Fit Dad Fitness Podcast

After 4 1/2 years, the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast is coming to an end.   Thank you for all your support and attention through nearly 400 episodes. I had so much fun producing this show!   To keep up with my new project/podcast, go to https://www.thefollowupquestion.com or https://www.michaelashford.com.   And Fit Dad Fitness will still keep going, so keep checking out https://www.fitdadfitness.com for new content.

Tim James is the founder of Chemical Free Body (chemicalfreebody.com), where he has made it his work to help others live a longer, happier, healthier life.   After helping a friend beat cancer, Tim went exploring for ways to optimize health and transform every area of his life. This led him to produce his own chemical-free food products.   In working to go "chemical free," Tim says he's got more energy than when he was a teenager, and he shares his story in this week's conversation.   Check out chemicalfreebody.com and use the code fitdad for 5% off.   Thanks to Tonal for sponsoring this week's episode. Go to www.Tonal.com and use the code FITDAD21 for $100 off the smart accessories.

This week's episode is another Q&A, where I'm answering listener questions.   This week, I answer: - What's my favorite go-to healthy meal to get my nutrition back on track after it's been off for a while (i.e. vacation or holiday)? - What's my current workout split look like? - What do my journal entries look like?

Cam Hall from Fight the Dad Bod is back on the show just in time for the end-of-the-year feasting and festivities to discuss diet burnout and how to avoid it.   Cam has three primary points for you to consider when it comes to your health and nutrition, all with the aim to make you as successful as possible when it comes to reaching your goals in a sustainable way.   Check out Cam's work at https://www.fightthedadbod.com.

Josh Martin was my guest on episode 354 of the show, and in that episode, he alluded to a project that he was working on but wasn't quite ready to talk about.   Well now, Josh is ready to talk. He's a father of 8 and he has started a radically new supplement company, Solid, that is disrupting how you take things like preworkout and electrolytes.   In this conversation, Josh and I talk all about how he got started and what is so different about Solid.   Check out Solid at https://becomesolid.com and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/become.solid. 

My good buddy Kevin Torres is back on the show to talk about something we've all experienced in the last 18 months — life transitions. Pandemics, job changes, new children being born, oh my!   But more importantly, Kevin and I chat about how to get back to healthy habits after going through a significant life transition. He's perfect for this topic, as he just welcomed a new child into the world a few weeks ago.   As always, Kevin and I have a free-flowing conversation about real, attainable ways to get back to consistency when life takes its swings.   Check out Kevin at https://www.forgingelitefathers.com or follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dadbod_wod. 

This week, I welcome husband, father, fitness fanatic, and business owner Sean Lake to the show.   Sean is a former professional snowboarder who also spent decades in action sports marketing, and now, he has started a health and wellness supplement company called BUBS Naturals.   The company is named after Sean's childhood best friend Glen “BUB” Doherty, a Navy SEAL who was killed in Benghazi, Libya on 9/11 in 2012. Sean is passionate about continuing on his friend's legacy through the new company, while also helping people feel great and do good.   Check out BUBS Naturals at https://bubsnaturals.com. 

This week's guest is finding ways to take a pain no parent wants to imagine and turn it into something greater and bigger for others.   Brian Thorburn, at the time of recording this interview, was just months removed from the passing of his son, Jax, who lost his battle with brain cancer.   To help carry Jax's legacy of strength and fight forward, Brian is continuing to build the company he and Jax envisioned as a way not only to inspire but also to lift others up.   Check out IMSTRONG at https://www.imstrong.us and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/imstrong.us. 

What is biomechanics and how does it affect our performance?   This is what this week's guest, Dr. Tim Maggs, and I discuss in this week's episode. Dr. Tim discusses how everyone is born with biomechanical faults, and that being proactive about addressing those issues can set us up for far better results and longevity.    Check out Dr. Tim's work at drtimmaggs.com or view the research he referenced at biomechanicalanalytics.com. You can also email Dr. Tim at drt@drtimmaggs.com. 

This week's guest, Jerry Bair, runs the website https://busydadsocr.com. OCR stands for Obstacle Course Race, so as you might expect, that's what Jerry and I chat about in this episode.   Jerry details his own experiences with OCR and how he came to love it, and why he now has turned his attention to helping other busy dads train for their own obstacle course races while balancing all that the life of a father throws at them.   Jerry has created an eBook, Busy Dads Can Run Obstacle Courses Races Too, which is available on his website. He's also written a blog on his personal website to provide more information on the mental side of challenges like OCR: http://jerrybair.com/why-busy-dads-today-intentionally-face-challenges-like-spartan-races/

Dr. Brodie Ramin is a primary care and addictions physician based in Ottawa, Canada, and the author of a new book titled "The Perfect Medicine: How running makes us healthier and happier."   In his medical practice, Brodie uses exercise as a tool to improve the physical and mental health of his patients, and as his book title suggests, he's a big fan of running and the benefits it provides.   The former distance runner in me had a great time chatting with Brodie about this subject — from the right "dose" of running to how running is scientifically proven to improve so many health factors.   Check out Brodie's work at https://www.brodieramin.com where you can also order his book. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/brodieramin.

Admittedly, I don't know a whole lot about autism. But thankfully, there are people like Gary Martinez willing to educate people like me.   Gary is the parent of an autistic child, and in this week's episode, he and I chat about his experience — from the initial diagnosis to treatment protocols to the roles movement and nutrition have played.   So many thanks to Gary for joining me this week to share his experience and knowledge.   Check out Gary on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gary_martinez_jr and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/719underdog.    Many thanks to Bald Beard Bros for sponsoring this week's episode. Go to https://baldbeardbros.com and use the code FITDAD30 for a 30% discount.

As a former powerlifter and semi-professional football player who is now a chiropractor, Dr. Michael Hartle has a simple message for you: put your health as a priority now to save yourself way more time, money, and energy down the road.   This week on the show, Dr. Michael and I discuss what taking care of yourself now looks like, from making sure you have adequate mobility to eating right to letting go of your ego when lifting weights and instead focusing on technique first.

This week, I chat with former NFL punter John Nies, who for years struggled with, as he called it, being "addicted to ease."   The story of how he righted himself, to view his body with more honor and strength, is pretty awesome, and now, he can share that as a father as well.   Check out John's work at https://strongerthaneverbook.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ThePowerCenter. 

This week, I welcome Adam Schafer of the Mind Pump podcast to the show. The Mind Pump podcast is one of the biggest, most popular fitness podcasts in the world, and after Adam became a father a couple of years ago, all three hosts are now dads.   Adam has always been very open and honest on the show about the fact that his own father committed suicide when Adam was just 7 years old, and after that, Adam's home life was often troubled.   Now that Adam is a father, I wanted to dive in with him on what has been revealed to him that perhaps he didn't quite understand before. Of course, Adam and I get into the fitness industry and the work he and the Mind Pump guys are doing to battle all the misinformation and garbage advice in the space.   Check out all things Mind Pump at https://www.mindpumpmedia.com, and follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mindpumpadam. 

When it comes to fitness and health, what works for one person doesn't always work for another. My guest this week, Mike Baiocco, knows this well.   For many, going to a gym is an integral part of their fitness routine. But for Mike, he gave it a shot, and it just didn't click for him.   So, he went about finding other ways to fit fitness into his schedule, creating a regimen that works for him and can potentially inspire others who experience the same frustrations.   Connect with Mike and his awesome workouts at https://instagram.com/michael_baiocco.

This week, I welcome trainer and coach Justin Ratkovich to the show to discuss his path to becoming a successful online coach, how his faith has guided his work, and what it's like coaching parents and working around the challenges they face.   We also dive into his thoughts on five non-fitness things we should focus on, which was a super interesting part of the conversation.   Check out Justin on Instagram at https://instagram.com/justinratkovich and on his website at http://blueshoesfitness.com.

Mark Salamon has been a physical therapist for more than 25 years and has seen plenty during that time to know that we humans don't understand our bodies all that well.   Mark recently wrote a book, Does It Hurt When I Do This?, to detail the importance of paying attention to our bodies as we age and using what we feel and sense to create an exercise regimen suitable for our capabilities.   And if not, PTs like Mark are around to help you fix any injuries that might occur. And if your PT is anything like Mark, they'll come with a  healthy dose of humor mixed in as well.   Check out Mark's book at https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538149034/Does-It-Hurt-When-I-Do-This-An-Irreverent-Guide-to-Understanding-Injury-Prevention-and-Rehabilitation and use the code RLFANDF30 for 30% off your order.   Thanks to Tonal for sponsoring this week's episode. Go to www.Tonal.com to try it risk-free for 30 days and use the code FITDAD21 for $100 off the smart accessories.

I welcome Zack Mills to the show this week to discuss how a broken relationship with food and exercise in his early years created struggles throughout his life, and how fixing that relationship with himself changed so much.   By getting his nutrition and physical fitness in order with a steady and level-headed approach, Zack transformed much of his life to the point where he's now a coach helping others achieve similar results.   Check out Zack's website, and connect with him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OvercomingObstaclesLLC.  

Many of us have heard the phrase "sitting is the new smoking," but where did this come from, and is it actually true? Or is there more nuance needed? This is exactly what this week's guest, Dr. Rick Richey, and I discuss in this episode.   Today's modern, sedentary lifestyle — where we sit in our cars, we sit at our desks, and we sit on our couches — is certainly doing its damage to our health outcomes. So how do we address it, and is more needed than just a daily workout?   Rick has a Master's degree in exercise science and a Doctorate in Health Science. He's a husband and a father, a gym owner, and many personal trainers may know him through the educational work he does with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), including hosting the NASM CPT Podcast.   Connect with Rick on Instagram at https://instagram.com/dr.rickrichey and on his gym's website.   This week's episode sponsor is Bald Beard Bros. Enter to win one of 3 beard care kits exclusively for Fit Dad Fitness Podcast listeners at https://www.baldbeardbros.com/fitdadfitness.   Visit my website at FitDadFitness.com, and connect with me on Instagram and Facebook.

I welcome Joe Brancato to the show this week to discuss, among other things, how he created his garage gym and began working out at home out of necessity once the pandemic hit.   Joe didn't wait around to create the perfect circumstances, he just used what he had, he made it work, and over time, he built up his resources.   Joe and I also get into how important it is to have a support system in place, and how not everyone will fully understand or even support your commitment to health and fitness — and you have to be OK with that.   Connect with Joe on Instagram at https://instagram.com/joevid19_gym. 

Todd Durkin is an internationally recognized strength, speed, and conditioning coach, having worked with and trained some of the top athletes in the world. He is the founder of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, CA.   In this week's episode, Todd and I discuss what it's like working with athletes at the top of their game, and how he's reprioritizing and rethinking the work that he does as his message and his ideas resonate more outside the fitness space.   Check out Todd's work, including his podcast, at https://todddurkin.com/   Huge thanks to Tonal for sponsoring this week's episode. Check out how Tonal is revolutionizing at-home strength training by trying Tonal risk-free for 30 days at www.Tonal.com. Use the code FITDAD21 for $100 off the smart accessories.   Check out Matis Miller's book, The Uncontrollable Child.

I continue to be super interested and amazed by the stories of resiliency and creativity on the part of gym owners over the last 18 months or so as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the industry.   This week's guest, Kyle Tiringer, discusses the steps he took to keep his CrossFit box, Port CrossFit, alive and thriving despite all of the challenges.   We also dive into Kyle's background and how he became a gym owner in the first place, and how business changed once he became a father.   Connect with Kyle at https://instagram.com/ktiringer.

This week, I chat with Justin Cain, a member of my Fit Dad Forum on Facebook who went through a pretty awesome fitness transformation when he decided he wanted to "look like he actually lifted weights."   This renewed dedication to his fitness was spurred on by upping the intensity of his workouts, and it led to some pretty awesome results.   Connect with Justin on Instagram.   Join the Fit Dad Forum.

