ABOUT
DadAwesome exists to activate dads to lead with wonder—building intentional connection with their kids while experiencing God’s awesomeness together.
Our Story
“How do you stay so intentional as a dad?”
In January of 2018, Jeff Zaugg—at the time, a father of two—sat on a porch with a family member who asked this simple question. Despite devoting much of his life to helping other families thrive as a Pastor of Family Ministries, Zaugg realized in that moment that there was only one way to answer the question: he wasn't.
"While I was being intentional in a lot of other areas of of my life, when it came to being a dad, I wasn't actively pursuing any of the inputs that usually lead to growth. At best, I was being accidentally intentional."
This honest admission and the conversation that would follow, set off a wave of fresh vision. Over the next few months, Zaugg would rally a group of close friends and family members who together, would embark on an experiential journey of intentional fatherhood.
"I learn best in community—so I decided to put together a series of 10, 10-minute video podcasts for this group. It really started out of a personal conviction I felt, and a desire to be more intentional."
Continuing the experiment
After the 10 weeks concluded, Zaugg decided to continue the experiment in the form of a conversational podcast."I honestly just got tired of hearing my own voice, and I realized that I had exhausted everything I had to say on the topic." He would invite other dads to share both wisdom they had gained, as well as personal struggles along the way. By June of that year, 25 episodes had been recorded, and Zaugg would publicly release them for the first time to a broader community of dads in his church under the name DadAwesome. It wasn't a statement about who anyone was in the group, but rather a passionate pursuit of what could be.
The short-format podcasts would quickly prove to meet a genuine need, creating an easy onramp for men to discover practical resources and a vulnerable community of dads who simply wanted to be better. Within months, a small group curriculum would be written, a daily "nudge" reminder would be introduced, and the earliest iteration of Fathers for the Fatherless would come to life.
Growing momentum
The growing momentum coupled with a deep conviction, would lead Zaugg and his family to transition into leading DadAwesome full-time just three years later. Since that time, hundreds of podcast episodes have been recorded across the country featuring dads at every stage of the journey. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for local and international fatherlessness initiatives through activation events. And countless lives have been impacted through the transformative work of the Holy Spirit meeting men in their desire to love and lead their families toward God's awesomeness.
Our Mission
Activating dads to lead with wonder
Activating dads to lead with wonder
With
The single greatest gift that dads can give their kids is the gift of presence—being fully with—choosing moment by moment to show up. This is the very heart of the Father. He entered into our world. He stepped down and chose to lock eyes with his kids. And this is the blueprint we’ve been given. We are building a community of dads who are committed to showing up—for their families, for those without families, and for one another.
Wonder
The role of a dad is ironically, to become like a child—to meet each moment with the same type of curiosity, joy, and amazement that children so often do. We want to help dads lead in wonder—grow curious, honor moments, and experience the joy of the the journey. First, as sons themselves, who know that they are loved, healed, and accepted without any striving. Then, as dads whose singular vision is to extend what they’ve received generously to their kids.
Our Values
Being "awesome" isn't the prerequisite to being DadAwesome. Being DadAwesome is about pursuing a life of intention, owning our deficiencies, and working toward fully showing up for our kids in the ways that God designed us to. Below are some of our guiding values and what we are helping others pursue.
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To lead well is to assume the posture of an understudy. So we are eager to draw from the experiences of others. We reject the temptation to be one-uppers or walking highlight reels. In everything, we show up openhandedly, as peers who are “in it” and unafraid to course-correct along the way. We lead as learners.
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While gathering resources is valuable in our leadership, we're convinced that this alone isn't the point. We’re after connection—dads connecting with their kids, and also to each other. We believe that fatherhood should look more like a neighborhood—an in-it-together, side-by-side, and face-to-face experience. Connection is our heart.
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No matter the size of the step taken or the total distance traveled, we bring the confetti along for the ride—celebrating others consistently and generously. Whether it's our own kids or other dads on the journey, we want to let them know that we are for them—for who they are, and all that they are steadily becoming. The cheer zone is loud.
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“Awesome" is no small word. It moves beyond the boundaries of the status quo in pursuit of something more. As dads, we choose not to settle for less in any area of our lives. We actively pursue a higher standard for ourselves, first as sons, then as dads. And in doing so, we call others higher—not forcefully, but faithfully. Passivity is not an option.
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Every day, we accept the invitation to enjoy the dad-life. And as we lead with enthusiasm, we find it to be contagious—for our kinds and for other dads. We work to reframe fatherhood as a genuine privilege, and a one-of-a-kind, joy-filled adventure. We laugh liberally, at ourselves and at moments along the way. And in doing so, we rekindle our own child-like spirit—which serves to deepen our connection with our kids.
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We intentionally look for ways to shine the spotlight onto others. From generously celebrating the examples, work, and accomplishments of others, to elevating the needs of the marginalized and doing something about it. We will model what it looks like to be Kingdom-focused dads. Our hearts, minds, and hands will be open as we pursue lives of sacrifice. It's not about us.
Our Approach
While building a comprehensive library of podcast episodes and engaging resources by leading fatherhood ministries, DadAwesome summarized our findings into a 4-part framework using the acronym LIFE. The LIFE framework serves as a memorable pathway towards the life that God invites us into as dads.
Adding LIFE to the dad-life
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We can’t give what we haven’t received for ourselves. The DadAwesome life begins with an understanding that we are fully and freely loved by our Heavenly Father.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1
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Love is spelled T.I.M.E. It goes without saying that whatever we invest our time into most, has the greatest potential for return. As dads, we’re invited every day to invest relationally with our kids (wherever we are in the journey).
“Wise people are builders, they build families, businesses, communities. And through intelligence and insight their enterprises are established and endure.”Proverbs 24:3-4 (TPT)
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Our capacity to love our kids will always be directly connected to the level to which we’ve dealt with our past woundings. As dads, it’s our job to honestly evaluate the things that hold us bound, and pursue freedom in Jesus.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” Hebrews 12:1
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Being a dad is the opportunity of a lifetime. There are only two options: to enjoy the journey, or mismanage our time. The DadAwesome life says, “I’m all in for all of it” and “I will make sure my kids know that I cherish them.”
“For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure.” Matthew 6:21 (TPT)
Our Team
DadAwesome does not exist because of the work of any one person. We are here because of the many contributions of our team. Serving in different capacities, our diverse team makes us who we are today.