Building Confidence the Hard Way: Service, Consistency, Accountability

Summary In this episode of The Glue-OOM, I sit down with Smelly Cat (Chris Lantzer), a guy I’ve known for years through family ties and the Omaha brotherhood. What makes his story hit isn’t that he’s the loudest or flashiest leader in the room, it’s that he’s the kind of man who keeps doing the work when nobody’s watching. Smelly Cat shares how F3 pulled him out of drift, rebuilt his confidence through service, and gave him a crew when life got busy and friendships got thin. We dig into leadership from the back of the pack (picking up the six), the discipline required to keep showing up at 5:30am when you’re not a morning person, and how being a business owner messes with your mind during slow seasons. This one is funny, honest, and surprisingly deep. If you’ve ever felt tired, stuck, or unsure if you’re really leading well, this conversation will hit home.

✅ Highlights

✅ How Smelly Cat got his name (Phoebe from Friends)

✅ First F3 beatdown at The Maze, and getting smoked by Merkins

✅ “I’m not a morning person” and how 5:30am changed him

✅ Quiet leadership, building confidence through service

✅ The B Street Crew: brotherhood before brotherhood was trendy

✅ Starting a business and pushing through doubt in slow seasons

✅ Concentric impact: becoming more involved with kids + school

✅ Faith journey: first time praying out loud was in F3

✅ Leadership lessons from VQ + taking the flag at Main Stage

✅ “Pick up the six” vs bring the six forward (the real mission)

Sound bites

“When does it start? … 5:30 in the morning. I said you’re crazy.”

“I did 15 Merkins… then I couldn’t even get down to do one.”

“The only thing I know about massage therapy is Phoebe from Friends… you’re Smelly Cat.”

“My daughter said, ‘Dad, you used to not have many friends… now you have a lot.’”

“I knew I was in shape when I could survive one of Plague’s workouts.”

“The diet thing never really happens.”

“The first time I ever said a prayer out loud in a group was F3.”

“When you’re self-employed and it gets slow… you start doubting yourself.”

Timestamps

00:03 – Intro at The Nomad (Elkhorn)

01:20 – Smelly Cat joins the show

02:45 – How he found F3 through Long Neck

04:55 – The 5:30am barrier (not a morning guy)

06:55 – First beatdown at The Maze (Merkins, humbled fast)

09:10 – Name-o chaos: massage therapist → Smelly Cat

11:20 – The Smelly Cat callback: “What are they feeding you?”

12:50 – How he got into massage therapy (accidental start)

16:55 – Massage vs chiropractic vs PT (real differences)

23:35 – Insurance, cash practice, and how he helps PAX

27:30 – Active Wellness Massage Therapy (how to find him)

29:25 – Athlete → drift → getting back into shape

33:20 – Cholesterol/triglycerides + lab check curiosity

35:10 – Diet struggle + pizza problem

36:55 – Fellowship + the “B Street Crew” neighborhood culture

39:10 – “Dad… you used to not have friends. Now you have a lot.”

41:05 – How he builds relationships in F3

43:15 – Concentric impact: wife/kids/service mindset shift

45:20 – Shield Lock (formal vs informal accountability)

47:30 – Faith journey + Lutheran roots + church transitions

49:30 – First prayer out loud happened in F3

51:40 – QSource impact (and leading a faith discussion early)

53:45 – Leadership growth: VQ → confidence

56:00 – “Pick up the six” vs bringing the six forward

59:50 – Advice: goals, discipline, and 2ndF relationships

01:01:55 – Where he needs support: business + accountability

01:04:00 – Name-o + Smelly Cat outro