CLICK HERE to leave a Rating & Review on iTunes
Founder of the Daddy Daughter Hair Factory Philippe Morgese joins me this week for yet another great episode of We RAD DADS podcast. Phil is a great dad and has successfully found a way to work his life around his daughter and work his way into a full-custody type of arrangement. Through The Daddy Daughter Hair Factory Phil and his daughter have been featured on dozens of media outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, The Doctors, Fab Life with Tyra Banks, people.com, The History Chanel, MTV, Popsugar, Unworthy and even Australia’s “The Morning Show”
Join us in our conversation where Phil breaks down his bomb and his eventual recovery with bullet-proof resilience and determination to be the best possible dad he can be. Through incredible struggle, odds and with absolute grit he is truly a champion for change and the face of what is possible for ANY dad to become. Phil didn’t allow social stigmas, his situation or even his own inner hater to dissuade him from his mission and all that hard work has eventually paid off. Phil went from having zero time with his daughter to having her full-time- and he went about it WITHOUT the court systems. I’m truly humbled by Phil as he breaks down the amazing circumstances he faced and how far he has come. Truly, Phil is a RAD DAD!
Reward yourself with the wisdom he constantly drops throughout this episode and see him for the stellar guy he truly is. As if that weren't enough, he went on to create the Daddy Daughter Hair Factory inspiring fathers to challenge themselves by stepping out of their comfort zones- just as Phil himself has done in his pursuit of being a professional dad. You may be interested to know that Phil doesn’t make a single dime teaching dads about bonding with their daughters by learning how to do hair. THIS is the kind of guy Phil is and I'm so honored to have him on. Won’t you join us?
The joy of becoming dad
Making the hard choice of leaving
Holding my daughter hostage
Becoming valuable to your other & building mutual respect
STEM Skills
Minecraft & bonding time
The importance of tribe - Iron Sharpens Iron
In order to grow you need to let the past go
Learn from every dad and other great nuggets
“If you worry about being a good dad, you’re probably a good dad.”
Reach out RAD DADS
Bucket list: Marathon
Cornerstone Trait: Independence & free thinking
Teleport moment & advice: Words of encouragement - CHALLENGE
Daddy Daughter Hair Factory - Facebook
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
CLICK HERE to leave a Rating & Review on iTunes
Amongst all other things I share some change happening in my life and how I am handling it. Luckily my upcoming guest dropped some knowledge that I happened to need. It’s funny how life gives you exactly what you need when you need it. The trick is recognizing that opportunity when it comes your way.
Check out my Mindset Mountain interview on iTunes HERE or on the Mindset Mountain podcast page HERE
Become who you’ve always been at your core. Start being absolutely and un-apologetically you and you’ll begin attracting some amazing things in your life.
I suggest you implement these 3 simple things in your own life:
1. Embrace Change
2. In order to grow, you have to let the past go.
3. Only compare yourself to who you were yesterday and aspire to who you want to become tomorrow.
Reach out and connect, Join our Facebook Group!
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
CLICK HERE to leave a Rating & Review on iTunes
"Work harder AND smarter."
Steve is a mountain of a man and has been faced with adversity throughout his life. His successes can be directly attributed to his circumstances while growing up and coming of age. This was one of the most emotional interviews I have ever done but one of the most rewarding as well. I feel humbled as Steve bestowed his life wisdom on us all. This episode is a must listen!
Talking Points
- Jaws
- It’s funny now
- Mantra
- Respect
- Bomb
- Incredible strength, The big picture
- We all have a cross to bear
- Dealing with the past and finding resolution
- Walden
- Turning your focus from past to future
- Clem
- Giving back
- Processing emotions and teaching
- Quick Q&A
- Tele-port advice
- Muscular Dystrophy Association. mda.org
Get social with other RAD DADS!
Join our Facebook Group!
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
CLICK HERE to leave a Rating & Review on iTunes
My guest this week is none other than Ryan Michler. Ryan is the founder of Order Of Man. He runs the Order of Man podcast, Order of Man Facebook group and theorderofman.com.
Ryan is himself a RAD DAD and has faced relationship and family struggles which; if he had allowed his primal response mechanisms, would’ve destroyed his family. From that experience Ryan dove in to what it means to be a man and now speaks with authority to the over 4200 members of his Facebook group. Ryan also is the creator of the Iron Council, an elite mastermind for men.
He is currently a Married Father of 4, a proud veteran and an obvious leader of men- not only in word, but in action as well.
Sit in on our conversation and find out more about what it means to be a man, the duties of men, and his own 8 pillars of manhood. Some of them may surprise you.
Along the way we talk Joe Dirt, Martha Stewart, mindset, ownership, leadership and taking action
Ryan Michler on We RAD DADS!
Being a better leader; Order of Man.
Grunge scene to regimented and scheduled
Joe Dirt
Martha Steward Magazine
Focus on what you can do.
8 Pillars:
Bomb: Get yourself right so you can be fully present for those you care about.
Resilience - Eric Grietens (avaliable on Audible)
Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink (available on Audible)
Speed reading
Get out of your kids way
Cornerstone trait- Leadership.
Bucket list item- Rite of passage
Be the example to your kids.
