"I'm the Dad he wishes he was." Steve, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor & Black Belt

"Can I learn fatherhood like learning anything else?", Larry Hagner of the Dad Edge Podcast

In this episode we talk with Larry Hagner, founder of the Dad Edge Podcast, who shares about his experience coaching fathers, the importance of continuous learning, creating psychological safety for your kids and spouse, and self-care for Dad. Plus, we hear touching stories of losing and finding his biological father, as well as the new experience of fathering now-adult children.  Chapters * 00:00 Introduction - Matthew & Donal check in * 08:16 Larry's Journey into Fatherhood and Podcasting * 11:19 The Impact of Larry's Childhood on His Parenting Philosophy * 16:12 The Birth of The Dad Edge: A Promise to Change * 17:02 Creating Psychological Safety in Parenting * 21:04 Encouraging Critical Thinking in Children * 21:48 Understanding Different Communication Styles with Kids * 22:54 Intentional Parenting: Building Connections with Older Kids * 24:43 Navigating Mental Health: Larry's Journey * 27:31 Modeling Psychological Safety in Family Dynamics * 30:12 Creating Bonds Through Shared Activities * 33:06 The Importance of Self-Care for Dads * 36:41 Building Community: The Power of Dad Groups * 39:47 Prioritizing Marriage: The Foundation of Family Life * 42:59 The Continuous Journey of Parenting Resources & Guest Links * The Dad Edge Podcast - https://thedadedge.com Check out the Extraordinary Dads podcast * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/extraordinary-dads/id1813773395] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4EPjqhzyg3R2evQXhOzkUT] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8254fabb-92bd-4878-9604-651dc666a759/extraordinary-dads] * Castbox [https://castbox.fm/channel/id6603065?country=us] * Goodpods [https://goodpods.com/podcasts/extraordinary-dads-686186] * Overcast [https://overcast.fm/itunes1813773395] * Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/740hmiex] Keywords fatherhood, parenting, psychological safety, self-care, family, leadership, community, personal growth

“I have to give myself grace.” Manish, Stay-at-home Dad

In this episode, we have an engaging, thoughtful, and heartfelt conversation with our guest, Manish, a stay-at-home dad. Manish shares his journey from working in tech in Silicon Valley to becoming a full-time parent, highlighting the gifts of being more present in his children's lives and the personal growth that he has experienced because of that. We explore the dynamics of being the stay-at-home parent, the inherentchallenges and rewards, and the societal perceptions surrounding non-traditional parenting roles. Our conversation also touches on the emotional aspects of parenting as a father, the value of community support, and the lessons learned from his own dad that he now consciously applies. Keywords: parenting, stay-at-home dad, parenting roles, non-traditional parenting, fatherhood, parenting challenges, emotional growth, community support, family dynamics, work-life balance

What is the sound of two dads flapping? Part 2: The XOD 1 Year Anniversary!

In this episode Donal and Matthew reflect on the first year of the Extraordinary Dads podcast. Is it doing what they expected? How is it different than planned? What are we asking of the dads listening? (Spoilers: Get yourself in community. Have more conversations about dadding with your community. Improve a little, bit by bit, wherever and whenever you find the inspiration.)

"I'm the Dad he wishes he was." Steve, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor & Black Belt

In this conversation, Steve, owner of the Santa Cruz Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Martial Arts School, shares insights into his life as a father and martial arts instructor. He discusses balancing parenting and self-care, education choices for his sons, and the lessons learned from Jiu-Jitsu that apply to life and fatherhood. Steve reflects on his own upbringing, the death of his mother, his absentee father, and how that motivates him to strive to be a better dad for his children. He also talks about the complicated evolution of his relationship with his dad in adulthood and how forgiveness and redemption are playing a part in the ongoing healing of that relationship. More information on Santa Cruz Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Martial Arts School: www.graciesantacruz.com Keywords: parenting, jiu-jitsu, education, homeschooling, bullying, self-defense, personal growth, self-care, absentee father, forgiveness, redemption, entrepreneurship

"It's shaping me. I also get to change and grow." - Jeremy, Music Producer Dad

In this conversation, Jeremy (a DIFFERENT Jeremy than last time!), a music producer and entrepreneur shares his experiences as a single dad with joint custody. He dwells on the importance of patience, presence, and creativity in his parenting approach. Jeremy reflects on the influence of his parents and heritage, and shares his viewpoint as a Black father in a predominantly white community. Jeremy’s conversation highlights the growth, learning and awesomeness  that comes with being a dad. Check out Jeremy's production studio Sonivore at www.sonivores.com, or follow his Instagam @sonivore. Apologies for the creaky chair noise throughout this episode, folks! We kinda botched the studio setup for this recording, and the mic captured a bunch of ambient noise. We learn and we move on! Keywords: parenting, joint custody, patience, creativity, emotional intelligence, cultural identity, music, family dynamics, black fatherhood, personal growth