Gaining Ground

Gaining Ground
  • 5.0 (31)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Gaining Ground is a podcast for men who are tired of drifting and ready to move forward. Hosted by father-and-son duo Drew and Landon Sherman, Gaining Ground calls men to take responsibility for their faith, their family, and their future. Each episode tackles real issues men face—leadership, discipline, identity, marriage, fatherhood, work, and spiritual growth—with biblical wisdom, honest conversation, and practical next steps. This isn’t a podcast about quick fixes or surface-level motivation. It’s about steady progress. Learning to lead yourself well. Building integrity when no one’s watching. Becoming the kind of man others can count on. If you feel stuck, stretched thin, or unsure how to grow without burning out—this podcast is for you. No hype. No fluff. Just truth, clarity, and a challenge to take the next step forward. New episodes release every other Monday. Take ground. Build what lasts.

Episodes

  1. FEB 2

    How To Handle Criticism (Without Letting It Break You) with Ps. Rick Atchley

    Criticism is unavoidable for men who are leading, building, and trying to do something that matters. The moment you step into responsibility—at work, at home, or in your faith—opinions follow. Some are helpful. Others are destructive. Knowing the difference is the difference between growth and burnout. The real danger isn’t criticism itself. It’s letting the wrong voices shape your confidence, identity, and decisions. Not all critics are created equal, and wise men learn to discern who deserves a voice and who doesn’t. Feedback can either refine you or slowly hollow you out, depending on where it comes from and how you receive it. Healthy leadership requires humility without insecurity. It means being open to feedback while guarding your character. Judgment can be questioned. Character must be protected. Men who live with integrity create space to learn without living defensively. They don’t react out of ego or anger—they respond out of wisdom. One of the most powerful ideas explored here is the difference between critics in the stands and teammates on the field. Noise comes from people watching. Wisdom comes from people who are in the game, bleeding with you, and pulling in the same direction. Those are the voices worth listening to. The same principle applies at home. A strong man builds a culture where his wife and kids can speak honestly without fear. Encouragement sets the climate. Correction lands best in an environment of trust. Words have weight, and how a man responds to criticism reveals far more about his health than the criticism itself. Criticism doesn’t have to derail your calling. When handled well, it becomes one of the tools God uses to strengthen leadership, deepen character, and sharpen judgment. The goal isn’t to silence every voice—it’s to discern which voices help you grow and which ones distract you from the mission. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 – Why criticism comes with leadership 03:10 – The danger of listening to the wrong voices 07:50 – Criticism will refine you or define you 12:20 – Judgment vs character: knowing the difference 15:20 – Hurt people and hidden pain behind criticism 18:35 – When critics misunderstand your intentions 21:49 – Responding with integrity instead of anger 25:07 – Blessing instead of cursing under pressure 29:17 – When criticism hits your identity 32:47 – Living out of blessing, not for approval 35:23 – Not all critics are created equal 37:25 – Creating a culture of honest feedback 42:32 – Encouragement vs criticism in the home 45:41 – Being the thermostat, not the thermometer 48:08 – Rising above distraction and staying on mission 49:38 – When silence is the wisest response 52:19 – Choosing forgiveness before offense 🚀 START HERE! Learn more about the Gaining Ground men’s movement and how you can get involved at https://gaininggroundmen.com. ✅ ATTEND A GATHERING: Join us every First Wednesday at 6:30am in the DFW area at a Compass Church campus. These in-person gatherings are designed to help men reset, refocus, and move forward with intention. Oh, and there’s coffee and breakfast of course. Register now at https://gaininggroundmen.com/gatherings/. 🔥 MORE FROM RICK: - The Hill Church | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/thehillschurch) - The Hill Church | Web (https://thehills.org/) 👍 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! LIKE & SUBSCRIBE: - Gaining Ground | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@GainingGroundMen) - Gaining Ground | Spotify (https://tinyurl.com/3pbwbzr7)  - Gaining Ground | Apple Podcasts (https://tinyurl.com/bp82b792) 📱 STAY CONNECTED: - Gaining Ground | Instagram (https://instagram.com/gaininggroundmen)  - Landon Sherman | Instagram (https://instagram.com/landonjsherman)  - Compass Church | Instagram (https://instagram.com/mycompasschurch) - Compass Church | Web (https://compass.church) MUSIC CREDITS: What It Is (Instrumental) | Friendlierbear MB018TS6WURYX4M Witch (Instrumental) - Lovedrug MB01ZSS1RUVB0IK

