?In this episode, Teri and I talk honestly about what we fear for our son and daughters as they grow up—relationships, faith, pressure from the culture, protection, prayer, maturity, and the kind of marriage that can shape a life for better or worse.This conversation starts with parenting, but it reaches into marriage, faith, discipline, self-defense, and the values we hope our kids carry into adulthood.In this episode:- what we fear most for our son- what worries us most for our daughters- the kind of relationship that can make or break a man- why prayer matters in marriage- the difference between unchecked aggression and the capacity to protect- what we want our kids to understand about worth, purpose, and maturityFollow Brenton / The Brenton Peck Podcast:Website: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastFollow Teri / Peck’s Nest:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pecksnestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pecksnest/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pecksnest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnestIf you want more honest, thoughtful conversations like this, subscribe and watch the rest of the channel.#parenting #marriage #family #raisingkids #faith

What makes a conversation actually worth listening to?In this episode, my wife Teri joins me to look back at the podcast so far and say what has really landed, what kinds of stories stick, and where she thinks the show should go next.We talk about why ordinary family life can turn controversial online, why the podcast needs both heavy conversations and lighter ones, what she has learned from starting Peck’s Nest, how AI can actually be useful in everyday life, and what it felt like for me to watch my wife go through birth.We also get into how we think about guests, everyday stories, marriage, raising kids, short-form storytelling, and what kind of conversations are worth having in the first place.If something in this conversation stands out, let me know what direction you want more of going forward.The Brenton Peck PodcastWebsite: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.com/Podcast clips: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastClipsSubstack: https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/Follow Teri / Peck’s NestYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PecksNestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pecksnest/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pecksnest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnest#Marriage #FamilyLife #Storytelling #Motherhood #ContentCreation00:43 Intro03:21 Everyday mom stuff gets controversial04:46 What kind of conversations the show needs more of07:41 AI in daily life, practical use, and what’s interesting about it12:18 Why overly narrow episodes can get boring17:03 Heavy episodes vs lighter episodes20:51 A husband’s view of pregnancy and birth25:09 Early childhood, family dynamics, and helping before crisis37:08 Foster care, limits, and responsibility51:41 Why real pushback matters in marriage1:19:27 The four-letter word in marriage: “fine”1:20:25 Turning long-form episodes into short-form stories1:23:10 The part of content creation people don’t see

Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.In this episode, Teri Peck shares what stood out from reading the follow-up to The 5 Love Languages, and we use that as a springboard to talk about what real marriage looks like after the test ends.We get into why love languages can change quickly, why your spouse can’t read your mind, how expectations quietly drain connection, what it means to be touched out, and why intentional listening matters more than most people realize.We also talk about boundaries, curiosity, unhealed wounds, using AI as a tool instead of a shortcut, and why marriage works better when two people stop keeping score and start carrying weight together.If this conversation helps, subscribe and leave a comment with the part that hit you hardest.Links:https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastClipsPecks Nest (Teri Peck):https://www.youtube.com/@PecksNesthttps://www.facebook.com/pecksnesthttps://www.tiktok.com/@pecksnesthttps://www.instagram.com/pecksnestBooks / media mentioned (Amazon affiliate links):As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.• The Love Language That Matters Most (Gary Chapman, Les & Leslie Parrott)https://amzn.to/3OXY3X5• Happiness Is a Serious Problem (Dennis Prager)https://amzn.to/4kZEQA6 (Paid link)Hashtags:#marriage #relationships #communication #lovelanguages #familyChapters:01:23 Intro01:51 Why love languages aren’t enough03:47 You can’t keep a love tank full 100%05:51 Words of affirmation and learning to really hear your spouse08:09 How love changes through different seasons12:34 Including the kids in a family of five18:45 Love languages beyond marriage21:48 Expectations, harsh tones, and drained love tanks23:46 Why your spouse can’t read your mind25:46 Being touched out and communicating changing needs32:01 Gratitude journal vs AI35:33 AI poems, effort, and authenticity40:42 Can AI help you love your spouse better?45:38 Practical ways to use AI in marriage59:51 How can I love you better tomorrow?01:02:45 Setting your agenda aside01:03:51 Treat your spouse like a book01:04:52 Unhealed wounds and receiving love01:11:23 Be curious about your partner01:22:14 Marriage is 100-10001:27:42 The weight of communication01:29:30 Final thoughts

Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Episode 27 — Debra Peck (my mom)We talk about the books that shaped us—and why stories form people in a way slogans never will.Debra shares why she *wasn’t allowed* to read The Hobbit / Lord of the Rings growing up (because “wizards”), how her view of faith and story changed over time, and why some modern culture feels like it’s losing the ability to think clearly about good, evil, and community.A few threads we hit:- Tolkien, redemption, and “reading through a lens”- Why cookie-cutter stories die (and why writing changes the way you read)- How name-calling turns into dehumanizing (and why that’s dangerous)- Worship as formation + communion as communal grace- Fairy tales, warnings, and what gets lost when we sanitize storiesWhat book shaped you the most—and why?Website (episodes + transcripts):https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comFollow / connect:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/------------------------------Books / media mentioned (Amazon affiliate links)As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.• Penelope Wilcock — Father Peregrine / “Hawk and the Dove” series (Debra’s favorite)https://amzn.to/4cUBfBm (Paid link)• Left to Tellhttps://amzn.to/46v2iiP (Paid link)• The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion (Jonathan Haidt)https://amzn.to/4u3h0ri (Paid link)• Invitation to a Journey (M. Robert Mulholland Jr.)https://amzn.to/4sbGCAy (Paid link)• Happiness Is a Serious Problem (Dennis Prager)https://amzn.to/4kZEQA6 (Paid link)• The Way of Kings (Brandon Sanderson)https://amzn.to/4sdFPiv (Paid link)• We Who Wrestle With God (Jordan Peterson)https://amzn.to/4reQHMs (Paid link)------------------------------Chapters0:00 Intro1:35 Tolkien & “wizards” (The Hobbit / LOTR)4:17 The lens you read through changes over time9:21 Why cookie-cutter stories don’t work11:35 Writing changes how you read (plot mechanics)12:50 Getting “lost” in books (book vs movie)23:54 Stories move people (not slogans)26:46 Shadow, humility, and Father Peregrine (Wilcock)36:36 Reading Scripture with context (Judges / Proverbs)51:46 What our fiction says about our values (gray morality)1:00:53 Name-calling and dehumanization1:13:30 The Righteous Mind & why we divide1:25:56 Worship and the “call to worship”1:31:06 Communion: fear → grace → community1:46:52 Books that formed us (Invitation to a Journey, Prager)1:54:33 Why stories endure (human condition)1:56:25 Fairy tales, warnings, and sanitizing stories (Disney/Shrek)2:03:44 Wrap-up + next read (We Who Wrestle With God)------------------------------Hashtags#Reading #Storytelling #SpiritualFormation #Worship #Communion

