The Aggressive Life with Brian Tome

Matthew McConaughey is two things: rigorous and vigorous. Sure, he’s a Hollywood A-Lister, Creative Director for Wild Turkey Bourbon, and a Texas Longhorns super fan...but more than all that, he’s a man deeply invested in getting the most out of life. His aggressive livin’ is inspiring. It's time for us all to be catching more Greenlights.

The Aggressive Life just turned two years old. The past year has been a whirlwind—through COVID, an election cycle, and much more, you've stuck with us. We don't take that for granted. In this episode, Brian takes a moment to reflect back on his favorite moments from Year Two, and looks forward to another year of aggressive living.

What happens at Man Camp stays at Man Camp… except this time. Surrounded by thousands of men, Brian delivers a powerful teaching on playing the man, courage, and the x-factor of a life that works.

Following every Five Marks of a Man event, Brian opens the floor for a live and unfiltered Q&A session. Recorded in 2019, near the campus of the University of Cincinnati, these questions cover everything from parenting, to father wounds, to dating and beyond.

Age doesn’t separate boys from men—it’s something much deeper than that. Recorded in 2019, near the campus of the University of Cincinnati, Brian breaks down the five differences between boys and men. It's an aggressive talk that remains incredibly timely.

Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, in May 2021, Brian unpacks the powerful truth behind a life of impact—you have to want more.

You asked, we answered. Submitted by listeners via Instagram, this Q&A covers everything from summer drinks to road trip playlists; mental health to hard conversations; dating to deconstruction. Brian tackles it all with his trademark humor, wisdom, and ready-to-move aggression.

Authentic manhood gives life to everyone who intersects with it, male and female. At least, that’s the opinion of Morgan Snyder. The writer, speaker, and avid-outdoorsmen has dedicated his life to rediscovering and cultivating manhood—first in himself, and then in others around him. He’s a treasure trove of aggressive living. Buckle up, this is a good one.

At the age of 11, Anjali was tricked into leaving her remote village in the foothills of Nepal. For over two years, she was confined to a brothel and forced into the rape-for-profit industry in India. Today, we hear about her experiences, how she escaped, and the power of forgiving those who enslaved her. It’s an incredibly powerful story of hope and aggression you won’t soon forget. Check out Anjali's memoir here and donate to help build her school here.

In the last few weeks, tensions between Israel and Palestine once more erupted into armed conflict. While a ceasefire has been signed, this topic remains as charged as ever. Calev Myers, a lawyer and civil rights activist, helps us unpack this oftentimes confusing conflict with level-headed clarity (and even reasons for hope).

You'll never take new ground while looking backwards. Likewise, God isn't as concerned about your past as He is about the new thing He's doing in and around you. Find that new thing and chase it forward. This is our final day of walking through the first week of content in my new devotional book, Move: A Guide To Get Up and Go Forward.

Abba isn't just the name of a Swedish band—it means something so much more. On Day 6 of our journey through the first week of content in Move: A Guide To Get Up and Go Forward, we examine what this words means and why it can change everything about your life.

A man's most powerful organ is between his ears, not his legs. What you think will determine your trajectory. That's not New Age mumbo-jumbo, it's Biblical truth. We dive into that on Day 5 of our weeklong journey through content featured in my new devotional book Move: A Guide To Get Up and Go Forward.

We're half-way there! It's day 4 of our week-long journey through content from my new book, Move: A Guide To Get Up and Go Forward. Today, we're talking about the blessing of manhood, and the responsibility it carries.

Almost everyone tends to fall into one side of this argument—either all about grace or all about truth—Jesus invites us into the middle. In Day 3 of our 7-day journey through content in my new book, Move: A Guide to Get Up and Go Forward, we're going to talk tattoos, paradoxes, and pushing our lives forward.

If Jesus asked you what you wanted, what would you say? We're diving into the story of a man who experienced that, and learning that Jesus just might be asking us the same thing. This is Day 2 of our 7-day journey through my new book Move: A Guide to Get Up and Go Forward.

My newest book, Move: A Guide to Get Up and Go Forward, hits stores nationwide today. It's a 70-day devotional guide full of aggressive teaching and prompts to get your butt off the couch. We're celebrating by working through the first week of content together. Today, we start with the story behind the book, my own family issues, and God's voice.

My newest book, Move: A Guide To Get Up and Go Forward, gets a nationwide release on May 18th. We’re celebrating with a week’s worth of podcast content straight from the book. Get all the details here… and preorder your copy now to have it in time for the big day!

As one of the greatest running backs to play in the NFL, Shaun Alexander brought speed and intensity to every game. He does the same thing in this conversation, seamlessly moving between effective time management, the deepest pain he’s ever felt, and the kinds of friends every person needs. Shaun’s dominance didn’t stop the day he hung up his cleats. He’s an utterly inspiring and aggressive man who will elevate your life.

With so much competing information on health, it's difficult to know where to begin. Amanda Tress cuts through the fat—literally. As founder and CEO of FASTer Way to Fat Loss, she's points people to a healthier future by getting back to the fundamentals. Her aggressive vision and drive has made her first in class, and will push you forward.

Allen Woods is a force of nature. As the co-founder and executive director of MORTAR, he’s helping historically marginalized people groups not only start small businesses, but grow them into thriving enterprises. In this no-holds barred conversation, he and Brian discuss race, the impact of COVID-19 on small business, why he’d want to meet Malcolm X, and how being the minority is like beekeeping.

MMA Champion and International Fighter of the Year, Aung La N Sang, knows a thing or two about packing a punch. Under the championship belts, though, he isn't a violent man. Rather, he's driven and focused on becoming the best he can be. It's the intentional choices, day-in and day-out, that will push your life forward.

The thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn a thing from history—today, we’re changing that. Historian John M. Barry, an expert on the 1918 Spanish Flu, joins us to talk pandemic lessons and what we can expect as COVID comes to a close. It’s an enlightening (and hopeful) conversation you don’t want to miss.

Jon Acuff is a funny man, but he’s also a go-getter. A New York Times Best-Selling author, his newest book, Soundtracks, delivers insights into overcoming overthinking. Hint: it’s all about your soundtracks. This conversation will make you laugh, but it will also give you tools to push your life forward—that’s aggressive.

New York Times Best-Selling Author, Mark Batterson, just released his twentieth title (20th?! Seriously?!). His new book, Win The Day, gives practical and actionable advice on the power daily habits play in our lives. Mark shares this wisdom, as well as the most aggressive way to kill a lion, in this fast-paced and actionable conversation.

Ryan Atkins had life by the horns until an accident completely changed everything. But he didn't give up. He didn't phone it in. He's an aggressive man, paving his own way, even when facing life as a quadriplegic. His story will inspire and push you to stop waiting for the perfect scenario and get moving.

Who's Adam Duvall? He's a record-holding, All-Star left fielder who's suited up for the Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, and now the Miami Marlins. But he's so much more than that. He's a humble warrior, fighting through an adult diagnosis of Type-1 Diabetes, and free agency, to stay in the game he loves.

Part two of Brian's enlightening conversation with Emma Schmidt, a sex and relationship therapist. The pair move through a second set of listener submitted questions, covering topics like emotional wounds, the effects of purity culture, and masturbation.

You asked... we found the expert. Brian tosses around listener submitted questions on sex and relationships with therapist Emma Schmidt. It's an unpredictable, entertaining, and utterly enlightening first half of a two-part conversation you can't miss.

Kurt Platte seemed to be thriving, but he was living with a dark secret: addiction. For 29 years, it dictated the day-to-day of his life, threatening to destroy everything he loved. Kurt’s walked the long road to recovery and now helps others do the same. He shares his unbelievable story, including personal insights for anyone whose life is touched by addiction.

It’s Super Bowl week, the most unifying holiday of the year. Brian sits down with his friend, former NFL pro turned award-winning analyst, Solomon Wilcots, for a discussion around the big game, confusion about the half-time show, and why Solomon can’t shoot coyotes.

Personality tests might be all the rage, but knowing more about yourself is only helpful if it produces tangible change in your life. Today, I talk with a good friend (and Enneagram nerd) Nick Spicher, for a full run-down of the most popular personality typing out there—and how to use it to push your life forward.

"You're the reason I'm the person I am today." Brian sits down for an emotional final conversation with his Young Life leader, mentor and spiritual father, Denny Pattyn. With only weeks left to live, Denny offers funny, insightful, and touching wisdom, a fitting last chapter in a life well lived. Stick around for what happened after the official recording—the most emotional few minutes of The Aggressive Life to date.

Instead of allowing one event to define their lives, the aggressive make moves to take back control. Craig DeMartino was an accomplished climber when a ten-story fall completely changed his life. By a miracle he survived—and by aggression, he chose to amputate his leg so he could get back to climbing. It's a story you have to hear to believe.

There is a lot of confusion and fear about COVID-19. We take those questions straight to the top of the food chain, to Dr. Francis Collins, esteemed scientist and director of the National Institutes of Health.I’m confident this will be the most important podcast you’ve listened to all year and maybe the most insightful as well. Listen and tell me I’m wrong and I’ll give you your money back.

Nothing says Christmas quite like a TV Special. This behind-the-scenes episode gives unfiltered access to multi-Grammy winning artists Lecrae and Amy Grant, originally recorded for the 2020 Crossroads Christmas Special. These uncut conversations give unparalleled access to these world class artists—including how they're approaching Christmas this year and why it matters. Find out more about streaming the Crossroads Christmas Special at www.crossroads.net/christmas

Darren Mulligan appears to have it all—as the frontman for We Are Messengers he has radio hits, successful tours, and songs in movies. But he's not an overnight success. His story involves risk, hard choices, and leaving behind his beloved Ireland to chase an extraordinary life. He's an aggressive man with an aggressive perspective, ready to push you toward something better.

The most difficult year I can remember is going to end with winter, the most difficult season. We need to prepare—and that means wresting with mental health. Today, I'm joined by Angela Dugger, from the Ohio chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, for a practical discussion that has the power to change your winter.

2020 has been a bucking bronco, and we're all just trying to hold on. Thankfully, that's exactly Todd Pierce's area of expertise. A former champion bareback rodeo rider, Todd's gritty wisdom about manhood, perseverance, and holding on when the world is shaking, is just what we need to hear right now.

The holidays are coming—and for most Americans, that's not a comforting thought. It means stress. It means fights with loved ones. It means dealing with budgets and shopping. Dr. Shantel Thomas, President and CEO of A Sound Mind Counseling, helps point us to a better way. Don't just survive the holidays, aggressively choose to thrive.

You'll spend one-third of your life at work, yet too many of us are passive about what we do from 9-5. Today, we talk all things work with Scott Weiss, a career businessman who is the current chairman of OCEAN Programs, one of the nation's foremost faith-based business accelerators. His wisdom and experience are invaluable, no matter where you are in your career.

When was the last time you had fun? If you're like most of us, it's been way, way too long. But Judd Watkins is here for you. Friend of Brian, and guru of fun, Judd comes back to the podcast for a hilarious and insightful conversation about the importance of play in our lives, even as an adult.

Nobody wants to talk about it, but financial issues lead to more divorce, more anxiety, and more general stress than almost anything else in our lives. It's time to do something about that. Brian is joined by two guests, Ben Beshear, co-founder and principal of LiveWell capital, and John Brannon, a seasoned portfolio manager, for an aggressive (and honest) look at what it takes to get your money to work for you.

Cory Carlson was winning in the corporate world... but losing at home. With his relationships crumbling, he devoted himself to reprioritizing his life. His book, Win at Home First, was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the "7 Books Everyone On Your Team Should Read." He works hard, plays hard, and is going to push us to do the same.

Lecrae Moore was on top of the world—but behind the bright lights and success, his personal life was crumbling. Why? Unhealed trauma. We all have it, and we all have to deal with it if we're going to move forward. In this personal and revealing conversation, Lecrae charts a path forward we can all follow.

For his 50th full-length episode, Brian goes solo. He takes the mic, casting vision for why healthy aggression matters, how it can change your life, and why it's needed now more than ever. It's a recalibrating shot in the arm, pushing us all forward.

We've listened to the right, now the left gets a turn. At the age of 26, Joshua DuBois found himself in an unbelievable position: one of the youngest appointed heads of a White House office and President Obama's informal faith advisor. Working closely with the former president gave him a perspective few people have. He's an aggressive man with an inspiring story that will both challenge and encourage you. This the final episode of a 3-part miniseries taking an aggressive look at politics.

In a world of sound bite arguments, the most aggressive move is to listen, even if you expect to disagree. You might think you know former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee... but there's more to this man than his politics. There's the Huckabee who accidentally became a pastor; the Huckabee who racially integrated his church; the Huckabee who befriends figures on the left. No matter your political persuasion, there's something in this conversation that will surprise, and maybe even delight you. This is part 2 of a 3-part miniseries taking an aggressive look at politics.

Does it seem like our political divide is worse than ever? Andrew Hanauer has devoted his life to studying polarization (what happens when societies rip themselves apart) and has incredibly practical insights into how our nation can move toward unity. Hint: it's going to take aggressive moves from each of us. This is part 1 of a 3-part miniseries taking an aggressive look at politics.

Dondre Whitfield is a man on fire—and he puts on a clinic in this conversation. He recounts his early days on The Cosby Show, reflects on the grief he still feels from losing his father figure, and connects the dots on how it's all inspired him to grow into a man. His newest book, Male vs Man, is a call to arms. He's an utterly inspiring man who isn't afraid to step into controversial territory in this not-to-be-missed episode.