New Episodes!
We are two ordinary Christian guys who feel compelled to call men back to true Masculinity. Through raw conversations between a Protestant and a Catholic, we seek Manhood Restored.
About Manhood Restored
Mighty Men of Valor (that’s you!): We invite you to pull up a chair and have a listen—just as if we were talking over cold beers (or hot coffee!). Be entertained, be inspired, be challenged. Then, join us, and let’s get down to some restoration!
Ben Neff
Co-Host
Chad Stolly
Co-Host
Chad Stolly was also a middle school teacher, but got out long before Ben did. He is ONLY an insurance salesman in his five-generation family-owned agency. Podcasting is a welcomed distraction from the always-selling-insurance reality that is his day job. He too is married to his wife of nearly 20 years and is obviously the Catholic because he has 7 children (not just 4).
Recent Episodes
BONUS: Father’s Day Fun (Diagnosing Dad Behavior)
Bonus Convo: Diagnosing Dad Behavior
A Father’s Day special & bonus episode (suggested by Ben, believe it or not)! A big shout out to dads: thank you for all you do to keep society sane by keeping your families ordered in ways only a father can!
To show our appreciation, Ben and Chad strike up an entertaining conversation about what constitutes “dad behavior”. Taking turns calling out behaviors from separately created lists, the two diagnose which ones are a) common to most, if not all, dads; b) probably unique to their own ‘daddom’; or c) just plain weird!
From hygiene habits to ‘dad fashion’, and from disciplining children to the mis-firing male mind, there’s surely something in this episode to remind you of your dad! We hope you enjoy!
Episode 92-What to Make of the Chad Meme?
In a headline-happy culture that’s fraught with daily doses of polarizing sensation, it can be a real challenge to stay sane. Most of the content within those headlines involve matters outside of our immediate control. That, in turn, stokes the fires of the mania that is social media, which is perhaps a symptom of the hysterical headlining. How are we to properly respond this phenomenon? Enter: the “Chad Meme”… and the Chad Meme Mindset.
Episode 91- Interview w/ Deacon Ralph Poyo- Overcoming Porn Addiction and more
Deacon Ralph Poyo is the founder of New Evangelization Ministries (NEM), an outreach to parish priests and their staff, helping equip them to lead their flocks to a live-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. Drawing from over 40 years in ministry, Deacon Ralph leads retreats and conferences across the country, often speaking on the topic of pornography addiction. He was ordained to the permanent deaconate in 2005, and he and his wife of 39 years have five girls.
Chad is right at home conducting this interview ‘live’ at the March 2023 Northwest Men’s Conference, as Ben co-hosts and braves being spotted as the lone Protestant at a Catholic men’s conference. The two get right to the good stuff (the difficult stuff, that is) because their guest doesn’t make a habit of mincing words. What is one of the biggest issues facing local parishes and church congregations? How can a man get serious about breaking free of an addiction to pornography? How do the ‘chains’ of pride and fear play into the demonic destruction of manly virtue?
SHOW NOTES:
NEM website: Meet Our Founder – New Evangelization Ministries (nem.training)
Example “chains” speech of Deacon Ralph: Deacon Ralph Poyo – The Thief – 2015 Steubenville Main Campus 2 – YouTube
Episode 90-Peterson, Rogan, and Beck, Oh my!
In today’s “influencer age”, podcast personalities and pundits abound. Some of them reach meteoric status with followers in the millions. Their voices and opinions, therefore, have a great influence. As consumers of these kinds influencers, it can be difficult to take in their content with a critical ear. That fact becomes all the more salient when Christians are listening to non-Christians.
Ben sets his sights on the wizardry of some popular personas as the lead for this episode, while Chad fearlessly follows down Ben’s yellow brick road to levelheaded listening. The two traverse some tricky terrain in hopes of peeking behind the curtain of the influencer’s mysterious power. Should a Christian take in content that comes from someone who doesn’t profess Christ? If we are seeking to gain knowledge from those who don’t share our most deeply held beliefs, what’s the best approach to doing so? And does the label ‘Christian’ automatically guarantee the transfer of trustworthy perspectives?
Episode 89- Prager and Porn
Popular conservative commentator Dennis Prager recently made headlines for taking a surprisingly lax position on pornography. Those comments set off a firestorm among many of his Christian fans. While Prager cited his Jewish faith for his slightly different views on porn, the rationale used for those views might very well reflect that of many in the culture–even conservative Christians. And that deserves clarification.
Chad takes things up a notch as the fearlessly prudish lead for this episode, while Ben nervously dismisses all disclaimers and comes along for the uncomfortable ride. The two go where they’ve not gone before and put the porn conversation front and center. What are the facts about pornography consumption, and what exactly qualifies as porn? Does pornography have any place in the life of a Mighty Man of Valor? What is God’s design for sex, and how is porn a distortion of that design?
SHOW NOTES:
Prager debates Matt Fradd: Heated Debate on Pornography w/ Dennis Prager @PragerU – YouTube
Prager explains his position: FiresideChat Ep. 286 — My Stance on Porn and Thoughts on Otto’s Death – YouTube
Statistics on Pornography: The Most Up-to-Date Pornography Statistics (covenanteyes.com)
Podcast recommendation from Chad’s challenge: Ask Christopher West
