Beyond the Rut: Create a Life Worth Living in Your Faith, Family, Career

Transform Your Team: From Firefighting Crises to Flourishing

Are you tired of spending your days putting out fires instead of leading your team to lasting success? In this episode of Beyond the Rut, USMC veteran and leadership consultant, Ben Killoy, shares how to shift from firefighting crises to becoming a transformational leader who builds a thriving, resilient organizational culture.
Discover how moving beyond daily crisis management can prevent burnout and create a work environment where your team doesn’t just survive but flourishes.
Ben shares insights into leadership development, servant leadership, and the keys to a work-life balance that integrates faith, family, and career.
If you’ve been searching for ways to empower your team, drive career growth, and cultivate a leadership culture grounded in purpose and holistic success, this conversation will inspire and challenge you to take action.
Whether you’re looking to elevate your leadership style, achieve organizational excellence, or integrate your faith into your professional life, this episode provides the motivation you need to start that journey.
Ready to transform your leadership and impact your life positively? Tune in and learn how to lead a life worth living both at work and at home.

Building Identity in Christ: 3 Books Every New Christian Man Should Read

Are you a new Christian man seeking a solid foundation to grow your faith? In this episode, I’m sharing three incredible books that profoundly impacted my journey as a husband, father, and follower of Christ.
These books helped me discover my true identity in Christ and gave me practical insights for leading my family with love, strength, and faith.
Whether you’re starting your walk with Jesus or seeking deeper spiritual growth, this episode will point you toward the resources that can inspire and transform your life.
You’ll have to tune in to discover the titles that shaped my spiritual journey. Plus, I’ll share a personal story about an unexpected tool I used to better understand the Bible—one that helped me see every story as part of God’s greater plan of forgiveness and restoration.
Don’t miss this episode—it’s filled with actionable takeaways and encouragement for anyone who wants to build a Christ-centered life!

Building Strong Christian Marriages Through Biblical Masculinity and Integrity

In this episode of Beyond the Rut, we sit down with Jim Ramos, host of Men in the Arena podcast, pastor, and author, to discuss how biblical masculinity and living with integrity can transform your marriage and family life. Jim shares his personal journey of leading with faith, serving his wife and family, and building strong, lasting Christian relationships.
Discover how embracing biblical masculinity—being a servant-leader rooted in faith and love—can help you live out your purpose in your faith, family, and career. Jim offers practical advice on maintaining integrity, being transparent in your relationships, and out-serving your spouse to build a thriving Christian marriage. If you want to strengthen your marriage and lead with integrity, this episode is for you.
Listen now and start your journey toward building a strong Christian marriage today!
This episode includes the following highlights:
[00:02:10] – Jim Ramos introduces the concept of biblical masculinity and why it’s essential in Christian men’s lives.
[00:05:30] – The importance of integrity and how it shapes a man’s leadership in the home.
[00:08:45] – How Jim’s personal marriage experience shaped his views on building a strong Christian marriage.
[00:12:30] – Jim explains how biblical masculinity can guide men in being better husbands and fathers.
[00:15:00] – The role of faith in maintaining integrity at home and work.
[00:19:25] – Why Christian men’s leadership starts with serving and loving your spouse.
[00:23:15] – Jim’s thoughts on how living a blameless life supports building Christian marriages.
[00:27:40] – Practical tips on balancing faith, family, and career as a Christian husband.
[00:31:20] – The connection between spiritual growth and building strong Christian marriages.
[00:35:50] – Encouragement for men striving to live out biblical masculinity in all aspects of life.

The One Sentence That Can Improve Your Marriage Today

In this heartfelt episode of Beyond the Rut, Jerry Dugan returns from a brief hiatus to share personal insights and a powerful piece of marriage advice that he recently gave at his son's wedding. Reflecting on his journey from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, Jerry opens up about the challenges and breakthroughs he experienced while finding his true calling in voiceover work and creative projects.
Listeners will hear about Jerry's emotional experience officiating his son's wedding and the meaningful advice he imparted to the newlyweds. This simple yet profound message is at the heart of building a strong, supportive, and enduring marriage.
Jerry also discusses the future of Beyond the Rut, including a shift toward more solo episodes focused on helping Christian married men navigate faith, family, and career. He shares updates on his voiceover career, which is steadily growing to replace his rideshare income, and talks about his work on various creative projects.
Tune in to this episode to learn how one sentence can transform your marriage and to get a glimpse into Jerry's personal and professional life as he continues to inspire others to live a fulfilling life beyond the rut.

Facing the Boogerman and Other Life Updates

In this special episode, I open up about the whirlwind of 2023 and why my podcast has seen fewer episodes this year. Life has been a series of unexpected turns, and I want to share the importance of taking a break to reorganize and find clarity. Sometimes, stepping back is the most valuable move we can make to propel forward.
Join me as I recap my entrepreneurial journey over the past year. It's been a rollercoaster, filled with highs and lows, successes and setbacks. I delve into the adventures—and misadventures—of becoming a rideshare driver, a path that taught me more than I could have imagined about resilience, adaptability, and the stark realities of the gig economy.
A significant wake-up call came with the realization of the dangers associated with rideshare driving. It’s a world that demands caution and constant vigilance. These experiences have not only shaped my perspective but also fueled my passion for my next big adventure: becoming a voiceover artist and audiobook narrator.
In this episode, I aim to encourage you, my listeners, to embrace the unpredictability of life and the value of reinvention. Each challenge is an opportunity for growth, and every detour can lead to new, exciting paths.
I also invite you to explore my past podcast episodes, where I've shared insights and stories to inspire you to create a life worth living. And don't forget to check out my book, Beyond the Rut: Create a Life Worth Living in Your Faith, Family, and Career, available now on Amazon and Barnes and Noble in both eBook and paperback formats. Your support means the world to me, and I look forward to embarking on this new chapter together.
Tune in, stay inspired, and let's continue this journey of growth and discovery!

Travel as a Relationship Builder: How Shared Experiences Deepen Love

Lyle and Leanne McCabe, hosts of the Beach Travel Wine podcast, join Jerry Dugan on Beyond the Rut to discuss their adventurous approach to retirement. The couple emphasizes the importance of shared experiences over material possessions, highlighting how their travels have deepened their bond and enriched their lives.They share practical tips for prioritizing travel, even for those not yet retired, emphasizing the value of consistent planning and a willingness to embrace the unknown. Lyle and Leanne also discuss the transformative power of exploring different cultures and connecting with locals, fostering empathy and broadening perspectives.The conversation underscores the idea that adventure is not exclusive to retirement; it's a mindset that can be cultivated at any stage of life. Whether it's exploring your own backyard or embarking on a grand overseas journey, the key is to prioritize experiences that create lasting memories and strengthen relationships. Tune in to be inspired by Lyle and Leanne's story and discover how you can start living a life beyond the rut today.

Faith at Work: Practical Strategies for a More Meaningful Career

We tackle the challenges Christian men face in expressing their faith at work. Host Jerry Dugan delves into the top three concerns: fear of judgment, navigating secular environments, and balancing faith with professionalism.
Jerry offers practical tips drawn from his personal journey and biblical wisdom. Discover how to excel in your job as a testament to your faith, embodying Colossians 3:23. Learn the power of deeds over words, reflecting the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Embrace your secular workplace as a ministry field, just as Jesus did (Luke 5:27-32).
Join us as we explore how to live out your Christian values authentically, impacting lives without being preachy. Remember, it's not about quoting scripture, but about reflecting Christ's character in your daily interactions. Tune in for practical strategies to integrate your faith seamlessly into your professional life.

Quitting with Grace: The Art of Leaving a Job Well

Have you ever felt that nagging feeling that it might be time to move on from your job, but weren't quite sure?
Naomi Hattaway is an expert in helping people navigate those tricky workplace transitions.
She'll share her framework for leaving well, which covers everything from recognizing the signs that it's time to go, to ensuring a smooth knowledge transfer, and communicating your decision effectively.
Whether you're an individual contemplating a change or an organization looking to improve your offboarding process, this episode is packed with valuable insights. So stick around!
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This episode features a conversation between Jerry Dugan and Naomi Hattaway, who helps people and organizations navigate workplace transitions. Naomi shares her personal experience of leaving a job due to misaligned values, which led her to develop a framework for leaving well.
They discuss the importance of knowledge transfer, open communication, and treating the exit process with as much care as onboarding. The conversation also touches on recognizing signs that it might be time to leave a job, and the importance of self-reflection in the decision-making process.
For organizations, they emphasize the significance of stay interviews, clear communication, and operationalizing values to foster a positive work environment and mitigate the negative impacts of employee departures.

Journaling and the Importance of Mindset in Success

David Landis's journey highlights the transformative power of journaling in cultivating the right mindset for success.
Despite having a fulfilling career as a professional firefighter and a balanced family life, David felt trapped and unfulfilled.
Through journaling, he gained clarity on his desires and who he wanted to be, enabling him to take practical steps toward a more fulfilling life.
This process of self-discovery through writing helped him realize that true contentment and success come from understanding and mastering one's thoughts.
David Landis's message is clear: Possibility is personal. He challenges us to consider what we might be capable of achieving with the right mindset, emphasizing the importance of journaling in this transformative process.

The Art of Balancing Entrepreneurship and Parenting

In this insightful podcast episode, join host Jerry Dugan as he delves into the fascinating world of entrepreneurship and parenting with special guest Jason Galicinski.
With a family of ten children, Jason brings a wealth of experience as both an entrepreneur and a dedicated father.
Discover how Jason's journey through homeschooling his children allowed him to be a present dad and also provided unique opportunities to instill valuable life and business skills in his kids.
From navigating the delicate balance between family life and business ventures to extracting parenting lessons from the world of entrepreneurship, Jason shares practical strategies and heartfelt anecdotes that resonate with any parent striving to excel in both realms.
Gain valuable insights into fostering a family-centered approach to entrepreneurship while maintaining a strong connection with loved ones. Join us as we explore 'The Art of Balancing Entrepreneurship and Parenting' with Jason Galicinski.