What do fish and chips, flying french fries, and a rowdy Scottish pub have to do with becoming a Sage? In this episode, Chris and Jesse reflect on their recent trip to Scotland with a group of men exploring what it means to step into midlife with intention. From the tremors of transition to questions of identity, legacy, and regret, they share the kinds of conversations that shape a man’s decades ahead. If this kind of journey sounds like something your soul is craving, consider joining one of our upcoming Sage Experiences. Spots are open now for:

Sage Experience: Scotland 2026 - https://www.restorationproject.net/mens-experiences/sagescotland
Sage Experience: Ireland 2026 - https://www.restorationproject.net/mens-experiences/sageireland

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To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
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• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Every man needs moments where the outer world helps him see his inner world more clearly. The Sage Experience is a guided wilderness journey where beauty, brokenness, and brotherhood meet—calling you into deeper healing and purpose. This is your invitation to become more than just older… to become a Sage. Learn more at restorationproject.net/experiences.

What does it really mean to launch your kids well? In this episode, Chris and Jesse unpack the transition from fathering children to walking alongside them as young adults—with all the joy, grief, and humility it requires. They share powerful moments from Trek: Kenya, a father-teen expedition that invites dads into raw conversations and real growth. From the weight of past mistakes to the wonder of seeing your child’s glory up close, this is about launching hearts, not just moving boxes. And somewhere between wildebeest stampedes and safari trucks, a deeper kind of beauty emerges: the honor of being a dad.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Every man needs moments where the outer world helps him see his inner world more clearly. The Sage Experience is a guided wilderness journey where beauty, brokenness, and brotherhood meet—calling you into deeper healing and purpose. This is your invitation to become more than just older… to become a Sage. Learn more at restorationproject.net/experiences.

Jesse sits down in person with longtime friend and retired firefighter Kevin Lyon for a raw, thoughtful conversation about vocation, transition, and identity. From the unexpected pivot out of pastoral ministry to crawling through tight fire academy pipes (literally)Kevin shares how his journey has been shaped by fear, purpose, and presence. He reflects on what it meant to be an “undercover pastor” in the firehouse, navigating trauma while trying not to lose himself or his family in the process. They also explore what it takes to re-enter home life after high-stakes calls and why retirement isn’t the finish line, but a shift into deeper availability. Together, they talk about daily bread, dark humor, sonship, and the power of people who are unimpressed with your résumé.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Every man needs moments where the outer world helps him see his inner world more clearly. The Sage Experience is a guided wilderness journey where beauty, brokenness, and brotherhood meet—calling you into deeper healing and purpose. This is your invitation to become more than just older… to become a Sage. Learn more at restorationproject.net/experiences.

Chris is back from a three-month sabbatical, and in this episode, he and Jesse dive into what that time really held. Hint: it wasn’t just naps and novels on the beach. They explore the difference between being tired and being truly weary, and why the latter can’t be fixed with just a vacation. Chris opens up about the hard and beautiful work of processing grief, naming loss, and discovering what genuine rest looks like. Together, they unpack how sabbatical is less about stepping away and more about stepping into deeper restoration. Whether or not a three-month break is in your future, this episode invites you to consider how rest might look different and more honest this season.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Every man needs moments where the outer world helps him see his inner world more clearly. The Sage Experience is a guided wilderness journey where beauty, brokenness, and brotherhood meet—calling you into deeper healing and purpose. This is your invitation to become more than just older… to become a Sage. Learn more at restorationproject.net/experiences.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or someone who’s never cared about sports, this episode has something for you. Jesse and Michael Krommendyk explore how sports can be both a bonding force and a barrier for men trying to connect meaningfully. They reflect on childhood memories, emotional investments in games, and the pressure to find belonging through shared interests. But they also make space for men who’ve felt left out of that world. Could sports be more than just entertainment—maybe even a clue to where we truly belong?

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Every man needs moments where the outer world helps him see his inner world more clearly. The Sage Experience is a guided wilderness journey where beauty, brokenness, and brotherhood meet—calling you into deeper healing and purpose. This is your invitation to become more than just older… to become a Sage. Learn more at restorationproject.net/experiences.

Sometimes the most defining moments in our lives don’t come with clarity—they come with exhaustion, heartbreak, and longing. In Part 2 of his story, Ike Dolby shares what it meant to be in the thick of disappointment and disconnection, craving his father’s presence and learning to reach for community. He tells of how light broke through in the form of phone calls, honest friends, and even laughter. And ultimately, how God met him with the release he didn’t know he needed.

If you or someone you know is walking through the pain of infidelity, AffairRecovery.com is a resource Ike found deeply helpful.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Every man needs moments where the outer world helps him see his inner world more clearly. The Sage Experience is a guided wilderness journey where beauty, brokenness, and brotherhood meet—calling you into deeper healing and purpose. This is your invitation to become more than just older… to become a Sage. Learn more at restorationproject.net/experiences.

Jesse and Cody catch up with their old friend Ike Dolby, whose story isn’t clean or easy—but it’s real. Ike opens up about his marriage falling apart, the quiet loneliness of trying to hold it all together, and the gut-punch of discovering layers of betrayal. For years, he believed if he just tried harder, prayed harder, and sacrificed more, things would work out. But it didn’t—and instead of resolution, he was handed heartbreak. Through it all, he met a God who didn’t fix things overnight, but stayed with him in the mess.

If you or someone you know is walking through the pain of infidelity, AffairRecovery.com is a resource Ike found deeply helpful.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Every man needs moments where the outer world helps him see his inner world more clearly. The Sage Experience is a guided wilderness journey where beauty, brokenness, and brotherhood meet—calling you into deeper healing and purpose. This is your invitation to become more than just older… to become a Sage. Learn more at restorationproject.net/experiences.

In this episode, Jesse French and Cody Buriff dive into the surprising depth of fly fishing—not just as a hobby, but as a gateway to connection, healing, and invitation. From Jesse’s first cast in Montana to Cody’s unexpected beginner’s luck, the conversation explores how small moments outdoors can uncover big truths about story, identity, and desire. They reflect on what it means to be invited in, especially as men who often feel like outsiders. Through laughter, memory, and honesty, they reveal how even tangled lines and missed casts can become sacred spaces. Whether you fish or not, this episode is an invitation to pursue joy, presence, and deeper connection.

Access the Restoration Project Community and join the Grove Collective!

Subscribe here: https://rp-grove.circle.so/

To know more about Restoration Project, visit us here:

• Website: www.restorationproject.net
• Instagram: @restorationprojectco
• Facebook: Restoration Project
• LinkedIn: Restoration Project

Every man needs moments where the outer world helps him see his inner world more clearly. The Sage Experience is a guided wilderness journey where beauty, brokenness, and brotherhood meet—calling you into deeper healing and purpose. This is your invitation to become more than just older… to become a Sage. Learn more at restorationproject.net/experiences.