Men in the Arena - Christian Men's Podcast

"Your Parenting Wins and Fails" w/ James Ramos: Unfiltered Truth from Jim's Oldest Son - Son Interview #2 EP 933

Nov 18, 2025

James Ramos, the oldest son of Jim Ramos and a sales professional, shares candid reflections on growing up in a pastor's household. He discusses the challenges of being a firstborn and the pressure that came with it. James opens up about the clashes with his dad during his teens and how his early experiences with faith shaped his journey. He emphasizes the importance of parental presence, showing up for kids, and leading by example in faith. Additionally, he expresses gratitude for his dad's consistency and the valuable life lessons learned throughout their relationship.

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INSIGHT

Firstborn Pressure Shapes Identity

Firstborns often carry heavier expectations and are treated harder by parents.
James felt pressure as the namesake and oldest, which shaped his identity and relationship with his dad.

ADVICE

Make Faith A Choice, Not A Chore

Let kids choose faith rather than forcing weekly attendance to avoid rebellion.
Model faith by routine (attend, pray, normalize spiritual practices) but stop forcing when it becomes a fight.

INSIGHT

Small Events, Big Spiritual Turn

A series of life events, not one moment, pulled James back toward faith.
Parenthood and meeting his future wife motivated him to change priorities and seek stability.

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Would you be nervous to sit down with your grown child and ask what you got right—and where you blew it as a dad? Jim Ramos has shared openly about what he believes he did wrong as a father… but this time, you get to hear it straight from the son who lived it.

In this unique series, Jim is bringing in each of his three sons to analyze the good, bad and ugly of his parenting. Today, Jim sits down with his oldest son, James Ramos, for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at life growing up in the Ramos home. Together, they dig into the moments that shaped James' character, the parenting moves Jim nailed, and the areas where he fell short.

You'll hear practical insights on how to lead your family with intentionality, teach real-life skills that stick, model respect in marriage, and create the kind of spiritual and relational legacy your kids will thank you for someday.

This episode is sponsored by Compassion International. Our goal is for the Men in the Arena tribe to sponsor 1,000 boys over the coming year! Help us reach that goal and make a difference in a child's life today. When you sponsor a child using our link, you'll receive a free copy of Jim's book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God!

We are also sponsored by MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab, a Christian-owned fitness app. This app, combined with diet, has helped Jim get in the best shape of his life! Get 6 weeks free with the code ARENA30 at MTNTOUGH.com.

Every man needs a locker room. Apply to join an exclusive brotherhood of like-minded men in The Locker Room, our monthly live Zoom Q&A call! We meet in the Locker Room once a month for community, fellowship, laughter, and to help each other find biblical answers to life's difficult questions. Locker Room members also get access to monthly exclusive leadership trainings, historically only available to the staff team at Men in the Arena. Membership is by application only. Go here to apply: https://patreon.com/themeninthearena

Get Jim Ramos' USA TODAY Bestselling book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God (https://tinyurl.com/dialedinbook)