Fatherhood Field Notes

In this powerful episode of Fatherhood Field Notes, we sit down with Ryan Miller—a man whose joyful demeanor belies a journey through significant trials and transformation. Ryan opens up about his 24-year marriage, raising two daughters, and how embracing suffering has shaped him into the father and husband he is today. He shares vulnerable stories about his own mistakes, including a near-infidelity experience, surviving the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, and how these moments became catalysts for growth rather than destruction. Ryan discusses the importance of physical and spiritual health, intentional presence with our children, and how fathers can balance ambition with family priorities. He offers practical wisdom on passing faith to our children and extending fatherly influence beyond biological connections. This conversation will challenge you, inspire you, and equip you to embrace both strength and vulnerability in your fatherhood journey. CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 - Introduction and first impressions 00:01:06 - Finding joy through suffering and Ryan's transformative experiences 00:05:30 - Discussing suffering with children and embracing life's challenges 00:09:09 - Ryan's background and focus on health 00:11:19 - Life in California and creating family memories 00:13:00 - Building relationships with daughters and potential sons-in-law 00:22:38 - Ryan's central message to men about purpose and responsibility 00:25:01 - Men of Greatness Brotherhood community and resources 00:26:43 - Understanding discipline as alignment rather than control 00:29:18 - Discussing God's purpose versus individual choices 00:35:52 - Balancing career aspirations with family priorities 00:40:17 - Rebelling against the idea that vulnerability is weakness 00:45:45 - The father's role as provider and protector 00:48:10 - Passing faith to children through modeling and conversation 00:56:53 - Envisioning the future as a grandfather LINKS AND RESOURCES Ryan's Community: Skool.com/men-of-greatness [https://www.skool.com/men-of-greatness/about] Ryan on YouTube: YouTube.com/RyanJamesMiller [https://www.youtube.com/ryanjamesmiller] Ryan's Website: RyanJamesMiller.com [http://ryanjamesmiller.com/] Wounds: How Hurt, Heartache, and Tragedy Become the Keys to Unlocking Greatness: [https://www.amazon.com/Wounds-Heartache-Tragedy-Unlocking-Greatness/dp/B0CGMQLRYF]

In this episode, Ned shares powerful insights from a recent marriage retreat that every dad needs to hear. He explores the importance of creating rhythms of rest in a 24/7 culture, the life-changing power of speaking blessings over your kids, and the vital role of truly listening to your wife and children. With raw honesty and practical takeaways, Ned challenges fathers to stop striving, start resting, and build a family culture of peace, presence, and love. Chapters: - 00:00 - Introduction to the Marriage Retreat series - 03:24 - The importance of rest in a 24/7 culture - 08:12 - Shabbat and Sabbath: Creating family rhythms - 12:45 - Speaking blessings over your children - 17:30 - The power of truly listening to your wife and kids - 22:18 - Keeping the boys away: Protecting your daughters - 27:53 - Building a family culture of peace and presence - 34:09 - Practical takeaways for dads - 38:42 - Closing thoughts and next steps

Larry Hagner, author of "The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood," founder of the Dad Edge Podcast, and a passionate advocate for helping men discover their identity and opportunity in fatherhood. With over 1,400 podcast episodes and a decade of coaching fathers, Larry shares profound insights on breaking free from "the drift" - the state where many fathers find themselves going through the motions without true fulfillment. CHAPTERS: * 00:00:00 - Introduction to Larry Hagner * 00:01:58 - Larry's background and experience as a fatherhood coach * 00:04:00 - The wisdom of turning 50 and advice for fathers in their 40s * 00:05:00 - The importance of learning fatherhood skills like any other discipline * 00:08:00 - Making intentional time investments in marriage relationships * 00:12:35 - The connection between being a good husband and a good father * 00:15:00 - The three needs of wives and kids: feeling seen, heard, and safe * 00:19:00 - The state of modern marriages and the three camps of couples who stay together * 00:24:00 - Setting a marriage example for our children to follow * 00:27:00 - Overview of "The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood" * 00:29:00 - Understanding "the drift" and why men settle for less * 00:34:00 - Raising sons and daughters with complementary values * 00:41:00 - Final wisdom: You already have what it takes to be an amazing father LINKS AND RESOURCES: * Larry's new book: The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood [https://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Legendary-Fatherhood-Larry-Hagner/dp/1544536755/] * Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/podcast/ [https://thedadedge.com/podcast/] * Larry's website: https://thedadedge.com/ [https://thedadedge.com/] (includes free resources with book purchase) * Dad Edge Alliance (for career dads): https://thedadedge.com/alliance/ [https://thedadedge.com/alliance/] * Dad Edge Business Owner Brotherhood: https://thedadedge.com/bob/ [https://thedadedge.com/bob/]

