We Take the Stairs Podcast

Rachael Sher and Jackson Young
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The two hosts of We Take the Stairs, Rachael and Jackson have a mission to help change the lives of men. They aim to do this through authentic storytelling, personal growth, faith, and transformative dialogue. Their rich tapestry of experience from different backgrounds and life experiences create a podcast that resonates with honesty, empathy, and hope. As co-hosts, they bring to the table a deep belief in the power of connection, whether through conviction, kindness, or shared stories, to inspire change and build bridges between people. Their discussions are grounded in sincerity and an openness to learn from one another. With a commitment to honesty, humility, and empowerment, they invite listeners into a space where vulnerability meets transformation, encouraging everyone to take the stairs—one meaningful step at a time.

  1. 6d ago

    Why men feel lost today Ft. Ben

    Episode Summary Many men today aren't lacking ambition. They're lacking guidance. In this episode of We Take the Stairs, Ben shares his deeply personal journey through military service, devastating loss, depression, and ultimately discovering purpose through faith. After losing his sister to suicide and carrying the weight of guilt for years, Ben opens up about how those experiences shaped his understanding of masculinity, leadership, relationships, and identity. Together, we explore why so many young men feel lost, the importance of finding healthy mentors, what biblical leadership actually looks like, and how intentional communication can transform marriage. Ben also shares practical wisdom on overcoming a savior complex, building emotional resilience, setting healthy boundaries, and trusting God through life's hardest seasons. Whether you're searching for purpose, navigating grief, strengthening your marriage, or simply trying to become a better man, this conversation offers honest insight, biblical truth, and practical encouragement for the journey. GuestBen is a former military medic, entrepreneur, and devoted husband who is passionate about helping men discover their identity, purpose, and calling through biblical truth. Drawing from his own experiences with grief, depression, family trauma, and personal growth, Ben shares practical wisdom on healthy masculinity, leadership, communication, and building Christ-centered relationships. Chapters00:00 – Ben's Story of Loss and Hope 02:34 – Can Women Truly Reach Men? 06:10 – Marriage, Emotions, and Healthy Communication 11:46 – The Biggest Challenge Facing Men Today 14:22 – Looking for Mentors in the Wrong Places 18:23 – Losing His Sister to Suicide 22:46 – Finding Community Through Church 24:25 – The Lies Men Believe About Themselves 26:05 – Why He Didn't Want to Get Married 31:23 – Healing From Family Wounds 39:44 – The Savior Complex Many Men Carry 42:38 – Building Emotional Trust in Marriage 47:52 – What Healthy Communication Looks Like 54:24 – Learning Marriage From Healthy Leadership 56:40 – What It Means to Lead as a Husband 01:01:10 – Love vs. Manipulation 01:10:00 – Honest Conversations About Attraction and Lust 01:16:02 – Leading Through Intentionality 01:17:35 – Why Bad Experiences Become Your Greatest Strength 01:20:50 – Why Ben Finally Shared His Story Key Topics CoveredThe Identity Crisis Facing Men – Why so many young men struggle to find healthy role models and what true biblical masculinity looks like. Healing Through Hardship – How grief, depression, and family trauma became the foundation for deeper purpose instead of lifelong pain. The Savior Complex – Why many men feel responsible for carrying everyone's burdens and how to break free from unhealthy responsibility. Healthy Marriage and Leadership – Practical lessons on communication, emotional intelligence, servant leadership, and building trust in marriage. Boundaries and Emotional Maturity – Why loving people doesn't mean sacrificing yourself and how healthy boundaries create stronger relationships. Faith Through Suffering – How God uses life's hardest moments to shape character, deepen faith, and prepare us to help others. Finding Purpose in Your Pain – Why your greatest struggles may become your greatest opportunity to encourage someone else. Leading With Intentionality – How small, consistent acts of love, honesty, and service build lasting relationships and stronger families.

