What if the secret to connecting with your kids wasn't more time—but better minutes?

✅ The See, Hear, Know framework for becoming a student of your kids

✅ Why over-teaching actually backfires (and what to do instead)

✅ How to plan your family's year WITH them, not just for them

SUMMARY:

What if the most impactful moments with your kids are just nine minutes a day? In this episode, fatherhood coach Dan Tinquist shares how morning, afternoon, and evening connection points can transform your relationship with your kids. You'll also hear why over-teaching actually backfires, how to build a family culture where your kids feel safe to fail, and the surprising parallels between making sourdough bread and raising kids.

TAKEAWAYS:

• The most important nine minutes of your kid's day are the first three when they wake up, the three when you reconnect after school or work, and the last three before bed.
• If every moment is a teachable moment, you will teach them nothing. Sometimes the best thing you can do is pray instead of lecture.
• We don't rest from our work—we work from our rest. Contentment today fuels driven action tomorrow.
• Building a family culture where kids feel safe to fail means they'll run to you when they mess up, not from you.
• Planning your year with your family—not for them—creates ownership and adventure everyone can look forward to.

GUEST:

Dan Tinquist is a fatherhood coach, host of the Confidad Podcast, and creator of the Time Well Spent Method and Family Culture Framework. He coaches dads from around the world to move from surviving to thriving in their homes. Dan and his wife have four boys and live in Minnesota.

QUOTES:

1. "If every moment is a teachable moment, I will teach them nothing."
2. "Control is an illusion. It is chaos that we are attempting to bring peace into."
3. "We don't rest from our work. We work from our rest."
4. "His mercies are new every single morning. When's the last time you lived a perfect day?"
5. "I'm going to pray instead of open my big fat mouth and tell them why I'm right and they're wrong."

LINKS:

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome

• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort

• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome

• Confidad Podcast

• Dan Tinquist's Fatherhood Coaching: https://confidad.com/

➡️ How yearly family vision summits (with a hot tub!) shape your family's direction

➡️ The power of tying your kids' names to your family's core values

➡️ Why pre-parental counseling removes the shame that keeps dads stuck later

SHOW NOTES

https://www.dadawesome.org/blog/413

SUMMARY

What if you could prepare for fatherhood before the chaos even begins? In this episode, Michael DeAquino shares how he and his wife are helping expecting parents get on the same page before baby arrives—and why that window of time matters so much. You'll also hear how Michael's family runs themed dinner nights every single day of the week (yes, including Forgiveness Friday and Scenario Saturday), plus how yearly vision summits with your kids in an Airbnb with a hot tub can transform the direction of your family.

TAKEAWAYS

• Creating space to think—like a yearly family summit away from home—is the first step toward vision. You can't see where you're headed when you're drowning in the daily grind.
• Themed dinner nights (Monday Meeting, Throwback Tuesday, Thankful Thursday, Forgiveness Friday, and more) turn ordinary meals into consistent connection points that shape your family culture.
• Your kids' names can carry your family's vision. Michael tied each child's name to a core value—closeness, generational faithfulness, righteousness, light, and stewardship—and speaks it over them regularly.
• The best time to prepare for intentional parenting is before you're holding the baby. Pre-parental counseling removes the shame and chaos that often keeps dads from engaging later.
• Keystone habits cascade into other habits. Start with what you're already doing (like dinner) and build intentional rhythms from there.

GUEST

Michael DeAquino is the co-founder of The Parenthood Project and author of The Parenthood Primer, a pre-parental counseling resource for expecting and new parents. He and his wife have five kids ages 2 to 12 and are passionate about helping couples get on the same page before the chaos of parenthood begins. Michael spent 15 years in church ministry before pivoting to equip parents earlier in their journey.

