In our interview with historian Chris Mackowski, we talk about the American Civil War, and the stories of heroism and even villainy that happened during that time.
Chris also talks about his opinions on masculinity, fatherhood, and his passion for history.
Chris Mackowski, Ph.D., is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Emerging Civil War and the series editor of the award-winning Emerging Civil War Series.
Chris has authored or co-authored nearly two dozen books and edited a half-dozen essay collections on the Civil War, and his articles have appeared in all the major Civil War magazines.
Chris is also historian-in-residence at Stevenson Ridge, a historic property on the Spotsylvania battlefield in central Virginia. He has worked as a historian for the National Park Service at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, where he gives tours at four major Civil War battlefields (Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania), as well as at the building where Stonewall Jackson died.
Chris serves as vice president on the board of directors for the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, he serves on the advisory board of the Civil War Roundtable Congress and the Brunswick (NC) Civil War Roundtable—the largest in the country—and is a member of the Antietam Institute.
Singer / Songwriter JD Casper (The Voice: Season 20) has released his new single “The Life You Make” – and he sat down with Manlihood for a quick Question and Answer session.
Q: The Life You Make is a moving song, clearly with a message. What inspired this song?
A: I do the best I can to wake up and write in the mornings. Get somewhere quiet, drink my coffee and pick on some chords. This song poured out without much effort during one of those morning sessions. I didn’t sit down and say “Okay, it’s time to write a song for my kids.” It wasn’t intentional. In the moment, I didn’t realize what was coming out until it did. And then I looked & thought, “oh wow, this is really a beautiful sentiment.”
Q: It sounds like you are addressing your children in the second verse. What other things do you want your kids to know?
A: I just want my kids to always stay true to themselves. Pursue a meaningful life and don’t get caught up in the negativity out there. Life is to short so enjoy every bit of it. Wake up and pursue your passion everyday. And always be a kind, forgiving person. The high road is the right road.
Q: The first verse says, “Any given day is an opportunity and a chance to make your dreams come true” Does this mindset drive you?
A: Yes. I think it should for anybody with a dream or a specific life goal in their mind. There were multiple avenues my life could have stayed on and I would have never gotten to where I am now. It took leaving comfortable jobs. Comfortable living situations. Moving away from friends and family. And staying disciplined. Treating my passion like punching a clock and grinding away. I feel like if you know what you want to do with your life then the only thing standing in the way is your self doubt. You shouldn’t settle on anything short of the vision you have for yourself. And once you get there, then the finished line gets moved further away and the expectation for yourself grows.
Q: I know that sometimes you play with a band, sometimes you are the band. Did you work with other musicians on this?
A: This song was written on my own. I took it to the studio with a finished product. We just set up the microphones and captured the performance. Q: Many men today find themselves unable to express how they feel. Does music give you an outlet for those emotions? A: It definitely does. Something very therapeutic happens when I write out my feelings. I start with a chord structure, then I will start singing whatever words come out in the moment. Before long, it’s a meaningful song that somehow represents how I felt in that moment. It’s really an amazing thing and I’m so fortunate to have found something that works for me.
Q: Since we last interviewed you, you’ve had a pretty exciting experience – I’m sure we’ll talk about it more when we interview you in person for the podcast – but after appearing on NBC’s The Voice for a brief stint – what opportunities did that open up for you?
A: Quite a bit. It was a really amazing opportunity that I’m grateful for. Just so surreal watching yourself on TV like that. My phone was just blowing up in real time when it aired. It was the first time I’ve ever experience that kind of exposure and I really learned a lot from the experience.
Q: While this song may have been written to your kids in particular – it’s good life advice. What other life advice do you have for the Manlihood audience?
A: I would say always check your lug nuts. If even 1 lug nut loosens, your tire will turn uneven and before long, all your lug nuts will be loose. At that point, your whole wheel could fly off on the highway at 80mph. It’s up to us to safely check ourselves and our friends to avoid major catastrophe. And I mean this literally and figuratively.
Q: What is the best way for folks to show their support for your new song?
A: Stream it on Spotify. Subscribe to the Youtube Channel. Follow on Instagram, Facebook. Anything. My goal in creating art is to be heartfelt and true to myself. Put it out in the world and hope it finds the ears that need to hear it. As that’s what my favorites songs & artists have done for me.
Men. If you listen to the narrative that is being slowly woven into the cultural landscape, you’ll hear that you don’t matter. That your masculinity is irrelevant and unnecessary.
I need you to hear me clearly.
YOU ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.
In your DNA is a hard-coded desire to lead, to create, to fight, to provide, to give and receive honor.
We need to boldly reject the notion that these tenets of masculinity are cultural.
Certainly, there are cultural norms and expectations. And our constantly churning sense of cultural values has muddied that for us. It looks like a smoothie made with creek water.
But there is an innate desire in the bones of a man – to seek virtue, to lead, to love, to conquer, to adventure, to solve, to improve ourselves and those around us. (Surely, some of these things are in women, too.)
Men are dangerous.
While I love the Jordan Peterson discussion about “good men are dangerous” – I’m speaking about something different here. Men are dangerous to folks who want to rule with nefarious intent. Men are dangerous to systems that want to oppress. Men are dangerous to political and philosophical systems that enslave people. Why? Because men crave justice.
I believe that what has happened in our culture is an intentional attempt to make men feel useless, to beat down the innate courage and resistance of men, and replace it with docile compliance or at least with fattened, numbed, porn’d, and dissolutioned men who don’t step up and do what is in their very nature today.
We are not victims here.
