The Dad Edge Podcast

What does it actually mean to pursue excellence without losing your peace, your family, or yourself in the process?
 
In this episode, I sit down with New York Times bestselling author Brad Stulberg to unpack the tension so many driven men feel: the desire to achieve at a high level while still living a meaningful and grounded life. Brad shares insights from his book The Way of Excellence and explains why humans are wired to strive — but not necessarily wired to feel content once we achieve.
 
We dive into the trap many high-performing men fall into: constantly chasing the next milestone, promotion, or accomplishment while never feeling satisfied. Brad also shares powerful insights for fathers on how to help their kids develop a healthy relationship with effort, competition, and self-worth. If you're a driven man who struggles to slow down and enjoy the journey — or you want to raise kids who value effort and character over outcomes — this conversation will challenge how you think about success.
 
Timeline Summary
 
[0:00] Introducing Brad Stulberg and the idea behind The Way of Excellence
[2:29] Why humans are wired to strive but not wired for contentment
[8:57] The trap of "heroic individualism" and chasing achievement
[11:04] Why success alone often leaves people feeling empty
[20:08] The mountain metaphor for achievement and fulfillment
[26:04] The importance of pausing to appreciate the journey
[29:00] Helping kids avoid tying self-worth to results
[34:46] Why youth sports should focus on development over winning
[41:01] Separating identity from performance
[48:55] The real goal of youth sports: helping kids want to play again next year
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
Humans are wired to strive, which means the next achievement rarely brings lasting satisfaction.
True excellence is about pursuing something worthwhile that aligns with your values.
Focusing only on outcomes causes us to miss the meaning of the journey.
Kids need to learn that effort and growth matter more than results.
Fulfillment comes from aligning ambition with presence, purpose, and values.
 
Links & Resources
The Way of Excellence (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Way-Excellence-Greatness-Satisfaction-Chaotic/dp/0063385945
Roommates to Soulmates Preview: https://thedadedge.com/soulmates
Episode Link & Resources (Episode 1448): https://thedadedge.com/1448
 
Closing
If you're a driven man constantly chasing the next milestone, this episode is a reminder to pause and ask yourself an important question: What does excellence actually mean for my life?
 
Success without alignment will always feel empty. But when your ambition is grounded in values, presence, and purpose — that's where real fulfillment lives.
 
If this episode resonated with you, make sure you rate, review, follow, and share it with another dad who needs to hear it.
 
Go out and live legendary.

In this powerful Q&A episode, Uncle Joe and I tackle one of the most common — and emotionally charged — challenges men face: feeling disrespected by their wives and not knowing how to respond without escalating the situation. We unpack why reacting in anger never works, why most men were never taught conflict resolution skills, and how to move from emotional reactivity to grounded leadership.
 
Uncle Joe also shares his raw personal story — three failed marriages, a radical transformation in faith, and what it really means to earn respect instead of demanding it. If you've ever struggled with triggers, short fuses, or feeling misunderstood at home, this episode will give you both tactical tools and deeper perspective.
 
 
Timeline Summary
[1:02] Reintroducing Uncle Joe and the story behind his name
[4:11] Three failed marriages and the transformation that followed 
[10:59] The marriage question: What do you do when you feel disrespected? 
[15:52] Why most men were never taught conflict resolution 
[18:23] Fighting for what you don't want vs. clearly stating what you do want 
[19:58] Creating rules of engagement for healthy conflict 
[22:13] Knowing your triggers and lengthening your fuse 
[28:27] Respect is earned through leadership, not demanded 
[31:57] Real peace isn't the absence of chaos — it's stability in the storm 
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
Most men were never taught healthy conflict resolution — it's a skill you must intentionally learn.
When you argue for what you don't want, you create more confusion — clarity changes everything.
Emotional triggers are rarely just about your spouse — they're often tied to your own story.
Respect in marriage grows when you lead consistently and earn trust daily.
Real peace is developed internally — not dependent on external calm.
 
 
 
Links & Resources
Roommates to Soulmates Cohort & Preview Call: https://thedadedge.com/soulmates
Episode Link & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1447
 
Closing
 
If you're struggling with triggers, short fuses, or feeling disrespected at home — don't ignore it and don't explode over it.
 
Learn the skill. Do the work. Lead first.
 
If this episode helped you, make sure you rate, review, follow, and share it with another dad who needs it.
 
Go out and live legendary.

If you want to understand what real brotherhood looks like — not surface-level friendships, not lone wolfing it, not "I've got this" energy — but true fellowship forged through shared hardship, this episode is for you.
 
Today I sit down with Frank Schwartz, aka Dark Helmet, President of F3 Nation. We dive deep into faith, fellowship, fitness, and what actually changes a man. Frank shares how going from 40 pounds overweight and spiritually empty to leading a global movement of men completely transformed his identity. We talk about sad clown syndrome, why success on paper doesn't equal fulfillment, why most men isolate when they're struggling, and how shared suffering builds trust faster than anything else.
 
If you've ever asked yourself, "Is this it?" — you're going to want to hear this one.
 
 
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introducing Frank Schwartz (Dark Helmet) and the mission of F3 Nation
[12:06] The three Fs: Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith — and why they must build in that order
[18:05] The Lone Wolf Lie and why men isolate when they're struggling
[24:02] Growing up with impossible standards and how that shaped identity
[28:56] Sad Clown Syndrome — winning on paper but empty inside
[39:00] The pull-up moment that redefined what brotherhood really means
[48:49] Do you have what it takes? The answer every man needs to hear
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
Discipline starts physically — but real transformation is internal.
Surface-level friendships will never sustain a man in crisis.
Shared suffering accelerates trust faster than conversation alone.
Success without brotherhood often leads to quiet emptiness.
Every man asks "Do I have what it takes?" — and the answer is yes.
 
 
Links & Resources
F3 Nation: https://f3nation.com
Frank Schwartz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadwithvirtue
The Men's Forge Live Event: https://themensforge.com
Episode Shownotes: http://thedadedge.com/1446
 
 
 
Closing
 
 
If you're tired of lone wolfing it… if you're successful on paper but feel disconnected… if you know there's more inside you but you haven't unlocked it yet — this episode is your invitation.
 
Get around strong men. Put yourself in the arena. Do hard things shoulder to shoulder.
 
If this episode resonated, make sure you rate, review, follow, and share it with another dad who needs to hear it.
 
Let's go live legendary.

In this solo episode, I share what's coming in March inside the Dad Edge Alliance, including a full breakdown of how we're helping dads move from authoritarian parenting to grounded leadership and collaboration. I also announce The Men's Forge live event, the next Roommates to Soulmates cohort, and highlight an incredible 1st Phorm transformation story from inside our community.
 
If you've been feeling the drift — in your parenting, your marriage, your energy, or your leadership — this episode is your reset.
 
 
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Who this episode is for — dads stuck in power struggles or marriage drift
[4:19] Why holding kids accountable feels harder than asking them to do something
[5:51] Moving from authoritarian parenting to grounded leadership
[7:06] Mastering regulation before correction
[8:16] Building accountability without authoritarian energy
[9:59] The Men's Forge live event announcement
[13:22] Guest speaker lineup including G.S. Youngblood
[15:03] F3 Nation President Frank "Dark Helmet" Schwarze joining the event
[17:01] Dad Edge 1st Phorm Dad of the Month transformation
[18:53] Roommates to Soulmates course update and preview call details
 
 
Five Key Takeaways:
Authoritarian parenting creates compliance — but often erodes trust.
Regulation before correction is a leadership skill every dad needs.
Collaboration builds accountability far better than control.
Intimacy fades when emotional leadership is missing at home.
Transformation accelerates in community, not isolation.
 
 
Links & Resources
Roommates to Soulmates: https://thedadedge.com/soulmates
The Men's Forge Live Event: https://themensforge.com
Micro Factor Pack: https://1stphorm.com/products/micro-factor/?a_aid=dadedge
Phormula-1 + Ignition (Post Workout Stack): https://1stphorm.com/products/post-workout-stack/?a_aid=dadedge
Collagen with Dermaval: https://1stphorm.com/products/collagen-with-dermaval/?a_aid=dadedge
Protein Beef Sticks: https://1stphorm.com/products/protein-sticks?a_aid=dadedge&a_bid=970de3cd
Episode Shownotes: http://thedadedge.com/1445
 
 
Closing Remark
If you're tired of the battles at home, the roommate vibe in your marriage, or feeling worn down physically and emotionally — don't wait for crisis.
 
Take action.
 
Join us. Step in. Lead differently.
 
From my heart to yours — go out and live legendary.

In this powerful behind-the-scenes conversation, Marc and I sit down to unpack Eric's story — a successful entrepreneur, father of five, and longtime member of the Dad Edge Business Boardroom. Eric opens up about the strained season in his marriage, the subtle warning signs he ignored, and the moment his wife Katie made it clear that change needed to happen.
 
This episode is about more than marriage repair. It's about ownership. It's about learning skills most men were never taught — emotional validation, empathy, leadership at home — and realizing that waiting for crisis only makes the climb steeper. If you're a busy business owner who feels scattered, distracted, or "almost disconnected" at home, this conversation will hit close to home.
 
 
 
Timeline Summary:
[0:00] The distraction trap of entrepreneurship and busyness 
[4:48] Eric shares the difficult season in his marriage before joining 
[7:18] The early warning signs and Katie's wake-up call 
[9:06] Why waiting for crisis puts men into panic mode 
[13:48] Learning emotional validation and empathy as new skills 
[16:11] Skills vs. identity change — upgrading your operating system 
[19:17] The public signs that Eric's marriage was turning around 
[22:31] Why you must change first instead of waiting for your wife to 
[26:47] Eric's biggest advice: find a community of strong men 
[29:32] The power of psychological safety and brotherhood 
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
The drift from good to terrible is gradual — then sudden. Don't wait for the cliff.
Panic is not the best place to rebuild a marriage. Address the rumblings early.
Emotional validation and empathy are skills — not personality traits.
Identity change happens through environment and repetition.
If you want your marriage to change, you must change first.
 
 
Links & Resources:
Dad Edge Alliance Preview Call: https://thedadedge.com/preview
Dad Edge Business Boardroom (Mastermind): https://thedadedge.com/mastermind
Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1444
 
 
Closing Remark:
If you're feeling that quiet tension at home — the subtle disconnect, the busyness, the emotional distance — don't wait for an ultimatum to force your hand.
 
You don't have to do this alone.
 
If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. Every share helps us reach more men who are ready to lead at home the way they lead in business.
 
From my heart to yours — go out and live legendary.