The Forum

Welcome back to The Forum.In this episode, I’m joined by one of the men I’m most proud to have worked with: John Packer Stevenson.Packer is the man who successfully pushed the creation of my role within SPO a couple years ago, and the man who mentored me to success in that crucial first momentum-defining year.But before he was my boss, he was my friend and brother.Packer and I built a relationship comprised of red-pilling early morning breakfasts at Delaney’s Diner long before I had anything other than friendship to offer him.I now know the temptation that comes with being in ministry: always wondering “what value can this guy bring the mission?” instead of asking “what value can I add to this man’s life?” Packer knows what it’s like to feel and fight that temptation. He invested in me consistently, and never flexed his authority over me after he hired me.Packer has believed in me, trusted me enough to loan capital for my real estate deals, led the small group brotherhood I’ve been in for four years now, and kept being a friend before, during, and after the time he was a mentor and boss.I loved getting to sit down with him for this episode. We get to talk culture-building strategy, which is my absolute favorite. I hope it blesses you as well.Referenced essay in this episode: https://open.substack.com/pub/christendomq/p/sowing-the-seeds-of-christendom?r=7h5hk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Welcome back to The Forum.In this episode, I’m joined by a good (though sadly moving away) friend of mine, James Downs.James is a nurse practitioner, an avid outdoor adventurer, a bit of a free spirit, and a man who understands the outward call of mission in a Catholic man’s life.We sit down and discuss his recent South American mission trip, the purpose he finds in his work, and the joys of being all-in with God in an ongoing journey. After all, life with Jesus is an adventure, not a trudge!We also get into James’s family of origin, the joys and trials of being homeschooled and in the Catholic “bubble” growing up, and how he’s reinvented his own life a number of times since graduating from Franciscan.James is a good man who’s very different from me. His adventurous spirit and wanderlust have gotten him into lots of life stories, and I’m so glad to be able to share some of them (and his takeaways) with you all.

Welcome back to The Forum.In this episode, I had the joy of sitting down with Jay Collins.Jay is a good friend, the president of the local YCP (Young Catholic Professionals) chapter, and almost as good as me at ultimate frisbee.He’s the kind of man who understands how to get things done, how to lead a team, and how to think entrepreneurially.But the thing that set him free in college to become this version of himself wasn’t entrepreneurship classes or a business degree; it was a renewing encounter with God as a Person.We get deep into Jay’s OSU story, his encounter with the Holy Spirit at an SPO retreat, his formation in a household of rowdy college men, and how he’s investing in his community and in his own growth now as a young professional.I respect Jay so much; it was an honor to have him on the podcast.

Welcome back to The Forum.In this episode, Rylee Deitsch is with us in the studio. Rylee is a close friend and trusted brother in building the culture of The Arena, and is an all-around high-achiever.Rylee gives me encouragement for Gen Z men: he’s squared away, successful in his career, and is sacrificial and gritty in a way that few men (young or old) truly are.But even more importantly, Rylee understands something crucial about men’s culture: it’s about the men, not about your dumb program.He understands that being intentional has to be combined with cultivating a true sense of approachableness and lightheartedness, otherwise you don’t have a movement of men: you have a lame club.Rylee even has what everyone loves: Mercer County roots. Seriously, I haven’t known a Mercer man to fail once he hits Columbus. There’s something good in the water up there.Join me in listening to Rylee’s stories about growing up culturally Catholic, discovering true brotherhood in college, and deciding to put down roots and commit to a people on a mission of ongoing discipleship post-graduation. He’s living the dream.

Welcome back to The Forum.In this episode, I’m joined by Mike Pauzé, the man who more than any other brought me into the Catholic Church.Mike and I met in 2021, when he was my neighbor. One day he walked over and introduced himself to me, and we quickly got into a deep conversation about symbolism, Christianity, and Jonathan Pageau.He invited me to come around to his group of charismatic Catholics, and the rest was history.Over the next couple years, Mike and I were inseparable. He encouraged me to do my first Spartan race, and we trained for it together. We convinced each other to go into real estate, and we renovated and flipped houses together.He moved to Pittsburgh about a year ago, which was hard. But our friendship lives on, and I was thrilled to have him emcee and speak at The Arena’s second annual men’s retreat a week ago. He showed up, gave it his all, and made a massive impact on the men’s culture of The Arena, just as I knew he would.It’s such a blessing to live life with brothers like Mike. Enjoy this very sleep-deprived episode of The Forum. Everything he says shows how impressive of a man he is, and it’s all true.

Welcome back to The Forum.In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Hartings, my roommate and one of my best friends.Sam has personally called me on to greater joy and trust in the Lord consistently, and his heart for mission and for adventure is infectious.This episode is a joy to me. Sam shares his heart and his stories from a mission trip he took a couple years ago to Brazil, and how that trip in particular took his faith from theoretical and intellectual to missional and sacrificial.Since getting back from that trip, Sam moved to a new city, moved into a house full of strangers, and has thrown himself into building Catholic men’s community in such a powerful way.His authenticity, joy, zealous faith, and openness to life with the Lord are going to light you up. I’m excited to share this episode with you all.

Welcome back to The Forum.In this episode, I’m joined by Anthony Schmelzer, a Damascus (CYSC) missionary.In addition to developing the financial systems and processes that keep Damascus running, Anthony is also the young patriarch of a beautiful and growing family.He’s an example to me personally of how to bless and cherish your wife, and how to rejoice in your children, all while staying Kingdom-focused and mission-driven.But Anthony wasn’t always like this. Exposed to pornography at a young age, he had to fight for his freedom. He had to strive for purity of the eyes, of the body, of the mind, and of the heart.And that journey begins with identity. Anthony’s time in the Academy at Damascus gave him the setting of encounter with Jesus that rewired his heart and his priorities.From a renewed identity through radical encounter with Jesus, to the development of holy virtue by repeated effort, Anthony eventually found true freedom in his quest for sexual purity and freedom from pornography.From virtue to freedom, and finally to fruitfulness. Anthony’s life and testimony are an encouragement to me and will be of tremendous power to any young man who tunes in.

(Apologies for the audio quality issues in this episode. The cause has been resolved for future episodes.)Welcome back to The Forum.For Episode 2, I’m joined by Andy Johanni.Andy brings a direct challenge to men who want more than comfort and surface-level “happiness.” Drawing from King David’s charge to Solomon: “Take courage and be a man,” Andy asks what it actually means to pursue greatness in a culture obsessed with ease, wealth, pleasure, and power.In this conversation, we dive into:What does real happiness mean, beyond emotion or comfort?What do Socrates and Thomas Aquinas mean when they say happiness is becoming what we were made to be?How does Jesus redefine “blessed” in the Beatitudes?Why is virtue not automatic, but trained?What does it look like to build a plan for virtue, with brothers who won’t let you drift?This episode moves from philosophy to Scripture to practical habit-building, and forces the question:Are you serious about becoming the man you were made to be?

Welcome to The Forum! For this kickoff episode, I'm joined by a good friend and a man I respect immensely: Mitch Wilson.Mitch works for Saint Paul's Outreach (SPO) as a development officer and a regional supervisor, which makes him my boss.He's the best boss I've ever had, and a class act all around, with deep roots in the local Catholic community.Join us as Mitch and I dive into the following topics:What the heck is happening in Columbus Ohio?What are some of the opportunities for greater unity in the Church?What excites us as we consider the future of the Kingdom of God in our city?