Lane Schmelzenbach grew up commercial fishing in Kodiak and Bristol Bay, Alaska—starting at 10 years old—and spent decades living the rhythm of short seasons, long nights, storms, and hard rules that keep you alive.We talk about what the work is actually like (gillnetting, longlining, quotas, escapement), a storm rescue that still feels unreal, and how a life built around risk and routine shaped the way Lane reads, teaches Sunday school, and thinks about attention, gratitude, and what technology is doing to human connection.We also pivot into AI: using it as a tool (without outsourcing your soul), what’s changing in software work, why “human-made” content may become the premium, and where the line is when people start trusting AI more than real relationships.Website: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.com1:04 Welcome + Lane’s start in fishing (Kodiak)3:09 Deadliest Catch boats & Bristol Bay setup4:28 Gillnet vs longline (how it works)6:55 Derby halibut fishing and why it got dangerous8:45 Five people on a gutting table (storm rescue)11:34 Quotas, escapement, and managing fisheries19:38 Reality TV vs real fishing + the 24/7 grind23:57 36 million salmon + the rubber raft story31:24 Night storm, anchors, and “duck on the deck”38:08 Survival suits, drills, and the cost after (fight-or-flight)44:09 Books on the boat: reading as escape + empathy1:03:31 Sunday school for 20+ years (CS Lewis, Unoffendable, Dallas Willard)1:15:31 Philippians 4: attention, narratives, gratitude1:35:25 AI as a tool: prep, hallucinations, and verification1:42:54 AI & programming: “correct code” vs “more code”1:50:22 Paywalls, human content, and why connection matters2:08:02 AI training humans + loneliness and connection2:25:30 City on Mars and the case for fixing Earth2:27:14 Closing#commercialfishing #alaska #salmon #AI #faith

Valentine’s Day episode with my wife, Teri. We talk through the real stories—how we met on Tinder, the proposal, the early years, and the communication lessons we learned the hard way.If you’re married (or want to be), this one’s for the people who want teamwork, not power games.In this episode:How our first dates actually went (and the “boulder” incident)Proposal expectations vs reality (Shania Twain included)Custom rings, wedding-week panic, and honeymoon storiesWhat helped our communication: directness, repeating back, and “I” statementsMen’s drive to provide/protect—and how couples can support each other without competing“Soft landing place” — strength and emotional safetySubscribe for new full episodes every Sunday.Chapters00:00 Intro / Valentine’s episode01:06 We met on Tinder + first date shirt02:33 Aquarium + rose + Chipotle04:37 Second date: botanical gardens + picnic05:05 The boulder story06:03 “Statement and a question” (going steady)07:24 Shania Twain concert + proposal expectations08:01 The proposal + custom ring box + “our song”10:12 Claddagh ring meaning + custom rings11:51 Wedding band panic13:43 Honeymoon stories (Vegas + Disneyland)14:47 Walmart parking lot sandwiches15:45 Trailer life: Call of Duty + tiny Christmas tree16:45 No propane / no hot water18:10 Early marriage: grief, depression, overwork20:08 Advice for new couples (grind + deliberate time)20:48 Men & women communicate differently21:41 “Best point in our marriage… but…”22:16 Communication upgrades + why hinting fails24:06 “I” statements + assume the best25:49 “Man up” + protecting your family27:48 Biggest challenge for men today (identity + purpose)31:28 How women can best support men (respect + needed)33:41 “Be a soft landing place”41:18 Raising a son: strength, emotions, and boundaries46:14 Why stories shape how we think about men/women49:24 Let him lead (without losing your voice)52:13 Date night example: direction + execution54:03 Teamwork vs “sit down, shut up” stereotypes57:01 Bull analogy + naming the problem59:51 Tradwife talk (what we like / what we don’t)1:03:06 The “Nail” problem + listening vs fixing1:05:00 Wrap#marriage #relationships #communication #husbandandwife #family

Episode 24 — LaRita Schandorff has been pushing Nampa toward a more bike-friendly, walkable city since 2005.In this conversation, we get into the unsexy truth of how cities change: projects are planned years out… and money follows plans.Episode page + show links: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comLaRita shares the story behind Bike Walk Nampa and the Nampa Bicycle Project, plus the real-world obstacles that keep people from riding—shared lanes, door zones, missing connections, bike parking, and even “goathead” puncture vines.In this episode:• How it started: one lonely bike sign and early advocacy in Nampa• Why “nobody rides bikes here” is usually just… not noticing• City planning reality: timelines, master plans, and how funding actually happens• “Build a city for a 10-year-old” (and an 80-year-old) — vulnerable road users• Shared lanes vs bike lanes, door zones, and basic road safety expectations• Trails as transportation (not just recreation) + why “parks at dusk” matters• The “last mile” problem: bus stops, bike parking, and real access• Goatheads/puncture vines: why they’re a legit barrier (and what they’re doing about it)• How the Nampa Bicycle Project gets bikes to people who need them—and what comes in the support packageLinks & ResourcesNampa Bicycle ProjectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NampaBicycleProject/Donate: https://bikenampa.org/donate/Instagram: @nampabicycleprojectBike Walk NampaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bikewalknampaStomp Out PuncturevinesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/stompoutpuncturevines/Nampa Safe Routes To SchoolFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NampaSafeRoutesToSchoolCity of Nampa – Safe Routes to School: https://www.cityofnampa.us/590/Safe-Routes-to-SchoolNampa Cycling (community group)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NampaCyclingUpcoming (Nampa)• March 7 @ 10:00 AM — annual meeting + open house• April 23 — community block party at Central ElementaryIf you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe — new long-form episodes every week.#urbanplanning #cycling #Idaho #nampaidaho #walkablecities0:00 Intro0:25 “One lonely bike sign” — how this started (2005)2:13 Why don’t we see more bikes in Nampa?4:09 League training + building early momentum5:06 Starting Bike Walk Nampa (2006–2008)6:16 When a car isn’t an option (and why that matters)7:33 Connection to Boise + early Nampa Bicycle Project roots9:25 How road projects get picked (4–5 years out)11:26 “Money follows plans” — the master plan reality12:02 Learning from Boulder + what good infrastructure looks like14:03 “Build for the 10-year-old” — vulnerable road users + downtown rules18:21 Retrofitting a car-built city: paths, greenbelts, seamless routes22:56 Shared lanes, door zones, and the basics of bike safety25:28 Trails are transportation + “parks at dusk”31:09 Bike parking + the “last mile” problem41:49 Goatheads/puncture vines: the hidden barrier49:39 Advisory groups + why planning momentum disappears53:33 How Nampa Bicycle Project actually started (2019)55:36 Locks, lights, helmets — what riders actually need1:05:31 Bike repair stations: grant, vandalism, rebuilding1:10:23 Events + where bikes go in the community1:22:38 How to donate + how to start a bike project in your city1:27:04 Wrap-up

