The Restorative Man Podcast

We sat down with Trevor Olson thinking we’d talk about surfing, but the conversation took us somewhere much deeper. What started as a story about chasing waves became an honest look at how easily we start chasing control instead of connection. Trevor shared how the surfers getting the most out of the ocean aren’t the ones catching the most waves, but the ones who’ve learned to be present in it. There’s something here about living with open hands instead of clenched fists, about receiving instead of fighting for more. By the end, it feels less like a conversation about surfing and more like an invitation to rediscover joy, not by striving harder, but by paying attention to where God is already meeting us.If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

It starts with something small, like a kid reaching for your hand, and realizing those moments don’t last forever. Somewhere along the way, good intentions quietly turn into things we never actually do. This conversation gets honest about fear, scarcity, and why it’s easier to stay in the idea phase than risk showing up. There’s also a quiet invitation here to rethink what actually matters, especially while there’s still time. Not everything will land perfectly, but maybe that’s not the point anyway. If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

This part 2 of our conversation with Doug McKelvey feels like sitting with someone who kept showing up even when it felt like nothing was working. He shares what it was like to write in the middle of doubt, where faith looked less like clarity and more like staying. There is something grounding in hearing how these prayers were shaped slowly, quietly, and sometimes without any sense of momentum. You start to realize this book was not rushed into existence but carried through a long season of uncertainty and trust. If you want to explore it for yourself, you can grab a copy here: https://store.rabbitroom.com/products/every-moment-holy-rites-of-passage-2It is also available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hXhUPCIIf you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

This conversation drifts through the quiet places most people try to avoid, where calling feels unclear and life doesn’t follow the script you expected. Doug McKelvey shares how years that looked like failure slowly became the very soil that shaped his most meaningful work. There’s something grounding in the idea that even the smallest, most ordinary moments are not wasted but somehow tied to a much bigger story. You start to feel how honesty, disappointment, and faith can sit in the same room without needing to resolve too quickly. By the end, it leaves you noticing your own life a little differently, and if you want to keep exploring that lens, his latest book Every Moment Holy: Rites of Passage is a meaningful place to start.You can find it here: https://store.rabbitroom.com/products/every-moment-holy-rites-of-passage-2 Also available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hXhUPCIIf you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

What happens when the idea of God as only Father starts to feel incomplete? In this episode, Beth Bruno joins Cody for an honest conversation that is both stretching and grounding. Beth takes us on a thoughtful journey that explores the often-overlooked motherly imagery of God in Scripture, why it makes some of us tense up, and what might open up if we approach it with a posture of what if instead of no way. Through a deft weaving of Scripture, history, personal story, and compassion, Beth offers a wise invitation to grow our image and experience of God.  If this conversation stirred something in you and you want to go deeper with Beth’s work, here are a few places to start: Beth's new book! Lost Women of Turkey: https://amzn.to/47DlZW7Resources for Raising Fierce and Lovely Women: https://www.bethbruno.org/fierceandlovelyA Voice Becoming book: https://amzn.to/4sKQ1PPFollow Beth: https://www.bethbruno.org/Resources mentioned:God Has a Name by John Mark Comer - https://a.co/d/07gpqWayIf you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

