The Dad Edge Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Mike Rowe: Mastering the Art of Work Ethic: An Inspiring Conversation on Embracing Discomfort Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Mike Rowe is a well-known TV host, author, and advocate for skilled trades. In this episode, Mike and Larry delve into the importance of work ethic, the value of discomfort, and pursuing meaningful work. They also discuss Mike's scholarship program, Microworks, which aims to promote work ethic and challenge misconceptions about skilled trades. Join us as we explore how to instill a strong work ethic in ourselves and our children, and why finding fulfillment through hard work can lead to a passionate and successful career.

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Larry's Takeaways

The "snowflake" generation and safe space culture
2. Previous generations and their role in creating fragility and lack of resilience
3. The importance of discomfort for personal growth

What You'll Learn

09:18 Lucky childhood on isolated farm with woods.

14:06 Woods held imagination, adventure, and family work.

22:17 Parents were skilled liars, but well-intentioned.

29:44 Manic days, changing relationships, evolving fatherhood.

34:02 "Taboo upending, work ethic scholarship advocate."

39:23 Advice is subjective and often misleading

39:23 Advice is subjective and often misleading.

50:10 Mixed feelings about self-help industry and its advice.

53:46 Finding comfort in discomfort raises successful kids.

59:40 Generation Z: fragile, delicate, and lacking resilience.

1:09:06 United Airlines cares about money, not safety. "Safety third" fosters complacency and irresponsibility.

1:13:27 Work Ethic Scholarship program: $1 million scholarships. Apply @microworks.org. Whiskey sales support foundation. Podcast, books, future YouTube show. Evolving business strategy.

1:21:06 Podcast started as therapy, successful but frustrated.

1:23:17 Smartphone: Tool for mischief or heroism.

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mikeroweworks.org

A Dad's Guide to Fostering Love and Security with Roman Prokopchuk Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

Roman Prokopchuk is the Founder and CEO of Nova Zora Digital, and host of the Digital Savage Experience Podcast. He is also known as the digital savage, a self-taught digital marketer who ventured into the field out of necessity and developed a passion for it. He is also a foster parent who has welcomed 29 kids into his home since June 2018.

In this episode, Larry converses with Roman about his journey as a foster father. Roman's path to foster parenting began following multiple miscarriages and struggles with infertility that he and his wife faced.

They suffered six miscarriages, and after discovering his wife's pregnancy difficulties, they underwent expensive infertility treatments. Despite these efforts, they experienced repeated losses, including two miscarriages on Christmas Day. These heartbreaks cast a shadow over their holiday season, pushing them to explore alternative means of starting a family. With adoption costs being prohibitive, they found fostering as a feasible option.

As a Ukrainian immigrant, Roman admits to initially having a distinct perspective on fatherhood and masculinity. However, he's learned the value of grieving and seeking support in hard times. He underlines the necessity for men to acknowledge and address their emotions, not just focusing on supporting their partners.

Concluding the interview, Roman's story shines a light on the emotional journey of becoming a foster parent following personal hardships. It underscores the resilience and compassion inherent in opening one's home to children in need. Roman's journey is an inspiration, demonstrating that life's unexpected twists can catalyze profound personal growth and a chance to positively influence many young lives.

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Harmonious Relationships and Leadership | Dad Edge Live QA Mastermind Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

Larry Hagner hosts members of the Dad Edge Mastermind in this behind-the-scenes episode. This is an opportunity for members to ask Larry and the community their most pressing questions and get tailored insights from experienced dads.

From work-life balance to dealing with tough emotions and building stronger relationships with our kids, this episode is packed with actionable insights and practical strategies to help you become the best dad you can be.

Sit back, listen in and get ready to level up your fatherhood game. thedadedge.com/alliance

Behind the Music: The Joys and Challenges of Marriage and Parenthood with Jake Scott Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

Jake Scott is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. While at the university, he began to write and record music–launching his career. In fall of 2013, Jake Scott released his first, self-produced EP, "Of Life and Love and Longing". Jake's passion for music was influenced by the sacrifices his father made to be actively involved in his life.

