Dad Space Podcast - for Dads by Dads

Episode 191 - Bret Davis - Author of Bretisms - Philosophies For a Life with Less Anxiety and More Confidence

Bret Davis is the author of a new book called "Bretisms" - A collection of thoughts over 30 chapters designed to be your new daily read! "You can't trip over things that are behind you" and more help you to hit the reset button and create space for yourself as a Dad.

This is a shortened version of Bret's appearance on my aut...

Episode 190 - Alex Lloyd Hunter - The Dad Shift, parents campaigning for better paternity leave in the UK

The Dad Shift is a group of men, dads and other parents campaigning for better paternity leave in the UK

The UK’s pat leave problem

The UK’s statutory paternity leave is bad. Really bad. In fact, it’s the worst in Europe.

Dads and non-birthing parents get only two weeks off, paid at less than half the minimum wage. Self em...

Episode 189 - J Hall - God Help Me, I'm a Young Dad - Ten big ideas for Dads

J Hall is an author, educator, podcaster from Oklahoma City where he lives in with his wife, two dogs, and a rotating cast of adult children who stop in for meals and occasional dog-sitting. Most importantly, he is a grandpa, and he will certainly bore you to tears telling you how awesome his grandson is.

J is the author of two books - God Help Me! I’m ...

Episode 188 - Maury Wood - Grit and Wit For Dads - Give Your Kids Permission to Ask Questions Without Fear

life’s too short to take seriously all the time — and way too long not to laugh at yourself along the way.

Grit & Wit is where real-life stories meet a little sarcasm, a little wisdom, and a lot of "well, that didn't go as planned." It’s faith, family, and finding the good stuff — even when you’re dodging laun...

Episode 187 - Sally McQuillen - Loving and Losing a Wild Child, Addiction, Rehab and Dangerous Choices

Sally McQuillen, LCSW, CADC, is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in addiction, grief, and trauma recovery. 

She provides ongoing support for addiction recovery, as well as support for those recovering from the impact of a loved one’s addiction. She sees adults seeking relief from mood symptoms, helps them navi...

Episode 186 - Mista Yu (Yusef Marshall) - What Men Deal With, Helping Dad's, Introverted Parenting

About Yusef Marshall

Yusef Marshall (Mista Yu) was born in Brooklyn, NY and has multiple degrees in Business Admin and Mgmt as well as degrees in Computer Programming, Certified Business Coaching, and Culinary Arts.

Mista Yu has also authored his first and only published book "The Heart of The Stepfather" in 2016. His story on ...

Episode 185 - Kindness, Strength, and Presence - What Father’s Day Means in 2025

Father’s Day 2025 marks a special milestone-the third anniversary of the Dad Space Podcast. As dads everywhere celebrate this year, it’s a perfect moment to share uplifting sentiments that honor the journey of fatherhood. Fatherhood isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up with love, patience, and presence every day. Whether you’re reading bedtime ...

Episode 184 - Theo Von - I Wish Someone Told Me to Have More Pride in My Family When I Was Younger

A recent of Theo Von's podcast made me think about the relationship between Dad's and Kids and Kids with their Dad's - check out the full clip here:

https://youtu.be/p-pqzPeAwvs

In a deeply personal reflection, comedian and podcaster Theo Von opens up about his relationship with his father, revealing the complex emotions and regrets he’s...

Episode 183 - Andrew Goldsmith - Lessons from US Army Infantry and Army Ranger School Applied To Being a Dad

Andrew Goldsmith grew up in Los Angeles, California. In 2004, he joined the US Army infantry where he served as a machine gunner, team leader, and squad leader during nearly five years of service. Andrew deployed to Iraq twice, in 2006 and 2008, and graduated US Army Ranger School in 2008.

After leaving the Army in 2009, Andre...

Episode 182 - Teaching Boys to Be Men - The Role of Protection and Responsibility

The opposite of toxic masculinity is often described as positive masculinity or healthy masculinity. This form of masculinity encourages men to be emotionally expressive, supportive, and inclusive, rather than aggressive, controlling, or emotionally closed off. Positive masculinity is about being secure in oneself, communicating in ...

Episode 181 - Calm in the Storm - Teaching Your Kids Resilience Through How You Handle Adult Bully Encounters

Navigating Adult Bullying and Teaching Kids Resilience

Bullying isn’t just something kids face at school-it happens among adults too, often fueled by power imbalances, insecurity, or patterns learned in childhood. Adult bullies use tactics like gaslighting, exclusion, verbal aggression, and undermining others’ credibility. Th...

Episode 180 - What The Goldbergs’ Murray Teaches Us About Raising Independent Kids Today

Murray Goldberg, the gruff-yet-lovable patriarch from The Goldbergs, offers a unique lens on fatherhood rooted in the 1980s-a time before parenting books, viral videos, and constant digital connectivity. While his methods might seem outdated or blunt by today’s standards, there are foundational lessons from Murray’s character that rema...

Episode 179 - From Dad Space, With Love - Honoring the Moms in Our Lives

Dad Space Short Episode: Celebrating Moms on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity for dads to step up, celebrate the incredible women in our lives, and set the tone for how our kids honor their mom. This year, let’s make it extra special-not with expensive gifts, but with meaningful gestures and family fun.

How Dads Can Celebrate Their Pa...

Episode 178 - The Gentle Strength Men Need as Dads - How Kindness Signals Safety and Trust

Kindness as a Superpower for Dads and Men

Kindness is often underestimated in conversations about masculinity, but it is truly a superpower for dads and men. In a world that sometimes equates strength with stoicism or dominance, kindness is a quiet force that signals safety, trustworthiness, and emotional intelligence. It’s not just ab...

Episode 177 - Overview of Daily Dad - A Powerful Resource for Modern Fathers

Overview of Daily Dad: A Powerful Resource for Modern Fathers

Daily Dad a thoughtfully curated platform designed to inspire, encourage, and equip fathers on their parenting journey. Founded by bestselling author and modern philosopher Ryan Holiday, Daily Dad brings together wisdom from a diverse group of contributors-including Brett McKay (Art of Manliness),...

Episode 176 - More Than Time - The Watch That Reminds You You’re Enough - John Cena

Today on Dad Space we unpack the story behind John Cena’s habit of carrying two watches-one for time, one for perspective-and how dads can use these lessons to find balance, self-worth, and humility in everyday life.

The Two Watches: What They Represent

The Functional Watch:

• Represents the practical side of life: schedules, commitments, the daily gr...

Episode 175 - Save Dad - How Ferris Bueller's Day Off Reinforces Why Every Father Deserves a Day Off

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is more than a teen comedy-it’s a manifesto for seizing the day, breaking routine, and finding joy in the moment. The film’s iconic line, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it,” is a universal reminder, but it resonates especially for dads who often carr...

Episode 174 - Raising Hard Workers in a World of Shortcuts - Why Work Ethic Matters for Our Kids

Tough Love, True Love: Raising Kids with Real Work Ethic

1. Understanding Dad’s Toughness: Love in Disguise

• Maturing means realizing that our dads’ high standards and tough love weren’t about being harsh—they were about preparing us for a world where strong work ethic stands out.
• Share a personal or listener story about a ...

Episode 173 - Two, Not Three - Teaching Kids and Ourselves, to Thrive with Simplicity

How Dads and men can avoid overwhelm, make better decisions, and set a powerful example for their children.

Ben Prober, a successful 1950s shoe salesman. His unique approach? He would only ever present two pairs of shoes to a customer at a time. If a customer wanted to try a third pair, he’d politely ask, “Of course, which of these two should I take...