Bonus Episode 001 - The Pressure of Perfect Parenting

Bonus Episode 002 - Becoming a Dad While Losing My Father w/ Derek McClardy

What do you do when the person you'd call for advice is the one you're grieving? Two dads. Two losses. One raw, honest conversation about what it really means to grieve your father while becoming one. In this episode of Relatively Functional Dads, Buddy sits down with his close friend Derek McClarty. Derek lost his dad to pancreatic cancer just weeks after his daughter was born. Buddy lost his dad to suicide six weeks before his second child arrived. Together they go deep on what it actually looks like to carry grief as a new dad and how faith, community, and some unexpected practices helped them find healing on the other side. If you've lost a parent, are watching one decline, or are quietly carrying grief while trying to show up for your family, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. We talk about: * Losing a father while becoming a dad, and the guilt, confusion, and grief that comes with it * Why new dads stuff grief instead of processing it and what it costs your family * Active vs. passive grief: what the difference is and why both need space * Practical grief practices for men that actually work storytelling, music, counseling, silent retreats, community * Why you can't wait until tragedy strikes to build a community of men around you * How Christian faith changes the way we grieve, and why hope makes all the difference * Holding sorrow and hope at the same time: the "half frown, half smile" of grieving with faith * How to keep a father's legacy alive for kids who never got to know him Mentioned Books: * The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry [https://a.co/d/088Rhvs0] - John Mark Comer * Practicing The Way [https://a.co/d/08MrrEXM] - John Mark Comer * Grieving a Suicide [https://a.co/d/0dkkcRky] - Albert Hsu Key Scriptures: * Matthew 5:4 — "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." * 1 Thessalonians 4:13 — "Do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope." Weekly Reflection: * What grief are you carrying quietly right now that needs space? * Who in your life do you need to call before it's too late? * What would it look like to grieve well this week — not alone, but with God and with someone you trust? Music Provided By: Derek McClardy [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jiQrrdfjqrPmakgD0b81E?si=hNNEP_PjTnKvjCEm6uZsvA] We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com [relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com]  Instagram: @relativelyfunctionaldads [https://www.instagram.com/relativelyfunctionaldads/]

Episode 007 - Angry Dad? How Fathers Can Control Anger Without Hurting Their Families

Why do dads get so angry sometimes? And what’s really underneath it? In Episode 7 of Relatively Functional Dads, we have an honest conversation about anger in fatherhood, emotional health for dads, and how fathers can process frustration without hurting their kids or families. We talk about: * Why anger often hides deeper emotions like sadness, grief, fear, stress, or disappointment * Common triggers for dad anger and parenting frustration * Unrealistic expectations about fatherhood * How Christian dads can respond instead of react * Healthy ways to process emotions as a husband and father * Practical tools for emotional regulation in parenting Buddy also shares his “React vs Respond” prayer framework for handling anger in difficult parenting moments: * I feel… * I want to react by… * But the truth is… * So I will respond by… If you’re a dad struggling with anger, parenting stress, patience, or emotional control, this episode will encourage you and give you practical tools to become a more intentional father. Mentioned Books * Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On for Life - David Thomas [https://a.co/d/046HPCdz] * Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World - Sissy Goff [https://a.co/d/0eRWewqG] Relatively Functional Dads is a podcast about Christian fatherhood, parenting, marriage, emotional health, and becoming the dads God calls us to be. Subscribe and join the conversation: Weekly Reflection: * What triggers anger most for you as a parent? * What helps you respond instead of react? Music Provided By: Derek McClardy [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jiQrrdfjqrPmakgD0b81E?si=hNNEP_PjTnKvjCEm6uZsvA] We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com [relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com]  Instagram: @relativelyfunctionaldads [https://www.instagram.com/relativelyfunctionaldads/]