Former pro soccer player Marc Zimmerman joins the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast this week to talk life after pro sports, why moving everyday is so much a part of his message, and how being a father affects his fitness habits and routines.   It was so much fun to chat with Marc about his journey to playing soccer professionally and the influence his father had, and how he came to realize his calling to help others with their fitness and health after he hung up his cleats — at least professionally.   Also, I answer four amazing questions from listeners, including:   What are the benefits and drawbacks of in-person coaching vs. online coaching? What do I do when I have those days where I don't feel like doing much? What are my tips for getting back into a fitness routine after time away? What does a typical day of eating look like for me?   Connect with Marc at https://www.completethechallenge.com and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marcfitpro.   Be sure to check out and support this week's episode sponsor, Bald Beard Bros, at https://baldbeardbros.com.

I'm trying out a new format for the show this week, as moving forward, I'll spend time during each episode answering listener questions before jumping into the guest interview.   This week, my guest is Joe Albin, a father, a 15-year veteran of the fitness industry, and the owner of Prototype Fitness.   Joe and I discuss the highs and lows of being a gym owner, especially over the last year, and how he came to connect with fitness after so much of his identity growing up was in sports.   You can connect with Joe at https://www.prototype-fitness.com and at https://www.instagram.com/joealbin13.    If you want to ask a question to be included in the Q&A segment of the show, email me at michael@fitdadfitness.com, or join the Fit Dad Forum at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitdadforum.

I go solo this week with some thoughts on perhaps a different way to think about dissecting your approach to health and fitness.   Check out www.Tonal.com and use the code FITDAD21 for $100 off the smart accessories.

This week I catch up with the always incredible Sean Garner to get the lowdown on his life in the 4 years since he was on the show way back in episode 15!   Sean and I talk a lot about his move out of personal training and into consulting and helping fitness professionals build their online businesses.   Sean caps the episode with some crazy good advice that you don't want to miss, so be sure to listen all the way to the end.   Connect with Sean on Instagram at https://instagram.com/seangarner and check out EntreFit Coaching at https://entrefitcoaching.com. 

After a decade of playing offensive line in the NFL, which included a Pro Bowl season in 2006, injuries brought Nick Hardwick's playing days to a close in 2014.   Upon deciding to hang up his cleats, Nick was tired, energy-less, & weighed around 300 pounds. Not to mention that without football, Nick felt a little rudderless in his life.   But that's not where his story ends. As you'll hear in this conversation, Nick found a spark, and within five months he dropped 100 pounds. And now, he's helping others do the same with his Lose Like a Lineman program.   Check out Nick's work at https://hardwick.life, and follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nickhardwick. 

May 11 was International Foam Rolling Day, so what better time to bring on a guest to talk about the ins and outs of foam rolling?   Michael Cummings is a father, a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, and a Certified Fitness, Performance and Rehab Specialist. He is also the Director of Education for Implus Fitness Brands, the parent company of TriggerPoint, which designs and develops massage therapy tools.   Michael and I talk about foam rolling, what it is and what it isn’t, and how we can best incorporate it into our routines. The science of foam rolling has changed pretty dramatically since I first went through my personal training certification nearly five years ago, and Michael does a fantastic job of bringing me — and you — up to speed.   Connect with Michael at https://www.instagram.com/michaelthetrainer, and check out TriggerPoint at https://triggerpoint.implus.com.   Become a Fit Dad Fitness insider, support the show, and get special access to exclusive content at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fitdadfitness. 

My guest this week is Nick Shaw, Founder and CEO of Renaissance Periodization, a nutrition and fitness company dedicated to helping people achieve their health, athletic performance, and physique goals.   Nick is a father, and he and his wife, Lori, also co-host the RP Strength Podcast.   Himself a former competitive powerlifter and bodybuilder, Nick has personally coached numerous world-class athletes, including CrossFit Games Champions, international medalists, Olympians, UFC fighters, professional athletes, and Navy SEALs.   In our conversation, Nick and I discuss ways that everyday people can reach new levels of performance by adopting tried-and-true methods that the top performers in the world use.   Learn more about Renaissance Periodization at https://renaissanceperiodization.com, and follow Nick on Instagram at https://instagram.com/nick.shaw.rp.   Thanks to Tonal for its support of the show. Visit www.Tonal.com to try it for 30 days risk-free, and use the code FITDAD21 for $100 off the smart accessories.

Tim Lebbon is a professional writer with more than 40 novels and a couple of Hollywood movies to his name. But the focus of our conversation this week is his latest work, a self-published book titled Run Walk Crawl: Getting Fit In My Forties.   At age 41, Tim was overweight and unfit. By the time he turned 50, Tim was 35 pounds lighter, having spent his fifth decade of life training for and racing in multiple Ironmans, marathons, and other crazy adventures.   Tim's story starts like so many men — for years he yo-yoed between fitness motivation highs and settling into unproductive habits. Tim's story is a fun, honest, and hopefully inspirational account of how he finally found a fitness lifestyle that worked for him.   Connect with Tim at https://www.timlebbon.net.

Dr. Erik Korem is on a mission to help people perform at their best — professionally, personally, and in any domain. Erik's approach is to help people prepare for stress — even embrace it — by have a plan for rest and recovery.   Erik has worked in the NFL and with major college and Olympic athletes to get them to perform at their peak without burning out or stressing out.   In our conversation, Erik and I discuss some misconceptions about stress, and we dive deep into how we can get better sleep. Getting good sleep eludes so many of us, but there are behaviors we can change and habits we can adjust to optimize our sleep.   Be sure to check out Erik's podcast, The BluePrint, at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-blueprint/id1519528171. 

Chad Zueck is the creator of Be A New Man (http://beanewman.com) and the host of the New Kind of Man podcast.   In our conversation this week, Chad recalls the path he took from a wayward young father to where he is now, helping other men grasp the true meaning of masculinity and what it means to be a man.   Chad's zeal for continuous improvement and learning, as well as his love of the outdoors and keeping himself fit and active, make him the perfect guest for this show, and I'm sure you'll be inspired.   Check out Chad's podcast at http://beanewman.com/podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

This is a special episode for me, as I welcome a personal training client of mine to the show for the very first time.   In the middle of the pandemic in 2020, Jay Mays came to me looking for a coach to help him recalibrate his fitness regimen. Like so many of us, Jay found that 2020 threw a wrench in a lot of his plans, and how he trained his body was no different.   You'll hear from Jay what it was like to work with me as his coach, how we rehabbed a nagging shoulder injury, what he learned about proper nutrition, and ultimately, what his experience was like with online coaching.   To learn more about my coaching program, go to https://www.fitdadfitness.com.    Thanks to Tonal for sponsoring this week's episode. Go to https://www.tonal.com and use the code fitdad at checkout for $100 off the smart accessories.

Father of eight — that's right, 8! — children, Josh Martin, joins the show this week to share his story.   What I thought would be a conversation about the highs and lows of parenting a large family turned into a deep and insightful conversation about patience, marriage, keeping things simple, and of course, fitting fitness into life with eight kids.   Such a powerful conversation with a great dude!   Help support the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast and snag yourself a discount on some awesome gear made specifically for those of us who workout by going to https://barbellapparel.com and using the code MASH15 for 15% off your order.

My guest this week is Kareem Brinson — a dad, a husband, a DJ, a gym owner, and a coach. He's a busy guy who is passionate about a lot of things like family, music, and helping people out.   In this conversation, Kareem and I discuss what being a DJ and entertainer has been like over the last 12 months during a pandemic, and then we dive into how he came to wind up as a competitor on The Rock's TV show, The Titan Games.   I love Kareem's energy and enthusiasm for fitness, and I truly enjoyed this conversation.

Jeremy Clark and his wife have adopted four children from the country of Bulgaria, but what's more, all four boys have special needs.   In this conversation, Jeremy details the decisions he and his wife made to grow their family through the adoption of special needs children, and how they were keenly qualified to take on such a wonderful challenge.   We also discuss how through it all, Jeremy manages to stay fit and healthy, as he realizes the value of exercise has in helping him show up as the best husband and father he possibly can be.   Follow Jeremy on Instagram at https://instagram.com/bucketofbulgarians.   Get 10% off your subscription to BrainFM by using the code fitdad10 at https://brain.fm.

At his heaviest, Jarrod Rino weighed 320 pounds.   He'd done the back-and-forth of trying to exercise and eat right many times before, without much success.   Then, a freak accident changed everything. And in this week's episode, Jarrod describes the entire journey. Listen to hear the amazing story!   Check out Tonal at https://www.tonal.com and give their amazing system a try for 30 days risk-free! Use the code fitdad at checkout for $100 off the smart accessories.   To join the Fit Dad Forum, visit Fit Dad Fitness on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fitdadfitnesspage and submit to join.

For the 350th episode of the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast (!!!), I welcome Nick Shucet onto the show.   Nick's passion for health and helping others got its roots in 2007when he moved to an Organic Community Supported agriculture. Nick spent his free time in the gym and researching the connection between diseases and nutrition, and the more he learned, the more he realized he enjoyed helping others with their issues that could be solved through making healthy lifestyle choices.   Nick and I discuss the entire backstory, as well as how he lost 30 pounds without hitting the gym last year (thanks COVID) and with a newborn child.   Connect with Nick at https://canetichealth.com or on Instagram at https://instagram.com/canetic_health.    As I mention in the intro, check out Mark Turnipseed's new book, My Suicide Race, at https://www.amazon.com/My-Suicide-Race-Addiction-Recovery/dp/1736021907/ref=sr_1_1, and listen to his appearance on this show from episode 127 at https://www.fitdadfitness.com/blog/2019/11/13/ep-127-summiting-a-mountain-starts-by-taking-the-first-step-mark-turnipseeds-path-to-sobriety-and-peace.

Chris Duffin is one of the strongest pound-for-pound humans in the world. He's the only person to squat and deadlift more than 1,000 pounds for reps, holding the Guinness World Record on the sumo deadlift.   The story of how he became a world record-holding powerlifter and sought-after strength coach is truly remarkable, as Chris grew up homeless in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest before eventually escaping his life of extreme poverty.   In this conversation, Chris recounts his journey and what he's up to these days as a father, an entrepreneur, and an author, among many other things.   Connect with Chris at https://christopherduffin.com, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherduffindotcom, and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mad_scientist_duffin.

You can't go wrong getting strong!   I love that way of thinking from this week's guest, Dr. Al Lin, who has been a practicing physical therapist for more than 17 years.   Al and other PTs like him are challenging the long-held beliefs in the physical therapy community that weight training is to be avoided, and instead, they are helping their patients get strong to provide them lasting relief rather than short-term fixes.   Connect with Al on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thebarbellcure.    Be sure to visit this week's podcast partner, Tonal, at https://www.tonal.com. Try Tonal 30 days risk-free and use the code fitdad at checkout for $100 off the smart accessories.

Nick Royer is a father, an entrepreneur, and fitness world-record holder who believes there are major defining moments that have shifted the trajectory of his life for the better. Like the time he was gifted a fake Rolex watch by a former boss. Or when he broke a world-record in the bench press as a teenage powerlifter. As the owner of a thriving roofing business, Nick holds firm to his belief that fitness and hard work and following consistent positive habits create success in all areas of life, with help from good people along the way. Connect with Nick at https://instagram.com/newviewnick.    

You've got questions? I've got answers! Another Fit Dad Q&A is primed and ready for your ears.   The questions from Instagram and the Fit Dad Forum I answer this week are:   • Is there an age limit on getting fit? • How often do your AirPods fall out during a workout? • I'm going to take a break for two months, how do I maintain the muscle progress? • Any different/unique chest exercises to add to chest day to help grow pecs? • I realize any physical activity is better than nothing. However, in terms of “getting the biggest bang for your buck” would a HIIT workout for 10-15 minutes be better than a brisk walk for 1-3 miles? The goal being to build lean muscle and lose weight. These workouts are in addition to a weekly weight training workout. • So I just did a pretty hard swim workout and have a push lift session. The question is, would you lower the reps or the amount of weight during the strength session?   For all things Fit Dad Fitness, follow me on Instagram (https://instagram.com/fitdadfitness), join the Fit Dad Forum (https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitdadforum), and visit https://www.fitdadfitness.com. 

Why is the conversation about being an involved, present father so needed and necessary these days?   That's the question I set out to answer on this week's episode, as I welcome Jon Vroman, founder of Front Row Dads.   Jon is a husband and father, and when he's not doing that, he's working to help other dads live life in the front row. As you'll hear, through his work with Front Row Dads, he's not only been able to help tons of other fathers show up better for those they love most, but he's been able to apply much of the wisdom and experiences of other dads to his own life as well.   Check out Front Row Dads at https://frontrowdads.com, and follow on Instagram at https://instagram.com/frontrowdads?igshid=14zr6z2dss1py.

Merrill Hutchinson and Kyle Crofford of the Strong Dads Podcast join the show this week to offer a window into the effect the rise in absent fatherhood is having in our childrens' lives.   Hutch and Kyle have unique vantage points, as Hutch is a marriage and family coach and worked in schools for many years, and Kyle is a first responder.   We discuss the effect a healthy, strong, involved father can have on his home and his family, and what happens when a father is not present emotionally and/or physically.   Check out the Strong Dads Podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/327062.   Get 10% off your subscription to BrainFM by using the code fitdad10 at https://brain.fm.

Mike Matthews is the founder of Legion Athletics (https://legionathletics.com), a best-selling author, a husband and father, and a wealth of science-based knowledge when it comes to fitness and nutrition.   In this week's conversation, Mike and I cover a lot of topics, but at the core, we discuss a lot of the confusing aspects of health and fitness, and how Mike's approach to constant research and discovery has guided not only his training, but has helped many others as well achieve their goals.   Connect with Mike at https://www.instagram.com/muscleforlifefitness.   Check out Feedspot’s Top 40 Dad Fitness Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021: https://blog.feedspot.com/dad_fitness_podcasts

Patrick Davy joins the show this week to recount how the podcast he produces with his 12-year-old daughter, called the Beast Mode Kids podcast, came to be.   Not only does Pat have the opportunity to dive into tough and interesting conversations with his daughter, Alora, in a very public way, he's also been able to use the experience of producing the show to better bond with her, as Pat is not Alora's biological father.   We discuss all this and more in this wide-ranging conversation.   Check out the Beast Mode Kids podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beast-mode-kids/id1479488532.

Brad Kearns is the host of the Get Over Yourself podcast, a professional Speedgolfer, and a ranked USA Masters track & field high jumper, in addition to being a father and a former champion triathlete.   Brad's passion lies in promoting ways for men to maintain a competitive intensity even as they age, but doing it in a way that sets them up for a life of movement and performance.   To watch Brad's successful world-record Speedgolf attempt, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sys0r6Jvn8.   Check out Brad's "Get Over Yourself" podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-rad-podcast/id1430171257, and visit his website at www.bradkearns.com.   Other resources mentioned: • Stephen Rader - https://formiseverything.com/ • Brad Kearns Morning Routine - https://youtu.be/-IPPwBc3GLw • HIIT vs HIRT - https://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/hiit-versus-hirt • Joel Jamieson - 8weeksout.com • Don't get sore - https://youtu.be/3dKJzSvm6FI   Go to www.Tonal.com to try Tonal risk-free for 30 days and use the code FITDAD at checkout for $100 off the smart accessories.

It's time for my top 9 moments from the show this past year — and what a year it was in 2020!   Thank you for listening and supporting the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast. Here's to a fit, healthy, happy 2021!

Dan Jackson spent 20+ years in the military, coached his kids' sports teams as they grew up, and is a certified Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator.   He's a dad who is doing what he can to positively influence the world around him, guiding others to a life of health and fitness rooted in always being ready for the unknown situations life can throw at you.   He and I discuss why it's so important for us everyday dads to train to perform, to train to prevent injury, and to train as if we never have an offseason.   Thanks for making 2020 an epic year here on the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast. For all things Fit Dad Fitness, go to https://www.fitdadfitness.com.