Front Row Dads - The Show For Dads Who Want To Level Up Their Dad Game

Gents, if you’re reading this, you’re probably the type of guy who wants to keep winning at life… But when you think about your family, your business, your health, and the legacy you’re building, are you pushing the boundaries of what’s possible? Are you intentionally creating space to design a life that gets you fired up? My chat with Matthew Januszek is all about achieving BIG breakthroughs — not just in your business, but in all areas of life! Matthew is a Husband, Father, Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness, and someone who is continuously learning and leveling up. In our conversation, he shares lessons learned from taking a company from the startup phase to a well-known international brand, raising incredible kids, and interviewing incredible thinkers on his own podcast, fittingly called Escape Your Limits. We talk about keeping the spark alive with your wife, co-creating dreams, winning with the kids, work/life balance, fitness, supplements, and a whole lot more! Matthew Januszek Podcast Highligh

What would you learn if you asked 40 amazing guys to write you a letter sharing their best dad advice? Well, Craig Kessler did exactly this — and now he’s sharing everything he learned in his new book, The Dad Advice Project: Words of Wisdom From Guys Who Love Being Dad (coming out on June 1). Dad Advice: Words of Wisdom From Men Who Love Being Dads with Craig Kessler As you’ll hear in my chat with Craig, his inspiration for the book actually stemmed from not having a great relationship with his own father. In his search for answers, he decided to ask a handful of friends to write him a letter on “how to be a good dad.” The responses he received inspired him to compile stories from 40+ dads from all walks of life — including professional athletes, TV personalities, businessmen, civic leaders, military veterans, and more! On our call, Craig shares some of the best insights from the book and provides actionable strategies that you can use to win as a husband and father :) BTW, if you’d like to get a free copy o

When everyone in your life tells you to read a book, the world is telling you something.  This is exactly what happened with John Eldredge’s book, Wild at Heart. It started with my friend Ryan Mickler, who’d been talking about his work for years, and soon I felt like I’d heard this recommendation from over eighty guys I trust. When I finally read it, I was stunned by his work and his message–and today’s conversation left me just as floored. Raising Resilient Boys, Being Wild at Heart and Finding Healthy Ways to Fight with John Eldredge In today’s conversation with John, you’ll learn how he unpacked his family trauma to become the man he is today and raise three sons of his own, how to nurture masculinity without being edgy for the sake of edginess, and what it means to show up with courage when you’re needed the most. And if you’d like to get a free copy of Wild at Heart, just leave us a review of this podcast on iTunes, mention this episode and John in the review, and take a screenshot. Send it to jon@frontr

Guys, as much as we may not want to, we have to think about what will happen to our families after we’re gone.  I’m not talking about money or an estate here. I’m talking about what our last words to our kids will be, and how we can share our wisdom, our advice, our love, and our memories not just while we’re here on earth, but forever.  Blake Brewer realized this in the hardest way possible–he lost his father in an accident while on vacation in Hawaii. While enjoying a beautiful day of snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, Blake’s father suddenly got caught in a rough spot and was struggling to stay above water. His father literally died in Blake’s arms while he was trying to rescue him. Just hours after he passed, Blake had to call his grandparents, his work, and his church to deliver the news. As he sat with his grief, his mother appeared in the doorway. She put some papers in his hand, which started, “Dear Blake, Natalie, and Marcus…” This Letter Changed Everything with Blake Brewer His father had been writing him a

Ok guys, time to get vulnerable for a minute… Clearly, as we get older our bodies inevitably change, but I never really thought I’d notice a shift in how I “showed up” in the bedroom, until I did. There’s a happy ending to this story (Pun intended). A few weeks ago, I met Dr. Amy Killen, who’s an expert in maximizing male sexual performance. PERFECT. TIMING. While she openly shared with me all the details about her work, I was on the edge of my seat. Some of the ideas were more complicated, but a few seemed like things I could experiment with over the next week. She mentioned beet root powder and talked about how it produces nitric oxide, and that I found out, is a good thing. A REALLY good thing. Energy. Stamina. Muscles. And yes, a full -- and I’m talking full -- erection. And gents… of course that’s not everything, but it’s a sign. In fact, Dr. Amy said….penises are like canaries in the coal mine, warning us about our overall cardiovascular health. After a week of taking this stuff (and no, this podcast is

Ok fellas, raise your hand if your kids have come to you with a business idea

Today, I’m talking with my close friend Jeremy Reisig, a.k.a. Brotha James.  He’s been a hugely influential member of the Front Row Dads community.  Why? It’s simple: Jeremy has legendary relationships with his family.  In our conversations over the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the stories he’s shared–especially when he talks about the ways his dad, who recently passed away, showed up for him. 5 Things I Learned from my Dad, Before I Lost Him  If you want to connect more deeply with your father (or any father figure in your life), as well as your kids (and who doesn’t?), this episode is for you. Brotha James not only shares brilliant music, but what made his relationship with his dad so special. You’ll learn about their traditions, how his dad treated his mother, and which actions spoke louder than words–up until the very end of his life. Brotha James Podcast Highlights The value of looking for fulfillment in every aspect of your life. How seeing other people’s pain at a Tony Robbins event helped Brotha

Fellas, here’s an interesting one for you…  How would your wife rate you on a scale from 1 to 10 in the areas of Work, Health, Kids and Marriage?  That’s one of the big questions during today’s conversation with my buddy, Dane Espegard.  Dane’s a member of Front Row Dads, rock star relationship builder, and someone who is continuously improving in all 4 of these buckets.  I know for me, it’s pretty tough to nail all of these areas, all of the time... So, I wanted to know, what makes Dane’s relationship with his wife and kids so strong - and how does he manage to play at such a high level in his personal and professional life at the same time?  Dane drops a ton of wisdom on what does/doesn’t work for him and his family. We talk about the importance of being attuned with your wife’s emotional needs, the benefits of therapy, healthy forms of fighting, and much more! Dane Espegard Podcast Highlights Dane’s experience with his parents getting divorced when he was in his 20s. Why my dog stands ON the table while w

Can you think back to a moment when you lost your cool with your wife or kids? What’s going on when our emotions get the best of us? What if instead of defaulting to anger, judgement, defensiveness and frustration, we could better understand the feelings of everyone involved, and empathize more effectively with others’ perspectives? Helping me answer these questions is Nathanael Chawkin, who specializes in interpersonal communication dynamics for both executive teams and families alike. I first started working with Nathanael one-on-one so that I could better understand my triggers; the things that really set me off. He’s helped me tackle some of the toughest communication challenges in my life, and has given me the necessary tools and strategies to identify my biggest emotional blind spots as a husband and father. His approach to coaching leans on The Work of Byron Katie. If you aren’t yet familiar with The Work, it consists of four questions that allow you to look at specific problems and see exactly what is

For a lot of guys, gift giving oftentimes lacks true meaning.  How many holidays have you made a last minute purchase the night before, or decided to buy something just because it has an impressive sticker price? As if a more expensive gift will show your wife just how much you love her lol.  Gifts should make your loved ones feel valued and appreciated, not forgotten and misunderstood. It’s something we should do because we want to, not because we have to.  And hey, I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve definitely screwed it up on multiple occasions — so you’re not in this alone!  Gifts don’t need to be bought, but they do need thought.  Joining me today to talk all about it is my good friend John Ruhlin — a master at building relationships and winning hearts using his unique approach to strategic gifting.  We hit on a bunch of topics, including intentional gifting, gifting fails, winning at Mother’s Day, making your wife feel special, balancing business & family, and more! Gold Nuggets Why gifting alone can

