Ambitious Dads

Serial entrepreneur and podcast host Dom Rubino shares how he sold a 250-location global franchise business to be more present for his children. In this candid conversation, he discusses the challenges of raising teenagers, the protective instincts that come with parenting a daughter, and why "Cats in the Cradle" should be required listening for every ambitious dad.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:01:43] - Parenting Through Fear and Protection

Discussion of daughter's solo European travel at age 20

Key quote: "Part of me is like crazy... I'm scared. Yeah, I'm scared."

[00:04:18] - Different Standards for Sons vs. Daughters

Dom's honest admission about treating his children differently

Key quote: "If my son falls down, I'm like, good. Do it again. My daughter falls down. I'm like, oh my God, we got to shave down the concrete in that part of the sidewalk."

[00:06:17] - The Power of Sports in Child Development

How competitive swimming and lacrosse shaped his children's friend groups and character

Key quote: "Hanging out in sports is where you meet other kids who hang out in sports... Everybody's trying to get better. They understand coaching. They'll take feedback. They know what it means to lose."

[00:11:51] - The Business Decision That Changed Everything

The moment Dom realized his travel schedule was hurting his family

Key quote: "I looked at him and I thought, Rubino, what the beep are you doing?... I'll go start another one, but I get one family."

[00:15:13] - The Song That Defines Fatherhood

Dom's recommendation for career-driven fathers

Key quote: "Go listen to the cats and the cradle... that song will tell you the kind of dad you want to be."

[00:18:02] - Trust But Verify Parenting

Applying business leadership principles to parenting

Key quote: "I trust my kids, but I verify... If you lie to me, we're going to talk about that as well. And we're going to talk for a very long time."

[00:23:58] - Family Values in Action

How the Rubino family handles difficult times

Key quote: "We never withhold love. We probably double down at the hardest times. I'll bet you we double down on love."

[00:27:05] - Sacred Family Dinner Time

The importance of consistent family meals

Key quote: "Having dinner together is a foundation. We don't even think about it... for us, that is sacred."

Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com

Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads

Dr. Corey Holmes, former State Department affairs officer and author, shares his journey of raising a 5-year-old son in the Dominican Republic while building his writing career. This honest conversation explores the challenges of expat parenting, different disciplinary approaches between spouses, and how golf principles apply to fatherhood - patience, presence, and showing up consistently even on the bad days.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:01:32] - Expat Parenting Challenges

Discussion of language barriers and school transitions for their 5-year-old son

Key quote: "I want to go home. I miss our house... I want to see my red door."

[00:06:59] - Parental Anxiety vs. Child Resilience

How parents often have more anxiety about new situations than their children

Key quote: "Sometimes you just have to push them, let them go out there and stand back and force yourself to just stand there and just observe."

[00:09:31] - Golf as a Metaphor for Fatherhood

Connection between golf's lessons of patience and being present with parenting

Key quote: "Golf can't be rushed and neither can fatherhood."

[00:11:33] - Different Disciplinary Approaches

Navigating different parenting styles between spouses

Key quote: "I'm not here to be his friend. I'm here to be his father... kids actually want discipline. They want structure."

[00:17:25] - Leading by Example

The importance of modeling behavior you want to see in children

Key quote: "You can't ask your child to do some stuff that you don't do specifically when you're talking about organization and being clean and tidy."

[00:24:23] - Redefining Ambitious Fatherhood

How to maintain professional ambitions while being present as a father

Key quote: "Being an ambitious dad means that you can still be thriving in your sector of choice, but you don't have to negate the presence of your children."

[00:30:59] - Unexpected Joys of Fatherhood

Discovering therapeutic aspects of cooking and Saturday morning pancake rituals

Key quote: "Cooking has been very therapeutic... by seven 30 we're making pancakes."

[00:33:47] - Managing Parental Exhaustion

How fatigue affects parenting and the importance of self-care

Key quote: "I have to be my best self for him. If I'm not my best self, if I'm running on empty, I have nothing to give."

On June 17th, I’m hosting a free, live workshop, Become a Better Leader By Becoming a Better Dad, for fathers who are tired of living a divided life. We’ll explore how “Default Dad” shows up when you’re tired, overloaded, or distracted, and how those same patterns affect your leadership at home and at work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/better-dad-better-leader

Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com

Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads

Tony Berardo, a full-time content creator and father to a 2.5-year-old daughter, opens up about the raw realities of modern fatherhood when his wife unexpectedly gets laid off after 10 years with her company. This honest conversation explores the emotional weight of being the sole provider, learning to regulate emotions alongside your toddler, and the constant tension between building a business and being present for your family.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:01:20] - The Weight of Sudden Job Loss

Tony's wife gets laid off after 10 years with a multi-billion dollar company

Key quote: "Nothing is guaranteed. Even if you're at a big corporation where she thought she was going to retire, and now she just got laid off for no reason."

