Podcasts about national at home dad network

A Heartfelt Conversation In the latest episode of the Dads with Daughters podcast, we welcome Gerard Gousman to explore the unique experiences and challenges he faces as a father of four sons. Gerard shares his heartfelt insights and practical advice, making this episode a must-listen for every dad striving to be the best parent they can be. Let's dive into the critical themes and topics discussed during their engaging conversation. Reflecting on the Initial Stages of Fatherhood Gerard Gousman opens up about his initial reactions to becoming a father. The mix of excitement, fear, and overwhelming responsibility is something many new dads can resonate with. "It's like stepping into a world where you have no previous experience," says Gerard, reflecting on the early days of fatherhood. As he navigated through sleepless nights and constant second-guessing, Gerard began to understand the profound and rewarding nature of being a dad. The Dynamics of Parenting at Different Stages Parenting isn't a 'one size fits all' journey, and Gerard underscores this by discussing the differences in parenting toddlers, preteens, and teenagers. He highlights the importance of flexibility and adaptation, learning to adjust his parenting style to each child's unique needs and communication preferences. By doing so, Gerard has been able to maintain close relationships with his kids, fostering an environment where they feel safe and understood. Embracing Technology and Remote Living With the shift to remote work and education, Gerard speaks on the challenges and opportunities this new dynamic brings. Living in a more remote setting has highlighted the importance of balancing screen time with physical activity and real-world interactions. Gerard emphasizes finding creative solutions to keep his children engaged and active, such as outdoor adventures and tech-free family time. The Pressures and Expectations of Fatherhood One of the most relatable aspects of Gerard's story is his fear of not meeting the high standards and expectations of modern fatherhood. "There's always this lingering worry—am I doing enough?" Gerard admits candidly. Over time, he learned that striving for perfection isn't sustainable. Instead, he focuses on being present and consistent, realizing that it's the simple, everyday moments that matter most. Creating Wins and Building a Cool Dad Reputation A shining light in Gerard's journey is his 'cool dad' win at the trampoline park. Taking his 7-year-old and a friend out for some jumping fun led to high praise from the friend, labeling Gerard as the "coolest dad at school." This moment encapsulates the joy of being an involved parent and solidifies Gerard's belief in the importance of participating in his children's interests. Finding Inspiration and Support Gerard draws inspiration from his children's growth and positivity and from other supportive dads who share their journeys. He emphasizes the importance of finding a community, whether through local groups or online platforms. These connections offer a sense of belonging and a wealth of shared knowledge, making the challenges of fatherhood feel less isolating. Advice for New Dads: Stay Happy and True to Yourself To new fathers, Gerard offers sage advice: "Don't lose yourself after becoming a father. Your happiness is crucial for your family's well-being." He encourages dads to pursue their interests and maintain their personal happiness, which in turn creates a more joyful and balanced family environment. Transitioning Careers for Family Gerard's decision to transition from a high-pressure career in the event management and music industry to being a stay-at-home dad speaks volumes about his commitment to his family. He discusses the fear of missing out (FOMO) and the challenges of shifting focus from an active social lifestyle to home life. Parenthood required him to reevaluate his priorities and embrace a new, fulfilling role. Navigating Family Dynamics and Individual Needs Understanding that each child is unique, Gerard keeps notes on his children's favorite things to use as points of connection when other communication methods fail. This personalized approach has helped him navigate tough conversations and strengthen his bond with each child. Advocating for At-Home Dads Gerard has become a vocal advocate for at-home dads, participating in a New York Times article to challenge stereotypes. His efforts have been met with positive responses from friends and other fathers, underscoring the value of representation and community. The Role of Community in Fatherhood Finding a supportive Fatherhood community, like the National At Home Dad Network and local dad groups, has been instrumental in Gerard's journey. He emphasizes the importance of reaching out and connecting with others who understand and appreciate the unique challenges and rewards of fatherhood. The Simple Joys of Fatherhood For Gerard, fatherhood in one word is "amazing." It's the little victories, the shared laughs, and the opportunity to watch his children grow that make the journey so rewarding. As he continues to adapt and learn, Gerard remains a beacon of positivity and strength for his family. In summary, Gerard Gousman's journey is a powerful reminder that fatherhood, with all its ups and downs, is an ever-evolving adventure. His insights and experiences provide invaluable lessons for dads at any stage, encouraging them to embrace the journey with an open heart and a flexible mindset.   TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:05]: Welcome to dads with Daughters. In this show, we spotlight dads, resources, and more to help you be the best dad you can be. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:16]: Welcome back to the dance with daughters podcast where we bring you guests to be active participants in your daughter's lives, raising them to be strong, independent women. You know, every week, I love being able to sit down and talk with you, to work with you, to help you on this journey that you're on. Each one of us is on a unique journey. And you have daughters, I have daughters, but we learn from each other. We learn from others. And the more that we're willing to step out and hear what others have to say, step out and take in that learning, take in what others have to say, the more that you're going to be able to be that engaged dad, and that father that you want to be to your children. And that's why every week I bring you different guests, different people with different perspectives and, and different from different walks of life that have gone through either fatherhood in a different way have different resources that they can share. And I love being able to do that. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:10]: Because, as I said, each one of us is on a unique journey, but we can learn from each other and we can help each other along the way. This week, we got another great guest with us. Gerard Guzman is with us today. Gerard is a father of 4 sons. And you might be saying, well, this is the dads with daughters podcast. Why are we having a father of sons here? Well, there's a reason and we're gonna be talking about that. Gerard went through his own journey as a working dad that made some choices, made some choices to be that active, engaged dad that he wanted to be and may have made some choices that you might have made or might not have made. We're gonna talk about that. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:47]: And I'm really excited to have him here, be able to share his story, learn a little bit more about him. Gerard, thanks so much for being here today. Gerard Gousman [00:01:53]: Thanks for having me.  Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:54]: It is my pleasure having you here today. Love being able to have you on and being able to learn more about you. 1st and foremost, I love being able to start the podcast with the opportunity to go back in time, get in the in that proverbial time machine. I want to go all the way back. I know you've got kids that range from 22 months all the way to 22 years. So I want to go back maybe 23 years, I want to go back to that first moment that you you found out that you were going to be a father. What was going through your head? Gerard Gousman [00:02:19]: For the first time, I was young. I was in college scared, excited, hopeful. It was there from was the experience of not knowing what was ahead of me, but, like, alright. Trying to figure out, alright. How can how do I do this? How do I be a dad? And I look at the examples of examples around me and okay. To figure out how long if I take a little piece of pieces of this from the different dads I know and trying to grab what I thought was right. And, of course, none of us do it right. It's from the start. So got that knocked myself off, knocked my dust myself off, and got back up and keep trying it again and again until some point in the next couple weeks. I think I may get it right. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:02:55]: I'll have to check back with you in that few weeks and see if you actually hit that point because I don't know if any of us do it right all the time. And we definitely stumble, fall, pick ourselves back up, as you said. And our kids are gonna be the first ones to point out when we make mistakes. So that's definitely the case. Now, as I said, you've got kids that range from 22 years to 22 months. And with each and every child, you have to parent in a little bit different way. And you've learned things along the way, but you've got a very young child and a child that's potentially out of the nest in regards to grown, flown, starting his adult life now. So talk to me about what you've learned along the way and how you're parenting your 22 month old now differently than you may have parented your 22 year old. Gerard Gousman [00:03:44]: Yeah. It's definitely a much different world now, physical world and just my immediate world where I'm coming from then being young and my experience, all things that come with being a young adult in a big city and trying to do that. And it was also at the time of really starting. I was in music and college and working in marketing. Just Just starting out working in marketing in events and just trying to navigate and figure out what I was gonna be and what I was gonna do. And some of the experiences I have always been of the mind is bring trying to do as much as you can to marry marry my worlds together. I was trying to bring the kids out into the events and never use that having kids excuse to not be able to do something that you probably could do with them. That's something I've always tried to maintain with of showing my kids as much of the world and as many different experiences as I can. Gerard Gousman [00:04:39]: And still to this day doing that, but a bit differently, plus the mix of technology, and we're a little more remote than we were then. And starting out, I was with in Chicago, it's so close to a lot of family. But now remote here in the on the West Coast, and most of my family is still Midwest and back east. So it's completely different raising the family, raising kids away from the family, and not having a strong of a communal family support. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:05:06]: Now you mentioned at the beginning when you first had your first child, you were definitely a little bit scared. And I think there's some fear that goes along with every father, Whether you have daughters, whether you have sons, in some aspect, when you bring a new child into the world, there's always some fear. What was your biggest fear in being a father? Gerard Gousman [00:05:22]: A lot. I think of not being able to hold up to the standards that I had, I guess, as a kid, like, what the ideal dad was. Like, when I grow up, when I have kids, I'm never gonna yell, and I'm gonna always be there, and I'm always gonna be smart, and I'm gonna trust my kids and know all the things that you wanted as a child from your parents. I'm like, I'm gonna be that parent. Like, how do I hold up to be that parent that I wanted as a kid? And then I realized, like, that's not realistic. You you quickly learn, like, oh, that's why they were always tired. That's why they were always yelling. Like, in retrospect, that was very dangerous. It's finding that out that I could try to bring in those parts of me that I wanted to mold and have my parenting style being able to live up to that standard. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:06:13]: Now with the fact that your children are at different points, different ages, different experience levels, and you look at that fear now in regard to what you've gone through. Is the fear that you have as a father different for your 22 month old in the life that he will have versus the fear that you have now for your adult son? Gerard Gousman [00:06:35]: Think of are you thinking in in time that learn to be a lot more flexible and not take not take the losses as hard. And sometimes, like, I take the stumbles as much. I mean, there's simply times where you do everything you can and things don't work out, but you say, alright. Didn't work out this time. How do I learn from this experience and use it to parent better down the road? So going back to things I thought of with now with my now 7 year old being the 1st grader and thinking back to when my oldest was in that age and trying not to put as much pressure, like, that pressure to be the best student and be the nicest kid and be perfect in public and be respectful. Be always be as respectful as possible and and to try to keep them as polished they could. And now being a point of letting them breathe and kinda learn their own way and instilling those the same principles in them, but not instilling the pressure as much. I wanna know that, yeah, it's okay to take those missteps and but being able to be open and and be able to come back to us as parents and know that we have that support level of support that I don't think I instilled in my kids, in my older kids when they were younger. Gerard Gousman [00:07:52]: It's kinda that these are your benchmarks. You gotta hit them. You gotta hit them. And now it's like, alright. If you don't, that's okay. We can find a way to make up the gap. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:08:00]: And kinda chuckling to myself because I think as you go through life as a parent, and I I could just imagine your oldest son saying to you, you were so much harder on me and you kept me to a different standard than than you're holding to my younger siblings. And you do. You know, it's not that you're favoring one than another, but you learn. And as you said, you become more laid back, I believe. The more fathers that I talk to, the more kids that they have, I think the more laid back they do become. Gerard Gousman [00:08:28]: Yeah. And then the thing of knowing how like, in the beginning, you don't know what the outcome or outcomes be, but outcomes will be. But as it goes on, you kinda you understand the patterns. You see the algorithm of life. And, like, okay. I know where before I had to make the 6 or 7 steps. I know that 2 or 3 of those steps weren't really important and kinda slowed things up. So now being able to have been able to more fine tune things in real time and just being more aware of those benchmarks that we like I said before about trying to hit those and not it's not always the most important thing. Sometimes the trying is enough. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:09:03]: Now I know that or you, as you said, you were a employee for many years, you worked out in the world, doing event management, Salt N Pepper, Cat Power. I mean, lots of artists that were out there. You were traveling a lot, and at some point, you made a decision. You made a decision that some changes need to be had, and you needed to be closer to home. You needed to be able to be more a part of the family. Talk to me about that internal conversation you had to have, the conversation you had to have with your wife as well to think about this in a different scenario that made you make some choices that were going to substantially change your life and change your family's life? Gerard Gousman [00:09:50]: Yeah. Well, I think into that point, it was sitting around the birth of my 3rd, and the 2nd one's went through, and it was kinda wandering in between, I guess, seasons. I guess the way the event seasons go, it's kinda like the tail end and starting I don't know. I wanted to be there and support my wife as much as I could that and doing the beginning of the maternity leave and school being able to really be a part of the moments, all of the pre visits and all that stuff and really having the excitement of the pregnancy. That's not that I missed out by. My other 2 was just, like, being out on the road and traveling and not being able to be there for the earliest moments. And once it got to that point of, like, seeing it, I knew I could be there. And one of the things made it a lot easier is is the decision to be able to support my wife in her career. Gerard Gousman [00:10:38]: And she she was on the upper trajectory. And Shrunkar Bennett really got into a point where she was really making strides and wanted to be able to support her in that and give that example for the kids as well. Like, I know I could do this and with cards on the table and look to see what our strengths were. It's like, yeah. I I can do this and give you that so you need to go back and focus on your career and or can I can hold it down here and still be able to do things that I needed to do for myself? And when it I think I've built a strong relationship with my wife, and we are to the point that we are very open communicators in regards to what our immediate needs are. Like, we tend to check-in with each other, and where it may not be something long gone or drawn out, we know when something's not right and, like, always we try to stay on the same page much as possible. And I think that helped make the transition a lot easier, just knowing that I can instill a system, and we have our routines in the house, and it makes us it could be able to flow. And we are able to still have a lot of the things that we loved about life before. Gerard Gousman [00:11:41]: Like, we're avid campers, and we like to travel. And being able to do that stuff with the kids while they're young, I think, has been great for me. Like, definitely a lot of those day to day, like, month to month, the growing things, like, being able to notice little height differences. Like, that arm's longer than it was a few weeks ago. And having full conversations with the baby, and actually, like, because I'm with because I'm with him, I understand what he's saying. And so you're having those things that priceless and suits so valuable, and, like, I know you never get that time. It's really knowing the value of the time. It's been more valuable than however much I would have made out there in the field. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:12:21]: So talk to me a little bit about that transition, that transition from work at work outside of the house, traveling, working in the industry, working with artists, you know, that high pressure, high paced life to transitioning to home and being that stay at home dad where you're running the household, keeping things running while your wife is working on her career. What was the hardest part for you in making that transition? And what were some of the things that you had to fundamentally change to be able to help you to make that transition? Gerard Gousman [00:12:52]: Honestly, coming from for being, very active and constantly out, going out 3, 4 nights a week even when I'm not wasn't working or I wasn't traveling. Still going home and being active in my local art and music event scene. There's no stand abreast. You gotta keep your faces in a place to be active. You're not around. You're not in. Right? So it's coming from making just that desire and having that FOMO was the big thing of man, I'm missing out on a lot of stuff, all those opportunities. And it's it's like the music festivals and concerts and stuff. Gerard Gousman [00:13:26]: It's that high energy. Always go, never knowing exactly what's gonna be next, which some days, that's what it's like around here. And, see, see, making that transition was not as hard as I thought it would be at first using a lot of the things that I learned on the day to day managing the field, the schedules, and having those routines, dealing with wrangling wild and unruly staff and artists. I'm like, it's pretty much what I'm doing here, keeping everything afloat. It's that mode of getting into not having that FOMO and finding what elements of that former life can I bring in? I guess the biggest thing is just that missing out on the activity of being around the my peers. I think that was the hardest part of the disconnect of the transition of not being having that peer relationship. As much as I could, we could go out and take kids to do stuff, but kinda hard to have that feel. Getting over that and finding supplements and finding community and that were more in tune with that part of my lifestyle. Gerard Gousman [00:14:30]: It has been good and just working with the National At Home Dad Network, and I that was a godsend for me, being able to find find the group. And, like, man, there's a whole community of dads out there. It kinda opened me up to me to see, like, yeah. I'm not as isolated in this as I believe I was in the beginning. That's that made things so much easier, designing was really being able to know that I could go out and find the communities if I look for them. And then once I found a couple of places to be able to places to commiserate or places to share what, for me, it would have been a big win. Like, hey. Today today was a no blowout day. Gerard Gousman [00:15:09]: First no blowout day. That's a big deal. My all working, partying event friends were like, no. That's they don't care about them. Like, so finding people that what are my constituted a big win in my current life, finding a community that understood those moments. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:15:25]: So talk to me about community because you mentioned that you got connected at the national level with the At Home Dad Network and how we've had some past guests from the At Home Debt Network on the show. Talk to me about finding that community, what you had to do to find that community, not only nationally through the work that you're doing on the board of the At Home Dad Network now, but but even locally of being able to find those peers or those other dads that were going through similar things that you could start to have a new community for yourself. What did you have to do to be able to initially find that community and then build, hone, and grow that community for yourself? Gerard Gousman [00:16:04]: Kinda funny. I use some of the things that I would use initially in, like, having events and finding the different event communities and nightlife sectors. They're just going going through and mining through Facebook and different like Facebook and Tumblr and Reddit and looking for those communities and realizing that there are thriving online communities of engaged, active fathers and really putting myself out there and, like, hey, this is what I'm looking for. This is this is what I'm struggling with. These are the problems I'm having. Anybody ever experienced this? And and then finding there's 100 guys like, yeah. Last week, that was me. Exactly that. Gerard Gousman [00:16:42]: Last week. We do that both finding that online community, but finding that those those guys were here in my state, in in my in town and going in, like, alright. Putting myself out there. Hey, you guys. Let's get together. Let's meet. Let's go out and do some media at the park or the toddler gym or we should get out and have a beer or something. And when I took it on myself to really throw myself into it, like, if I don't put myself out there and find it, it's not going it's not just gonna come to and knowing that I was struggling with that disconnect, with that FOMO, just like and having that having that backup. This is something that's not ideas off of with other dads. Once I found myself really being able to throw myself into it and reach out to other dads that I knew, like, a and ask them, like, hey. Are you suffering with the same stuff that I have? And, like, no. No. I'm good. Well, actually, yeah. I didn't wanna say anything, but, yeah, I feel that too in, like, of having friends that, like, man, you know what? Let me check on some of my mom check on my dad friends. And, like, I know how I'm feeling. Let me check up on them. And then once doing that, like, seeing it there like, yeah, a lot of us were having that same thing, but, like, not feeling that we had anybody to talk to. So I might try to invite them into different spaces or just always make make myself available to be a space for my immediate community of dads. Then I've gone on to, like, join my local PTA and try being more active in my kids' school and work with some of the dads there to have more of the fathers on campus and doing doing things and more active in the events. And that has helped. Definitely had comments from other dads in the school. Gerard Gousman [00:18:21]: And it's great to see you always there. Like, I was nervous about going because it's always just the moms, but seeing you in in it and active, like, made me feel okay. Alright? There'll at least be somebody another dad there to talk to. And and every time now I go out, go to pick up the kids, like, hey, man. I see some of the dads, like, hey, we doing this or something. Just checking in on how you doing. Like, not how you doing, but how are you? And checking in on the other day, that's when I see them at pick up and inviting them into the spaces in school and and know, like, hey, it's not a spady thing. They're not gonna load up on you. Gerard Gousman [00:18:48]: Be more active. You got to support. There's other guys here that get it. And we're starting to start to have more of the dads in our school community be more active and stepping up and taking a lead on things. So that's been great to see. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:19:05]: Yeah. It's so exciting to to hear that you're finding that community. I think that whether you're working or not, it's so important to find a community that you connect with and don't go through fatherhood feeling like you have to do everything by yourself because so many times men step into fatherhood thinking, I've got to know everything. I've got to be that expert. I've got to be the man per se. And you don't you don't have to be the man. You can be a man and know that there are so many other people right around your block or in your apartment complex. No matter where you live that are going through similar things, you just have to reach out and you have to talk to them and just kinda, Gerard, like you said, just say, how are you and truly be willing to ask the question and see and understand and connect on that deeper level. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:19:59]: So, Gerard, one of the things that I guess that I would ask is now you've got kids at different ages. They're involved in so many different things. The personalities are probably very different from one another. How do you keep that connection and build those unique relationships with each of your kids? Gerard Gousman [00:20:17]: That part definitely difficult, especially once the teenage years and they grow and get their independence, and they construct their own communities. I think I always tap in and let them know I relate to what's going on. I try to I'll let them know, like, I'm always available to talk. Especially for the older kids, like, we don't talk as much and maybe a like my 16 year old. Gerard Gousman [00:20:42]: Are you good? I'm cool. Alright. Tell me about your day. What's we gonna tell me about your week. Alright. Anything new? No. And I'm like, alright. So I'll check-in next month. They're going through and make it a point of having to go on to the, like, all the the school forums and following the the different school Facebook groups and different stuff. Like, I'm like, you got a key from the mayor? Why didn't you tell anybody? Like, it wasn't a big deal. What? The mayor came to send me a school and no. You didn't you didn't wanna tell anybody that that was happening. Like, that isn't a big deal. Well, at least put on a nice shirt that day. So things like that. Like, wanting to be open when I can. I know, not the hippest. They're definitely difficult across but they're totally different generations, I guess. If you ask them, they're totally different generations. What worked with the oldest, I mean, I know I could even work with the 16 year old and between the 16 and the 17 year old. Gerard Gousman [00:21:36]: The way I could communicate and relate with 1 to a totally different approach to the other. And so I'm going through and finding those personality points and being able to figure out, adjust, and tweak my parenting style for each of them. Just realizing that, alright, the way I can talk to one isn't the same as other. Like, one, I can go through and ask something, and they'll just ramble on and tell you all the detail. Another one, it puts pulling teeth. You're asking it's 50 questions. It's 50 questions together. How was your day? Just to get to that point. Gerard Gousman [00:22:08]: And so finding a way that it each communicates and how to research. I wanna watch videos and read articles and Internet snooping and going on to TikTok and Instagram and going through the trends, like, alright. What did I hear them mention? They're in, like, alright. And just trying to stay abreast of what's what's hip in their different areas. Like, alright. What's hip for the in this age group? What's hip in this age group? And how just using those little points I can to as a point of relation to open them up because I may ask a bunch of questions, but then I may mention something about this one artist. And that may be the thing that unlocks that that window that was shut in with blinds and locked and curtains across it. Now our sun's coming right on in now. Gerard Gousman [00:22:54]: It's like, oh, yeah. Gerard Gousman [00:22:55]: That's my favorite song. I was thinking about that. You know what? I was talking to my friends today. You know, we were thinking about going to Greece. I'm like, oh, I Gerard Gousman [00:23:01]: asked you, had you heard this song? All the information I've been trying to get out of you for a month has just come down because I asked you, had you heard this new song? So I'm interested in finding things like that, those little points of connection where I can. And I keep a little Google Keep note list of the things like favorite food and drink orders, and stuff like that. They mentioned this artist one time. Make sure I remember on that. And just jotting down little things for each kid that those bigger points of relation that I can come back to when that normal communication isn't working. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:23:33]: So this whole story of what we've been talking about was recently put out in front of the world through a New York Times article. And talk to me about that, and why you chose to be a part of that article, why you wanted your story out there, but also what has come from that story being shared? And what are you hearing not only from people around you, but people broader than in your local community. Gerard Gousman [00:24:02]: Yeah. So, so that was a great opportunity. I was definitely happy to be included. The writer, Kelly Coyne, reached out to me, and we had a great discussion about some of the some of this about my experiences as Gerard Gousman [00:24:15]: a father and just in the changing styles of fatherhood, and wanted to work with the org with that Home Dad Network. That's been one of our mission. Being able to help update that face of parenthood and kinda change the popular conception of at home dads. I wanted to have them be included because it's been an interesting journey for me and having more dads be open about the experience. And we we do we have a lot of that. I definitely have gotten that mister mom comment from strangers and friends alike as both an insult and as a compliment from it being termed as something endearing and something as a joke. And knowing that we'd be able to put to face a fatherhood that can be active in being at home and regularly engage fathers, not just done one way. There's not just one way to do that. Gerard Gousman [00:25:10]: So that's something I wanted to, I guess, give my perspective on, of the way that it works for us versus the way that some other dads mentioned the way that they came to this point of being at home dad and being a primary caregiver. So it was honor to be able to share that perspective. I think having some of the response I've gotten, really great all around, friends, family. But having other guys that I know that were dads reach out, I think that's been the best part of seeing, like, man, that's cool. Like, I really really wish I could do that. Like, I wanna do that, but I don't think I have it in me to be able to teach my kids on the day of having the patience or having a structure and being able to be open with them. It's like, hey. It's it's not all every day is not great. Gerard Gousman [00:25:56]: It's not all wins, but it's all positive. It's all necessary. Like, I am always happy at the end result. Right? And once I you have to have those points hitting those walls and having the end result, like, at the end of day, like, well, it's more worse circumstances we could be in and being happy that I am able to have the opportunity. Having the privilege to be able to be in a position that I can be here and make these mistakes and learn with my family and help my family grow. I guess, I haven't had it's negative. I did have, but I reached out for an interview, and it was kinda the the other side of it, they want it, bro. What's the negative response you've gotten? Like, there hasn't isn't any. Gerard Gousman [00:26:35]: Like, what was the bad part? It's not. It's been great as far as the experience. Of course, there's always small things, family things that happen, but it has been a majorly positive experience because that's what I make it. And it's like if in being able to relate that to other fathers. The experience is gonna be what you make. It's not gonna be easy. It's not gonna be as hard as you think it will be either. It definitely will be the days where you gotta sit in the emergency room after you but you get up early and think you're gonna go to bed early, and it's like next thing, you know, you're up till 3 AM, and you gotta get up at 7 AM the next day. Gerard Gousman [00:27:09]: It's like but you keep going, and you find the time to make your peace. And that's the biggest thing that has made this a positive and more eased experience for me, is the focus that my wife and I put on having our home be a place of peace. And I instillment with the kids. Like, I yell just like most dads, I'm sure, yell. Then circling back on that, circling back. Alright. Oh, bring that back. That's why I yelled. Gerard Gousman [00:27:38]: We need to stop yelling as a collective and learning how to quiet yell. This is something I've been working on with the baby, this quiet yelling with him. Like, you can be you can be mad. You can scream, but don't scream at me. I am so angry right now. Don't do that. Like, see? It still works. He reads the facial. Gerard Gousman [00:27:58]: I'm like, he can read the facial expressions. Okay. Okay. Gerard Gousman [00:28:02]: And so sometimes that he's gonna Gerard Gousman [00:28:04]: go into it, and I'm learning, seeing that he is learning that as well, He's screaming, and then he was I'm like, you're getting it. Okay? So I think I'm a you know, things of being able to share the learnings with so much the with the broader community of dads and parents. But just having that small community of dads that I've been friends with forever coming to me and be like, you know what? I've been struggling. I didn't think I could do this. But, you know, I I read your piece and seen your piece like, man, it's thank you. Thank you for putting on that face for us and know that it is hard and that we can do this. And I think that's been the best response for me was having dads that that I knew come to me and, like, that's it right there. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:28:48]: Now we always finish our interviews with what I like to call our fatherhood 5 where I ask you 5 more questions to delve deeper into you as a dad. Are you ready? Okay. In one word, what is fatherhood? Gerard Gousman [00:28:57]: Yes. What indeed? It's it is a constant what. Amazing. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:29:03]: When was the time that you finally felt like you succeeded at being a father? Gerard Gousman [00:29:07]: Sometime between 3 and 3:15. Last week, I figured a point to kinda catalog my wins so that on those bad days, those those days I'll take the l, I can draw back to them. So I had one last week. I took my 7 year old and one of his friends, one of his classmates. They were on spring break last week. Took him took him to trampoline par, and it's how seeing how happy they were and having the friend comment like, gee, I always knew you were the coolest dad at school. Gerard Gousman [00:29:36]: And I was like, you remember to tell all the other kids that when you go back to school next week. Okay? He's like, oh, they already know. Like, you alright. Now you're just messing with me. Get out of here. I'm like, what do you want? Gerard Gousman [00:29:46]: He's like, no. Really? We like you. It's like, okay. Maximus is that's my son. Like, Maximus is always he sure ain't always happy, and he seems to have a lot of fun. And you guys do cool things, and you always do cool stuff for us at school. So that's why, like, yeah. You're definitely the coolest dad at school. Gerard Gousman [00:30:03]: And I was like, alright. Gerard Gousman [00:30:04]: I'm gonna remember this. See how long this last. I'm gonna remember this. Bring this back up in a couple of months when you're making fun of me. Because last year in kindergarten, they were all making fun of me for being bald. So to know that I'm one of them thinks that I'm cool. That's not mine. That that I'm taking that weed. Gerard Gousman [00:30:20]: Yeah. Just knowing that it was cool like that. It seemed that not just because we do and giving them stuff, but it's like that. The other kids notice how happy my kids are and think that it's because of me. That that was a win for me. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:30:32]: Now if I was to talk to your kids, how would they describe you as a dad? Gerard Gousman [00:30:36]: Which one on which day? Open? Fun? Tired? A good cook? Positive. More often than not, I am positive and try to keep them focused on a positive trajectory. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:30:48]: Who inspires you to be a better dad? Gerard Gousman [00:30:50]: First off, my kids. They I feel like seeing the growth and seeing the smaller lessons. The things that I don't think that they all the things that you don't think they listened to that they didn't hear. And seeing them engage in the world as positivity and seeing them being kind and open and taking care of others, that generally is recharging to me. Like, alright. I'm doing something. I'm doing something right. How can I build on this? Right? So I have kinda curated a great great base of dads. Gerard Gousman [00:31:22]: So I'm getting lots of great dad content from different podcasts. The things that a lot of the dads in our network do, the way they interact with their kids, the risk that dads take, putting their selves out there to not only tackle their home and family stuff, but in going out and living their dreams. And guys like Matt Strain, who all the stuff for his family, but also as a triathlete and doing things like that. Like, man, I couldn't imagine running on a walker like myself. He's like, no, man. It's you just gotta get into it and and go and delve in and do it. Like, having dads who push the envelope and really put their stuff out there to be more than just dad. And try to remember that, a, we were once young, vibrant men with dreams and hopes and hobbies and try the the dads who find themselves and get back to that and are but are still fully active in in their debt. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:32:19]: Now you've given a lot of piece of advice today, things for all of us to think about and to consider for our own journeys as dads. As we leave today, as we finish up today, what's one piece of advice you'd wanna give to every dad? Gerard Gousman [00:32:32]: I'd say, in closing, the it tends to know that becoming a father doesn't have to mark the end of you being a man. You can find those avenues to be able to go out and maintain your happiness, maintain your peace, and be a person. Right? And don't lose yourself in that, that go to your kids to see that you are not just that, but that you are still vibrant and that you love your life and are living a life that makes you happy, not just living a life of service. So I think that would be the that's the biggest thing I would share is, like, to go out and make sure that your kids see you being happy with your life. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:33:17]: Well, Gerard, I just wanna say thank you. Thank you for sharing your own journey today. If people people wanna find out more about you, where should they go? Gerard Gousman [00:33:24]: I am so boring, but join the National At Home Data Network. We are doing membership drive. If they come and join us, Come hang out with us at DadCon in Saint Louis this year. That's in October. And it's the only way you can find me in one of those forums if I'm not somewhere wrangling? Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:33:40]: Well, Gerard, just thank you. Thank you so much for being here, and I wish you all the best. Gerard Gousman [00:33:44]: Thank you very much for having me. Appreciate being on. Will be listening. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:33:48]: If you've enjoyed today's episode of the dads with daughters podcast, we invite you to check out the fatherhood insider. The fatherhood insider is the essential resource for any dad that wants to be the best dad that he can be. We know that no child comes with an instruction manual and most dads are figuring it out as they go along, and the fatherhood insider is full of resources and information that will up your game on fatherhood. Through our extensive course library, interactive forum, step by step roadmaps, and more, you will engage and learn with experts, but more importantly dads like you. So check it out at fathering together dot org. If you are a father of a daughter and have not yet joined the dads with daughters Facebook community, there's a link in the notes today. Dads with Daughters is a program of fathering together. We look forward to having you back for another great guest next week, all geared to helping you raise strong empowered daughters and be the best dad that you can be. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:34:47]: We're all in the same boat, And it's full of tiny screaming passengers. We spend the time. We give the lessons. We make the meals. We buy them presents and bring your AK. Because those kids are growing fast. The time goes by just like a dynamite blast. Calling astronauts and firemen, carpenters, and musclemen. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:35:27]: Get out and be the world to them. Be the best that you can be.

The Dads are joined by the hosts of the Home Dad Chatpodcast, Brock Lusch and Danny Mercer. Home Dad Chat is the official podcast of the National At Home Dad Network . Mentioned in this Episode: Home Dad Con Chris Stapleton's Traveller Whiskey Ryan Bingham's Bingham's Bourbon "There I Ruined It" on Instagram: Conway Fitty "Beat Bugs" on Netflix Fathering Together Father's Eve #NoDadAlone   Show Notes: 7:05 - HARDY Report: We were not going to do a HARDY Report this episode but Brock became a HARDY fan because of this segment and it had to be done. 14:35 - Dad Life Sound Check: The Dads turned this segment over to their guests. Brock and Danny shared songs from Conway Twitty, Tracy Lawrence, Rodney Atkins, Billy Currington and Toby Keith   32:02 - Main Segment: The Dads learn about all of the ways that the National At Home Dad Network   provides resources for all dads to build community, find mentors and learn from their peers. The best way to see everything they have to offer is to visit and join their Facebook group National At Home Dad Network Facebook Group.  You can find the Country Music Dads Playlist on Spotify and via our ⁠⁠⁠webpage⁠⁠⁠. You can find all of our back episodes on our website⁠⁠⁠⁠ countrymusicdads.com. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram and ⁠⁠Facebook @countrymusicdads. And most importantly, please give us a 5-star review and share the show with all of your friends. Sources: Intro Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“Dark Country Rock” by Moodmode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HARDY Report Theme Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“Frantic” by Lemon Music Studio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "That's My Job" by Conway Twitty "Time Marches On" by Tracy Lawrence "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins "People Are Crazy" by Billy Currington "As Good As I Once Was" by Toby Keith "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals "Texas Hold 'Em" by Beyonce

