This isn’t just a recap — it’s a challenge.

After nine episodes exploring fatherhood, adventure, survival, digital safety, spiritual growth, food, and masculinity, Josh steps back to reveal the bigger mission behind The Last Easy Mile. This episode is both a call to action and a field guide — an invitation to act, learn, and live more intentionally.

🎯 What You’ll Get in This Episode:

• Why The Last Easy Mile exists
• Josh’s personal story: rural roots, urban grit, and midlife reckoning
• Behind-the-scenes lessons from each of the first 9 episodes
• Action steps, gear, books, and mindset shifts from every guest
• How to get started with hunting, stargazing, real food, off-roading, and digital parenting
• What’s coming next (spirituality, psychedelics, big ideas…)
• How to join the community

🧭 Resources + Mentions by Episode:

(Full links + guides available in the newsletter)

Ep 1 – Josh Kirchner: Learn to hunt as an adult, recommended gear + mindset

Ep 2 – Fraser Cain: Stargazing with your kids, meteor shower maps, beginner telescopes

Ep 3 – Kute Blackson: Surrender, letting go, emotional growth, book recs

Ep 4 – John Barklow: Cold weather survival, preparedness mindset, “possibilities pouch”

Ep 5 – Nick Melillo: The ritual of cigars, building a creative life, Foundation Cigars

Ep 6 – Dr. Bill Schindler: Eat like a human, ancestral food, raw milk, food chain awareness

Ep 7 – Keenan Campbell: Overlanding with intention, gear, dispersed camping, healing through nature

Ep 8 – Chris McKenna: Digital safety for kids, router security, app filters, real tools for dads

Ep 9 – Matt Beaudreau: Raising strong kids, redefining education, masculinity through action

🧠 Follow-Up Actions:

→ Join the newsletter: thelasteasymilepodcast.com

→ Rate + review the podcast if you got value

→ Send the episode to someone who’s stuck in routine

→ DM Josh with your personal action from this episode

In this episode of The Last Easy Mile, Josh sits down with Matt Beaudreau—father, entrepreneur, educator, and founder of Apogee Strong—to unpack what’s gone wrong with modern education, masculinity, and fatherhood… and how to fix it.

Drawing from his experience as a former public school teacher, private school administrator, Stanford University staff member, and now leader of a national mentorship and educational movement, Matt shares how Apogee Strong is helping families reclaim their values, design their own educational paths, and raise young men and women who are emotionally strong, physically capable, financially literate, and spiritually grounded.

They dive deep into topics like the failure of conveyor-belt schooling, the dangers of mediocrity and digital distractions, and why strong, present fathers are the cornerstone of a thriving society. Matt also shares insights on rites of passage, legacy-building, and how to raise children who are prepared for real life—not just to pass tests.

This is a wide-ranging, deeply honest conversation about building resilient families, rethinking what it means to be educated, and leading a life rooted in values, not fear.

Topics Covered:

• Why traditional schooling is broken—and what Matt saw inside California public schools

• The power of homeschooling, co-ops, and alternative education

• What Apogee Strong really is: mentorship, campuses, and full-life family education

• Meta-skills your kids actually need to thrive in the future (hint: it’s not algebra)

• Masculinity redefined: not alpha posturing, but sovereign leadership and service

• How to raise self-aware, spiritually grounded, physically capable young men

• Why rites of passage and family traditions are essential—and how to build your own

• Real stories from the front lines: Stanford, school systems, and starting over

• How fathers and sons can learn together—and why most men need a community too

• Book recommendations and challenges that transform lives, not just check boxes

• Building resilient families that lead with values in an upside-down world

Books Mentioned:

• Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill

• • Atomic Habits by James Clear
  • The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman

• 
  

  Resources:

  👉 Learn more: www.apogeestrong.com

  👉 Follow Matt on Instagram: @mattbeaudreau

  👉 Check out the Apogee Men’s & Father-Son Mentorships

The digital world isn’t waiting for our kids to grow up. It’s coming for them now.

In this episode, Josh is joined by Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes, to uncover the hidden risks kids face online—and the habits every parent needs to put in place to protect what Chris calls “this one precious childhood.”

Chris’s story is powerful. Trained as a CPA, he thought he’d spend his life in business. Instead, his journey led him from accounting to youth ministry, where he saw first-hand what happened when smartphones landed in the hands of middle schoolers. In 2015, long before most parents realized the dangers, Chris launched Protect Young Eyes to shine light on how devices, apps, and algorithms are reshaping childhood—and what we can do about it.

Together, Josh and Chris dig into:

• How smartphones changed childhood overnight—and why the iPhone 5 marked a cultural turning point.

• The Five Habits of Digital Parenting: modeling, connecting, encouraging work & play, delaying addictive tech, and preventing harm.

• The Pyramid of Protection: five layers every parent must know—relationships, routers, devices, locations, and apps.

• The Toxic Trio: why bedrooms, boredom, and darkness are the perfect storm for temptation and digital harm.

• Why video games can be both a danger and a surprising opportunity for father–child connection.

• How predators, porn, and algorithms exploit curiosity and dopamine—and why most apps are far riskier than they appear.

• Why schools, churches, policies, and parents must all take responsibility in this fight.

Chris also shares practical, step-by-step strategies: how to set up your router to prevent early exposure, how to “test drive” apps with the seven-day rule, and how to model calm connection when—not if—your child makes a digital mistake.

As Josh points out, this is the parenting challenge of our generation. And Chris doesn’t leave dads and moms with fear—he gives them a playbook. His message is clear: we can’t eliminate every risk, but with the right layers, habits, and conversations, we can raise kids who thrive in the digital world without being crushed by it.

👉 Explore more resources, guides, and practical tools at ProtectYoungEyes.com. The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Routers

👉 Follow Protect Young Eyes on Instagram and Protect Young Eyes on Facebook for ongoing updates and tips.

Because our kids only get one childhood. It’s worth protecting.

What does it really mean to overland? For some it’s a Jeep and a rooftop tent, for others it’s a weekend escape, and for many it’s a way to reconnect with freedom, family, and the land itself.

In this episode, former emergency manager and first responder Keenan Campbell shares how he left a high-pressure career and personal hardship behind to rediscover himself through overlanding. From 30 days solo on the road to filming a new Amazon Prime documentary, Keenan has learned that overlanding is less about gear and more about intention.

We cover:

• What overlanding really is (and why it’s not just car camping)

• How public lands open up millions of acres for exploration

• The Jeep community, culture, and why rigs matter

• Tips for beginners: apps, maps, and choosing your first campsite

• Why less gear and more intention is the key to real adventure

• How overlanding changes family dynamics and recharges your spirit

If you’ve ever wanted to leave the city behind, find peace in wide open spaces, or show your kids the value of dirt, stars, and silence, this conversation will inspire you to start your own journey down the overlander’s path.

Instagram: @AlphaFoxtrotJKU

YouTube: Overlanding with Intention

We’ve been sold a lie about food—what it is, how it should taste, and what it means to nourish a human body. In this raw, eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. Bill Schindler, archaeologist, chef, and author of Eat Like a Human, to break down what we’ve lost in the modern food system—and how to get it back.

We cover everything from the truth about raw milk and real sourdough bread to ancient food wisdom, fermentation, seed oils, and why spinach might not be the superfood you think it is. Bill explains how real nourishment goes beyond nutrients—it’s about connection, culture, and shortening the food chain between you and what you eat.

If you’ve ever questioned what’s on your plate or wanted to feed your family better but felt overwhelmed, this conversation will give you clarity, confidence, and a path forward.

Topics Covered:

• The myth of “healthy” modern food

• Why real sourdough bread is almost extinct

• Raw milk: health food or hazard?

• What ancestral diets reveal about human health

• Removing links in your food chain (and why it matters)

• The healthiest people Bill ever met (and what they ate)

• How processing makes plants safer to eat

• The dark side of spinach, almonds, and nightshades

• Why seasonality matters more than calories

• How industrial food systems hijacked your taste

Show Notes & Resources:

• 📚 Eat Like a Human (Bill’s book)

• 🧑‍🍳 Modern Stone Age Kitchen

• 🧠 Online Classes & Community

• 🌱 Weston A. Price Foundation & Raw Milk Finder

• 📸 Follow Dr. Schindler on Instagram @drbillschindler

In this episode of The Last Easy Mile, Josh sits down with Nick Melillo, founder of Foundation Cigar Company and one of the most respected names in the world of handmade cigars.

What started as a college job at a local cigar shop in Connecticut eventually led Nick to Nicaragua, where he would spend over a decade learning the art of blending, fermentation, and tobacco sourcing at the highest level. After helping build one of the largest handmade cigar factories in Central America, Nick made the bold decision to walk away from his secure, high-ranking position to launch Foundation—a brand rooted in authenticity, cultural homage, and deep respect for the tobacco plant.

In a conversation that spans history, craft, and personal philosophy, Nick shares the lesser-known realities of the cigar industry, including how to blend flavor profiles, the unique characteristics of Nicaraguan tobacco, and why authenticity always outshines marketing.

