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Larry Hagner

The Dad Edge Podcast is a movement. It is a strong community of Fathers who all share a set of values.

Larry Hagner, founder of The Dad Edge, breaks down common challenges of fatherhood, making them easy to understand and overcome.  Tackling the world of Fatherhood can be a daunting task when we try to do it alone.

The mission of The Dad Edge Podcast is to help you become the best, strongest, and happiest version of yourself so that you can help guide your kids to the best version of themselves. Simple as that.  

Everything you need and all of our resources can be found at thedadedge.com/podcast

The Dad Edge Podcast

Jess Hilarious has built a career on telling the truth in a way that makes people laugh and feel seen, from the Baltimore open mic scene to Wild 'N Out, starring on Rel, her hit podcast Carefully Reckless, and now co-hosting The Breakfast Club. But in this conversation, we go somewhere most people have never heard her go: what it really took to become the mother and co-parent she is today.
 
 Jess got pregnant at 19, raised in a strict church household, terrified to tell her parents she even had a boyfriend. She opens up about the first six months after her son Ashton was born, when she didn't want to be a mom at all, and the breakdown on her knees in her mother's house that ended with her baby smirking up at her from the crib. That was the moment everything changed.
 
 We also walk through the hard road with her son's father, Jerome. The cheating, the other girl at Ashton's first birthday party, and the public comment that revealed he had a second child on the way. Instead of staying at war, Jess chose to understand the trauma behind his behavior, and the two of them took actual co-parenting vows: for better or for worse, till death do we parent.
 
 As a father of four boys, I know how many men in our community are navigating co-parenting right now, and this episode is packed with hard-won wisdom on boundaries, accountability, and putting your kids first. Jess's new book, Til Death Do We Parent, brings her trademark humor and honesty to all of it, and this conversation is the perfect introduction.
 
 
 
 Timeline Summary
 
 [1:01] Larry welcomes comedian, actress, and Breakfast Club co-host Jess Hilarious to the show
 
 [1:48] Jess opens up about not wanting to be a mom for the first six months after her son was born
 
 [3:15] Telling Jerome she was pregnant at 19 and his unexpectedly joyful reaction
 
 [4:25] A charge on her record, no job offers, and moving back in with her mom after Ashton arrived
 
 [4:52] The breakdown in her mom's house: "why would you pick me to be your mother?"
 
 [7:17] Telling her parents at 8 PM: her dad's ten-second breathing technique and her mom's prayer
 
 [15:02] The funeral story at age eight that proved Jess was born funny
 
 [17:43] Martin Lawrence's brother calls and Jess fakes ten years of stand-up experience
 
 [18:41] Opening for Martin Lawrence in front of 13,000 people in Baltimore after five open mics
 
 [25:05] Rome brings another girl to Ashton's first birthday party
 
 [26:57] Leaving a good man for one more chance, then learning about Rome's second child from a public comment
 
 [31:14] Understanding Rome's trauma: losing his mother at ten and finding her himself
 
 [33:32] The co-parenting vows: "I take you, Jerome James, to be my lawfully wedded co-parent"
 
 [35:22] Dating selfishly and taking accountability for the men she brought around Ashton
 
 [38:15] The 1 AM phone call that made her husband draw the line on boundaries
 
 [42:58] Larry shares meeting his biological father by chance in a St. Louis Starbucks at age 30
 
 
 
 Five Key Takeaways
 
 1. Treat co-parenting like a vow you can't walk away from, because your child is watching how you show up for better or for worse.
 2. Your kids absorb every ounce of tension between you and your ex, and defiance at school is often a reflection of the energy they're consuming at home.
 3. Understanding the trauma behind your ex's behavior won't excuse it, but it can free you from resentment and make a real friendship possible.
 4. When you have kids, you date as a package, so anyone who isn't building a bond with your child isn't actually good for you either.
 5. Boundaries protect every relationship you have, and putting "friendship hours" around your co-parent isn't disrespect, it's what keeps your marriage and your co-parenting healthy.
 
 
 
 Links & Resources
 
 • Til Death Do We Parent by Jess Hilarious: 
https://www.amazon.com/Til-Death-Do-We-Parent/dp/1668059355 • Jess's website — 
https://jesshilariousofficial.com • Follow Jess on Instagram — @jesshilarious_official
 • Follow Jess on Twitter and Snapchat — @jess_hilarious
 • Jess Hilarious Official on Facebook
 • Episode resources — 
https://thedadedge.com/1490 • Questions for the Car free download — 
https://thedadedge.com/questions • The Dad Edge Alliance — 
http://thedadedge.com/join 
 
 
 Closing
 
 There's a moment in this episode where Jess describes falling to her knees, asking her infant son why he chose her as his mother, and looking up to see him smirking at her from the crib as if to say "I'm here, so put on your big girl panties." That's the kind of raw honesty that changes how you see your own parenting story. If you're navigating co-parenting, boundaries, or just the weight of feeling unready, share this one with a brother who needs it. Go out and live legendary.

Why Co-Parenting Vows Might Save Your Family featuring Jess Hilarious

Gentlemen, we're two weeks out from Father's Day and this Q&A hit me right in the chest. We've got Joe the Legend joining me today, a father of five who brings that earned wisdom — the kind that only comes from years of being in the trenches, making mistakes, and choosing to grow through them. This conversation is real, raw, and exactly what this community is built on.
 
We tackle two questions from the Alliance today. The first one is about a 12-year-old daughter who's been lying and stealing from family members — and how to guide her toward accountability while keeping the relationship open and safe. The second one is something almost every dad I know battles: losing patience by the end of the day when the tank is completely empty.
 
Joe drops some of the most honest perspective you'll hear anywhere on why kids lie and steal, what birth order has to do with it, and how a scarcity mindset can drive behaviors you'd never expect. And then he shares something that personally rocked me — that impatience isn't a discipline problem. It's a selfishness problem. That one landed hard, and I'll explain why.
 
This is the kind of show that reminds you why we're here. Not to be perfect dads. But to be intentional ones who keep showing up, keep learning, and keep choosing our kids — even when we've got nothing left in the tank.
 
 
 
Timeline Summary
 
[1:01] Larry introduces the show and a special four-part June offer for new Dad Edge Alliance members
 
[1:38] What's included: signed copy of The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood, two courses, and a brand new PDF resource
 
[3:39] Today's two topics: how to handle a child who is lying and stealing, and losing patience by end of day
 
[4:00] Morgan (The Engineer) asks his question: his 12-year-old daughter is stealing from family members, often tied to jealousy
 
[5:36] Joe shares that lying is almost always a defense mechanism and stealing is tied to either scarcity mindset or attention-seeking
 
[6:55] Joe reflects on growing up without enough — and how that scarcity mindset made stealing feel necessary as a kid
 
[8:10] Joe raises the birth order question: second borns can feel like second best, and attention imbalance can drive behavior
 
[9:38] Joe's reframe: are you unintentionally reinforcing scarcity in your home, or creating uneven attention among your kids?
 
