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
Episode 135- The Integrated Man
One hundred and thirty-five episodes in and the core message of this podcast remains the same: Men—MIGHTY MEN—are the solution to the problems besetting western society today. What kind of men in particular? What makes a man mighty and how can he become fit for the task of righting the ship? Piece by piece, that is the puzzle we’ve been putting together at the Manhood Restored podcast. This episode puts a frame around that puzzle’s final, integrated picture.
Chad takes the mound in the final game of this seven-game “series” of an episode, while Ben waits in the bullpen for the call to close as the “wild” card co-host. The two take a step back and marvel at the manly picture that’s materialized over the course of two years of recording. Which of Chad’s “man” episodes have come together to form a helpful road map to Mighty Mandom? What does it mean to be an Integrated Man? And what are some saintly and biblical examples of men who fit the Integrated-Man mold?
SHOW NOTES:
Chad’s Challenge movie: A Man for All Seasons (1966) – IMDb
Episode 134- Catholic vs. Protestant Debate – Why do Catholics Love the Sacraments?
We have “grilled” each other on our differences, come together on the ways we agree, and debated big topics like salvation. Now with the end of our conversations drawing near, we couldn’t conclude the podcast without one last Catholic vs. Protestant debate!
Ben , professing to be the titleholder, heard a challenge in a recent Man Talk episode and can’t resist leading the protest; Chad, relishing the role of “underdog”, is all too happy to oblige as contender and co-host! The two turn inward again to talk on a major point of departure between Catholics & Protestants: the sacraments. Ben pushes back strongly against the need for the priesthood in administering grace. Chad appeals to the necessity of form and ritual in worship and prayer – regardless of denomination. They seek understanding and clarification by: going to the Bible (Chad, believe it or not!); telling about their own recent experiences (Ben’s got an interesting one!); and both expressing their own deep-seeded sensibilities of how to relate to God.
Episode 133- An Ode to Male Friendship
The trends in survey data on friendship are indicating steep declines in recent decades – in both friendship quality and quantity. That trend, it’s popularly believed, has most especially affected men. One 2021 survey found that men with at least six “close friends” has dropped from 55 percent to 27 percent since1990! How can that be in a society that purports to be so “social” and “connected”? Oh, the irony!
Chad’s parades as the Grand Poohbah in this secret man club of an episode, while Ben gets a co-host’s initiation, coughing through the club’s cloud of cigar smoke as he tries to perfect the Manhood Restored secret handshake. The two friends puzzle over the recent friendship trends and reflect on the value of friendship. What could be the contributing factors to such sharp declines in friendship among men? How important are friendships to men, especially given the time and energy required to maintain them? And how have Ben and Chad fared personally with making and maintaining friendships into their adult lives?
SHOW NOTES:
Episode 132- Christian Feminism
It’s been a long many years since the tectonic times of the Seneca Falls Convention; the societal fracture left at its feminist epicenter has widened into a canyon-sized divide between the sexes. The tremors of nearly 200 years of feminism have been felt by nearly every corner of our society. Its harmful effects are found in culture, education, economics, sexuality. Even Christian institutions have been far from immune. That’s including the institution of marriage.
Ben calls up his inner Anchorman for this magnum opus of an episode, while Chad chases the storm stirred up therein as co-host. The two batten down the hatches for a headlong dive into the whipping winds of a “Her-ricane”. How would one accurately define Feminism as a cultural phenomenon from the Manhood Restored perspective? What are some ways in which feminism has found its way into Christian households and Christian Marriages? How can men and women begin to reverse its negative effects, and could the solution have anything to do with the A-Word?
SHOW NOTES:
- Seneca Fall document (read for yourself): The Seneca Falls Declaration 1848 < 1826-1850 < Documents < American History From Revolution To Reconstruction and beyond (rug.nl)
- Mike Winger Women in Ministry Intro
- Mike Winger Men as Head of Household
- John Michael Clark- The Family Captain
- Michael Foster
- The Cherishing Nurture of a Godly Feminine
- Book Recommendation (written by a former feminist): The End of Woman: How Smashing the Patriarchy Has Destroyed Us: Gress, Carrie: 9781684514182: Amazon.com: Books
Episode 131- A Letter to My Son
*LISTEN IN FOR A MANHOOD RESTORED SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT*
Parents and grandparents passing along hard-earned wisdom to the next generation is probably most often accomplished through oral storytelling, impromtu lectures, and incidental conversation. But there’s nothing like the written word (or a written-up podcast episode) to really focus and articulate the “the things you want them to know”; taking the time to think through what’s worth sharing and putting those thoughts to paper, is a a great way of leaving behind your words even after you’re gone.
Chad busts out his “quill” and plays the sage for this personal letter of an episode, as Ben lingers around as co-host hoping an idea will light him up (because that’s what Bens do best!). The two contemplate the “letter to my son” concept as Chad lays out six pieces of advice he wants to pass along to his children. Along with each six, he also gives real life examples of how the advice has helped him in his own life. Ben piggybacks off each idea and then adds his own elderly advice at the end.
SHOW NOTES:
Andrew Peterson song referened at episode’s end: https://lyrics.lyricfind.com/lyrics/andrew-peterson-youll-find-your-way
