✅ How healing from father wounds creates ripple effects that impact generations

✅ The power of showing up consistently (Leo hasn't missed a single one of his son's games!)

✅ Why prayer cards with specific prayers for each child have created lasting impact

✅ How to break generational cycles even when you didn't have a model

FULL SHOW NOTES:

Growing up with a famous boxer father who never showed up for his games taught Leo Clark what it means to truly fight for the hearts of his children. In this powerful conversation, Leo shares how he's breaking generational cycles through his basketball ministry, intentional parenting, and the healing journey that transformed his ability to love. You'll hear how pain that isn't dealt with can block our capacity to parent well, and how God's restoration can create ripple effects that impact not just our own children, but countless others.

• Breaking generational cycles begins with healing your own pain and allowing God to father you first
• A dad who fights for his kids shows up consistently, even when they try to push him away
• Being intentional about prayer and writing down specific prayers for your children creates lasting impact
• Your smile can be a gift that breaks down barriers and opens doors for meaningful connection
• Pain that isn't dealt with limits your capacity to love well and be fully present for your children
• The words you speak to your children become their inner voice—make them words of life
• Creating a legacy of love requires intentional reflection and being willing to be vulnerable

Leo Clark is the co-founder of Go Get It, a basketball training ministry that mentors young men on and off the court. Growing up as the son of a famous heavyweight boxer who was physically absent from his life, Leo has dedicated himself to breaking generational cycles and being fully present for his five children. His powerful testimony of healing and restoration was featured in episode three of the Wild at Heart documentary series. Leo lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Marianne and continues to impact countless young men through basketball, mentorship, and his passion for fatherhood.

LINKS

• Wild at Heart Documentary Series: Episode 3 featuring Leo Clark
• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome
• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org
• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618

Fatherhood isn't about perfection—it's about presence, moral consistency, and showing up when it matters most. In this heart-stirring episode from the vault, Bob Merritt shares powerful stories about those precious moments that define a father's legacy. From confronting hard truths with his college-aged son to the tear-filled goodbye when his daughter left for college, Bob reveals how staying faithful in the small things prepares you for the big moments that matter most.

• Consistency in three areas—staying married, staying moral, and pursuing God—creates a foundation that enables deeper father-child connections.
• Only strong fathers have the courage to ask their children where they need to improve; weak men avoid this vulnerability.
• When your child makes concerning choices, choose thoughtful engagement over passive silence—staying in the battle is more important than saying everything perfectly.
• The most meaningful moments in fatherhood are earned through years of faithful presence and moral consistency.
• Choose laughter and joy in your home—a house that hasn't heard genuine laughter in months reveals deeper issues.

Bob Merritt served as Senior Pastor of Eagle Brook Church for over two decades before transitioning to leadership teaching, consulting, and coaching. He is a father of two, grandfather of six, and author of several books on leadership and faith. Bob is known for his practical, down-to-earth teaching style and his passionate commitment to helping people grow in their faith and leadership.

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome https://www.speakpipe.com/DadAwesome
• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org
• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618
• Bob Merritt's website and resources https://www.bobmerritt.com/
• Eagle Brook Church

David Mills believes the mess and chaos of life make the best stories. In this episode, he shares how to infuse more fun and adventure into your parenting journey. You’ll hear real talk about dad guilt, finding your tribe, and why doing life with other men makes all the difference.

TAKEAWAYS

• An adventure mindset shifts how you view your circumstances so that even the challenging moments become stories worth telling.
• Doing hard things awakens the warrior in you.
• Every parent struggles with parent guilt, so give yourself grace.
• Do you have 12 men in your town you could call at 2 a.m. who’d show up, no questions asked? If not, it’s time to build your tribe.

GUEST

Dave “Goose” Mills is the Founder and Director of Men’s Alliance. Spending his career in the Air Force flying squadrons taught him how tribes are formed, how they operate, and how they save lives. He started Men's Alliance to surround himself with strong Christian warriors in order to keep his life on course. Goose has been married for 24 years and has four kids.

