How to Lead Your Son Into Manhood & Build A Strong Relationships That Lasts

Aug 5, 2025

In a candid conversation, Ethan Hagner, son of Larry Hagner, shares his journey into adulthood, emphasizing integrity and resilience. They discuss the shift from boyhood to manhood, revealing common pitfalls and critical lessons learned along the way. Ethan recounts his experiences launching a car detailing business and navigating his first job, highlighting the value of personal accountability and emotional growth. With humor and authenticity, they explore how fathers can support their sons' development while fostering strong, lasting relationships.

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INSIGHT

Signs of Becoming a Man

Transitioning from boyhood to manhood involves long-term thinking about money, career, and health.
Managing discomfort and thoughtful speech are key signs of maturing into manhood.

ANECDOTE

Ethan's First Real Job Experience

Ethan's first full-time job in an auto shop taught him the harsh realities of blue-collar manual labor.
He experiences exhaustion and physical grime daily, showing the toughness required.

ANECDOTE

Entrepreneurship Through Car Detailing

Ethan started and ran a successful car detailing business as part of an entrepreneurship program at school.
He managed buying assets, marketing, and pricing packages independently, showing real-world growth.

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In this special episode of the Dad Edge Podcast, I’m joined once again by my son Ethan for another honest and often hilarious father-son conversation. This week, we’re kicking off our August series focused on helping young men grow into adulthood with integrity, resilience, and intention. We unpack what it really means to become a man in today’s world and why so many guys stay stuck in a boyhood mindset well into their 40s and beyond.

Ethan shares firsthand experiences from his first full-time job, launching a car detailing business in high school, and learning life skills that go far beyond the classroom. We talk about emotional regulation, grit, finding meaningful work, and how to support your kids without micromanaging their growth. Whether you’re raising sons or just want insight into building a better father-child bond, this episode is packed with perspective, wisdom, and a few laughs.

TIMELINE SUMMARY

[0:00] - Welcome to the podcast and the mission behind the Dad Edge

[1:30] - The origin and theme of our father-son conversations

[3:06] - Why August is all about helping boys become men

[5:00] - The First Phorm 8-week challenge and tools to get started

[7:01] - The moment I realized no one was coming to save me

[8:22] - Ethan’s experience at his first real job in an auto shop

[11:30] - Learning to grow up through the CAPS entrepreneurship program

[13:42] - How Ethan started and ran a successful car detailing business

[17:07] - Signs a boy is becoming a man: long-term thinking, embracing discomfort

[20:37] - The danger of staying in a soul-sucking job and the power of choice

[26:30] - Stories of perseverance from Steve Jobs, Colonel Sanders, and J.K. Rowling

[30:21] - Ethan’s reflections on helping others break limiting beliefs

[35:45] - Why emotional regulation is key to maturing into manhood

[39:00] - Learning to pause, respond, and reflect through challenging days

[43:27] - How fathers can support sons without overstepping

[47:03] - Using better questions to develop critical thinking and self-direction

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Becoming a Man Requires Intentional Growth The shift from boyhood to manhood doesn’t happen automatically; it’s shaped by life experiences, learning responsibility, and the conscious decision to grow up. No one is coming to save you, and it’s up to you to take ownership.

2. Let Sons Struggle, But Be Their Safe Place Growth often happens in the discomfort. As dads, it’s tempting to step in and fix things. But real development comes when we let our kids wrestle with problems while knowing they have a safe place to process and recover.

3. Embrace and Teach Emotional Regulation Maturity is marked by how well we manage our emotions. Learning to pause, breathe, and choose a thoughtful response instead of reacting impulsively is a life skill every young man needs to master.

4. Work Experience Teaches More Than Just Skills From oil changes to running a business, Ethan’s journey proves that real-world jobs and responsibilities develop grit, confidence, and a clearer sense of what one wants and doesn’t want in life.

5. Success Is Measured by Fulfillment, Not Fortune We often think success means more money, bigger homes, or flashier titles. But as we explore in this episode, true success is found in happiness, strong relationships, and doing work that brings purpose, not just a paycheck.

LINKS & RESOURCES

DB OVERDRIVE: https://1stphorm.com/products/1-db-overdrive-fastpack/?a_aid=dadedge.
CREATINE LINK: https://1stphorm.com/products/micronized-creatine-monohydrate/?a_aid=dadedge
1st PHORM APP: https://share.1stphorm.app/67eJWnb94Ub
Join the First Phorm Challenge: https://www.firstphorm.com/dadedge
Podcast Website: https://www.thedadedge.com
Join The Alliance: https://www.thedadedge.com/alliance
Explore More Episodes: https://www.thedadedge.com/podcast

If this episode inspired you or gave you a new perspective, please rate, follow, review, and share the podcast. Together, we’re building stronger families—and stronger men—for generations to come.