Five years ago, Carlos Whittaker joined us on the DadAwesome podcast. A lot has changed since then. With a new perspective of launching his children into the world, Carlos is here to ask the hard-hitting questions. He’ll inspire you to become a father who knows how to be, see, and free. 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• No app can replace the love and connection you provide your child. 
• What are you using to medicate some of the inadequacies you feel in your parenting? 
• Lower the volume of life and be present. 
• See past the problems and behaviors to parent your child.
• You are set apart as a father to breathe life into your kids. 

 

Carlos Whittaker

 

Carlos Whittaker spreads hope and encouragement through his roles as an author, podcaster, and global speaker. He and his wife Heather live in Nashville, Tennessee, with their three young adult children.

  Key Quotes

 

• 14:03 - "Men were just addicted to, dads were just addicted to their work, before that, they were addicted to whatever it may have been. So, what is the medicator? The medicator that you're using to medicate some inadequacies that you feel in your parenting, break those things and be more present. What does it look like to lower the volume of life, slow the pace of life down?"
• 16:54 - "What are ways that you as a father are set apart and separated from the rest of all of humanity? All of the other individuals that are speaking into [your] lives, you as a father, you as a dad, you are set apart in a way that nobody else is. Just a look from their father, looking them in the eyes and saying, I love you and I'm proud of you. Just that is going to free your kids in ways that you probably can't even imagine."

 

Links from Today's Conversation

 

• Episode 300 Dad Notes
• Carlos' Website
• Parenting Podcast Series: Episode 121-125 of Human Hope with Carlos Whittaker
• Episode 122: Parenting Series - My Kids' AMAZING Therapists, David Thomas and Sissy Goff
• How to Human: Three Ways to Share Life Beyond What Distracts, Divides, and Disconnects Us by Carlos Whittaker
• All Carlos Whittaker Books

 

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Last week, Brian Stites went to be with the Lord. His life was a walking testament of how men can show up as engaged, front yard fathers. Despite facing some of the hardest challenges, Brian continued to trust God and walk in faith. In his memory, here are ten things that were true about Brian that every dad can strive toward. 

 

Key takeaways

 

• He was serving others.
• He joined other men around a mission.
• He was the first to give.
• He encountered hardship with faith.
• He helped support others.
• He kept serving others.
• He kept being generous.
• He worshiped and he laughed.
• He celebrated others.
• He finished his race with gladness.

 

Brian Stites

 

Brian Stites was a man who took front yard fatherhood seriously. For him, everyone was welcome. He showed up for countless other men as a mentor and father figure. Brian went home to Heaven on October 18, 2023. 

  Key Quotes

 

• 3:26 - "I'm calling this episode Front Yard Fatherhood. If you think of a backyard of a house with a fence, it's kind of private, closed off, you're not welcome there unless you know the person. Front yard is, you're out on the street, you're out welcoming others. I felt a very front yard with Brian. Partially because Brian would have me come sit with him in his front yard, open to the whole neighborhood to see. We would sit and talk and cry, and we prayed together in his front yard. But his heart, him and Heather, their hearts were very front yard, everyone's welcome."
• 10:28 - "He finished his race with gladness. His posture was one of hope, faith, gladness. He's suffering. He was having a hard time speaking and keeping dialog going, yet he had gladness. "

  Connect with dadAWESOME

 

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It’s the 300th episode of DadAwesome! In celebration of this milestone, check out these 90+ practical takeaways from 30+ fathers in all walks of life. Thank you for being part of the DadAwesome community. 

 

Key Takeaways - please register to recieve the DAD NOTES: https://www.dadawesome.org/300

 

Featured Guests

 

From pastors and authors to CEOs and beyond, these 30+ male voices capture the challenges and blessings of fatherhood. They will inspire and encourage you to lead with wonder as a dad. 

 

Links/Giveaways mentioned

 

• Florida Vacation Giveaway - https://www.dadawesome.org/300
• Other ways to win
• Follow @dadawesome on IG for a chance to win a $50 gift card to the DadAwesome store
• Mention other people in the comments on the DadAwesome Instagram for a chance to win
• Email [email protected] (recommend future podcast guests in the subject/body) 
• Email [email protected] (recommend resources, TedTalks, online courses, etc.) 
• Join the Weekly Text - Text “dad” to (651) 370-8618

John Eldredge recently returned from a sabbatical where he discovered deeper truths about God’s love and plans for us. Now, he’s imparting his wisdom about how to experience healing, joy, and adventure amid the challenges of life. 

  Key Takeaways

 

• The world is focused on distraction and sedation.
• Walk daily into the center of your pain, linger, and Jesus will meet you there. 
• You need help receiving the love of God.
• Invite others into God’s love by telling fresh, current Jesus stories. 
• The enemy whispers to the good man, “You’re not enough.”

  John Eldredge

 

John Eldredge is an author, counselor, teacher, and the president of Wild at Heart. He and his wife, Stasi, have three sons and are proud grandparents. John loves all things beauty, nature, adventure, and more. 

