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May 13, 2025 127 mins

 🎙️ Episode Title: Forged Leadership with Jay Downing | The Stronghold Podcast 

🔥 Episode Summary 

In this heart-centered and hilariously honest episode of The Stronghold Podcast, host Dave Barton sits down with Jay Downing—a husband, father, jiu-jitsu practitioner, aspiring t-shirt mogul, and humble leader forged through fire. From sharing mats at Guns and Gis to weekly accountability inside the Forge Ferocity brotherhood, Dave and Jay have walked a path of growth together. But today, we go deeper. 

Jay opens up about pursuing leadership at a young age, his sobriety journey, and how a passion for fitness reignited his purpose. We laugh through his “banana addiction” and cringe-worthy dance moves, but what stands out most is the quiet strength and deep love he carries for his wife and kids. 

This is an episode about leading because it is the right thing to do, staying consistent when life gets loud, and building a legacy through love, service, and presence. It’s a testament to real masculinity: resilient, kind, and forged in the everyday. 

🛠️ Topics Include: 

  • Fitness, faith, and family
  • Jay’s rare medical condition and how he manages it 😊
  • Sobriety and the truths about alcohol
  • What it means to lead by example
  • Being a husband and father with intent


📢 “Everyone who knows him is better for it.” — Megan Downing

📲 Connect with Jay Downing:

·        Threaded.Ink Website: https://threaded.ink/

·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_threadedink_/


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💬 Join the Conversation:

What’s one truth you’ve discovered in today’s podcast? Drop it in the comments below.

🎯 SEO Tags (Video & Podcast):
 Jay Downing, The Stronghold Podcast, David Barton podcast, leadership podcast for men, faith-based men's podcast, Forge Ferocity, Guns and Gis, jiu jitsu lifestyle, Christian marriage story, overcoming addiction podcast, men's mental health, real masculinity, strong Christian husband, podcast for husbands and fathers, fitness and sobriety journey, inspiring men's stories


📣 Hashtags:
 #TheStrongholdPodcast #LeadershipForged #JayDowning #MensMentalHealth #ForgeFerocity #GunsAndGis #SobrietyJourney #FaithAndFitness #RealMasculinity #ChristianMarriage #JiuJitsuLife #DadLife #StrongMenLead #PodcastForMen

 

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