[12:08] Larry tells the story of his son Mason getting caught shoplifting at age 11 — caught on video at a local store
 
[15:28] Larry calls the store, finds out the owner is a retired cop, and decides not to protect Mason from the consequences
 
[17:49] Larry takes Mason to face the store owner directly and tells his son: whatever this man asks you to do, you're going to do it
 
[20:34] The 30-day consequence plan: daily chores, journaling gratitude and reflections, and a final trip to the police station
 
[22:15] The Sonic parking lot conversation — where Mason finally broke down and told the truth about why he did it
 
[23:37] Mason's real confession: he was afraid of losing another friend if he didn't go along with the theft
 
[25:51] Calvin asks his question: how do you stay patient at the end of the day when you're completely drained?
 
[27:40] Larry's answer: surrender before you walk in the room — pray and admit you can't do it alone
 
[29:50] Joe's reframe on patience: it's listed as a fruit of the spirit in Galatians, and a lack of it is rooted in selfishness
 
[31:18] Joe's inner monologue when he feels impatience rising — asking himself whether it's about him or about the person in front of him
 
[34:29] Joe reflects on the relationship he has with his oldest son today, and why patience made it possible
 
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
 
 1. Lying is almost always a defense mechanism — when your child lies, look first at what they're afraid of, not just what they did wrong.
 2. Stealing in kids is usually tied to either a scarcity mindset or an attention grab — ask yourself if you're unintentionally reinforcing either one in your home.
 3. When your kid does something wrong, connection has to come before correction — Mason's breakthrough happened in a Sonic parking lot, not in a punishment.
 4. Impatience isn't a willpower problem, it's a selfishness problem — if you're losing patience, something is encroaching on your agenda, and recognizing that shifts everything.
 5. You cannot white-knuckle sustainable patience on your own — whether through faith, community, or both, the fathers who show up consistently are the ones who know they need help.
 
 
 
Links & Resources
 
 • The Dad Edge Alliance: 
https://www.thedadedge.com/join • Questions for the Car (free PDF): 
https://www.thedadedge.com/kidquestions • Episode Show Notes: 
http://thedadedge.com/1489 
 
 
Closing
 
This episode is a reminder that the best fathering doesn't happen when we have it all together. It happens in Sonic parking lots, in honest conversations after long days, and in the moments when we finally stop trying to do it alone. Joe's story about his oldest son hit me differently today — knowing how far they've come, knowing there's no reason they should be close, and hearing him say that patience is what made the difference. That's the work, gentlemen. That's exactly the work. If today's conversation meant something to you, pass it to a dad who needs it, leave us a five-star review, and keep showing up for your family every single day. Go out and live legendary.

The Scarcity Mindset Your Kids Might Be Learning From You

Thomas Pfanner is a husband, father of three, combat athlete with nearly 20 years of jiu jitsu training, and a former strength coach at the University of Oregon who was part of a Pac-12 championship team and a Rose Bowl season. After seven years as a public educator watching young men arrive unprepared for the real world, he channeled that frustration into a mission: equipping fathers to become the trusted, respected leaders their kids are actually hungry for. His Amazon bestselling book Dads Who Lead launched September 26th, 2025, and it's already resonating deeply with fathers who want to lead with strength and integrity.
 
This conversation starts where most parenting conversations are afraid to go. Thomas shares the raw story of his son Charles calling him at 14 to say he was done, the long road of rebuilding that relationship, and the specific leadership shifts that changed everything. From there, we get into the five attributes he outlines in Dads Who Lead — faith, ownership, respect, groundbreaking adventure, and expectation — and how they stack together to help dads go from being a manager to being a mentor their kids actually choose to lean into.
 
If you've ever felt like you're losing your son or daughter and don't know what to do next, Thomas has lived that story and walked out the other side. And if your relationship with your teenager is already solid, this episode will sharpen the tools you're using and show you where the gaps might be.
 
Whether you're trying to rebuild a relationship or strengthen one that's already good, this episode is for the dad who refuses to go to his grave wondering what went wrong.
 
 
 
Timeline Summary
 
[1:02] Thomas welcomes the audience and Larry teases the June offer for Dad Edge Alliance members
 
[3:15] Thomas shares how Charles at 14 called to say he was moving to his mom's across state — and what led up to that moment
 
[5:23] The day Thomas couldn't find his son after wrestling practice and the call that changed everything
 
[6:36] What it felt like to lose 14 years of relationship work in a single phone call — and the journey that followed
 
[8:23] Thomas and his wife leave their home, jobs, and stability to move across state to pursue Charles before his freshman year
 
[9:54] Larry previews the show's core topic: how to rebuild and build trust with teenagers, especially when the relationship has been fractured
 
[13:10] The first step in rebuilding trust wasn't with Charles — it was rebuilding Thomas's belief in himself as a father
 
[15:40] How Thomas used the concept of "highlight reels" to keep faith in Charles even when the evidence was going the wrong direction
 
[21:34] The five attributes of leadership from Dads Who Lead: faith, ownership, respect, groundbreaking adventure, and expectation
 
[24:25] Chip Kelly's single line on expectation that Thomas has never forgotten — and what it means for every parent who lets things slide
 
[28:11] How Thomas shifted his "brand" from manager to mentor — and why your son has an emotional reaction the moment your name pops up on his phone
 
[32:30] The two primary engines of respect: action respect and connection respect — and why one matters more to men and one matters more to women
 
[38:46] Charles's response to the book being out in the world, and where he is now — working full-time and calling his dad 4 or 5 times a week
 
[41:14] Why the 2027 father-son retreat is going to Normandy, France — and what Thomas wants dads and sons to take home from that week
 
[43:24] How the retreat program works — who it's for, age requirements, and what physical experiences make it different from other men's events
 
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
 
 1. 

Before you can rebuild trust with your teenager, you have to rebuild trust in yourself. Thomas had to stop listening to the comforting voices telling him he'd done enough, anchor into his faith that he was called to be Charles's father for a reason, and believe Charles could become something great before Charles believed it himself.
 2. 
 3. 

The brand you've built as a dad is the emotion your kid feels when your name hits their phone screen. You control that brand completely. If they've known you mainly as the person telling them what to do, switching to a mentor who's genuinely curious about their story is what shifts the brand — and softens the resistance when you do need to hold a standard.
 4. 
 5. 

