Fatherhood changes your priorities, routines, relationships, and sense of purpose. But what happens when being a dad becomes your entire identity and you begin to wonder where the rest of you went?

In Episode 44 of The Dad Edit Podcast, we have an honest conversation about identity after becoming a father, why so many dads feel like they lose themselves in parenthood, and how men can continue growing without stepping away from their responsibilities at home.

We explore the transition into fatherhood at different stages of life, from becoming a young dad to raising adult children and adjusting to a quieter home. We also discuss the guilt dads often feel when taking time for themselves, the hobbies and dreams that sometimes disappear, and why personal growth is still an important part of being a present father and supportive partner.

This episode is about more than trying to become the man you were before having children. It is about respecting the life you have built, accepting that your dreams may change, and discovering who you are becoming through fatherhood.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why becoming a dad can change your entire identity

• The guilt fathers feel when prioritizing themselves

• Losing hobbies, friendships, freedom, and personal goals

• How fatherhood changes through different seasons of life

• Adjusting when your children become more independent

• Reconnecting with your partner after years of active parenting

• Letting go of the person you used to be without losing yourself

• How fathers can use their experience to support other dads

• Finding balance between family responsibilities and personal growth

• Becoming a better version of yourself through fatherhood

Your children do not need you to erase yourself completely. They need to see a father who continues to grow, evolve, care for his health, pursue meaningful goals, and show them what a fulfilled man looks like.

Maybe the goal is not to hold on to the person you were before becoming a dad. Maybe the goal is to become someone better without disappearing in the process.

If this conversation resonates with you, share it with another dad who may be struggling with his identity, purpose, or place within his family.

The Dad Edit Podcast is a fatherhood podcast created by dads, for dads, covering parenting, marriage, men’s mental health, relationships, personal growth, community, and the everyday reality of raising a family.

When your kids will not listen, it can turn into frustration fast: repeated instructions, raised voices, tantrums, power struggles, and that feeling that you are losing control right alongside them.

In Episode 43 of The Dad Edit Podcast, we talk honestly about listening and tantrums for dads. From toddler meltdowns over the small stuff to teenagers slamming doors and pushing boundaries, this conversation is about what is really happening underneath the behavior and how fathers can respond without making the moment worse.

We get into how to handle toddler tantrums, what to do when your child is acting out for attention, discipline without yelling, setting clear boundaries, staying calm in public meltdowns, and why consistency and structure matter so much in parenting. We also talk about the importance of parents being on the same page, circling back after emotions cool down, and recognizing that kids are still learning how to communicate big feelings.

This is not about raising perfectly behaved kids. It is about becoming the calm, steady dad your child can learn from when things get messy.

If you are a dad trying to figure out how to get your kids to listen, manage tantrums, build better communication, and parent with more patience, this episode is for you.

The Dad Edit is a fatherhood podcast by dads, for dads - real conversations about parenting, family, relationships, mental health, and the everyday pressure of raising kids.

Work-Life Balance for Dads: Stop Chasing Perfect Balance | The Dad Edit Podcast Episode 42

Is work-life balance actually possible for dads, or is chasing it making us feel like we are constantly failing?

In Episode 42 of The Dad Edit Podcast, Andrew, Ryan, and Jeff get honest about the pressure modern fathers carry: providing for your family, being present with your kids, showing up for your partner, taking care of your health, building friendships, and somehow keeping it all together.

This conversation is not about becoming a perfectly balanced dad. It is about recognizing that fatherhood moves in seasons. Some weeks, work needs more from you. Other weeks, your family, mental health, fitness, relationship, or personal life has to come first. The goal is not to do everything perfectly at once—it is to communicate, stay organized, ask for support, and be fully present where you are.

The guys talk about the comparison trap on social media, the myth of “having it all,” why dads need community, and how admitting you are overwhelmed can be one of the strongest things you do as a man.

If you are a dad feeling stretched thin, behind, burned out, or like you are dropping the ball everywhere, this episode is for you. You are not failing, you are carrying a lot.

In this episode:

• Work-life balance for dads and why “perfect balance” is unrealistic
• Dad burnout, stress, self-talk, and mental health
• Balancing fatherhood, marriage, work, fitness, and personal goals
• The pressure fathers put on themselves
• How social media comparison affects dads
• Why communication and support systems matter for men
• Staying organized during busy family seasons
• Building a real community for dads

Follow The Dad Edit for raw, honest conversations about fatherhood, men’s mental health, relationships, community, and becoming better dads, without pretending we have it all figured out.

Join us for our monthly Dad Walk every third Saturday at Kiwanis Park in London, Ontario. Come walk, talk, connect, or just be around other dads. No pressure. No speeches. Just community.

This is one from the archives.

In this special Dad Edit Archives episode, Andrew, Ryan, and Jeff share one of their first ever attempts at recording the podcast - a raw, early trial conversation about the “dad toolbox” and the skills every modern father is still learning to build.

The guys talk about the practical side of fatherhood, from being handy around the house to knowing when to ask for help, tap into your village, or use the resources around you. They also get into the modern challenges dads face today, including technology, internet safety, social media, misinformation, and how fast the world is changing for our kids.

But this conversation goes deeper than tools, repairs, and DIY projects.

Released during Men’s Mental Health Month, this archive episode also highlights the emotional tools dads need: emotional intelligence, active listening, empathy, difficult conversations, stress management, and learning how to model healthy coping skills for your children. The guys reflect on what it means to be vulnerable without feeling weak, how to support your partner and kids through hard moments, and why being present matters more than pretending to have all the answers.

This episode is rough, honest, and unpolished because it comes from the early days of The Dad Edit. But that is also what makes it special. It captures the beginning of the show’s mission: real conversations about fatherhood, parenting, masculinity, mental health, family, and the everyday work of becoming a better dad.

If you are a father trying to grow, lead your family, support your kids emotionally, have better conversations, or simply level up your own dad toolbox, this episode is for you.

Welcome to The Dad Edit Archives: The Dad Toolbox.

Before The Dad Edit became what it is today, there was this conversation.

In this special archive episode, Andrew, Ryan, and Jeff share one of their first ever attempts at recording the podcast a raw, honest, and unpolished conversation about modern fatherhood, dad stereotypes, and what it really means to show up as a present father.

The guys break down the familiar labels dads often get boxed into: the fun dad, the clueless dad, the disciplinarian, and the provider. But instead of accepting those stereotypes at face value, they explore what sits underneath them, creating a safe home, being emotionally available, supporting your partner, leading with love, and learning how to be involved even when you do not have all the answers.

Released during Men’s Mental Health Month, this hidden episode from The Dad Edit archives feels especially important. So much of fatherhood happens quietly. The pressure to provide, the fear of getting it wrong, the desire to be better than what you saw growing up, and the challenge of balancing strength with emotional intelligence are all real parts of being a dad.

This conversation is not perfect. It was never meant to be. It is one of the first steps in what would become The Dad Edit — three dads having honest conversations about parenting, marriage, masculinity, mental health, family, and the everyday reality of raising kids.

If you are a father trying to be more present, more emotionally aware, more involved, or simply better than yesterday, this episode is for you.

Welcome to The Dad Edit Archives: Breaking Dad Stereotypes.

Episode 41: Growing Up Too Fast for Dads - Are We Letting Them Lose Their Childhood?

When do kids actually “grow up”? Is it when they stop playing with toys, start caring what people think, take on responsibility, or lose the freedom to be fully themselves?

In this episode of The Dad Edit, the guys have a real and honest conversation about childhood, growing up too fast, protecting innocence, and preparing kids for the real world. As dads, we want our children to stay creative, curious, playful, and full of imagination for as long as possible but, we also know the world will eventually challenge them, pressure them, and force them to face hard lessons.

The conversation explores the tension every father feels: Do we protect our kids from the world, or prepare them for it? The answer is not simple. From childhood imagination and peer pressure, to responsibility, confidence, creativity, and letting kids pursue what they love without judgment, this episode digs into what it really means to raise children without rushing them out of childhood.

The guys also reflect on their own experiences growing up, the pressure to “be a man,” the loss of creativity in adulthood, and how fathers can help their children carry childlike curiosity into real life without becoming naive or unprepared.

This is an episode for dads who are watching their kids change, grow, gain independence, and slowly need them less, while still trying to stay present for every small moment before it becomes the last time.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How dads can protect childhood without sheltering their kids
• Why kids feel pressure to grow up too fast
• The difference between innocence, naivety, and maturity
• Encouraging your child’s passions instead of shutting them down
• Why creativity and imagination matter long after childhood
• Teaching responsibility without killing joyPreparing kids for the real world through small everyday lessons
• The emotional reality of watching your child grow and change
• Why childhood should end naturally, not because of pressure

At the heart of this episode is a simple reminder: our job as fathers is not to rush our kids into adulthood, and it is not to hold them back forever. It is to help them grow without losing themselves.

Follow The Dad Edit for honest conversations about fatherhood, parenting, masculinity, marriage, discipline, growth, and the real emotional work of being a dad.

Join us for our monthly Dad Walk every third Saturday at Kiwanis Park in London, Ontario no speeches, no pressure, just dads walking, talking, and connecting.

Episode 40 of The Dad Edit Podcast is one of our most honest conversations yet. We dive into the growing debate around “weaponized incompetence” in relationships and fatherhood, why so many dads get labeled as disconnected at home, where some of those frustrations come from, and what modern fatherhood actually requires from men today.

This episode isn’t about attacking fathers. It’s about accountability, partnership, communication, and showing up fully for your family. We talk about the pressure modern couples face, balancing work and parenting, emotional labor, resentment in relationships, and why being a great dad means more than just paying bills.

From household responsibilities to marriage communication, stay-at-home parenting, and breaking outdated stereotypes about dads, this conversation is raw, funny, reflective, and real.

If you’re a father, husband, partner, or even preparing for family life someday this episode will hit home.

🎧 Follow The Dad Edit Podcast for weekly conversations about fatherhood, masculinity, marriage, mental health, self-improvement, and building stronger families.

Episode 39: Youth Sports for Dads - When Kids’ Sports Become a Money Trap

Youth sports used to feel simple: sign up for a local team, practice a couple nights a week, play games on the weekend, and enjoy being part of something. But for a lot of families today, kids’ sports have become expensive, competitive, time-consuming, and stressful.

In Episode 39 of The Dad Edit, Andrew, Ryan, and Jeff talk about the rising pressure around youth sports, from hockey and football to gymnastics, boxing, jiu-jitsu, dance, and travel teams. The conversation explores how dads can support their kids’ interests without letting sports take over the family’s finances, schedule, or identity.

The guys reflect on their own childhood experiences with sports, the confidence and friendships that came from being part of a team, and the reality that not every family had the money or access to participate fully. They also talk about the modern pressure on parents to buy better equipment, pay for private coaching, join extra leagues, travel for tournaments, and keep kids “competitive” before they even know what they truly love.

This episode is for any dad trying to figure out how to encourage his kids, expose them to new activities, build discipline and resilience, and still keep sports fun. Because youth sports can teach kids teamwork, accountability, confidence, and follow-through but they should not bankrupt the family or become a parent’s second chance at an old dream.

At the heart of the episode is one question every sports parent should ask: Who are youth sports really for the kids, or the parents?

Listen in for a real, funny, and honest conversation about kids’ sports, parenting pressure, money, discipline, and helping children find what they love without losing the joy along the way.

Episode 38: 90s TV Dads - The Sitcom Fathers Who Raised a Generation

Growing up in the 90s, a lot of us learned about fatherhood from TV dads before we ever became dads ourselves.

From Uncle Phil in Fresh Prince to Tim Taylor in Home Improvement, Danny Tanner in Full House, and Carl Winslow in Family Matters these sitcom fathers shaped how an entire generation viewed parenting, masculinity, family, and showing up for your kids.

In Episode 38 of The Dad Edit Podcast, we dive into the impact of 90s sitcom dads, the lessons those shows quietly taught us, and why modern media feels so different today. We talk about fatherhood, nostalgia, family values, community, growing up without role models, and how TV once created shared family experiences that still influence us as fathers now.

This episode covers:• The most influential sitcom dads of the 90s

• Why shows like Fresh Prince, Boy Meets World, and Full House mattered so much

• How TV shaped our expectations of fatherhood and family life

• The difference between 90s family sitcoms and modern media culture

• Why today’s kids are growing up with YouTubers instead of TV role models

• The importance of presence, community, and positive male influence

If you grew up watching TGIF, sitcom reruns, or family TV nights, this episode is going to hit home.

Listen now and join the conversation about modern fatherhood, parenting, masculinity, and raising good kids in today’s world.

Join us for our monthly Dad Walk in London, Ontario, every third Saturday at 11AM at Kiwanis Park. Follow us on Instagram @thedadpodcast for updates and future episodes.

Episode 37: FAFO Parenting for Dads - Natural Consequences vs Gentle Parenting

As dads, how do we raise strong, respectful, emotionally aware kids without becoming too controlling… or too passive?

In this episode, Andrew, Jeff, Ryan, and Brian have a real, unfiltered conversation about:

• Gentle parenting and emotional intelligence
• Natural consequences and accountability
• Why kids need discomfort to grow
• Discipline vs. punishment
• Participation trophies and resilience
• Teaching responsibility without shame
• Letting kids fail safely
• Preparing children for the real world
• The importance of balance in fatherhood 

This isn’t a parenting expert lecture. It’s four dads talking honestly about modern parenting, discipline, emotional regulation, boundaries, consequences, and what it actually means to raise capable kids in today’s world.

If you’re a father trying to navigate parenting styles, raise resilient children, build stronger family relationships, and become a more intentional dad, this conversation is for you.

The Dad Edit Podcast is a podcast for fathers focused on self-improvement, parenting, masculinity, mental health, relationships, and real conversations about modern fatherhood.

Join us for our monthly Dad Walks in London, Ontario, every third Saturday at 11AM at Kiwanis Park.

Follow, rate, and share the podcast if these conversations resonate with you.