Almost Brothers Podcast

Michael Simmons, Richard Randl, Tyler Wilkerson

Whats up whats up whats up.. welcome to your new favorite podcast. Join your hosts Michael, Richard, and Tyler as we discuss God, church, life, and the journey through this crazy world. Get away from the stresses of life with this podcast. We will be hitting on various topics from sports, to life with Christ. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133780/support

  1. 3D AGO

    Roadkill Cafe, Counting Fails, And Actual Wisdom

    Send a text Ever notice how the smallest moments carry the most weight? We started with laughs and a road-trip story, then landed on a question we can’t shake: how do we shape the next generation to be steady, kind, and resilient when life gets loud? With three dads and a teen at the table, we move past clichés and straight into the real work of modeling manhood—patience under pressure, boundaries that teach cause and effect, and the difference between demanding and earning. We revisit a missed chance to turn “can I have this?” into “how can I earn this?” and unpack why that shift matters for character, grit, and future choices. Foster care stories bring the lesson to life: allowances tied to responsibility, privileges linked to trust, and consequences explained, not barked. We talk about parenting across decades, the awkward regrets we all carry, and how faith and growth can rewrite a father’s playbook without pretending the past didn’t happen. The most surprising insight comes from our teen guest, who points to patience as the trait that actually sticks. Kids don’t memorize speeches; they mirror behavior. From the sidelines to the locker room, we call out the culture around youth sports—why coaches often become father figures, and how adult meltdowns teach all the wrong things. Then we lighten the mood with what we’re into right now: new audiobooks and thrillers, a left-field period film that sparked debate, a missions trip on the horizon, and a chaotic Memphis adventure complete with a very carefully hidden pocketknife. Through it all, one theme holds: our sons and daughters are always watching. If we want strong husbands, wives, teammates, and leaders tomorrow, we have to show them what that looks like today. If this conversation hits home—or challenges you—share it with a friend, subscribe for more honest talks, and drop a review with the best lesson a mentor ever gave you. What moment shaped you most? Support the show Please share and SUBSCRIBE!!! If you are able ... would you help us in becoming a subscriber and helping us get the word out. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133780/support Thinking about starting a podcast. Check out our affiliate link here. Listen on apple here Facebook Listen on Spotify here

    34 min
  2. MAR 3

    Regret, Repair, Repeat

    Send a text A joke about animated bloopers turns into a candid look at the heaviest kind of regret: the words we can’t un-say and the moments we never got to finish. We open the door to real stories—faith left unspoken with a father gone too soon, the sting of weaponized words in marriage, and the strange way silence can feel safer than truth until it breaks everything anyway. It’s raw, a little chaotic, and full of the awkward honesty that actually helps. We get practical fast. How do you speak up before resentment stacks? Start smaller and sooner. Trade “you always” for “I feel.” Ask for a timeout when emotions spike, then actually take it—drive, breathe, come back on purpose. We talk about repairing without defensiveness, apologizing without excuses, and making tiny agreements that save big fights: pick calmer moments for hard feedback, welcome messy words, and decide together which lines you won’t cross even when you’re mad. The goal isn’t to erase the past; it’s to keep it from writing the next page. Between laughs about bowling aches, teen slang, and a side quest for rare VHS tapes, we circle back to what matters: learning from regret without living in it. Faith shows up not as a lecture but as courage to reopen a hard conversation, to believe forgiveness is bigger than your worst day, and to make the next call you’ve been avoiding. If you’ve ever wished for a do-over or felt the burn of an unmade choice, this one meets you where you are and hands you a few tools to carry forward. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review. Tell us one regret you’ve turned into wisdom—your story might be the lifeline someone else needs. Support the show Please share and SUBSCRIBE!!! If you are able ... would you help us in becoming a subscriber and helping us get the word out. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133780/support Thinking about starting a podcast. Check out our affiliate link here. Listen on apple here Facebook Listen on Spotify here

