[music] [music] This is Undaunted Life, a man's podcast. [music] I'm your host, Kyle Thompson. Let's get into it. All right, guys. As you know, it is Dominion season. So, uh, we are opening up the applications that are open right now for our six-month intensive disciplehip program. And we've had a lot of teams that have gone through this already. And so, I wanted to give y'all some exposure to some other folks that have gone through for teams four and teams five cuz we are looking for guys to fill up teams six and beyond. And so, today I've got a representative of team number four. That is Stephen Addison. Stephen, are you you're you seem a little nervous. Why are you nervous, man? We're just talking. We're just buddies. Come on, man. don't do this every day. So, >> I know I know you're telling me off very like I don't really really ever do this. But look at it like this. This is like a work Zoom call that I'm just going to send out to the entire world. Again, we're the number one show in Micronia. So, you might get some fans in Micronia, man. >> I'm in. >> All right. Well, let's just start with the basic stuff. So, what's your age? Where do you live? What do you do for work? >> I'm 44 years old. I live in a little place called Hope Sound, Florida, and I do drywall and metal framing. >> Okay. Now, um I always like asking this question because it's kind of weird because Undaunted Life's been a thing since like 2016. So, I guess we're coming up on our 10 year anniversary. So, when did you first get exposed to Undaunted Life? Like, how did you find our content? Why in the world do you still listen to me? Like that kind of stuff. >> Um I actually heard you first on the Mic Drop podcast from back in the day. And um I was like, that guy sounds kind of interesting. I a few similar things that I was interested in that you were talking about. And uh from there I found I start went back started listening to a bunch of your episodes and you know still listening. >> That was about four or five years ago I think. >> Yeah. I was trying to remember whenever I was out there in Utah. Um I can't remember how long ago that was but we've gotten a lot of people here because of that interview with Mike Glover. I think that's still the most viewed uh interview that he's ever done and he's you know had Andy Stump and Jaco Willink and all that. There was there was something in our conversation that really struck a chord with a lot of guys and like so so for you like with the Undaunted stuff, you know, equipping men to push back darkness. Like it's one thing to say that on a show and it's one thing for me to say that during an interview or all that, but guys seemingly like you are like, "No, no, no. That's what I want to do. I want to be equipped in that way." So what what is it about that message? Cuz you know, I I give political commentary and I give cultural commentary. Maybe that's interesting to people that agree with me or, you know, like to be challenged a little bit, but it seems like you've kind of internalized that a little bit. >> I just really want to be able to, you know, help others around me and and really understand what I believe, why I believe. I also have four kids and I want to be able to pass along some of that just pushing back darkness to them and I I really am trying hard to do that. Well, kind of that next step for guys that we've talked about with the Dominion program because the the feedback we've gotten is like, Kyle, I've listened to the episodes. Like, I follow the Daily Blade. Like, you know, I've seen you speak in person. I've read your devotionals, whatever the thing is. But they're like, I want more. I want I want more training. I want to be equipped in a more one-on-one type way. That's why we created the Dominion program. And we've had quite a few guys go through it. And we've got quite a few guys already signed up for interviews to try to be on teams six and beyond. And so I guess for you when you heard about the Dominion program either through my email or through the show or whatever, what got you interested, right? Because you know this is, you know, pre-commitment, pre- like, "No, I'm actually going to do this." But what what did you hear to where you're like, "No, no, no. I I need to learn more about this." Basically, it was I realized that I was kind of coasting in my just and I I and I I've talked to you offline about I'm trying to find a better foxhole and I really realized I was coasting. I needed something to go deeper and I wanted to surround myself with men that were trying to go deeper right now and I realized that Dominion could probably provide that and it did. So, >> okay. So, obviously you use the word coasting there. That's what I would the word I would use to describe a lot of guys that I I talk to because, you know, I'll get maybe stopped in the airport or, you know, just out in public. I got stopped in the park in my city while my boys were playing the other day. And what guys are describing, they're describing it in a lot more words, but you summed it up in that one word, which is coasting. And maybe they're coasting in their marriage. They're coasting as a father. They're coasting when it comes to their to their fitness. They're just kind of mailing it in at work. They're just kind of doing the bare minimum so that the boss doesn't yell at them. And so I guess for you, why was coasting not enough? Because for a lot of guys, coasting is enough, right? They just want to keep their wife happy enough to where she's not on their case all the time. Like they just want to keep the world at bay, but they don't really want to do much other than that. >> Well, I guess along with coasting, I guess if