A Marine, a monk, and a money manager walk into a bar—and somehow, they’re all the same person. In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Douglas Lynam to unpack one of the most unconventional life journeys you’ll ever hear. Doug shares how he went from Marine Officer Candidate School to spending twenty years as a Benedictine monk, only to later emerge into the world of finance as a financial advisor, business coach, keynote speaker, and author. Along the way, he opens up about childhood experiences with money, rebellion, faith, purpose, and the surprising ways our relationship with wealth is shaped long before we realize it.

Doug dives deep into his time in the monastery, including how a vow of poverty collided head-on with financial reality when the monastery went bankrupt—and how that moment forced him to confront money rather than avoid it. That unexpected responsibility became the catalyst for his lifelong work exploring the psychology, philosophy, and spirituality of money. He explains how earning, saving, investing, and giving must work together, why “giving first” without a foundation can backfire, and how money, when understood properly, becomes a tool for meaning rather than a source of fear or control.

The conversation also explores Doug’s books, From Monk to Money Manager and Taming Your Money Monster, his TEDx talk on purpose and wealth, and the idea that true financial mastery begins with self-awareness, courage, and alignment with values. This episode challenges conventional money advice, blends spiritual wisdom with practical finance, and invites listeners to rethink not just how they manage money—but why they do it in the first place.

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