Dad Space Podcast - for Dads by Dads

Level Up as a Dad - Premortems, Themes, and Micro-Sabbaths

Episode 244 - Level Up as a Dad - Premortems, Themes, and Micro-SabbathsUnlock 2026: Your 4-Part System for the Best Year EverDads, imagine 2026 as the year you finally crush it—not just at work, but as the husband, father, and man your family deserves. No more January resolutions that fizzle by February. This isn't fluffy motivation; it's a battle-tested, science-backed framework from 25 years of studying peak performers. We're breaking it into four epic episodes on the Dad Space Podcast, diving deep so you can build a life of structure, momentum, and unbreakable drive.In this intro, get the blueprint: Four Acts to design your breakthrough year. Act 1 builds clarity (regret reviews, premortems, themes, 90-day seasons). Act 2 creates structure (first-hour protection, 2-minute rule, shutdown rituals). Act 3 fuels motivation (85% rule, friction design, small wins). Act 4 drives renewal (challenge networks, to-don't lists, gratitude). Pick 2-3 tactics per act, stack them, and watch everything change. Free workbook in show notes—grab it now.Over the next 4 episodes we will unpack:Episode 1: Act 1 - ClarityEpisode 2: Act 2 - StructureEpisode 3: Act 3 - MotivationEpisode 4: Act 4 - RenewalQuestions This Series Answers for DadsHere are the questions that we will be unpacking for Dad Space listeners—real-talk queries every father wrestles with:How do I turn 2025 regrets into 2026 rocket fuel without beating myself up?What's a premortem, and how does imagining failure now guarantee family wins later?Why should I pick one word as my yearly theme, and how does it keep me focused amid dad chaos?How do 90-day seasons beat vague New Year's goals for consistent progress?Why protect your first morning hour like Fort Knox, and what deep work crushes dad distractions?What's the 2-minute rule, and how does it clear mental fog for better parenting?How does a Friday shutdown ritual free your weekends for real family time?Why run a Sunday reset to make Mondays a launchpad, not a dread-fest?How does mise en place (prep like a chef) make dad habits automatic?Why walk 15 minutes daily, and how did it spark geniuses like Steve Jobs?What's the 85% rule for goals, and how does it build unbreakable dad grit?How do I rewire my brain to see discomfort as growth, not failure?Friction hacks: Make bad habits (doom-scrolling) harder, good ones (workouts) easier—top 3 for dads?Public promises: Who’s your one accountability bro, and why skip social media blasts?Small wins ritual: Log 3 daily progresses—how it snowballs motivation for busy fathers?Challenge network: Build 2-3 truth-tellers who call out your blind spots weekly.Curate your circle: Dad trio of challenger, cheerleader, coach—who are yours?To-don't list: Cut one energy vampire quarterly—what's yours for Q1 2026?Micro-Sabbaths: 15 minutes of stillness—how it restores your dad brain daily?26 thank-you notes: One every two weeks—why it boosts happiness and family bonds?Key Takeaway: Dads don't wait for perfect conditions. Build this 4-Act system now—clarity first, then structure, fuel, and renewal. Your family's future self thanks you. Video link: If you want 2026 to be the best year of your life, please watch this video…https://youtu.be/Q10H5RA3eCA?si=dwhjRHtPGuOiXXtbDownload Daniel's 2026 workbook for free: https://www.danpink.com/workbook___https://dadspace.camusic provided by Blue Dot SessionsSong: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Lonely Dads, When Family, Friends and Your Spouse Just Don't Seem to Be Enough in the Moment