    54 min

  2. JAN 19

    Why Smart Men Make Stupid Decisions

    Smart men don’t usually get stuck because they lack intelligence. They get stuck because intelligence alone isn’t enough to carry the weight of real life. Pressure at work, responsibility at home, leadership decisions, relationships, and stress all have a way of pulling capable men into choices they later regret. The real issue isn’t a lack of information. It’s a lack of wisdom. Wisdom isn’t about knowing more facts or having a higher IQ. It’s about living skillfully in the reality of God—making the right decision, at the right time, in the right way. Most decisions don’t come with clear moral lines. Parenting, finances, leadership, friendships, and marriage live in the gray, where discernment matters more than raw knowledge. Wisdom is available to any man humble enough to pursue it. It’s formed through proximity, shaped by relationships, and strengthened by grounding your life in integrity rather than impulse. The people you walk with quietly influence how you think, how you choose, and where you end up. Isolation doesn’t make men stronger—it makes them drift. This teaching challenges men to take responsibility for their growth, audit the voices shaping their decisions, and intentionally seek mentors who have lived what they teach. Wisdom isn’t reserved for the elite or experienced. It’s built through humility, community, and consistent alignment with truth. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s fewer regrets, better judgment, and steady forward progress. Smart men don’t need more information. They need wiser inputs, stronger foundations, and the courage to seek growth. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 – Why smart men still make stupid decisions 01:45 – The regret question: “Why did I do that?” 05:40 – What wisdom really is (and what it isn’t) 07:05 – Wisdom vs intelligence vs information 10:05 – Why most decisions live in the gray 11:25 – How relationships shape judgment 13:20 – Why influence never stops in adulthood 14:55 – Wisdom is caught, not taught 17:30 – Walking with the wise (Proverbs 13:20) 20:50 – Trust vs entrust: who gets access to your life 22:40 – The wisdom audit every man should do 23:20 – Wise men live grounded and principled lives 26:40 – Why mentors accelerate wisdom 30:45 – Isolation as the enemy of growth 38:35 – Responsibility, wisdom, and gaining ground 🚀 START HERE! Learn more about the Gaining Ground men’s movement and how you can get involved at https://gaininggroundmen.com. ✅ ATTEND A GATHERING: Join us every First Wednesday at 6:30am in the DFW area at a Compass Church campus. These in-person gatherings are designed to help men reset, refocus, and move forward with intention. Oh, and there’s coffee and breakfast of course. Register now at https://gaininggroundmen.com/gatherings/. 👍 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! LIKE & SUBSCRIBE: - Gaining Ground | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@GainingGroundMen) - Gaining Ground | Spotify (https://tinyurl.com/3pbwbzr7)  - Gaining Ground | Apple Podcasts (https://tinyurl.com/bp82b792) 📱 STAY CONNECTED: - Gaining Ground | Instagram (https://instagram.com/gaininggroundmen)  - Landon Sherman | Instagram (https://instagram.com/landonjsherman)  - Compass Church | Instagram (https://instagram.com/mycompasschurch) - Compass Church | Web (https://compass.church) MUSIC CREDITS: My Guy (Instrumental) - Lonely Benson MB01DGT9QCDA6JV What It Is (Instrumental) | Friendlierbear MB018TS6WURYX4M Witch (Instrumental) - Lovedrug MB01ZSS1RUVB0IK

