Southern Gentlemen

Chris Thomas & Winston Cruze
  • 5.0 (27)
  • RELATIONSHIPS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Southern Gentlemen is a podcast hosted by Chris Thomas and Winston Cruze. We're just two good ol' boys from the American South, making our way the only way we know how. In each episode of Southern Gentlemen, we chat about things we find interesting. From being better husbands and dads, to hunting, gear, cocktails, and more, we always come at it from a Southern perspective, and we always have a lot of fun. We're grateful y'all are here!

  1. 2D AGO

    Mardi Gras: From Beads to Ashes

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! When most of us hear "Mardi Gras," we think beads, Bourbon Street, and stories that probably shouldn't be repeated in polite company. But is that really what Mardi Gras is? In this episode, Chris and Winston admit they don't know much about it — and decide to find out. We dig into the history of Mardi Gras, the meaning of Fat Tuesday, and how it connects to Lent, Ash Wednesday, and the 40-day season leading up to Easter. We explore how a medieval European Catholic tradition made its way to the American South, why Mobile, Alabama technically did it first, and how New Orleans turned it into a cultural phenomenon. Along the way, we talk king cakes (and the plastic baby inside them), krewes, the symbolism of purple, green, and gold, and whether Mardi Gras is just chaos… or actually a deeply structured spiritual rhythm of feast before fast. If you've ever wondered what Mardi Gras really means — beyond the highlight reel — this episode is your beginner's guide. Beads to ashes. Feast to fast. Let's learn something. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    43 min

  2. FEB 12

    Wrestling with the First Amendment

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! In this episode, Chris opens by making a few clarifications and corrections from a previous episode, tightening up a few points and setting the record straight. From there, we get into the meat of the episode, a wide-ranging conversation on the First Amendment and why it still matters in real life, not just in theory. We talk about free speech, limits, cultural pressure, and the responsibility that comes with having a voice in a loud, reactive world. This isn't a legal lecture - it's a practical, grounded discussion about discernment, courage, and what it means to speak wisely as men in the public square. We close the episode on a lighter note, turning our attention to the upcoming Daytona 500, why it still carries weight as a cultural institution, and what we're watching for as race day approaches. Southern Gentlemen style - thoughtful, direct, and rooted in principle. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    58 min

  3. FEB 5

    Smoke Rises In The Storm: Will Newman of Edley's BBQ

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! In this episode of the Southern Gentlemen Podcast, Chris and Winston sit down with Will Newman, founder of Edley's BBQ, for a conversation that hits right at the crossroads of business, faith, family, and Southern Hospitality. We start with Edley's response to Winter Storm Fern - when Will and his team fired up the pits to serve free pork sandwiches to linemen, first responders, and folks displaced by the storm. It's a powerful look at what it means to show up for your community when it matters most. From there, Will walks us through the Edley's origin story, growing from a single location to 11 restaurants over the past 15 years, and what that kind of growth teaches you about leadership, humility, and building culture that scales. We dig into BBQ culture, what makes Tennessee BBQ special, and why food is often the front door to real hospitality. Will also opens up about leaning more intentionally into his faith as the leader of a fast-growing company, and how running a business at this level has shaped him - as a husband, a dad, and a man trying to keep his priorities straight. And of course, we keep it Southern and have some fun along the way, including Will's hot takes on timeless debates like Waffle House vs. Cracker Barrel. He even shares a story about trying a famous pitmaster's brisket that was so dang good it made him curse! This one's about generosity, grit, and doing good work the right way - plates full, hearts open, and doors wide. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    1h 11m

  4. JAN 29

    Be Prepared: Calm in the Storm

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! On this episode of Southern Gentlemen, Chris and Winston swap stories from the other side of the Great Winter Storm Fern of 2026 that shut down much of Middle Tennessee and had everybody rethinking just how prepared they really were. They break down what they learned the hard way - from water storage and food prep to keeping the lights on and the house warm when power went out. The guys talk generators (what they'll have in place for the next time something like this happens), small decisions that made a big difference, and the gaps they didn't realize they had until the storm hit. It's a practical, boots-on-the-ground conversation about being ready for whatever comes next - without panic, fear, or turning your garage into a bunker. Just solid wisdom, a few laughs, and lessons learned from living through it together. If you've ever said, "We'll deal with it when it happens," this one's for you. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    1h 9m

