Father Stephen Gadberry

·1 hr 4 min·5 clips

Father Stephen Gadberry shares how a childhood car wreck that killed his father forced him to become the man of the house at age eight.

The episode begins with host Aaron introducing Father Stephen Gadberry in snowy Riverton, Wyoming, contrasting with Stephen's 81-degree forecast in Arkansas. Stephen recounts his Arkansas Delta upbringing on a family farm and a traumatic car wreck at age eight that killed his father and older sister, forcing him into early responsibility. He details working various jobs, joining the military where he shipped explosives and hazardous materials, then entering an eight-year process to become a Catholic priest, studying philosophy in Louisiana and theology in Rome. Aaron explains the podcast typically features hunters but wanted Stephen's perspective on mental health, noting previous positive feedback from men struggling with stress. Stephen describes his priestly duties as a 'jack of all trades,' helping people navigate emotional storms like addiction, family conflicts, and marital issues. The conversation shifts to religion, with Aaron advising not to base faith on flawed individuals, which Stephen agrees with, using archery principles as an analogy. They discuss the Josh Bowmar controversy, exploring forgiveness, scapegoating, and why people hesitate to support those publicly criticized. Stephen shares a personal hunting story about losing a bull elk in Idaho's panhandle mountains, analyzing his tendency to blame external factors instead of accepting uncontrollables. Aaron and Stephen delve into male emotional struggles, noting how men often avoid vulnerability and internalize failures. Stephen suggests practical mental exercises: writing lists of personal thoughts during hunts, recording video diaries, and doing daily inconvenient tasks like folding laundry as discipline. They compare physical challenges like ice baths to intellectual ones, emphasizing the difficulty of silent reflection and self-examination. The episode concludes with Aaron thanking Stephen for addressing mental health in the hunting community, and Stephen inviting listeners to contact him via Instagram.

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