Faith, Fitness & Mental Health: Building Strong Christian Men w/ Hunter Sprague
1h 21m | Oct 8, 2026Why do strong Christian men still struggle with anxiety, mental health, fitness, and taking care of themselves?
Hunter Sprague, founder of Monolith, joins Chandler Boyce for an honest conversation about Christian men, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, mental health, fitness, fatherhood, faith, resilience, and what it actually means to become a strong man.
Hunter nearly lost his left arm in a devastating childhood accident at eight years old. Although he recovered physically, the experience helped shape a pattern of fear and catastrophic thinking that followed him into adulthood.
Years later, during what should have been one of the best seasons of his life, Hunter found himself battling severe anxiety, panic, intrusive thoughts, and OCD. He was newly married, preparing to become a father, working in ministry, buying a house, and carrying more responsibility than ever before.
From the outside, everything looked good.
Internally, he was struggling.
Hunter shares what finally pushed him to ask for help, how counseling and understanding what was happening in his mind changed his recovery, and why Christian men should never confuse isolation with strength.
Chandler and Hunter also dive into the connection between faith, fitness, physical health, mental health, and biblical stewardship. They discuss why taking care of your body does not have to be vanity, why fitness cannot replace mental health care, and why men should build strong relationships before they find themselves in crisis.
The conversation also explores fatherhood and generational patterns. Hunter explains how becoming a father changed the way he viewed his own childhood and why dealing honestly with our wounds can change what we pass down to the next generation.
Hunter also shares the story behind leaving full-time ministry and building Monolith, a movement focused on helping men become stronger, healthier, more resilient, and more available to the people around them.
They talk about false humility, playing small, using the gifts God has given you, pursuing difficult things, building community among Christian men, and developing a life where you actually have something to give.
This is a conversation about becoming stronger spiritually, mentally, physically, relationally, and professionally without pretending you have everything figured out.
IN THIS EPISODE:
• Nearly losing his arm at eight years old
• Childhood trauma and catastrophic thinking
• Anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, and intrusive thoughts
• Why unwanted thoughts do not define you
• Faith, counseling, and mental health
• Why Christian men need to ask for help
• Fitness, physical health, and stewardship
• Building community before a crisis
• Fatherhood and generational healing
• Biblical masculinity and independence
• Leaving full-time ministry
• Starting Monolith
• Faith, fitness, and resilience
• False humility and playing small
• Building stronger Christian men
• Why men need something to give
ABOUT HUNTER SPRAGUE
Hunter Sprague is the founder of Monolith, a movement focused on helping men become stronger, more resilient, and more intentional across the areas of life that matter most.
His journey through childhood trauma, anxiety, ministry, fatherhood, fitness, and entrepreneurship shaped his conviction that men need more than good intentions. They need strength, discipline, community, and the capacity to serve the people God has placed around them.
Connect with Hunter and Monolith:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/monolithmovement/
SPONSORED BY MARKETING CO-OP
This episode of The OutStand Podcast is sponsored by Marketing Co-op.
Marketing Co-op helps churches, Christian ministries, schools, camps, and nonprofits reach more people through digital marketing.
From Google Ads and Google Ad Grants to SEO, YouTube, websites, and digital strategy, Marketing Co-op helps faith-based organizations get discovered by the people already searching for what they offer.
Learn more:
ABOUT THE OUTSTAND PODCAST
The OutStand Podcast, hosted by Chandler Boyce, features conversations with pastors, entrepreneurs, creators, leaders, and people who refuse to simply blend in.
We talk about faith, leadership, business, ministry, culture, discipline, personal growth, overcoming adversity, and what it takes to build a life that matters.
Most people fit in. A few decide to OutStand.
CONNECT WITH CHANDLER
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ChandlerBoyce
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/chandlerdboyce/
Website:
Topics: Christian men, Christian masculinity, anxiety, Christian mental health, men’s mental health, intrusive thoughts, OCD, Christian counseling, faith and fitness, Christian fitness, men’s health, fatherhood, resilience, biblical masculinity, leadership, Monolith, Hunter Sprague, Christian podcast
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