DadAwesome

Latest Episodes:

336 | DA+3 Group Guide: John Eldredge Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

In this DA+3 Group Guide, you'll find key points and discussion questions to spark meaningful conversations with other dads. Explore insights on unplugging from technology, checking in with Jesus, expressing emotions physically, sharing Jesus stories, and more.

5 Key Takeaways

Check-in with Jesus: Pray about decisions, journal the voice of God, and pay attention to frustration flare-ups.
Get Outside: Take a break from technology and spend time in nature.
Read Ephesians 3:14-19: Pray that God would bring a word or phrase to you as you read these verses.
Get a Baseball Bat and a Plastic Trash Can: Physically get out the heavy stuff.
Share Jesus Stories: Tell others when God has shown up for you.

10 Group Guide Discussion Questions:

Before making major decisions, do you check in with God through prayer, journaling, etc.?
How do you feel about your current rhythms of technology/screens/phone use?
How often do you intentionally disconnect from technology?
When you think about spending time outside with your family, what memories stick out to you?
What outdoor activities bring you joy?
When you Read Ephesians 3:14-19, what word or phrase stands out to you?
What does it look like to press into your intense emotions like frustrations instead of running away from them?
Have you brought your full emotions to God by doing hard things physically, such as sprinting, doing pull-ups, or beating a trash can?
When was the last time you shared your faith stories with others, especially your kids?
What's one action you want to take after discussing this episode?

John Eldredge

John Eldredge is an author, counselor, teacher, and the president of Wild at Heart. He and his wife, Stasi, have three sons and are proud grandparents. John loves all things beauty, nature, adventure, and more.

Key Quotes

5:45 - "Another resource, is a book, A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser. I've spoken about this book before around grief, but he has a metaphor of when there's something that flares up, a frustration flare up, or a heaviness, where is this coming from? He would say press into it further versus run away from it. So, instead of chasing the sunset, the sun is setting to the west. Instead of trying to stay in the sun, press into the darkness, is what his metaphor is. Press into the darkness, the areas of hurt, of heaviness, of frustration. Let's actually explore those a little bit with Jesus."
9:45 - "Palm trees roots intertangle with other palm trees roots to keep them from blowing over in a storm. They'll bend all the way over to the ground in a storm, but they won't actually snap off or die because their roots are entangled with each other. Maybe that's a promise for you guys, is as we grow brotherhood and grow friendships with other men, as we become DadAwesome by creating a community of men who are together, being that dad for their families but for each other, encouraging each other, praying for each other, holding each other accountable, that we could be rooted and established in God's love, rooted in community and in God's love."

Links from Today's Conversation

Connect with dadAWESOME

Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

335 | 35 Tips to Establish Brotherhood with a DA+3 Group (Jeff Zaugg) Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Intention is meaningless without action. This year, be the man who steps up to create a DA+3 group. It's as simple as getting three dads to join you. Extend invitations, build friendships, and keep going when it's tough. Your family's future depends on it.

Key Takeaways

Isolation is deadly.
Show me your group, and I'll show you your family's future.
17 Ideas of Groups to Start.
6 Benefits of Being the Dad Who Goes First.
4 Steps to Take Initiative.

Jeff Zaugg

Jeff Zaugg is a loving husband, intentional dad, and passionate advocate for the fatherless. With experience in nonprofit leadership and pastoring, Jeff founded DadAwesome in 2018 and Fathers for the Fatherless shortly thereafter. Jeff and his wife, Michelle, have been married for 17 years and are parents to four daughters, ages 3 through 10.

Key Quotes

13:08 - "Why should we step into being the activator, being the spark, being the guy who rallies and gathers other dads? Isolation is deadly. We know this, it's so true. When we're alone, we're vulnerable. Second, dads without friendships will at some point cause deep pain to their kids. The pain of isolation and a dad being a dad that doesn't have friends looking out for them, encouraging them, challenging them to grow. You will pass on pain to your kids."
16:51 - "You're going to move into a simple goal, I call it DadAwesome +3, DA+3. This is how easy it is, your goal is just to get three dads, three dads to join you. It might take inviting nine to get three to show up. Guys, it takes invite, invite, invite. DA+3 is a simple goal, but it takes inviting. It takes initiative. If you want to gather guys together, you've got to be the one who goes first. You've got to send the message, you got to decide, and then you've got to go after the simple goal of DA+3. Be a dad who gathers three other dads."

