Episode 199 - Wait Until Your Dad Gets Home - Why Kids Should Run Toward, Not From, Dad

A healthy and welcoming home tone starts with dads and partners being intentional about how everyone feels when Dad arrives and how discipline is communicated. Here are four main strategies, with supporting ideas, that can transform the “wait till your father gets home” sentiment into one of anticipation and warmth, plus podcast title suggestions for your episode

• Respect is foundational for positive relationships and a healthy home atmosphere. Dads have a unique impact—what is said and, especially, how it’s said matters; speaking gently, giving eye contact, and greeting others warmly model respect.
• Encourage respectful communication between partners and children. Avoid harshness and sarcasm; instead, use kind words to keep lines of listening open and build trust

• The classic phrase “wait till your father gets home” can create anxiety or fear if used as a threat. Instead, parents should address issues together and communicate with collaborative language: “Let’s talk with Dad about what happened so we can all learn and move forward”.
• Don’t set up Dad as the “bad cop” or the source of punishment, this can damage children’s perception of their relationship with him. Handle small issues immediately and use arrival times as moments for reconnection, not confrontation

• How Dad enters matters—a cheerful greeting (hugs, excited shouts, smiles) sets the mood for the evening and can become a cherished family ritual. Dads should reciprocate by demonstrating excitement and genuine joy when seeing their family after work.
• Use physical cues (open lighting, tidy spaces, favorite music, or simple routines like a shared snack) to make everyone’s return home feel special and safe, reinforcing positive anticipation when Dad comes home.

• Dads and partners can build emotional safety by owning mistakes, apologizing sincerely, and listening empathetically. Show kids that nobody is perfect, and modeling humility helps relationships flourish.
• Empathy—validating emotions even in tough moments, helps to de-escalate conflict and encourages children to approach parents with their feelings and challenges, rather than hide or dread conversations

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 198 - How Dads Can Help Kids Cope With Disturbing Events Online

To address horrific events in the news as a Dad with children—especially with the flood of real-time, sometimes graphic information online—requires honest, age-appropriate conversation, parental guidance on media, and intentional emotional support. Here’s how to help kids process unfettered access to traumatic world events:

• Be truthful about events, but only share details your child can process based on age and maturity

• Monitor screen and social media time closely; turn off background news or screens when kids are around.
• Proactively block access to graphic images or videos and absorb news together, encouraging discussion afterwards

• Ask what your child has seen, heard, or feels. Let them talk and express worry, sadness, anger, or confusion
• Normalize their emotions; assure them it's okay to feel upset or ask questions.

• Emphasize what is being done to keep everyone safe and how community helpers support those affected.
• Maintain familiar routines—meals, bedtime—to restore a sense of normalcy and security.

• Ask what they’ve heard from peers or social media, clarifying rumors and correcting any false ideas.
• Put events in context, focusing on stories of resilience and positive community action.

• Encourage older children and teens to reflect on why certain stories go viral and discuss the purpose behind media coverage.
• Highlight opportunities for kindness, compassion, and community support—even small acts they can take

By providing guidance and safe space for open discussion, Dads can help children navigate distressing world events, build resilience, and maintain emotional well-being in today’s connected world.

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 197 - Happy Dad, Healthy Family, Joyful Fatherhood Without Guilt

Dads often neglect their own happiness in favor of family needs, but prioritizing personal joy and open communication is critical for the well-being of the entire family and the health of relationships.

Making time for hobbies, self-care, and sharing these needs with a partner—as well as letting go of guilt—helps dads stay recharge, remain engaged, and model healthy emotional behaviors for their children.

Busy dads can reclaim "me time" through intentional strategies such as scheduling personal activities, setting boundaries, starting with small time commitments (as little as 15–30 minutes a day), integrating family and personal interests, and practicing mindfulness. Suggestions include engaging in hobbies, regular exercise, solo outings (like seeing a movie or getting a massage), and spending time with friends.

Many fathers feel guilty for enjoying personal activities away from family, but embracing hobbies and interests helps recharge energy and enrich identity—making for better parenting. Communication and reciprocity with a partner are essential: encourage each other to pursue interests and recognize everyone’s unique needs for self-care. Letting go of guilt leads to happier, more balanced fatherhood.

Having an honest conversation with a partner is crucial. Express what you need in terms of self-care—time, activities, and support—and invite your partner to share their needs too. Approach it as a two-way, empathetic discussion focused on “refilling your cup” so you’re present, fulfilled, and better able to support your family. Implementing a clear and mutual plan ensures both partners understand and honor each other’s needs.

A dad’s well-being is strongly tied to family health, children’s development, and relationship satisfaction. When fathers model healthy self-care and emotional fulfillment, children benefit from improved attachment, confidence, academic achievement, and psychological health. Involved, happy dads create nurturing environments where the whole family thrives

Here is an action-oriented summary that dads can use and apply right away to find more joy, prioritize happiness, and support their families through intentional self-care:

• Commit to Prioritizing Your Well-Being: Make a conscious decision to value your happiness and self-care as essential, not optional. Recognize that when you care for yourself, you model healthy behavior and improve the family's well-being.
• Schedule “Me Time” Regularly: Block out time in your calendar each week for hobbies, interests, exercise, or peaceful downtime. Treat this time as non-negotiable and just as important as other commitments.
• Acknowledge Your Emotions: Notice and accept your feelings—whether stress, joy, or anxiety—without judgment. Express your needs and feelings openly, so you're less likely to bottle them up.
• Talk to Your Partner: Share openly about your need for personal time and fulfillment. Frame the conversation around being your best self for your partner and family. Invite them to share their needs as well and work on a plan together.
• Reconnect with Your Passions: Restart a hobby or activity that once brought joy. Let go of guilt—making time for healthy interests helps recharge your mental, emotional, and physical health.
• Stay Connected: Maintain friendships and build community—especially with other dads. Social support makes it easier to process challenges and celebrate joys.
• Stay Active: Add movement to your daily routine, like walking, biking, or playing a sport. Physical activity is a proven stress reliever and energizer.
• Ask for Help When...

Episode 196 - Chris Kruger - Black Hawk Helicopters, Multiple Deployments, Anger and Fear, Lessons for Dads

Chris Kruger grew up just outside Spokane, Washington, and joined the Army before turning 21, driven by a sense of purpose and a thirst for challenge. Over the next 22 years, he forged a diverse and demanding military career—starting as an infantryman and eventually becoming a Blackhawk maintenance test pilot. His journey took him from Basic Training and Airborne School at Fort Benning to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he completed an impressive lineup of elite training programs, including Amphibious Reconnaissance School, Ranger School, HALO and HALO Jumpmaster, and Flight School, among others. Along the way, he earned the Expert and Combat Infantryman Badges, a Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal, and several other honors.

Chris deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Far East, spending more than five and a half years overseas—experiences that deeply shaped his outlook on leadership, resilience, and life. After retiring, he turned to writing as a way to unpack and give meaning to those intense years. What began as personal reflection quickly became a mission to reach others walking similar paths.

Today, Chris lives in Huntsville, Alabama, with his wife Genevieve and their two daughters, Charlize and Isabelle—writing from a place of survival, strength, and connection. Together, Chris and Genevieve are active in their local church and committed to encouraging others to overcome life’s hardships, expanding their reach through writing and a forthcoming podcast aimed at inspiring healing, faith, and perseverance.

Book: Walking Away from the Ledge: A Soldier's Memoir

Walking Away from the Ledge is a hard-hitting, no-BS military memoir that goes beyond the battlefield to expose the raw truth of war, survival, and self-destruction. With an unapologetic voice and brutal honesty, Chris takes readers deep inside the challenging world of an Army Ranger, the brotherhood that holds soldiers together, and the personal demons that threaten to tear them apart.

More than a war story, this book is about what happens when the fight doesn’t end—the toll of combat, the grip of addiction, and the struggle to hold onto love when everything else is falling apart. This memoir hits hard, digs deep, and refuses to look away.

https://a.co/d/4nhPNiR

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 195 - Kelly Farley - Grieving Dads, He Lost His Baby Too, Survival Guide for the Grieving Dad

If you have ever loved a child, then you understand what it’s like to love someone more than you love life itself. If you have ever lost a child, then you understand more about hell than anyone could possibly be expected to know. This isn’t something you get over. Only those who have lost a child can understand the depths to which this pain travels. Like most of the men who will read these books, I too am a grieving dad.

The message I want bereaved fathers to understand is that I know it’s hard, I know it hurts, I know it’s scary — but you can get through this. You can survive. It will be the hardest thing you will ever experience; it will drain you physically, mentally, and emotionally. You can come out on the other side of this very long and lonely tunnel, but you will be a different person when you do. There is no going back to the old you.

You also need to know that you are not alone in your grief. Other men have been through this and that the emotions they keep inside are the same emotions all of us experience, even if we don't talk about them. The best thing you can do is to reach out for help and to know it is not a sign of “weakness” to do so. Instead, it’s a sign of courage and strength — the kind that’s required to face this battle head on.

This book was written specifically for fathers grappling with the unbearable aftermath of losing a baby. It is all too easy for a bereaved father to succumb to a haunting sense of isolation after such a loss. However, within these pages lies a lifeline—a survival guide infused with wisdom, providing a roadmap through the complicated path of grief.

In the wake of a tragic loss—whether it be a miscarriage, a stillbirth, or the untimely passing of an infant—this invaluable resource unravels the layers of anguish that overwhelm grieving fathers. Written by a grieving dad, this book offers unflinching honesty and poignant insight, it also delves into the raw pain that accompanies such a profound loss, assuring these men that their emotions, however overwhelming, are both valid and shared by others who have walked a similar path.

A collection of candid stories from grieving dads that were interviewed over a two-year period. The book offers insight from fellow members of, in the haunting words of one dad, “this terrible, terrible club,” which consists of men who have experienced the death of a child. This book is a collection of survival stories by men who have survived the worst possible loss and lived to tell the tale.

They are real stories that pull no punches and are told with brutal honesty. Men that have shared their deepest and darkest moments. Moments that included thoughts of suicide, self-medication, and homelessness. Some of these men have found their way back from the brink, while others are still standing there, stuck in their pain. The core message of Grieving Dads is “you’re not alone.” It is a message that desperately needs to be delivered to grieving dads who often grieve in silence due to society’s expectations.

https://www.grievingdads.com/

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 194 - Shellee Howard - Get Your Kids College Ready with a Plan and a Question - Who Are You

College Ready Founder and CEO

Shellee has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She knows what it takes to compete in the Ivy schools as well as finding the best fit for all students. Shellee believes that no two students are the same, and each student must have their own strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has a gift/talent and a passion that will set him or her apart from their competition. College Ready has clients all over the world, and each one is important. Her focus is to find the best academic, financial, and social fit college for each student to thrive at!

You deserve the College Ready “All hands on deck!” approach to your college application. We have the best college admissions consultants ready to help your student succeed!

At College Ready, we are a team of certified college admissions consultants driven to help your student succeed both in college and in life. We plan individually with students and their families to build the perfect college match as well as financial fit.

Our focus is your son or daughter and what he or she aspires to achieve. We are Certified College Counselors from UCSD, UCLA and come with years of experience helping students get into the perfect college or university. We enjoy working with students of all ages and stages. We have specialists who focus on the Ivy schools, and we have specialists who focus on getting B students into the best-fit college. Our goal is to help your student be the best they can be while graduating with little or no debt!

https://collegereadyplan.com/

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 193 - He Lost His Baby Too, Who Cares for the Father When Loss Hits Your Home

Who cares for Dads when the unthinkable happens - well it happened to me when we lost our child during pregnacy - I almost lost my wife as well. I recently had a guest author on my Living The Next Chapter Podcast.

If you want to hear Elizabeth's interview follow this link for more:

https://youtu.be/IGtexvEVVn8

https://www.elizabeth-johnstone.com/

Elizabeth Johnstone wrote a book about her journey of loss as a Mother when she lost her baby during pregnacy - this conversation with Elizabeth made me revisit my own giref as a Dad - the resources are not readily available for Dads - why is this? Why are we just a paragraph in a take home pamphlet on dealing with grief - who cares for a Dad when Dad is caring for Mom?

When do we get to grieve as a Dad and is there anybody out there for us - if you have ever felt that there is nobody here for you in your grief, I tracked down a great author and fellow grieving Dad to help us all - check out Kelly's details here

https://www.grievingdads.com/

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 192 - When Parents Aren't Getting Along - When Relationships Impact Family

4 Key Points for Dads: "When Parents Aren’t Getting Along – When Relationships Impact Family"

Acknowledge What Kids See and Feel

Children are deeply sensitive to tension and arguments between parents—even when you think you’re hiding it. Recognize that your kids notice changes in tone, body language, and distance. It’s important to reassure them that both parents still love them and the issues are not their fault.

Model Healthy Conflict and Respect

Disagreements are a normal part of any relationship, but how you handle conflict teaches your children crucial lessons. Aim to demonstrate respect, self-control, and active listening. Avoid insulting, yelling, or putting each other down, especially in front of your children. Showing that you can disagree and resolve issues maturely sets a lifelong example.

Prioritize Open Communication

Be proactive in talking to your partner about challenges rather than letting resentment build. Also, talk with your kids in an age-appropriate way: let them know families sometimes have tough moments, but working together as a team is important. Open communication supports a sense of safety and stability for everyone in the household.

Protect the Parent-Child Relationship

Never use your relationship struggles as a reason to involve children in adult concerns or to undermine your partner as a parent. Commit to supporting each other’s roles with your kids. Children benefit most when they see that, even in hard times, both parents remain invested in their wellbeing and daily lives.

Encouragement to Dads:

Being honest about difficulties, while working towards a respectful atmosphere, gives your children security and valuable coping skills. Family challenges are real, but with intentionality, dads can contribute to resilience and healing for everyone.

tik tok video link from episode

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSkoydU1M/

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270