🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Raising Kids Beyond The Scoreboard | Harvey Araton & Bryan Ward | Ep. 323
👉 In this episode of the Dad Up Podcast, I sit down with Harvey Araton, New York Times best-selling author, award-winning sports journalist, and co-producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “When The Garden Was Eden.”
👉 With over 25 years writing for The New York Times and ten powerful books behind him, Harvey brings unmatched insight to sports, life, and legacy.
👉 Now, Harvey is speaking directly to young readers and families with his upcoming middle-grade novel, “The Goal of the Game,” releasing December 2025 through Koehler Books.
👉 We dive into how storytelling impacts youth, what sports can teach parents today, and how resilience shows up on and off the field.
👉 If you’re a dad, coach, athlete, sports fan, or parent wanting to raise resilient kids, this conversation is packed with perspective you won’t want to miss.
👉 Follow the Dad Up Podcast for more conversations on fatherhood, leadership, and becoming the man your family needs.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Harvey Araton:
✅ Harvey Araton’s Website:
Harvey Araton - Home
✅ Harvey Araton’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/harveyjaraton
✅ Harvey Araton’s Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/harvey.araton
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 The Mozy Story | Charlie Sherts & Bryan Ward | Ep. 322
👉 In this episode of the Dad Up Podcast, I’m joined by Charlie Sherts, a seasoned medical device engineer and inventor with over 20 years of experience bringing innovative products to market.
👉 But Charlie’s most meaningful invention didn’t start in a lab, it started on the sidelines of his kids’ outdoor sports games, watching his own mother shiver through cold, windy afternoons just to support her grandkids.
👉 That moment sparked the creation of Mozy, a patented, weatherproof thermal wrap that uses the laws of heat transfer and thermodynamics to keep you up to 500% warmer than traditional blankets, without batteries, cords, or external heat sources.
👉 Drawing from his deep background in medical device engineering, Charlie designed Mozy to be:
👉 Mozy has since been featured in Rolling Stone, Outside Magazine, and Today Show, proving that some of the most impactful innovations are born from deeply personal family moments.
👉 This conversation dives into fatherhood, problem-solving, empathy, and what happens when dads use their skills not just to build products, but to build legacies.
👉 Follow the Dad Up Podcast for more conversations on fatherhood, leadership, and becoming the man your family needs.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Charlie Sherts:
✅ Charlie Shert’s Website:
https://getthemozy.com/blogs/news/from-the-brrr-ainchild-how-i-use-my-own-mozy
✅ Charlie Shert’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/get_the_mozy?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
✅ Charlie Shert’s Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/getthemozy?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
👉 What happens when you achieve everything you were told would make you happy and still feel empty?
👉 In this powerful episode of the Dad Up Podcast, I sit down with Thomas Blottenberger, founder of The Risk Reward Agency, to unpack why so many outwardly successful men feel inwardly stuck, disconnected, and unfulfilled.
👉 After a 15-year career as a financial advisor, Thomas realized something most men never slow down enough to confront: money doesn’t fix fractured marriages, unprocessed trauma, or a loss of identity. Success can hide the problem, but it can’t heal it.
👉 We dive deep into:
• Why financial success often masks emotional disconnection
• The hidden cost of validation-driven leadership
• How unprocessed trauma shows up in marriage and fatherhood
• Radical honesty, responsibility, and emotional mastery
• What it truly means to lead yourself before leading your family
• The difference between achievement and alignment
• Why men must rise emotionally not just professionally
👉 Blending insights from neuroscience, the Warrior’s Way, and his own story of emotional and spiritual rebirth, Thomas shares how men can reconnect, rebuild trust, and lead their homes with clarity and purpose.
👉 This conversation is real, raw, and deeply necessary for any man who wants more than surface-level success, especially husbands and fathers committed to breaking cycles and building legacies.
👉 Follow the Dad Up Podcast for more conversations on fatherhood, leadership, and becoming the man your family needs.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Thomas Blottenberger:
✅ Thomas Blottenberger’s Website:
Welcome To The Paradigm Shift
✅ Thomas Blottenberger’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.blottenberger
✅ Thomas Blottenberger’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasblottenberger
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 The GOAT Series | Steve Clair & Bryan Ward | Ep. 320
👉 Today on the Dad Up Podcast, I’m joined by a guy who embodies what it means to chase excellence in every arena of life.
