Podcast Summary: "Why Doing Dangerous Things Is Good for the Soul"

Pints With Aquinas Episode 555 | Host: Matt Fradd | Guest: John Henry Spann
Date: December 3, 2025

Overview

In this engaging episode of Pints With Aquinas, Matt Fradd welcomes back John Henry Spann for a lively, honest, and frequently hilarious conversation about the value of men doing "dangerous things" for their souls, the importance of authentic male community, and why modern retreats often miss the mark. Together, they explore Catholic masculinity, the formative power of adventure, and the story behind the newly launched Fraternity of St. Hubert: a spiritual brotherhood combining hunting, fraternity, and faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Launching the Fraternity of St. Hubert

• What it is:

  • Not just a hunting club, but a brotherhood with real retreats involving adventure, hunting, and daily Mass ([04:11]–[06:38]).

• The spark:

  • The idea blossomed after Matt encouraged John Henry during an African safari to "just do it" and not be afraid of logistical work.
  • "But you were the one who just said, no, this is really good and you need to do this." – John Henry Spann ([04:28])

• Retreat format:

  • No endless talks or themed workshops; just Mass, confession, and "doing real things with good men."
  • "It's primarily like a brotherhood where we have some retreats that involve killing animals." – John Henry Spann ([05:14])

• Website:

  • fraternityofsthubert.com where men can join, see upcoming hunts, and sign up for updates ([06:37], [11:39], [106:44]).

2. Why Dangerous Things Matter for Men

• Disenchantment & Modern Life:

  • Modern comfort and removal from the natural world dull men's souls.
  • "We're so distracted, and we're so not dependent on the natural world like we ought to be." – John Henry Spann ([09:45])

• Masculinity’s Lost Outlets:

  • Boys grow up slaying imaginary dragons but lose healthy outlets as adults.
  • "A man slays dragons and protects princesses...and then we get older…we don’t have outlets for that." ([13:49])

• The Role of Risk:

  • Doing things that are “dangerous” (adventure, hunting, real risks) can awaken men to virtue and meaning.
  • "Probably every single man listening just about has that desire to do something that is dangerous." ([14:59])

• Masculinity & Virtue:

  • Men should strive not just to be "nice," but dangerous in a good way.
  • "If you had the option of someone saying Matt Fradd is a really nice guy or Matt Fradd is dangerous in a good way, you go with that." – John Henry Spann ([15:02])

3. Spiritual & Philosophical Themes

• Disenchantment & Supernatural Reality:

  • Modern society forgets spiritual realities because of our sanitized, manufactured environment.
  • "We're so removed from real things that it's harder to realize how enchanted...the world is with the supernatural." ([09:45])

• Brotherhood as Spiritual Formation:

  • The retreats naturally filter for men serious about their faith (because they're willing to pay extra for a priest, Mass, etc).
  • "It was just real. I feel like we've been really disenchanted with the world because we're so removed from it." – John Henry Spann ([09:44])

• Saint Hubert’s Story:

  • His legend as a hunter converted by a vision of Christ (the stag with a crucifix) becomes a symbol for men seeking meaning through adventure that leads to Christ, not away from Him. ([32:54])

4. Addressing Concerns over Hunting

• Defense of Ethical Hunting:

  • Spann addresses critics directly, unapologetically saying:
    "First of all, I want to say it is fun. It's super fun. I love it. I like sneaking through the grass...and then shooting it and it dying. That is fun." ([16:54])

• Conservation in Africa:

  • Explains how paid hunts fund conservation and give value to animals in the ecosystem, countering emotional objections.
    "It's really good for the wildebeest population for you to go over to Africa and shoot a wildebeest; it's not good for that particular one, but it's good in general." ([17:59]–[21:53])

• North American Conservation Model:

  • The Pittman Robertson Act and ethical hunting in the USA: making animals "worth preserving" through hunting regulation and investment ([20:31]–[21:53])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On community:

  • "We've got a WhatsApp group, and we are back and forth all the time. People are posting baby announcements in there and all of that stuff because that's what we want, right? That's what we want, is community." – John Henry Spann ([22:19])

• On the hunger for real retreats:

  • "It was sold out with a wait list... There's a real hunger for it." – Matt Fradd ([07:00])

• The masculinity challenge:

  • "Nice guys are nice. But if you had the option of someone saying Matt Fradd is a really nice guy or Matt Fradd is dangerous in a good way, you go with that whenever." – John Henry Spann ([15:02])

• On fatherhood and legacy:

  • "My primary vocation is not marriage. My primary vocation is salvation, followed immediately by my wife's salvation." – John Henry Spann ([37:33])

• On confronting "nice guy" Christianity:

  • "Our church feminizes people. So be nice. Just be nice and be friendly and that's great... But if you had the option... dangerous in a good way. You go with that whenever." ([15:02])

• Legendary banter:

  • On hunting mishaps and lessons, the pair laugh about hunts gone sideways, moments of humility, and initiation into traditions, including a son's “apple-sized” bite from a fresh deer heart ([59:41]).

Important Timestamps and Segments

• [04:11] — What is the Fraternity of St. Hubert?
• [06:37] — Where to join/learn more
• [09:45] — Disenchantment with the modern world; supernatural realities
• [13:49] — Outlets for masculinity
• [16:54] — Hunting and Ethics
• [20:31] — Conservation: Africa & America
• [32:54] — Story of St. Hubert
• [35:20] — Namibia Hunt Giveaway announcement
• [42:02] — Living off-grid, raising kids with real-world tasks
• [53:03] — Male intimacy and rejecting “bootstrap” myths
• [83:31] — Blessing children and instilling identity
• [106:44] — How to sign up for the Fraternity and what you get

Q&A and Advice Highlights

• On moving off-grid with a family ([42:02]):

  • Start small: “Chickens are gateway animals. Do the chickens and you'll see it's not that hard.”
  • Get children involved in real responsibilities.

• On fatherhood vs. hobbies ([48:16]):

  • “Almost all of your hobbies are way more fun if your kids are involved... now I just desperately want him to be there.”

• Tips for beginning hunters ([50:42]):

  • Just do it—even if you’re bad at first.
  • Go with someone who knows what they're doing and be open to learning.

Tone & Style

The episode is warm, honest, unfiltered, and full of the camaraderie you’d expect from two old friends sharing not just faith, but the whole adventure of fatherhood and manhood. There’s irreverent humor alongside spiritual depth, and a recurring emphasis on authenticity, brotherhood, humility, and “real things.” Banter about lions, baboons, cigar mornings, and the struggles of rural fatherhood make it vivid, with the tone remaining approachable and relatable throughout.

Closing Thoughts

The main takeaway:
Modern men are desperate for authentic challenge, brotherhood, and spiritual nourishment—much of which is found not in classrooms or Zoom calls, but in the wild, facing risks, working together, and grounding prayer in lived experience. The Fraternity of St. Hubert is offered as a path for men to rediscover these goods by “doing dangerous things with good men” and finding Christ amid the adventure.

"As the hunter seeketh the stag, so I seek You O Lord—and yet You sought me first." – (Fraternity slogan, [107:12])

For more: fraternityofsthubert.com
Sign up for updates, upcoming hunts, or join the community.