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From Reebok Boardrooms To Unlocking himself: A Dad’s Awakening - Chad Wittman
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Without Threase Baker, today's episode would never have happened....Thank you!!!!
What happens when the person who commands rooms across continents can’t get a 10-year-old to go to bed? We sit down with a former Reebok and Adidas executive who built categories, led massive teams in Asia, and then walked into the hardest leadership arena of his life: his own home. Stripped of titles and certainty in 2020, he discovered how much of his identity depended on work—and how little that meant to his five kids. The result is a raw, hopeful story about presence, humility, and rebuilding trust one small moment at a time.
We trace his early years—divorced parents, boarding school, ice hockey and lacrosse as a lifeline—and the unlikely break that took him from door-to-door telecom to designing gear, flying solo to China, and launching Reebok Lacrosse. Then comes the undoing: burnout, a marriage in pain, and a “seeing” that shattered his autopilot. He describes mystical flashes of clarity where he could feel the depth of his children’s inner lives and the ache they carried for one simple thing: Dad, do you see me? That question becomes the compass for everything that follows.
This conversation is heavy on practicals and light on buzzwords. We break down a kid-led morning system built on Montessori principles that turned chaos into calm. We talk about divorce with uncommon generosity, including the choice to keep a nesting home so the kids stay rooted while parents rotate. We replace guilt with growth, framing hard seasons as nature’s pruning—painful, purposeful, and profoundly fertile. And we share simple tests you can run today: a 60-second pause when interrupted, capability charts instead of nagging, a nightly “what did you need from me?” check-in, and one wise friend who can tell you the truth.
He now runs Activat8, helping people uncover identity rather than chase another plan. The thesis is bold and freeing: when you know who you are without roles, your presence becomes the safest place in the house. If you’ve ever wondered how to move from performance to connection, or how to lead a family without a title, this one will meet you where you are and nudge you forward.
If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a dad who needs it, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more families find conversations that actually change how we show up.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cwittman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chad.wittman.9/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chadwittman1419
Website: https://activ8myidentity.com/
Support the show
Please don't forget to leave us a review wherever you consume your podcasts! Please help us get more dads to listen weekly and become the ultimate leader of their homes!
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By Casey Jacox
5
6868 ratings
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Without Threase Baker, today's episode would never have happened....Thank you!!!!
What happens when the person who commands rooms across continents can’t get a 10-year-old to go to bed? We sit down with a former Reebok and Adidas executive who built categories, led massive teams in Asia, and then walked into the hardest leadership arena of his life: his own home. Stripped of titles and certainty in 2020, he discovered how much of his identity depended on work—and how little that meant to his five kids. The result is a raw, hopeful story about presence, humility, and rebuilding trust one small moment at a time.
We trace his early years—divorced parents, boarding school, ice hockey and lacrosse as a lifeline—and the unlikely break that took him from door-to-door telecom to designing gear, flying solo to China, and launching Reebok Lacrosse. Then comes the undoing: burnout, a marriage in pain, and a “seeing” that shattered his autopilot. He describes mystical flashes of clarity where he could feel the depth of his children’s inner lives and the ache they carried for one simple thing: Dad, do you see me? That question becomes the compass for everything that follows.
This conversation is heavy on practicals and light on buzzwords. We break down a kid-led morning system built on Montessori principles that turned chaos into calm. We talk about divorce with uncommon generosity, including the choice to keep a nesting home so the kids stay rooted while parents rotate. We replace guilt with growth, framing hard seasons as nature’s pruning—painful, purposeful, and profoundly fertile. And we share simple tests you can run today: a 60-second pause when interrupted, capability charts instead of nagging, a nightly “what did you need from me?” check-in, and one wise friend who can tell you the truth.
He now runs Activat8, helping people uncover identity rather than chase another plan. The thesis is bold and freeing: when you know who you are without roles, your presence becomes the safest place in the house. If you’ve ever wondered how to move from performance to connection, or how to lead a family without a title, this one will meet you where you are and nudge you forward.
If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a dad who needs it, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more families find conversations that actually change how we show up.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cwittman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chad.wittman.9/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chadwittman1419
Website: https://activ8myidentity.com/
Support the show
Please don't forget to leave us a review wherever you consume your podcasts! Please help us get more dads to listen weekly and become the ultimate leader of their homes!