As entrepreneurs and business owners, we’ve all taken tests like Myers-Briggs, DISC, and Core Values Index to better understand who we are and where we naturally shine. But so few of us have used tools like these to understand our strengths as parents, even though it’s one of the most important roles in our lives! Today’s guest, my friend Brandon Miller, is the co-author of Incredible Family: Discover Your Parenting Strengths and Raise Your Kids with Confidence. Not only is the book packed with great information, but it also includes a powerful parenting assessment tool to help you and your partner uncover what makes you uniquely great as parents.  Brandon’s really hit on something big with this book, as proven by the fact that he was voted Most Influential by the Front Row Dads Brotherhood after presenting this material at our last retreat. Also joining us is fellow Front Row Dad, Les McDaniel, who trains coaches that help parents and their children become stronger, more loving, and more peaceful.  So what e

Sachin Patel returns to the podcast to talk with me about 3 health gadgets that can make your life better as a dad, husband and business owner! In case you didn’t already know, Sachin is a functional medicine success coach and Founder of The Living Proof Institute. His philosophy is that “The doctor of the future is the patient” and he is actively doing whatever it takes to keep people out of the medical system and empower them through education, self-care, and remapping their mindset. Sachin first showed up at one of our live events, and completely blew everyone away with the ideas and information he shared. In fact, that session is still being talked about to this day, years later! He has since brought his knowledge to the podcast as a guest, and is returning once again today to share his wisdom! In this session, we’re discussing 3 pieces of wearable technology that you can use to understand patterns and problems with your health, so you can make adjustments and optimize your life! P.S. Sachin is also a reg

Do you have true companions in your life?  And let’s back up for a minute -- how do you define a true companion anyways?   Is your wife a true companion?  Returning to the show, my friend Dr. Kelly Flanagan and I are going to talk about how to build true companionship with the people who are most important to us.  Before Kelly joined the Front Row Dads brotherhood, I knew him as a speaker, elite-level coach, and badass author of the book Loveable, which our guys raved about. In his new book, True Companions: A Book for Everyone About the Relationships That See Us Through, Kelly shows us what happens when we quit sabotaging intimacy by demanding unconditional love. Show Highlights The only perspective that can keep us focused on our true companions Why loneliness is the shadow side of your uniqueness The uncomfortableness of being alone The value of the Enneagram The process of building belonging Why lying and secrecy is a form of withdrawing from a relationship How to shift from defensiveness to empathy and

Are you running on the neuroscience of love and connection, or fear and reactivity? For many, fear and reactivity are driving your actions more than we realize. In this show, we’re going to address how to fix this and lead from a centered and controlled energy. Mike Wagner has been on a path to evolve as a father. He’s a member of the Front Row Dads Brotherhood, and is going to share his personal experiences taking a deep dive into his own emotions, and how they used to run his life, and how he shifted into the driver seat. A bit of context… Mike had trained to be a physical therapist, but felt like something was off. He then made a transition into real estate investing, with a focus on self-storage. His successes have allowed him to explore personal development, focus on his family, and explore the country. In short, he lives what he calls a life of awesomeness. He also recently worked extensively with Dr. Danny Friedland to better understand how top performers use mindfulness combined with neuroscience to t

For many of us, the money we make is directly related to the amount of time we put into something. When we are directly responsible for growing our businesses, writing books, or traveling to speaking events - to name just a few examples - we are putting time in to get money out. As we all know, this comes at a cost, and every hour we grind is an hour spent not focused on our families. My friend Justin Donald didn’t just challenge this framework - he broke it, giving him the power to live the life he wants on his terms. Dubbed “The Warren Buffett of Lifestyle Investing” by Entrepreneur, he is a master of low-risk cash flow investments. 21 months before his 40th birthday, he drove enough passive income for him and his wife to both leave their jobs.  In his new book, The Lifestyle Investor, he shares exactly how he negotiated deals with 100 companies and hit an eight-figure net worth while keeping his family at the center of everything. Today, Justin joins the podcast to talk about the meaning of money, share so

