Front Row Dads with Jon Vroman Tools to Become the Dad You Want to Be in 2026
22 snips
Dec 17, 2025 In this session, Matt Drinkhahn, an executive coach and bestselling author, shares powerful insights on overcoming identity crises and becoming a present father. He highlights the importance of aligning personal identity with family values rather than business metrics. Matt recounts his life-changing zipline accident and how acceptance reshaped his outlook on fatherhood. Listeners will learn practical exercises to name their fears, confront their inner critic, and implement small habits that lead to significant personal growth.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Accident That Rebuilt Identity
- Matt describes a 2015 zipline accident that left him disabled and led to spinal surgery nine months later.
- That trauma forced him to rebuild identity away from external markers like athleticism and business success toward faith, fatherhood, and core values.
Acceptance As Identity Pivot
- Acceptance became the pivot that allowed Matt to keep serving as a husband, father, and coach despite physical loss.
- He learned identity anchored in values outlasts identity tied to external control like body or business.
Write Out Your Inner Villain
- Write out your inner critic by answering: 'What is your villain saying to you?' and dump the worst thoughts onto paper.
- Bringing those thoughts outside yourself reduces their power and exposes the fears that block presence.