Ep 21: What Boarding School Taught Me About Being a Better Father

Ep 23: Before the Birth: A Surgeon Prepares to Become a Father

What happens inside a man when he finds out he's going to be a dad — and he's still months away? Vascular surgeon and expectant father Lucas Ferrer joins Tony Cooper for a candid conversation about what life looks like at 25 weeks pregnant. Lucas opens up about the in-between feeling of impending fatherhood — the moments of disconnection at work and the gut-punch of feeling Santiago kick for the first time. Together, Tony and Lucas explore generational patterns, the fear culture Lucas grew up with in Puerto Rico, and the powerful model his grandfather set. This is a rare, honest look inside the heart and mind of a man preparing to become a dad. Key Takeaways: * The emotional reality of expectant fatherhood often oscillates between disconnection and profound shock * Becoming a parent heightens awareness of unconscious patterns and generational trauma * Growing up around self-aware role models can shape a man's approach to fatherhood long before he becomes a father * Fear of risk is a learned behavior — and it can be unlearned * Being present as a father starts as an intention you set before the baby arrives * A man's relationship with support and community matters as much as his individual inner work * Finding a men's group or support network can be transformational, especially in the transition to fatherhood * Shifting priorities away from career and toward family requires intentional planning, not just good intentions * Speaking to your child before birth — in Lucas's case, in Spanish — is a simple, powerful act of early connection * Fatherhood, at its core, is a call to become the best version of yourself If you enjoyed The Dad Manual, leave us a rating on your podcast app! If you loved it, share this episode with a Dad! Send your questions to dadmanualpodcast@gmail.com [dadmanualpodcast@gmail.com]. Connect with Tony Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonycooper/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonycooper/] 00:00 Intro & cold open 01:00 Meet Lucas Ferrer, expectant father at 25 weeks 02:10 A vascular surgeon's approach to pregnancy 03:03 Why "What to Expect" can do more harm than good 04:05 Presence and disconnection during the work day 05:12 Fatherhood as a call to your best self 06:01 Breaking unconscious patterns before the baby arrives 07:32 Growing up in Puerto Rico: family, memory, and roots 09:21 Fear culture and tall poppy syndrome 10:44 Gabor Maté: big T and little T trauma 11:19 Lucas's grandfather: a model of grounded masculinity 13:25 The qualities Lucas wants to carry into fatherhood 15:07 Unlearning fear and choosing adventure 17:01 Allowing failure as a father and mentor 18:48 How the pregnancy happened: intentional and unplanned 20:56 Biology, purpose, and something bigger at play 23:46 Witnessing Courtney's transformation 25:06 Being the rock: emotional steadiness under pressure 26:47 Inner work and patterns Lucas is actively breaking 28:40 Men's groups, community, and being supportable 33:05 Due date, wedding week, and planning for presence 36:56 Final words: fully present is the North Star

Ep 22: From Lemonade Stands to MBA: A Father's Guide to Raising Lions

What if the most powerful classroom for your kids was the breakfast table every single morning? Tony sits down with Jay Bourgana — entrepreneur, turnaround consultant, and founder of the Raising Lions community — to explore a radically intentional approach to fatherhood. Jay shares how daily two-hour morning conversations with his 10 and 12-year-old children have become the engine behind one of the most active and engaged communities in the parenting podcast space. From lemonade stands to product-market fit, from ikigai to the theory of constraints, Jay packages adult-level wisdom into real, actionable experiences for kids — and for the dads raising them. Key Takeaways: * Why getting involved from day one of fatherhood is non-negotiable — and why you can't re-engage later if you disengage early * How to teach children the three non-negotiables: health, wealth, and relationships — and why "wealth" isn't about money, it's about freedom * The three types of capital every dad can transfer to his kids: financial, intellectual, and relational — and why relational capital matters most * Why autonomy, mastery, and purpose (Daniel Pink's Drive) are the real motivators for children — and how to use them * How to identify every child's natural "superpower" and channel it toward entrepreneurship and value creation * Why small business ventures teach responsibility better than almost anything else — and how to sequence those lessons as kids grow * The four business profiles kids fall into (leader, salesperson, product manager, systems manager) — and how knowing them builds teamwork and self-awareness * How to build a kids' business school from scratch: goal-setting, conversion rates, product-market fit — explained to a 10-year-old * Why dads must step into leadership the moment their child is born — not wait until the kid can "talk" * The concept of raising value creators, not consumers — and why that distinction changes everything about how kids show up in the world If you enjoyed The Dad Manual, leave us a rating on your podcast app! If you loved it, share this episode with a Dad! Send your questions to dadmanualpodcast@gmail.com [dadmanualpodcast@gmail.com]. Connect with Tony Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonycooper/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonycooper/] 00:00 Intro & Jay's opening lesson 01:37 About Jay's kids & Raising Lions 03:53 Morning rituals: 7–9am with the kids 06:11 Entrepreneurship: nature vs. nurture 08:51 Lemonade stands & creating incentives 10:33 Health, wealth & relationships framework 12:41 Packaging adult concepts for kids 14:49 Autonomy, mastery & purpose (Daniel Pink) 17:30 Responsibility earns freedom 19:58 Visualizing responsibility for kids 21:35 How quickly kids connect to purpose 23:20 Teaching cost of goods & unit economics 25:19 Product-market fit as a kids' lesson 27:15 From gross margin to capacity planning 30:00 Jay's background: Morocco to Morocco to M&A 35:03 The entrepreneur's real freedom 36:00 Three types of capital to pass down 38:18 Pour into kids early: beat the clock 40:41 Raising givers, not takers 42:01 Rethinking education post-Covid 44:00 Ikigai & finding a child's superpower 46:00 The four business profiles in kids 47:56 The kids' business school explained 51:00 Setting goals, conversion rates & action 54:53 What 30 years of entrepreneurship taught 56:11 Purpose as protection from trauma 58:18 Paper bills, grocery runs & real money 1:01:03 Advice for brand new dads 1:05:25 Wrap-up & how to find Jay

Ep 21: What Boarding School Taught Me About Being a Better Father

What does a British boarding school, a bucket of talcum powder, and men's work have to do with becoming a great dad? Tony sits down with Steven Fielding — father of two teenage sons, men's work facilitator, and someone who has done the deep interior work to understand how his past shaped his parenting. Steven opens up about growing up with an absent father, being sent to boarding school at 10, navigating divorce while keeping his boys at the center, and why intentional fatherhood starts long before your first child arrives. Key Takeaways: * Early hands-on involvement — diapering, feeding, swaddling — pays real dividends in your relationship with your kids years later * The psychological imprint of childhood separation, including "boarding school syndrome," can follow men well into adulthood * Teenage boys need a father who is stepping back strategically, not battling them — your job shifts from protecting to supporting * It's never too late to take responsibility and apologize to your kids for moments you could have handled better * Co-regulation and nervous system awareness are practical parenting tools, not just therapy concepts * Men's work and brotherhood aren't just personal development — they make you a better father * Devices and screen time are a real challenge; the answer isn't panic, it's redirecting focus to what you can control in your own household * Separation and divorce don't end your job as an intentional father — how you show up after matters just as much * Communicating your needs without neediness is a skill — and one worth developing before you're in crisis * Start the interior work early. Create a list of intentions before you become a dad. Lead. If you enjoyed The Dad Manual, leave us a rating on your podcast app! If you loved it, share this episode with a Dad! Send your questions to dadmanualpodcast@gmail.com [dadmanualpodcast@gmail.com]. Connect with Tony Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonycooper/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonycooper/] * (00:00) - – Cold open: Boarding school * (00:20) - – Tony introduces Stephen Fielding * (01:22) - – Steven's two sons: Nick (18) and Max (16) * (02:48) - – Fathering teenagers: patience and letting go * (04:39) - – The men you want them to become * (05:56) - – Being hands-on from day one * (07:36) - – Growing up: absent father, affectionate mother * (09:02) - – Sent to boarding school at age 10 * (11:07) - – The headmaster: most influential male figure * (12:22) - – The lasting echo of homesickness * (13:03) - – Bullying, standing up, and the lesson it taught * (14:27) - – Boarding school syndrome * (16:05) - – Men's work and the capacity for brotherhood * (19:09) - – Leadership, giving what you want to receive * (19:54) - – Did he always know he wanted to be a dad? * (21:29) - – Nick's birth: capturing the first breath * (23:57) - – The moment responsibility lands * (25:08) - – Happiest Baby on the Block & swaddling * (27:50) - – What shifted in his marriage after kids * (29:44) - – No More Mr. Nice Guy and owning your patterns * (31:29) - – Communicating needs without neediness * (33:00) - – The Middle Passage and rediscovering your partner * (34:30) - – The talcum powder story * (36:47) - – The 30 minutes it took to settle Nick down * (37:52) - – Breath work, nervous system, and co-regulation * (38:45) - – Going back to apologize: it's never too late * (39:49) - – His father's advice: always keep the family together * (40:53) - – Advice to first-time dads * (43:26) - – Start the interior work early. Be intentional. * (44:16) - – Tony closes out with Steven

