The Journey of a Christian Dad Podcast

3 Things Every Christian Dad Needs to Know About His Wife & Daughters — Stasi Eldredge

Do you really understand what your wife and daughters need from you?

As Christian husbands and fathers, we want our wives to feel loved, our daughters to know their worth, and our families to grow closer to God. But sometimes we don't fully understand the deepest desires of the women we love.

In this episode, Stasi Eldredge joins us. She is a bestselling author, co-founder of Wild at Heart, and coauthor of Captivating with her husband, John Eldredge.

Stasi shares powerful insights into the heart of a woman, the importance of a father's influence, emotional healing, marriage, and what it means to develop a genuinely intimate relationship with Jesus.

Captivating changed the way I understand my own wife and daughters.

The 3 Core Desires of a Woman's Heart

Stasi explains three desires that can help husbands and fathers better understand the women in their lives:

1. To Be Romanced — Pursued, Seen, and Delighted In

Romance isn't just candlelit dinners or flowers. Women want to know they matter, that someone notices them, and that they're worth pursuing.

For daughters, Dad is often the first man they look to for answers to important questions: Do you see me? Am I beautiful? Am I worth your attention?

2. To Be Irreplaceable — To Know Their Lives Matter

Women want to know they play a meaningful role that no one else can fill.

Stasi talks about how easily the everyday work of motherhood can be overlooked or diminished, even though being a mother is a profoundly important calling.

3. To Offer Their Unique Beauty

True beauty is much deeper than physical appearance.

Stasi explains how women face powerful pressures and wounds surrounding beauty, and why understanding their identity in Christ can help them see themselves through God's eyes rather than the world's expectations.

Growing in Spiritual Intimacy with Jesus

What does it actually mean to have a conversation with God?

Stasi and I explore prayer as a two-way relationship, recognizing God's presence in everyday moments, and the different ways we can experience God as Father, brother, and friend.

Stasi introduces her newest book, The Ladder of Love: A Pathway to Emotional Healing and Spiritual Intimacy with Jesus, explaining how our identity must rest on the firm foundation of Jesus rather than work, finances, accomplishments, or relationships.

Emotional Healing and Building a Stronger Marriage

Stasi shares openly about a difficult season in her marriage to John Eldredge.

Rather than placing all the blame on each other, they recognized how their own wounds were affecting their relationship and pursued individual counseling and healing.

She explains how becoming secure in God's love helped her stay present during difficult conversations rather than running away from them.

A stronger marriage begins with two people willing to grow, heal, forgive, and pursue God.

Spiritual Warfare Isn't Just for Men

Stasi challenges the assumption that spiritual warfare is primarily a man's responsibility. Women are also called to stand strong, protect their families, and fight for truth.

Questions Every Christian Dad Should Consider

• Does my wife feel pursued, valued, and appreciated?

• Do my daughters know that I see and delight in who they are?

• Am I building my identity on Jesus—or my career, money, and accomplishments?

• What wounds from my past could be affecting my marriage or parenting?

• Am I making room to listen to God rather than only speaking to Him?

• Can I have difficult conversations while remaining secure in God's love?

This Week's Challenge

Be intentional about helping your wife and daughters feel seen, valued, and loved.

Ask your wife what helps her feel appreciated and pursued. Spend some uninterrupted time with your daughter. Notice something unique about her character, and tell her what you admire.

Then spend time with God and ask:

"Father, show me where I need healing, and help me love my family the way You love me."

Connect with Stasi Eldredge

• Website: https://wildatheart.org

• Check out Stasi's new book CLICK HERE: The Ladder of Love

• Books: Captivating, Becoming Myself, Defiant Joy

• Podcast: Captivated

• Ministry: Wild at Heart

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Our mission is to help dads become stronger spiritual leaders in their families.

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You don't have to be a perfect father. But you can be intentional about becoming the father and husband God created you to be.

In this episode we get into a recurring issue that I've had and haven't been able to fully overcome.

Have you ever reacted with anger and didn't know why?

In this episode we talk about hidden beliefs that influence our emotions, decisions and relationships. Sometimes there is something happening below the surface that is creating strong reactions.

Why do we repeat patterns we promised ourselves that we would never repeat?

And how can a Christian father honestly confront what is happening inside him without becoming trapped in guilt or shame?

Real transformation begins when a man is billing to tell the truth about what is happening inside him, receiving God's grace and taking responsibility for the way he leads and loves.

FREE BONUS: Would you like a list of questions to ask yourself to help you start discovering your hidden beliefs so that you can break your patterns? Email me at [email protected] to get the questions.

For more content from Dr David Pendergrass check out his website HERE

Join our FREE Facebook Community, The Journey of a Christian Dad HERE

We'd love you to rate us on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform and I'd love to read it on the next episode!

And check out my wife and daughters books and journals HERE

(Nate Saves the World is a kid's book that parents LOVE to read too!)

What happens when a man stops hiding, gets honest about what is happening inside him and allows God to bring healing into every area of his life?

In this episode, I sit down with Tim Ross for a raw and practical conversation about fatherhood, marriage, emotional health, communication and spiritual leadership.

Many men have learned how to provide, achiece, work hard and carry responsibility; but they were never taught how to identify what they are feeling or communicate it honestly.

When pain, fear, dissapointment and insecurity remain burried; they don't dissapear. They often show up in our marriages, our parenting and the way we respond to people closest to us.

Tim challenges us to create homes where honesty is welcomed, difficult conversations can happen and family members feel safe enough to tell the truth.

We discuss the influence our fathers have on us, the patterns we unknowingly carry into adulthood, and how Christian dads can prevent unhealthy cycles from being passed to the next generation.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why honesty and vulnerability require strength
• How unresolved pain affects marriage and fatherhood
• Creating emotional safety within your family is important
• Learning to communicate what you are actually feeling
• How your relationship with your father can shape the dad you become
• Breaking unhealthy, generational family patterns
• Listening to your children without immediately trying to fix them
• Why husbands and wive need honest conversations
• Taking responsibility for your healing and personal growth
• The difference between being physically present and emotionally available
• Allowing God to transform the areas men often try to hide
• Becoming a father your children feel safe talking to

Your children don't need a perfect dad.

They need a dad who is present, humble, honest, willing to listen, and committed to growing.

One of the most important questions a dad can ask is:

"Have I created the kind of relationship where my wife and children feel safe telling me the truth?"

Healing begins when we stop pretending.

Strong marriages are built through honest conversations.

And generational cycles are broken when one man has the courage to acknowledge what happened to him, pursue healing, and choose a healthier path for his family.

This episode will encourage you to be a more emotionally present husband, a more approachable dad and a more authentic follower of Jesus.

***Share this episode with a husband and/or dad who wants to lead his family with greater honesty, humility and love. We'd love you to rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts. I'd love to read your review on an upcoming episode!***

My apologies to the listeners and Tim, we recorded earlier this year and it should have been released before now.

Tim Ross's book came out May 2026. You can buy it on Amazon HERE

Join our FREE Facebook group The Journey of a Christian Dad HERE

In this episode, we talk with Don Ross about faith, fatherhood, marriage, leadership and becoming more intentional about the man God is calling you to be.

It's easy for dads to get caught up in providing, working, solving problems, and checking things off the list; while untentionally becoming passive in the areas that matter most.

Don shares lessons from his own journey and the experiences that have shaped how he approaches his faith, his family and leadership.

We talk about the responsibility men have to step up; not by trying to control everything or pretending to have all the answers, but by being present, taking responsibility, pursuing God and intentionally leading the people they love.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why Christian men can't afford to be passive
• What spiritual leadership actually looks like inside the home
• The difference between providing your your family and truly leading your family
• How a man's relationship with God impacts his marriage and children
• The importance of being intentional with your time and priorities
• Learning from difficult seasons instead of allowing them to define you
• Why fathers need other strong men around them
• Taking responsibility instead of blaming circumstances
• Becoming the kind of husband and dad your family can trust and follow
• What is looks like to keep growing as a man, husband, father and follower of Christ

One of the biggest questions every dad should wrestle with is:

"Am I intentionally becoming the man my wife and children need me to be?"

You don't have to have fatherhood figured out.

But you do have to keep showing up.

Keep pursuing God.

Keep having the hard conversations.

Keep loving your wife.

Keep investing in your kids.

And keep taking the next step toward becoming the leader your family deserves.

If you're a Christian dad who wants to grow in faith, marriage, fatherhood and leadership, this coversation will challenge and encourage you.

If this episode helped you, share it with another dad who needs to hear it AND we'd love for you to rate and review the show on Apple Podcast/Amazon/Audible/Spotify! I'll read your review on an upcoming episode.

Connect with Don Ross at his website Manhood Tribes HERE

Join our FREE Facebook group The Journey of a Christian Dad HERE

Check out my wife's children's books HERE (Nate Saves the World is my favorite!)

The Big Idea: Marriage isn't dying - It's Misunderstood

Emerson explains the dynamic that has helped millions of couples:

"Without Love, She reacts without Respect. Without Respect, He reacts without Love." - The Crazy Cycle

Many husbangs aren't bad men, They're tired. They feel nothing they do is good enough. So they withdraw. And when they withdraw, their wives feel unloved. And the cycle spins.

Why "Happy Wife, Happy Life" is Dangerous

When a man bases his worth on his wife's happiness:

-He makes her his emotional god.

-He becomes insecure.

-He becomes reactive.

-He slowly loses hope.

Emerson reframes this powerfully, "Is your value God-given... or spouse driven?"

God may use your wife to refine you, but she does not get to define you.

Why Men Stonewall (And Why It's Misunderstood)

University of Washington research (2,000 couples over 20 years) revealed:

-85% of those who withdraw in conflict are men.

-Men's heart rate spike into fight-or-flight mode during heated arguments.

-Withdrawal is an attempt to de-escalate, not to reject.

But wives interpret it as: "I don't love you."

That's where mutual understanding matters more than communication.

The Sexual Disconnect: What Most Couples Miss

Men often think, "If she loved me, she'd meet my sexual needs."

Women often think, "If he loved me, he'd emotionally connect first."

The truth? Both want emotional and sexual connection. They just start from different ends.

"You have to love her emotionally apart from sexual agenda."

When she feels safe, secure and pursued, her desire increases.

When he feels respected and wanted, his heart opens.

This isn't manipulation. It's understanding design.

Different Shades of Right

One of the most practical lightbuld moments:

Most marriage conflict is not moral, it's preference.

It's not black and white, but different shades of right.

Instead of: "I'm right, you're wrong." Try: "We're teammates. Same team. Same goal. Different plays."

That language changes everything.

Emerson's Challenge:

Picture Jeses standing beyond your wife's shoulder. When she annoys you... Ask yourself, "Would I respond this way if I knew I was doing this unto Christ?"

You would die for her. The real question is, "Can you live with her... patiently, consistently and sacrificially?"

Jeff and Ty joined us to talk about overcoming loneliness and building community right where you are.

In a culture where garage doors close before neighbors can say hello and isolation is the norm, this book offers a simple solution.

-Ever have a big goal that you wanted to complete, but things got in the way?

-Do you wish you had a group of guys or neighbors to spend time with?

-What is an often overlooked mission field?

-Can your family get involved with Party in the Front?

Check out Jeff and Ty's book Party in the Front! HERE

Join our FREE Facebook group The Journey of a Christian Dad HERE

Check out my wife's kids book that helps children develop resilience, perseverance and learning from failure in her book Never Will I Ever. HERE is a LINK

Today Glen Henry joins us. He started making videos years ago about real life, including the messy stuff. He is the creator of Beleaf In Fatherhood that has hundreds of thousands of followers.

His life was changed when his wife asked him what his 5 year plan for their family was? And then she walked out of the room.

He was a hip-hop artist that didn't want kids and now he is one of the most powerful voices reshaping what it means to be a modern dad. Glen and his wife have a podcast called How Married Are You?

And Glen has a new book coming out called Father Yourself First: Everything You Need to Become the Father Your Family Deserves.

Glen grew up without a father figure in his life and made a decision to become a great father. He saw an example of what he wanted to become when a youth pastor invited him into his life. Glen saw how the youth pastor's family lived and that was something he had never seen.

On this episode we talk about:

-Having a Poverty Mentality

-Comparison is the thief of joy

-Glen's first prayer was "God, please kill me!"

-When Glen called his dad seeking permission to commit suicide

-Presence is a gift (great time of year to focus on this)

-Patience is long-suffering

Check out Glen David's new book on Amazon HERE

Here is the Beleaf In Fatherhood FB page CLICK HERE

JOIN OUR FREE FB GROUP THE JOURNEY OF A CHRISTIAN DAD HERE

Check out the movie I think everyone needs to see Soul On Fire HERE

Michael Ray shares stories of overcoming adversity and living with joy. We talk about the time when God spoke and Smile Project Louisville got started.

I saw Michael on Facebook and new I wanted to get to know him and why he wants to put smiles on other people's faces. He has a passion for it and I knew there would be some stories I wanted to hear.

AND, I want to smile more! Who doesn't!!! :-)

Smile and Be The Reason Someone Smiles Today!

AND if you haven't seen Soul on Fire yet, go buy your tickets right now!!! One of the best movies I've ever seen about the best human I've ever known!

And while you are watching, look for my family in the movie as well as William H Macy, John Corbett and Joel Courtney!

Watch the Soul On Fire movie trailer and GET TICKETS HERE

Connect with Michael Ray through his Facebook Page HERE

Join our FREE Facebook group The Journey of a Christian Dad HERE

Check out a book I helped write, Notes from Dad HERE

Check out my wife and daughter's books HERE

The SOUL ON FIRE MOVIE COMES OUT TODAY! GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! I highly recommend that you bring your family to go see this movie!!! This is the most inspirational movie I've ever seen, you'll love experiencing this movie at the theater with other people!

In the movie, you will see a great example of unconditional love. John Corbett (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), plays Denny in the movie and you can see him age and see the progession of Parkinson's disease.

My family got to be on set during the filming of the wedding scene of John and Beth O'Leary. My wife took a picture of Denny O'Leary in his wheel chair that day because she saw how happy and joyful he was. John O'Leary says his dad is the most joy filled person he has ever met. And I agree with John, his dad definitely displays the Fruits of the Spirit.

In this episode, I read Denny's excert P is for Parkinson's from The ABC's of Christianity - A Father's Inspiration Advice to his Adult Children. And I also share some of my own thoughts about Denny and reflect on his writing to his adult children that was not meant for the public. But when people found out about what he wrote, they asked for copies. Denny printed about 1,000 of these and I was blessed to receive one from Denny before he passed away.

One thing that blows everyone away, Denny refers to his Parkinson's as a gift. Imagine that, a disease that will progress to the point of you not being able to cause you to become weak, lose to the ability to move and ultimately kill you, and being able to appreciate what receiving his Parkinson's disease made possible and how it changed his life.

There is a quote from Denny in the movie that people love, "You can't choose the path you walk in life, but you can choose how you walk it."

Let me know what your thoughts are about this episode at [email protected] or DM me on Messenger or post in The Journey of a Christian Dad Facebook Group.

I'll post the picture my wife took in The Journey of a Christian Dad Facebook Group. Click HERE to join the FREE group.

WATCH THE MOVIE TRAILER AND BUY YOUR TICKETS at SoulOnFireMovie.com HERE!

Check out John O'Leary's website HERE

Our goal is to insprire 1,000,000 souls over Opening Weekend! Get your tickets today and encourage everyone you know to do the same. I have seen the movie with audiences 6 times and I still can't convey the impact this movie had on the audience. It's an experience, BE A PART OF THE SOUL ON FIRE MOVEMENT!

This episode was recorded on the morning of September 10th. This episode opens with an emotional reflection and 4 things Christian Dads can do right now. And then we get into the show.

When John O'Leary was just 9 years old, he suffered burns over 100% of his body in a house fire. Doctors gave him less than 1% chance to survive. And yet, by God's grace, the love of his parents and the courage of the community, John not only survived - he has gone on to live a life on fire with purpose!

He's a best-selling author, a sought-after speaker, and now the subject of an upcoming major motion picture Soul On Fire, releasing nationwide October 10th.

John's story isn't just about tragedy, it's about faith, family and choosing to live life fully alive.

On this episode, we talk about John's tragedy at 9, self-worth, physical and mental struggle, Jesus examples of how to live and John's memories about his dad Denny O'Leary.

We also share some stories about a few actors in the movie; William H Macy and Joel Courtney.

• What are John's memories of who his dad was and what was it like being selected to give his eulogy?
• When your kids write your eulogy, what will they write?
• Why did John's dad call his Parkinson's disease a gift from God?
• What lessons did John learn while in the hospital for months?
• What's it like when your dad get a life changing medical diagnosis?

This is a movie that the world needs now. It's the story of the greatest human I've met and the stories of all the heros that helped him live and live life on fire!

My immediate thoughts after watching the movie was that I am so grateful I got to see it at the theater with people I love. This is great movie to experience with others.

We are hoping that this movie inspires 1,000,000 people opening weekend.

My ASK is that you bring your family to the movie opening weekend and encourage others to see it as well. It is very important to have a big opening weekend. It helps the movie stay in theaters longer and therefore more people will see it.

Share this episode with others, let people know that you are going to see the movie, use hashtag #soulonfiremovie, and help grow awareness of this movie.

Challenge: Let's fill up theaters and vote for good. Go to a film about family, grace, heros and unconditional love! Talk after the movie about who the heros were and how to live differently. The movie comes out October 10th! Let's do our part to impact the world with this movie.

Please let me know if you are going to the movie. PM me or email me at [email protected] . And if you'd like Ignite Character series that John mentions, I'll send you a free link.

Here is a link to the movie trailer CLICK HERE

Check out the official Soul On Fire movie website and buy tickets HERE

If you liked this episode, listen to John's first appearance on the podcast in 2022 HERE

Join our FREE Facebook Community The Journey of a Christian Dad HERE