Welcome to The 3rd Take.

Three friends. Three perspectives. One conversation.

In the pilot, Rick (@Lifeaccordingtorick), Craig (@singledadreboot), and Flor (@_dadstyle99_) talk about something a lot of men experience but don't always say out loud: why is it so damn hard for us to open up to our friends?

We talk about keeping the “I'm good” mask on, not wanting to be a burden, avoiding the dreaded trauma dump, and why sometimes getting together with your boys to talk sports, work, cars, hobbies, and absolutely everything except your problems is exactly the escape you needed.

But that doesn't mean men don't need somebody to talk to.

Sometimes you just need that one friend you can pull aside and say, “Yo, can I talk to you for a minute?”

No script. No perfect answers. Just three friends talking about life, friendship, fatherhood, relationships, and whatever else comes up.

Think of it as the Life According to Rick multiverse.

You're not listening to a podcast.

You're just sitting with us.

You just happen to be listening.

Episode 42 — Dear Summer

Dear Summer,

I thought we'd do more together.

More adventures. More beach days. More spontaneous trips. More of those moments that make you look around and think, yeah… this is what summer is supposed to feel like.

But if I'm being honest… I didn't really do shit. 😂

I worked. I parented. I handled life. And somewhere along the way, I started feeling like I wasn't making enough memories.

But maybe I had it backwards.

Maybe I was so focused on the big moments that I overlooked the little ones.

In this short, personal episode, I reflect on a summer that didn't go exactly how I planned, the trip that got postponed, the moments I did get to experience with my family, and one simple breakfast with Harlem that reminded me what memories are really made of.

Sometimes the moments that seem insignificant while they're happening become the moments you remember forever.

So, until our next rendezvous…

Your boy,
Rick.

🎙️ Life According to Rick

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#LifeAccordingToRick #DearSummer #Fatherhood #LifeLessons #Family

Episode 41 — Grief Doesn't Have an Expiration Date

Five years ago, I lost my mother.

This episode is a little different. It's personal, it's vulnerable, and it's a conversation about grief—not just what it means to lose someone, but what it means to learn how to live with that loss.

I've lost a lot of people I love throughout my life, and at one point, I became numb. Loss had become too familiar, and I didn't want to feel that kind of pain all over again.

I talk about losing my grandmother, the beautiful life she lived, and how grief can exist alongside gratitude. I also talk about my mother, our estrangement, the lack of closure, and what it's like to grieve a relationship that was left unfinished.

Because grief doesn't look the same for everyone.

Some people cry. Some laugh. Some stay busy. Some become numb. And sometimes, years later, something can bring you right back to a moment you thought you'd already left behind.

But having a good day doesn't mean you've stopped grieving.

Laughing doesn't mean you forgot.

Moving forward doesn't mean you're leaving them behind.

There is no expiration date on missing somebody. There is no expiration date on love.

And if you're grieving, I hope this episode reminds you that you don't have to carry it alone.

🎙️ Life According to Rick

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#LifeAccordingToRick #Grief #GriefJourney #MentalHealth #Healing

Episode 40 — 9 Months Later

November 28th, 2025, I pressed record.

I didn't have a master plan. I didn't know what Life According to Rick was going to become, who would listen, or whether I'd even still be doing this nine months later.

And somehow… here we are.

40 episodes later.

In this episode, I take a step back and reflect on what these last nine months have taught me—not just about podcasting, but about myself.

We talk about the reality of building something while balancing work, marriage, fatherhood, responsibilities, exhaustion, and everything else life throws at you. I also open up about some of the dreams I had when I was younger, the path I thought I was going to take, and why I think some dreams never really leave us.

I talk about the numbers, the moments when I wondered if anybody was actually listening, and the crazy realization that people are pressing play from places all over the world.

Most importantly, I talk about why I keep doing this.

Because maybe Life According to Rick was never supposed to fit neatly into a box.

Maybe it's simply about documenting life while I'm actually living it.

The good.
The bad.
The confusing.
The funny.
The painful.
The moments I understand.
And the moments I absolutely don't.

And if you're thinking about starting something of your own, maybe you don't need to have the whole road figured out.

Maybe you just need to take that leap of faith.

Nine months ago, I did.

This is Episode 40.

And I'm still becoming.

Thanks for being here.

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🎙️ Listen on: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Audible • Amazon Music

Three months ago, Craig @Singledadreboot joined me on Life According to Rick as he prepared to become a dad again at 49. Now Isabella is here, and the 90-day probation period is almost up. 😂👶🏽

We check in on life with a newborn, sleep deprivation, daycare, self-care, marriage, and the crazy differences between raising kids now and 18 years ago.

We also talk about second chances, finding love later in life, our parallel journeys as fathers, and how social media brought our friendship together.

Most importantly, Craig reflects on being on the other side of the bridge and realizing that sometimes life turns out better than you ever imagined.

Isabella made it through 90 days… but how's Dad doing? 😂

What does self-care actually mean?

For me, it's taken years to figure that out.

I've spent most of my life having a complicated relationship with food, my weight, fitness, and the way I see myself. From being the chubby kid who heard that he needed to lose weight, to discovering the confidence that came with working out, to years of falling on and off with the gym, my health journey has never been a straight line.

Then I turned 40.

I started thinking more seriously about my family history, my grandfather who died from a heart attack around the age I am now, and eventually being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Losing nearly 80 pounds changed a lot for me, but I've realized the number on the scale isn't the most important part.

Being able to play with Harlem is.

In this episode, I talk about health, fitness, fatherhood, sleep apnea, learning to rest, taking a mental health day, and why self-care doesn't always mean doing more.

Sometimes it's going to the gym.

Sometimes it's taking a walk.

Sometimes it's shaving, putting on a fresh outfit, watching your favorite show, sitting in silence...

And sometimes it's sleeping until 1:30 in the afternoon because your body finally told you to stop.

I'm still figuring it out.

I'm still learning.

But I'm finally learning how to take care of Rick.

What started as a conversation about Spider-Man became something much deeper.

In this episode, I’m closing out my Spider-Man trilogy by looking back at the different versions of Peter Parker that grew alongside me — from the cartoons I watched as a kid, to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield’s emotional journey, and Tom Holland bringing Spider-Man into a new generation.

But this episode isn’t just about a superhero.

It’s about growing up, the memories that shape us, and realizing that the things we loved as kids can become the things we share with our own children.

Now I get to watch Harlem begin his own Spider-Man story.

Because sometimes the little moments become the big memories.

Welcome to Episode 37 of Life According To Rick:
The Spider-Man Who Raised Me 🕷️

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Spider-Man has always been more than just a movie to me. It’s childhood, imagination, and the stories that stay with us long after the credits roll.

But this weekend reminded me that the biggest memories aren’t always created during the biggest moments.

From a spontaneous beach trip with my family, watching Harlem overcome a fear, Family Fun Day at Canobie Lake Park, a family cookout, and the simple moments in between — this episode is about slowing down and appreciating the memories we’re creating while we’re living them.

I also share my thoughts on Spider-Man, Peter Parker’s struggle between who he is and who the world needs him to be, the importance of connection, and why these stories continue to mean so much.

Because one day, the little moments we almost overlook become the memories our families carry forever.

The little moments become the big memories.

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In this episode of Life According to Rick, we take a trip down memory lane and talk about something that has always been a part of me: the love for movies, storytelling, and superheroes.

Before I was a husband and a father, I was a kid waking up on Saturday mornings, grabbing a bowl of cereal, watching cartoons, and exploring different worlds. That love for stories grew into a passion for movies, from watching Siskel & Ebert to the magic of going to the theater and seeing those unforgettable previews.

We talk about the evolution of Marvel, from Blade and X-Men to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, the emotional impact of Avengers: Endgame, and why these characters became more than just superheroes.

With the excitement surrounding Marvel’s future, we discuss why seeing these worlds finally collide feels like a dream come true for fans who grew up imagining these moments.

Because movies are more than entertainment.

They’re memories.

They’re experiences.

They’re the moments we share with the people we love.

The geek never left…

He just grew up.

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In this episode, Rick takes a look back at the journey that shaped him into the man he is today.

From his younger years, becoming a father, learning through mistakes, facing difficult chapters, and growing through life’s challenges, Rick reflects on the different versions of himself that all played a part in creating who he is today.

Rick also celebrates his daughter Kiana’s birthday, reflects on having his family become part of the Life According to Rick journey, and talks about the lessons his children have taught him along the way.

Transformation isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about becoming more of who you were always meant to be.

Every version of Rick mattered.

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