    33 min
  3. FEB 16

    The Real You Behind The Smile

    Send a text A few laughs open the door, but the real conversation lives beneath the punchlines: why we hide, who we trust, and how to take off the mask without falling apart. We get honest about the pressure to look polished, the sting of past betrayals, and the quiet ways leaders carry doubt while they serve. From men’s groups to midnight phone calls, we map out how small, safe circles become lifelines—places where you can say “I’m not okay” and hear, “You’re not alone.” We walk through practical tools that turn vulnerability into strength: finding two or three people you can text before a hard day, using friends as filters to reframe conflict, and building rhythms that help when you have to lead while low. We also press against comparison culture and the curated perfection of social feeds, trading metrics of polish for measures of presence and impact. Your struggles still matter, even if someone else has it worse. Care isn’t scarce. If it weighs on your heart, it deserves a voice and a prayer. The conversation widens with creative sparks and a live preview of an original song born from testimony. Music, games, workouts, even a long shower—outlets can heal or numb, and we share how to tell the difference by the fruit: do you return softer and clearer, or just more distant? By the end, we’re inviting you to name your people, send the hard text, and practice the kind of honesty that builds real community. If this resonates, share it with a friend who needs a safe place, hit follow for more real talk on faith and mental health, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Your story might be the mirror someone else needs today. Support the show Please share and SUBSCRIBE!!! If you are able ... would you help us in becoming a subscriber and helping us get the word out. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133780/support Thinking about starting a podcast. Check out our affiliate link here. Listen on apple here Facebook Listen on Spotify here

    50 min
  4. FEB 10

    We Went On A Date To Walmart And Lived To Tell It

    Send a text Ever feel like love gets drowned out by noise—babies crying, stacked Saturdays, and decisions that never end? We’ve been there lately, so we opened the mics with our wives and the twins to talk about the messy, funny, very real art of choosing quality over quantity. From counting “date nights” that look like Walmart runs to sneaking in a car-ride debrief after a high school musical, we explored how tiny pockets of presence can do more for a relationship than a rare, elaborate plan. We compared notes on what actually recharges us—one of us wants the beach and sun every time, another wants a quiet solo shopping trip with a coffee, and someone else just needs to sit at home and watch YouTube without being rushed through every aisle. When schedules are packed with basketball, church events, and moving boxes, those differences can look like conflict, but they can also be the map to real rest. We worked through practical ways to meet in the middle: enlist grandparents, keep a running list of one-hour date ideas, and treat even a grocery run like a chance to listen, laugh, and reset. Planning travel brought its own debates—Boston baseball vs Orlando theme parks, long lines vs budget limits, and how to include the kids without losing our minds. We also swapped recommendations for what to watch and listen to when the couch is as far as you can go: The Rookie, Vampire Diaries rewatch, true crime docuseries, and worship collabs that remix the classics. Along the way there’s playful trash talk, a Dr. Mario rivalry, and a dad joke finale that no one asked for but everyone will remember. If you’re juggling newborns, chasing teens, or just navigating two calendars that never agree, this conversation is your permission slip to think smaller and love deeper. Hit play, steal a few ideas, and tell us your favorite low-effort, high-connection ritual. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a micro-date idea, and leave a review with your best five-minute win—we’ll try it next week. Support the show Please share and SUBSCRIBE!!! If you are able ... would you help us in becoming a subscriber and helping us get the word out. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133780/support Thinking about starting a podcast. Check out our affiliate link here. Listen on apple here Facebook Listen on Spotify here

    36 min
  5. FEB 3

    Snowed In, Locked In

    Send a text The storm didn’t just drop ice; it dropped a hard stop on our calendars and a rare chance to breathe. We went from cabin fever to quiet focus, turning a shut-in week into a string of small wins: movie marathons with the kids, a first Lego build that doubled as stress therapy, and a YouTube deep dive into collecting that sparked a bigger conversation about value, memory, and why some objects become investments. We talk about staying sane when the driveway is a glacier, the kids want to brave the cold, and your only outing is shoveling a trampoline before it snaps. There’s gratitude here too—road crews grinding through the night, utility teams keeping the lights steady, and store staff rebuilding shelves while short-handed. That behind-the-scenes work deserves more than a nod, so we gave it one. In between, we tackled home projects, sorted tools, prepped sermons, and set up livestream gear in a sprint against the weather. The house felt smaller, but time felt larger, and that shift made room for better conversations and shared screens that actually brought us closer. We also geek out with purpose: restarting the MCU with Iron Man, savoring that first Avengers tease, and plotting marathons from Hunger Games to Star Wars. A cracked TV can’t stop the plan to game with the kids, because the point isn’t high fidelity—it’s showing up. On the collector side, we unpack why sealed games, retro consoles, and cards sometimes beat the market, and what that says about patience, scarcity, and storytelling. By week’s end, routines return—school bells, sports, a new job start—but we carry forward the reset: more presence, less noise, and a fresh respect for the people who keep a town moving when the weather won’t. If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show. What’s your go-to move when you’re snowed in? Support the show Please share and SUBSCRIBE!!! If you are able ... would you help us in becoming a subscriber and helping us get the word out. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133780/support Thinking about starting a podcast. Check out our affiliate link here. Listen on apple here Facebook Listen on Spotify here

    25 min
  6. JAN 19

    Your Towel Isn’t Clean Just Because You Are

    Send a text Ever notice how a tiny annoyance—like the wrong towel at 5 a.m. or a broken deodorant—can ignite a bigger storm? We start with lighthearted household gripes and follow the thread to something deeper: why apologies feel threatening, why some of us “sweep and move on,” and how a clear “I was wrong” can defuse a fight in seconds. It’s a candid, funny, and practical look at pride, tone, and the art of making repair easy instead of awkward. We dig into the psychology behind saying sorry, from the myth that admission equals defeat to the real reason accountability builds trust. You’ll hear honest stories about getting called out on sarcasm, realizing mid-argument you’re wrong, and choosing to pivot right then instead of doubling down. We unpack the gap between intent and impact, why delays make apologies harder, and how to give feedback without making it a spectacle. Expect simple scripts that work, like “That’s my bad,” and strategies for keeping apologies from being weaponized. Between the insights, we share life updates and small rituals that strengthen connection before conflict ever starts: carving out one-on-one time with kids, planning date nights with coin flips or rock-paper-scissors, leveling up in games just to laugh together, and setting boundaries around shared bathrooms and borrowed gear. The theme is consistent: safety first, ego second. When your people feel safe, everyone apologizes faster, forgives easier, and moves on lighter. If you’re ready to swap defensiveness for real connection, hit play, then tell us: what’s the one apology line that actually works in your home? Subscribe, share with a friend who hates saying sorry, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find these conversations. Support the show Please share and SUBSCRIBE!!! If you are able ... would you help us in becoming a subscriber and helping us get the word out. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133780/support Thinking about starting a podcast. Check out our affiliate link here. Listen on apple here Facebook Listen on Spotify here

    33 min
  7. JAN 12

    Drawing The Line On Self-Promotion

    Send a text Where’s the healthy line between sharing your work and chasing the spotlight? We dive into the messy middle ground of self-promotion in ministry and music, exploring how to be visible without making yourself the point. Our conversation gets honest about motives, calling, and the practical realities of discoverability—because doors don’t open if no one knows you exist, yet hype alone can corrode the heart. We unpack the difference between God opening doors and our responsibility to show up: posting worship sets or sermon clips, keeping language centered on service, and building a public record of faithfulness. We talk about denominational names and livestreams as forms of branding, why that isn’t automatically vanity, and how intent shapes impact. We also tackle the frustration of being overlooked while louder voices get booked, and map a path that blends craft, consistency, and humility. A major theme is platforming others. From “up and comers” speaking slots to inviting musicians and teachers to share the stage, we show how leaders can turn gatekeeping into discipleship. Calling becomes our guardrail—knowing whether you’re built to teach, preach, lead worship, or support—and we celebrate the strength of small churches: intimacy, accountability, and real growth. The takeaway is simple but demanding: be faithful where you are, share your work without centering yourself, and trust that the right doors will open in the right time. If this resonates, follow the show, share this episode with a friend who’s wrestling with visibility, and leave a quick review to help more people find these conversations. Support the show Please share and SUBSCRIBE!!! If you are able ... would you help us in becoming a subscriber and helping us get the word out. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133780/support Thinking about starting a podcast. Check out our affiliate link here. Listen on apple here Facebook Listen on Spotify here

    28 min
4.9
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Whats up whats up whats up.. welcome to your new favorite podcast. Join your hosts Michael, Richard, and Tyler as we discuss God, church, life, and the journey through this crazy world. Get away from the stresses of life with this podcast. We will be hitting on various topics from sports, to life with Christ. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133780/support