  Key Quotes

 

• 11:47 - "Think about all those people in countries where they can't get to a therapist, they can get to a healing prayer ministry. They're not left out. The simple thing is, as your soul presents stuff, your fear, your rage, your lust, whatever it is, Jesus says, walk into the center of it and invite Me there And I will meet you there and restore your soul."
• 18:26- "Chesterton described the Christian life as furious opposites. There's beauty, goodness, joy, laughter, play, adventure. There's so much adventure with God. And there is heartache, trauma, loss, evil in the world. It's both. And if you can accept that, you can navigate it. But if you only insist on the happy, the hard's going to really take you out."

  Links from Today’s Conversation

 

• SAVE THE DATE: October 19, 2023 at 7pm CT - Episode 300 Live Event: 30 Voices, 90 Takeaways
• Happy Summer! Blog Post 
• 30 Days to Resilient in the One Minute Pause App
• Wild At Heart by John Eldredge
• The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

  Connect with dadAWESOME

 

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• Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
• Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

 

Dr. Jackson Drumgoole combines passion and practical strategies in this episode. With his F3 and D3 methods, you can help your child identify their gifts and launch them into the world for success.  

  Key Takeaways

 

• Be the loudest voice in your child’s ears. 
• Help your kids find, follow, and finish their God-given purpose. 
• Help them discover, develop, and deploy their gifts to the world
• Lead where you live with love. 
• Be the Kool-Aid house.

  Dr. Jackson Drumgoole

 

Dr. Jackson Drumgoole is an inspirational speaker, author, and veteran with a heart for fathers and families. He and his wife, ShDonna, have five children. 

  Key Quotes

 

• 6:21 - "I want to make sure that I'm the loudest voice in their ear and that I'm telling them who they are, whose they are, I'm telling them their influence in the world and help them to find, follow, and finish their God given purpose. Help them to discover, develop and deploy their gifts to the world. I need them to know that before they walk out of the house in the morning time, because of all the all the influences in the earth, and I want to make sure they hear that."
• 20:55 - "For my kids, helping them to discover what it is they were really passionate about, is spending time with them. I stopped by their rooms every day and just sat in with them for a moment to check on them, to see how they're doing and really just spend time in their world. Helping them to discover that piece, to say, okay, what are you naturally drawn to?"

  Links from Today’s Conversation

 

• SAVE THE DATE: October 19, 2023 at 7pm CT - Episode 300 Live Event: 30 Voices, 90 Takeaways
• Bridge Builder Community
• Fathering for Effect Course
• Preparing to Launch Your Teenage Daughter (Interview with Dr. Jackson Drumgoole) — The Dad Whisperer Podcast with Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield
• Dads Are Thermostats Not Thermometers (Interview with Jackson Drumgoole) — The Dad Whisperer Podcast with Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield

  Connect with dadAWESOME

 

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• Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

 

Alex Burton once asked his trusted friends a vulnerable question: “What do you see in my life that I’m not seeing?” Their honest responses shifted his outlook on his marriage and parenting. Now, he’s here to share the valuable lessons that helped him experience more joy and grow closer to God and his family. 

  Key Takeaways

 

• God is always listening. 
• Be generous with joy bombs. 
• “What do you see in my life that I’m not seeing?”
• Delight in what your children delight in.

  Alex Burton

 

Alex Burton is an outdoors enthusiast and father of three. He and his wife, Mel, have been married for 26 years. Alex is part of the staff team at Wild At Heart.

  Key Quotes

 

• 9:19 - “We talk about initiation a lot with our sons, but the same is true for our daughters. For her to experience something at a soul level rather than just the cognitive level is pretty special.”
• 38:46 - “The idea of, delight in what they delight in, because delight's a whole lot different than being pleased because they succeeded. It's what God does for us. He delights in us and He delights in the things that bring us joy. He delights in the things that we love. That's the picture of a Father that's pursuing His kids and not putting pressure on them.”

  Links from Today’s Conversation

 

• SAVE THE DATE: October 19, 2023 at 7pm CT - Episode 300 Live Event: 30 Voices, 90 Takeaways
• The Beauty | Wild At Heart 

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• Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
• Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
• Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

 

In the second part of our conversation, Gaelin Elmore describes the spiritual awakening he experienced in his journey through professional sports. He also shares the lessons he learned by walking away from the things he idolized in order to be all-out for God.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• There is an internal conflict between following the real Savior and the things you thought would save you.
• Be all-out for God.
• Never underestimate the power of being present as a husband and father.
• What does your church do to actively engage the foster care community?

  Gaelin Elmore

 

Gaelin Elmore is a leader, writer, and motivational speaker whose childhood was marked by foster care, abuse, and homelessness. Now, Gaelin advocates for youth with adverse backgrounds. He and his wife, Micaela, have two young daughters.

  Key Quotes

 

• 19:49 - "We can never measure or fully comprehend the power of being with someone while they're going through the good and the bad. If you listen to this and you hear any consistency through my story, it's at the lowest low, at the highest high, I just wanted my people."
• 26:40 - "Foster care doesn't make sense if Christians aren't the ones leading it. Does not make sense. It is not a wisdom of this world. It is something that is such a greater calling in ministry that that only God could call us to and and support us in."

  Links from Today’s Conversation

 

• SAVE THE DATE: October 19, 2023 at 7pm CT - Episode 300 Live Event: 30 Voices, 90 Takeaways
• Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches by Russell Moore
• The Reel Hope Project
• The Forgotten Podcast - (The Forgotten Initiative)
• GaelinSpeaks.com (Gaelin’s website)

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Episode Description

Gaelin Elmore’s childhood experiences included foster care, homelessness, and abuse. Now a father of two young girls, he reflects on how his past shaped his parenting and shares what other dads need to know about stepping up for children in foster care. 

  Key Takeaways

 

• Children naturally give you grace. 

• You don’t have to minimize what you’ve gone through. 

• Children in foster care are looking for someone to be looking for them. 

• What if God asks you to make room for another child in your home? 

 

Gaelin Elmore

 

Gaelin Elmore is a leader, writer, and motivational speaker whose childhood was marked by foster care, abuse, and homelessness. Now, Gaelin advocates for youth with adverse backgrounds. He and his wife, Micaela, have two young daughters. 

  Key Quotes

 

•  

  Links from Today’s Conversation

• SAVE THE DATE: October 19, 2023 at 7pm CT - Episode 300 Live Event: 30 Voices, 90 Takeaways

• The Reel Hope Project

• GaelinSpeaks.com 

 

 

 

 

After 52 years of marriage, Roger Thompson has learned a thing or two about how to have a thriving relationship. In this episode, he shares his powerful tactic for keeping his marriage strong. Plus, he urges young dads to reconsider the way they prioritize their children’s activities. 

  Key Takeaways

 

• You often don’t know who you are until someone else tells you who you are. 
• Get one ahead everyday.
• Busyness is a concern for young parents and their children. 
• Don’t forsake your spiritual development and brotherhood for your children’s activities. 

 

Roger Thompson

 

Roger Thompson is a passionate men’s ministry leader and pastor at large based in the Twin Cities. He and his wife, Joanne, have been married for 52 years and have two daughters, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. 

  Key Quotes

 

• 5:55 - "An affirmation is, here's what you bring to the game. I saw your strength when... Or thank you for reminding me, in your behavior, of something you've done. So when we do that with other men, it's like a blacksmith's bellows, it heats up the fire, the coal is there, but we don't know who we are until somebody else really tells us who we are. And if we can build a culture of mutual affirmation and get out of the culture of sarcasm, a true affirmation cuts through all the shyness of really looking at another man in the eye and saying, Brother, I love you."
• 11:59 - "How can you stay married for 41 years? You just have to do your part and your wife is the only one who can do her part. But a lot of times men give up. Well, I'm not getting back what I'm putting in, so I'm going to quit. You think about the five love languages, I'm trying to love my wife in my language and it doesn't translate. I need to, I need to learn her language."

  Links from Today’s Conversation

 

• IronWorks Website
• YouTube: 40 Days of Wisdom Series
• Book: Do The Next Right Thing: Wisdom For Your Next Step by Roger Thompson
• Book: Love And Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

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• Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
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For Roger Thompson, discipling other men is life-giving. Between his father’s salvation story and his own childhood, Roger has experienced the empowering nature of brotherhood firsthand. In the first part of this conversation, he highlights the role of endurance and fortitude to encourage you in your fatherhood climb. 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• God is reparenting us. 
• Your investment into brotherhood will leave a multigenerational impact. 
• Endurance is when you continue forward without seeing any finish line. 
• In the rock climbing analogy of life, there are eight handholds you must master.

 

Roger Thompson

 

Roger Thompson is a passionate men’s ministry leader and pastor at large based in the Twin Cities. He and his wife, Joanne, have been married for 52 years and have two daughters, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. 

  Key Quotes

 

• 8:47 - "I'm an inheritor of that. I'm a complete recipient of a man with whom God broke the chain. So my dad's a first generation chain breaker. A New Testament disciple and look at what that has done. Don't look at me, but just look at what I got as a gift. I got a dad who loved me, who cared for me." 
• 16:16 - "That's how manly affection was conveyed to me. I'm with you. We're in this together. I need you for this. And I certainly needed him, but [my dad] made it clear that he needed me."

  Links from Today’s Conversation

 

• IronWorks Website
• YouTube: 40 Days of Wisdom Series
• Book: Do The Next Right Thing: Wisdom For Your Next Step by Roger Thompson
• Book: Endurance by Ernest Shackleton

 

Connect with dadAWESOME

 

• Make a Donation to dadAWESOME
• Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team
• Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618