According to Oxford University Press (OUP), publishers behind the Oxford English Dictionary, the slang term refers to a type of behavior which is “unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations” – traits that may have become familiar to many during lockdown.
Personal Development for Men
At Manlihood, we’re about helping men become better men. That means we focus a lot on personal development for men. We encourage men to help lift each other up, and challenge each other to become better. That’s truly how we defeat goblin mode.
You don’t want to be a goblin
Neither do I! We shouldn’t be content do descend into the laziest, sloppiest, most self-serving versions of ourselves. To break the cycle, we have to commit to a plan of personal development, and commit to relationships with other men who call us higher.
If you don’t want to be a goblin – and want to break out of goblin mode…
Then shoot me a message at mail@joshhatcher.com I’d love to help you break out of Goblin Mode in 2023.
We’ve talked before about the powerful masculinity of Santa Claus. We wanted to call back to some of those stories for our Testicular Fortitude Series.
We know Santa Claus as a chubby white-haired man that wears red clothing and gives gifts to children, but much of that modern image was created by 19th century poets and the Coca Cola Company. The truth is he was a man with balls.
Testicular Fortitude is Brought to You by: Haines Knives
This Episode is Brought To you by HAINES KNIVES Find your new favorite knife at http://HainesKnives.com/mancast or follow on social media @birdforge Testicular Fortitude means having deep seated masculine courage and strength. Balls. Guts. Manlihood. Testicular Fortitude on the Manlihood ManCast is where we take a look at men who have beat the odds, men whose courage has left a lasting legacy. Testicular Fortitude Do you have testicular fortitude? Do you want to embrace your life of courage? Join our elite group of powerhouse men who are changing the world. http://Manlihood.com/brotherhood
St Nicholas: Patron Saint of Everything
Many different groups have adopted St. Nicholas as the patron saint of their causes… children, sailors, the falsely accused, merchants, archers, brewers, Russia, broadcasters, and students.
And the reasons behind that is usually because of a story from his life.
He was born in 270 AD in Turkey among the greeks that lived there. His parents were wealthy, and they died in a plague when he was young. He was raised as a Christian by his uncle Nicholas, and became a priest.
At that time, Christians would often make a dangerous pilgrimage to Jerusalem to visit the Holy City where Jesus lived and died. In 312 AD, he started his journey. During that time, he briefly settled in a cave with a group of monks. As bandits and thieves started attacking the surrounding settlement of mostly pilgrims, Nicholas took the women and children into his cave to protect them against the raiders.
When he returned to Turkey, he was named as the Bishop in the town of Myra. Christianity was widespread, but it was still under assault from the Roman empire. You remember the tales of the Christians in the arenas being eaten by lions – much of that happened under the persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The emperor’s disdain for Christians is what got Nicholas tossed in prison.
He was kept in solitary and suffered many beatings for refusing to recant his belief in Jesus.
In 2005, Saint Nicholas’s body was exhumed and forensically analyzed. There was ample evidence of broken bones, and a broken nose. This lends scientific credence to that story.
When Constantine converted to Christianity and established it as the official religion of the Roman Empire in 320 AD, they let Nicholas out of jail, and he attended the Council of Nicea in 325. Essentially, the church confirmed the doctrines of the early church at that time, and Nicholas would have had a lot of input on the matter.
It was then that Arius presented his heretical view of Jesus, not as God, but as only a mortal man. Arius was leading people astray from the truths that the church accepted, and condeming the teachings that Christians worldwide had been giving their lives for.
Nick was having none of it – and in front of everyone, walked up and slapped him across the face like he was Chris Rock at the Oscars.
The other bishops were pissed. They took his bishop robes, took his book of scriptures and threw Nick in jail.
But in the morning, when the jailer came to check on him, his shackles had been loosened, and he was fully dressed in his bishop robes and had his book. No one could explain how, and so it has been credited as a miracle.
There were many other miraculous and almost unbelievable stories that have been recorded about Saint Nicholas.
One legend show Nicholas not only catching a serial killer, but bringing the victims back to life! Three children were captured by a butcher, who chopped up their bodies and put them in a pickling brine, where they stayed for years. When Nicholas came to town, he was prompted with knowledge from God to demand that the butcher open up the barrel, exposing his crime.
Then Nicholas commanded that the dead children come back to life.
Another time, while sailing, the ship came under assault by violent storms. The crew and passengers were despairing and preparing to die. Nicholas said, “All you have to do is call out to God to save you.” and then as they prayed, he commanded the storm to cease, and it did.
Whether these miraculous stories are true, I can’t say, for sure, but I’m a believer in such miracles. But even if they are only legends, there’s something about the story of a man willing to speak with the kind of authority that could raise dead children and silence a stormy sea.
Our contemporary Santa is known for giving gifts in stockings to children, but this story comes from a very powerful story about St. Nick.
