Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the What’s Up Dad Podcast, we sit down with Justin McDowell — a Columbus teacher, former college basketball player, husband, and dad — for a real, raw conversation about resilience, fatherhood, and the power of community.
Justin shares his story from Detroit, time in foster care, and the adoption that changed the trajectory of his life — along with what it took to keep going through trauma, setbacks, and hard seasons.
We also talk about what being a true friend really means (especially when life gets heavy), mental health, and why dads need other dads in their corner.
Want to be on the What's Up, Dad?! podcast? Go here and submit your info: 👉👉👉👉https://bit.ly/WhatsUpDadPC
Plus: a funny-but-surprisingly-serious product review (a “4D air mesh bath pillow”) and a quick sports wrap-up (Remember the Titans vs Coach Carter).
If you’re a dad who’s trying to build a stronger home, stronger relationships, and keep showing up — this episode is for you.
💬 Question for you: What does a real friend look like in your life right now?
👍 Like, subscribe, and share this with a dad who needs a practical reset.
Dad Gang hats SAVE 15%: https://www.dadgang.co/GRAYSON12040
Disclaimer: This episode is for entertainment and general discussion, not professional advice.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Justin McDowell
03:02 The Role of Sports in Life
05:51 Olympic Sports and Their Impact
08:54 Parenting Through Sports
12:08 Overcoming Adversity and Building a Family
14:58 The Influence of Foster Care
18:07 The Power of Tattoos and Personal Stories
31:47 The Power of Discipline and Hard Work
33:15 Understanding Fatherhood and Personal Stories
34:40 Defining Friendship and Its Importance
37:08 Coping with Trauma and Mental Health
38:35 Building Friendships as a Dad
40:31 Cultural Perspectives and Adaptability
52:18 The Journey of Writing a Book
56:58 Final Thoughts and Reflections on Life
👍 Subscribe for more dad-life conversations from Columbus.
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-up-dad/id1611273650
Amazon Music:
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9cdcce9e-dfe6-4241-9c63-f43115c3cbe4/episodes/94d2f17b-4c5c-4842-b230-f724bac20127/what's-up-dad-what's-up-dad-episode-1
iheartMusic:
https://iheart.com/podcast/93274193/
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0PYazu0xCHRnTeb2aqmicS?si=aCRGEdq1TtWzh6MBLm8g1g
Stitcher:
https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=687465
Podcast Addict:
https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/3842598
Podchaser:
https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/whats-up-dad-4254980
Player FM:
https://player.fm/series/whats-up-dad
Podcast Index:
https://podcastindex.org/podcast/5047126
Support the show
Check us out on YouTube!
@Whatsupdadpodcast
Support the show (https://www.buzzsp
Support the show
👂 Like listening to the What's
Support the show
👂 Like li
Support the show
👂 Like listening to the What's Up Dad? Podcast 👂
👁 You can watch us too 👁
Check us out on YouTube!
@Whatsupdadpodcast
Support the show
👂 Like listening to the What's Up Dad? Podcast 👂
👁 You can watch us too 👁
Check us ou
Support the show
👂 Like listening to the What's Up Dad? Podcast 👂
👁 You can watch us too 👁
Check us out on YouTube!
@Whatsupdadpodcast