While I’m clearly painting a picture of a villainous entity, I can’t exactly give that entity a name. It’s not just one philosophy or strategy (it’s easy to blame Marxism or “woke-ism”).
I think there are certainly outside forces that want men to be weak and docile.
I also think the bigger enemy is our own apathy… Our own discouragement.
If we were truly at war with Marxism and Woke-ism (or whatever other philosophy or force), we really have already lost.
No, we are at war with our own indifference.
It’s time to rise up.
We start by taking responsibility – which is the first pillar of manhood.
The world won’t change until I change.
Wake up, you sleepers.
Let’s show the world what a good man looks like.
Let’s show our families what an engaged and loving father looks like.
Let’s show our wives what a dedicated and committed husband looks like.
Let’s show our neighborhoods what a good neighbor looks like.
Let’s show the father-less what a good father looks like.
That’s what changes the world.
Dedicated men, willing to fight off their own temptations, their own demons, and willing to lead and love and serve.
Let’s take a look at the best podcasts for men in 2022!
Obviously, I’m biased, and I’ll recommend The Manlihood ManCast as the premiere personal development podcast for men that you should all be listening to. The Manlihood ManCast is in the Top 50 Podcasts for men according to Feedspot. But today, I’m going to share with you the OTHER podcasts for men that you need to check out.
Ryan Michler interviews amazing guests about what it means to be a better man. In 2022, he has interviewed Terry Crews, Tim Kennedy, Cameron Hanes, Jack Carr, Tim Tebow, Phil Robertson, and more. Michler hosts three shows a week, including an “Ask Me Anything” show he typically hosts with Kipp Sorensen. My favorite part of the show is actually Ryan’s solo shows – Field Note Fridays, where he explains his take on approaching the world through a masculine framework. Ryan’s perspective is simultaneously fresh and old-fashioned, and I think it’s a much needed voice in today’s upside down culture.
Brett McKay approaches the world through a stoic view. He interviews guests on a variety of topics, including history relationships, and personal development. The show emphasizes a classic masculinity that transcends politics and focuses on individual responsibility.
Jim Ramos heads up this Christian podcast with an emphasis on men taking their faith, their role as husbands, fathers and leaders seriously. In 2022, Jim interviewed guests including former porn star turned pastor Joshua Broome, Stephen Mansfield, Larry Hagner and more. He delves into relevant topics that men need to discuss, but that the church may often skirt around.
Warren Peterson of the Significant Man Recharge has focused in 2022 on solo shows which he calls “Five Minute Fridays” where he talks about manhood from a Christian perspective. Peterson is a level-headed and practical podcaster, and his podcasts helps to recharge and build up the Christian man with an accessibility that anyone regardless of faith can relate to.
Larry Hagner of the Dad Edge Podcast (formerly known as the Good Dad Project) places an emphasis on personal development for fathers. A man that becomes the best version of himself can help his children become the best version of themselves. Larry is a dad himself, and he pulls from his experiences with his kids, and from his experience growing up without a father to help dads overcome the hurdles of fatherhood. In 2022, Larry interviewed Steve Weatherford, Gary John Bishop, Tanner Guzy, Dr. John Delony, and more.
Leadership is something every man needs to learn and embrace. John Maxwell is a leadership expert, and his podcast, while not specifically geared toward men, it’s chock full of leadership advice that will certainly help men.
Mike Yarbrough of Wolf and Iron is an amazing podcast host. His southern gentlemen approach to life, along with his encouragement for men to live up to their potential makes for amazing insights. His interviews are stellar, but his “Truck Talks” while he unpacks his own perspective on life are worth the listen
Stephen Mansfield is an author and thought leader who speaks on politics, religion, and issues surrounding manhood. He tackles current events, and what a man’s response to these events should be.
Dr. Jordan Peterson is a renowned clinical psychologist and author from Canada. His book “12 Rules for Life” is groundbreaking as it explores traditional western philosophies from a contemporary perspective. He speaks a lot about masculinity and culture, as well as a stoic approach to life.
Joe Rogan’s podcast is arguably the most popular podcast of all time. He is no stranger to controversy as he has come under fire for his views and his guests views on current events. He frequently interviews comedians and fighters, and he often explores the value of a traditional view of masculinity.
Alan Donovan is the founder of FATHERSLIVESMATTER:
an online society for helping fathers who are fighting to be in their children’s lives.
Alan is also the host of The Father’s Truth, a podcast that focuses on fathers from around the world and their stories of fighting to be in their children’s lives.
Alan talks with Josh about his journey to fight for custody of his son, how we was able to survive the loneliness and struggle of that time, and even how he was able to make enough money to meet his son’s needs.
He gives advice for others dad’s fighting the courts for custody, and talks about how to be a better father and a better man through those struggles.
Peter O. Estévez is a motivational expert, and his podcast has over 1 million impressions with a global audience.
Born in Mexico City, migrated to the United States at the age of 10. He grew up in poverty, and a toxic home life, and learned to overcome and find success, but then he discovered that many of the same toxic mindsets were still inside him.
Peter is a partner in several energy companies (oil and gas) and an entrepreneur. He is an advocate for recovery and mental health, and also works as a philanthropist, and strives to make a difference in the world.
I had the privilege of being a guest on John Anderson’s podcast, John Says Things.
John was a gracious host who enjoys good conversations, and we talked about everything from podcasting, to politics, to conspiracy theories ( which I don’t usually discuss publicly, because people think I’m crazy) – to religion and Christianity and it’s role in modern society.
I enjoyed hanging out with John, and I’d love to be on the show again, though, next time, I’d like to be on with him and his wife so I can enjoy the way she cusses him out in person.