Links from Today's Conversation

Apply to join the Summer 2024 DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org to learn more
free video series >> FOUR-PART FRAMEWORK FOR FATHERHOOD

Connect with dadAWESOME

Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

334 | Heroic Consistency, Getting Hungry for God, and Being a Safe Container for Grief (Bryan Byrd: Part 2) Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Dads were never meant to take on fatherhood alone. In fact, Bryan Byrd argues that isolation is against God's will for your life. Instead, you'll need to connect with others and get hungry for the Holy Spirit. In this episode, Bryan offers encouragement to help you get started.

Key Takeaways

Connection is God's will.
Loneliness is a dangerous toxin.
Healing happens when you have a safe place to take your grief.
Get hungry for the Holy Spirit.

Bryan Byrd

Bryan Byrd is a husband and father to two sons from Boise, Idaho. He is passionate about equipping men to do hard things. He co-founded Wild Courage and continues to serve on the Board of Trustees.

Key Quotes

8:55 - "I can get promoted. I can advance, and I can do it in a way that's humble. I got guys who are going to call me off the shelf, if I'm out of line. If I'm out of God's will, they're going to say, Bryan, are you doing this too much? What's going on? Are you treating your wife right? Are things good at home? There's instant accountability with all the things that are right. If you're not in a fire, a group, I would just ask, how long can you go before burnout? Before failure? I read this other day, loneliness is way more a toxin than fat, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, opioids. Loneliness is more dangerous than opioids. I'd ask the listeners, it's probably way more important than you think. If you're saying, oh, I'll do that sometime. Today matters."
25:48 - "When I can look at you and receive you and your pain and hear you, I say you're worthy. When I, as a sharer of my pain, feel that I'm worthy, I have hope. I'm not alone. I'm with people that care. I'm seen. And I can find hope. Jesus, would you come into this pain? Would you take a risk on me? Because these guys just did. There must be hope for me. You go from sharing grief and despair and not having hope and not being seen and being isolated to seen and loved. That can be as simple as a group. It can be simple as silence. It can be as simple as a head nod. It's probably not talking very much. It might be a little validation. It's probably not giving a sermon. It's probably not five points of advice, how to fix your problem. Don't fix. It's probably not being the the alpha in the room telling people how you solve the world's problems. Letting it sit, now a container is you get 3 or 4 guys that can do that well and practice."

Links from Today's Conversation

Apply to join the Summer 2024 DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org to learn more
Save the Date for the DadAwesome Day Zoom Call: Monday, June 17 at 7pm CT
Iron Bison Training
Iron Bison Training Podcast
WILDSONS Podcast | Receiving the Father's Love and Masculine Initiation with Bryan Byrd
Foxhole Symphony - Wild Courage: Vulnerability and Victory in the Quest for Authentic Manhood

Connect with dadAWESOME

Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

333 | Betting on Yourself, Relearning How to Parent, and Doing Hard Things (Bryan Byrd: Part 1) Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

Everyone has a story to tell, and every story matters. In the first half of our conversation, Bryan Byrd describes the role of a troubadour. He emphasizes the value of prioritizing heart-to-heart connections, loving yourself the way God loves you, and being flexible about your approach to fatherhood.

Key Takeaways

We're all troubadours with a story to tell that matters.
Heart-to-heart connections with your kids are the true sign of parenting success.
Love yourself enough to do what you say, bet on yourself, and hold yourself accountable.
Get instant feedback from your kids by asking, "How are you experiencing me?"
Don't be afraid to relearn some things.

Bryan Byrd

Bryan Byrd is a husband and father to two sons from Boise, Idaho. He is passionate about equipping men to do hard things. He co-founded Wild Courage and continues to serve on the Board of Trustees.

Key Quotes

11:55 - "I'm still going to choose heart to heart connection, regardless of my reputation. Regardless of my accomplishment or the image that people think I should have, I'm still getting their back, getting in the ditch if I need to get in the ditch, getting on a platform if I need to get on a platform. Wherever it takes, I'm going to show up and be present and be the father where I need to be. Sometimes I'm going to make mistakes along the way, and I'm going to ask for forgiveness and break some glass. That's success. Course correcting along the way right now."
27:00 - "We have sinned and we've been forgiven. He bets on us and He resides in us. There's a two edged coin there that we're the ransom one, so let's get with it. When you bet on yourself, you bet that you're valuable enough that you're going to come through with your word. You're going to do what you say. Bet on yourself, believe that you can do what you want to do, what you're set out for, what you're called from the Lord. Even though all of these people out in the world are going to say there's not enough time. You're too tall, you're too short, you're too fat, you're too skinny, they're going to come up with all kinds of excuses because they want to justify themselves. Bet on yourself is a line with God. Let's pause for a minute. Let that settle on our hearts. What God really says about you."

