The Dad Edge Podcast

Preparing Your Son for Adulthood With Grit, Gratitude, and GrowthIn this episode of the Dad Edge Podcast, I’m joined once again by my son, Ethan, for another candid father-son conversation on navigating life, manhood, and building the skills that last a lifetime. As part of our August series on helping boys transition into strong, capable men, we dig into Ethan’s experiences in work, relationships, and personal growth—and the lessons that come with them. We talk about learning the value of hard work, handling failure without losing momentum, and why being intentional with your time can change everything. Ethan also opens up about balancing independence with staying connected to family, how to choose the right influences, and the importance of staying grounded in who you are—especially when life throws curveballs. Whether you’re raising a son or trying to grow as a man yourself, this conversation is filled with practical wisdom, personal stories, and plenty of laughs along the way. TIMELINE SUMMARY [0:00] - Welcome and context for our August series on raising boys into men [2:15] - Ethan’s reflections on his first real work experiences [5:04] - Learning self-reliance through challenges and problem-solving [8:12] - The importance of staying humble and teachable [11:30] - How to take responsibility without losing confidence [15:18] - Building resilience after setbacks and mistakes [18:40] - Choosing influences and friends that push you forward [21:53] - Balancing independence with strong family connection [25:17] - What it means to be intentional with your time and energy [28:34] - Handling the pressure to perform in work and life [32:56] - Using failures as fuel for growth and self-improvement [36:11] - The role of discipline in achieving long-term goals [40:00] - How gratitude changes your outlook and relationships [43:28] - Ethan’s advice for young men starting their journey to adulthood [46:02] - Lessons learned from taking risks and stepping into uncomfortable situations [49:15] - Why adaptability is essential in both work and relationships [52:40] - The impact of mentorship and learning from older, wiser voices [56:22] - Strategies for keeping your mindset strong during setbacks [1:00:05] - How Ethan applies life lessons from sports into everyday decisions [1:03:30] - The importance of giving back and serving others as a sign of maturity [1:06:54] - Final reflections on becoming the kind of man you’d be proud to follow 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Hard Work Builds Character Real growth comes when you embrace responsibility, push through discomfort, and give your best—whether you’re excited about the task or not. 2. Stay Teachable No matter how much you know, there’s always something to learn. A teachable spirit keeps you adaptable and ready for opportunity. 3. Choose Your Circle Wisely The people you surround yourself with will either pull you forward or drag you down. Select influences who challenge and inspire you. 4. Resilience Comes From Recovery Everyone fails—but it’s how quickly you get back up and how much you learn from it that determines your strength. 5. Intentional Living Creates Direction Without a plan, you drift. Being deliberate with your time, energy, and commitments gives you control over the man you’re becoming. LINKS & RESOURCES • thedadedge.com/presence https://1stphorm.com/products/collagen-with-dermaval/?a_aid=dadedge • DB OVERDRIVE: https://1stphorm.com/products/1-db-overdrive-fastpack/?a_aid=dadedge • . • CREATINE LINK: https://1stphorm.com/products/micronized-creatine-monohydrate/?a_aid=dadedge • • 1st PHORM APP: https://share.1stphorm.app/67eJWnb94Ub • Dad Edge Podcast Website: https://www.thedadedge.com • Join The Alliance: https://www.thedadedge.com/alliance • Listen to More Episodes: https://www.thedadedge.com/podcast • 25 Questions to Spark Connection With Your Partner: • https://www.thedadedge.com/25questions If this episode inspired you or gave you a fresh perspective, please rate, follow, review, and share the podcast. Together, we’re helping men and fathers live legendary lives—for themselves, their families, and the next generation.

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Lessons Learned From 22 Years of Marriage and Raising Four Boys ft. Jessica HagnerIn this deeply personal and refreshingly raw episode of the Dad Edge Podcast, I’m joined by my incredible wife, Jessica Hagner, for a long-overdue conversation that many of you have been asking for. After years of encouragement (and a little nudging), Jessica stepped up to the mic to help me share the real, behind-the-scenes story of our 22-year marriage. We go back to the early days of college, reliving the awkwardness of our first kiss and my embarrassing (but strategic) attempt to get her on a student committee just to spend time with her. But we don’t just stay in the past. We dive deep into the challenges of our early marriage, the struggles I had showing up as a husband and father, and how Jessica’s unwavering grace, direct but loving communication, and deep emotional strength helped pull us through. From parenting four boys to rediscovering connection after disconnection, we explore how we’ve stayed aligned, what we’ve learned, and why our friendship is the real heartbeat of our relationship. Whether you’re a husband, wife, parent, or someone navigating the messy middle of a relationship, this episode will speak to your heart and give you practical hope that real love is always within reach, if you’re willing to work for it. TIMELINE SUMMARY [1:34] - Jessica joins the podcast for the first time—and how long it took to convince her [4:35] - The (disastrous) first kiss story from both our perspectives [10:22] - My clever scheme to get Jessica on the student committee [13:36] - Celebrating 22 years: reflections on young love and early marriage [16:05] - My struggles early on as a husband and father [20:48] - Jessica’s thoughtful, respectful way of expressing hard truths [26:02] - A rough week of disconnection—and why we refuse to let it linger [29:30] - How we sense and address emotional distance before it becomes dangerous [35:31] - Replacing blame with grace: the power of constructive feedback [38:01] - Jessica’s journey through self-image and how we supported each other [40:35] - Our secret weapon: friendship as the foundation [44:12] - Creating emotional safety in a marriage [46:40] - Reflections on sobriety and emotional consistency [47:17] - The role of counseling and shared tools in sustaining growth [50:21] - That time we tried swing dancing—and what it taught us about trying new things 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Marriage Is Built, Not Found Strong relationships don’t happen by accident—they’re intentionally created through effort, vulnerability, and consistent choices. Love is less about fate and more about foundation, and we’ve learned that every season of growth requires patience and partnership. 2. Grace Changes Everything Jessica’s ability to express concerns with love instead of criticism shaped how I received them—and how I grew. Her grace didn’t minimize the message; it softened the delivery so that it could be heard. When grace leads, growth follows. 3. Friendship Is the Foundation Beyond intimacy and partnership lies a deep friendship. We laugh, challenge, and enjoy one another—whether we’re hitting the gym or sitting in silence. That comfort and camaraderie anchor us in hard times and elevate the everyday. 4. Disconnection Is a Signal, Not a Sentence We all drift sometimes—but we’ve trained ourselves not to tolerate that drift for long. Disconnection is simply a call to reconnect. We address it, own it, and rebuild before it becomes a pattern. 5. Shared Growth Sustains Love What keeps us aligned is our shared commitment to grow—individually and as a couple. From therapy to new hobbies, we make space for evolution. That growth keeps the relationship fresh, resilient, and deeply fulfilling. LINKS & RESOURCES • Pre-order my book Legendary Fatherhood: http://thedadedge.com/legendarybook • • Podcast Website: https://www.thedadedge.com • • Join Our Community: https://www.thedadedge.com/alliance • • Tools & Resources: https://www.thedadedge.com/tools • • All Podcast Episodes: https://www.thedadedge.com/podcast • • Recommended Episode: https://www.thedadedge.com/intentional-marriage • If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate, follow, review, and share the podcast. Your support helps us reach more families, more fathers, and more couples who need real, honest conversations like this one. Thanks for being here.

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