Bonus Episode 001 - The Pressure of Perfect Parenting

Why do dads feel like they’re failing, even when they’re doing their best? In this episode of the Relatively Functional Dads podcast, we sit down with our first guest, Morgan Selecman from the That’s A Win podcast, to talk about the pressure of perfect parenting and the hidden weight so many moms and dads carry every day. From parenting guilt and social media comparison to fear, shame, and perfectionism, we unpack why modern parenting can feel emotionally exhausting—and why your kids don’t actually need a perfect parent. They need a present one. This conversation is full of honest stories about marriage, fatherhood, motherhood, sleepless nights, emotional regulation, apologizing to your kids, and learning how to parent with grace instead of fear. In this episode, we discuss: * Why dads and moms feel pressure to be perfect parents * How parenting exposes impatience, insecurity, and fear * The impact of social media on modern parenting * Why repair matters more than perfection * How to apologize to your kids in a healthy way * What dads can do to support overwhelmed moms * Parenting stress, emotional regulation, and family leadership * How faith and dependence on God shape us as parents * Why parenting is about faithfulness, not performance If you’re a dad trying to lead your family well, grow spiritually, love your wife better, and become more intentional as a father, this podcast is for you. Relatively Functional Dads is a Christian fatherhood podcast focused on faith, fatherhood, marriage, spiritual growth, and raising a healthy family while following Jesus. Key Reminder: Your faithfulness matters more than your performance. Weekly Reflection: What fear might be underneath my need to “get parenting right”? What would change if I focused more on being faithful than being perfect? Episode Mentions: That’s A Win Podcast: Follow on Instagram @thatsawinpodcast  [https://www.instagram.com/thatsawinpodcast/] That’s A Win Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prioritizing-fitness-and-nutrition-in-motherhood/id1754460549?i=1000764231552] on Apple Podcast Decoding Boys, Expectations in Marriage + Fighting Bitterness (BONUS Interview w/ Lauren Earley) [https://youtu.be/ESTf8VK59Bw?si=mUreZYR9krAd_O77] Music Provided By: Derek McClardy [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jiQrrdfjqrPmakgD0b81E?si=hNNEP_PjTnKvjCEm6uZsvA] We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com [relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com]  Instagram: @relativelyfunctionaldads [https://www.instagram.com/relativelyfunctionaldads/]

Episode 006 - Your Kids Aren’t Interruptions… They’re Invitations

Our kids interrupt us all the time… but what if those moments matter more than we think? In this episode of the Relatively Functional Dads podcast, we talk about fatherhood, faith, and how the way we respond to interruptions is shaping our kids in real time. It’s easy to feel entitled to our time, especially when we’re tired, working, or finally getting a moment to breathe. But our kids don’t understand our intentions… they experience our actions. Are we pushing them away? Or are we seeing these moments as opportunities to love, lead, and be present? This is an honest conversation about being a dad, navigating real life, and learning how to show up better, even when it’s inconvenient. If you’re in the middle of raising young kids, balancing work and family, and trying to grow in your faith as a father… this one’s for you. Subscribe for more conversations on: * Christian fatherhood * Faith-based parenting * Biblical leadership in the home * Marriage and family life * Personal growth for dads * Real, honest dad life moments Challenge for the week: This week, treat interruptions as invitations. Ask yourself: “Is this a moment God is giving me to love my child well?” Respond with intention, not just reaction. We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com [relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com] Instagram: @relativelyfunctionaldads [https://www.instagram.com/relativelyfunctionaldads/] Music Provided By: Derek McClardy Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jiQrrdfjqrPmakgD0b81E?si=hNNEP_PjTnKvjCEm6uZsvA]

Episode 005 – The Thankless Dad: Serving When No One Notices

What happens when you give your best to your family… and no one seems to notice? In this episode, we’re getting real about something every dad feels but rarely talks about—the quiet frustration of serving without appreciation. We love our families, but if we’re honest, it’s easy to expect something in return… respect, acknowledgment, even just a simple “thank you.” And when we don’t get it? That’s when our hearts get exposed. We dive into the “invisible contract” many of us carry—the unspoken belief that if we serve, we should get something back—and how that mindset can quietly turn love into a transaction. More importantly, we talk about how to shift it. What if your service wasn’t about being noticed by your family… but about being seen by God? This episode will challenge your motives, encourage your heart, and help you serve from a place of identity—not expectation. In this episode: * Why we really serve our families * The hidden expectations that lead to frustration * How to break free from the “invisible contract” * What it looks like to serve like Christ—without recognition * Practical ways to serve with the right heart this week Challenge for the week: Where can you serve sacrificially… without anyone noticing? Episode Mentions: Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms – Justin Whitmel Earley [https://a.co/d/013qbEZ2] We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com [relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com] Music Provided By: Derek McClardy Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jiQrrdfjqrPmakgD0b81E?si=hNNEP_PjTnKvjCEm6uZsvA]