The Rise Up Kings Podcast with Skylar Lewis

Send us a textIf you’re a high achiever who loves Jesus, but still feels restless, anxious, and never at peace, this conversation will hit hard.Scott Donnell breaks down what’s actually driving anxiety, performance, control, and burnout in entrepreneurs and Christian men — and why the pursuit of success can become a spiritual stronghold. We unpack the 3 core wounds (abandonment, betrayal, contempt), how they shape your identity, and why identity can’t be achieved — it can only be received.We also talk about cultural Christianity, lukewarm faith, sanctification, eternal rewards, taking faith risks, biblical stewardship, generosity that costs something, and the legacy you leave your kids — because what you don’t heal, you pass down.If you’re trying to build a life of purpose, lead your family well, and follow Jesus without white-knuckling everything, this episode is for you.For more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtube Not ready to do an in-person event? Join our online community here riseupkings.com/4pillarman-yt

Send us a textChristian men, masculinity, leadership, humility, ego, insecurity, confidence, identity in Christ. This episode exposes the “hidden problem” behind burnout, conflict, and self-sabotage (masked as success).Most guys don’t realize the real issue isn’t anger, ambition, or even performance; it’s what’s operating beneath the surface. We unpack how ego shows up in leadership, marriage, and brotherhood, why “false humility” is still self-focused, and how to build grounded confidence without posturing.You’ll hear:How unspoken expectations turn into resentmentWhen leaders must be curious vs. certainWhy insecurity fuels the hidden problemThe simplest way to receive compliments with strength (“Thank you”)How training, discipline, and keeping your word rebuild self-esteemWhy Scripture is the higher source of truth when “groupthink” feels rightIf you want to lead your home, your business, and your body with conviction—without being driven by the hidden problem—this conversation will challenge you and sharpen you.For more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtube Not ready to do an in-person event? Join our online community here riseupkings.com/4pillarman-yt

Send us a textWhy do men chase success yet still feel empty? A Microsoft Exec shares why achievement, money, and status never feel like enough — and how surrendering ambition to God transforms fulfillment, identity, and purpose.Microsoft Executive Chad Kammarad went from a trailer park to one of the highest levels inside Microsoft. He reached the top — the cars, the house, the title, the status — yet the night he achieved everything he had ever wanted was the most challenging night of his life.In this powerful conversation, Chad and Skylar break down:- The emptiness behind high achievement- Why men keep chasing “more” and never feel fulfilled- The danger of ego, pride, and performance identity- How comfort weakens men spiritually and emotionally- The shift from self-driven ambition to Kingdom-driven purposeWhy Christian men must surrender control and stop living as “CEO Christians.”How God uses discomfort, pain, and disruption to move us into callingIf you’re a man who’s driven, ambitious, successful yet still sensing something is missing this episode speaks directly to you.Connect with Chad Kammeraad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadkammeraadFor more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtube Not ready to do an in-person event? Join our online community here riseupkings.com/4pillarman-yt

Send us a textWhat happens when the thing you’ve built your whole identity on gets taken away?In this episode, we sit down with Mondoe Davis to unpack one of the deepest traps men fall into: tying identity to performance. From the NFL to entrepreneurship, Mondoe shares how success can become a prison when it’s fueled by a need to feel worthy, and what happens internally when the platform disappears.We talk about the hidden wounds behind high achievement, especially the father-son pain that quietly drives so many men to prove themselves through work, wins, money, or status. And we go deeper into what real freedom looks like: learning who you are apart from what you do, letting God re-root your identity, and stepping into a calling that’s bigger than performance.This conversation is a wake-up call for every man who feels pressure to “be enough,” for every entrepreneur chasing significance, and for every husband and father who wants to lead his family with vision instead of fear.In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why performance can never give you a stable identity- How success is often fueled by unresolved pain- What to do when your career, platform, or business shifts overnight- The difference between building for significance versus building for purpose- Why every family needs a clear vision, mission, and core values- How to lead from love, not from strivingIf you’ve ever felt like you had to earn love, earn respect, or earn your place, this one’s for you.For more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtube Not ready to do an in-person event? Join our online community here riseupkings.com/4pillarman-yt

Send us a textIn this powerful, real-talk conversation, the guys unpack what actually makes a marriage thrive — especially when communication breaks down and intimacy feels hard. You’ll hear how different communication styles can create a downward spiral, and why the most emotionally mature person has to go first in forgiveness.They share honestly about pride, ego, and the temptation to love transactionally — treating your spouse like a vending machine instead of honoring God’s design for covenant love. You’ll learn why emotional intimacy has to come before physical intimacy, how to stay committed when your spouse isn’t responding yet, and why consistent love over the long game changes everything.The episode also dives deep into biblical leadership in marriage: husbands loving like Christ, taking responsibility for the “garden” of the relationship, refusing to live offended, and choosing meekness — strength under control. If you want a marriage that grows in peace, connection, and passion, this is a must-watch.For more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtube Not ready to do an in-person event? Join our online community here riseupkings.com/4pillarman-yt

