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

Gentlemen, I hope you're ready to rock today. This episode goes out to all the music lovers out there. Is there a better gift that we can share with our kids than the gift of music? It's such a great connector and the source of so many great conversations and memories. Have you ever been in the car, just belting out a song with your kids at the top of your lungs? When we talk about being present and playful with our kids, this is my jam. Today's guest is literally rocking life as a husband, father, and music teacher. His name is Tim Woosley, and he teaches people how to play guitar for a living. But more importantly, he uses music to teach his kids about discipline and confidence so that they can do the hard things. Intentional parenting is one of our pillars, and I couldn't help but notice that Tim used the word intentional several times. Being intentional when introducing new music to his kids, or by spending time with them or his wife when he catches himself working too long. I loved hearing about how he w

As a Front Row Dad, I know that building wealth is important to you. It’s the key to your freedom. And with that freedom, you can spend more time with your family, creating a lifetime of memories. Nobody is more qualified to talk about this than my friend Mike Ayala, who has over 22 years of experience starting, scaling, and selling companies. Now, he teaches busy professionals and entrepreneurs his approach to building teams and buying freedom. That’s what today’s episode is all about. If you’re trying to scale a company and manage life at home, you won’t want to miss this chat. And if you haven’t already, don’t miss Part 1 of our conversation. We dig into Mike’s philosophies as a Dad/Husband and how to build wealth without letting it negatively impact who your kids become!   Mike Ayala Podcast Highlights - Part 2 Are you charged or drained at work? Operate within your zone of genius so you have more capacity for life at home. Building businesses on the backs of great partnerships. How to determine who, how

He built a badass business and “made it” financially. Now he helps busy professionals and entrepreneurs find true freedom to live their best life… Gents, as you know, one of the major pillars for Front Row Dads is Business Evolution—structuring our businesses so that we consciously choose to be family men with businesses, not businessmen with families. That’s why I wanted to invite Mike Ayala on the show. Mike has a ton of experience building companies, one of which scaled to more than 100 employees and sold at a $12 million valuation. I’ve also had the privilege of spending time with Mike. I’ve watched him engage with his wife and kids, and I can tell you that he’s one of the best dads out there. In other words, he knows the difficulty of running a business AND managing a family…. He also knows how to create generational wealth that gives him and his family the freedom to live life on their terms. I know this is important to Front Row Dads, but it brings up an interesting topic… What happens to our kids when

There's a big difference between being rich and being wealthy. Rich people spend what they have. Wealthy people, however, leverage what they have to produce more wealth. But how much money is really enough? And what's driving our constant need for more? These are the types of financial questions I ask my good buddy, Michael Port, on today's podcast episode. More specifically, we're digging into money management as family men with businesses.     For context, he's written multiple bestselling books. He's also the co-founder of Heroic Public Speaking, a super successful company that he bootstrapped  and scaled with his wife, Amy. While there's more than one way to build wealth & legacy , I have a major appreciation for Michael's approach to financial freedom. Rather than follow the crowd, he constantly pursues the best path for him after spending years studying different approaches to creating financial independence.  We talk about what makes his business profitable, setting budgets with his wife, avoiding

Of our three core values in FRD, Authentic Curiosity is at the top of the list. One thing I love about our community is that members have deep wisdom, while remaining wise enough to know there’s more to learn.  They have an insatiable appetite for resources that help them be more present and powerful at home.  When I learned about the questions my buddy Blake started asking about thriving in his marriage, and succeeding as a dad, I needed to have a longer conversation on the podcast.    Let’s rewind for a second and set the stage here… Before Blake even moved in with his wife, he started asking around, “How do you live with a woman?” Some answers were lackluster… Stuff like “Don’t leave the toilet seat up”, but he was looking for more than platitudes.   One day, a guy dropped some wisdom when he said… WAKE UP READY. Wake up with intention and positive anticipation so that you don’t miss a thing. Eventually the question evolved to “How do you love a woman?”  And then questions about fatherhood.  Our interview

