The Ryan Fields-Spack (Dad) Show

What's in a former paramedic's hiking and skiing first aid kit?

I'm Ryan Fields-Spack — former paramedic, dad of three. In this episode I rebuild my family kit after three years in a plastic bag. Along the way I find a knockoff tourniquet and flashlights that need fresh batteries.

We unpack bleeding supplies, everyday first aid, tools, and a winter overnight layer, then pack it into a real bag so I can find things with cold hands.

Free kit-plan quiz → https://dadkitcheck.com/plan

My kit list → https://dadkitcheck.com/build-your-own-kit

Education only — not medical advice. Call 911 for emergencies. Buy genuine tourniquets from North American Rescue or an authorized dealer. No medication doses.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

#FirstAidKit #FamilyPreparedness #DadKitCheck

If the power went out tonight, how many days could your family make it? For most of us, it's two or three.

Ryan Fields-Spack, a former fire captain and paramedic with 27+ years of experience, a former Aurora Office of Emergency Management coordinator, and a Colorado dad of three, walks through a calm, no-panic plan to get your family ready one step at a time. No debt, no fear, just a simple ladder: 7 days, then 2 weeks, then 30 days.

In this episode:

- Why the Pentagon's reported 90-day plan and the UK's 3-day advice matter for your house

- Lessons from Colorado: the 2019 bomb cyclone, Cameron Peak and Marshall fires

- Two kits every family needs: one to stay, one to go

- Tier 1 (7 days): water, food, light, heat, first aid, sanitation, documents, pets and kids

- Tier 2 (2 weeks): water treatment, cooking without power, backup power, CO alarms, meds

- Tier 3 (30 days) and optional long-term prep

- Your one step for this weekend

Free printable checklist with everything from this episode: https://dadkitcheck.com/survival

Honest first aid kit reviews (every kit bought with my own money): https://dadkitcheck.com

Stay prepared, then go enjoy your family.

Join us for a father-son camping trip in Medicine Bow National Forest. We navigate rocky trails and find out how cold it gets.Bromley and I headed into the mountains for some time outdoors, taking our red GMC Denali off-road to find the perfect spot by the lake. We spent the day setting up our tent, cooking dinner, and trying our hand at fly fishing. It was the perfect escape from the summer heat until the temperature dropped and the rain started falling.We learned that even a simple father-son camping adventure can turn into a chilly, memorable night when the weather shifts unexpectedly. We woke up damp but happy, with a few new stories to tell about our time in the sleeping bags. What is your favorite memory from camping with your kids or your dad? Share your experience in the comments.Subscribe for more family adventures, time outdoors, and life as a dad.0:00 Arrival & First Impressions0:57 Driving the Rocky Road1:54 Navigating the Big Rock2:15 Setting Up at the Lake3:12 Boiling Water & Dinner Prep4:02 Fly Fishing Setup4:37 Cool Mountain Air After the Heat5:30 End of Day One at Camp

How do you become a better dad when you did not have the example you needed? Roger Rolim shares his 5 C's of Fatherhood and how faith, forgiveness, and connection shaped his journey.In this honest conversation, Roger reflects on finding belonging in a church youth group, letting go of painful experiences, and choosing to be there for his children. We explore why managing behavior is different from building a relationship—and why being physically present does not always mean being connected.Roger's 5 C's of Fatherhood:• Create a healthy physical, emotional, and spiritual environment.• Cultivate your child's gifts and support their growth.• Clarify boundaries, values, and direction.• Connect through listening, empathy, and participation.• Coach with guidance, encouragement, and celebration.We also discuss keeping faith when God feels silent, learning when to say yes, and the advice Roger would want his sons to remember. Stay for the closing prayer.be for more honest conversations about fatherhood, faith, and personal growth. If this conversation encourages you, share it with a dad who could use it.

