The Restorative Man Podcast

Chris is back from a three-month sabbatical, and in this episode, he and Jesse dive into what that time really held. Hint: it wasn’t just naps and novels on the beach. They explore the difference between being tired and being truly weary, and why the latter can’t be fixed with just a vacation. Chris opens up about the hard and beautiful work of processing grief, naming loss, and discovering what genuine rest looks like. Together, they unpack how sabbatical is less about stepping away and more about stepping into deeper restoration. Whether or not a three-month break is in your future, this episode invites you to consider how rest might look different and more honest this season. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project Want a thriving marriage? If your relationship feels more like roommates than lovers, or if you're struggling with connection and intimacy, you're not alone. Thrive Marriage Lab is a 12-month guided journey—offering practical tools, live sessions, and expert guidance to help you build a stronger, more connected marriage. Doors open just once a year, so don’t miss out! Use code RP for $20 off and join today at restory.life/thrive.FREE 12 Months of Dates: How date nights can lead to connectionSubscribe here: www.restory.life/thrive-datesHow healthy is your marriage? Take our FREE marriage assessment!Instagram: @ThriveMarriageLabYouTube: @ThriveMarriageLabLinkedIn: Thrive Marriage Lab

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or someone who’s never cared about sports, this episode has something for you. Jesse and Michael Krommendyk explore how sports can be both a bonding force and a barrier for men trying to connect meaningfully. They reflect on childhood memories, emotional investments in games, and the pressure to find belonging through shared interests. But they also make space for men who’ve felt left out of that world. Could sports be more than just entertainment—maybe even a clue to where we truly belong? Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project Want a thriving marriage? If your relationship feels more like roommates than lovers, or if you're struggling with connection and intimacy, you're not alone. Thrive Marriage Lab is a 12-month guided journey—offering practical tools, live sessions, and expert guidance to help you build a stronger, more connected marriage. Doors open just once a year, so don’t miss out! Use code RP for $20 off and join today at restory.life/thrive.FREE 12 Months of Dates: How date nights can lead to connectionSubscribe here: www.restory.life/thrive-datesHow healthy is your marriage? Take our FREE marriage assessment!Instagram: @ThriveMarriageLabYouTube: @ThriveMarriageLabLinkedIn: Thrive Marriage Lab

Sometimes the most defining moments in our lives don’t come with clarity—they come with exhaustion, heartbreak, and longing. In Part 2 of his story, Ike Dolby shares what it meant to be in the thick of disappointment and disconnection, craving his father’s presence and learning to reach for community. He tells of how light broke through in the form of phone calls, honest friends, and even laughter. And ultimately, how God met him with the release he didn’t know he needed. If you or someone you know is walking through the pain of infidelity, AffairRecovery.com is a resource Ike found deeply helpful.Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project Are you ready to move beyond traditional marriage counseling? The Thrive Marriage Lab offers a fresh approach to relationship growth. Get monthly guidance, tools, and support from experienced marriage counselors. Visit www.restory.life/thrive and start your journey today!FREE 12 Months of Dates: How date nights can lead to connectionSubscribe here: www.restory.life/thrive-datesHow healthy is your marriage? Take our FREE marriage assessment!Instagram: @ThriveMarriageLabYouTube: @ThriveMarriageLabLinkedIn: Thrive Marriage Lab

Jesse and Cody catch up with their old friend Ike Dolby, whose story isn’t clean or easy—but it’s real. Ike opens up about his marriage falling apart, the quiet loneliness of trying to hold it all together, and the gut-punch of discovering layers of betrayal. For years, he believed if he just tried harder, prayed harder, and sacrificed more, things would work out. But it didn’t—and instead of resolution, he was handed heartbreak. Through it all, he met a God who didn’t fix things overnight, but stayed with him in the mess. If you or someone you know is walking through the pain of infidelity, AffairRecovery.com is a resource Ike found deeply helpful. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project Are you ready to move beyond traditional marriage counseling? The Thrive Marriage Lab offers a fresh approach to relationship growth. Get monthly guidance, tools, and support from experienced marriage counselors. Visit www.restory.life/thrive and start your journey today!FREE 12 Months of Dates: How date nights can lead to connectionSubscribe here: www.restory.life/thrive-datesHow healthy is your marriage? Take our FREE marriage assessment!Instagram: @ThriveMarriageLabYouTube: @ThriveMarriageLabLinkedIn: Thrive Marriage Lab

