The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett dissects 1 Timothy 2:1, looking at four different facets of prayer and how we might think about incorporating each of them into our daily prayers for our kids.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

In this episode of the Faithful Fatherhood podcast, Brett Ethridge and Perry are joined by Christopher Schloeman, a faith-driven entrepreneur and father, to discuss the role of fathers in teaching children about money, the biblical perspective on finances, and the importance of modeling generosity. Christopher shares personal stories about growing up without a father, the influence of mentors, and how he has been intentional in his own fatherhood journey. The conversation also touches on the challenges of financial discussions in marriage, what a healthy relationship with money looks like, and the significance of identity in Christ.

...

Duration: 00:52:05

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett shares a story about a recent trip up into the mountains to help shift our perspective heading into the holiday season so that we can maximize our enjoyment of it.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

In this episode, Brett and Perry are joined by Perry's son Seth Hughes to discuss their recent biking adventure to celebrate Seth's 14th birthday. The conversation delves into the tradition of father-son trips, the challenges and triumphs of pushing the limits on a mountain bike, and the importance of community and incremental learning in overcoming fear. Seth shares his experiences of progressing through different biking tracks, while Perry reflects on the joy of watching his son grow in skill and confidence. The episode also touches on broader themes of parenting, technology use, and the value of spending quality time...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares a story about teaching his son to drive stick shift and encourages us to be intentional about injecting fun into our experiences with our kids.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

In this episode, Brett Ethridge and Perry reflect on the incredible legacy of Charlie Kirk, drawing lessons about fatherhood from the things Charlie taught and the way he lived his life. They explore the importance of family, the role of marriage in unlocking the best in us, and practical things we can do to leave a meaningful legacy with our kids after we're gone. The conversation emphasizes compassion, truth, and the responsibility of fathers to lead by example, ultimately encouraging listeners to reflect on their own roles as fathers and husbands. Charlie Kirk's life on Earth may have been c...

This conversation with Christian Stanley, a missionary in the fight against sex trafficking, delves into the critical issue of pornography exposure among children and teenagers, emphasizing the importance of open communication between parents and their kids. The discussion highlights alarming statistics regarding exposure rates, the role of technology in facilitating access, and the need for proactive measures to prevent addiction. The speakers share personal experiences and strategies for fostering healthy conversations about sexuality and internet safety, while also addressing the challenges of addiction and the importance of accountability. Resources and tools for parents are provided to help navigate these c...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares some of Jesus' words from his Sermon on the Mount and dwells on the deep caution inherent in the word "contempt," encouraging us to reflect on its meaning in our lives.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

The Internet, if not handled properly within our families, poses a significant risk to our kids. It is the primary place where predators lurk in the shadows, grooming vulnerable kids for sex trafficking and exposing them to pornography. And it happens from an early age, earlier than most of us parents realize.

To help us navigate the potential pitfalls of Internet misuse by our kids and predatory practices by those who would seek to harm our children, we are joined in this episode by Christian Stanley, a missionary in the fight against human trafficking. While a big p...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett reflects on the number of hours we put into all sorts of things in our lives and wonders if we're putting the same intentionality into "studying" fatherhood. He shares four resources that we can use for "deliberate practice" to get better as fathers.

Note: The book Brett references in this episode is Good Inside, by Dr. Becky Kennedy.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus...

In this episode of the Faithful Fatherhood podcast, Brett and Perry reflect on their summer experiences and share personal stories about family adventures, business ventures, and spiritual growth. Brett is thrilled to share some huge breakthroughs with two of his sons in terms of their walk with the Lord. Brett and Perry also discuss the importance of rest and the need for intentionality in finding rest and rejuvenation amidst busy summer schedules. In that context, they touch on the concept of the Sabbath and how to incorporate daily rest into our lives.

A Dose of Motivation Duration: 00:51:08

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett shares two practical ways to take some of the burden of fatherhood off your shoulders and put it where it belongs -- with the Lord!