Take action before you’re ready
Iron Council - Take it to the next level
Connect with Ryan:
Order of Man podcast - iTunes - Stitcher
Don't forget to try Audible.com. Get a FREE book with your FREE for 30 trial. What's better than FREE knowledge?
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
Steve Henkle is a dad and blended dad of 5! He is an excellent benchmark for all blended dads to take notice as he has completely “stepped” up and become simply ‘dad’ to his legally adopted children.
Join the conversation as Steve and I talk about blended families, how he navigated a terribly uncomfortable time with his children’s biological father and how he continues to strive to include him in their lives.
Of course, we have an interesting and meandering conversation which includes: Kris Kross, Justin Bieber, pilgrimages, clarity from chaos, opportunity within uncertainty, and happy socks.
Steve talks about his blog notamalefail.com which was created for men; like me, who were simply different than the stereotypical coming-of-age “man”. Steve and I discuss being open with his children and himself as they discover new paradigms of what being a dad and what a man is all about.
Steve talks about his upcoming book “Not a male Fail” wherein he describes difficulty identifying with what a man is and discusses the situations which made him question his adolescent manhood, why and how you as a dad can do better with your own children.
Gotham TV series
Happy Socks
If you teach a man to fish…
Guy Humor: Grown Ups, Adam Sandler / Blended
What’s a cassette player?
Justin Bieber - Baby
Mantra:
Recognize it and seize the opportunity uncertainty presents
Bomb crater:
Different than the other guys
I am a father to the fatherless
Getting clarity from chaos
You have not chosen me but I choose you
Extremes, the absence of masculine stereotypes
Fathers absence after marriage
“You look just like dad”
Embrace your children for who they are
Pilgrimage. Coming of age. Connecting
Connect with Steve at:
notamailfail Twitter
notamailfail FB
Don't forget to try Audible.com. Get a FREE book with your FREE for 30 trial. What's better than FREE knowledge?
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
CLICK HERE to leave a Rating & Review on iTunes
Please help me welcome Cameron Bahan of stilldaddy.net . Cameron is a Florida based recently divorced single father of two. He’s a software developer by day and blogger by night at stilldaddy.net . He has recently been through the meat grinder and like me, has had a very difficult 2015. Listen to Cameron and I talk about moving completely across the United States, Rambo knives, Earthquakes, Hurricane parties and the dude abides…
Cameron; like myself and many others, is in a vulnerable state and still in the unknown unsteady phase of a recently single father. Grappling with new role, identity, fears and the great unknown future. The biggest difference between Cameron and others is that he has the stones to blatantly share his story via his blog at stilldaddy.net Go check out his material because it’s spot on and well written- but not before you listen to our conversation.
Cameron drops truth, wisdom and hope. These are the gems I have been searching for and I think you have been too.
Talking Points:
Software developer
From British Columbia to Florida
Trading Earthquakes to Hurricanes
Rambo Knife
The Dude Abides
Hitchhiking first grader
Mantra: Reaction and trying to control the uncontrollable
Bomb: Wife wanted a divorce. Felt like I had to fix it
What’s the reason?
Mistakes along the way
Paying penance for your situation
What changed?
The courts and spending time with my boys
Change the words and change the mindset
The legal system and getting what you want. Your rights
What defines us is how well we rise after we fall- Zig Ziegler
Why stilldaddy.net?
Opportunity with loss of a job.
Best dadskill: Spending time with kids, being present.
Worst dadskills: Yelling, frustrations
Bucket list: Going Skiing with boys.
Pad Parent pet peeve: Negative talk/reinforcement/motivational tactics
Cornerstone trait: Never give up!
Lessons kids taught you: to relax, good downtime.
Motivational pop culture: Movie - Swing Kids.
Stories, resources community etc.
CAMERON’S CHALLENGE (ACCEPTED??)
stilldaddy4u (Facebook)
stilldaddy4u (Twitter)
Parting words - just be you and life will be a lot easier.
Reach out and connect, Join our Facebook Group!
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
What or What?
In all honesty, I would hope I have made you ask yourself this question. (preferably out loud. I KNOW I'm not the only one doing this!... I digress)
I guess you'll have to just listen to exactly what Huck is. But I will tease that the foundations; or building blocks, of Huck are the very same things we all struggle with while getting back up after becoming a single parent. Actually, they are the very things EVERYONE struggles with in some way shape or form. Personally, I find value in identifying, labeling and making a point of noticing the foundations for our actions (or inactions).
I suppose the inverse; or alternative, Punt is a well-known term. Punt entails a strategic maneuver wherein one realizes that the likelihood of continuing along the same path will probably end in a larger defeat than simply turning over the ball. It should be noted that "the game" NEVER ends with a punt. Frequently, a team who punts has just a good of a chance at winning as the team which does not. Frankly, it's insignificant in the long run as it is simply just a strategy to accomplish the end goal.
I'm pretty sure teams do not ever plan to Punt before a game. However, Punt formation is something which is practiced until perfection JUST IN CASE they need to utilize it.