[00:03:33] - The Entrepreneur Dad's Dilemma

Balancing work-from-home entrepreneurship with wanting to be present for his daughter

Key quote: "I want to work hard and support the family, but I also just want to be with my kid. So that's the struggle."

[00:05:32] - Breaking Down Emotional Walls

Discussion about men's tendency to suppress emotions and the importance of communication in marriage

Key quote: "We put up a wall and we try to be tough and strong for everybody, but mentally we're struggling."

[00:09:45] - The "Other Room" Strategy

Tony's method for self-regulating before speaking to his wife during stressful times

Key quote: "I'm going to go to the other room where she's not in and say it out loud and see if it makes sense."

[00:16:46] - The "One Day" Realization

Prioritizing play time with his daughter over work demands

Key quote: "One day your kid's not going to ask you to play with them. So that hurts if you say, 'Hey, sweetie, 10 more minutes.'"

[00:19:16] - Learning Emotional Regulation Through Fatherhood

How becoming a girl dad forced Tony to develop patience and emotional intelligence

Key quote: "I realized how shitty I am at self-regulating. I realized how angry I can get."

[00:23:50] - Teaching Emotional Regulation Together

Practicing breathing exercises and emotional regulation with his daughter

Key quote: "Kids never listen to what you say, but they're always going to do what you do."

[00:27:10] - The Mirror Moment

Realizing his daughter was copying his behavior with their dog

Key quote: "She said, 'Oliver, enough!' And I was like, do I say that a lot?"

[00:32:25] - Embracing Different Interests

The importance of letting children develop their own hobbies rather than forcing parental interests

Key quote: "I want their hobbies and things that they like to be different than mine."

[00:37:43] - The Dad Connection Gap

Challenges men face in opening up to other fathers about parenting struggles

Key quote: "It's one of those isolating things I think that men just have to get over."

[00:39:52] - The Blowout Story

A humorous tale of an epic diaper disaster at a thrift store

Key quote: "If the wife says pack a diaper bag, just do it, dude."

On June 17th, I’m hosting a free, live workshop, Become a Better Leader By Becoming a Better Dad, for fathers who are tired of living a divided life. We’ll explore how “Default Dad” shows up when you’re tired, overloaded, or distracted, and how those same patterns affect your leadership at home and at work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/better-dad-better-leader

Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com

Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads

Edward Rivera shares his powerful journey of breaking generational cycles, building emotional regulation skills, and creating the family presence he never had growing up. This conversation dives deep into practical strategies for managing anger, communicating vulnerably with children, and balancing entrepreneurship with intentional fatherhood.

[00:02:44] - Intentional Business Growth for Family Presence

• Edward explains how he structured his 10-year business journey to avoid becoming an absent father
• Key quote: "I didn't want to be that guy 20 years deep, right? Didn't know his kids and stuff."

[00:04:59] - Breaking Generational Cycles

• Discussion of Edward's relationship with his absent father and commitment to being present
• Key quote: "I always told myself, when I have a family and kids, I'm going to do my best to try to be there as much as possible."

[00:07:22] - Managing Inherited Anger Triggers

• Edward shares how he catches himself in moments of road rage and family protection instincts
• Key quote: "I'll have this inner dialogue right in the moment too. I was like, all right, calm down. It's not big deal."

[00:08:54] - Early Therapy and Self-Regulation Skills

• Childhood therapy experience that taught breathing techniques and emotional regulation
• Key quote: "She was like, you, you're growing up too fast. Try to be a kid. Just do kid things."

[00:12:09] - The Relationship Turning Point

• Edward's realization during an argument with his wife that led to years of communication work
• Key quote: "I remember she started crying and I was like, holy crap. I felt like shit. You know what I mean? I'm like, what am I doing?"

[00:15:02] - The Coffee Bean Philosophy

• Explanation of how Edward approaches every interaction with positivity and service
• Key quote: "Every environment you go into, every person you have interaction with, try to spread positivity, love, try to serve others."

[00:19:46] - Emotional Regulation Strategies

• Edward's practical approach to managing bad moods and protecting family from negative energy
• Key quote: "I've even texted my team before, Hey, I'm in a bad mood. I'm going to be no good to anybody right now."

