The Forged Man’s Podcast

The Forged
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Christianity

Mike Sonneveldt is the founder of The Forged, a ministry dedicated to helping Christian men build powerful relationships, unshakable faith, and physical & mental strength in a world that desperately needs biblical masculinity. A devoted husband, father, and defender of liberty, Mike draws from decades of experience as a coach, teacher, pastor, biblical education director, former dean of Revive School of Ministry, author of Become Forged: Maximizing Masculinity, national speaker, and owner of Oak and Banyan Marketing. Through The Forged podcast, he delivers practical, faith-fueled guidance to help men unlock their God-given potential and live with purpose and conviction.

  1. Aug 20

    Alex Hormozi says keep going. But don't forget to do this one thing.

    A lot of us are really good at remembering our failures. We remember what we didn't accomplish. What went wrong. Where we fell short. What we still need to fix. But what about the victories? In this episode of The Forged Man's Podcast, we talk about why it's important to stop, finish, and celebrate—especially if you're the kind of man who is always pushing toward the next thing. When you accomplish something, it's okay to acknowledge it. "I did it. I accomplished it." Celebrating a victory doesn't mean becoming complacent or rewarding yourself with excess. Sometimes the reward is simply taking an evening off. Going home at three o'clock because you did what you needed to do. Taking a rest day. Spending time with people you love. The bigger issue is what happens when you never catalog your victories. If you constantly move the goalposts, you can spend years accomplishing things without ever allowing yourself to recognize that you actually accomplished them. Eventually, your perception of yourself becomes inaccurate because you're only keeping track of what you haven't done. That's not humility. Humility means being accurate about who you are—including being willing to admit when you did something well. So when you get a victory, stop for a moment. Finish the work. Reflect on what you accomplished. Catalog the win. Then celebrate it. And then get back to work. Because you don't need to spend your entire life chasing the next accomplishment without ever recognizing the ground you've already covered.

    Alex Hormozi says keep going. But don't forget to do this one thing.

  2. Aug 19

    My Dad Failed Beautifully: Knowing When It's Time to Let Go

    What if walking away isn't failure? What if sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is recognize that something has reached the end of its purpose—and land the plane well? In this episode of The Forged Man's Podcast, I share a story about my dad and the business he built. For years, the company was successful, employed dozens of people, and served its customers well. But as the industry changed and the business declined, my dad eventually recognized that it was time to close the doors. What happened next is what makes the story so powerful. He didn't simply walk away. He helped every employee find their next step, whether that meant finding another job, updating a résumé, retiring, or receiving severance. He sold or donated the equipment, sold the building, and connected the company's clients with other businesses that could serve them. He landed the plane perfectly. This raises a difficult question for all of us: How do you know when it's time to keep pushing—and when it's time to let go? There's no simple formula. Sometimes perseverance means continuing when everything is telling you to quit. Other times, holding on too long means you're no longer persevering; you're simply refusing to acknowledge that the season has ended. We can become so afraid that letting go means we failed that we refuse to release something God may be telling us to finish. Maybe the thing you're doing isn't meant to last forever. Maybe it served its purpose. Maybe there is another assignment waiting. And sometimes the only way to know the difference is to prayerfully ask the Lord: "Is it time to end this? Have I done what I needed to do? Are You telling me to be done and move on?" The goal isn't simply to hold on forever. The goal is to finish faithfully. You may not be called to the same ministry, business, career, or responsibility for the rest of your life. Some things have a season. When that season ends, you can leave with integrity, care for the people affected, and move forward without viewing the ending as a failure. It is possible to land the plane well.

    My Dad Failed Beautifully: Knowing When It's Time to Let Go

  3. Aug 18

    You already know this crap - But maybe you need to hear it: Take Responsibility. You'll Make the Change.

    If you want something in your life to change, eventually you have to stop complaining about it and start taking responsibility for what you can actually control. That doesn't mean everything that happens to you is your fault. It means that change requires ownership. Even when circumstances are outside your control, you still have a responsibility to decide what you're going to do next. In this episode of The Forged Man's Podcast, we talk about the uncomfortable reality of personal change: it takes pain, struggle, suffering, humility, and the willingness to admit that something needs to change. It's easy to say: "I tried and nothing works." But did you really try? Or did you take a few steps, fail, and give up? Real change often begins with a brutally honest look at yourself. Where have you failed? Where could you have done better? What are you responsible for? And what can you actually do about it? We also talk about the difference between pride and humility. Pride protects itself. It blames other people and doubles down because admitting failure hurts. Humility, on the other hand, can recognize where it falls short and simply ask: "How do I fix this?" That doesn't mean beating yourself up. It means becoming accurate about who you are, where you are, and what needs to happen next. Take ten minutes. Sit with yourself. Stop blaming everyone else. Look objectively at your situation and identify the things you can control. Then do something about them. You don't have to fix your entire life today. You just have to take responsibility for the next step. If you want to really solidify what you need to know plus get the encouragement to step out, then you need to get BECOME FORGED - MAXIMIZING MASCULINITY. This book walks you through the important values in body, soul, and spirit...and how to effect true, lasting change.