Brenton sits down with his wife, Teri Peck, to talk through real life behind the camera—marriage communication, parenting pressure, and how we’re refining the direction and pitch of the show. We also get honest about the grind of editing and building clips week after week.In this episode: - Why we’re widening the show beyond only trauma-heavy stories—because everyone has a story. - The pitching mistake we’ve made that can “box in” the kind of guests you attract. - A simple communication practice that works: “Repeat back what you heard.” - Timing rules that save arguments: don’t force the conversation when emotions are high (“lids are flipped”) and don’t have weighty talks when you’re hungry. - The unseen workload of podcasting + the tools that surprised us (including Canva). - Parenting reality: potty training disrupted consistency and hit emotionally harder than expected.LinksWebsite: www.brentonpeckpodcast.com#marriage #communication #parenting #relationships #family 00:00 Intro00:23 Why we’re widening the show beyond trauma-only stories02:00 The pitching mistake (“bear your soul”)17:25 Communication tension + “repeat it back”20:05 Don’t force the talk when “lids are flipped”20:53 Don’t talk when you’re hungry22:25 The unseen grind + the tools that surprised us38:50 Potty training vs staying consistent42:30 Creative changes: icons, thumbnails, workflow49:20 Marriage after kids + the “myth” of date night50:55 Outro

My wife Teri flips the script and interviews me.We talk about how the world feels different now—more tension, less freedom for kids—and how technology went from dial-up and MS-DOS to modern software and frameworks. Then we get into what actually shaped me: growing up mostly homeschooled, a stretch in public school, being bored when things came too easily, and how OCD/obsessive tendencies showed up in real life.From there we go practical: why deadlines and pressure pushed me forward, why I finished school the way I did, and how I taught myself to program—using edX, mentors at work, and sheer repetition—until I moved from analyst to software developer.We also talk about growing up in military culture (commissary, BX, base housing, moving often), what surprised me outside that “tribe,” and a parenting truth I learned the hard way: what you require of your kids ends up requiring something from you too.📍More from the podcast: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comHashtags:#discipline #softwaredevelopment #homeschooling #parenting #OCDChapters (YouTube):00:00 Role reversal — Teri interviews Brenton00:46 How the world changed (tension, safety, people)02:01 Technology then vs now (early web + modern frameworks)04:28 Biggest challenge growing up: talent vs hard work08:41 Parenting, homeschooling, martial arts, and discipline at home09:52 OCD/obsession and how it shows up in adulthood12:22 Focus, interruptions, and getting work done with kids13:54 Favorite books + why story matters16:34 Books vs movies (adaptations + expectations)17:55 Pressure, “I can’t,” and learning hard things19:10 Back to school with a deadline (why math)23:33 “Do or die” discipline24:05 Applied math → software dev (teaching myself to program)31:51 The long college road (residency/transfers)34:27 Advice for drifters: vision, deadlines, and direction42:18 Homeschool vs public school (creativity + ADHD misdiagnosis)50:00 Growing up military: commissary, BX, and moving a lot1:04:12 Biggest surprises: leaving the military “tribe”1:06:23 Parenting truth: what you require of kids pulls it out of you1:08:09 Closing thoughts

Wendy Ann Mattox has written 15 action-packed Christian chapter books—but the story behind her stories is just as rich. In this episode, we talk about her roots in education, the turning point that led her to write full time, and the deeper mission behind every mystery she crafts for kids.We also explore:Her journey from teacher to authorWhy adventure stories are powerful tools for truthThe faith moments that shaped her life and writingHow kids are formed by what they readThis episode is for anyone curious about the intersection of creativity, calling, and conviction.📚 Explore Wendy’s books: https://www.wendyannmattox.com📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MagicMagnifyingGlassMystery/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyannmattoxauthor/🎙️ All Podcast Links: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.com00:00 - Intro: Wendy Ann Mattox, Christian kids’ author02:15 - Freelance articles and the first pull toward writing04:10 - Growing up on books and the bookmobile05:10 - Homeschool life, book fairs, and chasing stories08:29 - Episodic writing and finding her voice11:56 - The first Max & Maddie story for her grandkids23:13 - How stories, imagination, and Jesus fit together24:22 - Peace above the chaos and walking on water26:09 - Time-travel adventures in the Max & Maddie series28:55 - Spy Force: misfits, identity, and faith31:41 - Why kids love series and the weight of writing for them45:35 - Putting a Bible verse on every book52:37 - Business side: growing the author career55:37 - Audiobooks and reading stories out loud56:21 - Joining a writing group and learning the craft1:04:52 - Obsidian, structure, and tools for thinking1:13:11 - How she’d lead a kids’/writing small group1:22:35 - School visits, homeschool groups, and local events1:25:44 - Pinocchio and the moral power of stories1:29:58 - Asking better questions and hearing people’s stories1:32:11 - Social media as a tool versus real stories1:36:01 - Pendulum swings, technology, and using media wisely#ChristianAuthor #KidsBooks #FaithAndWriting #AuthorInterview #BrentonPeckPodcast

