After a Year of Silence: Uncrowned Podcast Returns with Renewed Faith, Purpose, and Brotherhood

For the first time in a year, I’m sitting down in front of a microphone again. The past twelve months were a year of silence – no new podcast episodes, no social media motivation, just quiet. During that hiatus, I was wrestling with my own mind and soul. On the outside, I’m a Marine Corps veteran and men’s life coach known for uplifting others. On the inside, I was struggling with men’s mental health, facing creative burnout and even battling waves of depression. I had poured so much into helping others overcome their pain that I hadn’t fully acknowledged my own. When I finally hit a wall, it felt like depression and doubt had locked me in a lonely room, questioning my purpose and direction.

What kept me going through those dark days was a spark of faith that refused to die out. In the stillness of that year-long break, I found myself praying more honestly than ever before. God met me in the silence. Little by little, I felt a pull back toward my calling. This wasn’t a lightning-bolt moment or a quick fix. It was more like a gentle nudge, a divine redirection that guided me out of the gloom. I realized I couldn’t carry these burdens alone. So I leaned into my faith and reached out to a few close brothers for support. That combination of honest prayer, faith-based self-development, and brotherhood became my lifeline and the path to reclaiming the fire I thought I had lost.

A Year of Silence and Creative Burnout: Facing My Own Mental Health Crisis

Going silent for a year wasn’t a marketing move or a planned sabbatical—it was pure survival. I hit a point of creative burnout where the passion I once had for sharing my voice just fizzled out. Every time I tried to record an episode or write a post, I felt empty. Instead of forcing it, I stepped back completely. At first, I felt guilty and even ashamed about needing a break. Wasn’t I supposed to be the strong one? As a former Marine, I’ve pushed through all kinds of pain. And as a men’s life coach, I often encourage other men to speak up about mental health. Yet there I was, unable to find words for my own struggles. Admitting that I felt broken and depressed was humbling and hard. It meant confronting the stigma around men’s mental health head-on, even within myself.

During that quiet year, I learned to sit with my discomfort instead of running from it. Some days I journaled my thoughts; other days I just sat in prayer asking God why I felt so lost. There were mornings I woke up with a weight on my chest, the kind that makes it hard to even get out of bed. I wondered if my season of purpose had passed. But in that stillness, I also started to hear a whisper of hope. It’s amazing how, when everything else is quiet, God’s voice becomes clearer. Through late-night conversations with my wife and heartfelt talks with close friends, I began to see that taking care of my own mind and spirit wasn’t weakness—it was necessary. This period of silence and reflection was painful, but it was also healing. It forced me to prioritize my mental health as a man and get real about emotions I had buried for years.

Christian Masculinity and a God-First Lifestyle: Rediscovering What It Means to Be a Man of Faith

As I worked through my internal battles, I found myself reexamining what being a man truly means to me. I’ve always identified with being a tough guy—the Marine, the weightlifter, the provider. But during my hiatus, I felt God reminding me that Christian masculinity isn’t about never cracking or always having the answers. It’s about humility, faith, and leading with love. True strength can mean having the courage to say, “I need help” or “I can’t do this alone.” This was a wake-up call that living a God-first lifestyle had to be more than a slogan. I started making my relationship with God the foundation of my day-to-day life again, not just something I squeezed in on Sunday.

Putting God first changed how I saw my responsibilities and ambitions. Instead of measuring myself by career success or macho standards, I started focusing on character and faithfulness. I asked God to guide my decisions—whether it was how I spent my mornings or how I could return to podcasting with the right heart. Slowly, I felt my purpose being renewed. The more I leaned into prayer and scripture, the more my identity shifted from “Joe, the guy who has it all together” to “Joe, a servant of God trying to live with purpose.” In practical terms, that meant starting each day with prayer, getting back into reading the Bible for wisdom, and being present with my family and community in ways I hadn’t before. I can’t emphasize enough how much relief it brought to let go of my ego and let God lead. This is what faith-based self-development looked like for me: less of me trying to control everything, and more trusting God to shape me. It’s an ongoing process, but it truly set me on the path to reclaiming my purpose as a man of faith.

Overcoming Depression through Faith and Faith-Based Self-Development

One of the biggest challenges I had to confront in that year was overcoming depression. I haven’t talked about this much publicly before, but I want to be real about it here. There were days in the past year when a dark cloud hung over me. I felt like I was letting everyone down—my family, my listeners, myself. Depression is a heavy word and an even heavier experience. For me, overcoming it wasn’t about “manning up” in the traditional sense; it was about breaking down my pride and allowing God and others to help build me back up. My faith became a lifeline in this fight. I remember nights when I couldn’t sleep, and I’d open my Bible to the Psalms. King David’s raw honesty in those pages—crying out in despair one moment and praising God the next—made me feel less alone. It gave me permission to cry out, too, and to believe that God was listening to my pain.