  5. JAN 22

    King, Warrior, Sage, and Lover: The Four Masculine Archetypes

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! On this episode of the Southern Gentlemen Podcast, Chris and Winston kick things off with a quick recap of the College Football National Championship Game before shifting gears into a deeper, more introspective conversation. The guys dive into the Four Archetypes of Masculinity — The King, The Warrior, The Sage, and The Lover — and explore how these archetypes show up in our lives for better… and sometimes for worse. To make it personal, Chris and Winston actually had ChatGPT build a 10-question assessment they could each take on the show. The results gave them insight into their primary and secondary archetypes, as well as the shadow sides that tend to surface under stress, pressure, or pride. Let's just say there were a few eye-opening moments, some laughs, and more than a little self-reflection. If you've ever wondered why you lead the way you do, fight the way you do, love the way you do, or withdraw the way you do, this episode will hit close to home. 👉 Bonus: We're including the full assessment questions and prompt in the show notes, so you can take it yourself and dig a little deeper into your own wiring. Pull up a chair. This one's thoughtful, honest, and very much a Southern Gentlemen conversation. If you'd like to learn more about how you personally relate to the Four Masculine Archetypes, simply copy and paste the following 10-question quiz into ChatGPT and ask it to analyze your results. 🧭 The 10-Question Masculine Archetype Quiz 1. When you walk into a chaotic situation, your instinct is to: A) Take charge and bring order B) Confront the problem head-on C) Step back and assess what's really happening D) Feel the emotional tone and connect with people 2. Your greatest strength is: A) Leadership and responsibility B) Discipline and follow-through C) Insight and understanding systems D) Passion and emotional depth 3. People most often come to you for: A) Direction and decisions B) Protection or action C) Advice and perspective D) Empathy and encouragement 4. Under stress, you tend to: A) Become controlling or withdrawn B) Get angry or push harder C) Overthink or detach D) Seek comfort or escape 5. What gives you the deepest sense of satisfaction? A) Building something that lasts B) Winning or completing a challenge C) Figuring out how things really work D) Feeling deeply connected or alive 6. Your relationship to rules is: A) I make or uphold them B) I use them to win C) I analyze or bend them D) I follow my feelings over them 7. When conflict arises, you usually: A) Mediate and restore order B) Stand your ground and fight C) Strategize quietly D) Try to preserve the relationship 8. You admire men who are: A) Wise and fair leaders B) Strong, brave, and relentless C) Intelligent and perceptive D) Passionate and expressive 9. As a boy, you were most often: A) Responsible or "old soul" B) Competitive or rebellious C) Curious or observant D) Sensitive or creative 10. If everything were taken away, you would rebuild by: A) Establishing stability and structure B) Fighting your way forward C) Learning, adapting, and planning D) Seeking meaning and connection Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    51 min

  6. JAN 15

    Best Family Games 2026

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! In this episode of Southern Gentlemen, Chris and Winston slow things down and talk about something close to home—good, old-fashioned fun with the people you love most. The guys share their favorite games to play with the whole family—the kind that get everyone around the table, spark a little friendly competition, and create the kind of memories that stick. From games that work with a wide range of ages to ones that are perfect for winding down in the evening, they break down what makes a great family game night and why it matters more than we sometimes realize. They also each share one game they enjoy playing just with their wives—a simple, intentional way to connect, laugh, and spend quality time together without distractions. Along the way, Chris gives Winston an update on his fast—how it's going, what he's learning, and what it's doing for him mentally and physically. The guys also react to a big announcement NASCAR just made about a major change to their championship format, sharing their initial thoughts and what it could mean for the sport moving forward. It's a laid-back, wide-ranging conversation about presence, laughter, discipline, and choosing togetherness in a busy world. Grab a cup of coffee, make a list for your next game night, and come hang out with the Southern Gentlemen. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    1h 8m

  7. JAN 8

    Faith, Flu, and Fresh Perspective

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! In this episode of Southern Gentlemen, Chris and Winston catch up after the New Year break and ease back into the groove of things—flu bugs, family time, and all. Winston shares about capturing incredible drone footage of whales, while Chris talks through the fast he's currently on and how he's approaching the new year with a renewed focus on drawing closer to God. The guys also touch on current events (including what's going on with Maduro), swap a few reflections from the break, and wrap things up with an update on new Southern Gentlemen hats that'll be dropping soon. It's a laid-back, wide-ranging conversation about faith, work, health, and stepping into a new year with intention. Pull up a chair and come on in. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    1h 2m

  8. JAN 1

    2026 Brings Contentment & Gratitude

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! In this episode of the Southern Gentlemen Podcast, Chris and Winston kick things off with a laid-back recap of Christmas—sharing a few highlights, reflections, and moments that made the season meaningful. From there, the conversation turns more reflective as they talk about contentment heading into a new year. They discuss the importance of choosing gratitude in a world that constantly invites comparison—especially when social media shows us everyone else's highlight reel, but never the full story. Behind every post is a real person carrying something heavy: pain, loss, stress, disappointment, or uncertainty. Chris and Winston remind listeners how easy it is to measure our lives against someone else's success, timing, or blessings—and how that trap quietly steals joy. Instead, they encourage leaning into thankfulness, staying present, and remembering that everyone is dealing with something, whether we can see it or not. Along the way, they also have some fun playing voicemails from listeners who called in to sing Christmas carols for the show—bringing a few laughs and a whole lot of charm. It's a warm, honest conversation about perspective, gratitude, and learning to be content right where your boots are planted as you step into a new year. Pull up a chair and join the conversation. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    47 min
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5
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Southern Gentlemen is a podcast hosted by Chris Thomas and Winston Cruze. We're just two good ol' boys from the American South, making our way the only way we know how. In each episode of Southern Gentlemen, we chat about things we find interesting. From being better husbands and dads, to hunting, gear, cocktails, and more, we always come at it from a Southern perspective, and we always have a lot of fun. We're grateful y'all are here!

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Thomas & Winston Cruze
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Southern Gentlemen

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