you're going to scripture, lukewarm comes up. And I did not I don't want to be that guy. >> I really am trying hard to not be that guy. Um, I I struggle with whenever any conversation goes into a deeper theology, I kind of just my brain would kind of just, you know, go on autopilot like, well, I guess I'm not getting in this one. >> And I just knew that I I I have to go deeper just for my first relationship with Jesus. And then, you know, second, I want to surround myself with other guys that are doing that and and just get off the bench. So, >> and that's that's what this is as well because with the Dominion program, obviously guys are getting access to me to where they can ask me questions. I'm giving them direct feedback on their lives, but I'm putting you with other guys, like you said, around from around the country that are also ready. They're like, "No, I I don't want to be lukewarm. I want to be in the game. I want to get after it. I just need something to to stimulate that. I need something to kind of direct me in that path." So, you know, you put in your application, you do the interview. What, I guess, made the decision for you? Because you know at after the people do their interviews, there's a decision point. It's like you're either going to do this or you're not. And like we've said, it's a significant investment of time, effort, and capital. Like this is not, you know, kind of a $20 a month app. This isn't like a one-time, you know, weekend course of 750 bucks. Like this is a this is a multi,000 commitment to yourself. And there's there's almost like a psychological switch that goes off when you're like, "Oh, I'm going to start investing like in my development." and I know I need a little bit of a of a push and this was the push. So So what what made the decision for you? I realized that if I did invest I had to invest the time and the capital and everything else that that I I would I would go all in on it because I knew that, you know, I I really wanted to uh you know, I time I don't have a lot of time and so like I knew that if I had to do this, I really had to put the time in and I've done my best to do that with this program and and I I think you know for me I just I knew I needed that. I really knew I needed that and it was a positive. Well, Stephen, I can say just like because I can kind of observe the guys in the program and and I can kind of surmise how much effort they're putting into it. I think you've clearly put in the effort and the time to it. So, so let's talk about it cuz your your time in team 4 is is almost coming to a close and now we can move on to looking at our our alumni program uh which which you know we we call it watchmen but basically uh you know dominion is like the training the equipping that you get in order to be that watchman on the wall as we see described in the book of Isaiah. And so, you know, they're the things that I've noticed, but I want to know for you throughout this program, what have you noticed about your personal development? You know, what has your wife noticed? What have your kids noticed? Like, what are those things to where you're like, "Okay, this is where I was, you know, 6 months ago and the things that I was doing versus kind of what you're doing and accomplishing now." >> So, um, the main change I hope that my my family, if they were here now, they would say is my my my prayer life with them. and we always had family devotions and and effort was sometimes put into it, sometimes it was not. But I've really done my best to take the time, stop and pray with my wife, pray with my family, and and really just try to to listen and to to help help them through the situations. Um, you know, some of the program is is is a lot about physical discipline as well and things like that. And then I already kind of had some of that mapped out in my life and but there's also been some aspects in the program that helped me more even in that discipline side of the house. So, but I would say, you know, the program has really if if they were to say something has changed, I sincerely hope that it's it's my my my Bible study with them and and my prayers with them. I really hope so. Well, and I think beyond that, you and I have talked quite a bit about your your children and your sons and the things that you're wanting to model for them, but also, you know, this is kind of that dance you have to do as a dad. You don't want to prevent them from making the mistakes because you want them to learn, but you also don't want them to hurt. there are the things that you want to you just want them to do this thing or this task or or take on this hobby. But if you force them into it, then they don't want to do it because there's this natural rebellion in a child to just not do what dad says, but then some coach says it or some teacher says and then they do it and you're like ah you just want to like strangle them to death. But I know that's been an element of this program for you as well. >> Definitely. Um and we've spoken a lot about that. I mean, I have I have three sons and a daughter, and I just I was also hoping through this program I would be able to just glean some of the some of the ways that just even the scriptures or even some of the conversations you and I had and kind of would lead to other conversations with them that would help lead them toward Jesus. And that that that's ultimately it. I mean, my kids are pretty disciplined physically, but spiritually, I mean, you know, I'm praying for them. I'm hoping they're figuring it out and and hopefully they can look at me doing my studies and and reading my books that that I'm trying to grow as a as a man and hopefully they're