Jefferson Bethke is a best-selling author, poet, speaker, and content creator best known for his viral video, ‘Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus’, which has amassed tens of millions of views.
Jefferson also operates Primal Path, a discipleship program for fathers and sons; and Family Teams, an online platform that "equips families to live as a multigenerational team on a mission."
He and his wife Alyssa are raising their two daughters and son on Maui.
In this episode, Jefferson traces his journey from rebellious teen arrested for theft; to viral content creator, business owner, and family man – and shares his thoughts on self-development, faith, marriage, and parenthood.
Jefferson also speaks about:
-His experience growing up in poverty, relying on food stamps and Section 8 housing
-How his life took a positive turn when he encountered the power of Jesus' resurrection
-The viral video he made about Jesus being greater than religion
-How he turned his newfound fame into a successful career running various projects and businesses
-How buying an existing business and partnering with someone who has complementary skills can lead to explosive growth
-The importance of ritual in our lives and the concept of Sabbath as a day of rest and enjoyment
-How the Western view of time as a straight line towards the future produces anxiety and pressure
-The lost art of coming-of-age initiation ceremonies in Western culture
-Creating a mission statement for your family and assigning a special role to each family member
-How the stories we believe and tell ourselves shape our reality
-The importance of creating intentional and memorable moments as the leader of your family
-How men are silently suffering in society and what he's doing to lift them up
-The importance of reintroducing "play" into your everyday life
Jefferson’s charitable cause:
Forming Men: “A place for men. To heal. To be refreshed. To be encouraged. And to learn ways to exist in this world that are healthy and holy." The organization offers conferences, retreats, and a 6 month discipleship.
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Dan Coyle
Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté
How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels by N.T. Wright
Connect with Jefferson on socials: