Most advice about marriage and kids comes too late.This conversation happens before the chaos — and that’s the point.

In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, I sit down with my friend Tye - newly married, no kids yet - to talk honestly about marriage, fear, stoicism, work, and what actually matters before you become a father.

What we talk about:

• Why “keep being married” should be the first goal

• Stoicism, faith, and fear - how they coexist

• The danger of waiting for the perfect time

• Why kids live in the culture you create

• Passing down skills, not just money

If this conversation made you think, share it with someone who needs to hear it.New episodes every Sunday.

Most dads don’t realize the clock is already ticking - until their kid is suddenly driving, shutting their door, and needing you less… while their choices start carrying real consequences.

In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, Ryan and I talk about parenting kids in multiple stages at once (11, 14, 16), the “double standard” traps that create conflict at home, and the hard truth: time with your kids decreases while the consequences of their decisions increase.

This episode is for dads who are trying to do it right - but feel stretched thin by work, pressure, and the chaos of family life.

We talk about:

Why the youngest “grows up faster” in a house with older siblings

The chore/curfew/phone arguments kids can’t contextualize yet

How to build trust with your kids with “no strings attached” time

Why your marriage is the anchor that keeps the whole family steady How work can quietly undermine the husband/father you want to be

A practical family-calendar habit that helps you show up more If you’re trying to become a more intentional father (and a better husband) without turning your home into a constant correction session - this one will hit.

Follow if you’re building a better life for your family and you want real conversations with real dads.

Somewhere around year five of being a dad, the fog lifts. You realize your window is shrinking… and the quality of your influence has to rise.

In Episode 3 of To Dad, From Dad, I sit down with James - father of two (11 and 12), married 13 years - who’s staring down the next phase: raising a son who’s starving for independence, and a daughter who still wants her dad… for now.

We talk about the hard stuff men don’t always say out loud:

What it means to raise your son to replace you

What it means to raise your daughter to choose the right man

How attention, influence, and teenage years can go sideways if home isn’t safe

Why mentorship doesn’t require “perfect men,” just honest community

How career ambition changes when family becomes the priority

Why travel doesn’t need performance - your kids just want your presence

This episode is for dads who feel the weight of responsibility, want to lead their home well, and don’t want to wake up later wishing they had shown up more.

Takeaways you’ll hear in this conversation:

✅ How to listen without over-correcting your kids

✅ A practical way to think about priorities: God, wife, kids, self

✅ Why “showing up” matters more than grand gestures

✅ How to create a family culture by design: words, actions, and choosing love

If you’re building your life around being a better father and husband, follow for more conversations like this. And if something’s on your heart, you can submit a question at todadfromdad.com.

Blended families don’t just add people — they add pressure, schedules, and a whole new kind of “fairness.”

In this episode, Gray breaks down what it’s really like to parent across two homes… and why a 2-hour drive became the best fatherhood tool he never planned.

Gray and I talk about the gritty parts of blended family life: first/third/fifth weekend custody, the tension that builds when one child comes and goes, and the hard truth that you can’t “fix it later” when you won’t see your kid for 12 days.

If you’re a dad, stepdad, or about to join a blended family — this one’s for you.

You’ll hear real strategies that help when life is between awesome and chaos:

Turning “windshield time” into deep connection

Handling discipline without burning the weekend

Addressing issues in the moment (not Sunday night)

Earning the “Dad” title without forcing it

Protecting kids by refusing to badmouth an ex

By the end, you’ll walk away with a clearer way to lead your home, love your kids well, and stay steady when the dynamics get messy.

If this hit home, follow for more fatherhood conversations like this.

In the first episode of TDFD I talked to Pete, father of 3 daughters. More to come.