A Different Type of Revival

It’s Good to Be a Man was conceived as a project. I called it a project because that’s collaborative work that is meant to achieve a particular goal. In my mind, it would have a beginning and an end.

The project had been percolating in my mind for a few years. In 2018, I started the Facebook page and started researching for a podcast. Shortly after starting, I noticed that Bonn Tenant was interacting with many of the concepts I had been contemplating. I asked if he’d consider partnering with me on this project. He came on, and we were off to the races.

Our shared interests—combined with our distinct personalities and backgrounds—gave It’s Good to Be a Man a unique voice. For me, creating the content was just as formative and enjoyable as seeing the responses to it. Bnonn and I would trade long Facebook voice messages, hashing out ideas and arguing back and forth until we landed on something we both stood behind.

Throughout the project, we both faced significant personal challenges—whether the loss of a younger sibling or ecclesial controversy. Through it all, we supported each other, processing those struggles together as we wrote. I believe that gave our work a unique and genuine pathos.

At its core, It’s Good to Be a Man was a product of brotherhood—the work of two good friends. I’m proud of what Bnonn and I achieved together.

In 2022, we decided to conclude our work. Together, we had written well over a hundred articles, produced 75 podcast episodes, published a book, and witnessed the creation of a documentary. We both found ourselves increasingly engrossed in other projects, and I was feeling overwhelmed by my responsibility for a fast-growing church. We agreed it was time to bring an end to what we had built together.

The It’s Good Be Man brand has been on ice ever since. On a few occasions, we discussed revisiting the project, but life had a way of tempering those ambitions.

Things have changed a little.

My church, East River Church, decided to invest resources into a media ministry, East River Media. We built a new studio, contracted an editor, and started working on content we thought would edify our people. Over and over again, we saw the need to produce content with a special focus on men. We keep tossing around different names and ideas. During that time, I doubted I could come up with anything as good as It’s Good to Be a Man. And that led to an idea.

I discussed with Bnonn the idea of bringing It’s Good to Be a Man back—not as a project, but as an ongoing ministry under the oversight of East River Church. Bnonn agreed. So, a sort of revival of It’s Good to Be a Man is on its way, led by our elders at East River Church. The original articles and newsletters from the project can be read here. We will keep the first 75 episodes on the podcast RSS feed.

A new website is on the way (this one, actually), along with a lot of new articles designed for study groups. New podcast episodes will launch in March. Bnonn remains a good friend and confidant, and he'll occasionally join a new episode. We're also planning a conference for early 2026.

I’m excited for this new chapter in the life of It’s Good to Be a Man. Pray that the Lord blesses us so that we can help men grow in wisdom and lead with strength!