Episode 243 - Lonely Dads, When Family, Friends and Your Spouse Just Don't Seem to Be Enough in the MomentDave opens up a conversation about one of the most invisible struggles many fathers face: loneliness. With humor, warmth, and honesty, he explores how dads can feel disconnected even while surrounded by the people they love most. In a world where we’re more connected than ever, many dads still find themselves emotionally isolated, carrying the burden of being “the rock” for everyone else while quietly crumbling inside.The episode begins with a powerful viral message about male loneliness, framing the idea that men are often told to be strong but rarely given permission to be human. From there, Dave reflects on the silent expectations placed on dads—to be stable, reliable, and selfless—and how those expectations can leave no space for vulnerability. He challenges listeners to rethink what real strength means, reminding dads that “strength isn’t silence; it’s honesty.”Dave dives into five core reflections that touch every father’s experience. He talks about the hidden weight of being the rock, how family love, while deep and genuine, doesn’t always meet every emotional need, and how friendships often fade as fatherhood takes center stage. Rebuilding those friendships, he suggests, starts with simple, intentional steps—sending a text, making a call, or showing up to reconnect. He likens it to kids needing a playdate: dads do too.The episode also explores the delicate balance between emotional independence and intimacy within marriage. Dave encourages dads to communicate openly about their loneliness without guilt or blame. He reminds listeners that spouses aren’t meant to fix loneliness, but can help support the journey toward healing and wholeness when invited into the conversation with honesty and care.The final message centers on finding purpose through service. Loneliness, Dave explains, often fades when you build meaning outside yourself—by helping others, volunteering, mentoring, or simply being the guy people can count on. Purpose creates belonging, and being known for your contributions is one of the best antidotes to isolation. For Dave, combating loneliness begins not with self-pity but with action: stepping out of the comfort zone, reconnecting with community, and remembering that vulnerability can be an act of leadership.Key takeaway: Loneliness doesn’t mean you’re failing as a dad. It means you’re human. Healing begins with honesty—with reaching out, rebuilding old connections, and rediscovering new purpose. Real strength isn’t carrying the weight alone; it’s choosing to be known, supported, and connected again.___https://dadspace.camusic provided by Blue Dot SessionsSong: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Thoughts on Your Kid Turning 18, How Time Changes and How to Cope With This as a Dad

Episode 242 - Thoughts on Your Kid Turning 18, How Time Changes and How to Cope With This as a DadIn this deeply personal episode of Dad Space, host Dave opens 2026 with a reflection that hits every dad square in the heart: by the time your child turns eighteen, you’ve already shared ninety percent of all the in-person time you’ll ever have with them. It’s a sobering truth, but one that sparks an honest and hopeful conversation about presence, priorities, and purpose in fatherhood.Dave begins by recalling a viral comment from a dad on TikTok whose son just turned fourteen, realizing he’s living through the “final chapters” of his child’s upbringing. The message resonates: the early years that once felt endless now seem fleeting. Between school, work, relationships, and life’s demands, the simple moments families once shared grow harder to schedule—and easier to miss. Dave shares his own family stories, from dirt bike adventures and retreats in rural Ontario to the quiet grief that comes as family gatherings grow more complicated. The memories highlight how time, once taken for granted, becomes the most valuable currency a dad can spend.From that foundation, the episode moves into practical wisdom. Dave challenges fathers to choose connection over control when kids start asserting independence. Instead of tightening the reins out of fear, he encourages curiosity, trust, and patience—reminding dads that guidance doesn’t mean dominance. When teens begin pulling away, connection thrives when fathers listen without judgment, share activities that create space for conversation, and show unconditional love, even when mistakes happen.He then explores how to manage career and technology distractions to reclaim real time with family. Modern life pulls attention in every direction, but Dave reminds listeners that presence—not perfection—is the real investment. He advocates for tech-free zones at the dinner table or bedtime, for honoring the “end of work” as an appointment with family, and for changing the language of busyness into one of priority.Finally, Dave speaks to the emotional evolution of fatherhood: learning to prepare for inevitable transitions while celebrating each new phase. Fatherhood, he says, isn’t static—it’s a journey from caretaker to coach, from counselor to companion. Every milestone, from a first drive to a first apartment, carries a trace of loss and pride intertwined. Acceptance and gratitude, rather than nostalgia, allow dads to keep showing up fully for each moment as it unfolds.The conversation closes on a hopeful note: dads can’t slow time, but they can fill it with meaning. The challenge is to treat each ordinary day as the gift it truly is—to build a legacy rooted not in possessions or perfection, but in laughter, memories, and love that last long after kids have left home.Key takeaway: You can’t get those first eighteen years back, but you can make the most of every day you have left. Be intentional, stay present, and remember—your kids may grow up fast, but they’ll carry your love for a lifetime.___https://dadspace.camusic provided by Blue Dot SessionsSong: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

The Dad’s Handbook for 2026 - Building Stronger Bonds at Home and Growing Yourself Along the Way

Episode 241 - The Dad’s Handbook for 2026 - Building Stronger Bonds at Home and Growing Yourself Along the WayThe Dad’s Handbook for 2026: Building Stronger Bonds at Home and Growing Yourself Along the WayThe new year at Dad Space kicks off with a mix of humor, heart, and inspiration as host Dave welcomes dads to 2026—what he calls “the new car smell” version of fatherhood. In this first episode of the year, Dave challenges fathers not just to set the usual resolutions, but to make bold, meaningful commitments that stretch who they are at home and as men. He opens by sharing his own two ambitious goals: a 24-hour podcast creation challenge and a plan to produce daily content for an entire year. Both, he says, come from a desire to test his limits and embrace consistent growth.From there, the conversation shifts into what Dave calls a “three-part recalibration” for dads. First: your kids. He urges fathers to trade perfection for presence. The greatest gift a dad can give isn’t wrapped—it’s showing up fully, without a phone in hand or a mind lost in work. He shares his concept of “presence over perfection,” encouraging simple family rituals like tech-free walks or bedtime check-ins. The focus isn’t grand gestures but steady availability and curiosity about your child’s world.Next: your partner. Over time, relationships can fade into comfort and routine. Dave draws a vivid analogy to a pair of jeans that fit perfectly after wear but eventually lose their spark. His challenge to dads? Rekindle that connection. Bring your partner back to the front of your priorities through small, heartfelt actions—shared laughter, mindful conversation, and scheduled time together without distractions. Relationships thrive, he reminds listeners, not through perfection but through gratitude, effort, and laughter.Finally: yourself. Dave gets candid about how many fathers live their lives on “empty,” giving everything but rarely refueling their own energy. In 2026, he urges dads to flip that pattern—say yes to habits that nourish them physically, mentally, and emotionally. Whether that’s picking up an old hobby, spending time with friends, or simply blocking out quiet space, dads need to recharge to show up strong for their families.Throughout the episode, Dave reminds listeners that fatherhood success doesn’t require a total reinvention, just steady recalibration. It’s about small, repeatable habits that turn a busy dad into a grounded one. He closes by inviting fathers to release the regrets of the past year and step into 2026 with purpose—focusing on being present, balanced, and intentional.Key takeaway: The best version of a dad isn’t perfect—he’s present. This year, commit to showing up for your kids, your partner, and yourself with authenticity, gratitude, and heart. Growth at home begins with the courage to care more deeply and the humility to start fresh.___https://dadspace.camusic provided by Blue Dot SessionsSong: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Married Name Choices - Taylor Swift or Kelce - Should Women Always Take Their Husband's Last Name with Author Melania Joy Murphy

Episode 240 - Married Name Choices - Taylor Swift or Kelce - Should Women Always Take Their Husband's Last Name with Author Melania Joy MurphyIn this thought-provoking episode of The Dad Space Podcast, host Dave welcomes author and journalist Melania Murphy to discuss her new book, Bound By Love, Not Tradition. The conversation dives deep into the history, culture, and personal dimensions of how and why married couples make decisions about their names – a topic that blends tradition, identity, and empowerment in surprising ways.Melania shares how her own curiosity as a journalist and her background in behavioral science led her to explore the often unquestioned traditions surrounding married names. She aims to help women, especially first and second-time brides, feel empowered to make intentional choices that honor both their individuality and their partnerships. Through her research and conversations with readers, she uncovered remarkable stories, cultural contrasts, and legal histories from around the world.Listeners learn the historical roots of customs like women wearing veils, the meaning behind “Mrs.” as “wife of,” and the old British laws of coverture, which once made a woman's legal identity merge with her husband's. Melania uses these insights to show how naming traditions evolved and how modern couples can continue shaping them.She introduces her SELF framework – Significance, Empowerment, Legacy, and Freedom – a model that encourages introspection and open communication between partners. Through it, couples can weigh the meaning of their names, express what’s important to them, consider family heritage, and understand the freedoms allowed by modern law. Melania also shares relatable, often lighthearted stories, such as couples flipping coins or playing rock-paper-scissors at the altar to decide whose name to take, and others merging names entirely to invent something new.The discussion moves from history to humor to heartfelt advice for dads and families learning to support their children through nontraditional choices. Melania emphasizes the importance of curiosity and compassion—reminding listeners that traditions evolve, and name choices can be as unique as the couples themselves.Key Takeaway:Names are more than tradition—they reflect identity, equality, and partnership. Empowered relationships start with open, judgment-free conversations about what feels authentic for both partners.Learn more about Melania’s work and pick up her book at melaniajoy.com or your favorite bookstore.___https://dadspace.camusic provided by Blue Dot SessionsSong: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270