The Dad Edge Podcast

We all go through dark times in our lives. Whether it's financial difficulties, marital tension, struggles with our children, or failures in our work, we may sometimes wonder if we're simply a burden to all those around us. Today's guest is Adam Schafer. He is a host on Mind Pump, one of the biggest podcasts on iTunes. Adam is not a dad, but he was the son of a father who committed suicide. Adam was seven years old when his dad shot himself, and the tragedy created a shock wave that still reverberates in Adam's life today. Children whose fathers commit suicide have a 50/50 chance of being suicidal themselves. Adam struggled with isolation and depression because of the impact of his father's suicide. He shares how he uses times of darkness to forge himself into the man he is today. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/184.

Our previous episode was called A Father's Last words and it was something TDE has never done before. Brian Froneyberger bravely and generously gave of the perspective of a father who was dying of cancer. It was a true privilege to listen to his wisdom about what really matters to a person who knows their time is running out. Tragically, he passed away between the recording and release of the show and his funeral service was held the very day his episode came out. Having this conversation with Brian forced things into perspective. We often get frustrated with our kids. We get irritable with our spouses. We stress about work. Most feel like we're under a burden of obligations, but we have the choice to turn this around. Brian would give anything to be here having the problems we are facing right now. It's not what happens to us, it's how we respond to it. We can be the calm in the middle of the storm if we don't obsess over life's trivial problems. When we're feeling stressed, depressed, or hopeless, we must ask ourselves, is worrying really worthy of our precious time? Wouldn't it be better to focus our emotions on what really matters in life? Shouldn't we be giving our energy to the things that we love instead of those we hate? For the show notes and the links in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday127.

Our guest today is Brian Froneyberger. He battled stage 4 incurable head and neck cancer. Ten days after recording this show, Brian lost the fight and passed away. He was only forty-six years old. He left behind a wife, a son, and a daughter. What you will hear today are a father's last words. They are a gift to all of those who listen. No man knows how much time he has left. Brian bravely opens up about facing death, how it puts life in perspective, and what really matters most before the last goodbye. His family is now coping with the loss. They are also in trouble financially. The Dad Edge Alliance has donated $1000 to their Go Fund Me campaign. You can help too by clicking the link in the show notes. Go to gooddadproject.com/brian.

We all go through ups and downs, and it's easy to focus on whatever is going wrong in our lives, but being stressed and worried all the time works against us. A negative mindset literally makes us dumber! But we can shift our attitude by appreciating what we do have going for us. Today we have on new Dad Edge Alliance member, Dwayne. He came into the group at an all-time low. His marriage was in trouble, he was in debt, and he was depressed. As he began to target all aspects of his life in the alliance, he also adopted the habit of looking at all that was going right in his life. Within a few months, Dwayne has made incredible progress. His marriage is in a good place, he paid off 6K in debt, and is smiling again. Discover the other life-changing benefits of practicing gratitude in this short episode! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday126.

How come we're not happy when we get what we want? So many of us believe that if we just made more money, if we got that promotion we wanted, or if we lost that last ten pounds we'd be happy. Then sometimes we finally achieve our goals and realize we're still unfulfilled. This is because we bring 'us.' We always have ourselves and our limited beliefs. Today we have a live Dad Edge Alliance Q&A session with Gary John Bishop. His book How to Unf*ck Yourself just made the NY Times bestseller list. He has been on our show twice before and was a speaker at our Dad Edge Summit. This episode is in-your-face and explicit. Some of it you may not like hearing, but Gary John Bishop will tell you (in his Shrek-like Scottish accent) how to come to terms with your own bullsh*t so that you can be relentless in executing your goals while also finding the joy in where you are, here and now. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/183.

Every man is fighting something in his life. It could be a problem at work, an issue in a marriage, or a dilemma with our kids. It might even be something physical, mental, or emotional. But most of us were raised with the "suck it up" mentality. We hold in all our frustrations and struggle alone. Thursday Throwdown is our show centered on relatable dads. Today we have Dad Edge Alliance member Philipp Lomboy on the show. He is an everyday dad of four girls and he is the host of a podcast called Everyday Fighter. Philipp was a guy who never talked and always avoided conflict, especially when it came to his wife. He shares how making the choice to be more open has changed his life and inspired the idea for his new podcast. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday125.

Why would we bring on a dating coach when most of our listeners are married? If we're not mindful in our marriage, it will fizzle out. After so many years with the same person, we get comfortable, complacent, and lazy. Whenever we do try to do something new, our wives may reject us and we shut down. Today we have dating coach and relationship expert Spencer Burnett on the show to talk about how to make your wife fall in love with you again and again. He shares his secrets on pursuing a woman confidently and from a place of service for better communication, intimacy, and attraction. Married, divorced, and single dads will walk away from this show with a game plan for the relationship they want with the woman they truly desire. For the show notes, links, and exclusive offers mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/182

Do you know who you are? Do you know what it is you're really chasing? How will you feel about your life on your deathbed? Many of us are not living life to the fullest. We're stuck in the daily grind, just trying to keep our heads above water. Society tells us what we should and should not be. Inside we know that our dreams are passing us by and we suffer in silence, sometimes turning to vices. Today we talk to longtime Dad Edge Alliance member Ryan Greenwood. He talks about how he has transformed his life with the help of accountability and tough love from his tribe. He has advice for men struggling alone so they can stop grinding and start living. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday124.

If you are the coach or parent of a youth athlete, this episode is an absolute game changer. I invited former NFL player Anthony Trucks to my home in St. Louis to do a live Q & A session with dads, kids, and coaches to answer questions about adversity, perseverance, and practice. Whether it's football, dance, baseball, soccer, martial arts or track and field, Trucks gives us amazing insights on how to coach the right way and help our kids optimize their mental game for greatness. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/181.

We have no idea what we're up against when it comes to the longterm effects of technology. With the viral popularity of games like Fortnite and gaming disorder being declared a mental health condition, video game addiction has become a hot topic. That's why we had Cam Adair on The Dad Edge for the past two episodes to talk about how devices affect our brains and what we can do to mitigate unhealthy habits when it comes to our digital lives. Cam's interview inspired me to make some changes in my own home when it came to devices. With four young boys, it was a challenge. At first, life without tablets and video games was miserable for all of us. I also realized that I was part of the problem and that I had to work on my habits to set an example to my family. Listen to what happens when you take away your kids' devices and how it can change your family life for the better. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday123.

Technology is changing our lives and habits more quickly than ever before in history. We live a life of instant gratification and constant entertainment. Smart phones, tablets, and computers enrich our lives in many ways, but they can also be overstimulating and keep us from interacting with the real world. What can we do for ourselves and our families to prevent video game, porn, and social media addiction? We had Cam Adair on last week to talk about the epidemic of gaming disorder. This topic is so important and we as a society are just beginning to understand the implications. And it's not just video games. Pornography and social media can alter our brain chemistry in the same destructive ways. We asked Cam back to do a live Q&A session with the Dad Edge Alliance so real dads could share their concerns about raising kids in the digital age. For the show notes, links, and resources for this episode go to gooddadproject.com/180.

Seven years ago, Pastor Joe Burhnam spent the night in a jail cell after getting arrested in a prostitution sting. He was released cold and alone in an unfamiliar part of town. Joe walked home demoralized, knowing his marriage and career were over. He was a sex addict who had been living a double life, deceiving his friends, family, and community. He spent years crafting a façade and no one knew who he really was ... until now. Today, Joe is in recovery from sex addiction and can tell his story without shame. He shares his experience battling his demons and has hopeful advice for men operating alone in a dark place. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday122.

This is a hugely important episode. Video games are part of almost every kids life, but there is a difference between playing for fun and using them to replace real life. Games like Minecraft and Fortnite have become part of our popular culture and make up a large part of kids' social lives. According to the World Health Organization, video game addiction is now an official mental health condition. It changes a child's brain chemistry and can lead to depression and isolation. In this episode, TEDx speaker Cam Adair talks about his experience with gaming disorder. He also talks about why video games are so addictive, how to recognize the signs of video game addiction in our kids, and how parents can set healthy boundaries for gaming. For the show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/179.

