Your kids need help with homework. You wife needs you to start dinner. There is a lot of juggling going on. How do dads do it well? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about balancing the roles of husband and father well.

Why This Matters
It’s important for men to thrive in both of their crucial family roles.

Key Takeaways

• Most U.S. men are dads: About 60 percent of men aged 15 and over are fathers. (U.S. Census Bureau)

· Millions of U.S. men are married: In 2022, 67.85 million men in the United States were married.

· Your wife and kids are gifts: You must balance your time well between them.

Action Steps to Split Your Time Well

1. Know your duties.

2. Identify your distractions.

3. Trim the fat.

4. Establish rigid boundaries

5. Stick to those boundaries.

6. Don’t feel guilty over those boundaries.

7. Commit to reevaluating those boundaries in the future.

8. Look for opportunities.

Important Episode Timestamps

0:00 – 01:09 | Marriage & Parenting Journeys
01:10 – 02:00 | The Conflict of Time
02:01 – 02:41 | A Dad’s Testimonial on Priorities
02:42 – 03:47 | Big Question: Balancing Roles
03:48 – 05:21 | Limited Time & Cultural Pressures
05:22 – 07:25 | Remembering Family as a Gift
07:26 – 10:05 | Action Steps for Balance
10:06 – 13:20 | Rituals, Boundaries, and Seasons
13:21 – 16:46 | Pro Move of the Week: Find out where you can inject quality time into your relationships and commit to those steps.

Sponsor:
The All Pro Dad Podcast is proudly brought to you by Family First, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping parents with resources to strengthen their families. Learn more at FamilyFirst.net.

All Pro Dad Resources:

Listen Again:

Episode 30 – Tony Dungy: Is Work-Life Balance Even Possible?

5 Things a Real Man Does For His Family

4 D’s to Being a Better Husband

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Raising kids today seems harder than ever. There are so many things weighing them down, from relationships, school demands, social media, and more. Dads need to guide kids through it all. In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, Dr. Chap Clark shares wisdom from his years of experience studying teens and their behavior and tells listeners how to better understand and support their kids.

Why This Matters

Kids feel pressure­—to perform, fit in, and be liked. This causes friction and tension, but dads can be the steady presence they need.

Know the Language

Dr. Clark shares a few terms that may be new to you:

• Mosaic thinking: It’s harder kids to focus on one thing at a time.
• Avatar: In order to fit in, kids will build different 'avatars' of themselves depending on the social situation they're facing.

Troubles For Modern Kids

• Life feels very transactional: This leads kids to try to, as Chap says, “perform my way into blessing.”
• Belonging matters: Dr. Clark says the “power of belonging” is paramount. Kids are looking for a place where they feel accepted.

Important Episode Timestamps
00:00 – 00:55 | Introduction & Guest Welcome
00:55 – 03:47 | The Changing Landscape of Parenting Teens
03:47 – 06:55 | The “System” Has Let Kids Down
06:55 – 09:32 | A Father’s Role in Restoring Trust
09:32 – 12:08 | How Teens Process Identity & Belonging
12:08 – 15:50 | The Power of Presence Over Performance
15:50 – 19:21 | Building Bridges Through Listening
19:21 – 21:54 | Practical Habits to Create Safe Spaces
21:54 – 24:17 | Why Kids Still Need Boundaries
24:17 – 25:50 | Pro Move of the Week: Strive to be unflappable, have compassion with your kids, and take deep breaths.

Listen Again:

Episode 61 – What Problems Do Kids Face Today That We Didn’t?

Episode 74 – Checking in With Kids: 5 Gauges Dads Need to Know

5 Challenges We Need to Help Generation Alpha Face

Dr. Clark and

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Cristiano Ronaldo was paid $3.23M for his IG marketing posts in 2023. Why? What he says sticks with a lot of people, including kids. He’s not the only one influencing young people. In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about what influences kids the most.

Why This Matters
Kids aged 12–18 are considered the most vulnerable when it comes to being influenced.

Key Takeaways

• Kids have many influences including primary, secondary, internal, situational, and emerging
• The early years are crucial: According to the University of Minnesota, around 80% of brain development happens in a child’s first 1,000 days of life. What they see, hear, and touch during those formative years leaves a lasting imprint on their minds.

Action Steps for Dads
Children are largely a product of their environment, habits, and relationships, all of which dads help shape. What can we do as dads to control what influences kids the most?

1. Identify generally BAD influences, like violence, substance abuse, and inappropriate content. Don’t be afraid to speak out against these influences and cut them out.

