Ruck the Way

Gabe Smith and Chris Furr
  • 5.0 (11)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Ruck the Way is a podcast about the sacred work that happens when you put one foot in front of the other. Hosts Gabe (a former Army infantry officer turned coach) and Chris (a Scotland-based guide, coach, and ministry leader) have spent the last decade walking ancient paths together across continents—discovering that pilgrimage is a physical journey for a spiritual purpose, and that something real gets unlocked “on the way.” Each episode feels like the kind of honest conversation you only have while walking beside someone: stories, faith, healing, and the weight we all carry—what’s in your rucksack. We’ll explore “thin spaces” and “moments of reckoning,” talk about the brain science behind why walking helps us process (yes, really), and share guest stories of struggle, joy, and transformation. Our tagline says it best: Let the walk do the work.So slow down to the “three-miles-an-hour life,” and come ruck with us.

Episodes

  1. 5D AGO

    #10) Letting the Walk do the Work: Brendan Reese on Pilgrimage

    UPCOMING PILGRIMAGE: https://www.rucktheway.com/pilgrimageInspired by his pilgrimage on the Saint Cuthbert’s Way, Brendan discusses his mission to see "the hearts of men made whole" through redemptive business practices and organizational health. Discover how shifting focus from vocational titles to heart-centered presence can lead to a life of adventure and soul restoration. Gospel of the week: Verse: John 15:12 and "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." Know more about our cause: https://www.rucktheway.com/ Subscribe to our Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@RucktheWay Meet the founders: https://www.rucktheway.com/about

    55 min

  2. FEB 9

    #9) A Deep Dive into Christian Leadership

    Chris shares his journey from medical aspirations to a global mission, discussing the profound nature of "calling" and the often-twisting roads of following God. Gospel of the week: Verse: John 15:12 and "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Know more about our cause: https://www.rucktheway.com/ Subscribe to our Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@RucktheWay Meet the founders: https://www.rucktheway.com/about

    52 min

  3. FEB 2

    #8): Saul Huber on Suffering and Sacred Rhythms | Ruck The Way

    In this episode, we sit down with Saul Huber to discuss his transformative pilgrimage. Saul shares his vulnerable journey through a "baptism by fire" season of life, involving deep personal loss and the challenges of balancing full-time ministry with homeschooling five children. Discover how a 40th birthday gift became a sacred space for "holy littering"—the physical act of surrendering grief to God while walking through the desolate and beautiful landscapes of Scotland. Know more about our cause: https://www.rucktheway.com/ Subscribe to our Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@RucktheWay Meet the founders: https://www.rucktheway.com/about

    46 min

  4. JAN 26

    #7: Nicole Unice on Faith and Leadership

    In this episode of "The Way," We sat down with longtime friend Nicole, who shares her personal journey from a career in fitness to becoming a therapist, pastor, and author. She dives deep into the challenges of being a woman in leadership, the power of mentorship, and the importance of understanding each other's unique stories. Know more about our cause: rucktheway.com Subscribe to our Podcast: youtube.com/@RucktheWay Meet the founders: rucktheway.com/about

    49 min

  5. JAN 19

    #6: Cost of Service: Understanding the Veteran Story

    In this episode, Chris and Gabe dive into the personal history of the RuckTheWay team. Gabe shares his background as a West Point graduate and veteran, exploring the "costly" nature of military life that often remains invisible to civilians. Together, they discuss the importance of being "curious" about others' stories and how to hold those narratives with compassion and genuine interest. Timestamps: 00:00 | Introduction: Walking the Path with Chris and Gabe01:05 | Gabe’s Story: From West Point to the Armed Forces01:45 | The Invisible Cost: A Civilian’s Perspective on Service03:10 | Understanding the Sacrifice of Military Life07:45 | The Importance of Asking: Being Curious About Others12:30 | Avoiding the Springboard: Truly Hearing Someone’s Story18:15 | Becoming a Person Who Can Hold Another’s Story25:50 | Creating Safe Spaces for Real Conversation36:18 | An Invitation to Vulnerability and Understanding37:12 | Upcoming Pilgrimages: Join the Journey in 2026 Know more about our cause: https://www.rucktheway.com/ Subscribe to our Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@RucktheWay Meet the founders: https://www.rucktheway.com/about

    38 min

  6. JAN 12

    #5: The History and Mystery of Celtic Christianity in Scotland and Northern England

    We explore the compelling history of Celtic Christianity. From the survival of faith in the Dark Ages to the legendary story of Saint Oswald, discover how ancient missional communities shaped the spiritual landscape of Scotland and northern England. Compelling Moments: 00:00 | Introduction to Rock the Way and the Passion for History01:31 | Chris’s Life as a Collector of Interesting Things02:23 | Amplifying the Hiking Experience Through Ancient Stories03:46 | Saint Patrick and the Explosion of Christianity in Ireland05:44 | Understanding the Concept of Missional Communities09:13 | The Hardcore Faith of Monks in Coracles11:40 | The Era of Anglo-Saxons and the Worship of Norse Gods13:21 | King Oswald: The "Return of the King" and Tolkien's Inspiration17:23 | The Battle of Heavenfield and the Dedication to Christ19:47 | Saint Aiden’s Challenge: Spreading the Gospel with GentlenessKnow more about our cause: rucktheway.com Subscribe to our Podcast: youtube.com/@RucktheWay Meet the founders: rucktheway.com/about

