21 - Giving Others a Chance with Robert Jackson
After his playing days in the NFL, Robert Jackson joined forces with a local Cincinnati fitness facility to create the FitOne program - a weekly session providing kids of all ages the opportunity to face their challenges, grow, and participate within their communities as a result. Initiatives like this are encouraging for us to give every person we come across a fighting chance. #WhyBePassive #Season3
20 - On and Off The Gridiron with Kyle Caskey
Kyle Caskey, seasoned college and NFL football coach, has learned a thing or two from his time on the gridiron. Through his experiences of playing for Texas A&M, and coaching many successful professional athletes, Kyle has witnessed first-hand how easy and natural it can be for most people to retreat, or wish the time away, when circumstances get hard. But there’s fruit on the other end of difficulty. He reminds us how crucial it is for us to be intentionally present when he says, “Wherever you’re at, just be there. Be RIGHT there.”
#WhyBePassive #Season2
19 - Initiation and The Young Man’s Soul with Sam Eldredge
Sam Eldredge, Executive Editor for And Sons Magazine, is a big fan of not wasting pain. Whether it’s a tragic loss or a series of frustrating circumstances - we’re all going to experience it. And pain sucks. We aren’t advocating for people to pursue it, but it can be easy to attempt to move past those moments without growing. And rather than fabricate an inspirational quote or a lesson learned as a result of that pain, Sam has learned that if “I’m not offering from where my real pain is, then there’s no point.”
#WhyBePassive #Season2
18 - Primal Virtues for the Modern Man with Jonathan Rios
Jonathan Rios, licensed psychotherapist, helps those with anxiety issues to overcome their symptoms so they can get back to what they love and impact more lives. In his book, 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘯, Jonny highlights some core principles that he can personally attest to bringing more LIFE into his daily living. Through simple encouragement, a fierce rejection of passivity, and even a profound metaphor within 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨, Jonny preaches the Call of the Warrior - to “resist the natural flow of decadence” in today’s self-indulged culture. We are living in an age of extreme luxury, which is actually very dangerous. Why? Because we do NOT grow in the comfort zone.
#WhyBePassive #Season2
17 - Buying In with Tony Schulz
Head baseball coach at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Tony Schulz, explains his philosophy behind leading a group of young men on a baseball field. After losing their 2020 season to COVID-19, Tony and his staff were reminded of the true purpose behind what they do, as coaches. And while the joy of winning a state championship is temporary, what lasts is “the mark you leave on someone, and the legacy you leave.”
#WhyBePassive #Season2
16 - Shining a Light on Cancer with Russell Klimas
Talented light painter and avid practitioner of positivity, Russell Klimas, opens up about his recent battle with cancer. In a humorous comparison to the Biblical story of Job, in which nearly everything was taken from him after questioning God’s motives, Russ explains his beliefs on the valid question of asking God why. By refusing to be angry with God and choosing to be grateful for what he still had left, Russ’s response teaches us that when we trust God’s sovereignty and restorative power over the current state of this fallen world - we can find peace.
#WhyBePassive #Season2
15 - Fighting for Your Mental Health with John Tibbs
Fully immersed in the wild rhythm of 200 concerts per year, singer/songwriter John Tibbs dealt with a very unnerving 15 months that included 0 in-person concerts. When the pandemic hit the United States last March, John was in an Uber on his way to fly to an out-of-town concert, when he was told to turn around and shut it all down. When facing any form of hardship, he encourages us to choose the powerful tool of gratitude. As challenging as it can be to come up with anything to be thankful for in the midst of difficulty, John has embodied the truth that while “I can’t change the circumstances, or the situation that I’m in, I can only be responsible for how I engage it and respond to it.”
#WhyBePassive #Season2
14 - Pursuing Your Passion with Erick Frost
Through pursuing his passion for music and photography, Erick Frost has found himself directing photography for one of his favorite bands of all-time (Switchfoot), and leading his own (RORRE). With an attitude of gratitude, he has learned that when actively working through conflict, it is best to root yourself in the most powerful force on the planet - love. While “it’s impossible to find another person on this planet that thinks the exact same way that you do”, that doesn’t have to make all conflict bad. Instead, when we move toward it in pursuit of healing, it becomes “a testament to the fact that you actually love this person.”
#WhyBePassive #Season2
13 - Embracing the Uncomfortable with Beth Guckenberger
In the midst of battle-like conditions, Beth Guckenberger and her team at Back2Back Ministries pursue children in need. Through this work, she reminds us that we are in a war. And when you are safe from that war, and things are going well, it’s easy to remain where you are and not continue to push forward for advancement. But as Beth so wisely identifies, “the antidote to passivity isn’t necessarily aggression, it’s just responsiveness... and if we can respond, God ends up taking care of the rest.”
#WhyBePassive #Season2
12 - Ultra Running with Andrew Waugh
After running 137.5 miles in the 2020 Ohio Backyard Ultra, Andrew Waugh and his best crew-mates discuss the logistics and emotional impact of the whole experience. From fueling Andrew with calories, to knowing when and when not to verbally encourage him, Jeff and Mo embodied the truth that, in the midst of great struggle, “just their presence is enough, sometimes.”
#WhyBePassive #Season2
11 - Strength in Freedom with Ryan Berg
Modeling after the work of Jesus, instead of plot lines from Hollywood, Ryan Berg and his team at The Aruna Project pursue lifelong freedom for sexually enslaved women. Through severing toxic ties, providing trauma-focused therapy, and empowering them with a skill development training, Aruna finds and guides countless women into a state of hope to say “I’m ready to fight again”.
#WhyBePassive #Season2
10 - Spiritual Warfare with David Chapdelaine
In the world of chaplaincy, David Chapdelaine is responsible to go deeper with his questions. He often finds that, especially in the midst of tragedy and hardship, the real war we’re fighting isn’t against one another, but against the forces that we can’t see. When you’re compelled to view the people around you as your enemy, remember that “...this body I see is evidence of something much deeper and far more valuable.”
#WhyBePassive #Season1
A series of conversations aiming to cast light and positivity on what can happen when we move TOWARDS hard things.