2. Promote generally GOOD influences, like trusted coaches, faith leaders, and teachers. These are things and people who share your values.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 00:55 | Introduction: Dad Detective Mode
00:55 – 02:38 | Kids Are Sponges
02:38 – 05:15 | The 3 Main Sources of Influence
05:15 – 08:03 | Social Media’s Sneaky Grip
08:03 – 10:25 | Friends: Mirrors and Multipliers
10:25 – 13:02 | What’s Normal at Your House?
13:02 – 14:58 | Are You Accidentally Reinforcing the Wrong Stuff?
14:58 – 17:31 | Check Your Own Input
17:31 – 20:08 | Be the Strongest Voice They Hear
20:08 – 22:02 | Pro Move of the Week:
Consider who and what you are allowing to speak into your child’s life and trim whoever or whatever doesn’t align with your family values.

All Pro Dad Resources:

Is It OK for Kids to Be Influencers?

5 Uncommon Ways to Influence Your Kids

Dan Orlovsky: 3 Ways Dads I

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Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

There is no safe level of cigarette consumption. It causes lung cancer, heart disease, and many other problems. But there’s something the U.S. Surgeon General claims is even worse for your health: loneliness. In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about the male loneliness epidemic and how it’s impacting our kids.

Loneliness increases feelings depression, dementia, stroke, anxiety, and cardiovascular illness.

Why This Matters

Statistically, only about half of men say they are satisfied with their friendships. This trickles down to children as well.

Stats on Loneliness

• Survey Center on American Life: 1 in 7 men have “no close friends.”
• Equimundo: Two-thirds of men ages 18–23 say "no one really knows me".
• Gitnux: 40% of men reported feeling lonely at least once a week.

Practical Tools for Dads

Building up social skills is a good start, but dads can do even more to facilitate healthy, strong friendships for their sons. Try these:

1. Encourage extracurricular activities like sports or clubs.

2. Invite people over to your home.

3. Encourage “awkward” conversations.

4. Volunteer at their school. Consider starting an All Pro Dad chapter!

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 00:55 | Introduction: The Silent Health Threat
00:56 – 02:30 | A Hidden Epidemic for Men and Boys
02:31 – 04:47 | Stories from Isolation
04:48 – 06:51 | Redefining Loneliness
06:52 – 08:58 | Why Married Men Aren’t Immune
08:59 – 12:13 | The Barriers to Friendship: Time, Guilt, and Cultural Pressure
12:12 – 14:52 | Your Sons Are Watching
14:53 – 17:15 | Real Connection Requires Risk
17:16 – 21:30 | Help Your Kids Build Friendships, Too
21:31 – 23:06 | Pro Move of the Week
No one is immune to loneliness. Prioritize connection in your life and your son’s life this week. Try to make one new friend this week.

Resources:

Episode 62 – How To Raise Emotionally St

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Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

Legendary football coach Tony Dungy spent all day thinking about Xs and Os. The last thing he wanted to do with his kids was play Madden video games after work. But, he grabbed the controller anyway because that’s what they wanted to do. In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about how to connect with your child.

Connecting with our kids can be challenging. Today, we list ways to bond with kids of any age.

Why This Matters
The greater your connection, the greater your influence.

Key Takeaways

• Bonding is good for you: Studies show strong connections lead to better health, a stronger immune system, and even a longer life.
• Bonding takes work: Interests don’t always align between dads and kids. Bond requires intentionality (and sometimes sacrifice).

Tips for Dads with Young Kids:

1. Physically get down on their level

2. Find common ground

3. Remember, quality time matters

Tips for Dads with Older Kids:

1. Ask open-ended questions

2. Show you care

3. Respect their space

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 00:55 | Introduction: The Connection Episode
00:55 – 03:13 | Becoming a Harry Potter Dad
03:13 – 04:36 | Why Connection Is a Core Human Need
04:36 – 08:46 | Physical Proximity Builds Trust
08:46 – 12:13 | Find Common Ground, Even If You Hate Minecraft
12:13 – 14:03 | Quality Time is a Must
14:03 – 16:05 | The Coffee Shop Confession
16:05 – 18:29 | Celebrate the Wins
18:29 – 20:22 | Respect Their Space, Model Connection
20:22 – 21:52 | Pro Move of the Week:
Ask your child, “What’s something you enjoy?” Then, go do it with them. That’s how connection begins.

All Pro Dad Resources:

Episode 78 – Why Is It Important To Listen To Our Kids?

Episode 84 – The Dad They Run To, Not From

3 Ways to Become an Irrelevant Dad

When Your Kids Rejects

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How do multiple kids, raised in the same home, turn out so differently? And how do they act nothing like you? The childhood expert on this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast says it’s all about their natural wiring. Host Ted Lowe talks with author Kathleen Edelman about temperament in childhood.

Why This Matters

Understanding our kids’ temperament better helps us love them better.

Key Takeaways

• Personality and temperament are different: Personality is constantly changing. Temperament is innate.
• Most miscommunication is not intentional: Differences in temperaments lead people to process information differently.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 00:55 | Introduction: The Key to Better Parenting
00:55 – 02:26 | The Four Temperaments
02:26 – 03:13 | How Temperament Changed Ted
03:13 – 06:10 | Meet Kathleen Edelman: Wired for Kindness
06:10 – 09:14 | Your Expectations May Be Temperament-Tinted
09:14 – 12:13 | Understanding Yellow Kids - People-oriented extroverts, all about people and fun!
12:13 – 16:10 | Understanding Red Kids - Task-oriented extroverts, focused on power and control.
16:10 – 19:15 | Understanding Blue Kids - Task-oriented introverts, all about perfection and order.
19:15 – 22:00 | Understanding Green Kids - People-oriented introverts, all about calm and harmony.
22:00 – 24:17 | Pro Move of the Week: “Invest in yourself first. You cannot give what you don’t have.” – Kathleen Edelman

Listen Again:

Episode 63 – How To Help Kids Navigate Their Emotions?

Episode 33 – How Do I Handle My Kids’ Emotional Roller Coaster?

Episode 62 – How to Raise Emotionally Strong Boys

Kathleen Edelman Resources:

Website

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Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

Happiness is contagious… if we want it to be. In this episode of the All Pro Dad podcast, Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to share a surprising truth about marriage and happiness. Forget the old saying "happy wife, happy life"—we're exploring why your happiness when your wife is happy is the real key to a joyful and thriving relationship for both of you.

Key Takeaways

The Marriage Myth: Research suggests simply being married doesn't guarantee happiness.

Happiness is Contagious: Harvard studies show that happiness can spread between spouses.

Why It's Hard (But Worth It): There are benefits to your wife and your marriage when you choose to join her in joy.

Action Steps for Husbands

1. Smile When She Smiles: How a simple shift in your reaction can change everything.
2. Let Her Know You Know: Responding positively to "bids for connection" and validating her feelings.
3. Join the Fun: Stepping out of your comfort zone to share in her joy, even in small ways.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 00:55 | Introduction

00:55 – 03:54 | What Makes Our Wives Light Up?

03:54 – 05:05 | Why Does Her Happiness Make You Happy Too?

05:05 – 06:33 | Happiness Is Contagious

06:33 – 08:02 | Why We Struggle to Reflect Her Joy

08:02 – 10:28 | Her Joy Often Comes With Your Involvement

10:28 – 12:13 | Why Reflecting Her Happiness Matters

12:13 – 14:01 | “Wow” Instead of “How”

14:01 – 20:40 | Action Steps For Husbands

20:40 – 22:04 | Pro Move: Look for opportunities to smile with your wife this week. Smile back and show her you share in her excitement. It’s a simple gesture that can make a huge difference!

Listen Again:

Episode 70 – What Do Happily Married Couples Think About?

Episode 48 – How Do I Overcome Challenges in My Marriage?

All Pro Dad Resources

5 Barriers to Fun in Your Marriage

9 Ways to Make Your Marriage More Fun

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Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

You’re probably not 8-foot-11 like Robert Pershing Wadlow, the world’s tallest man, but you are likely taller than your kids. Do they look up to you for any other reasons? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by Bobby Lewis to talk about the things we need to be to become a good dad.

Our goal as dads should be to connect with our children, which can be a challenge sometimes. Our size can make us feel loud, scary, or intimidating to them. How do we get down on their level and truly connect?

Why This Matters

Your size, volume level, and mere presence can help or hurt you as a dad. The goal is to make kids feel comfortable and connected around us.

Key Takeaways

• You probably look really big to your kid. That can feel intimidating.
• Leverage your size to make your kids feel safe, not scared.

Practical Tools for Dads

Among many other things kids need you to be, here are 4 you can start putting into practice today:

1. Be Calm.

2. Be Affectionate.

3. Be Safe.

4. Be Strong.

Important Episode Timestamps
00:00 – 00:55 | Introduction & Big Question of the Week

00:55 – 03:18 | The Power of Presence: How Big Dads Feel to Little Kids

03:18 – 04:49 | Start Here: Be Calm

04:49 – 06:13 | Eye Level & Whisper Mode: Tools for Diffusing Tension

06:13 – 09:14 | Be Affectionate: Wrestle, Hug, and Repeat

09:14 – 10:34 | Hugging Isn't Optional: It's Foundational

10:34 – 13:36 | Be Safe: Your Response Is Their Refuge

13:36 – 16:14 | The Power of Gentle Strength

16:14 – 19:50 | Be Strong: Not Just Physically, But Emotionally

19:50 – 21:14 | Pro Move of the Week

APD Pro Move:
Remember how big you are to your children Leverage that size to make a big, positive impression on your kids.

Sponsor:
The All Pro Dad Podcast is proudly brought to you by Family First, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping parents with resources to strengthen their families. Learn more at FamilyFirst.net.

All Pro Dad Resources:

7 Giant Things Your Kid Needs You to Be

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This episode's blog can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com.

Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.

Get great content for moms at iMOM.com