The Story Dads

Brave: Chaos, Order, and the Mother-Daughter Divide | The StoryDads Podcast EP53

* Why Brave feels different as a parent * Merida vs. Queen Elinor: chaos and order * The unique complexity of mother-daughter relationships * Pixar’s early parent-centered storytelling * Mordu and the symbolism of fractured families * Generational healing and family systems * Why Brave avoids the “strong female character” cliché * Learning to see your parents as human beings * Parenting through conflict and emotional maturity * Katie Barkley on raising daughters and repairing relationships * Why repairing close relationships can heal more than we realize If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow StoryDads, leave a review, and share the episode with someone who loves stories that shape the way we see the world. 🔗 CONNECT WITH STORYDADS Follow us for clips, updates, and more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads [https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads] X: https://x.com/StoryDads [https://x.com/StoryDads] 👤 ABOUT THE HOSTS Micah’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182425/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182425/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1] Eric’s Counseling Practice: https://www.ericandersoncounseling.com/ [https://www.ericandersoncounseling.com/] 📩 BUSINESS INQUIRIES For advertising or partnership opportunities: StoryDadsPodcast@gmail.com   Edited by Isaac Liverance

The Karate Kid: Fatherhood, Formation, and the Right Sensei | Dad's Night Out | The StoryDads Podcast EP52

In this week’s Dad’s Night Out, we dive into The Karate Kid (1984)—a movie that lives in the cultural imagination, whether you’ve seen it or not. For Eric, this was a first-time watch… which makes for a fresh look at a story most people think they already understand. But The Karate Kid isn’t just an underdog sports movie. It’s a story about formation. Daniel LaRusso enters a new world without a father figure, trying to find his place. What he discovers isn’t just karate—it’s a mentor. And through Mr. Miyagi, he’s invited into something deeper: discipline, patience, and a new way of becoming a man. In contrast, Cobra Kai offers a different path—one built on aggression, fear, and domination. And that tension raises a powerful question: 👉 Who is shaping you? In this episode, we explore: * Why mentorship matters more than raw talent * The role of father figures in identity and growth * The difference between discipline and aggression * What “wax on, wax off” is really teaching * How the wrong teacher can lead you astray * Why this 1984 film still resonates today We also talk about: * Watching an iconic movie decades after its release * 80s storytelling and what modern films have lost * The surprising humanity of Johnny Lawrence * How great stories point to deeper truths about life and growth Whether you grew up quoting this movie or are coming to it for the first time, The Karate Kid still has something to teach. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend and join the conversation— Who was your “sensei” growing up? 🔗 CONNECT WITH STORYDADS Follow us for clips, updates, and more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads [https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads] X: https://x.com/StoryDads [https://x.com/StoryDads] 👤 ABOUT THE HOSTS Micah’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182425/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182425/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1] Eric’s Counseling Practice: https://www.ericandersoncounseling.com/ [https://www.ericandersoncounseling.com/] 📩 BUSINESS INQUIRIES For advertising or partnership opportunities: StoryDadsPodcast@gmail.com   Edited by Isaac Liverance

How to Train Your Dragon: Humility, Truth, and Rewriting the Story | The StoryDads Podcast EP51

Movie Discussed: How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks) Core Themes: * Humility and the willingness to be wrong * The pursuit of truth over approval * Rewriting personal and cultural narratives * Father-son dynamics and earned identity * Moving beyond “us vs. them” thinking Key Takeaways: * Growth often begins with the realization that our assumptions are incomplete * The courage to question what “everyone knows” can reshape your entire world * True leadership isn’t about dominance—it’s about integration and wisdom * The things we fear or fight may hold the key to transformation * Rewriting your story comes at a cost—but leads to something far greater Discussion Highlights: * Hiccup’s shift from proving himself to discovering truth * Stoick’s struggle with identity and letting go of certainty * Dragons as both enemy and misunderstood part of the ecosystem * The cost of innovation and breaking from tradition * Why this story resonates so deeply for fathers and families Referenced Clips from Brett Boles: 🎵 “Test Drive” Score Breakdown: https://www.instagram.com/thebrettboles/reel/DBuuEPqIJ1v/ 🎵 “Romantic Flight” Score Breakdown: https://www.instagram.com/thebrettboles/reel/DDLBBGuPIzJ/ 🎵 “Forbidden Friendship” Score Breakdown: https://www.instagram.com/thebrettboles/reel/DCkts9DIzDy/ 🎙️ Our Episode with Brett discussing CoCo: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coco-family-identity-and-music-featuring-brett-boles/id1784737936?i=1000733158232 If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and let us know what movie we should break down next. 🔗 CONNECT WITH STORYDADS Follow us for clips, updates, and more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads [https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads] X: https://x.com/StoryDads [https://x.com/StoryDads] 👤 ABOUT THE HOSTS Micah’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182425/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182425/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1] Eric’s Counseling Practice: https://www.ericandersoncounseling.com/ [https://www.ericandersoncounseling.com/] 📩 BUSINESS INQUIRIES For advertising or partnership opportunities: StoryDadsPodcast@gmail.com   Edited by Isaac Liverance

