KneeToKnee

Mark Marrott

KneeToKnee – Where the Magic Happens is the straight-talk podcast built for men who want real tools to get stronger—physically, mentally, emotionally, and as fathers and leaders. Not empty motivation. I’m Mark Marrott, and every week I sit knee-to-knee with powerful guests—men and women who’ve actually lived it: high-achieving dads, combat veterans, elite athletes, recovery warriors, therapists, coaches, and everyday guys who’ve clawed their way back from rock bottom. We dive deep into how real, intentional human connections become actual medicine for men in their prime years. The topics hit hard and stay practical: forging brotherhoods that keep you accountable, staying present as a dad without losing your edge, leading at work and home without burning out, bouncing back from injury, addiction, divorce, or career crashes, tying your fitness and metabolic health to the people who actually have your back, mastering emotional resilience without going soft, and building a purpose that lasts through all the midlife pressure. No therapy-speak. No fluff. Just raw stories, science-backed insights, hard-earned lessons, and actionable steps on the stuff men really wrestle with: isolation in a connected world, provider stress, testosterone and energy dips from disconnection, long-term friendships that fade, forgiveness that actually frees you, and the relationships that quietly make or break your health and your legacy. Because the strongest version of you isn’t built alone. The real magic of well-being happens when you’re connected—knee to knee—with people who refuse to let you go it solo.

  1. Is God Actually Disappointed in You — Or Is That Just Shame Talking? - Kurt Francom

    1 DAY AGO

    Is God Actually Disappointed in You — Or Is That Just Shame Talking? - Kurt Francom

    What if shame — not lack of discipline — is the real reason men stay stuck? Kurt Francom built a 20-million-download podcast on human connection, mental health, and the healing power of authentic storytelling. In this conversation, we explore the difference between guilt and shame, why self-acceptance is the foundation of personal growth, and how vulnerability and mindfulness unlock real change. Kurt shares his leadership skills, his journey through resilience and emotional health, and how a vow of silence inside a three-day wilderness retreat became the most powerful tool he's seen for men's mental health. We talk about presence, trust, kindness, community support, and what overcoming shame actually looks like in a real conversation with someone you respect. If you've ever carried that quiet question — am I enough? — this episode is for you. Chapters: 0:00 — Introduction & Welcome 2:24 — Who Is Kurt Francom? Leading Saints & 20M Downloads 4:30 — Is God Disappointed in Me? The Book and the Shame Behind It 8:30 — Guilt vs. Shame: A Distinction That Changes Everything 14:35 — Warrior Heart: Three-Day Men's Retreats and Why They Work 20:00 — The One Thing: 10 Minutes of Silence and Reclaiming Your Identity Learn more about Leading Saints: https://leadingsaints.org/ Warrior Heart Retreats: https://awarriorheart.com/ Subscribe to KneeToKnee Audio: https://kneetoknee.riverside.com/ ☑ Find us most everywhere! https://linktr.ee/kneetoknee #HumanConnection #AuthenticConnections #WellnessJourney

    24 min
  2. The Life You're Meant to Live Starts with This - Doug Nielsen

    26 MAR

    The Life You're Meant to Live Starts with This - Doug Nielsen

    What does it mean to have a warrior heart — and are you actually living from yours? In this episode of KneeToKnee, Mark sits down with certified speaking professional, licensed psychotherapist, and author Doug Nielsen to explore what it truly means to get unstuck, wake up, and live the life God designed for you.   Doug breaks down the three core desires at the heart of every man — a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to love (connection) — and explains why most of us have quietly traded those for comfort, things, and electronic numbing. He shares his powerful Warrior Heart men's retreat experience, the concept of mind pirates that attack our best impulses, and why following your fears may be the most divine thing you can do.   Doug also shares his memorable 3 L's and a T framework — Look, Laugh, Listen, Touch — as a practical, neuroscience-backed way to build real connection in any relationship, any day.   Timestamps: •      00:00 – Intro: Meet Doug Nielsen •      03:22 – What Is Warrior Heart? How It Started •      07:57 – Getting Unstuck: Three Core Desires of the Heart •      12:42 – Following Your Fears, Mind Pirates & Divine Co-Creation •      14:37 – Pursuing Connection: The Third Core Desire •      19:15 – The 3 L's and a T: A Simple Framework for Deeper Connection •      24:26 – The One Thing: Pause, Listen for the Nudge, Act with Courage   Connect with Doug Nielsen — Speaker, Therapist & Author: www.dougspeaks.com Learn more about Warrior Heart and upcoming retreats: www.awarriorheart.com

    26 min
  3. Why the Toughest Leaders Embrace Their Vulnerability - Olaolu Ogunyemi