👉 Steve Clair is a powerhouse real estate broker with nearly two decades of experience navigating two of the most competitive markets in the world, New York and Miami.
👉 Known for his creative marketing and relentless drive, Steve has built a reputation for not just closing deals, but elevating the entire experience for his clients.
👉 Whether it’s luxury homes or smart investment opportunities, he’s the guy people turn to when they want results.
👉 But Steve’s impact stretches far beyond the world of real estate.
👉 He’s also the visionary behind The G.O.A.T. Series, a children’s book franchise dedicated to celebrating the legendary athletes who inspire generations.
👉 Through these stories, Steve brings the magic of greatness down to a level kids can connect with, fueling imagination, resilience, and big dreams.
👉 He’s also the host of Self Starters, a podcast where founders, creators, and industry leaders pull back the curtain on their journeys to success.
👉 Steve has a gift for drawing out the real lessons behind the headlines, the grit, the creativity, the setbacks, and the unwavering belief that pushes people forward.
👉 But at the core of everything he does, Steve is a family man first.
👉 A devoted husband and father who approaches life with gratitude and intention.
👉 He’s navigating the same challenges, hopes, and joys that so many dads in this community experience, and he brings a refreshing honesty to that journey.
👉 Today, we’re diving into fatherhood, ambition, leadership, creativity, and what it really means to build a life that matters, both personally and professionally.
👉 This is an episode full of insight, inspiration, and heart.
👉 Let’s welcome Steve Clair to the Dad Up Podcast.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Steve Clair:
✅ Steve Clair’s Website: Steve Clair
✅ Steve Clair’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steveclair.me
✅ The GOAT Series Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegoatseries.kids
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 90% Of Men Are Metabolically Broken | Clifford Stephan & Bryan Ward | Ep. 319
👉 Today’s guest is Clifford Stephan, Founder and Chief Vacation Officer of Booze Vacation, a movement helping men rethink their relationship with alcohol, reclaim their health, and unlock elite levels of energy and clarity.
👉 By his mid-40s, Clifford realized his “normal” drinking habits were quietly steering him toward more doctors, more prescriptions, and a future of declining performance.
👉 Instead of accepting mediocrity, he took a bold step: a full year off from alcohol, a reset he called his booze vacation.
👉 That one decision changed everything, his health, his mindset, and his mission.
👉 Now, Clifford helps men step away from destructive patterns, rewrite their habits, and show up stronger for their families, careers, and long-term legacy.
👉 He’s also the founder of OneCompensation, holds a degree in Nutritional Science from Cal Poly SLO, and has completed over a dozen long-course triathlons.
👉 Clifford is a powerhouse of discipline, self-awareness, and longevity, committed to kicking ass well into his 80s and helping other men do the same.
👉 This is an episode every dad needs to hear, especially if you’ve ever felt the quiet pull of unhealthy habits interfering with your purpose, performance, or family leadership.
👉 Let’s jump into this powerful conversation with Clifford Stephan.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Clifford Stephan:
Website: Booze Vacation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boozevacation
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliffordstephan
Take The Quiz: https://boozevacation.scoreapp.com/
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 How Brain Health Shapes Parenting | Dr. Rebecca Jackson & Bryan Ward | Ep. 318
👉 In this powerful episode of the Dad Up Podcast, host Bryan Ward sits down with Dr. Rebecca Jackson — a Board Certified Cognitive Specialist, Doctor of Chiropractic, author, speaker, and one of the leading experts in brain health and human performance.
👉 With over 15 years of experience, more than 1,000 clients served, and her current role as Chief Program Officer for Brain Balance, Dr. Jackson brings deep insight into how the brain develops, adapts, heals, and thrives. expert on improving brain health, development, and cognition.
👉 Dr. Jackson’s work has appeared in Mayo Clinic Press, Forbes, Psych Central, Business Insider, and more. She has also appeared on such shows as The Doctor’s Show, NBC’s Nightly News, and more.
👉 Dr. Rebecca Jackson has extensive post-graduate training in: neurodevelopment disorders, clinical translational research, functional neurology, nutrition, and cognitive optimization.
👉 Her passion for helping others maximize their human potential comes from years of clinical work, hands-on experience with thousands of children and adults, and her own journey as a mom.
👉 Dr. Jackson is also the author of Back on Track and a frequent expert guest featured in: Mayo Clinic Press, Forbes, Psych Central, Business Insider, NBC Nightly News, The Doctors, and many more
👉 Together, we unpack the tools, strategies, and science-backed principles that help kids AND adults enhance their cognition, emotional regulation, focus, and overall well-being.
👉 If you’re a parent who wants to help your child succeed…a dad trying to perform better at work and at home… or someone who wants to better understand your own brain.
👉 This episode will open your eyes to what’s truly possible.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Dr. Rebecca Jackson:
✅ Book: amazon.com/Back.../dp/B0BQMDS85D/ref=sr_1_1
✅ Website: https://www.brainbalance.com
✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrebeccajackson
✅ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/drrebeccajackson
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Leading with Intention at Work and at Home | John Gafford & Bryan Ward | Ep. 317
👉 In this inspiring episode of the Dad Up Podcast, host Bryan Ward sits down with John Gafford is a husband, father, speaker, entrepreneur, and author who’s on a mission help people build more income, more impact, and more intention into their lives.
👉 From John’s early days on The Apprentice to building Simply Vegas into a powerhouse brokerage, he has always believed in betting on yourself.
👉 He’s been featured on the TODAY Show, leads one of the top per-agent production teams in Nevada, and is known for high-signal, high-value conversations.
👉 Today, John runs multiple businesses across real estate, title, and mortgage, mentor ambitious agents, and speaks on stages to help people break free from average.
👉 He created Escaping the Drift to challenge people stuck in mediocrity, not because they’re not capable, but because they’re not honest with themselves.
👉 John’s core message in Escaping the Drift is about getting off autopilot and aligning your time with your values, which is how he parents as well!
👉 He teaches that as a leader at work and as a dad at home. Here’s a how those get used at home:
* No drifting at home. A simple weekly family huddle and a daily 10-minute check-in that lowers anxiety and keeps you connected to your kids.
* Make time real. Put kids on the calendar like a board meeting. Two protected hours a week per child plus one small daily ritual so they feel seen.
* Accountability without nagging. A kid-friendly spin on his “$50 Fit Club” idea. Tiny stakes and daily proof that build consistency for chores, reading, ect
* Model mental health. Name feelings out loud, use a 90-second reset, and practice “own it, fix it, learn it” after mistakes so kids copy healthy behavior.
* Ownership for teens. A one-page plan for any goal with one weekly metric. Teaches agency, follow-through, and confidence.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with John Gafford:
✅ John Gafford Book:
AmazonNew • $28.99
✅ John Gafford LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/thejohngafford
✅ John Gafford Podcast:
https://tr.ee/PTt9rcSFs1
✅ John Gafford Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thejohngafford
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Preparing Our Kids for a World We Can’t Yet See | Kepler Knott & Bryan Ward | Ep. 316
👉 In this inspiring episode of the Dad Up Podcast, host Bryan Ward sits down with Kepler Knott — a husband, father, teacher, entrepreneur, and veteran who’s on a mission to help the next generation thrive.
👉 Kepler has spent nearly two decades helping companies and leaders across the globe bring innovative, technology-driven ideas to life.
👉 From supporting founders of investor-backed startups to advising F1000 CEOs, his passion is rooted in helping people do meaningful work that makes a difference.
👉 But beyond business, Kepler’s story runs deep. As a citizen-soldier, educator for at-risk youth, and author of the book Raising Tomorrow, he brings a unique perspective on leadership, service, and what it truly means to raise children ready for an uncertain world.
👉 This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership starts at home and that every dad has the power to change the world, one conversation at a time.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Kepler Knott:
✅ Kepler Knott Book:
https://www.raisingtomorrow.org
✅ Kepler Knott LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kepler-knott-5ab6872?utm
🎙️ Welcome to the 6th Year Anniversary Special of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 The Evolution Of Dad Up | Ron Haywood & Bryan Ward | Ep. 315
👉 Welcome to a very special milestone episode of the Dad Up Podcast — our 6-Year Anniversary!
👉 To celebrate, I brought back Ron Haywood, the man who kicked it all off as my very first guest on the show.
👉 Ron isn’t just a returning guest — he’s a championship basketball coach, husband, and father who continues to lead both on and off the court.
👉 In this episode, we reflect on how far the show and fatherhood have come over the last six years.
👉 We also talk about our time coaching together and how successful the team was and how fun it was to coach together.