In this episode, Jesse French and Cody Buriff dive into the surprising depth of fly fishing—not just as a hobby, but as a gateway to connection, healing, and invitation. From Jesse’s first cast in Montana to Cody’s unexpected beginner’s luck, the conversation explores how small moments outdoors can uncover big truths about story, identity, and desire. They reflect on what it means to be invited in, especially as men who often feel like outsiders. Through laughter, memory, and honesty, they reveal how even tangled lines and missed casts can become sacred spaces. Whether you fish or not, this episode is an invitation to pursue joy, presence, and deeper connection. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project Want a thriving marriage? If your relationship feels more like roommates than lovers, or if you're struggling with connection and intimacy, you're not alone. Thrive Marriage Lab is a 12-month guided journey—offering practical tools, live sessions, and expert guidance to help you build a stronger, more connected marriage. Doors open just once a year, so don’t miss out! Use code RP for $20 off and join today at restory.life/thrive.FREE 12 Months of Dates: How date nights can lead to connectionSubscribe here: www.restory.life/thrive-datesHow healthy is your marriage? Take our FREE marriage assessment!Instagram: @ThriveMarriageLabYouTube: @ThriveMarriageLabLinkedIn: Thrive Marriage Lab

What if the most powerful thing you could offer someone wasn’t advice or solutions—but just your presence? In this episode, Cody and Jesse catch up with their good friend Scott Sommer, an FBI chaplain who shares wild, heartfelt, and sometimes hilarious stories from his years of showing up in the hardest moments. From a parking ticket that launched a career to sitting with people as they take their final breaths, Scott reminds us that being there matters more than having the right words. You'll walk away seeing grief, courage, and real love through a whole new lens. It’s a raw, hopeful, and surprisingly funny conversation about what truly matters—and why simply being there can change everything. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project Want a thriving marriage? If your relationship feels more like roommates than lovers, or if you're struggling with connection and intimacy, you're not alone. Thrive Marriage Lab is a 12-month guided journey—offering practical tools, live sessions, and expert guidance to help you build a stronger, more connected marriage. Doors open just once a year, so don’t miss out! Use code RP for $20 off and join today at restory.life/thrive.FREE 12 Months of Dates: How date nights can lead to connectionSubscribe here: www.restory.life/thrive-datesHow healthy is your marriage? Take our FREE marriage assessment!Instagram: @ThriveMarriageLabYouTube: @ThriveMarriageLabLinkedIn: Thrive Marriage Lab

When life takes a sudden, traumatic turn, how do you begin to rebuild? In this powerful episode, Josh Wright shares the moment everything changed—an accident that left him navigating life with a traumatic brain injury. With honesty and humility, Josh opens up about the grief, the anger, and ultimately, the slow, steady work of healing and discovering a new way to live. His story is one of mourning what was lost and embracing what can still be found—presence, depth, and surprising new purpose. This conversation will move you, challenge you, and remind you of the quiet strength in choosing to keep going. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project Want a thriving marriage? If your relationship feels more like roommates than lovers, or if you're struggling with connection and intimacy, you're not alone. Thrive Marriage Lab is a 12-month guided journey—offering practical tools, live sessions, and expert guidance to help you build a stronger, more connected marriage. Doors open just once a year, so don’t miss out! Use code RP for $20 off and join today at restory.life/thrive.FREE 12 Months of Dates: How date nights can lead to connectionSubscribe here: www.restory.life/thrive-datesHow healthy is your marriage? Take our FREE marriage assessment!Instagram: @ThriveMarriageLabYouTube: @ThriveMarriageLabLinkedIn: Thrive Marriage Lab