    21 MAR

    Why the Toughest Leaders Embrace Their Vulnerability - Olaolu Ogunyemi

    In this episode of KneeToKnee, Mark sits down with Olaolu (Lou) Ogunyemi — proud U.S. Marine officer, award-winning author, and founder of Parent Child Connect. Lou breaks down his "Lead Last" philosophy, the importance of knowing yourself before you can lead others, why strategic vulnerability is actually a strength for men, and practical tools for building deeper connections with your kids and your team. Whether you're a father, a husband, a leader, or all three — this episode is packed with faith-filled, experience-tested wisdom you can put to work today. Lou's books — Parent Child Connect series designed to help parents, teachers, and mentors create teachable, memorable moments with the children in their lives. Crow from the Shadow: https://parent-child-connect.com/store/crow-from-the-shadow-paperback/ Billy Dipper's Time to Shine: https://parent-child-connect.com/store/billy-dippers-time-to-shine-signed-hardcover/ Horace the Horsefly: https://parent-child-connect.com/store/horace-the-horsefly-hardcover/ Connect with Lou at: https://parent-child-connect.com/ -Turn the Ship Around: A True Story of Truning Followers into Leaders by L. David Marquet -Leaders East Last: Wy some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek -Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World by General Stanley McChrystal - Chapters: [00:00] Introduction — Meet Lou Ogunyemi [02:01] What "Lead Last" Really Means [05:23] Lessons From the Marine Corps on Leadership and Identity [10:31] The Closed Door Policy and Turning Ideas Into Practice [13:06] Strategic Vulnerability — Reframing Weakness as Strength [16:50] Parent Child Connect — Raising Confident Kids With Purpose ☑ Find us most everywhere! https://linktr.ee/kneetoknee #HumanConnection #AuthenticConnections #WellnessJourney

    26 min
  4. What If One Big Decision Could Replace All the Hard Ones? - Brad Barton

    6 MAR

    What If One Big Decision Could Replace All the Hard Ones? - Brad Barton

    Human connection, deep relationships, peak performance, mentorship & reinvention — Brad Barton joins KneeToKnee to share world-record wisdom. What does breaking a world track record at age 47 have to do with your relationships? Everything. Brad Barton — world record holder, executive coach, keynote speaker, and master of the 'magic of connection' — joins Mark on KneeToKnee for a deeply honest conversation about mentorship, the power of truly seeing people, and why human connection has never mattered more than it does right now in the age of AI. Brad shares the exact mindset shift that helped him go from an unrecruited ranch kid in Idaho to breaking a 30-year-old masters world record. He breaks down the ONE-decision framework that eliminates the exhausting cycle of daily motivation battles, the 'Touch the Road' rule that almost every high performer quietly uses, and what the movie Avatar taught him about how to greet people in a way that changes lives. Whether you're a leader, parent, athlete, or someone simply wanting to show up more meaningfully in your relationships — this episode is packed with practical, powerful tools you can use today. 📌 Chapters: • 00:00 — Welcome & Introducing Brad Barton • 02:01 — Answering the Call: How Brad Found His Path to Speaking • 06:34 — From Cattle Ranch to Olympic Trials — Mentorship and Belief • 09:43 — Breaking World Records and the Power of One Big Decision • 13:14 — Why Reinvention Is No Longer Optional in the Age of AI • 20:27 — The 'I See You' Challenge: How to Start Seeing People Deeply ☑ Find us most everywhere! https://linktr.ee/kneetoknee #HumanConnection #AuthenticConnections #WellnessJourney

    26 min
  5. Adult Friendships Don't Last Without This - Joel Steadman

    10 FEB

    Adult Friendships Don't Last Without This - Joel Steadman

    Maintaining adult friendships requires grace in relationships and understanding that long-term friendship survives busy seasons. Joel Steadman and Mark Marrott share wisdom on building connections, checking on friends, and why reconnecting matters. In this heartfelt conversation, Joel and Mark dive into the reality of adult friendships - why they're so hard to maintain, and what actually works when life gets overwhelming. From the powerful concept of grace in friendship to practical tips on reconnecting with old friends, this episode will inspire you to reach out to that person who's been on your mind. 🕐 CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction: Why Adult Friendships Matter 01:05 - The Most Important Ingredient: Grace 05:21 - The 200-Hour Friendship Paradox 08:44 - How Crisis Bonds Friends Faster 15:00 - Honoring Introverts in Friendship 18:19 - The One Thing You Can Do Today 💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS: • Grace is the #1 factor in lasting friendships • True friends don't hold busy seasons against you • Going through hard things together expedites connection • The power of a simple "thinking of you" text • Why reaching out today could make all the difference   📚 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: "The Let Them Theory" by Mel Robbins - the 200-hour friendship concept   🎯 ONE THING YOU CAN DO TODAY: Think of one friend who came to mind during this episode. Send them a text right now - just to say you're thinking of them. Don't overthink it. Just send it.   Insert Link   #AdultFriendships #MaintainingFriendships #GraceInRelationships #MentalHealthSupport #KneeToKneePodcast #FriendshipAdvice #BuildingConnections #MeaningfulRelationships #EmotionalWellbeing #ReconnectingWithFriends

    24 min

About

KneeToKnee – Where the Magic Happens is the straight-talk podcast built for men who want real tools to get stronger—physically, mentally, emotionally, and as fathers and leaders. Not empty motivation. I’m Mark Marrott, and every week I sit knee-to-knee with powerful guests—men and women who’ve actually lived it: high-achieving dads, combat veterans, elite athletes, recovery warriors, therapists, coaches, and everyday guys who’ve clawed their way back from rock bottom. We dive deep into how real, intentional human connections become actual medicine for men in their prime years. The topics hit hard and stay practical: forging brotherhoods that keep you accountable, staying present as a dad without losing your edge, leading at work and home without burning out, bouncing back from injury, addiction, divorce, or career crashes, tying your fitness and metabolic health to the people who actually have your back, mastering emotional resilience without going soft, and building a purpose that lasts through all the midlife pressure. No therapy-speak. No fluff. Just raw stories, science-backed insights, hard-earned lessons, and actionable steps on the stuff men really wrestle with: isolation in a connected world, provider stress, testosterone and energy dips from disconnection, long-term friendships that fade, forgiveness that actually frees you, and the relationships that quietly make or break your health and your legacy. Because the strongest version of you isn’t built alone. The real magic of well-being happens when you’re connected—knee to knee—with people who refuse to let you go it solo.