Every man hits a moment—or a season—where he realizes: Something’s off. Maybe he’s performing but not connected. Providing but not present. Holding it all together, but barely.

In this powerful and personal conversation, Jerrad sits down with Kyle Idleman to talk about why so many men feel stuck in patterns they can’t explain or escape—and what to do about it. Whether you’re in your 20s or 60s, this episode offers biblical, practical tools for taking your thoughts captive and walking in freedom.

They cover:

• The “plus or minus 3 of 40” window (and why it’s not just about age)

• Why men trade connection for production—and how to stop

• How to tell if you’re really healthy (hint: it’s not your to-do list)

• What it means to bear one another’s burdens—without trying to fix each other

• How to break the thought patterns that have kept you stuck for years

Kyle’s new book: Every Thought Captive
More from Dad Tired: https://www.dadtired.com

Ever walked out of a situation and thought, “That didn’t feel right”?
In this raw, unscripted episode, Jerrad Lopes shares a deeply vulnerable moment — a story that didn’t involve sin in the traditional sense, but came dangerously close. From a return line at Home Depot to the emotional weight of a product endorsement, Jerrad invites listeners into the middle circle: the subtle behaviors that don’t look like sin, but lead our hearts away from truth, integrity, and God.

🎧 In this episode:

• What “middle circle behavior” means and how it can unravel your soul

• The difference between numbing out vs. self-care

• A powerful framework used in recovery communities to build emotional awareness

• How small compromises can quietly erode godly character

• Jerrad’s honest confession to his wife — and why radical honesty matters

• Why Oreo binges, Zillow scrolling, or standing while eating may matter more than you think

• The prayer for men who want transformation but feel stuck

Whether you’re a husband, a father, or a man seeking healing, this episode offers a language for the soul and a challenge to step out of isolation.

📌 Want to go deeper?

• Consider sharing this episode with a friend and comparing your own circles

🔗 Support the Work

• Attend the next Dad Tired Retreat → DadTired.com/retreat

• Become a monthly donor and help continue the mission

• Partner brands: World Watch News – Faith-based news for families

What do you do when your marriage feels over — and you don't even know why?

In this raw and honest conversation, Dave and Ann Wilson share the untold story of how their marriage nearly ended at year 10… and the one moment that changed everything.

They dive into childhood wounds, soul pain, and the exhausting journey of healing — and how putting God back at the center saved not just their relationship, but their individual hearts.

🔥 Inside this episode:
• Why performance and perfection can kill a marriage
• How childhood trauma shapes adult relationships
• The one word God spoke that changed it all
• How to start healing, even when it feels impossible

Whether you’re fighting for your marriage, healing from your past, or just longing for deeper connection — this story will give you hope, honesty, and practical steps toward restoration.

🎯 Don't miss this powerful conversation. Hit play — and get ready for real talk.

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Today's Sponsor: http://dwellbible.com/dadtired

Porn. Shame. Repeat. Breaking the cycle starts with telling the truth.Jerrad Lopes returns after months of silence, not with answers—but with honesty. In this deeply vulnerable episode, Jerrad shares why he hasn’t told a single lie in 156 days, how intensive counseling broke him open, and what it means to be a “truth teller” in a world of escape. Whether it’s porn, alcohol, work, or Oreos—this is an invitation to stop numbing and start healing.

If you're tired of hiding, if you're tired of performing, and you're ready to be fully present—this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• ​Why Jerrad hasn't lied in over 150 days (and why it matters)
• ​The moment he broke down in counseling—and what it revealed
• ​How performance becomes a survival tactic for so many men
• ​Why honesty feels terrifying but is essential for freedom
• ​Escapism, addiction, and the real reason we keep going back
• ​What meditation taught him (and why he fell asleep once 😂)
• ​The danger of "socially acceptable" numbing habits (Oreos, Zillow, work)
• ​How to catch yourself in the act of escaping—and sit with your feelings instead

Key Challenge for Listeners:

Ask yourself:🧠 What are you trying to escape from?🔍 What are you using to escape?

You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be honest. Start here.

Resources & Mentions:

• ​Dad Tired Community: dadtired.com
• ​Support the show or sponsor inquiries: DadTired.com/donate
• ​Today’s sponsor: BackGatePrayers.com promo code DADTIRED

Most Christian men wouldn’t call it an addiction. “It’s just something I struggle with…”
But what if that struggle is actually keeping you stuck?

In this episode, Nick Stumbo—Executive Director of Pure Desire Ministries—shares his powerful story of addiction, shame, and the deeper healing Jesus offers.

We talk about:

• Why confession isn’t the finish line

• The 3 questions that revealed Nick’s addiction

• What white-knuckling recovery really looks like

• How trauma, performance, and shame feed the cycle

This isn’t just about porn. It’s about what your soul is really craving.

• Learn more about Pure Desire Ministries: https://www.puredesire.org

• Get Nick’s book Setting Us Free: https://amzn.to/3EtfY2P

• Start your healing journey with Dad Tired: [https://www.dadtired.com]

• Subscribe to the Dad Tired podcast for more episodes that help men lead their families well

  
  

  A special thanks to today's sponsor: www.dwellbible.com/dadtired

After a four-month break from the podcast, Jerrad Lopes returns with his most vulnerable episode yet. In this raw and powerful conversation, he shares the painful truth behind his absence, including the sin that nearly cost him everything—and the healing journey that saved his life. Faced with two options—end it all or embrace the pain and pursue healing—Jerrad chose life. Now, he's back with a renewed vision for Dad Tired: to help men find the kind of deep healing that transforms everything. If you're tired, hurting, or hiding, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

Sponsor: worldwatch.news/dadtired

In today's episode, Pastor Kaleb and Pastor Chris sit down with Jerrad to talk about the next season of Dad Tired.

In this powerful follow-up to the series on biblical masculinity, Chris Hilkin continues unpacking what it means to be a man after God's own heart through the PRIME MEN acrostic. After Jerrad Lopes opens with a heartfelt update and thanks the Dad Tired community for their support, Chris teaches through the next key biblical traits of godly manhood: Intentional, Meek, Enduring, Moral, Empathetic, and Noble. With deep theological insight, biblical references, and real-life application, this episode challenges men to take spiritual leadership seriously—at home, in the church, and in the world.

Bible Passages Mentioned:

• John 8 – Jesus and the woman caught in adultery
• 1 Timothy 3:4-5 – Managing one's family well
• Ephesians 6:4 – Fathers training and instructing children
• Genesis 18:19 – Directing one’s household in the way of the Lord
• Genesis 3:6 – Adam’s passivity in the Garden
• 1 Samuel 3:11 – Eli’s failure to discipline his sons
• Mark 5 – Jesus healing the bleeding woman
• 2 Timothy 1:7 – Spirit of power, love, and self-control
• Proverbs 16:32 – Better to be patient than a warrior
• Philippians 2 – Christ’s humility
• Proverbs 24:16 – The righteous fall seven times but rise again
• 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 – Be strong, courageous, and do everything in love
• Luke 23 – Jesus carrying the cross
• 1 Timothy 4:8 – Godliness has value for all things
• Titus 2:7-8 – Teaching with integrity
• 1 Samuel 15 – Saul's disobedience
• Matthew 4 – Jesus’ temptation
• John 17 – Jesus interceding for his disciples
• Nehemiah 4:14 – Fight for your families
• Philippians 4:8 – Whatever is noble, think about such things
• Proverbs 22:1 – A good name is more desirable than riches
• Micah 6:8 – Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly
• Acts 5 – Ananias and Sapphira
• Joshua 7 – The sin of Achan
• John 18 – Jesus on trial before Pilate
• Isaiah 53:7 – Like a lamb silent before its shearers
• Luke 23:34 – Jesus forgives those who crucified Him

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Discussion Questions:

• 1. Which of the PRIME MEN traits (Peacemaking, Repentant, Intentional, Meek, Enduring, Moral, Empathetic, Noble) do you most naturally embody, and which one do you struggle with the most? Why?
     (Bonus: Print the list and literally highlight where you're strong and where you're bleeding, as suggested in the episode.)

  2. Read Ephesians 6:4. What does it look like for you, specifically, to take spiritual responsibility for your kids? In what ways have you been tempted to hand that role off to someone else?

  3. How have you misunderstood meekness in the past? What would it look like for you to walk in “power under control” this week?

  4. How does your private life reflect your integrity? Are there places in your life where you are “fractioned” or living in two different personas? What does integration look like for you?

  5. In a culture that values comfort and ease, what does it mean to endure like Jesus? How can you practically grow in endurance and perseverance when life gets hard?