Forge the Man

Fairest Love Family Project

Ferris Love Family Project

Los Angeles Police Department

René Girard

Catholic Church

Medicine

Opus Dei

Law Enforcement

Memetic Desire

Scapegoating

Aristotle

Mentorship

Open To Life / Large Family

Faith

United States Air Force

Los Angeles Fire Department

College Of the Canyons

Insurance Law

Leadership

Catholicism

Welcome to Forge the Man, a Fairest Love Podcast hosted by US Military Veteran and Retired Firefighter Paul Ybarra. This Podcast is dedicated to calling young men to greatness in their work, character, and relationships. Guided under the mantle of Mary, Mother of Fairest Love, and the heroic spirituality of St. Josemaría Escrivá, our intention is to build men for professional mastery and the noble... more

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Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	11	Founded	2 months ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	EducationSelf-Improvement

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Latest Episodes

"It's Not Expensive" — Father of Eight Carlo Boton Debunks the Big Family Myth

Carlo Boton is a Certified Financial Planner in Southern California whose team manages roughly $200 million in client wealth — and he's also a father of eight, married to his wife Joy for 21 years. In this episode of Forge The Man, Carlo shares the w... more

28 Jul 2026 • 32 min

Winning the "Spiritual Lottery" of Apostolic Celibacy with James Herrick

Most Catholic men have heard of two vocations: marriage or the priesthood. In this episode of Forge The Man, Paul talks with James Herrick — a civil engineer, poet, and mentor living in the Bay Area — about a third path many have never considered: th... more

21 Jul 2026 • 30 min

You Don't Know What You Want (And That's the Problem) - Unpacking René Girard with Trevor Merrill

What if most of what you want — the job, the truck, the girl, the tattoo — isn't really yours? In this episode of Forge The Man, Paul sits down with Trevor Merrill, scholar, novelist, and director of Imitatio, to unpack the work of French thinker Ren... more

14 Jul 2026 • 36 min

What 41 Years with the LAPD Taught Me About Being a Man with Ignacio Verduzco

What does over 40 years in law enforcement teach a man about leadership, faith, marriage, and vocation?

Former LAPD Commander Ignacio Verduzco shares lessons from over four decades of service as a Marine, police officer, and leader. to discuss servi... more

7 Jul 2026 • 27 min

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Recent Guests

Trevor Merrill

Scholar of René Girard, translator, novelist

Imitatio; Stanford University Press (translator on Girard biography)

Episode: You Don't Know What You Want (And That's the Problem) - Unpacking René Girard with Trevor Merrill

Ignacio Verduzco

Former LAPD officer with 37+ years of service, later Honor Guard

Los Angeles Police Department

Episode: What 41 Years with the LAPD Taught Me About Being a Man with Ignacio Verduzco

Ray Tittmann

Head of his own law firm, specializes in insurance law and high-profile cases

Law firm (insurance law)

Episode: The Power of Great Books and Great Mentors with Ray Tittmann

Will Boles

ENT and head and neck surgeon; guest

Self (guest)

Episode: Generational Wealth: The Impact of a Good Father with Will Boles

John Kysersott

Guest, discusses Opus Dei and the lives of Val Creus, Matt Anthony, and Matt Schoenecker

Opus Dei numerary, educator in business ethics

Episode: Heroic Virtue and Courage: Remembering the Lives of Val Creus, Matthew Schoenecker, and Matthew Anthony

Dominic Dizon

Physician practicing internal and emergency medicine, professor of medicine, father of eight

Independent medical practice (Dizon Medicine)

Episode: A Physician With A Mission: A Journey of Faith and Purpose with Dominic Dizon

Kirby Fike

Husband and father; software industry professional

Self-employed / Software industry

Episode: A Big and Beautiful Life: Leading a Large Family with Kirby Fike

Dana Cruz

Attorney, governmental affairs attorney in California; military judge advocate in the California State Guard

California state judiciary; California State Guard

Episode: Resilience, Law and Policy: Insights from Dana Cruz

Host

Paul Ybarra

Host of Forge the Man

Chart Rankings

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Apple Podcasts	#70	Philippines/Education/Self-Improvement
Apple Podcasts	#203	Philippines/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

You Don't Know What You Want (And That's the Problem) - Unpacking René Girard with Trevor Merrill

Q: How do you see the relationship between intellectual understanding of Girard and everyday leadership or workplace conduct?

Understanding Girard helps leaders recognize the dynamics of imitation, competition, and scapegoating. Effective leaders model virtuous behavior, praise in public, correct in private, and focus on contributing to the group rather than accumulating personal credit. This alignment reduces toxicity and builds cohesive teams.

You Don't Know What You Want (And That's the Problem) - Unpacking René Girard with Trevor Merrill

Q: What practical steps would you offer to a young man in the military or in close-quarters environments to avoid being pulled into unhealthy imitation?

Surround yourself with good models and mentors, establish regular habits, seek advised guidance, and cultivate a network of trustworthy confidants. Don't blame those lower in the hierarchy when things go wrong; instead, take responsibility and promote healthy, constructive imitation that leads you toward virtue and usefulness.

You Don't Know What You Want (And That's the Problem) - Unpacking René Girard with Trevor Merrill

Q: Trevor, can you tell us a little about René Girard and what you find most valuable for a lay listener?

Girard argued that we don't actually know what we want; our desires are often imitated from others. This memetic process can lead to growth when directed by good models, but it also risks instability and conflict when misdirected. He also proposed that religious rituals throughout history served to manage collective tension by channeling violence toward a scapegoat, a concept that reframes how societies understand conflict and reconciliation.

The Power of Great Books and Great Mentors with Ray Tittmann

Q: What should 18- and 22-year-olds consider when choosing a path?

Focus on opportunities and mentors rather than chasing a single passion; explore multiple fields with mentors to understand day-to-day realities before committing.

The Power of Great Books and Great Mentors with Ray Tittmann

Q: What is the role of mentors in making career decisions?

Mentors provide guidance for different stages and questions; having several mentors helps navigate evolving challenges and prevents reliance on a single viewpoint.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Forge the Man

What is Forge the Man about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show centers on male mentorship, virtue, faith, and vocation, weaving personal stories from fathers, physicians, lawyers, and tech professionals into practical guidance for character, family life, and professional mastery. Conversations often anchor in Catholic formation and everyday leadership, with recurring themes of sacrifice, humility, time management, and the sanctification of work. A few episodes spotlight large-family dynamics and faith-driven career paths, offering listeners concrete steps for mentoring, parenting, and pursuing meaningful work. A standout throughline is turning daily duties and leadership into a path for personal and familial flourishing, making it particularly helpful for men seeking gu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Forge the Man?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Forge the Man:

1. St. Josemaria Institute Podcast
2. 10 Minutes with Jesus
3. While He Spoke To Us Along The Way
4. Pints With Aquinas
5. The Lila Rose Show

How many episodes of Forge the Man are there?

Forge the Man launched 2 months ago and published 11 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Forge the Man?

Recent guests on Forge the Man include:

1. Trevor Merrill
2. Ignacio Verduzco
3. Ray Tittmann
4. Will Boles
5. John Kysersott
6. Dominic Dizon
7. Kirby Fike
8. Dana Cruz

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