The Dad Edge Podcast
In the final episode of 2025, I take time to reflect, express deep gratitude, and share what’s coming next for The Dad Edge as we head into 2026. This episode is about honoring what this community has built together over the past ten years, celebrating the wins, and casting a clear vision for what’s ahead for men who want to lead their families with intention. I walk you through several major announcements—from the return of Wednesday Q&A with Uncle Joe, to our brand-new Dad Edge Alliance membership platform, upcoming marriage and health initiatives, and powerful in-person...
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What do you do when life changes in ways you didn’t choose—and didn’t see coming? In this deeply emotional and intellectually grounding conversation, I sit down with Dr. Maya Shankar, cognitive scientist, former White House advisor, and host of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, to talk about change, identity, grief, and uncertainty. Maya shares her powerful personal story of being accepted into Juilliard at a young age, only to have her violin career abruptly end due to a devastating injury. From there, we explore how unexpected change threatens our identity, why the...
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In today’s episode, I sit down with Eric Kennedy, founder of Recovery Vow and author of Marriage After Addiction, for one of the most raw and redemptive conversations we’ve ever had on this show. Eric spent 15 years deep in addiction—alcohol, cocaine, crack, jail time, suicide attempts, losing his marriage, and losing himself. This isn’t a story of high-functioning addiction. This is rock bottom in every sense of the word. Eric opens up about growing up with emotional neglect, how unresolved trauma fueled his addiction, and the moments that finally forced him to choose...
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In this Christmas Eve solo episode, I shift gears from our recent focus on online safety and talk about one of the most common—and painful—issues I see in long-term marriages: roommate syndrome. That quiet drift where intimacy fades, connection feels awkward, and marriage starts to feel more like co-parenting logistics than a romantic partnership. If you’ve ever laid in bed next to your wife feeling disconnected, unwanted, or unsure how things got this way, this episode is for you. I share my own experience falling into roommate syndrome after years of marriage, kids, exhaustion,...
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In today’s episode, I sit down with Brent Gleeson, former Navy SEAL, combat veteran, entrepreneur, leadership expert, and author of his newest book All In. But this conversation isn’t about résumés or accolades. It’s about grief, discipline, marriage, fatherhood, and the systems that allow a man to truly live “all in” where it matters most. Brent opens up about losing his father unexpectedly in 2023—a moment that forced deep reflection and radical change. We talk about the three pillars his dad lived by, how eliminating alcohol completely transformed Brent’s...
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What if the real scoreboard for fatherhood isn’t your bank account, your job title, or your kids’ trophies—but how much your adult kids actually want to spend time with you? In this deeply moving conversation, I sit down with Tim Campbell, an 82-year-old father, author, and living example of what long-term connection and trust with your kids can look like—even after a lifetime of hardship. Tim shares his journey of being married for 50 years, raising three children—two with significant disabilities—and navigating medical crises, bullying, fear, and exhaustion that would...
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In this deeply emotional solo episode, I continue our December series focused on protecting kids from online predators. I walk you through two real and devastating cases that show exactly how grooming, sextortion, and long-term digital harassment happen—often without parents having any idea it’s occurring. These aren’t edge cases. This is the reality of the digital world our kids are growing up in. We break down a Roblox grooming case involving an eight-year-old girl, how predators slowly build trust and move conversations to private apps, and why platform bans don’t actually...
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What if the most dangerous addiction in the world isn’t drugs, alcohol, or gambling—but revenge? In this eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Dr. James Kimmel Jr., Yale School of Medicine researcher, attorney, and author of The Science of Revenge, to unpack what actually happens in our brains when we feel wronged, humiliated, or disrespected. Dr. Kimmel breaks down the neuroscience behind revenge, why it lights up the brain the same way cocaine does, and how seeking retaliation gives us a temporary dopamine hit that ultimately leaves us worse off. We talk about anger,...
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If you’re a parent with a kid in youth sports—rec, competitive, or full-blown travel—today’s episode will hit home. I sit down with Jonathan Carone, creator of Healthy Sports Parents, for a powerful conversation about what youth sports have become, why burnout is skyrocketing, and how well-meaning parents (including me in the early years) unknowingly make the experience more stressful for their kids. We break down shocking stats—like why 70% of kids quit sports by age 13, why travel leagues are burning families out, and how overtraining is causing injuries in 9-, 10-, and...
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In this solo December episode, I continue a month-long series dedicated to educating parents about the real dangers our kids face online. After last week’s story about Adam Tate, today I share two more real cases—one involving sextortion and another involving swatting—that every parent needs to understand. These aren’t rare events. They’re happening quickly, quietly, and often right under our noses while our kids sit in their bedrooms playing games like Roblox, Fortnite, and more. You’ll hear the heartbreaking story of 17-year-old Ryan Lass from San Jose, who took his...
info_outlineIn this special solo episode of the Dad Edge Podcast, I take a moment to reflect on the power of gratitude, especially as we approach Thanksgiving. What started out as a funny story about a failed attempt to record with my nine-year-old quickly turned into a heartfelt message for the men who make this podcast possible. I open up about the lessons I’ve learned over the past 10 years of podcasting, leading the Dad Edge movement, and the importance of appreciating life’s simplest blessings—even when the world feels chaotic.
Whether you’re navigating challenging family dynamics over the holidays or simply want to deepen your connection with those you love, this episode is packed with encouragement and reminders about what truly matters.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
[0:00] – Introduction
[1:22] – Why this solo episode almost didn’t happen
[2:38] – Reflections on Thanksgiving and what it represents
[3:55] – How simple gratitude (like working fingers and toes) shifts perspective
[4:56] – The Hagner family Thanksgiving tradition of spoken gratitude
[5:35] – The importance of setting healthy boundaries around alcohol
[6:17] – A hilarious and humbling personal story from a past holiday
[7:37] – Deep gratitude to the Dad Edge community and listeners
[9:51] – Shout-out to men in the Alliance, Boardroom, and 1-on-1 coaching
[11:39] – Celebrating Wade Hendry as First Form Dad Edge Dad of the Month
[14:29] – How First Form’s company culture mirrors our values
[15:20] – Where to find full show notes and resources for this episode
5 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Gratitude Doesn’t Require Perfection: Even in chaotic or stressful family situations, choosing to focus on small, simple blessings—like health or a working car—can reframe your entire experience.
- Holiday Traditions Can Be Powerful Tools: Larry’s family tradition of expressing specific gratitude around the Thanksgiving table serves as a model for meaningful connection, not just with family but with intention.
- Guard Your Energy and Presence: The episode includes a candid and humorous warning about overindulging in alcohol during the holidays—a reminder that one night can become a story you regret for decades.
- Celebrate Your Journey, Even If It’s Imperfect: Larry shares how the Dad Edge Podcast began as a passion project and evolved into a global movement—proof that you don’t have to have it all figured out to make an impact.
- The Community Is What Makes This Possible: From listeners to Alliance members to coaching clients, this episode is a heartfelt “thank you” to the men doing life together, growing, contributing, and showing up with courage.
LINKS & RESOURCES
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Full episode details: https://thedadedge.com/1406
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Download “25 Questions to Help You Connect with Your Kids”: https://thedadedge.com/25questions
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Shop First Form and support the podcast: https://1stphorm.com/dadedge
- Podcast Shownotes: https://thedadedge.com/1406
If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with another father. Let’s keep building this community of intentional men who lead and love well.
Live legendary.