No matter how hard we try to separate home life from our jobs, work stress affects our families. Children pick up on all our cues and can become frightened if they see us behaving in ways they don't understand. How do we release emotions safely in front of the kids? Today we have Dad Edge Alliance member Jon McKinney on the show. He is an officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and deals with intense emotions and extreme stress on a daily basis. As a single dad, he has his own challenges to contend with. And as a cop, he also has to help resolve other people's personal problems. Jon gives us an intimate look at how he demonstrates bravery, perseverance, and resilience to his kids while also showing them that it's okay to breakdown, let your emotions out, and share them with other people. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday121.

We know our kids are going to fail and that they're going to be disappointed. Pulling the positive lessons from failures can help kids use losses as stepping stones to greatness. But what happens when we as fathers fail? Today we have Frankie Edgar on the show for a return visit. He was the UFC Lightweight Champion of UFC 112 and is a husband and a dad. Frankie risks crushing failure every time he steps into the ring. Naturally, it's no fun losing a fight, but he knows that his kids are watching. Listen to how Frankie sets a champion's example of pulling the positive from failure and how he draws the line between family and fighting. For the show notes and exclusive sponsor offers mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/178.

We have two choices when we become dads. Are we going to be like our fathers? Or are we going to try to be different. Some men have a good sense of what a good dad should be by watching their fathers. Other men are trying to break a pattern of bad fathering, whether it be addiction, anger, or complete absence. On today's short show we have Dad Edge Alliance member Andy Nelson. He is a divorced dad who admits that he was not there mentally for his kids or their mother. He knew he had to break the pattern of his father's parenting and began to proactively improve his relationship with both his kids and his ex-wife. Andy tells us how he developed a framework to change his life and how he succeeded by focusing on his goals instead of running away from what he didn't want. For the show notes, links, and to apply for the Dad Edge Alliance, go to gooddadproject.com/thursday120.

Behold the dadbod. How did we get this way? The stubborn belly fat that doesn't go away no matter how hard we work. The muscle mass that's harder to maintain than it used to be. We don't have the same energy and stamina we used to. Maybe things have even cooled off in the bedroom. Alex Van Houten is the founder of Defining Dadbod. He's going to talk about how our chemistry changes after we become fathers and how to define the dadbod by optimizing our male hormones for fat loss, energy, and libido. For the show notes and his exclusive free offer, 16 Weeks To Optimizing Your Hormones, go to gooddadproject.com/177.

Fatherhood is imperfect. It's messy. It's crazy, but one thing we need to keep in mind is that our kids are watching us. The example we set means more than whatever we tell them. That's why it's crucial to always keep our word and be accountable for our mistakes. Thursday Throwdown is our short show with everyday, relatable dads. Today, Dad Edge Alliance member Joe Courtney talks about teaching kids to take ownership. For the show notes, links, and the application to The Dad Edge Alliance go to gooddadproject.com/thursday119.

Our financially-focused shows are among the most popular, and today's show will blow you away. Most of think we have to wait till retirement to enjoy life. In the meantime, we might be slaving away at a job we hate or one that isn't providing us with enough income for the lifestyle we've dreamed of. But what would you do if money didn't matter? Today's guest is Ryan Enk from CashflowDadlife.com. He's going to talk about passive income real estate investing, and you do not want to pass up this show! Even if you don't have any savings, Ryan reveals the secrets of using other people's money to invest in real estate, scaling that business upwards, and being able to quit your job in 12 months! For the show notes, links, and the exclusive free passive income real estate training offer go to gooddadproject.com/176.

Do you go at life alone? If you're like 99% of the men out there, you probably are. Most men bear the weight of the world on their shoulders and tell everyone who asks that they're "good" and "fine". They don't want to ask for advice or help because their afraid of looking weak. But the dangers of perfection are real and the stress that accumulates from internalizing our fears and worries seeps into everything we do as men, husbands, and fathers. Thursday Throwdown is our short show with everyday, relatable dads. Today we have Dad Edge Alliance member Brian Auten on to share his experience. He decided that enough was enough. Holding in negative emotions put him in a bad mood with his wife and kids. Pretending everything was okay made his life stagnant. He needed help, and he needed to be proactive about getting it. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday118.

