The Valiant Forge

Mark Osborne
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  • Christianity
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A podcast for men who refuse to stay stuck.   The Valiant Forge is where Christian men come to be shaped — not by the patterns of this world, but by the renewing work of God. Hosted by Mark Osborne — husband, father, grandfather, and servant‑leader — this podcast speaks to men who are tired of drifting and ready to live with clarity, conviction, and purpose. Every episode is a steady, honest conversation about faith, fatherhood, failure, and the formation God works in the fire. No hype. No perfection. No pretending. Just real stories, biblical truth, and the kind of wisdom that sharpens iron. If you’re a man who wants to think differently, live differently, and lead differently — this is your forge. Step in. Be renewed. Walk away transformed! 

  1. 17h ago

    You Know Jesus Loves You. But Do You Believe It? | Tony Stoltzfus

    Can you know Jesus loves you and still feel you have to prove your worth? Coach and author Tony Stoltzfus shares how devastating loss changed his relationship with God, then guides Mark through a personal coaching conversation about ministry, significance, and bringing the desires of the heart to Jesus. You can know Jesus loves you and still feel like you have to prove you're worth something. In this episode of The Valiant Forge Podcast, Mark Osborne sits down with Christian leadership coach and author Tony Stoltzfus to explore faith, loss, and the pressure to find your value in what you do for God. Tony shares the painful seasons that reshaped his life: a church collapse, the loss of his home in a fire, and family crises that pushed him beyond his ability to cope. He describes how those experiences changed his relationship with Jesus and loosened his need to perform. The conversation becomes deeply personal when Mark asks Tony to coach him through his own desire to reach more men and leave a meaningful legacy. Together, they explore the needs beneath those ambitions and what it looks like to bring those needs to Jesus. IN THIS EPISODE Trusting God when life does not work out as expectedBuilding deeper relationships through vulnerabilityFaith in seasons of loss and limited productivityMoving from transactional prayer toward relationship with JesusWorth, significance, ministry, and the desire to leave a legacyTony's Questions for Jesus approach and a live coaching demonstration TONY'S RESOURCES Questions for Jesus app — listed in the app stores as Qs 4 Jesus: iPhone/iPad: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/qs-4-jesus/id1080235784 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?hl=en_US&id=com.zqquestionsforjesus MetaFormation: https://meta-formation.com/ The Valiant Forge Podcast Hosted by Mark Osborne Where God shapes ordinary men into faithful men. Want to be a guest on The Valiant Forge Podcast? Send Mark Osborne a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17432638464878159623a121d

  2. 2d ago

    What Does the Bible Say About Sleep? | Dr. Benjamin Long

    Do you treat sleep as wasted time—or as part of preparing yourself to serve the people God has placed in your life? Mark Osborne sits down with Dr. Benjamin Long, a physician with dual board certification in sleep medicine and pediatrics, to explore what the Bible says about sleep, rest, and responsibility. Their conversation covers waking during the night, sleep deprivation, the snooze button, overthinking, doomscrolling, and the pressure to keep producing. Ben shares his own experience with sleeplessness and explains why struggling to sleep should not automatically be treated as evidence of weak faith. The conversation closes with a challenge for Christian men: think about your rest in relation to your family, neighbors, and community. Sleep helps prepare us to show up for others, and caring for others sometimes calls for sacrifice. Connect with Ben: https://thewholeheartedmd.com/ https://www.sleephabitsjournal.com/ His book: Sleep Habits Journal: Practices, Prayers, and Devotions to Ease Your Sleepless Nights https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/773706/sleep-habits-journal-by-benjamin-long-md/ Follow The Valiant Forge and share this episode with a man who feels like he always has to keep going. The Valiant Forge — Where God shapes ordinary men into faithful men.

  3. 4d ago

    Love Yourself? Jesus Said Deny Yourself.

    We're constantly told to love ourselves, choose ourselves, and put ourselves first. But Jesus said to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. So does following Jesus mean we're supposed to hate ourselves? Not at all. In this Valiant Monday, Mark shares how putting himself on the throne nearly destroyed his marriage—and why there's a crucial difference between caring for yourself and living for yourself. “Some of the worst decisions I've made in my life started with one thought: What about me?” We live in a culture saturated with self-development advice: love yourself, choose yourself, become the person you want to be, and build the life you want. Some of that advice can be genuinely helpful. But what happens when caring for ourselves turns into living for ourselves? In this episode of Valiant Monday, Mark opens a new series examining popular self-development ideas through the lens of Scripture. He begins with one of the biggest: love yourself. Jesus' words sound very different: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” — Luke 9:23Drawing from a season that nearly destroyed his marriage, Mark explores the difference between self-care and self-rule, why denying yourself doesn't mean hating yourself, and the question underneath it all: Who's sitting on the throne of your life? Scriptures discussed: Luke 9:23, Matthew 22:39, 2 Timothy 3 The Valiant Forge Podcast Where God shapes ordinary men into faithful men.

  4. Sep 25

    I Left the Pulpit for the FBI—Here’s What I Learned | Eric Robinson

    What happens when a Baptist pastor leaves the pulpit for the FBI? Eric Robinson shares the strain that led to that decision, the surprising ways his pastoral experience helped him as an agent and SWAT breacher, and why he saw compassion and justice as part of his calling. Mark and Eric also discuss family, courage, a difficult investigation involving pastors, and Eric’s forthcoming memoir, Irreverend. Eric’s website: https://preachertobreacher.com/ Content note: Includes discussion of child sex trafficking.

  5. Sep 23

    He Survived an Avalanche. Years Later, Grief Led Him to God. | Mick Wienholt

    Mick Wienholt survived an avalanche that caused severe head injuries and required emergency brain surgery. He called his survival a miracle, but says he gave God only “intellectual credit.” He still wanted no relationship with Him. Years later, Mick and his wife learned that their son Luke had died shortly before his due date. Mick had always been able to solve problems through determination and hard work. This time, he couldn’t fix what had happened. On his knees in a hospital hallway, he cried out to God. In this conversation, Mick shares how he and his wife walked through grief, came to follow Jesus, and began to see their lives change. We also talk about an unexpected career turn, learning to wait on God, and his simple invitation to read one chapter of the Bible each day. Mick’s podcast is now called Coincidence or God? It was called When You Look when we recorded this interview. Find Mick and his podcast: Website: https://www.coincidenceorgod.com/ All podcast and social links: https://linktr.ee/CoincidenceorGod Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coincidence-or-god-miracles-christian-encouragement/id1797363131 This conversation includes discussion of stillbirth and infant loss. The Valiant Forge: Where God shapes ordinary men into faithful men. #ChristianTestimony #FaithThroughGrief #TheValiantForge

  6. Sep 21

    How Do You Become the Man God Called You to Be?

    “Become the man God has called you to be.” It’s a phrase we hear at men’s conferences, in church, and on Christian podcasts—but what does it actually mean? In this Valiant Monday, Mark breaks the phrase down piece by piece: become, the man, God, and called you to be. You are becoming someone whether you mean to or not. If you don’t allow God to define the man you are becoming, the world around you will. But becoming a man of God isn’t about building a platform, earning recognition, or accomplishing one enormous assignment. It begins by abiding in Christ and faithfully responding to what God has already placed in front of you. In this episode: • Why surrender to God isn’t the same as passivity • How Scripture defines a godly man • Why abiding in Christ comes before bearing fruit • The difference between your assignment and your destination • Why God calls ordinary men to faithfulness—not fame • How to identify your next faithful step The question isn’t whether you can see God’s entire plan. The question is: What is your next faithful step? Scriptures discussed: James 4:8; Galatians 6:9; Matthew 25:21; Philippians 1:6 and 2:12–13; Romans 12:2 and 8:29; Proverbs 3:5–6, 9:10, and 10:9; 2 Corinthians 10:5; John 15:4–5 and 15:8. The Valiant Forge Where God shapes ordinary men into faithful men. Join the brotherhood: https://www.skool.com/the-cave-of-adullum-1668/about

  7. Sep 18

    What’s Really Driving You? Fear, Lust, Anger & Pride | Dr. Dave Jones

    Fear, lust, anger, and pride can disguise themselves as ambition, strength, and success. Dr. Dave Jones explains how Christian men can identify these toxic motivators, build guardrails, develop genuine mental toughness, and pursue a vision grounded in God. What’s really driving you? Fear, lust, anger, and pride can look like ambition, strength, discipline, or success from the outside. But when these toxic motivators remain unrecognized, they can distort a man’s vision and keep him from becoming who God has called him to be. Mark sits down with Dr. Dave Jones—former professional hockey player, performance psychologist, author, and founder of M Is Good—to discuss success, fulfillment, identity, vision, temptation, and mental toughness. Dave shares why mental toughness isn’t ignoring your problems, how performance can become intertwined with identity, and why awareness is essential for managing the desires and behaviors that quietly control us. You’ll hear: • The difference between worldly success and genuine fulfillment • Why a man without vision loses motivation • How fear, lust, anger, and pride affect our decisions • Why guardrails are part of planning to win • How to identify pride in your own behavior • The difference between toughness and ignorance • How to define success across the different areas of your life • Why ministry events should lead to ongoing discipleship Resources: Take the free toxic-motivator and healthy-identity assessments and learn more about Plan to Win: https://plantowintoday.com Learn more about M Is Good: https://misgood.com Connect with The Valiant Forge: https://www.skool.com/the-cave-of-adullum-1668/about

  8. Sep 16

    He Had Been in Church for 18 Years—but Didn’t Know God-

    For years, Alex Horton described himself as a chameleon. He adapted to whoever was around him because he didn’t know who he really was. His earliest understanding of Christianity was rooted more in fear than love. He initially turned to Jesus for the wrong reasons, then walked away when those reasons disappeared. Meanwhile, isolation, bullying, depression, anxiety, and PTSD led Alex into several moments of suicidal desperation. In this deeply honest conversation, Alex shares what happened during one of his darkest nights, how a friend helped him receive the care he needed, and why Romans 5:8 finally helped him understand the love of Jesus. Now 21, Alex serves in youth and young-adult ministry, leads The Heart of What We Believe, hosts a podcast, and is pursuing a religious studies degree. His testimony is about moving from fear to love, from wandering to purpose, and from changing himself to fit every room toward discovering his identity in Christ. Connect with Alex: Website: https://www.theheartofwhatwebelieve.org/ Email: pastor_horton@outlook.com Book: From Wandering to Walking Content note: This episode includes a non-graphic discussion of suicidal thoughts and self-harm. In the United States, call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org/ for immediate emotional support.

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About

A podcast for men who refuse to stay stuck.   The Valiant Forge is where Christian men come to be shaped — not by the patterns of this world, but by the renewing work of God. Hosted by Mark Osborne — husband, father, grandfather, and servant‑leader — this podcast speaks to men who are tired of drifting and ready to live with clarity, conviction, and purpose. Every episode is a steady, honest conversation about faith, fatherhood, failure, and the formation God works in the fire. No hype. No perfection. No pretending. Just real stories, biblical truth, and the kind of wisdom that sharpens iron. If you’re a man who wants to think differently, live differently, and lead differently — this is your forge. Step in. Be renewed. Walk away transformed! 

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Osborne
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    136
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Valiant Forge
  • Show Website
    The Valiant Forge