427 | Dad-Daughter Dates, Daily Prayer, and the Fireball Story That Didn't Make the Book (Jeff Zaugg)
Episode Description
What do you do when your schedule is maxed out and you feel like you're failing at the very thing you preach? In this episode, Jeff gets honest about dropping the ball on dad-daughter dates, shares three raw discoveries from book launch week, and tells the story of a flaming ball of toilet paper on a frozen lake that never made it into the book — for good reason.
-
Jeff Zaugg is the founder of DadAwesome, host of the DadAwesome Podcast (400+ episodes, 8+ years), and author of the newly released book DADAWESOME. He and his wife have four daughters and are based in Northeast, Florida.
-
Without a concrete accountability loop, even your highest priorities will quietly slip off the calendar.
In your fullest, most pressured seasons, adding one stabilizing anchor — not removing things — might be the wisest move you make.
Daily prayer with other men isn't just spiritual discipline; it's a stabilizing force that steadies you when everything else is swinging.
Bringing two simple questions to a dad-daughter date can surface honest feedback and spark some of the most important conversations you'll have with your kids.
Fatherhood grows through friendships and focus — those two things, compounded over years, change everything.
-
21 Day Prayer Team - surrounding the DADAWESOME book launch.
DADAWESOME Book:dadawesome.org/book
Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618
7-Day Video Series: dadawesome.org/book
DadAwesome Podcast: dadawesome.org/podcast
Pursuit Ministry with Zach Ernst ( https://www.dadawesome.org/blog/258)
Free Chapter + Intro Video Series: dadawesome.org/book
-
Fatherhood is a gift, a calling, a mission worth giving everything we've got.
But here's what happens. Things we treasured one moment, we complain about the next. Wonder fades, shiny eyes dim, and fatherhood starts feeling like a chore instead of an adventure. Every day is a choice — delight in this role or just try to get through it. There's a drift, and it pulls every dad toward being average. It whispers, "You're doing enough. Just try to survive this current season."
Eight years ago, I was drifting. I loved being a dad, but I was coasting. No plan. No pursuit. Then a question grabbed me: How do you stay intentional about being a dad? And I didn't have an answer. So I launched an experiment called Dad Awesome. What started as 10 weeks is now over 400 weeks of dads refusing to drift, receiving God's love, and pursuing the hearts of their families.
This book distills eight years of discoveries into short, story-driven chapters written for dads who aren't readers. You can jump between sections based on curiosity or your current fatherhood season. And every chapter ends with Dad Awesome Labs — equipping groups of dads with activation steps and discussion questions to take things deeper.
The very last verse of the Old Testament says, "Will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers." I'm praying for fresh wonder to be unlocked in your fatherhood. Head over to dadawesome.org/book for a free chapter and our intro to Dad Awesome video series.
CONVERSATION
Jeff Zaugg: Thank you so much for listening today. My name is Jeff Zaugg, and today is episode 427, and we're still in book launch mode.
Last week was our book launch — the book titled Dad Awesome. You just heard the book trailer, the audio version, and we created that as a quick shareable. It's less than two minutes long, and it captures the heart of the project. Thank you to all of you who have been jumping to the Dad Awesome website. dadawesome.org/book is where you can pick up the book right now.
Eventually it'll be on Audible. The hardcover copies will be on Amazon. Right now it's the Kindle version on Amazon — you can pray for us as we've been working through barriers with getting the hardcover on Amazon. But many hundreds of you have been buying single books, three-packs, or boxes of 10 to give to other dads.
The heartbeat here: as you gift this book — and we've heard so many stories of this — it's titled Dad Awesome, and as you gift it, you're affirming specific things you see in that dad. That friend of yours, that brother-in-law, that family member. You're saying, "I see you being dad awesome." And the book is simply some discoveries that will probably just add to what you're already doing and the awesomeness you're already bringing to your family.