There are two ways kids earn respect: through action and through connection. Action respect comes from who you are and how you carry yourself. Connection respect comes from being the person who actually knows their story. The dad who does both is nearly impossible to replace — online or otherwise.
 6. 
 7. 

Chip Kelly's line from Dads Who Lead is worth writing on a wall: if you accept it, expect it. Every time you let something slide without a conversation, you're voting for that behavior to continue. Setting expectations your teenager can buy into means they have to understand the why — and that only happens when the relationship is strong enough for them to care.
 8. 
 9. 

Rites of passage aren't a tradition for tradition's sake — young men are starving for a moment where someone tells them who they are and gives them permission to step into it. If dads don't create that moment intentionally, the culture, social media, or a peer group will create it for them.
 10. 
 
 
 
Links & Resources
 
 Dads Who Lead • by Thomas Pfanner — 
 • Free leadership style quiz for dads — 
https://dadswholead.com • Father-son retreat experiences (domestic and Normandy 2027) — 
https://dadswholead.com/experience • Questions for the Car (free PDF) — 
https://thedadedge.com/kidquestions • Dad Edge Alliance Mastermind — 
https://thedadedge.com/join • Podcast shownotes: 
http://thedadedge.com/1488 
 
 
Closing
 
Thomas's story with Charles is one of those episodes that reminds you why we do this work. He didn't coast when it got hard. He made the call, packed up his life, and went after his son — no guarantees, no safety net, just faith that his kid was worth it. If you know a dad who's in that painful season of feeling like he's losing his relationship with his teenager, share this episode with him today. It could be the turning point he didn't know he needed. And if this show has meant something to you, head over and leave a five-star review. It helps more dads find this message.
 
Go out and live legendary.

The Reasons Your Teenager Is Pulling Away & What to Do Before It's Too Late featuring Thomas Pfanner

Justin Goodbread is a serial entrepreneur, business coach, and host of the DecaMillionaire Decoded podcast who has built and sold multiple companies while raising three kids alongside his wife Emily in Tennessee. His father Alan, a Georgia Port Authority worker who homeschooled three children with Juilliard graduates and university professors on a lower-middle-class income, laid the foundation for everything Justin has become as a man, a husband, and a dad.
 
 This episode is a raw, honest look at how faith, family, and legacy intersect when life gets hard. Justin shares the stories behind losing his father suddenly at 61, nearly losing Emily during an 8-hour surgery with a 12% survival rate, and how both moments stripped away his obsession with building empires and replaced it with something that actually matters. If you're a dad who wants to leave your kids with more than money, this conversation will stay with you.
 
 
 
 Timeline Summary
 
 [1:02] Host opens with a special June Alliance offer including a signed book, two courses, and 50 intimate conversation starters for couples
 
 [2:38] Guest Justin Goodbread is introduced and the two celebrate a recent episode swap on Justin's podcast
 
 [3:46] Justin describes his father Alan and the radical decision his parents made to break a cycle of dysfunction by raising their kids in faith and homeschooling them decades before it was common
 
 [7:39] Dad gives 15-year-old Justin an ultimatum: have a job by Friday or don't come home, with three strict rules that made it nearly impossible in their small Georgia town
 
 [9:53] Justin finds a stranger's overgrown yard, earns $40, and comes home to a father who reveals the lesson he'd orchestrated all along: at 15, you just outearned me
 
 [11:37] Two years after starting "Lawn Care by the Boys," Justin and his brother were earning more individually than their parents combined
 
 [12:33] After a final day hunting and a Taco Bell conversation about responsibility and legacy, Justin returns home to a call that his father had a massive heart attack that night
 
 [13:22] Justin describes a five-year crisis of faith following his father's sudden death at 61, and how grief forced him to rebuild everything from the ground up
 
 [24:01] Justin shares the family motto "No one outworks a Goodbread" and how his dad led with short, hard-to-forget phrases that became the family's operating system
 
 [29:18] Seven years of tribulation including multiple deaths, suicides among friends, and the stripping away of money and relationships down to just Justin, Emily, and a handful of close friends
 
 [31:39] Emily's surgery runs more than 8 hours when doctors said anything past 6 would mean trouble, and Justin sits alone in the hospital waiting room
 
 [33:06] Emily's first words coming out of anesthesia: "Justin, what's another million dollars going to do for us?" and how that question changed the direction of his entire life
 
 [39:44] The post-surgery shift: intentionality replaces ambition, marriage gets prioritized above all, and Justin and Emily travel to Costa Rica and Saint Lucia to invest in their relationship like never before
 
 [43:51] Justin uses the story of Jochebed and Moses to explain his parenting philosophy: mothers nurture in the early years, then fathers step in to disciple their kids into warriors
 
 [46:14] His 21-year-old daughter calls, ready to quit a hard nursing class. Justin says nothing. She already knows exactly what he'll say because she's been discipled.
 
 [53:43] Justin closes with Ephesians 6:13: "having done all, stand" — do your dead-level best, trust grace for the rest, and enter heaven exhausted
 
 
 
 Five Key Takeaways
 
 1. Your kids are watching you model your marriage more than they are watching you parent them. Justin and Emily made it a point to date each other first, keep their marriage above everything else, and trust that their kids would follow what they saw. When Emily nearly died, their daughter was already grounded enough to say "don't worry, dad, we got this."
 2. A crisis of faith is not the end of faith. After his father died, Justin spent five years questioning everything he had been raised to believe. What came out on the other side was not a shallower faith but a more surrendered one — a willingness to stop fighting the path and trust the process even when it costs him.
 3. The goal is to enter heaven exhausted, not retired. Justin draws a direct line from his father's work ethic to his own rejection of the Western retirement model. Life built around impact, not income, is the shift that Emily's surgery forced him to make, and it became the most clarifying decision of his adult life.
 4. Discipleship is about covering your kids in dust. Justin references the Hebrew tradition of students being covered in the dust of their teacher as they walked behind them. The goal is not just to tell your kids what to believe but to walk faithfully enough in front of them that when it counts, they already know what to do.
 5. God gets no glory in quitting. Justin's father said it when the family was tempted to pull the kids from homeschooling. Justin's daughter said it back to him at 21, unprompted, when she was ready to drop a nursing class. The phrase became a family doctrine because it was lived out, not just spoken.
 
