Send us Fan Mail

What can George Washington’s early setbacks teach us about grit, ambition, and purpose?

In this shorter episode of the Strong by Design Podcast, Mike Westerdal and Stephen Ohocinski share their reactions to the film Young Washington. They discuss the young leader’s repeated failures, his refusal to give up, and the role faith may have played in shaping his path. Along the way, they offer candid thoughts on the movie’s storytelling and battle scenes, and consider how perseverance can turn disappointment into growth.

It’s a lively conversation about history, faith, and the determination to keep going when the road ahead is anything but clear.

Time Stamps
00:00 – How divine protection shaped young Washington
00:50 – Welcome to the Strong by Design podcast!
01:15 – Join hosts Mike Westerdal and Stephen Ohocinski for today’s special episode
01:50 – Meet the story behind 'Young Washington'
02:48 – What historical films can teach us
05:18 – Why independent films tell different stories
07:48 – How failure shapes ambition
10:55 – The making of a young leader
14:43 – Why resilience changes everything
20:36 – What failure can teach us
23:41 – How warfare changed early America
27:18 – Can art be separated from the artist?
28:08 – Share, rate & review the Strong by Design podcast!

Support the show

Connect w/ Critical Bench:

• Youtube
• Facebook
• Instagram
• CriticalBench.com
• CriticalNutritionLabs.com
• StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us Fan Mail

The conversation continues in Part 2 as Coach Chris Wilson and Jared Haley sit down with Pastor Anthony McDaniel to explore what faithful Christian engagement should actually look like in a culture increasingly shaped by competing ideas, ideologies, and political division.

Anthony explains why self-restraint matters, how Christians should think about the proper role and limits of government, and why passion without wisdom can become counterproductive.

The conversation then turns toward Christian leadership, the ideas shaping our culture, and what history can teach us about the consequences of ideology. Chris, Jared, and Anthony also examine how crises reveal leadership, why simply creating believers isn't enough if we're not making disciples, and how Christians should respond when major cultural events challenge their convictions.

One of the most important themes of the conversation is learning to stand firmly for truth without abandoning grace and understanding how disagreement, when handled properly, can actually strengthen our convictions.

As the episode comes to a close, the discussion turns toward a question we all need to consider: What can bring divided communities back together?

Part 2 is a challenging conversation about leadership, conviction, responsibility, and what it means to live out your faith beyond the walls of the church.

Time Stamps

0:00 – Welcome to the Strong by Design podcast!
00:10 – Join hosts Chris Wilson and Jared Haley with special guest Pastor Anthony McDaniel [Part 2]
00:30 – Why does self-restraint matter?
02:40 – How much power should government have?
04:00 – Know when protection becomes a responsibility
08:59 – Why passion alone isn’t enough
11:08 – What makes a strong Christian leader?
15:01 – The ideas shaping our culture
19:40 – What can history teach us?
24:36 – How ideology changes the way we think
27:48 – The mistake that weakens persuasion
32:32 – What crisis reveals about leadership
36:01 – Are we making disciples or just believers?
42:38 – How should Christians respond to major events?
45:14 – Can you stand for truth without losing grace?
50:08 – Why disagreement can strengthen your convictions
52:08 – What can bring communities back together?
54:22 – Share, rate & review the Strong by Design podcast!

Connect with Pastor Anthony:

Instagram

Connect with Jared:

Instagram

Connect with Chris:

Instagram

Support the show

Connect w/ Critical Bench:

• Youtube
• Facebook
• Instagram
• CriticalBench.com
• CriticalNutritionLabs.com
• StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us Fan Mail

Should Christians stay out of politics or has that mindset caused the church to retreat from its responsibility to engage culture?

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Coach Chris Wilson and Jared Haley sit down with Pastor Anthony McDaniel to tackle one of the most important questions facing Christians today: What does faithful engagement with culture and government actually look like?

The conversation begins by challenging the popular image of “Hippie Jesus” before moving into Anthony’s own journey from professional trumpet player to pastor and the political awakening that changed how he viewed his responsibility as a Christian.

Together, they unpack the biblical meaning of the separation of church and state, five common mistakes Christians make when thinking about politics, the Great Commission, and what churches can learn from successful sports organizations.

They also take a closer look at the Parable of the Talents, personal responsibility, success beginning at home, and why pastors have a responsibility to provide moral clarity. The conversation closes by examining the often-misunderstood idea of “Christian nationalism” and what it means to live faithfully as both a Christian and a citizen.

This is only Part 1… Please come back for Part 2 as the conversation continues. Part 2 releases on Saturday, September 19th!

Time Stamps

00:00 – The “Hippie Jesus” myth vs. reality
00:33 – Welcome to the Strong by Design podcast!
01:12 – Join hosts Chris Wilson and Jared Haley with special guest Pastor Anthony McDaniel [Part 1]
02:40 – A prayer for truth, guidance, and strength
04:18 – From professional trumpet player to pastor
05:10 – What sparked a political awakening in 2008?
07:53 – Addressing cultural issues in the church
12:25 – Why are Christians pushed toward political passivity?
15:57 – Understanding the separation of church and state
18:28 – The history behind the King James Bible
21:10 – Five common mistakes Christians make about politics
23:00 – Re-examining the Great Commission
28:38 – What churches can learn from sports organizations
33:23 – What the Parable of the Talents teaches
39:00 – The Parable of the Talents and socialism
46:44 – How success starts at home
50:08 – Why pastors should provide moral clarity
52:38 – Understanding “Christian nationalism”
56:45 – Faith, citizenship, and everyday life
58:16 – Come back for Part 2 and leave ratings and reviews for the SBD podcast!

Connect with Pastor Anthony:

Instagram

Connect with Jared:

Instagram

Connect with Chris:

Instagram

Support the show

Connect w/ Critical Bench:

• Youtube
• Facebook
• Instagram
• CriticalBench.com
• CriticalNutritionLabs.com
• StrongByDesignPodcast.com