So many men are married and miserable. The worst part about this is we accept it. We think that's the way marriage is supposed to be. We can blame it on our spouse. We might say its because of our work, the kids, or the society we live in, but rarely do we look at ourselves. Whether your marriage is in a rut, a rough patch, or a full-blown crisis, today's episode will change everything you thought you knew about being married. Marriage Coach Larry Bilotta is our guest. He is going to shift your perspectives about the core problems between husbands and wives using the movie The Matrix as an analogy. You will be shown the hidden dynamics of relationships and how you alone can save your marriage by changing your programming. Will you take the blue pill or the red pill? For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/175.

Life is full of challenges. We all will go through times of adversity. If we're going through them alone, we might feel hopeless and cope in negative ways. How can we get away from a fearful victim mentality, and instead, use problems as opportunities? Thursday Throwdown is our short show where we feature regular dads. Today we have Jason Palmer as our guest. He has faced adversity and loss, including the death of a child. At first, he reached for alcohol to ease the pain, often drinking a whole bottle of whiskey just to be able to sleep at night. But deep down inside, he knew that he was meant for more. Life didn't have to be this way. Then Jason discovered our episode about giving up alcohol. It inspired him to give up drinking and join the Dad Edge Alliance. He tells us how he took ownership of his life and trained himself to look at his problems as opportunities and to move from fear-based to solution-based thinking. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday117.

Getting children to obey can be a challenge that wears our patience down to zero. Today's guest is going to show us how to apply FBI hostage negotiation skills to discussions with our kids in ways that not only get them to do what we want them to do, but also help them become more resourceful and confident. Chris Voss is the author of Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It. He was the lead kidnapping negotiator for the FBI and is the founder of the Black Swan group, whose mission is to help achieve exceptional results in business and personal negotiations using hostage negotiation skills. He shares simple, clever tactics that we can use every day to have productive discussions with our kids while training our own brains to react constructively instead of with frustration. This episode will totally shift your approach to everyday family squabbles. Get ready to take some notes! For the show notes, links, and sponsor offers mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/174.

Are you afraid to go first? We usually like to sit back and watch someone else go first, whether it's being the first to raise our hand, the first to try something we've never done before, or the first to speak up and say what everyone else is afraid to say. But when we become dads, what happens if we continue to let others go first? What does that show our kids? One of the lessons we want to teach our kids is leadership. We are the leaders of the family and it is our duty to go first, even if we fail. Today we have Kyle Ferris on the show. He's one of our members from the Dad Edge Alliance and attended our Dad Edge Summit last month. He shares his insights on how to be a leader to your kids by going first. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday116.

Traver Boehm has a story unlike anything you've ever heard. He put himself through an experience most of us would find absolutely terrifying. This interview will inspire you to dig deep inside yourself and look at life in a completely new way. Traver Boehm is an author, speaker, and founder of the Man Uncivilized Movement, which aims to inspire millions of men to balance their primal and divine masculine traits. He is not a dad or a husband at the moment. He was previously married with a child on the way, but everything came to a crushing end. This sent Traver on a wild and painful physical, mental, and spiritual journey to discover who he truly was inside and what it means to be the masculine, the man, and the mountain. For the show notes, links, and sponsor offers mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/173.

Why is it that men tend to shut down and hide instead of asking for help? As the founder of The Dad Edge Alliance, I have talked to thousands of men, and I can tell you we all struggle with the same issues. We suffer physical, mental, and emotional problems. We deal with affairs, addiction, fear, anger, identity crises, and major life changes. We are not alone in life's challenges. So why do we insist on pretending we've got it all under control? Today I'm going to share 7 reasons why men don't ask for help, and I will tell you right now that they are all lies. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday115.

Most of us say that our marriage is a priority, and usually it starts off well, but then the kids come. Time alone with our spouses becomes rare. Our children's needs must constantly be met. Life gets hectic and patience runs thin. The happily ever after we imagined can turn into a nightmare. This is an episode all dads and moms need to hear. Today we have our first couple on The Dad Edge podcast. Lance and Brandy are the creators of Legendary Couples. Their marriage deteriorated after the birth of their two daughters, very nearly ending in divorce. But they took action to save their marriage and now teach other couples how to cultivate that legendary love again. For the show notes, links, and special offers from Legendary Couples go to gooddadproject.com/172.

Integrity means being a whole person and making sure that our words, actions, and vision are all on the same trajectory toward a meaningful life. As we get older, we tend to lose the innate integrity and curiosity that we were born with. We forget about the dreams that inspired us. We often fall completely out of alignment with that spark in our lives. Thursday Throwdowns are our short episodes about the everyday dad who is doing heroic things to optimize his life. Today we have one of our Dad Edge Alliance members on to talk about tapping into integrity and curiosity. You will walk away from this show knowing exactly what it means to be whole and how to stay true to yourself through life's ups and downs. For the show notes and links in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday114.

Do you wince when you hear the word budget? It's about as painful as the words diet or jail, but if you don't budget for your goals now, you will never be able to enjoy life to the fullest and neither will your family. The majority of families are living paycheck to paycheck. Minor emergencies quickly send most people into debt. It's no wonder that money issues are the number one cause of divorce. Jesse Mecham is our guest today. He is the founder of YNAB (You Need a Budget) and is here to share his no-nonsense takeaways that will help you effortlessly budget money for everything you need and want in life. This show will outline the easy and effective way to budget for your goals so that you can live with less stress and make the most of the money your work so hard for. For the show notes, links, and exclusive offers mentioned in this episode, go to gooddadproject.com/171.

How should you approach your wife when you're in crisis? When we men go into crisis, we have a tendency to shut down. We don't want to appear like we don't have it all under control. We don't want our spouses to worry. Some might think that sharing all of our feelings of anxiety, stress, anger, or overwhelm with our spouse is the logical alternative, but this isn't the answer either. There's a fine line between what and how we as husbands should share bad news with our wives. Today, we have Alliance Member Alex Vanhouten on the show. He is the creator of Defining Dadbod, which aims to create a legacy of health and fitness for our kids. But he wasn't always an entrepreneur. A few months ago, Alex was a successful employee who terminated from his job without any warning. Alex's wife is a stay-at-home mom and he didn't know what to do as the sole support for a single-income household. He tells us what he did before explaining his crisis to his wife to make sure that they both could cope with it in best way possible. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday113

Why do many of us fathers neglect our health? There are two main reasons. The number one reason is guilt. We feel bad for taking time away from work and family to spend on ourselves. The second reason is money. We would have to spend more to eat healthier, join a gym, or hire a personal trainer. But not making our health a priority is the biggest disservice to ourselves and our families. In this episode, we have a panel discussion with Dr. Adrian Chavez of Your Nutrition Prescription and Chris Hughes from The Driven Dad. They have put together a fully-customized 8-week fitness and nutrition bootcamp for dads. We also talk to members Rashad and Mickey about what made this bootcamp unique and how it has transformed their health and their lives! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/170.

Who are we supposed to be in relationships? As men, no one gives us a manual on how to communicate, be emotionally available, and give our spouse or partner what they need. Today we have Dad Edge Alliance member Ed Dillon on the show. He is a single father of four who's had two failed marriages. Ed spent years wondering why his relationships, including the ones with his kids, were falling flat. He talks about what mindset shift took place that shed light on all he was doing wrong and how this lead to some of the most profound moments of connection in his life. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to gooddadproject.com/thursday112.

Emotions like fear and anger lead to shortsightedness and poor decision-making. How can you gain ultimate mastery of your emotional state? Andy Stumpf is a former Navy SEAL who executed hundreds of combat operations all over the world. He is now a sought after public speaker and the host of the Cleared Hot podcast. Andy is an avid base jumper who holds the world record for having flown more than 18 miles in a wing suit. He is also a dad. Listen to his amazing story—from the Navy SEALs, to base jumper, to father—and how he keeps his cool through it all! For the show notes, links, and sponsor offers mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/169.

Most of us are resistant to change. It can cause feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and overwhelm. As men, we automatically internalize our stress, shutting our spouses out. We're afraid of appearing weak to those who look up to us. But, this is a destructive habit that damages our mental and physical health. It also creates a rift in the family that can lead to permanent consequences. Today we talk to Dad Edge Alliance member Joe Rico about embracing change as a man. He tells us how a major shift in his life almost brought him to his knees, and where he discovered sources of strength to empower himself in the face of uncertainty.

