What if the long road is not a delay, but preparation?

In this episode of Men at the Movies, filmmaker Daniel Chesnut shares how a winding journey through surfing, filmmaking, and seasons of waiting shaped his calling long before the work ever mattered. We talk about story as a mirror, why encounter matters more than output, and how reflecting a man’s story back to him can awaken something sacred.

This conversation is for men who feel restless, unfinished, or quietly aware there is more to their story.

🎬 Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://youtu.be/h6ayEKaR4Hc

📘 Download the free study guide

https://bit.ly/4jhacBv

🔗 Learn more about Wild at Heart the Series

https://www.youtube.com/@WildatHeartOfficial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXe4GhWn0uc

What if the life you're building is costing you the life you actually want?

Jack Campbell thought he had everything—until he wakes up one Christmas morning living the life he walked away from thirteen years ago. The mysterious glimpse he didn't ask for opens his eyes to all that he had been missing, forcing him to answer a central question: who will he choose?

In this episode, Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney dive deep into The Family Man (2000) starring Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni, exploring themes of identity, choices, consequences, and redemption.

FREE STUDY GUIDE: Download discussion questions, action steps, and Scripture references at https://bit.ly/44SWzlW

WHAT WE DISCUSS:

- How your aim determines who you become

- Why the interruption you resist might be exactly what you need -

The difference between people and possessions—who would cry if you disappeared?

- God's promise to restore wasted years (Joel 2:25)

- Why it's never too late to start choosing a better story

- The Matthew McConaughey question: Who do you want to be in 10 years?

Whether you're navigating career decisions, marriage, fatherhood, or questioning your life's direction, this conversation offers Biblical wisdom and practical challenges.

ABOUT MEN AT THE MOVIES: A faith-based podcast helping Christian men discover God's truth through film analysis. We explore movies as modern parables, unpacking themes of masculinity, purpose, faith, and transformation.

Hosted by Paul McDonald with co-host Britt Mooney.

#ChristianPodcast #MensPodcast #FaithAndFilm #TheFamilyMan #BiblicalMasculinity #ChristianMen #MovieAnalysis #FaithBasedContent

"Is the ship out of danger?" Spock's first question to Kirk after sacrificing himself wasn't about his own survival—it was about whether his life counted for something. Part 1 forced Kirk to accept death is coming. Part 2 asks the harder question: What will you lose your life for?

Khan's superior genetics bought him nothing but wasted rage. Spock's sacrifice bought new life for everyone he loved. How we face death is as important as how we face life. You're going to lose your life anyway—will it be worth it?

This episode is dedicated to Jeremy Ross (1974-2025), who faced his Kobayashi Maru with the same strength and grace Spock faced that reactor core.

KEY THEMES:

• Sacrificial love as the answer to the no-win scenario
• Forgiveness vs. bitterness—releasing wounds before they destroy you
• Faith through pain—choosing God even when crushed
• Making your life count—what will you lose your life for?

📥 FREE STUDY GUIDE:
Download discussion questions and action steps at https://bit.ly/48czRGI

💝 SUPPORT AMANDA ROSS & FAMILY:
Jeremy's wife Amanda and their daughters need our support as they continue their mission work. Donate at https://give.pioneers.org
Click "Give to a missionary" and put "Amanda Ross-101561" in the comment section. Or make checks payable to Pioneers, put account number 101561 on the memo line and mail to: Pioneers-USA, 10123 William Carey Dr, Orlando, FL 32832)

🎥 WATCH ON YOUTUBE:
https://youtu.be/3pLl3BDqDY

CONNECT:
Website: menatthemovies.com
Instagram/TikTok/FB: @menatthemovies
Email: paul@menatthemovies.com

To support Amanda Ross, go to https://give.pioneers.org/s-donate and fill out the form using “Amanda Ross” and Account #101561

Make checks payable to “Pioneers” with “Account #101561” on the memo line and mail to: Pioneers, 10123 William Carey Drive, Orlando, FL 32832

Captain Kirk doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario—but life doesn’t play by cheat codes forever. In The Wrath of Khan: When the Cheat Codes Stop Working, Paul McDonald explores what happens when control slips away, wounds resurface, and every path forward looks like loss.

Kirk’s arrogance and Khan’s bitterness reveal two ways men try to avoid pain: one by rewriting the rules, the other by feeding resentment. Both end in destruction. The real test is learning how to face death, grief, and failure without losing your soul.

This episode dives into faith, courage, and transformation—the moment when every man must face his own Kobayashi Maru.

Download the free study guide: https://bit.ly/4oTNQHJ

Support the mission: https://buymeacoffee.com/menatthemovies

Confined Space Coffee: https://www.confinedspacecoffee.com/ (use code MATM for 10% off)

Keywords: Wrath of Khan, Star Trek, Men at the Movies, Paul McDonald, Christian men, faith and film, masculinity, courage, surrender, grief, forgiveness, no-win scenario, transformation, Kobayashi Maru, Christian podcast, faith podcast

“I don’t know what I’m doing here.” Eddie whispers as his 13-year-old son sits in a police cell accused of murder. It’s a confession every father feels but rarely admits — standing in the chaos, with no way out and no guarantee you won’t make it better.

