There's a moment in Interstellar where Matthew McConaughey sits down and watches 25 years of video messages from the kids he left behind. Daniel Chesnut drove home from that movie snot-crying, climbed into bed next to his sleeping two-year-old, and asked God a simple question: why is this wrecking me? What he heard back changed the way he has fathered for the last decade. In this conversation, Daniel shares listening prayer with your kids, why vulnerability is actually strength, how to play the long game with a 14-year-old, and the truth that's rescuing him in every transition: nothing is lost.

Most dads are carrying something they never dealt with. In this episode, therapist Mark Odland explains how unprocessed memories stay stuck in the brain and quietly shape the way you parent, the way you react, and the way you show up at home. You'll also hear what trauma therapy actually is, why doing the inner work is one of the bravest things a dad can do, and how healing in one generation changes everything for the next.

A man who can't regulate his emotions forces his wife and kids to do it for him. That's the hard truth Seth Dahl drops early in this conversation, and it only gets more honest from there. This is a raw, alumni-only Zoom call that turned into something worth sharing with every dad who's ever lost it over something stupid and wondered why.

Most dads are trying to figure out the right strategy. But what if the thing holding you back isn't a lack of tactics, it's a lie you've been believing about whether you're even loved? In this mic flip episode, Jay Heck of Being Sons turns the tables and interviews Jeff about the Dad Awesome book, and the conversation gets honest fast. You'll hear about the prayer counseling session that changed everything, what it means to set the scoreboard to infinity, and how a dad who's operating from fullness becomes the most compelling voice in the room.

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.

The Christmas card version of fatherhood isn't real life — and Jeff Zaugg isn't pretending otherwise. In this book launch episode, Jeff reads Chapter 18 of the Dad Awesome book, shares the upstream legacy moves his grandpa made that are still bearing fruit today, and tells the story of what actually happened on launch day (hint: it involved confetti, a four-year-old, and a pair of white shoes that almost didn't survive).

Every king who takes over a territory changes the language first — because language shapes culture. In Part 2 of this conversation with Pastor Tim Timberlake, you'll hear why the words you speak over your kids are literally forming their world. Plus, Tim gets real about grief, the little deaths that come with every new season of your child's life, and why the only way to be a great father is to remain a son of God first.

What does it look like to father from love instead of frustration? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Pastor Tim Timberlake shares what it was like losing his dad the day after his 18th birthday—and how 24 years later, he’s still unpacking the treasures from their final conversation. Tim opens up about how his father’s tone, words, and presence shaped the man and dad he’s becoming today. Plus, he reveals the simple practice that keeps him anchored in gratitude and why every dad has both a fool and a king inside—and the one you address is the one that will respond. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week.

What happens when you step into a dark, crowded jail hallway in El Salvador and a man starts screaming curses at you in English? In this raw solo episode, Jeff shares the miraculous story of what God did on a mission trip over his 44th birthday — and why getting uncomfortable as a dad is exactly where God wants to meet you. Plus, he reads the beloved story You Are Special by Max Lucado and shares why it changed everything inside that jail cell.

What if the biggest thing holding you back as a dad isn't your circumstances — it's what you believe about yourself? In this episode, Jamie Winship picks up right where we left off in Part 1, sharing jaw-dropping stories from being abducted in Iraq with his family, and unpacking the dad wisdom buried inside those moments. You'll learn why staying calm, staying present, and refusing to jump into drama can change everything in your home. Plus, Jamie walks through how to identify the false beliefs that are quietly running your life — and how to exchange them for who God actually made you to be.

What would you do if a violent mob was heading straight for your van — with your kids in the back seat? In this fan-favorite episode pulled from the DadAwesome vault, Jamie Winship shares the incredible true story of praying for invisibility in the streets of Indonesia, why fear is the number one enemy of great fatherhood, and how your true identity in Christ is the greatest gift you can give your children.

What if the way you father your daughter today shapes the marriage she has twenty years from now? In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Shears—a fatherhood researcher, girl dad, and the chair of the Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy—shares over two decades of findings on why dads matter more than they think. You'll hear how generational fathering works, why Nacho Tuesdays became a game-changer for connecting with his girls, and what it really means to move men from risk to resource.

When health crises hit your family and life doesn't go as planned, how do you keep leading well? In this episode from the vault, Bart Scharrer shares how he and his wife have navigated seasons of uncertainty with their daughters—and why gratitude isn't just a nice idea, it's the way through. You'll also hear how teaching your kids to ask good questions can shape their confidence, relationships, and even who they marry someday.

After eight years and 418 episodes of DadAwesome, we're celebrating with a conversation that captures everything this ministry is about. Craig Allen Cooper shares the story behind Walker Hayes' song "Craig," why his kids are praying for adult friendships like their parents have, and the five P's that guide his fatherhood. Plus, you'll hear how a minivan miracle led to a stadium-filling artist bowing his knee to Jesus.

Parenting is a journey from control to influence—and the fastest way to squander influence is to be controlling. In this episode, Ted Cunningham shares his famous "Love Jug" illustration, explains why your marriage is actually your greatest parenting tool, and unpacks why eradicating the child-centered home is essential for raising kids who are ready to leave. Plus, you'll hear the powerful "princess to queen" conversation he had with his daughter and how honor bombardments can transform your family culture.

If you just go with the flow in today's culture, it will destroy you and your family. In this episode, Jeremy Pryor unpacks why we're living in the Age of Intentionality—where vision, will, and community are the only things standing between your kids and a world trying to exploit them. Plus, he shares why your family life should get richer as your kids grow older, and how to break free from "Labanism" to build assets that serve your family for generations.

If you just go with the flow in today's world, it will destroy you and your family. In this episode, Jeremy Pryor returns to share why the superpower that helps men provide and protect can actually be the very thing that pushes your kids away. You'll discover why emotional detachment is hurting your children and how to become the warm, present father your family desperately needs.

What if the most impactful moments with your kids are just nine minutes a day? In this episode, fatherhood coach Dan Tinquist shares how morning, afternoon, and evening connection points can transform your relationship with your kids. You'll also hear why over-teaching actually backfires, how to build a family culture where your kids feel safe to fail, and the surprising parallels between making sourdough bread and raising kids.

What if you could prepare for fatherhood before the chaos even begins? In this episode, Michael DeAquino shares how he and his wife are helping expecting parents get on the same page before baby arrives—and why that window of time matters so much. You'll also hear how Michael's family runs themed dinner nights every single day of the week (yes, including Forgiveness Friday and Scenario Saturday), plus how yearly vision summits with your kids in an Airbnb with a hot tub can transform the direction of your family.

What if you could give your son or daughter something most kids never receive—a clear moment when they know they've become a man or woman? In this episode, Matt Hanson shares the vision behind the Ion Path, a 3-year Christian rite of passage designed to help dads and their kids become co-learners on the journey to adulthood. You'll hear why only 8-10% of church kids keep their faith for a lifetime, what makes dad "LeBron James" in the faith transfer game, and how 30 simple conversations can transform your relationship with your child.