The Dad Edge Podcast

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.