In this raw and unfiltered episode, Ned opens up about the chaos of everyday fatherhood—from dead rats in the trash to staying up late with his twelve-year-old daughter on her last night of being twelve. He challenges the pressure dads feel to do everything perfectly, reminding listeners that presence trumps perfection every single time. Ned shares how he's learned to say yes to the moments that matter most, even when it means the yard looks rough and the garage is a mess. This is a rallying cry for dads to stop keeping score, to invest deeply in the season they're in, and to lead their families with love—not guilt. If you've ever felt like you're not doing enough, this episode will remind you that you have what it takes.

• Primal Path by John Tyson - https://www.primalpath.com
• Craft of Fatherhood Website - www.craftoffatherhood.com

Zack Ponder shares his raw journey from struggling entrepreneur with a DUI to becoming a present father who homeschools four kids while his wife battles cancer. A former special education teacher who worked with profound autism students, Zack discovered God through the daily challenges of non-speaking, violent students and translated those insights into his books "Special Days" and the upcoming "Happy Days" devotional. Now splitting time between his construction business in North Idaho and Southern California where his wife receives treatment, Zack opens up about the transformation from doing the right things to actually being present, learning to ask "what" instead of "why" when facing hardship, and discovering that his podcast interviewing special needs parents became unexpected training for finally seeing and hearing his own wife. He discusses the critical shift that happened six months ago when he truly embraced fatherhood in the hospital, realizing that if he didn't keep it together and lead, his family would fall apart. Zack vulnerably shares about living with in-laws for ten months, the reality of needing God moment-by-moment through daily challenges, and why he believes comfort is the enemy of growth for fathers.

Guest Links

• The Unspecial Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unspecial-podcast/id1829866470
• Instagram: @unspecialllc or @zackponder
• Website: unspecialllc.com
• Zack's book: Special Dayz: Finding God in Special Education

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• This episode is sponsored by The Adventure of Fatherhood
• Order The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book here
• Check out the TEDx

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• Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?
• https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/
• https://www.rebelandcreate.com/

Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!

Follow us:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotes
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Fatherhoodfieldnotes
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

In this episode, Ned challenges the destructive cultural narrative that young men need to "get it out of their system" in their twenties, sharing insights from a recent father-son gathering and introducing Adam Lane Smith's transformative framework for masculine leadership based on four areas of safety that men must provide: resource safety, protection, emotional safety, and bonding safety. This episode is essential listening for any father who wants to shape his sons into men of character and teach his daughters what to look for in a partner.

(00:00:00) - Father-Son Night

(00:02:00) - Challenging "Get It Out of Your System" Mentality

(00:03:00) - Working It INTO Your System vs. OUT of Your System

(00:05:00) - The Abundance Mindset vs. Hoarding

(00:07:00) - Four Areas of Safety Men Must Provide

(00:08:00) - Resource Safety and Protection

(00:08:00) - Emotional Safety and Bonding Safety

(00:09:00) - Teaching These Principles to Family

(00:10:00) - Earning the Right to Speak Into Your Children's Lives

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Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?

• https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/
• https://www.rebelandcreate.com/

Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!

Follow us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotes

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

Ned sits down with Brad Plett, a father of four and full-time missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Kona, Hawaii. Brad opens up about his journey through a dark season of anxiety, shame, and guilt in his early years of fatherhood, and how discovering his identity as a son of God transformed not only his life but his entire family's trajectory.

Learn more about YWAM here: https://ywamkona.org/courses/family-dts/

- 00:00:00 - Welcome to Brad Plett

- 00:03:00 - 25 Years of Marriage: Keys to Longevity

- 00:10:00 - Identity Before Function

- 00:14:00 - Walking Through a Dark Season

- 00:25:00 - The Power of Humility and Community

- 00:27:00 - Marriage: Fighting Through to Deep Connection

- 00:30:00 - Women Carrying the Torch: A Call for Men to Pray

- 00:33:00 - Life with Four Kids: Ages 4 to 17

- 00:38:00 - The Role of the Father: Imparting Identity

- 00:41:00 - Why Compliant Kids Won't Change the World

- 00:50:00 - Legacy: Raising Kids Who Know Their Identity

In this powerful solo episode of The Craft of Fatherhood Podcast, host Ned Schaut closes out his four-part marriage retreat series with a heartfelt message that blends raw honesty, practical wisdom, and encouragement for fathers. Sharing lessons from Greg and Julie of Married for a Purpose, Ned unpacks why we must stop defining relationships by differences, how to discipline our minds to focus on promises instead of problems, and the life-changing power of saying, “I didn’t handle that right.” Fathers will walk away with simple but profound tools to strengthen their marriages, model humility for their children, and lead their families with love, integrity, and purpose.

00:00:00 - Welcome

00:01:43 - The Foundation: Love Yourself, Love Your Spouse, Teach Your Kids

00:03:00 - We Become What We Think About

00:03:39 - Stop Thinking About Problems, Start Thinking About Promises

00:05:25 - Shift #1: Stop Defining by Our Differences

00:07:00 - Shift #3: Stop Building a Case Against Your Spouse

00:07:30 - Shift #4: Discipline Your Mind (Book Recommendations)

00:08:57 - The Sentence That Changes Everything: "I Didn't Handle That Right"

00:09:24 - How to Apologize to Your Wife and Kids

00:10:57 - Be the Man You Wish Others Would Be

00:11:40 - Closing: You Matter, Fatherhood Matters

In this powerful episode of Fatherhood Field Notes, we sit down with Ryan Miller—a man whose joyful demeanor belies a journey through significant trials and transformation. Ryan opens up about his 24-year marriage, raising two daughters, and how embracing suffering has shaped him into the father and husband he is today. He shares vulnerable stories about his own mistakes, including a near-infidelity experience, surviving the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, and how these moments became catalysts for growth rather than destruction. Ryan discusses the importance of physical and spiritual health, intentional presence with our children, and how fathers can balance ambition with family priorities. He offers practical wisdom on passing faith to our children and extending fatherly influence beyond biological connections. This conversation will challenge you, inspire you, and equip you to embrace both strength and vulnerability in your fatherhood journey.

00:00:00 - Introduction and first impressions

00:01:06 - Finding joy through suffering and Ryan's transformative experiences

00:05:30 - Discussing suffering with children and embracing life's challenges

00:09:09 - Ryan's background and focus on health

00:11:19 - Life in California and creating family memories

00:13:00 - Building relationships with daughters and potential sons-in-law

00:22:38 - Ryan's central message to men about purpose and responsibility

00:25:01 - Men of Greatness Brotherhood community and resources

00:26:43 - Understanding discipline as alignment rather than control

00:29:18 - Discussing God's purpose versus individual choices

00:35:52 - Balancing career aspirations with family priorities

00:40:17 - Rebelling against the idea that vulnerability is weakness

00:45:45 - The father's role as provider and protector

00:48:10 - Passing faith to children through modeling and conversation

00:56:53 - Envisioning the future as a grandfather

Ryan's Community: Skool.com/men-of-greatness

Ryan on YouTube: YouTube.com/RyanJamesMiller

Ryan's Website: RyanJamesMiller.com

Wounds: How Hurt, Heartache, and Tragedy Become the Keys to Unlocking Greatness:

In this episode, Ned shares powerful insights from a recent marriage retreat that every dad needs to hear. He explores the importance of creating rhythms of rest in a 24/7 culture, the life-changing power of speaking blessings over your kids, and the vital role of truly listening to your wife and children. With raw honesty and practical takeaways, Ned challenges fathers to stop striving, start resting, and build a family culture of peace, presence, and love.

Chapters:

- 00:00 - Introduction to the Marriage Retreat series

- 03:24 - The importance of rest in a 24/7 culture

- 08:12 - Shabbat and Sabbath: Creating family rhythms

- 12:45 - Speaking blessings over your children

- 17:30 - The power of truly listening to your wife and kids

- 22:18 - Keeping the boys away: Protecting your daughters

- 27:53 - Building a family culture of peace and presence

- 34:09 - Practical takeaways for dads

- 38:42 - Closing thoughts and next steps

Larry Hagner, author of "The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood," founder of the Dad Edge Podcast, and a passionate advocate for helping men discover their identity and opportunity in fatherhood. With over 1,400 podcast episodes and a decade of coaching fathers, Larry shares profound insights on breaking free from "the drift" - the state where many fathers find themselves going through the motions without true fulfillment.

• 00:00:00 - Introduction to Larry Hagner
• 00:01:58 - Larry's background and experience as a fatherhood coach
• 00:04:00 - The wisdom of turning 50 and advice for fathers in their 40s
• 00:05:00 - The importance of learning fatherhood skills like any other discipline
• 00:08:00 - Making intentional time investments in marriage relationships
• 00:12:35 - The connection between being a good husband and a good father
• 00:15:00 - The three needs of wives and kids: feeling seen, heard, and safe
• 00:19:00 - The state of modern marriages and the three camps of couples who stay together
• 00:24:00 - Setting a marriage example for our children to follow
• 00:27:00 - Overview of "The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood"
• 00:29:00 - Understanding "the drift" and why men settle for less
• 00:34:00 - Raising sons and daughters with complementary values
• 00:41:00 - Final wisdom: You already have what it takes to be an amazing father

• Larry's new book: The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood
• Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/podcast/
• Larry's website: https://thedadedge.com/ (includes free resources with book purchase)
• Dad Edge Alliance (for career dads): https://thedadedge.com/alliance/
• Dad Edge Business Owner Brotherhood: https://thedadedge.com/bob/

In this heartfelt solo episode, host Ned Schaut continues his four-part series on lessons from a recent marriage retreat. Speaking directly to fellow fathers, Ned shares raw stories and practical takeaways on how to stop defending yourself, start asking for forgiveness, and bring your best energy home to your family. From learning the three questions that heal conflict, to navigating moments of being misunderstood with his teenage son, Ned unpacks what it means to lead through serving. With a mix of vulnerability, humor (including an unforgettable skinny-dipping story), and fatherly wisdom, this episode equips dads to fight for connection, love, and unity in their marriages and families.

Three questions for healing conflict:

1. "By the tone of your voice, sounds like I hurt you. Is that true?"
2. "Please tell me how I made you feel."
3. "I'm so sorry. Will you forgive me?"

• 00:00:00 - Welcome and Introduction
• 00:01:00 - The Power of Fighting for Connection in a 20-Year Marriage
• 00:02:00 - How People Leave Your Presence: Being Interested, Interesting, and a Blessing
• 00:04:00 - Decreasing Conflict: Three Questions That Heal Hurt Feelings
• 00:06:00 - The Power of Asking for Forgiveness Without Defending Yourself
• 00:08:00 - Feeling Misunderstood: A Father-Son Conversation
• 00:10:00 - The Different Hats of Fatherhood: Parent, Friend, and Mentor
• 00:11:00 - Creating Unforgettable Memories: The Skinny Dipping Story
• 00:12:00 - A Man's Identity: Created to Fight for Love and Connection
• 00:13:00 - Final Encouragement: Your Kids Need to See You Fight for Their Mom

• Craig Hill's books
• John Tyson's "Primal Path" program

In this powerful conversation, Ned chats with Tim Campbell, an 82-year-old father with decades of hard-earned wisdom to share. As a husband of 50 years, Peace Corps veteran, and author of "Holding Up the Sky," Tim opens up about the challenges and triumphs of raising three children—including two with serious health challenges. This isn't just theory; it's battlefield-tested fatherhood advice from a man who's lived it. Tim introduces concepts like the "phantom captain" and reframes discipline as building trust rather than punishment. His stories will resonate with dads in the trenches of parenting, offering practical insights on embracing selflessness, developing resilience, and committing to the long game of fatherhood. Both vulnerable and encouraging, this episode reminds fathers that your daily investments—even when unseen or unappreciated—are creating a legacy that will shape generations long after you're gone.

• 00:00:00 Introduction - The Journey of Fatherhood
• 00:01:47 Tim at 82: Wisdom That Transcends Age
• 00:03:03 Passing Down Fatherhood Lessons Between Generations
• 00:04:45 Marriage as the Foundation: 50 Years of Partnership
• 00:06:15 Supporting Your Spouse Through Family Crises
• 00:08:19 How Challenges Can Strengthen Your Marriage
• 00:12:41 Raising Children with Different Needs and Challenges
• 00:27:05 Developing the Heart of a Father: Leading with Love
• 00:39:36 How Our Fathers Shape Our Parenting Approach
• 00:44:55 Building Your Legacy as a Dad

• Holding Up the Sky (Book)
• Tim Campbell’s Personal Site
• Tim Campbell on LinkedIn
• Family Culture Guide
• Rebel and Create: A Compass to Mastering the Craft of Fatherhood