like, "Hey, you know, maybe they're not catching it now, but maybe later on they look back and go, I I want to be like dad like that." So, >> well, Stephen, we talked we've talked about kindling a lot, you and I have, about, you know, and this is a, you know, Matt Chandler thing, a Joby Martin thing, and they probably got it from somewhere else, but it's like you can't save your kids from a, you know, a eternal salvation standpoint, but you can put a whole bunch of kindling around them so that when the Holy Spirit, you know, puts that spark in there, it just kind of goes up in flames. So, uh, man, as we wrap to a close, I just appreciate you you sharing your perspective, especially since this isn't isn't like your normal thing. This isn't like in your your wheelhouse. So, I appreciate you letting me make you a little bit uncomfortable, but well, actually, let me ask about that before I get to my last question. >> There is planned discomfort as part of this program because that's where growth comes, right? So, again, most people can see this in a physical context, but if you do the same workout every single week, you're never going to be sore. You're never probably going to be tired. You're never going to be worn down. You're always going to be able to do it. There's no discomfort, right? If you do bench press and bicep curls every Monday and you do the same amount of weight for the same amount of sets and all that. Yeah, that's one thing. But then when we're when we do our meetup because you guys all came out to Oklahoma, I'm wanting to make you guys uncomfortable physically during a lot of the stuff that we're doing. I'm wanting to make you guys uncomfortable mentally with some of the stuff that we're going through because if you're not being challenged spiritually, mentally, and physically, like I why would why would you even do this program? Like it would make no sense to to do that if you just wanted to sign up for something to be comfortable. So I guess talk to the audience a little bit about the discomfort that you've felt which has kind of led to some of the growth things that you've seen so far. >> Yes. Um, so with the discomfort in in the groups, like we we would get drugged into the conversation whether we wanted to or not during the group discussions and and for me being the guy that kind of sits back, I had to have answers and it really kind of pushed me more than I was like, "Oh man, I'm going to sound like an idiot, but um do my I did my best to eek through them and and uh and and you know, it really pushed me and I needed that I needed that help. So that that program really worked with me on that. So >> well Stephen and that's that's kind of the thing about my personality and and when you're wired this way you can very easily be a bully or you can very easily be like a coach mentor but when someone's hiding like you go nope that's not acceptable. Well, it goes back to I remember you know Eddie Penny talked about this whenever he was on he talked about this in his book and he talked about this when he was on the Shawn Ryan show but you know you know we're at this men's event and we're at this campfire and like he walked away from the campfire and I'm like 24 years old 25 years old and I'm like something's going on and so I leave the campfire and I like head him off and I go hey buddy what's going on he's like oh no I got whatever I'm like seems like something happened at the campfire you got a little uncomfortable and you wanted to avoid it is that Okay. And I'm just like I'm challenging without being a jerk, right? Where I'm just kind of like, "Hey, man, something." And dude, he he was desperately wanting someone to pray for him, but you know, he's this 20-year Navy Seal dev group guy, and you know, he's just like, "I can't, you know, I can't ask for help. I can't ask for prayer." And like, you know, it's just you try to find the guy that's trying to hide during the workout. You try to find the guy that's trying to hide during the team call to be like, "No, man. There's something here for you." Like, you just might have to open your mouth. You might just have to move your body a little bit. And so, uh, that's what I try to facilitate and that's what the group just by the the nature of how it is is, uh, is going to work as well. Well, man, uh, la last question. So, I'll let you off the hook since I know this is all making you very uncomfortable, uh, talking out loud to the entire world here, but there are guys right now that are flat out on the fence, right? They're on the fence about putting in an application because you got you had to put some skin in the game to even apply for this thing. And then you got guys right now that have already done their interview, right? or about to do their interview rather uh in December and they're just they're pre on the fence, right? They're just like I I just don't really know what to do. So, what is your message to the guy that has the the time, effort, and capital available, but is wondering whether or not he should put it into the Dominion program. >> If you're coasting right now, this will jumpst start you into and it will make you get out of your comfort zone. It will make you just put yourself in places and into situations that they're going to make you a better man. And the bottom line is you have to step out. You have to take that step. You have to put in the effort. And if you put in the effort with this program, you're going to get something back. For sure. >> Guys, you heard it from Stephen. This is the anti- coasting program. But, uh, Stephen, I really appreciate you giving your opinion and your perspective to our audience. We'll talk again soon. >> Thank you, sir.