664. Member Spotlight: Johnny Murphy

What if the thing you’re trying to fight alone is exactly where brotherhood could set you free? We sit down with Johnny Murphy, a husband and father from Arizona whose story moves from a whirlwind Vegas wedding to a quiet, steady walk with Christ—guided by a wife who modeled faith, not pressure. Anchored by Romans 12:21, we trace how a short fuse softened into ownership, how secrecy around porn gave way to accountability, and how daily habits—not hype—build the kind of leadership that lasts at home.

Reclaiming the Wild is back — April 24–26 at Abundant Blessings Farm (Stem, NC). This isn’t just a retreat… it’s a reset: brotherhood, faith, outdoors, bonfires, and real conversations. Theme: we have been commanded to unite. Bring your son (or any male kid 5+) and make memories that last.

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Step into the fight and become the man God called you to be. Join a brotherhood built on truth, strength, and action. Visit thelionwithin.us right now and start leading with boldness and purpose. Iron sharpens iron — let’s go. 👉https://thelionwithin.us/

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New Book: Unleashing The Lion Within

The enemy is relentless—doing everything possible to steal, kill, and destroy what matters most in your life. It’s time to fight back. True transformation happens when intentionality meets obedience. Take notes, apply these truths, and extend grace to yourself. Real change takes time—but if you stay faithful, the impact will reach far beyond what you can see.  👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLWYQJMB

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Transcript

Welcome And Scripture Focus

Chris Grainger 1:43

Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intends you to be. I'm your host, Chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right, guys, this is your fun Friday member spotlight. So we're going to have a lot of fun on this one. But before we get there, the scripture of the week this week is Romans 12, verse 21. It says, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. And uh, guys, we took some time when we unpacked that verse at length in a spiritual kickoff episode. So go back, listen to that one. This week we've been talking about I'm just a guy who's angry. So if you got if you're a brother who's dealing with anger, hey, go back and listen to the podcast on Wednesday. And look, we do the Monday, Monday through Friday, we do a daily spiritual kickoff. So if you just need some encouragement throughout your week, hey, jump into that. That's free. It also gets you access to our prayer request space and lots of ways that we try to serve at the Lion Within Us. So gonna get right into it now, fellas. I'm super pumped to welcome one of our members of the Lion who's been with the Lion for a long time, but Johnny Murphy. What's going on, Johnny? How's it going? Oh, bro, I'm excited to be here with you, bud, man. It's just uh it's so cool to be able to do this with you. And I love taking a chance just to show let the world see, you can get to meet some of the members of the of the lion, brother. So thank you for taking time with us today.

Johnny Murphy 2:54

Thank you for having me. Thanks for the invite. I appreciate it.

Chris Grainger 2:57

Yeah, brother. Well, maybe get the guys like the ones listening, just give them a little bit of introduction about yourself, you know, a little bit about your bio, your your background, maybe how you came to know Christ.

Johnny Murphy 3:07

Oh, well, um 39, uh married, um live out here in Arizona. Got two kids, my son and my daughter. Um bunch uh some some stepkids, some grandkids. Um and uh well, my wife, um, she actually helped bring me to Christ. Um I I grew up, I grew up uh, you know, I grew up Catholic, um, you know, C C C D all the all the things, catechism, and and uh I kind of lost my way and between my wife and her mom, she kinda didn't didn't push me, didn't over, you know, step or anything like that. But just watching her and and and my mother-in-law every day just kinda made me go more towards him.

Chris Grainger 3:52

Okay. So I mean, and how long have you been met have you been married, Johnny?

Johnny Murphy 3:57

Um, we'll be seven years in May. May 26th.

Chris Grainger 4:02

So a little bit later in life with the so far's coming to Christ, and it sounds like she's had a big influence on you, man.

Finding The Lion And Leaving Porn

Johnny Murphy 4:08

She has, she has, you know, and and um meeting her, you know, we we didn't meet in the most conventional way. I uh I met her actually in uh Vegas on a Memorial Day weekend and we got married the next day. There you go. Didn't didn't know her, her friends, or anybody, just kind of I looked at her and I knew I I wanted to marry her. And um and since then, you know, it's it's taken some work, but every day seeing how she was living and improving, you know, that that brought me to want to as well. Right. Um, and uh yeah, no, it it's it's been great, it's been a blessing.

Chris Grainger 4:50

Man, that's so cool, man. And I'm trying to remember how did you even get connected with the lion? Like at what point, where where was that starting point at for you?

Johnny Murphy 4:59

So, you know, um, like like most men, I was uh having my struggles uh with you know, lust, pornography, that that type of deal, and and you know, I was lost. Um I tried just like most men doing it on my own, and uh I realized, you know, this is bigger than just me. Um and so I started looking at different podcasts. Um, I've always enjoyed podcasts and you know, different self-help ones. And um the very first one I found was yours. And it just so happened like two days prior to that, you had done um an episode on lust and porn and really men and that. And it was, it was, you know, you know, uh God brought us together for sure. And I listened to it, loved it, went to your uh actually looked at your background, went to your uh the actual site, and that's when I signed up, and then just been growing since with the masterminds and that type of deal.

Chris Grainger 5:58

Man, that is so cool, bro. It's funny how God's timing works on like podcasts and it connects for guys exactly when they want it, because I mean we record these things pretty far in advance. You never know, but man, his timing is always perfect, brother. For sure.

Global Reach And Fellowship Wins

Johnny Murphy 6:14

For sure, especially connecting with you know with with you uh being on the opposite end of the country. You know, I'm here in Arizona and and and it it's just great bringing it bringing us together and and finding that fellowship.

Chris Grainger 6:27

Man, it's crazy, Johnny. Like now we got bro brothers that are in like Australia. One of our guys is in India, and uh and he he's no, he's from India, living in Paris, and he hit me up. He's like, bro, I need to talk to you. I was like, okay, so he we set up a Google Meet, and uh and I'm sitting there with him, and he's telling me his story, and he's just you know trying to get married and and got a lot of stuff going on. I'm like, how did you even get connected with this? He's like, Well, through the Bible app and your plans, and I then just really spoke to me, and I'm like, brother, I'm like two degrees removed from Jed Clampett, and like I'm connecting with you from India who living in Paris. Like, this is but God stuff, you know. So that's just it's been it's been funny to see it. It's been just cool to see how God's working, you know.

Johnny Murphy 7:14

Oh yeah, yeah. It it's it's definitely, you know, it's it's spreading. I I've noticed how much we're growing, and it seems like this, especially just this year, or maybe the last yeah, two or three months in in the SKOs and just everybody being welcomed in, and it's it's great.

Chris Grainger 7:32

It's cool, man. It's cool. Well, I mean, you you're in one of our masterminds, which you know, that's kind of a big deal. And what I mean, what led you to make that decision to to want to hop into a mastermind?

Why Join A Mastermind

Johnny Murphy 7:43

You know, I I saw well, I felt uh more than seeing how I've started growing when I first got into the line and watching the SKOs and and um listening, seeing, you know, connecting with other people was helping me and and and I wanted I wanted more. I wanted to take that next step because eventually I do want to be more of that leader role. Right. You know, um, and and I've started stepping into that. And on top of that, my son, he moved out here from New Mexico. Um, you know, he wanted uh to to live here. Um and he was 14 at the time. So I want to be able to show him and and teach him how to become that leader as well, right? Um and and grow into that that man, you know, as a man, that leadership role.

Chris Grainger 8:38

That's it, bro. I mean, if you if you if you think through the the you've been in a lot of meetings and a lot of conversations with these guys, you're developing a you know relationship with them. What maybe what's been the most impactful part for you personally as you've been going through this process?

Johnny Murphy 8:54

You know, everybody has a different background and everybody's been a part of something different in their lifetime. You know, in our masterminds group, we have veterans, um, you know, we have former CEOs, we have law enforcement, and and it's seeing all these different backgrounds and they're all going towards the same goal, and they they all have their different approaches, different parts. Um they're in different situations in their life. And so any it it's it's almost like anybody that has a certain I don't want to say weakness, but they're they're struggling with something, somebody may already have that in their life. So we can all interconnect and help each other in different ways.

Chris Grainger 9:41

That's that's that really is the beauty of it. And if you start thinking through maybe for you and what you talk with some of the other guys, what do you think that is the hardest part of being in a mastermind? Because it's not for everybody. And I want and I try to preface that when I when guys show their interest, because like like look, if you're not ready to lean in and do the work, it's probably not for you, but what do you think is the hardest part of of of leaning in and actually making an impact with what we're trying to do?

Diverse Voices, Shared Growth

Johnny Murphy 10:08

Um you know, I I think the the dedication to it, because there is, I know you know it doesn't sound bad, oh it's only you know, every other week there's a meeting. Um but it's it's doing the work in between those meetings. It's um when you when you present, when you're when you're on the hot seat as we call it, you know, that week. Um you know, those those next two weeks, the next month, you know, we're gonna check in on you, we're gonna see how you're doing, your progress. And I feel like I feel like there's been people in the past that you know they kind of stay they stay stuck, they say what they want to say, and then that's it. They they said their piece and then they we don't see them the next month. And it's like uh, you know, it's it's I think the dedication, doing putting in the work and um growing yourself. I think that's the the hardest part.

Chris Grainger 11:14

Yeah, it's easy. I mean, anybody could put on I mean just think about church, brother. Anybody can put on a a good face for an hour, you know, and and and blessed and highly favored and and go and do our thing, but then like the work that the growth happens in between. And that's it's so I'm so glad you said that because that's it, that's it, because you can't just come in and say something and go do, you know, then live another life. No, we're we're gonna we're gonna hold you to it and we wanna Because we wanna help them. But that's ultimately we're trying to serve so many guys with that. So now if you maybe I'm curious, if I were to ask your wife like what's been the biggest impact in you from her from her purview, what do you think she would say since since being in the mastermind?

The Hard Part: Doing The Work

Johnny Murphy 11:59

I think the my reactions to things, you know, I used to um be very short-fused, very uh just quick to react. Yeah, and and I still do every once in a while. Every once in a while I have that, but I do take it back and I'm now I'm quick to apologize and own and have that ownership and accountability. Right. I think that's gonna be the biggest thing is the um the accountability, the ownership, um and actually stopping to think before reacting.

Chris Grainger 12:38

Now I think I need to get myself in a mastermind. I'm just I just but I'm just kidding. But no, you're you're all over it, brother. Well, I'm glad that she would see that. And I mean we I'm just it anytime I get a chance to talk with you, I just see the growth, man. You're you're you're doing some incredible stuff. You you got incredible journeys that you go on. You're getting ready to head on one right now with your wife. And so I'm just uh just blessed to have you in the lion. And maybe there's a listener out there, Johnny, right now, who's been on the fence. Maybe he's not even joined the Lion's Den yet, right? He's just sitting there just consuming or just you know, the Bible plans or the Bible app. We want them to consume all that stuff. This ought to help them in their walk, but at some point, you know, we really want them to lean in so we can really come alongside and help them. So if that guy's on the fence, what would be your message to him to maybe join the Lions Den or put in an application for the mastermind?

From Short Fuse To Ownership

Johnny Murphy 13:28

You know, um I can tell you I was headed down the wrong path. Um and this has significantly helped me grow as a person. It's made me a better, not just a better husband, uh, not just a better man, but a better father. And I think that um it's it's not like a typical type of connection, you know. It's it's I'm connecting with other men. And I think that's the important part. Men, I think get consumed a lot by outside influences that aren't always the best. So I can tell I can tell the person that's on the fence, it's a great group of guys. We all have each other's backs. We can both joke around with each other as well as be serious and hold each other accountable without judgment. And that's been my biggest reason for wanting to stay, wanting to join and and continue being here and improving myself. Um, it's a judgment-free zone, and we're all brothers, just that's it. Trying, trying to reach the ultimate goal.

Chris Grainger 14:40

That's it, bro. Well, man, it's it's an honor to have you in it and just to be a call you a friend and your supported alliance. So just thank you, Johnny. Uh, and anything else you'd like to share before we kind of head towards the end of this episode today.

Johnny Murphy 14:54

No, no, I appreciate it. Um, you know, anybody that's listening, uh, we can use your prayers. My wife and I are flying to Europe uh on Sunday morning, early morning, and um just use some prayers for safety and peace. Other than that, that's about it.

