"Is the ship out of danger?" Spock's first question to Kirk after sacrificing himself wasn't about his own survival—it was about whether his life counted for something. Part 1 forced Kirk to accept death is coming. Part 2 asks the harder question: What will you lose your life for?

Khan's superior genetics bought him nothing but wasted rage. Spock's sacrifice bought new life for everyone he loved. How we face death is as important as how we face life. You're going to lose your life anyway—will it be worth it?

This episode is dedicated to Jeremy Ross (1974-2025), who faced his Kobayashi Maru with the same strength and grace Spock faced that reactor core.

KEY THEMES:

• Sacrificial love as the answer to the no-win scenario
• Forgiveness vs. bitterness—releasing wounds before they destroy you
• Faith through pain—choosing God even when crushed
• Making your life count—what will you lose your life for?

📥 FREE STUDY GUIDE:
Download discussion questions and action steps at https://bit.ly/48czRGI

💝 SUPPORT AMANDA ROSS & FAMILY:
Jeremy's wife Amanda and their daughters need our support as they continue their mission work. Donate at https://give.pioneers.org
Click "Give to a missionary" and put "Amanda Ross-101561" in the comment section. Or make checks payable to Pioneers, put account number 101561 on the memo line and mail to: Pioneers-USA, 10123 William Carey Dr, Orlando, FL 32832)

🎥 WATCH ON YOUTUBE:
https://youtu.be/3pLl3BDqDY

CONNECT:
Website: menatthemovies.com
Instagram/TikTok/FB: @menatthemovies
Email: paul@menatthemovies.com

To support Amanda Ross, go to https://give.pioneers.org/s-donate and fill out the form using “Amanda Ross” and Account #101561

Make checks payable to “Pioneers” with “Account #101561” on the memo line and mail to: Pioneers, 10123 William Carey Drive, Orlando, FL 32832

Captain Kirk doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario—but life doesn’t play by cheat codes forever. In The Wrath of Khan: When the Cheat Codes Stop Working, Paul McDonald explores what happens when control slips away, wounds resurface, and every path forward looks like loss.

Kirk’s arrogance and Khan’s bitterness reveal two ways men try to avoid pain: one by rewriting the rules, the other by feeding resentment. Both end in destruction. The real test is learning how to face death, grief, and failure without losing your soul.

This episode dives into faith, courage, and transformation—the moment when every man must face his own Kobayashi Maru.

Download the free study guide: https://bit.ly/4oTNQHJ

Support the mission: https://buymeacoffee.com/menatthemovies

Confined Space Coffee: https://www.confinedspacecoffee.com/ (use code MATM for 10% off)

Keywords: Wrath of Khan, Star Trek, Men at the Movies, Paul McDonald, Christian men, faith and film, masculinity, courage, surrender, grief, forgiveness, no-win scenario, transformation, Kobayashi Maru, Christian podcast, faith podcast

“I don’t know what I’m doing here.” Eddie whispers as his 13-year-old son sits in a police cell accused of murder. It’s a confession every father feels but rarely admits — standing in the chaos, with no way out and no guarantee you won’t make it better.

In this episode of Men at the Movies, Paul McDonald and Simon (host of the Restoring Authentic Men podcast) unpack Part 1 of Netflix’s Adolescence. We wrestle with the illusion of control, the silence between fathers and sons, the fragility of boyhood, and the courage it takes to stay present when everything is falling apart.

👉 Grab the free study guide here: http://bit.ly/4nCEWhN

📺 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JINd6i4Vfso

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why “I don’t know what I’m doing here” isn’t failure, but the starting line for every father

• How shame creates a silence gap between dads and sons

• Why presence matters more than performance in our families

• Practical steps for letting go of control and embracing the mess

Listen to Restoring Authentic Men (RAM Podcast) – Listen here

Chris Farley’s Tommy Boy isn’t just comedy gold—it’s a story every man can relate to. Underneath the chaos is a powerful message: how do you move from being the beloved son to stepping into your role as a king? In this episode of Men at the Movies, we explore how Tommy’s failures, friendships, and moments of courage point us to the truth about identity, responsibility, and what it takes to lead.

Download the study guide here.

Watch the episode here.

Paul McDonald sits down with Rory Lawrence from The Dangerous Man Podcast to explore the brutal honesty of Lone Survivor. This isn't just a war movie - it's a powerful metaphor for spiritual training and the brotherhood required to survive life's battles.

From BUDS Hell Week to the mountains of Afghanistan, discover how Marcus Luttrell's story reveals what it takes to become a spiritual warrior. Rory shares his own dark battle with suicidal thoughts and how transparency broke the enemy's power. We dive into themes of identity in Christ, the training required for spiritual reigning, and why being "never out of the fight" is more than military jargon - it's a life philosophy.

Warning: This episode contains mature content including discussion of mental health struggles, domestic violence, and spiritual warfare.

Downoald your free Study Guide here: https://bit.ly/4gjYJjbWatch the full video episode: https://youtu.be/vf7mN-T9Im0

Questions

• When have you wanted to ring the bell, and what kept you from giving up?
• When have you done something God asked you to, and it went sideways?
• When have you gotten isolated when overwhelmed?
• Who do you need to share your struggles with?
• What does it look like to die to your self?
• What does it mean to lean in to the pain?
• How do you enter glory with an empty clip?
• What does it mean to give it all to Jesus?

Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2xo9bvDbN4Z3BEx37AlRqw?sub_confirmation=1) for bonus content.

To dive into this content even more, visit our website: www.menatthemovies.com/podcast. You will find resources mentioned on the podcast, plus quotes and themes discussed.

Find us on the socials:

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If you would like to support our work (and get some behind-the-scenes perks), visit buymeacoffee.com/menatthemovies. Getinvites to livestreams, bonus episodes, even free merch.

Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston (ianhjohnston.com)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Links:

• MATM website: www.menatthemovies.com/podcast
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When Coach Boone wakes his players at 3 AM for a run to Gettysburg, he's not just building physical endurance - he's forcing a confrontation with the deeper battle they're all fighting.

Paul McDonald sits down with Leo Clark (Texas basketball coach) and Conrad Schottel (Colorado) to explore how this 1971 integration story reveals timeless truths about unity, respect, and the courage to have hard conversations.

Leo shares powerful stories from his own coaching experience about breaking down racial barriers through sports, while Conrad unpacks how good authority figures become spiritual fathers. Together, they examine why unity can only come through truth-telling, not truth-avoiding.

This conversation goes deep into the spiritual warfare underneath cultural division and how sports becomes the great unifier when everything else fails.

Download the study guide at menatthemovies.com

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Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2xo9bvDbN4Z3BEx37AlRqw?sub_confirmation=1) for bonus content.

To dive into this content even more, visit our website: www.menatthemovies.com/podcast. You will find resources mentioned on the podcast, plus quotes and themes discussed.

Find us on the socials:

• YouTube:www.youtube.com/@menatthemovies
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/menatthemovies
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/menatthemovies/
• TikTok:www.tiktok.com/@menatthemovies
• Twitter:twitter.com/_menatthemovies

If you would like to support our work (and get some behind-the-scenes perks), visit our Buy Me a Coffee page (buymeacoffee.com/menatthemovies). Getinvites to livestreams, bonus episodes, even free merch.

Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston (ianhjohnston.com)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Links:

• MATM website: www.menatthemovies.com/podcast
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@menatthemovies
• Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/50DiGvjrHatOFUfHc0H2wQ
• Apple pods: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/men-at-the-movies-podcast/id1543799477
• Google pods: podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80ODMwNThjL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz

Bob Wiley is terrified of everything… and that just might save him. In this episode Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney dive into What About Bob? to explore how baby steps, awkward sailing trips, and even death therapy reveal God’s plan to turn fear into freedom. We cover:

• why desperation can be a gift

• the lie of self-reliance vs the power of community

• divine interruptions that reroute your life

Grab the free study guide, share your biggest fear, and join the conversation as we discover how God meets us—one baby step at a time.

Buddy Young Jr. hears that first roar of laughter and everything changes. In this episode of Men at the Movies, host Paul McDonald sits down with Christian comedian Bob Smiley to break down Mr. Saturday Night (1992) and what it teaches men about courage, identity, and family.

Find the study guide here.

We talk about:

• Why the spotlight can feel safer than your own living room

• “You cannot let the love of the crowd replace the love of your family”

• How laughter is “ten times more powerful than morphine” and why joy heals

• Thick-skin vs. gooey-heart masculinity—being strong without shutting down

• Turning your “first laugh” moment into a lifelong calling

Whether you are a stand-up wannabe, a dad on the sidelines, or a guy wondering if your gifts matter, this conversation will challenge you to step into what you were created to be while staying present for the people who know the real you.

➜ Free one-page study guide, show notes, and merch: https://www.menatthemovies.com
➜ Watch the full clip on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@menatthemovies

Key words: Mr. Saturday Night, Billy Crystal, Bob Smiley, stand-up comedy, Christian podcast, faith and film, fatherhood, identity, courage, healing power of laughter, Men at the Movies, movie Bible study.

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