Exploring Body, Mind, and Spirit (Finding Your Purpose) with Don Barden

Viking Academy

Today, we are exploring the topic of Body, Mind, and Spirit (Finding Your Purpose) with Don Barden.

I sat down with my good friend, Dr. Don Barden, a man whose life blends the intellectual and the practical in a truly unique way. Don holds a PhD and a doctorate in seminary, has worked on Wall Street with multi-million-dollar deals, and has authored books like The Perfect Plan and Here Come the Girls. He’s also an Army Ranger—a person you’d definitely want by your side when the zombie apocalypse comes. Above all, Don embodies the integration of body, mind, and spirit in a way that very few people do.

In this conversation, we discussed the concept of the "morality play" and how love is at the core of both personal growth and leadership. We also explore a fresh take on spirituality, drawing from diverse religious traditions not as absolutes but as moral guideposts—tools for living a purposeful life. Don unpacks spiritual stories, like those from the Bible, and makes them relatable, understandable, and fun. His approach to spirituality is not about dogma but about deepening personal understanding through exploration, questioning, and critical reflection.

Topics We Explore:

• Love as a universal truth: live without judgment and respect all traditions
• Firsthand Exploration Matters: Read and reflect on texts yourself to deepen understanding—don’t rely on secondhand interpretations.
• Interpret the morality play through personal questioning and understanding
• Embody the body, mind, and spirit of a warrior to achieve wholeness
• Understand your purpose and connection with others by exploring together
• Recognize the present as the only truth and overcome the victim mentality to grow

Connect with Don Barden: https://donbarden.com/

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com/scouting-party