Chris Grainger 15:08

That's well, bro, it's just been great. So we're so guys, uh as we typically do on our Friday episodes, we do have our book of the week, which is 30 Days of Understanding the Bible. Go check that book out. But I got a couple of dad jokes I want to run by Johnny and see if either one of these get a laugh out of him. So if you're ready, Johnny, I'm gonna I'm gonna give you the first one, okay? All right. All right, so uh I don't get why Marvel, you know, the the Marvel movies, I don't get why they don't use Hulk to advertise more. You know, you know why?

Johnny Murphy 15:38

Why is that?

Chris Grainger 15:39

Because he's basically one big banner.

Johnny Murphy 15:43

I get that because my son loves Marvel movies.

An Invite To Men On The Fence

Chris Grainger 15:47

That's it. I like that one. I like Marvel movies. All right. So the second one is uh where your pirates go to get their hooks. Where's that? Uh secondhand stores. I like the first one. If I had to choose, I'm going with the second one. Go with the first one. Okay, all right, all right, all right. So so don't shoot the messenger. I just, you know, I get these jokes, I just throw them out. But anyway, guys, that's the first one is I don't get why Marvel doesn't use Hulk to advertise more. He's basically one big banner. Number two is where do powers go to get their hooks, secondhand stores. So look, we also in the Lions Den, we put these dad jokes out as a poll every Friday. And I always, I don't know if you, Johnny, but I like to see like what guys vote and where. Uh it really shows me how I align uh with guys. It's like, all right, we don't have the same sense of humor, or we we always vote the same way, right? It's just pretty funny to see how that works. But uh anyway, thanks for playing along with that, Johnny man. That was a lot of fun.

Johnny Murphy 16:38

Of course. I actually screenshot them every Friday and send them to my wife and have her pick it too.

Chris Grainger 16:42

So I've had guys that tell me they like they'll run them by their wife first, and then their their vote is dependent on her response. I'm like, wait, that's one way to do it, you know? Yep, yep. So the question of the weakness, guys, is how do you typically respond when anger rises up? I mean, Johnny talked about anger earlier, and I've been very upfront with anger in my life. So if you look, if you're struggling with anger, don't struggle alone. Connect with us. We're we're here to help you, here to walk alongside you and be a support system with you. So uh, Johnny, anything else you'd like to share today, brother?

Johnny Murphy 17:14

Well, sir, I appreciate you. Thank you. Thanks for the invite, and uh, you know, just thank you for everything. You've helped me tremendously.

Dad Jokes And Community Fun

Chris Grainger 17:22

Amen, brother. Well, thank you for everything. And guys, keep listening. Hey, give us a rating and review to connect with guys like Johnny, thelionwithin.us is the website, join the lions then, or put in an application for the mastermind. And we love to connect with you soon. So, guys, keep leaning in, keep showing up, and keep unleashing the Lion Within. It's time to stop neglecting the body that God gave you. And we're done making excuses and watching discipline slip. So we decided it's time to rebuild strength the right way. And we have our Health Stronghold Support Group, which is a dedicated space inside the Lion's Den, specifically for men who are ready to steward their bodies with discipline and purpose. Look, this is not just for guys trying to lose weight. Let's just clear that up. This is for guys who know that energy affects you how you lead, your habits affect how you lead your family, and discipline affects your calling. And most guys don't need another workout plan or some extreme diet idea. They need strongholds. They need to have a place where they can hear other men say that I fall into. I want consistency, not shortcuts. So inside our health stronghold, you're gonna find real conversations around physical health and discipline, honest discussions about habits, setbacks, and progress, and encouragement for men pursuing strength. This comes with a monthly call with one of our trusted guides as well. So look, it's not about vanity, it's about stewardship. It's a place to train without shame and pursue strength without comparison. You don't have to impress anybody, you don't have to have it all figured out. You just gotta show up. So the health stronghold is found inside the lion's den, and you can start a 30-day free trial today. So if you're ready to stop drifting, head over to thelionwithin.us. That's thhelionwithin.us. And hop inside the lion's den. Start your 30 day free trial and get started today at thelionwithin.us