In this episode, we converse with Jake Scott about his latest single, journey as a husband and father, and the vital role of psychological safety in fostering children's mental well-being. Looking ahead, he shares his hopes for the milestones he aspires to celebrate; his children grown, and a marriage spanning more than two decades.

Jake opens up about marrying at 24, a decision often criticized as premature. Despite societal pressures, he stands by his choice, marking it as the best decision of his life. He expresses appreciation for his early marriage and emphasizes the merits of navigating life's challenges with a partner.

Further, Jake Scott compares societal perspectives on early marriage between his small town, where young marriages are common, and larger cities, where people tend to marry later.

As we conclude, this episode challenges societal norms on early marriage, accentuating the importance of personal choices and individual life paths. Jake's story is a testament to the uniqueness of everyone's journey towards happiness and fulfillment and the necessity of carving one's own path.

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Playful Connections: Empowering Parents and Kids Through Play with Talia Filippelli and Anna Yudina Jul 07, 2023

Show notes

Talia Filippelli is the founder of Star Therapy and a certified holistic health coach, advocating for emotional well-being through play. She is an ambassador and contributing expert for The Genius of Play. Anna Yudina is a Senior Director of Marketing Initiatives at The Toy Association, emphasizes the cognitive benefits of unstructured play.

In our digitally-driven world, parents often find themselves grappling with the challenges of managing their children's screen time while trying to nurture their emotional well-being. In this episode of The Dad Edge podcast, Larry Hagner engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Talia Filippelli, founder of Star Therapy, and Anna Yudina, a senior director at the Toy Association. The discussion centers around the transformative power of play and its profound impact on parent-child relationships and children's emotional well-being.

The episode highlights the alarming trend of children becoming dependent on screens, which stifles their imagination and creativity. Excessive screen use restricts their ability to engage in unstructured play–a vital component of their development. The guests underscore the importance of allowing children ample time for imagination-fueled play, enabling them to explore their world, think creatively, and develop problem-solving skills.

Research shows that fathers' involvement in physical play with their children plays a pivotal role in emotional regulation skills development and future relationship building. By engaging in activities that promote physical exertion and emotional bonding, fathers provide a safe space for children to express their emotions, develop self-control, and navigate relationships effectively.

As parents, it is crucial that we harness the power of play to strengthen our connection with our children and support their emotional well-being. Through play, we create lifelong memories and lay the foundation for their future success.

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Website: www.thegeniusofplay.org

Facebook: The Genius of Play

Instagram: @geniusofplay

YouTube: The Genius of Play

Twitter: @TheToyAssoc

Starr Therapy FB: @starrpsych

Talia Filippelli LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/talia-filippelli-62446020

Instagram: @Taliastarr_therapy

When Life Gets Dark, Your Community Will Light the Way | Dad Edge Live QA Mastermind Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

Sit back, listen in and get ready to level up your fatherhood game. thedadedge.com/alliance

Conquering Life as a Dad and Son Team with Mark and Travis Macy Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

Travis Macy is a speaker, author, coach, and professional endurance athlete. He is the author of The Ultra Mindset: An Endurance Champion's 8 Core Principles for Success in Business, Sports, and Life, and he set a record (since broken) for Leadman, an epic endurance event consisting of a trail running marathon, 50-mile mountain bike race, Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race, 10k road run, and Leadville 100 Run, all above 10,200' in the Rocky Mountains.

Joining Travis is his father, Mark Macy, a successful businessman and outdoor enthusiast. Together, they form an inspiring father-son duo, navigating both thrilling adventures and the challenges of Alzheimer's disease.

In this powerful episode, Larry sits down with Travis and Mark Macy to explore their remarkable journey. They share their experiences of intentional manufactured adversity, endurance races, and facing the complexities of Alzheimer's disease. Through their conversation, they highlight the importance of resilience, embracing uncertainty, and seeking support during difficult times.

Travis and Mark's story is one of profound love and admiration for each other. Their shared experiences have shaped their perspectives as men and provided valuable insights for those facing their own adversities. They offer messages of hope and reflect on the meaningful moments they have cherished together.

The Macy duo has embraced intentional manufactured adversity as a means to discover their inner strength. From endurance races to challenging adventures, they have learned valuable lessons of commitment, perseverance, and never giving up. Their journey serves as an inspiring example of resilience and overcoming even the most daunting obstacles.

While their journey took an unexpected turn with Mark's Alzheimer's diagnosis, Travis and Mark approached it with love, compassion, and an unwavering determination to make the most of every moment. They emphasize the importance of cherishing the present, embracing uncertainty, and finding joy amidst difficult circumstances.

Travis and Mark Macy's story carries a profound message of hope and resilience. They encourage others to seek help, accept support, and offer assistance to those in need. Their unwavering commitment to each other exemplifies the power of love, connection, and community.

Their extraordinary journey demonstrates the strength of the human spirit and the significance of familial bonds. Travis and Mark inspire listeners to embrace challenges, seek support, and find strength in the face of adversity. Their story reminds us that with love, determination, and unwavering support, we can overcome even the most daunting obstacles and find joy in the journey.

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A Mile at a Time by Mark Macy

How Your Phone is Impacting Your Relationships with Heath Wilson and Joey Odom Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

Heath Wilson and Joey Odom are the co-founders of Aro, a company focused on helping individuals and families establish healthier relationships with their digital devices. The company's goal is to create an environment in which people can connect more meaningfully with each other and be more present in their daily lives. In this deeply engaging episode, we delve into a significant issue facing families today – excessive screen time. Heath Wilson and Joey Odom share personal stories, fascinating insights, and surprising anecdotes about how their creation is impacting households around the world.

In an era dominated by screen-time, maintaining a balanced relationship with our devices is a pressing issue, particularly for families. Heath Wilson and Joey Odom candidly discussed their own struggles with controlling screen time, often mirrored in their children's behavior. They admired the app's gamification aspect, which effectively motivates users to engage less with their screens.

Wilson and Odom also shared anecdotes of the app being used creatively–from parents tying weekly allowances to screen-free hours to businesses incentivizing their staff to be more present with customers. They also reflected on their own experiences, showing how the app has transformed their families' screen habits.

This insightful conversation ultimately highlighted the importance of prioritizing human connection over digital distractions. The app isn't just about reducing screen time; it's about fostering a healthier digital lifestyle and reclaiming the valuable moments we often lose to our screens.

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How to Create and Unforgettable Summer | Dad Edge Live QA Mastermind Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

Sit back, listen in and get ready to level up your fatherhood game. thedadedge.com/alliance

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Optimizing Health and Longevity with Josh Whalen Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

Josh Whalen is an entrepreneur, healthcare executive, developer, philanthropist, and the CEO and founder of Blokes, a pioneering telehealth platform designed to redefine men's health. He has dedicated himself to creating innovative solutions to pressing issues.

In this enlightening conversation, Josh Whalen discusses the concerning trend of decreasing testosterone levels in men, their causative factors, and implications on overall health. The intricate relationship between stress, sleep, exercise, and testosterone levels is examined, bringing valuable insights and personal anecdotes into the discussion.

Josh Whalen shared his personal journey, transitioning from the so-called "4am club," where he'd rise early for gym workouts, to a more balanced regimen that incorporated additional sleep. Despite his rigorous exercise routine, he struggled with a persistently high body fat percentage. After prioritizing quality sleep, his body fat percentage drastically dropped, suggesting a link with increased testosterone levels.

The intricate dynamics of cortisol (the stress hormone) and testosterone were emphasized. Elevated stress levels, often stemming from inadequate sleep and lifestyle habits, can detrimentally affect testosterone levels. This finding stresses the importance of managing stress and securing sufficient sleep to uphold healthy testosterone levels.

The dialogue serves as an urgent call to action, emphasizing the importance of regular health checks and proactive health management. Often, men may remain oblivious of their dwindling testosterone levels until they encounter severe symptoms. Therefore, partners and family members assume a crucial role in encouraging men towards regular health evaluations.

In conclusion, the pathway to longevity and improved quality of life involves proactive health management. Being aware and taking the correct actions today can protect men from potential health complications in the future.

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