QUOTES

"I didn't start until my oldest was six. And to see just where things are now—there's a lot of grace." – Michael DeAquino

"Our names carry a lot of identity in them. Why not make it even more than just what you call us?" – Michael DeAquino

"You're going to get a lot of recognition in your career. You're not going to get a lot of recognition as a father—and that's where you'll end up placing your time." – Michael DeAquino

"Everything around us is trying to disintegrate our family. So how do we foster closeness even as our kids get older?" – Michael DeAquino

"What if we got to dads before they even hold the baby—before the chaos, before the shame sets in?" – Michael DeAquino

LINKS

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome
• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email [email protected]
• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618
• The Parenthood Primer by Michael DeAquino
• The Parenthood Project

📍 When did you become a man? Most guys can't answer that question clearly—because they never had a defining moment.

Matt Hanson is on a mission to change that. In this episode, he shares the Ion Path—a 3-year Christian rite of passage for dads and their 12-16 year olds.

You'll hear:

➡️ Why Dad is "LeBron James" in the faith transfer game (50-60 points!)

➡️ How 30 conversations in 30 days can transform your relationship

➡️ The simple framework for teaching your kids 30 life skills before they launch

➡️ Why it's more important to be IN the conversation than to be RIGHT

SUMMARY:

What if you could give your son or daughter something most kids never receive—a clear moment when they know they've become a man or woman? In this episode, Matt Hanson shares the vision behind the Ion Path, a 3-year Christian rite of passage designed to help dads and their kids become co-learners on the journey to adulthood. You'll hear why only 8-10% of church kids keep their faith for a lifetime, what makes dad "LeBron James" in the faith transfer game, and how 30 simple conversations can transform your relationship with your child.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Most kids raised in the church never experience a defining moment that marks their transition into adulthood—and it's time to change that.
• Dad is the single biggest factor in whether a child keeps their faith for a lifetime. If faith transfer is a 100-point game, dad is 50-60 of those points.
• The most powerful thing you can do for your kids is love their mother well and stay in the conversation—it's more important to be in the conversation than to be right.
• A 3-year intentional journey with your 12-16 year old—built around conversations, skills, challenges, and adventures—can launch them into adulthood with confidence and faith.
• You don't have to have all the answers. The Ion Path equips dads to go on this journey alongside their child as co-learners, not experts.

GUEST

Matt Hanson is the founder of the Ion Path, a 3-year Christian rite of passage designed to help dads and their children become co-learners on the journey to adulthood. After a successful business career, Matt turned his attention to the crisis of faith retention among young people and assembled a coalition of faith leaders to create a standard for rites of passage across denominational lines. He and his wife Mary have three adult children—Savannah, Noah, and Tatum—and live in Southern California.

QUOTES

1. "It's more important to be in the conversation than be right. I heard one person say that they've only had one conversation with their daughter, but it started when she was four and it never stopped."
2. "If it's a 100-point game, Dad is the LeBron James. He's 50 to 60 points in that game."
3. "Ion is a Greek word that means a moment in time that impacts all of time. As dads, we are in a series of moments in time and we are forming the next generation, which will last a long time."
4. "If I finish and check off all 30 of those skills with my son, my son's not going to enter adulthood wondering if he's a capable person—because he's going to know there's at least 30 things I know, and I learned them from my dad."
5. "You get the dad, you get the family. You get the family, you get the church. You get the church, you get the community. It is the powder keg."

LINKS

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome

• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email [email protected]

• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618

• Aion Path: https://aionpath.com/

• Pastors Info Video (Aion Path)

• Ion Path 5-Video Text Series - Text "Aion Path Dad to 1-888-488-9429

• Three Year Breakdown of Aion Path

• National Rite of Passage Council

🕐 What if 15 minutes could change your entire life?