I also took some very practical steps as part of this faith-based self-development journey. I started seeing a Christian counselor who helped me sort through the tangle of thoughts in my head. We worked on how to align my daily habits with my values. That meant setting healthier boundaries with work, making time for rest (real rest, not just crashing in front of the TV), and surrounding myself with people who speak life into me. I can’t overstate how much these small, faithful steps added up. Day by day, through prayer, counseling, and personal development rooted in faith, the fog of depression began to lift. I found myself laughing again, dreaming again, and creating again. It felt like spiritual growth in real time—each prayer, each honest conversation was like climbing one step out of a deep hole. I’m not going to say I’ve got it all figured out or that I’ll never struggle again. But I now have tools and a community grounded in faith to lean on. And most importantly, I have a renewed understanding that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (as Scripture beautifully reminds us). That truth carried me through and gave me hope that I could not just survive that season, but come back stronger and more purpose-driven than before.

Reclaiming Purpose and Embracing Spiritual Growth

As the haze of burnout and depression cleared, I started to feel genuinely excited about life again. It was like waking up after a long sleep. With God’s guidance, I began reclaiming my purpose instead of letting negative thoughts tell me I didn’t have one. I realized my calling hadn’t vanished—it was just waiting for me to pick it back up with a new perspective. In fact, what I went through refined that calling. I’m more convinced than ever that helping men grow in faith, mental wellness, and character is what I’m meant to do. But now I’m approaching it with a humbler heart and a more patient spirit.

This renewed sense of purpose led to an unexpected burst of creativity. The floodgates opened after that long drought. I found myself writing again, but this time with more honesty and heart than before. One of the projects closest to my heart is my upcoming book, “The Stoic Marine.” I poured my journey into those pages during the hiatus. It’s part memoir and part guide, weaving together lessons from my time in the Marine Corps, the ancient wisdom of Stoic philosophy, and the faith that ultimately anchors me. Writing The Stoic Marine was therapeutic—it helped me process my experiences and also turn them into something that could serve others. The book delves into what it means to be disciplined and resilient while still staying tenderhearted and God-centered. In a way, the process of writing was another layer of spiritual growth for me. It kept me grounded and gave me a tangible mission to work on each day, even when I wasn’t in a place to speak publicly. I can’t wait to share it with you all, because I believe so many men out there struggle with that same balance of toughness and vulnerability, and I want them to know they’re not alone.

Brotherhood and a New Men’s Retreat: Building a Community of Uncrowned Kings

Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned in my year off is that we’re not meant to do life alone. Yes, personal faith is crucial, but so is community. I credit a huge part of my healing and growth to the brotherhood I have around me—godly men who checked in on me, prayed with me, and sometimes just sat with me in silence. It reminded me of why I started the Uncrowned community in the first place. We men might act tough, but inside we all crave connection and understanding. When we isolate ourselves, we deprive ourselves of one of God’s most effective tools for growth: each other.

Coming back into the public space, I feel a strong pull to foster that sense of brotherhood for others. That’s why I’m beyond excited to announce that I’m planning a men’s retreat. This retreat is going to be all about brotherhood, personal growth, and faith in action. Think of a long weekend where a group of us guys can get away from the noise—maybe out in nature somewhere—unplug, and really connect with God and with each other. We’ll share stories, encourage each other, maybe even shed some tears and have some laughs around a bonfire. It’s going to be a space where we can drop the “I’m fine” act and get real about the challenges we’re facing, whether it’s overcoming depression, finding purpose, or just trying to be a better man for our families. I’ll be bringing some of the insights from The Stoic Marine to this retreat as well, blending those ideas of discipline and faith in our activities and discussions. My hope is that every guy who joins leaves feeling recharged, supported, and reminded that he’s part of a brotherhood of uncrowned kings. We might not wear literal crowns, but each of us has a God-given greatness and purpose inside—we just need to help each other see it and live it out.

Your Invitation to Join the Journey – Subscribe and Connect

Now that I’m back, consider this episode (and this post) a personal invitation. If any part of my story resonated with you, I want you to be part of this next chapter. Subscribe to the Uncrowned Podcast so you won’t miss upcoming episodes where we’ll dive even deeper into men’s mental health, faith, and growth. Follow along and join our community—whether it’s through social media, our Discord group, or at the upcoming retreat. I genuinely want to hear from you. Leave a comment or reach out and let me know what struggles you’re facing or what topics you’d love to hear about in future episodes. The whole point of Uncrowned has always been to uplift and empower men through faith and brotherhood, and now I’m doubling down on that mission with a fresh perspective.

You are not alone in this. If you’ve been feeling like you’re stuck in your own silent year, or battling thoughts that you’re not living up to your potential, remember that there’s an army of brothers out here ready to support you. I’m rebuilding this platform not just for me, but for all of us uncrowned kings who are still in the fight to become the men God created us to be. So hit that subscribe button, follow along for more content and updates on The Stoic Marine and the retreat, and let’s walk this journey together. Your story isn’t over, and neither is mine. This is just the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with faith, purpose, and a brotherhood that has your back every step of the way.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome Back and New Beginnings
02:36 The Grind: Life's Busy Realities
07:52 God's Wake-Up Call: Finding Purpose Again
15:13 The Uncrowned Movement: A Faith-Driven Approach
22:36 Introducing The Stoic Marine: A New Book
30:50 The Upcoming Men's Retreat: Brotherhood and Breakthrough
36:40 Final Thoughts: Embracing Your Inner King

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