I’ve recently started using the phrase, “I make myself mad when…”   I used to say, “You make me so mad when….”  or “It triggers me when…”  Taking ownership of my emotions has been a journey.  Rather than giving the power to other forces, people, circumstances – I’m claiming ownership of my personal state.   I make myself angry, because of the story I tell myself about what happens.   When I live in a world of “If she would just talk to me differently, I’ll be happy” or “If they would just listen to me, I wouldn’t get so mad”  Angry, emotions and managing our hearts and minds is the topic of convo today with my great friend Josh Trent.   Josh is the Founder of Wellness Force Media and host of the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast.  During our chat we talk about how getting a grip on how your physical wellbeing impacts your emotional state.   We explore a concept borrowed from the AA community – the H.A.L.T. Theory (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired).  We dive into the journey of finding greater consciousness and shifting w

Do your kids know your rules of life?  Do you know your rules of life?  I’ve got the Vroman Family values, but I’ve never put pen to paper on what our “rules of life” really are.  My guest today, and FRD brother, Kasim Aslam has an unbelievable approach to sharing his rules of life with his boys (we go deep into this during the show, and you can see the rules of life below). Also, let’s talk about habits for a minute.  Yeah…you’ve probably read all the books, listened to all the shows, but most dads haven’t taken a deep dive into the habits they’ve stacked, to really know if those habits are serving their family in the best way possible.  During my chat with Kasim, we explore all elements of rules, values, habits  — and Kasim tells exactly how he’s approached this through written, spoken, and visual aids.  When I was 11 years old my dad inducted me into the “FHA”, a secret club he created that was meant to give me some important core life values. Now that it is almost my turn to initiate my own kids into the

Wouldn’t it be nice to raise a child that goes on to be the next LeBron James, Serena Williams, or Peyton Manning? Of course! But isn’t that setting the bar too high? There’s so much more that our kids can learn from playing sports. If we teach them to focus on improving their skills, learn from their mistakes, and be good teammates, they’ll be successful no matter what they do. For this conversation, I’m thrilled to welcome back none other than Alan Stein, Jr. Alan is an author, keynote speaker, and a performance coach with a passion for helping others change their behaviors and maximize performance. His proven principles teach others how to utilize the same approaches in business that elite athletes use to perform at a world-class level. For over 15 years, he’s worked with legends and superstars in the NBA, such as Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant. Alan talks about empowering our kids to give it their best, develop a positive attitude, and be good teammates. We also talk about winning graciously a

The average dude in their 20’s is usually still trying to figure a lot of things out. From finishing school, finding their passion or just figuring themselves out and being the man that they want to be. But for Kyle Jansen, he knew exactly what he wanted to do, he went for it, and now he’s totally crushing it. When Kyle was 20 years old, he had left his home and left school to pursue his passion in creating and developing a new braking system for bikes. Seven years later, he appeared on Shark Tank with his partner Brian Riley. They got an offer and some cash from Mark Cuban and the rest as they say, is history. Kyle is the Co-Founder of Guardian Bikes, which developed the Surestop® braking system, which is much safer (especially for kids) and helps prevent people from flipping over their handlebars on their bikes. He’s a father to two boys, a loving husband to his wife Megan and a member of the brotherhood here at Front Row Dads. In this conversation, Kyle shares his entrepreneurial journey that led to this g

Ben said…  #1 – Be respectful  #2 – Stand up for what you believe in  I agree. Fully.   As a father, I’m often asking myself… Am I standing strong for my family right now, and for future generations?  What would it look like to act with courage and speak up when I feel called to express my heart?  How might I lead powerfully when engaging in controversial topics?  What SHOULD we be talking about with our kids when it comes to seemingly divisive global subjects?  For this interview, we committed to having a meaningful conversation, being honest, and talking about important issues.  During my time with Ben Pakulski, we discussed the following:   How much do you "strong arm" your kids vs giving them the power? The only way to help your kids stand up for what they believe in. The best way to encourage open dialogue and healthy conversations. How to teach your kids to consider opposing views and think critically. The Warrior VS Monk mentality  Understanding the importance of being present inside your body. PS.  

Gents, I’m talking with Ben Pakulski, who is considered the world’s best muscle expert and top authority on physique optimization and lifestyle integration for high-achieving men over 35. This may be hard to believe, but despite becoming one of the top 10 bodybuilders in the world, Ben never found true health & purpose until he became a Dad. In fact, he believes his kids are responsible for saving his life!  When they were born, his whole world shifted. He questioned everything he was doing as a bodybuilder and being as a man…  Instead of prioritizing getting big (like 310lbs of pure muscle big), he focused on how he could become the greatest Dad, leader, and role model for his kids.  He now spends his time optimizing his health from a physical, mental, and spiritual standpoint and helping other men step into their greatness. His goal is to become the best version of himself, so that his kids can learn to do the same.  In our talk, Ben and I hit on a bunch of topics surrounding family. We discuss core val

I realize that talking about guns can be a touchy subject for some people.  But the reality is, a lot of our kids are exposed to guns at a very young age, even if it’s just from video games.  And when you consider the fact that there are tons of new first-time gun owners over the past two years, I thought this was an important conversation to have. Some of you have probably thought about purchasing a gun for protection at some point, maybe you’re even thinking about it now. That’s why I’m thrilled to share this conversation that I just had with a legit badass and share his expertise about how to protect your family with gun ownership.  Clay Martin is a former Reconnaissance Marine, USMC Scout Sniper, and a retired Green Beret. By the end of his career, he finished as a Professional Gunner 3, which is basically at a triathlete level in the professional shooting world. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s also coached a team in the SWAT Olympics.  Did you think I was kidding about the badass comment?  And while he w

One of the hardest things for a man to do just might be to show how strong they really are by allowing themselves to be vulnerable, let their guard down and talk about their own fears and weaknesses. By allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, we give permission for others to talk openly about the things that are usually too uncomfortable to talk about. In part two of my conversation with Doug Phillips, we're going to dig into that theme and talk about the things we can accomplish if we can just let go of our pride and be honest with ourselves so that we can learn and grow to be better husbands and fathers to our families. You'll hear how the pandemic forced Doug's hand to find a new way to provide for his family and how a band of brothers were able to help him get over his fears and take that first step in his entrepreneurial journey. We also talk about how it's so important, maybe even more than ever, to check in on our friends and family because you never really know how someone is doing. Just because someone'

When was the last time somebody wrote you a letter? Not a text message, or a quick email, but something that was a complete surprise to tell you how much they care about you, and how much you mean to them. I’m sure most of us do our very best to tell the ones we love how much we appreciate them. But there’s just something about having that message written or typed out on paper that makes it really special. On that note, I want to talk about creating a culture of encouragement. And how we can get better at celebrating the big moments in our kids’ lives to make sure that on their day, it’s all about them. In this conversation, I’m joined by my good friend and fellow Front Row Dad, Doug Phillips. I can’t wait for you to hear about the awesome tradition that he has with his family. I won’t even lie, I am totally going to use this concept with my family and I’m sure a lot of you out there listening probably will too. To give you a quick glimpse, when Doug was planning for his son’s 13th birthday, he reached out to

After hearing about Front Row Dads, several guys have shared with me that they’re just not having important conversations around family, parenting, marriage, sex, health, money, etc.   They all have buddies, but they’re basically shooting the shit around things that are topical and typical. It’s weather, sports and with some “How are the kids?” questions, and then the boring “Kids are great” responses.   After guys join FRD, I’ll often hear some version of, “I had a deeper conversation in the first few hours of being here than I’ve had with any of my friends over the past few years.”   What makes FRD work is a simple formula. It’s first relationships, then resources, then results.   We’re not interested in BS relationships, but want to form real connections rooted in trust and transparency.   While many men might have lots of “facebook friends” we believe in building a true brotherhood. And this is done with great intention.    After the REAL relationships are formed, the deep conversations naturally lead to

For a lot of men, there can be a lot of societal pressure to “man up.” Bury your emotions, or look weak. The problem is, those feelings of pain don’t just go away. Instead, they manifest in unhealthy and unexpected ways. And not just in the moment, but potentially years into the future. That pressure to suppress our emotions is not always obvious either. I’ve only recently realized that I’ve been subconsciously doing this for years. Instead of leaning into my emotions, I developed coping strategies: I abused alcohol… I ran ultramarathons… I went through phases of acting selfishly… I started a charity that focused on making moments for others… Looking back, I can tell these were attempts to mask my real pain. Instead of feeling more, I was just trying to feel better. As a result, the pain piled up. And today, my emotions sometimes get the better of me. My anger can boil over uncontrollably, and unfortunately, my wife and kids are the ones who suffer. I never truly understood how to master my emotions or feel

What does it mean to be bold, and why is it such an important characteristic to have—not just for you, but for your kids? I don’t know about you, but I want my kids to grab life big. I want them to follow their dreams and seize all the opportunities that life has to offer. I want them to try new things, explore the world, start a new business, fall in love, and become the best possible versions of themselves.  But in order for that to happen, I need to set a good example AND create an environment where they can thrive! The problem is, being bold isn’t always easy—especially in today’s climate, where everyone has a different POV. It seems that speaking your truth or attempting to have an open dialogue around conflicting subjects is likely to get you into trouble. So, should we just stay silent? How do we speak up and act boldly with so much fear around being silenced or shunned? To explore this topic, I’m speaking with Fred Joyal, author of Superbold: From Under-Confident to Charismatic in 90 Days, who is proo

Welcome to part two of my conversation with my friend Kim Bilyk. We're going to pick up where we left off and talk about breathwork, sexual creative energy, and how you can better connect with your partner. Sex is something that I have explored on a deeper level in recent years, and I'm not just talking about how to find new porn online either. If we're honest with ourselves, most men could be doing a better job in this department. I'm a big believer in the benefits of breathwork, and I've practiced different forms of it, such as Wim Hof and Yoga in the past. Just a few weeks ago, I took a breathwork class with Tatyana, and I have to say, the experience was incredible. I am completely sold on the value of breathwork, but I have yet to really explore this in the bedroom. That is likely to change very soon. If you haven't listened to part 1, I'd highly recommend that you go back and listen to it and learn some ways to make better and deeper connections with the woman in your life. Check it out here⎯ it's a game

Guys, are you aware of what's going on with your lady's menstrual cycle? Yeah, me either! I know that sounds like an odd question. Maybe it's even a subject that makes you uncomfortable. But I gotta tell you, after my conversation with today's guest, I was inspired to learn more. As it turns out, understanding how your wife's cycle works is super empowering. And I don't just mean her period! I'm talking about getting to know her energy; how she ebbs and flows throughout the entire month. If I can learn that, I'll know how to support her. If I can become more in tune with her needs (and wants), I can become an even better husband and father. That's what today's episode with Kim Bilyk is all about. In case you’re wondering, Kim is a woman's empowerment and sexual health coach, helping women connect to their bodies and align their hormone health so they can be badasses in all areas of their life. She's a reiki master, yoga therapist, occupational therapist, and has a journal out called Womb Wisdom. She also host

In this episode, we’re talking about how we can make kids the heroes in their own stories and raise children that are learners and superhumans. Joining me for part two of our two part episode is Seth Dailey where he talks about how a community helps give wisdom to your kids, how you can become your child’s guide in their hero's journey, and how you can grow as a family. And if you missed out on the first half of this episode, click here to check it out! Seth Dailey Podcast Highlights Part 2 How the hardest parts about growing up shape you. The deep desire to see the family unit arrive. You’re never ready to be a dad. Trust in your community and your village to show up for you. The best way to gain wisdom around parenting. How can your kids become such inspirational and passionate learners? Be aligned with your partner's personal growth. The advantages of your kids being the youngest in the room. How can you let your kids thrive? Learn how to shape your kids without casting your blueprint on them. Be the guid