Welcome into the Young Dad Podcast — whether you’re outside grilling, mowing the lawn, changing dirty diapers, or maybe you got a moment to sit back and relax — thanks for being here and thanks for tuning in.

Today, I’m joined by Randall Strain — Air Force veteran, father of two, children’s author, and the founder of Neil Marie Publishing. By day he’s a traveling salesman; by night, he’s a storyteller on a mission to help parents stay connected through the power of bedtime stories. His journey from writing goofy tales in hotel rooms to publishing books for families — and his mission to get them into foster homes — is one you won’t want to miss.

Grab your juice box, grab a snack, and let’s jump in.

Randall, thank you so much for joining us today — your story is an incredible reminder of how small acts of connection can make a big difference.

Listeners — you can check out Randall’s work and his mission at: 👉 Instagram: @neilmariepublishing 👉 Facebook: Neil Marie Publishing

Visit the website for interactive activity guides and everything YDP- ⁠⁠www.youngdadpod.com
Click the link for YDP deals (Triad Math, Forefathers, and more) - https://linktr.ee/youngdadpod Interested in being a guest on the Young Dad Podcast? Reach out to Jey Young through PodMatch at this link: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/youngdad
Lastly,consider making a monetary donation to support the Pod, https://buymeacoffee.com/youngdadpod.For more info, Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bedtime Stories and Publishing

01:12 The Journey of Writing and Publishing

03:43 The Mission to Help Foster Kids

09:07 The Importance of Storytelling in Parenting

11:55 Creativity and the Role of Fathers

23:20 Impact of Military Experience on Parenting

26:33 The Evolution of Fatherhood

38:32 Statistics on Father Absence

45:22 The Importance of Connection and Support

50:40 Advice for New Dads

Today, we’re talking business, marketing, entrepreneurship, and the balancing act of fatherhood with a guest who’s built a career on creating and scaling businesses while still making time for family.

Joining us is Jake Sucoff, a marketing agency founder, B2B and healthcare marketing expert, startup veteran, and family man. He’s spent the last 15 years helping businesses scale, launching successful startups, and learning how to work smarter, not harder—so he can spend more time with the people who matter most.

In today’s episode, we’ll cover:

✅ How to grow and scale a business without burning out

✅ Lessons from 15 years in startups, entrepreneurship, and marketing

✅ How to automate and delegate so you can focus on what really matters

✅ Fatherhood, family, and balancing the business grind with real life

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Family Balance

05:19 The Choice of Entrepreneurship Over 9 to 5

10:19 Understanding the Grind: Work Culture and Expendability

15:18 Qualities for Successful Entrepreneurship

20:00 The Importance of Mindset and Emotional Resilience

25:20 Loving the Process: Building Infrastructure for Success

33:04 The Burden of Expectations

35:58 The Role of AI in Marketing

45:49 Fatherhood's Impact on Business and Life

50:38 Fun in the Dad Zone

For listeners who want to connect with Jake:👉 Schedule a Free Marketing Audit:⁠ Meet with Jake⁠

👉 Follow Jake on Socials:⁠ Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn⁠

To all our listeners—if this episode resonated with you, gave you fresh business insights, or made you rethink work-life balance, share it with someone who needs to hear it.Subscribe, leave a review, and stay connected for more raw, impactful conversation

Welcome into the Young Dad Podcast — whether you're outside grilling, mowing the lawn, changing dirty diapers, or maybe you got a moment to sit back and relax — thanks for being here and thanks for tuning in.

Today’s guest is Dr. John Chanaca, a Licensed Family Counselor, veteran educator, and founder of MJChanacaPublishing—a company devoted to wholesome, values-based children’s books and parenting tools. With over 42 years of experience teaching and counseling in schools, he’s also the author of Power Parenting, The Super Student Series, and The Family Values Series, which are helping families raise resilient, character-driven kids in a distracted world.

Visit the website for interactive activity guides and everything YDP- ⁠⁠www.youngdadpod.com
Click the link for YDP deals (Triad Math, Forefathers, and more) - https://linktr.ee/youngdadpod

Interested in being a guest on the Young Dad Podcast? Reach out to Jey Young through PodMatch at this link: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/youngdad
Lastly, consider making a monetary donation to support the Pod, https://buymeacoffee.com/youngdadpod.

Listeners, don’t forget to check out:

• 📚 Power Parenting & All Books

• 📺 Watch Book Videos on YouTube

🧠 Explore Parenting Tools and Super Student Series

Chapters

00:00 The Birth of the Young Dad Podcast

00:10 Journey Through Parenting and Publishing

04:21 The Importance of Balance in Family Life

08:08 Navigating Modern Challenges for Fathers

13:50 Legacy and Long-Term Parenting Strategies

22:58 The Risks of Marriage and Parenthood

27:31 The Commitment of Selflessness in Relationships

33:50 Navigating Societal Pressures and Expectations

40:09 The Role of Faith in Parenting and Relationships

56:14 outtro