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Today will be one of the most powerful episodes you will listen to in my seven-year journey as a podcaster.  We welcome Andy Speer, Head, Business Execution at Randstad Digital North America.

Pain in his shoulder. A little shortness of breath. Then a monitor full of “hot spots” and a same-day referral to oncology. Andy Speer joins me on the Quarterback Dadcast and tells the story of being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, what treatment has been like, and the one part he says is harder than everything else: telling his kids. If you’ve ever wondered what real resilience sounds like when the stakes are high, Andy brings it with honesty and a steady, hard-earned optimism.

We also zoom out to the full Speer huddle: how Andy meets his amazing wife, Rose, young; why her “let’s go where the wind takes us” mindset shapes their marriage; and what it looks like to raise four athletic, driven kids across multiple moves and life chapters. We talk practical parenting values for dads, including why trust matters more than control, why letting kids fail is part of loving them well, and why Andy’s best “dad game” advice is to stop being so serious at home.

On the leadership side, Andy breaks down his long career in the staffing industry, why he thrives on complexity, and what Ranstadt Digital offers customers seeking precision talent solutions. Along the way, we keep coming back to gratitude, belief, and the kind of family culture that holds up under pressure. If you care about fatherhood, family leadership, cancer mindset, and building relationships that last, this conversation will stick with you.

Subscribe to the show, share this with a dad who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find these stories.

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Thank you, Steve Garraty, for making today's episode possible!

Our next guest beat leukemia as a kid, got cut from a football team that “doesn’t cut anyone,” and still grew up believing the hard thing wasn’t a sign to quit, it was proof he was built for it. That’s why this conversation with Bishoy Tadros hits so deep for anyone thinking about fatherhood, resilience, and what it really means to lead at home.  

Bishoy is the author of two acclaimed books—Break Barriers: How Setbacks Can Dare You Rather Than Define You and Audacious: Uncaging Your Authentic Self—and the creator and host of the Mile 40 Podcast. Mile 40 has quickly become a standout in the health, wellness, and personal growth space, known for its compelling interviews with athletes, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who have turned adversity into opportunity.  He is also a very talented Sr. Account Executive for SalesForce.

We talk about his family’s immigrant journey from Egypt to the United States for treatment, and the three values his parents modeled through action: patience, perspective, and purpose. Bishoy explains how his dad, a Coptic Orthodox priest, served a community with calm consistency without forcing religion on anyone, and how that example shaped how he shows up as a husband and a dad. 

We also get honest about a modern parenting challenge: how do you teach empathy, selflessness, and healthy struggle when your kids grow up with more comfort than you did?

Then the story pivots to the moment that gave Beshoy’s own podcast its name. After reaching Wall Street and realizing achievement didn’t equal fulfillment, he chased a long-buried athletic identity and trained for an Ironman 70.3. At mile 40, dehydrated and ready to quit, he used one simple tool to finish: celebrate small wins, one mile at a time. That mindset helped him run marathons, raise serious money for charity, and become the first Egyptian to complete all seven World Marathon Majors.

If you care about parenting, mindset, endurance, and values-based leadership, you’ll want to hear this one. Subscribe, share it with a dad who needs a boost, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

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Thank you, Matt Brownlee, for making today's episode possible!!

Today, we welcome former Pitt star QB and NFL player, Tyler Palko, to the podcast.  This episode allows two former quarterbacks to compare notes on what actually builds grit. That’s where our conversation with Tyler goes fast. Tyler played at Pitt, spent time in the NFL and in Montreal, and now helps companies grow talent as Chief Revenue Officer at Solutions 21. But the part we really dig into is Tyler as a dad: how he thinks about values, effort, and the kind of presence kids remember.

We talk about what Tyler learned growing up in Western Pennsylvania as the son of a legendary high school coach, and why “how you carry yourself” still matters more than highlights. Kindness shows up in the unglamorous stuff: shoveling a neighbor’s driveway, treating the janitor like the recruiter, and raising kids who hold doors and think about others first. We also get into the hard truth behind confidence: it’s built through work, not wishes, and you don’t get to say “can’t” if you haven’t practiced.


Thanks to his athletic talents and his knack for leadership, Tyler led his team to championships at every stage in his career. He set records, guided his team to a number of important victories, and was a 3-time captain elected by his peers at the storied football program of Pitt, which has had its share of successful leaders in their own right, including Mike Ditka, Dan Marino, and a number of other Hall of Famers. Tyler’s ambition and dedication led him to achieve his lifelong dream of playing at the highest level in his professional career -- the NFL.

We connect sports parenting, mental toughness, and leadership development into one theme: run toward the storm, because that’s where growth lives. If you like conversations about fatherhood, sports psychology, resilience, and leadership, hit subscribe, share this with a fellow parent, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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Thank you Steve Garraty for making today's episode possible!

“Listen and don’t judge.” That’s the line Chuck Melendi drops that kept echoing in my head after we wrapped, because it’s the kind of advice that sounds obvious until you try to live it in a real home with real stress, real teen emotions, and real consequences. Chuck is an empty nester, a longtime healthcare industry leader, and the host of Disruptive Dialogue, but what hit me most is how seriously he takes his job as Dad. He even asked his daughters for honest feedback before coming on, and the way he talks about that affirmation is powerful.

