Episode Summary

We're asking one question to as many men as we can: What is the main problem men are facing in society based on your experience?

Season three opens with a conversation that's been building since the very first episode. Rachael, mom of two teenage boys and host of We Take the Stairs, sits down with Jackson and guest Kenny — a man of faith, combat sports enthusiast, and someone who has made it his mission to do life with other men — to ask the question she's been circling for years: Why are men walking away? And what do we do about it?

What unfolds is one of the most honest, wide-ranging conversations this show has ever had. Fatherlessness. Passivity. Identity confusion. The school system failing boys. The church failing men. Gangs as counterfeit brotherhood. And what it actually looks like to channel masculine energy toward something good. This isn't theory. These are men who've lived it.

Guest Kenny — Man of faith, jiu-jitsu practitioner, and community builder based in South Florida. Kenny leads beach workouts that bring men together to do hard things, pursue Christ, and find the brotherhood that culture has failed to provide them.

Key Topics Covered

• Why Men Keep Quitting — Kenny traces the roots of male passivity back to boyhood: participation trophies, lack of grit, absent fathers, and a generation of boys who were never told they have what it takes to finish what they started.
• Fatherlessness and the Question Every Boy Asks — When a father leaves, the wound isn't just practical. It's identity. Was I not enough? Was it my fault? Kenny speaks to how only one relationship can truly heal that — and it's not with an earthly father.
• Identity Crisis in Modern Men — From social media to Hollywood's lone wolf myth, men are being told their value comes from what they do, how much they earn, or how many women they attract. Kenny dismantles that lie: your identity comes from who God says you are, not your performance.
• The Bullying Conversation Nobody Wants to Have — A raw and honest discussion about what boys actually need when they're being bullied — and why a mother's instinct, however loving, can't give a son what a father's voice can. You don't want the bully to be afraid of the teacher. You want the bully to be afraid of the boy.
• Gangs, Military, and the Counterfeit Brotherhood — Every man craves belonging, mission, and brotherhood. Kenny explains why gangs and harmful groups fill that void when nothing better is offered — and what a genuine alternative looks like.
• The Church Isn't Built for Men — Kenny and Jackson name something most people won't say out loud: most American churches are set up for women. Comfortable chairs, cappuccinos, and feelings check-ins aren't going to get men through the door — or keep them there.
• Meekness Is Not Weakness — One of the most powerful moments of the episode. Kenny breaks down the Greek military origin of the word meek — a wild horse trained to be a war horse, power under authority — and reframes what the Sermon on the Mount is actually calling men to be.
• What a Men's Group Actually Looks Like — Beach workouts. Weighted vest carries. Hikes. Prayer. A word from scripture. And then — after men have done something hard together — the real conversations happen. Kenny and Jackson describe what community built for men actually requires.
• Boys in the Education System — Rachael brings her experience as a school parent: boys are being told to sit down, shut up, and conform. Testosterone surges, physical energy, and competitive instincts are being diagnosed and medicated instead of...

• (00:00:00) - — Welcome, Season 3 Opener & Opening Prayer
• (00:03:10) - — Rachael's Heart for Young Men & Why Men Keep Quitting
• (00:08:20) - — Kenny's Story: A Good Dad, and Still a Hole in the Heart
• (00:12:45) - — Fatherlessness: Was I Not Enough?
• (00:19:00) - — Rachael Gets Real: The Cost of Raising Sons Alone
• (00:25:10) - — Doing Hard Things Together: What Men Actually Need
• (00:31:35) - — The Lone Wolf Lie & The Double Standard
• (00:37:30) - — The Bullying Conversation: What Only a Father Can Give
• (00:43:00) - — Gangs, Military & the Counterfeit Brotherhood
• (00:48:20) - — Meekness Is Not Weakness: The Greek War Horse & Matthew 5
• (00:53:55) - — The Education System & The Church: Both Failing Boys
• (01:01:00) - — Closing Reflections & We Takes

Episode Summary

We're asking one question to as many men as we can: What is the main problem men are facing in society based on your experience?

In our first episode, hosts Jackson and Rachael sit down with Jeremy — South Florida filmmaker, entrepreneur, and man of faith — and his answer cuts straight to the bone: pride, procrastination, and lust. What follows is one of the most honest conversations you'll hear a man have on camera. This isn't a shame spiral. It's a roadmap.

Guest Jeremy — Filmmaker and owner of a production company serving luxury resorts and hotels, documentary storyteller, and founder of the nonprofit Rock Jar, inspired by the Israelites' practice of building stone altars to remember God's faithfulness. Currently engaged and living in South Florida. (@Seasidemedia on instagram )

Key Topics Covered

• Lust & Pornography Addiction — Jeremy opens up about how pride fed his struggle with lust and objectifying women, and how God transformed his perspective — learning to see women as the Father's daughters rather than objects for his own gratification.
• The Damage Porn Does in Relationships — Rachael shares her firsthand experience being in a relationship with someone deep in pornography addiction, describing the invisible but devastating toll it takes on a woman's sense of worth, attractiveness, and visibility. "You know when they look right through you. You're wallpaper."
• Women's Accountability in Modesty — A candid, balanced discussion about cultural norms around clothing, the tension between freedom and conviction, and the encouragement for women to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance rather than respond to external pressure.
• Why Discipline Alone Fails — Drawing from Colossians 2:20–23, Jackson challenges the idea that accountability systems and self-imposed rules can defeat deep-rooted sin. Willpower has an expiration date. The real answer is surrender, not strain.
• Passivity & Procrastination in Men — Jeremy reframes procrastination as passivity — a failure to show up, follow through, and lead. The parable of the talents and Proverbs' image of the ant are both referenced. Men were made to move.
• The Power of Male Community — All three speakers agree: isolation is a tool of the enemy. Men need other men — a pack, a mentor, a group with shared purpose. Not to confess failure in discouraging cycles, but to pursue Christ together with eyes forward.
• Morning Prayer as a Starting Point — A practical, low-barrier encouragement: five minutes in the morning, phone down, no music. Just "Hey God, I'm here. What do you want?" That's enough to begin.
• Biblical Submission Reframed — Jeremy closes with a clarification on the husband-as-head-of-household passage: both spouses submit toward each other and toward Christ — mutual, inward, love-driven. Not one person lording over another.

Scriptures Referenced

• 1 Corinthians 6 — Sexual sin as sin against your own body
• Colossians 2:20–23 — Disciplines have no power against the indulgence of flesh
• Matthew 6:33 — "Seek first the kingdom of God…"
• Proverbs 18:1 — He who isolates himself seeks his own desire
• Song of Solomon — The bridegroom and bride as a picture of Christ and the church
• The Parable of the Talents — Risk, passivity, and multiplying what you're given
• Psalm 46:10 — "Be still and know"

Book Recommended Abiding in Christ — Andrew Murray A 31-day devotional on living in moment-by-moment comm...

Episode Description

What do you feel in the moment someone shoots you? For Pablo, it wasn't fear or rage — it was love and understanding. In this raw, unfiltered episode of Let's Break Bread, Rachel and Jackson sit down with Pablo, a young man whose life was shattered — and rebuilt — in ways he never could have planned.
Paralyzed from the chest down at 22 after being shot by someone he was trying to help, Pablo shares a journey that spans rebellion, estrangement, the cannabis industry, Colombia, psychosis, and an unexpected encounter with the Holy Spirit that changed everything.
Told through the lens of the Prodigal Son, this is a story about identity, purpose, forgiveness, grace — and why God sometimes doesn't meet you halfway. He comes all the way to you.

Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome & the Prodigal Son framework
02:04 — Pablo's story: Colombia, rebellion, and coming home
03:48 — Meeting a friend in need and the cannabis industry
05:30 — When helping someone becomes dangerous
07:00 — Shot nine times. Paralyzed from the chest down.
07:55 — What Pablo felt in that moment (you won't expect this)
09:46 — The phone call to his mom and what it meant
12:16 — Sleep deprivation, psychosis, and understanding the shooter
13:27 — Pablo's spiritual awakening four months ago
15:30 — Grace: from Windows 98 to AI
17:07 — Tony Robbins, a hospital bed, and the word "grace"
18:48 — Jackson explains the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
20:51 — The hospital, the fire department, and "Mom, this is big"
23:02 — Ephesians 3:16–19: the scripture that came at 3:30am
24:13 — Your gift of discernment: how to steward it
26:20 — Advice for mothers of prodigal sons
29:30 — What Pablo would say to young men today
31:42 — Fear vs. love: which is the better motivator for obedience?
34:11 — The small pebbles are harder than the boulders
37:09 — Identities Pablo had to release: money, status, body
41:21 — Jim Carrey, Solomon, and the void only God can fill
50:34 — What would you tell someone heading away from God?
51:42 — What's next for Pablo?
56:10 — Jeremiah 1 & a prophetic declaration over Pablo's life
59:05 — The Chosen, Little James, and Pablo's wheelchair as a superpower
01:03:30 — Mat carriers: who's lowering you through the roof?
01:05:09 — We Takes & closing words

Key Quotes

"The only thing I felt when he shot me was love and understanding. I knew it wasn't him." — Pablo

"Fear of God is not hell-avoidance. It's understanding that the worst possible thing is to be separated from Him." — Jackson

"Most of the prisons we live in exist in our own minds." — Rachel

"Fear nothing else but God. As long as that's at the center, you'll be okay." — Pablo

"Your hands, your work, your voice, your story — that is your worship." — Jackson

"Through suffering, we come to terms with the truth of who we truly are." — Rachel

SEO Tags

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Connect & Share

If this episode moved you, share it with someone who's walking away from God, someone rebuilding their identity, or a mom who hasn't stopped praying for her son.

In this episode of We Take the Stairs, the conversation gets real about something almost everyone has experienced — but few know how to fix:

The breakdown of communication between men and women.

Why is it that when things get hard…
men tend to go quiet —
and women feel like they have to get louder just to be heard?

This episode unpacks the emotional and psychological patterns behind that disconnect, revealing how both men and women are often reacting to the same core need:

to feel understood, respected, and safe.

Together, the group explores:

Why men shut down instead of opening up
Why women escalate when they don’t feel heard
The difference between feeling respected vs feeling loved
How small communication habits create major relationship gaps
Why men often try to “fix” problems instead of listening
How women can feel unseen even when men are trying
The role of tone, timing, and emotional awareness in conversations

Through real stories and honest reflection, this episode highlights a powerful truth:

Most relationship conflict isn’t about the issue — it’s about how we communicate through it.
And if we don’t learn to understand each other’s language…
we slowly start to lose each other.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Episode Setup
02:00 – The Core Problem: Communication Breakdown
05:00 – Why Men Go Quiet
09:00 – Why Women Get Louder
13:00 – Feeling Heard vs Feeling Respected
17:00 – The “Fix It” vs “Feel It” Dynamic
22:00 – How Miscommunication Builds Resentment
27:00 – Emotional Triggers in Relationships
32:00 – Real-Life Examples of Communication Fails
38:00 – Tone, Timing & Delivery Matter
43:00 – Learning Each Other’s Communication Style
49:00 – Creating Emotional Safety
54:00 – Final We Takes: How to Do It Better

Key Takeaways

Men often shut down when they feel disrespected or overwhelmed
Women often escalate when they feel unheard or unsupported
Most arguments aren’t about the topic — they’re about delivery and emotion
Understanding your partner’s communication style is essential
Healthy communication requires intentional effort from both sides

SEO Keywords

relationship communication problems, why men shut down, why women get emotional, communication in relationships, men vs women communication styles, emotional safety in relationships, relationship advice podcast, We Take the Stairs

In this episode of We Take the Stairs, Rachel, Dusty, and Jackson dive into a challenging and often avoided conversation:

Why are more men returning to the church — while many women are stepping away?

Starting with a controversial passage from 1 Timothy 2:11–15, the conversation explores how scripture is often misunderstood, taken out of context, and used in ways that push people — especially women — away from faith.

But this episode goes deeper than theology.

It unpacks the real tension between modern culture and biblical design, including:

The struggle modern women feel with words like submission
Why men feel valued primarily for money and success
How society has reshaped masculinity — and often labeled it “toxic”
The difference between leadership and provision
Why communication between men and women is breaking down
How respect, listening, and emotional safety shape relationships

Jackson shares powerful insight into how men think and communicate — including why men often shut down instead of speaking up, and how something as simple as feeling heard changes everything.

The episode ultimately reframes leadership:
It’s not about control. It’s about service.
And asks a deeper question:
What if the solution isn’t choosing sides — but learning how to understand each other again?