  2. Jul 3

    The One Thing Every Man Is Missing: Ft. Marc Feinberg

    Episode Description Most men aren't struggling because they lack talent, ambition, or opportunity. They're struggling because they're living without wisdom. According to Mark, that missing foundation quietly fuels broken relationships, addiction, poor decisions, and lives filled with regret.In this episode of We Take the Stairs, Mark shares how decades of addiction, pain, and personal transformation led him to discover that wisdom is life's greatest pursuit. Drawing from Scripture, coaching experience, and his own redemption story, he explains why success without wisdom eventually falls apart, and why lasting change begins by surrendering to God's design.Together, we explore why men chase temporary solutions instead of lasting fulfillment, how identity shapes purpose, why forgiveness is essential for freedom, and what practical daily habits help build a life rooted in truth. Mark also opens up about overcoming addiction, rebuilding after failure, and finding hope through faith. Whether you're searching for purpose, navigating hardship, or simply wanting to become a wiser husband, father, leader, or friend, this conversation offers timeless biblical principles and practical guidance for living with greater clarity, courage, and intention. Guest Mark is a biblical life coach, high performance coach, speaker, and mentor who helps entrepreneurs, athletes, and men discover purpose through biblical wisdom. Having overcome decades of addiction and personal hardship, he combines Scripture, practical coaching, and lived experience to help others build lives rooted in truth, freedom, and lasting transformation. Website: https://marcfeinberg.com/ Chapters 00:00 — The Biggest Problem Facing Men Today 00:55 — Why Wisdom Is More Valuable Than Success 04:28 — How Culture Pulls Men Away from Truth 08:52 — Coaching Men Through Purpose and Identity 13:02 — Why Smart People Still Make Foolish Decisions 17:41 — God's Purpose for Every Man 22:19 — Growing Up Without Strong Male Leadership 26:38 — The Prodigal Son and Returning Home 31:07 — Finding God's Hand in Every Season 35:22 — Breaking Free from Addiction 39:31 — Understanding Christianity Beyond Religion 43:55 — Using the Bible as a Practical Guide for Life 48:11 — Winning the Daily Battle Against Lies 51:58 — Building Daily Habits That Transform Your Life 56:12 — Forgiveness, Freedom, and Moving Forward Key Topics Covered Wisdom as the Foundation – Why wisdom, not intelligence or success, determines the quality of a man's decisions, relationships, and future. Identity Before Purpose – How understanding who you are creates clarity, confidence, and direction in every season of life. The Hidden Cost of Addiction – Why addictions often mask deeper emotional and spiritual wounds, and what true healing requires. Learning Through Pain – How hardship, failure, and brokenness can become the greatest catalysts for personal growth and spiritual maturity. The Power of Forgiveness – Why letting go of resentment brings freedom, healing, and healthier relationships. Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Life – How Scripture provides practical guidance for leadership, marriage, parenting, work, and daily decision making. Daily Habits That Create Lasting Change – The simple disciplines that help men grow in faith, develop wisdom, and remain grounded through life's challenges. Hope Through Redemption – Mark's personal journey from addiction to transformation reminds us that no past mistake is too great for God's grace, and that every man has the opportunity to begin again.