In episode 20 I’m sitting down again with my wife Teri (her third time on the podcast) to pull back the curtain on what actually goes into running this show as a team.Most people see the long-form episodes and the Shorts. They don’t see Teri watching full episodes, pulling timestamps, building the clips, and pushing everything across TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and more. In this conversation we walk through what she actually does, what we’ve learned 20 episodes in, and where we want to take this in the next season.In this episode we talk about:How Teri built a full short-form workflow from scratch– Watching every episode and pulling timestamps for good Shorts– Editing in CapCut, adjusting hooks and captions per platform– Swapping out audio for TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube so each one works with its own system– Creating thumbnails and quote cards in Canva without getting lost in “pretty but pointless” tweaksWhat we’ve learned about algorithms and reach– Why broad tags like “prayer” or “FYP” don’t help if you’re buried under millions of posts– How specific tags and topics (“prayers for moms”, etc.) get content to the right people faster– Why follower engagement and watch time matter more than raw view count– The frustration of never fully knowing what will take off—and why we keep testing anywayBalance, family, and not letting the podcast swallow the house– Teri having to tell me, “put the screen down” so we can be present with the kids– Choosing to pause Shorts, play Barbies, build forts, and just sit on the couch watching football as a family– Letting the podcast be important without letting it become an excuse to neglect home responsibilitiesWhat this podcast has taught me after 20 episodes– Struggling with scheduling guests and learning to invite people without feeling pushy– Learning to read people better and “read the room” when conversations go heavy– Seeing recurring themes show up again and again—faith redemption, addiction and recovery, mental health—and realizing we never planned those arcs, they emerged– Using the podcast as a way to learn to think in public, not build an echo chamberMartial arts, impact, and serving beyond the mic– Training in martial arts with our daughter and how that opens doors for real relationships– Why impact isn’t just “having a podcast” or “going into ministry,” but showing up as a steady, faithful presence in normal spaces– How we see the show as one tool among many for loving God and loving other people wellWe also talk about where we’d like this to go next: writing an actual “becoming statement” for the podcast, staying focused on stories that help people, and still caring about growth without letting the numbers define whether this is worth doing. At the end of the day, the dream is simple: get the right stories to the people who need them and keep learning as we go.If you’re trying to build something with your spouse or family—whether it’s a podcast, a business, or anything else—I’d love to hear what’s been hardest for you to balance. Drop it in the comments.And if these long-form, story-driven conversations around faith, discipline, family, and becoming are helpful, hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss what’s coming next.—More from The Brenton Peck Podcast:• Episodes & topics: www.brentonpeckpodcast.com• Substack reflections & transcripts: https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.com/Connect:• TikTok / Instagram / Facebook: @BrentonPeckPodcast#faithandfamily #contentworkflow #christianpodcast #martialartsfamily

My guest today is Master Cosmo Zimik — founder of Empty Hand Combat in Nampa, Idaho and a man who describes himself as “an evangelist first, martial artist second.” He grew up in remote mountain villages in the Naga region of India, where food was simple, resources were scarce, and life was hard from an early age. Martial arts wasn’t a hobby; it was a way of life and a path to protect the people he loved.In this conversation, Cosmo shares how that early formation shaped his heart, his discipline, and his sense of calling. We talk about how God redirected his story, why he now sees his dojo as a ministry, and how he uses martial arts to train character, not just kicks and punches.Today at Empty Hand Combat, Cosmo and his team work with kids, teens, and adults—from confident athletes to anxious or angry students who just need structure, love, and a way out. The focus is mindset: helping students face fear, fight anxiety and depression, build discipline, and learn to love people across cultural and political lines instead of getting trapped in them. Prayer on the mats is normal. Gratitude is part of training. And the goal is to raise “warriors” who protect and serve their families, schools, and communities.In this episode, we talk about:Growing up in the Naga hill country and how that shaped Cosmo’s view of discipline, work, and responsibilityWhy martial arts became a way of life instead of just sport or entertainmentHow his encounter with Jesus reordered his priorities and turned his skills into a callingWhat it means to be an evangelist first, martial artist second inside a modern American dojoTraining kids to fight anxiety, depression, and apathy—not just opponents in the ringScholarships, generosity, and quietly helping students and families who can’t afford trainingHow faith, prayer, and practical love fit inside a martial arts school without turning it into a clichéIf you care about faith, formation, martial arts, and what it looks like to raise resilient kids who actually love their neighbors, this conversation is worth your time.Connect with Master Cosmo Zimik & Empty Hand Combat (Nampa, Idaho)Dojo website: https://emptyhandcombat.com Empty Hand Combat NampaEmpty Hand Combat on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmptyHandCombat/ FacebookConnect with The Brenton Peck Podcasthttps://www.brentonpeckpodcast.com #martialarts #christianfaith #youthmentorship #anxiety #disciplineyourself

What happens when your kids watch from the window to see if dad is grumpy before they run to the door? That moment forced Nampa real estate broker Matt LeBaron to rethink the way he showed up at home—and it became the turning point in how he understands gratitude, happiness, and responsibility.Matt is a Nampa native, owner of Trust Realty in Idaho, and has spent over two decades in real estate. More importantly, he’s a man of faith and a committed husband and father who has had to fight for his marriage, his mindset, and his family through seasons of real estate drought, pride, and stubbornness.In this conversation, we dig into what it actually means to choose gratitude when life is unstable, how pride quietly destroys relationships, and why Matt believes God used both success and scarcity to reshape his heart for his wife and kids.👤 Guest: Matt LeBaron• Trust Realty – About Matt: https://trustidaho.com/about/matthew-le-baron/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064298590491🎧 In this episode:Growing up in Nampa and building Trust Realty through two decades of market ups and downsThe 90-day stretch with no income—and what it exposed about trust, fear, and provisionThe gut-check moment when his kids were checking if dad was “grumpy” before he walked in the doorHow gratefulness journaling and naming 50 things he’s thankful for shifted his mood and his homeWhy he says you “can’t be happy unless you’re grateful” and how that plays out in real life, not just theoryWhat he’s learned from two marriages about commitment, chemistry, and staying when leaving would be easierPride as the quiet killer of marriages—and how letting go of pride brought his relationship back from the edgeParenting strong-willed kids, teaching them not to hit back, and choosing compassion instead of retaliationFaith, calling, and learning to be “malleable” to where God actually wants you, not just where you’re comfortableHow ideas from Dennis Prager, Jordan Peterson, and Jocko Willink intersect with Matt’s life as a Christian dad and brokerIf you’re wrestling with pride, frustration at home, or the gap between who you are at work and who you are with your family, this episode is a sober look at what it costs—and what it changes—when you decide to live gratefully on purpose.📌 Listen / Watch MoreFull episodes, clips, and resources: www.brentonpeckpodcast.comNew long-form conversations every week on story, formation, and disciplined living.The Brenton Peck Podcast | Story. Formation. Discipline.#gratitude#christianmarriage#fatherhood#faithandfamily#happiness0:00 Cold open – teaser clips & episode intro0:00:39 Meet Matt LeBaron – gratitude, happiness, and real estate droughts0:04:14 Happiness as a choice, not just an emotion0:06:01 Teaching kids gratitude at the table and in daily life0:07:34 When your kids check if dad is grumpy at the door0:11:03 Walking away from church and learning to pray with gratitude0:14:45 Regret, rebellious years, and what you’d tell your younger self0:21:13 Serving others, SoGood, and getting out of your own head0:23:41 Three very different kids and learning their strengths0:25:07 Matthew’s wrestling journey and the district championship hug0:31:13 Black belt setback, two-hour practices, and first-place redemption0:34:44 Making marriage work in a culture that walks away0:37:27 Killing pride and choosing to serve your spouse0:41:51 Being malleable to God’s calling in work and life0:43:34 How faith saved Matt’s marriage, business, and identity0:46:21 Stories, parables, and being faithful in the small things0:46:23 Pride, the “Luciferian intellect,” and extreme ownership at home0:52:17 Closing reflections, gratitude, and episode wrap-up

What does it mean to build a life that actually holds—especially in a world being reshaped by AI, convenience, and pressure?In Part 1 of this conversation, Matt LeBaron shares his journey from pipeline work and early success into real estate, entrepreneurship, and fatherhood—and how faith, discipline, and responsibility were forged through hardship, market collapse, and long seasons of work.We talk deeply about money, investing, parenting in an age of entitlement, and the growing role of AI in work, learning, and society.👤 Guest: Matt LeBaron• Trust Realty – About Matt: https://trustidaho.com/about/matthew-le-baron/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064298590491This episode explores:• Leaving pipeline work and finding a calling in real estate• Starting a business just before the 2007–2008 market crash• Work ethic learned from family and passed to children• Teaching kids responsibility, investing, and delayed gratification• Gold, silver, scarcity, and long-term thinking• Artificial intelligence: fear, opportunity, and moral risk• AI as a tool vs a replacement for human thinking• Faith drift, prodigal return, anxiety, and reordered priorities• Why environment, mentorship, and focus shape who we become🎙️ The Brenton Peck Podcast — stories that shape people 🔔 Subscribe for full conversations and daily clips 🌐 Explore episodes, reflections, transcripts, and resources: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.com#ArtificialIntelligence#FaithAndWork#Fatherhood#WorkEthic#Entrepreneurship00:00:38 – Introduction: Matt LeBaron, real estate, faith, fatherhood00:01:03 – From Micron to pipeline work at 2500:02:30 – Six-figure pay, road life, and the cost of chasing money00:03:46 – Laid off, helping family, and discovering real estate00:04:25 – Starting a brokerage just before the 2007–2008 crash00:05:54 – Surviving the crash through grit and foreclosure work00:06:59 – Growing up in an entrepreneurial family00:08:02 – Work ethic learned from his father00:09:29 – Early faith, rebellion, and the prodigal pattern00:11:22 – Learning responsibility by earning, not entitlement00:14:22 – Raising kids in an age of entitlement00:15:17 – Teaching kids work, reading, and investing00:16:52 – Gold, silver, and learning investment risk00:19:12 – Scarcity, inflation, and hard assets00:21:29 – AI, energy, and the future of work00:22:17 – Fear of AI replacing human jobs00:23:14 – AI as a tool vs replacing thinking00:26:04 – AI, profit incentives, and moral risk00:29:15 – AI and concern for the next generation00:35:05 – Walking back through his faith journey00:37:05 – A praying mother and the road back to God00:39:55 – Fatherhood as the turning point00:41:18 – Anxiety, surrender, and reordered priorities00:42:55 – The prodigal return and gratitude00:45:48 – Changing environment to sustain faith00:47:22 – Jordan Peterson: perception shapes action00:49:55 – Formation, influence, and broken mentorship00:52:32 – Homeschooling, martial arts, and generational wisdom00:54:54 – You can’t change the world — only yourself

Doug Crist’s journey is one of the most honest and dramatic transformations we’ve featured on this podcast.This episode includes first-person accounts of past drug use, addiction, criminal behavior, and suicide attempts.It contains references to meth, cocaine, LSD, alcohol, and other substances, as well as discussions of self-harm and suicidal thoughts.The purpose of this story is to trace a descent into despair and a journey toward redemption — not to glamorize or instruct.Please use discretion while listening.If you are sensitive to themes of substance abuse, self-harm, or suicide, consider your wellbeing before continuing.If you or someone you know is struggling:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) — call or text 988 | https://988lifeline.orgWhat began as curiosity and early exposure to addiction grew slowly into a life marked by chaos, broken relationships, and a long series of choices he never imagined making. The consequences stacked up. Hope faded. And Doug reached a point where he genuinely believed his life had no way forward.But in the middle of that collapse, something happened that Doug didn’t expect:God confronted him — directly and personally — and asked for everything.What followed wasn’t instant or easy. It was surrender, recovery, rebuilding trust, facing truth, and discovering that nothing in a person’s story is beyond redemption. Doug’s life today is a testament to that reality: renewed purpose, restored relationships, and a commitment to helping others through regeneration at Rock Harbor.If you’ve ever wondered whether change is possible — not just improvement, but transformation — Doug’s story speaks directly to that question.Listen / Watch the Podcast🎥 YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcast🌐 Website — https://brentonpeckpodcast.comFollowFacebook — https://facebook.com/brentonpeckpodcastTikTok — https://tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastInstagram — https://instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcastSubstack — https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.com#AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #ChristianTestimony #FaithJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #Hope00:00 – Intro: From addiction and prison to a new life03:02 – Childhood and a dad who drinks06:37 – Cigarettes, beer and chasing escape13:39 – Juvenile detention and first time in handcuffs16:57 – Dropping out of school and getting married23:37 – Selling weed and sliding into meth25:23 – LSD nights, biker club drama and a stolen motorcycle32:12 – IV drugs, new charges and life spinning out37:22 – Jail in Nevada and waiting on sentencing41:31 – Prison, fire camps and learning how to work45:15 – Parole to Idaho, second marriage and “normal life”46:39 – Panic attacks, prescriptions and feeling like a fraud49:45 – “I just wanted to die” – the breaking point56:11 – State hospital, diagnoses and still missing something57:03 – Moving home, AA service and meeting Gigi58:37 – Invited to church and getting baptized1:01:05 – Dating Gigi and God saying “Give Me everything”1:11:04 – Dirt-bike crash while drunk and a wake-up call1:21:21 – Back with Gigi, marriage and serving together1:26:54 – Re:generation at Rockharbor and a hidden relapse1:33:47 – Leading groups and watching lives change1:41:19 – Why words, stories and mindset matter1:56:27 – Losing family members and finding strength to stand2:02:30 – Always serving, AA again and being “sent”2:09:26 – Church consumerism vs a life of service2:10:25 – What Re:generation actually is (not just for “addicts”)2:12:09 – God redeems everything and weaponizes your story for good2:16:55 – Final encouragement and closing

