Dad Tired

Palm Sunday began with “Hosanna”… and ended with “Crucify Him.”Why? Because Jesus didn’t meet their expectations.In this episode, we wrestle with a hard truth: sometimes Jesus won’t fix the thing you’re asking Him to fix—because He’s going after something deeper.The question is… if He doesn’t show up the way you hoped, will you still trust Him as King?

Mentioned in today's Episode:- Dad Tired One Dy Conferences - Attend the Annual Retreat- Become a Dad Tired Partner- Shop the Dad Tired Store- Prison FellowshipMost men carry a story they’re ashamed of.Bad decisions.A past they wish they could erase.A quiet fear that maybe they’ve already messed things up too badly.Jermaine Wilson knows that feeling.By 15 he was in juvenile corrections.By 19 he was in prison again… holding his baby son and wondering if he would ever become the man his family needed.But prison became the place where everything changed.Through the gospel, brotherhood, and the grace of God, Jermaine’s life was completely transformed. Today he’s a father, grandfather, leader with Prison Fellowship… and even served as mayor of the city where he was once incarcerated.If you’ve ever wondered whether God can redeem your story, this episode is for you.

Ever feel like you’re doing all of this on your own?Work, marriage, parenting… it can feel heavy.But Jesus made a promise in John 14—He wouldn’t leave you as an orphan.In this episode, a simple but powerful reminder:you’re not alone… and you were never meant to live like you are.

What would you do if $5 million was on the line?In this episode, Jerrad sits down with Beast Games runner-up Cory Sims — the fan favorite who captured hearts by refusing to compromise his faith and integrity.Cory shares what it was like to:• Compete for 42 days without phones or outside contact• Face life-changing decisions with $5 million on the line• Lose the final challenge — and discover God had a bigger planWe also talk about fatherhood, faith under pressure, and the surprising lesson Cory learned after walking away without the money.Turns out… some things are worth more than $5 million.Mentioned in today's Episode:- Cozy Earth promo code DADTIRED- Dad Tired One Dy Conferences - Attend the Annual Retreat- Become a Dad Tired Partner- Shop the Dad Tired Store

Mentioned in today's Episode:- The Kids Go Bible - Love & Respect Book- Dad Tired One Dy Conferences - Lightbulb Moments in Marriage Book- Become a Dad Tired Partner- Shop the Dad Tired StoreMost couples don’t wake up thinking: “How can I frustrate my spouse today?”And yet we still end up in the same exhausting cycle.She feels unloved.He feels disrespected.She pushes harder.He shuts down.Round and round it goes.Today Dr. Emerson Eggerichs—author of Love & Respect—joins Jerrad to unpack the marriage dynamic he calls “The Crazy Cycle.”Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.In this episode we talk about:• Why 85% of men shut down during conflict dad-tired-dr-eggerich_dad-tired…• The misunderstanding that fuels most marriage fights• How porn quietly reshapes a man’s expectations in marriage• Why wives often escalate conflict while husbands withdraw• How dads can speak identity into their sons and daughters• Why struggling marriages don’t need more effort — they need more light📚 Get Dr. Eggerichs’ New BookDr. Emerson’s new book highlights the “lightbulb moments” that help couples finally understand what’s happening in their marriage.Grab it here:👉 Lightbulb MomentsInterested in hosting a conference at your church? Support dads in need by making a donation to the ministry.

Stay up to date: Subscribe to the NewsletterHe spent years building a creative career, only to watch it completely unravel.He assumed he could fix it, hustling harder to avoid going backwards financially.That was his story.For years, author Doug McKelvey chased commercial success as a songwriter and scriptwriter—until a devastating season in his late 40s stripped away his pride. In that dark place, he realized how inadequate his ability to truly love his family was without Jesus.Until a season of brokenness changed everything.In this powerful and deeply honest episode, the author of Every Moment Holy shares his journey from career failure to spiritual surrender. He explains how losing his commercial ambition birthed a movement of finding God in the mundane.You’ll hear:The painful reality of watching your career and finances fall apart.Why our inability to love others well points us back to our desperate need for Jesus.How God uses seasons of failure to gracefully strip away our ego and pride.The deeply personal, difficult story behind the creation of Every Moment Holy.How to actually see the sacred in the ordinary, everyday moments of fatherhood.This episode is for the man whose plans have fallen apart. For the man who feels like his ability to love falls short. For the man who misses the holy in the everyday. God is in the mundane.Strong families begin with healed men.Today's Sponsor: Cozy Earth