  3. Jun 26

    Your Brain Was Wired for Purpose | Ft. Lance

    Episode Summary Most men aren't burned out, checked out, or broken — they're purposeless. And according to Lance, a licensed therapist, pastor, and addiction counselor who has sat across from thousands of men in crisis, that one missing thing is the root of nearly every problem men are facing today. What makes this episode unlike anything We Take the Stairs has recorded is the lens Lance brings. He speaks as a clinician, a pastor, a divorced man who rebuilt, and someone who has mapped the male crisis from every angle — neuroscience, scripture, and lived experience. He connects the dots between why men disengage in marriage, why addiction spikes at retirement, why the brain literally wires itself toward purpose, and why a man without meaning will find something — anything — to fill that void. The science and the scripture point to the same answer. This episode is that answer. Guest Lance — Licensed therapist, pastor, addiction counselor, and clinical professional based in South Florida. Lance runs a private practice, works in addiction recovery, and brings a rare combination of neuroscience, faith, and lived experience to every conversation about men. Chapters 00:00 — The One Question: Meaning and Purpose01:31 — Why Men Check Out After Work — And What's Really Going On04:09 — Protect, Pray, Provide — Why That's No Longer Enough11:43 — The Neuroscience of Purpose: Grid Cells, Flow States & Your Hot Spot13:49 — Who Moved My Cheese: How Meaning Shifts Through Life Stages16:20 — The Empty Nester, the Retiree & Why Addiction Spikes at 6518:00 — Why the Church Is Actually Built for Every Stage of Life20:18 — The Role of Mentors & Why God Puts the Right People on Your Path25:06 — The Manosphere, Broken Systems & God's Design for Men32:02 — The Neuroscience of Social Media & Why We're More Disconnected Than Ever44:25 — Lance's Personal Story: Seminary, Loss & Finding Purpose Through Crisis55:28 — What Is a Crisis? Real Stories of Men Who Lost Everything01:03:47 — How to Navigate Crisis: Get to a Church, Find Community, Ask for Help01:11:39 — Three Practical Steps to Rewire Your Brain Toward Real Connection01:15:51 — The REACH Method: A Clinical & Biblical Framework for Forgiveness01:30:00 — We Takes: Crisis Isn't the End — It's the Catalyst Key Topics Covered Meaning and Purpose as the Root Problem — Lance doesn't start with behavior. He starts with the existential question every man is quietly asking: Why am I here? Do I matter? Is what I'm doing enough? Every other crisis — disconnection, addiction, disengagement in marriage — is downstream of this one unanswered question.Why Men Check Out After Work — A man who comes home and unplugs isn't being passive out of laziness. He's been reduced to a role — protect, pray, provide — and he's fulfilled it. Nobody told him that wasn't enough. Lance unpacks why this creates a silent, growing disconnect in marriages and what both spouses can actually do about it.The Neuroscience of Purpose — One of the most unique moments in We Take the Stairs history. Lance breaks down what happens in the brain when a man finds his purpose — grid cells, place cells, the entorhinal cortex, and the state of flow. Your brain is literally wired to detect when you're on course. Purpose isn't mystical. It's neurological.Who Moved My Cheese — Meaning Shifts Across Life Stages — Lance references Dr. Spencer Johnson's framework to map how what gives a man meaning changes at every stage: his 20s, his 30s, the empty nest, retirement. Men who don't know their meaning is shifting often collapse — or numb themselves — without knowing why.Why Addiction Spikes in Retirement — One of the most surprising and sobering moments of the episode. Lance shares that one of the top reasons men develop addiction later in life is having nothing left to do. Bills paid. Kids gone. No purpose. And suddenly a drink at the country club becomes a daily ritual of slowly disappearing.The Church as a Lifelong Framework — Lance and Rachael land on something that rarely gets said clearly: the church, when it functions as designed, is the only institution that meets men at every stage of life — from formation in youth to mentorship in old age. The design is right. The execution is what varies.Community Dating — Lance advocates for dating in community — group dates, letting trusted people weigh in, watching how a potential spouse interacts with people who matter to you. The best marriages he's seen were built on more than two people deciding in isolation.Crisis as a Catalyst — The closing of the episode reframes everything. A crisis — a lost job, a broken marriage, a failed season — isn't the end of who you are. For men who know their identity, it becomes the very thing that pushes them further into their purpose. Scriptures & Concepts Referenced Erikson's Eight Stages of Identity FormationRomans 8:28 — All things work together for goodThe neuroscience of flow states and purpose alignmentWho Moved My Cheese — Dr. Spencer Johnson Key Quotes "Meaning and purpose — that's at the core of what men are facing. Everything else is a manifestation." — Lance "You may be tired, but you will not ever feel empty. When you're doing what you're supposed to do, it feeds you." — Lance "Finding your purpose is like finding your hot spot. When you're there, you know it — neurologically and intuitively." — Lance "Our role has been reduced to protect, pray and provide. And if I've done that, why are you trying to talk to me after a 16-hour day?" — Lance "What are you creating that's bigger than what you two can do individually? That's what keeps people together." — Lance "Men are so much more than what we provide monetarily. We matter emotionally. We matter relationally." — Lance "Crisis doesn't have to be the fall of who you are. It can be the very thing that brings you further into your purpose." — Jackson Practical Takeaways Name what your current "cheese" is — what gives you meaning right now at this stage of lifeBuild something in your marriage that's bigger than any argument the two of you could haveDate in community — let trusted people weigh in before you commit About This Series Each episode, one man. One question. The answers are already revealing a pattern. If you're a man with something to say — we want to hear it. SEO Keywords Primary Keywords Christian podcast for menmen and lack of purposemale identity crisis meaningmen's mental health podcastbiblical manhood and purpose Secondary Keywords why men disengage in marriageneuroscience of purpose and flowmen and addiction recovery faithmeaning shifts across life stagesmen checking out after workprotect pray provide not enoughcommunity dating relationshipsempty nester addiction menchurch and male purposetherapist pastor men identity Long-Tail Keywords why do men feel empty even when successfulwhat does the brain do when a man has purposehow lack of meaning causes men to disengage in marriagewhy men develop addiction after retirementChristian therapist on men's identity and purposehow to build a marriage around mission not just lovewhat is community dating and why it mattersneuroscience of purpose and why men need meaninghow crisis can become a catalyst for a man's identitymen's podcast about meaning purpose and mental health

