Valley of the Heroic Podcast

Eric Munoz
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Valley of the Heroic Podcast is a Christian podcast that tells the stories of peoples experience with God throughout their life. Our journeys in the valley can be incredibly difficult, sometimes painful, but every time, it produces the very things we need to live for Jesus. Our hope is that you would find value in the valley and see there can be purpose to your pain. Your life is God's masterpiece, and every piece of it can glorify Him. Join us for this journey!

  1. Sep 16

    How Perfectionism Almost Destroyed Her Faith | Natasia's Story

    What happens when you genuinely love God, but performance, perfectionism, church culture, achievement and pain get tangled into the relationship?Have you ever realized that somewhere along the way, your relationship with God started feeling more like something you had to perform?Natasia grew up loving God deeply, but she also grew up carrying the pressure that can come with church culture, expectations, being different, and trying to look spiritually okay when you aren't.Over time, loneliness became overachievement. Doing became a way to feel valuable. Faith became something she knew how to present, even while parts of her were still hurting underneath it.In this conversation, we talk about what happens when God begins separating your identity from your performance.What does it actually mean to know God for yourself, instead of living off the faith of the people who raised you?What happens when you stop trying to sound right in prayer and start being honest with God?How do you keep following Him when you're spiritually dry, when healing takes longer than you expected, or when obedience feels like endurance?Natasia shares how God met her through depression, isolation, family, prayer, therapy, spiritual community, and eventually a moment of surrender where she stopped trying to hold herself together and simply let the Father love her.This isn't a conversation about getting faith perfect.It's about relationship.About identity.About learning that your value doesn't disappear when you stop producing.And about staying faithful to God when you don't fully understand what He's doing yet.If you've been doing more for God but somehow feeling farther from Him, this episode is for you.--Need prayer? DM me on Instagram @ericmunozjr. I don't take that lightly. If you reach out, I'm praying for you.If Valley of the Heroic has helped you walk through a valley and you want to help us reach more people with this message, consider supporting the ministry on Patreon. Link below.--Subscribe and stay connected so you don't miss the next conversation.Scripture References:David in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22)The woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) "I press toward the mark of the high calling of God" (Philippians 3:14)"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1)"Depart from me, I never knew you" (Matthew 7:23)"Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21)"Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16)"God created man and called him good" (Genesis 1:31)Chapters:0:00 Tired of Performing Faith2:55 Finding Her Voice and Owning Her Calling10:48 When Being Different Turns Into Loneliness and Overachievement20:18 Identity in Christ Has to Become Personal31:55 Breaking Perfectionism and Letting God Love You38:15 Faithfulness, Suffering, and Staying Close to God45:19 Revival Isn’t Enough Without Relationship

  2. Sep 7

    From PK to Double Life to Losing It All: How God Brought Him Back | Alex DeJesus Testimony