For years, Dad Tired founder Jerrad Lopes has dreamed about taking dads and their families on a mission trip together. In this episode, he shares an exciting new opportunity for Dad Tired families to serve alongside him and his own family in Guatemala in October 2026.The trip will partner with the missions organization Adventures in Missions to serve local communities outside Guatemala City. Families will have opportunities to participate in meaningful work such as serving in children’s programs, supporting local ministries, building safer cooking stoves for families, and potentially helping build a home for someone in need. But this trip is about more than service projects. It’s about expanding perspective, strengthening faith, and helping dads and their kids experience the global Church together. Jerrad shares why these kinds of trips can be spiritually transformative and why he believes every Christian family should consider stepping outside their comfort zone to see what God is doing around the world. Because this is the first Dad Tired mission trip, the team will be intentionally small—only 6–7 families total. In this episode, Jerrad explains the vision for the trip, what families can expect, and how listeners can apply to join.Learn more and apply:dadtired.com/missions

Host a conference at your church: LEARN MOREThere’s a pattern in Scripture that shows up again and again:See.Desire.Take.From Adam to David… and now to us.In this episode, Jerrad sits down with Joel Muddamalle about the unseen spiritual realities shaping our homes—and how everyday temptations (work, lust, alcohol, ambition) fit into a much bigger story.If you’ve ever felt like something deeper is at work beneath the surface of your struggles, this conversation will help you put language to it.Strong families begin with healed men.And healed men learn not to take what was never theirs.Today's Sponsor: Courage For Life Men's Study Bible

Stay up to date: Subscribe to the Newsletter Most men don’t believe freedom is possible.They assume they’ll carry shame, addiction, and secrets for the rest of their lives.That was his story too.For years, he struggled silently with porn, lust, and shame—even while loving his wife, following Jesus, and doing everything he thought a “good Christian man” was supposed to do.Until one conversation changed everything.In this powerful and deeply honest episode, a Dad Tired listener shares his journey from secrecy to freedom, from hiding to truth, and from addiction to healing.You’ll hear:• The moment he realized his marriage was in danger• Why white-knuckling never leads to real freedom• How honest community changed everything• The surprising cost of becoming a truth teller• What freedom actually feels like on the other sideThis episode is for the man who feels stuck.For the man who thinks he’ll never change.For the man who’s tired of hiding.Freedom is possible.Strong families begin with healed men.

If you feel like you’re drowning right now… this one’s for you.Trying to follow Jesus with integrity.Trying to love your wife well.Trying to disciple your kids.Trying to provide and carry the weight of responsibility.That’s four heavy bags already.And then the world keeps asking for more.More opinions.More commitments.More distractions.More “opportunities.”In today’s episode, we talk about why it’s okay to say, “My hands are full.”Why you don’t have to carry every bag handed to you.And why saying no might be one of the most faithful things you do.Strong families begin with healed men.Sometimes healing looks like limits.

Today's Sponsor: The Go BibleHave you ever told Jesus, “I’ll follow you”… but deep down knew there were conditions?In Luke 9, Jesus encounters three men who all say they want to follow Him. One is overly excited but hasn’t counted the cost. One delays, waiting for a more convenient time. And one wants Jesus—but still keeps looking back.Each one is close. But none fully surrender.In this message, we explore the uncomfortable truth about discipleship: following Jesus will cost you everything. Not because He wants to harm you—but because He wants to heal you, transform you, and make you fully alive.Jesus isn’t looking for momentary excitement. He’s looking for faithful disciples who are all in.This message will challenge you to ask:• Have I counted the cost?• Am I delaying obedience?• Am I still looking back at my old life?• Or am I fully surrendered?The greatest tragedy isn’t rejecting Jesus outright. It’s almost following Him your entire life.Scripture: Luke 9:57–62

If you zoom into any single moment of someone’s life, you can draw the wrong conclusion.David looks like a hero… until you keep reading.Peter looks unshakable… until the denial.Moses, Abraham—faithful men with very uneven stories.And the same is true for us.In this episode, Jerrad invites you to zoom out on your faith journey. Discipleship isn’t an “up and to the right” chart. It’s more like the stock market—ups, downs, setbacks, growth—all held together by a faithful God who finishes what He starts.You don’t get to crown yourself in the good seasons.And you don’t get to condemn yourself in the hard ones.God isn’t surprised by your uneven growth. He knew exactly what He was getting when He saved you—and He’s still at work.Homework for today:Stop judging your faith by a snapshot. Zoom out. Speak truth out loud. And rest in the faithfulness of God.