Parker Harger is a Marine Corps veteran, husband and father of five, cybersecurity pro, and the founder of So Good—a nonprofit focused on simple acts that actually help: teachers, veterans, first responders, food banks, and neighbors.Content advisory: discussion of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting at Mandalay Bay (non-graphic). Includes mention of casualties, ringing phones while families tried to reach loved ones, grief/losing parents/spouses, and reflections seen “in a field of 58 white sheets.”Approx. timestamps: 02:27:20–02:31:49, 02:38:57–02:39:09, 02:41:37–02:43:17.We trace how 9/11 led him to the Marines, how discipline and suffering shaped his values, and how So Good grew from loss into a clear mission: practical compassion, local impact, lasting legacy. If you care about service over performance and purpose over signaling, this one hits.What you’ll hear: the 9/11 decision, choosing the Marines, learning aircraft systems & Unix/AIX, fatherhood & discipline, Jocko/“extreme ownership,” the origin of So Good, veterans/teachers/first responders support, Idaho Veterans Wreaths, and why helping others changes you.If this moved you, share it with someone who lives a life of service—or needs a nudge to start.Connect with Parker / So Good• So Good → https://sogood.orgWatch / follow the show• All links → https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.com• Shorts: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube → @BrentonPeckPodcast• Newsletter / transcripts on Substack (linked from site)#marinecorps #veteranstories #purpose #service #legacy 00:00 – Intro: who Parker is; mission in a sentence, So Good frame, and why he’s here.00:33 – “Why the Marines?” (the question that opens his story).00:46 – 9/11 and the call to serve; from Bible college to enlistment.02:45 – Almost Air Force → the Marine recruiter pitch; choosing USMC.03:34 – What he did in the Marines: aircraft systems, Unix/AIX; discovering tech.04:11 – Okinawa; falling in love with computer systems (Apple IIe → IBM AIX).07:41 – Why the military can be a great 18–22 path; GI Bill, service, experience.08:22 – Discipline, blended family, “make your bed,” and daily habits → success.09:21 – Jocko/Extreme Ownership reference and why the message sticks.01:23:32 – “Store your wealth in others” (the mammoth analogy and reciprocity).01:24:24 – The origin of So Good: suffering, memory of his dad, and a shift in purpose.01:54:35 – What So Good actually does: teachers, veterans, first responders, food bank; how to volunteer/donate.01:56:27 – Idaho Veterans Wreaths: what it funds and how it works statewide.02:14:01 – Legacy lens: Scrooge/It’s a Wonderful Life—seeing your impact across time.02:19:25 – Career vs. legacy: “It’s not everything”—what lasts and what matters.02:20:14 – “Helping others helps you” (closing the loop on purpose).02:23:46 – Where to follow/volunteer: SoGood.org and why social isn’t the point.02:24:50 – Wrap and thanks.

This week looks a little different. Our kids were sick, so instead of recording with our scheduled guest, Teri and I sat down for a conversation that turned out to be deeper and more personal than we expected.We started with Dennis Prager’s Happiness Is a Serious Problem—and how his ideas challenge the way we think about happiness, responsibility, meaning, and the quiet habits that shape our emotional lives.But the conversation didn’t stay theoretical.Teri opens up about our family’s journey through three miscarriages, the tension between grief and gratitude, and what it means to rebuild hope when you’re carrying both loss and faith at the same time.In this episode we explore:• Is happiness a choice—or something more complex?• Why gratitude is a prerequisite for real joy• How dissatisfaction can drive growth without stealing happiness• The “missing tile” mindset and why we fixate on what’s wrong• How expectations quietly sabotage our emotional resilience• The difference between temporary fun and lasting happiness• Why victimhood feels easy—but keeps us stuck• How grief reshapes meaning, hope, and faithIf you’ve walked through loss, wrestled with purpose, or struggled to hold joy and pain in the same hand, this conversation is for you.⚠️ Content NoteThis episode includes honest discussion about miscarriage and pregnancy loss.🔗 All Platforms: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.com🎧 Watch full episodes on YouTube📱 Follow for daily clips on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok#happiness #grief #faithjourney #mentalhealth #gratitude #meaning #podcastconversations

Is Santa Claus the enemy—or a bridge for faith and family?Brenton & Teri Peck unpack how holiday traditions shape our beliefs, our homes, and our hearts. From the real legend of St. Nicholas to the origin of the Christmas tree, this conversation digs into the stories behind our rituals—and what they reveal about meaning, discipline, and joy.🎧 In this episode:• The legend of St. Nicholas — the real man behind Santa Claus• Why Christians reclaimed the Christmas tree• How family traditions become spiritual formation• The power of ritual in building legacy and belonging💡 This isn’t just a holiday special—it’s a reflection on how stories shape identity.🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on faith, discipline, and transformation🌐 Watch more episodes: www.brentonpeckpodcast.comThe Brenton Peck Podcast | Story. Formation. Discipline.#faithandculture #holidaytraditions #podcastepisode #brentonpeckpodcast #santaclausstory

After 37 years in law enforcement — from EMT and rescue diver to detective and Chief of Police — Nick Schilz has seen the best and worst of humanity.In this conversation, we explore the real cost of service, the fight to protect mental health, and how faith and family anchor those who wear the badge.Nick’s story is one of duty, integrity, and endurance — not just surviving a career in law enforcement, but becoming a man forged by it.Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcastWebsite: https://brentonpeckpodcast.comSubstack reflections + transcripts: https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.comAbout The Brenton Peck PodcastStories that change us.Conversations on discipline, redemption, and the choices that forge who we become.#lawenforcement #mentalhealthawareness #familyandfaith #policelife #redemptionstories #resilience #lawenforcementcareers

Elizabeth and her husband spent 50 years building a life anchored in faith, family, and relentless grit.They raised children, served LDS missions, and even lived in a tent for months while building their own home from the ground up. Now in her seventies, Elizabeth practiced Krav Maga for several years and currently practices Taekwondo—proving that strength, love, and discipline don’t fade with age.This conversation dives into what it really means to build a life that lasts: the cost of commitment, the humility of starting over, and the courage to keep growing no matter your age.🌐 Website: https://brentonpeckpodcast.com🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcast📰 Substack: https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.com/📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcast📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/brentonpeckpodcast#nevertoolate #faithoverfear #resilientspirit #familyfirst #martialartsjourney #transformationstory #disciplineandfaith #elderwisdom #christianpodcast #brentonpeckpodcast

“We always put off the things we’re afraid of. The key is to walk toward them.”Mark Renick spent over a decade incarcerated across California and Idaho. Today, he helps men and women re-enter society through St. Vincent de Paul’s re-entry services and his radio show Victory Over Sin.In this conversation, Mark opens up about addiction, failure, faith, and the broken realities of Idaho’s correctional system—the highest female incarceration rate in the world and third-highest for men. We talk about what real rehabilitation looks like, the power of community, and how faith and ownership can turn even prison into purpose.Watch this if you’ve ever faced failure, fear, or the weight of your own mistakes.🔗 Guest Links:• 🎧 Victory Over Sin Podcast — https://victoryoversin.buzzsprout.com/• 🕊 St. Vincent de Paul Re-Entry Services — https://www.svdpid.org/reentry-services• 📻 KSPD Radio Show — https://www.790kspd.com/podcast-victory-over-sin/• 👤 Mark Renick on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/mark.renick1/🎙 The Brenton Peck Podcast — Stories that shape people.🔥 Discipline • Redemption • Story as Transformation🐺 Full episodes every Sunday 5 PM MST📺 YouTube: @BrentonPeckPodcast🌐 Website: https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.com📰 Substack Reflections: https://brentonpeck.substack.com#prisonreform #markrenick #reentrysupport #reentryprograms #reentryresources #reentry #addictionrecovery #courageoverfear #idaho #storyofchange #brentonpeckpodcast

I almost skipped this week.My guest canceled, my schedule fell apart, and part of me wanted to take a break. But that’s not what this show is about.In this solo episode, I break down what I’ve learned from my first 8 episodes of The Brenton Peck Podcast — from bad audio levels and mic failures to the discipline of showing up when everything goes wrong.Whether you’re starting a podcast, building a brand, or just trying to stay consistent when it’s hard, this episode is for you.What you’ll hear:• The biggest mistakes new podcasters make• How to stay disciplined when plans collapse• Lessons on humility, systems, and perseverance🎙️ The Brenton Peck Podcast — real stories, real discipline, real transformation.👇 If this episode helped you, hit subscribe and share it with someone who’s building something hard.What’s the toughest lesson you’ve learned about staying consistent? Drop it in the comments — I read every one.📰 Subscribe to reflections + transcripts: https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.com/🌐 Website: brentonpeckpodcast.com#podcastgrowth #howtostartapodcast #selfdiscipline #personaldevelopment #consistency #BrentonPeckPodcast

People aren’t problems to fix—they’re stories to honor.Denise Cook has spent decades helping people on the margins: foster mom and adoptive parent, front-desk triage at Lifeways, I/DD service coordination, and now Oregon DHS helping families access SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF. We dig into how relationships—not labels—move people forward.What we cover:Foster care realities: “honeymoon period,” reunification, adoption before aging outI/DD support: autism “superpowers,” building independence, true inclusionAddiction & recovery: respect at the front desk, showing dignity in shamePractical resources: SNAP/Medicaid/TANF, food banks, community & church partnershipsThe antidote to isolation: why face-to-face relationships still matterIf this helped you, share it with someone who’s carrying a lot right now.🎙️ The Brenton Peck Podcast — stories that change us🔔 Subscribe for full conversations every Sunday & daily clips🌐 www.brentonpeckpodcast.com#brentonpeckpodcast #fostercare #adoption #humanservices #medicaid #autismacceptance #downsyndrome #addictionrecovery #mentalhealth #homelessness #community

Care House Learning Center didn’t start as a business plan—it started as a response. Rebekah Grindstaff saw families falling through the cracks and built a nonprofit childcare model that actually helps: high-quality early childhood care, realistic pricing, and a networked church/community approach. In this conversation we break down how she made it real—funding, staffing, replication, and the hard lessons from the front lines.What we cover: CASA/guardian ad litem realities, founding Care House, volunteer leadership, ACEs & protective factors, hiring and training in childcare, sliding-scale access (ICCP), church/nonprofit partnerships, and how other communities can replicate the playbook.About Brenton / support the show:• Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@BrentonPeckPodcast?sub_confirmation=1• Join the newsletter (reflections + episode notes) → https://brentonpeckpodcast.substack.com/• All links (clips, site, socials, merch) → www.brentonpeckpodcast.comAlso find me here:• Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/• TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcast• Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/• Pinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/brentonpeckpodcast/• Website / Episodes page → https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.com/episodes👉 Get involved / learn more:• Care House Learning Center (official site) → https://www.carehouselearningcenter.org/• About the mission & model → https://www.carehouselearningcenter.org/about1-c1x1t• Annual Dinner & Auction (support CHLC) → https://secure.qgiv.com/event/carehouselearnerauction• Email Rebekah → [email protected]#childcare #earlychildhood #earlychildhoodeducation #nonprofit #brentonpeckpodcast

Rev. Dr. V. Jean Thomas, serves as Early Childhood Pastor at Nampa First Church of the Nazarene and adjunct professor at Northwest Nazarene University. In this conversation, we explore her journey from college into pastoral ministry, her path into children’s ministry, and the process of earning her master’s and doctorate.We also dive deep into the pressures mothers face today—the hidden weight of expectations, the reality of balancing calling and family, and the hope she offers in her book Mothering, God, and the Mothering God.Whether you’re a parent, pastor, or simply someone navigating faith and family, Jean’s story brings honesty, wisdom, and encouragement.🔗 All podcast links: www.brentonpeckpodcast.com👉 Watch full episodes on YouTube/Spotify👉 Follow on Instagram, TikTok, and X👉 Join the community on Facebook📕 Order V. Jean Thomas's book#christianmotherhood #womeninministry #christianparenting #brentonpeckpodcast

In Episode 5 of The Brenton Peck Podcast, I'm joined by Gigi Crist—recovered alcoholic and drug addict who's been sober now for over 36 years. We talk about addiction and recovery, the journey of healing and her journey into ministry with her faith.This is a conversation about addiction recovery, faith, helping others, and hope.🔗 All podcast links: www.brentonpeckpodcast.com👉 Watch full episodes on YouTube/Spotify👉 Follow on Instagram, TikTok, and X👉 Join the community on Facebook🌐 Connect with Gigi Crist:Email → [email protected] → https://www.rockharbor.tv/regeneration?sapurl=Lyt2NWJqL2xiL21zLyt6eHNia2Q4P2VtYmVkPXRydWUmcmVjZW50Um91dGU9YXBwLndlYi1hcHAubGlicmFyeS5tZWRpYS1zZXJpZXMmcmVjZW50Um91dGVTbHVnPSUyQnp4c2JrZDg=Content Note:This episode includes discussion of suicide, addiction to drugs and alcohol, and trauma. We share this story as one of hope and recovery.⚠️ If you are struggling: In the U.S., dial or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. International listeners, please seek resources in your area.

In Episode 4 of The Brenton Peck Podcast, I’m joined by Ben Blessing—composer, educator, ultra-endurance runner, former Marine Corps musician, and current service member in the Idaho Army National Guard’s 25th Army Band.We explore:His musical roots and teaching path: Growing up in Meridian, Idaho, discovering composition in junior high, earning degrees in Music Composition and Music Education, and now directing the band in Baker City, Oregon.Service through music: Playing euphonium in the Marine Corps Band at Parris Island and continuing to perform with the 25th Army Band.Creative voice and recognition: Writing for concert band, orchestra, choir, and electronic media, with works like Symphony No. 4, Grandma’s Coat, and Standhope Peak earning national acclaim and competition wins.Running ultra-marathons: From training for extreme races like the 135-mile challenge while in the Marines to serving as Race Director for the Standhope Ultra Challenge—and the endurance it takes to juggle composing, teaching, service, and family.Community & legacy: How his dual passions for music and running support local programs—like helping Baker High School’s band—and shape his disciplined, purpose-driven life.This episode is a story of discipline meeting creativity, of finding harmony between art and grit, stage and trail.🌐 Connect with Ben Blessing:Website → benblessing.comYouTube → youtube.com/@benblessingInstagram → instagram.com/trailthrasherTikTok → tiktok.com/@standhopeultraStrava → strava.app.link/ZuSiG3iriWbBluesky → bsky.app/profile/benblessing.bsky.socialFacebook → facebook.com/ben.blessing.958872🔗 All podcast links: www.brentonpeckpodcast.com👉 Watch full episodes on YouTube/Spotify👉 Follow on Instagram, TikTok, and X👉 Join the community on Facebook#brentonpeckpodcast #benblessing #composer #banddirector #ultramarathonrunner #musiceducation #ultrarunning

In this episode, Brenton Peck sits down with **Rachel Fabbi, LMFT, CADC, PMH-C** — a therapist of 15+ years, birth doula, and certified perinatal mental health specialist. Rachel has worked in the mental health field for more than two decades, including addiction recovery, dual diagnosis treatment, and supporting new mothers through postpartum transitions.She shares her journey from Arizona to Hawaii to Idaho, her time working multiple jobs to pursue her calling, and the ways her own postpartum experience shaped the work she does today. 🔗 All links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/BrentonPeckPodcastConnect with Rachel: Website → rachelfabbi.com Instagram → @rachelfabbi | @a.bun.dance_doula | @mommy.meetup

In Episode 2 of The Brenton Peck Podcast, I sit down with author and storyteller David Mark Brown for a long-form conversation on writing, imagination, and what he calls the invisible real.We dive into:Why serial storytelling has such power in shaping culture and imaginationThe role of writing in exploring identity, faith, and meaningHow “the invisible real” reframes how we think about the spiritual vs. the materialImagination as a gift, not a dismissal — and how it shapes the way we see realityThis is a 3-hour conversation about story, creativity, and faith woven through the unseen dimensions of life.🔗 All links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/BrentonPeckPodcastContent Note: This episode includes discussion of violent imagery (beheadings, executions) and drug references (marijuana) in the context of books, film, and cultural commentary.#davidmarkbrown #brentonpeckpodcast #storytelling #writing #invisiblereal

“This is my life story. This is me.”In Episode 1 of The Brenton Peck Podcast, author and speaker Debra Peck shares her journey with scrupulosity—a form of religious OCD that convinces people they’re failing God no matter what they do.We talk about what scrupulosity looks like, how it distorts faith, and why telling your story can be a step toward healing. Debra also shares her heart behind her book, The Hijacked Conscience: An Informed and Compassionate Response to Religious Scrupulosity, written to help pastors, counselors, and families walk with compassion alongside those who struggle.This is a conversation about faith, mental health, trauma, and hope.🔗 All links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/BrentonPeckPodcast👉 Watch full episodes on YouTube/Spotify👉 Join the conversation on Facebook👉 Follow for clips on Instagram, X, TikTok📕 Debra’s book: The Hijacked Conscience https://a.co/d/26orQTr📺 Subscribe on YouTube or Spotify for new episodes every week🤝 Share this with someone who needs to hear itContent NoteThis episode includes discussion of trauma, scrupulosity, and suicidal thoughts. We share it as a story of hope and recovery.⚠️ If you are struggling: In the U.S., dial or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. International listeners, please seek resources in your area.

Welcome to The Brenton Peck Podcast — where I explore the stories that shape who we are and who we become. This show is about more than what people do — it’s about how they’ve been formed through challenge, discipline, and transformation.