Podcast
Wrestling with the Inner Man
Hosted by David L. Savage · EN
Welcome to the podcast of “Wrestling With The Inner Man” with Author / Speaker David Savage. David has a passion for Men’s Ministry and Biblical Truth to help build Better Men for our society. The show title is derived from the first fight we each face every day, the fight with our flesh. Do we listen to our selfish sinful nature or to our spiritual and divine nature guided by the Holy Spirit? Contact David at wrestlingwiththeinnerman@gmail.com or go to https://www.thesavagepath.com/.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
A Dad’s Rite Of Passage
5d ago00:38:54Tap to summarizeA kid doesn’t need a perfect dad, but they do need a present one, and the window to shape a heart doesn’t stay soft forever. Father’s Day sets the tone with a simple poem, “The Sculptor,” and it lands like a warning and a gift: the impressions we leave on our sons and daughters tend to last. If you’ve ever looked at middle school years and thought, I don’t have the tools for this, you’re not alone.We sit down with Matt Hanson, president of the National Rite of Passage Council, to talk about Aion Path, a three-year Christian rite of passage built for 12 to 14 year olds and the fathers who walk beside them. We get into why male discipleship is struggling, why outsourcing faith formation has not worked, and why the solution is often simpler than we think: warm conversations, shared time, and a clear structure that makes leadership doable. Matt explains how Aion Path starts with “30 conversations” (five to ten minutes a day), how kids choose “30 skills” they want to learn, and why an overnight adventure can become a turning point when your child gets real ownership.We also unpack the power of tangible milestones like challenge coins, the role of a pastor as a “shepherd,” and how three trusted “guides” (financial, vocational, spiritual) create the intergenerational relationships that help faith stick. If you want a practical framework for raising resilient teenage boys and teenage girls, strengthening father-child connection, and building lifelong Christian faith at home, this conversation gives you a clear next step. Subscribe, share this with a dad who needs a playbook, and leave a review with the one rite of passage you wish you’d had growing up.Go to www.aionpath.com to learn moreChapter Markers0:00Welcome And The Inner Fight0:33The Sculptor And A Father's Weight3:16The Hunger For Rites Of Passage6:31Year One Building Real Connection18:14Coins Skills And Trusted Guides27:30Letting Your Kid Lead The Journey32:00Year Two Faith Foundations And Year Three35:41How To Find Aion Path And Closing PrayerSend us Fan MailVisit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.
Transcribe →What If Dad Really Is Destiny
1w ago00:24:59Tap to summarizeA lot of men carry a quiet ache they can’t quite name, then spend decades trying to outrun it with work, wins, and willpower. On this Father’s Day, we sit with that ache head-on: the father wound, the craving for approval, and the lifelong impact of a dad who is physically present but emotionally absent. We don’t treat it like a psychology trend or a sentimental story. We treat it like spiritual warfare in the heart, because what happens with dad often shows up everywhere else. My guest, Buddy Griffin, is known around the world for his music and his leadership, but he tells a deeply personal story about growing up with a hard father who never hugged him, never affirmed him, and never said the words he needed. A moment from Robert Lewis’ Better Man teaching forces Buddy to face one brutal question: will he someday stand at a casket with everything still unresolved? That question leads to action and to an awkward first visit in a retirement center where Buddy asks directly for love and a hug and keeps coming back until the dam finally breaks. We also talk about what to do when your father is already gone, how forgiveness can start with honesty, and why reconciliation changes not only a man’s peace but his parenting, marriage, and drive. If you’ve ever felt fueled by pressure but starved for approval, this conversation offers a clear path forward. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review. What’s one conversation you know you’ve been putting off?Chapter Markers0:00Welcome To The Inner Fight0:35Father’s Day And Why Dads Matter3:00Growing Up Without Warmth At Home4:43The Photo That Forced The Question8:45Asking For Love And A Hug12:58Final Words In The ICU16:12Taking Other Men To The Grave20:55Forgiveness, Action, And Closing PoemSend us Fan MailVisit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.
Transcribe →When A DNA Test Changes Everything
1w ago00:25:17Tap to summarizeA single email during COVID turned into a paternity test, a flight to an empty LAX, and a face-to-face meeting with a 46-year-old son Rick Wertz never knew existed. That’s the kind of story that sounds impossible until you hear the details, and it opens a bigger question many men carry quietly: what do you do with the father-wound, the love deficit, and the years you can’t get back?We sit down with Rick, the founder of Faithful Fathering, to trace the path from a childhood marked by violence, alcoholism, and untreated wartime trauma to a life rebuilt through faith, Scripture, and intentional fatherhood. He shares the moment he realized his work and travel had made him a stranger in his own home, and how that wake-up call pushed him toward accountability, spiritual discipline, and a mission to equip churches to encourage dads rather than only critique them.Then the “COVID curveballs” hit: first, discovering and blessing an adult son who had been searching for decades, and second, learning through DNA results that he also had a half-brother and that long-held family secrets were revealed. We talk adoption reunion, genetic mirroring, forgiveness, boundaries for kids and parents in a world of social media and pornography, and why knowing the Heavenly Father changes how we handle every part of the story.If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more men can find it.Here is a link to Rick's website to learn more:https://faithfulfathering.org/Chapter Markers0:00Welcome To Wrestling The Inner Man0:34Valentine’s Day And The Love Deficit1:33A Childhood Shaped By Violence4:31Chasing Approval Through Work6:52Faithful Fathering And A Biblical Worldview9:48The DNA Email That Introduced A Son14:43A Second Curveball And A Half-Brother20:11Boundaries, Redemption, And Real Fathering22:46Final Counsel And Closing PrayerSend us Fan MailVisit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.