Dadology Parenting Conference for DadsMost of the discipleship we’ll ever do as fathers happens inside the four walls of our home.In today’s Dad Tired Devotional, Jerrad reflects on how limited our hands-on time with our kids really is—and why that makes our homes sacred ground. He invites fathers into a simple, practical exercise: finding quiet time to walk through their home and pray over each space, each child, and their marriage.This isn’t about fear or perfection. It’s about taking spiritual leadership seriously, inviting God’s presence into ordinary spaces, and recognizing that homes are often where the most important formation happens.

Join us in San Diego for our Dad Conference: dadtired.com/dadologyWe’re exhausted because we’re treating temporary things like they’re eternal.In today’s Dad Tired Devotional, Jerrad reflects on how Scripture constantly reminds us that this life is short—and how remembering eternity actually brings freedom, not fear. From a simple moment at a red light to the words of James, Peter, and the Psalms, this episode is a quiet invitation to zoom out, regain perspective, and stop letting temporary stressors dominate your soul.When we forget eternity, everything feels overwhelming.When we remember it, wisdom begins to grow.

There’s a moment in Mark 10 where Jesus stops everything for a blind man crying out on the side of the road.Bartimaeus doesn’t pray a polished prayer.He doesn’t say the right words.He just asks for mercy.And when the crowd tells him to be quiet, he cries out even louder.In this short devotional, we talk about why so many men stay vague with God, why the crowd often pressures us to keep it together, and why Jesus asks a simple but confronting question:“What do you want me to do for you?”You don’t need to clean it up.You don’t need to stay quiet.You just need to be honest.

This week was heavy — not because something catastrophic happened, but because my body acted like it did.Tight chest. Tense shoulders. Headaches. No sleep.And that disconnect can be confusing for a lot of men. You know things aren’t a big deal… but your nervous system doesn’t agree.In this episode, I talk about how trauma memory works, why even a small overlap with past pain can send your body into full survival mode, and why Jesus’ words in John 14:27 matter more than ever when your body feels out of control.This isn’t about “calming down.”It’s about receiving a kind of peace the world can’t give.If your body feels stuck in high alert lately, this one’s for you.

Download the worksheet: Say “No” MoreToday’s Sponsor: The Hands On BibleWhy did Jesus say no—and why does that matter for you as a dad?In this episode, we talk about boundaries, calling, and the quiet cost of saying yes to everything. Jesus didn’t heal people and then automatically bring them along. Sometimes He said no—because He was crystal clear about what He was saying yes to.If you feel pulled in a hundred directions by work, culture, expectations, and other people’s agendas, this conversation will help you slow down and realign.We’ll talk about:Why Jesus’ “no” often confused peopleHow unclear priorities lead to burnoutWhy your wife and kids pay the price for your overcommitmentHow to confidently say no without explanation or guiltPlus, there’s a simple one-page worksheet to help you put this into practice.👉 Get it here: dadtired.com/yesStrong families begin with healed—and focused—men.

What do you do mentally when something hard hits your life?In this episode, Jerrad shares a real moment from his day—going from gratitude and joy to panic when his email was hacked and multiple problems hit at once. He reflects on two familiar mental paths many men walk: catastrophizing and numbing.But healing often means cutting a new path.Using a powerful backpacking metaphor, Jerrad explores how men can stop defaulting to fear and escape, and instead learn to walk the quieter, harder path of gospel truth.Practice for today:Ask yourself: When life gets hard, what are the well-worn paths in my mind—and are they leading me toward healing or away from it?Because strong families begin with healed men.

What if God actually wants to talk to you today?Not in a dramatic, spiritual, churchy way—but in the middle of your real life. In this episode, Jerrad explores the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 and the surprising way God speaks—not through wind, fire, or earthquakes, but through a gentle whisper.If your life feels loud, chaotic, or overwhelming, this episode is a simple invitation to slow down, listen, and rediscover the quiet voice of God.Practice for today:Take one minute of silence and ask God, “What do You want to say to me today?”Because strong families begin with healed men.

Today's Sponsors: Backgate Prayers (promo code DTNECKLACE) & Cozy Earth (promo code DADTIREDBOGO)Why does real life feel boring sometimes?Why does your phone feel more exciting than prayer, your marriage, or even God?In this episode, we talk about dopamine—the brain’s reward system—and how our world has hijacked it with cheap, artificial pleasures. From scrolling and porn to sugar and streaming, we’ve trained our souls to crave fireworks instead of candles.Jerrad shares stories, Scripture, and practical wisdom to help men understand what’s happening in their brains and hearts—and how to slowly retrain their desires toward the kind of joy God actually designed.If you’ve felt tired, numb, or disconnected from God and your family, this episode will help you name what’s happening and take your first step toward healing.

What happens when you don’t deal with what’s going on inside you?In this episode, we explore how suppressed emotions show up physically in your body, why science is finally catching up to what Scripture has always taught, and how naming what you feel can actually lead to healing.If you’ve ever said “I’m fine” when you weren’t, this one’s for you.

You don’t have to carry everything you’re holding.In this episode of Dad Tired Daily, Jerrad leads a short guided exercise to help you notice what you’re carrying—and discern what God never asked you to hold in the first place. Together, we explore how responsibility, survival, and old wounds can quietly pile up, and how Scripture invites us to cast our burdens on the Lord.This is a quiet, practical moment of soul care for tired men who want to walk a little lighter today.

Today we’re talking about how dads can make their wife and kids feel loved at a cellular level.In the Gospels, Jesus often touched people before He healed them. Lepers. The blind. Children. Touch came first—then transformation.Modern science is now confirming what Scripture has always shown: a simple, intentional hug releases oxytocin, lowers stress, and builds emotional safety. Especially when it comes from a dad.If you’ve ever felt unsure what to say when your child is overwhelmed—or how to connect with your wife without fixing or performing—this episode is for you.Sometimes the most spiritual leadership doesn’t sound like anything at all.Sometimes it looks like staying close.

There’s a difference between remembering your past and being haunted by it.In this episode, I talk about the narrow road of discipleship—between spiritual amnesia and shame—and why God actually calls us to look back from time to time. Not to punish ourselves, but to remember His faithfulness.When we look back the right way, one of two things happens:Gratitude, when we see how far God has brought us.Repentance, when we realize we’ve drifted or stalled.What it should never lead to is shame.Conviction is an invitation from God.Shame is a verdict from the enemy.If you’re growing, let gratitude fuel you forward.If you feel further from God than ever, today is the day to return—not to hide.Jesus is still inviting you back.

What happens when God interrupts the dream you worked your whole life to build?In this episode of the Dad Tired Podcast, Jerrad sits down with country music songwriter and artist Drew Parker for one of the most honest conversations we’ve ever had.Drew shares his journey from writing number one songs, touring stadiums, and chasing success—to realizing he was spiritually immature, driven by insecurity, and living for approval. Then came a prayer asking God to be unmistakably clear… and five days later, an answer he couldn’t ignore.Together, we talk about:The quiet lie that drives many menFame, insecurity, and the need to prove yourselfWhat spiritual immaturity looks like in grown menWhy men are afraid to be fully knownFatherhood, obedience, and legacyWhat changes when a man finally takes God seriouslyThis episode is for the man who loves Jesus—but knows something deeper is missing.Strong families begin with healed men.Today's Sponsor: KidsGoBible.com

Most men aren’t unloving — we’re just under-trained in empathy.In this episode of Dad Tired Daily, Jerrad shares a personal moment from his marriage and unpacks why empathy is so hard for many men. From childhood survival patterns to chronic stress and the fear that empathy equals agreement, he walks through five common blockers that keep men emotionally distant from their wives and kids.Then he offers one simple, practical way to grow empathy this week — not by fixing, preaching, or escaping — but by learning to pause, name emotions, and stay present just a little longer than feels comfortable.Empathy isn’t weakness. It’s a muscle. And it can be grown.

Most of my prayers stay in my head.In today’s episode, I share a small but meaningful shift I’m making this year: praying out loud every day—especially for my wife and kids.We talk about Scripture, real life, and even some psychology behind why a calm, spoken prayer can bring peace and safety to those around us.This isn’t about performing or sounding spiritual.It’s about letting prayer move from thought to voice.Question to consider:What would it look like for you to pray out loud today—just once?

How do you know if you’re actually resting… or just checking out?In today’s Dad Tired Daily, Jerrad talks about the difference between restorative, soul-level rest and numbing behaviors that help us escape but don’t actually restore us.Most men aren’t lazy — they’re tired. And when we don’t know how to rest, we reach for things that temporarily quiet the noise but leave us more exhausted the next day.This episode will help you:Discern rest vs. numbing in everyday lifeUnderstand why numbing works short-term but drains you long-termLearn what real, boring, restorative rest actually looks likePractice a simple way to help your soul slow downInspired by Psalm 23 and Jesus’ invitation to rest.Rested men lead their families well.