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🔥 Episode 9: When the FBI Knocked Next Door: Cory Williams on Ironman Grit & Real-Life 
🎙 Into the Fire Podcast | Hosted by Zach Monroe

Guest: Cory Williams, Ironman Athlete, Father, Husband and Owner of Railroad Productions

In this episode of Into the Fire, Zach sits down with Cory Williams, an Ironman athlete, business owner, and family man who’s mastered the art of balance between grit, fatherhood, and creative passion.

Cory opens up about what it takes to train for one of the most demanding endurance events on earth, while running a thriving video production company, Railroad Productions and raising a family. He shares how discipline, movement, and mindset help him reset and refocus when life gets chaotic.

But this episode isn’t all training schedules and Ironman talk. Cory also tells the unbelievable true story of what happened when the FBI and U.S. Marshals raided his neighbor’s house, a man later revealed to be on Oklahoma’s 10 Most Wanted List, who had faked his own death and evaded capture for almost 13 years.

Cory watched it unfold right next door  and had no idea who he was really living beside.

In this episode, we talk about:
- What it takes to compete as an Ironman athlete
- The discipline and mindset that translate from sport to life
- Balancing entrepreneurship, creativity, and fatherhood
- Finding clarity and purpose through physical challenge
- The shocking story of living next to a fugitive for four years
- How hobbies and passion can reset the mind and sharpen focus

This conversation blends adventure, reflection, and real-world grit,  a reminder that discipline isn’t built in the easy moments, and that balance comes from facing life’s chaos head-on.

Whether you’re chasing goals, balancing family and work, or just need a story that proves truth is stranger than fiction, this episode will light a fire under you.

🎧 Listen or watch Episode 9: “When the FBI Knocked Next Door: Guest Cory Williams on Ironman Grit & Real-Life ” now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

👉 Subscribe, leave a comment, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

💬 Drop your thoughts below, what’s the wildest thing that’s ever happened in your neighborhood?

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Episode 8: Facing The Monsters: Fear, Failure and The Fire Within
Into the Fire Podcast | Hosted by Zach Monroe

It’s Halloween season, the time of year when fear is in the air. Ghost stories, haunted houses, and the things that go bump in the night. But this episode isn’t about the kind of fear that hides in the shadows… it’s about the kind that hides inside of us. The fear that keeps us from chasing what we want, speaking our truth, and becoming the men we’re meant to be.

In this solo episode, Zach steps into the fire to talk about the real fears men face, not the monsters outside, but the ones within. The fear of failing. The fear of not being enough. The fear of being seen, vulnerable, or lost in a world that expects strength but rarely teaches us how to find it.

Zach explores how fear can both destroy and define us, how it can paralyze us when left unchecked, but also become the forge that tempers us into something stronger. Through personal reflection, hard lessons, and real talk, he unpacks what it means to confront your own darkness head-on.

He talks about the moments when fear shows up quietly, in the hesitation before taking a leap, in the doubt that creeps in when you’re chasing something meaningful, or in the guilt of not being able to carry every burden that life piles on your shoulders.

This episode isn’t about conquering fear, it’s about understanding it. About recognizing that the same fire that burns can also light the way forward. Zach dives into how embracing discomfort and leaning into the unknown can reveal what’s truly possible when you stop running from what scares you.

You’ll hear thoughts on:
🔥 The hidden fears most men carry but rarely talk about
🔥 Why failure isn’t the opposite of success, it’s part of the process
🔥 The danger of living life on autopilot and avoiding risk
🔥 How fear can become your greatest teacher when you learn to face it
🔥 Why growth requires walking straight into the fire, even when it hurts

And because it’s spooky season, Zach also weaves in a few eerie reflections, the haunting idea that the scariest ghost most of us live with is the version of ourselves we never let out.

Whether you’re sitting around a campfire, driving home from work, or lying awake at night thinking about the things you wish you’d done differently, this episode will remind you that fear doesn’t have to be the end of your story. It can be the spark that starts a new one.

Because in the end, courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s walking into the flames anyway.

So grab a coffee, light the fire, and settle in for a raw and honest conversation about what it really means to face the fears that forge us.

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In this episode, I sit down with my buddy Devine for a real, unfiltered conversation about life, friendship, and finding joy in the simple things. What stands out most is his humor, honesty, and perspective on what truly matters. Sometimes, brotherhood is just about showing up, listening, and sharing a laugh.

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🔥 Episode 6: How to Stop Second-Guessing Yourself
🎙️ Into the Fire Podcast with Zach Monroe & Adam Soller

In this episode, Zach and Adam dive into the topic of confidence, what it really means, how to build it, and why it’s the key to getting what you want in life. From moments of total self-assurance to times when doubt got the better of them, they share real stories, lessons learned, and a few laughs along the way.

This one’s all about pushing past hesitation, trusting your gut, and showing up as the man you’re meant to be.

🔥 Forge your confidence. Live your truth. Let’s dive in.

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🔥 Episode Title: Buddies & Burnout
🎙️ Into the Fire Podcast with Zach Monroe & Adam Soller

In this episode, Zach sits down once again with his longtime friend Adam Soller for a real conversation about the balancing act of modern manhood. From chasing new hobbies and rediscovering passion, to using the outdoors as a reset button, the two dive into the reality of burnout, in work, family life, and everything in between.

It’s an honest, down-to-earth talk about finding space to breathe, reconnecting with purpose, and remembering why we do what we do.

Stay tuned till the end for a quick lightning round that brings some laughs and perspective to wrap things up.

🎧 Forge your balance. Find your fire. Let’s dive in.

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Episode 4:  “There." A Lesson from the Mountain 
After a long week, we packed the car, chased daylight, and raced up a mountain to catch the sunset. We didn’t make it to our original destination  life rarely goes as planned, but what we found instead was something better.
In this episode, I share a story about my son, a last-minute pivot, and a moment at the summit that stopped us all in our tracks. It’s about slowing down to notice what’s right in front of you, redefining success and remembering why we climb in the first place, both on the trail and in life. Whether you’re a father, an adventurer, or someone in a season of change, this one’s for you.

👉 Listen in for:
A reflection on fatherhood and finding perspective in the mountains
What it means to “pivot” without losing purpose
How Forge & Freedom was built on moments just like this one

💬 Let’s talk: What’s been your “there” moment lately? The one that reminded you to stop and take it in? Drop it in the comments, I’d love to hear your story.

🔗 Follow the journey:
🌐 ForgeNFreedom.com
📸 Instagram: @forgeNfreedom
🎧 Subscribe for more Into The Fire Podcast Episodes

#IntoTheFirePodcast #ForgeAndFreedom #Fatherhood #Adventure #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #OutdoorLife #Storytelling

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In this episode of Forge & Freedom: Into The Fire, I sit down with Len Mackey of Ancient Earth Skills. Len shares his journey into the ancient ways, how survival skills, storytelling, and living closer to the earth have shaped him into the man he is today.

We talk about the wisdom that comes from working with your hands, listening to the land, and carrying forward traditions that connect us to something bigger. And joining us for this fireside chat is a very special guest “Bebe,” the tanned hide of the whitetail deer Len harvested and turned into a teaching companion.

It’s a conversation about resilience, simplicity, and finding freedom in the skills that have carried humanity for centuries.

About Len Mackey
Len’s journey with the outdoors started almost as soon as he could walk, following his father through the woods of northern New York hunting, fishing, trapping, and tracking game. By the age of seven, he had already skinned his first deer and was running his own muskrat trap line.

Over the years, Len’s path expanded beyond the wilderness. He studied yoga, sweat lodge traditions, African drumming, and Reiki, and even traveled to Guinea, West Africa to document music and culture through photography. Eventually, his passion led him deep into the world of survival and ancestral skills studying at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School in New Jersey, Caribbean Earth Skills in St. Croix, Roots School in Vermont, and the jungles of Belize.

Today, as the founder of Ancient Earth Skills, Len brings all of these experiences together to teach, share, and inspire. He’s also been recognized with multiple grants from the NYS Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Grateful to his teachers, human, plant, and animal alike. 

Len sums it up best: “All I am, and all I have, is made of her.”

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This week Zach sits down with his lifelong friend Adam Soller for a raw, unfiltered conversation about friendship, challenge, and stepping into the unknown. From teenage adventures to hard-earned lessons as husbands and fathers, Zach and Adam trade stories about the moments that shaped them and the fires that forged their character.

Together they explore:
🔥 How lasting brotherhood keeps you grounded when life gets messy
🔥 Lessons from early risks, failures, and unexpected challenges

This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health struggles, as well as some adult language. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988 in the U.S.

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Zach kicks off Forge & Freedom with the real story, how a restless hike in the Adirondacks sparked a mission to help men grow stronger and live free. Hear why this isn’t just another self-help show, what brotherhood really means, and how upcoming trips and challenges will bring guys together in the wild. This is where the forge begins.

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