Transcribe →The Forgotten Grief Of Fathers
2w ago00:33:49Tap to summarizeA lot of men can describe the exact second they heard the words “I’m pregnant” and what happened next, their mind racing through fear, responsibility, and what kind of man they’re going to be. But almost nobody asks the next question out loud: what happens to the father when an abortion happens, and he’s told to stay quiet? That silence can turn into years of shame, drifting, and numbness, even for men who look fine on the outside. We sit down with Greg Mayo, award-winning author of Almost Daddy: The Forgotten Story, to talk about men’s abortion grief, post-abortion trauma, and why the cultural conversation leaves fathers without language or support. Greg shares his own story of abortion loss, how unresolved pain can show up as addiction and escapism, and the moment he finally broke isolation by telling the truth in a church small group. We also dig into the surprising statistics, including the “one in five men” reality, and why so few men seek help from clergy or church leaders. Greg explains why he chose to write a novel instead of a memoir, and how story can disarm politics long enough for real empathy and spiritual healing to begin. We close with practical next steps, a challenge to raise the sails toward healing, and a call for men to lead, serve, and step into the fight with courage and compassion. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs words for what he’s carried, and leave a review so more men can find a path forward.You can visit his website to learn more at:https://gregmayoauthor.com/Chapter Markers0:00Welcome To The Inner Fight0:36The Shock Of An Unexpected Pregnancy2:06Greg Mayo And Almost Daddy4:59Why Men’s Abortion Stories Stay Hidden8:48Greg’s Story Of Loss And Hardening14:15Why Fiction Can Tell The Truth19:12The Numbers And The Church Silence24:37Helping Men Name The Wound27:39How To Reach Greg And Start Healing30:03Get In The Fight As Men32:03Closing Prayer And SendoffSend us Fan MailVisit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.
Transcribe →Breaking The Debt Cycle With Behavioral Stewardship
2w ago00:45:31Tap to summarizeDebt is not just math, it’s pressure, identity, fear, and the quiet belief that you’re failing the people you love. We start with a hard look at how easy credit, emotional spending, and constant comparison normalize borrowing, then we bring it back to a biblical lens where debt can become bondage and limit the freedom God intends for us. If Proverbs 22:7 has ever felt uncomfortably real, you’re not alone.My guest, Scott Mater of the Inspired Stewardship Podcast, gets brutally honest about what financial bondage did to his mind, his marriage, and his faith. He shares the moment he realized he felt “worth more dead than alive,” and how a simple shift from hiding to communicating helped him and his wife fight their way out. Over 2 years and 11 months, they paid off $78,852.52 while living on a tight income, then turned that painful journey into a mission to coach other Christian men and couples toward freedom.We also dig into practical tools for long-term change: the difference between career and vocation, why calling is something you uncover over time, and how the DISC personality framework can improve communication and leadership at home and at work. Scott lays out a clear framework for growth and an iterative process that makes goals and budgets actually work: plan, execute, then review, reflect, revise, and repeat. The key takeaway is simple and tough: you don’t change by willpower alone, you change when you find the why behind the what.Subscribe for more conversations that train up better men, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s the “why” you want to fight for next? Learn more about Scott at www.inspiredstewardship.com/innermanChapter Markers0:00Welcome To The Ring0:35Taxes And A Nation In Debt2:47Biblical Caution About Borrowing4:55When Debt Turns Into Despair8:46The Conversation That Changed Everything12:39Calling Is Bigger Than A Job19:11DISC For Clearer Communication30:08A Framework For Living Your Calling36:54Plan Execute Then Review And Revise39:57Find The Why That Fuels Change42:43Resources Coaching And Closing PrayerSend us Fan MailVisit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.