In this heartfelt solo episode, host Ned Schaut continues his four-part series on lessons from a recent marriage retreat. Speaking directly to fellow fathers, Ned shares raw stories and practical takeaways on how to stop defending yourself, start asking for forgiveness, and bring your best energy home to your family. From learning the three questions that heal conflict, to navigating moments of being misunderstood with his teenage son, Ned unpacks what it means to lead through serving. With a mix of vulnerability, humor (including an unforgettable skinny-dipping story), and fatherly wisdom, this episode equips dads to fight for connection, love, and unity in their marriages and families. Three questions for healing conflict: 1. "By the tone of your voice, sounds like I hurt you. Is that true?" 2. "Please tell me how I made you feel." 3. "I'm so sorry. Will you forgive me?" CHAPTERS: * 00:00:00 - Welcome and Introduction * 00:01:00 - The Power of Fighting for Connection in a 20-Year Marriage * 00:02:00 - How People Leave Your Presence: Being Interested, Interesting, and a Blessing * 00:04:00 - Decreasing Conflict: Three Questions That Heal Hurt Feelings * 00:06:00 - The Power of Asking for Forgiveness Without Defending Yourself * 00:08:00 - Feeling Misunderstood: A Father-Son Conversation * 00:10:00 - The Different Hats of Fatherhood: Parent, Friend, and Mentor * 00:11:00 - Creating Unforgettable Memories: The Skinny Dipping Story * 00:12:00 - A Man's Identity: Created to Fight for Love and Connection * 00:13:00 - Final Encouragement: Your Kids Need to See You Fight for Their Mom LINKS AND RESOURCES: * Craig Hill's books [https://www.familyfoundations.com/shop/books] * John Tyson's "Primal Path" program [https://primalpath.co/]

In this powerful conversation, Ned chats with Tim Campbell, an 82-year-old father with decades of hard-earned wisdom to share. As a husband of 50 years, Peace Corps veteran, and author of "Holding Up the Sky," Tim opens up about the challenges and triumphs of raising three children—including two with serious health challenges. This isn't just theory; it's battlefield-tested fatherhood advice from a man who's lived it. Tim introduces concepts like the "phantom captain" and reframes discipline as building trust rather than punishment. His stories will resonate with dads in the trenches of parenting, offering practical insights on embracing selflessness, developing resilience, and committing to the long game of fatherhood. Both vulnerable and encouraging, this episode reminds fathers that your daily investments—even when unseen or unappreciated—are creating a legacy that will shape generations long after you're gone. CHAPTERS: * 00:00:00 Introduction - The Journey of Fatherhood * 00:01:47 Tim at 82: Wisdom That Transcends Age * 00:03:03 Passing Down Fatherhood Lessons Between Generations * 00:04:45 Marriage as the Foundation: 50 Years of Partnership * 00:06:15 Supporting Your Spouse Through Family Crises * 00:08:19 How Challenges Can Strengthen Your Marriage * 00:12:41 Raising Children with Different Needs and Challenges * 00:27:05 Developing the Heart of a Father: Leading with Love * 00:39:36 How Our Fathers Shape Our Parenting Approach * 00:44:55 Building Your Legacy as a Dad LINKS AND RESOURCES: * Holding Up the Sky (Book) [https://holdingupthesky.net/] * Tim Campbell’s Personal Site [https://timcampbellodysseys.net/] * Tim Campbell on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-campbell-phd-2554315/] * Family Culture Guide [https://www.rebelandcreate.com/familycultureguide] * Rebel and Create: A Compass to Mastering the Craft of Fatherhood [https://www.rebelandcreate.com/product-page/rebel-and-create-a-compass-to-mastering-the-craft-of-fatherhood]