[00:20:52] - Teaching Emotional Intelligence to Children

• How Edward and his wife model vulnerability and emotional processing for their kids
• Key quote: "We try to be as open, as transparent as we can with the kids at a safe level, not trying to stress them out and trauma dump on 'em."

[00:25:35] - Homeschooling Decision and Partnership

• The family's choice to homeschool and how Edward supports his wife's educational leadership
• Key quote: "I feel so blessed now to finally get to this point where I'll be able to help sometimes."

[00:32:57] - The Power of Vulnerable Male Friendships

• Edward emphasizes the importance of having men to talk to about struggles and mistakes
• Key quote: "The biggest thing, again, man, is finding other men who are willing to talk about these things and being vulnerable."

On June 17th, I’m hosting a free, live workshop, Become a Better Leader By Becoming a Better Dad, for fathers who are tired of living a divided life. We’ll explore how “Default Dad” shows up when you’re tired, overloaded, or distracted, and how those same patterns affect your leadership at home and at work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/better-dad-better-leader

Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com

Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads

Former actor Randy Spelling opens up about the realities of parenting two teenage daughters while navigating his own transformation from addiction to authentic fatherhood. In this honest conversation, Randy shares practical wisdom on listening versus solving, embracing failure as a teaching tool, and how his past mistakes became the foundation for deeper connections with his kids.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:01:27] - Updating Your Vision of Your Kids

• Randy discusses the challenge of relating to daughters as they grow and change
• Key quote: "There are still parts of her brain that are not online yet. There are still synaptic connections that physiologically are not there putting things together."

[00:03:35] - Listening vs. Solving: The Dad Dilemma

• Explores how men's natural problem-solving instincts can interfere with emotional connection
• Key quote: "Get really curious about the being in front of you... How can I see them and meet them where they're at?"

[00:07:53] - Managing Morning Moods Without Taking It Personally

• Randy shares how he handles his daughter's grumpiness by changing his own energy first
• Key quote: "This has nothing to do with you. Just get curious or just be there. Just hold space."

[00:10:28] - Sharing Your Past Mistakes with Kids

• Discussion on age-appropriate honesty about personal struggles and addiction
• Key quote: "I had to trust that my relationship was strong enough and close enough that they see me now I can share my past."

[00:19:27] - Encouraging Failure as a Learning Tool

• How to reframe failure as experimentation and growth opportunities
• Key quote: "Failures are catalysts... you have to try something and have it not work out to know what you need to change."

[00:22:18] - The Shame Cycle of Parental Mistakes

• Randy shares personal examples of everyday mistakes and internal shame dialogue
• Key quote: "You made a mistake. You did the best that you could... This says nothing about your character."

[00:34:19] - Co-Parenting Through Different Perspectives

• Navigating different parenting styles and finding middle ground through shared values
• Key quote: "The sweet spot is where can you agree and come to the middle based off of values?"

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Curiosity and genuine listening are more powerful than trying to solve every problem your kids present.
2. Age-appropriate honesty about your past mistakes can strengthen rather than weaken your relationship with your children.
3. Encouraging failure and reframing it as learning helps build resilience in kids.
4. Managing your own emotional state directly impacts your children's energy and responses.
5. Co-parenting works best when you focus on shared values rather than rigid rules.
6. Self-compassion modeling teaches children how to treat themselves when they make mistakes.

On June 17th, I’m hosting a free, live workshop, Become a Better Leader By Becoming a Better Dad, for fathers who are tired of living a divided life. We’ll explore how “Default Dad” shows up when you’re tired, overloaded, or distracted, and how those same patterns affect your leadership at home and at work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/better-dad-better-leader

Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com

Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads

Brandon Harrison, CEO and father of three, shares his journey of intentional parenting after losing his father at 63. From managing three kids four years apart to taking solo cruises for self-care, Brandon offers honest insights on emotional regulation, mentorship, and building a lasting legacy as a father.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:02:06] - Managing Three Different Personalities

• Discussion on parenting three children who are four years apart with completely different needs
• Key quote: "My big word for myself is intentionality. I'm really focused on acknowledging their differences and really focusing on that."

[00:04:28] - Individual Time with Each Child

• Brandon explains his approach to one-on-one time, including zoo dates with his daughter and community walks with his middle son
• Key quote: "I don't just say, okay, everybody, let's go to the zoo, because our oldest son doesn't like that anymore."