 
 
 Links & Resources
 
 • DecaMillionaire Decoded Podcast — 
http://justingoodbread.com/podcast • Connect with Justin on Instagram — 
http://instagram.com/justingoodbread • Join the Dad Edge Alliance — 
http://thedadedge.com/join • 50 Intimate Kid Conversation Starters — 
http://thedadedge.com/kidquestions • Show notes and full resources — 
http://thedadedge.com/1487 
 
 
 Closing
 
 Justin's story is not a highlight reel. It is a funeral, an 8-hour surgery, a crisis of faith, and a daughter who already knew what her dad was going to say before he said a word. If something in this episode hit you, send it to a man in your life who needs it. Rate and review the show so more dads can find it, and go out and live legendary.

Why Discipleship Is More Powerful Than Any Parenting Strategy featuring Justin Goodbread

One of the hardest things I face as a father is watching my kids deflect responsibility and blame everyone else for their mistakes. A door slams in the car, and suddenly it's the wind's fault. A bad grade lands on the homework sheet, but somehow it's the teacher's fault. I know I'm not alone in this—it's one of the most common questions I get from our Dad Edge community. So I brought my brother Joe back to the Q&A to tackle it head-on, and I'm honestly still thinking about what he said.
 
 Joe has five kids of his own, including three daughters, so he's lived this battle in real-time. He's learned that what looks like defiance or dishonesty is often just a 12-year-old girl—or a 10-year-old boy—drowning in internal noise. There's social media, body image stuff, the need to be accepted, the pressure to be popular. As fathers, we can barely fathom the tornado of things swirling around in their heads. But when we understand that first, everything changes about how we respond.
 
 What struck me most was Joe's wisdom on adopted kids and their fear of failure. If your child came to you a different way—whether adopted or blended—there's an invisible layer of anxiety about worth and belonging. That's not an excuse for irresponsibility; it's context. And context changes how we coach. He walked me through how to use questions instead of accusations, how to celebrate integrity when we see it, and how to be careful with the words we speak because words become the narrative our kids believe about themselves.
 
 This Q&A is one you'll want to listen to twice. Once for the tactics on teaching ownership, and once to hear what Joe says about narratives and the power of telling your kids the truth about who they are. Because if we're building men—and that's what we do here—we have to give them a better story to believe about themselves.
 Timeline Summary 
 [0:02] Host introduces The Dad Edge mission: creating leaders of men, families, and communities
 
 [1:02] Welcome to June 2026 and the epic Q&A episode—plus announcement of exclusive Alliance giveaways this month
 
 [1:52] Four exclusive bonuses for joining the Alliance in June: signed copy of The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood, two courses ($500 value each), and 50 Intimate Conversation Starters
 
 [3:49] Joe joins and shares his excitement about these monthly Q&A conversations with the community
 
 [4:42] Sean submits the core question: His 12-year-old adopted daughter Angelina constantly blames others and won't take ownership for her actions
 
 [5:30] Joe responds: At 12, girls are in transition from childhood to womanhood with massive internal pressure around social media, body image, and acceptance
 
 [6:18] The key insight—girls can think about 5-6 things at once while most men focus on one track; understanding this is crucial
 
 [7:23] Covey's principle: Seek to understand before you seek to be understood; girls at 12 are anxious about their origin story and fear of failure
 
 [8:27] The adoption layer: Children who came to families differently often fear they'll be rejected again, which fuels the blame pattern
 
 [10:00] Use questions, not accusations: Instead of "Why did you slam the door?" try "Help me understand what happened"—questions keep the door open instead of triggering defensiveness
 
 [15:45] Teaching integrity and responsibility: Point out integrity every time you see it—in your child, in others, in everyday moments
 
 [38:36] Celebrate integrity immediately: "That showed so much integrity" builds the construct in your child's mind of what integrity actually looks like
 
 [39:43] The power of words: Life and death are in the tongue; be careful about criticism around performance because every child struggles with "not being good enough"
 
 [40:43] Give your kids a better narrative: The foundation for who they are as people is built on the words you speak and the truth you help them believe about themselves
 
 [43:52] Free resource: "Questions for the Car" PDF with 75 age-appropriate questions (5-8, 9-12, and teens) to build connection without the standard "how was school" questions
 
 [45:31] Reminder about Alliance June bonuses and gratitude for the community and reviews
 Five Key Takeaways 1. When your kid blames others, they're often drowning in internal noise. Before you react to the deflection, understand the 10 things happening inside their head—social pressure, body image, fear of rejection. Understanding first changes everything about how you coach.
 2. Instead of asking "Why did you do that?" use questions to understand. The word "why" triggers defensiveness immediately; "Help me understand what happened" keeps the conversation open and models curiosity instead of accusation.
 3. Point out integrity constantly—in your child, in strangers, in everyday moments. Integrity is an abstract word to a 10-year-old, so show them what it looks like. Celebrate it immediately. Build the mental model they'll use for the rest of their lives.
 4. The words you speak become the narrative your kids believe about themselves. Lies believed enslave a person; truth believed sets them free. Are you speaking words that will free your kids or words that will trap them?
 5. Build connection before you expect influence. Questions that create real dialogue—not "How was school?" but the kind that invites genuine conversation—are the bridge between you and your child's honesty.
 Links & Resources • The Dad Edge Podcast & Resources — 
https://thedadedge.com/1486 • Join The Dad Edge Alliance — 
https://thedadedge.com/join • Questions for the Car PDF (75 age-appropriate questions, ages 5-12 and teens) — 
https://thedadedge.com/kidquestions • The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood book — 
https://thedadedge.com • Creating More Patience in the Chaos course ($500 value, free in June) — 
https://thedadedge.com/join • 50 Intimate Conversation Starters PDF (free resource for Alliance members) — 
https://thedadedge.com/join Closing 
 If you're struggling with a kid who won't own their mistakes, this conversation is going to shift something in you. I know it did for me. Joe's insight about understanding the tornado of noise inside a preteen's head, and his challenge about the words we speak and the narrative we're building—that's the stuff that matters. That's legacy work. Join the Alliance in June if you want those resources, and don't miss the "Questions for the Car" PDF in the show notes. Your kids need questions that actually matter. Go out and live legendary.

Why Your Kid Blames Everyone Else and How to Teach Real Ownership

Dominic Rubino is a business coach with over two decades of experience who built a Brian Tracy franchise from 6 locations to 240 worldwide, sold it, and never looked back. He hosts two highly niched podcasts, Profit Tool Belt and Cabinet Maker Profit System, where he helps small trade business owners get clear on time, team, money, and growth.
 
What hit me hardest about this conversation was that Dominic had everything on paper. Two hundred and forty franchisees. International operations. A name in the industry. And then his nine-year-old son shrank at the dinner table, and Dominic made the decision right there. He sold the company. He showed up. And now his son is heading off to play NCAA lacrosse.
 