In both strategies; Huck and Punt, there is inherent risk and reward. Although I'd like to Huck my way through life I can't always do so because it's very risky even though the rewards could be great- it may also result in complete disaster. Conversely, I can't continue to Punt my way through either because I'd avoid any hard decisions and there is little reward in it.
it is with a heavy heart that I discontinue the regular occurrence of my Thursday micro-sodes. Although I do not intend to quit, I am forced to Punt for the moment. I will still release micro-sodes and bonus episodes as warranted however they will be intermittent and not on a regularly recurring cycle.
Full-length episodes will still be released every Monday morning so the backbone of We RAD DADS podcast will remain intact. I vow to continue to bring resources to all non-traditional parents out there who have come to rely on We RAD DADS podcast.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding!
Don't forget to try Audible.com. Get a FREE book with your FREE for 30 trial. What's better than FREE knowledge?
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
Eric is a 16 year veteran of the armed forces, a former member of an elite force known as Navy SEAL’s, perhaps you’ve heard of them. Eric is a commanding example of what a RAD DAD should be. As a divorced and now remarried father of 4 Eric defines leadership in a blended family. Eric has taken leadership notes from both his father and grandfather and continued the lineage of strong male figures in his family. His book, Raising Men is just hitting the shelves and is packed with leadership tactics from not only Eric himself, but many other SEAL dads. It’s locked and loaded with absolute wisdom nuggets! Listen in as we discuss family, history, psychology, behavior and of course leadership.
Eric Davis represents a new breed of operative emerging from the Special Operations community.
Author of “Raising Men - What we learned in SEAL training and taught to our sons”
As a former Navy SEAL sniper instructor, technical and physical surveillance specialist and human performance expert Eric has extracted and repurposed the proven performance principles leveraged by elite units for entrepreneurs, business leaders and parents since 2008.
Davis is the founder of ericdavis215.com an online resource focused on delivering the situational awareness, transparency and knowledge ambitious people require to live a good life and lead others to do the same.
7:29 - Child soldier to SEAL, family lineage
8:51 - Come up to a level of excellence.
10:33 - Team 3 the “Desert Platoon”
11:29 - Forging Brotherhood
13:02 - Belgian Malinois, SEAL to dog trainer.
14:15 - Behavior science; dog training or kids, same same.
16:22 - Leading from the front and being the example.
18:03 - Eric the family man.
20:32 - OCD and ADD as a tool. Embrace the monkey.
24:32 - A different breed.
27:27 - Words of motivation: If you don’t mind it doesn’t matter. Interpret your situation differently.
29:57 - BOMB: Divorce from first wife. Own failure. Be the leader.
33:37 - Recognize the fundamentals. understand the sub elements. and be in a constant practice. Put first what matters most.
36:01 - Mind map. Situation awareness.
36:08 - Don’t be right, be effective. We’re in charge of producing the situation we desire.
41:32- Good people in your life.
43:49 - Become valuable to them.
45:52 - Why Raising Men?
50:33 - How to be; and raise, a man
51:17 - Redefining and recapturing manhood.
53:53 - Study and Train. Arm yourself with knowledge.
56:22 - Dad super power: being relevant.
"I’m not that smart, I just study a lot."
1:02:22 - SEAL Pups
1:06:08 - Confidence and Extreme Confidence
1:09:06 - Parting wisdom: A poor plan is better than no plan at all.
1:10:43 -smleaders.com
Visit Eric on his personal website at: ericdavis215.com No B.S. There's some pretty awesome things going on over there!
Follow Eric on Twitter HERE
Contact Eric directly at: eric@ericdavis.com
SM Leader (Sealed mindset leader mindset): smleader.com
Don't forget to try Audible.com. Get a FREE book with your FREE for 30 trial. What's better than FREE knowledge?
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
Cliche' or apropos?
Past struggle does not guarantee future success. Your future is completely unwritten and could take any possible turn.
"Lost time is never found again." -Benjamin Franklin
DO NOT WAIT. Start RIGHT NOW and begin living the best life you possibly can. You never know how long you actually have to show your loved ones what they mean to your.
Leave your regrets and anguish behind and move forward in the best possible way. Be true to YOU and YOUR FAMILY. THEY are the only thing that matters.
Take charge dad. RIGHT NOW is your time to rise. In this moment is an opportunity that will never return. Capitalize on your advantage and turn EVERY moment into an opportunity from here forward. Because life is too short.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
Hogan lets loose and gets real with me after our interview. Every single one of you needs to hear this.
The fact is, we doubt ourselves after the bomb and our experiences leave us with a "once bitten twice shy" mentality. Hogan lays down the gauntlet on us all and shows us all the light at the end of the tunnel.
Get out there and make it happen. Improve yourself in order to improve the rest of your life. Hogan yet again leads by example here.
Don't squander your time being the victim. Take this opportunity to create the life you have dreamt about.
Do the work and reap the benefits. If you don't know where to start, I would highly recommend that you get your free copy of "The 7 essential steps to take now that you're a single parent" exclusively available at www.weraddads.com. This offer will pop up automatically. Simply fill out your name and email address and I'll immediately send it to your inbox.
I created this resource for this EXACT REASON- to help you become your best you so start today by getting your copy NOW!
You can also connect with us on Facebook or start by sending me an email at: walter@weraddads.com
Start taking the RIGHT action dad. I know you can do it.
Stay up
Stay connected
and
STAY RAD DADS!
Please welcome Hogan Hilling to the We RAD DADS podcast! Hogan has seen some hard times and weathered many storms as a dad. One might think this would have made him gruff, harsh and negative however Hogan has used his experiences to enlighten others on how dads can be extremely valuable parental figures. He has personally challenged the common paradigm that dads can't parent. Not only has Hogan been a stay-at home dad care taking his three children, one of which a child with special needs; he has endured a bitter and insulting divorce that left him at the mercy of the judicial system slanted toward one particular gender. Through all of this Hogan has remained calm and collected, consistently putting first what matters most.
Hogan is the creator of the Dadly Rally and is a champion for dad's equality in parenting. True to his character, Hogan does not discriminate against any parent due to gender and welcomes involved women parents into the Dadly cause as well. He is a true example for each of us to follow!
Listen to our conversation as we discuss Hogan's winding path through life involving rediscovering his own dad as an adult and what he learned when they connected. This point alone shaped my perception of what it is to be an absent father... Sometimes the opportunity to be dad is taken away unjustly.
6:29 - "I came out of the pantry"
11:01 - Follow your heart but use your head
17:47 - Stop the "dadsanity", do it for the kids
20:51 - The simple joy of play
23:16 - Henk (link)
28:56 - Behaving Dadly
31:11 - Breaking the cycle
32:32 - Get comfortable being uncomfortable
34:29 - Living in the moment daddy
35:49 - The best things in life are free
40:08 - Looking at fatherhood through a child's eyes
42:28 - Don't beat yourself up. Reach out
Contact Hogan and connect with the Dadly Rally with the following links:
https://twitter.com/TheDadGuru
https://twitter.com/dadlyrally
https://www.facebook.com/dadlyrally/?fref=ts
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
CLICK HERE to leave a Rating & Review on iTunes
Let's face the facts here, sometimes life is about attempting not to fail. Occasionally, we can't let go of "learning moments" wherein we did a less-than optimal job.
Personally, I think this is a mark of someone who is constantly holding themselves to a higher standard. This is a fantastic trait but people like me can take that desire for perfection a little too far. That in itself tends to drag me down. Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy.
"Everything in moderation, including moderation." -Julia Childs
Keep doing the best you can and keep improving along the way. Recognize and accept your losses as learning moments and set yourself free of the guilt associated with it.
Process your situation and move forward. It's the only way to maintain your sanity and continually be the best you can. You're only human you know.
Not only does We RAD DADS have our first female guest, but she is also our first professional guest as well. We have for you this week none other than THE Dr. Laura Markham.
Join Dr. Markham and myself as we discuss her upbringings and how her blended family dynamics shaped her into one of the leading experts in Clinical Psychology. Her relatable story and early experiences are directly applicable to any single parent situation.
I was surprised to learn that the role model behind her successful principles is entirely attributed to her very own RAD DAD. Without her father's compassion which; in her words: "saved my life", she would not have discovered her full potential. Listen as Dr. Markham describes how her father was the one who showed her what loving guidance was all about.
Dads, you CAN and DO make a difference!
It was a true pleasure to speak with her. I can't say enough about my conversation with Dr. Markham and all the incredible nuggets she shares. On top of this, listen as we discuss one of her books and the powerful tools and tactics it details. I was very surprised to find extreme value in her book, Peaceful parent, happy kids. I HIGHLY recommend this book for ALL parents, especially RAD DADS. This would be an EXCELLENT FREE book from audible.com. When you click the link you get a FREE book AND a FREE 30 day trial of audible.com. What are you waiting for?
Who is Dr. Markham you ask?
Dr. Laura Markham trained as a Clinical Psychologist, earning her Ph.D. from Columbia University. But she's also a mom, so she translates proven science into the practical solutions you need for the family life you want.
Dr. Laura is the author of the books Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting and Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings:How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life.
The founding editor of AhaParenting.com, Dr. Laura also serves as a parenting expert for Mothering.com, Psychology Today, The Natural Parent Magazine, Pregnancy.org, Girlie Girl Army, SheKnows.com, and several other websites. She makes frequent TV and radio appearances and has been interviewed for hundreds of articles by publications as diverse as The Wall Street Journal, Real Simple, Newsday, Men's Health, Redbook and Parents Magazine.
Dr. Laura's relationship-based parenting model has helped thousands of families across the U.S. and Canada find compassionate, common-sense solutions to everything from separation anxiety and sleep problems to sass talk and cell phones. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two terrific kids -- now 21 and 25!
6:35 - Parenting Changed my paradigm.
8:39 - Clinical Psychologist
10:18 - What I was born to do. Virginia Axline. "Dibs in search of self"
13:24 - Kids in adult bodies - Not just a parenting book.
15:59 - Deal with your own stuff
18:25 - Go as slow as you need and as fast as you can
22:41 - Grappling with emotions
23:41 - "That's not me"- Hijacked by emotions
26:35 - Noticing emotional biases
28:59 - Dr. Laura's advice for single parents from first-hand experience
33:25 - Any parent can do this
34:08 - My dad saved my life
37:10 - Transformative pain creates inner strength
38:47 - Rewiring of the brain
41:25 - Age appropriateness
44:20 - Dare not to discipline
52:06 - What is "loving guidance"
53:55 - Limits, Empathize, Coach
57:40 - Parenting is 90% connection
1:01:21 - Can this work for parents of older kids?
You can reach Dr. Markham at the following links:
Peaceful parent, happy siblings
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better" -Maya Angelou
Well, let's just say that it was shaping up to be a great day. My son was super happy and outgoing. We went to Costco to make a return and grab some items. Now I'm certain thatCostco is a wonderland for small children however for adults with those small children we sometimes loose our sense of wonder when trying to get things done.
No spoilers here however I did meet with a very poignant moment and had to think quickly. Perception can be either an ally or an enemy. Although I would love to have reacted a certain way I chose to instead to respond according to my own ethos.
At the end of the day you are accountable to your own choices and actions. Many people do not consider this but I believe that the single parent community is VERY conscious about this - for many reasons.
We are often scrutinized for the smallest possible infraction that we ourselves begin to question how others will see us. Sadly, this is a reality when it comes to being judged.... literally. That's exactly what many single parents have to worry about. Whether a judge will deem you capable of being a part of your child's life based on your responses and reactions. This doesn't make walking "the path" any easier.
I feel for you all and would like to share with you an occurrence that happened to me recently. I'll share with you my thoughts and feelings that go along with it. I would hope that in doing this you can feel comfortable with your own feelings and responses given a similar circumstance.
What would you have done differently?
Tell me at: walter@weraddads.com
Reach out and connect, Join our Facebook Group!
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
Eddie is the proud father of 2 young adults and continues to put them first in his life. Eddie carved a career out of wildland firefighting as a Hotshot supervisor and found a true passion for the industry. As often happens, we tend to sacrifice these things in our lives for those we care about most.
Before long Eddie found himself behind the kiosk selling cell phones and wondering if that was all life had in store for him. Unhappy and unfulfilled already Eddie's marriage was not living up to expectations, and despite his best efforts was being dragged downward by negative reinforcement at home. In a paramount moment, Eddie found himself moments from ending the pain but his strength found footing as chose not to find the "easy way out".
Never the quitter, Eddie finally broke free of his anchors. After his divorce, he moved back to his comfort zone and immediately regained his sense of place. Luckily during this process he was able to retain a physical presence with his children as they moved from Chicago, Il. to Flagstaff, Az. Proven to be an unsinkable spirit he is now chasing his passions in life and spreading a message of hope and help to others.
Come listen to my interview with Eddie Aguilar as he tells his story and experiences as he dishes out heaps of helpful advice.
5:40 - Get to know Eddie Aguilar
9:04 - El Boz
10:14 - Major Payne
11:57 - The secret of the broken arm
13:24 - Chick flicks dude!
15:44 - It's all in the head
17:36 - Worthless to worth
21:52 - Live your words
24:03 - Bomb: Rem. 870 Wingmaster
30:59 - Back in my element
34:08 - Too poor to be a drunk
35:35 - You can't save everybody
40:40 - Left Behind
45:19 - Find what makes you happy
48:41 - Favorite age
50:07 - Best parenting skill
51:41 - Can't treat 2 kids the same
52:45 - A licence to act goofy
54:40 - Lifelong learning
56:10 - Rocky
58:59 - Veterans
1:02:15 - Contact Eddie Aguilar
I'm sure this episode isn't what you expected... neither did I. I'm of two minds in publishing it however, I believe in the power of integrity and character. I referenced this in the show manifesto (Episode 000) and owe this to both you and myself. So here goes....
Sink or swim I feel better talking about it, if only with myself.
Please let me know what you think at: walter@weraddads.com
Fitness isn't just physical with Steve Roy.
Steve Roy (aka singledadfitdad) is a shining example of renewal after “downfall”. Steve is making men’s lives better every day with his personal mission to help others using his own relevant experiences.
Like many of my guests Steve “had it all”. The job, the house and the family, everything that we’ve been told to want. His life exploded one day after a period of struggle when he was asked to leave the home and family he sacrificed to build. An overwhelming sense of loss ensued as he transitioned back into simply surviving. Finding himself alone with nothing but time to reflect, he stopped caring for himself. Like so many, Steve KNOWINGLY succumb to terrible habits and fell deeper into the bomb crater.
Blaming others and shirking responsibility Steve had a chance encounter with a friend who called him on his selfish thinking. This blunt interaction immediately led to an A-Ha moment which immediately led to active changes- starting with a grueling 7-minute run.
The irony here is that Steve makes a living as a fitness instructor, yet was not leading by example. Once this epiphany was made there was no stopping him.
Steve unleashed the person within and began singledadfitdad.com. His physical and mental metamorphosis was immediate and noticeable within a month
This result is a direct result of finding true purpose and aligning it with your true self. His words of wisdom and stories resonate on many levels with us all. Come be inspired to re-create yourself by harvesting only the best in your life and moving forward from where you are to EXACTLY where you want to be. Let’s take those steps together!
Come and join us for the full story the up’s and downs of becoming singledadfitdad.com.
3:32 - Get to know Steve Roy
6:38 - No longer single, fit dad.
7:59 - Parental equality
9:00 - Video games, Hero's quest
11:20 - "Kick his ass Seabass!"
11:56 - Confusion and anger met with a mother's tireless love.