✅ The brain science behind why your morning and evening routines matter more than you think

✅ How to build a sustainable Daily 15 practice that actually sticks

✅ Why Sabbath might be the most Christ-like (and kid-favorite) rhythm your family is missing

✅ The one thing 93% of men said they want to grow in

SHOW NOTES

https://www.dadawesome.org/blog/411

SUMMARY

What if the first thing you did each day was sleep—and trust God with it? In this episode, Chris Cirullo unpacks the brain science behind why your morning and evening routines carry exponential power, and how a simple 15-minute daily practice can transform your faith, health, and focus over time. Plus, he shares how his family has made Sabbath the most anticipated day of the week—complete with chains hitting the floor and kids fighting over who gets to throw them.

TAKEAWAYS

• The Daily 15 is a sustainable morning routine that anchors your day in hydration, scripture, prayer, prioritization, and movement—all in just 15 minutes.
• Your brain is most "plastic" during wake-up and bedtime windows, meaning small, consistent inputs during those times create outsized transformation.
• In Jewish tradition, evening begins the new day—so the first act of every day is actually resting and trusting God for the first eight hours.
• Sabbath is the only commandment we boast about breaking, yet God designed it for human flourishing—not as a burden but as a gift.
• Start your Sabbath practice small and sustainable (even takeout Thai food counts), then expand it over time with sensory anchors your kids will crave.

GUEST

Chris Cirullo is a former Army Ranger, executive coach, and the founder of Mission Fit. He helps high-performing men build lifelong health, faith, and focus through his coaching programs and his new book, The Daily 15. Chris and his wife have four sons and live with deep intentionality around family rhythms, Sabbath rest, and hearing God's voice. He's passionate about helping fathers lead their homes as kingdom outposts.

LINKS

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome

• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email [email protected]

• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618

• FREE copy of Chris' book: https://www.missionfit.co/free15

• Mission Fit Scorecard: missionfit.co/scorecard

• Forming Men

QUOTES

1. "Where God gives responsibility, He will come and aid you in the ability."
2. "The first thing we do in our day is go to sleep and trust the Lord for the first eight hours. Then we wake up and we do—after we've rested."
3. "You can create exponential change in the way your brain functions in those wake-up and bedtime windows compared to other hours of the day."
4. "Sabbath is the only one of the Ten Commandments that we're okay boasting about breaking."
5. "It's like compound interest. At some point it hockey sticks and you look back and realize—I'm a different person now."

✅ The biblical reason dads are called to bring order to their homes

✅ How to train your kids like a football coach (M&Ms included!)

✅ The power of a weekly family meeting to solve your biggest friction points

✅ Why setting "impossible" goals actually works

SUMMARY

Chaos doesn't have to be the norm in your home. In Part 1 of this conversation, Army Ranger turned fatherhood coach Chris Cirullo unpacks the biblical call for fathers to bring order—and shares the practical systems he's built to lead his five sons with both fun and discipline. You'll also hear why setting impossible goals might be the key to real growth.

TAKEAWAYS

• God designed fathers to bring order and strategy to their homes—it's part of our calling, not just a nice-to-have.
• Training kids in specific behaviors with immediate rewards (like M&Ms) can save decades of frustration.
• Weekly family meetings with your wife help you identify and solve one key friction point at a time.
• Setting "impossible" goals narrows your options and forces clarity on what actually needs to change.
• What gets measured improves—but what gets measured and reported improves exponentially.

GUEST

Chris Cirullo is a former Army Ranger with four combat tours in Afghanistan, a former collegiate football player, fitness coach, and tech startup leader. He now coaches men through Mission Fit and serves on the team at Forming Men. Chris and his wife Justine homeschool their five sons in Eugene, Oregon, and are expecting their sixth child.

LINKS

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome

• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email [email protected]

• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618

• FREE copy of Chris' book: https://www.missionfit.co/free15

• Mission Fit Scorecard: missionfit.co/scorecard

• Forming Men

Quotes:

1. "Minutes of training can sometimes save decades of headaches for a father."
2. "I have this innate responsibility as a father to bring order. We're not all great at it, but we do have to find ways to make efforts unto that end."
3. "Setting impossible goals is one of the most effective ways to actually make meaningful growth."
4. "What gets measured improves, but what gets measured and reported improves exponentially."
5. "God wanted to partner with Adam to bring about order in the world, and He stopped short of producing complete order so that man as a father and a husband could do some of that work."