This episode is about what it actually takes to build a business that serves your life — not the other way around. Dominic talks about delegation, systems, the cost of constant travel, and why the guys who can't stop working are often running from something. If you've ever felt like a prisoner to the income you built, this one's for you.
 
If you're a father who owns a business or is grinding through a W-2 job that keeps pulling you away from the people you're doing it all for, this conversation will hit close to home. Dominic doesn't deal in theory. He's lived it, coached thousands through it, and he has the frameworks to prove it.
 
 
 
Timeline Summary
 
[1:02] Dominic's last name gets butchered before the mic even starts rolling — and a quick side note about Dallas
 
[1:54] Host sets up the dinner table moment — nine-year-old Joseph shrinks in his chair and changes everything
 
[2:17] Dominic describes building a Brian Tracy franchise from 6 to 240 locations across the U.S., Brazil, and Europe
 
[3:32] A surprise buyout offer comes in from franchisees — and Dominic says no
 
[4:13] The real cost of constant travel: getting invited to the hotel concierge's birthday party
 
[5:29] The moment it all shifted: Joseph drops his head at the dinner table and Dominic decides to sell
 
[7:05] Dominic reflects on the things he missed — first steps, first swimming lessons — and what his kids saw him miss
 
[9:16] Host shares his own version: his six-year-old son locked around his ankle on the floor, begging him not to leave again
 
[13:03] Why Dominic stopped being afraid to reinvent himself — and the promise he made to never sacrifice his family again
 
[20:08] Advice for W-2 guys feeling stuck: stop sending resumes into the void and go talk to a human being
 
[25:17] "Cat's in the Cradle" — one song that answers this whole conversation, and a hospital story that hits like a gut punch
 
[31:42] The less you work, the more you make: why Dominic hires great people and then hires them an assistant
 
[36:15] A live breathing exercise on air — and what it should feel like to actually be on top of your business
 
[43:23] A client sells his company for seven figures and his wife asks one question: "Does this mean you can finally do donuts with dad?"
 
[47:12] How Dominic helps trade business owners in the $1–3M range get clear on time, team, money, and growth
 
[50:07] How to find Dominic — two podcasts, a TEDx talk, and a college wrestler who is definitely not him
 
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
 
 1. 

The moment that changes you doesn't announce itself. For Dominic, it was a nine-year-old boy silently shrinking at the dinner table. You don't always know what your kids see you miss, but they're watching — and so are you, somewhere deep down.
 2. 
 3. 

Reinventing yourself isn't the scary part. The scarier thing is spending another decade in golden handcuffs, telling yourself you're doing it for the family while the family waits at the door. Stop lying to yourself about being trapped. You're not.
 4. 
 5. 

Finding a job is a job. Don't send your resume into the LinkedIn black hole. Figure out which companies and which people you actually want to work for and go talk to them. Every business owner out there is looking for someone committed enough to show up before they're asked.
 6. 
 7. 

Hire great people, then hire them an assistant. If your best people are spending their time on tasks that a $20/hour assistant could handle, you're paying premium wages for checkbox work. Build small teams, assign assistants early, and let them do more than you ever could alone.
 8. 
 9. 

A business only gets clear when everything in your head gets out of it. Strategic planning is really just moving the chaos from your mind onto paper. Once it's on paper, it becomes the boss. Then you work backwards from that to figure out what has to happen this quarter, this week, and today.
 10. 
 
 
 
Links & Resources
 
 • Profit Tool Belt Podcast — search "Profit Tool Belt" on any podcast platform
 • Cabinet Maker Profit System Podcast — 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cabinet-maker-profit-system-podcast/id1353937790 • Dominic Rubino TEDx Talk: 
Family Inc • — search "Dominic Rubino TEDx" on YouTube
 • The Dad Edge Alliance — 
http://thedadedge.com/join • Episode show notes and links — 
http://thedadedge.com/1483 
 
 
Closing
 
If Dominic's dinner table story hit you somewhere you weren't expecting, trust that feeling. That's the thing trying to get your attention. Whether you're building a business, grinding a W-2, or somewhere in the messy middle of trying to make a change, the time to put the wheels in motion is not someday — it's now. Share this episode with a business-owner dad in your life who needs to hear it. And if it moved you, take two minutes to leave a review and follow the show so we can keep bringing you conversations like this one. Go out and live legendary.

The Real Cost of Building a Business That Runs Your Life featuring Dominic Rubino

Father Stephen Gadberry is a Catholic priest ordained in 2016 after a path that took him from a small family farm in the Arkansas Delta through the United States Air Force, a deployment to Iraq, and all the way to Rome to study philosophy and theology. He competed on American Ninja Warrior in 2018 and 2020, has worked alongside Bishop Robert Barron and Word on Fire, and currently serves at Saint Theresa Catholic Church and School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
 
In this conversation, Father Stephen opens up about losing his father and twelve-year-old sister in a car accident when he was just eight years old, how that tragedy shaped his understanding of duty and sacrifice, and what it felt like to receive his calling in the middle of a deployment in central Iraq. He is a hunter, archer, CrossFit athlete, knife maker, and musician who speaks about masculinity, suffering, and faith in a way that cuts through all the noise.
 
We also get into forgiveness in a way I have never heard anyone break it down before. Father Stephen uses the image of a plant to walk through the entire process of healing a broken relationship, from cultivating the soil, to planting the seed, to watching for weeds, to understanding why we pull back just when things start to feel close. It is pastoral counsel and practical wisdom at the same time.
 
This one hit me differently, guys. I am not kidding when I say I felt the weight of this conversation in my chest. If you have ever carried loss, wrestled with abandonment, or wondered how a man of deep faith actually lives out forgiveness in real time, this episode is for you.
 
 
 
Timeline Summary
 
[1:02] Father Stephen and the host kick off by acknowledging this is take two, after a tech failure ended the first recording
 
[1:55] Father Stephen explains his two appearances on American Ninja Warrior in 2018 and 2020 and what he was really trying to do with the cameras
 
[4:20] The meaning behind the priest collar explained: white for speaking truth, black for death to self
 
[6:07] Why traditions are not a threat to faith and how they are already woven into every man's life whether he realizes it or not
 
[7:16] How the American Ninja Warrior exposure broke down barriers and gave people an entry point to seek pastoral help with marriages and personal struggles
 
[13:25] Host introduces Father Stephen's background: raised on an Arkansas farm, lost his father and older sister at age eight in a car accident, later served in the Air Force and deployed to Iraq
 
[17:22] Father Stephen describes the accident on May 5th, 1994, the deaths of his father and twelve-year-old sister, and how a young boy without comprehension of the full weight woke up every day and simply got it done
 
[23:11] Two weeks after the accident, his mother discovered she was pregnant with twins, and the family's response to impossible circumstances
 
[28:18] The Christmas delivery story: neighbors who brought gifts for the family after the accident and did it with enough grace and class that no one's dignity was taken
 
[33:14] Father Stephen recalls warming up the minivan for his mother on cold Arkansas mornings as a child, and why the small act reveals a lifelong orientation toward serving others before himself
 
[37:10] The story of how the calling to priesthood emerged during military service in Iraq, including a stranger at Mass who said, "You're thinking about being a priest, aren't you?"
 
