Ryan Stephens, Rob Hefley, and Daniel Shaw host the Forge by Fire podcast, welcoming their special guest, James Ash. James is a Marine Corps combat veteran, law enforcement officer, and combat veteran who has been a close friend of Ryan's for over 20 years. As the hosts and James reminisce about their shared experiences, James opens up about his recent cancer diagnosis - a rare form called multiple myeloma that affects less than 2% of all cancer patients.

Diagnosed at just 41 years old, decades younger than the typical patient, James reveals that he sought treatment at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), known as the world's leading institute for this type of cancer. He expresses his determination to fight the disease, which has caused bone lesions and weakened his immune system. The group discusses the alarming rates of cancer among veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, emphasizing the importance of early screening and accessing available benefits.

Despite his difficult diagnosis, James maintains a remarkably positive attitude, crediting his strong support system - particularly his wife, Jess - for giving him the strength to persevere. The hosts are deeply impressed by James' mindset, praising his refusal to view cancer as a death sentence and his commitment to finding purpose in the midst of adversity. The conversation shifts to the importance of community, with the hosts describing the unique culture they've fostered at their gym, where veterans and first responders can be vulnerable and find healing.

As James opens up about his complex spiritual journey, the group explores the concept of "meekness" as strength under control, drawing parallels to the example of Jesus. They discuss the harmful ways in which some have weaponized Christianity, leaving James and others feeling unworthy and broken. However, the hosts emphasize the unconditional love of God and the importance of living as true sons of the Father.

The discussion turns to the significance of breaking negative generational cycles, with the hosts sharing their own experiences and the steps they're taking to create better lives for their children. They highlight the power of speaking generational blessings over their families and demonstrating healthy, loving relationships.

As James prepares to undergo an intense 100-day treatment regimen, the hosts offer their unwavering support, encouraging him to lean on his community during this challenging time. James shares plans to document his journey through a new public Instagram account and an upcoming podcast titled "Unbroken from the Ashes," which will explore themes of overcoming hardship and emerging stronger. The podcast concludes with the hosts expressing their pride in James' resilience and their excitement to reconvene in a year to celebrate his recovery and hear the full story of his inspiring journey.

Ryan Stephens and Rob Hefley have built a community-focused nonprofit through the podcast Grey Beard Forge MMA Gym. Based in Conway, Arkansas, Gray Beard Forge MMA primarily serves veterans and first responders.

As the Forged by Fire podcast celebrates its sixth anniversary, the hosts reflect on their remarkable journey and marvel at how much they've accomplished together. Ryan and Rob reflect on the evolution of their own friendship, acknowledging the ups and downs but emphasizing their unwavering support for one another.

The story delves into the evolution of Ryan's fitness and martial arts programs, starting with his Sheepdog Skills classes and transitioning into the creation of Frontline Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. This free program for veterans and first responders quickly grew from just five participants to hosting over 30 people regularly. Ryan's vision expanded further with the opening of Grey Beard Forge MMA, a 10,000-square-foot facility that houses the gym, and Grey Beard Ammo, a high-end gun shop.

Greybeard Forge's nonprofit structure is a key part of its mission. It allows the gym to offer discounted rates for veterans and first responders while also sponsoring individuals who cannot afford membership fees. This pay-it-forward model has created a safe, inclusive space where warriors from all walks of life can train, heal, and find community. The hosts emphasize the gym's role in disaster response and its ability to serve as a sanctuary for those struggling with trauma, PTSD, and even suicidal thoughts.

Ryan's social media success has further amplified Grey Beard Forge's impact, with his "Five Friends" video going viral and reaching over 20 million views across various platforms. This unexpected fame has led to surprising encounters with fans and new opportunities to share the message of encouragement and personal growth.

As they look to the future, the hosts have several exciting plans. The upcoming launch of BFFs "Best Friend Fighters," a self-defense program for girls, and the "Shepherd Summit," a weekend retreat for pastors and church workers, demonstrate their commitment to serving and empowering their community. Ryan and Rob extend an open invitation to their listeners, welcoming veterans, first responders, and patriots alike to join their growing Greybeard Forge family.

Ryan Stephens and Rob Hefley have created a remarkable legacy of community-focused entrepreneurship through their podcast, business ventures, and social media presence. Their story is one of friendship, resilience, and a relentless dedication to positively impacting the lives of those around them. As they continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities, the future of Grey Beard Forge shines bright, a beacon of hope and inspiration for all who seek to find their light and calling through this vibrant community in Conway, Arkansas.

Daniel Shaw and Rob Hefley, hosts of the Forged by Fire podcast, open the episode by setting the stage for an intimate discussion on the importance and challenge of being present. As friends and co-hosts, they establish a warm, conversational tone, with Rob admitting that he has long struggled with this lesson, making it a relatable topic for the audience.

The conversation delves into the difficulties of maintaining presence amidst the constant pull of responsibilities and distractions in modern life. Rob describes the "monkey mind" effect, where the human ability to imagine the future can become a source of stress and anxiety, causing people to worry about scenarios that may never come to pass. The hosts share personal anecdotes, such as the frenzy surrounding the Y2K scare, to illustrate how this tendency to "future trip" can lead to poor decision-making and a diminished quality of life.

Shifting the focus to the spiritual realm, Daniel and Rob explore the concept of being present in one's relationship with God. They emphasize the importance of resting in God's constant presence rather than obsessing over the unknown future. The discussion highlights how maintaining a spiritual presence can help alleviate anxiety and ground individuals in the current moment.

The conversation then turns to the pervasive "culture of busyness" that often prevents people from being truly present with their loved ones. The hosts share relatable examples, such as friends and colleagues whose packed schedules make scheduling even a simple lunch meeting challenging. They critically examine this societal trend, recognizing how the lack of margin in people's lives can negatively impact relationships and one's ability to be spontaneous and attentive.

Daniel and Rob explore practical strategies for cultivating presence in daily life, emphasizing the need for intentionality. They discuss the importance of setting boundaries, such as Daniel's decision to prioritize family birthdays over a work retreat and consciously engaging fully with the people and activities that matter most. The hosts also address the role of technology, particularly smartphones, in disrupting genuine human interactions, encouraging listeners to be mindful of their device usage during conversations.

Balancing multiple priorities emerges as a central theme, with the hosts acknowledging the difficulty of saying no to opportunities that may detract from time with family, friends, and one's spiritual life. They share personal experiences of turning down job offers or commitments that would have negatively impacted their work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing relationships and well-being over career advancement or financial gain.

In the final chapters, Daniel and Rob offer practical advice for listeners, suggesting strategies such as putting away phones during conversations, setting aside dedicated time for undistracted interaction with loved ones, and regularly evaluating and "quitting" unnecessary commitments. They underscore the significance of self-care and setting realistic expectations to maintain the energy and focus required to be fully present in important moments.

The episode concludes with a call to action, challenging the audience to practice being more present in their relationships and spiritual lives. The hosts express their belief in the potential positive impacts of increased presence on personal well-being and the quality of human connections. By weaving in information about their business, Greybeard Forge MMA, and their ammo subscription service, they demonstrate how these offerings can help create more time for being present in life, reinforcing the core message of the episode.

Today we're going into the past. Which we know can be a scary place. But the past is the past for a reason. Are you bringing all your past problems into your future? We talk about our own experiences and hope that you'll go through the journey with us!

We're back with a new episode and this one is all about chasing big dreams. We get into our future dreams, why we chase them, and how important it is to keep setting big goals. We also get into why you should take steps to your dreams daily and how it can keep you fired up and moving towards the life you want to live.

Today, we’re talking about generosity and how to live a generous life. It feels like a lot of people have really forgotten the joys of giving and focus on what they should be getting. And that’s no way to live! There are so many ways to be generous. Not just financially, you can share time and knowledge. When you’re generous with something you’re not thinking about what you’re going to get out of it. Generosity is kindness in action.

Helping people is one of the things that you don’t really regret. Even if it’s not always well received, you shouldn’t feel bad for volunteering your time, energy, or money to help others. We want to ask our listeners what it felt like to receive something you didn’t expect. Now times that by 5 and that’s how you feel when you donate to someone else.

In the Bible, it mentions a cheerful giver. If you’re giving cheerfully then you’re focused on the right reasons for helping people. We challenge everyone to be generous with your words too. Kindness can be 100% free if you’re spreading it with your words.

On this week’s Forged by Fire episode, we’re talking about all things mental health. After the loss of a friend, who was struggling with physical illness and mental illness we want to dedicate this episode to him and to talking more openly about mental health. For a long time, most men avoid counselors and therapy like the plague. They’re going to get help because there’s been an ultimatum, a court order or something very drastic. It’s been viewed as a reactive way of coping, not a proactive step. There are a lot of people that want to avoid being labeled as dealing with a mental health issue. The world we live in encourages men to work harder, work faster, be stronger and the weight of the world really weighs down on them. This amount of pressure can be so unhealthy and really push people to their breaking point. All the little things really add up and cause pain and stress. Why do we as men struggle with facing the truth and being honest with ourselves? It’s so important to really face the facts so things don’t get too big to handle. The longer we ignore our issues they fester and cause a lot more pain. “Live your life like you have nothing to hide, nothing to prove, and nothing to fear”. Is a great quote by Micheal Thompson that we need to remember as you evaluate yourself. 17% of our youth struggle with mental health. So if you don’t necessarily struggle with a mental health issue then it’s still important to understand and learn more about it to understand those around you or your family members. One thing you need to look for with your own mental health is that “check engine light”. These are times when you wake up in the morning and just feel like you can’t get out of bed, get a sick feeling pulling into the parking lot at work, or even grab that extra six-pack because you want to feel a little less tonight. These are small things that indicate you’re not in your best mental shape and you need to do something about it. And a lot of people run with that check engine light on for years. They don’t even realize how good they could have it if they were in tip-top shape. We’ve seen men just fade back. When you go through a major life issue, and things just aren’t right backing away from the people that care about you isn’t the right direction. If you have a friend or family member that is struggling and they don’t want to be helped you have to check on them and you have to pray for them. Encouragement can go a long way and helping them find good council when they’re ready to seek help. When you find a therapist that works well with you, it’s really amazing. You can tell them absolutely anything and you don’t have to worry about losing face at all. And they have the tools to get you to the next step and get that check engine light turned off. If you need help, seek help. Message us. Take this opportunity as a sign to get help if you’ve considered it or if you think your check engine light may be on.

This episode is dedicated to Cody Sublett a husband, father, and an amazing friend.