Get more from Roger: https://link.amazon/B00hlVf2PContent note: This episode includes discussion of suicidal thoughts and emotional distress.#Fatherhood #ParentingAdvice #FaithAndFatherhood

Trying harder to control your kids can leave you feeling more frustrated and less connected. What can you do instead?In this conversation, life coach and mom of four Emily joins Ray to explore a different approach to parenting: managing your own reactions, listening with curiosity, and building influence through connection.Follow Emily: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parenting-teens-for-lds-moms-improve-your-relationship/id1770846530https://www.emilyrickscoaching.com/Emily shares an honest story about parenting her teenage son, the struggle to control his choices, and what shifted when she began focusing on her own thoughts and emotions. Together, they discuss practical ways dads can support their children, their partners, and themselves.In this episode, we explore:• The difference between parental influence and control• How to love your children as they are while maintaining boundaries• What “holding space” means—and how to practice it• Listening without immediately fixing, dismissing, or judging• Staying grounded during difficult conversations• Helping teenagers navigate friendships, mistakes, and growing independence• Supporting your child’s confidence when others are unkind• How faith, community, and coaching can support your parenting journey You don’t have to have every answer. Sometimes, a stronger relationship begins with a calmer response and a better question.CHAPTERS00:00 The parenting control trap00:38 Introducing the conversation01:15 Meet Emily03:49 Letting go of control05:23 A personal story about parenting a teenager09:30 Choosing unconditional love—with boundaries12:06 How to hold space for your family16:20 Pause, breathe, and manage your reactions18:10 Preparing for the middle school years22:16 Helping teens build inner confidence25:20 Faith and parenting29:20 Making time for coaching32:12 What to look for in a coach33:18 Connecting with Emily34:25 One piece of advice for your children Chapter times follow the supplied SRT; adjust if the final video edit changes.What’s harder for you as a parent: letting go of control, staying calm, or listening without jumping in to fix things? Share your experience in the comments.Subscribe for more honest conversations about fatherhood, parenting, relationships, and personal growth.#Parenting #Fatherhood #ParentingTeens #ParentingPodcast #ParentChildConnection #MindfulParenting #ActiveListening #EmotionalRegulation

I tried three Poncho shirts to see if they could make upgrading my dad wardrobe easier. This Poncho shirts review covers unboxing, first impressions, and a try-on of three long-sleeve western styles.I'm about 6'0" and 160 lbs, and I chose Medium Slim. I share how the shirts fit on me, how the heavier denim compares with the lighter performance shirts, and what I noticed about softness, stretch, pearl snaps, and rolled sleeves.Get your Poncho Shirts right here: https://www.ponchooutdoors.comDisclosure: Poncho sent me these three shirts for free. This video was not a paid sponsorship.If you're a dad who hates clothes shopping but wants to feel more put together, this one's for you. These are my initial impressions and try-on observations; I haven't completed a long-term wear or wash test.CHAPTERS00:00 Why I'm upgrading my dad wardrobe00:32 How I got these shirts00:53 Unboxing three Poncho shirts01:50 Lightweight fabric, snaps & sleeve details02:50 The navy shirt: first look03:41 The Ventura: heavier western denim04:43 Denim try-on & Medium Slim sizing05:26 Navy shirt try-on06:03 Light grey shirt try-on06:34 Final thoughts: style & confidence for dadsThe three styles featured: The Ventura, The Pacifico, and The San Saba.Which would you wear: sage denim, navy, or light grey? Let me know in the comments.Subscribe for more practical conversations about becoming better men, fathers, and husbands.#PonchoShirts #PonchoOutdoors #DadStyle

Being a dad can feel like everything rests on your shoulders: your home, your family’s safety, your work, your sleep, and your children’s future.In this video, I walk through five quiet pressures many fathers carry and share how Psalm 127 is helping me approach them with faith, practical action, and a willingness to stop carrying everything alone.I’ve felt the pressure of checking the locks, bringing work stress home, losing patience when I’m exhausted, and wondering whether I’m guiding my kids the right way. I’m still learning how to handle those responsibilities while trusting God with what I can’t control.We’ll talk about creating a more peaceful home, preparing without living on constant alert, finding purpose in work, making room for rest, and giving our children both boundaries and room to grow.CHAPTERS00:00 The quiet load dads carry00:42 Your home: building a peaceful foundation01:49 Security: when protecting everyone feels like your job alone03:24 Work: carrying the pressure to provide04:36 Sleep: your family needs a rested dad05:39 Family: guiding your kids without controlling every step07:11 Psalm 127: where these five lessons come from08:37 What connects all five pressures09:14 One practical step to take this week10:00 The inspiration behind this message

Doctors kept saying it was just anxiety or depression. They put her on 72-hour holds and sent her to behavioral health.