[43:30] How Father Stephen submitted his early separation paperwork from the Air Force and received approval in under two weeks, something that ordinarily takes months
 
[46:30] The host shares his own story of his biological father leaving twice and reconnecting at age thirty, and asks Father Stephen about what it means to forgive at 98% but still carry that last 2%
 
[52:07] The plant image of forgiveness: cultivating the soil, planting the seed, watching for weeds, and understanding that pulling things up too soon or too often kills what is trying to grow
 
[1:00:54] Father Stephen helps the host understand the subconscious pull-back pattern that shows up in relationships after early abandonment and how to reframe those defense mechanisms rather than fight them
 
[1:07:13] Closing thoughts and the little way of Saint Thérèse: do small things with big love, over and over
 
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
 
 1. 

Losing his father and sister at age eight did not break Father Stephen. It built in him a sense of duty and commitment so deep that he woke up every morning as a boy simply asking what needed to be done, and that orientation toward others before self became the foundation of everything he does as a priest.
 2. 
 3. 

Sharing your humanity, not just your credentials, is what gives people permission to bring you their real problems. Father Stephen's Ninja Warrior appearances did not grow his ministry by making him impressive. They grew it by making him approachable.
 4. 
 5. 

Forgiveness is not a moment. It is a plant. You cultivate the soil, you plant the seed at the right time in the right way, and then you let it sit. Going back every day to dig it up and see if it grew will kill it. The healing comes from doing the work and then having the patience to let it take root.
 6. 
 7. 

Keeping a small part of unforgiveness is not a failure. It is memory. It is what tells you how to water the plant going forward, what burned it before, and what it needs to stay alive now. Forgetting is not the goal. Learning is.
 8. 
 9. 

The soul remembers what hurt it, and sometimes that shows up as pulling back right when something good is getting close. That is not sabotage. That is an old defense mechanism doing its job. The work is to recognize it, name it, and gently push its limits rather than either surrendering to it or shaming yourself for it.
 10. 
 
 
 
Links & Resources
 
 • Follow Father Stephen on Instagram — 
https://www.instagram.com/fatherstephenjgadberry • Saint Theresa Catholic Church — 
https://www.sttheresalittlerock.org • This Episode's Show Page — 
https://thedadedge.com/1484 • Join the Dad Edge — 
https://thedadedge.com/join • The Men's Forge — 
https://themensforge.com 
 
 
Closing
 
Father Stephen gave us something rare in this conversation: the kind of honesty that only comes from a man who has sat with real pain long enough to have something true to say about it. If the plant image of forgiveness resonated with you the way it hit me, share this episode with a man in your life who is carrying something heavy and does not have the language for it yet. And if you got something out of this one, please take a minute to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more dads and more men find this show.
 
Go out and live legendary.

How to Forgive Someone Without Letting Them Off the Hook featuring Father Stephen Gadberry

Jon Fogel is a parenting expert, pastor, published author, and PhD candidate who runs Whole Parent and Whole Parent Academy, a resource built around the psychology of parenting and discipline. He is the author of the bestselling book Punishment Free Parenting and a brand new children's book, Set My Feelings Free, which sold out nationwide before its second printing. He is a husband, father of four kids ranging from 18 months to nine years old, and somehow found time to install a toilet while his wife was in labor.
 
Jon has been a guest on The Dad Edge podcast twice before, and every single time he shows up, he leaves the room differently than he found it. This episode is a live Q&A inside the Alliance, and the questions the guys brought were real. Getting a spouse on the same page. The pendulum swing between authoritarian and checked-out. A five-year-old who looks you dead in the eye before he does the wrong thing on purpose. And the hard one: what happens when your son won't respond to you the way he responds to his mom.
 
Jon's framework is grounded in brain science and developmental psychology, and the thing that keeps hitting you as you listen is how much of what we were taught about discipline actually works against us. The reason kids shut down when we raise our voices is the same reason our partners shut down when we raise our voices. The reason kids push boundaries is not defiance. It's development. The reason your son runs to mom and not to you is not a reflection of your worth as a father. It's evolution.
 
If you're a dad who's been doing the work but still feels like something is off in how your kids or your partner respond to you, this episode is going to give you clarity in places you didn't expect to find it.
 
 
 
Timeline Summary
 
[1:01] Host introduces Jon Fogel for his third appearance, covering his role as a parenting expert, author, PhD candidate, and founder of Whole Parent Academy
 
[2:05] Jon describes his book Punishment Free Parenting, its bestseller status, and explains that 99% of the book is about what to do instead of punishing
 
[3:42] Jon's newest children's book Set My Feelings Free is sold out nationwide, with a second printing arriving May 20th
 
[4:02] First question from Rich: how to get a spouse on the same page when parenting backgrounds and styles are very different
 
[5:29] Jon explains why you should never try to correct a partner's parenting in the moment, and why the same brain science that applies to kids applies to adults
 
[8:11] Jon introduces the H.E.A.R. framework from Harvard for conflict resolution: Hedge, Emphasize agreement, Acknowledge perspective, Reframe to the positive
 
[10:55] Jon walks through each step of H.E.A.R. practically, showing how removing defensiveness creates space for the other person to move without feeling wrong
 
[14:07] Jon adds a bonus tactic: developing a safe word with your partner as a mutual tap-out when someone is getting too heated to parent effectively
 
[17:56] Second question from Chris: the pendulum swing between strict and disengaged, and why so many parents default to one or the other
 
[19:16] Jon reframes the boundary concept using the backyard fence metaphor: boundaries are not restrictions, they are the only structure that gives a child real freedom
 
[27:17] Third question: a five-year-old who deliberately pushes boundaries and throws food. Jon explains the difference between punishments, natural consequences, and logical consequences
 
[30:50] Jon explains that boundary-pushing at five is a developmental need, not defiance, and offers a practical redirection strategy using a popcorn bowl at dinner
 
[35:15] Anonymous question: son responds to mom and shuts down with dad. Jon addresses attachment hierarchy, enmeshment concerns, and why parents should largely stop parenting together
 
[40:10] Jon explains the science of attachment hierarchy and how kids are hardwired to default to one parent under threat. He clarifies that being second in the hierarchy does not mean you are failing
 
[44:46] Jon shares resources: Punishment Free Parenting, the children's book Set My Feelings Free, The Whole Parent Podcast, and an in-person event in Chicago on May 21st
 
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
 
 1. 