    41 min

  3. JAN 6

    2026 Goals: The Discipline Gap That’s Holding Men Back

    Most men don’t fail because they lack goals—they fail because they lack discipline. As a new year approaches and goal-setting ramps up, this conversation challenges the belief that bigger goals lead to better results. The real issue isn’t motivation. It’s consistency. Growth doesn’t come from occasional bursts of effort, but from doing small, right things over and over again. A lot of men live in an “I hope” mindset instead of an “I decide” posture. Hope sounds spiritual, but it’s a terrible strategy. Real change happens when men move from wishing to owning, from intentions to rhythms. Discipline isn’t about perfection—it’s about faithfulness. Even the Apostle Paul wrestled with inconsistency, which means this struggle isn’t a character flaw—it’s a human one. This conversation breaks down how discipline actually forms, why growth often feels invisible before it shows up, how to recover when you fail without spiraling into shame, and why learning to love the process matters more than obsessing over outcomes. Consistency builds quietly—and then shows up suddenly. If you’re tired of setting goals every year and wondering why nothing changes, this is a better way forward. No hype. No shortcuts. Just steady rhythms that help you gain ground and become a man others can count on. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 – Why men fail at goals every year 01:45 – The discipline gap holding men back 03:40 – Motivation vs discipline (why motivation doesn’t last) 06:05 – Why most men struggle with consistency 09:35 – The Bible on inconsistency (Romans 7 explained) 12:40 – Why discipline beats talent and intention 15:25 – Small habits that lead to real change 18:10 – Why men quit before results show up 21:00 – How long consistency actually takes to work 24:20 – Discipline without perfection (stop the shame cycle) 28:05 – How to recover when you fall off track 31:45 – Simple reset plan for men who mess up 35:30 – Process vs results (why outcomes don’t change behavior) 38:50 – How disciplined men think differently 41:10 – Gaining ground one step at a time 🚀 START HERE! Learn more about the Gaining Ground men’s movement and how you can get involved at https://gaininggroundmen.com. ✅ ATTEND A GATHERING: Join us every First Wednesday at 6:30am in the DFW area at a Compass Church campus. These in-person gatherings are designed to help men reset, refocus, and move forward with intention. Oh, and there’s coffee and breakfast of course. Register now at https://gaininggroundmen.com/gatherings/. 👍 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! LIKE & SUBSCRIBE: -  Gaining Ground | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@GainingGroundMen)  -  Gaining Ground | Spotify (https://tinyurl.com/3pbwbzr7)   -  Gaining Ground | Apple Podcasts (https://tinyurl.com/bp82b792) 📱 STAY CONNECTED: -  Gaining Ground | Instagram (https://instagram.com/gaininggroundmen)  -  Landon Sherman | Instagram (https://instagram.com/landonjsherman)  -  Compass Church | Instagram (https://instagram.com/mycompasschurch) -  Compass Church | Web (https://compass.church) MUSIC CREDITS: The World Is Yours (Instrumental) - skateshop MB01U0OBFRGCKBV Witch (Instrumental) - Lovedrug MB01ZSS1RUVB0IK