It's been incredible to see so many books out in the wild. Today's episode, I'm going to share three recent discoveries from launch week. And then I'll share a cut chapter — we cut seven chapters out of the book, and I'm going to share a short story from one that didn't make it. It's called Fireball. That'll be the last thing.
In between each of these, you're going to hear from current readers — what are their takeaways? They've been calling in on the Dad Awesome voicemail line, and it's been so encouraging to hear what's landing and what's popping off the page into people's hearts. All right, let's dive in.
Listener — Andrew Fockel (Columbia, Tennessee): Hey Jeff, it's Andrew Fockel from Columbia, Tennessee. So proud of you and so impressed by how thorough and organized and detailed you've been through this entire launch. Just your intentionality — it's not surprising knowing who you are and how you operate.
Love the book. Excited to bring some guys along with me. I'm so grateful you included the piece on identity, because that is such a crucial part of anything when it comes to spiritual formation. If we don't know who we are as sons, then we don't have a hope of leading our children.
I was really enjoying a fresh perspective you shared from the prodigal son story — the idea that when your kids mess up, it doesn't mean you failed, because even a perfect father had a prodigal son. For me, as an Enneagram One and recovering perfectionist, that was so comforting. Even in all of this intentionality, my son will still have places where he needs Jesus. And that's as it should be. He needs his father — his true father.
Jeff Zaugg: Here's the first recent discovery I wanted to share with you guys, and part of this is confession.
The discovery is dad-daughter dates. I have, for the full journey of Dad Awesome, been a champion and cheerleader of dad-daughter dates — one-on-ones, whatever you want to call them — getting that time on the calendar with your kids. Well, Q1 of this year has not been a season of a strong, consistent Jeff prioritizing dad-daughter dates. Truly, I've been struggling. I've put them on my calendar, and then they roll by and I miss them. And there's little consequence I've felt in the short term. In the long term, it's a big deal.
So I told a group of friends: "Hey, if at any given time you ask me, 'Have you done a dad-daughter date in the last week?' and I say no — I have to take an entire week of no coffee." Concrete accountability loop. Skin in the game.
After setting that up, I took all four of my girls on a dad-daughter date in the last two and a half weeks.
The discovery is: a mechanism matters. But I also discovered something in those dates — I've been bringing two core questions and a clipboard to each one. The first question: I ask them to draw a line. On the left side is "Dad Awful," on the right side is "Dad Awesome," and in the middle is "Dad Average." They put a mark on the line, and then wherever that mark is, I ask: "Can you give me a couple ideas on what I can do to be a little more dad awesome before our next date?"
They've given me concrete, honest feedback. Some of it is fun — take the family for ice cream. But one of them told me I've been sharp and crabby during our house cleanup times. That came up. I keep those pieces of paper on my nightstand.
The second question: another line. On the left side is "completely dry," on the right side is "soaking wet." And I ask: "In the last few weeks, how much have you felt loved by God?" Completely dry means they haven't felt his love at all. Soaking wet means they feel his presence all the time. It's been a fascinating conversation — what has caused them to feel God's love? Worship, Bible reading, hosting a worship night, having friends over. Things are surfacing that I wouldn't have known otherwise.
So the first discovery: create an accountability loop. And secondly, try bringing concrete questions to your dad-daughter or dad-son one-on-ones.
Listener — Rashad: This is Rashad. I'm currently sitting in my driveway with my two-year-old, reading the book. And lo and behold, I'm on the page about your gravel driveway choices. Thank you for the intentionality you put into this book. I believe this is one of the few books that gives us fathers a blueprint to lead well and to be better. Thank you.
Jeff Zaugg: My next discovery: sometimes when you enter a very full season, it's important to add something instead of subtract.
Here's what I mean. I knew I was entering book launch mode these last few weeks. This is a time when you'd normally not add anything. But I knew that without adding a concrete accountability loop — a mechanism to stay active — I'd actually be in a worse state.
Three and a half weeks ago, I launched a local chapter of Pursuit. We've talked about Pursuit before — I've had Zach Ernst on twice. It's a ministry out of Seal Beach, California. Getting men active, up early, praying for each other, working out, doing breath holds. I'll link the episodes in the show notes.