👉 Ron shares his wisdom on leadership, family, and building a championship mindset at home and in life.
👉 This one is filled with reflection, laughs, and powerful lessons every dad needs to hear.
👉 Join us as we celebrate 6 incredible years of helping fathers grow, lead, and break cycles.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Ron Haywood:
✅ Ron Haywood Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/doowyah2?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
✅ Ron Haywood Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ron.haywood2?mibextid=wwXIfr
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Building A Life Of Purpose With Campire Gentleman | Clay Garrett & Bryan Ward | Ep. 314
👉 In this powerful episode of the Dad Up Podcast, host Bryan Ward sits down with Clay Garrett, husband, father of two, and creator of Campfire Gentleman a movement built to help men lead meaningful, grounded lives centered around what truly matters: Family, Purpose, Growth, Health, and Simplicity.
👉 Clay shares his personal story of transformation, from a 20-year career in corporate graphic design, to a complete reset during COVID that redefined his views on success, fatherhood, and living intentionally.
👉 Through his platform and weekly newsletter (now reaching over 3,000 subscribers and 1,200 engaged readers), Clay provides honest reflections and practical tools for men who want to show up fully at home and in life.
👉 In this conversation, Bryan and Clay discuss:
👉 How men can redefine success beyond career titles.
👉 Small daily habits that strengthen family connection.
👉 Why being a dad who continues to grow is one of the greatest gifts to your kids.
👉 The five pillars of the Campfire Gentleman: Family, Purpose, Growth, Health, and Simplicity.
👉 How to slow down, show up, and lead intentionally in a distracted world.
👉 If you’re a dad who’s ready to lead with purpose, this episode will light a fire within you to live intentionally and build a life that truly matters.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Clay Garrett:
✅ Clay Garrett Website:
Campfire Gentleman
✅ Clay Garrett Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/campfiregentleman
✅ Clay Garrett Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/campfiregentleman?mibextid=wwXIfr
✅ Clay Garrett LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clay-garrett
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Making It Up | Christopher Mannino & Bryan Ward | Ep. 313
👉 Christopher Mannino's writing journey began when he was stranded on the Cornish coast at the supposed birthplace of King Arthur. The experience inspired The Scythe Wielder's Secret.
👉 He studied mythology, theatre, and literature both in the US and at Oxford.
👉 A former theatre teacher, he is a digital nomad currently residing in Malta with his wife and two inspiring children.
👉 He continues to write both fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. In addition, as a freelancer he is most known for his work with Business Insider where he has amassed over 4.5 million readers.
👉 Christopher Mannino is an expert at helping parents and kids connect better. You can learn more through his most recent book called Making It Up.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Christopher Mannino:
✅ Christopher Mannino Website:
http://www.christophermannino.com/
✅ Christopher Mannino Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/christophermannino/
✅ Christopher Mannino Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/CTMannino
✅ Preorder Link for Making It Up
https://www.amazon.com/Making-Up-Revolutionary-Bond-Through-ebook/dp/
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Work From Home Dads | Thom Gibson & Bryan Ward | Ep. 312
👉 Thom Gibson – Founder of WFH Dads & Creator of the 6-Hour Workday Playbook
👉 Thom Gibson is on a mission to help work-from-home dads reclaim their time, refocus their energy, and redefine what fatherhood and productivity can look like.
👉 As the founder of WFH Dads, Thom creates actionable tools and strategies specifically designed for fathers balancing the demands of career and family life without sacrificing either.
👉 In this episode, Thom shares powerful insights from his 6-Hour Workday Playbook, a proven framework that helps dads build more time, focus on what matters most, and create deeper connections at home.
Together, we explore:
• The Time Freedom Framework – How to audit and reclaim hours each week using automation, delegation, elimination, and renegotiation.
• Weekly Partner Conversations – Real scripts and examples for aligning with your spouse and preventing work from invading family time.
• The Weekly Map & Daily MITs – A practical planning system to prioritize your most important tasks and eliminate wasted effort.
👉 Thom’s mission is simple but life-changing: help dads design work lives that serve their families, not steal from them.
👉 And as a special bonus, Thom is sharing his 6-Hour Workday Playbook FREE for all listeners.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Thom Gibson:
✅ Work From Home Website:
Posts | Work-From-Home Dads
✅ Thom Gibson Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/wfh.dads?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
✅ Thom Gibson LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomgibson?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 The Preparation: Building Competence, Confidence & Real-World Skills | Matt Smith & Bryan Ward | Ep. 311
👉 In this episode of The Dad Up Podcast, I’m joined by Matt Smith, an American entrepreneur, economic commentator, and co-author of The Preparation: How to Become Competent, Confident, and Dangerous.
