Girl Dad: The Podcast

What if school taught kids to start a business instead of just studying one? In this episode, Patrick Wood, founder of Foundry Education, explains why most classrooms haven’t changed in 50 or 60 years, and what dads can do at home to give their daughters the real-world skills, money smarts, and confidence they won’t always get in school.

Patrick walks through his “Learn it, Build it, Defend it” framework, makes the case for candid money conversations with kids, and gets honest about helicopter parenting: how to protect your daughter without taking away the chances to struggle, fail, and grow stronger.

If you want to raise a daughter who’s financially capable, independent, and confident chasing her own ideas, this conversation gives you a practical place to start.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why traditional education needs a modern overhaul
• How Foundry Education teaches entrepreneurship through real-world experience
• The “Learn it, Build it, Defend it” framework for kids
• Where college falls short on practical skills
• How to nurture your daughter’s entrepreneurial spirit
• Teaching financial literacy, money management, and frugality
• Balancing protection and independence (and avoiding helicopter parenting)
• Why failure builds resilience
• Building confidence through passions and activities

Key Quotes:
💬 “Most education hasn’t changed in 50 or 60 years.”
💬 “Start something, build it, and defend it.”
💬 “Fathers should have candid discussions about money.”

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Patrick Wood and Foundry Education
01:55 - The state of traditional education and the need for change
03:56 - Foundry Education’s approach to experiential learning
05:55 - The “Learn it, Build it, Defend it” framework explained
07:59 - Real-world experience in teaching finance and entrepreneurship
10:58 - Preparing students for real business challenges
13:06 - Where college falls short on practical skills
15:53 - Advice for dads on nurturing entrepreneurial daughters
18:59 - Financial literacy and teaching money management
23:57 - Balancing protection and independence in parenting
26:55 - The value of failure and resilience
29:57 - Encouraging passions and building confidence
33:11 - Final advice for fatherly support and encouragement

🔗 Connect with Madeline Anderson:

Website: ⁠www.girldadnetwork.com⁠
Instagram: @girldadnetwork
YouTube: @girldadnetwork
Get a Copy of Girl Dad: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dad-Stories-Lessons-Daughters/dp/B0BNTXPRWQ⁠

What if one simple jar could change how your family spends time together? In this solo episode, Madeline Anderson shares the story behind Shotgun Sunday, the family tradition built around an activity jar, a little mystery, and a lot of quality time. She walks through exactly how it works, the categories that keep it fresh, and why trying new things together is one of the fastest ways to bond with your daughter.

Madeline also tells the personal story of how Shotgun Sunday led to her own marriage proposal, and challenges every girl dad to start a version of this tradition at home.

In this episode:

• Where Shotgun Sunday came from and why it works
• How to build your own family activity jar, step by step
• Activity ideas across three categories: fun, physical, and wellness
• Why anticipation is half the fun
• How new shared experiences strengthen the father-daughter bond
• Modeling resilience by doing hard things together
• The power of a phone-free day
• How Shotgun Sunday led to a proposal
• Tips for customizing the jar for your family

Sound bites:

"Anticipation is half the fun of family activities."
"Doing hard things builds resilience and confidence."
"Shotgun Sunday led to my engagement and marriage."

Chapters:

(00:00) What Is Shotgun Sunday?
(01:11) The Origin Story
(02:02) Building the Activity Jar
(03:42) Fun Activities and Favorite Memories
(08:07) Physical Challenges and Wellness Activities
(10:23) No-Technology Days
(11:46) Why New Experiences Build Stronger Bonds
(14:19) Doing Hard Things Together
(15:02) Creating a Phone-Free Family Day
(16:36) How Shotgun Sunday Led to a Proposal
(20:24) Your Challenge: Start Your Own Tradition

🔗 Connect with Madeline Anderson:

Website: www.girldadnetwork.com
Instagram: @girldadnetwork
YouTube: @girldadnetwork
Get a Copy of Girl Dad: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dad-Stories-Lessons-Daughters/dp/B0BNTXPRWQ

#girldad

What would you do with one more day? Trap Gambino knows that question better than most. After losing his daughter to illness, he's turned his grief into a mission: helping fathers slow down, show up, and love their daughters out loud while they still can.