They also explore:

• How a college kid with a love of cigars found his calling and moved to Nicaragua at 24

• Why the term “boutique” still matters in a handmade world

• The transformation of cigars from an “old man” stereotype to a modern ritual

• What goes into crafting a truly memorable cigar—from soil and seed to box design and branding

• The cultural significance behind Nick’s blends, including El Güegüense and Highclere Castle

• Why Connecticut tobacco is some of the best in the world, and the glacier story you’ve never heard

• How to get started if you’re new to cigars—without being overwhelmed

• Why the best cigar shops still matter in a digital world

• What it was like to get a shout-out from Joe Rogan—and how it led to a custom blend for him

This episode isn’t just about cigars. It’s about risk, craftsmanship, identity, and the pursuit of meaning through hard-earned skill. Whether you’re a cigar aficionado or someone drawn to the soulful side of creating something real, this conversation offers a rare look inside a world few truly understand.

Resources & Mentions:

• Foundation Website: FoundationCigarCompany

• Store Locator: FoundationStoreLocator

John Barklow spent over 20 years preparing elite warriors for the harshest environments on earth. From training Navy SEALs in cold-weather warfare in Alaska to pioneering technical hunting gear at SITKA, Barklow has lived at the intersection of survival, adventure, and precision. Now, he’s bringing that knowledge to the rest of us.

In this powerful episode, John shares how 9/11 shifted his military career from deep-sea diving to mountain warfare, how survival priorities translate from battlefield to backcountry to city life, and why every man should build a possibles pouch—and train with it.

We discuss:

• How to rewarm after falling into a freezing river (and why your instincts will get it wrong)

• Why knowledge is your lightest survival tool

• The 7 core categories of a proper possibles pouch

• What keeps John up at night when it comes to urban survival

• Lessons from hunting Cape buffalo, grizzlies, and blacktail deer

• The biggest mistake most people make outdoors—and how to fix it

• Foundational survival skills every man should know (fire, nav, and trauma care)

• How to test your gear before your life depends on it

Whether you’re a hunter, hiker, dad, or city-dweller wondering how to prepare for uncertainty, this episode offers hard-earned wisdom, straight from a man who’s trained thousands to survive.

🌐 Guest Resources:

• Knowledge from Storms: www.knowledgefromstorms.com

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jbarklow/

• SITKA Gear: ⁠www.sitkagear.com⁠

• Montana Knive Co.: www.montanaknifecompany.com

📌 Follow The Last Easy Mile:

• YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/TLEM-Youtube

• Instagram: instagram.com/thelasteasymilepodcast/

• X (Twitter): x.com/thelasteasymile

• Website: thelasteasymilepodcast.com

What if the things falling apart in your life are actually falling into place?

In this episode, transformational teacher and bestselling author Kute Blackson joins Josh Farahi for a wide-ranging, soul-deep conversation about what it truly means to surrender—not as passivity, but as power.

Kute shares the story of walking away from his father’s massive church empire at 18, guided only by a quiet inner voice and a one-way ticket to the U.S. He reveals the spiritual lessons he learned caring for his dying mother, how that experience crystallized his philosophy of surrender, and why our suffering often stems from resisting what is.

Together, Josh and Kute explore the paradox of control, the illusion of certainty, and how Western hustle culture keeps many of us trapped in egoic striving. For anyone feeling stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed by the pressures of modern life—this conversation offers clarity, direction, and a profound invitation to let go.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why surrender is not weakness—it’s alignment with truth

• How Kute gave up a preordained path to follow his soul

• The hidden gift inside suffering, setbacks, and failure

• Kute’s “train station” metaphor for learning to stop resisting life

• How ego tricks us into obsessing over the past and future

• What it means to live from soul, not just strategy

• The difference between discipline and denial

• Why truth—not effort—is the first step toward transformation

• A simple daily practice for those just starting their spiritual journey

📚 Resources & Links:

• 👉 The Magic of Surrender by Kute Blackson:

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593421469

• 🌐 Website: www.kuteblackson.com

• 🎥 Free Video Series – 8 Levels of Gratitude: 8levelsofgratitude.com

• 💡 Manifestation Masterclass: manifestationmasterclassonline.com

• 📱 Instagram: @kuteblackson

• 🐦 Twitter/X: @kuteblackson

If you’re navigating life, feeling domesticated by routine, or craving a life of deeper purpose—The Last Easy Mile is for you. Host Josh Farahi brings real conversations with those who’ve taken the hard road toward truth, freedom, and growth.

➡️ Subscribe: Apple | Spotify

▶️ YouTube: The Last Easy Mile Podcast

📸 Instagram: @thelasteasymilepodcast

🌐 Website: thelasteasymilepodcast.com