On paper, the timing was wrong. Why would I launch a three-day-a-week, up-before-dawn commitment during a book launch? Because I knew I needed it. Up Monday, Wednesday, Friday — still dark out — biking across the bridge to the beach, on the sand with brothers, praying together, pushing hard.
This is the principle: during a push season, instead of pausing an anchor habit like working out, push forward with even more focus. I added something, and it's an 11-week challenge through Memorial Day — we're doing the Murph on Memorial Day. And these morning rhythms with other guys have been a stabilizing force through all the ups and downs of launching a book.
I want to encourage you: if you're in a season where you feel pressed on all sides and your instinct is to simplify and remove — think twice. This might be the most important season to launch a dad group, to volunteer, to join a fitness challenge. Adding one stabilizing anchor might be the wisest thing you can do. That anchor will keep you healthy, strong, and in the right perspective.
Listener — AJ Hofstadter: Hey, this is AJ Hofstadter. As a dad, I'm constantly thinking I should be doing more, I should be doing more. As I've read the book — I'm about three-quarters through — my eyes have been opened in ways they haven't been before. It's setting me free to stop trying to create opportunities and just start seeing the ones I already have.
Rather than, "I should spend more time with my kids, I should be more intentional, I should be better" — it's just opening my eyes to things right in front of me that I get to engage with. It hasn't changed my schedule. It hasn't demanded more from me. It's actually set me free to enjoy the days, the times, the moments. I can already think of 20 buddies I want to buy a copy of this book for.
Jeff Zaugg: The last recent discovery I want to share is daily prayer.
About a month ago, I was asking God: what can I bring as a prayer initiative to surround this book launch? I'm pulling back the curtain a little here. Twenty-nine men joined a prayer team with me — committing to pray the 10 days before the book launch and the 10 days after. Today, as I'm recording this, is day 18 of a 21-day initiative.
Here's how it worked: commit to 10 minutes of prayer a day for 21 days. That's it. But also, have the option to join a daily Zoom call — 21 minutes long, varying times, so different people could join. Early morning, lunchtime, evenings. I created a diverse schedule, and they all worked for me.
Every single day for the last 18 days, I've logged on to that Zoom feeling exhausted, feeling behind, feeling all kinds of things. And I left every single call with my heart steadier. We covered different themes — praying for ministry partners, for podcast listeners, for readers, for the local church and flourishing fatherhood, for seed and multiplication. Different theme every day.
The amount that I entered some calls feeling physically sick and exited feeling refreshed — that's the power of this. Some calls were from my house, some from on a walk, one from a camper van next to the beach. And every one of them mattered.
Here's what I want you to take from this: any of us can launch a 5-day, 7-day, or 21-day prayer challenge and invite others in. Headed into Mother's Day? Take the 10 days before and pray every single day for your wife, for mom-awesome. Anyone can create a sprint — a focused period of prayer around a specific theme.
And I'll be honest: very rarely do I finish significant challenges alone. What I have to do is create a team, set a clear direction, and invite others in. As the leader, I have the accountability loop to keep going.
We have been covering this book launch in prayer — not just hoping things go well, but praying into every aspect of its impact. And if you're not inviting others into a prayer initiative, you only get to celebrate your own. When God answers a prayer you invited others into, they get to celebrate with you. That's way more fun.
As dads and leaders, launch a prayer challenge. Do a prayer sprint. Invite someone in. You will find answers, stories, miracles. That's a low-cost, low-time, high-impact move. So that was my third discovery.
Listener — Board Member: I can understand why you feel tired. It is a major project. But I think you pulled it off brilliantly. Two years ago when we as board members were encouraging you to do the book project — I think it was worth it. Mission accomplished, from my perspective. This really puts into print the value you're bringing to market around intentional fatherhood. Chapter eight — the billionaire, the performance chapter — you can rest. Job well done on this project. I really mean that.
Jeff Zaugg: Last week we hosted a local book launch party here in Northeast Florida, and at that celebration I shared a short story — a cut chapter. We cut seven chapters, and this is one of them. I'm going to play a clip of what I shared live that night.
Disclaimer before you hear this: this is not a template. This is an absolute "do not try this at home." But it has a deep parallel to dad life and building friendships.
Jeff Zaugg (live at launch party): You'll be the same person five years from now as you are today, aside from the books that you read and the friends that you make.
To start marriage off, Michelle and I had these couples in our life that we love. We rang in the New Year together every year at a cabin. First year of marriage — 19 years ago — approaching midnight, we took a five-gallon bucket full of gasoline and about five rolls of toilet paper out to the middle of a frozen lake.
My buddy Aaron said it would be fun. So we carefully took the toilet paper out of the bucket, moved the bucket away, lit the first roll on fire — and began to play catch. Bare-handed. With a flaming roll of toilet paper.
You'd say, I would never do that. But when you're with friends in that moment, in 20-below-zero weather, you will do things you'd never think you'd try.
And we realized — it's not burning your hand. You can briefly touch a flaming ball of toilet paper because it burns layer by layer. My wife's a physics teacher. She can explain it. We played fireball — throwing a flaming roll through the air, the sound of it. Sometimes you miss the catch and it hits you in the chest, your entire chest blazing. But there's snow all around. Jump in, you're fine.
You'll notice after playing fireball, your hands smell for three to four days. You cannot get the smell of gasoline off. You'll also notice — if you have hair on your hands, especially this patch right here — it's all gone. For weeks, you look at your hands and remember that moment with friends.
For the next seven years, until we all had multiple kids, we kept going to the cabin. We kept playing. When we added two or three children, we eventually phased out fireball.
Fireball is played because of the friends you're playing it with.
There are two things threaded through the entire book. First: friendships. Build them. Anything you invest in building friendships — especially with other dads who are pressing in and receiving God's love — will change who you are in five years.
Second: focus. If your focus is, "I want to grow as a dad" — that dial turned all the way up changes everything. I became a reader in the area of fatherhood eight years ago. The first four years, I never read a book, never listened to a podcast, never sat down with a mentor dad. No inputs. The last eight years, I've ratcheted that dial — and my family and other dads have benefited.
Friendships and focus. Those two things, compounded over years, make you a different dad.
And one more time: do not try fireball at home.
OUTRO
Jeff Zaugg: Here's where I want to land today. Thank you — each of you — for being part of our Dad Awesome community. By listening, you've already leaned in. You've said, "I am not going to remain the same."
I want to ask each of you listening: buy the book. Consider buying three or ten copies to share. We're still in launch week. A book is a seed. We've bathed this in prayer, and we believe God's going to take this seed and use it in ways that 427 podcast episodes never could. You can't hand someone a resource vault of 427 episodes. But a book — story-driven, start anywhere, short chapters — is a perfect on-ramp for a dad who's never engaged in a fatherhood ministry, never read a fatherhood book, never listened to a podcast.
Also: the seven-day video series is now live. Short two-to-three-minute videos, a flyover of all things Dad Awesome, up now at dadawesome.org/book.
I'm praying for you with these three discoveries. Let's be dads of action, not just intent. Have a great week, guys.
-
"I've been struggling. I put them on my calendar and then they roll by and I miss them."
"Sometimes when it feels like you're pressed on all sides, adding one more thing might be the wisest thing."
"I entered some calls feeling physically sick and exited feeling refreshed."
"Very rarely have I seen myself grow alone. I have to create a team."
"Celebrating by yourself — how much fun is that? It's not fun."
Connect with DadAwesome
Get the book! DADAWESOME: Dad Discoveries to Activate Awesomeness (releasing March 17th, 2026)
Follow@dadawesome on Instagram
Make a Donation to DadAwesome (tax-deductible)
Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618
Learn about the 6-week ACCELERATOR Coaching Cohorts