Stuck in traffic, Jesse French and Chris Bruno find themselves in an impromptu driving school deep in the mountains—complete with snark, humor, and life lessons. From the art of parallel parking to the non-negotiable skill of driving a manual, Chris lays out his four tenets of responsible driving (and maybe life itself). Along the way, they explore the unexpected connection between making decisions and embracing the reality that every choice requires saying no to something. As frustration mounts and patience is tested, the conversation shifts to the deeper meaning of ownership—whether it’s behind the wheel or in everyday life. So buckle up for a hilarious, thought-provoking ride through standstill traffic and the choices that shape us. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project Want a thriving marriage? If your relationship feels more like roommates than lovers, or if you're struggling with connection and intimacy, you're not alone. Thrive Marriage Lab is a 12-month guided journey—offering practical tools, live sessions, and expert guidance to help you build a stronger, more connected marriage. Doors open just once a year, so don’t miss out! Use code RP for $20 off and join today at restory.life/thrive.FREE 12 Months of Dates: How date nights can lead to connectionSubscribe here: www.restory.life/thrive-datesHow healthy is your marriage? Take our FREE marriage assessment!Instagram: @ThriveMarriageLabYouTube: @ThriveMarriageLabLinkedIn: Thrive Marriage Lab

Chris Bruno and Jesse French take the podcast on the road...literally! Stuck in Colorado traffic at a blistering 6 miles per hour, they pass the time debating Apple vs. Android, reminiscing about childhood road trips, and questioning Jesse’s choice of route. Between laughter, lighthearted jabs, and a plea for highway patrol intervention, they find meaning in the slow moments of life. Will Jesse ever admit defeat in the great phone debate? Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project Want a thriving marriage? If your relationship feels more like roommates than lovers, or if you're struggling with connection and intimacy, you're not alone. Thrive Marriage Lab is a 12-month guided journey—offering practical tools, live sessions, and expert guidance to help you build a stronger, more connected marriage. Doors open just once a year, so don’t miss out! Use code RP for $20 off and join today at restory.life/thrive.FREE 12 Months of Dates: How date nights can lead to connectionSubscribe here: www.restory.life/thrive-datesHow healthy is your marriage? Take our FREE marriage assessment!Instagram: @ThriveMarriageLabYouTube: @ThriveMarriageLabLinkedIn: Thrive Marriage Lab

Many men build their lives around performance—measuring their worth by what they achieve rather than who they are. In this episode, Jesse French and Cody Buriff sit down with Shae McCowen, the chairman of the board at Restoration Project, to unpack the hidden costs of striving. Shae shares his journey from being a skeptical participant at his first Restoration Project gathering to discovering the power of authenticity, brotherhood, and self-awareness. Through laughter, deep reflection, and a few wild stories from early retreats, we explore how men can step out of the performance trap and into something richer. Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:Website: www.restorationproject.netInstagram: @restorationprojectcoFacebook: Restoration ProjectLinkedIn: Restoration Project Want a thriving marriage? If your relationship feels more like roommates than lovers, or if you're struggling with connection and intimacy, you're not alone. Thrive Marriage Lab is a 12-month guided journey—offering practical tools, live sessions, and expert guidance to help you build a stronger, more connected marriage. Doors open just once a year, so don’t miss out! Use code RP for $20 off and join today at restory.life/thrive.FREE 12 Months of Dates: How date nights can lead to connectionSubscribe here: www.restory.life/thrive-datesHow healthy is your marriage? Take our FREE marriage assessment!Instagram: @ThriveMarriageLabYouTube: @ThriveMarriageLabLinkedIn: Thrive Marriage Lab