TAGS

fatherhood, intentional parenting, family systems, discipline, order, army ranger, coaching dads, homeschool dad, training kids, goal setting, Parkinson's law, Pareto principle, Pearson's law, accountability, family mission, Christian dad, family meetings, parenting hacks, dadlife, Genesis

What if your kid's "selfishness" is actually developmentally normal? 🤯

✅ Why emotional awareness makes you a better dad (not a softer one)

✅ How to walk your kids through the "I'm sorry" process step by step

✅ The turkey hunting philosophy of spiritual formation

✅ Why showing up in children's ministry is a slingshot back to your home

SUMMARY:

What if your child's selfishness is actually a God-given gift? In this episode, Chris Ammenshares why understanding your kid's developmental stage changes everything about how you parent. Plus, he unpacks the "turkey hunting philosophy" of spiritual formation and why the most powerful thing you can do as a dad is simply show up and love your kids for who they are, not what they accomplish.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Your children are growing out of egocentrism, not being punched out of it. Understanding their developmental stage brings patience and grace to your parenting.
• Growing in your own emotional awareness is one of the greatest gifts you can give your kids. When you learn to express the full range of emotions, you create space for them to do the same.
• Walk your kids through the mechanics of relational repair. Chunk it up into small steps so they build the muscle memory for when they're older.
• Spiritual formation is a longitudinal process. It's so slow you'll hardly notice the grass growing, then one day you'll look around and see what God did while you were faithful day by day.
• Call your kids to where they already want to go. Shoulder-to-shoulder time doing what they love is where the real conversations happen.
• Men in children's ministry matter more than you think. Boys need men who cheer them on for who they are, and girls need to see men who treat them with respect and kindness.

GUEST:

Chris Ammen is the founder of Kaleidoscope, a ministry helping kids understand and love the Bible through chapter books, audio content, and a weekly podcast. A former children's pastor with 15 years of experience, Chris is passionate about meeting kids at their developmental level and equipping parents to disciple their children at home. He's the author of Raising Disciples at Home and the host of the Kaleidoscope Podcast. Chris and his wife have four kids ages 5 to 12 and live in the thick of raising their own disciples.

dadawesome, christiandad, dadlife, parenting, dadpodcast, fatherhood, kaleidoscope, childrensbible, emotionalawareness, raisingkids, familydiscipleship, christianparenting, boydad, girldad, childrensministry, faithathome, intentionalparenting, dadcommunity, spiritualformation, parentingtips

Quotes:

1. "This is not going to happen in 24 hours. This is not going to happen in a year. This is going to be so slow that I'm hardly going to notice the grass growing underneath my feet. And then I'm going to look around one day and say, look at what God did while I was just being patient and faithful day by day by day."
2. "They grow out of egocentrism. It's not punched out of them. It's not beaten out of them. It's not manipulated out of them. That's something that they have to come to as their brain develops."
3. "Hold up, this is not about you, this is about her. Both of our eyes right now need to be on her and making sure that she is okay."
4. "Call your children to where they already want to go. And while they're there, give them some truth."
5. "Don't underestimate that, both for the boys in the room and maybe even more importantly for the girls in the room. To have a man who looks at them with respect and kindness and graciousness, not as an object, is deeply formational."
6. "You don't have to be a champion in the room. You can just be an awkward dad who's learning how to be around other children."
7. "God thought of them before He thought of the mountains and the seas and the oceans, and He called them very good. He does not regret them."

LINKS:

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome
• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email [email protected]
• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618
• Kaleidoscope
• Kaleidoscope Podcast
• Raising Disciples at Home by Chris Ammon
• The Voice of the Heart by Chip Dodd

🍕🤼‍♂️ Pizza nights. Wrestling matches. Honest talks about sex, phones, and finding the right wife.