👉 After relocating to Uruguay in 2021, Matt now operates a regenerative cattle ranch while co-hosting Doug Casey’s Take, a top podcast offering deep insights into global markets, monetary policy, and geopolitical trends.
👉 Together with legendary investor Doug Casey and his 20-year-old son Maxim, Matt co-authored The Preparation, a groundbreaking roadmap for young men that replaces the broken college system with 16 real-world “cycles” of growth, skill-building, and philosophy.
👉 From EMT training and firefighting to entrepreneurship, welding, and aviation, this book gives the next generation the blueprint to build competence, confidence, and independence, without student debt.
👉 You’ll hear how The Preparation is reshaping what it means to grow into manhood, why traditional education fails to equip young adults for life, and how fathers can guide their sons to become capable, self-reliant men ready to take on the world.
👉 What We Talk About:
👉 Featured Book: The Preparation: How to Become Competent, Confident, and Dangerous by Doug Casey, Matt Smith, and Maxim Smith, available now on Amazon.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Matt Smith:
✅ The Preparation Book:
https://a.co/d/36Bv27H
✅ The Preparation Website:
The Preparation is not just a book
✅ Matt Smith Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/livingstoic?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Bold Faith & Bold Healing | Featuring Elena Huggins and Bryan Ward | Ep. 310
👉 Elena Huggins is a passionate communicator, musician, entrepreneur, and devoted follower of Jesus whose mission is to inspire, challenge, and empower others to live transformed lives.
👉 For nearly two decades, she has spoken across diverse stages, reaching audiences with her straightforward approach, unapologetic challenges, and unwavering commitment to biblical truth.
👉 With eighteen years of experience, Elena has dedicated her life to helping people grow spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
👉 Her own journey of overcoming trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression gives her a unique voice of authenticity and hope.
👉 She has walked alongside countless individuals through one-on-one coaching sessions, pastoral care, and crisis work—including serving trafficked victims and supporting survivors at a rape crisis center.
👉 Through these experiences, Elena continues to bring clarity, courage, and the message of freedom in Christ to those she serves.
👉 At the heart of her mission is a devotion to the Gospel and a desire to see God’s people strengthened, set free, and more deeply in love with Jesus.
👉 Her teaching not only equips audiences to face life’s challenges but also points them toward lasting healing and joy.
👉 Today, Elena resides in the mountains with her two beautiful daughters, where she continues to write, speak, and lead others toward truth and transformation.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Elena Huggins:
✅ Elena Huggins Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/itselenahuggins/
✅ Elena Huggins Website:
Elena Huggins | Author
✅ Elena Huggins Book:
https://a.co/d/drIUHWV
✅ Elena Huggins Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Elenatalks?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
✅ Elena Huggins YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@elenahuggins?si=w_mZOGZdIcj7-nAA
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 One Step Changed Everything | Featuring Johnny Muresan and Bryan Ward | Ep. 309
👉 Johnny Muresan is a husband, dad, and everyday guy who once weighed nearly 500 pounds, until he laced up his shoes and took one shaky, breathless step toward change.
👉 That step turned into a journey of transformation, and today Johnny has shed more than 160 pounds, completing races from 5 km all the way to an ultramarathon.
👉 Known online as @johnnygoesrunning, Johnny has built a community of hundreds of thousands by being the bridge connecting the athletic with those who feel left out of it.
👉 You won’t find many people his size running marathons, crushing dips and handstand push-ups, or chasing down an ultramarathon finish line, but that’s exactly why he does it.
👉 He’s forced his way into rooms where larger bodies are almost never represented, and his mission is to hold the door open wide enough for others to follow.
👉 On this episode of the Dad Up Podcast, Johnny shares his powerful story of resilience, transformation, and faith.
👉 From running across Tennessee on just 11 days’ notice to inspiring everyday people to believe they can do more than they imagined, Johnny embodies the truth that you don’t have to “look the part” to step into greatness.