    39 min

  4. JAN 5

    Why Men Stay Stuck in the Blame Loop

    Why do so many men feel stuck—even when they’re working hard, trying to lead, and doing the “right” things? In this episode of Gaining Ground, Landon and Drew Sherman expose one of the most subtle and destructive patterns men fall into: the blame loop. Blame feels natural. It feels justified. But over time, it quietly drains a man of his power, his clarity, and his ability to grow. Through honest stories from marriage, leadership, parenting, and ministry, this conversation shows how blame shows up in everyday life. From pointing fingers at spouses, coworkers, bosses, or circumstances, to excusing our own inaction, blame becomes a way of avoiding responsibility. And while it may protect our ego in the moment, it ultimately keeps us stuck—relationally, spiritually, and emotionally. Landon and Drew trace the blame loop all the way back to the Garden of Eden, showing how passing responsibility is woven into human nature. But they also make it clear that blame is not neutral. It damages relationships, erodes trust, and keeps men tethered to their past. When men refuse to take ownership, they unknowingly carry unresolved issues into future marriages, jobs, friendships, and even generations. One of the central ideas of this episode is learning to “own your 1%.” Even when a situation feels 99% someone else’s fault, growth begins when a man takes responsibility for the part he can control. That shift—owning what’s yours—restores agency. It puts your hands back on the steering wheel of your life. Blame forfeits growth, but responsibility unlocks it. The conversation also introduces a powerful framework for leadership and masculinity: being a thermostat, not a thermometer. Thermometers react to the environment. Thermostats set the temperature. Men who live in blame simply mirror what’s happening around them. Men who take responsibility change the climate—at home, at work, and in their community—by staying grounded, stable, and intentional. This episode includes real-world examples from marriage, the workplace, church leadership, and prison ministry, showing how responsibility can break cycles that have existed for decades. It makes a compelling case that the strongest men are not the loudest or most aggressive—but the ones humble enough to say, “This part is on me,” and courageous enough to change. If you want to reclaim your power, grow as a man of God, and stop repeating the same patterns, this episode offers a clear path forward. Growth doesn’t start when others change. It starts when you do. Take responsibility. Break the blame loop. Gain ground. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 – Why blame keeps men stuck 01:00 – The blame loop and taking responsibility 02:45 – How men deflect responsibility in everyday life 04:00 – The cost of avoiding ownership (real consequences) 07:30 – Why blaming others feels natural 09:45 – Adam and Eve: blame from the beginning 11:10 – Why successful men take responsibility 12:40 – How blame damages marriages and families 14:00 – Leadership, humility, and saying “I’m sorry” 18:15 – Owning your 1% (even when it feels unfair) 22:00 – “Blame is the basket that carries your past forward” 24:30 – Breaking generational cycles of blame 29:30 – Thermostat vs thermometer leadership 36:40 – One step to escape the blame loop today 🚀 START HERE! Learn more about the Gaining Ground men’s movement and how you can get involved at https://gaininggroundmen.com. ✅ ATTEND A GATHERING: Join us every First Wednesday at 6:30am in the DFW area at a Compass Church campus. These in-person gatherings are designed to help men reset, refocus, and move forward with intention. Oh, and there’s coffee and breakfast of course. Register now at https://gaininggroundmen.com/gatherings/. 👍 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! LIKE & SUBSCRIBE: - Gaining Ground | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@GainingGroundMen)  - Gaining Ground | Spotify (https://tinyurl.com/3pbwbzr7)   - Gaining Ground | Apple Podcasts (https://tinyurl.com/bp82b792) 📱 STAY CONNECTED: - Gaining Ground | Instagram (https://instagram.com/gaininggroundmen)  - Landon Sherman | Instagram (https://instagram.com/landonjsherman)  - Compass Church | Instagram (https://instagram.com/mycompasschurch) - Compass Church | Web (https://compass.church) MUSIC CREDITS: Obsidion (with Boda) - Judah Earl MB01FF8PP2HB5CJ Witch (Instrumental) - Lovedrug MB01ZSS1RUVB0IK

    40 min

  5. JAN 5

    Men Are Dying a Slow Death (And No One’s Talking About It)

    Men are struggling—and most of the time, it isn’t loud or dramatic. It’s slow. It’s subtle. And it’s costing men their faith, their families, and their future. In this episode of Gaining Ground, Landon and Drew Sherman name what many men feel but rarely say out loud: when men stop growing, they don’t stay neutral—they drift. And drift, left unchecked, is deadly. This conversation tackles the confusion men face in today’s culture, where masculinity is either mocked or exaggerated. One side tells men to be soft. The other tells them to be savage. But neither offers a sustainable, Christ-centered path forward. Landon and Drew unpack why biblical masculinity has nothing to do with hobbies, hustle culture, or appearances—and everything to do with growth, intentionality, and character. They expose how comparison, shame, exhaustion, and busyness quietly pull men off course, often without them even realizing it. Drawing from 1 Timothy 4, the heart of Gaining Ground comes into focus: real growth takes diligence, practice, and time. The Apostle Paul’s charge to Timothy—“so that all may see your progress”—becomes a framework for understanding why personal growth isn’t just personal. When a man commits to growing in his faith, developing his God-given gifts, and living with integrity, everyone around him benefits. Growth doesn’t have to be explosive to be powerful. Incremental, steady progress is often what creates lasting change. This episode also speaks directly to two kinds of men: the man who looks like he’s winning on the outside but feels stuck spiritually, and the man who wants to believe but isn’t sure he can because of his past or his failures. Through stories, humor, and honest reflection, Landon and Drew make it clear that no one is too far gone to grow, and no one is disqualified from starting again. God’s posture toward men isn’t condemnation—it’s patience, presence, and invitation. At its core, this episode is a call to stop chasing extremes and start choosing consistency. You don’t need to gain 99 yards in one play. You need to gain a little ground—daily, weekly, over time. This is the beginning of a journey built around faith, brotherhood, responsibility, and wisdom, designed to help men grow in a way that’s sustainable and real. If you’re tired of drifting, burned out from hustle culture, or unsure how to grow as a man of God, this episode sets the foundation. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress. And when men grow, everyone gets better. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 – Why men struggle to grow 01:05 – The cultural confusion around masculinity 02:30 – Be soft vs be savage (why both miss the mark) 03:35 – Comparison and shame in modern men 04:40 – Drift vs growth (how men slowly lose ground) 05:40 – How men drift from faith and family 06:50 – Why growth requires intention 09:50 – Success at work but stuck spiritually 11:45 – Feeling disqualified from faith 14:00 – Hustle culture vs sustainable growth 16:30 – Why slow, consistent growth works 17:50 – The myth of “busy seasons” 19:30 – 1 Timothy 4 and spiritual growth 24:05 – Character over performance 28:40 – Small gains that change everything 🚀 START HERE! Learn more about the Gaining Ground men’s movement and how you can get involved at https://gaininggroundmen.com. ✅ ATTEND A GATHERING: Join us every First Wednesday at 6:30am in the DFW area at a Compass Church campus. These in-person gatherings are designed to help men reset, refocus, and move forward with intention. Oh, and there’s coffee and breakfast of course. Register now at https://gaininggroundmen.com/gatherings/. 👍 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! LIKE & SUBSCRIBE: - Gaining Ground | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@GainingGroundMen)  - Gaining Ground | Spotify (https://tinyurl.com/3pbwbzr7)   - Gaining Ground | Apple Podcasts (https://tinyurl.com/bp82b792) 📱 STAY CONNECTED: - Gaining Ground | Instagram (https://instagram.com/gaininggroundmen)  - Landon Sherman | Instagram (https://instagram.com/landonjsherman)  - Compass Church | Instagram (https://instagram.com/mycompasschurch) - Compass Church | Web (https://compass.church) MUSIC CREDITS: Charged Up (Instrumental) - MARS MB01DGT9QCDA6JV Witch (Instrumental) - Lovedrug MB01ZSS1RUVB0IK

    41 min
  • 5 Episodes

5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Gaining Ground is a podcast for men who are tired of drifting and ready to move forward. Hosted by father-and-son duo Drew and Landon Sherman, Gaining Ground calls men to take responsibility for their faith, their family, and their future. Each episode tackles real issues men face—leadership, discipline, identity, marriage, fatherhood, work, and spiritual growth—with biblical wisdom, honest conversation, and practical next steps. This isn’t a podcast about quick fixes or surface-level motivation. It’s about steady progress. Learning to lead yourself well. Building integrity when no one’s watching. Becoming the kind of man others can count on. If you feel stuck, stretched thin, or unsure how to grow without burning out—this podcast is for you. No hype. No fluff. Just truth, clarity, and a challenge to take the next step forward. New episodes release every other Monday. Take ground. Build what lasts.

Information

  • Creator
    Gaining Ground
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Gaining Ground