In this episode of Men at the Movies, Paul McDonald and Simon (host of the Restoring Authentic Men podcast) unpack Part 1 of Netflix’s Adolescence. We wrestle with the illusion of control, the silence between fathers and sons, the fragility of boyhood, and the courage it takes to stay present when everything is falling apart.

👉 Grab the free study guide here: http://bit.ly/4nCEWhN

📺 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JINd6i4Vfso

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why “I don’t know what I’m doing here” isn’t failure, but the starting line for every father

• How shame creates a silence gap between dads and sons

• Why presence matters more than performance in our families

• Practical steps for letting go of control and embracing the mess

Listen to Restoring Authentic Men (RAM Podcast) – Listen here

Chris Farley’s Tommy Boy isn’t just comedy gold—it’s a story every man can relate to. Underneath the chaos is a powerful message: how do you move from being the beloved son to stepping into your role as a king? In this episode of Men at the Movies, we explore how Tommy’s failures, friendships, and moments of courage point us to the truth about identity, responsibility, and what it takes to lead.

Download the study guide here.

Watch the episode here.

Paul McDonald sits down with Rory Lawrence from The Dangerous Man Podcast to explore the brutal honesty of Lone Survivor. This isn't just a war movie - it's a powerful metaphor for spiritual training and the brotherhood required to survive life's battles.

From BUDS Hell Week to the mountains of Afghanistan, discover how Marcus Luttrell's story reveals what it takes to become a spiritual warrior. Rory shares his own dark battle with suicidal thoughts and how transparency broke the enemy's power. We dive into themes of identity in Christ, the training required for spiritual reigning, and why being "never out of the fight" is more than military jargon - it's a life philosophy.

Warning: This episode contains mature content including discussion of mental health struggles, domestic violence, and spiritual warfare.

Downoald your free Study Guide here: https://bit.ly/4gjYJjbWatch the full video episode: https://youtu.be/vf7mN-T9Im0

Questions

• When have you wanted to ring the bell, and what kept you from giving up?
• When have you done something God asked you to, and it went sideways?
• When have you gotten isolated when overwhelmed?
• Who do you need to share your struggles with?
• What does it look like to die to your self?
• What does it mean to lean in to the pain?
• How do you enter glory with an empty clip?
• What does it mean to give it all to Jesus?

Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2xo9bvDbN4Z3BEx37AlRqw?sub_confirmation=1) for bonus content.

To dive into this content even more, visit our website: www.menatthemovies.com/podcast. You will find resources mentioned on the podcast, plus quotes and themes discussed.

Find us on the socials:

• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@menatthemovies
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/menatthemovies
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/menatthemovies/
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If you would like to support our work (and get some behind-the-scenes perks), visit buymeacoffee.com/menatthemovies. Getinvites to livestreams, bonus episodes, even free merch.

Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston (ianhjohnston.com)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Links:

• MATM website: www.menatthemovies.com/podcast
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@menatthemovies
• Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/50DiGvjrHatOFUfHc0H2wQ
• Apple pods: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/men-at-the-movies-podcast/id1543799477
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When Coach Boone wakes his players at 3 AM for a run to Gettysburg, he's not just building physical endurance - he's forcing a confrontation with the deeper battle they're all fighting.

Paul McDonald sits down with Leo Clark (Texas basketball coach) and Conrad Schottel (Colorado) to explore how this 1971 integration story reveals timeless truths about unity, respect, and the courage to have hard conversations.

Leo shares powerful stories from his own coaching experience about breaking down racial barriers through sports, while Conrad unpacks how good authority figures become spiritual fathers. Together, they examine why unity can only come through truth-telling, not truth-avoiding.

This conversation goes deep into the spiritual warfare underneath cultural division and how sports becomes the great unifier when everything else fails.

Download the study guide at menatthemovies.com

Sign up for the newsletter at menatthemovies.com/subscribe.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2xo9bvDbN4Z3BEx37AlRqw?sub_confirmation=1) for bonus content.

To dive into this content even more, visit our website: www.menatthemovies.com/podcast. You will find resources mentioned on the podcast, plus quotes and themes discussed.

Find us on the socials:

• YouTube:www.youtube.com/@menatthemovies
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/menatthemovies
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/menatthemovies/
• TikTok:www.tiktok.com/@menatthemovies
• Twitter:twitter.com/_menatthemovies

If you would like to support our work (and get some behind-the-scenes perks), visit our Buy Me a Coffee page (buymeacoffee.com/menatthemovies). Getinvites to livestreams, bonus episodes, even free merch.

Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston (ianhjohnston.com)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Links:

• MATM website: www.menatthemovies.com/podcast
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@menatthemovies
• Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/50DiGvjrHatOFUfHc0H2wQ
• Apple pods: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/men-at-the-movies-podcast/id1543799477
• Google pods: podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80ODMwNThjL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz