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The Prosperous Man Podcast

The Prosperous Man Podcast

By Leonard McElveen

Leonard McElveen from the LeonardMcElveen blog discusses how we can be prosperous in all areas of life. Discover how to follow your dreams, become a better father, Christian, and husband. Although Leonard isn’t perfect, he’s changing his family tree and dynamic. The Prosperous Man Podcast is aims to help you get through all the mess of life and with Christ we can build the marriages, families and lives that we dream of.
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Episode 021: Part 1 of with Faith, Practically

The Prosperous Man PodcastJun 04, 2019

00:00
38:16
Episode 078: Don't Look Back

Episode 078: Don't Look Back

Where are you in your journey of self-improvement? Today I discuss my own personal journey and where I am. We don't ever want to look back and sometimes that is what can keep us from moving forward. 

Jan 20, 202307:54
Welcome to 2023

Welcome to 2023

It's a new year. Have you set your goals and objectives? Is it even worth it? Let's discuss.

Jan 12, 202311:34
Episode 076: Let's Be Thankful

Episode 076: Let's Be Thankful

What are you thankful for today!!

Nov 24, 202205:15
Episode 075: Faith for the Journey

Episode 075: Faith for the Journey

Are you prepared for your dreams and goals? What does your journey look like? Do you have the faith for that journey? Today we discuss what it takes to go from where we are to where we want to go. 

Nov 17, 202213:02
Episode 074: Sacrifice and Seeds

Episode 074: Sacrifice and Seeds

Topic 1: Keep moving or stand still 

  • Well-meaning people
  • Vision is important. What are you trying to do?
  • What's the WHY?

Topic 2: It's all about outlook

  • Sacrifice and seed planting are the same thing
  • You in five, ten years needs you to do something today
  • Are you willing to do what's necessary now for what later

Topic 3: Take the Time (Talk for about 3 minutes)

  • Don't be rushed
  • Prayer & Purpose


Sep 30, 202214:40
Episode 073: Don't Take The Fear

Episode 073: Don't Take The Fear

Topic 1: Don't take on someone else's fear 

  • Whose in your circle
  • We are intake vessels
  • Where do the deposits come from

Topic 2: Evaluating your own fears

  • Limiting Beliefs
  • Recongizie your own actions
  • Develop a plan

Topic 3: Overcoming your Fears 

  • Mindsets
  • Plans & Actions
  • Keep pushing
  • Give yourself Grace

Closing remarks, thank the audience, guests, what will be on the next show

  • Next Episode = Be on the lookout for _______________
  • Thanks for listening
  • Share, Rate us on what you use to listen to the podcast


Sep 15, 202211:31
Episode 072: Success

Episode 072: Success

Topic 1: How do you define success? 

  • Financial
  • Relationships
  • Emotionally
  • Mental Health
  • Professionally

Topic 2: How to get that level of success

  • Accountability
  • Goals/Plans
  • Vision

Topic 3: Overcoming barriers 

  • Mindsets
  • Encouragement
  • Keep pushing


Sep 01, 202213:54
Episode 071: Side Hustles

Episode 071: Side Hustles

In today's episode, we discuss the idea of having a side hustle. 

Aug 25, 202212:39
Episode 070 It's Been A Long Time

Episode 070 It's Been A Long Time

Let me tell you where I've been and what I've been up to.

Aug 18, 202211:10
Episode 069: Interview with Eric Jackson

Episode 069: Interview with Eric Jackson

On this week's episode of The Prosperous Man Podcast, we welcome Pastor Eric Jackson.   Eric is a pastor and author who is looking to have simple and honest conversations.  He knows that many people have had bad experiences with the church (he's had his own), and today we discuss those aspects. Join in as he shares his personal vision for what "church" could be.  He has his own podcast you can check out at theferalchristian.com.  You can PM Eric or email him at theferalchristian@gmail.com

Jun 10, 202154:11
Episode 068: Interview with Jeremy Norrie

Episode 068: Interview with Jeremy Norrie

Today on the Prosperous Man Podcast we interview Jeremy Norrie.  Jeremy has lived a wild and crazy rockstar like life and loves to share his unique experiences from being on the ground level during the rise of both MMA/UFC and the Cannabis Industry with all kinds of close calls with danger and also big achievements as well as the wisdom learned from the negative and positive parts of that journey both personally and professionally.  He is now making films for Amazon, FOX & CBS among other streaming platforms where we get to tell stories about all kinds of topics. All of our films are from a serious open-minded perspective, and there is an ongoing theme of overcoming adversity, helping people, and personal struggles.

May 13, 202135:38
Episode 067: Interview with Francesca McDowall

Episode 067: Interview with Francesca McDowall

On this week's episode of The Prosperous Man Podcast we welcome Francesca McDowall.   Francesca is the Director at Francesca McDowall - Elevate Coaching. She is also the Founder & Encourager at Monday Moments with Fran. Francesca is also a published Author of Surviving Spiritual Abuse. She is a Former Managing director at Training Kings and a Former Business Strategy Manager / EY Consultant at Birmingham City Council. She has studied MA in Coaching & Mentoring at the University of Wolverhampton Alumni. She also Studied BSc (Hons) Psychology at the University of Surrey Roehampton.   You can follow Francesca McDowell at: Instagram: Fran.elevate linktr.ee/Fran.elevate

May 13, 202130:14
Episode 066: Interview with Dr. Jeremy Sutton

Episode 066: Interview with Dr. Jeremy Sutton

On this week's episode of The Prosperous Man Podcast, we welcome Dr. Jeremy Sutton.   Dr. Jeremy Sutton is a physical therapist with the mission of helping 10,000 healthcare providers self-publish books in order to increase their authority, grow their brand, serve more clients, and make more money.  Jeremy has been working in the physical therapy community for two decades. In 2018, he decided to add author to his resume. He has now self-published six books on Amazon and has worked with more than 30 other healthcare providers helping them accomplish their dreams of becoming a self-published author.   You can follow Dr. Jeremy at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookBossTribe www.healthybooks.net Jeremy Sutton  Join my FREE Facebook Group & Learn to Write Your Story https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookBossTribe  Download my FREE Book to Manage Neck Pain https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/neck-pain-solutions

May 06, 202134:37
Episode 065: Interview with Lisa Peranzo

Episode 065: Interview with Lisa Peranzo

This week on The Prosperous Man Podcast we welcome Lisa Peranzo. Lisa has over 10 years of experience in the fitness industry. She has worked with a diverse population, including first responders, athletes, and adolescents. Her experience in the fitness industry has also included working with clients to rehab from a variety of injuries, from spinal cord injuries and brain injuries, recovery from childbirth, to sports-related injuries as well as joint replacements. Her focus is always to help her clients find their own strength and power from their fitness routine.  She is a PMA accredited Pilates Instructor, Senior Trainer, Certified CrossFit Instructor, Certified Kettlebell Instructor, and Certified Barre Above Instructor, Lisa also has a certification in Paleo Nutrition, a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, and a Masters Degree in Human Behavior. She is a contributing writer for HealthWeb Magazine as well as Smartrepreneur Magazine. In addition to being the founder and CEO of A Healthful Life, Lisa has been featured in various magazines and on podcasts including San Diego Voyager magazine, Combat Divas, The Pourly Written Podcast, and Radical Resilience.  You can follow Lisa:  www.ahealthfullife.org www.instagram.com/lisaperanzo  Get your workout guide: www.ahealthfullife.org/prosperousman

May 06, 202154:23
Episode 064: Interview with Jesse Cruz
Apr 22, 202123:00
Episode 063: Interview with Ray Blakney

Episode 063: Interview with Ray Blakney

Today on The Prosperous Man Podcast we're joined by Ray Blakney.  Ray Blakney is probably like every other award-winning Filipino American entrepreneur who grew up in Turkey and lives in Mexico that you know. He started his first business, with his wife as a business partner, in 2008. Since then he has bootstrapped multiple 6 and 7 figure online businesses. Most of this was done from home in his superman pajamas. He and his businesses have been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Boston Globe and other top publications. Ray has also been a speaker at multiple conferences around the world. Some of his businesses include Live Lingua (one of the top online language schools), Twiducate (a social network for schools with over 200k registered users, and Podcast Hawk (a SAAS product that helps you get booked on podcasts on autopilot). He is also the host of one of the top language learning podcasts on iTunes Learn Spanish with Live Lingua releasing a new episode daily. When he is not perusing another wild business idea, he likes to spend time with his wife, son, and dog at their house in Querétaro, Mexico, and helping other entrepreneurs create location independent online businesses. He only leaves his house to speak at conferences and go to his dojo and to get hit over the head, repeatedly, with a bamboo sword (kendo).  You can Follow Ray Blakney: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raymond.blakney​LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymondbl...​Website: www.livelingua.com

Apr 15, 202137:03
Episode 062: Why You Need Your Dreams

Episode 062: Why You Need Your Dreams

Today on The Prosperous Man Podcast, Leonard McElveen shares the importance of maintaining our dreams

Jan 28, 202109:38
Episode 061: Interview with Dom Brightmon

Episode 061: Interview with Dom Brightmon

Today on The Prosperous Man Podcast we're joined by Dominique "Dom" Brightmon. Dominique "Dom" Brightmon, DTM is an award-winning speaker and certified member with the John Maxwell Team. He is the bestselling author of "Going North!: Tips & Techniques to Advance Yourself", "Stay the Course: The Elite Performer's 7 Secret Keys to Sustainable Success" and contributing author for “Crappy to Happy: Sacred Stories of Transformational Joy”. Dom host's the Going North podcast, a top-rated self-help podcast that interviews authors from all over the world. His mantra is Advance others to advance yourself.  

Follow Dom: Going North Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-north-podcast/id1290656762 

BizCatalyst360: https://www.bizcatalyst360.com/author/dombrightmon/ 

Website: https://www.dombrightmon.com/ 

Free Offer: eBook – 21 Lessons Learned from 2+ Years of Podcasting  

The Prosperous Man Podcast/Leonard McElveen:

Blog: www.leonardmcelveen.com   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leto20  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerLeonard  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leto20/


Jan 21, 202132:30
Episode 060: Interview with Vince Warnock

Episode 060: Interview with Vince Warnock

Today on The Prosperous Man Podcast we welcome Vince Warnock. Vince is an award-winning Business and Marketing Strategist, coach, author, and host of the Chasing the Insights podcast.   An ex-radio announcer with over 20 years in marketing. Vince has founded multiple companies including the Chasing the Insights Podcast and Academy where he empowers entrepreneurs and business owners to grow the business they have always dreamed of. Follow Vince at:  

Chasing The Insights - Book and Podcast https://www.chasingtheinsights.com  

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/vdub01/  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/chasingtheinsights  

Twitter https://twitter.com/vdub01 Follow 

The Prosperous Man Podcast/Leonard McElveen: Blog: www.leonardmcelveen.com 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leto20

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerLeonard

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leto20/

Jan 14, 202147:54
Episode 059: Back for Season 2

Episode 059: Back for Season 2

The Prosperous Man Podcast is returning for Season 2!! 

Jan 08, 202103:43
Episode 058: Leonard, Where Have You Been?

Episode 058: Leonard, Where Have You Been?

An update on where I have been and what to expect 

Dec 03, 202006:31
Episode 057: Consistent Character

Episode 057: Consistent Character

* Scriptural Foundation/Inspirational Quote
A man’s consistency is what gives a woman security. When he’s consistent; she feels confident. When he’s inconsistent, she begins to worry because she’s not sure what he’ll do next. A. R. Bernard


Topic Intro:
There you are, having a good day and then you get that phone call. You know the one. It can change your mood and your whole day. What do you do at that moment? For me, in those moments, I have my go-to fast food places. I’m working on eating healthier, and part of that is in those moments, I have to make better decisions.
Do you struggle with making quality decisions? Do you find yourself in something similar to the above situation? How do you handle those times? A lot of us struggle when something doesn’t plan out the way that we thought. Can we maintain the course and make the decisions in the heat of the moment? That’s consistency.

Consistency is firmness of character. It’s being able to make quality decisions time and again. Not being moved by circumstances or “a bad day.”

A lot of us struggle with making quality decisions. When we struggle, it makes it hard for us to be trusted. It’s hard for a woman to trust her husband if his decisions are going to be all over the place. Can God trust us with his instructions, or will we make our when things get hard?

Topic 1:
* Visualize
* To become a more consistent person we have to know what that looks like. What do we want our future to look like? What goals have we set? When we know where we want to go, then we’re able to make consistent decisions that line up with the vision we have.

Topic 2: Recognize the Power
Before you make a decision, you have to understand the effects of your choice. Any decision that you make causes a chain of events to happen. Know that there aren’t throw away or small decisions that don’t matter

Topic 3:
* Too Many Opinions
* You don’t have to ask people what they think. It makes it even more difficult to make a decision when you are caught up in other people’s opinions about what’s best for you. If you ask five people what they think you should do, you will most likely get five different rants of advice. And the feedback will likely lead to confusion and second-guessing. You need to be able to make your own decision and then act on it.

Topic 4:
* Align with your Core Values
* Decisions you make based on your core values create motivational alignment. So make your decisions based on whether or not they align with your highest values, passions, and priorities, or it’s not going to feel like you made the right choice.
Sep 10, 202017:56
Episode 056: How Mature Are You?

Episode 056: How Mature Are You?

How mature are you as a person?

Aug 13, 202018:05
Episode 055: God & Your Spouse Want the Same Thing

Episode 055: God & Your Spouse Want the Same Thing

Scriptural Foundation/Inspirational Quote
Micah 6:8 Good News Translation (GNT)

8 No, the Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.

Topic Intro:

Have you been challenged this year? For most of us, I would think that we have been challenged. It has been an assault on our mental and spiritual. In these challenges, we can question God and wonder what does he want from us. Being quarantined with your spouse for the last 3-4 months we can have some of the same questions. The answer to both of these questions surprisingly is the same. What your spouse wants from you are the same things that God wants from us.

I believe that there are four qualities that as men, our wives, and God want to see from us. Here is a quick take on these four things. There will be upcoming posts that will dive more in-depth into each of these traits.


Topic 1: 

  • Maturity

    Maturity isn’t a function of the calendar but it’s a matter of accountability. We don’t mature until we accept personal responsibility. Take a look around you, at your job, your relationships, your family, and see how many people do not take responsibility. We have a culture of “passing the buck.” This is how we approach a lot of our areas in our lives.
    3. Vocal Segue: “We are going to move on and talk about…

Topic 2: 

  • Decisiveness

Decisiveness? Yes decisiveness, you may be asking what is this. Decisiveness is the ability to know what is right and being willing to do what’s right. A lot of people like to claim that they are procrastinators. Procrastination is not something to be proud of. We want to be men that possess the courage to act on their decisions.


Topic 3: Talk for about 

  • Consistency

Being consistent is a firmness of character. It’s the ability to make mature, quality decisions time after time, again and again. We want to make sure that men that are able to face down temptations because our decisions are rooted in our character.

Topic 4: 

  • Strength

We tend to think that strength is just physical. At one point being physically strong was the desired trait in a husband. Now that strength is desired in having strong character and being strong emotionally. As men, we’ve relied on being strong physically for far too long. Not saying that we shouldn’t take care of our bodies, but there have been other areas as men, that we’ve left unattended.

Closing remarks, thank the audience, guests, what will be on the next show

  • Next Episode = Be on the lookout
  • Thanks for listening
  • Share, Rate us on what you use to listen to the podcast


Aug 06, 202017:22
Episode 054: Having Fun the Second Half of the Year

Episode 054: Having Fun the Second Half of the Year

Scriptural Foundation/Inspirational Quote

Psalm 37:4

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Topic Intro:

Has your state opened back up? I live in Michigan and there are different parts of the state that are opening up. I have to admit it, there is a part of me that is excited about being able to do things again, but there is also a part that is cautious about taking my children out. I think that is a natural part of this. We’ve been quarantined for so long that just getting back to some normal things that we used to do it going to take time.

The second half of the year is going to be interesting. What will you do? Are there events that you want to make up for? Missed birthdays, events, and get-togethers will be prevalent. It could be a rush to try and get everything in that we missed in this second half of 2020.

How will you plan the second half of this year? For me, the biggest couple of things that I want to do with the rest of this year is to take a family vacation and then plan something for my anniversary.


Topic 1: Intro Topic & Tip 1

  • Comfortability
  • This has to do with your comfort on a number of different levels. If you spend any amount of time on social media you will see people all over the place on coronavirus and whether or not they should wear a mask. When it comes to taking your family out and planning a vacation, you have to know what your level of comfort is.
    3. Vocal Segue: “We are going to move on and talk about…

Topic 2:  Tip 2

  • What's Open
  • After you know how comfortable you are, you then have to know what’s open and how they are operating. For example, we were planning on having a day for our kids and taking them to a Legoland that was about an hour or so away. They had discounted tickets because they just opened back up. The problem, it’s basically reservation only now and it was going to be mid-September before we could get in.

Topic 3: Tip 3

  • Do You Have the Time
  • If you’ve gone back to work it can seem like everyone is going to take their vacations all at the same time. It’s a balancing act that a lot of businesses are having to do. Starting the business back, getting revenue-generating again, needing workers to use some vacation time, but also need people to work. There are a lot of aspects to business and people going back to work.

Closing remarks, thank the audience, guests, what will be on the next show

  • Next Episode = Be on the lookout
  • Thanks for listening
Jul 09, 202019:38
Episode 053: Difficult Times & Conversations

Episode 053: Difficult Times & Conversations

Having difficult conversations can be challenging, especially when we’ve never had them before. We can tend to avoid situations that challenge our growth in certain areas. The parts of our lives that are hard are that way because we have developed a habit of avoidance.

The protest that has been happening around the world are showing us that we need to have difficult conversations concerning race.

As I reflect on why we’ve avoided these difficult conversations, I realized that I’ve avoided difficult conversations in my life. Trying to sidestep those conversations has caused me to become stagnant in my life. While this realization may have started because of racism, I’ve seen how I avoided difficult things throughout my life.

Recently, I have taken some classes on real estate and real estate investing. I had to come to terms with my ignorance in real estate and how it can impact my life. I remember only hearing the bad stories of people being landlords. There was never a consideration that there could be a better way or even a different way.

Overcoming my own struggles and having difficult conversations is not an overnight miracle, but a process. Let’s walk through this process together

Start with the why?

Why have we left areas of our lives unattended? Why have we avoided them? A lot of times it comes from a place of fear. Part of having to confront these areas in our lives is that we must admit that we’ve been running from them. Once we can admit this, then the process begins of trying to understand why we were running.

Know the end

We have to visualize the finish line. What does the end look like? If it’s a difficult conversation, the end doesn’t have to be that I agree with the stance of the other person, but maybe that I can emphasize and at least see their side. If it’s an area of our life that we’ve avoided, then the end could be to not be afraid to encounter this again.

Ask for help

Why are we so inclined to try and do things by ourselves? When it comes to questions of race, we can to default to the saying “I’m not racist,” so therefore we never actually have the conversations about an experience is like for other people. Without those conversations, then we don’t know the implicit biases we may have or how we can help those around us.

If we struggle with our attitudes towards money or marriage, then if we want to be able to manage our money or know what it takes to make a marriage work, then we would need to ask for help. The help can come from the Bible, a trusted family member or friend, a counselor, pastor, the point is that we have to recognize when we need help.

Having difficult conversations or overcoming difficult areas in our lives isn’t easy. It’s going to take time. You may have to go through the situation repeatedly or have the conversations repeatedly because there may not be an immediate change. It’s all about changing our hearts, and that takes time.

Jun 18, 202018:11
Episode 052: Leading Through The Pandemic

Episode 052: Leading Through The Pandemic

Scriptural Foundation/Inspirational Quote

Isaiah 41:10 MSG Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

Topic Intro:

The past week or so has been a trying time for our nation. In case you’re wondering what I am referring to, you can take a look at my previous post here. The stories are constantly on rotation on all news networks, all over social media. While trying to process all of this information how are you going to lead your family through the back part of this pandemic?

Does anyone really have the answers during this time? I can tell you no, there isn’t a concrete set of answers that we can all use. There isn’t a set of rules that will help us lead our children, spouses, and loved ones through this. All we can offer is our best advice and hope that it helps.

Topic 1: Intro Topic & Tip 1

  • Communication
  • Communication is the strength of any relationship. Within your family, each person needs to be able to communicate their expectations and feelings during this time. From this point, you can decide what you would be best for the family as a unit.

 Topic 2: Tip 2

  • Have a Plan
  • This second half of the year is going to be one of reintegration. The best way to prepare for the upcoming season is to plan for it. Did you miss your family vacation? Where birthdays put on hold? Now would be a great time to develop a plan on if and how you can do those things again.

Topic 3: Tip 3

  • Know Yourself
  • Throughout this pandemic time, mental health has been emphasized more and more. Rightly so, because this time has been stressful with the health concerns, the employment fluctuations, and the closings of schools. How are you feeling during this time? Are you ready for the reintegration to begin? Use this time to sort through our own feelings and try to prepare for the next phase.

Topic 4: Tip 4

  • Prayer
  • It is through prayer that we can gain access to God. You have to be able to know what is right for you and your family. Despite what the local and state governments are saying about the reintegration, it is through prayer that you will know what is right for you. What we really want is God’s knowledge and wisdom in this situation.


Jun 04, 202019:46
Episode 051: Fear No More

Episode 051: Fear No More

My thoughts on the George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Christian Cooper.
May 28, 202015:49
Episode 050: See Beyond The Situation

Episode 050: See Beyond The Situation

Vision is crucial for us to get through a crisis. Today we discuss 3 things a vision helps us.
Apr 23, 202015:30
Episode 049: Having Special Days

Episode 049: Having Special Days

How we can have special days during this time.
Apr 16, 202010:52
Episode 048: Tips for Quarantied Couples

Episode 048: Tips for Quarantied Couples

* Scriptural Foundation/Inspirational Quote James 1: 2 (TPT) My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! Intro Topic & Tip 1 * New Space for Couples * Tip 1 - Set Boundaries * Have an honest conversation Topic 2: Tips 2 & 3 * Tip 2 - Keep a Schedule * Tip 3 - Have a Special Date Night * Topic 3:Tips 4 & 5 * Tip 4 - Communicate * Tip 5 - Be Kind Closing remarks - * Next Episode = Be on the look out * Thanks for listening * Share, Rate us on what you use to listen to podcast
Apr 09, 202015:51
Episode 047: Taking Advantage of the Time

Episode 047: Taking Advantage of the Time

Scriptural Foundation/Inspirational Quote

Great Opportunity is only as good as your preparation to take advantage of it.- Tom Black
Topic 1: - Set a Goal
* Let it be Fluid
* Daily Motivation
* Don’t watch Netflix all day

Topic 2: - Encourage Yourself
* We need encouragement
* Turn off the news
* Prayer time, music, funny videos
Topic 3: - Read, Read, Read
* Try different genres
* Other options - audiobooks, library access, YouTube
Closing remarks, thank the audience, guests, what will be on the next show
* Next Episode = Tips for couples during this time
* Thanks for listening
* Share, Rate us on what you use to listen to podcast
Apr 02, 202013:18
March 31, 2020

March 31, 2020

Mar 31, 202000:57
Episode 046: Surviving COVID-19

Episode 046: Surviving COVID-19

These are just some of my thoughts on the corona virus and what we can do during this time.
Mar 26, 202019:21
Episode 045: Love Thyself

Episode 045: Love Thyself

Topic 1:Love Month
* Welcome to February
* Do we love ourselves?
* Hallmark Holiday?

Topic 2:Self Care
* The movement
* Five Love Languages
* Knowing yourself

Topic 3: Receiving Love
* Your Language
* Can’t love others the same way you receive love
* Pour into yourself before you can give to others

* Next Episode = Continue in Love

* Share, Rate us on what you use to listen to podcast
Feb 13, 202015:07
Episode 044: Dealing with Loss

Episode 044: Dealing with Loss

Scriptural Foundation:

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous hand right hand. -Isaiah 41:10

Topic 1:
* Kobe Bryant news
* Reflective
* What do we do in times of loss

Topic 2:
* Prayer
* Why pray
* Laughter

Topic 3:
* Family
* Grieving
* Fighting off depression
Jan 30, 202014:11
Episode 043: #New Year New You

Episode 043: #New Year New You

Topic 1: * Welcome to 2020 * Why Nothing has changed * New year = New You??? * Sick & Tired of being Sick and Tired Topic 2: * Real Evaluations & Real Conversations * Discipline * Consistency Topic 3: Talk for about 3 minutes * Fresh Start * Different Results & Different Methods * Think Bigger than January
Jan 23, 202015:47
Episode 042: Welcome to 2020

Episode 042: Welcome to 2020

This is the first episode of 2020!
Jan 09, 202017:03
Episode 041: What I’m Thankful For
Nov 28, 201910:08
Episode 040: A Thankful Heart

Episode 040: A Thankful Heart

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” …-William Arthur Ward

This is the attitude that we bring into our marriages. The other day I was watching one of my newly favorite shows Fresh Off The Boat. I know I’m behind, but hey that’s the benefit of streaming services. I can watch when I want.
A New But Familiar Scene
Anyway back to the episode that I was watching. It was one where the kids in the family had lice. In a comical way the mother was watching out for the kids and in the process contracted lice. The husband decided to leave the house so he could still work. Through this he learned a lesson about how much his wife does for the family. That was when you saw the light bulb go off and he was thankful for her.
Too many times we treat being thankful like in the scene that I described above. We’re not truly thankful until something happens and removes something or someone from our life. Once we realize that it’s gone then we’re thankful.
The scene above also can describe our marriages. Most men aren’t really thankful for their spouses until they are left in a situation where they have to take care of the kids and take on more duties for the family. That shouldn’t be.
Approaching thankfulness this way makes it situational and too easily to forget. We want to have a heart of thankfulness. It’s better for us and our marriages if we can live a life that is full of thankfulness. It can be done, but it’s a process of growth just like everything else.
1. Have a Gratitude List Every Day
It can be easy to forget the things we need to be thankful for if they are not at the top of our minds. I’m a big fan of journaling. As a way to bring some perspective to your day and preparing for it. As you journal it’s good to just everyday do a list of things that you are grateful for.
Making this a practice that you do everyday is great for developing a heart and lifestyle of thankfulness.
2. Be What You Want to See
Most of us want someone to be thankful for what we bring to the table. Whether it is what we do at our jobs or in our marriages, we want to feel appreciated and have someone be thankful for us.
If we want to feel gratitude, then we have to give gratitude. The best way to develop a heart of thankfulness is to begin to show thankfulness to others. Your spouse should be the first one in line experience your new thanksgiving.
3. Expect Nothing in Return
It’s not being truly thankful if you only do things for the response that you get. It won’t be from your heart if you you’re always looking for someone to acknowledge what you did. You’re thankfulness is then selfishness because you like the feeling you get when your act is recognized.
It’s time to develop a thankful heart. This can take your self development, and your marriage to the next level.
Nov 21, 201917:20
Episode 039: Being Thankful and Kayne West

Episode 039: Being Thankful and Kayne West

It’s the thanksgiving season.
Nov 08, 201915:01
Episode 038: Growth Is Intentional

Episode 038: Growth Is Intentional

Are you able to tell when you are being driven by your emotions? The stereotype is that men aren’t emotional and that everything with them is at the surface level.

That is a lie. Men can be just as emotional as women. What most have failed to realize is that it will manifest differently. Pushing down your emotions is not gender specific. Neither is wearing them on your sleeve. Do you know yourself well enough to know how your emotions impact you?
As I learn about myself and with the help of my wife I’m beginning to see how my emotions impact me. Early on in our marriage, I didn’t talk much. I would wait until everything seemed like it was too much for me to keep on the inside and then I would want to vent.
For me, I handled my emotions like this because I never grew up knowing how to handle and process my emotions.
Now I am able to process and talk about my emotions a little faster. I may not express them in the moment,but I’m growing in effectively communicating in a healthy time frame.
Commit to Growth

We should all have a process of growth. Growing is going from where we are now to a version of us that masters every part of our lives. We have to grow mentally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Emotional growth is learning about how our emotions affect us.
Becoming a better man doesn’t just happen when you reach a certain age. Your development as a person has to be intentional.
If we were talking about money, we don’t wake up one day and become a millionaire, no we grow in our financial literacy and how to handle money.
Read, Read, Read

The most successful people in any area are active readers. It doesn't matter if it’s finances, marriages, or productivity, you have to become a reader. There are so many tools at your disposal to help with this. If you don’t like paper books, you can get ebooks. Maybe the thought of buying a book makes you nervous, then most libraries have an app where you can borrow the paper book or e-book or an audio book. The point is that you have to continue to educate yourself. Growth is intentional.
Discussion Question:

What is one area that you want to grow in?
Oct 31, 201913:29
Episode 037: Practice Makes Permanent

Episode 037: Practice Makes Permanent

Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes Permanent.” - Eric Thomas

We all remember the Allen Iverson’s infamous practice speech. He had a lot of personal things that he was dealing with in his life at the time and the speech was his response to a question from a reporter. Have you ever thought about how that can apply to our marriage? What does it look like to practice in your marriage?

Too many times we can have an attitude about our marriage that mirrors Iverson’s attitude from the video. We may think that the everyday aspects aren’t important. As long as we try to do good during the “games” then we’ll be successful. The ‘games” being the special days that we tend to pay attention to; birthdays, anniversaries and the occasional holiday.

At the beginning of this year me and my set out to do something special for each other each month. This was all an effort to practice our marriage. I’ll admit that we did good for the first couple of months. Then the spring/summer came and I missed a month. Thinking that I would try to make up for the next month and that never happened. Have I gotten back to it, no but I’m going to.

This is the point of practice. We don’t start with excellence. You don’t have a great marriage right from the start. Any hall of farmer in any sport didn’t start out that way. There is a level of practice that is required to to be great. The same applies to our marriages. We don’t start out as great husbands and wives. We may be good but there is always another level to go to. We can strive to be better.

1. Practice is hard

There’s no denying it. Practice is not easy and it can seem hard. When it comes to practicing in your marriage, means setting yourself up for success.

Practice is all about building habits and routines that will make benefit you when times are hard.

In our marriage this can play out in practicing including my wife when it comes to making decisions. It may not be a difficult decision but working on including my spouse so that it become a difficult situation, I won’t be tempted to hide anything from her.

Find areas that you haven’t practiced in and begin.

2. Stop pursuing perfection

What I’m not saying is that we shouldn’t pursue growth. What I am saying is that we need to look at our idea of perfection. We should lose that.

Instead of pursuing perfection, aim for growth. Try to grow into the best person you can be. Through your growth you will become better, and your marriage will get better.

3. What should be permanent

What are the aspects, characteristics, and qualities that you want to be permanent in yourself? What are the things that you want to be permanent in your marriage?

The things that are permanent are the foundations to who we are. We want to make sure that we’re setting up a strong foundation for ourselves and our marriages. You can email me at
leonardmcelveen.com
Oct 24, 201917:23
Episode 036: Dream Foundations