    This episode hit different. Alex DeJesus grew up as a pastor's kid in a small Pentecostal church, loved it as a kid, then slowly drifted into a double life that nobody caught. He became a regional youth director, traveled five states preaching, and looked like everything was working. Behind the scenes, he and his wife became roommates. Nobody checked in. At 29, he got fired from ministry and separated from his wife in the same week. His mentor told him one thing: go back to Nineveh. His best friend gave him a house key in case he needed a place to stay. And then a Jamaican Uber passenger on her birthday changed everything. This is a conversation about the slow fade, behavior modification vs. real transformation, what it means to confuse doing for God with being close to God, and why going back was 180,000% worth it. Eric also shares his own story of nearly losing his marriage during his depression. Two men. Same crossroad. Same choice. Same God.Guest: Alex DeJesus — Pastor, worship musician, husband.Facebook: Alex DeJesus | Instagram: @alex_thesourceNeed prayer? ➡️ DM me on Instagram @ericmunozjr 📥 Want a simple tool to check your spiritual health? Download the free checklist here → https://valleyoftheheroic.myflodesk.c...🎧 Full audio version on Valley of the Heroic Podcast platforms Spotify and Apple Podcasts"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." — Hebrews 10:24Chapters:0:44 - The question: what aspect of God are you most drawn to?3:36 - The overnight success that took years6:10 - "I wasn't living right. I was in every service but living a double life."7:15 - "You're Christian? I would have never known."11:09 - "No one ever talks about enjoying being a PK"12:18 - Bad company corrupts good character14:34 - The cave miner and the rope: when the light fades15:58 - "Without check-ins, a slow fade feels like a quick shift"17:15 - "All good things that require discipline also require maintenance"20:11 - Behavior modification vs. Holy Spirit transformation21:00 - "We go behavior modification because we're avoiding intimacy"22:10 - The disciples only asked Jesus one thing: teach us how to pray23:25 - "Sunday is not enough. We're living miserably Monday through Saturday."25:02 - Relationship is hard. Intimacy and maintenance are two different things.27:57 - "At every level, intimacy is inconvenience"28:28 - When was the last time you truly spent time in prayer?33:18 - Martha and Mary: God calling your name twice is intimacy, not anger37:06 - "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you"38:25 - The reasons we shy away from God are the indicators of what He wants to remove39:05 - "Growth and comfort can't live together"39:07 - Hebrews 12: discipline doesn't feel good until you see the harvest40:14 - Every season requires a new decision41:05 - Psalm 23 means something different at 25 than at 35 with four kids46:50 - "I've been preaching this sermon for three weeks. Haven't opened my Bible in two."48:10 - "Me and my wife became roommates. Legitimate roommates."49:01 - Father-in-law finally checks in: "Are you good?" "We're far from good."50:35 - "The slow fade is the quick shift"52:21 - "Don't pitch a tent at a church. Just get to church."53:17 - The separation: four and a half months54:15 - Eric's parallel: depression nearly ended his marriage55:13 - "If I don't fix this right now, I will hate myself in two years"56:10 - "Was it worth it? 180,000%."59:09 - "Love your wife. Marriage is not ordained by man."1:00:06 - "I kept the key. When I gave it back, they knew it was for real."1:02:16 - "God brought me out. God used community to bring me back."1:03:14 - "Everything God orchestrates leads to us being whole in him"

  3. Sep 4

    When God Closes the Door You've Been Knocking On | w/ Anthony Rodriguez

    In todays special episode we're unveiling the new Valley of the Heroic podcast soundtrack, composed by my friend Anthony Rodriguez, and diving into the heart behind it. What started as a conversation about the music became something deeper: both of us sharing the moments where God closed doors we'd been knocking on for years, and what it looks like to let go so He can do something new. Anthony was one person away from working with Marc Anthony for years. I spent nearly 20 years preparing to be a pastor. Both of us had to walk away from what we thought we were supposed to be. And maybe God has done the same with you...Chapters:00:00 - New Soundtrack Premiere + Intro02:04 - Anthony's Musical Background (Legalistic Pentecostal Roots)08:05 - Breaking Down the Soundtrack (Valley to Breakthrough to Glory)14:28 - "Your Story Inspired This Soundtrack"25:55 - "I Will Never Dwell on an Opportunity Ever Again"29:12 - Anthony's Daughter's Autism Diagnosis38:21 - Church Hurt and Moving On42:57 - One Person Away from Marc Anthony (God's Chinese Wall)57:24 - Eric's Story: From Pastor Track to Creative01:07:03 - Letting Go So God Can Do Something New01:17:06 - Closing: Develop That Relationship, Everything Else Falls in Place---Need prayer? ➡️ DM me on Instagram @ericmunozjr📥 Want a simple tool to check your spiritual health? Download the free checklist here → https://valleyoftheheroic.myflodesk.com/i7w64z1776🎧 Full audio version on Valley of the Heroic Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." — Hebrews 10:24Support this channel through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/valleyoftheheroic

  4. Apr 28

    What It Actually Means to Be an Elite Man w/ Chris Lora

    What does it actually mean to be an excellent man? Not just doing better than your dad. Not just providing. Not just showing up. Chris from Company of the Elite breaks down the identity crisis crippling Christian men and what it takes to actually live at a higher standard. This conversation gets real about fatherlessness, marriage, community, and why excellence only happens when Christ is at the center. In This Episode: Chris's story: from Santeria to salvation, rocky relationship with his father, and the men who stepped inHow Transform Men changed his understanding of what it looks like to be a godly manThe birth of Company of the Elite and what "Christ is our compass, excellence is our standard" actually meansWhy doing better than your dad is actually the bare minimumThe phrase that changed Eric's marriage: "You're the husband. You go first."Chapters: 00:00 - Intro + Wild Pentecostal Stories 07:56 - What Company of the Elite Is Really About 08:43 - Chris's Salvation Story and His Father's Santeria Background 11:08 - Growing Up Without a Present Father 14:01 - 2015: When Everything Fell Apart 17:04 - Finding Transform Church 18:09 - The Men's Group That Changed Everything 22:52 - The Birth of Company of the Elite (Micah 4:6-7) 25:05 - "Christ Is Our Compass, Excellence Is Our Standard" 29:30 - Why Doing Better Than Your Dad Isn't Excellence 36:58 - "You're Not Enough. If You Were, You Wouldn't Need God." 43:38 - Why Men Can't Do It Alone 48:16 - "What Walks in the Father Runs in the Son" 54:39 - "Do Not Beg God to Fix Your Life While Refusing to Fix Your Actions" 57:25 - Marriage Advice: "You're the Husband. You Go First." Need prayer? ➡️ DM me on Instagram @ericmunozjr 📥 Want a simple tool to check your spiritual health? Download the free checklist here → https://valleyoftheheroic.myflodesk.com/i7w64z1776 🎧 Full audio version on Valley of the Heroic Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." — Hebrews 10:24 Support this channel through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/valleyoftheheroic Connect with Chris: Instagram: @companyoftheelite_ Website: companyoftheelite.com

  5. Mar 19

    Why the Church Is Sick and Nobody Wants to Talk About It With Giovani H.

    What if the thing slowly killing Christians isn't persecution, it's the plate? July Henry is a Brooklyn native, two-time military veteran, and natural health advocate who believes God put healing power inside the foods He created. In this conversation, July shares how God called him to teach the church about health, how he's watched people reverse chronic illness through herbs and clean eating, and why self-control is the real root of the problem. Eric also gets vulnerable about his own eight-year weight battle and what it means to die to yourself so you can finally come alive. Guest: July (Giovanni) Henry — Brooklyn native, U.S. Marine Corps and Army veteran, aspiring naturopathy practitioner, co-founder of Faith and Roots with his wife --- Need prayer? ➡️ DM me on Instagram @ericmunozjr📥 Want a simple tool to check your spiritual health? Download the free checklist here → https://valleyoftheheroic.myflodesk.c... "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." — Hebrews 10:24 Chapters: 1:22 - "We have to steward our bodies by what we eat" 3:07 - Joining the Marines, first marriage, going vegan 5:18 - God is Jehovah Rapha through His creation 5:52 - The soldier with the rare liver disease that disappeared 10:19 - Studying everything and landing on Jesus 11:45 - God's 2024 calling: "Go teach the church about health" 15:17 - What is the root cause of poor health in the church? 15:58 - "Most chronic illness is rooted in lack of self-control" 16:35 - Being a living sacrifice: mentally, physically, emotionally 17:18 - "You can live a life of healing every day" 23:06 - Emotional eating, weight cycles, and eight years of battle 26:11 - "It's scary to kill any of your idols" 26:54 - David used a sling before he used Goliath's sword 28:25 - Sowing seeds and wanting to lift up the soil 29:08 - "A lot of people want to come alive but haven't died yet" 30:04 - "What's the last thing God told you to do that you didn't do?" 30:26 - Dying to the cross so God can unlock resurrection 35:23 - Stage three colon cancer at 30 and the pattern of microwave meals 37:23 - "How can you believe in God and not in His creation?" 38:01 - "Your plate needs to look like a garden, not a morgue" 38:40 - "We say we're fearfully and wonderfully made, but you got to live in that" 39:02 - Invest in health now or invest in hospital bills later Key Takeaways: • Your body is not your own. Stewarding it with what you eat is an act of worship. • Most chronic illness in the church is rooted in a lack of self-control, not a demonic spirit. • God put healing power inside the foods He created. He is Jehovah Rapha through His creation. • You don't have to live a life of healing only when you get sick. You can live a life of healing every day. • Dying to yourself is the prerequisite for resurrection in every area of your life. • Your life might not look like the work you've put in yet, but don't stop sowing. • It's scary to kill your idols, whether that idol is comfort, food, or the way things have always been. • Invest in your health now so you're not investing in hospital bills later. --- What is the Valley of the Heroic Podcast? Valley of the Heroic shares testimonies of everyday believers finding hope through valleys and discovering God's purpose in their pain. Support through Patreon:   / valleyoftheheroic   Connect with July:Instagram: @therealgiovannihenry Brand: Faith and Roots — @faithandroots | faithandroots.com Connect with Eric:Instagram @ericmunozjrMailing list: https://valleyoftheheroic.myflodesk.c...

