In this conversation, Steve, owner of the Santa Cruz GracieJiu-Jitsu Martial Arts School, shares insights into his life as a father and martial arts instructor. He discusses balancing parenting and self-care, education choices for his sons, and the lessons learned from Jiu-Jitsu that apply to life and fatherhood. Steve reflects on his own upbringing, the death of his mother, his absentee father, and how that motivates him to strive to be a better dad for his children. He also talks about the complicated evolution of his relationship with his dad in adulthood and how forgiveness and redemption are playing a part in the ongoing healing of that relationship.

More information on Santa Cruz Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Martial ArtsSchool: www.graciesantacruz.com

Keywords: parenting, jiu-jitsu, education, homeschooling, bullying, self-defense, personal growth, self-care, absentee father, forgiveness, redemption, entrepreneurship

In this conversation, Jeremy (a DIFFERENT Jeremy than last time!), a music producer and entrepreneur shares his experiences as a single dad with joint custody. He dwells on the importance of patience, presence, and creativity in his parenting approach. Jeremy reflects on the influence of his parents and heritage, and shares his viewpoint as a Black father in a predominantly white community. Jeremy’s conversation highlights the growth, learning and awesomeness that comes with being a dad.

Check out Jeremy's production studio Sonivore at www.sonivores.com, or follow his Insta @sonivore.

Apologies for the creaky chair noise throughout this episode, folks! We kinda botched the studio setup for this recording, and the mic captured a bunch of ambient noise. We learn and we move on!

Keywords: parenting, joint custody, patience, creativity, emotional intelligence, cultural identity, music, family dynamics, black fatherhood, personal growth

In this engaging episode of the Extraordinary Dads podcast, we sit down with Jeremy, a new dad navigating the joys and challenges of parenting an 18-month-old. Jeremy shares his experiences of balancing work and family life, the unexpected realities of fatherhood, the importance of patience and presence, and the pressures and expectations that come with striving for perfection. He reflects on the influence of his own upbringing and the support of his family, offering insights into the evolving journey of being a dad. Join us for this heartfelt conversation about the trials and triumphs of early parenthood.

Keywords: parenting, fatherhood, labor, work-life-balance, perfectionism, mindfulness, presence, hybrid work, working from home, self-care, screen time, devices, grandparents, family support, job search, community support, summer camps.