[00:09:37] - Self-Care and Solo Retreats

• How Brandon and his wife prioritize individual time off, including solo cruises and personal activities
• Key quote: "I'm going on two solo cruises this year. My wife and I just started that a few years ago and we realized that we both have a lot going on."

[00:17:39] - Impact of Losing His Father

• Brandon shares how his father's sudden death at 63 transformed his approach to fatherhood
• Key quote: "That really changed my thinking of fatherhood, of like, okay, I need to make sure that I'm learning from older fathers, but I'm so intentional with my kids because I never know how long I have."

[00:22:03] - Breaking Generational Patterns

• Discussion on helping other fathers overcome father wounds and develop emotional vulnerability
• Key quote: "You've got to force yourself to express to your spouse what you're actually feeling."

[00:28:28] - Learning Emotional Regulation as a Young Father

• Brandon's honest account of becoming a father at 22 and learning to manage emotions through parenting
• Key quote: "I'm still growing into being better at that. Honestly, I have not mastered that part of my emotions."

[00:35:36] - Current Fatherhood Concerns

• What keeps Brandon up at night: friend influences, college preparation, and preparing kids for an uncertain future
• Key quote: "I only have two more years left with this oldest. And I'm like, I feel like I'm not as far along as I want to be with him."

[00:39:15] - Legacy Over Money

• Brandon's reflection on what kind of legacy he wants to leave as a father beyond financial provision
• Key quote: "I really want to leave a legacy for my children, not just money... really what you leave in them as people."

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Intentionality is the key difference between good and great fatherhood - actively adapting to each child's unique needs and developmental stage.
2. Self-care isn't selfish - both parents need individual time to recharge and maintain their identity outside of parenting.
3. Vulnerability and honest conversations with other fathers create stronger support networks and better parenting outcomes.
4. Losing a parent young can transform your approach to fatherhood, emphasizing presence over just provision.
5. Legacy is about the values and character you instill in your children, not just the financial security you provide.

On June 17th, I’m hosting a free, live workshop, Become a Better Leader By Becoming a Better Dad, for fathers who are tired of living a divided life. We’ll explore how “Default Dad” shows up when you’re tired, overloaded, or distracted, and how those same patterns affect your leadership at home and at work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/better-dad-better-leader

Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com

Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads

Mark Willis, a certified financial planner and father of two, shares his experience taking paternity leave as a business owner while welcoming his second daughter 10 years after his first. He discusses the challenges of rebalancing family life, the power of strategic absence in both business and parenting, and how intentionality transforms the parenting experience. From financial wisdom for families to the messy realities of newborn life, this conversation offers practical insights for ambitious dads navigating work-life integration.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:01:18] - Taking Paternity Leave as a Business Owner

• Mark discusses the blessing and curse of naming your own time off as an entrepreneur
• Key quote: "I don't really have the word retirement in my own vocabulary. To retire means to put out of service, and I don't want that for me"

[00:04:59] - The Power of Strategic Absence

• How stepping away from business and parenting can create growth and reduce anxiety
• Key quote: "If you feel like you're the one that has to show up and tie everybody's shoes for the rest of their life, you're going to have a 30-year-old come over to your house every day asking, Hey, dad, can you still tie my shoes"

[00:07:43] - Parenting Children of Different Ages

• Managing the balance between pulling children toward your heart and letting them fly
• Key quote: "Children are like a quiver of arrows... you put it in the bow and you pull it toward your heart, and then you have to let it go"

[00:16:13] - Redefining Daily Rhythms with a Newborn

• The challenge of losing structure and predictability when welcoming a new baby
• Key quote: "The biggest thing that I have found in my life in these last three months has just been the reorientation of our daily cycle"

[00:21:33] - Doing Parenthood Differently the Second Time

• The importance of intentional preparation and treating parenting like a part-time job
• Key quote: "The best gift you can give your child is another sibling"

[00:24:23] - The Principle of Intentional Living

• How being hard on yourself makes the world easier
• Key quote: "If you're easy on yourself, the world is hard. If you're hard on yourself, the world is easy"

[00:30:03] - Financial Planning for Families

• Teaching children about money, entrepreneurship, and delayed gratification
• Key quote: "You don't want to just prepare the money for the kids. You must prepare the kids for the money"

[00:36:49] - Practical Savings Strategies

• Starting small and gradually increasing savings rates over time
• Key quote: "What if you're listening to this and you're feeling overwhelmed, 30% is way too much. Don't eat that elephant"

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Strategic absence in both business and parenting allows others to grow and reduces your anxiety.
2. Great dads are intentional - they plan, prepare, and treat parenting as seriously as their careers.
3. Financial health requires starting where you are and gradually increasing savings rates over time.
4. Different aged children require different expectations and consequences
5. The transition to multiple children requires intentional effort to maintain connection with your spouse.
6. Teaching children entrepreneurial thinking prepares them for an uncertain future.

On June 17th, I’m hosting a free, live workshop, Become a Better Leader By Becoming a Better Dad, for fathers who are tired of living a divided life. We’ll explore how “Default Dad” shows up when you’re tired, overloaded, or distracted, and how those same patterns affect your leadership at home and at work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/better-dad-better-leader

Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com

Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads

Richard Resnick shares his raw and vulnerable journey as a divorced father fighting for access to his children. After years of court battles and emotional turmoil, he discovered that sometimes the best way to win is to stop fighting. This powerful conversation explores parental regret, the redefinition of providing, and how showing up consistently can rebuild even the most fractured relationships.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:01:59] - The Early Years of Divorce

• Richard discusses splitting from his former wife when kids were 3 and 1 years old
• Seven years of court battles and hundreds of thousands in legal fees
• Key quote: "The child's identity is simply sort of the summation of their judgments of their two parents. So in fighting like that, you are giving them an identity and it's not one that they asked for."

[00:07:30] - The Game-Changing Advice

• A court mediator's profound counsel that shifted everything
• Learning that fighting less matters more than winning more time
• Key quote: "It matters less how much time you have with the kids. It matters more that you and your former wife just stop fighting about anything and everything."

[00:12:16] - The Mindset Shift

• How Richard immediately embraced the counterintuitive advice
• Dealing with criticism from supporters who felt he "gave up"
• Key quote: "There is justice for these two little children. There is justice and here it is."

[00:15:40] - Modern Parenting Anxieties

• Concerns about launching adult children in today's uncertain economy
• The broken promise of the American middle class playbook
• Key quote: "What keeps me up is when I graduated from college in 1994, there was sort of pretty clear playbook for how to start... there's just so much uncertainty about that playbook now."

[00:21:04] - Managing Parental Guilt and Ego

• Compartmentalizing pain while staying committed to showing up
• Reframing the struggle as a "righteous fight" rather than victimhood
• Key quote: "I felt like I was fighting for fairness for the children to have access to their father, which I know was important."

[00:25:54] - The Provider's Dilemma

• Missing games and events while running a demanding company
• His son going "dark" for months in response to dad's absence
• Key quote: "You show up dudes, you show up, you just don't give up, you show up, you keep going, you keep asking, and we're back."

[00:30:07] - The Impossible Middle

• Balancing financial obligations with presence
• The psychological ease of choosing work over painful family dynamics
• Key quote: "I could spend more time with you if I chose to make less money, but I can't. I owe all these bills for you."

[00:32:27] - Parental Regret as Fuel

• Processing the reality that things could have been different
• Using regret constructively to improve current relationships
• Key quote: "You can walk around with that sadness, that regret, but if it helps you to do something positive... then maybe that regret is a fuel as well."

On June 17th, I’m hosting a free, live workshop, Become a Better Leader By Becoming a Better Dad, for fathers who are tired of living a divided life. We’ll explore how “Default Dad” shows up when you’re tired, overloaded, or distracted, and how those same patterns affect your leadership at home and at work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/better-dad-better-leader

Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com

Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads

Former Secret Service agent Corey Allen opens up about his unconventional path to fatherhood through surrogacy, including the grief of miscarriages and the challenges of balancing work, family, and aging parents. He shares how becoming a dad transformed his patience, led him to write a children's book about travel, and taught him to embrace flexibility while building meaningful legacy for his children.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:01:43] - The Surrogacy Journey

• Discussion of 5-year fertility journey including cultural considerations and multiple setbacks
• Key quote: "Nobody prepared us for the grief that came with having transfers... nobody prepared us for two miscarriages."

[00:06:17] - Navigating Non-Biological Parenthood

• How couples handle rejection and different parenting instincts when one parent isn't biological
• Key quote: "We just have to do those check-ins... making sure we're checking in because it's not easy to witness or to experience."

[00:09:40] - The Sandwich Generation Challenge

• Managing elderly parents on both coasts while raising toddler and expecting second child
• Key quote: "Something about the American baby boomer generation. Some of them just don't really have the ability to think beyond themselves."

[00:14:13] - Writing "Data Takes a Trip"

• Creating children's book to help explain work travel and maintain connection
• Key quote: "I would love to have a book that explains dadada has to leave, but he'll be back. He loves you."

[00:22:04] - Learning from Parenting Mistakes

• Recognizing how children mirror our behaviors and the need for immediate change
• Key quote: "I was fighting my own attributes... I was dealing with my own personality. He's got those attributes."

[00:26:15] - Growing Patience as a Parent

• Strategies for managing frustration and developing flexibility with toddler behavior
• Key quote: "I have to literally take a deep breath, exhale purposefully. And that usually does it for me."

[00:30:58] - Fears About Mortality and Legacy

• Concerns about being present for children's milestones and creating lasting impact
• Key quote: "I'm just worrying about that a lot... the kids are young and if I pass away tomorrow, they're not going to have those core memories."

[00:38:05] - The Pull-Up Diaper Disaster

• Humorous story about discovering pull-tab feature during messy diaper change
• Key quote: "There is poo everywhere. I'm like, how are there no quick release on these stupid pull up diapers?"

On June 17th, I’m hosting a free, live workshop, Become a Better Leader By Becoming a Better Dad, for fathers who are tired of living a divided life. We’ll explore how “Default Dad” shows up when you’re tired, overloaded, or distracted, and how those same patterns affect your leadership at home and at work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/better-dad-better-leader

Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com

Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads

Sales executive and father of two Dominic Hithon opens up about the real challenges of modern fatherhood - from managing technology with kids of different ages to co-parenting after separation. He shares honest insights about setting boundaries at work, the importance of being vulnerable with your children, and how to maintain strong relationships while building a career that requires constant travel.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:01:20] - Family Structure and Challenges

• Dominic shares his family dynamic: 17-year-old daughter pursuing forensic science, 8-year-old son on the spectrum, managing separation and two households
• Key quote: "It's just kind of balancing that relationship of being in the home. We were together 10 years in our relationship and then now managing it as two separate households."

[00:02:17] - Modern Parenting Anxieties

• Discussion of daily challenges including school safety, social media influence, and protecting children from desensitization
• Key quote: "In America, we had 48 school shootings last year. There's bullying and me in the world that I work in corporate America, I just know some of the unconscious bias that my children will face out there in this world."

[00:04:32] - Technology Generation Gap

• Comparing how his daughter grew up with limited tech versus his son who had devices from birth
• Key quote: "My son, he had tablet and the phone pretty much out of the womb. The first thing is they're pressing buttons and it's to the point where he'll tell me stuff, he'll be like, I want to go to Ikea. And I'll be like, what makes you go to Ikea? He's like, because I saw an ad for it."

[00:08:50] - Work Travel and Family Balance

• Managing a demanding sales career that requires frequent travel while maintaining family connections
• Key quote: "I try to let them know the best thing about it is you'll get to start seeing the world... But I said, that's the part of life that you'll have to balance because you'll be doing something and then you'll have a partner or anybody else."

[00:17:56] - Transitioning Between Work and Dad Mode

• Strategies for switching from executive problem-solver to empathetic father
• Key quote: "In business, I'm there to fix it, find the problem, do it. As a father, I'm there to understand it and speak to it, but I'm not always there to fix it because if I fix everything, they'll never feel as if they can do it themselves."

[00:21:14] - Creating Boundaries with Leadership

• Setting work-life boundaries, even with demanding executives
• Key quote: "Sometimes I'll even tell my CEO, I'll just be like, Hey, I'm in dad time, so I'm not going to answer you texting me right now."

[00:30:46] - Co-Parenting Challenges and Solutions

• Navigating different household rules and maintaining family unity after separation
• Key quote: "You had a relationship with this person, but you are out of the relationship with this person... So it's very much where I just try to make sure that they feel that time when I do have them, it doesn't change the dynamic as far as how I feel and care about them."

[00:34:29] - Vulnerability and Growth as a Father

• The importance of showing children that parents are also learning and growing
• Key quote: "I think it is okay to sometimes just say, I'm learning as I'm teaching you at the same time... Sometimes I didn't know everything, so I want them to understand that I'm learning and growing at the same time just at different speeds."

On June 17th, I’m hosting a free, live workshop, Become a Better Leader By Becoming a Better Dad, for fathers who are tired of living a divided life. We’ll explore how “Default Dad” shows up when you’re tired, overloaded, or distracted, and how those same patterns affect your leadership at home and at work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/better-dad-better-leader

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Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads