Hot Topics Ep. 5 - Burnout to Balance: Prioritizing Self-Care as a Dad
Release Date: 05/27/2025
The Difference a Dad Makes Ep. 8 - Balancing Habits for School Success Pt. 1
Good Dads Podcast
In this episode of The Difference a Dad Makes, hosts J. Fotsch and Brian Mattson welcome elementary PE teacher and dad, Myles Wilson, for a fun and practical discussion about helping kids develop healthy habits for school success. From the importance of routines and physical activity to managing screen time, Myles shares how movement, emotional regulation, and positive social skills set the stage for better learning. Drawing from his experience as both a teacher and parent, Myles emphasizes that kids thrive when they have consistent routines, opportunities to move, and encouragement to see...
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Good Dads Great Communities Ep. 8 - Engaged Fathers, Empowered Kids: A Success Story with Strong Schools
Good Dads Podcast
In this episode of Good Dads Great Communities, J. Fotsch and Director of Communications Diana Dudenhoeffer sit down with Strong Schools Captains Joshua Rowlett and Ben Buschjost to hear firsthand how intentional father involvement is transforming schools, families, and communities. From the library to the manufacturing floor, Joshua and Ben share how dads—and other male role models—are stepping up through the Good Dads Strong Schools program to build stronger connections with their children. Through simple activities like pipe cleaner monsters and water bottle flips, these fathers are...
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The Difference a Dad Makes Ep. 7 - Preparing Children for Independence
Good Dads Podcast
In this episode of The Difference a Dad Makes, hosts J. Fotsch and Brian Mattson are joined by Jason Hinson from Victory Mission for a lighthearted yet deeply practical conversation about raising children to be independent. From toddler chore charts to the complexities of launching adult children, the trio explores what age-appropriate responsibility looks like across different life stages. The conversation emphasizes the importance of knowing each child’s personality, offering guidance without micromanaging and modeling life skills like financial literacy, technology use and emotional...
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Good Dads Great Communities Ep. 7 - Strong Schools, Strong Communities: Getting Involved with Local Elementary Schools
Good Dads Podcast
In this episode of Good Dads Great Communities, Dr. Jennifer L. Baker and J. Fotsch sit down with Strong Schools Coordinator Jim Millsap and Good Dads Board Member Dr. Mike Dawson—an experienced educator and retired Branson Schools administrator—to explore how simple interactions between dads and their kids can build stronger families and schools. Drawing on their decades in education and personal experiences as fathers, Jim and Mike explain how the Strong Schools initiative helps fathers—and father figures—connect meaningfully with their children while transforming school culture. The...
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Hot Topics Ep. 7 - Politics & Parenting: What to Discuss with Kids
Good Dads Podcast
In this candid episode of Hot Topics, hosts J. Fotsch and Will Cox speak with Missouri State Representative Alex Riley and government consultant Ryan DeBouf about the challenge of navigating politics as parents. Both guests bring not only their professional insights but also their personal experience as dads—Alex with a growing young family and Ryan with children spanning from elementary to adulthood. The discussion emphasizes the importance of age-appropriate conversations, modeling respectful discourse and cultivating political understanding at home. The guests share how to introduce basic...
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The Intentional Dad Ep 7 - Creating a Safe Space for Honest Conversations
Good Dads Podcast
In this episode of The Intentional Dad, hosts J. Fotsch and Jason Hynson welcome guest Brian Mattson from The Downtown Church for a heartfelt discussion on fostering trust and openness in family conversations. The dads explore how honesty, humility and consistency are crucial for building emotional safety at home—especially when discussing hard topics or addressing mistakes both theirs and their children’s. The conversation emphasizes the power of modeling honesty and vulnerability, especially when parents admit they’re wrong. The trio shares personal stories about navigating...
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The Difference a Dad Makes Ep. 6 - Teaching Financial Responsibility
Good Dads Podcast
In this episode of The Difference a Dad Makes, hosts J. Fotsch and Brian Mattson sit down with Crystal and Tobi Roberts to discuss how parents can teach kids about money from a young age. The Roberts, parents of a blended family with three children, share practical ways they’ve used to teach financial responsibility—from chore charts and envelope budgeting to teen credit cards and monthly family budget meetings. The conversation highlights the importance of starting early, setting consistent expectations, and using real-life experiences to teach financial principles. Crystal, a CPA...
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The Intentional Dad Ep. 6 - The Role of Discipline in Parenting
Good Dads Podcast
In this episode of The Intentional Dad, hosts J. Fotsch and Jason Hynson, with Victory Mission, welcome guest Jim Robinette to explore what discipline really means in parenting. Drawing on his military background and years of fatherhood, Jim reframes discipline as more than just consequences—it’s about leadership, personal responsibility and helping kids build self-awareness. The trio emphasizes that effective discipline is rooted in consistency, fairness and modeling behavior. Jim reflects on how different approaches worked for his two children, highlighting the importance of...
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Hot Topics Ep. 6 - Being a Father Figure
Good Dads Podcast
In this heartfelt episode of Hot Topics, hosts J. Fotsch and Will Cox sit down with Zach Troutman—coach, community leader and founder of Follow the Leader—to discuss the impact of intentional fatherhood, mentorship and vulnerability. Zach opens up about growing up without his dad, losing his best friend to suicide and how these experiences shaped his mission to provide stability, openness and support for his children and others. Key points include the power of transparency in fatherhood, how grief can be channeled into advocacy and mentorship and why dads must model emotional awareness for...
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Good Dads Great Communities Ep. 6 - How Good Dads Fits Your Community
Good Dads Podcast
In this inspiring episode of Good Dads Great Communities, Dr. Jennifer L. Baker and J. Fotsch speak with two outstanding leaders in rural Missouri: Sean Vanderbeck from the Ava chapter and Jill Garrett from the Texas County chapter. As two of the three winners of the Good Dads Great Communities of the Year Contest, these chapters are recognized for their commitment to fatherhood in small towns often overlooked by larger initiatives. Sean and Jill reflect on their challenges, share their triumphs and describe the creative ways they’ve engaged dads across their regions. From providing...
info_outlineIn this episode of Hot Topics, hosts J. Fotsch and Will Cox welcome Dr. Shelby Smith, a family physician and father of three, to explore the essential yet often neglected topic of self-care for dads. With honesty and warmth, Dr. Smith shares how his personal and professional experiences have transformed his understanding of burnout, mindfulness and the importance of being present—mentally and emotionally—for his family. From engaging in early morning exercise and guided meditation to establishing digital boundaries and learning to say no to overcommitments, he provides practical strategies for achieving balance amid the chaos of parenting.
Key points include how situational stress affects both mind and body, why parents must protect their presence as much as their provision and how saying “no” is an essential part of family wellness. The conversation underscores that while balance may never be perfect, intentionality, vulnerability and supportive friendships can help dads shift from reactive to reflective parenting.
Episode Highlights
[03:08] – “We’re never going to get this thing right… but we’re trying to do the best we can.”
[07:12] – “Tell me what happened between then and now… and inevitably there’s going to be some change in a situation.”
[10:54] – “You have to take care of yourself first before you can be there for everyone else.”
[18:28] – “Our kids aren’t going to remember the toys we got… they’re going to remember this time.”
[20:13] – “Each Friday I put on an auto-reply… I don’t check my email on the weekend.”
[27:36] – “You only say yes if it’s a ‘hell yes.’”
[31:59] – “If I can think about mindfulness every morning when I wake up, it’ll be an okay day.”
[33:18] – “It just takes more effort to cultivate friendships… but it’s so important.”
Resources
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