There was a poor man with three daughters. He could not afford a dowry in order to pay for them to be married. In those days, no husband would take a wife without a dowry. If a young girl didn’t have such a cushion, she may be sold into slavery, or forced to enter the sex trade. St. Nicholas had compassion on the girls, and tossed some gold coins into the window, which landed in a pair of stockings hung by the fire to dry.
His courage, his commitment, his authority, and his kindness, are why Saint Nicholas is featured today for his Testicular Fortitude.
Today’s guest is a commercial fisherman in the cold waters of Alaska, and he has raised his kids on the fishing boat. Richard Wheeler shares with us his experiences and perspectives on this edition of the Manlihood ManCast
We invited Richard Wheeler to be a guest on the Manlihood ManCast because his career is a very manly one. Fishing on the open sea, responsibly harvesting salmon and cod from the cold Alaskan waters is a manly endeavor. And Richard’s old school perspective on family, on the world, will definitely resonate with our audience.
Rich Wheeler has been an Alaska fisherman for over 20 years. He longlines in the spring and fall and runs a small gillnet boat out of Cordova, AK in the summer. Rich brings his family out on the boat as often as possible and strives to pass on the tradition of sustainable and respectful fishing.
Rich does much of the fishing for Sena Sea, and we also source from fellow fishermen who share our high-quality standards, and commitment to sustainability.
The Wheelers are a 3rd generation fishing family in Alaska. Richard and his wife Sena own the fishing company Sena Sea
Rich has fished for more than 25 years,and his experiences on the Alaskan waters as a fisherman and conservationist make for an interesting discussion.
Raising Kids on the Boat
Richard Wheeler talks about taking his young kids on the fishing boat, and what it means to truly have a family business.
Today’s guest has a message for dads. Ben Killoy helps dads live up to be the kind of father’s they are meant to be.
Marine Corps Vet and Dad Coach
Ben Killoy served in the Marine Corps, and he and his wife have three kids.
Ben’s journey to become a better father and find his purpose has uncovered a new passion – helping other men find their purpose and become better fathers.
Leading Men Through Their Darkness
Ben Killoy says, “We all know what goes up must come down but we forget that gravity pulls. Working together we will create a vision of a future with gravity to pull you towards it. That remaining who you are every day is the craziest thought you have ever had.”
At Manlihood, we’re curating chunks of manly wisdom for you.
If you’re like a lot of men, you may find yourself short on time for reading long books to look for wisdom that you can apply to your life…. We’re offering you the Campbells Soup version… the best quotes and insights to help inspire you to be an even better man.
Today, in honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday, we’re featuring quotes
about gratitude
Thanks for listening, and if you like these Chunks of Manly Wisdom, you’ll love the book that we put together for you. You can get it FREE at Manlihood.com/chunk
Quotes about Gratitude
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” – Epictetus
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – G.K. Chesterton
‘Enough’ is a feast. – Buddhist proverb
“If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.” – Robert Quillen
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle
“If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.” – Frank A. Clark
“If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.” – Gerald Good
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie
“The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it.” – Michael Josephson
“Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.” – Fred De Witt Van Amburgh
“The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.” – Charles Schwab
More Quotes About Gratitude
“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer
“The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.” – William James
“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” – Buddha
“Silent gratitude isn’t very much to anyone.” – Gertrude Stein
“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” – Henri Frederic Amiel
“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson
“It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment.” – Naomi Williams
“One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay ‘in kind’ somewhere else in life.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.” – John Wooden
“No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” – Alfred North Whitehead
“Forget yesterday–it has already forgotten you. Don’t sweat tomorrow–you haven’t even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift–today.” – Steve Maraboli
“We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count.” – Neal A. Maxwell
“In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“I truly believe we can either see the connections, celebrate them, and express gratitude for our blessings, or we can see life as a string of coincidences that have no meaning or connection. For me, I’m going to believe in miracles, celebrate life, rejoice in the views of eternity, and hope my choices will create a positive ripple effect in the lives of others. This is my choice.” – Mike Ericksen
“Gratitude also opens your eyes to the limitless potential of the universe, while dissatisfaction closes your eyes to it.” – Stephen Richards
“Gratitude and attitude are not challenges; they are choices.” – Robert Braathe
“They both seemed to understand that describing it was beyond their powers, the gratitude that spreads through your body when a burden gets lifted, and the sense of homecoming that follows, when you suddenly remember what it feels like to be yourself.” – Tom Perrotta
“Gratitude is more of a compliment to yourself than someone else.” – Raheel Farooq
“Keep your eyes open and try to catch people in your company doing something right, then praise them for it.” – Tom Hopkins
“In life, one has a choice to take one of two paths: to wait for some special day–or to celebrate each special day.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru
When he was 16 years old, Justin was given a death sentence by the doctors. He weighed 799 pounds. Crippled by anxiety, panic attacks, and an eating disorder, his body became his prison.
Listen to Justin Willoughby on the Manlihood ManCast on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Youtube or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Set Goals. Do the Work. Change Your Life. WITH BROTHERS. – Join the Arrows and Iron Brotherhood – http://manlihood.com/brotherhood
One Step
Justin’s first workout was one step. The next day, it was two. Eventually, those steps would become a milestone that changed his life forever.
600 Pounds Down
Over the next several years, Justin lost 600 pounds without weight loss drugs or surgery, and now he has dedicated his life to helping others get fit, and live a life free from obesity.
In this episode of the Manlihood ManCast, Josh Hatcher talks with Harvey Laguerre. Harvey is podcast, a baseball fan, but his primary role is that of a stay-at-home dad.
Josh and Harvey talk about a number of things, including the stigma of a man not pursuing a career in order to raise his family, Harvey’s perspective on the world as a black man, and a meaningful conversation that gets to the heart of what it means to be a man.
Harvey Laguerre is a 47 year old, stay-at-home dad of 4.
During the pandemic, Harvey started a marriage and relationship podcast with is wife called “Love is Black.” That podcast’s success emboldened Harvey to start a new podcast, specifically for men.
Men are the P.R.I.Z.E. podcast is the result of years of learning what it means to be a man in the world today.
Harvey says, “The definition of masculinity has changed drastically and not for the better. Attributes that were once manly, are now toxic. What has not changed is the lack of safe spaces for men to express their emotions. Being a vulnerable man is not celebrated like it should be. This podcast is that safe space for men to open up and reveal their inner monologue.”
The “Men Are The Prize” is a podcast for men to be open and vulnerable. Harvey uses PRIZE as an acronym, and that acronym directs his conversations with his guests.
Each letter represents a characteristic men need to succeed.
Norah Mirnerny: “For some, the deadly virus and its upheaval constituted the “first big thing they’d ever been through.” Meanwhile, McInerny and others whose lives had been shaped by grief, loss or tragedy had long known that “life is fragile and our pace in this modern world is untenable.”
Nora McInerny: I want my work to lower the bar for people. We have so much intense pressure to achieve and to perform in the face of all the suffering and struggle of modern life. You do not have to do anything other than just be a decent person and survive.
An Iranian hermit known as “the world’s dirtiest man” has died at the ripe age of 94, just months after taking his first wash in decades, Iranian state media announced.
“Amu Haji” – Uncle Haji – as he was referred to, died on Sunday in Dezhgah, a village in the country’s southern province of Fars, state news agency IRNA reported.
According to the region’s district head, Haji had for decades avoided fresh food and believed that “if he cleans himself, he will get sick,” the agency reported.
Sports Rivalry and Loyalty
The Fight Club panel also talks about sports, and the fan loyalty that turns into rivalry between friends and family.
Bullying
Bullying is also on the agenda, and the group discusses the way to end bullying.
When I was growing up, even in the feminism soaked 1980’s – the word “patriarch” had a sense of honor about it. I saw my father as the leader of our home. I saw the men that signed the Declaration of Independence as the “founding fathers” of our nation. The word “patriarch” was used to describe the biblical heroes like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Joseph.
But if you hear the word today, it’s almost always surrounded in negativity, and sometimes outright hatred.
What if we could reclaim the word patriarch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7cZp5B0ltU
Patriarchy isn’t a bad word
This is a common thing these days, for a word to change in its connotation and its definition – to become a bad thing.
By definition, patriarchy is about the leadership of a father.
Over time, that definition has morphed to also imply the exclusion of females.
I understand that culturally, it may seem unfair that the father’s name is passed down, or that there tend to be more males in positions of leadership. I also understand that sometimes men step into a role of privilege and they do exclude women.
I think though, that the response to patriarchy being express poorly is to toss it all out. To tear down male leadership because some people do it wrong.
Leadership can be shared
In my home, I lead. My wife leads. We lead together. We have patriarchy and matriarchy.
Don’t allow yourself to be browbeat
I actually think that Critical Theory, and Communist philosophy has a lot to do with the driving factors of this amplified version of feminism. It believes in tearing down power structures. However, it doesn’t offer a good solution for the power vacuum created.
The truth is, men don’t have to be knocked down a peg in order to level the playing field.
Men do need to make room for women. But that doesn’t mean we can’t lead too. It means we BOTH need to respect each other.
Don’t allow the media, social media, or anyone else to browbeat you into thinking that you cannot or should not lead just because you are a male. That’s the exact same philosophy they claim to be fighting against!
It’s about responsibility, not privilege
The thing about leadership that most people don’t understand – is that it is NOT about privilege. A father leading his family doesn’t mean he gets to eat first at the dinner table because he’s the king… it means he’s the one making sure his family eats.
Leadership is about responsibility and service. Patriarchy is about responsibility and service.