✅ Why Tuesday wrestling nights built more than just muscle ✅ The 18th birthday dinner where 4 friends said the exact same thing (and it wasn't planned) ✅ How to talk about sex early and often without shame ✅ Why delaying phones until driving age might be the move ✅ The story of the Sons of Korah and rewriting your family legacy

SUMMARY What does it look like to raise teenage boys who become strong men of character? In this episode, Carl Cartee—songwriter, speaker, and dad of four sons—shares how weekly wrestling nights, honest sex talks, and delayed technology built a foundation of trust in his home. You'll hear the story of his son's 18th birthday dinner where four friends said the same surprising thing, why he wishes someone had told him about choosing a spouse differently, and how the Sons of Korah can change your entire perspective on fatherhood legacy.

TAKEAWAYS

• Wrestling nights and messy pizza-making weren't just fun—they were intentional time in your presence that builds connection and dignity in your sons.
• The simplicity of being invited into God's work as a father takes the pressure off perfection and puts the focus on faithfulness.
• Early and often conversations about sex, desire, and God's design create safety and health instead of shame and secrecy.
• Choosing a spouse isn't just about attraction at 25—it's about finding someone you genuinely like being with through every season of life.
• Your family legacy isn't determined by what you inherited from your fathers—through Christ, you're rewriting the story for your kids.

GUEST

Carl Cartee is a songwriter, speaker, and worship leader from Franklin, Tennessee. He's written over 150 songs for artists including Elevation Worship and Oak Ridge Boys. Carl and his wife, Heather, host the podcast "Married to Someone Who's Nothing Like You" and are passionate about helping marriages thrive. They have four sons ranging from 14 to 19 years old. Carl loves creativity, adventure, and pointing people to Jesus through music, art, and authentic conversation.

TOP QUOTES

• "God has dignified me by inviting me into His work through my sons. If it turns out great, awesome. But even if there are no guarantees these boys go up and to the right for the rest of their life, I cherish being invited in."
• "Together is better—not just in the great times, but when you feel shame, when you didn't score any points. There's a different outcome when you do that alone versus when you do it with somebody who's there for you on the mountaintop or in the valley."
• "Don't marry somebody that you necessarily think is sexy right now. Look for somebody that you like being with. Because when it comes to seasons of life and circumstances throughout the course of a marriage, you might be married to two or three different women."
• "Shame as a young man was an absolute killer. It was an absolute destroyer of relational connection and intimacy. When the boys bring their struggles to us instead of harboring that shame, it speaks of health in that area."
• "No matter what heritage you have, if God is your refuge and strength, there is nothing from your past, nothing from the generations before you that you cannot undo through the power of worship and trusting in the Lord. You are rewriting legacy."

div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 standard-markdown">

"Discovered truth always beats delivered truth." David Murrow just dropped some serious wisdom for dads who want to stop lecturing and start creating real spiritual conversations.

In today's episode, you'll hear:

✅ How to pray 15-second prayers with your kids that integrate faith into everyday moments

✅ Why Jesus asked hundreds of questions but only gave 8 direct answers (and what that means for your parenting)

✅ The 3 journeys every man walks: submission, strength, and sacrifice

DadAwesome Voice Mail: SUMMARY:

Raising your kids on lectures and long prayers isn't working—Jesus knew that 2,000 years ago. In this episode, David Murrow shares how to create spiritual curiosity in your home using questions instead of answers, 15-second prayers instead of lengthy devotionals, and parables that stick. You'll also hear his groundbreaking research on why men are finally coming back to church, and how every dad moves through three essential journeys: submission, strength, and sacrifice.

TAKEAWAYS

• Discovered truth always beats delivered truth—guys need space to talk and share their experiences, not just receive lectures.
• Jesus asked hundreds of questions but only gave eight direct answers in all of Scripture—create curiosity through great questions instead of telling your kids what to think.
• The foundation of your faith must be built on being like a lamb (gentleness, sensitivity, mercy) before you can exercise lion-like strength in love.
• Try 15-second prayers with your kids throughout the day—integrate faith as something you do all the time, not just on Sundays.
• Touchstones are physical objects that help spiritual truths stick—give your kids something tangible to carry that reminds them of what they're learning.

GUEST

David Murrow is the author of Why Men Hate Going to Church and The Map: The Way of All Great Men. For over 25 years, he's been helping churches engage men through groundbreaking research and practical resources. He's currently developing Man Time, a parable-based video series that creates powerful spiritual conversations. David is passionate about helping dads disciple their kids through questions, stories, and hands-on experiences rather than lectures.

Links Mentioned:

• Learn about the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort

• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618

• Download a free chapter of the DadAwesome book

• LEAVE DadAwesome a VOICE MESSAGE

• The Map: The Way of All Great Men by David Murrow

• Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow

• Man Time parables video series

• davidmurrow.com

div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 standard-markdown"> Quotes

1. Discovered truth always beats delivered truth. Guys need space to talk and share experiences, not just receive lectures.
2. Jesus asked hundreds of questions but only gave eight direct answers in Scripture. Create curiosity, not lectures.
3. Try 15-second prayers with your kids. Integrate faith as something you do all the time, not just Sundays.
4. The foundation of your faith must be built on being like a lamb before you exercise lion-like strength.
5. Church is now more masculine than culture. It's recognized as a safe place where guys can go.

🎯 As a dad, are you leading the conversation about sex with your kids—or letting the world do it for you?

✅ Why dads need to play the lead role in sex conversations (even with daughters!)

✅ How to make your marriage thrive with 7 simple shifts

✅ The power of resisting passivity and taking proactive action

✅ FREE resources that will strengthen your family today

SUMMARY:

Your kids are going to learn about sex from somewhere—will it be from you or from the world? In this episode, Dave Willis returns with game-changing resources for dads who want to lead intentional, shame-free conversations about sex with their kids. Plus, he shares powerful insights on strengthening your marriage through simple shifts that create deeper connection. This conversation will equip you to resist passivity and take proactive action in the areas that matter most.

TAKEAWAYS

• Resist passivity and take the lead in having ongoing, shame-free conversations with your kids about sex and God's design for their bodies.
• Your marriage is one of the first gifts you give to your children—they learn what relationships should look like by watching yours.
• Fun is fuel for your marriage—without laughter and playfulness, everything else begins to collapse.
• The mind feasts on what it focuses on—intentionally focus on God's plan for your family and flourishing will follow.
• Being proactive as a husband and father isn't domineering—it's loving leadership that your wife finds attractive.
• Create a team around your growth—invite other dads and couples to join you on the journey toward intentional parenting and thriving marriage.

GUEST

Dave Willis and his wife, Ashley, are the authors of multiple books including the bestseller, The Naked Marriage, and their newest release, Do Marriage Better: Seven Simple Shifts for Deeper Connection. They're also Christian speakers, marriage coaches, and the hosts of The Marriage on the Line Podcast. They have four sons and live near Augusta, Georgia. Dave is passionate about helping dads lead their families with intentionality and helping couples build marriages that thrive.

LINKS

• Learn about the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort

• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618

• Download a free chapter of the DadAwesome book

• How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex (FREE 6-part video series) - Family Life

• Do Marriage Better: Seven Simple Shifts for Deeper Connection by Dave & Ashley Willis

• The Marriage on the Line Podcast

• 9 Days to Great Sex Free eBook

QUOTES

1. "Your wives find being proactive in you very sexy. Women, by God's design, are attracted to a husband who takes action."
2. "Fun is fuel. If your marriage feels like it's on empty, it's because you've put fun on the back burner. Laughter isn't frivolous—it's vital."
3. "If we don't teach our kids about sex, the world's gonna do it for us and the world's gonna teach them the wrong messages."
4. "The mind feasts on what it focuses on. Focus on God's plan for your family and the flourishing will follow."
5. "Resist passivity. God hasn't called us to be passive. There are times to be still and patient, but never passive."