Money, money, money, money. Today, we're talking money. Episodes on finances are always popular on The Dad Edge podcast so we know you'll want to hear today's guest. Brad Barrett is the cohost of wildly popular podcast ChooseFI (Financial Independence). ChooseFI is a little over a year old and already has millions of downloads. The show has started a financial independence movement that is taking root and spreading across the globe. The best part is that Brad Barrett is not going to bog us down with numbers and complicated strategies. Instead he gives us super simple, actionable tips that we can use today. He shares hacks on how to save more money, how to shield ourselves from taxes, and gives us specific funds to invest in to avoid the fees on our retirement that compound to massive amounts in the future. Get off the couch and claim your financial independence! For the show notes, sponsor offers, and links mentioned in this episode, go to gooddadproject.com/168

Sometimes we don't realize how much our attention means to our spouses and kids. After work, we might only get a few hours with our families. What's the best way to spend what little time we have with them? In this short episode, I talk to my son Ethan who gives us a kid's perspective on just how important time with dad is. He also shares simple, straightforward advice for hardworking dads on how to achieve work-life balance and prioritize their free time with their families. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday110.

Brace yourself. This show is going to be like a punch in the face, but it's a punch in the face that we men need. We are born warriors with big dreams for our lives, but many of us are getting beat down and overwhelmed. We suffer silently and alone, with no idea how or if we can break out to become the man we want to be. In this explicit episode, I talk to Garrett J. White. He is the founder of Wake Up Warrior and Warrior Week. He is also the author of the upcoming Warrior Book. With his stripped-down, brutal delivery, Garrett tells us how to get past the lies we tell ourselves to break free from the person we used to be so that we can get out of our own way and finally step into our own greatness. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/167.

As men and providers, we have a tendency to attach our identity to our work. We spend so much of our time and energy making a living and building our career or business, that it's hard to see ourselves outside that role. But we are not one dimensional men. There are many dimensions to who we are and neglecting these other parts of our life creates imbalance and a sense of incompleteness. In this episode, I go over how to optimize five main dimensions of manhood. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday109.

What you're going to hear today will hit you right in the chest and speak to your soul. You might question the direction of your life, and that's a good thing. Beneath the negative events portrayed in the media, there is a modern revolution of the masculine heart taking place. Do you feel a call to adventure and a longing for a deeper, more fulfilling life? Today we give you a sneak peek behind the curtains of one of our Dad Edge Alliance group calls. Bestselling author of Wild at Heart John Eldredge agreed to do a live Q&A with our guys. This is an emotional show full of incredible wisdom and answers to questions we might not have even known we had. Don't miss this special episode of the Dad Edge Podcast! For the show notes and special links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/166.

The sudden death of a spouse is one of the worst tragedies imaginable. What's even more painful to think about is the effect it would have on our children. How do we teach our kids how to cope with grief? Today we have one of our Dad Edge Alliance members Scott Tewell on the show. His wife and daughter were in a serious car accident in January of 2017. His daughter made it. His wife did not. Scott is now a single dad raising a 13-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl. He talks about how he's helping his kids cope with the loss of their mother and how he's managing to rebuild himself as a man and father after such incredible heartbreak. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday108.

Do you ever feel the urge to declutter your life? Have you ever found yourself stretched too thin? Do you sometimes feel overworked and underutilized? Are you frequently busy without getting any closer to your goals? Most of us in this day and age feel perpetually busy and overwhelmed, with little energy and time to spend on the things in life that matter the most to us. Today we have a very special guest. Greg McKeown is the NY Times bestselling author of Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. He shares astonishing insights on how family life has changed throughout the centuries, how our behavioral systems impact future generations, and how to design our lives to focus on essentials so we can stay connected with our long-term visions. You'll want to save this epic episode! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to gooddadproject.com/165.

The Dad Edge podcast usually features the most inspirational thought leaders of today, but our listeners have also been telling us that they enjoy our shorter episodes interviewing the everyday-dads who are trying to grow. Today we have Nick Elkins on the show. He has been a long-time member of The Dad Edge Alliance and is our finance guy. He is a 30-year-old happily married father of three. He talks about how he used habit stacking to reach his goals of losing weight, managing anger, and growing his finances so he can retire in his 40s! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday107.

Drinking alcohol is ingrained in our culture. It's socially acceptable and even expected, but sometimes we wonder if we're drinking too much and what life might be like if we eliminate alcohol from our lives. Today we have Steve Galatioto on The Dad Edge podcast. He has just published his book Sobered Up, So Now What?: 3 Keys To Staying Sober & Succeeding At Life. Listen as he tells us how quitting drinking can improve your body, mind, and soul, enabling you to become a better dad and more successful person. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to gooddadproject.com/164.

If you could improve just one part of your family life, what would it be? As the head of our households, we often feel maxed out and have nothing left to give during our downtime. What if you knew that with a few small changes, you can master intentional living as a family and completely change the atmosphere of your home life? In today's show, we have Chris from our Dad Edge Alliance. He grew up in LA hanging out with gang members. Now he's a husband and a dad to a son and a daughter. He tells us how he disconnects from work and makes every day special for his family. For the show notes and links in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday106.

Jake Herbert is back on the show! He was an Olympic Wrestler whose life dream was to win the gold medal in the 2016 Olympics. My boys and I were there to see the trials. Sadly, his Olympic dream didn't come true. It was a crushing blow, but now Jake's smiling. He's got a baby on the way, a new career, and a mission to leave every room better than when he found it. He talks about how he reinvented himself after the disappointment of a lifetime and shares his 4 ridiculously simple steps to knocking out goals one by one. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/163

What happens when we've never been tested by life? If we've never experienced illness, tragedy, death, or war? How do we know how if we have the mental toughness to face adversity? Today, I have one of our Dad Edge Alliance mastermind program graduates and our first team lead Brad Ritter on the show. In his thirties, he was by all definitions a success. He had a big house, a great marriage, healthy kids, and a rock solid job. But he felt something was missing. He had never been tested by life and he wanted to find out what he was made of. Brad talks about how he endured SEALFIT Kokoro training, the world's premier training event for forging mental toughness. He also talks about his Dad Edge Alliance call team nicknamed the Fight Club, and how he has helped the men in his group develop and grow. For the show notes and links in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday105.

Jeff Hemmer is the author of the book Man Up!: The Quest for Masculinity. He is also a pastor, a husband, and the father of six children. We don't' usually do spiritual topics on the podcast, but whether you're spiritual or not, you will get a lot of value from today's show. We're going to talk about what it means to be a spiritual leader in your house and go beyond the "Sunday School" versions of the Bible to explore the true masculinity of Jesus. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/162.

What does the word 'budget' bring to mind? It's about as fun as the word 'diet.' We think of sacrifice. We think of depriving ourselves. We think of boredom. But what if you could change your money mindset so that living on a budget is something that you and your family can be passionate about? It's possible, and in this episode of Thursday Throwdown, we have one of our Dad Edge Alliance members on to tell us how he paid off a huge debt and how he and his family have changed their money mindset so that they enjoy budgeting for their financial goals together. For the show notes and links in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday104.

Armando Cruz is back on The Dad Edge podcast! He is the author of The Legacy Code: Modern Man's Guide To Escape Obscurity & Live A Life Unleashed, a performance coach, and a father of three. In this episode, he talks about why building a legacy is about much more than leaving wealth behind for your children. He also gives us his five key steps to purposefully creating a legacy that inspires ... starting today! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to gooddadproject.com/161.

All of us want to be a perfect father, but things never turn out the way we expect. Even for those men actively striving to become a better dad, perfection eludes us. Holding ourselves to this impossible standard leads to frustration and hopelessness. It might make us feel like giving up altogether. Today, we have Dad Edge Alliance member Sam on the show. He's from Sydney and was part of the Australian Special Forces. He's married and is the father of three boys. He lost his band of brothers when he left the military and live and work in Abu Dhabi. Sam was desperately searching for guidance in his relationships with his wife and kids. He didn't consider himself a great dad and reached a point where he was just going to accept it. Today he talks about how perfection was his enemy and how he moved past it to grow as a husband and a father. For the show notes and special links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday103