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A Time to Sharpen

A Time to Sharpen

By: Axel Liimatta & Brandon Maxwell
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About this listen

A bi-weekly podcast that examines how working with teenagers can make us better versions of ourselves: better teachers, better counselors, better parents…better people. Join two of Whetstone Boys Ranch's co-founders, Axel Liimatta and Brandon Maxwell, as they discuss what twenty years of serving struggling teenagers and their families has taught them about how to address the most challenging of behaviors. You'll find answers without dogma, encouragement without false hope, and sharpening without shame. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/time-to-sharpen/supportAxel Liimatta & Brandon Maxwell Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • Spiritual Life
    Nov 20 2025

    Spiritual Life

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    53 mins
  • Girls
    Oct 26 2025

    Running a boys ranch means we spend a lot of time talking about manhood—but you can’t really understand boys without talking about girls.

    God made us different on purpose. Not to compete but to complement. Because becoming a man isn’t just about how you carry yourself—it’s about how you treat the people God made different from you.

    Join us this week on A Time to Sharpen as we talk about “Girls.”


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    42 mins
  • Light's Out
    Oct 15 2025

    When most of the world goes to sleep, life at Whetstone keeps rolling. The lights may be out, but the work doesn’t stop. Boys still need care. Emergencies can happen. And someone has to keep diligent watch.

    Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on what happens after dark at Whetstone Boys Ranch — the overnight coverage that makes 24/7 care possible. We’ll talk about what those shifts actually look like, how staff remain alert, and the unique communication challenges that come with working when everyone else is asleep.

    Our guest today knows this world well. He has spent years walking the halls, comforting anxious and sometimes restless boys, keeping eyes and ears open to ensure every resident’s safety. Join us this week on A Time to Sharpen as we talk with Curtis Kazmir, the guardian angel who makes the ranch run safely all the way through and wee small hours of the morning.

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    44 mins
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