In Part 2 of our conversation with Jeff Zaugg, we move past surface-level fatherhood advice and into the deeper work of becoming present, wholehearted dads. Jeff unpacks the six core discoveries that shape a man’s journey and explains why intent alone does not transform our families. We talk honestly about how modern dads often default to provision and protection while quietly losing wonder, delight, and emotional presence. This episode explores how pace, freedom, identity, and courage intersect in everyday fatherhood, from bedtime routines to life-altering decisions. If you have ever felt the tension between grinding through responsibility and treasuring your kids, this conversation will name it and reframe it. If you want to know more about Jeff Zaugg, his work, and DadAwesome, visit https://dadawesome.org.Grab a copy of his book, DadAwesome on Amazon: https://www.dadawesome.org/store/p/dadawesome-dad-discoveries-to-activate-awesomeness-jeff-zaugg-pre-orderListen to DadAwesome Podcast: Apple Podcast: DadAwesomeSpotify: DadAwesomeYouTube: @DadAwesomeIf you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Jeff Zaugg joins us to talk about fatherhood, but we end up talking about something deeper first. What if the pressure you feel as a dad is coming from a scoreboard God never set up? Jeff shares the story of the clipboard, the bridge, and the moment he realized he was trying to earn a love that was already his. This conversation is honest about the whispers that say you are not enough and clear about the truth that changes everything. If you have ever felt like you are behind, blowing it, or just tired, this one might feel like a deep breath. If you want to know more about Jeff Zaugg, his work, and DadAwesome, visit https://dadawesome.org.Grab a copy of his book, DadAwesome: https://www.dadawesome.org/store/p/dadawesome-dad-discoveries-to-activate-awesomeness-jeff-zaugg-pre-orderListen to DadAwesome Podcast:Apple Podcast: DadAwesomeSpotify: DadAwesomeYouTube: @DadAwesomeIf you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Discipline sounds simple until you realize how much of it is actually about you. In this episode, Jesse French and Cody Buriff get honest about the moments they got big, shut down, or simply forgot their kid in the hallway. They explore what is really happening underneath our anger, why something in us feels threatened, and how that spills onto our sons and daughters. This is not about perfect behavior or perfect dads, but about repair, humility, and becoming the kind of man who can keep the slowest heart rate in the room. If you have ever wondered whether you already messed your kids up, this conversation might feel like oxygen. If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://www.grovecollective.netTo know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Ash Wednesday is almost here, and for a lot of us Lent used to mean one thing: fish sandwiches and people with ashes on their foreheads. In this episode, Cody and Jesse unpack how Lent is actually an invitation to face suffering instead of numbing it, powering through it, or pretending we are fine. They wrestle with the idea of an “all-suffering God” and what it means to follow a Christ who meets us in grief, hunger, and weakness. From giving up sugar and coffee to choosing the slow lane on purpose, this conversation gets painfully practical about how fasting creates space for something deeper. If you have ever avoided pain or wondered why it matters, this one might change how you walk toward Easter. If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

What if the most dangerous men are not the loud ones, but the ones who quietly stopped showing up. This episode wrestles with a different kind of threat, the man who abdicates his place in his own life, marriage, friendships, and story. Through a simple gift and an unexpected phrase, Jesse and Nic explore how passivity can wound just as deeply as aggression, and why presence is a form of courage. They talk about the subtle, daily risks of asking one more honest question, turning off your phone, saying I need help, and staying true to who you actually are. If being good has felt small or safe, this conversation might mess with that in the best way. If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

In this episode, Jesse French sits down with Greg Ehlert for an unhurried conversation about noticing God’s activity in everyday life. They explore spiritual direction as the practice of holy listening and what it means to pay attention without rushing toward answers. Greg shares how contemplative practices reshaped his understanding of God from performance to presence. The conversation makes room for questions, silence, and the full range of human experience that often gets overlooked in faith spaces. This episode invites listeners to slow down and consider where God might already be at work in their story.Resources mentioned in the episode:Spiritual Direction: A Guide to Giving and Receiving Direction by Gordon T. SmithGrafted Life and the Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (CSDA): https://www.graftedlife.org/csda/home/If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Young sons have a fire within them. But how is that fire channeled and not extinguished? In this episode, Beth Bruno joins Chris for an insightful conversation about the reality of mothering sons. Beth generously shares her own experience of navigating the emotions and shifts during her son's teenage years.  She unpacks the importance of mothers adopting a posture of space and delight with their sons. While risky and new, this offering of space must be paired with the intentional engagement of the father, so the son can continue to grow. This conversation is a wise invitation for both parents to partner together in the becoming process of their children. If this conversation stirred something in you and you want to go deeper with Beth’s work, here are a few places to start: Resources for Raising Fierce and Lovely Women: https://www.bethbruno.org/fierceandlovelyA Voice Becoming book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1478974672Follow Beth: https://www.bethbruno.org/If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

One of the shaping but not well-known voices of Restoration Project is Beth Bruno. This episode tells some of the origin story of Beth's creation of the feminine categories of Fierce and Lovely. Beth shares her desire to create language that was exploratory rather than prescriptive for her own daughters and for women across the world. She graciously shared this framework with Restoration Project almost ten years ago, and it continues to be the cornerstone of how we engage the dad-daughter space. This is a ground-level, hopeful conversation about the creation of Fierce & Lovely and its continued relevance and impact on daughters, mothers, and dads throughout the world. If this conversation stirred something in you and you want to go deeper with Beth’s work, here are a few places to start: Resources for Raising Fierce and Lovely Women: https://www.bethbruno.org/fierceandlovelyA Voice Becoming book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1478974672Follow Beth: https://www.bethbruno.org/If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

This is part two of our conversation with Michael Krommendyk, and it goes even deeper into the places many men quietly carry. We talk about church hurt, belonging, and what it feels like when your faith still matters but the structures around it no longer fit. Michael shares what it looks like to step away without walking away from God, and how community can hold you when certainty is gone. If you have ever wondered whether your questions mean you are losing your faith, this episode gently pushes back on that fear. This one feels like sitting across the table with someone who understands and is willing to stay. If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

What happens when the place that shaped your faith is also the place that wounds you? In this first part of a 2-part episode, Michael Krommendyk takes us through his journey from growing up in church to stepping into ministry and eventually stepping away from it all. He opens up about the weight of expectations, the quiet moments of doubt, and the small discoveries of grace that reshaped his story. This episode isn’t about answers, it’s about noticing the questions that hit hardest and the spaces where healing actually begins. Listen if you’re curious about what it looks like to wrestle honestly with faith, identity, and the messy middle of life. If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

This episode starts with punctuation, of all things, and somehow lands on one of the most grounded ways to close out a year. Jesse and Chris talk about how many of us end December with a question mark, an exclamation point, or a long, tired comma that never gives us a real pause. What if this time you ended with a period instead. The kind that lets the year be exactly what it was and lets you name who you have actually become. It is a simple idea with surprising weight, and the guys invite you into it with tenderness, honesty, and a pretty unforgettable image of God’s hands cupped around your becoming. If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

In this episode of the Restorative Man podcast, Jesse French and Cody Buriff engage in a deep conversation with Tim Helwege about the multifaceted nature of fitness and health. They explore personal stories of strength, the underlying motivations for pursuing fitness, and the impact of shame narratives on men's health. Tim emphasizes the importance of understanding one's 'why' behind fitness goals, the significance of long-term vision in health, and the concept of stewardship of the body. The discussion also touches on navigating body image issues and finding balance in caring for one's physical self.If you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

As the year winds down, Chris and Jesse invite us into a different kind of reflection by asking what it might look like to receive a report card from your kids about how they actually experience you as their dad. Instead of performance or pressure, this simple tool opens the door to honest connection, real curiosity, and conversations most families never slow down enough to have. They walk through how the fathering report card helps you engage your kids, and how the kids’ self-report offers a calm space for them to reflect on their own growth as well. You can download the fathering report card here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1puPydshtrgkZ2gZ0lF3vvKSMwCCLHo7n/view?usp=drive_linkAnd if you want to grow alongside other intentional men, you can jump into the Grove Collective at https://www.restorationproject.net/grovecollectiveSubscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

This week, Chris and Jesse dive into the overrated and underrated parts of December and it is such a fun ride. They share family stories about cutting down Christmas trees, losing kids in snow wells, and why some traditions feel grounding while others just wear us out. You will hear honest reflections on Christmas music, the pressure to reflect at the end of the year, and the longing for simple moments of peace. More than anything, this conversation invites you to notice what actually brings delight and rest in your own holiday season. Join us for an easygoing, thoughtful episode that might help you enter December with a little more presence and a little less pressure. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Chris just got back from California, where he spent the weekend with all three of his grown kids — and came home with some fresh reflections on fatherhood. In this episode, he and Jesse talk about what it means to still be a dad when your kids are adults and don’t need you in the same way anymore. They unpack three postures of fathering — out front, behind, and next to — and what each one asks of us as men. You’ll hear stories about letting kids fail, learning to respect them as adults, and realizing that parenting doesn’t end, it just changes. It’s an honest, funny, and heartfelt look at what growing alongside your kids can really look like.Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Ever had a family plan that looked great on paper but fell apart somewhere around hour twenty-four? In this episode, Jesse shares a road trip story that turned from “adventure” to “are we there yet?” and back again, while Chris helps him uncover what was really going on beneath the chaos. Together they talk about how easy it is to chase efficiency and forget to set our families and ourselves up for success. But maybe the meltdown wasn’t failure after all. Maybe it was the moment that revealed what was lost, what was gained, and what actually matters when we invite others into our story. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Ever notice how certain family traditions just stick, not because of what you do, but because of who you become together? In this episode, Chris and Jesse talk about why rhythms like Thanksgiving trips, Christmas tree rituals, or even peeling apples as a family can quietly shape who we are. They explore how small, repeated moments turn into anchors of identity, grounding us when life feels scattered. You’ll hear stories that are both hilarious and deeply human, from failed traditions that burned (literally) to ones that became sacred. Maybe it’ll have you wondering what stories your own family rituals are telling.Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is stop producing. In this conversation, Jesse French and Cody Buriff talk about what it means to let parts of our lives “lay fallow”—to rest, to pause, and to trust that unseen work is still happening beneath the surface. They explore why rest isn’t laziness, but wisdom, and how our constant drive to achieve can actually rob us of long-term health. Together they wrestle with questions about control, trust, and the fear of slowing down. It’s an honest look at what happens when men choose to stop forcing growth and let God do His quiet work. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Sometimes the most important work isn’t in the harvesting but in the sorting that follows. Cody and Jesse talk about what it means to “thresh” our stories—to separate what’s real and life-giving from what’s just been protecting us. They explore how our masks and old ways of coping can hide the truer parts of who we are. Together they wonder what it looks like to name both the pain and the glory of how we’ve shown up this year. It’s an honest look at how reflection, curiosity, and the presence of others help reveal the man God is still shaping in us. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

It’s fall, and Jesse and Cody are leaning into what this season has to teach us about our own lives. Harvest is more than gathering crops; it’s about looking back and naming what’s been growing in us over the past year. Maybe some things thrived, maybe others didn’t—but either way, this is a time to take stock without shame. They talk about how reflection helps us see what’s been formed in our hearts and where God’s been at work, even when we missed it. Because before we can move forward, we have to gather what’s grown.Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Sometimes growth feels invisible and you wonder if anything is really happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Cody, Jesse, and Alison Buriff explore the surprising wisdom of the garden and what it teaches us about patience, tending, and transformation. From soil health to the slow process of rooting, they connect the hidden work of plants with the hidden work of our own lives. You will hear stories of pulling weeds, waiting for fruit, and learning to trust the process. It is an honest conversation about why real growth takes time and why that is actually good news. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Cody and Jesse sit down to talk about the beauty and ache of raising daughters. From the first time you hold them to the teenage years that stretch you in new ways, the journey brings both joy and grief. They share stories of tenderness, protection, and the surprising wisdom their daughters have offered back to them. This isn’t just about parenting skills, but about how fathering changes a man from the inside out. It’s an honest look at the mystery, the laughter, and even the tears that come with walking alongside daughters as they grow. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Jesse and Jeremy kick off this episode laughing and teasing each other, but pretty quickly the conversation turns to something deeper. They play a clip from Jeremy’s interview with John Tyson that names a truth many men have never heard clearly enough: you are needed. Not when you get everything figured out, not when you feel strong enough, but right now as you are. Together they talk about how easy it is to freeze up waiting to be “ready” and how powerful it is when a brother or father says show up anyway. It is a reminder that what the world needs is not a perfect man but a present one. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