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

In this episode of the Faithful Fatherhood podcast, hosts Brett Ethridge and Perry Hughes continue the series on the role of fathers by exploring a father's role as protector. They discuss physical protection, emotional safety, and the dangers of overprotection. The conversation delves into modern threats, including the impact of technology on children's safety, and emphasizes the need for fathers to be vigilant and nurturing. The hosts share personal anecdotes and insights, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own roles as protectors in their families. They explore how to nurture relationships, protect children from themselves, and the significance of...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry provides shades of understanding for Ephesians 6:4, especially when it comes to parenting our teenagers.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

In this episode of the Faithful Fatherhood Podcast, Brett is joined by Pastor Dan DeMey of Shine Church to continue the series exploring the multifaceted role of the father, this time focusing on a father's role as the spiritual head of the household. They start by asking whether or not that is even a role that a father should play and unpack scriptures that seem to suggest it is. Interpreting exactly what that should look like is nuanced, however, and Dan brings a fresh and interesting perspective to the suggestion that the father should be the "head" of his f...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett reflects on the importance of seeing the good inside our kids and shares an anecdote about how to apply that perspective when engaging with our kids -- and how it changes everything when we do.

The book referenced in this episode is Good Inside by Dr. Beck Kennedy. You can get a copy of it here: https://amzn.to/4lnhg0f

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that...

In this episode of the Faithful Fatherhood Podcast, Brett and Perry are joined by special guest Jamie Davis to kick off a new series exploring the multifaceted role of the father. This episode focuses on the father as a provider, delving into both the financial and non-financial aspects of provision. In this wide-ranging discussion about father-as-provider, we cover biblical truths about provision, share impactful personal experiences, and offer practical advice for fathers striving to fulfill this critical role.

Here's a closer look at some of the key points of discussion:

00:00 Introduction

03:10 Biblical foundations of...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares a timeless truth about love, an appropriate and timely message for this Valentine's Day Friday.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

We know it's waaaaay past the start of the new year. Nevertheless, the intentionality, goal-setting, and spiritual concepts we discuss in this episode are relevant any time of the year — especially when it comes to incorporating your kids into your family's strategic planning. Toward the end of the episode, Brett also shares a really powerful practice that can help you achieve breakthrough in whatever challenges you may be dealing with in your family. There's a lot of time left in 2025. There's no time like the present to get serious about making it everything you hoped it could be!

Social media — and smartphone usage more broadly — can be a challenging issue in families. Once introduced, it vies for our kids' attention and adds a layer of complexity as our teenagers are building relationships, forming their self-identity, and growing spiritually, intellectually, and physically. It's our job as fathers to help guide our kids through what Drew Kizer, guest in this episode, calls the "dangerous playground" of social media.

But how?

Join us for this wide-ranging and hugely important conversation as we discuss:

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett relays Jesus's powerful instructions for when we find ourselves in the storms of life -- an especially relevant reminder this Christmas season.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Rethink everything you thought you knew about being a fearless man. Moreover, reimagine why being fearless is so important not just for how we show up in the world, but for how we can be the best fathers, too. In this episode, Dave Novak, author of Fearless Men, explains what it means to be fearless and how fearlessness leads to us becoming true men, not just real men. In this wide-ranging conversation, Dave shares powerful stories of men who have done the hard work to face their struggles and show up more authentically in their lives and families. In...

Brett and Perry talk about how to handle the disappointment that comes from unmet expectations as they debrief their summer adventures and catch up on key happenings with their families. Things don't always go according to plan, especially when travel and the idiosyncracies of teenage kids are involved. Yet, how we help our kids navigate disappointment is an important role of fathers. We trust that you'll be able to relate to the stories Brett and Perry share in this episode and take heart from the realization that you're not the only one to experience setbacks with your kids despite...

Brett and Perry, both of whom live in areas deeply impacted by the destruction of Hurricane Helene, share their experiences of the storm itself, the tragedy they've witnessed first-hand, and their families' efforts to help those in need. They then shift the conversation to an internal conflict Perry is wrestling with regarding a work opportunity for his son JP. As fathers, how do we balance prudence and wisdom with expanding our comfort zones to allow our sons to grow into men? In this episode, we tackle some heavy issues with an eye toward setting a good example for our k...

