Vertical Pursuit
52 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 13 ratingsVertical Pursuit exists to help you gain the elevation between where you are and where God destined you to be. We want to inspire you to create the space to live your best life every day.
In today's culture, men are defeated, isolated, beat down, and stereotyped. We also live in a time where men are hunting and hungry for the blueprint of what it means to be a man.
Imagine not living a life of shame or failure. A life of defeat, regret, or insignificance. A life of isolation, fear, and loneliness. Instead, we can live a life of power and purpose that will clarify our outlook, overcome our struggles, forge our relationships, and impact our world.
Vertical Pursuit podcast is about helping men find a place to be known, belong, and unlock their God-given potential. A place to move from the ordinary to the extraordinary!
As we focus on manhood primarily in this podcast, we believe we can empower men to embrace Jesus-formed masculinity in a way that inspires them to be the best husbands, fathers, friends, and leaders to those around them.
Mike Barrett, also known as "MB", is a former television play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association, the Portland Thunder of the Arena Football League, and the Portland Fire of the WNBA.
Mike Tatlock, also known as “Tats”, is an author, NBA chaplain for the Portland Trail Blazers, and Lead Pastor of Grace Chapel in Wilsonville, Oregon.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Episode 045: The Life Of An NBA Team Chaplain
February 26, 2024 10:00 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBWe have discussed in past episodes the opportunity Pastor Tatlock has had as the team chaplain for the Portland Trail Blazers. But, we’ve never really gotten into details about what it’s all about, and how so many athletes seem to gain their strength from their faith. Why is this? And, why are some so bold in sharing, while others opt for a more private approach?
Episode 049: Guest - Meyers Leonard
February 22, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 105 MBHe may have played 456 NBA regular season games, along with 30 playoff games, but it took a public fall for Meyers Leonard to find his true identity, joy, and peace. We are so drawn to stories of redemption, and this much is clear - through the fire, Meyers, a devoted husband and father, is now living his best life.
Episode 048: Gratitude’s Connection to Anxiety and Fear
February 10, 2024 10:00 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MBSurely we’re not expected to simply fake it when we’re hard times. But, how exactly do we practice thanksgiving in the face of tragedy or anxiety? How can we turn our eyes from our situation to our Saviour?
Episode 047: Finding Your Value
February 10, 2024 10:00 - 56 minutes - 51.4 MBWe’ve all know that the value of something is determined by what someone will pay for it. Are you spending time reminding your soul of its worth, by reminding yourself of the high price that was paid to redeem you? Sounds simple, but how do we do that?
Episode 046: Guest - Milo Curtis
February 04, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 78.9 MBMilo Curtis is a chaplain in the United States Navy, and is currently stationed in Virginia. He joined us to discuss the moment he realized he was being called, and what he’s learned since. The job of a chaplain entails more than just one sit down discussion could hold, but the adventures, stories, and duties, are fascinating and inspiring.
Episode 044: Politics and Prayer
January 26, 2024 10:00 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBThese are crazy times, indeed. The politics of 2024 will be front and center, and will likely cause a massive amount of worry and anxiety for our country. So, how should we be approaching this in prayer? And, what are some ways we can put what is happening in America in the proper perspective? It’s a complex issue, and we take a swing at it in this episode.
Episode 043: The Sixth Sense
January 19, 2024 10:00 - 54 minutes - 50.3 MBWe all know this feeling. We’ve all heard things like “what does your gut tell you?” Or, people will say “I just have a weird feeling about this.” Are we sure that our sixth sense isn’t a link to immortal existence, and perhaps a way for us to perceive the devine? The Bible calls this discernment. Perhaps we should be paying a little more attention to those hairs on the back of our necks.
Episode 042: Get Ready
January 19, 2024 10:00 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBWhat are prophetic words, and why does it seem everyone is getting a message exactly like this right now? We know that 2024 will likely be a little crazy, and time seems to be moving faster recently. So, rather than let chalk this up to ‘coincidence’ we thought we’d take a deeper dive into what it could mean.
Episode 041: Guest - Jason A Atkinson
December 17, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 72 MBJason has been a senator, candidate for governor, public leader, author, storyteller, speaker, director of big global projects, and is a massive influencer in the fly fishing world. When facing a time of reinvention, he turned to the idea of serving shepherds. What he’s created is something called Pastor’s Monday. He joined us to discuss that, and much more.
Episode 041: Guest - Jason A Atkinson
December 17, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 72 MBJason has been a senator, candidate for governor, public leader, author, storyteller, speaker, director of big global projects, and is a massive influencer in the fly fishing world. When facing a time of reinvention, he turned to the idea of serving shepherds. What he’s created is something called Pastor’s Monday. He joined us to discuss that, and much more.
Episode 038: Safeguarding Your Marriage
November 12, 2023 10:00 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBHonesty, communication, and forgiveness need to be the foundation of a healthy marriage, along with love and respect. Start by destroying any thought of an escape plan, and practice 100% commitment. Can we learn to truly be Jesus to our spouse?
Episode 040: The True Meaning Of Freedom
November 12, 2023 10:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWhen you don’t know the truth, you settle for the lie. So many things in our lives attempt to steal our freedom. And, we’re not just talking about power-hungry governmental players. We’re talking about the true enemy who hates the idea of us being free. When you seek Jesus, he gives you TRUE freedom.
Episode 039: Prevent The Drift
November 12, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBDrifting from the life you want to be leading can be aimless and involuntary. But, we’re all susceptible to it. We can wander down a path, and by the time we look up, we’re miles from home, living a life and making choices that are destructive. But, no matter how far we drift, we must know that God is at home, awaiting our return.
Episode 037: The Cost Of Faith
November 12, 2023 10:00 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBIf making disciples is a commandment, then we need to look at it as a responsibility and hold ourselves accountable. Do you hesitate to share your faith because you might get a strange look, or be put in a category? Whatever it ‘costs’ you, the gain far exceeds it.
Episode 036: Ears To Hear
November 08, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBWe all have friends in our lives who live in denial, deal with distractions, and cling to the comfort that whispers to them that they don’t need God. It’s not that they don’t believe in something, it’s that they don’t feel the motivation to press past the surface. Are there tools available to us to help them, and ourselves, get unstuck
Episode 035: Conflict Context In The Holy Land
November 08, 2023 10:00 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBIsrael has the attention of the world right now. The reaction, following the brutality of attacks by Hamas has the world divided and confused. Since most of this nation now gets its history lessons from biased media outlets, in this episode it was necessary to walk things back from a Biblical perspective.
Episode 032: A Weatherproof Foundation
September 14, 2023 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MBWhere is your home built? What is it built on? Do you practice preventive maintenance on the things that hold up your walls and roof? Life throws storms at us, some worse than others, and it is up to us to make sure we have crafted an internal protection system. But, how do we do that?
Episode 031: Open Season On Apathy
September 14, 2023 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBIn this episode we go all manly, with hunting stories, identity issues, and what men today feel they are lacking. Be it a lack of purpose, drive, or vocational call, a heavy dose of masculinity can sometimes be just what the doctor ordered. Ask God to stir a new war in you.
Episode 033: The Root of All Evil
September 13, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBThe chase of money leads to moral compromise, we all know that. It’s such an evil master. So, who is your master? In this episode we dive into the common question, and have some thoughts on how to shake it. At the end of the day, it’s a heart issue and nothing more.
Episode 034: The One Truth
September 13, 2023 10:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBWhat is the truth anymore? Social media has given us too much access to too much, and it’s completely overwhelming. We know our traditional messenger, the media, is completely corrupt, and following a chosen narrative has left us desensitized to seemingly everything. Wash the skeptic away, and re-ground yourself in the one truth we know we can lean on.
Episode 029: War Of The Worlds 2.0
August 17, 2023 10:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBWhat’s with the sudden influx of UFO/UAP content lately in the world? Real? Fake? A campaign of distraction? We take a walk through some of the recent news, and give thoughts on what it all means.
Episode 030: Powered By Ford
August 17, 2023 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBThere are many different kinds of blessings, and some can come in the form of inanimate objects. The power of these blessings can often be the stories behind them, and then it’s up to us to use them to model friendship and love.
Episode 028: Deprogramming The Mind
August 17, 2023 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBWe’re always told to be weary of being of this world. But, if you spend any time on social media, it’s easy to fall into the trap of virtual culture. Taking every thought captive, and always saying anchored to the real truth, is our foundation.
Episode 026: The Puppet Master
May 16, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBIf nothing logical is adding up, and people have gone next-level evil, we have to remember who runs this world and probably shouldn’t be that shocked. But that doesn’t make it easy. It’s not a culture war; it’s a spiritual war. In this episode, we expose the source of darkness behind the scenes and Armor up, as we’ve been told.
Episode 027: Stuck In Neutral
May 16, 2023 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBOur faith, and the way we live it out, always has peaks and valleys. When that roaring fire turns into just a small flame, what do we do? How do we get unstuck in our walk?
Episode 025: The Character Challenge
March 18, 2023 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBWe have all read stories of people whose success and promotion outpace their character. The result is a tragic fall into ruin. The same character that sustains us during times of promotion, simply has to be up to the challenge of sustaining us in seasons of non-promotion. Step one is building that character on solid rock.
Episode 023: Finding Your True-Self Identity
March 18, 2023 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBIt’s easy to say, ‘don’t put your identity in anything you can lose.’ But living that out is a bigger challenge and one that not everyone achieves. Where your identity is grounded is the key.
Episode 024: The Comfort Crisis
March 18, 2023 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBIt’s uncomfortable and difficult, but sacrifice, suffering, and even death are essential in our journey. Yet, in today’s world we do just about anything to avoid pain- often at our own peril. So how do we navigate seasons of trials and suffering without resorting to medicating and coping in unhealthy ways?
Episode 022: Pick A Side
February 10, 2023 10:00 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MBIs it really this simple? Choosing to sit at the eternal table versus the earthly table? It is if we truly take possession of the promise. But, even once we’ve done that, how do we stay there? In this episode, we take a look and examine this challenge.
Episode 021: The Night Prayer Went Mainstream
February 09, 2023 10:00 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBMany have predicted that what this country needed to re-center was a good shaking. Well, we got one. But it didn’t take a war, a natural disaster, or even a loss of life. It took Demar Hamlin, Monday Night Football, and athletes leading the way through humility. The result was a national awakening led by the mainstream media... What?
Episode 020: Lighting The Darkness
December 14, 2022 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBAs uncomfortable as it may seem, we are often called to bypass an easier road for one where we’ll feel outnumbered. Nineveh wasn’t for the faint of heart, but Jonah’s obedience led to massive transformation. This is a deep dive into the forces dividing our society and why lighting a candle always beats simply cursing the darkness.
Episode 019: Gratitude vs Envy
December 14, 2022 10:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBIn today’s world, we are constantly tempted to compare and contrast our lives with others, mainly on social media. If not managed and checked, it can send you down the road of envy, which “rots the bones.” In this episode, we give tools to help you learn to see it and stop it before you end up on that path.
Episode 017: Transforming Our Posture
November 10, 2022 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBWe often think of posture as the way we stand, sit, or a practice of a physical correction. But, in Episode 17, we discuss mental and physical posture, as it relates to truly changing the way people see us, and in turn, how they react to us.
Episode 018: Combating Anger
November 10, 2022 10:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBAnger is something we all experience, and battle. But, the mature individual is one who learns to control outbursts, and defuse our own instincts, when we see and feel a storm on the horizon.
Episode 016: Worshipping At The Altar Of Self
September 09, 2022 10:00 - 31 minutes - 28.4 MB"Rugged individualism” is a neat, tough-sounding phrase. But, this can simply mask “selfish individualism.” Since we can all admit we were born sinful, shouldn't we start realizing that we might be rooted in the wrong place? Self-denial is in our self-interest.
Episode 015: Solving The Identity Crisis
September 08, 2022 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBWhen we lose sight of our creator’s design for us, we have an identity crisis. As the role of men is mocked in culture, the search for their identity can spin out of control. We attach it to things we can lose, which is always a recipe for disaster.
Episode 014: The Open Receiver
September 06, 2022 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBIn this episode, the phrase “it’s better to give than receive” gets flipped on its head. Receiving is an art that makes us uncomfortable and takes practice. Do you value yourself enough to receive? Are you willing to start accepting the truth?
Episode 013: What Is Apologetics?
July 19, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBWhy do you believe what you believe? That’s apologetics- the art of making reasoned arguments in justification of your faith. How do you make a case for the reliability of the Word?
Episode 012: The Destruction of Worry
July 18, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBWe all agree that worry can put dents in our identity, marriage, and health. Have you ever stopped to consider that worry is actually a sin? In this episode, we explore how worry is based in fear, and talk about some useful tools to manage it.
Episode 011: Faith From Down Under
July 17, 2022 10:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBDylan Jones is an Australian, turned American, who is a pastor, married to a pastor. Hear his perspective, and journey, from his homeland to Mannahouse, where he leads his church and his family.
Episode 010: What Is Your Legacy/s?
June 12, 2022 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBWe can’t take anything with us after we leave our temporary home, and the most important thing we leave behind is the impact we had on others. Living intentionally, and being available, should be our number-one goal in life. Practically speaking, how do we do that? In this episode, we talk about your legacy, the power of fatherhood, and the conspiracy to attack families.
Episode 010: What Is Your Legacy?
June 12, 2022 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBWe can’t take anything with us after we leave our temporary home, and the most important thing we leave behind is the impact we had on others. Living intentionally, and being available, should be our number-one goal in life. Practically speaking, how do we do that? In this episode, we talk about your legacy, the power of fatherhood, and the conspiracy to attack families.
Episode 009: Gold Rush and Beyond
June 11, 2022 10:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MBThe one and only Dozer Dave Turin has been a fixture on Discover Channel for well over a decade. And, striking gold to him doesn’t necessarily mean what you think it does. Leading by example, using his platform, and leveraging his influence as a leader of men is what drives him.
Episode 008: Leveraging All That We Have
May 17, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBWhat is your spiritual gift? How are you using it? How are you leveraging what you have to impact the lives around you? Seizing the opportunities around you to make the most of every relationship, difficulty, and achievement, is what we are called to do.
Episode 007: Battling Spiritual Warfare
May 15, 2022 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBA common thing these days is when men say they feel “under attack.” They often can’t describe it, but it’s often a voice, or even a feeling, that they don’t have what it takes. This is a deep dive into scripture, and what we can learn from what the Word tells us about the wars that are waged inside of us.
Episode 006: Busting Out of Isolation
May 11, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBSelf-destruction is often born in isolation. What keeps men from creating the relationships, and community, that can help us overcome doubts and fears, that when left alone can lead to self-doubt, and in the worst cases, suicide?
Episode 002: A Radical Prison Story
April 19, 2022 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MBIn this episode, we sit down with Geoff Walsh, and hear his story about how he went from being a very successful banker, to wearing a number in federal prison, and how it turned into the biggest blessing in his life. He describes the process of being dropped off by his wife and kids at prison, then losing them, being isolated in hell on Earth, and then meeting some men who would help him with his rebirth. Sometimes gifts come in unusual packaging.
Episode 005: The Mystery of Death
April 19, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBIn this episode we discuss the part of life that is scary and unsettling-death. It’s certainly no fun to think about, but with suffering all around us, and many bad things that happen to good people, what do we do with that? How do we process that? What are we called to believe about death and the beyond? It’s okay to not only think about it, but to ask questions about it. Processing mysteries, like death, in conversations with your inner-circles, can be spiritually healthy and productive.
Episode 004: Inside The Life of an NFL Quarterback
April 19, 2022 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBNFL quarterback Sean Mannion became a legend at Oregon State, where he re-wrote the record books. He recently found himself starting an NFL game for the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field, across from the NFL’s MVP. Life as a backup can be challenging, but it’s also revealed his true calling- being a leader of men and leveraging his platform to influence those around him. In this episode, Sean talks about his road to the NFL, and what keeps him motivated in an uncertain world.
Episode 003: Vintage Manhood
April 19, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBWe live in a world that finds it hard to answer the simple questions, “What is a woman” or “What is a man”? Culture has led us down a path of confusion and chaos. Masculinity doesn’t have to be a mystery. In this episode we expose the reasons why we struggle to define these terms and explain the source for defining what authentic manhood can look like.