It’s easy to spend years playing a role and lose touch with who you really are. We all create masks and false selves to survive disconnection or to chase the love we longed for but didn’t know how to receive. In this episode, Chris and Jesse explore the reality that every man wrestles with a false persona, and every man is invited to risk laying it down. They unpack what it means to return to your true story, to embrace your identity as beloved, and why that journey can feel both terrifying and deeply freeing. This is a grounding conversation about shedding the false self and stepping into restorative manhood rooted in love. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Parenting has a way of exposing just how quickly we can lose our cool. In this episode of The Restorative Man Podcast, Chris Bruno and Jesse French talk about the practice of non-anxious curiosity, a simple but powerful way to stop yelling at your kids and become a calm dad. Sparked by a conversation with Mark Batterson on the Restorative Manhood Digital Summit, they explore how choosing curiosity over control changes the way we parent, love, and lead. Through real stories of rupture and repair, they get honest about the messy moments every father faces. If you’ve been searching for how to connect with your kids without constant correction, this conversation will help you breathe a little easier. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

 So many men grow up cutting off parts of themselves just to fit expectations. In this episode, Cody Buriff and Jesse French share a teaser from Jesse's interview with Taylor Calmus, aka "Dude Dad", featured in the upcoming Restorative Manhood Digital Summit. Taylor talks about chasing creativity, rediscovering childhood passions, and why refusing to box yourself in can actually lead to a more authentic life. Cody and Jesse reflect on their own journeys of integration, reminding us that the things that once made us come alive as kids still matter today. It’s an honest, funny, and hopeful look at manhood that invites us to carry all of who we are into the world.Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

In this episode, Jesse French and Greg Ehlert share a heartfelt conversation sparked by Greg’s interview with John Ortberg on spiritual disciplines. They unpack how practices meant to bring us closer to God can easily slip into performance and self-evaluation, leaving us striving instead of resting in grace. With insights from Dallas Willard and vivid metaphors like sailing and surfing, they reflect on how spiritual practices are less about achieving and more about opening ourselves to God’s love. The discussion also explores how living in this posture of receptivity reshapes not only our relationship with God but also the way we show up with our families and communities. It’s an honest and freeing reminder that disciplines are not about shoulds or striving, but about connection and trust. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Cathy Loerzel says the world needs men in their most redeemed form—men who don’t apologize for their manhood but offer it as strength, not power. In this teaser for her interview in the upcoming Restorative Manhood Digital Summit, Chris and Cody unpack the tension so many men feel between being “too much” and “not enough,” and how those messages often start in childhood. They share how fear of hurting others can cause men to pull back, creating a “masculine famine” in relationships and communities. The conversation explores the difference between power that wounds and strength that creates safety, as well as how repair after rupture can be one of the truest signs of maturity. Vulnerability, confidence, and the willingness to show up as the man you were made to be all take center stage. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Ever feel like life didn’t turn out the way you hoped, and you’re left holding the pieces of what you thought would be? In this episode, Cody and Jesse sit down to talk about disillusionment—how it shows up in our faith, families, and even our own growth, and why it might not be the enemy we think it is. With a powerful snippet from Dan Allender (part of our upcoming Restorative Manhood Digital Summit), they reflect on the quiet invitations hidden inside our disappointments. What if disillusionment isn’t something to avoid, but something that clears space for something deeper, truer, and more lasting? Want to hear more voices like Dan Allender’s? Join us for the Restorative Manhood Digital Summit, happening September 25–28. It’s a free, four-day online event featuring conversations with pastors, psychologists, scientists, and spiritual leaders—offering a hopeful, honest vision of masculinity. Register now at restorationproject.net/rmdsummitAccess the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

 In this episode, Jesse French and Cody Buriff explore what truly defines adventure—not just epic outdoor experiences, but everyday moments that challenge and shape us. They identify four essential aspects of adventure: wilderness (the unknown), risk (the possibility of loss), struggle (both internal and external), and glory (the beauty or transformation that follows). Through stories ranging from backcountry hailstorms to backyard sprinkler repairs, they show how adventure invites growth and soul-deep change. They challenge the idea that adventure is only for the bold or athletic, and instead frame it as essential for every man’s formation. Real adventure, they argue, happens whenever we step into the unknown with courage and openness. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

What do a plague of locusts and our inner world have in common? In this vivid and surprisingly relatable conversation, Cody and Jesse unpack how a scarcity mindset can transform us—just like grasshoppers turning into swarming locusts when the environment shifts. Through stories from childhood, garden failures, and even reality TV survival shows, they explore how fear of “not enough” can quietly dictate our decisions and relationships. But they also name the quiet miracle of abundance: people who live open-handed, present, and generous even in the face of limitations. This episode holds up a mirror to our everyday stress and invites us to imagine a different way of being—one rooted in trust, freedom, and enoughness.Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Summer’s in full swing, but what if now is the perfect time to look ahead? In this episode, Chris and Jesse invite us to lift our eyes from the daily grind and glimpse something on the horizon—The Grove. They share the heart behind this unique gathering of men, where connection and equipping go hand in hand. From its humble beginnings in a Wyoming basement to a movement rooted in the metaphor of the Aspen Grove, the conversation explores why men need each other now more than ever. And what if the way forward isn’t through doing more… but becoming more? Join the Grove Experiences:The Grove: Colorado (October 2-5, 2025) - https://www.restorationproject.net/mens-experiences/grove-colorado The Grove: Northwest (October 16-19, 2025) - https://www.restorationproject.net/mens-experiences/grove-northwestThe Grove: East Coast (2026) - https://www.restorationproject.net/mens-experiences/grove-east-coastAccess the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Summer can feel like a juggling act, between work, kids, house projects, and the pressure to make every moment Instagram-worthy. In this episode, Chris and Jesse reflect on how they’re navigating two very different family rhythms during the summer months. They explore the myth of summer being a “slower” season for adults and challenge the idea that it has to be filled with big plans to be meaningful. Instead, they highlight the power of small moments, five-minute connections that carry more weight than any epic vacation. With honesty and humor, they remind us that sometimes aiming lower might actually help us connect more deeply. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

A quick drive to a summer basketball camp turns into an unexpected heart-stirring moment for Jesse when he runs into the coaches who once shaped his teenage years. In this episode, he and Chris unpack how affirmation, especially from people who matter, can echo across decades and still touch something deep inside. They talk about the difference between being affirmed for your performance versus being affirmed for simply who you are. Along the way, they explore how remembered goodness can be just as powerful as present affirmation. If you've ever longed to hear “you matter” from someone important, this conversation will meet you right there. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

What do fish and chips, flying french fries, and a rowdy Scottish pub have to do with becoming a Sage? In this episode, Chris and Jesse reflect on their recent trip to Scotland with a group of men exploring what it means to step into midlife with intention. From the tremors of transition to questions of identity, legacy, and regret, they share the kinds of conversations that shape a man’s decades ahead. If this kind of journey sounds like something your soul is craving, consider joining one of our upcoming Sage Experiences.  Spots are open now for: Sage Experience: Scotland 2026 - https://www.restorationproject.net/mens-experiences/sagescotlandSage Experience: Ireland 2026 - https://www.restorationproject.net/mens-experiences/sageirelandAccess the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