Mulan: Family, Courage, and the Call to Step Up | The StoryDads Podcast EP50

🎧 EPISODE 50: MULAN — FAMILY, COURAGE, AND THE CALL TO STEP UP Guest: Kaitlyn Drew In this milestone episode, we revisit Mulan through the lens of story, character, and what it means to step up when you don’t feel ready. 🧭 WHAT WE EXPLORE * Why Mulan’s story is rooted in duty, not self-discovery * The power of the “awkward hero” and why it resonates * How growth happens through adaptation, not natural ability * The integration of structure and flexibility in both character and story * Why Shan Yu works as a quiet but formidable villain * How this story scales from family responsibility to saving a nation 💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS * Courage often shows up before confidence does * You don’t need to feel ready—you need to be willing * Strength isn’t one thing—it’s the ability to adapt to what’s required * The stories we love as kids often carry deeper truths as adults 🎬 WHY THIS MOVIE STILL MATTERS Mulan continues to resonate because it speaks to a universal experience: feeling out of place, yet stepping forward anyway. It’s a story about responsibility, growth, and becoming the person a moment calls for—even when it’s uncomfortable. 👋 CONNECT WITH US If you enjoyed this episode: * Share it with a friend * Leave a rating or review * Follow along for more episodes breaking down the stories that shape us 🎙️ ABOUT STORYDADS StoryDads is a podcast exploring the deeper meaning behind the movies we grew up with—and now experience again through our kids. Each episode dives into the psychology, philosophy, and storytelling that make these films stick with us. 🔗 CONNECT WITH STORYDADS Follow us for clips, updates, and more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads [https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads] X: https://x.com/StoryDads [https://x.com/StoryDads] 👤 ABOUT THE HOSTS Micah’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182425/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182425/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1] Eric’s Counseling Practice: https://www.ericandersoncounseling.com/ [https://www.ericandersoncounseling.com/] 📩 BUSINESS INQUIRIES For advertising or partnership opportunities: StoryDadsPodcast@gmail.com   Edited by Isaac Liverance

The Incredibles: Fatherhood, Greatness, and the Family That Fights Together | The StoryDads Podcast EP49

Episode Title: The Incredibles: Fatherhood, Greatness, and a Family That Fights Together 🎙️ Guest Spotlight: Joseph King Barkley Joseph is an Executive Coach with Novus Global and President of the Meta Performance Institute. You can check out more of his teaching and communication on his YouTube channel, featuring talks from his time as a pastor at Radius Church: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@RadiusChurch [https://www.youtube.com/@RadiusChurch] 🔑 KEY THEMES * The “war on greatness” and modern culture * Fatherhood and the pressure to suppress vs. express strength * The Parr family as four different responses to personal ability * Syndrome as a case study in envy, resentment, and distorted identity * The shift from independence to interdependence in family systems * Why real humility looks more like confidence than self-minimization 🎬 FILM DISCUSSED * The Incredibles (dir. Brad Bird) 💬 MEMORABLE IDEAS FROM THE EPISODE * “If everyone is special, then no one is.” * “You’re robbing the world when you mute your gifts.” * “Greatness isn’t zero-sum—it multiplies when brought together.” * “Real humility looks like confidence.” 📣 CONNECT WITH US * Subscribe for weekly episodes * Share this episode with a fellow dad or movie lover * Let us know what film we should break down next 🔗 CONNECT WITH STORYDADS Follow us for clips, updates, and more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads [https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads] X: https://x.com/StoryDads [https://x.com/StoryDads] 👤 ABOUT THE HOSTS Micah’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182425/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182425/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1] Eric’s Counseling Practice: https://www.ericandersoncounseling.com/ [https://www.ericandersoncounseling.com/] 📩 BUSINESS INQUIRIES For advertising or partnership opportunities: StoryDadsPodcast@gmail.com   Edited by Isaac Liverance