To Dad From Dad

What Matters More Than Success: A Father, Doctor, and Granddad Reflects TDFD Ep. 12

Most men spend years chasing things that feel important… only to realize later they missed what mattered most. In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, Brent shares what fatherhood, marriage, grief, faith, and grandfatherhood taught him after decades of life. From growing up with a truck-driver dad, to serving as a young doctor during the Oklahoma City bombing, to raising two sons and now helping with grandchildren, this conversation is full of hard-earned wisdom. This episode is for fathers, husbands, grandfathers, and men who want to build a family life they won’t regret. We talk about: * what matters more than sports, success, and status * how to raise kids who stay close as adults * the role grandparents should play without undermining parents * how hobbies, ambition, and identity have to change when kids are young * why being present matters more than being impressive * caring for parents at the end of life * what Brent wishes he had done more of, and less of There’s humor in this one, but also real weight. If you’re in the thick of raising kids, or trying to think farther down the road, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe for more conversations on fatherhood, marriage, family legacy, and the lessons men learn the hard way.

What Fatherhood Taught Him About Marriage, Adoption, and Showing Up TDFD Ep. 11 (Fred)

Some dads build their wisdom the hard way. This conversation is about work travel, infertility, adoption, breast cancer, marriage, grandkids, and what it really means to be present when life gets heavy. In this episode of To Dad From Dad, Lee sits down with Fred for a deep, honest conversation about fatherhood across seasons of life. Fred shares what it was like to miss Christmas plays because of work travel, how he and his wife walked through infertility and ultimately chose adoption, and how their family endured a breast cancer diagnosis when their daughters were still babies. This episode is for dads, husbands, and grandfathers who are trying to lead their families well without pretending they have it all figured out. It is especially helpful for men navigating work pressure, marriage, parenting daughters, grief, infertility, adoption, and the challenge of building a home their kids actually want to come back to. In this conversation, we talk about: * balancing work travel with being fully present at home * what infertility and adoption taught him about surrender and family * walking with a spouse through cancer and uncertainty * the difference between being a dad and being a granddad * how to create a home your children want to return to * why your marriage may be teaching your kids more than your words ever will If you care about becoming a better father, husband, or grandfather, this episode will stay with you. Subscribe for more real conversations about fatherhood, marriage, family, and the lessons men learn over time.

What a Dad Learns When Life Hits Hard (TDFD Ep. 10)

What do you do when life hits your family from every angle at once? And how do you raise strong kids without passing down the pain you came from? In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, David shares a raw and steady conversation about fatherhood, childhood trauma, marriage, faith, resilience, and what happens when a man is forced to surrender control. From growing up without a stable father, to building a business, to walking with his wife through cancer, this episode is about becoming the kind of dad you never had without making that pursuit an idol. This conversation is for dads who are trying to lead well, stay present, love their wives, and raise kids who can do hard things without becoming hard themselves. In this episode, we talk about: 1. growing up with abuse, instability, and absent fathers 2. how pain can shape a man without defining him 3. raising resilient kids in a comfortable world 4. why dads should stop rescuing so quickly 5. what it means to be a student of your spouse and your kids 6. how to respond when you feel angry at God 7. why presence matters more than performance in fatherhood 8. the parenting framework: pause, connect, correct, celebrate If you’re trying to become a better father, husband, or grandfather with honesty instead of perfection, this one is for you. Subscribe for more real conversations that pass wisdom from one dad to another.

When Control Fails: What Anxiety in Our Kids Is Teaching Us as Fathers (TDFD Ep. 9)

What do you do when your kids are anxious… and you realize some of it looks like you? In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, we talk about control, church conflict, open loops, and the quiet pressure men carry to hold everything together. This conversation is for fathers who: 1. Want to lead calmly, not react emotionally 2. Are raising kids who struggle with anxiety 3. Feel the tension between adventure and control 4. Have walked through crisis and come out marked by it We talk about: 1. Why logic doesn’t fix anxiety in kids 2. How your nervous system shapes your home 3. What crisis reveals about your leadership 4. Why you shouldn’t make permanent decisions in temporary storms Fatherhood isn’t about optimizing every moment. It’s about becoming steady enough that your kids can borrow your calm. If you’re trying to become a better dad - not louder, not softer - but steadier… this one’s for you. Subscribe if you’re serious about growing into a stronger husband, father, and grandfather.

In-Laws, Legacy, and the Dad I Miss: What Fatherhood Really Mirrors (TDFD Ep. 8)

Some of the biggest moments in fatherhood look… small. A spilled drink. A request to play checkers. A hand raised in worship when you feel awkward doing it. In this episode, Pete returns and opens up about losing his dad in January 2022, the legacy he left behind, and how that legacy still speaks - especially when life gets heavy. We talk about in-laws, boundaries, faith that shows up in real life, and why your kids are watching everything - even when you think they aren’t. This one is for dads who want to lead their home with steadiness—not perfection. Direction. What we get into: 1. In-laws: how to navigate love, boundaries, and your own family “unit” 2. Losing a father (and what a good dad leaves behind) 3. Why “don’t major in the minors” changes the culture of your home 4. The hidden weight of your reactions (spills, mistakes, little moments) 5. A simple fatherhood move that pays off forever: say yes 👊 If you’re trying to build a home your kids feel safe in—and a legacy they’ll want to carry—this conversation is for you. Subscribe if you want more honest, story-driven fatherhood conversations every week. 🙏