For high achieving Dads, it’s far too common to get sucked into cycles of success. When we’re addicted to being busy, it’s easy to let ourselves think that we just need to write one more book or do one more round of speaking events – and providing for our families becomes our excuse to keep going.  So, how do we get the job done AND show up for our families?  Earlier this year, Brock Blake had to answer this question for himself like never before. After COVID-19 hit, his company Lendio became a massively valuable resource for small business owners, many of whom couldn’t get access to PPP loans through their banks. This required Brock to pull 20-hour days for six straight weeks and proved to be ten times harder than anything else he’d ever done in his career. As Brock put it, “We changed our mission from fueling the American dream to saving the American dream.” But how did he manage all of this, without sacrificing his family in the process? Today, Brock joins the podcast to talk about his journey, and to bust

Very few kids understand money, investing, charitable giving, or financial literacy by the time they finish high school. As parents, a lot of us learned about money the hard way, through struggles and tough decisions, but our experiences don't always make it easier to teach our kids how to make great financial decisions. When COVID-19 brought in-person schooling to a crashing halt, family wealth manager Adam Stock decided to be part of the solution. Rather than complain about how lousy online education was, he created Money Mondays. Over a series of Zoom calls for kids aged 10-15, he and a number of incredible guests gave presentations on a wide range of financial concepts, including the value of saving, investments, charitable giving, and much more.  Today, Adam and I are talking about how formal education fails so many kids when it comes to finances, the issues parents face when we talk about money with our kids, and the power of charitable giving.  We also introduce the best of Money Mondays, a condensed,

What are you doing to create structure and stay productive as you navigate the chaos of your life, both at home and at work?  How do you take a stand when you need to, have tough conversations, and take big risks to truly understand everything that’s out there?  If you’re looking for answers to questions like these, today’s conversation - one of my favorites I’ve had all year - is for you. I’m speaking with my friend Ben Crawford - someone with a truly deep understanding of how to challenge perspectives and push for more. He ran ultramarathons with his young kids, lived intentionally for a year with no rules, and hiked the Appalachian Trail with his wife and their six children - something he wrote about in his newest book, 2,000 Miles Together.  Even if you’re not quite ready to commit to an odyssey like Ben’s, if you want to know what you and your family are truly capable of, this episode is for you. We explore what it means to achieve your family’s full potential, the importance of questioning the status qu

This year, practically everyone experienced some form of failure. A lot of things that didn’t work, didn’t take hold, or set us back as we navigated extraordinary challenges in our personal health, our marriages, and our ability to parent. But why fixate on that? Why not explore what did work?  Today, Front Row Dad members Mike Higgins, John Kane and I are getting together for an honest conversation about our biggest wins.  With the intention of helping you win at home, at work, and in the areas of life most important to you, we’re digging in on what worked in our community, how our pillars evolved, how our teammates and friends show up for us, and the powerful decisions we were able to make in 2020. Gold Nuggets    The importance of building teams where people are complementary and able to support each other. How to define your values and get clarity about what you do and don’t want.  How to tighten bonds and strengthen connection as you build and grow groups. How to adapt your operations in the face of cha

Today is our preview clip of the week, which is basically a short 10 min clip that we pulled from the full length interview. If you like what you hear in this bite sized segment, you may want to check out our full length episodes which release on Wednesday's! For more information, visit FrontRowDads.com Want to learn more about Front Row Dads? We are in the business of building better families. While most dads would say that family matters most, the challenge is they feel guilty knowing their careers get the best of them, and their family seems to get the rest of them. We help Dads become family men with businesses, not businessmen who have families, so they can thrive personally AND professionally. Subscribe to the Front Row Dad podcast to learn about fatherhood, marriage and how to level up your game at home, or if you’re ready for the best coaching and true brothers to grow with, Join The Brotherhood! Are you getting all the shows? Subscribe today! Want to leave a review? THANK YOU! http://FrontRowDads.com