Playbook for Men

Because hard times come from so many different directions, it means you won't always see them coming. So you must develop the skills and mindset to deal with hard times if you want to be a man who survives and thrives.One way is to incorporate the Marine Corp way of dealing with hard times into your life. It's just three words,

Blaming your parents or the neighborhood you grew up in only works for boys, not men. The truth is you have until age 25 to blame your behavior on your upbringing. After that, it's on you.

Being a boss is a great job unless you have one of these 5 types of employees.  

An article written in 1899 has the secret of success in 2021  Click to here to read the article  

This episode is all about how to coach your kid in sports. What do they need to hear from you, when do they need to hear it, and when should you focus on being a dad instead of a coach?My guest is Louie LeBlanc, head coach at Westminster Christian Academy in Huntsville Alabama. Louie was a graduate assistant at the University of Alabama under Nick Saban and coached at the University of West Georgia.  

Conversation with multi-time country musician of the year, member of the Nashville song-writer hall of fame, and musical director for Jimmy Buffett Coral Reefer Band, Mac McAnally. A southern boy who became what he always dreamed of, a southern intellectual.

Interview with Brian Cain.

Interview with Art Athens, Colonel USMC (ret)Colonel Athens recently served as the Director of the U.S. Naval Academy’s Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership for and previously, as the Naval Academy’s first Distinguished Military Professor of Leadership. Colonel Athens is a retired Marine Corps officer with significant command and staff assignments in all four Marine Aircraft Wings and an instructor tour with Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (the Marine Corps’ equivalent to the Navy’s Top Gun school). He also served as a White House Fellow under President Ronald Reagan, the Special Assistant to the NASA Administrator following the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, and the Commandant of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Colonel Athens currently invests in leaders around the country through his speaking, writing, consulting and coaching.Colonel Athens is a graduate of the Naval Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School and the Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies. He is married to the former Mistina Root of Williamsburg, Virginia and they have ten children.

In this episode I’m answering the big question of how can a man leave a legacy to future generations. Listen to hear how a box of Louis L’Amour novels helped a Union Pacific Railroad brakeman show his great-grandsons how to be a man https://www.buzzsprout.com/853267/7112092click here for a transcript of this episode.

Interview with Youtube Star, Radio Show Host, Collector Car Salesman and Wold Class Hustler, Rob Pitts aka "Rabbit". Check out Rob on YouTube and Instagram

The Playbook for Men Podcast is Short Answers to Big Questions about being a man. This episode is all about the question, Should You Take that New Job?You can click here to read the blog post of this episode.

Here's a new experiment I'm trying. Short answers to big questions about being a man

Great interview with Command Master Chief Petty Officer Mike Riggs. He's an Explosive Ordnance Disposal expert who's done it all in a 30 year Navy career, from deploying to Afghanistan with Seal Team TWO to serving as a Defense Legislative Fellow on the personal staff of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio. In this episode he talks about leading men when the stakes are literally life and death which includes how you lead when you're not in charge. Check out Mike's resume. It sounds like a movie character.MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER MICHAEL N. RIGGS UNITED STATES NAVY COMMAND MASTER CHIEF Master Chief Petty Officer Michael N. Riggs was born and raised in West Virginia. He graduated from Parkersburg High School in May 1990 and entered the U.S. Navy attending basic training in Orlando, FL in September 1991. Riggs attended Electronics Technician Apprentice School in Orlando, FL and Great Lakes, IL. His first duty assignment was with Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station in Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T. Following his tour at NCTS Diego Garcia, he served as a SATCOM ET at NCTS Sigonella, Sicily and the Joint Communications Support Element, MacDill AFB, FL. Riggs attended Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center and Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal graduating in 2002. Upon completion, he reported to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit EIGHT. During this tour, he conducted two deployments to Beirut, Lebanon and one to CJTF-HOA. Riggs reported to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit TWO in March 2006 and deployed as EOD LCPO on SEAL Team TWO to Iraq supporting SOTF-W. As plank owner of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit TWELVE, Riggs deployed as company LCPO to Iraq supporting Task Force Troy-North. In 2010, Riggs reported to Commander Naval Special Warfare Group TWO Training Detachment deploying to Afghanistan and conducting C-IED training to deploying NSW units. In 2011, Riggs reported to Commander Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group TWO and deployed again to Afghanistan supporting CJTF Paladin, CJSOTF, and SOJTF-Afghanistan. Riggs was advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer in May 2012. He reported to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit SIX as Command Master Chief in July 2013. In 2015, he deployed to Honduras and Guatemala as Command Master Chief, SOUTHERN PARTNERSHIP STATION-ashore. In 2016, he reported as Command Master Chief, Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Eglin AFB, FL. In 2019, Master Chief Riggs served as a Defense Legislative Fellow on the personal staff in Washington, D.C. of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, R-FL, for the 1stSession of the 116th United States Congress. Riggs’ academic achievements include a Master of Strategic Leadership from University of Charleston, Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College; Senior Enlisted Academy Class 174-Blue; Command Leadership School. Riggs’ personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Achievement Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), Combat Action Ribbon, Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, and Naval Parachutist.

What is your immediate reaction to a complement for something you did? Do you blow it off by saying "it was nothing"? Do wonder why anybody would compliment you for doing something that comes so easily to you?If that's you, keep reading. In this episode, Executive Coach Marc Wolfe is going to show you how to break out of this mindset. A mindset that may be the reason you're stuck in a job you know doesn't make the best use of your abilities. And we all know the frustration and lack of satisfaction that comes from being stuck in that kind of job. Pay special attention at 30:40 of the interview when Marc talks about what your life could become if you developed a healthy perspective of your skills and talent.Click here to learn more or work with Marc.

A conversation with Ray Johnston that will motivate you about what's possible when you think your dreams have been crushed. Check out Ray on Instagram.

More about my life after getting laid off at 55.

A conversation with New York Times best selling author and career coach Dan Miller. Click here to learn more about 48 Days to the Work You Love.

An insightful conversation with Brian Bradford. Plus a story you'll be telling your friends tomorrow.Rocket City Church

My conversation with James Spann, chief meteorologist for ABC 33/40 in Birmingham Alabama, AKA The Godfather of Weather, AKA Respect the Polygon.

Life happens. Here's how I'm responding.

A conversation with Ron Klein. A man whose life spanned moving out at 16 to Viet Nam, to succesful businessman. Now he's sharing all his wisdom with you. This is a must-listen for every leader.

Will Anderson, along with his brother Schuyler, run Maple Built, a non-profit apprenticeship program utilizing woodworking to shape the future for young men in Nashville, TN. This interview first aired 5 years ago and it's even more important now to listen to what Will has learned as a white guy working with young black men. His answers are direct and at times challenging but you'll come away better informed than you were before you listened.

Get your mind right to listen to one of the bravest men I've ever talked to. Nate Larkin is THE example of what it looks to live in complete honesty and authenticity. You can find out more about him at the Samson Society or his website.

Conversation with Marty Smith, reporter with ESPN. Marty is a thoughtful man of faith with great observations. He also told a story about Nick Saban that shows a side of him most never get to see. You can keep up with Marty on twitter or instagram.His ESPN bio tells it all:"Marty Smith is one of ESPN’s most popular and recognized reporters and hosts who currently covers a variety of sports including college football, basketball, both the NFL and NBA, NASCAR and others. Smith’s features and reporting are often seen on ESPN platforms including SportsCenter and ESPN.com. Smith, who joined ESPN in 2006, launched his own show Marty Smith’s America in August 2017 on ESPN2.Some of sport’s biggest names including Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Major Golf champion Rory McIlroy and Oklahoma City’s Paul George have sat down with Smith for his show in addition to stars outside of sports including music artist Sam Hunt. Smith has also traveled the world for various features including his trip to Rome with Coach Jim Harbaugh and the University of Michigan football team where he spent a week following the team as they saw the sites of Italy.In addition to hosting Marty Smith’s America, Smith co-hosts the popular radio show Marty and McGee on SEC Network and ESPN Radio. Smith also guest-hosted SEC Network’s traveling college football show, SEC Nation, during Fall 2019.From 2007-2014, Smith was ESPN’s lead NASCAR reporter for both SportsCenter and the former NASCAR Now program. In addition to reporting for SportsCenter and writing news and features for ESPN.com, Smith also contributed to ESPN’s NASCAR event television coverage, which ended at the conclusion of the 2014 season, with numerous unique features and extensive, in-depth and revealing interviews with nearly every top driver in the sport.Prior to joining ESPN, Smith was a senior writer for NASCAR.com, an analyst and host on the former SPEED Channel and a NASCAR analyst on Fox Sports Net. A Radford University graduate, Smith covered sports for daily newspapers in Roanoke and Lynchburg, Va., before joining NASCAR.com.

A conversation with Jack Easterby, Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Houston Texans. He describes the culture he and Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien are building in Houston. Jack is going to inspire you with the same phrase he uses throughout the Texans organization, "It All Matters".

A conversation with Sean "SJ" Tuohy. Many people know him from the movie made about his family, "The Blind Side". Now he's the director of football operations at Liberty University. Before that SJ played basketball for three years at Loyola, then transferred to SMU and played football for Chad Morris while also coaching special teams. Morris then brought him to Arkansas as assistant director of football operations.

Lenny LeBlanc's music career includes recording hit records, writing number one songs that others recorded and a spiritual transformation that lead him to walk away from it all. Years later he would co-write one of the most beloved songs of the church, "Above All".

Interview with New York Times Best selling author and guy's guy, Stephen Mansfield. He wrote a powerful book titled "Mansfield's Book of Manly Men: An Utterly Invigorating Guide to Being Your Masculine Self", that I highly recommend.But the reason you should listen to what Stephen has to say is this quote “You have a destiny, but your destiny is fulfilled by investing in the destinies of others.”

My guest is Jody Flanagan, Public Relations Manager for RecTec Grills in Augusta Georgia and he wants you to know he loves his job!Thanks to our sponsor, Mule Town Coffee Company in Columbia Tennessee.

This episode is a conversation with RecTec Grills co-founder Ray Carnes. How did Ray motivate himself to start a new business on the lowest day of the stock market in 2008? One simple question "Why Not Me?". Boom! This is a story you need to hear!Go to their website to learn more about RecTec pellet grills.Thanks to our sponsor Mule Town Coffee Company in Columbian Tennessee.

The Masters has been postponed to November so I decided to post an encore presentation of an episode talking with 3 men who have experienced The Masters and Augusta National from three different perspectives- player, caddy, turf management team.

This episode is a conversation with Jim Tressel, former head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes and now president of Youngstown State University. Coaches, teachers and anyone who works with young men need to listen to what Jim learned over 45 years of coaching. One thing he said that struck me was young men have always wanted 3 things: clear expectationsto be evaluatedto be told the truth about their performance. Jim says it's still true today.this episode is brought to you by Matt Johnson and the folks at Muletown Coffee Company in Columbia Tennessee.

This episode features a conversation with leadership consultant Marc Wolfe. His speciality is turning conversations into outcomes. Having the right conversations to help move your business forward.This episode is sponsored by the fine folks at MuleTown Coffee in Columbia Tennessee. You can visit their coffee shop on the square in Columbia or order from their website.

This episode is a conversation with pastor, entrepreneur, and world class promoter Gary Lamb. Connect with him on Facebook

My guest today is bass player, producer and co-founder of The Swampers and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Dave Hood. Dave talks about what it's really like to be a touring musician and how a group of musician from North West Alabama created a sound that helped define a generation.

Matt Johnson is the co-founder of Muletown Coffee Company in Colombia, TN. He's also a singer, songwriter, musician, husband and dad of 4. Plus he's Southern Gentleman.

Conversation with podcaster, sports talk radio host and stand-up comedian Arky Shea.Click Here to follow him on twitter

Chris Hogan is a best-selling author, a personal finance expert, and host of The Chris Hogan Show. But to me he's a husband, father of 3 boys and true Modern Southern Gentleman. To learn more go to his website

Conversation with Made South founder Chris Thomas.Click here to find out what's going on at Made South.

Conversation with Alabama State Senator and owner of Southern Accents Architectural Antiques, Garlan Gudger. Check out their website or better yet, take a Saturday to visit the store

Conversation with stand-up comedian Killer Beaz.Go to Killer's website to find out where he's appearing then buy a ticket!

A conversation with New York Times best selling author, speaker and all around good guy, Andy Andrews.Go to his website to learn about his books and subscribe to his podcast.