    You already know this crap - But maybe you need to hear it: Take Responsibility. You'll Make the Change.

  4. Aug 14

    Those minor distractions are burying you

    The minor distractions are killing you. Not the big distractions. The little ones. The phone you check for just a minute. The urge to grab a snack. Facebook. The TV. The notification. The random thought that pulls you away from what you were doing. Individually, these things seem insignificant. But stack enough of them together, and they can steal hours of your life. In this episode of The Forged Man's Podcast, we look at the subtle desires that constantly pull us away from deep work, our responsibilities, our families, and even our time with God. The solution isn't simply to throw your phone away and hope you're suddenly disciplined. It's to start noticing the desire. When you feel the urge to check your phone, ask yourself: Do I actually need to do that? When you're reaching for food, ask: Am I actually hungry, or am I bored? When you're trying to pray and your mind starts looking for something—anything—to distract you, notice it. Those little desires are like cockroaches. Kill one and there will be another one waiting. But every time you recognize the distraction and choose not to follow it, you're building greater control over yourself. And there's another reason this matters: your distractions aren't just stealing productivity. They're stealing your attention from the people and responsibilities that matter most. Your phone can distract you from your kids. Your work can distract you from being present with your family. Your desire for comfort can distract you from doing the difficult work you're actually called to do. Abundance is a good thing. But abundance also creates responsibility. So today, pay attention to the minor distractions. How many of them are you allowing into your life that you really don't need?

    Those minor distractions are burying you

  5. Aug 13

    You should quit

    When You Want to Quit There are seasons when it feels like nothing is working. You work 10, 12, even 14 hours a day, but you still can't seem to get ahead. You look around and everyone else seems to be making progress while you're stuck fighting the same battles. Your relationships feel empty, your responsibilities feel crushing, and you wake up wondering, "Why bother?" Maybe you've failed so many times that you're starting to believe the voice telling you that you'll never succeed. In this episode of The Forged Man's Podcast, we talk about what happens when you reach the point where you want to quit—and why perseverance, responsibility, purpose, and faithfulness matter even when you can't see the outcome. This isn't a rah-rah speech. It's an honest conversation about what it feels like to struggle, fail, carry responsibility, and wonder whether any of the work you're putting in actually matters. The episode draws a powerful lesson from Valley Forge, where Washington's troops endured a brutal winter marked by hunger, disease, freezing conditions, desertion, and a lack of basic supplies. They had every reason to quit. Some did. But others saw it through. When spring came, supplies arrived, training resumed, and things began to turn around. Your circumstances may not change tomorrow. You may have every reason to quit. But if God has put something on your heart—or you have a responsibility to your family, yourself, and the people around you—keep going. Because the alternative is final. Until then, there is still the possibility that things can turn around. And ultimately, the question isn't simply whether you got the outcome you wanted. It's whether you were faithful to your purpose. Outcome doesn't matter. Faithfulness does. Listen to the latest episode of The Forged Man's Podcast and remember: don't quit.

    You should quit

  6. Aug 12

    How to Build Confidence: Competence, Failure, and Mental Toughness

    How do you gain self-confidence? How do you overcome self-doubt? These are questions a lot of men wrestle with—but often don't want to ask. In this episode of The Forged Man's Podcast, we tackle confidence from a different perspective: you don't build confidence by simply telling yourself to believe in yourself. You build confidence through competence. When you become competent in something, you develop confidence in that area. Whether it's working on cars, building a business, navigating social situations, or becoming a better husband and father, mastery comes through practice. And practice means failure. Failure can hurt your self-image. It can create self-doubt. It can make you think, "I failed at this. I must suck." But what if failure isn't proof that you're incapable? What if it's part of the process that makes you capable? We talk about why mental toughness and resilience are built by being willing to fail, learn, persevere, and try again. The goal isn't to avoid failure. It's to become resilient enough to see failure as an opportunity to learn. If you've been wondering how to build mental toughness, how to believe in yourself, or how to develop greater mental fortitude, this episode offers a practical framework: Go. Fail. Learn. Become competent. Become confident. You'll also hear why confidence isn't limited to tangible skills. Being a husband, being a father, communicating with people, handling social situations, and building a business are all skills that require practice and repetition. Nobody steps into something and gets it perfect from the beginning. You have to get the reps. You have to keep going. And eventually, the thing that once made you doubt yourself becomes something you know you can handle. Listen to the latest episode of The Forged Man's Podcast and discover why confidence isn't something you wait for—it's something you build. Related: Confidence isn't just about how you feel about yourself. Read HuffPost on Bigorexia to explore how competence, discipline, and the ability to handle adversity contribute to genuine confidence.

    How to Build Confidence: Competence, Failure, and Mental Toughness

  7. Aug 11

    When the Lust or Laziness Fight Comes Back

    What do you do when something you thought you had conquered suddenly shows up again? Maybe you're wondering how to overcome lust. Maybe you've been asking how to stop lusting or how to avoid lust when temptation seems to come out of nowhere. Or maybe you've been struggling with motivation and asking, "Why am I so lazy?" Sometimes the battle comes back at the most unexpected time. In this episode of The Forged Man's Podcast, we talk about why lust and laziness can suddenly resurface—even when you're walking with the Lord, taking care of your family, and doing what you believe you're supposed to be doing. The question isn't simply, "Why am I struggling with this again?" The better question may be: "What's happening on the other side of this fight?" Sometimes the flesh fights hardest when we're approaching something new—a new season, a new chapter, a blessing, or a new level of responsibility. That doesn't mean every temptation is automatically a spiritual attack, but it does mean we shouldn't be passive when the fight shows up. We talk about what God says about lust, why how to beat lust isn't simply about trying harder, and why sometimes the answer is practical action: changing your environment, removing access, getting up, putting your hand to the plow, and actually fighting the thing in front of you. We also tackle laziness and the questions many men quietly wrestle with: How to stop being lazy Why am I so lazy? Am I depressed or lazy? Why does laziness sometimes seem to appear out of nowhere? What does it look like to fight your flesh instead of giving in to it? The Christian life isn't a cakewalk. We're called to pick up our cross daily. But that doesn't mean we walk without peace. Christ's yoke is easy and His burden is light—even while the flesh continues to fight. Prayer is the first step. But sometimes, after you pray, you still have to get up and fight. If you're trying to figure out how to stop lust, how to overcome lust, or how to break through a season of laziness and spiritual resistance, this episode is an encouragement to stop assuming the return of a battle means you've failed. Maybe the fight is simply telling you that it's time to stand up. The battle doesn't mean the blessing isn't coming. Sometimes the battle is part of taking the ground. If you're fighting sexual temptation, read our guide on Quitting Pornography: The Science-Backed Truth on Its Effects and What to Do About It, where we explore the triggers, habits, and practical strategies that can help you break the cycle. And if it's the discipline side of things, then be sure to read our article on Little Steps to Big Discipline.

    When the Lust or Laziness Fight Comes Back

  8. Aug 7

    Raising a Tough Kid: Patience, Discipline, and Playing the Long Game

    Parenting isn't one-size-fits-all. Some kids are naturally easygoing. Others are strong-willed, highly opinionated, and determined to test every boundary you put in front of them. If you're raising a tough kid, you're not alone. In this episode of The Forged Man's Podcast, I share a personal reflection about parenting my oldest son—a child with a naturally disagreeable personality—and what God is teaching me through the process. This isn't a list of parenting hacks or a promise of quick fixes. It's an honest conversation about patience, consistency, and believing that the very traits making parenting difficult today may become some of your child's greatest strengths tomorrow. A strong-willed child doesn't necessarily have a bad personality. That same determination, persistence, and willingness to stand against the crowd can become incredible gifts when they're submitted to the Lord and guided with wisdom. In this episode: Why strong personalities aren't something to fear The challenge of raising a tough kid with consistency How discipline shapes character over time Recognizing potential instead of only seeing problems Why parenting requires patience, long-suffering, and perseverance Helping your child direct strong traits toward God's purpose Encouragement for parents who feel like they're making slow progress One of the most encouraging realizations as a parent is this: Change rarely happens overnight. It's built through thousands of small, consistent moments of correction, encouragement, love, and grace. If you're in the middle of a difficult season with one of your children, don't lose heart. Keep showing up. Keep loving them. Keep pointing them toward Christ. The ship may turn slowly—but with faithful, consistent parenting, it does turn. Listen to the latest episode of The Forged Man's Podcast for encouragement if you're navigating the challenges—and blessings—of raising a child with a strong personality.

    Raising a Tough Kid: Patience, Discipline, and Playing the Long Game
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About

Mike Sonneveldt is the founder of The Forged, a ministry dedicated to helping Christian men build powerful relationships, unshakable faith, and physical & mental strength in a world that desperately needs biblical masculinity. A devoted husband, father, and defender of liberty, Mike draws from decades of experience as a coach, teacher, pastor, biblical education director, former dean of Revive School of Ministry, author of Become Forged: Maximizing Masculinity, national speaker, and owner of Oak and Banyan Marketing. Through The Forged podcast, he delivers practical, faith-fueled guidance to help men unlock their God-given potential and live with purpose and conviction.

Information

  • Creator
    The Forged
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Forged Man’s Podcast

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