Ep. 538 Zack Ponder: The Shift That Changed Everything for My Family

Zack Ponder shares his raw journey from struggling entrepreneur with a DUI to becoming a present father who homeschools four kids while his wife battles cancer. A former special education teacher who worked with profound autism students, Zack discovered God through the daily challenges of non-speaking, violent students and translated those insights into his books "Special Days" and the upcoming "Happy Days" devotional. Now splitting time between his construction business in North Idaho and Southern California where his wife receives treatment, Zack opens up about the transformation from doing the right things to actually being present, learning to ask "what" instead of "why" when facing hardship, and discovering that his podcast interviewing special needs parents became unexpected training for finally seeing and hearing his own wife. He discusses the critical shift that happened six months ago when he truly embraced fatherhood in the hospital, realizing that if he didn't keep it together and lead, his family would fall apart. Zack vulnerably shares about living with in-laws for ten months, the reality of needing God moment-by-moment through daily challenges, and why he believes comfort is the enemy of growth for fathers.

Guest Links

• The Unspecial Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unspecial-podcast/id1829866470
• Instagram: @unspecialllc or @zackponder
• Website: unspecialllc.com
• Zack's book: Special Dayz: Finding God in Special Education

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• This episode is sponsored by The Adventure of Fatherhood
• Order The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book here
• Check out the TEDx

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• https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/
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Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!

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