From Dudes to Dads: Finding Your Place in Modern Fatherhood

From Dudes to Dads: Finding Your Place in Modern Fatherhood

What does it actually mean to become a father in a world where expectations have changed, but support hasn’t always caught up? In this episode of Daring to Dad, Ryan sits down with therapist, writer, and father Eli Weinstein for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about modern fatherhood, masculinity, and the emotional realities men often carry quietly. Together, they explore why dads so often feel invisible in parenting conversations, how anxiety and panic can show up in early fatherhood, and what helps men move from survival mode into intentional, connected parenting. This conversation goes beyond advice and into lived experience. They talk about the importance of preparation before the baby arrives, how couples can set clearer expectations, why community matters so deeply for men, and how fatherhood can become a powerful invitation to redefine masculinity, worth, and belonging. Whether you’re a new dad, preparing for fatherhood, co-parenting, or supporting men in this season of life, this episode offers language, insight, and permission to show up more fully. Episode Highlights & Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction Why fatherhood still leaves so many men feeling unseen 03:30 – From Dudes to Dads Why fathers are often missing from emotional parenting conversations 07:45 – Expectations vs. Reality How unspoken assumptions create tension after the baby arrives 11:40 – Preparing Men for Fatherhood Why dads need space to reflect before becoming fathers 15:10 – Importing and Exporting Family Patterns Deciding what to carry forward and what to leave behind from your upbringing 18:30 – “This Isn’t Who You Used to Be” Navigating growth when your partner isn’t used to the new version of you 21:30 – Active vs. Passive Fatherhood How modern parenting is shifting from gender roles to skill-based partnership 25:45 – Daily Check-Ins That Actually Work Simple conversations that prevent resentment from building 29:00 – Men, Anxiety, and Early Fatherhood Panic attacks, overwhelm, and what men don’t always say out loud 33:00 – Why Community Matters for Dads Finding support outside your partner without disconnecting from your home 37:30 – Eldership and Mentorship Learning from those who have gone before you 41:30 – Raising Boys Into Worth What it means to guide boys toward value, purpose, and self-respect 46:00 – Finding Your Place as a Father Letting go of comparison and leaning into your strengths 49:00 – Closing Reflections Why no one has ever raised your child before, and why that matters   Connect with Eli Weinstein and check out his new book:  https://www.eliweinsteinlcsw.com/book [https://www.eliweinsteinlcsw.com/book] Give him a follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eliweinstein_lcsw/]

Unpacking Church Camp with Cara Meredith

This one’s personal. In this special episode of Daring to Dad, Ryan reconnects with longtime friend and author Cara Meredith to talk about a place that shaped—and complicated—both of their lives: church camp. They dive deep into Cara’s new book Church Camp, exploring the tension between beauty and harm in white evangelical youth culture. Together, they unpack formative experiences like Cry Night, purity culture, “don’t make purple” rules, emotional manipulation, and the racial and gendered norms embedded in camp life. They reflect on what it means to hold grace for younger versions of ourselves, how shame gets passed down through spiritual systems, and what raising kids with a grounded sense of love and identity can look like—without recreating the patterns they’re still unlearning. Cara also shares how her theology and parenting have evolved, why she still loves camp, and the power of asking questions even when you’re afraid of the answers. About Cara: Cara Meredith is the author of The Color of Life and Church Camp. She lives in Oakland, CA, where she works in development by day and writes by night. Follow her on Substack at carameredith.substack.com or on Instagram @carameredithwrites.

Postpartum Care is for Dads Too with Tisheila Justice

In this powerful episode of Daring to Dad, Ryan sits down with licensed clinical social worker Tisheila Justice to unpack the silent struggles of men in the postpartum period. From hormonal changes in fathers to the emotional toll of feeling like the “B parent,” Tisheila shares clinical insights and personal wisdom on why dads need just as much support as moms after birth. They talk openly about miscarriage, depression, identity shifts, and the ways men often grieve in silence—along with what we can do to change that. This is the conversation about fatherhood, masculinity, and emotional health you didn’t know you needed. Follow Tisheila at ⁠@growthandwellnessmhc⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/growthandwellness] and check out her site at ⁠growthandwellnessmhc.com⁠ [https://growthandwellness.com] 🧠 Topics Covered: * Postpartum depression in men * Hormonal shifts after birth * How society dismisses paternal pain * Miscarriage and grief * Building emotional support for fathers Connect with the show at @daringtodad 🎧 Subscribe and leave a review!

Who Am I Without the Job? with John Shearer

What happens when the title, the paycheck, or the role you’ve always played no longer feels like enough? In this episode of Daring to Dad, I sit down with therapist John Shearer, founder of Kickstart Men’s Therapy in Ontario. John shares his powerful story of leaving behind a successful corporate career to find something more real, more honest—and more connected to who he truly is. We talk about the pressure men feel to constantly prove themselves, why so many guys give up on therapy, and what it means to show up as a man, a father, and a human being—without all the masks. If you’ve ever felt stuck, burned out, or unsure of who you are beyond your job or your role—this conversation is for you. Topics Covered: ✔️ Why so few men become therapists (and why we need more) ✔️ The real reason men drop out of therapy ✔️ How identity and self-worth get tangled up in work and status ✔️ What women often don’t understand about the male experience ✔️ How to reconnect with purpose, family, and self Follow & Connect: 🎧 Subscribe to Daring to Dad for more conversations on fatherhood, masculinity, and personal growth. 📲 Follow Ryan on Instagram at @daringtodad. 📲 Learn more about John Shearer and Kickstart Men’s Therapy at kickstartmenstherapy.ca and @kickstartmenstherapy If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it!

Finding Purpose, Connection & Fatherhood with Ryan Olufson

What’s really holding men back from living the life they want? And how can we start to break free from feeling stuck? In this episode of Daring to Dad, I sit down with Ryan Olufson, a certified Primal Question coach who helps men uncover the deep, often hidden questions that shape their identity, relationships, and decisions. We talk about how childhood experiences influence our search for purpose, why isolation is one of the biggest threats to modern masculinity, and how fatherhood forces us to confront our own past in unexpected ways. Ryan shares practical tools for breaking free from limiting beliefs, finding meaningful community, and learning to work from a place of rest—rather than exhaustion. If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or just searching for something more in your life, this conversation is for you. Topics Covered: ✔️ The Primal Question—and how it shapes your life choices ✔️ Why so many men struggle with friendships and community ✔️ The hidden impact of father wounds and how to heal them ✔️ The difference between therapy and coaching—and why both matter ✔️ How to show up fully for your kids (even when life is overwhelming) Follow & Connect: 🎧 Subscribe to Daring to Dad for more conversations on fatherhood, masculinity, and personal growth. 📲 Follow Ryan Walton on Instagram at @daringtodad and online at datingtodad.com 📲 Connect with Ryan Olufson and explore his coaching work at GrowthTakesCourage.com [https://growthtakescourage.com]. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it!