14:28 - You can be a man AND have emotions
17:09 - Can't control other people
20:25 - Bomb: Asked to leave the life he created
23:28 - Not so blindsided
24:12 - Why is daddy never smiling?
26:55 - Brutal truth and change
30:47 - "Get busy living or get busy dying"
32:06 - Live for you
33:35 - Finding a new way to live
35:32 - Gary Vanerchuck
36:35 - How many men can I help?
40:18 - Self sufficiency
40:30 - Patience
43:30 - Yosemite
45:39 - Honest and open communication
44:13 - DIC-tator parents
46:45 - Correlation between learning and living
47:19 - What can YOU give?
49:22 - Take care of yourself first
55:46 - Connect with Steve
48:11 - Find happiness within
www.facebook.com/singledadfitdad/
www.instagram.com/singlefitdad
CLICK HERE to leave a Rating & Review on iTunes
"The only constant in life is change"
What does a Greek philosopher, a Renaissance Physicist and a 19th Century German philosopher have in common? You're about to find out in today's Micro-sode.
Heraclitus draws together many of the principles I discuss here on We RAD DADS. I had always heard the above mentioned quote but didn't know where it's origin truly was. Come to find out, It was from a Greek philosopher I had not heard of named Heraclitus.
"The Riddler"
The more I dug into Heraclitus and his work, the more interested I became. I was shocked to learn that he was much more than a one hit wonder (with regard to quotes). Heraclitus, was known for shrouding his theories in obscurity. Due to this he was known as "The riddler", "The dark" or "The obscure". This was an intentional choice because Heraclitus wanted people to put in the work in order to get any benefit. He understood the proposition of value in that; anything worth having is worth working for. I completely agree with that notion, I hope you do as well.
Heraclitus saw that most people are just "ignorant conformists". Going along with the crowd in order to not stick out It's much easier to just follow along with the crowd, much like a flock of sheep.
"War is the father of all"
The flux doctrine consists of three parts. The first of which is: "Everything is in flux". Heraclitus reasoned (accurately) that everything is constantly changing. And even the most resilient object is being changed from one moment to the next.
Second to this doctrine is: "A man's soul is fire- hot and dry". I know we have all experienced this. When you are consumed by a passion whatever it may be you literally feel hot from within. When you are in the zone one can say that you are "on fire". I'm sure you see what I'm getting at here.
Conversely, Heraclitus reasoned that: "A wet soul is worst". Comparing a wet soul to a drunken man who stumbles about. This is an interesting theory and a concept that I think I must mention at this point. The topic of alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism often comes up when talking to guests. Please ensure that you utilize due judgement when consuming anything during times of severe emotional stress.
Third and finally Heraclitus reasoned that "war is the father of all". The context of "war" is that of two opposing forces or ideas. This idea is further developed by Renaissance physicist Sir Issac Newton's 3rd law: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."
Heraclitus utilized a strung bow to illustrate this point. The string and the bow are only useful together. When assembled, they appear at rest and stationary however we know the forces and resistance are present. These forces are not visible however they produce a yin-yang effect, where one relies upon the other in order to be complete.
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche recognized the importance of Heraclitus' reasoning. The German philosopher understood that a great individual is constantly in conflict between the "good" and "bad" attributes within. He went on to reason that peace is only developed by the balancing of these forces NOT the removal of the "bad".
We got a little deep this week and I hope I haven't lost you. I wanted to bend your mind a little and keep you sharp. Sometimes it pays dividends to pontificate life's great questions.
Please let me know how you feel about this episode. Was it too deep or confusing? or do you like a challenge. If I were a betting man, I'd say the latter.
After his bomb Larry immediately set out to change himself and in so doing, began to help and change others. Larry is the founder of The Good Dad Project, a published author, and a skilled speaker. Through his quest to simply become a better father, he hastouched the lives of thousands.
Larry is a fantastic example of what all RAD DADS should strive to become. His strategies for remaining manly and confident whilst practicing humility blends the best and most important skills that being a dad should entail.
Larry is a married father of 4 boys and has leveraged his learning moments in order to build a life and a legacy we all should strive for. Larry speaks about being intentional and becoming the strong patriarch our families need.
Please join us for an interview that will lead you to some important questions which will help you along your journey. Positive changes start here!
2:51 - Get to know Larry Hagner
7:17 - Michael Jackson’s jacket
10:04 - Get to know http://sealfit.com
12:59 - Respond don’t react and own your mistakes
17:14 - What kind of father ARE you?
19:10 - New routine. Be there
22:36 - Dad at arm’s length
24:30 - “You’re just not showing up.”
25:08 - Rock bottom: Rebirth
28:45 - Pivot and shift accordingly
30:56 - Bounce back and take relief in action.
32:35 - I didn’t have a leg to stand on
34:35 - Dads with purpose, on purpose (How do you pronounce Meme?)
36:58 - The Dad’s Edge
41:24 - Reach out without judgement
42:31 - You are NOT alone
47:59 - Favorite age for kids. “Tumultous-ness”
50:02 - Super power - Play
51:53 - Distraction and asking for help
53:00 - Kitchen safe XL
53:26 - Parent fears
58:02 - Confidence and humility
1:00:49 - PSA
1:02:37 - Gateway MS in St. Louis. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/MOS.