  6. Mar 18

    When God’s Grace Feels Like Loss w/ Kadijah G.

    ⚠️Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and a DNC procedure. Please take care of your heart as you listen.Have you ever felt like God spoke something clearly… and then life did the opposite?Have you ever wondered how to trust Him when the story hurts?In this conversation, we talk about grief, trust, and the kind of obedience that feels inconvenient.Not performative.Not polished.Real life trust.We talk about a mother’s story of miscarriage and the tension of asking God, “How could You tell me her name… and take her from me?”We talk about why sadness is not sin, and why Christians do not have to pretend they are fine.We talk about how God’s grace can look like being removed from something you were clinging to.And we talk about relationships, marriage, and what happens when someone chooses inconvenience again.If you have been trying to hold it together, this is your reminder:God is not afraid of your sadness.He is not offended by your grief.He is still your joy, even in the turbulence.If you are in a season where God is asking for your yes, but you do not understand the how, you are not alone.If you need prayer, stay to the end. We close this episode with a covering prayer.—Ministry support:If Valley of the Heroic has helped you follow Jesus in a real season of life, you can support the mission through Patreon. Your support helps us keep creating discipleship centered content for people walking through valleys. Patreon link is in the description.Subscribe and stay connected for more episodes on spiritual formation, surrender, and healing in Christ.—Scripture ReferencesNehemiah 8:102 Corinthians 12:9Exodus 13 to 17Romans 8:28Psalm 34:18Psalm 147:3Isaiah 43:2Matthew 11:28James 1:2 to 4Chapters:00:00:02 Sadness is not sin and what grace can look like01:33:05 Social media traps and guarding your attention06:31:20 Self care, striving, and learning to slow down with God08:42:22 The Abigail story: miscarriage, grief, and trusting God’s heart19:14:06 Weakness, prayer, and learning to listen24:30:16 Inconvenience as love in marriage and relationships33:06:13 Trusting God with provision, time, and the yes46:20:01 Alignment, surgery, and choosing the wilderness57:25:03 Closing thoughts and prayer over Eric and the audience#ValleyOfTheHeroic #InconvenientObedience #GriefAndFaith #miscarriagesupport #pregnancyjourney #TrustingGod #HealingInChrist #Marriage #BiblicalMarriage

