Erwin and Aaron dive into the details behind Erwin's new company and why he decided to start a business, and a risky creative endeavor, in the midst of a global pandemic and economic crisis. They discuss the common double standard held in the Christian world where pastors are expected to work more and earn less. Why is it that Christianity is uncomfortable with pastors making money from their own creative or entrepreneurial efforts? Erwin reflects on his journey as a pastor, how in his early years it was only through his work outside the church that he could afford to live and work as a pastor, adding the current context as he prepares to launch his new collection. Erwin and Aaron discuss the inherent controversies that come with pairing luxury goods with Christianity, and the struggle for people to respect the value of art, whether it manifests in fashion, film, photography, design, etc. Join us on Friday for Part 2 of this conversation! — Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast Email us: aaron@battlereadypodcast.com www.battlereadypodcast.com

After a quick tease of Erwin's upcoming new project, Aaron sits down with Joshua Rhodes, creative director and creator of The Last Adam — a faith-based clothing line and brand started in 2018 — and asks him about the origins of his brand, how he started out, and what he's learned along the way.  From creative purpose to the source of creativity and the importance of rest, Aaron and Joshua dive into the nuances of creation and artistic expression. They discuss the balance of work and personal creativity, sources of inspiration, and how authenticity in your brand is what creates genuine engagement.  Joshua shares the origins and inspirations behind his designs for The Last Adam, and his vision for what faith-based clothing could be. This leads to a larger discussion on creativity in the Church, how the majority of designs and content don't include the outsider, and the political divide seen in the church from the response to the "Defend the Oppressed" billboard which Joshua helped design.   Check out The Last Adam — thelastadam.com — and follow them @thelastadam_official — Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast Email us! aaron@battlereadypodcast.com www.battlereadypodcast.com

Erwin and Aaron McManus return to talk about the presumptive election of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and frame the conversation around how we handle winning and losing.  Moving from politics Erwin and Aaron reflect on Mosaic's One-Day Conference and the sessions on leadership and communication. Erwin poses an interesting connection between the contact tracing we see in the efforts to contain and trace the origins of Covid-19, and how we can use the same concept to discover the source and motivations of our decisions. How well can you see the patterns in your life, whether good or bad? Who in your life can help you recognize those patterns? Are your decisions predicated by their proximity and probability to negative consequences? How do your patterns relate to your own leadership? — Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast Email us! aaron@battlereadypodcast.com www.battlereadypodcast.com

Reflecting on the past election week, Erwin and Aaron McManus discuss the state of our country, democracy, and how we should think about the growing divide in America. From how we listen and learn from those who don't succeed, to the dignity we should embrace in victory, Erwin and Aaron break down the health of democracy in our society in light of this year's election. How do we fight for a better world together, regardless of the people in power or the political affiliations they hold? Instead of fighting against people and party ideologies, Erwin challenges us to choose the battle for ideas, where the best ideas are those that make our country and our world better. — Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast Email us! aaron@battlereadypodcast.com www.battlereadypodcast.com

On Election Day in America, Erwin and Aaron talk about how we handle disappointment as individuals and as a society. From the World Series to the president, they dissect our responses when we don't get who or what we want. What do your expectations and your reactions to disappointment say about your character? This integral question is what Erwin challenges younger generations to consider as the tensions within the US rise. Both Aaron and Erwin implore us to constantly check how we are handling disappointment in our lives. No matter what, there will inevitably be those you disagree with, and things cannot always go your way. We must approach those situations with maturity and ultimately respect if we strive to live in a better world. We hope everyone has a safe Election Day and we'll see you on Friday! —  Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast Email us! aaron@battlereadypodcast.com www.battlereadypodcast.com

This week we're digging into the archives and going back to where it all began. Take a listen to the first-ever episode of the Battle Ready podcast with Erwin and Aaron McManus, originally released on October 26, 2017.  The father/son duo talk about the power of ideas, how to actually think better, and the value of different perspectives. — Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast Email us! aaron@battlereadypodcast.com www.battlereadypodcast.com

Aaron laughs, cries, and cry-laughs in talking with Mosaic MSC during their writing retreat in beautiful, snowy Wyoming and asks them about their creative process, how they’re writing music for the moment, and how God is speaking to them in this season. The group shares what’s been on their hearts since writing Human and living through isolation during the pandemic, and now how they’re approaching writing a new album.  Interviewed in this episode w/ Mosaic MSC: Mariah McManus Goss, Carlos Pimentel, Brooke Figueroa, Andres Figueroa, Robbie Aholoka, and Colin Dennard —   Listen to Mosaic MSC's newest album Human (Deluxe), wherever you listen to music!  Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast Email us! aaron@battlereadypodcast.com www.battlereadypodcast.com

Pain is something we all deal with, and on this episode, Erwin and Aaron McManus open up on their different experiences with pain and how the way you handle pain can expand or limit your future. Some of the deepest pains are those felt when trust is broken. Erwin & Aaron talk about the importance of trust — how trust is the fuel for love, for relationships, for collaboration — and that trusting others, even through the pain we may experience, builds trust in ourselves. — New limited-time Battle Ready Merch is here! Get it now at shop.erwinmcmanus.com Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast Email us! aaron@battlereadypodcast.com www.battlereadypodcast.com

Erwin and Aaron McManus discuss the concerning patterns they see emerging in life and in politics across the country. Their conversation takes us from the freedoms we take for granted, to our acceptance and participation in cultural censorship, to distress at a new wave of entitlement. Erwin outlines his fears of the growing precedents being set with Executive Orders and local mandates in response to COVID-19, and asks how far we’re willing to give up our freedoms in the name of health and safety. The father-son duo both address a growing trend of removing people who are experts in their field from conversations in which they would offer a dissenting opinion. What will it take for us to engage with higher thought by opening our ideas up to debate and disagreement?  They make a call to action to avoid falling into a trap of conformity and censorship. Erwin cautions a growing sense of entitlement he sees emerging in society. Part of the freedoms we enjoy are being able to work, and to work for the lifestyle we desire. Pastor Erwin is worried that we can easily lose sight of things that have value, even the church, when we lose sight of earning what we enjoy. — New limited-time Battle Ready Merch is here! Get it now at shop.erwinmcmanus.com Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast Email us! aaron@battlereadypodcast.com www.battlereadypodcast.com

Erwin and Aaron McManus tackle a myriad of topics, spanning freedom of speech to reconnection with God, and discuss the variety of factors and influences that shape the inherent biases of the culture we live in. Erwin and Aaron volley back and forth when discussing the validity of a voice - when should a person speak, when should they be silent, and - a more difficult distinction - when do they have the right to be heard? They break down Aaron’s frustration with a particular review of the podcast and share its evidence of entitlement. Aaron shines a light on the struggle of the expectations placed on a pastor - he advocates that pastors can be held to greater responsibility while still being granted the leeway to fall short of perfection. Erwin speaks against hate as the response to anything you do not love - for example, if you love one basketball team, it doesn’t require you to hate their rival. He shares the missed opportunities and narrowed capacity for joy when you choose to expend energy on hate, and challenges the listener to go down a better path. — New Battle Ready merch is available for a limited time! Get it now at shop.erwinmcmanus.com Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast Email us! aaron@battlereadypodcast.com www.battlereadypodcast.com