  4. Jun 19

    The War for Every Man's Identity | FT. Joshua

    We ask one question to every man who sits down with us: What is the biggest problem men are facing in society based on your experience and perspective? For Joshua — former Marine, 14-year firefighter, and founder of Journey to Jericho — the answer came without hesitation: identity crisis. Not knowing who we are when God calls us sons. Living like orphans instead of children who are fully adopted, fully gifted, fully loved. This episode, recorded with Joshua joining from his hot rod shop in Columbia, Tennessee, is one of the most spiritually rich and tactically practical conversations We Take the Stairs has had. Joshua doesn't just talk theology. He runs a literal shop where fatherless young men learn to weld, grind, and turn wrenches — while quietly, patiently, being shown what an authentic man actually looks like. His own story, marked by a broken home and one Vietnam veteran named Ray who changed everything in six Saturdays, grounds everything he teaches. Guest Joshua — Founder of Journey to Jericho, a mentorship ministry based in Columbia, Tennessee, that uses a hot rod shop to build relationships with fatherless young men. A former Marine and 14-year firefighter, Joshua left a stable career and moved his family across the country in obedience to what he believed God was calling him to do. Chapters 00:00 — The One Question: Identity Crisis 03:30 — The Three P's: Power, Productivity, Prosperity 09:00 — Journey to Jericho: The Hot Rod Shop With a Deeper Mission 16:00 — Ray: The Man Who Changed Everything in Six Saturdays 23:00 — Hitting Rock Bottom at 30 — and the Prayer That Changed His Life 33:00 — Friend, Mirror, Minister: How Real Mentorship Works 39:00 — The Lamb and the Lion: Redefining What a Husband Is For 46:00 — Testimony: A Family Restored Through One Small Act of Showing Up 58:00 — The Traps Keeping Men Stuck — Power, Comfort & Noise 01:06:00 — Leaving Comfort: The Move to Tennessee & the Church That Pushed Back Key Topics Covered Identity Crisis — Joshua's answer cuts to the foundation: men were never meant to live as orphans, figuring it out alone, when they've actually been adopted as sons. Everything else — power, productivity, prosperity — is built on this one cornerstone. The Three P's — Power, productivity, prosperity. Joshua names the worldly substitutes men chase instead of sonship, and why even the richest men he's met are often the most miserable. Ray: The First Real Man — Joshua's foundational story. A Vietnam Marine who watched him and his brother for six Saturdays, taught him to weld, and modeled something Joshua had never seen — honoring his wife as his prize. That moment became the question Joshua chased for the next twenty years. The 30th Birthday Breaking Point — After years of performing discipline without a changed heart, Joshua hit bottom and cried out to God to either kill him or change him. That surrender — not effort — was the beginning of real transformation. Friend, Mirror, Minister — Joshua's framework for mentoring young men: build trust as a friend, reflect Christ's light as a mirror, then minister from that place of earned trust. Skip a step and the whole thing breaks down. The Lamb and the Lion — One of the most theologically rich moments of the episode. The Jews wanted a warrior king. They got a sacrificial lamb. Joshua applies this directly to husbands: leadership through sacrifice, not domination. A Family Restored — Joshua shares the story of a mother and two adult children, each carrying wounds from church hurt, slowly restored through nine months of simply showing up — no agenda, no lectures, just consistent presence. Comfort as the Enemy — When Joshua left a stable 14-year firefighting career to move his family to a town he'd never visited, the harshest pushback came from fellow believers. Joshua's takeaway: comfort had become their idol, and his obedience exposed it. Books Referenced 📖 Wild at Heart — John Eldredge — "I want to be rather than to appear." Key Quotes "If I am his son, I no longer have to live as an orphan. I no longer have to figure it out on my own." — Joshua "It's not what they do, but it's who they are." — Joshua "Identity found in anything other than Christ is absolutely futile." — Joshua "Comfort is one of our worst enemies. Enjoy it while you got it. Do not let it become your god." — Joshua "A generation will grow great when old men are willing to plant trees they will never sit under." — Joshua "A son cannot give what he has not received." — Joshua Practical Takeaways Ask God ten thousand questions instead of relying on your own wisdom.Invite one young man for a cup of coffee — that's a touch point, not a small thing. Take the tactical pause. Stop, ask the Father who he says you are, and let him answer. Christian podcast for men male identity crisis faith biblical sonship and identity men's mentorship ministry Christian men's podcast fatherless generation

  5. Jun 12

    HOW MEN BECOME UNSHAKABLE

    James and Madison never expected a single call to change their family's future. After their son received a rare diagnosis, they faced uncertainty, fear, and challenges no parent wants to endure. But this conversation is less about the diagnosis and more about the resilience, faith, and strength they developed through it. In this episode of We Take The Stairs, Rachel and Jackson sit down with James and Madison to discuss raising boys in today's culture, navigating adversity as a family, and the lessons that helped them grow stronger through life's hardest seasons. This is a conversation about resilience, responsibility, and becoming the kind of person who stays steady when life gets difficult. Because strength is built through adversity. FULL SUMMARY What does it take to become unshakable? In this episode of We Take The Stairs, Rachel and Jackson sit down with James and Madison to discuss resilience, faith, marriage, family, and the challenges facing men today. They explore why many young men struggle with purpose and responsibility, why challenge and accountability are essential for growth, and what it takes to raise strong children in today's culture. The conversation becomes deeply personal as they share their son's diagnosis with MED13L Syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting development, speech, and cognition. More importantly, they reflect on how adversity strengthened their faith, revealed hidden strengths, and shaped them as individuals, parents, and partners. Together, they discuss leadership in the home, the importance of partnership, and how responsibility, gratitude, and perseverance build stronger people, marriages, and families. This episode is a powerful reminder that strength is built through adversity, and that life's hardest seasons often become the greatest opportunities for growth. KEY TAKEAWAYS• Resilience is built through hardship, responsibility, and action. • Strong men are developed through challenge, purpose, and accountability. • Many young men struggle due to a lack of direction and meaningful responsibility. • Physical activity, discipline, mentorship, and competition help build confident men. • Strong marriages require communication, teamwork, and commitment through adversity. • True presence requires attention, leadership, and engagement. • Adversity reveals character, strength, and opportunities for growth. • Faith provides stability when circumstances are uncertain. • Personal responsibility drives growth and transformation. • Joy comes from gratitude, perspective, and purpose, not circumstances. • Strong families face hardship together rather than avoid it. EPISODE CHAPTERS0:00 — Intro & Meet James and Madison 0:42 — The Crisis Facing Men Today 1:55 — Why Boys Are Struggling 4:13 — The Purpose Gap 6:15 — Building Resilience 8:45 — Why Men Check Out 9:40 — Presence at Home 11:13 — The Life-Changing Diagnosis 12:13 — Communication in Crisis 14:13 — Parenting, Marriage & Resilience 17:49 — True Partnership 18:42 — Masculinity, Femininity & Security 22:05 — Marriage, Identity & Leadership 25:21 — Understanding MED13L Syndrome 28:57 — Fighting for Their Son 32:31 — Lessons in Marriage 35:15 — Preparing for Adversity 37:35 — Responsibility & Growth 38:56 — How Men Grow Stronger 41:05 — Accountability & Grace 43:28 — Friends Who Challenge You 45:18 — Confidence vs. Arrogance 47:35 — Authentic Relationships 50:11 — Lessons From Hardship 52:00 — Happiness vs. Joy 54:21 — Advice for Struggling Families 58:29 — Final Reflections & We Takes GUEST INFOJames & Madison James and Madison are business owners, parents, and advocates for intentional family living. They share their experience navigating marriage, entrepreneurship, raising two boys, and supporting their oldest son following a rare MED13L Syndrome diagnosis. Their story highlights resilience, faith, responsibility, communication, and the power of facing life's challenges together. Through adversity, they discovered deeper purpose, stronger partnership, and a renewed commitment to leading their family with courage and conviction. SEO KEYWORDS & TAGSPrimary Keywordshow men become unshakable resilience for men modern masculinity raising boys strong men purpose and responsibility marriage and resilience faith and family personal responsibility family leadership overcoming adversity mental toughness resilient families strong marriages leadership in the home

  6. Jun 5

    The Self-Reliance Trap: Why the Thing You Think Makes You Strong Is Keeping You Alone

    What if the thing you thought made you strong — your self-reliance — is actually what's costing you your relationships, your peace, and your purpose? Jackson sits down with his own father for one of the most honest conversations on this show. FULL SUMMARY: This episode is different. Jackson brings his father David — a 37-year corporate veteran who retired as VP and General Manager of Valvoline's US lubricant business — onto the show for a rare father-son conversation about what the world is getting wrong about men. The core question: Is self-reliance a virtue or a trap? David's answer is both — and the line between the two is something most men never find until something breaks. They cover the cultural lies men are fed about success, independence, and worth. David shares candidly about losing his father at 35, chasing the next thing only to feel empty, and what he would tell every young man today. But the conversation takes an unexpected turn when Jackson opens up about a season of deep isolation as a teenager — and a moment he nearly didn't make it through. A conversation for every man who was raised to do it alone — and every father who didn't know his son was drowning. Key Takeaways Self-reliance is a virtue until it becomes a wall. The same strength that gets you through hard things eventually cuts you off from the people who could help you.Every decision is made out of love or fear. Once you know which one is driving you, everything changes.Meekness is not weakness. It is power under control — a man who chooses not to assert dominance is more powerful than one who has to prove himself constantly.Boys don't learn how to be men by being told. They catch it by watching. Fatherless homes aren't just painful — they're a missing education no classroom can replace.The dopamine isn't in the achievement — it's in the pursuit. Men who hit the number feel empty. The target was never the point.Talking about someone to others instead of directly to them leaves wounds that last decades. Praise that travels through other people never fully lands.Showing up and paying attention is the job. It's not complicated. But it requires presence — and most men are physically there while mentally somewhere else. Episode ChaptersFor YouTube chapter markers and podcast timestamps. 0:00 — Intro & Who Is David?0:35 — The Core Question: Self-Reliance — Virtue or Trap?3:50 — Meekness Is Not Weakness: What the Beatitudes Actually Say7:15 — Love vs. Fear: The Two Motivations Behind Every Decision10:37 — Why the Messaging to Men Is Broken13:31 — Women Are Better at Community — And What That Costs Men17:35 — The Lies Men Believe That Lead to Self-Reliance19:25 — The Work Harder Lie: Why Hustle Culture Is a Fallacy21:46 — Society Keeps Showing Men the Wrong Picture of Success25:38 — Happiness vs. Joy: Chasing One Leaves You Empty30:41 — David Chased Jobs and Cars Too — Here's What He Found32:23 — Jackson Asks: You Have the Nice Car. How Do I Not Want Shortcuts?35:50 — The Amazon Prime Problem: This Generation Expects Everything Now38:34 — Porn, Broken Communication & Replacing People With Things40:15 — When the Wheels Come Off: The Thread Every Generation Shares43:00 — David's Breaking Point: Losing His Father at 3546:07 — Is There an Event That Shakes You Into Realizing Your Priorities Are Wrong?47:30 — David's Career: 37 Years, VP at Valvoline, B P&L49:09 — The Dad Who Praised Him to Others but Never Directly to Him51:24 — I've Fired People for Thinking They Didn't Need Anyone56:27 — The Greatest Joy: Working Yourself Out of a Job1:09:19 — You Didn't Teach Me to Sell. You Taught Me to Treat People.1:17:52 — Everybody Is Replaceable: The Truth About Being Too Valuable to Promote1:21:53 — He Learned His Father's Salary on His Deathbed — and Was Shattered1:26:04 — The Dopamine Reset: Why the Journey Is the Point1:33:29 — Jackson Opens Up: Self-Reliance at 13 Looked Like Nobody Cares1:36:30 — The Two People Who Cared Most — He Couldn't Let In1:37:04 — The Moment Jackson Nearly Didn't Make It1:38:26 — What's the Magic Sauce for Parents? Show Up and Pay Attention.1:40:10 — David's Response: I Could Not Be More Proud of You Guest Info Name: David Young Relationship to Host: Jackson's father Background: 37-year corporate veteran, retired VP and General Manager of Valvoline's US lubricant business. Led a team of 270 people overseeing B+ in annual revenue. Known for collaborative leadership and developing people — he deliberately worked himself out of his final role by building his team up to not need him. Now involved in a nonprofit helping estranged fathers reconnect with their children through the legal system, and guest lectures at universities on what corporate life actually looks like before young people enter it. Key Details From the Episode: Lost his father to cancer around age 35 — his most significant personal breaking pointGrew up in a home where money was never discussed; learned his father's salary on his deathbedStruggled his entire career to receive praise; his retirement party made him want the room to emptyDid not know until this episode that Jackson had come close to taking his own life as a teenager Scriptures Referenced Matthew 5:5 — Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth1 Corinthians 16:13 — Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong SEO Keywords & Tags Primarymen and self-reliancefather son podcastChristian men podcastmale isolation and identitymen's mental health faithmasculinity and leadership

  7. May 29

    Men's Identity Crisis: The Lie That's Keeping You Passive, Afraid, and Stuck

    Kyle didn't know he was a king who forgot his kingdom. Depression at 14. Near-suicide. Years of rejection, numbness, and false identity. In this conversation, he unpacks the root problem men won't admit they have. FULL SUMMARY: What is the main problem men are facing today? For Kyle, the answer cuts deeper than surface-level symptoms. It's not just the passivity. Not just the fear. It's an identity crisis — and it's been engineered. Kyle opens up about a decade-long battle with depression that started at 14, years of rejection in work and relationships, and the moments he nearly didn't make it through. He talks honestly about how the enemy uses passivity, fear, and false belief systems to keep men living like peasants when they were made to lead like royalty. This conversation goes to the root — exploring why men can appear successful on the outside (money, followers, status) while still being completely unmoored from their actual purpose. Kyle shares the specific tools he's used to fight back: sticky notes on his bathroom mirror, iron-sharpening-iron community, speaking truth out loud over himself, and the moment a stranger at a church camp changed everything with nine words. Rachael and Jackson press in with honest, challenging questions about what it was like to be a young man drowning in silence — and what would have actually helped. The result is one of the most raw and practical conversations we've had on the show. Key Takeaways Passivity and fear are symptoms. Identity is the root. Until men know who they are in Christ, everything else is a Band-Aid.Satan's oldest trick is convincing a prince he's a peasant. The lie isn't loud — it's the slow accumulation of rejection, failure, and silence.Men don't need someone to tell them they're fearfully and wonderfully made. They need someone who does something they respect, who then earns the right to say it.Speaking truth out loud over yourself — not just knowing it mentally — is the mechanism that actually shifts belief.White-knuckling through depression isn't healing. It's managed pain. Real healing happens when you open up to the right people.Your worth is not your income. This is a lie fed to men by the world and, often, reinforced by women. Kyle and Rachael name this directly.Boys who grew up with social media starting at 12 are fighting a war previous generations didn't face. The tools they need are different.Being a coworker with Christ means both trusting God to provide and showing up to do the work. The tension between those two is where most men get lost. Episode ChaptersFor YouTube chapter markers and podcast timestamps. 0:00 — Intro & Welcome: Who Is Kyle?0:46 — The Core Question: What Is the Biggest Problem Men Are Facing?1:00 — The Three-Part Answer: Passivity, Fear & Identity2:20 — The Ancient Kingdom Story: Why Identity Is Everything5:00 — A False Identity Looks Like Success (The Distraction)6:53 — When Did Kyle First Notice Identity Was a Problem?7:48 — Kyle's Personal Testimony: Depression Starting at 1413:38 — What Betrayal Actually Did to Him (The Question No One Had Asked)17:00 — Rachael's Perspective: Testosterone, Teen Boys & What We're Losing19:22 — The Closest Kyle Came to Not Making It22:21 — How to Actually Reach a Young Man (The Subaru Moment)23:39 — What Kyle Ran To Instead: Drugs, Alcohol, Women, Porn24:50 — The Church Camp That Changed Everything36:02 — The Sticky Notes on the Mirror38:53 — This Is Not Just Kyle: Why Young Men Are Paralyzed39:56 — CDC Data on Male Suicide and Depression41:22 — Iron Sharpens Iron: The Community That Unlocked the Healing42:57 — The Enemy's Tool: Shame That Keeps Men Silent47:52 — When You Open Up and Get Rejected: What to Do Next52:30 — Social Media Told Kyle He Wasn't Enough Starting at 1254:49 — Identity Is the Answer to Every Problem We Just Named57:46 — Your Words Are Life or Death: The Rudder of the Ship59:00 — Kyle's Truth: God and I Are Coworkers1:04:07 — Rachael's Honest Word to Men About Worth and Income1:07:30 — The Balance Between God as Provider and Man as Provider1:10:01 — The We Takes: What Everyone Is Walking Away With1:12:13 — It Is Only by the Grace of God That I Am Still Here1:14:51 — A Prophecy Spoken Over Kyle and What He Thinks It Means1:16:09 — Rachael's We Take: Every One of You Is Worth It Guest Info Name: Kyle Background: Filmmaker, entrepreneur, and community builder based in South Florida. Kyle is a deeply faith-rooted young man who has walked through depression, near-suicide, relational betrayal, and a long journey of learning to root his identity in Christ rather than performance, approval, or relationships. He is engaged and preparing for marriage. SEO Keywords & Tags Primary Keywordsmen's identity crisismen and depression podcastChristian men podcastmen's mental health faithmale suicide preventionpassivity in menidentity in Christ men

