EP:170 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with longtime client Michael Braunstein, a former collegiate athlete, business owner, and dad of four in a blended family. From the outside his life looked great, but internally he was maxed out—snapping at his kids, drowning in pressure, and wondering how some dads get to the point of walking away. That moment led him to my work and the idea of regulation. We dive into where Michael started—stuck in “fix it” mode, overwhelmed, and on a roller coaster in his marriage—and how understanding his gas pedal brain, learning to support instead of fix, and recognizing his own needs and limits transformed not only his inner world but his entire family dynamic. Michael shares the hardest seasons they’ve navigated: busy work cycles, blended family challenges, a celiac diagnosis, and his wife Lindsay’s battle with Graves’  disease—and how regulation tools helped them show up differently in real time. He’s still a driven, high-energy dad, but with the skills to be present, connected, and actually enjoy his marriage and kids again. If you’ve ever thought, “I love my family, but I can’t keep living like this,” this episode will give you language, hope, and a real look at what change can actually look like for a dad. 👉 Ready to understand your brain, regulate your nervous system, and create a calmer home? Join Thrive or apply to work with me 1:1. #ThrivelikeaParent #DadMentalHealth #GasPedalBrain #ParentingTools #MarriageAfterKids #NervousSystemRegulation