Send us a textIn this powerful and deeply personal conversation, THINK Media Founder and CEO, Sean Cannell shares how being fired by all of his freelance clients became the catalyst for building a million-dollar YouTube empire. But this episode goes far beyond YouTube strategy — it dives into faith, fatherhood, character, spiritual warfare, discipline, addiction, and purpose.Sean reveals:- How God “kicked him off the cliff” into full-time entrepreneurship- The early days of volunteering with a $300 camera in a small-town church- How Think Media grew to 5M+ subscribers across all channels- Why character must grow faster than your platform- How Christians should create culture rather than curse it- Sean’s battles with alcohol, weed, burnout, and pressure- The spiritual disciplines that rebuilt his life- How to future-proof any business in the digital age- Why men lose vision — and how to get it back- What it means to be a “media missionary”- How God is moving through healing, deliverance, and the supernaturalThis conversation is raw, honest, faith-filled, and deeply practical for entrepreneurs, content creators, and Christian men striving to step into their calling with integrity and excellenceConnect with Sean on all social media: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWWFavn3ym0w3myTD5OX59ghttps://instagram.com/seancannellhttps://twitter.com/seancannellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/seancannellhttps://linktr.ee/seancannellFor more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtube Not ready to do an in-person event? Join our online community here riseupkings.com/4pillarman-yt

Send us a textRyan Michler, founder of Order of Man, joins Skylar Lewis to talk about the war on masculinity, fatherhood, and responsibility. Ryan shares how his own struggles with passivity, addiction, and divorce forged his mission to help men reclaim sovereignty, learning to lead, protect, and serve with purpose. Together they confront the crisis of fatherless sons, the deception of “toxic masculinity,” and how hiding pain destroys a man’s soul. This is a call for men to wake up, take ownership, and lead again.For more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtube Not ready to do an in-person event? Join our online community here riseupkings.com/4pillarman-yt

Send us a textFrom crack houses and an orphanage in Philly to Hollywood producer, Joe Knopp shares how God fathered him, why media moves culture, the Dennis Quaid “Who’s God?” moment from I Can Only Imagine, and why Andrew Tate isn’t the model for men. A raw conversation on sonship, strength, and Trojan-horsing truth into film.Connect with Joe Knopp: Website: https://www.joeknopp.comIMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7839151/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealJoeKnoppFor more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtubeFor more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtube Not ready to do an in-person event? Join our online community here riseupkings.com/4pillarman-yt

Send us a textA rocket-propelled grenade exploded just 10 feet away from me in Afghanistan. My heart stopped — doctors shocked me back to life. That moment changed everything. This near death experience became the turning point that revealed my purpose and deepened my faith. In this powerful episode of the Rise Up Kings Coach’s Corner, we talk about how God can turn pain into purpose, tragedy into transformation, and how every battle is preparing you for your breakthrough.Featuring Coach C.J., a combat veteran whose story will challenge your perspective on suffering and faith, and Coach Mondoe Davis and Coach B.J., who share how Romans 8:28 plays out in real life: “All things work together for good.”For more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtube Not ready to do an in-person event? Join our online community here riseupkings.com/4pillarman-yt

Send us a textIn this powerful episode, Skylar Lewis sits down with Ruslan KD to tackle one of the toughest questions Christians are facing today: Do we have to pick a side on Israel?Within the first 90 seconds, they dive deep into the “I’m done choosing sides” moment — unpacking why Israel isn’t a monolith, what it really means to support a nation’s right to exist, and how believers can honor both truth and compassion. Ruslan challenges the extremes of blind nationalism and anti-Israel sentiment, calling for biblical balance and responsibility.From there, the conversation expands into godly ambition vs. selfish ambition, how to build a business for God’s glory, and why generosity is the antidote to greed. Skylar and Ruslan discuss revival after tragedy, Gen Z’s battle with nihilism, and how personal responsibility is the cure for a culture addicted to victimhood.This is a raw, faith-driven dialogue between two Christian leaders calling men to rise up, think critically, and live boldly for the Kingdom.Watch for: “Israel Derangement Syndrome,” the truth about ultra-Orthodox Israel, how to glorify God through business, Christian revival, and why clarity is kindness in culture.For more information on Rise Up Kings, go to https://riseupkings.com/youtube Not ready to do an in-person event? Join our online community here riseupkings.com/4pillarman-yt