The CLIMB with Teko Bailey: For Men Ready to Rise in Purpose

What Divorce Taught Me About Marriage and Fatherhood | Glenn Stanton

Teko Bailey sits down with Glenn Stanton, Director of Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family, to discuss marriage, family, fatherhood, and why many men are struggling to build lasting relationships in today's culture. Drawing from decades of research in sociology, anthropology, and theology, Glenn explains why marriage has historically been the foundation of healthy societies and why commitment between a man and woman continues to provide stability for families and communities. He challenges the modern idea that marriage should be delayed until every career, financial, and personal goal is achieved, arguing instead that marriage was designed to be a cornerstone for building life together rather than a reward earned after success. But the conversation quickly becomes personal. Glenn candidly shares his own experience walking through divorce, depression, shame, and the painful separation from his children. He describes the season when simply getting out of bed felt impossible and the lessons he learned about identity, resilience, and God's faithfulness in the darkest moments. Rather than hiding his failures, he offers a rare look into the realities many men quietly face. The discussion explores bitterness, communication, emotional awareness, and the slow ways marriages drift apart over time. Glenn explains why marriages rarely fail overnight and why small unresolved wounds can eventually create deep division if left unattended. He also shares practical wisdom for husbands who want to strengthen their marriages before reaching a crisis point. Fatherhood remains a central theme throughout the episode. Glenn encourages men facing broken relationships with their children to play the long game, meet hurt with kindness, and trust God with restoration. He reflects on the importance of community, honest friendships, and allowing trusted people to speak both truth and encouragement into a man's life. This episode is a powerful reminder that marriage is not about self-fulfillment, leadership is not about control, and failure does not have to define a man's future. CHAPTERS: (00:00) Welcome + Understanding family formation (03:30) Why marriage matters (07:15) Marriage: cornerstone or capstone? (12:40) What is undermining family today? (18:00) The myth of the perfect spouse (23:45) Glenn's divorce and darkest season (29:00) Depression, shame, and rebuilding life (32:15) Brotherhood and honest feedback (35:30) Preventing divorce before it happens (40:00) Understanding your wife better (42:45) Resources for families and parents Glenn Stanton serves as Director of Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family, where he researches marriage, family, fatherhood, and cultural trends affecting relationships. He is a sought-after speaker and author whose work combines sociology, anthropology, and biblical insight to help families thrive. Glenn's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/201756/secure-daughters-confident-sons-by-glenn-t-stanton/ Teko Bailey is a husband, father, author, coach, and host of The Climb Podcast, guiding men to live fully, lead boldly, and leave a legacy that matters. Website: https://tekobailey.com/ [https://www.tekobailey.com] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamtekobailey [https://www.youtube.com/@TekoBailey] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey [https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey] https://www.instagram.com/climbwithteko/ Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Awakening-Hero-Within-Strength-Purpose-ebook/dp/B0GTWRDLZY Production, Distribution, and Marketing by MassifKroo Sponsorship Inquiries: hello@massifkroo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

When Doing Good Isn't Enough with German Ricca

Teko Bailey sits down with German to talk about faith, obedience, and what it really means to follow God when the path is uncertain. German shares his journey of learning to trust God beyond comfort and control. In seasons where clarity was limited, he was faced with a choice: rely on his own understanding or step forward in obedience. Through those moments, he began to realize that faith is not proven when things are easy, but when the cost is real. The conversation explores the tension many men face between control and surrender. German explains how striving for certainty can keep men stuck, while obedience often requires movement without full understanding. Growth, he shares, comes through trusting God step by step, even when the outcome is unclear. They also discuss identity and calling. German reflects on how God often strips away false identities before revealing true purpose. What feels like loss can actually be preparation — a necessary process of refinement before stepping into what God has planned. The conversation moves into discipline, prayer, and consistency. German emphasizes that faith is not built on emotion, but on daily commitment. In seasons where motivation fades, structure and spiritual rhythm become essential. Throughout the episode, themes of perseverance, humility, and trust remain central. German challenges men to stop waiting for perfect clarity and start walking in obedience with what they already know. The episode closes with a clear message: faith is not about having all the answers — it’s about trusting God enough to take the next step. (00:00) Welcome + Journey of faith (02:30) Trusting God without full clarity (05:45) Control vs surrender (09:10) Obedience when it costs something (13:20) Identity and stripping away the old (17:00) Calling and preparation seasons (21:10) Discipline, prayer, and consistency (25:40) Walking step by step with God (29:30) Final encouragement: take the next step About Teko: Teko Bailey is a husband, father, coach, and host of The Climb Podcast, guiding men to live fully, lead boldly, and leave a legacy that matters. Website: https://tekobailey.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamtekobailey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey [https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey] Production, Distribution, and Marketing by MassifKroo Sponsorship Inquiries: hello@massifkroo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Do You Want the Real Me? with NFL Quarterback Jeff Kemp

