In this episode, we sit down with Chachi Avirett, a wilderness guide and men’s mentor with more than 4,000 days spent leading men through the backcountry—physically and spiritually. We talk about why the wilderness has a unique power to shape men, what today’s culture gets wrong about masculine formation, and why most men’s retreats barely scratch the surface. Chachi shares the heart behind Training Ground Tennessee, how adventure creates space for identity and calling to emerge, and what he would tell men who feel “too old” for a program like his but still long for growth, depth, and challenge.

Chachi Avirett has spent over 4,000 days guiding students and leaders through wilderness experiences that blend adventure, spiritual formation, and deep mentorship. With more than 22 years of ministry experience as both a youth and college minister, he’s devoted his life to helping young men discover their identity and calling in an environment where distractions fade, and character is forged. He and his wife, Grace, live just outside Cleveland, Tennessee, with their two children, Hope and Jonathan.