Creating Safety in Marriage and Family Life

In this episode of the Dad Edge Podcast, I sit down with Super Bowl Champion Heath Evans and his wife Chrissy, a powerhouse couple raising six kids—four of them adopted siblings—and leading with faith, love, and intentionality. Beyond the NFL career and business ventures, their mission is about adoption, marriage, and creating a Christ-centered home where safety, strength, and sacrificial love are at the core.

We dive deep into adoption, marriage dynamics, leadership in the home, and the foundation of their health and fitness business, Built Ready. From why safety is the #1 need of every woman to the five pillars of a man’s health (holiness, hydration, rest, workouts, and nutrition), this conversation challenges cultural norms and inspires fathers to lead with faith, humility, and strength.

TIMELINE SUMMARY

[0:00] - Welcome to the Dad Edge and today’s guests: Heath and Chrissy Evans

[1:48] - Heath’s NFL career and transition to family and faith

[2:13] - Raising six kids, including four adopted siblings

[6:00] - Their calling to adoption and the heart behind Bethesda Ranch

[7:30] - The struggles of sibling adoption and God’s faithfulness in their journey

[9:00] - The fatherless crisis and why the church must step up

[11:00] - Fatherless home statistics and their generational impact

[12:12] - Why a great dad is usually also a great husband

[13:28] - Prioritizing marriage first to create security for kids

[14:07] - Modeling unity in front of children and avoiding division

[15:52] - Why parenting flows from the strength of your marriage

[16:44] - Larry’s son joins the conversation and a powerful NFL-to-dad lesson

[19:00] - Talking faith and fears with kids—real conversations that matter

[22:00] - Teaching kids reverence and the holiness of God

[24:11] - Why Scripture, not worldly wisdom, is the anchor for parenting

[25:24] - Chrissy shares what it feels like to be married to a man deeply rooted in Christ

[26:15] - Safety as a wife’s greatest need: emotional, spiritual, financial, and relational

[29:00] - Respect, appreciation, affection for men vs. being seen, heard, and safe for women

[31:15] - The power of forgiveness and humility in marriage

[32:07] - Why true security comes from Christ, not success or performance

[36:11] - Chrissy’s reflections on submission, teamwork, and balance in marriage

[40:20] - Heath’s analogy of submarine leadership and servant-hearted strength

[43:18] - The danger of self-reliance vs. dependence on Christ

[46:23] - Why brokenness is often the beginning of real faith

[49:23] - Built Ready’s five pillars: holiness, hydration, rest, workout, and nutrition

[53:05] - Why rest is non-negotiable for fathers and leaders

[54:24] - Nutrition as stewardship, not idolatry

[56:18] - Their supplement line and why A2 protein makes it unique

[58:41] - Closing reflections and the Evans’ heart for faith, family, and service

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Safety Is the Cornerstone of Marriage

Chrissy powerfully explains that true safety goes beyond physical protection—it includes emotional, financial, spiritual, and relational security. When women feel safe, marriage flourishes.

2. Adoption Is God’s Heart in Action

The Evans adopted four siblings to keep them together, living out God’s call to be a “father to the fatherless” and modeling how faith drives family decisions.

3. Marriage First, Parenting Second

Strong marriages create strong families. Kids thrive when they see their parents united, affectionate, and committed to one another before all else.

4. Leadership Is Servanthood

Heath challenges men to rethink leadership—not as dominance, but as sacrificial love modeled by Christ. True strength is found in humility, service, and faith.

5. The Five Pillars of Health

Built Ready’s framework—holiness, hydration, rest, workouts, and nutrition—shows why spiritual health must lead the way, with physical health supporting a man’s mission to love and serve well.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Built Ready Health & Fitness: https://builtready.com

• Chrissy Evans (Weight Loss Hero): https://weightlosshero.com

• Heath Evans on Instagram: https://instagram.com/heath_evans44

• Chrissy Evans on Instagram: https://instagram.com/weightlosshero

• Contact Heath: heath@builtready.com

• Contact Chrissy: chrissy@weightlosshero.com

• Dad Edge Podcast Website: https://www.thedadedge.com/podcast

• Join The Alliance: https://www.thedadedge.com/alliance

• 25 Questions to Spark Connection With Your Partner: https://www.thedadedge.com/25questions

If this episode inspired you to rethink marriage, leadership, and fatherhood, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. Together, we’re raising fathers who lead with faith, courage, and love.