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Episode Setup
02:00 – The Scripture That Sparks the Conversation
05:00 – Why “Submission” Feels Difficult Today
08:00 – Feminism, Culture & Too Many Choices
11:00 – Context Matters: Understanding the Bible Correctly
15:00 – Identity in Christ vs Cultural Identity
19:00 – Women Carrying Multiple Roles Today
23:00 – Why Men Feel Valued Only for Money
27:00 – Communication Breakdown Between Men & Women
31:00 – Why Men Shut Down Emotionally
35:00 – Respect vs Love: What Men Actually Need
40:00 – Real-Life Example: Men Want to Solve Problems
45:00 – When Communication Goes Wrong (Relatable Story)
49:00 – Leadership vs Provision Explained
53:00 – Servant Leadership in Marriage
57:00 – Final We Takes: Respect, Grace & Growth

Key Takeaways

Men and women are not competing — they’re designed to complement
Leadership is service, not control
Men often shut down because they don’t feel heard or respected
Women often feel overwhelmed because they’re carrying too much
Communication — not assumption — is the bridge

SEO Keywords

men returning to church, women leaving church, Christian relationships, biblical gender roles, submission and leadership, masculinity in modern culture, relationship communication, respect in relationships, We Take the Stairs podcast

In this episode of We Take the Stairs, Rachael, Dusty, and Jackson explore a topic that’s becoming increasingly visible in modern faith communities: men returning to church in large numbers while many women are stepping away.

The conversation begins with a challenging scripture from 1 Timothy 2:11–15, which instructs women to learn quietly and not assume authority over men. For many modern women, this verse can feel difficult or even offensive — but when understood in historical and biblical context, it opens a deeper discussion about leadership, submission, and the roles of men and women in faith and family.

Together, the group explores:

• Why traditional biblical roles feel difficult in modern culture
• The difference between leadership and financial provision
• How media and society often frame masculinity as toxic
• Why many men feel valued only for money or success
• How communication breakdowns damage relationships
• Why respect and listening are essential for both men and women
• The importance of context when interpreting scripture

Jackson shares insights about leadership through service and humility, while Rachael reflects on how society’s messaging toward men may be contributing to the breakdown of relationships and family structures.

The conversation ultimately asks a powerful question:

What happens when men and women stop competing and start understanding each other again?

Through faith, honest dialogue, and humility, the group reflects on how both men and women can step more fully into their roles while honoring one another.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Today’s Topic: Men Returning to Church
02:00 – The Controversial Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:11–15
05:00 – Why “Submission” Is Difficult for Modern Women
07:30 – Feminism, Choice & Cultural Messaging
10:00 – Context Matters: Understanding Paul’s Letter to Timothy
13:00 – Biblical Modesty and Respect
16:00 – Identity in Christ vs Cultural Identity
20:00 – Women Leading by Necessity in Modern Homes
23:00 – Society’s Expectations for Men and Money
27:00 – Communication Breakdowns Between Men and Women
31:00 – Why Men Shut Down Emotionally
35:00 – Respect, Listening & Emotional Safety
40:00 – A Real Story About Men Wanting to Solve Problems
45:00 – How Men Show Love Through Fixing Problems
48:00 – Leadership vs Financial Provision
52:00 – Dave Ramsey Example: Servant Leadership in Marriage
55:00 – The Importance of Conversations in Relationships
58:00 – Final We Takes: Leadership, Respect & Faith

Key Topics Discussed

• Men returning to church
• Women leaving church and modern faith struggles
• Biblical roles of men and women
• Submission and leadership in relationships
• Masculinity and societal expectations
• Communication between men and women
• Leadership through service
• Christian marriage and partnership
• Identity in Christ

SEO Keywords

men returning to church, women leaving church, biblical gender roles, Christian leadership in marriage, submission and respect in relationships, masculinity in faith, Christian relationship dynamics, church and modern culture, We Take the Stairs podcast

What happens when trauma meets love?

In this episode of We Take the Stairs, we unpack one of the most controversial relationship topics of this generation: body count, modesty, shame, and double standards — and how Jesus reframes all of it.

Special guest Jackson shares his powerful transformation story — from sleeping around and cultural normalization to repentance, purity, and preparing for covenant marriage.

This episode dives into:

• Body count and the shame conversation
• Double standards between men and women
• Modesty, control, and self-respect
• Trauma from father wounds
• Identity and heart posture
• Saving sex for marriage vs cultural normalization
• What makes someone feel safe in a relationship
• How to respond instead of react when triggered
• Choosing your partner daily
• Submission to Christ over ego

Jackson shares his transformation story — from promiscuity and manipulation to repentance, heart change, and preparing for covenant marriage. Rachel opens up about father wounds and disillusionment from broken relationships. Brianna and Dusty offer raw perspective on safety, control, independence, and generational patterns.

The question at the center of this episode:

How do we love one another the way Jesus loved us — especially when our trauma is triggered?

This is not a conversation about perfection.
It’s a conversation about heart posture.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Season 2 & Special Guest Jackson
03:00 – Why Relationships Are Subjective but Love Is Not
06:00 – A 14-Year-Old’s Perspective on Dating
10:00 – Modesty, Boundaries & Deal Breakers
14:00 – The “Talking Phase” & Modern Dating Confusion
18:00 – Men, Self-Respect & Cultural Messaging
23:00 – Jackson’s Story: Promiscuity, Shame & Transformation
30:00 – Body Count, Double Standards & Judgment
36:00 – Saving Sex for Marriage: Rule or Heart Posture?
42:00 – From Shame to Freedom Through Christ
49:00 – Control vs Protection in Relationships
55:00 – Emotional Safety & Masculinity
01:01:00 – What Women Actually Need in Relationships
01:10:00 – Submission to Jesus & Daily Commitment
01:16:00 – Quick to Hear, Slow to Speak (James 1:19)
01:20:00 – Preview: Women, Church & Traditional Roles

Key Topics Discussed

• Christian dating and purity
• Body count double standards
• Trauma responses in relationships
• Father wounds and identity
• Emotional safety and vulnerability
• Masculinity and emotional leadership
• Control vs protection
• Submission to Christ in marriage
• Choosing your partner daily
• Healing shame through Jesus

SEO Keywords

Christian dating podcast, body count conversation, modesty and relationships, trauma in relationships, father wounds healing, purity before marriage, masculinity and vulnerability, emotional safety in relationships, Christian marriage preparation, identity in Christ, We Take the Stairs podcast

In this second episode of Season 2, we continue exploring communication — but not just between men and women.

We start somewhere deeper.

After a chaotic week of moving (and rescuing an injured kitten in the middle of traffic), Rachel shares an unexpected realization: communication doesn’t begin with your partner — it begins with how you speak to yourself.

From internal negative self-talk to relationship triggers, from motherhood and marriage strain to the power of prayer and reframing your words — this episode dives into the real roots of communication breakdown.

If we tear ourselves down internally, how can we build others up externally?

This conversation explores:

• The impact of negative self-talk on relationships
• How childhood wounds shape adult communication styles
• Why men often retreat into silence
• The tension that can arise in marriage after children
• Love languages, safety, and emotional maturity
• Why prayer softens hearts and strengthens partnership

Rooted in Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” — this episode challenges us to speak life over ourselves, our partners, and our homes.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Season 2, Episode 2: Women & Communication
02:00 – The Kitten Story and Stress Under Pressure
05:00 – The Realization: Communication Starts With Self-Talk
06:30 – Negative Internal Monologue and Society’s Breakdown
08:00 – Reframing Thoughts Instead of Criticizing Yourself
09:30 – Death and Life Are in the Tongue (Proverbs 18:21)
11:00 – Setting Boundaries and Speaking Kindly
13:30 – Childhood Wounds and People-Pleasing
17:00 – Men’s Silence vs Women’s Interpretation
20:00 – Communication Styles: Passive, Aggressive, Assertive, Collaborative
24:00 – The “Crazy Cycle” in Relationships
28:00 – Marriage, Safety, and Commitment
32:00 – What Happens When Kids Enter the Marriage
36:00 – Feeling Alone Inside Partnership
38:30 – Setting the Tone at Home
41:00 – Love Languages and Emotional Needs
45:00 – The Power of Prayer in Relationships
50:00 – Grace for Yourself and Your Partner
53:00 – We Takes and Solutions

Key Topics Discussed

• Women and communication
• Negative self-talk and emotional triggers
• Marriage after children
• Love languages in relationships
• Men’s communication through silence
• Collaborative vs aggressive communication
• Prayer in marriage
• Emotional safety and vulnerability
• Christian perspective on relationships

SEO Keywords

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