The National At-Home Dad Network's first ever At-Home Dad Cookbook, Dad Dishes. Submit your recipe now. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDrIb6TK9mL2YfF9wyGNcdu8ei2sF50xKakI1CspRiagz56w/viewform --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/homedadchat/message

We spotlight all of the exciting news taking place in The National At-Home Dad Network. Leaving Mr.Mom Behind https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/17/style/stay-at-home-dad-stigma.html Matt Strain Dads Walkin' the Line meeting on Monday's at 9pm Eastern/ 6pm Pacific This is NOT going to be an abstinence only group. Get your membership https://athomedad.org/my-membership-options-page/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/homedadchat/message

We are happy you are here, We do not expect you to become a member of our organization. However, if you see the value in the resources provided by the organization then we hope you will make a financial commitment to support The National At-Home Dad Network. Become a Member: https://athomedad.org/my-membership-options-page/ Sometimes You Need a Jellyfish: https://a.co/d/bP3TPnP --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/homedadchat/message

The award-winning YouTube web series "Turf Valley" writers/producers talk about how The National At-Home Dad Network is going to become part of their show during HomeDadCon. Suicide Hotline 988 Please reach out don't stay silent. Sponsor of Turf Valley: Gerrit J. Verburg Co Check out Turf Valley on Youtube --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/homedadchat/message

Jordan Rich filled in on NightSide:He may not wear a cape, probably won't beat a speeding bullet, and most likely feels like he's been run over by a locomotive than more powerful than one…..He's the stay-at-home dad, and moms all around the country are grateful for him! It's easy to find clubs and groups for stay-at-home moms, but did you know there's a father's network available? Joining Jordan to celebrate Dad was Matt Strain, a Member of the Board of Directors for The National At-Home Dad Network.

Part 7 of our series on introducing those who sit on the board of directors for The National At-Home Dad Network. Grady Black is our final guest for this series. He has traveled the world, served our country, and now he serves as a military spouse and at-home dad. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/homedadchat/message

Part 6 of our series on introducing those who sit on the board of directors for The National At-Home Dad Network. Sergio Rosario-Diaz talks about dealing with military spouse life, growing a brand, and why Justice, Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (JDEI) are important to fight for in our community. https://www.soysuperpapa.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/homedadchat/message

Brock and Danny discuss how toxic ideology has no place in The National At-Home Dad Network. The admin team is on their game always. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/homedadchat/message

Part 1 of our series of introducing the board members of The National At-Home Dad Network. In this episode, we talk with The current President Jonathan Heisey-Grove. Who is he, what is he passionate about, and maybe a few other things you may be wondering why this person would want to head up a non-profit supporting at-home dad? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/homedadchat/message

In this episode of The Dad Central Show, Ed and Drew review select moments from the first 12 shows. Each guest provided memorable takeaways that, when applied, can make a big impact in the journey of fatherhood. As the conversation evolves they add personal reflections, stories or research that aligns with the guests message. Fatherhood is challenging, but the tools needed to succeed are all within reach. By reviewing these moments it provides dads a quick summary of the tools they can use. They also highlight the value of conversation and community for supporting men and dads to achieve their goals.   If you're looking for a show filled with stories and examples to inspire your fatherhood, this is it! In the conversation discover: Trevor Linden's wisdom about what you need to do to help your kids be their best Donnovan Bennett's family motto and the importance of his father's example How Jack Armstrong's focus on relationships can help dads become significant to their children Plus many more moments from guests like Shannon Carpenter, The National At-Home-Dad Network, Jerrad Lopes, Dr. Charles Daniels, Niigaan Sinclair, Matt Prestbury and Roger Dundas About The Dad Central Show Dads love to see their kids grow into confident and successful adults. The problem is most dads feel unsure how to get there and have nowhere to turn for help. The Dad Central Show coaches you to be your best, while bringing out the best in your family. Links for Dad Central Website: https://dadcentral.ca The Dad Central Show: https://dadcentral.ca/podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/dadcentral Twitter: https://twitter.com/dadcentral_ont Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadcentralontario LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dadcentral/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs2HyxB9nOLxyHvBMSo4TQQ Contact us at podcast@dadcentral.ca The Dad Central Show is sponsored by Dove Men+Care. Dove Men+Care believes care is the best of a man, because when men care for themselves and others, there is a positive impact.

Author of The Ultimate-Stay-At-Home Dad, Shannon Carpenter shares his humour and wisdom to help dads navigate everything fatherhood. Whether it's the powerful story of his father, or the hilarious anecdote about helping his kids build a working guillotine, this conversation has something for everyone. Shannon talks about the process of becoming a stay-at-home dad, building resilience, fighting the isolation that many dads feel, building a community, learning parenting skills, working with your spouse/partner, and most importantly – making the choice to show up as a dad, no matter what. This conversation covers a wide range of fatherhood topics that will encourage and inspire every dad. Learn more about Shannon Carpenter: Website: https://www.shannoncarpenterauthor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hossman53 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HossmanAtHome Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hossmanathome53/ Shannon's Story: Shannon Carpenter has been a stay-at-home dad since 2008. He is also a humor writer trained through the famous Second City. Whether writing social satire or parenting essays, he is always able to find your funny bone and leave you with a lasting impression. He has done public readings on local NPR affiliate KCUR and teaching through the National At-Home Dad Network, and the Dad 2.0 national conference, which named him one of the funniest dads of 2019. Shannon has also given interviews about his experiences to Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CNBC, Slate Magazine, and The New York Times, as well as his local NBC and FOX stations. Redbook magazine has named him as one of America's “Adventure Dads.” Finally, BuzzFeed recognized him as one of the funniest women of the week in 2020, which was weird because he is not a woman. However, he is very funny. Find resources for your dad life at https://dadcentral.ca Check out our other conversations at https://dadcentral.ca/podcast The Dad Central Show is sponsored by Dove Men+Care.  Dove Men+Care believes care is the best of a man, because when men care for themselves and others, there is a positive impact.

Members of the National At Home Dad Network share stories of becoming stay at home dads and the power of finding community. This episode explores the unique experience of five different stay at home dads – all current members of the National At Home Dad Network leadership team. The conversation goes into the isolation dads experience, the lack of acknowledgement dads receive as parents, navigating roles at home, connecting with your kids and learning how to rise above the challenges. Each dad talks about the importance of finding a supportive community and how the “Network” has helped them in their fatherhood journey. There are important principles that every parent can take from this conversation. It's especially relevant for any stay at home dad or those who know stay at home dads. Learn more about the National At Home Dad Network at: https://athomedad.org/ Register for the National At Home Dad Conference, HomeDadCon here: https://homedadcon.org Find resources for your dad life at https://dadcentral.ca Check out our other conversations at https://dadcentral.ca/podcast The Dad Central Show is sponsored by Dove Men+Care.  Dove Men+Care believes care is the best of a man, because when men care for themselves and others, there is a positive impact.

Brock and Danny talk with the authors of a book in development titled "Can You Help Me Give a Sh*t?: Why so many young people are struggling in school, and how to help." There is no denying the change in our culture over the past decade, but what do you need to know so you can help your child navigate the rough patches of life? This book is currently in development and if you know of a teenager to early 20's student who might be interested in being interviewed for the book please have them send an email to phareeducation@gmail.com and in the subject line type "Can You Help Me Give a Sh*t?" Marks's blog can be found at https://weheartdad.com/ To become a supporting member of The National At-Home Dad Network use this link https://athomedad.org/advocacy/membership/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/homedadchat/message

Brock talks with this year's 4 nominees for The National At-Home Dad Network board. Why do they want to be on the board, what they are passionate about bringing to the organization, which kid is their favorite and many other questions. You can also check out the video for this podcast at https://youtu.be/F3R754zRhpw --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/homedadchat/message

It's Father's Day in October! Biz is joined by writer and stay-at-home-dad Shannon Carpenter to learn how to get punched in the balls by a toddler while holding a baby. Plus, Biz was sick with guilt.Get your copy of the Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad: Your Essential Manual For Being An Awesome Full-Time Father wherever books are sold. Visit Shannon Carpenter's website at ShannonCarpenterAuthor.com. Follow Shannon on Twitter @HossmanAtHome and on Instagram @hossmanathome53.Shannon's Resources:City Dads Group: https://citydadsgroup.com/National At-Home Dad Network: https://athomedad.org/Movember for Men's Mental Health: https://us.movember.com/Check out Theresa's book! It Feels Good To Be Yourself is available now wherever books are sold.Our book You're Doing A Great Job!: 100 Ways You're Winning at Parenting! is available wherever books are sold.Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of MaximumFun.org. This week, we're sponsored by Billie and Smalls. Go to MyBillie.com/MOTHER for the amazing Billie razor plus free shipping always. Take a short quiz on Smalls.com/BADMOTHER to customize your Sampler and use code BADMOTHER for 30% off your first order.Share your genius and fail moments! Call 206-350-9485Be sure to tell us at the top of your message whether you're leaving a genius moment, a fail, or a rant! Thanks!!Share a personal or commercial message on the show! Details at MaximumFun.org/Jumbotron.Subscribe to One Bad Mother in Apple PodcastsJoin our mailing listJoin the amazing community that is our private One Bad Mother Facebook groupFollow One Bad Mother on TwitterFollow Biz on TwitterFollow Theresa on TwitterLike us on Facebook!Get a OBM tee, tank, baby onesie, magnet or bumper sticker from the MaxFunStoreYou can suggest a topic or a guest for an upcoming show by sending an email to onebadmother@maximumfun.org.Show MusicSummon the Rawk, Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)Ones and Zeros, Awesome, Beehive SessionsMom Song, Adira Amram, Hot Jams For TeensTelephone, Awesome, Beehive SessionsMama Blues, Cornbread Ted and the ButterbeansMental Health Resources:Therapy for Black Girls – Therapyforblackgirls.comDr. Jessica Clemmens – https://www.askdrjess.comBLH Foundation – borislhensonfoundation.orgThe Postpartum Support International Warmline - 1-800-944-4773 (1-800-944-4PPD)The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline - 1-800-662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP)Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call or chat. They are here to help anyone in crisis. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org and number 1-800-273-8255 and there is a chat option on the website.Crisis Text Line: Text from anywhere in the USA (also Canada and the UK) to text with a trained counselor. A real human being.USA text 741741Canada text 686868UK text 85258Website: https://www.crisistextline.orgNational Sexual Assault: Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.https://www.rainn.orgNational Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/help/Our advocates are available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) in more than 200 languages. All calls are free and confidential.They suggest that if you are a victim and cannot seek help, ask a friend or family member to call for you.Teletherapy Search: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/online-counseling

Brock and Danny are ready for the summer to begin! it's time to talk end of school activities, field days, and road trips! Check out this camper trailer one of Brock's fiends built. Our YouTube channel has the images, so head over to The National At-Home Dad Network channel and get ready to be jealous. https://youtu.be/V3uZDfrcZOY --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/homedadchat/message

Danny and Brock tracked down Pete Baylies who we came to find out is the creator of the first stay-at-home dad newsletter and was the catalyst for what transformed into The National At-Home Dad Network and also led to an annual convention still held every year called HomeDadCon. If you love history or learning about origin stories then this is the episode for you. Check out Pete Baylies's book The Stay-At-Home Handbook and pick up a copy. Also, check out the video of the podcast on our youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNationalAtHomeDadNetwork/videos --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/homedadchat/message

Today’s guest empowers people who feel disconnected with the tools to start meaningful conversations and find their people. He creates tools and transformational experiences, so leaders and teams can feel heard, seen, and valued, and create a culture of authenticity, trust, and belonging. He is the creator of ASK DEEP QUESTIONS, which started out as a deck of cards to help his friends connect on a camping trip, and is now being used to facilitate meaningful conversations through sharing personal and vulnerable stories on every continent around the globe. His mission is to help people feel less alone. Through his workshops and programs, he is fueling the movement for deeper human connection. His work has been featured on TEDx, CBC News, Breakfast TV, Cityline, and HuffPost. He is currently building a community of facilitators that design MAGICAL HUMAN MOMENTS online. Please join me in welcoming Jan Keck. Would you leave an honest rating and review on Apple Podcast? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration! In this episode we discuss: his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is inspiring and encouraging others to learn new things and supporting them through that process.” how attending summer camp as a kid in Germany inspired him to want to lead. that good leadership is giving followers a good start. his time abroad in Australia for one year and how it shaped his life. his love for doing the uncomfortable thing in order to propel himself into his goals. the beginning of his “Ask Deep Questions” deck of cards. what “The Campfire Formula” is and the story behind it. his process of playtesting the cards and categorizing their depth and validity in the deck across different situations. his initial run of the cards and his Kickstarter campaign. his goal of creating a culture of being top of mind within your network. how he nurtures and sustains his network including the outer two layers that doesn’t necessarily add to your life and may actually be draining you. Links Jan Keck on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter. www.jankeck.com www.askdeepquestions.com Other Resources Download Jan Keck’s Deep Conversation Guide. Download Jan Keck’s Connection Guide for Team Leaders. Get Jan Keck’s Virtual Zoom Activities and Engagement Strategies. Download Jan Keck’s Relationship Roadmap. Learn more about Blake Fly. Read  “The Case for Being a Multi-Hyphenate.” About Robbie: Robbie Samuels wrote “How to Host a Virtual a Happy Hour” for Harvard Business Review, was quoted in “The History of the Webinar and Why It Should Be History” in Forbes, and recognized as an “industry expert in the field of digital event design” by JDC Events. He is a Certified Virtual Convener and Certified Virtual Presenter. As a Virtual Event Design Consultant and Executive Zoom Producer, he assists organizations with bringing their in-person events strategically online. He provides virtual event design strategy, emceeing, production (managing the tech, including chat and breakout rooms), and training/supporting presenters. His clients include national and statewide advocacy organizations, including the California WIC Association, Feeding America, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Association of Talent & Development chapter, The National At-Home Dad Network, the California Notary Symposium, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. He created The 5% Advantage Program, a four-week certification program that helps presenters and meeting professionals grow in their confidence with Zoom, online facilitation, and virtual event design so they can reduce their tech angst and host more engaging online experiences. Participants have the opportunity to become Certified Virtual Event Professional #NoMoreBadZoom. Since March 13, 2020, he has hosted #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hours,

Today’s guest brings a wealth of first-hand knowledge to growing tech firms using more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur, business leader, and angel investor. She played principal roles in pioneering several B2B technology firms. As co-founder of SpaceWorks, an eCommerce software company, she facilitated its startup and growth to nearly $25 million in revenue; at America Online, she designed the PR program and investor roadshow for the IPO; at United Press International, she facilitated a turn-around strategy; and for LEXIS/NEXIS, she was instrumental in the creation and successful launch of a new division. Since founding Best Marketing LLC in 2001, she has consulted with more than 90 early-stage and growth-stage tech companies on their go-to-market strategies. In 2018, she was appointed Chair of the National Women's Business Council, a federal agency that advocates for female founders. She is immediate past Board Chair of the Dingman Center of Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland. Please join me in welcoming Liz Sara. Would you leave an honest rating and review on Apple Podcast? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration! In this episode we discuss: her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about seizing an opportunity. It’s filling a need or solving a problem. A true leader has excitement about their idea, product, or solution.” her theory about 1st born children being predisposed to being leaders. how one book in the 80s changed the trajectory of her life. the realization that as entrepreneurs we never really plan the next step of our journey. her desire to be in new emerging markets and help people in those spaces excel. her advice for current college students and how they can take advantage of upcoming trends. how she nurtures and sustains her network by blocking time in her calendar every week to do outreach via email or the telephone. Links Liz Sara on LinkedIn and Twitter. www.bestmarketing.net Books mentioned in this episode: “Megatrends: Ten New Directions Transforming Our Lives” by John Naisbitt Other Resources Listen to my episode with Gerry Poirier.   About Robbie: Robbie Samuels wrote “How to Host a Virtual a Happy Hour” for Harvard Business Review, was quoted in “The History of the Webinar and Why It Should Be History” in Forbes, and recognized as an “industry expert in the field of digital event design” by JDC Events. He is a Certified Virtual Convener and Certified Virtual Presenter. As a Virtual Event Design Consultant and Executive Zoom Producer, he assists organizations with bringing their in-person events strategically online. He provides virtual event design strategy, emceeing, production (managing the tech, including chat and breakout rooms), and training/supporting presenters. His clients include national and statewide advocacy organizations, including the California WIC Association, Feeding America, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Association of Talent & Development chapter, The National At-Home Dad Network, the California Notary Symposium, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. He created The 5% Advantage Program, a four-week certification program that helps presenters and meeting professionals grow in their confidence with Zoom, online facilitation, and virtual event design so they can reduce their tech angst and host more engaging online experiences. Participants have the opportunity to become Certified Virtual Event Professional #NoMoreBadZoom.  Since March 13, 2020, he has hosted #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hours, a weekly virtual event that explores new ways to design engaging virtual experiences while creating opportunities for networking. This event attracts 50-60 participants each week, 50% of them have attended 8 or more times, 20% have attended more than 20 times.

Today’s guest is passionate about direct marketing.  He believes that marketing isn’t everything--it’s the only thing. For 34 years, he has followed a specific set of direct marketing principles that helped him build Boardroom Inc. into an iconic publishing company. During that time, he was mentored by, and worked with, a who's who of marketing legends and he worked side-by-side with the most prolific copywriters who have ever lived. That experience led to him founding Titans Marketing, a direct marketing educational and coaching company, where he passes on these timeless fundamentals to the next generation of great direct response marketers through masterminds and master classes. He is the author of two books, the most recent being “Overdeliver: Build a Business for a Lifetime Playing the Long Game in Direct Response Marketing”. Please join me in welcoming Brian Kurtz. Would you leave an honest rating and review on Apple Podcast? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration! In this episode we discuss: his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is walking around on the inside with your colleagues and on the outside with your customers to see and know where everything is.” how to get ideas from all areas of your organization. the 100-0 concept of how to add value to those around you. how important it is to be interested and not just interesting. his theory about direct marketing scaling everywhere regardless of the product being sold. how to create a living legacy by compounding interest in your current relationships. the importance of the words we use and how that can impact our business. how he nurtures and sustains his network. Links Brian Kurtz on LinkedIn. www.briankurtz.net www.overdeliverbook.com Books mentioned in this episode: “Overdeliver: Build a Business for a Lifetime Playing the Long Game in Direct Response Marketing” by Brian Kurtz “The Advertising Solution: Influence Prospects, Multiply Sales, and Promote Your Brand” by Brian Kurtz & Craig Simpson Other Resources Learn more about The Kaizen Institute. About Robbie: Robbie Samuels wrote "How to Host a Virtual a Happy Hour" for Harvard Business Review, was quoted in "The History of the Webinar and Why It Should Be History" in Forbes, and recognized as an “industry expert in the field of digital event design” by JDC Events. He is a Certified Virtual Convener and Certified Virtual Presenter. As a Virtual Event Design Consultant and Executive Zoom Producer, he assists organizations with bringing their in-person events strategically online. He provides virtual event design strategy, emceeing, production (managing the tech, including chat and breakout rooms), and training/supporting presenters. His clients include national and statewide advocacy organizations, including the California WIC Association, Feeding America, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Association of Talent & Development chapter, The National At-Home Dad Network, the California Notary Symposium, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. He created The 5% Advantage Program, a four-week certification program that helps presenters and meeting professionals grow in their confidence with Zoom, online facilitation, and virtual event design so they can reduce their tech angst and host more engaging online experiences. Participants have the opportunity to become Certified Virtual Event Professional #NoMoreBadZoom.  Since March 13, 2020, he has hosted #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hours, a weekly virtual event that explores new ways to design engaging virtual experiences while creating opportunities for networking. This event attracts 50-60 participants each week, 50% of them have attended 8 or more times, 20% have attended more than 20 times.

Today’s guest believes everyone deserves to do what sets their souls ablaze and it’s her mission to help them do just that while not burning out. She is a keynote speaker and virtual emcee aimed at helping people love their work, succeed on their own terms, and live a life they love. Her clients range from Fortune 500s to non-profit associations, with her keynotes focused on boosting success and happiness. Teams that want their profits to grow alongside their personal fulfillment and authenticity are drawn to her energy, style, and actionable takeaways. She is a Certified Professional Behavior Analyst which means she pairs her executive leadership and sales experience with behavioral science to understand what makes people trust, buy and connect. That coveted knowledge is a powerful and often lucrative competitive advantage for her clients. She knows happy people are successful people and is on a mission to help individuals become their own joy generators. Please join me in welcoming Rachel Sheerin. Would you leave an honest rating and review on Apple Podcast? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration! In this episode we discuss: her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is very self-focused. It’s not about the others, it has to start with me. Leadership is a verb - having a title is not being a leader. Leadership is a journey.” her love of being spontaneous her acceptance that she could be many things and how that multifacetedness helped her become an entrepreneur. her passion for bringing people together and celebrating moments. her history of working for small businesses and how that has changed and helped evolve her own business. the link between finding one’s joy and making that money generating. her theory about sales and how it’s more about advocacy than actual sales. how quitting her last job changed her and led her into a spiral of guilt and shame but also helped her find her true calling. when she knew she had made it by believing in her rebrand. her tips for nurturing and sustaining the outer levels of her network. her boomerang tip for happy marriages. ;) her mission of living the three C’s: when you see someone you Celebrate with them, Congratulate them on the good things, and Console them. Links Rachel Sheerin on LinkedIn and Twitter. www.RachelSheerin.com About Robbie: Robbie Samuels wrote "How to Host a Virtual a Happy Hour" for Harvard Business Review, was quoted in "The History of the Webinar and Why It Should Be History" in Forbes, and recognized as an “industry expert in the field of digital event design” by JDC Events. He is a Certified Virtual Convener and Certified Virtual Presenter. As a Virtual Event Design Consultant and Executive Zoom Producer, he assists organizations with bringing their in-person events strategically online. He provides virtual event design strategy, emceeing, production (managing the tech, including chat and breakout rooms), and training/supporting presenters. His clients include national and statewide advocacy organizations, including the California WIC Association, Feeding America, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Association of Talent & Development chapter, The National At-Home Dad Network, the California Notary Symposium, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. He created The 5% Advantage Program, a four-week certification program that helps presenters and meeting professionals grow in their confidence with Zoom, online facilitation, and virtual event design so they can reduce their tech angst and host more engaging online experiences. Participants have the opportunity to become Certified Virtual Event Professional #NoMoreBadZoom.  Since March 13, 2020, he has hosted #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hours, a weekly virtual event that explores new ways to design engaging virtual experi...

HomeDadCon is an annual weekend event that The National At-Home Dad Network has hosted for 25 yrs. Danny and Brock share about their experiences of attending and why more dads need to attend. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/homedadchat/message

Brock and Danny give a brief welcome and introduction to how the podcast will flow along with talking about what The National At-Home Dad Network has meant to them. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/homedadchat/message

Today’s guest’s personal mission is to inspire ambitious leaders to connect to their bigger purpose so that they can lead with intention and leave a legacy that feels good. She is the founder and President of The Roundtable, a company that helps leaders navigate change, disruption, and growth. The Roundtable is best known for its group and peer-based coaching and mentoring programs that help organizations galvanize culture and accelerate business performance all while building leadership capability. In 2014, The Roundtable was awarded a Gold Award by the Canadian Awards for Training Excellence and in 2016 they were named Best External Consulting Advisory in Canada at the Canadian HR Awards. In 2018, she was named one of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurs of the Year. She is the author of “The Grassroots Leadership Revolution” and “Did I REALLY Sign Up for This?!” Please join me in welcoming Glain Roberts-McCabe. Would you leave an honest rating and review on Apple Podcast? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration! In this episode we discuss: her thoughts on leadership: “A leader is a person that has followers. Leaders unlock other people’s potential.” her beginnings as a leader at the young age of 2 when she became a big sister AKA the boss. her 10 year period of diversion after leaving home at 17 to her return to teaching. her belief that there are patterns in everyone’s life that repeat until you take action. her pattern of leaving jobs/moving through employers every 2 years. how she came up with the idea for the Roundtable and the first 18 months of struggle to get it off the ground. how she learned to follow the path including all the zig zags. how she uses LinkedIn to maintain her network and leverage her network more. Links Glain Roberts-McCabe on LinkedIn and Twitter. www.goroundtable.com Books mentioned in this episode: “The Grassroots Leadership Revolution: Build a Peer Coaching Community and Own Your Career” by Glain Roberts-McCabe “Did I Really Sign Up For This?!” by Glain Roberts-McCabe Other Resources Listen to my episode with Dorie Clark. About Robbie: Robbie Samuels is a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and relationship-based business strategy coach who has been recognized as a “networking expert” by Harvard Business Review Ascend, Forbes, Lifehacker, and Inc and as an “industry expert in the field of digital event design” by JDC Events. He is a Certified Virtual Convener and Certified Virtual Presenter. He created The 5% Advantage Program, a four-week certification program that helps presenters grow in their confidence with Zoom, online facilitation, and virtual event design so they can reduce their tech angst and host more engaging online experiences. Presenters have the opportunity to be “Certified Virtual Event Professional #NoMoreBadZoom.”  He is the host of #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hour, a popular weekly virtual event that explores new ways to design engaging virtual experiences. This event attracts 50-60 participants each week, 50% of them have attended 8 or more times, 20% say they lost track and plan their week around this event. As a Virtual Event Design Consultant and Executive Zoom Producer, he assists organizations with bringing their in-person events strategically online. He provides virtual event design strategy, emceeing, production (managing the tech, including chat and breakout rooms), and training/supporting presenters. His clients include California WIC, Feeding America, Association of Talent & Development chapter, The National At-Home Dad Network, and the California Notary Symposium. He is the author of the best-selling business book Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences and has been profiled in the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company.

In our inaugural DTO Light, MK goes one on one with Brock Lusch. Parent, blogger, podcaster, board member of the National At Home Dad Network and the big cheese at City Dads Group Cincinnati. They discuss dinner, dad jokes, homeschooling, men's mental health and much more. Cheers all!

Guest dad is "Brock Lusch" from the National At Home Dad Network & the THE NOMAD DAD podcast   my fears and joys of week #1 (i bare a little of my soul)

The Worlds tallest SAHD, Carl Wilke from The National At Home Dad Network! - A happy/sad moment - You've gotta be you  

We're back from Minneapolis and we've had a minute to process our experience at HomeDadCon. To help with our recap we reached out to Chris Brandenburg, current VP of the National At-Home Dad Network and Chairperson for the HomeDadCon event. We discuss this year's Con and the overall mission of the Network, address the dangers of drinking on an empty stomach, and try to get Chris to dish about next year's event. Spoiler alert: he's currently tight lipped about the location but promised to give us the scoop when the city is chosen! Links: Gary Vaynerchuck's "50/50" snippet: https://www.instagram.com/p/B3W5uosg0cK/ The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder The National At-Home Dad Network

Today's guest is a board member at the National At-Home Dad Network, ringleader of the Cincinnati Dads Group, host of a Fathers Eve celebration, and creator of the Nomadad Podcast (thenomadad.com). Does he even have time to be a dad?? Kidding aside, we love Brock's commitment to community building and he shares with us the steps he's taken to bring dads together in his city and beyond. And YES we're finally joining that SAHD group on Meetup.com.

John Francis decided to celebrate the completion of his new garage with some buddies on the night before Father's Day. That celebration grew into an annual event called Father's Eve now celebrated in over 50 cities around the world! Find a Father's Eve event in your city or HOST ONE by visiting https://fatherseve.com/In this episode, John and I discuss: - The value of 1 on 1 time with your children - Why connecting OFFLINE with other dads is so important - How you can get involved in your community with a dads group or host a Father's Eve eventFor full show notes, visit http://www.dmdlifestyle.comResources mentioned:Dad 2.0 Summit: https://www.dad2summit.com/ - CONNECT WITH TODAY’S MOST INFLUENTIAL DADS, MEDIA, AND MARKETERS.City Dads Group: https://citydadsgroup.com/ - Helping fathers across the nation socialize and support one another.National At-Home Dad Network: http://athomedad.org/ - Providing support, education and advocacy for fathers who are the primary caregivers of their children.For more information visit http://www.dmdlifestyle.com

    Today's guest is first and foremost a dad. What began as a small playgroup in 2008 became the NYC Dads Group and in 2013 expanded into the City Dads Group network with 26 groups across the country. This diverse community supports dads of all stripes, providing opportunities to socialize as they navigate parenthood together. In addition to co-founding these groups, he co-hosts The Modern Dads Podcast, a monthly show highlighting stories of 21st-century dads and families. He regularly contributes to and is quoted by media outlets interested in telling the stories of involved dads. As an at-home dad myself, I was grateful to discover this network of involved fathers existed and have become actively involved with the Boston Dads Group. I had an opportunity to meet my guest in person at HomeDadCon, hosted by the National At-Home Dad Network. Please join me in welcoming Matt Schneider. In this episode we explore: how he defines leadership, “Seeing an opportunity to make change and taking it. Having the wherewithal to step in.” what is holding dads back from being full parents the effort to change the media's portrayal of dads how he scaled his hyper-local playgroup to a national movement ways he found to monetize as the group has grown balancing being an at-home dad and entrepreneur Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OntheSchmooze.com - episode 41.

It's Movember, and City Dads Group has once again joined forces with Life of Dad, Dad 2.0, and the National At-Home Dad Network to grow mustaches and raise money and awareness for men's health. Movember Foundation Director of Development JJ Owens joins to talk about why this annual campaign is so important. We also talk about the research and development that is saving lives, and how your donations are used. Whit Honea joins to talk about his own health scare and his newfound perspective.  If you are moved to support our #MovemberDads team, consider donating to our team.

January Jones - Dads Behaving Dadly Hogan Hilling and Al Watts are the authors of Dads Behaving DADLY: 67 Truths, Tears and Triumphs of Modern Fatherhood HOGAN HILLING is a dad to three children, the author of six parenting books, fatherhood expert and has appeared on Oprah.  Hilling has co-founded and helped establish several fatherhood networks in the USA since 1992.  s AL WATTS is an eleven-year veteran stay-at-home dad of 4 children ages 12, 9, 7 and 6. He is the President of The National At-Home Dad Network

It's Movember, and we are once again supporting the campaign to bring awareness and funding to men's health related research and treatment along with our friends at The National At-Home Dad Network, Life of Dad, and Dad 2.0 Summit. In this episode, we focus on men's mental health, and more specifically, suicide prevention. Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas joins us to talk about the Carson J. Spencer Foundation, on organization she co-founded after her brother's suicide in 2004. Sally talks about the programs they run to reach men in most need of support and least likely to seek it. She also talks about how dad communities like ours can be part of the solution.

January Jones - Dads Behaving Dadly Hogan Hilling and Al Watts are the authors of Dads Behaving DADLY: 67 Truths, Tears and Triumphs of Modern Fatherhood HOGAN HILLING is a dad to three children, the author of six parenting books, fatherhood expert and has appeared on Oprah.  Hilling has co-founded and helped establish several fatherhood networks in the USA since 1992.  s AL WATTS is an eleven-year veteran stay-at-home dad of 4 children ages 12, 9, 7 and 6. He is the President of The National At-Home Dad Network

Hogan Hilling is back again discussing about his new release, "Dads Behaving Dadly: 67 Truths, Tears and Triumph of Modern Fatherhood." More and more fathers are asserting themselves and actively taking part in changing diapers, attending doctor’s appointments, participating in PTA meetings and helping with homework. In short, fatherhood is alive and well! We have seen the dramatic shift into to modern fatherhood. In fact, we have lived it. Hogan became a stay-at-home dad in 1992 and quickly became an advocate for involved fatherhood. He wrote articles, led workshops for fathers at local hospitals, spoke to corporations about the advantages of being an involved father and published many self-help parenting books. Al became a stay-at-home dad in 2002 and soon after joined the National At-Home Dad Network, eventually rising to be its President in 2011. He wrote many blog posts about life as a stay-at-home dad and revealed to parents and brands on social media the truths about the capabilities and desires of fathers in the 21st century. The image of fatherhood, however, has not changed much despite the reality we have lived and witnessed in the thousands of fathers we have met. We decided to change that and in 2012 launched a book project we titled “Dads Behaving DADLY.” The mission of the book project was to reveal the truths, tears and triumphs of modern fatherhood we had heard for years to a public that had yet to completely change its opinion of dads as bumbling, incompetent parents.

We talk the National At Home Dad Network, our babies' bruises, what Ben's couch is made out of, and our good pal Oren Miller.