What does it really mean to launch your kids well? In this episode, Chris and Jesse unpack the transition from fathering children to walking alongside them as young adults—with all the joy, grief, and humility it requires. They share powerful moments from Trek: Kenya, a father-teen expedition that invites dads into raw conversations and real growth. From the weight of past mistakes to the wonder of seeing your child’s glory up close, this is about launching hearts, not just moving boxes. And somewhere between wildebeest stampedes and safari trucks, a deeper kind of beauty emerges: the honor of being a dad. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Jesse sits down in person with longtime friend and retired firefighter Kevin Lyon for a raw, thoughtful conversation about vocation, transition, and identity. From the unexpected pivot out of pastoral ministry to crawling through tight fire academy pipes (literally)Kevin shares how his journey has been shaped by fear, purpose, and presence. He reflects on what it meant to be an “undercover pastor” in the firehouse, navigating trauma while trying not to lose himself or his family in the process. They also explore what it takes to re-enter home life after high-stakes calls and why retirement isn’t the finish line, but a shift into deeper availability. Together, they talk about daily bread, dark humor, sonship, and the power of people who are unimpressed with your résumé. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Chris is back from a three-month sabbatical, and in this episode, he and Jesse dive into what that time really held. Hint: it wasn’t just naps and novels on the beach. They explore the difference between being tired and being truly weary, and why the latter can’t be fixed with just a vacation. Chris opens up about the hard and beautiful work of processing grief, naming loss, and discovering what genuine rest looks like. Together, they unpack how sabbatical is less about stepping away and more about stepping into deeper restoration. Whether or not a three-month break is in your future, this episode invites you to consider how rest might look different and more honest this season. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or someone who’s never cared about sports, this episode has something for you. Jesse and Michael Krommendyk explore how sports can be both a bonding force and a barrier for men trying to connect meaningfully. They reflect on childhood memories, emotional investments in games, and the pressure to find belonging through shared interests. But they also make space for men who’ve felt left out of that world. Could sports be more than just entertainment—maybe even a clue to where we truly belong? Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Sometimes the most defining moments in our lives don’t come with clarity—they come with exhaustion, heartbreak, and longing. In Part 2 of his story, Ike Dolby shares what it meant to be in the thick of disappointment and disconnection, craving his father’s presence and learning to reach for community. He tells of how light broke through in the form of phone calls, honest friends, and even laughter. And ultimately, how God met him with the release he didn’t know he needed. If you or someone you know is walking through the pain of infidelity, AffairRecovery.com is a resource Ike found deeply helpful.Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Jesse and Cody catch up with their old friend Ike Dolby, whose story isn’t clean or easy—but it’s real. Ike opens up about his marriage falling apart, the quiet loneliness of trying to hold it all together, and the gut-punch of discovering layers of betrayal. For years, he believed if he just tried harder, prayed harder, and sacrificed more, things would work out. But it didn’t—and instead of resolution, he was handed heartbreak. Through it all, he met a God who didn’t fix things overnight, but stayed with him in the mess. If you or someone you know is walking through the pain of infidelity, AffairRecovery.com is a resource Ike found deeply helpful. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

In this episode, Jesse French and Cody Buriff dive into the surprising depth of fly fishing—not just as a hobby, but as a gateway to connection, healing, and invitation. From Jesse’s first cast in Montana to Cody’s unexpected beginner’s luck, the conversation explores how small moments outdoors can uncover big truths about story, identity, and desire. They reflect on what it means to be invited in, especially as men who often feel like outsiders. Through laughter, memory, and honesty, they reveal how even tangled lines and missed casts can become sacred spaces. Whether you fish or not, this episode is an invitation to pursue joy, presence, and deeper connection. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

What if the most powerful thing you could offer someone wasn’t advice or solutions—but just your presence? In this episode, Cody and Jesse catch up with their good friend Scott Sommer, an FBI chaplain who shares wild, heartfelt, and sometimes hilarious stories from his years of showing up in the hardest moments. From a parking ticket that launched a career to sitting with people as they take their final breaths, Scott reminds us that being there matters more than having the right words. You'll walk away seeing grief, courage, and real love through a whole new lens. It’s a raw, hopeful, and surprisingly funny conversation about what truly matters—and why simply being there can change everything. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

When life takes a sudden, traumatic turn, how do you begin to rebuild? In this powerful episode, Josh Wright shares the moment everything changed—an accident that left him navigating life with a traumatic brain injury. With honesty and humility, Josh opens up about the grief, the anger, and ultimately, the slow, steady work of healing and discovering a new way to live. His story is one of mourning what was lost and embracing what can still be found—presence, depth, and surprising new purpose. This conversation will move you, challenge you, and remind you of the quiet strength in choosing to keep going. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project

Stuck in traffic, Jesse French and Chris Bruno find themselves in an impromptu driving school deep in the mountains—complete with snark, humor, and life lessons. From the art of parallel parking to the non-negotiable skill of driving a manual, Chris lays out his four tenets of responsible driving (and maybe life itself). Along the way, they explore the unexpected connection between making decisions and embracing the reality that every choice requires saying no to something. As frustration mounts and patience is tested, the conversation shifts to the deeper meaning of ownership—whether it’s behind the wheel or in everyday life. So buckle up for a hilarious, thought-provoking ride through standstill traffic and the choices that shape us. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project