We get into how Chuck and his wife raised two daughters to be strong and independent without losing connection. We talk practical independence, like teaching them skills most people never learn, and emotional independence, like refusing to make their lives about a parent’s ego. He shares what it looks like to support your kids even when you don’t fully agree with their path, and why redefining success is one of the best gifts you can give a family.

Then we go somewhere most parenting conversations avoid: mental health. Chuck tells a raw story about a fight with his daughter, the moment he knew he crossed a line, and why he chose therapy and humility instead of denial. We also talk about teen brain development, social media pressure, and how being present and curious can change the temperature in your house.

We also touch healthcare from both sides, including what families face when the system is confusing and expensive, and why Chuck built Disruptive Dialogue to help normal people navigate it and push for change. If you care about fatherhood, parenting teens, mental health, and becoming a better leader at home, you’ll get a lot out of this one. Subscribe, share this with a dad who needs it, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Good dads are present. Great dads are intentional. That single idea reshaped how we think about modern fatherhood after talking with Jeff Hittner, founder of Ambitious Dads, dad of two boys, and a former elite gymnast who knows what commitment feels like when it is done at full intensity. 

Jeff joins us from Valencia, Spain, and the story behind that move quickly becomes a lesson in parenting mindset, family leadership, and building a home that aligns with your values rather than running on autopilot.

We talk through the reality of relocating during the pandemic, the stress and isolation of early 2020 in New York City, and how a “one-year plan” turned into a life where the kids are thriving. Jeff shares what changes when your environment supports curiosity: surf and sailing classes, a culture that takes meals seriously, and a weekly rhythm built around fresh markets and cooking together. If you care about raising confident kids, this is a practical look at how daily routines create long-term identity.

From there, we go deeper into the inner game of fatherhood: self-talk, growth mindset, and emotional regulation. Jeff explains how learning his triggers started with painful moments and honest conversations, and how “tagging out” helped him build real patience over time. He also lays out the six “dad gaps” he sees across 200+ interviews, including time, brotherhood, confidence, co-parenting, legacy, and role models, plus why many dads can describe a business vision but struggle to name a fatherhood philosophy.

If you want a clearer definition of success as a dad, a stronger intentional parenting framework, and tools you can use today, listen all the way through. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway: what does intentional fatherhood look like in your home?

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Today, we welcome Robert Paylor to the podcast with an amazing and inspiring story!

A national championship match. A broken neck. In a few violent seconds, Robert  went from Cal rugby standout to a young man hearing he’d never walk or move his hands again. 

What happened next wasn’t a neat comeback—it was a decision repeated every day: control the mindset, fight the fight, and build a life anchored in faith, family, and purpose.

We invited Robert to unpack the full arc—growing up on humility and service, finding identity in elite sport, then losing it in an instant and choosing to rebuild from the inside out. He shares the exact moment a spiritual mentor reframed his power, how his mom and dad went “beast mode” to secure lifesaving rehab, and why forgiveness became his most demanding discipline. Robert explains how a GoFundMe turned into a global community, why fear and burnout can be as paralyzing as injury, and how practical routines, visible reps, and top 1% effort create momentum when odds say quit.

You’ll also hear the love story that steadied him—meeting Carson after the injury, embracing vows that mean something, and becoming a dad against long odds. Robert talks candidly about identity, faith under pressure, and being the man he wants his son to become: pray, plan, put the phone down, love well, and work with intent. Today he walks 500 yards with a walker, speaks to teams and companies, and wrote Paralyzed to Powerful to turn pain into tools anyone can use.

If you’re searching for a mindset reset, a model of leadership at home, or a reason to forgive and move forward, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review telling us the one choice you’ll make differently today.

#FCA

#athletes in action

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What if the fastest route to a meaningful life is slowing down for the people at home?  Today, we welcome the founder and CEO of Arena Staffing, Dave Kooiman.

In our conversation, Dave opens up about small-town roots, a painful college cut, getting fired, and the surprising breakthroughs that followed. The result isn’t a hustle story; it’s a playbook for building a family culture with clear values, humble leadership, and daily presence.

We start with gratitude and the simple joy of being together—church, school, coaches, and late-night game watching. Dave introduces us to his family’s world: a long love story with his wife and three kids on different paths—golf, cheer, flag football, and baseball. When his daughter lost the spark for club soccer, he didn’t double down. He listened. That choice reframed attitude and effort at home and became the seed for the “Kooiman Compass,” a visible set of family values—Kindness, Obedience, Opportunity, Initiative, Mission, Appreciation, Non-judgment—posted in the kitchen to guide everyday behavior.

From there, we head into the hard stuff. Dave relives getting cut from college soccer for being “not all-in,” a lesson in commitment that stung for a year but forged resilience. Later, a corporate firing pushed him to launch Arena, a skilled trades staffing and headhunting firm in the AEC space. We unpack risk, personal guarantees, and the early years of living lean. The quiet hero is his wife—steady belief, tightened budgets, and a simple charge: “I’ve got the kids. Figure out what’s next.” Her support didn’t just save a business; it safeguarded a family.

The throughline is presence. We talk about guarding evenings, coaching golf, and choosing a family Scotland-Ireland dream over a buddies-only trip. We confront ego, set boundaries, and remember that happy homes make better teammates at work. If you care about faith-driven leadership, parenting with purpose, or practical ways to build character at home, you’ll find tools you can use tonight—questions to ask your kids, values to post on the wall, and a calendar that finally reflects what matters most.

If this conversation nudged you to put family first, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more dads find the courage to lead at home.

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What if the best leadership training you’ll ever get happens at your kitchen table? We sit down with Michael Clark—CRO of Asymbl, former Salesforce leader, TEDx speaker, and proud dad of three—to unpack a practical, heart-forward playbook for leading a family with the same intention you’d bring to a high-performing team.

Michael shares the simple structure that guides him: a personal why statement and three values—authenticity, accountability, and action. You’ll hear how honest check-ins with his daughters build real trust, why delivering on promises lays a foundation for hard conversations, and how “big speak-ups” like ordering their own food help kids practice courage in everyday life. We trade stories about vulnerability—teens seeing their dad admit fear or shed tears—and how those moments shape emotional fluency. We also explore the language shift from “need to” and “should” to “I will,” a small change that lowers anxiety and raises ownership for both parents and kids.

The conversation reaches beyond home into work and purpose. Michael reframed sales as outcome-driven service—less about pushing products, more about solving human problems. From pharma to Salesforce to his role at Assemble, he shows how aligning work with values makes impact sustainable. We dig into workforce orchestration and how human-plus-digital teams free people for empathy, creativity, and relationship building—skills that win at home and in business. Along the way, we cover modeling independence without overhelping, protecting sleep as a leadership habit, and using curiosity to guide teens through team dynamics and identity.

You’ll leave with tools you can use tonight: ask one better question, keep one small promise, and take one action that reflects your family values. If the message resonates, share this episode with a friend, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a quick review so others can find the show.

 What’s the one “A” you’ll lead with this week?

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What if leading at home wasn’t about fixing every problem, but about showing up with curiosity, clear standards, and follow-through you can keep? We sit down with Thomas Miller—therapist, coach, and host of the Four Peaks Parent podcast—to explore how dads can guide teens through injury, identity shifts, and big feelings without swinging to extremes.

Thomas shares the hard-won lessons that shaped his approach: art school beginnings, building programs for LGBTQ youth, and running a wilderness therapy team responsible for 62 high‑risk teens. Layer in profound personal loss and years of clinical work, and you get a grounded, no-nonsense playbook for family leadership. We unpack why “Do it right, do it once” is more than a motto, how to transform rehab into purpose, and why small, consistent wins beat grand speeches every time.

We get practical about mental health. Instead of chasing labels, Thomas returns to ADLs—sleep, movement, hygiene, purposeful work, connection—and Freud’s simple barometer: work, love, play, and laughter. He maps the two pitfalls he sees most often: parents who minimize obvious issues until a child “gets sicker” to be seen, and parents who pathologize every wobble. The middle path uses clear assessment, heart-centered language, and boundaries you’ll actually enforce. You’ll also hear how couples’ communication styles—head-on versus avoidant—leak into parenting, and what it takes to co-write a healthier family culture.

If you’re a dad juggling a demanding job, teen sports, and rising anxiety at home, this conversation hands you a framework: lead with curiosity, set standards you model, and let kids own outcomes. Less rescuing, more guiding. Less reacting, more discernment. Subscribe, share with a dad who needs it, and leave a review with the one standard you’re committing to this week.

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What if the most important leadership lessons don’t come from the boardroom but from late-night talks at the kitchen table? 

A HUGE thank you goes out to Mark Krahe for making today's episode possible.  Today, we sat down with Sunbelt Golf CEO Mike Beverly—who leads the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail—to unpack the habits, values, and hard-won insights that guide him as a father and as a leader. It starts with gratitude for a strong partner in a demanding industry and widens into a blueprint for raising very different kids with empathy and clarity.

Mike opens up about early prenatal fears, the emotional whiplash of uncertain diagnoses, and the patience it took to later understand his son’s discalculia. That shift—from assuming to asking—became the foundation of his parenting. He connects those same principles to team leadership across 11 golf properties: you tailor your coaching, you take blame when things go wrong, and you celebrate your people when they get it right. The thread is humility, not as a brand but as a discipline you practice daily.

We also dig into stress management and the small rituals that keep the home safe from work fallout. Mike uses drive time to decompress, chooses words carefully when emotions run hot, and returns to the simple rules his parents taught him: respect, accountability, and love spoken out loud. Along the way, he shares what makes the RTJ Golf Trail special—meticulous course conditions, service that feels human, and a mission to elevate Alabama’s communities. It’s hospitality as leadership, and leadership as love.

If you’re a parent, coach, or people leader, you’ll find practical takeaways on advocating for your kids at school, creating decompression routines, and building cultures where people remember how you made them feel. And if you’re a golfer, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at a destination defined by excellence and heart. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a review with the one insight you’ll put into practice this week.

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