    42 min

  7. JAN 5

    #4: Finding Your True Story on the Journey with Chris Bruno

    UPCOMING PILGRIMAGE: https://www.rucktheway.com/pilgrimageWe welcome our first guest, Chris Bruno, author of Sage and founder of The Restoration Project. Chris shares his incredible journey from growing up as an emotional container in a wounded family to his time as a Christian worker overseas, which ultimately led him to his work on masculine restoration. He breaks down the transformative six seasons of a man's life and the power of pilgrimage in liminal spaces to invite men into their true story, embracing the wild kindness of God and moving past the wounds of the world. Timestamps 00:00 | Welcome to the Ruck the Way Podcast with Chris Bruno, author of Sage 01:13 | The origin of Ruck the Way: Walking, Pilgrimage, and the Rucksack Metaphor 03:40 | The transformative impact of Chris Bruno's book, Sage, on men and their wives 07:10 | Why having a vision of the "Sage" is critical in a man's journey 08:10 | Chris Bruno's life journey: Growing up with a disabled sister and his emotional departure at 16 10:29 | Finding a vision for manhood in Christian fiction books while living in Germany 14:59 | The six seasons of a man's life: Boy, Phallic Man, Warrior, Wounded Warrior, Restored King, and Sage 17:04 | The transition from King to Sage: Holding a "half sheathed sword and the staff" 23:25 | The opportunity in liminal spaces: Unpacking the rucksack to challenge the 'world's script' 38:00 | The invitation to kindness: Why men need permission to be kind to their wounded younger selves Connect with Chris www.chrisbruno.org www.restory.life www.restorationproject.net Know more about our cause: https://www.rucktheway.com/ Subscribe to our Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@RucktheWay Meet the founders: https://www.rucktheway.com/about

    56 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    #3: The Origin Story of a Vow: Chris' Story

    We dive deep into a profound personal story. Chris shares a critical thread of his origin story: the childhood fear that led him to form a vow of self-protection and avoidant attachment. He recounts a traumatic incident involving a gun that shaped his early understanding of safety and responsibility, and discusses how this deeply ingrained vow played out in his adult life, particularly in his 25-year marriage. They explore the difficulty and necessity of vulnerability, the work of processing childhood trauma, and the transformative power of grieving past losses to find forgiveness. Know more about our cause: https://www.rucktheway.com/ Subscribe to our Podcast: [suspicious link removed] Meet the founders: https://www.rucktheway.com/about

    25 min

  9. 12/22/2025

    #2: Compartmentalized: A Pilgrimage Through Trauma, Responsibility & Redemption

    On this episode of Ruck The Way, Gabe Smith unpacks the heavy thread of responsibility that has shaped his life—from a childhood trauma that left him frozen in shame to a celebrated capacity for compartmentalization in the military. Gabe shares how carrying others’ pain became his default, and how a pivotal moment in South Africa invited him to finally tell his own story. This is a deeply human conversation about what we carry, why we tuck things away, and how story work can bring freedom, repair identity, and invite us into a more alive way of being.

    29 min

  10. 12/15/2025

    #1: The Three Mile An Hour Life

    In our first episode, we introduce ourselves—Gabe and Chris—and the story behind Ruck the Way. After more than a decade of walking together across continents, we’ve learned that pilgrimage is more than a hike—it’s a physical journey for a spiritual purpose. We unpack where the name comes from: rucking as carrying weight on the road, and the Way as the earliest name for followers of Jesus. Gabe shares how his Army experience shaped the metaphor of the rucksack, while Chris explores how walking creates space for story, healing, and encounter. You’ll hear about Wide Open Hill, a moment of reckoning that changed everything, why “let the walk do the work” isn’t just a tagline, and the science behind why walking helps us process trauma, clarity, and calling. We also talk about thin spaces, liminal moments, and why life is meant to be lived—and healed—with others, on the way. This episode sets the foundation for the conversations ahead: honest stories, unhurried pace, and an invitation to journey together. Slow down.Pick up your rucksack.Let the walk do the work.

    41 min
  • 10 Episodes

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Ruck the Way is a podcast about the sacred work that happens when you put one foot in front of the other. Hosts Gabe (a former Army infantry officer turned coach) and Chris (a Scotland-based guide, coach, and ministry leader) have spent the last decade walking ancient paths together across continents—discovering that pilgrimage is a physical journey for a spiritual purpose, and that something real gets unlocked “on the way.” Each episode feels like the kind of honest conversation you only have while walking beside someone: stories, faith, healing, and the weight we all carry—what’s in your rucksack. We’ll explore “thin spaces” and “moments of reckoning,” talk about the brain science behind why walking helps us process (yes, really), and share guest stories of struggle, joy, and transformation. Our tagline says it best: Let the walk do the work.So slow down to the “three-miles-an-hour life,” and come ruck with us.

Information

  • Creator
    Gabe Smith and Chris Furr
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Gabe Smith and Chris Furr

You Might Also Like