The worst time to correct your partner's parenting is in the moment it's happening. The same science that tells us not to discipline a dysregulated child applies directly to adults. Wait for calm, get curious about the trigger, and then use the H.E.A.R. framework to address it without creating more defensiveness than you started with.
 2. 
 3. 

Boundaries are not restrictions. They are the structure that gives your child real freedom. A kid without clear boundaries does not feel free. They feel unsafe. The backyard fence metaphor Jon uses is worth sitting with: your job is to build the fence in the right place, not to police what happens inside it.
 4. 
 5. 

A five-year-old who looks you in the eye before doing something he knows you don't want is not being defiant. He is developing. At that age, differentiation is a biological need, and the act of doing something dad doesn't want is how he practices becoming his own person. Understanding that changes how you respond.
 6. 
 7. 

If your son responds better to his mom than to you, that is not an indictment of who you are as a father. Attachment hierarchy is hardwired and evolutionary. The solution is not to compete with mom in the room. It is to build a relationship with your son when she is not there.
 8. 
 9. 

Kids who do not have their need for autonomy met will meet that need in ways you will not like. Whether it is food at the dinner table, video games at 13, or behavior that seems to come out of nowhere, the question worth asking is: where else in his day does he get to make his own choices?
 10. 
 
 
 
Links & Resources
 
 Punishment Free Parenting • by Jon Fogel — 
https://a.co/d/0hdOkJZl Set My Feelings Free • (children's book) — second printing available May 20th
 • In-person Chicago event with Jon Fogel and Eli Harwood — May 21st, downtown Chicago
 How to Deal With Your Shirt So Your Kids Don't Have to • by Eli Harwood
 • The Alliance — 
http://thedadedge.com/soulmates • The Men's Forge — 
http://themensforge.com/ • Shownotes: 
http://thedadedge.com/1485 
 
 
Closing
 
The question about attachment hierarchy near the end of this one is going to stay with me for a while. The image of your kid running toward one parent without thinking, faster than conscious thought, because their brain is trying to survive a threat — and knowing that which parent they run to has nothing to do with how hard you've worked or how much you love them — that's both humbling and freeing at the same time. Jon said it plainly: being in second place means you're in first place when the other person isn't there. Do the work. Show up. Take the alone time with your kids and build what only you can build with them. Go out and live legendary.

Why Boundaries Are the Only Way Kids Ever Have True Freedom featuring Jon Fogel

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Georgine Nanos — board certified family physician, founder of Kind Health Group and Kind TMS, and the first clinician in the world to successfully condense the 40-day TMS protocol into a single day.
 
TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation. It's been FDA approved since 2008, has no long-term side effects, and uses magnetic field energy to create new synaptic pathways in the part of the brain where anxiety, depression, and PTSD get locked into negative stress loops. The Stanford trial that condensed it from 40 days to five days got a 90% response rate. Dr. Nanos condensed it further — to a single 12-hour day — and got the same results.
 
But this is not just a clinical episode. We talk about why men specifically have such a hard time reaching out, why burnout is a perfectly valid reason to pursue this, why the cop from the Bay Area who couldn't be present for his kids started playing drums again a month after treatment, and why the family almost always sees the improvement before the patient does.
 
Dr. Nanos also gets personal — she has mild anxiety and insomnia, was skeptical when she first tried TMS on herself, and has now done it multiple times since. Her kids describe her as chill. She credits the machine.
 
 
 
Timeline Summary
 
[0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities
 
[1:03] What TMS is — transcranial magnetic stimulation, FDA approved for 18 years, not electric shock therapy
 
[2:38] How negative stress loops form in the brain — and how TMS creates new synaptic pathways around them
 
[5:41] The difference between TMS and ECT — why TMS was born and why ECT is the last resort
 
[6:59] Why TMS hasn't gone mainstream — 40 days, insurance barriers, and older devices that were uncomfortable
 
[8:11] Stanford condenses it to five days and gets a 90% response rate — then Dr. Nanos condenses it to one
 
[10:05] The single-day protocol study — 34 patients, same results as Stanford, now being studied at UCLA and Harvard
 
[12:16] Response rate vs. remission — what the clinical measurements actually mean
 
[14:47] Introducing Dr. Nanos — Kind Health Group, Kind TMS, and refusing to stay inside the lines of traditional medicine
 
[17:15] What the experience actually feels like — comfortable table, dim lights, binaural beats, light tapping on the skull
 
[24:00] Why medication is only 40-50% effective for depression — and why TMS is a more targeted approach
 
[28:01] Men and mental health — the walk of shame, the fear of looking broken, and why burnout is a valid reason to come in
 
[30:44] High-functioning people at their last straw — midlife, peak career, aging parents, hormonal shifts, and the perfect storm
 
[31:40] What patients feel after the 12-hour day — tired, then slow incremental change, sleep improves first
 
[33:41] The Marine Corps veteran who felt agitated around his kids — and what changed after TMS
 
[35:58] TMS is scaffolding, not a silver bullet — you still have to do the climbing
 
[39:22] Who is a candidate — ages ten into their 90s, autism spectrum, teens, veterans, first responders
 
[43:25] The cop from the Bay Area — Iraq War veteran, suicide attempt in his past, couldn't be present for his kids
 
[45:23] He got the band back together — and his wife saw the change before he did
 
[47:27] What happens when patients relapse — booster sessions, obsessive follow up, and a year of ongoing care
 
[49:07] Insurance only covers the 40-day protocol — and only after failing 3-4 medications
 
[51:06] The price point — $12,000 for the full year of care including financing options and veteran programs
 
[54:07] Dr. Nanos did TMS on herself — skeptical at first, now does booster sessions every 6-7 months
 
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
 
 1. TMS is not electric shock therapy. It is safe, FDA approved, has no long-term side effects, and has been around for 40 years. Most men have simply never heard of it.
 2. You do not have to be in a mental health crisis to benefit from TMS. High-functioning men who feel flat, burned out, or not quite like themselves are exactly who this was designed for.
 3. Burnout is a brain state, not a character flaw. The negative stress loops that build up over years of pressure, peak career, and family demands can be addressed — and the first thing that tends to improve is sleep.
 4. TMS is scaffolding, not a silver bullet. It gives you the pathways to climb out of the hole. But you still have to do the work — therapy, exercise, and the lifestyle habits that keep the pathways open.
 5. The people around you will see the change before you do. The cop's wife saw his improvement first. Dr. Nanos's kids noticed before she did. Your family is watching — and they want their dad back.
 