✅ Why following Jesus is the most adventurous thing you'll ever do

✅ The often-overlooked power of physical touch with your kids

✅ How to build the deep brotherhood every dad desperately needs

✅ A game-changing challenge: Do for ONE kid outside your family what you do for your own

LEAVE DADAWESOME A VOICEMAIL

✅ Under 90-seconds

✅ Begin with your first name and where you are from

✅ RECORD YOUR MESSAGE HERE

SUMMARY

Imagine standing at the edge of a 30-foot-high dive over ice-cold water with your son watching from below. That terrifying moment of decision mirrors what it means to be a risk-taking dad in today's world. In this episode, Peter Ostapko from Kinsman shares the cliff-jumping story that changed how he parents, plus powerful insights on the gift of physical touch with your kids, the critical importance of being present, and why every dad needs deep brotherhood. You'll also hear an unforgettable challenge: do for one kid outside your family what you do for your own kids.

TAKEAWAYS

• Following Jesus as a father is meant to be the most adventurous, risk-taking, beautiful journey—not boring or safe
• Physical touch with your kids is a powerful gift that communicates love, safety, and connection in ways words cannot
• Your presence as a dad matters more than you realize—availability beats ability every time
• Deep friendships and brotherhood are essential for the fatherhood journey; isolation is the enemy
• Challenge yourself to "do for one more kid" outside your family what you already do for your own kids
• Being a sower and planting seeds means showing up consistently without always seeing immediate results
• Don't place unrealistic expectations on your kids because you're trying to overcompensate for your own broken past
• The Kinsman Journal helps fathers unlock the power of their story and create spaces for authentic connection

GUEST:

Peter Ostapko is a leader with Kinsman, an intentional men's ministry focused on faithfully demonstrating redemptive, Christ-centered brotherhood. Kinsman creates resources including publishing, podcasting, and gatherings to influence men toward authentic connection and purposeful living. Peter is also the creator of the Kinsman Journal, a beautiful resource designed to help men unlock the power of their stories. He's a husband, father, and passionate advocate for helping dads build deep friendships and lead their families with courage and intentionality.

LINKS:

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome
• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618
• Kinsman Ministry
• The Kinsman Journal
• Fathered by God by John Eldredge

TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
• 02:53 - The Cliff Jumping Story: Taking Risks as a Dad
• 08:30 - Why Following Jesus Should Be Adventurous
• 15:45 - The Gift of Physical Touch with Your Kids
• 23:10 - Being Present: Your Availability Matters Most
• 30:20 - Deep Brotherhood and Why Dads Need Friendship
• 37:15 - The Kinsman Journal: Unlocking the Power of Story
• 42:00 - Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself
• 44:20 - The "Do for One More Kid" Challenge
• 46:17 - Peter's Prayer Over Dads
• 48:00 - Closing Thoughts & Resources

5 TOP QUOTES:

1. "Following Jesus is to be the most adventurous, risk-taking, frightening, wonderfully beautiful, dependent, abiding thing we'll ever experience in our life."
2. "The role of a father is the most important title, mantle, role you'll ever have in your entire life outside of being a spouse to your wife."
3. "Do for one kid outside of your kids what you do for your kids. Be intentional with them. Invite them into dinners and love on them. You never know what some of these kids are going through."
4. "We talk ourselves out of way too many things. God is on the other side saying, 'Listen, I got an adventure for you. Do you want to do this or not?' He doesn't force us. He invites us into it."
5. "Your presence matters more than you realize. Just being available for your kid—that's what matters most."