The Dad Edge Podcast

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