In Episode 29 The Next Stage podcast for men wrestles with this big idea: Loneliness Kills. Studies have shown that America’s wealth has ironically created an epidemic of loneliness and isolation that is helping spike suicides and a host of social pathologies with deadly impacts. According to the Rochester Health Report, only 27 percent of men have only six close friends, and 50 percent report having no close friends at all. According to former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, studies have shown that severe loneliness can have the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Today Rob Stout interviews Bart Lillie who shares his story of managing the transition from young adulthood to married life and the need to courageously create deeper male friendships. From a season of marital and personal pain, Bart learned to embrace a three-part system of Go First, Go With, and Go Along. He shares how this helped him create community spaces for men of varying spiritual levels to press in for greater relational health and blunt the killer called loneliness. About Bart Lillie. Bart Lillie serves as a Vice President at Synergy Marketing and volunteer at the Restoration Project, a Fort Collins, Colorado-based men’s ministry. Bart and his wife, Jenny, are the parents of two children and live in Denver, Colorado. About Synergy. www.synergydms.com. Akron, Ohio-based Synergy Direct Marketing Solutions LLC provides nonprofit clients with tele-fundraising and direct marketing solutions maximize donor loyalty. About Restoration Project. www.restorationproject.net. Fort Collins, Colorado-based Restoration Project is a men’s ministry focusing on retreats and Bible study for men. About Cru. www.Cru.org. Originally Campus Crusade for Christ, Cru is an interdenominational Christian parachurch organization founded in 1951 at the University of California, Los Angeles by Bill and Vonette Bright. Now based in Orlando, Cru has over 16,000 missionaries and support staff across the world. Scripture quotations Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 (NIV). 9 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?” For more information about today’s show or to book personal time with host Rob Stout, visit www.Sherpa5280.com, or email TheNextStage@Sherpa5280.com. Podcast Platforms YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Sherpa5280 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-stage-podcast-by-sherpa5280/id1726070899 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0pFp6LQfxC9NNZKeZqPtRW?flow_ctx=6d430aa6-a08c-449d-8ad0-95e0568468ee%3A1739839212 Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sherpa5280 LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sherpa-5280 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherpa_5280/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Sherpa5280/ About Sherpa5280 Personal Coaching for Men Imagine climbing a mountain and gradually discovering an incredible panorama of peaks, lakes, snow drifts, and wildlife; it is as beautiful as it is daunting, and you resolve that you’re not turning back. What do you need for this climb to go well? You certainly don't need clichés and pity, but tips about hiking gear, crevasses, and, generally, not dying. You need some guidance from someone who has hiked this path before and provides help, guidance, helpful tools, and a shot of good old-fashion encouragement – that’s what we all need. You need what all the climbers who have summited the world’s tallest peaks need – a Sherpa. Welcome to Sherpa 5280. The climb we are talking about is the climb called "your life." Sherpa 5280 brings elite resources to help you "summit life's climb” of faithfully caring for yourself, caring for your loved ones, caring for your business and community colleagues. Whether you are that man, or there is a man in your life who needs resourcing to start the journey or, in some cases, get back on the journey after getting discouraged or sidetracked, let's get back on the trail today. Visit www.Sherpa5280.com or click here to book a free 30-minute online coffee with Rob Stout today (or real personal coffee appointment if you’re in Denver, or live near where Rob regularly travels through the southwest of the United States.) About Team Sherpa. Rob Stout, Founder of Sherpa Unlimited LLC and Editor in Chief of The Next Stage podcast for men. Rob holds a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree from Denver Seminary where he specialized in leadership and organizational transformation. He is a Certified Life Coach from Life Coach Institute. Rob has served for over 30 years in leadership, teaching, and coaching roles in numerous business and non-profit organizations with a focus on helping men navigate some of life's most hazardous and strategically critical areas. Rob and Nicole have been married since 1994 and live in Erie, Colorado. They have three grown daughters. Mike Lands, Executive Producer for The Next Stage. Mike is president of INO Solutions, a marketing strategy company based in Denver, Colorado. https://INOSolutions.co. mlands@inosolutions.co. Christopher Mann, Producer, Senior Writer, and Speaker Agent for Rob Stout. Chris leads ReSermon Thought Leader Marketing in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Chris logged over twenty-five years in journalism and public policy communications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University at Bloomington and an MBA from Taylor University. Today Chris and Ruth raise their nine Manncubs in the suburbs of Fort Wayne, Indiana where they are members of Pathway Community Church. www.ReSermon.com. Chris.Mann@ReSermon.com. About Getting Even: Countering Life’s Hard Knocks, by Rob Stout. Getting Even on Amazon.com Getting Even: Countering Life’s Hard Knocks by Rob Stout is available in hard cover, paperback, and Kindle. What do you do when life punches you in the gut? Some men medicate with alcohol, sex, gaming, food, blame, and the rest. Getting Even: Countering Life’s Hard Knocks (LifeRich, 2020) meets a man in the middle of life’s hard knocks and embarks on a journey to fight back, reflect, recalibrate, and move forward. Getting Even helps identify the critically important lessons to plan a way forward. Author Rob Stout has experienced his own hard knocks and transparently shares his journey of recovery and method for moving forward.
