

Authentic Masculinity
Seth Troutt
Cutting through cultural confusion with biblical clarity for men navigating modern life. This podcast tackles hard questions about manhood, relationships, power, and purpose—stripping away distortions to reveal genuine masculinity anchored in timeless truth.Not about bravado or resignation, but embracing strength that elevates rather than dominates. Each episode challenges cultural extremes with practical wisdom for becoming the husband, father, and leader you were created to be.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 7, 2025 • 9min
The Conflict Paradox: Why Peace-Seeking Men Often Create More Problems
Exploring the hidden costs of conflict avoidance, the discussion reveals how superficial peace often leaves everyone dissatisfied. Using the story of Adam and Eve, it illustrates that necessary conflict can lead to growth. The hosts provide practical advice for engaging in tough conversations, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding before sharing one's own perspective. They argue for the benefits of embracing conflict as a means to deeper connection rather than division, all while rooting confidence in one's identity in Christ.

Sep 30, 2025 • 10min
Breaking Generational Patterns: Why You Keep Becoming Your Father Despite Your Best Intentions
Explore how generational patterns shape our behavior, often pulling us into cycles we wish to avoid. Discover the biblical insight of Isaac and Abraham, showcasing that awareness isn't enough for change. Learn a practical four-step framework for breaking harmful family legacies, from interviewing relatives to building a supportive mentorship network. The conversation balances accountability with grace, emphasizing that acknowledging our imperfections is part of growth. This journey ultimately aims to positively influence our children's futures.

Sep 23, 2025 • 6min
The Idiot Dilemma: Finding Christ's Balance Between Judgment and Compassion
When you spot someone doing something objectively foolish—the teenager without a helmet doing wheelies near toddlers, the man demanding fairy pronouns—what's your instinctive response? This episode explores the challenging tension between labeling folly accurately and falling into smug self-righteousness.Christ modeled a clear approach: He named sin without hesitation while maintaining genuine compassion for the sinner. Both modern extremes fail—refusing to call anything foolish abandons truth, while judgment without compassion abandons love. This episode presents the biblical solution to this parenting challenge.The biblical concept of seeing people as "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" transforms how we interpret the foolishness we encounter daily. This perspective doesn't eliminate judgment but infuses it with genuine concern for those without proper guidance.For men raising children in a culture saturated with bad examples, this episode provides practical wisdom for teaching discernment without breeding contempt. The simultaneous embrace of conviction and compassion creates a distinctly Christ-like response to a broken world.Visit sethtroutt.com for more insights on authentic masculinity that holds biblical truth and Christ-like compassion in perfect tension.

Sep 16, 2025 • 9min
The Minimum Viable Dose: Physical Disciplines for Men Who Hate Exercise
Discover how to honor your body with the least amount of exercise possible. The discussion challenges traditional fitness norms and emphasizes tailored strategies for modern men. Learn how a grandfather's experience during the Depression reframes food preferences and physical discipline. Explore practical solutions for longevity without unrealistic commitments. This insightful conversation also aligns spiritual values with physical health, offering permission to prioritize what truly matters amidst a busy life.

Sep 9, 2025 • 3min
The Want-to-Want Principle: A Revolutionary Approach to Desire
What if the key to transformation isn't willpower but a simple shift in how you approach your desires? This episode introduces a life-changing principle hidden in plain sight: Do not do what you want—do what you want to want.The competing desires within you aren't a design flaw but evidence of being made in God's image. When Jesus first speaks in John's Gospel, he asks a striking question: "What do you want?" This reveals his interest not just in changing your behavior but rewiring your wants.Every day presents the same battle—the immediate comfort of scrolling social media versus the deeper satisfaction of connection; the temporary pleasure of indulgence versus the lasting joy of discipline. By identifying and acting on your "want-to-wants" rather than your immediate impulses, you begin a process that eventually transforms desire itself.For men tired of being driven by impulses they later regret, this episode offers practical freedom through a counterintuitive approach. The path forward isn't suppressing desire but elevating it—allowing your higher wants to govern your choices.Visit sethtroutt.com for more insights on authentic masculinity that orders desires rather than being ordered by them.

Sep 2, 2025 • 7min
The Bottom-Up Solution: Why Your Mental Health Starts With Your Body
When you're stuck in a funk, conventional wisdom says "fix your thinking first." But what if that approach has it exactly backward? This episode challenges the soul-body hierarchy most men have accepted without question.The biblical narrative presents humans not as souls trapped in bodies, but as "in-souled bodies"—a distinction that transforms how we should approach depression, anxiety, and spiritual disconnection. Discover how God's treatment of Elijah's suicidal thoughts began with sleep and food, not spiritual counseling.This conversation explores the surprising connection between physical movement and mental clarity, especially for men who process frustration differently than women. The biblical pattern reveals why outdoor exercise, nutritional changes, and sleep hygiene often precede spiritual breakthrough.For men struggling with prayer that feels empty or thoughts that won't quiet, this episode offers a practical pathway through the wilderness that doesn't start where you might expect. The journey from despair to clarity may begin with your running shoes, not your prayer journal.Visit sethtroutt.com for more insights on authentic masculinity that honors the body as the foundation of spiritual and mental wellbeing.

Aug 26, 2025 • 9min
How to Pray: Simple Framework for Powerful Connection
"Am I praying or just talking to myself?" If you've ever wondered this question, you're not alone. This episode cuts through the confusion about prayer to reveal a straightforward approach that transforms scattered thoughts into meaningful conversation with God.Between Christians who struggle with prayer and non-believers who surprisingly claim answered prayers, the conversation around spiritual connection has become increasingly muddled. Discover how a simple four-part framework—built directly from Jesus' own model—creates structure without sacrificing authenticity.Through an unexpected father-son exchange about weapons that perfectly illustrates our relationship with God, you'll understand why bringing your complete, unfiltered self (even the parts you're not proud of) creates genuine connection rather than distance. The approach balances reverence with raw honesty.For men who find themselves either overthinking prayer or avoiding it altogether, this episode provides a practical method that feels natural rather than religious. You'll discover why there's no such thing as perfect prayers—only honest ones.Visit sethtroutt.com for more insights on authentic masculinity that embraces spiritual disciplines without religious performance.

Aug 19, 2025 • 7min
The Lost Art of Confession: Why Men Who Hide Never Heal
The moment someone asks "How was your day?" and you respond with "Fine" - you've missed an opportunity that's more powerful than you realize. This episode exposes the hidden cost of living unconfessed in a culture that encourages men to maintain a façade.Beyond the religious connotation of admitting sins, true confession is about something far more fundamental—the courage to translate your inner world into language others can understand. The inability to name what's happening inside you creates a ceiling on every relationship in your life.From practical techniques to overcome the "I don't know" syndrome to understanding the biblical connection between confession and healing, this conversation reveals why addictions, rage, and disconnect flourish in the absence of meaningful disclosure.For men who've been hiding behind competence while their inner lives remain unknown, this episode offers both challenge and hope. The path to becoming "impact-making" men requires something many have never attempted—letting themselves truly be known.Visit sethtroutt.com for more insights on authentic masculinity that embraces vulnerability as strength rather than weakness.

Aug 12, 2025 • 7min
When Life Sucks: The Masculine Guide to Disappointment
The rejected job application. The wife who sends you to the couch. The contract that falls through. This episode confronts those moments when disappointment crashes into your life with crushing weight—and why your initial instincts might be exactly wrong.Men typically respond to disappointment in two ways: checking out through medication and distraction, or lashing out with anger and aggression. Both reactions seem hardwired into our nervous systems, yet both lead away from growth rather than through it. This conversation reveals a third path hidden in plain sight.The counterintuitive approach of embracing grief, asking "what is God doing?", and sharing vulnerability creates space for meaning where most men seek only escape. Discover why denial of disappointment ultimately magnifies its power, while acknowledgment begins its transformation.For men who pride themselves on handling everything alone, this episode challenges the façade of strength that actually weakens you. True resilience isn't found in pretending disappointment doesn't affect you, but in learning to carry it properly—often with others.Visit sethtroutt.com for more insights on authentic masculinity that finds strength in vulnerability rather than false stoicism.

Aug 5, 2025 • 7min
The Imposter's Guide to Spiritual Leadership: Leading When You Don't Feel Qualified
"How can I lead my family spiritually when I'm still struggling with my own faith?" This question haunts countless men who feel the weight of biblical responsibility but carry a deep sense of personal inadequacy. This episode tackles the apparent contradiction head-on.The tension between spiritual insecurity and spiritual leadership creates a paralysis that keeps many men from ever starting. Discover why this very insecurity might actually be your greatest qualification rather than a disqualification—and why those who never experience it should worry.This conversation reveals a counterintuitive approach to family leadership that begins with vulnerability rather than authority. Learn why acknowledging your spiritual struggles creates more credibility than projecting false confidence, and how transparency about your journey invites others to join rather than resist.For men who've been hesitant to step into spiritual leadership because of personal failings or inconsistency, this episode offers practical first steps that don't require pretending to be someone you're not. The path forward might look entirely different than you've imagined.Visit sethtroutt.com for more insights on authentic masculinity that embraces limitations while still fulfilling God's calling.