Contact Larry Hagner:
Dad’s Edge Facebook Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/862377280526790/
Teamwork and planning is essential but sometimes you have more challenges than you've accounted for.
Understand when" it's just a game" convey this to your family with your actions. Trust me they're watching and learning. Learn what you can, understand as best you can, crunch the numbers even but eventually you'll have to jump in and take action. There are moments where lack of success is necessary to progress through life. Lack of success is sometimes exactly what you need. Fail forward.
Become comfortable with any unknown as best you can however, just know that as time passes so do your options. Now may be the best opportunity you'll have. Take decisive action and give it your all.
"I never loose. I either win or learn." - Nelson Mandella
"The only time you'll ever achieve perfection is when you recognize that nothing will ever be perfect."
Ken is a divorced father of 3 and takes extreme pride in being the absolute best Dad he can be.
Ken has struggled with everything from an extremely flawed legal system to being admonished as a dad. Formerly a Vice President for a huge company Ken learned firsthand that corporate success rarely translates to personal success. Ken’s path; like most of us was going from bad to worse but fortunately, he happened upon some hope.
Brooding in anger he sunk lower and lower until making the eventual observation that changed his course. Luckily, Ken was able to pull out of his crater but it’s never easy. Seeing his corporate job becoming less and less fulfilling and taking him away from his family for ever longer periods of time, Ken capitalized on a chance opportunity to be intentional about his future.
Ken is using his experiences through divorce and the legal system to help others in the same situations he found himself in. He helps men avoid common pitfalls that often befall the unsuspecting divorced Dad as they often unknowingly become victims of their own self-destructive patterns.
Please join us for this inspirational story and get connected with Ken to change your own path for the best.
6:08 - Back in the day
7:40 - Guy humor
9:35 - Journal & Legacy
12:23 - WRD Mantra
13:03 - Response vs. Reaction
15:00 - Single parent epiphany, Compassion
20:49 - Bomb Crater
24:39 - Common denominator
26:58 - Are you kidding me!?
32:28 - Epiphany by way of Dr. Steve Maraboli
36:48 - Circumstances = Success
38:18 - Rock
41:12 - Struggle to success www.thedivirceddadscoach.com
45:54 - Advice: Picture success
48:19 - substitute for curse
48:59 - Favorite Age: Meet them where they’re at.
49:27 - Best Dad Skill
54:42 - Cornerstone Trait
56:14 - Lifelong learning.
57:02 - Motivation: Erick Thomas, Daren Hardy, Bruce VanHorn
58:54 - Get up and get on with it.
59:14 - Fathers Rights
Twitter: @kenjaquith
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
"Figure out who you are at your core, find your true self and then, be yourself"
Nowadays I relish getting out into the community and "mixing it up" with everyday people. Unfortunately for me, often it is only in the simple trip to the store. We go to the store because we have a need for items but sometimes we find a true gem, a deal, a bonus of some kind. Today's micro-side is a story of just that. I found more than I was looking for in a simple quick trip to the store.
It's interesting to me how my small community is a powerful asset. I have better chances of running into someone I know. This could be good or bad (depending on your outlook). I was happy to run into Haley (not her real name). What happened next, neither of us expected but it was a powerful moment that I'd like to share with you.
"It always WAS better."
Your life will never revert to its once clockwork-like state. Often as I reflect on the past I have recognized that my memory only focuses on the good things, and even the bad seem much more entertaining than the were at the time. It reminds me of something a friend told me once (on an unrelated topic) he said, "It always WAS better." Meaning that your memory of events often wears rose-colored glasses. Since that is the "known" your brain accepts this as truth or a simple reference to how things are supposed to be. The unknown (The present and the future in this case) is unknown and therefore often scary inducing a fear response.
Don't let this fear dissuade you from being your authentic self. If I have any direct advice here it's: figure out who you are at your core, find your true self and then, be yourself. The more adept you are at change the better your life will be.
As with that, isn't it about time you found comfort with those who understand the true you? When you are your genuine self you will resonate with people in a whole new way. Stop dragging your baggage with you and move forward from where you are. Accept your past and move quickly on to your best future. Evaluate your needs vs. your wants. Let go of the things that you're dragging along. Quit fighting the current and just ride with the tide. Find your place. When you do, those who've traveled that path will celebrate your victory.
Jason is a father of two girls. One a fledgling teenager and the other a tween. Jason has an incredible story to tell about his battles with bipolar disorder and alcoholism - trust me, it’s not what you think but it IS important to hear what he has to say. Currently, he is a corporate employee, blogger, writer, and a speaker. Jason is living proof that you can overcome your circumstances. He found himself as an instant single Dad and left to pick up the pieces while holding a full-time corporate position and raising his then toddler daughters. Jason was able to hurdle these obstacles and turn his story into one of absolute victory when all but one had written him off.
As we all know, the amount of effort required to this is truly Herculean. Jason embodies this description in a physical manner as well. He attributes his recovery to the right type of challenges from a loving partner. Identifying a passion, a new path emerged. Jason capitalized on this newfound momentum and increasingly intriguing vocation.