Teko Bailey sits down with former NFL quarterback Jeff Kemp to talk about leadership, identity, and why many men slowly drift at home without realizing it. After years in professional football, Jeff recognized that success on the field could not define who he was off of it. That realization led him into a deeper understanding of identity rooted in faith, not performance — and a calling to help men lead where it matters most: at home. The conversation confronts a common pattern: men who provide but disengage. Jeff explains how passivity, distraction, and pressure can quietly erode connection in marriage and family life. Leadership, he argues, is not about control or intensity, but about consistent presence, intentional love, and daily engagement. They also explore marriage and communication. Jeff shares how many men stop pursuing their wives over time, and why friendship, attention, and small, consistent actions are what rebuild trust and connection. Fatherhood is central throughout the episode. Jeff reflects on raising sons, modeling character, and leading with both strength and humility. He emphasizes that fathers don’t need to be perfect, but they must be present, aware, and willing to grow. The conversation also highlights the importance of brotherhood. Isolation weakens men, while strong relationships with other men provide accountability, clarity, and direction. This episode is a direct challenge to the man who feels busy, stretched, or disconnected: stop drifting, re-engage, and start leading your family with intention. (00:00) Welcome + NFL career (02:40) Identity beyond performance (06:00) Why men drift at home (09:20) Leadership vs passivity (13:30) Marriage and pursuing your wife (18:00) Communication and connection (22:00) Fatherhood and raising sons (26:30) Modeling strength and humility (30:00) Brotherhood and accountability (34:30) Final challenge: lead at home first ABOUT JEFF KEMP Jeff Kemp is a former NFL quarterback, speaker, and ministry leader dedicated to strengthening marriages and families. After his professional football career, he has spent decades equipping men to lead with faith, integrity, and intentionality in their homes and communities. Website: https://jeffkempteam.com/ Jeff's Book: https://jeffkempteam.com/receive/ ABOUT Teko Bailey Teko Bailey is a husband, father, coach, and host of The Climb Podcast, guiding men to live fully, lead boldly, and leave a legacy that matters. Website: https://tekobailey.com/ [https://www.tekobailey.com] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamtekobailey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey [https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey] Production, Distribution, and Marketing by MassifKroo Sponsorship Inquiries: hello@massifkroo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

From Fame to Faith: Putting Jesus at the Center of Your Life with Daniel Richter

Teko Bailey sits down with Christian artist and worship leader Daniel Richter to talk about identity, surrender, and what it means to put Jesus at the center of your life. Daniel shares his journey from mainstream success — touring, record deals, and a gold-certified single — to a defining moment where everything shifted. After praying for direction, the doors he expected to open suddenly closed. What felt like a setback became clarity, leading him to surrender his career and begin creating music rooted in faith. The conversation explores the tension between chasing success and living on purpose. Daniel reflects on how identity built on performance and approval led him into destructive patterns, and how fatherhood became a turning point that forced him to confront his life and choices. They also discuss the importance of daily spiritual rhythm. Daniel shares how Scripture and prayer became the foundation for sustaining growth, especially in seasons where progress feels slow or inconsistent. The conversation moves into fatherhood and legacy. He speaks candidly about learning to lead with presence, listen to his children, and model a real relationship with Jesus rather than surface-level faith. The episode closes with a clear challenge: stop building your identity on what the world offers and start placing Jesus at the center of everything — your parenting, your work, and your purpose. (00:00) Welcome + Mainstream success (01:30) The turning point (04:00) Praying for direction (07:00) Shifting into Christian music (09:30) Fatherhood and responsibility (13:00) Surrender and spiritual discipline (17:00) Identity in Christ (20:30) Worship vs performance (24:30) Leading faith at home (28:00) Legacy and fatherhood (32:30) Final encouragement Daniel Richter is a Canadian Christian artist, worship leader, and songwriter. Formerly part of a gold-certified mainstream act, he now creates music centered on faith, redemption, and purpose, reflecting a journey of surrender and transformation. Connect with Daniel: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valdiiofficial [https://www.facebook.com/valdiiofficial] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/valdiiofficial [https://www.instagram.com/valdiiofficial] YouTube - https://youtube.com/@imdanielrichter?si=rUD3kXSEENsVWxFc [https://youtube.com/@imdanielrichter?si=rUD3kXSEENsVWxFc] TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@imdanielrichter?_r=1&_t=ZS-93lc85FuMTJ [https://www.tiktok.com/@imdanielrichter?_r=1&_t=ZS-93lc85FuMTJ] Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/daniel-richter/1522270333 [https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/daniel-richter/1522270333] Teko Bailey is a husband, father, coach, and host of The Climb Podcast, guiding men to live fully, lead boldly, and leave a legacy that matters. Website: https://tekobailey.com/ [https://www.tekobailey.com] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TekoBailey [https://www.youtube.com/@TekoBailey] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey [https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey] Production, Distribution, and Marketing by MassifKroo Sponsorship Inquiries: hello@massifkroo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

What Horses Teach Men About Leadership and Emotional Regulation | Hendrik Glijn

Teko Bailey sits down with Henk, a Netherlands-born horseman and former Dutch Army officer, to explore leadership, trauma, and what horses reveal about a man’s inner world. As a child, Henk dreamed of working with horses. Instead, he followed family tradition into the military, serving eight years in the Dutch Army and eventually deploying to Lebanon. That season forced him to confront the fragility of life and reassess what truly mattered. After leaving the army, he immigrated to Canada and later worked at Spruce Meadows, one of the most recognized equestrian venues in the world. From there, he built a career training horses and riders across multiple disciplines. But horses do not respond primarily to commands. They respond to energy. They feel fear, tension, and instability instantly. If the rider is anxious, the horse becomes unsettled. If the rider is grounded, the horse settles. Henk explains that leadership begins with emotional regulation — the ability to steady your own nervous system before attempting to guide someone else. The conversation moves into PTSD, counseling, divorce, and fatherhood. Henk speaks candidly about seeking therapy after immigration, facing trauma rather than suppressing it, and returning to his Christian roots during difficult seasons. He reflects on the humility that comes with personal failure and the long-term commitment required to grow into a better man. As a father, he shares how intentional time, shared activities, and presence helped maintain connection despite geographic distance. Throughout the episode, themes of discipline, faith, perseverance, and gratitude surface naturally. This episode is about more than horsemanship. It is about calm leadership, honest healing, and learning to regulate your own heart before trying to lead your family, your team, or your life. CHAPTERS (00:00) Welcome + Childhood dream of horses (03:45) Military service and Lebanon turning point (07:15) Immigration to Canada and Spruce Meadows (11:00) How horses mirror fear and instability (15:30) Emotional regulation and leadership (20:40) PTSD and the importance of counseling (24:50) Divorce, humility, and growth (28:10) Fatherhood across distance (31:30) Faith, gratitude, and simple joy ABOUT TEKO BAILEY Teko Bailey is a husband, father, coach, and host of The Climb Podcast, guiding men to live fully, lead boldly, and leave a legacy that matters. Website: https://tekobailey.com/ [https://www.tekobailey.com] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TekoBailey [https://www.youtube.com/@TekoBailey] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey [https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey] Production, Distribution, and Marketing by MassifKroo Sponsorship Inquiries: hello@massifkroo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]