The Forging of Men
The Forging of Men exists to equip, empower, and enable the fathers of boys to raise their sons into the next great generation of men through faith, fitness, and outdoor adventure.
Episodes

Apr 15, 2026
Apr 15, 2026
52 min
On a campfire episode of Forging of Men, Josh and guests Seth and Taylor discuss their experiences from the recent ice storm and walk through practical advice on home generators — sizing, fuel options, transfer switches, maintenance, and the true return on investment when protecting food, heat, and family safety.
They stress mindset, capability, and planning: map essential circuits, make setup simple for anyone at home, and prioritize preparedness to keep your home powered and secure during outages.

Apr 1, 2026
Apr 1, 2026
28 min
Host Josh Vegors digs into his recent struggle with imposter syndrome, the support that received from his Men's group, and how this time has helped him realize the importance of building healthy communities in a "it takes a village" mentality.The episode expands further to share about how to BUILD healthy community, in particular when a religious component may be absent. This framework can empower people to build community wherever they are, and make sure we are taking care of one another.

Mar 25, 2026
Mar 25, 2026
37 min
Host Josh Vegors relaunches a revised episode recounting recent months of loss, job change, and struggle while exploring how faith, prayer, and outdoor time aided his healing. He discusses difficult topics like death, suicide, and mental health, and why honest conversations with sons and friends matter.
Through stories of funerals, an elk hunt, and the power of a supportive men’s group, Josh offers practical lessons: build a three-deep support network, use accountability partners, and teach boys spiritual and practical tools for resilience. Upcoming episodes and resources are announced as the podcast returns.

Mar 4, 2026
Mar 4, 2026
59 min
This episode of The Forging of Men features functional nutritionist Rachel McWright discussing practical strategies for improving men's testosterone and overall hormone health through diet, strength training, sleep, and reducing exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals.Rachel explains the toxic-bucket concept, the importance of weightlifting and circadian rhythm habits, and gives actionable tips for swapping out fragranced products and plastics to protect hormones and support long-term health.

Feb 25, 2026
Feb 25, 2026
1 hr 8 min
In this episode of The Forging of Men, host Josh talks with Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor Rachel McWright about testosterone and why a holistic approach — not just pills or quick fixes — matters. They cover how diet (protein, healthy fats, micronutrients), organic and grass‑fed choices, and reducing chemical exposure support hormone health.They also discuss lifestyle factors like morning sunlight, sleep, circadian rhythm, stress management, and practical grocery and supplement tips to naturally support men’s testosterone and overall vitality.

Feb 18, 2026
Feb 18, 2026
18 min
This is The Forging of Men, a podcast to help fathers of sons raise their sons into the next great generation of men through faith, fitness, and outdoor adventure. In this episode Josh Vegors reflects on Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, explains the origin of ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday palms, and outlines the season’s purpose of fasting, prayer, repentance, and self-reflection.
He challenges listeners to start Lent by deciding what to say "yes" to—more prayer, gratitude, focused projects, and engagement with family—and then remove the distractions (like doom-scrolling) that steal time. Practical tips include using morning rituals for gratitude or prayer, reclaiming time for meaningful work and relationships, and using 40 days to build lasting habits.

Feb 11, 2026
Feb 11, 2026
54 min
This episode revisits the most popular Forging of Men conversation, stitched back together to reframe masculinity and violence. The hosts discuss how violence can be morally neutral, how good violence arises from love and control to defend the innocent, and why training and discipline matter for fathers and communities.Listeners hear practical ideas about self-mastery, martial training, firearms, and the responsibility men have to protect family and society, with a call to act, train, and embrace disciplined strength rooted in faith.

Feb 4, 2026
Feb 4, 2026
36 min
Hey friends, thanks for joining a crossover episode with Tim Summers from the Raising Catholic Podcast where we dive into discipline — how to lead, correct, and shape our children from a biblical perspective.
We discuss physical and verbal discipline, the difference between authoritative and authoritarian leadership, practical tools like posture, proximity, volume and the ask–tell–make approach, and how grace, love, and clear consequences build responsible sons.
This episode is for fathers working to raise the next generation of men through faith, fitness, and practical, loving leadership.

Jan 28, 2026
Jan 28, 2026
28 min
This is The Forging of Men, a podcast to help fathers of sons raise their sons into the next great generation of men through faith, fitness, and outdoor adventure.
In this episode the host provides an end-of-month update on upcoming shows (budget camping and hunting, Priest-Prophet-King, violence & masculinity, scripture and discipline), shares progress on his 75 Hard challenge and progressive diet, announces the upcoming website launch, and outlines plans for a lightweight, backpackable big-game rifle build.

Jan 21, 2026
Jan 21, 2026
1 hr 47 min
In this episode Andy Smith shares his decision on December 1, 2020 to change his life — going from 356 lb to a fit, disciplined lifestyle through daily exercise, a simple clean diet, running, weighted rucks, journaling, and steady goals. He explains practical, sustainable steps for beginners (start walking, cut sugary drinks, use small progressive weights or a vest) and the mental and family benefits of consistency.
Andy also describes how his transformation influenced his 14-year-old son, the importance of small victories, realistic goal-setting, and the spiritual and emotional growth that comes with loving yourself to better love others.

This is me
Literally. That little dot sitting on the cliff. That was the day and the place that the idea for this podcast began to take root. So from the cliffs of the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming to your ears, this is the Forging of Men.
I'm raising four boys myself, and I have other Dads come to me regularly asking about how I do what I do. Raising boys is easy. Anybody can do that. Raising them right to become great men? That's a whole other battle. But its a battle worth fighting.
My goal is to give you the tools to do it by sharing my own experiences as well as amazing conversations with some fabulous guests. So hold on for the ride, because its gonna be wild.