Transcribe →Wrestling with Discernment
4w ago00:50:11Tap to summarizeThis show is about spiritual warfare in its many forms. We all are in its midst whether we are aware of it or not. It is the human condition since the fall in the Garden of Eden. Ephesians 6:12 says:For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.Since these forces and this warfare is invisible to us, we are lied to and easily fooled about how they work against us to rob us of joy and distract us from our true purpose. Consequently, we wrestle with discernment on many levels.My guest today is Greg Pai, author of “Voice of the Heart: The Battle For Your Purpose, Peace, and Passion.” In his book he discusses how this invisible war is being waged against humanity through twelve interconnected systems. At the center of the framework is the Tree of Light — a powerful metaphor for human design where roots represent identity, the trunk represents resilience, branches represent relationships, and fruit represents legacy and purpose. Greg's work reveals how each of the 12 systems systematically attacks a different part of the tree. Our purpose today isn’t to go through these 12 systems but to help you, our audience, reclaim your critical thinking skills and rediscover your passion for what God’s purpose for you is in this world.You can learn more about Greg's book at:https://voiceoftheheartbooks.com/Send us Fan MailVisit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.
Transcribe →Wrestling With Mind Space; Taking Every Thought Captive
May 1500:39:47Tap to summarizeRomans 12:2 says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.."A related verse in 2 Corinthians 10:5 says "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sees itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"This is the most challenging wrestling match we face daily in the modern era! Are we conforming to the patterns of this world? Or are we taking every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ?We are constantly barraged from every angle from screens, to billboards, to even podcasts seeking a share of our mind space!My guest today is Rory Paquette, host of "The Power of Man" daily podcast which focuses on helping men, fathers and husbands in particular, to reignite the inner flame that once burned bright. In this episode we discuss how to win these moment by moment battles for our mind space by:Getting in touch with your faith to get yourself rootedDiscover your true purpose so that you have a North Star to follow rather just "be entertained"Taking out the "trash" in our minds to make room for noble manhoodRory also is a life coach so I ask him to help me with an anger issue that is taking up too much real estate in my own mind today.Lots of gems and nuggets to be mined in this one! Rory has six podcasts and you can learn more about them all on his Facebook page : @RoryPaquetteSend us Fan MailVisit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.
Transcribe →Wrestling With Accepting Personal Responsibility
May 100:36:10Tap to summarizeToday we are talking about a second pandemic which has swept through our country and the world at large, it’s called immaturity and it manifests today in no larger way than refusing to accept personal responsibility, especially in the roles God gave men to fulfill.1 Corinthians 13:11 says, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”My guest to discuss this topic is Nicky Billou, a Christian immigrant from Iran who is tremendously grateful to be living in a free country. Nicky has made the most of his freedom as a bestselling author of 11 published books and the host of two podcasts, The Thought Leader Revolution Podcast and the Sovereign Man Podcast.In this episode Nicky shares about fleeing Iran as an eleven-year-old boy with his family as the Shah fell and Christians like him were being persecuted, struggling as refugees in Athens Greece for two years before moving to Canada to begin life over.We discuss men's roles as protectors, providers, and presiders.We also cover the distinction between fault and responsibility and how power lies in responsibility because we can choose to accept it.And we close with the importance of male only accountability groups.You can learn more about Nicky by visiting his website at www.sovereignman.caSend us Fan MailVisit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.
Transcribe →Welcome to Wrestling with the Inner Man
Apr 1700:02:32Tap to summarizeMy show is aimed primarily but not exclusively at men. It is a nonprofit categorized as Christian Education with a focus on the numerous aspects of spiritual warfare that men face daily. My tagline in the show's intro is:"Because the first fight we face each and every day is the fight between our selfish sinful nature and our Holy Spirit inspired divine nature."The show's goal is to inspire and help other men win in spiritual warfare.We believe the winners in this ring courageously follow God's word, love and protect God's women, excel at God's work, and betters God's world with his children.It is an interview format show where each guest discusses some specific wrestling match they are dealing with or have successfully dealt with through surrender to Christ. Over 125 shows are up in the library on a very wide array of topics including isolation, feeling worthless, the seven deadly sins, and courtship leading to marriage.Please visit my website to learn more about the show and my book and sign up if you'd like to be on my once a month newsletter at www.thesavagepath.com Send us Fan MailVisit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.
Transcribe →Wrestling with Science and God
Apr 1700:29:03Tap to summarizeOur institutions of higher education have been co-opted by a liberal ideology for decades now that have wedged out belief in God as somehow being naïve and unacceptable to highly scientific minds. I have had several guests on this show with Ivy league educations that told me if anyone in those advanced degree programs did believe in God it was very well hidden.My guest today is Douglas Ell, author of “Counting to God: A Personal Journey Through Science to Belief.” Doug was born into a religious home but by the time he started college, had drifted away from his religious upbringing which he viewed as outdated superstition. His non-religious beliefs were reaffirmed during his tenure as an undergraduate at MIT, where he came to embrace scientism – the view that scientific investigation is the only means of discovering real truth. Sometime later, however Doug was introduced to the scientific theory of intelligent design, and everything began to change.Listen to the story of his wrestling match and how he was able to reconcile belief in God with his scientific background through his extensive research into intelligent design.He just completed a series of book for children and young adults called Godproofs which can be found at his website www.godproofs.com where he explains how science points to God's certainty.Send us Fan MailVisit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.
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