Send us a text

Connect with Ben:
Website: https://www.lovingonpurpose.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benserpell/?hl=en

In this episode of Next Third Best Third, I sit down with my friend, minister, and husband and father, Ben Serpell from Sacramento, California. We unpack a struggle that so many men face but rarely name out loud: moving from being passive and disengaged to becoming powerful, present, and emotionally safe for the people we love most. Ben shares candidly about early marriage, kids, and how “checking out” at home felt easier than facing hard conversations with his wife and children.

Together, we talk about where passivity starts, why fear and self-protection masquerade as humility, and how anger is often just fear in disguise. We hit on fatherhood, marriage, emotional intelligence, and what it really means to provide — not just financially, but by creating safety, connection, and room for mistakes in our homes. We also dive into personality wiring, self-awareness tools like StrengthsFinder, and why learning to truly listen can change your marriage, your relationship with your kids, and your friendships.

We finish by talking about brotherhood, covenant friendships, and investing in your own health so that your life doesn’t stall out in the middle. Ben shares from his Dragon Slayers men’s group, I share from my own story of divorce, bankruptcy, and rebuilding, and we frame what it means to be a powerful, honorable man who brings wealth (not neediness) into every relationship. If you’re a man in your “next third” of life who’s tired of passivity, fear, and isolation, this conversation will challenge you to step into wholeness so your next third really can become your best third. If this resonates, hit like, drop a comment, subscribe, and share it with a man who needs this.

Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Next Third Best Third & introducing Ben
01:20 - Early marriage, young kids & how passivity sneaks in
03:24 - Bull rider story: brave in the arena, terrified at home
06:15 - Self-awareness, wiring & why our differences feel threatening
10:52 - When anger is actually fear (and how men shut down)
12:49 - Redefining “provider” as emotional safety, not just money
19:02 - Fear, failure, bankruptcy & trying to stay in control
20:01 - Becoming the best listener in the room (not the fixer)
26:03 - Dragon Slayers, brotherhood & covenant-minded men
34:32 - Investing in yourself so your next third is your best third

Welcome to Next Third Best Third! Join us for the inaugural episode of the Next Third Best Third podcast! Host David Fenwick, founder, author, and life coach, introduces the mission to inspire men over 40 to thrive in the next stage of life. Discover how to conquer life's challenges across physical, mental, relational, spiritual, and emotional dimensions. In this episode, David shares insights on:

- Physical Health: Strategies for maintaining fitness and vitality as you age.
- Mental Resilience: Techniques to stay mentally sharp and manage stress.
- Relational Growth: Building and nurturing meaningful relationships.
- Spiritual Fulfillment: Finding purpose and deeper spiritual connections.
- Emotional Well-being: Managing emotions and fostering a positive outlook.

Don't miss out on this journey towards making the next third of your life the best third!

Website: (https://www.nextthirdbestthird.com/)

Send us a text

Connect with Richie: http://globalawakening.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richieseltzer/?hl=en

In this episode of Next Third Best Third, I sit down again with my friend Richie Seltzer—evangelist, pastor, author, husband and dad—to talk about the kind of transformation that reaches all the way down into identity and family. Richie shares how he went from 18 felonies by age 16 and a broken home to a radical encounter with Jesus that completely reoriented his life, his sense of purpose, and eventually how he shows up as a father. If you’ve ever wrestled with father wounds, addiction, shame, or just the nagging feeling that you’re “too far gone,” this conversation is for you.

We dive into what it means to truly know God as Father, not just as a distant idea. Richie tells the story of singing worship over his unborn daughter, watching her recognize his voice the moment she was born, and how that became a living picture of how God looks at us: loved, chosen, and worth dying for before we can “do” anything for Him. We talk about living from love instead of fear, why so many of us grew up responding to religion instead of relationship, and what it does to a man when he realizes he starts every day with an A+ in God’s eyes.

Toward the end, Richie shares the gospel in a clear, compelling way and invites listeners to say “yes” to Jesus—right where they are. If you find yourself thinking, “I can’t do this on my own. I need help,” I’d love to hear from you.

Email me at nextthirdbestthird@gmail.com or drop a comment below so we can follow up and walk with you. If this episode impacts you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a friend who needs hope. This is how we make our next third truly our best third—by knowing we’re loved and walking it out together.

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome Back to Next Third Best Third
00:48 – Richie’s Broken Childhood, Father Wounds & 18 Felonies
02:27 – Paint Crew Encounters & Meeting Radically Saved Coworkers
04:36 – Bridge Moment: Surrendering to Jesus & Finding Purpose
05:40 – Marriage, YWAM & the Shock of Surprise Pregnancy
07:10 – Singing Over the Womb & Inviting God’s Presence into Family
08:30 – Birth Story & A Father’s First Revelation of God’s Love
10:11 – Living from Love, Not Fear: You Start Every Day with an A+
14:39 – The Gospel Invitation: How to Be Born Again Today
18:46 – Motel Balcony Story: The Addicted Dad & the Father Who Redeems

Welcome to Next Third Best Third! Join us for the inaugural episode of the Next Third Best Third podcast! Host David Fenwick, founder, author, and life coach, introduces the mission to inspire men over 40 to thrive in the next stage of life. Discover how to conquer life's challenges across physical, mental, relational, spiritual, and emotional dimensions. In this episode, David shares insights on:

- Physical Health: Strategies for maintaining fitness and vitality as you age.
- Mental Resilience: Techniques to stay mentally sharp and manage stress.
- Relational Growth: Building and nurturing meaningful relationships.
- Spiritual Fulfillment: Finding purpose and deeper spiritual connections.
- Emotional Well-being: Managing emotions and fostering a positive outlook.

Don't miss out on this journey towards making the next third of your life the best third!

Website: (https://www.nextthirdbestthird.com/)

Send us a text

Connect with Richie: http://globalawakening.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richieseltzer/?hl=en

In this episode of Next Third Best Third, I sit down with my friend Richie Seltzer to talk about something most men underestimate: how your physical health shapes every area of your life. Richie is a traveling minister, communicator, husband, and dad who realized that ministry stress, travel, bad food, and lack of sleep were quietly taking him out—from the inside out. We talk honestly about the moment his wife grabbed a “back roll,” the conviction he felt from God, and how that wake-up call launched a radical fitness journey in his late 30s.

We dive deep into why fitness is about more than getting in shape for summer. Richie shares how lifting weights, dialing in his nutrition, and building consistent habits completely shifted his mental health, emotional stability, and spiritual clarity. We unpack things like visceral fat, VO2 max, zone 2 cardio, testosterone, and why strength training is one of the most powerful ways to fight aging, dementia, and burnout. We also talk about time, priorities, and the “attention economy”—and why most men aren’t actually too busy; they’re just not yet honest about what they value.

What I love most is the legacy and discipleship that flowed out of Richie’s decision to get healthy. From leading young men to Jesus in the gym sauna, to watching his wife and kids follow his example, you see how one decision to pick up dumbbells in his garage turned into a generational shift. If you’re a man in your 30s, 40s, 50s or beyond and you want more energy, more confidence, better leadership, and a stronger future, this episode is for you. If it helps you, do me a favor—like the video, subscribe to the channel, and drop a comment with one fitness step you’re committing to in your next third. And share this with a friend who needs a wake-up call.

Chapter:
00:00 – Welcome to Next Third Best Third & introducing Richie
01:39 – From Virginia football culture to ministry and slow weight gain
04:03 – The “back roll” wake-up call and realizing he was out of shape
06:18 – God says “get in shape” and starting with dumbbells in the garage
09:43 – How lifting and better nutrition changed his mood, mind & emotions
15:18 – Time, priorities & why isolation will kill a man
20:22 – Gym evangelism, discipling young men & the legacy effect on family
26:16 – Influence, respect, and why physical health opens doors with the next generation
28:01 – “I don’t have time to work out” and how to actually start
32:42 – VO2 max, zone 2 cardio, heavy lifting & fighting dementia and aging

Welcome to Next Third Best Third! Join us for the inaugural episode of the Next Third Best Third podcast! Host David Fenwick, founder, author, and life coach, introduces the mission to inspire men over 40 to thrive in the next stage of life. Discover how to conquer life's challenges across physical, mental, relational, spiritual, and emotional dimensions. In this episode, David shares insights on:

- Physical Health: Strategies for maintaining fitness and vitality as you age.
- Mental Resilience: Techniques to stay mentally sharp and manage stress.
- Relational Growth: Building and nurturing meaningful relationships.
- Spiritual Fulfillment: Finding purpose and deeper spiritual connections.
- Emotional Well-being: Managing emotions and fostering a positive outlook.

Don't miss out on this journey towards making the next third of your life the best third!

Website: (https://www.nextthirdbestthird.com/)