In this deeply moving conversation, Trap opens up about the regrets that come with loss, why men need permission to take the mask off and actually feel, and how pain became the fuel behind his purpose. He also shares practical tools every girl dad can use now, from creating family codes and shared values to handling conflict, validating your daughter's emotions, and choosing quality time over the endless pull of work.

Whether you're navigating your own loss or simply want to be more present, this episode is a powerful reminder that the time is now.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Trap's story of losing his daughter and wife to illness
• Why emotional expression and vulnerability matter for fathers
• Balancing work and family to protect quality time
• How the words we say shape our daughters
• Creating family codes and shared values for stronger bonds
• Handling conflict and building family unity
• Processing grief and trauma in a healthy way
• How societal pressure keeps men from expressing emotion
• The power of in-person community and connection
• Practical ways to support kids through difficult emotions

Key Moments:
💬 "You wish you could go back and spend more time with her."
💬 "It's okay to wear a mask and also to take it off and feel."
💬 "Pain is one of the biggest motivators and fuels that I use."

Chapters:
00:00 - Meet Trap Gambino: A Story of Loss and Love
01:02 - Why Family Must Come Before Work
07:18 - Loss and Wishing for More Time
18:01 - The Power of In-Person Connection and Community
19:16 - Acknowledging Your Daughter and Building Emotional Bonds
23:48 - How Your Words and Emotions Shape Your Daughter
32:41 - Handling Conflict and Creating Family Unity
36:29 - Navigating Grief and Building Emotional Resilience
40:50 - Why Dads Need to Feel and Express Emotions
45:26 - Turning Pain into Fuel for Growth and Purpose
48:26 - Connect with Trap Gambino and Final Thoughts

🔗 Connect with Madeline Anderson:

Website: www.girldadnetwork.com
Instagram: @girldadnetwork
YouTube: @girldadnetwork
Get a Copy of Girl Dad: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dad-Stories-Lessons-Daughters/dp/B0BNTXPRWQ

What you say to your daughter becomes the voice she hears in her own head.

In this episode of Girl Dad: The Podcast, J.R. Kenna, a Pittsburgh dad, softball coach, and work-from-home father, shares how intentional words, goal setting, and everyday habits shape confident, resilient daughters. J.R. talks about coaching his daughter's softball team, having healthy conversations about body image and strength, keeping treats in moderation, managing screen time, and protecting date nights and family traditions, all while balancing a career from home.

If you want practical, real-world tools for raising a confident girl, this conversation is full of them.

In this episode, we cover:

- How your words and thoughts shape your daughter's reality

- Why writing goals down works, and the science behind positive thinking

- Using youth sports to teach confidence, resilience, and fun

- Talking to daughters about body image, strength, and healthy habits

- Handling food, treats, and moderation with kids

- Why date nights and intentional family time matter

- Managing technology and screen time at home

- Balancing work from home with family life

- J.R.'s #1 piece of advice for girl dads

💬 Key Moments:

"Your thoughts become your reality."

"The key word is yet. Emphasizing that future outcome."

"It's that act of optimism versus delusional optimism."

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Meet J.R. Kenna

01:13 Family and work life in Pittsburgh

02:47 Why writing things down and goal setting matter

05:28 The power of words and thoughts in shaping reality

08:48 The science behind manifestation and positive thinking

11:13 Coaching his daughter's softball team

15:00 Fun, confidence, and resilience in sports

19:15 Body image, strength, and healthy habits

21:28 Creating lifelong memories through shared activities

24:59 Food, treats, and moderation with kids

29:59 Date nights and intentional family time

34:58 Managing technology and screen time

40:00 How words and actions shape children's development

45:00 Balancing work from home and family life

47:06 Final advice for girl dads: be authentic and have fun

🔗 Connect with Madeline Anderson:

Website: www.girldadnetwork.com

Instagram: @girldadnetwork

YouTube: @girldadnetwork

Get a Copy of Girl Dad: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dad-Stories-Lessons-Daughters/dp/B0BNTXPRWQ

This episode explores the impact of praise on your daughter's motivation and self-esteem, emphasizing the importance of effort-based praise over outcome and navigating appearance praise. Madeline Anderson shares research insights and practical tips for parents to foster a growth mindset and healthy self-image in their daughters.

In this episode:

• The effects of outcome praise versus effort praise
• Research by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck on motivation
• The risks of appearance-based praise and self-objectification
• Strategies for praising character and effort
• How praise influences a child's risk-taking and resilience

Sound bites:
🎙️ "Praise effort, not just outcome."
🎙️ "Effort-based praise inspires a growth mindset."
🎙️ "Confidence based on external praise is fragile."

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to the importance of praise in child development
01:22 - Research findings on praise and motivation from Carol Dweck's studies
02:45 - The dangers of outcome-based praise and fixed mindset
04:35 - The impact of appearance-based praise and self-objectification
08:34 - The risks of frequent body-focused comments and their effects
11:27 - Practical alternatives to common praise phrases
13:23 - Summary: mindful praise and fostering a growth mindset

🔗 Connect with Madeline Anderson:

Website: ⁠www.girldadnetwork.com⁠
Instagram: @girldadnetwork
YouTube: @girldadnetwork
Get a Copy of Girl Dad: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dad-Stories-Lessons-Daughters/dp/B0BNTXPRWQ⁠

Liz Ortenberger, CEO of SafeNest, joins the show to help fathers navigate one of the hardest jobs in parenting a daughter: keeping her safe without keeping her sheltered. From modeling respectful behavior at home to spotting the early red flags of people who are more likely to be violent, Liz breaks down what actually protects daughters and it starts long before the "big talk."

This conversation covers consent and bodily autonomy, the impact of social media and pornography on how kids understand relationships, and how dads can build the kind of trust that makes daughters come to them first, not last.

In this episode:

• Why daughters learn more from what fathers do than what they say
• How to spot love bombing and other early red flags
• Talking to teens about consent and bodily autonomy, without the awkward silence
• The real impact of social media and porn on how kids see relationships
• Building an environment where daughters actually come to you with problems
• Teaching daughters to trust their own intuition

🔗 Connect with Madeline Anderson:

Website: ⁠www.girldadnetwork.com⁠
Instagram: @girldadnetwork
YouTube: @girldadnetwork
Get a Copy of Girl Dad: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dad-Stories-Lessons-Daughters/dp/B0BNTXPRWQ⁠

What does it actually take to build a demanding career and show up as a present, intentional dad? In this episode, commercial real estate professional Josh Rothstein shares how he blends the two, from waking up early to protect quality time, to bringing his daughter into his work world so she can see him in action.

Josh opens up about the emotional milestones of parenting, how he uses everyday work experiences to teach his daughter resilience and patience, and why effort-based praise matters more than outcomes when building a child's confidence. He also shares how honest conversations have shaped his daughter's empathy, and the shared hobbies that keep their bond strong.

Whether you're a busy parent trying to find balance or just looking for practical ways to be more present, this conversation is full of real, actionable takeaways.

In this episode:

• Work-life balance strategies for busy dads
• Involving your kids in your professional life to build connection
• Teaching resilience and patience through real-life examples
• The role of empathy and understanding in parenting
• Activities that build confidence and bonding
• Why early mornings can be a game-changer for presence and productivity
• Using teachable moments to talk about diversity and disabilities
• The impact of effort-based praise on kids' confidence
• Balancing career success with meaningful family time

🔗 Connect with Madeline Anderson:

Website: www.girldadnetwork.comInstagram: @girldadnetworkYouTube: @girldadnetworkGet a Copy of Girl Dad: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dad-Stories-Lessons-Daughters/dp/B0BNTXPRWQ

Your daughter wants you to be happy. It might sound selfish, but it's actually one of the most important things you'll ever give her.

Most dads were handed a myth: being a good father means disappearing — your needs go to the bottom of the list, permanently, and if you still want things for yourself, that's selfish. In this solo episode, I'm breaking that myth apart. I'll show you why over-sacrificing without ever putting your own oxygen mask on first quietly drains you, and why that flatness doesn't stay contained to you. It moves through your whole house.

Then we discuss emotional contagion, modeling, and the blueprint your daughter is silently building right now for what love, happiness, and adulthood are supposed to look like, built entirely from watching you. This episode closes with real, practical steps to start living a fuller life this week, without an ounce of guilt.

What You'll Learn:

• The myth about "good dads" that's quietly draining fathers everywhere
• The oxygen mask principle, and why "if there's time left over" never actually works
• What emotional contagion is, and why your mood moves through your entire household
• How your daughter is building her blueprint for partnership just by watching you
• The real difference between fulfillment and self-indulgence (most dads get this wrong)
• One thing you can do today to start reclaiming a life that's actually yours

🔗 Connect with Madeline Anderson:

• Website: www.girldadnetwork.com
• Instagram: @girldadnetwork
• YouTube: @girldadnetwork
• Get a Copy of Girl Dad: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dad-Stories-Lessons-Daughters/dp/B0BNTXPRWQ

Most high-performing dads have built something impressive, like a career, a business, a reputation. But somewhere along the way, the thing that matters most quietly started slipping. Kevin Davis knows that story from the inside. In this episode, the author of How I Lost My Left Nut and Other Life Lessons and founder of Maxed Out Man joins us to talk about what it really takes to win at home, not just at work.

This conversation is honest, practical, and full of the kind of wisdom that only comes from a man who has lived it.

What You'll Learn:

• Why so many high-performing men are winning at work and quietly losing at home — and how to catch it before it's too late
• Why Kevin believes your marriage has to come before your kids — and why daughters actually thrive because of it
• What it means to get a "PhD in your wife" — and why it changes everything
• How to transition intentionally from work mode to family mode so your presence is actually felt
• The calendar audit that reveals whether your priorities match your actions
• How the way you love your wife shapes what your daughter believes she deserves
• What it means to be the man your daughter would want to marry

Resources Mentioned:

• Website: https://www.maxedoutman.com
• Book: How I Lost My Left Nut and Other Life Lessons https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Left-Other-Life-Lessons/dp/B0GZKMPMHY
• Marriage Toolkit: https://toolkit.maxedoutman.com

Connect with Kevin Davis:

• Instagram: @maxed.out.man
• Website: www.maxedoutman.com

🔗 Connect with Madeline Anderson:

• Website: www.girldadnetwork.com
• Instagram: @girldadnetwork
• YouTube: @girldadnetwork
• Get a Copy of Girl Dad: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dad-Stories-Lessons-Daughters/dp/B0BNTXPRWQ

What does it actually look like to raise a daughter with intention in today's digital world? Chris Collard joins us for an honest, thoughtful, and genuinely joyful conversation. Chris is an Austin-based girl dad to Elle, and this episode is full of the kind of wisdom that only comes from living it.

We talk about intentional parenting, the transformative power of nature, navigating technology and social media with your daughter, and what it means to empower her to be independent, brave, and unafraid of the sharp edges of the world.

What You'll Learn:

• Why intentional parenting makes all the difference and what it actually looks like day to day
• How nature can be one of the most powerful tools a dad has for connection and growth
• How to empower your daughter to be independent and brave without letting go too soon
• Practical ways to navigate technology and social media in your home
• Why joy is the foundation of a healthy family and how to protect it
• How the parent-child relationship has to evolve as she grows up
• Why community and chosen family matter more than most dads realize

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Navigating Today's Chaos: A Young Woman's Perspective
• 01:25 - Family Dynamics and Intentional Parenting
• 07:44 - The Transformative Power of Nature
• 15:22 - Empowering Independence in Daughters
• 20:55 - Navigating Technology and Social Pressures
• 27:11 - The Evolving Parent-Child Relationship
• 30:16 - Lessons Learned: The Wisdom of Daughters
• 35:52 - Building Community and Family Connections
• 38:10 - Final Thoughts: Advice for Dads and Daughters

🔗 Connect with Madeline Anderson:

• Website: www.girldadnetwork.com
• Instagram: @girldadnetwork
• Get a Copy of Girl Dad: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dad-Stories-Lessons-Daughters/dp/B0BNTXPRWQ