Ep 20: How a Tough Childhood Built a Better Dad with Daniel Ramsey

He runs four businesses and 3,000 employees — but his most important job is Dad. Daniel Ramsey is a husband, father of three, high school wrestling coach, and serial entrepreneur who has spent nearly two decades building an intentional family life from the ground up. Growing up with an absent, unintentional father, Daniel made a conscious choice to become something different — and the results speak for themselves. This is a raw, honest, and deeply practical conversation about what it really takes to show up for your kids. Key Takeaways: 1. Time is an expression of love — your presence is the most meaningful gift you can give your children. 2. Your kids reveal your best and worst qualities; embrace what they mirror back at you. 3. Breaking generational cycles starts with recognizing the patterns you inherited from your own parents. 4. Love is a verb — it requires active, ongoing effort, not just feeling. 5. Annual one-on-one trips with each child create deep, lasting connection. 6. The family dinner ritual (High, Low, Buffalo) creates a protected space for daily connection. 7. Becoming a father exposes your selfishness — and that's the first step toward growth. 8. Choosing to do things for your family that don't serve your personal goals is where real growth lives. 9. Modeling vulnerability and learning in front of your kids builds trust and teaches resilience. 10. Unconditional love becomes real the moment you become a parent — and it changes everything. If you enjoyed The Dad Manual, leave us a rating on your podcast app! If you loved it, share this episode with a Dad! Send your questions to dadmanualpodcast@gmail.com. Connect with Tony Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonycooper/ * (00:00) - Welcome to the Dad Manual Podcast * (01:20) - Meet Daniel's Three Girls * (03:35) - Qualities Kids Mirror Back at You * (05:48) - Growing Up in Redding, California * (08:44) - Childhood Instability & Its Impact * (09:41) - Modeling Fatherhood After His Wrestling Coach * (10:32) - Love Is a Verb — The Lesson That Changed Everything * (12:04) - A Raw Moment: Learning Relationships Aren't Black and White * (13:51) - Hot Tub Conversations with His Oldest * (15:05) - Knowing When to Ask for Help * (16:51) - The High, Low, Buffalo Dinner Ritual * (19:00) - Annual One-on-One Trips with Each Daughter * (25:00) - Advice for New Dads: You Are Selfish * (30:00) - Unconditional Love — Before and After Kids * (35:00) - The Family Ski Trip: Eight Years in the Making * (40:00) - Choosing Jiu-Jitsu as a Family * (44:00) - Failing in Front of Your Kids * (47:16) - Outro

Ep 19: Girl Dad Wisdom: Building Trust, Traditions, and Unbreakable Bonds

What does it really mean to love your kids without conditions — even when it's hard? Tony sits down with Jason Wright — podcast host, girl dad, and self-described "nutty dad" — for a conversation about breaking generational cycles, building family traditions, and loving with reckless abandonment. Jason grew up in a home where love was conditional and performance-driven, yet made a conscious choice to parent completely differently. He shares the real and the raw: the stress he wore too tight, the heartbreaks he couldn't fix, and the nighttime rituals that shaped his daughters into the remarkable women they are today. This is a fatherhood podcast conversation that'll have you calling your kids the second it's over. Key Takeaways: * Speak to your children above their age level — treat them as capable and they'll rise to it * Breaking generational cycles takes awareness and active, daily effort — awareness alone isn't enough * Conditional love quietly programs children to believe they're not enough * Family rituals and traditions create a "stickiness" that holds a family together through hard seasons * Being a girl dad means modeling what a healthy relationship looks like — long before they date anyone * Love your future son-in-law intentionally; pouring into him protects your daughter * Wear your stress carefully — letting it steal your joy is one of the hardest fatherhood failures to recognize * You can't take your kids' pain away, but you can be honest with them and stay present through it * Never withhold love, even for a moment — especially when they feel least lovable * The goal of raising kids is to wind up with incredible adults you want to spend time with This is one for every dad who wants to show up better — today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. If you enjoyed The Dad Manual, leave us a rating on your podcast app! If you loved it, share this episode with a Dad! Send your questions to dadmanualpodcast@gmail.com. Connect with Tony Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonycooper/ * (00:00) - Introduction & cold open * (01:22) - What kind of dad is Jason Wright? * (02:24) - Raising kids to become adults you love * (03:05) - Life with adult daughters * (04:55) - Introducing kids to music early * (07:12) - Gen Z and the loss of cultural breadth * (09:31) - Healing trauma instead of passing it on * (10:17) - Jason's childhood: broken home, conditional love * (13:55) - How generational patterns repeat * (15:03) - The role of faith and Mrs. Wright * (17:32) - Raising daughters who feel safe and worthy * (19:55) - The wedding song — "Two Steps Behind" * (20:45) - Rylan's upcoming wedding * (22:00) - Loving your son-in-law intentionally * (25:24) - The responsibility of being a girl dad * (27:42) - The unexpected hard parts of fatherhood * (29:28) - Handling a daughter's first heartbreak * (31:37) - The unconditional love you didn't know you had * (31:46) - Sharing a birthday with your daughter * (33:14) - Family rituals and traditions that create culture * (36:22) - Watching Father of the Bride every Father's Day * (38:20) - Advice for brand-new dads * (42:07) - Love them in the places they feel unlovable