In this final episode of our 3-part series on legacy, we're joined by Dan Davis, founder of Animate Mentoring, to discuss aspects of our lineage and character that we don't want to carry forward in our families and that we don't want to be part of our legacy moving forward. Dan explains that for all the good a person may exhibit, there's always a shadow side that must be dealt with as well. How can we break free from that shadow and turn it to light? If there are negative through-lines going back generations in our family, how can...

Brett and Perry continue their discussion about Legacy by exploring the idea that we should begin something meaningful now that won't be completed in our lifetime. It opens up a conversation about King David and his son, King Solomon, and leads to a broader conversation about how to equip our kids to be better than we are in key areas. As we strive to leave a positive legacy for future generations, we trust that Part 2 of this Legacy series will challenge, motivate, and encourage you on your fatherhood journey.

A Dose of Motivation

“Your gi...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week as our kids head back to school and Summer gives way to Fall, Brett discusses the importance of marking seasons and transitioning well.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Legacies are complicated. We all leave one, whether good or bad. For those of us trying to leave an impactful, positive legacy in our families, how should we set about doing that? How much control do we really have over the ripple effect of our actions today on future generations? What does the Word teach us about legacy, and how does our time on Earth fit into God's eternal plans?

It's easy to get lost in the day-to-day of fatherhood and lose sight of the big picture. While our lives are but a vapor, according to the...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett discusses research about when and how kids release oxytocin when interacting with their fathers, and why "play" is biologically hardwired into how we connect with them. Play with your kids this weekend, men!

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Music is the soundtrack to our lives, as Manny Montilla (aka Manny Digital) says in this episode of The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. Good music can add color and flavor to our lives, provide commonality within a family, and enrich the human experience in meaningful ways. But what if the language and messaging in that music is questionable, explicit, or downright offensive? Should our kids be exposed to it? What is our role as father in filtering what our kids listen to? More broadly, how can we raise our kids to make life-giving choices on their own when it comes...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett shares a fun question to ask your kids to ignite interesting conversation... and perhaps surprise you as to their answers!

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry flips traditional wisdom on its head as he explains what has really led to a shift in his midset on the important things over the years -- and how you can effect positive change in your life, too.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Co...

Duration: 00:03:49

Divorce happens. When it happens, it's hard. And when kids are involved, there's an added layer of complexity that presents even more challenges -- especially if you desire to be a faithful and positive presence in the life of your kids. We're joined in this episode by Bill McCarthy, founder of 180 Degrees Counseling, who shares tools for successfully navigating parenthood as a divorced father. What are your kids experiencing in the aftermath of divorce? What do they need from you? How do you handle it if they're angry or lashing out? How do you heal from your own hurt...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett prepares us for the coming Father's Day weekend by sharing a couple of thoughts about honor, and how we can honor our fathers — and be worthy of honor ourselves — this Father's Day.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

As fathers, we desire to love our kids fully and unconditionally. If you're a father to adopted kids, is the desire of your heart any different? Of course not. But adoption does present unique challenges. As adoptive fathers, we need to understand those challenges and how to connect with our kids amid the unique nature of the adoptive parent-child relationship. In this episode we talk with Allison Douglas, Resource Center Program Director at Harmony Family Center, about her experience both professionally and as a parent of four adopted kids herself. We explore the inherent trauma present in all adopted ki...

Imagine missing out on a $1 million grand prize by fractions of a second... not once, but twice! Then imagine finally standing on top of the podium after years of hard work, only to miss out on that same $1 million grand prize because it happened to be the COVID year. How would that impact your mindset? How would that test your faith? Are we living for the riches of this world, or do we have a more eternal vision for the impact of our lives? Daniel Gil, 2020 winner of American Ninja Warrior and 7-time Finalist, joins us in this episode...