Episode 036: Dream Foundations

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: The fear of failure.” – Paulo Coelho
What’s your dream? When was the last time someone asked you about your dream? When did you ask yourself about your dream? Most of us haven’t even asked ourselves about our dreams, let alone how we would answer that question if someone asked us.
Most of our dreams remain dreams and we never take action because of a number of reasons. The biggest one is fear
Fear can manifest itself in a number of different ways. Fear can look like procrastination when we find ourselves coming up against the same hurdle over and over. That’s just one example. We overcome fear by having a solid foundation to our dreams. What makes up a solid foundation?
1. Habits
Our habits make us who we are. No matter what you want to achieve in life, it’s your habits that will hinder or help you. Your habits determine your life. If you want to have a strong relationship with God, then you need to have a habit of prayer and Bible study. Do you want to be a good husband? Then you need to have a habit of continually working on your marriage. Our habits can determine so many things about us. They can also be changed to that we can chase the dreams on the inside of us.
2. Attitude
As much as our habits determine where our life is headed, our attitude is just as important. Our attitude is related to our outlook on life. Sometimes life happens where there is a job loss or some other unexpected setback. Those things happen. How we handle it and how we choose to see it, is determined by our attitude. We can control our attitude. That’s the power of the human mind.
3. Rest
Rest is more than the number of hours that you sleep. It is more about giving your body a chance to let go of the stresses of the day. It’s about giving your mind time to calm down. That’s why prayer and meditation are so important. It’s having time to quiet down and find peace before you move on to the next thing.
This list doesn’t include everything, but the things listed above are some essentials to seeing our dreams come to past in our lives. Can we achieve our dreams? Absolutely, but it will come at a price. The price of changing what we do now to doing what is needed to achieve our dreams.
Discussion Question:
What dream do you have?
Oct 10, 201916:36
Episode 035: Relationship Questions

Episode 035: Relationship Questions

Scriptural Foundations: Ephesians 4:15
but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Relationship Questions. 1) Do you consider your significant other as a partner? 2) Are you emotionally connecting? 3) Are you open to less rigid role definitions? 4) Are you threatened by your spouse’s success? 5) Are you able to have conversations about intimacy?
Oct 03, 201926:30
Episode 034: You need Conferences

Episode 034: You need Conferences

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:11‬ ‭NLT‬‬. Are you one of those people? You know those people. The ones that like to tell you about the latest conference that they went to. Or in every conversation they include some “gem of knowledge” from a speaker they heard. Sometimes you think “What’s with that person?” Or “Why are they always going to conferences?”
Conferences, seminars, and the like are important. We should all be that person that I described above. It means that we’re excited about the information that we got and that we anticipate a change in our lives.
The past two weekends I’ve gone to two very different conferences and we should all go to conferences. The first conference that I went to was to Jeff Goins’ Tribewriters Conference. It’s a conference geared at writers, authors, bloggers and creative people. The other conference that I attended was called ManCamp. A conference for men wanting to grow in their raltionship with God. For me I needed both. Here’s why you should attended conferences.
1. Community
Most men tend to be isolated. We also can carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Going to conferences provides that sense of community. It at least puts you in the same room with other people who want the same thing as you. Sometimes men struggle with establishing and building relationships with other men. You have to fight that feeling of being isolated. Conferences are a great way to fight that isolation.
2. Growth
Conferences are great for self development and growth. Between the various speakers and activities you should expect to be challenged in some way. That’s a part of the whole experience. Take advantage of the conferences and the things that challenge you. Your growth as a person depends on you willingness to step up to the challenges.
3. Focus
There’s something to being able to get away from the normal routine. It doesn’t matter if the conference is local or if it’s in another town, attending a conference allows you to disrupt your normal routine and gives you the chance to focus on something specific. I usually like to get out of the town that I live in. It adds a level of disconnect from my normal world and routine. It allows for more focus.
Discussion Question: Why do you like conferences?
Sep 19, 201919:15
Episode 033:Happy Post Labor Day

Episode 033:Happy Post Labor Day

hope that you had a fun and safe Labor Day holiday. Most people spend their holidays with family and friends. Mine was no different. In fact I was able to travel to Nebraska and be there for my sisters wedding. Throughout the weekend I was able to sit back, observe and enjoy my family. I just wanted to offer up some observations to you all.



Your place in your family


This one I’ve known about for awhile now, but I was able to see it in full effect this past weekend. Whether you’re the drunk uncle at every family gathering, the dancing child, the silent one or the religious prayer warrior, we all have a part in our families. It might not be defined role with a title and it may change as we grow older and new generations come behind us, but each person is needed and makes the family unique.



Love and Laugh


What makes families so great is that you’re able to love each other through all of the ups and downs of life. It’s that love that makes the family unit stronger. Will there be arguments and disagreements? Absolutely. Those things that you argue about today will be the things that you’re able to laugh about a year from now. Laughter has been medically proved to be beneficial for your health. Laugh together with your family!!



Everything isn’t meant for Social Media


This past weekend was yet another reminder that we don’t need our phones to enjoy life. Life is happening all around us. We can get caught up in posting about the things that we’re doing rather than enjoying the events. Every once and awhile it’s good to not post anything, put your phone down and just enjoy the moments.



A group of dancing kids makes everything better


This one is just fun. At my sister’s reception, there wasn’t a better moment that when the DJ plays the kids favorite songs and they start dancing. You can’t help but to smile and cheer them on. Every adult that seems to have forgotten to just have fun and not care about what other think it back to being a child again. From the latest dances to the ones that are just pure energy and movement. It’s always a good time.



These were just a couple of things that I thought about this past weekend. I pray that you’re holiday was great and that the rest of your year is filled with Love and Laughter.
Sep 06, 201921:32
Episode 032: Family Roles

Episode 032: Family Roles

You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them - Desmond Tutu
Each family member is important and each member has a role to play. The roles are important and valuable. A lot of the time we don’t think about what each person brings to the family unit as a whole.
My parents got divorced when I was a young man and I remember the impact that it had on my family. It affects each person and there is a hole that is left in the family dynamic. It can be a lot to take in and process.
There is a picture online that I really like that pictures the dynamics of a family and the roles that everyone has. I want to break down the picture and talk about the roles of each.
1.
Family: Christ

This is the first umbrella. He covers the entire family. Everything centers on His Word. God’s love covers us and as it covers us individually it covers our family unit. His Word guides our steps and it protects us.
2.
Family: The Husband

The husband is under Christ, because the husband should be looking to God for his family. In the picture you see that the husband’s role is to protect the family, lead the family and provide for the family. These are all great, but there is a way to do them that is true and genuine.
Protecting the family is a physical, emotional, and spiritual responsibility. Abuse can happen in many forms and the husband’s role is to be be out front protecting the family.
Leading the family is a great responsibility. Leading is never a “do as I say” thing. True leadership is servant leadership. Learning how to help your family achieve their dreams and goals.
Providing for the family is something that we can automatically assume is a financial responsibility.
3.
Family: The Wife

Following The Husband is The Wife. The wife’s role is to comfort, teach, and nurture. I think that the picture leaves a little to be desired about the role of the wife. While a wife does provide comfort, teach and nurture there is more that she does.
Many of the things that the husband does for the entire family the wife does for the children. She does protect them, she also leads them and provides for them.
There is a lot of fluidity between the husband and wife roleshusband and wife roles. You don’t have to look far to see how they can cover for each other. Every single parent household has a parent that is providing both roles for the family.
4.
Family: The Children

The child’s role in the family is defined in the picture is to love the parents and obey the parents. While that is true, children should also be able to dream. Children should also challenge their parents, not in a disrespectful way, but in a way that should push the parents to be better.

Discussion Question:

What are your thoughts about the picture of the family?
Aug 29, 201922:28
Episode 031: Family is Important to God

Episode 031: Family is Important to God

Scriptural Foundation: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” – Psalm 133:1 Have you ever wondered why family is so important to God. From the beginning of the Bible, you can see that God wanted to be able to enjoy the benefits of family. Following God’s example, we should value family. The family unit is a part of our lives that we don’t regularly attend to. While we plan for a lot of things when it comes to our social life and our career life, when it comes to our family there can be a lack of planning. In recent years there has been more of a push to have balance in life. People are recognizing the value of family. They don’t want to work 60 or 70 hours a week. There are too many stories out there of successful people who worked so hard, but in the process they lost their marriages, families,health or a combination of things. Why work so hard to achieve a financial or career status and get there not have anyone to enjoy it with? The family unit is important for 3 reasons. 1. The foundation Our families are foundational to our lives. When everything can seem like it is going out of control, your family can serve as an anchor in the storm. Christians are often referred to as the Body of Christ. Showing that we are all connected. 2. Support & Celebrate We know how valuable a support group can be. When we need support to get through a difficult situation our family members tend to be the ones to pick us up. The same can be said of when we celebrate significant moments in our life. Think of the milestone birthdays, the promotions, the bonuses, marriages, children being born and all the things that are important to us. Who are the people that are most likely to be there and celebrate with us? Family. 3. God at the Center When it comes to organizing and evaluating our lives, it makes it easy to compartmentalize everything. We can treat our lives like rooms in a house. One room is our career. A room for our family. The basement is where all the things we don’t want to deal with go. There's a room for our emotions and there is a room for God. What we have failed to realize is that God is in every room. He is the foundation that our house is built on. God doesn’t want to be regulated to just one room. He wants to be involved in every area of life. Discussion Question: Why is family important to you?
Aug 23, 201921:30
Episode 030 : The Foundation

Episode 030 : The Foundation

Scriptural Foundation:
Proverbs 29:18 King James Version (KJV)

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Foundations are important. That might be the understatement of the year, but while they are the most important part, they are also the most overlooked part. When it comes to foundations most people just assume that you’re talking about a home or other type of building. You might have even thought that is what I was referring to, but foundations are not exclusive to buildings.
I remember this time when my wife and I were looking to buy our first home. We had looked at a couple of houses and couldn’t find what we were looking for. One house we looked at in particular was beautiful. It checked all the boxes that we would have wanted. When I asked about the price as we walked through, I was shocked. Why would it be so low? This house was a quarter of the price of any other house we had looked at.
As we walked into the basement I could see why the price was so low. There was a floor to ceiling crack that ran along one of the walls. There was a crack in the foundation. Needless to say that we did not buy that house. It would have twice as much money to reset the foundation.
While foundations are mostly associated with buildings we have foundations to our marriages and many other relationships. For the most part we just don’t think about our foundation. Many of us want a successful marriage. We want to have a marriage that is happy, successful and all the things that we want. The only way to get there is having the proper foundation set. Here are the 3 P’s of a solid marriage foundation:
1. Plan
Having a plan isn’t a bad thing in a marriage. It should regularly be discussed and adapted as your life ages. The Bible says that without a vision people will perish. The same can be said of our marriages. A vision is just a written down plan. It can be hard to get anywhere if you don’t know where you’re going.
2. Prayer
Prayer is the foundation to everything that is important to us. When it comes to our marriage, prayer is a necessity. Marriage is more than just a contract. It’s binding two souls, two minds, it is the intertwining of two lives with God into this one thing call marriage. As much as there are two people involved, God is just as involved and it is through prayer that we involve Him.
3. Pursuit
Most men pursue their wives while dating and maybe a little at the beginning of our marriages. As our marriages go along we tend to stop pursuing and get in a comfortable groove. Fight the comfort and continue to pursue your spouse.
Discussion Question:
What are some the foundations of your marriage?
Aug 15, 201917:57