174: Kris Vallotton - Stop Coddling, Start Leading: How to Raise Resilient Sons for a Tough World

In this powerful episode of the BraveCo Podcast, Jason Vallotton sits down with his father, Kris Vallotton, to discuss what it really takes to prepare sons for marriage and build strong, lasting relationships. The conversation explores how most men enter marriage unprepared, largely because they were never taught key values like covenant, ownership, emotional responsibility, and flexibility.

Kris shares profound insights into the difference between cohabitation and covenant marriage, explaining how true commitment is rooted in sacrificial love and lifelong dedication. They emphasize the importance of teaching young men emotional regulation, spiritual leadership, and practical habits—long before they enter a romantic relationship.

The episode also dives into the role of a woman as a “catalyst” in a man’s life, and why many men will never fully step into their purpose without that relational sharpening. They unpack the danger of coddling kids, the necessity of emotional flexibility in marriage, and how confidence is built through consistent ownership and challenge—not comfort.

Jason and Kris weave together stories from their lives, including powerful examples of parenting, failure, resilience, and the redemptive grace of God. Whether you're a young man preparing for marriage, a father raising sons, or a man trying to rebuild after a breakdown, this episode offers deep wisdom, practical guidance, and raw encouragement to grow into the man God designed you to be.

Chapters:
00:00 – Do You Have a Plan to Become the Man God Called You to Be?  
01:24 – Why We’re Failing to Prepare Our Sons for Marriage  
04:54 – The Power of Intentional Fatherhood: Raising Sons Into Men  
06:02 – Marriage Is a Covenant, Not a Contract  
09:10 – What Every Man Must Know Before He Marries  
12:36 – Teaching Emotional Safety and Responsibility in the Home  
15:21 – You’re Not Supposed to Be Complete Before Marriage  
18:00 – How a Wife Catalyzes a Man’s Purpose  
24:54 – Real Manhood Is Built Through Pain, Ownership, and Grit  
33:48 – The Secret to Strong Marriages: Emotional Flexibility and Covenant Leadership 

ABOUT BRAVECO
We live in a time where men are hunting for the truth and looking for the codebook to manhood. At BraveCo, we are on a mission to heal the narrative of masculinity across a generation; fighting the good fight together because every man should feel confident and capable of facing his pain, loving deeply, and leading a life that impacts the world around him.