 
 
Links & Resources
 
 • Dad Edge Business Boardroom — June 1st cohort, applications open through May 31st: 
http://thedadedge.com/boardroom Kind Minds TMS website: https://kindmindstms.com Kind Health Group: https://kindhealthgroup.com Follow Dr. Nanos on Instagram: @drgeorginenanos Kind Minds TMS on Instagram: @kindmindstms Call Kind Minds TMS/ Kind Health Group directly: (760) 701-5463 • Episode Link & Resources (Episode 1482): 
https://thedadedge.com/1482 
 
 
Closing
 
If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: you do not have to keep white-knuckling it through life.
 
The cop from the Bay Area was drowning in silence — a past suicide attempt, a demanding job, young kids, aging parents, and nowhere to put any of it. One month after treatment, he's playing drums again. His wife sees it. His kids feel it.
 
That is what is possible when a man stops waiting until it gets bad enough and starts asking what getting better actually looks like.
 
Go out and live legendary.

The Truth About Burnout & How to Eliminate the Root of it featuring Dr. Georgine Nanos

In this episode, I sit down with Lee Benson — entrepreneur, founder of eight companies, former CEO of Abel Aerospace (which he grew from 2 to 500 employees serving customers in 60 countries before a nine-figure exit in 2016), and now CEO of Dinner Table, a free global community of over 40,000 parents from 67 countries built around one idea: teaching families how to intentionally create value together.
 
Lee's story starts where most don't — kicked out of his house at 18 with his clothes in paper grocery bags, a car he bought himself, a job cooking at Coco's, and a credit card debt his parents had secretly run up in his name. He went from negative zero to building one of the most successful aerospace companies in the country. And he has spent the last decade trying to figure out how to give every family — especially the ones starting from nothing — the framework that changes everything.
 
We get into the monthly family meeting, what it actually covers, and why giving every member of the family — including the six-year-old — a job and a line item in the budget changes behavior almost instantly. We talk about finding your kids' value creation superpowers, what it means to show up with someone's potential instead of their performance, and why Lee's business partner Jack Welch was one of only two people in his entire life who ever made him feel that way.
 
And Lee drops one of the most clarifying lines this show has ever heard: I believe in unconditional love. I do not believe in unconditional relationships.
 
 
 
Timeline Summary
 
[0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities
 
[1:03] Kicked out at 18 — paper bags on the patio, locks changed, one night in a Chevy Blazer
 
[2:19] The credit cards his parents ran up in his name — and why he paid them off instead of turning them in
 
[3:46] Generational dysfunction, siblings lost in it, and why unconditional love does not mean unconditional relationships
 
[5:17] Why being kicked out may have been the best thing that ever happened to him
 
[8:11] Building a chosen family — 40-plus years later, one of his "kids" is staying at his house with his own family
 
[10:06] The rules of engagement — how Lee maintains relationships with difficult family members without enabling them
 
[15:52] Introducing Lee — Abel Aerospace, nine-figure exit, and now CEO of Dinner Table
 
[17:18] The monthly family meeting — family goals, everybody's job, budget review, and what it means to be a leader in the family
 
[20:17] Giving the six-year-old a line item in the budget — and what happened when the kids saw how much Dutch Brothers was costing
 
[21:34] If there's money left over, the kids decide where it goes — including Yellowstone with no technology for a week
 
[22:14] The one-on-one meeting with each kid — how would you like to create value in the world?
 
[25:31] Why Lee calls it a huddle instead of a meeting — and how language changes everything
 
[27:50] The nine-year-old who looked up and said "I have a job for the family" — with pride
 
[28:52] The two people in Lee's entire life who showed up with his potential — and why that is so rare
 
[30:20] Larry's version — the mentor who always referenced Larry 1.0 vs. Larry 2.0 behavior
 
[33:01] How to ask a ten-year-old about value creation without losing them — and what to do with "I like video games"
 
[39:16] Three types of struggle — normal and healthy, struggle that needs support, and struggle to avoid entirely
 
[48:32] The mom whose three boys cook dinner six nights a week — and why that one job changed everything for her
 
[51:26] The difference between adding value and creating value — and why that distinction matters for your kids
 
[56:06] What we say vs. what we model — and why cutting yourself down in front of your kids cancels every "you can be anything" you've ever said
 
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
 
 1. I believe in unconditional love. I do not believe in unconditional relationships. Love without limits does not mean relationships without rules of engagement — and confusing the two enables the very behavior you're trying to change.
 2. The monthly family meeting changes behavior almost instantly. When kids have a job for the family, a line item in the budget, and a seat at the table — they stop needing to be told ten times. They're already in.
 3. Show up with your kid's potential, not their current performance. The two people Lee remembers most weren't impressed by his resume. They saw what he could become. That's the standard.
 4. What you say and what you model are two completely different messages. If you tell your kids they can be anything and then cut yourself down in front of them, they are listening to your actions — not your words.
 5. Value creation is a family sport. The earlier you start the conversation — what are your interests, how do you want to show up in the world, what does it mean to be a leader in this family — the more momentum your kids build on their own before they leave home.
 
 
 
Links & Resources
 
 • Dad Edge Business Boardroom — June 1st cohort, applications open May 21–31: 
http://thedadedge.com/boardroom • Value Creation Family by Lee Benson: 
 https://www.amazon.com/Value-Creation-Family-Playbook-Setting/dp/1636805981 • Dinner Table community (free, 40,000+ parents, 67 countries): 
https://dinnertable.com • Episode Link & Resources (Episode 1480): 
https://thedadedge.com/1480 
 
 
Closing
 
If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: you can start from anywhere and go everywhere — but only if your belief system allows it.
 
Lee Benson started from negative zero. No father. A toxic home. Credit card debt in his name before he ever had a job. And he built something extraordinary — not because he had a blueprint, but because he believed a different future was possible and did the work to build it.
 
Now he's building that blueprint for everyone else. One family meeting at a time.
 
Go out and live legendary.

Unconditional Love Does Not Mean Unconditional Relationships featuring Lee Benson

In this episode, Larry and Shawn discuss the number one human fear and how we can overcome it.

How to Defeat the #1 Human Fear - GDP031

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