Links from Today's Conversation

Apply to join the Summer 2024 DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org to learn more
Save the Date for the DadAwesome Day Zoom Call: Monday, June 17 at 7pm CT
Iron Bison Training
Iron Bison Training Podcast
WILDSONS Podcast | Receiving the Father's Love and Masculine Initiation with Bryan Byrd
Foxhole Symphony - Wild Courage: Vulnerability and Victory in the Quest for Authentic Manhood

Connect with dadAWESOME

Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

332 | Engaging Your Destiny, Obeying God, and Finding Your Tribe (Ben Peterson) May 30, 2024

Show notes

Combat veteran Ben Peterson joins us to discuss the glaring challenges in America's individualistic society, especially for people who have experienced the tight-knit military community. He offers practical advice to help you find your tribe, embrace your purpose, and be vulnerable about the struggles you're facing.

Key Takeaways

Our souls and psyches thrive when we are part of a tribe.
The transition from tribe culture to individualistic culture is an extreme challenge for veterans.
We are in a war for the souls of men.
The strongest men are the ones who are willing to be honest about their shortcomings and struggles.

Ben Peterson

Ben Peterson is a Jesus Follower, husband, father, and combat veteran. In 2016, Ben founded Engage Your Destiny, a nonprofit ministry that exists to engage with the military, veterans, and their families to lead them into their destiny. Ben and his wife, Rachel, live in Tennessee with their son.

Key Quotes

27:29 - "Where's my 10,000 souls? I just think it's so important to live with that mindset. It doesn't have to be a fear based mindset, but this is the reality of the kingdom, and there is heaven and hell, and there are realities to us being disobedient, and there is free will and there's consequences for that. That's part of kind of the military coming out, because if you don't do your job, people die. And that's the same thing in the kingdom. There's a reason that Paul used the reference of the soldiers so much because we are in a war for the for the souls of men."
31:18 - "We can lean into some of those woundings, from a sense of humility and being honest that, you know what, I'm never going to be perfect until Christ comes back or until I go home. And in Him, I'm a new creature. And that gives me such a sense of peace and satisfaction, that my wounds are okay. It's okay to be vulnerable."

Links from Today's Conversation

Apply to join the Summer 2024 DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org to learn more
Save the Date for the DadAwesome Day Zoom Call: Monday, June 17 at 7pm CT
Engage Your Destiny: Practical Ways To Run After Your God-Given Purpose by Ben Peterson
The Power of a Praying Husband by Stormie Omartian
Engage Your Destiny
The Engage Your Destiny Podcast
EP30: Power of a Praying Spouse: Part 1 (Engage Your Destiny Podcast)

Connect with dadAWESOME

Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

331 | Fighting Shadows, Leveraging Your Season, and Asking Curious Questions (Jon Tyson) May 23, 2024

Show notes

Jon Tyson is back for the third time! In this episode, he uncovers the seven lies that hold men back from becoming fully alive. You'll discover the strategies Satan uses to keep you distracted and passive, and you'll be inspired to embrace your current season and ask curious questions for the sake of others.

Key Takeaways

Satan wants us dumb, entertained, oversatiated, and unmotivated.
You must fight against despair, loneliness, shame, lust, ambition, futility, and apathy.
If you ask curious questions about the needs around you, you never know what you'll get swept into.
What things do you need to harvest and enjoy right now before they rot and are gone?

Jon Tyson

Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon Tyson is a pastor and author based in New York City. He is the author of "Fighting Shadows" and the bestselling books "The Intentional Father" and "Beautiful Resistance." Jon has been married to Christy for twenty-five years and has two adult children.

Key Quotes

10:40 - "I always tell people, my vision is intentionality, it's not perfection. No one is perfect. In fact, the perfect fathers are often the ones that damaged their kids through such high expectations. It's just do your best, live in love, be honest with your struggles and get help. Rely on the community of men to help raise your kids. Ancient societies were not primarily just father-son societies. They were the community of men playing a vital role. It was the tribe that helped formed men, not just this psychotic pressure on an individual father."
19:23 - "I know everybody tells you this, be careful when you kill time, it has no resurrection. You can waste time. You can kill time. Waste time. Use time. Invest time. Redeem time. Or leverage time. And a lot of God, that's Ephesians 5, make the most of the time. That's not the word kross is the word kairos, which means you were in a season right now, that must be leveraged that you will never get again. It's not the same in every season. So I'm not advocating a kind of guilt where every, like, if every spare moment should be in prayer. That's, that's death. That's the law. I'm advocating, I'm advocating an awareness of your season. The things that need to be harvested now or they rot. Or seed now, or you missed the window to sow. Or enjoyed now or it's gone. How do you really figure what that is in that season and leverage it? Make the most because the days are evil. So yeah, it's about really trying to leverage the season more than anything else. First you got to know what it is, but when you know what it is going to be aware and go after it."

Links from Today's Conversation

Apply to join the Summer 2024 DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org to learn more
147 | Jon Tyson on Intentional Fatherhood & Creating the Primal Path
187 | Jon Tyson on Skillful Manhood, Capturing First Moments & The Intentional Father
Fighting Shadows: Overcoming 7 Lies That Keep Men From Becoming Fully Alive by Jon Tyson and Jefferson Bethke
The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage and Character by Jon Tyson
Primal Path: A Discipleship Program for Fathers & Sons
Awaken Network Podcast
Sign up for Jon's Newsletter

Connect with dadAWESOME

Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

330 | Restoring Brotherhood, Facing Fears, and the 7 Dragons Every Man Must Slay (Danny Silk: Part 2) May 16, 2024

Show notes

In the second half of this conversation, Danny Silk shares the seven "dragons," or fears, that all men must slay. From confronting self-doubt to navigating competition among other men, Danny explores what holds most men back and how you can take immediate action. Plus, you'll discover the importance of community and brotherhood in your journey to becoming a dragon slayer.

Key Takeaways

Every man must confront these seven fears: God, himself, women, men, nature, machine, and provision.
If you don't set your heart to serve your wife, you will set your heart to conquer her and be the winner.
Men bond through doing and adventure and through risk.
Your role as a man is to think ahead and bring benefit to everyone you're leading.
Fatherlessness comes from the breakdown of brotherhood.

Danny Silk

Danny Silk is a renowned speaker and prolific author who draws on decades of experience as a counselor, social worker, husband, parent, grandparent, and more. He is the President and Co-Founder of Loving on Purpose, a ministry to families and communities worldwide.

Key Quotes

14:49 - "Quit putting it off because you don't want to feel stupid. You already look stupid. So go do something about it. Be the man. There's that end of it as well. And then there's, in the middle of it, which is get out there and take some risks. Get out there and learn some new skills, find some guys that love to work on that stuff and learn from them."
18:14 - "You really are looking down the road and you're leading, so people are following that. And in that is your responsibility to bring benefit to everybody on the journey with you. That's your role as a man, is to think ahead and to build benefit for for your family, for your legacy. I'm thinking generationally, I'm not just thinking momentarily. I'm not living paycheck to paycheck. I'm living generation to generation. So, then as a provider, you had better open up your clarity of where you're headed and who's going to be benefiting for you ever being on this planet."

Links from Today's Conversation

Apply to join the Summer 2024 DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org to learn more
The Way of the Dragon Slayer by Danny Silk
Dragon Slayers Podcast

Connect with dadAWESOME

Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

329 | Slaying Your Dragons, Setting the Standard, and Carrying Weight Like a Truck (Danny Silk: Part 1) May 09, 2024

Show notes

In this eye-opening episode, Danny Silk discusses the seven key traits that make up the creed of manhood. You'll be inspired to rise above cultural influences and become a dragon slayer instead of a destroyer. Ultimately, you'll discover how to use your strength to protect, display Christ, and lead boldly.

Key Takeaways

You can either slay your dragons or become a destroyer.
It is your job to set the standard of love in your home, marriage, and community.
Men need to carry responsibilities to activate the strength they were designed with.
Fools want to be the master of their own universe, but wise men love correction and feedback.

Danny Silk

Key Quotes

6:28 - "You have to have something inside of you that both weights you down to the bottom so you can get some traction and strong enough to turn and face that bad boy. But what happens is, once you get enough people opposing and moving in synergy, in the opposite direction, you actually can bring that strong current to a stop and then reverse the current. [That's] the Kingdom. It's an upside down world. That's what I really want to call our generation to, let's be the generation that faced this ugly lie, chase it down, band together and create a different tomorrow for our boys."
14:24 - "It's absolutely essential that men understand that your primary job and really the only job that you have is control yourself. Control freaks, control your freaking self. You never control other people. And when we turn love into control, we misrepresent our Father. God is Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, not control. If anybody is going to be a control freak, it could be God and he's a freedom freak."

Links from Today's Conversation

Get a discount at the DadAwesome Store with Code: MOMAWESOME
Apply to join the Summer 2024 DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org to learn more
The Way of the Dragon Slayer by Danny Silk

Connect with dadAWESOME

Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

328 | Preparing Like a Warrior, Transferring Manhood with Rituals, and Staying Energized (Stephen Mansfield) May 02, 2024

Show notes

Stephen Mansfield joins us in this episode to ignite your warrior mindset. As a man of God, you have a responsibility to prepare intentionally in every aspect of life, from your marriage to parenting and beyond. Stephen shares powerful examples of rituals, accountability, and prayers that can shape your life and future generations with purpose.

Key Takeaways

Warriors use every moment to prepare for impending battles, and strong men must do the same.
If you're going to achieve the greatness you're made for, stop being passive in the face of your surrounding culture and get intentional.
Righteous men are meant to think about the impact they'll have on the next generation.
Manhood is transferred during rituals, where you affirm a man in that milestone moment and speak of what's coming.

Stephen Mansfield

Stephen Mansfield is a New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and popular speaker committed to serving vital social causes. He and his wife, Beverly, split their time between Nashville, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C.

Key Quotes

7:42 - "Warriors are intentional. They know there's battles coming. They are fighting for others. They're fighting battles of love for nation, for family, for righteous causes. And they are preparing themselves. And that makes them tougher, makes them more sacrificial, makes them more visionary, makes them live every moment in terms of, they're in the moment, but also in terms of what's coming."
18:12 - "I think every day is a gift. I think we live every day out as another day of our destiny. And the kissing of the spouse and the sitting quietly and the sipping of a glass of wine, the walk and the time reading a book and those peaceful, quiet, measured things, are just as important in building a legacy, as are the big dramatic, 500 year things. We men are naturally given to vision. What we have to do is be given to the moment more. That takes more intentionality on most of our lives."

Links from Today's Conversation

Get 20% off the DadAwesome Store with Code: MOMAWESOME
Apply to join the Summer 2024 DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org to learn more
Men on Fire by Stephen Mansfield
Stephen Mansfield's Podcast

Connect with dadAWESOME

Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

327 | The Science of the Brain, Emotionally-Focused Parenting, and Creating Moments of Intimacy (Kyle Wester) Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Kyle Wester joins us to unpack the science of your kid's brain—from birth to adulthood. You'll discover how connection shapes their emotional development and why sincere apologies pave the way for deeper intimacy in your relationship.

Key Takeaways

Your anger says more about you than your kids.
The brain has three key developmental stages: brainstem, limbic system, and prefrontal cortex.
To move out of the limbic system, you need connection.
Have high expectations while offering high support.
Emotion-focused parenting is an inside-out model that reflects what God does with us.

Kyle Wester

Kyle Wester is a licensed professional counselor and Parenting Coach who has been working with children for over 20 years. Kyle and his wife, Sarah, are founders of Parenting Legacy and host The Art of Raising Humans podcast. They have been married for 22 years and have three children.

Key Quotes

6:28 - "Success for us, when I look at my kids and I know that we are doing it well, that we are succeeding as parents, is when I see the fruit of the spirit easily pouring out of their daily life. What's neat is when you tie that in to the brain science, all of us as human beings, when we are at our best and we are really able to show up, be seen, bring more light to a dark place, it's when we're in the prefrontal cortex. And what's interesting about the prefrontal cortex is I can only get there when I feel safe and loved."
9:31 - "I have super high expectations on my kids. I really believe that every place they are is going to be better because they are there. And if for some reason that isn't happening and I'm noticing that, then me and my wife are wondering what is the supports my kid needed in that moment to be able to really shine the way God intended them to in that moment?"
26:02 - "This shows us how God has wired us and why the Christian disciplines are so effective, is because when we pray, when we meditate, when we worship, when we do these exercises that have been known throughout church history to be healthy and effective for us, we're answering these questions. We're connecting to somebody outside of us, who's whispering to us, you are safe. You are loved. And then once you get to the prefrontal cortex, the question is, what can I learn? You're basically saying, how can we do this together? How can we change this situation? I just picture God coming with an open hand and us coming with a closed hand, and He stays calm with us. He comforts us until our hand opens up. And then our hands can come together and we can really solve that problem together."

Links from Today's Conversation

Connect with dadAWESOME

Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected