The Mindful Dad

The Mindful Dad

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The Mindful Dad episodes

  • My Son Started High School and I’m Grieving

     A few years ago, I joked with someone that my twelve-year-old still ran to the slides at the park faster than his two-year-old sister. I remember wishing he wouldn’t. The person I told said, “In a couple years you’re going to wish he was still running to the slides. Do not rush it.”

    My son just started high school.

    In this episode I read my essay about raising a teenager while quietly missing the boy he used to be. The goodnight ritual we did for eight years that he no longer finds necessary. The car rides that used to be an hour of talking and are now an hour of AirPods. The pushback, the “why,” the ignored requests, and why I think instant obedience tends to be fear dressed up in better manners.

    I also talk about the conversation I finally had with him about all of it, and the one sentence I landed on.

    This podcast episode releases on 10/13 @ 5AM. If you'f like to read or share the essay, it releases at 6AM on my Substack here: https://odeani.substack.com/publish/post/219959180

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    Resources

    Work With Me 1:1: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/pages/1-1-coaching-service

    365 Dad Journal: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/products/365-dad-journal-physical

    Subscribe to the Inner Journey Dad Newsletter: https://odeani.substack.com/

    Free Shadow Work and Inner Child Guide for Dads: https://threesixfivedad.kit.com/innershadow

    Send us Fan Mail

    13 min
  • How To Be A Present Dad Beyond Putting The Phone Down

    Putting the phone down is a great first step toward being a present dad. But then what? In this episode I talk about the three types of fathers most of us grew up with, why so many dads get stuck somewhere between "around" and truly present, and what actually closes that gap. I also share what presence looks like with a 14-year-old son versus a 4-year-old daughter, and the simple shift that finally got my teenager to sit down and watch a movie with me.

    In this episode:

    • The three types of fathers and why most dads are hovering between the second and third
    • Why putting the phone down is only the beginning of real presence
    • How presence looks different with a teenager than it does with a toddler
    • Why we get stuck when connection requires real emotional effort
    • The Remember the Titans moment and what it taught me about meeting my son where he is
    • Why presence means doing what your kids love, not just what you love


    Free Guide for Dads: https://threesixfivedad.kit.com/innershadow

    365 Dad Journal: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/products/365-dad-journal-physical

     Work With Me 1:1: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/pages/1-1-coaching-service

    Subscribe to the Inner Journey Dad Newsletter: https://odeani.substack.com/

    Send us Fan Mail

    9 min
  • The Truth About Co-Parenting Friction (And How To Fix It)

    Most co-parenting conflict isn't really conflict. It's two people misreading each other. In this episode I break down the four things I actually use to co-parent peacefully with two different moms; including why I stopped assuming ill intent, why I replaced long text messages with voice notes, and the one question that ended a fight I was losing before it started.

    Free Starter Guide for Dads (SEE, STEADY, LOOSEN, RETURN): https://threesixfivedad.kit.com/innershadow

    Grab the 365 Dad Journal: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/products/365-dad-journal-physical

    Work With Me 1:1 Coaching: 
    https://www.threesixfivedad.com/pages/1-1-coaching-service

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    Key Themes:
    The Root Cause of Co-Parenting Friction
    The Danger of Assuming Ill Intent
    Why You Should Stop Sending Long Texts
    Prioritizing Your Child's Needs Over Your Own
    Redefining the Concept of My Time


    Send us Fan Mail

    16 min
  • Why I Meditate For My Children (And Not For Myself)

    If you struggle to stay consistent with your meditation or mindfulness practice, you are probably making one critical mistake: you are doing it for yourself. In this episode, I share why the typical self-development approach to meditation eventually leads to a plateau, and how shifting your reason from selfish to selfless makes the practice completely non-negotiable. I open up about the painful $80,000 custody battle that forced me to look into Eastern philosophy, how my teenage son holds me accountable to my practice, and what waking up at 4:00 AM for rowing practice taught me about the psychology of showing up. If you want to be a patient, grounded, and emotionally safe father, this reframe will change everything.

    What We Cover:

    • The real reason you keep falling off track with your daily meditation and journaling habits
    • How a brutal three-year custody battle led me to mindfulness and Buddhist philosophy
    • Why it is so easy to negotiate our own self-improvement but impossible to skip out when others are depending on us
    • The 4:00 AM rowing team analogy that will completely shift how you view your daily routines
    • How to transition your mindfulness practice from a personal goal to an act of service for your kids

    Resources:

     Free Starter Guide for Dads (SEE, STEADY, LOOSEN, RETURN): https://threesixfivedad.kit.com/innershadow

    365 Dad Journal: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/products/365-dad-journal-physical 

    Work With Me 1:1 Coaching: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/pages/1-1-coaching-service

    Subscribe to the Inner Journey Dad Newsletter: https://odeani.substack.com/

    Send us Fan Mail

    9 min
  • How to Talk to Your Kids About Hard Emotions (When Nobody Taught You How)

    Most men were raised in environments where expressing hard emotions wasn't modeled, allowed, or encouraged. In this episode, I share what happened when I hit a personal low point and called my father expecting nothing, and how his surprising reaction completely shattered my assumptions about emotional connection. We dive deep into breaking the generational cycle of stoicism, why learning to sit with your own uncomfortable feelings is a prerequisite for parenting, and what it felt like when my 14-year-old son looked me in the eyes and said, "Dad, I feel broken." This episode is a guide for any father who wants to create a safe space where his children never feel like they have to hide their pain.

    What We Cover:

    • Why millennial dads struggle to hold emotional space when their own parents never held it for them
    • The unexpected phone call with my father during my MBA program that changed our entire relationship
    • Why you must master sitting with your own hard emotions before you can guide your kids through theirs
    • The moment my 14-year-old son told me "Dad, I feel broken" and why I viewed that as a major fatherhood win
    • Practical steps to teach your children, especially your sons, that vulnerability is an act of strength

    Resources:

    Free Starter Guide for Dads (SEE, STEADY, LOOSEN, RETURN): https://threesixfivedad.kit.com/innershadow

    365 Dad Journal: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/products/365-dad-journal-physical

    Work With Me 1:1: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/pages/1-1-coaching-service

    Subscribe to the Inner Journey Dad Newsletter: https://odeani.substack.com/

    Send us Fan Mail

    12 min
  • How to Connect Deeply With Your Kids

    Improve your intentional parenting by applying Oliver Burkeman's productivity philosophy to your daily schedule as a father. Build deep connections with your kids by prioritizing what truly matters.

    Many ambitious fathers struggle to balance professional goals with family life, often resulting in fake quality time that leaves everyone feeling disconnected. Whether you are raising a teenager or a toddler, active fatherhood requires a shift in how you view your limited time.

    📖 Grab the 365 Dad Journal: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/products/365-dad-journal-physical
    🤝 Work With Me 1:1 Coaching: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/pages/1-1-coaching-service
    🎁 Free Starter Guide for Dads (SEE, STEADY, LOOSEN, RETURN): https://threesixfivedad.kit.com/innershadow 

    Key Themes:
    Oliver Burkeman's Time Principle for Dads
    The Realities of Modern Fatherhood
    How to Stop Procrastinating on Quality Time
    Fake Quality Time vs. Real Family Connection
    Choosing What Matters as an Active Father
    Building Emotional Trust With Your Teenager
    Micro-Moments of True Fatherhood Connection

    ABOUT THREESIXFIVEDAD:
    Welcome to ThreeSixFiveDad by Odeani McBean. This is a space dedicated to intentional fatherhood, growth, discipline, mindfulness practice, and real-life experiences. We focus on deep shadow work, nervous system repair, and the inner work required to close the gap between who you are and who you want to be as a dad. Subscribe for raw, honest conversations about breaking generational cycles and mastering your reactivity.

    CONNECT WITH ME:
    📧 Join the Inner Journey Dad Newsletter: https://odeani.substack.com/
    🌐 Visit My Website: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/ 

    Send us Fan Mail

    12 min
  • Why 70% of Dads Feel Invisible

    In this episode, I break down the raw reality of being ignored as a dad and why men must step outside of the "just a provider" box to become emotional nurturers. 

    📥 RESOURCES FOR DADS:
    Free Inside-Out Dad Blueprint: https://threesixfivedad.kit.com/innershadow

    Grab the 365 Dad Journal: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/products/365-dad-journal-physical

    Work With Me 1:1 (Coaching Application): https://www.threesixfivedad.com/pages/1-1-coaching-service

    If this talk resonated with you, make sure to subscribe to the channel and share this episode with another father who might be struggling to fill his own cup today. I appreciate you all.

    Key Themes:
    You are not alone
    Being okay with expressing your feelings
    Find proof that you matter
    Ego And Childhood Roots
    Final Encouragement

    Send us Fan Mail

    13 min
  • Breaking Generational Trauma Without Hating My Dad

    In this episode, I share how I caught myself repeating my father's mistakes, and the three shifts I used to stop parenting how I was parented and build real closeness with my kids.

    Key Themes:

    Recognizing the Childhood Father Gap

    Shifting to a Presence Mindset

    Auditing Your Life Through Self-Reflection

    Healing the Lineage Through Hard Conversations

    📥 RESOURCES FOR DADS:
    Free Inside-Out Dad Blueprint: https://threesixfivedad.kit.com/innershadow

    Grab the 365 Dad Journal: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/products/365-dad-journal-physical

    Work With Me 1:1 (Coaching Application): https://www.threesixfivedad.com/pages/1-1-coaching-service

    Send us Fan Mail

    17 min
  • You Aren't a Bad Dad: How to Break Generational Cycles

    Ever feel overwhelmed by dad guilt after snapping at your kids? You aren’t a bad father; you might just be unconsciously repeating history and parenting the exact way you were raised.

    In this episode, we break down how to stop beating yourself up and uncover the real root causes of negative generational cycles in fatherhood. True change doesn't come from forcing perfection; it comes from shifting from reaction to reflection. By using self-awareness, deep empathy, and practical mindfulness, you can heal your past and change the trajectory of your family line.

    🎁 GET THE FREE STARTER GUIDE: Stop repeating history. Grab your copy of The Inside-Out Father Blueprint, a 4-part practice for high-achieving dads who want to move from reaction to reflection: https://threesixfivedad.kit.com/innershadow 

    📥 MORE RESOURCES FOR DADS:

    📘 Grab the 365 Dad Journal: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/products/365-dad-journal-physical

    💼 Work With Me 1:1 (Coaching Application): https://www.threesixfivedad.com/pages/1-1-coaching-service

    What we cover in today’s talk:

    • The Power of Empathy: How forgiving your own father breaks the chain.
    • Dependent Origination: Understanding the deep-rooted causes behind your parenting triggers.
    • Cultivating a Mindfulness Practice: 3 sustainable habits (meditation, journaling, and mindful walking) to regulate your nervous system.

    If this talk resonated with you, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other fathers find this brotherhood. I appreciate you all.

    Send us Fan Mail

    15 min
  • 3 Things Busy Dads Get Wrong About Self-Improvement

    You're trying to do too much, copying the wrong people, and acting "too much" like someone you're not yet. Those three habits are ruining your growth as a dad. 

    Grab the 365 Dad Journal: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/products/365-dad-journal-physical

    Work With Me 1:1: https://www.threesixfivedad.com/pages/1-1-coaching-service

    Free Shadow Work Guide for Dads: https://threesixfivedad.kit.com/innershadow  
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    Key Themes: 
    Busy Dad Self Growth
    Mistake One- Too Many Habits
    Pick Your Top Three
    Mistake Two - Copying Others
    Mistake Three- Future Self Trap
    Meet Yourself Where You Are
    Recap And Next Steps
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    Send us Fan Mail

    14 min

About The Mindful Dad

From the publisher's feed

The Mindful Dad Podcast is where modern fathers come to reconnect—with themselves, their children, and what truly matters.



I’m your host, Odeani McBean, a mindful fatherhood…