🎧 Episode 036 – Healing | The Stronghold Podcast

Welcome back to The Stronghold Podcast, where we explore capability and truth. I'm your host, Dave Barton, and in this powerful solo episode, we dive into the heart of what it means to pursue healing—not just for the mind, body, and soul, but for the heart.

What started as a conversation with a friend turned into a deep exploration of identity, past wounds, and the ramifications of not doing the work. From childhood trauma and false identities like "not enough" and "not a priority," to triumphs like running a marathon, completing a 7-day dry fast, and walking in the God-given identity of King, this episode is raw, reflective, and real.

We explore:

• The three-legged stool of personal growth: Mind, Body, and Soul
• Why HEART is the missing leg in many healing journeys
• The trap of conditional self-love
• How success can still mask deep inner wounds
• What it really means to walk in God’s identity for your life
• How Forge Ferocity, Wild at Heart, and key mentors shaped this journey

This episode is a heartfelt reflection on why healing matters, how to stop living from external validation, and the journey to self-love, truth, and God’s purpose.

If you’ve ever asked yourself "Why do the deep work?", this episode is your answer.

🛡️ Subscribe, share, and join us as we forge stronger, more capable lives rooted in purpose and truth.

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As always my local non-profit is Legacy2Inspire, checkout their mission and donate: https://www.legacy2inspire.com/

Video now Live on YouTube!

🎧 Episode 035: Dragons | The Stronghold Podcast

In this eye-opening and imaginative episode of The Stronghold Podcast, host Dave Barton asks a wild but compelling question: What if dragons were real? And more provocatively—what if someone doesn’t want you to know that?

Triggered by a recent viral pop culture moment involving Joe Rogan and an offhand comment about “believing in dragons,” this episode turns curiosity into a compelling thought experiment.

We explore:

• Fossils like the Thanatosdrakon amaru, the so-called "dragon of death"
• Global folklore and ancient tales from China to Europe
• The legendary story of Saint George and the Dragon
• Modern conspiracy theories involving government fossil suppression and secret societies
• Remote sightings of dragon-like creatures like Mokele-Mbembe
• The Nazca Lines and possible ancient depictions of dragons

But at its core, this episode is less about dragons and more about the power of asking questions. Dave reminds us that imagination and inquiry are essential to human growth—and that thinking differently isn’t just okay, it’s essential.

Whether dragons ever roamed the earth or not, you’ll leave this episode with your mind opened, your curiosity awakened, and your conviction strengthened to question the narratives we’re told.

🎙️ “The world doesn’t need more people who know all the answers. It needs more people brave enough to ask better questions.”

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Please follow The Stronghold Podcast on all major social media for news and updates @strongholdpod

As always my local non-profit is Legacy2Inspire, checkout their mission and donate: https://www.legacy2inspire.com/

Video now Live on YouTube!

🎙️ Episode Title: Forged Leadership with Jay Downing | The Stronghold Podcast

🔥 Episode Summary

In this heart-centered and hilariously honest episode of The Stronghold Podcast, host Dave Barton sits down with Jay Downing—a husband, father, jiu-jitsu practitioner, aspiring t-shirt mogul, and humble leader forged through fire. From sharing mats at Guns and Gis to weekly accountability inside the Forge Ferocity brotherhood, Dave and Jay have walked a path of growth together. But today, we go deeper.

Jay opens up about pursuing leadership at a young age, his sobriety journey, and how a passion for fitness reignited his purpose. We laugh through his “banana addiction” and cringe-worthy dance moves, but what stands out most is the quiet strength and deep love he carries for his wife and kids.

This is an episode about leading because it is the right thing to do, staying consistent when life gets loud, and building a legacy through love, service, and presence. It’s a testament to real masculinity: resilient, kind, and forged in the everyday.

🛠️ Topics Include:

• Fitness, faith, and family
• Jay’s rare medical condition and how he manages it 😊
• Sobriety and the truths about alcohol
• What it means to lead by example
• Being a husband and father with intent

📢 “Everyone who knows him is better for it.” — Megan Downing

📲 Connect with Jay Downing:

· Threaded.Ink Website: https://threaded.ink/

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_threadedink_/


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What’s one truth you’ve discovered in today’s podcast? Drop it in the comments below.

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Send us a text

Please follow The Stronghold Podcast on all major social media for news and updates @strongholdpod

As always my local non-profit is Legacy2Inspire, checkout their mission and donate: https://www.legacy2inspire.com/

Video now Live on YouTube!