Men at the Movies Podcast

What if the long road is not a delay, but preparation?

In this episode of Men at the Movies, filmmaker Daniel Chesnut shares how a winding journey through surfing, filmmaking, and seasons of waiting shaped his calling long before the work ever mattered. We talk about story as a mirror, why encounter matters more than output, and how reflecting a man’s story back to him can awaken something sacred.

This conversation is for men...

What if the life you're building is costing you the life you actually want? 

Jack Campbell thought he had everything—until he wakes up one Christmas morning living the life he walked away from thirteen years ago. The mysterious glimpse he didn't ask for opens his eyes to all that he had been missing, forcing him to answer a central question: who will he choose? 

In this episode, Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney dive deep into T...

"Is the ship out of danger?" Spock's first question to Kirk after sacrificing himself wasn't about his own survival—it was about whether his life counted for something. Part 1 forced Kirk to accept death is coming. Part 2 asks the harder question: What will you lose your life for?

Khan's superior genetics bought him nothing but wasted rage. Spock's sacrifice bought new life for everyone he loved. How we fac...

To support Amanda Ross, go to https://give.pioneers.org/s-donate and fill out the form using “Amanda Ross” and Account #101561

Make checks payable to “Pioneers” with “Account #101561” on the memo line and mail to: Pioneers, 10123 William Carey Drive, Orlando, FL 32832

Captain Kirk doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario—but life doesn’t play by cheat codes forever. In The Wrath of Khan: When the Cheat Codes Stop Working, Paul McDonald...

“I don’t know what I’m doing here.” Eddie whispers as his 13-year-old son sits in a police cell accused of murder. It’s a confession every father feels but rarely admits — standing in the chaos, with no way out and no guarantee you won’t make it better.

In this episode of Men at the Movies, Paul McDonald and Simon (host of the Restoring Authentic Men podcast) unpack Part 1 of Netflix’s Adolescence. We wrestle with the illusion o...

Chris Farley’s Tommy Boy isn’t just comedy gold—it’s a story every man can relate to. Underneath the chaos is a powerful message: how do you move from being the beloved son to stepping into your role as a king? In this episode of Men at the Movies, we explore how Tommy’s failures, friendships, and moments of courage point us to the truth about identity, responsibility, and what it takes to lead.

Download the study guide here.

Watch t...

Paul McDonald sits down with Rory Lawrence from The Dangerous Man Podcast to explore the brutal honesty of Lone Survivor. This isn't just a war movie - it's a powerful metaphor for spiritual training and the brotherhood required to survive life's battles.

From BUDS Hell Week to the mountains of Afghanistan, discover how Marcus Luttrell's story reveals what it takes to become a spiritual warrior. Rory shares his own d...

When Coach Boone wakes his players at 3 AM for a run to Gettysburg, he's not just building physical endurance - he's forcing a confrontation with the deeper battle they're all fighting.

Paul McDonald sits down with Leo Clark (Texas basketball coach) and Conrad Schottel (Colorado) to explore how this 1971 integration story reveals timeless truths about unity, respect, and the courage to have hard conversations.

Leo shares ...

Bob Wiley is terrified of everything… and that just might save him. In this episode Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney dive into What About Bob? to explore how baby steps, awkward sailing trips, and even death therapy reveal God’s plan to turn fear into freedom. We cover:

• why desperation can be a gift

• the lie of self-reliance vs the power of community

• divine interruptions that reroute your life

Grab the free study guide, share you...

Buddy Young Jr. hears that first roar of laughter and everything changes. In this episode of Men at the Movies, host Paul McDonald sits down with Christian comedian Bob Smiley to break down Mr. Saturday Night (1992) and what it teaches men about courage, identity, and family.

Find the study guide here.

We talk about:

• Why the spotlight can feel safer than your own living room

• “You cannot let the love of the crowd replace the love of...

Preview ► Camel treks, lit-match stoicism, and why great stories still point us to purpose.

Study Guide

Visit this link to download a one page PDF to serve as a study guide. To join the newsletter to receive updates of new episodes and receive the study guide, visit menatthemovies.com/subscribe.

Show notes
Miles Spencer road-tested Lawrence of Arabia in real life—1,100 miles on camel, horse, and foot. We unpack resilience, purpose...

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, we discus the movie Ronin. The term ronin refers to a class of samurai who are basically masterless warriors. Action reveals your character, which reveals your master. While you might think you don’t have a master, your choices and your actions reveal who or what that ruler might be. Whenever there is any doubt, there is not doubt. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

About Ch...

Paul McDonald and Wailer Giles engage in a detailed discussion about the film On A Clear Day, which tells a profound story of a man who is earnestly trying to figure out how to live his life better and find deeper meaning in a world that often feels broken. At the center of this narrative, a son longs deeply for his father’s approval, desperately seeking validation and recognition. Conversely, a father yearns for his son’s admi...

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, we share our first ever live recording. JB and I discussed Click at a men’s retreat and how Michael’s character is a lot like us. He has a lot of pressures to try to balance, but he feels like he’s failing at all of them. He keeps looking forward for what comes next, and misses out on today. It’s like chasing a carrot, but what will it cost him and us to catch it?

Questions

• Where are ...

Paul McDonald talks with Greg Allan Martin about his calling as both a lawyer and an actor. They also discuss the show Shadrach and why it's a watchable series for the whole family.

About Greg:

Greg Allan Martin, a powerful and commanding presence onscreen, currently can be seen as a series regular playing a rugged rancher in the new SONY/Affirm Originals series SHADRACH, that just premiered on July 25, 2024 on Great American Pur...

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, Paul and Sarah discuss A Star is Born.

If you or a loved one needs help, feels alone and like giving up, call 988 for the suicide hotline.

Thank you to our sponsor, Confined Space Coffee. For safety grade premium coffee, visit confinedspacecoffee.com. Use code MATM for 10% off your first order.

The process of becoming a star

Calling

• You have something to say that needs to be said, an expre...

If you enjoy this podcast, and would like to support the work we do, visit buymeacoffee.com/menatthemovies. You’ll get early access to episodes and behind the scenes content. Every supporter gets stickers, either celebrating holidays like Easter, or specific movies like Star Wars or Back to the Future. Go to buymeacoffee.com/menatthemovies to learn more.

Speaking of coffee, I wanted to welcome our first sponsor for the show, Confine...

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, I talk with Lee Dickerson, host of the Black and White Review podcast and plays the role of Malcus in the upcoming short film, Shema. Lee shares the story of finding his way through roadblocks to transformation, and the importance of healthy families. The overall theme of his journey is that anything can be redeemed.

Support Shema through Kickstarter here through April 3rd.

More about Shema

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, I have a conversation with filmmaker and content creator Chris Bowden from Refocus Creative. His desire is to create high quality, authentic stories. His goal is not to push people away, but to draw them to Jesus through what they see. Polished caricatures don’t move us to transform, but seeing the truth demonstrated in characters we relate to.

About Chris

Christopher Bowden is a national ...