QUOTES

• "I believe we were literally designed for hard times... It's not just that it makes us better men, which it does, but it also awakens in us, you know, the heart that God designed us to have. We were born to do hard things." - David Mills [00:09:37]
• "You would be an absolute fool to try to do this by yourself. Like, don't try to go this alone. The myth of the lone ranger has been prevalent in our culture. The truth of the matter is everything important and big that's ever been done was done by a group." - David Mills [00:30:01]

LINKS

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome

• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org

• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word “Dad” to (651) 370-8618

• Men's Alliance

In this episode, Brian Doyle shares what it was like to parent through the unimaginable. After losing his wife to cancer at age 54, Brian had to navigate his own grief while guiding his teenage and young adult kids through theirs. His story will challenge you to keep your eyes on the future, disciple your kids with purpose, and take initiative to invest in the dads around you.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Instead of avoiding grief, learn to walk through it in a healthy way so your sorrow can eventually lead to joy.

• If you want your kids to follow Christ, you have to show them what that looks like in your everyday life.

• You’re not raising kids; you’re launching disciples.

• No one else can do what God designed you as a man to do.

• The time you invest in younger dads today can equip them for the challenges they’ll face decades from now.

GUEST

Brian Doyle is the Founder and President of Iron Sharpens Iron and serves as the National Director of the ISI Ministry Network. The mission of Iron Sharpens Iron is to equip churches to train men for spiritual leadership in the home, church and community.

#DadAwesome #christiandad #dadlife #parenting #dadpodcast #fatherhood

Links mentioned:

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome

• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org

• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word “Dad” to (651) 370-8618

• Iron Sharpens Iron

Joy isn’t just about feeling good. It's your secret weapon for raising resilient kids and showing up as a healthy, loving dad. In this episode, Chris Coursey unpacks the brain science behind joy and shares practical strategies you can use to stay calm and connected, whether it’s your own emotions flaring or your child’s.

Key takeaways:

• Joy is built through connection, while happiness depends on your circumstances.

• God wired your brain for emotions, so it’s important to know what helps you return to your relational, peaceful self.

• Validation and comfort sets the stage for effective correction.

• Building joy helps you and your kids navigate life’s challenges with more resilience.

Guest bio:

Chris Coursey is the President of THRIVEtoday. For nearly 25 years he has been developing and practicing brain-based solutions to make relationships work. Chris is a published author with ten books in print, husband to Jen, and father to Matthew and Andrew.

Links mentioned:

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome

• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org

• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word “Dad” to (651) 370-8618

• THRIVEtoday

• Emotions Wheel

• The Joy Switch

• The 4 Habits Series

• All Books and Resources

There is never a dull moment as a parent, especially in a world dominated by screens and technology. In this episode, Dave Willis shares how he’s tackling tough conversations with his sons about sex, boundaries, and the dangers of pornography. Plus, he explains how the words you speak as a dad can become your child’s inner voice—for better or for worse.

Key Takeaways:

• The best moments come from undistracted one-on-one interactions where you connect with your kids in their world each day.
• A child’s mind and heart are like wet cement, and the words you say leave lasting impressions.
• It’s important to create a safe, shame-free space to talk about sex and God’s design for the body with your kids.
• Be prepared to guide your kids through a complex digital world filled with AI, robots, and other predatory technology.
• God designed your marriage to flourish.

GUEST:

Dave Willis and his wife, Ashley, are the authors of multiple books including the bestseller, The Naked Marriage. They’re also Christian speakers, marriage coaches, and the hosts of The Marriage on the Line Podcasts. They have four sons and live near Augusta, Georgia.

Key Quotes:

• "Being present in these moments in like every single day looking for the undistracted one-on-one conversation with each kid, trying to connect with them in their world each day. It doesn't have to be big or fancy or structured, but being intentional about that, those tend to be my best moments of the day." [00:05:41]
• "We cannot overestimate the power of our words. And God designed it that way. He created the whole universe using His words... the words we're speaking to our kids, they're gonna become the soundtrack, the inner voice in those kids' heads as they grow. I mean, they're gonna hear our voices for the rest of their lives." [00:01:12]
• "When our kids, what they see in us, they think is healthy and they think it's normal, even if it's totally broken." [00:05:59]
• "Your teaching authority, moral authority, doesn't come from a place of perfection... but they desperately needed to come from a placed of honesty and authenticity to say like, listen, this is where I blew it." [00:25:43]
• "Let's be dads who pass along generational blessing instead of baggage to our kids." (This is from his closing prayer) [00:39:05]

Links mentioned:

• Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome

• Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org

• Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word “Dad” to (651) 370-8618

• The Naked Marriage by Dave & Ashley Willis

• Raising Boys Who Respect Girls by Dave Willis

• The Marriage on the Line Podcast

• “When I Tell You that I Love You” Poem

• 9 Days to Great Sex Free eBook