Jason inspires hundreds daily, myself included. If you were looking to surround yourself with people who exemplify what it is to be a RAD DAD, Jason would be one of your first choices. I can’t say enough positive things about the man and I am confident that after you listen to this episode, neither can you. Please listen in as we deep-dive into the darkest chasms, persevere through the darkest of times and emerge a true warrior.
If Jason’s story speaks to you, please share it with the world.
4:32 - Home Sweet Home
5:59 - Comedy
6:42 - Context
9:37 - Get in shape
11:48 - Seeing crisis as opportunity
13:55 - Don’t judge, seek wisdom.
16:12 - Bombs; Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol
21:04 - The Justified Drinker
25:34 - Can’t outrun your demons
28:27 - Excuses and alcoholic crazy talk
30:42 - Being challenged in the right ways
35:17 - Cold turkey
42:26 - Lay down your shield
43:00 - Attracting genuine “you” to yourself
44:59 - Finding family through vulnerability
48:04 - My rock
54:39 - Curse
55:13 - Best Dad skill
55:56 - Blah Blah Blah
56:68 - Parent pet peeve
58:41 - What is possible?
1:00:20 - Lifelong learning
1:01:52 - Govinator
1:02:52 - Miracle morning
1:04:48 - Sick not weak Twitter: @SickNotWeak
1:05:52 - Parting wisdom.
Jason MacKenzie is continually publishing new content and would love to have you follow him on any or all of the following platforms.
Twitter: @LeMonkDeFunk
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
Please leave a Rating & Review in iTunes CLICK HERE
Have you ever happened upon someone during their weakest moment and helped them through it? Has anyone seen you during a vulnerable moment? Did they lend a hand or turn away?
Who is Sy Sperling and what does he have to do with helping?
We would all like to be solid rocks in the river however, we aren’t. We are loose stones tumbling with the current.
Are you being true to yourself? Is your persona true to others? When given the opportunity would you do the right thing for the right reasons no matter what others think? The point is, start being
who you truly are. Accept your faults and embrace your weaknesses. The longer you fight the flow; and who you truly are, the longer you deprive those who matter most from the amazing person you are and everything you have to offer. When you are a fulfilled, content, confident and happy with who you are on the inside; only then will you be that person on the outside.
Fighting the current takes enormous energy and you’re already running low. Let go, flow with it. You will find that the river will force you through rapids and powerful churning currents- keep flowing. You’ll eventually come to rest in a peaceful lake or relaxing pool amongst other stones who belong there.
That’s who I want to be because I know that I am truly at my best and most productive when in my own element. It is through exercising this mindset shift we will continue to inch our way toward that long distance goal- our perfect self.
Sy Sperling (LINK) wasn’t perfect and the moment he admitted this to himself and announced it to the world he found his true calling because people identified with him. THAT is the magic of being your true you.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!
Please leave a Rating & Review on iTunes CLICK HERE
Steve is a true testament to overcoming personal devastation. Although you would never know it by the charisma in his voice, Steve is a true survivor and has persevered through multiple challenges starting at just 4 years old. Growing up in the Birmingham Alabama area Steve brings a unique experience of what life in
the “bible belt” has to offer. As a writer, speaker, author and blogger; Steve has been published by names like Huffington Post and the Good Dad Project. Steve is a survivor of an attempted suicide and now is a voice for those cumulative lessons learned from a life of shame, denial, depression and post traumatic stress. Steve speaks of the harsh road that recovery has been, his experiences in therapy and the positive impact it has made in his life. Steve attributes his survival, sanity and recovery to the loving support from his wife Lindsey. Steve points out the crucial importance of surrounding yourself with only the right type of people and dolls out extremely important advice for those seeking to reach out for help. In this episode we discuss very controversial topics however it is still PG rated. Steve is finding that grace is messy and unique to those who experience it. Keep an open mind as we talk about how grace can be found both outside and inside a religion. Don’t let your aversion to these topics keep you from hearing the valuable nuggets we have to offer you. Please join us for this amazing conversation.
6:37 - Signing telephone calls
9:40 - Wash your hands Aunt B.
11:05 - Not funny/Merthiolate
14:47 - 90% reacting to 3 things
16:46 - Grace is (too) messy/ uncomfortable truths
19:36 - Difficult conversation no-one is having courageworks.com
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?language=en
21:39 - “Me too”
24:04 - Bomb within a Bomb
25:08 - Lay it on us man
32:36 - “… and that’s when I woke up in the hospital.”
34:55 - Identity: not what we do but who we are
37:15 - Connecting the dots to recovery
39:39 - Words of advice
40:38 - A new path
41:31 - “You’re dying doofus!”
45:59 - Community
46:58 - “I don’t belong in here with all these crazy people!”
52:32 - Judgement in a place where it doesn’t happen
55:44 - “I hardly ever think about it”
59:33 - Things remembered when I’m taking my last breath
1:01:41 - Cussin’ Christian
1:02:10 - Right now
1:04:15 - Cornerstone
1:06:18 - Teleportal advice
1:08:06 - Love thy neighbor
1:10:06 - The Wellhouse. the-wellhouse.org
1:09:20 - iamsteveaustin.com. @iamsteveaustin. facebook.com/graceismessy
Keep fighting the good fight.
Stay Up, Stay Connected & Stay RAD DADS!