242 | Finale
December 28, 2021
This is it. The final AndSons podcast. In this profoundly heartfelt conversation, Sam and Blaine look back at how this podcast came to be, what this journey has meant to each of them, and how their understanding of success has shifted over the years. This episode, originally a livestream, includes past AndSons podcast guests speaking a blessing over your life. Come, raise a glass, and celebrate the hard but timely end to this amazing chapter.
241 | The Journey
December 21, 2021
How do you know when it's time to end a good thing? As the AndSons podcast nears its final episode, Sam and Blaine reveal how they knew this was the right moment to bring the series to a close. They also share how beautiful and hard it's been knowing this decision may disappoint others, facing the risk of what's next, grappling with the difference between leaving and arriving, and processing their own grief as this chapter comes to a close. Show Note: The poem excerpted at the end of this podcast is "The Journey" by David Whyte.
BONUS: The Mount Vigil Podcast
December 16, 2021
Blaine Eldredge introduces an episode of his new venture, The Mount Vigil Podcast. www.mountvigil.org
240 | What's Next
December 14, 2021
The AndSons podcast is drawing to a close but AndSons is NOT ending. In this conversation, Sam and Blaine share what's next for each of them. Sam reveals plans for the future print volumes of the magazine as well as a 2022 live AndSons event that will become a long-term video resource for young men. And Blaine introduces his new focus, named Mount Vigil. Completely distinct from AndSons, Mount Vigil is a platform to help men and women interpret the movements of the story of God and discover how to enter into a deep and alert experience of Jesus in this significant time. For more on Mount Vigil—including podcasts, articles, and videos—visit www.mountvigil.org
239 | Sage Advice for Your Twenties
December 7, 2021
The Wild at Heart men's team recently gathered for a new mission—to share insights gleaned from the ups and downs of their twenties. To start the conversation, Sam and Blaine invited the guys over forty (John, Bart, Allen, Morgan, Alex, JD, Justin, and Barry) into the podcast studio one at a time and asked them this question: "Looking back, what do you now wish you could tell the you of your twenties"? The advice is timely and timeless. Because every man feels both overwhelmed and underqualified during this demanding season. So imagine being around a fire-pit with these men as you take in these personal, powerful stories of those who have traveled the miles, earned the scars, and, along the way, discovered what matters most.
238 | God's Will?
November 30, 2021
In this listener-requested topic, Sam and Blaine enter the deep waters of how to know the will of God. Most arrive at this question through the problem of pain, the desire to make choices that please God, or seeking his seal of approval on an outcome we want. But what if something more is at play that requires us to ask additional questions? Like how do free will and the issue of evil factor into the equation? Does God have a single vision for our lives (so we better not blow it)—or is he inviting us to co-determine the future with him? Finally...if the Creator really does care enough to engage with us in both the daily and the major decisions, how do we enter into that with him?
237 | All Good Things
November 23, 2021
This episode features a big announcement about what's ahead for AndSons. You'll want to find some space to be fully present for this recent live stream where Sam and Blaine share what this new season looks like for them and the future of this podcast series.
236 | Do This, Not That
November 16, 2021
After more than 230 AndSons podcasts—that's around 14,000 minutes—on practically every topic imaginable, how could anyone distill it all down to a few main points? That was the herculean challenge given to Sam and Blaine. They accepted, and the results may surprise you. They each created a list of "3 Do's and 3 Don'ts" they felt was essential for guys in their 20s and 30s. So lean in, listen well, and do this...but not that. Show Note: Language Warning.
235 | The Second Age of the Sorcerer
November 9, 2021
We live at a crazy moment in human history. The veil of modernity has fallen away and the re-spiritualization of the world is occurring. Once again, people are being drawn to the spiritual side of things. But having one's spiritual senses opened up without allegiance to Jesus and the covering of Christianity is disastrous. The good news is we can learn how to operate in this age really well. Jesus has everything we need. But we must ask him to teach us how to respond to these sorcerers, magicians, and spiritual anarchists as they reemerge from the shadows with these ancient strategies. Show Note: This is an AndSons MetaDragon Episode. Our team calls these sorts of episodes "MetaDragon" due to their meta-focus, their intensity, and because we misunderstood something our sound engineer said one day. Esoteric? A little. But now that you know, welcome to the MetaDragon.
234 | Body and Spirit: Christians as Amphibians
November 2, 2021
John Eldredge joins Sam and Blaine for this episode of the recent AndSons live stream. It's no secret that humanity is hard-pressed and beat up. But if we're going to recover from the current global trauma and understand the spiritual forces in our world, we need to first realize an essential truth. As Christians, we actually live in two worlds—the natural and the spiritual. And just as amphibians can transition easily from water to land, we need to discover how to tap into the strengths of God and his kingdom right here in the natural world around us.
233 | Sailors and Squirrels
October 26, 2021
What do you do in seasons where the things that once brought great joy no longer seem possible? The desire is still there, but the time or perhaps the money isn't. Through the doorway of sailing and yeah, even squirrels, Sam and Blaine offer a message of serious hope. Don't ever stop pursuing what brings you joy. Even when the epic seems out of reach, there are small things you can do to turn your daydreams of the past into fuel for the future reality you desire. Show Notes: Find the four-part Wild at Heart Envy podcast series here: https://wildatheart.org/rhplay/series/podcast/envy
232 | The Sam and Blaine Mixtape
October 19, 2021
Certain songs have the ability to move you like nothing else, bringing you right back to key moments in life. Sometimes you choose the songs; sometimes they choose you. Either way, music's a potent mix of melody, memory, and emotion. Maybe that's why ancient epics often weren't poems or stories...but songs. In this conversation about music, Sam and Blaine share songs from the soundtracks of their lives while inviting you to remember the songs from various seasons of your own life. Show Notes: Check out the Spotify playlist with all the music featured in this podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4e4LITa7cYpxweFQx5QeuF?si=efbaa7cccf19471b
231 | Know Your Own Heart
October 12, 2021
In this recent AndSons livestream, Sam and Blaine explore the high cost of ignoring our hearts. Yes, the heart is messy and complicated, but it's also the epicenter of our emotions, desires, motives, and experiences. When we become untethered from it and mask our feelings, we open the door to shame, despair, and anger. For those willing and brave enough, there is a way back to wholeheartedness. Here are some simple practices for becoming a student of the heart.
230 | Stasi Eldredge: Captivated by Jesus
October 5, 2021
Our souls grow weary from the relentless pace of life filled with non-stop demands for more of us than we have to give. In these times it's hard to remember our treasured times with Jesus...much less how to be captivated by him. Stasi Eldredge joins Sam and Blaine with a much-needed reminder that God is in our longings. She tenderly shows how grief can intermingle with intimacy. Ways to let our hearts surface in God's care. And how important it is for us to remember who we are, who God is, and the truer story that he's telling through the messiness and beauty of our lives. Show Notes Listen to the first episode of Stasi Eldredge's new Captivated podcast series here: https://wildatheart.org/rhplay/podcast/captivated/encountering-jesus
229 | Anxious About Everything
September 28, 2021
If you struggle with anxiety, you're not alone. More than 40 million adults struggle with anxiety. It's the most common mental illness in America. But we don't really talk about it, probably because it creates a sense of shame or makes us feel like a failure. Luke Eldredge joins Sam for a conversation to address what's really going on and offer some practical things that help when anxiety hits.