Doug
This episode is a tribute—to friendship, mentorship, and the kind of relationships that shape a life.
Tom reflects on the sudden passing of his dear friend Doug, a man whose presence carried wisdom, generosity, grit, and deep love for people. Through stories of shared work, cigars, laughter, conflict, reconciliation, and community, Tom explores what makes a friendship truly valuable—not perfection, but commitment.
This is an episode about grief, yes—but more than that, it’s about the privilege of loving deeply, the courage to work through messiness, and the irreplaceable role of elders and brothers in a man’s life. Tom challenges listeners not to avoid relationships because of pain or loss, but to lean in—to reconcile, to invest, and to build something real while there’s still time.
Friendships take effort.
They take risk.
And they are worth it.
In honor of Doug, this episode is an invitation:
Go make a friend.
Go deeper.
Don’t waste the time you’ve been given.
Yup. I got you.
What you agree with gains permission to operate in your life.