  8. May 22

    Too Many Options, Zero Commitment | Ft. Chris

    Episode Summary We ask one question to every man who sits down with us: What is the biggest problem men are facing today? For Chris — young adults pastor, filmmaker, and man of faith — the answer was precise: Commitment paralysis. Too many options. Not enough formation. And a generation of men who were shaped by culture, media, and social media into believing that the next option is always better than the one in front of them — in relationships, in work, and in life. What follows is one of the most practically honest and spiritually grounded conversations We Take the Stairs has had. Chris doesn't just name the problem. He lived it — from a porn addiction he wasn't aware was affecting him, to a subconscious belief that staying young and keeping options open was the smart play. He talks through what it costs men, what's causing it, and the only foundation that actually produces the commitment men were designed to walk in. Guest Chris Kish — Young adults pastor at Family Church, filmmaker, and man of faith based in South Florida. Chris works daily with men and women ages 22–39 navigating the exact issues discussed in this episode — and is three months away from marrying his fiancée Christy. Chapters 00:00 — The One Question: Commitment Paralysis02:00 — Too Many Options, Not Enough Formation06:00 — The Subconscious Shaping: Music, TV & Staying Young Forever10:00 — Porn, Paralysis & the Connection Nobody Names17:00 — The Chair Story: Discipline Only Where You Care28:00 — Dating Apps & the Sea of Options Killing Commitment39:00 — The Funeral and the Coronation: How to Actually Change50:00 — Church Hurt, Attribution & the Character of God01:03:00 — The Fatherless Generation: Why Satan Is Ramping Up01:13:00 — Rapid Fire & We Takes Key Topics Covered Commitment Paralysis — Chris's core answer: men today face too many options and not enough helpful formation. The result is a generation stuck in indecision — unable to choose a job, a city, a relationship, or a future. Not because they're lazy, but because they were shaped this way without knowing it.The Subconscious Shaping of a Generation — From Friends to Jay-Z to homecoming playlists, the message men absorbed growing up was clear: stay young, keep your options open, and the guy with the most freedom wins. No one said it directly. But it played on repeat until it became the default.Porn, Options & the Connection Nobody Names — One of the most candid moments of the episode. Rachael connects the dots between commitment paralysis and pornography addiction — if men are given every external pressure imaginable and then handed one easy, no-consequence outlet, the math isn't hard. Chris opens up about his own past with porn addiction and how he wasn't even aware it was affecting him.Discipline Only Where You Care — Chris tells the story of a college job setting up chapel chairs. He was fast and excellent at things he cared about — and visibly checked out on everything else. His friend called it out: you look lazy and apathetic when you don't care. Chris makes the case that men are all-in when they're passionate — but culture has broken the pipeline between discipline and desire.Dating Apps & the Infinite Sea — Hinge, Tinder, Instagram DMs, Facebook Dating. Chris breaks down precisely how swiping left and right trained men's brains to make snap judgments in two seconds — and how that habit bleeds into every real relationship when it's time to actually commit. You end up constructing a perfect person in your mind from the best parts of everyone you've seen — and no one real will ever match that.The Coronation and the Funeral — The most spiritually direct moment of the episode. Chris's answer for men who want to break the cycle — believer or not: every morning you need a coronation and a funeral. You crown Christ as king and you die to yourself. That's the only foundation that produces real commitment, because it removes you from the center.Church Hurt & the Character of God — A compassionate and direct response to men who've been burned by religious institutions and blamed God for it. Chris names it clearly: that's attributing human characteristics to God. God's character hasn't changed. His kindness is still leading you to repentance — even now.The Fatherless Generation — Chris frames the epidemic of absent fathers not as a sociological trend but as a spiritual battle. Satan knows every day that passes gets one day closer to Jesus coming back. So he's ramping up the attack on God's design for family, marriage, and fatherhood. The answer isn't a program. It's the gospel. Scriptures Referenced Matthew 6:33 — Seek first the kingdom of GodRomans 7 — The things I don't want to do, I do1 Corinthians 16:13 — Be watchful, stand firm, act like men, be strong2 Corinthians 5:17-21 — Ministry of reconciliation, ambassador for Christ Books Referenced 📖 The Bait of Satan — John Bevere Jackson references this during the episode — offense as the biggest thing standing between a man and God, and how it compounds commitment problems. Key Quotes "The biggest problem men face today is commitment paralysis — too many options and not enough helpful formation." — Chris "I was not aware the options were affecting me. That's the scariest part." — Chris "Every day when you wake up, you need a coronation and a funeral — crown Christ as king and die to yourself." — Chris "The biggest lie men believe is that they have to figure everything out on their own. You are not alone." — Chris "If I make this decision and it's the wrong one — God's not surprised. He's sovereign. You just take the next right step." — Chris "If men are given every pressure imaginable and then handed one easy, no-consequence outlet — how can we expect them not to be attracted to it?" — Rachael "Be watchful. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." — 1 Corinthians 16:13 Practical Takeaways Start each morning with a coronation and a funeral — crown Christ, die to yourselfAudit your inputs — if you're scrolling options daily, your brain is being trained to never commitFind one person who can sit with you and ask the right questions — you were not made to figure this out alone

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About

The two hosts of We Take the Stairs, Rachael and Jackson have a mission to help change the lives of men. They aim to do this through authentic storytelling, personal growth, faith, and transformative dialogue. Their rich tapestry of experience from different backgrounds and life experiences create a podcast that resonates with honesty, empathy, and hope. As co-hosts, they bring to the table a deep belief in the power of connection, whether through conviction, kindness, or shared stories, to inspire change and build bridges between people. Their discussions are grounded in sincerity and an openness to learn from one another. With a commitment to honesty, humility, and empowerment, they invite listeners into a space where vulnerability meets transformation, encouraging everyone to take the stairs—one meaningful step at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Rachael Sher and Jackson Young
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rachael, Jackson
  • Show Website
    We Take the Stairs Podcast