Happiness. It sounds so enticing, so desirable. We want more happiness in our own lives, and we want our kids to be happy, too. Yet, joy isn't always the first emotion that comes to mind when we think about fatherhood. Being a father is challenging, and sometimes happiness gets lost in the day-to-day stress and challenge of fatherhood. According to Dr. Mark Leonard, founder of The Happiness Breakthrough, we are all capable of achieving more happiness -- and indeed, the formula for a happiness breakthrough is relatively simple. Simple doesn't necessarily mean easy, however. So join us in this w...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett talks about the importance of not pigeonholing our kids into their current way of being and shares a powerful prayer you can pray over them to encourage their growth and development.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

It seems like a pretty simple idea: A father should desire to give good gifts to his kids. Jesus said as much in Matthew 7:9-11. Yet, it's not always that easy. There are some deeper issues here. Should we give our kids every "good gift" they ask for? Does our Heavenly Father actually give us everything we ask for, as scripture suggests? What should our heart position be toward our kids when they haven't earned the gifts they're asking for? What is the interplay between discipline and freedom, and how does it line up with what Jesus discloses about t...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry reflects on a friend's cancer battle and what it means for us as men and fathers trying to make the most of each and every day, because we're not promised tomorrow.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Perry's 12-year-old son, Seth, recently qualified for and competed in a national ninja warrior competition, finishing in the top half of his age group for Tier 2. It's a big deal and he did great! Seth joins the show this week to reflect on his experience and debrief with his dad about the highs and lows of the competition weekend. Perry talks about striking the balance between being coach and dad, cultivating his son's interests, and they share fun and meaningful stories from a memorable trip together.

A Dose of Motivation

“If you want yo...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. Spring is here! This week Perry talks about the principle of sowing and reaping and reflects on the types of "good sowing" we need to be doing in the lives of our kids.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

As with everything in life, there are seasons to fatherhood. Good seasons. Hard seasons. Newborn seasons. Teenage Years seasons. And every season in between. In this episode, Brett and Perry discuss the fleeting nature of time. They share stories from the respective seasons they're in with their own kids and lessons learned about how to enjoy each season of fatherhood, even the challenging ones. At the end, Brett shares a powerful story from a recent conference he attended and imparts encouragement about a father's love.

A Dose of Motivation

“But meanwhile, time flies; it fl...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett reads part of the Easter story from Mark chapter 1 and shares thoughts about the true meaning of Easter, and how to impart that message to our kids while internalizing it ourselves. Happy Good Friday!

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares a story from his recent canoe trip with his son, JP, and reflects on what it means for us as fathers as we endeavor to walk with the Lord.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Your kids have God-given talents and abilities, of that there is no doubt. The question is how best to steward those giftings as their father — how to support them as they pursue their passions, how to encourage them when things get challenging, and how to love them because of who they are, not because of what they do or accomplish. That's the conversation we have in this episode with Tim Hardy, head football coach and athletic director at Greater Atlanta Christian School, as we explore the parallels between good coaches and good fathers. The context of our discussion is spor...

Dave Novak bristled at the idea that he might have "daddy issues." Yet, the signs were clear when he reflected on the unhealthy ways he was showing up in his relationships and in his ministry, and when he identified the deep bitterness he felt toward his father for the way he was treated as a child and for the lack of emotional connection that he craved. Dave resolved to break the cycle and be a better father for his own kids. To do that, he would need healing.

Join us for this powerful conversation with No More D...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett explains the "5:1 Rule" as it pertains to our interactions with our kids -- and specifically how we should think about the words we speak to them.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

In this episode we continue trying to discern the "heart of a father" by looking at the idea that our Heavenly Father desires good for us, and that we in turn should desire good for our own kids. That seems like a pretty self-evident concept on the surface. All fathers want what's best for their kids, right? But for many, our relationship with God and our perceptions of Him leaves us wondering whether or not He truly does want us to prosper, as Jeremiah 29:11 suggests. And what if, when we analyze our own hearts deep-down, we realize that we m...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares a fun anecdote about how a man and his umbrella helped him hear from God, and what it means for helping our kids to learn to hear from God, too.

If you haven't yet listened to Episode 59 of the podcast featuring Jason Vonk, it will provide context for Perry's story.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so t...

We know our earthly father's voice. We've heard it a million times. We could be in a room with a thousand other men and as soon as we heard our dad's voice, we'd be able to pick it out with full confidence.

But how are we at discerning our heavenly Father's voice? He speaks to us, too. Regularly. He longs to guide and direct our paths, to give us words of encouragement, to comfort us, to lovingly correct us, to help us live out our true calling. And yes, to empower us in our role as father...

Problem solving is a valuable skill possessed by most successful people, and it's certainly something that we should strive to instill in our kids. But are some people just naturally better problem solvers than others? Or is it something that can be learned and improved upon?

We're joined in this episode by Mike McKearin, problem solver extraordinaire (inventor, entrepreneur), to explore those questions and share practical ways that we can cultivate a can-do mindset of problem solving in our kids. We also talk about how to strike the balance between encouraging our kids to figure things out o...

A new year is upon us, and it's important as fathers that we reflect on the previous year and cast a vision for the coming one. In this episode Brett and Perry take a slightly different spin on the traditional reflection and planning process and share the "Leave, Keep, and Start" framework that they're implementing in their own families this year. Brett also reveals a fresh take on the "Leave" piece of that framework and encourages listeners to consider the legacy they're building in the coming year. Finally, it's important to acknowledge that things may not go exactly as...

PSA: This episode is rated PG-13 because of the topic being discussed. Be careful about listening to it within ear shot of young kids.

With Christmas right around the corner, the magic of the season is amplified for many families by presents under the tree from Santa Claus on Christmas morning. Santa is a symbol of the season to be sure, a representation of generosity and joy, and a seemingly benign diversion that's a fond part of the childhood experience at Christmastime.

But is celebrating Santa Claus really just innocent fun? Or does it break trus...

While the holidays are meant to be a joyous time of celebration, for many it's a time when grief gets amplified and sadness clouds our enjoyment of the season. Perhaps your family is dealing with the loss of a loved one this Christmas. Maybe you've moved or been laid off work or someone you care about is sick. Whatever the source of your grief, it's important to walk out your journey well this holiday season -- both for yourself and for your family.

Joining us in this episode is Lois Ann Murray, a certified grief recovery educator...

It's natural for kids to have a me-focused worldview, and it comes out all the more for many at Christmas. It's our job as fathers to help instill in our kids an others-focused perspective. There's no better time to do that than during the Holidays, when opportunities abound to give. In this episode Brett and Perry share ways they handle giving at Christmas in their families, dive into some scriptures that speak to the heart we should adopt -- and model for our kids -- when it comes to giving, and share practical ways to include our kids in giv...

Christmas season is upon us! As the calendar turns to December, the hustle and bustle steadily builds toward the big day, and it’s easy to get swept up in the chaotic pace and lose the intentionality necessary to make the season meaningful and memorable for our families. In this episode Brett and Perry talk about the role of a father during Christmas, explore their respective mindsets heading into this year’s Christmas season, and share something they’re planning to do with their families every day between now and Christmas Eve that they believe will help their kids unders...

Our sons are going to grow up. The passage of time is inevitable. But even when our sons' bodies are fully grown, does that mean they're a man? What defines a man? Better yet, what makes for a good man?

The journey to manhood doesn't -- or shouldn't -- happen by accident. It requires intentional initiation by a father. As Don Ross, founder of Manhood Tribes, explains in this episode, it's incumbent on us as fathers to do three things for our sons as they journey to manhood: 1) cast a vision of what a man is; 2) give...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares an epiphany he had while walking out of a grocery store about the true meaning of life.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

This first-of-its-kind episode unfolds in a new format that we're calling "Quick Hitters," where Brett and Perry tackle five questions relevant to fatherhood while attempting to answer them in under two minutes each.

The questions they take on are:

Prepare to laugh, be grossed out, and overall have some...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett shares a story about a man hanging off a cliff face that highlights the importance of looking for the good in all situations... yes, even when your kids are driving you crazy!

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

"The Man and His Wives," one of Aesop's famous fables, teaches a profound truth about the importance of keeping our priorities straight. Brett and Perry use the humorous tale as a launching point to discuss how they determine what's important in their own lives — and whether their intended list of priorities matches up with reality. They then turn to the life of Jesus to look at what He prioritized during his time on earth, and whether or not what Jesus thought was important should also be important to us as men striving to leave a meaningful legacy in our fa...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett reflects on the challenge of fatherhood and reminds us that fatherhood is only hard if you're trying to be a good father... so good for you!

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

As time passes, it's easy to forget the feelings, thoughts, and incredible emotions we experienced when meeting our kids for the first time. Yet, it can be valuable to reconnect with that time and remember just how much of a miracle life is, and how in awe we were at the innocence of the child entrusted to us as and the humbling new responsibility of fatherhood.

Join us in this episode as we talk with first-time father Keith Neal, who reflects on the recent birth of his son Webb. If you're expecting your first child, Keith's stories...

All too often, fathers hurt their kids. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally. Either way, the impact is profound. Father woundings run deep, and they hold us back from living the fullness of the life we’ve been called to — unless we’re able to release the offense through the power of forgiveness. That’s not easy to do, of course. But it’s necessary. Joining us in this episode is Pastor James Seiler of Authentic Church who opens up about the ways his fathers hurt him and explains how he was able to get to a place where he could forgive th...

Perry Hughes, co-host of the podcast, is currently traveling the western United States with his family, and boy does he have some stories to share! He finally got satellite Internet up and running and was able to check in for this episode. Perry recounts some of their crazy adventures so far and shares several lessons-learned that will encourage all of us striving to be faithful fathers.

A Dose of Motivation

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” — Helen Keller

Connect with us:

Sometimes the call to fatherhood is sudden and unexpected. Seth Johnson, director of IAMercy, experienced that first-hand when God called him to father the street children of Nairobi, Kenya. What started as a feeding ministry has evolved into so much more, with several of those street boys becoming Seth’s sons. In this eye-opening and raw conversation with Seth, he shares some of the heartwarming — and heartbreaking — stories of the children who have come to call him “dad.” He also shares important lessons-learned about fatherhood from his own journey, as well as the deep yearning in a child’s heart for a...

One of the goals of a faithful father should be to have a close, trusting, intimate relationship with his kids. Easier said than done. While we might desire — and even strive for — such an outcome, we often lack the tools to develop such a relationship. Bill McCarthy, a clinical mental health counselor and founder of 180° Counseling, joins us in this episode to share his formula for nurturing just such a trust-relationship with our kids. While intimacy is often messy, it’s worth cultivating for the sake of the mental and emotional health of our sons and daughters. What are signs t...

As fathers, we have a responsibility to steward the health of our kids until they’re old enough to make informed health decisions on their own. Yet, while our intentions might be good, the evidence suggests that we’re falling short in that task. Childhood obesity continues to rise, and nearly all indicators of health when it comes to our kids are less than ideal. Somewhere there’s a disconnect. Joining us this week is Dr. Michael Kramer to discuss practical ways that we can ensure the health of our kids and set them up to thrive lifelong. In this w...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett talks about the power of consistency when it comes to our fathering, and the fruit that stems from consistently showing up in the lives of our kids.

It's also the 1-Year Anniversary of The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast! Brett shares some analytics about the show and relates the most popular episodes. He then draws parallels between the podcast and fatherhood in terms of the importance of consistency.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of en...

To show up fully as a faithful father, our health needs be on point. More than that, to live out the purpose God has for our lives with energy and vigor, we must steward our bodies well so that they perform for us when we need them most. Yet, far too many men are not intentional when it comes to their health, and the consequent health conditions they deal with later in life prevent them from maximizing their role as father, husband, businessman, etc. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Michael Smith, a naturopath and founder of...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry reflects on the verse in Proverbs 21 that talks about the victory belonging to the Lord, and what that means for us as fathers.

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord." — Proverbs 21:31

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of you...

In this episode Brett and Perry continue looking at what we can learn about the heart of a father based on the truth of what we see modeled by God as our Heavenly Father. For insight, they turn to Jesus's "Parable of the Lost Son," sometimes referred to as the Prodigal Son, as found in Luke chapter 15. Perry identifies with the prodigal son while Brett resonates more with the dutiful son, which leads to a lively discussion as they unpack key insights hidden in this story that have profound revelation about how we should act in the role of...

We often project views about the nature of God as our Heavenly Father based on our experience with our earthly father. While that's something to guard against in general, it's particularly important not to conflate the two when our earthly father exhibited characteristics clearly not representative of the true nature of God. But how can we know what's true? That's the journey our guest in this episode, Heather Johnston, has been on since her dad's car accident when she was just four years old left him a shell of his former self. The truths she has come to learn...

As Frank Sinatra famously sang, the best things in life are free. Certainly spending quality time with our kids counts as one of the best things in life. And while not everything we do with them is free, there are plenty of low-cost ways to have a blast with our kids and build memories that will last a lifetime. In this episode Brett and Perry share some of their favorite things to do with their kids that don't break the bank. Listen for one that resonates with you and give it a go this summer!

Resources Duration: 00:46:39

Father's Day is here, and it can be a challenging holiday for a lot of men. But it's also a day to celebrate good fathers, like you! In this episode Brett shares two stories about Father's Day that should give us pause, but then relays three bits of encouragement to help you adopt a healthy mindset heading into Father's Day this year and to receive the appreciation you deserve. Happy Father's Day, friends!

A Dose of Motivation

“My father didn’t do anything unusual. He only did what dads are supposed to do — be there.”...

Growing up without a father who abandoned his family at a young age, Billy Salyers resolved to be a better father to his own kids someday. One way Billy has done that is by intentionally spending quality time with his kids through summer projects. From building a sailboat to 3D-printing battle robots to forging knives, the Salyers’ projects have provided bonding opportunities, funny stories, and endless growth opportunities for their family. In this episode, Billy and his son JoJo share lessons learned while exploring how to help our kids discover and cultivate their passions — something that happened for JoJo as o...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett cites a study suggesting that "perfect" parenting isn't what our kids need, and encourages us to strive for progress rather than perfection on our fatherhood journey.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Summer can be a magical time — and a valuable opportunity for fathers to spend quality time with their kids. In this episode Brett and Perry discuss their summer plans, recount fond memories from their own childhood summers, and discuss ways to keep our kids engaged during the long summer days when it's easy to get wrapped up in the frustration of kids complaining about "being bored." There are solutions! We only have so many summers with our kids while they're under our roof, and it's important to maximize them. Take some of the ideas and mindsets that we share an...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry reflects on the wisdom expressed in Proverbs 12:16 and how it applies when responding to our kids.

"The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult." — Proverbs 12:16

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Addiction besets many a good man and has the potential to tear families apart. Yet it's possible to get set free from addiction, as Will West shares in this episode, and to heal damaged relationships with the help and infinite love of our Heavenly Father.

At one point gripped by addiction, living on the streets of Knoxville, and contemplating suicide, Will is now sober and a thriving sports talk-show host with a beautiful family — a testimony to the power of fatherhood and the healing nature of God's Word. Whether you're striving to be a good father but wr...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry encourages us to include our kids in our projects, and talks about the importance of doing so.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Boys will be boys. That's a phrase we use to explain why our boys sometimes do crazy, reckless things. In this episode, Brett and Perry share some laughs as they recount "boys will be boys" stories from their kids and even their own childhoods. But they then explore when it's not appropriate for "boys to be boys," acknowledging that our role as fathers is ultimately to help our boys transition to men. We need to lend our wisdom to our boys' innate limit-pushing spirits so that they grow into men of good character who can shape society for the b...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett reflects on what it means to be a student of your kids, and shares two tangible ways to intentionally do so.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

It's okay for your kids to ask questions about their faith. Indeed, it should be encouraged. God is big enough to handle it. In this fascinating and wide-ranging conversation with Pastor Chad Dillard, he shares three things we should be doing as fathers to shepherd the spiritual development of our kids. He also explains why their curiosity — even their challenging questions! — is a healthy, normal part of their development. We don't always have to have the right answers. If we model an inquisitive faith and grow right along with our kids, that can have a profound and lasting impact on t...

As time passes, a boy gets older. His body grows — but at what point does he become a man? Culture is more than happy to tell you what makes a man. Brett and Perry have different ideas. To be a good father, you must be a good man. And to be a good man... a real man... well, how to achieve that is the million dollar question. We endeavor to answer that question, at least in part, in this episode.

"Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a c...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares a great strategy for helping our kids to keep their room clean! Two of his kids make a cameo appearance and relate the minimalism experiment from their perspective.

The book referenced in this episode is The Joy of Less by Francine Jay.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in t...

Human beings, at our core, are relational creatures. When we grow and develop in a loving, nurturing home environment, we tend to show up in the world in healthy, well-adjusted ways. When we don't get what we need in our early years, however, whether because of trauma, abuse, or neglect, the impact can be profound. But healing is possible — indeed, even likely — with the right positive influences. 

To discuss how fathers can play a crucial role in those healing processes, we're joined in this episode by Steve Graner, an educator of 30+ years and Director Emeritus of The Neurose...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. On this Good Friday, Perry reads the account of Jesus' betrayal and crucifixion from The Jesus Storybook Bible — the ultimate expression of love from Father and Son. This account may be different from any you've ever heard or read. Enjoy it as you reflect on the significance of Christ's sacrifice and prepare your family to celebrate Easter in a couple days.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on head...

Parenting can be challenging under the best of circumstances. But it seems to ratchet up a notch as our kids become teenagers. As such, we need to be even more intentional about initiating them well through the teenage years. We're joined in this episode by Corey Wilson, father of two teenage girls, to discuss the challenges and joys of raising teens. Oh, and did we mention that Corey's daughters are redheads? You can imagine the stories he has to share! Actually, you don't have to imagine.... Hear first-hand in this episode as we explore what works with teenagers, what...

Is it possible to be successful in your career while still being a good father and maintaining healthy relationships with your kids? That's the central question we tackle in this episode with Dr. Steve Hryszczuk, an anesthesiologist and entrepreneur and also a devout family man who has learned to strike a healthy balance between the demands of his profession and his heart's desire to be there for the important moments in his kids' lives. It's not always easy to get the work-life ratio right, especially for ambitious men who aspire to great success. Yet Dr. Hryszczuk contends that it's p...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett talks about the importance of having a "mind filter" in our lives, what that looks like, and how to serve as that filter for our kids.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” — Philippians 4:8 NIV

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on head...

Bill Craig began his fatherhood journey as a foster parent, believing that he and his wife Kristine could provide a loving transitional home for children in need. They never intended to formally adopt any of the kids who passed through their care; God had other plans. Bill is now father to five adopted children and has learned countless lessons about how to raise them and love them well along the way. In this episode, Bill shares from his experience including what he might have done differently in terms of navigating the relationship with his kids' biological parents. Being an...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry acknowledges that we all want a strong relationship with our kids, but asks the question: Have we earned it? Here's what earning it looks like.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Fatherhood is often tiring. But does it have to be? Brett and Perry share some of the ways they maintain high energy in their own lives so that they can show up fully for their families. Brett also reveals a personal struggle that has been robbing him of energy, and what God has been showing him about how to navigate it during this busy season of his life. Perry closes with a proven breathing exercise that you can do to generate immediate energy and clarity of mind — even while driving in your car.

Note: The book Perry re...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry encourages you to have an adventure with your kids based on their passions, not yours.

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us:

Scripture connects love with discipline. If we truly love our children, we need to discipline them. But how? In this episode, Brett and Perry talk about ways in which they punish their children — what works, what doesn’t work, and most importantly, how to connect with the heart of each child uniquely. Change of action stems from change of heart, so if our kids are truly going to grow and change through our discipline, we must speak to the deeper places in them even amidst of the correction. To do that, punishment isn’t always the answer. Sometimes, there are me...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett discusses the importance of rest and shares practical ways to do it even while spending time with your family this weekend.

The book referenced at the beginning of the episode is Peak Performance by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness.

“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” — Jeremiah 31:25 ESV

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading int...

Sometimes our kids mess up and need discipline. Other times they need grace. Chaplain Rick Brewer joins the show this week to talk about that all-important interplay between letting our children know we’re there for them by rescuing them when necessary, but not going so far as to enable behavior that needs correcting. Rick also talks about the biblical principle of “instructing as you go” and shares how he has done that in his own parenting. He ends the episode by imparting a profound question that can guide important decisions throughout our fatherhood journey. It’s wise to sit at t...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares an intention that his family tries to honor each week around screen time. He encourages you to join him in the challenge!

Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in the lives of your kids.

Connect with us: