Episodes
If you’re a Marvel movie fan, Iron Man is probably familiar to you. In this episode of the Impactus podcast, we are excited to talk with a real-life “Iron Man”—a humble businessman from Hamilton, Ontario, who was the first Canadian to run not one, not two, but three Ironman races in three consecutive days for over 45 hours of physical exertion. But he wasn’t running for himself but for a greater cause. Gord Pauls owned and operated a General Insurance brokerage for 28 years and opened a...
Published 11/01/24
Published 11/01/24
Is “Men’s Ministry” still a thing? Is it still relevant? Do we even need it? Here at Impactus, we like referring to this area as “Ministry to Men,” and that’s more than just semantics. We need a new understanding that men need ministry, not just programs, and that men are called to do ministry in their churches and communities. On this podcast, we’re delighted to have one of the most recognizable names in Ministry to Men back with us: Steve Sonderman. Steve is highly regarded as one of...
Published 10/01/24
Families are under attack. Culture seems to be encroaching on us. Pressure comes from all angles…education, ideology, politics, and sometimes even the Church. But maybe there’s a much more sinister battle at work—in our minds, hearts, and homes. In this podcast, we’ll discuss “Fighting for Family” with Chris Bennett, who recently released a book under this title. Chris is a pastor, storyteller, writer, and producer from Dallas, Texas. His wife Julie is a writer, producer, speaker, and...
Published 09/01/24
If you were to rate your current experience reading or listening to the Word of God, how would you fare? If you're like most guys, Bible engagement can be challenging. While some are very disciplined with their time in the Word, others struggle to prioritize and focus. Our most recent Spiritual Health of Men Survey found that you aren’t alone. We saw some decline from the previous year in the number of respondents who responded to the question of whether they spend regular time in the...
Published 08/01/24
The pandemic wreaked havoc on our world like nothing else in our lifetime. The fallout continues with polarization, division, depression, isolation, distraction, and the disappearance of many people from inside the walls of the Church. But what if the events of the past few years were not a problem but an opportunity? What if God was using this time in our history to awaken people to His Kingdom and awaken His people to truly be a people of calm in chaos, to be salt and light in this dark...
Published 07/01/24
How could a two-year-old orphan boy, taken out of his country by mistake in 1975 from halfway around the world, now impact the world as a grown man in 2024? In this month’s podcast, you’ll hear a story of just how that happened! Google “Orphan 32,” and you will read how Thanh Campbell was taken from his war-torn country of Vietnam and came to Canada as part of the last flight out of Saigon in 1975 with 56 other orphans. Thanh has written his memoir Orphan 32 and, most recently, his...
Published 06/03/24
If you were to rate the health of your marriage or family today, how would you score? 10/10, living in bliss? 5/10, with some challenges and struggles? Lower?  Marriages and families go through different seasons, but the good news is that you don’t have to go through them alone. There are supports to help you and your family: counsellors, pastors, churches, and ministry organizations who are there to come alongside you wherever you find yourself on the journey.  One of those organizations...
Published 05/01/24
If you’re a football fan, you’re going to love this conversation, and if you’re not a football fan, you’re still going to love this conversation! On January 8, the 15-0 undefeated Michigan Wolverines under coach Jim Harbaugh won the US National College Championship, beating No. 2 Washington Huskies 34-13 before a crowd of 72,808 at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. What a game it was! In this podcast, Dean talks with one of the key leaders who played a pivotal role in the University of...
Published 04/01/24
Are you a man who lives your life with a sense of purpose and intentionality? We’ve heard it said that God “calls” people like pastors, teachers, and missionaries into ministry, but what about the rest of us? Do we have a “calling” on our lives? In this podcast, Dean sits down with Phil Wagler, who is certainly no stranger to Impactus! Phil lives in British Columbia with his family. He has recently written a book called Live Your Assignment: Being Christ’s Ambassador in 7 Spheres of Life,...
Published 02/01/24
If you were to rate your prayer life today on a scale of 1-10…how would you rate yourself? Of course, there is no easy rating scale for our relationship with God, but prayer is one of those areas of our spiritual lives that men consistently find difficult. At the start of this fresh new year, when topics around spiritual disciplines are common conversation, this is a great time to evaluate our prayer habits and what they mean for our walk with God. In this month’s podcast, we are excited...
Published 01/01/24
Have you ever felt stressed, burdened, or overwhelmed by all the things you have to do? Then along comes the Church, and our relationship with God, and we look at all the things we “should” be doing, and we see more deficits and feel more guilt. Christians are called to live a life that glorifies God and blesses others. How do we do that when we're already feeling stretched to capacity? But what if God didn’t expect you to do everything…and certainly not do it all overnight? What if one...
Published 12/01/23
Disclaimer: This conversation frankly discusses sensitive topics relating to sex and marriage that may not be age-appropriate for younger viewers/listeners. In this month’s podcast, Dean sits down for a conversation with Sheila and Keith Gregoire. Sheila is no stranger to the Impactus podcast, and we are happy to have her husband with us this time as well! Sheila is the face behind Bare Marriage, a website and blog dedicated to Christian marriage and sex. She is the author of nine books,...
Published 11/01/23
Disclaimer: This conversation discusses sensitive topics that may not be age-appropriate for younger viewers/listeners. In this podcast, Dean interviews Zachary Wagner, author of Non-Toxic Masculinity: Recovering Healthy Male Sexuality. Zachary hails from Chicago and currently lives in England as a PhD candidate at Oxford. He is also the editorial director of the Center for Pastoral Theologians, where he co-hosts the CPT Podcast. He is a researcher, writer, and ordained minister who...
Published 10/01/23
In this episode, Impactus President Dean Brenton sits down with Men’s Ministry legend Steve Sonderman! Steve is highly regarded as one of the pioneers of the Men’s Ministry movement in America. He started one of the country’s first Men’s Ministries at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, WI. He is the founder of No Regrets Men’s Ministries, including the annual No Regrets Men’s Conference, which draws thousands of men across the US and around the world. He consults and equips worldwide, training...
Published 09/01/23
Have you ever had someone constant in your life pass away? Have you ever wondered how you might continue on when you lose someone so close to you? Stephanie shares her story of losing her father to ALS. He was her rock and ever present in her life. Through her experience, she learned to trust more deeply in Jesus as the one who can fully be trusted. When life isn't going the way, we had hoped, we can always trust in the Lord and His word. The Legacy of an Extraordinary Ordinary Man:  ...
Published 08/01/23
Are you concerned about the growing number of Canadian young adults who are leaving their faith behind? As parents, we hold a tremendous responsibility to ensure the transmission of faith to the next generation. How can we effectively disciple our children within the confines of our own homes? What steps can we take to pass on a strong foundation of faith to our children? These are not just ordinary questions; they are critical inquiries that demand careful and thoughtful answers.  ...
Published 07/01/23
Have you ever struggled with your mental wellness or know of someone who has? Mental health in Canada is a huge concern. Some would say a crisis.  Men in Canada are less likely to seek or receive mental healthcare than women and more likely to die by suicide. Suicide rates are 3x higher in men than in women, with men between the ages of 35-59 being the most vulnerable.  This is why it's essential to talk about mental health issues and find solutions to this enormous problem. In this...
Published 05/30/23
Welcome to the Impactus Podcast; we’re here to equip men for a life of purpose and godly impact. In this episode, we are joined by Sheila Wray Gregoire, co-author of the book "She Deserves Better: Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self, and Speaking Up."  What if some Christian teachings have damaged our daughters and taught them to be small and invisible? What if some of the most common teaching girls hear in the church today make them more likely to marry an abuser, less...
Published 05/01/23
We have been blessed to have completed four conferences in Ottawa, Cambridge, Edmonton, and Winnipeg, where we ministered to over 2,500 men. We had some amazing speakers at these conferences, and one of those speakers was Matt Tapley. On this episode of the Impactus podcast, we get to have a deeper conversation with him.   Matt has been the Lead Pastor of Lakemount Worship Centre in Grimsby, Ontario, since 2008. He is a gifted leader who serves the Church by developing leaders in a culture...
Published 04/01/23
Have you ever wondered if you can break free of your past to live free and fulfilled? In this episode, we have a fascinating conversation about breaking the cycle of the brokenness of our past to find real success in our marriages, families, and relationship with God.  Our guest on this episode is Jean-Paul Beran, president of Focus on the Family Canada. Jean-Paul and his wife Susan were married in 1996 and have two teenage daughters. Born and raised in Vancouver, Jean-Paul studied Commerce,...
Published 03/01/23
Is a solid, fulfilling, thriving marriage even possible in today’s world? Is a great marriage only for the "lucky" ones? What does it take to build a rock-solid relationship? What message is your marriage sending? We believe God has a purpose, a plan, and a path forward for you, whatever the status of your marriage today. Our podcast today is going to tackle the marriage conversation with the help of someone who has given much of his life and ministry to strengthening marriages. Our guest...
Published 02/01/23
Have you ever said things like: I'm running out of time? I wish I had more time. Where did the time go? For those who have seen their kids grow up too fast or have seen a loved one pass away too early, these are the human tensions of time.  All these constructs and references of time remind us that we are temporal creatures, that live inside of time. Yet by faith, we know we are not bound or trapped by time. How should this reality affect how we live?  Listen to the words of the Apostle...
Published 01/01/23
In this episode, we have a special treat: one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in the early church, Thaddeus.   Ok, not exactly; however, we have the actor who plays him in The Chosen.   The Chosen is the first-ever multi-season series about the life of Christ written by Dallas Jenkins. This show has captured the imaginations of tens of millions of people. The first two seasons received great reviews. Now, at long last, the wait is over: The Chosen Season 3 is...
Published 12/01/22
Our guest is Jonathan Lewis, a Financial Security Advisor in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the president of Eastport Financial Group Inc. He authored two books, Deep Water (2018) and More Than Money (2021). His More than Money podcast speaks to the stewardship of all our assets, from our time and talent to our agency, purpose, and responsibility. He is the dedicated husband to Sara Lewis and the father of two beautiful daughters. From his home in Nova Scotia, Canada, Jonathan’s vibrant drive to...
Published 11/01/22