Meet Sam Halligan Sam Halligan is the city director of Forge in Des Moines, Iowa. A Des Moines native (Saint Pius X and Dowling Catholic) who spent a decade serving with the young-adult mission Damascus, Sam and his wife, Whitney, recently moved back home with their kids. He shares the John 2:5 verse — "Do whatever he tells you" — that has anchored his marriage and their mission-driven family. What Is Forge? Forge is an on-the-ground movement of small groups dedicated to strengthening families by focusing on men. Sam breaks down Forge's guiding acronym, TAU (Thriving, Apostolic, Orthodox), and explains why reaching the heart of fathers changes the spiritual trajectory of an entire household. Since launching in late 2023, Forge has grown to 55 small groups across the Des Moines area — open to men of any faith background. Redefining Authentic Masculinity Julie and Chris dig into words like authority, dominance, and patriarch — terms the culture often paints as toxic. Sam makes the case for redeeming them, tracing masculinity back to Genesis, where Adam is called to till, keep, and protect the garden. He argues true masculine strength looks like Christ's: powerful, but exercised in humility and service. How Wives Can Support Their Husbands' Leadership Drawing on Edward Sri's book Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love, Sam and the hosts talk about the mutual responsibility spouses have to help each other flourish. Sam encourages women to offer affirmation rather than critique as husbands grow in their faith leadership, and Julie and Chris share personal stories of learning to trust their husbands' God-given roles. Upcoming Forge Events Forge Hog Roast — Friday, July 31, 2026, at Wills Family Orchard in Adel, Iowa. A couples' night with a spit-roasted hog, cigars, drinks, a bonfire, and live music. Heart of the Mission Retreat — October 15, 2026, a three-night retreat at Creighton University Retreat Center in Griswold, Iowa, limited to 65 men, featuring extended confession, adoration, and daily Mass. Forge Men's Conference — February 27, 2027, drawing roughly 1,500 men to Des Moines. Learn more and register at Forge Events Catholic Women Now airs on IowaCatholicRadio.com and wherever you listen to podcasts. #CatholicWomenNow #Forge #AuthenticMasculinity #CatholicMen #CatholicFatherhood #DesMoinesCatholic #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #TheologyOfTheBody #ChristianMasculinity #MensMinistry #CatholicFaith #CatholicMarriage Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.