Erwin and Aaron McManus discuss the relationship between imitation, theft, and originality in creating something new. Erwin ruminates that before you create, first you imitate; there is a structure to every piece of clothing, art, film, etc. that serves as the beginning for every creative process. Aaron dives into inspiration and shares the origins of his creative process. They both discuss Erwin's past and present work - the people who have copied his talks and books with no apology and great success, and the projects he is currently pursuing that people in his life didn't believe he could achieve. Erwin reminds us that to create anything is courageous - but we must be compelled to create the best expression of what is unique to us. — 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 talk about Aaron's side project Pagan USA, a brand & clothing line he started with his friends, and what it's like to start something you care about and create it from nothing.  From risk, to personal development, to selecting and growing a team, Erwin highlights key elements of Aaron's journey with Pagan and how the way he's managed the company has valuable life lessons and insights. Aaron reflects on the experience of launching Pagan in 2020 and how now was the right time to take the risk and start something new.  Aaron flips the conversation and gets his dad to talk about the motivations for starting his own side project and how passion and love for the work play a central role in where we find meaning and fulfillment in what we do. — 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 discuss the current political landscape in the aftermath of the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.  They discuss the current animosity between the two candidates and the growing partisan divide it represents in the country. Erwin longs for a world where the differences of both sides are acknowledged and the best ideas that make the world better become the priority. Aaron sees a lack of vision and generational leadership stoking the conflict and calls on young people to step up and lead the change they want to see in the world. In a final note, Erwin challenges the common phrase “vote your faith,” and implores people to vote for the best version of the world they see possible, not a predetermined course set by certain religious ideologies. — 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 tackle a great email from a listener who talks about their struggle with the message of Jesus in contrast to the beliefs of close friends while living in a city that tends to talk about the ‘universe’ rather than God.  Erwin first addresses the idea of the universe as a substitute for God and religion, pointing out that love is not possible if there is nothing 'out there' but the universe. In this way, the universe doesn’t love you, but God does.  Aaron and Erwin dive into the nuances of searching for God—something bigger than our unbelieving or curious selves— from rules like the Ten Commandments to the search for alien life, and how to find God, not out there in the stars, but within us. Their hope is that through this podcast and your own curiosity, you might stumble into an encounter with the Creator of the universe and experience His love. — Battle Ready Merch is here! Get it now at shop.erwinmcmanus.com Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast www.battlereadypodcast.com

Erwin and Aaron discuss a listener’s divisive comment on their previous episode, ‘Burnout.’  The listener took offense at Erwin saying the concept of burnout was a white disease. Erwin reminds us that some statements are intended to be light, and that the use of humor has the power to provoke thought and promote deeper conversation. Aaron suggests that to intentionally misinterpret the words of another person points to a lack of wisdom. They both dive deeper into the context of what burnout is, who it affects, and Erwin and Aaron’s personal histories with fighting burnout. — Battle Ready Merch is here! Get it now at shop.erwinmcmanus.com Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast www.battlereadypodcast.com

Continuing their European tour, Erwin and Aaron stopped by Hillsong Amsterdam in January and held a surprise Battle Ready recording, joined by Pastor Richard Vanderkolk, where they tackle a highly prevalent issue throughout the Amsterdam culture: burnout.  Erwin challenges the notion of burnout as something that all humanity deals with, painting it more as a symptom of privileged and affluent Western culture. What does it mean to be able to claim burnout?  Aaron asks this in the place of the typical millennial that finds themselves in a culture that prides independence and individuality, but who struggles with the harsh realities of life and the workforce. How should you respond when your level of work doesn’t match your passion? To combat burnout Erwin looks for practical and simple measures that focus on improving the things you can control, like the people you surround yourself with and the environments in which you live and work. He encourages that places like the Church are good for you, not just because of the spiritual aspect, but they challenge you to put yourself in an environment of hope and positivity. The Church is on the path towards embracing the life you want to lead. — Battle Ready Merch is here! Get it now at shop.erwinmcmanus.com   Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast   www.battlereadypodcast.com

This week we’re coming at you from Stockholm, Sweden! This episode was captured in January of 2020 while Erwin & Aaron were visiting friends and different churches in Western Europe. While on the road, our father-son duo reflect on the importance of environments and the spaces we create for ourselves, our teams, and our communities. From seeing the small details, to the people and the attitudes within a space, everything can contribute to an environment. How can we prepare spaces, especially church spaces, to be the most welcoming and uplifting experience for an outsider? Aaron talks about how a church is uniquely positioned to be a communal experience that people rarely find outside in the secular world.  Erwin sees environments as the circumstances that allow a person to be receptive and open to a positive experience and positive outcomes. Leadership is about creating these kinds of environments that create great spaces and set your teams up for success. — Battle Ready Merch is here! Get it now at shop.erwinmcmanus.com Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast www.battlereadypodcast.com

(Biblical Language, Christian Language, Human Language) Erwin and Aaron receive a 'hostile' email from a listener who worries that the Battle Ready content isn't biblical. Erwin breaks down for us what 'biblical language' is and how it relates to Jesus. How does the language of the Church relate to the outsider? Aaron and Erwin discuss how traditional Christian jargon can be alienating to a non-believer and create an exclusive 'insider' culture. Erwin explains his intention for Mosaic to be a place that uses human language so anyone can understand and experience connection. They dive into the conflict between Christians and others who are used to hearing certain phrases and cliches, types of speech the email's writer strongly associates with faith. Erwin points out that we want to hear things explained in the language we're used to, but Jesus came and explained things to people, not in the language of the religious, but in the language of the people. His ability to communicate truths without religious language is something we all should strive toward. Battle Ready Merch is here! Get it now at shop.erwinmcmanus.com Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast www.battlereadypodcast.com

Erwin and Aaron dive into listener emails and discuss questions asked on dating, relationships and conflict. On dating and relationships, they explore the common problems that one of our listeners encounters: from not knowing what to look for in a partner, to knowing when it’s time to end things and move on. Erwin is always challenging Aaron to “cast his net” and continue to date, and that dating should be seen as a positive and proactive thing—refraining from dating is holding your future hostage to your past. Erwin notes that you shouldn’t look for someone who makes your life easier, but rather makes life more interesting. A listener asks about conflict and how we should handle confrontations in our lives, from our close relationships to, as Erwin points out, the conflict-riddled world around us. When thinking about how we grow in relation to conflict, we shouldn’t assume that everyone responds the same. The best way to overcome these differences is to find conflict amongst ideas, not people. Erwin challenges us to win the person, not the argument. Battle Ready Merch is here! Get it now at shop.erwinmcmanus.com Follow us on Instagram @battlereadypodcast www.battlereadypodcast.com

(Apocalypse Obsessed Cultures / Heaven on Earth / Dystopian Future) Erwin & Aaron invite us into a discussion of their favorite new TV show, Raised by Wolves, and explore why as a culture we're fascinated by apocalyptic stories. Erwin notes that it's not just Christians (or theists in general) that are obsessed with end-of-world narratives, but atheists are equally interested in such stories. Is it possible that the ‘end of the world’ as we expect it has already happened? What if the accepted Christian interpretation of Jesus' second coming is wrong? Erwin challenges us with these questions and flips the conversation of the apocalypse into an opportunity as followers of Jesus to create Heaven on Earth - an idea realized through the understanding that Jesus is on earth through his followers, and we are the conduits in which Jesus is revealed to the world. Rather than living for a future that is doomed to destruction or dystopia, Aaron and Erwin challenge humanity to create the future for the next generation, one that is more open and aware of itself. From climate change to social issues in our society, to war and violence, we are the vehicles in which the future is changed for the better and becomes God's kingdom on Earth. "I want to go down fighting creating the new Heaven and the new Earth" –Erwin McManus Follow us on IG @battlereadypodcast Battle Ready merch is here! Go to shop.erwinmcmanus.com to and grab a hat today!