👉 His conviction is simple but life-changing: with work, consistency, and a little belief anything is possible.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Johnny Muresan:
✅ Johnny Muresan Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/johnnygoesrunning?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
✅ Johnny Muresan Website:
https://beacons.ai/johnnymuresan
✅ Johnny Muresan YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@johnnygoesrunning?si=7JOiw2wBinnT5B4h
✅ Johnny Muresan TikTok:
https://tiktok.com/@johnnygoesrunning
✅ Johnny Muresan Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/johnny.muresan?mibextid=wwXIfr
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Photo Memories Are The Bridge Between Generations | Featuring Angela Andrieux and Bryan Ward | Ep. 308
👉 Angela Andrieux, MBA is a dynamic creative professional whose passion for capturing and preserving life’s most meaningful moments shines through every project she touches.
👉 As a photographer, photography coach, broadcaster, writer, and content creator, Angela blends artistry with expertise to help others see the world and themselves through a more inspired lens.
👉 With years of experience behind the camera and in front of an audience, Angela has built a reputation not only for her striking imagery but also for her ability to teach, empower, and connect.
👉 She is dedicated to helping both hobbyists and professionals unlock their creative potential, guiding them to tell richer, more authentic stories through their photography.
👉 In addition to her creative pursuits, Angela serves as a Product Evangelist for Mylio Photos, the groundbreaking, privacy-first photo management and storage app on a mission to Change the Way the World Remembers.
👉 In this role, she helps people worldwide preserve and organize their most cherished memories with cutting-edge tools that seamlessly integrate details like dates, tags, and geolocations.
👉 Her work ensures that photos become more than just images, they become legacies.
👉 Whether behind the camera, on stage, or online, Angela continues to inspire communities of creators and storytellers.
👉 Her mission is simple yet powerful: to make sure that every memory is not only captured but remembered, celebrated, and shared.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Angela Andrieux:
✅ Website: angelaandrieux.com
✅ Instagram: @angandrieux
✅ Facebook: Angela Andrieux Photography
✅ LinkedIn: Angela Andrieux
✅ X/Twitter: @angandrieux
✅ YouTube: Angela Andrieux
Learn More About Mylio Photos;
✅ Website: mylio.com
✅ Instagram: @myliophotos
✅ Facebook: Mylio Photos
✅ LinkedIn: Mylio
✅ X/Twitter: @mylioapp
✅ YouTube: Mylio Photos
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Parenting With Creativity & Faith | Featuring Howard “Quiggly” Chang and Bryan Ward | Ep. 307
👉 Howard “Quiggly” Chang is a legendary toy concept artist whose creativity helped bring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures to life in the late ‘80s and ‘90s.
👉 As a lead illustrator at Varner Studios, Howard created the concept art behind hundreds of the figures that became staples in every kid’s toy box.
👉 But Howard’s story doesn’t stop with turtles and nostalgia.
👉 Today, he’s on a mission to merge his passion for design with his faith through his latest project, Ancientz—Legends Reborn.
👉 This innovative action figure line reimagines biblical heroes like David, Deborah, and Gideon as futuristic robotic warriors—giving parents and kids a fun, powerful, and faith-centered way to connect.
👉 In this episode, Howard shares his journey from sketching Ninja Turtles to building toys that inspire deeper conversations about courage, legacy, and spiritual growth.
👉 His story is one of creativity, conviction, and the belief that toys can be both “cool” and meaningful.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Howard Chang:
✅ Howard Chang Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/quiggly.daze?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
✅ Howard Chang Website:
Home - ANCIENTZ
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 How Mindset Shapes Legacy | Featuring Jeff Vulpis and Bryan Ward | Ep. 306
👉 Jeff Vulpis is a mindset coach, speaker, and living example of resilience. He knows firsthand what it means to fight and comeback from rock bottom.
👉 After spending nearly 2 years homeless, living out of a rest area, Jeff made a life altering decision,
he would not be defined by his circumstances.
👉 Through faith, unshakable discipline, and a constant commitment to growth,
he rebuilt his life piece by piece, proving that the mindset is everything!
👉 Today, Jeff works with high performers, executives, realtors, bodybuilders, and comeback driven leaders who refuse to settle for mediocrity.
👉 His coaching is raw, real, and direct, teaching people how to handle pressure, eliminate excuses, and develop the kind of mental toughness required to win in every area of their life.
👉 What sets Jeff apart isn’t just his story, it’s the power he draws from it. He doesn’t teach generic methods, he teaches what he lived, and experience, forged in the fire of hardship and refined through years of personal transformation.
👉 His clients walk away not only inspired but free of excuses, and equipped with tools to dominate any season with clarity, confidence, and an unbreakable mindset!
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Jeff Vulpis:
✅ Jeff Vulpis Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jeffvulpis
✅ Jeff Vulpis Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jeffery.vulpis
✅ Jeff Vulpis LinkedIn :
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffvulpis
✅ Jeff Vulpis YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@jeffvulpis?si=Hp2lu8ejYNK2Tnhu
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Preparing Your Kids For The Future Of College | Featuring Shellee Howard and Bryan Ward | Ep. 305
👉 My guest today is Shellee Howard, the founder and CEO of College Ready, a Certified Educational Consultant, two-time bestselling author, international speaker, and host of the Parents, Is Your Teen College Ready? podcast.
👉 Shellee helps high-achieving families navigate the often overwhelming college admissions process—without ending up buried in debt. What makes her approach so powerful is that it’s not just theory.
👉 As a single mother of four, she personally guided her children through the admissions journey—balancing academics, scholarships, and unique ambitions.
👉 From Ivy League halls to international study programs, her kids all graduated college completely debt-free.
👉 Now, Shellee takes that lived experience and proven system to families around the world.
👉 She works with busy professionals—doctors, lawyers, engineers, and business leaders—who want the very best for their teens but don’t have the time to figure it all out on their own.
👉 With her “Stand Out Strategy,” she aligns academic goals with financial planning, emotional readiness, and return on investment—so parents can confidently send their kids to the right school for the right reasons, without the crushing burden of loans.
👉 Her work has been featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, and in major national publications.
👉 Today, she’s here to share her insights on how families can create a clear path to college success, while building a legacy of financial freedom and opportunity for their children.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Shellee Howard:
✅ Shellee Howard Website:
College Counseling Services | Graduate Debt-Free with Expert Guidance
✅ Shellee Howard Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/collegereadyplan
✅ Shellee Howard Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlan?mibextid=wwXIfr
✅ Shellee Howard LinkedIn :
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleehoward
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!
🟫 Lighting The Way: Faith, Family & Filmmaking| Featuring Nathan and D’Lytha Myers and Bryan Ward | Ep. 304
👉 Nathan and D’Lytha Myers are a dynamic husband-and-wife creative team whose talents span acting, directing, producing, and teaching.
👉 Nathan D. Myers is an award-winning creator with credits as an actor, director, and production designer. He was the Lead Designer of the Capernaum Studios & Gardens project featured in The Chosen (seasons 1–3), recently designed the feature Matter of Time with Sean Astin, and has helmed projects for Great American Pureflix and other major productions.
👉 As Founder of Grafted Studios, Inc. and Co-Founder of the Fort Worth Actors Studio, Nathan has built a reputation for mentoring talent while continuing to act, direct, and write. His multiple award-winning musical feature Aria Appleton Shines (releasing this year) highlights his work as both a filmmaker and songwriter. Beyond the screen, he is also an author and homeschool dad of two.
👉 D’Lytha Myers is the Director of Fort Worth Actors Studio and co-creator/producer of Aria Appleton Shines.
👉 A seasoned actress, she has graced both stage and screen since 2002, performing at Casa Mañana, in regional theatre productions such as Man of La Mancha, Oklahoma!, and Cinderella, and in the feature film Rain alongside Academy Award winner Faye Dunaway. With a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre (University of Oklahoma), an M.A. in Drama (Texas Woman’s University), and international study at The Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, she brings a depth of craft and training to her work.
👉 Today, she balances her creative pursuits with homeschooling their daughter and son.
👉 Together, Nathan and D’Lytha embody the blend of artistry, faith, and family—building legacies both on-screen and at home.
👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.
Links are in my bio or in the show notes!
Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies.
📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:
✅ Dad Up Instagram:
https://instagram.com/daduppodcast
✅ Dad Up YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast
✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562
✅ Dad Up LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe
📞 Contact with Nathan & D’Lytha:
✅ Aria Appleton Website:
https://www.ariaappleton.com/
✅ Nathan & D’Lytha Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ariaappleton/?hl=en
✅ Nathan & D’Lytha Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ariaappletonfilm/
✅ Aria Appleton Movie Trailer:
https://www.ariaappleton.com/trailer/