“I want to make sure that they don’t have the missing link that I had.”

When fathers vanish, so does the foundation of masculinity. This episode unpacks how fatherhood—especially in broken families—is not just about presence but about principles, persistence, and pain. The difference between a boy who becomes a man and one who never leaves the basement may come down to one thing: did a father light the path, even when his son wouldn’t follow?

Brandon Held shares his raw, unfiltered journey from fathering three sons through divorce and distance to finding meaning in a mission to help other men. With military service, personal losses, and a brush with death behind him, his voice is one of hard-won wisdom. “I am lighting a path for you. All you have to do is walk down it.” If you’ve ever questioned whether your sacrifices mattered—this one’s for you.

Brandon Held is a father of three, a veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and Army, and the host of a men’s mentorship podcast. His mission is simple: help young men avoid the pain he endured by sharing his own story—one mistake, one lesson, one breakthrough at a time.

Learn more & connect:

https://www.brandonheld.com/about

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

“Be the hard man, be the virtuous one, be the disciplined one.”

Resources, skillset, mindset, and fitness. These are four pillars of survival that serve as a framework for becoming the kind of man who can lead through anything. Preparedness isn’t paranoia—it’s leadership and peace of mind for those you love. In this episode, you’ll hear what it really means to be ready when comfort collapses and crisis hits. From stockpiling water and food to developing real-world skills, we bring you the essential methods men need to weather chaos with clarity.

G Michael Hopf shares how to build a bug-out bag, store potable water using bathtub bladders, and why you might want to stash lighters, knives, and even toilet paper. He breaks down the mental and physical conditioning required to keep your family safe—and why your preparedness today will be their security tomorrow.

Hopf is the bestselling author of 40 apocalyptic novels and the man behind the viral quote, “Hard times create strong men.” He teaches real-world resilience through story and strategy.

Learn more & connect:

https://www.gmichaelhopf.com/

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

“Every time you make commitments and you hold them you get stronger. And every time you make commitments and you break them you get weaker.”

A man’s strength isn’t in his flex—it’s in his follow-through. In a culture that elevates convenience over character, men must anchor their lives in commitments, not shifting priorities. When a man commits and delivers, he strengthens both his character and his credibility. But when he defaults to vague priorities and excuses, his self-trust and social value erode. Living by commitment simplifies decision-making and amplifies masculinity.

Consistency in commitment—especially when life gets hard—is what separates men of substance from those living by excuses. In a world that rewards comfort, holding firm to your agreements becomes a radical act of self-respect and brotherhood. This builds trust and cultivates personal growth that priorities alone can never deliver.

Rob Arpa is an entrepreneur, father and co-host of the Sovereign Man Podcast.

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

When comfort becomes the norm, weakness takes root—and that’s when the real trouble starts. We’re living through a time where traditional values are under attack, strength is mocked, and confusion is celebrated. This episode explores why hard times are back—and why strong men are more important than ever.

Geoff Hopf talks about the cycle of history, where each generation shapes the next—and how we’re now in the “crisis” stage. From political division to collapsing culture, he lays out what happens when weak leadership takes over and what it’ll take to turn things around.

G. Michael Hopf is a former Marine and bestselling author of over 40 novels, including The End and The Cries of a Dying World. His quote “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, weak men create hard times” has become a global rallying cry—and a lightning rod for controversy.

Learn more & connect:

https://www.gmichaelhopf.com/

1. “The End” – by G. Michael Hopf https://a.co/d/bX1Nbc4
2. “The Cries of a Dying World” – by G. Michael Hopf https://a.co/d/apKGKts

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.