  7. Mar 17

    Fathers: "Everything You Want is on the Other Side of Hard" | Jeff Hamilton

    Pastor Jeff Hamilton has pastored the same 50-person church for 25 years and coaches high-level sports. His mission? "I make men and sports is my tool." With 40% of American kids growing up without fathers, Jeff created Dad Academy to address the fatherlessness crisis. This is a conversation about perseverance, presence, and why everything you want in life is on the other side of hard.Guest: Jeff Hamilton - Senior Pastor at Hills Church (25 years), basketball/baseball coach, author of Dad Academy, married 34 years with two adult children.- Need prayer? ➡️ DM me on Instagram @ericmunozjr📥 Want a simple tool to check your spiritual health? Download the free checklist here → https://valleyoftheheroic.myflodesk.com/i7w64z1776🎧 Full audio version on Valley of the Heroic Podcast platforms Spotify and Apple PodcastsChapters:00:00 - Meet Pastor Jeff: 25 years, same church03:44 - "I make men and sports is my tool"09:11 - Valley of the Heroic philosophy12:03 - "God is more interested in who we become"15:28 - 40% of kids grow up without fathers19:27 - Orange County's hidden suicide crisis26:04 - Perform FROM love, not FOR love27:08 - Culture defines men negatively34:18 - Greatness through serving others42:14 - Millennials: "Your generation isn't harder"49:57 - "You got this" - message to young dads56:01 - Three things kids need to hear from dad59:04 - Learning to rest is holy1:00:23 - Creating a dad plan for your family1:07:33 - Dad Academy mission and vision1:09:06 - Malachi's prophecy about fathers1:13:21 - Revival starts with the spirit of fatheringKey Takeaways:- Everything you want in life is on the other side of hard- 40% of American children grow up without fathers present- Having both parents is the #1 statistical privilege for success- God cares more about who you become than what you do- Men need community and affirmation from other men- Fatherhood requires intentional planning, not just winging it- The fatherlessness crisis is a curse on our land (Malachi 4:6)

  8. Jan 30

    How Early Exposure Almost Destroyed Him | Jonathan's Testimony

    Jonathan Echevarria was 12 when pornography first warped his mind. By his teens, he was having thoughts he couldn't control, chasing women for identity, and living out the script his culture handed him. At 19, he made a decision that would haunt him. At 23, something broke open at a business conference altar call. In this episode, Jonathan shares the parts of his story most people wouldn't dare speak out loud, and the deliverance moment where he went back to hug his wounded younger self.We also get into the pressure young men face when their identity is built on conquest, what it means to re-parent your inner child, why the fruit of the Spirit has a timeline but not a timeframe, and my thoughts on marriage as a mirror.KEY TAKEAWAYS:→ Early exposure to explicit content is an assault on a child's inner being→ The thoughts you're afraid to speak need the cross, not just willpower→ Sanctification has a timeline (the fruit) but not a fixed timeframe→ Father wounds shape us, but spiritual fathers can help heal us→ A great marriage requires two people dying to themselves constantlyCHAPTERS:0:00 - The Thoughts That Haunted Him2:56 - Jonathans Story19:19 - Reparenting your inner child25:07 - The Pressure 15-Year-Old Boys Can't Manage31:02 - Why We Need the Cross Every Day41:53 - Fathers50:04 - Marriage as a Mirror59:05 - The Devil's Strategy for Intimacy1:06:28 - Proverbs 11:25: Refresh Others, Be RefreshedCONNECT WITH JONATHAN: @thejonathanechavarria  IG: thejonathanechavarriaCONNECT WITH US:Need prayer? ➡️ DM me on Instagram @ericmunozjr📥 Find out where you are spiritually! Download the free Spiritual Health checklist here → https://valleyoftheheroic.myflodesk.com/i7w64z1776🎧 Full audio version on Valley of the Heroic Podcast on Spotify and Apple PodcastsSupport this channel through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/valleyoftheheroic"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." — Hebrews 10:24

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The Valley of the Heroic Podcast is a Christian podcast that tells the stories of peoples experience with God throughout their life. Our journeys in the valley can be incredibly difficult, sometimes painful, but every time, it produces the very things we need to live for Jesus. Our hope is that you would find value in the valley and see there can be purpose to your pain. Your life is God's masterpiece, and every piece of it can glorify Him. Join us for this journey!

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