It wasn’t. It was frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

This video is for every son and only child who is watching their parent loop on the same fears — the power is being shut off, people are breaking into the house, the taxes aren’t paid, they have no health insurance — while the system keeps calling it a mental health problem.

I walked this road with my mom starting in May 2024. I’m sharing exactly what happened, the signs I missed, the hard emotional truth, and the five things you need to do right now if this sounds familiar.

You are not alone.

Chapters00:00 – If your parent keeps looping on the same fears01:16 – Why I’m making this for sons and only children02:05 – The first signs02:45 – The confusing cascade (behavioral health holds)04:09 – The turning point: memory care finally named it05:42 – Life in memory care08:13 – The hard truth (talking to my pastor)09:50 – What you need to do right now (5 practical steps)13:33 – Closing: You are not alone

Helpful resourceAssociation for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) Helpline: 866-507-7222

If this is your story, drop a comment and tell me where you are in it. Or email me — link in the about section. We will walk through the next steps together.

#FrontotemporalDementia #FTD #Caregiver #Sons #DementiaAwareness

What’s going on, Dad? Summer means cuts, scrapes, trampoline wipeouts, and road-trip battle wounds. Traditional Band-Aids get dirty, fall off in the pool, and slow everything down.

As a former paramedic with a large metropolitan fire department, I tested the Yehooheal Medical Grade Hydrocolloid Roll (0.006-inch optimally thin, storage case, 16.4 ft total) on both of my boys after our big Yosemite road trip. One had a trampoline toe injury. The other took a real chunk out of his finger. We cleaned them, applied the hydrocolloid, ran full pool days over the 4th of July weekend, and checked results a week later.

Spoiler: the healing looked significantly better, the thin second-skin feel was a game-changer on knuckles and toes, and the waterproof claim held up well with occasional re-wrapping.

Timestamps / Chapters0:00 – Summer cuts & why this is on Dad0:30 – Why traditional Band-Aids often fail active kids1:15 – Product reveal + full disclosure (sent by the brand, unbiased test)1:45 – My green first-aid kit2:00 – Cleaning Kellen’s toe (process walk-through)3:00 – Applying the hydrocolloid roll (thin film, dry skin, warm it, seal edges)4:30 – Pool-day plan5:00 – Bramley’s finger (the bigger chunk) – cleaning & wrapping7:20 – Multi-day pool results7:40 – One-week follow-up – healing progress & honest recommendation8:40 – New cut appears… back at it + next steps

🚑Get your rolls here (affiliate link helps the channel and you get the same great deal) https://amzn.to/4w0ihzh

My son wanted to take his neighborhood business from a lemonade stand to lawn mowing… but how do you haul a mower around on a bike?

So Bromley and I engineered and built a full DIY bike trailer that carries the mower, battery storage, and tools. This turned into one of the best father-son projects we’ve ever done — planning, measuring, cutting, bending pipe, safety lessons, and a lot of real engineering with the kids.

If you’re a dad looking for a meaningful summer project that also teaches your kids how to create value and make money, this is for you.

CHAPTERS

0:00 – From Lemonade Stand to Lawn Mowing

1:08 – Home Depot Run & Materials

1:30 – Harvesting the Old Wheel Set + Brake

1:45 – Measuring, Planning & Engineering Lessons

2:10 – Power Tools & Table Saw Practice

2:28 – Building the Rigid Metal Pipe Frame

3:11 – The $19 Amazon Hitch

3:30 – Pipe Bending Challenges

4:09 – First Ride / Maiden Voyage

4:41 – Safety Gear & Table Saw Kickback Lessons

4:51 – Chocks, Battery Storage & Test Drive

5:16 – Loading the Mower + Wheel Shims

5:42 – SawStop Safety

6:08 – Securing the Weed Whacker

6:29 – Final Solo Test

7:00 – Ready to Make Money

7:27 – Why This Project Matters for Dads

What do you think — would your kids run a neighborhood business if they had the right setup? Drop a comment.

Follow for more real father-son projects, family adventures, and practical dad content:

#FatherSonProject #DIYBikeTrailer #KidEntrepreneur #DadLife #LawnMowingBusiness #SummerProjectsWithKids