
The Present Father's Podcast
We are "The Present Father's Podcast", the podcast that focuses on climbing the mountain of fatherhood together.Being a good father is extremely challenging and the demands on men today are extensive. Our podcast covers ideas and strategies you can take into your life and apply to be a better father, husband, and man. Our goal is to provide a positive outlet for Dads to grow and foster a strong legacy.
Our mission is to empower fathers to be better husbands and parents. We accomplish this by focusing on being present with our children, interviewing incredible fathers with compelling stories, and disrupting negative cultural influences that harm fathers in order to make a positive and lasting impact in our society.
Latest episodes

Jun 16, 2024 • 1h 2min
#73 RICK BLINSON | Father's Day Special
In this episode, Rick, the father of the twins, shares his story of overcoming adversity and achieving success. Despite a difficult upbringing with an abusive alcoholic father, Rick made a choice to not let his circumstances define him. He worked hard, saved money, and eventually became a successful salesman. Rick emphasizes the importance of never accepting defeat and always striving for success. He also highlights the value of having a strong work ethic, treating others with respect, and continuously improving one's skills. The episode also includes stories of Rick working two jobs and the importance of creating balance in life. In this conversation, Rick reflects on his life experiences and shares valuable insights on leadership, work-life balance, and leaving a legacy. He emphasizes the importance of leading by example, instilling values in children, and prioritizing family. Rick also discusses the significance of discipline, exercise, and healthy habits in maintaining energy and focus. He shares memorable family moments and expresses pride in his children's accomplishments. Rick's advice to aspiring fathers is to prioritize family, live according to one's values, and treat others with kindness and respect.

Jun 12, 2024 • 48min
#72 Dr. ARJUN NANDA | The Importance of Play and Mental Health
Dr. Arjun Nanda is a husband and father and he is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist currently working at Monterey County Behavioral health, where he serves as Medical Team Lead of the Children's System of Care. He also consults for startups in the mental health spaces providing clinical expertise.
He completed his residency at Case Western Reserve University - Metrohealth and child psychiatry fellowship at the University of Southern California, where he served as chief fellow.
In this episode he shares insights on ADHD, parenting, and mental health. He emphasizes the importance of play and joy in father-child relationships and recommends books for dads. He also discusses the impact of discipline and the role of fathers in creating a safe and supportive environment for children.

Jun 5, 2024 • 1h 17min
#71 ROBERT BURNHAM | Leading with a Servant's Heart
In this conversation, Dustin interviews his grandfather, Robert Burnham, discussing family, values, work ethic, and the importance of giving back. They explore the influence of family members, the impact of reading, and the significance of community involvement. Robert shares stories from his life, including his experiences with famous individuals and his work on the railroad. The conversation delves into the value of hard work, the impact of technology on relationships, and the importance of fostering a sense of community and connection. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including personal anecdotes, career experiences, investment strategies, leadership, and the future of America. It delves into the speaker's life journey, from college to law school, career transitions, and the founding of his own business. The discussion also touches on the importance of a liberal arts education, the role of leadership in society, and the need for a servant mindset. The speaker shares insights on investment strategies, the future of nuclear energy, and the impact of DNA technology on healthcare. The conversation concludes with reflections on family, grandchildren, and the future of the country.

May 29, 2024 • 1h 15min
#70 CODEY GANDY | Leadership Masterclass with Echelon Front Coach
Codey Gandy is a husband, father, former U.S. Marine, and currently a leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor for Echelon Front. Codey spent just over 5 years working as a ground combat leader for various units in the Marine Corps.
He brings unmatched experience in demonstrating combat leadership in dynamic environments, building winning teams, and developing relationships across all levels of an organization.
In this episode, Cody Gandy discusses his background, his family, and his work at Echelon Front. He emphasizes the importance of perspective and taking ownership of one's actions. Cody shares his journey from wanting to be a cop to joining the Marine Corps and eventually becoming an instructor at Echelon Front. He talks about the challenges of teaching leadership at home and the need to modulate emotions and show vulnerability. Cody also highlights the burden and honor of being a husband and father, and the importance of having a strong why. In this conversation, Cody Gandy discusses the challenges and lessons he has learned as a father. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the unexpected and being open-minded about the realities of parenthood. Cody shares personal experiences of dealing with health issues and emergencies with his children, highlighting the importance of capturing lessons learned and being willing to ask for help. He also emphasizes the role of strategic thinking and vision in parenting, and the importance of setting up children for success. Cody encourages parents to create core memories with their children by being intentional and present in their interactions.
Follow Codey here: https://www.instagram.com/codey.gandy/

May 22, 2024 • 58min
#69 DR. RAJEEV PURI | Balancing Trauma Surgery and Fatherhood
Rajeev Puri, MD, is a board-certified Surgical Hospitalist who came to Health First from Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine. He has expertise in trauma care, laparoscopic surgery and general surgery.
Dr. Puri is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is accredited in rib plating in trauma. He received the Mohan Das Award for Outstanding Chief Resident in 2011 from Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In this episode he shares his experiences on becoming a doctor as well as fatherhood.

May 15, 2024 • 1h 44min
#68 SETH GEHLE | Overcoming a Lifetime of Abuse
Seth Gehle is a multi-talented individual, excelling as an ultra marathon runner, BJJ athlete, veteran, speaker, and author. Despite facing a tumultuous upbringing marked by adversity and hardship, Seth has emerged as a powerful advocate for resilience and self-empowerment. As a speaker, he inspires audiences to harness their inner strength and overcome life's challenges with unwavering determination.
Seth shares his harrowing story in this episode. It takes a great deal of courage to talk about the things he shares. Be inspired from his story and learn how you too, can Go Beyond the Shadows.
Follow Seth here: https://www.instagram.com/gobeyondtheshadows/

May 8, 2024 • 2h 4min
#67 MATT MURPHY | Silent Victims: The Reality of Child Trafficking
Matt Murphy is a husband, father, former Green Beret and now serves as President for the Sentinel Foundation for US. (https://foundationsentinel.org/)
In this episode we uncover the sinister and brutal world of child sex trafficking. This pervasive problem is destroying millions of lives, daily. Matt is uniquely positioned to speak about how serious this issue is and give specific advice for parents to step up today and put a stop to this.
This evil is growing and preying upon the most helpless people on the planet - children. Help fight against this by sharing this episode and taking immediate action to protect children locally. We must stand up for these vulnerable populations and take preventative measures to ward off this evil. We also urge you to consider a donation to the Sentinel Foundation to help them rescue as many children as possible. The Sentinel Foundation is "bringing the fight to those who exploit the helpless". Donate here: https://foundationsentinel.kindful.com/campaigns/1184598
This is the most important battle of our generation. Will stand and fight? Or will you remain silent and pretend it isn't happening.
Follow Matt Murphy: https://www.instagram.com/matt_murphy_official/

May 1, 2024 • 1h 44min
#66 GRANT SMITH | One Life, One Chance: Lessons from a Veteran
Grant Smith is a Husband, Father, Soldier, and Leader. In this powerful episode, Grant shares the details of his story: his struggles, fears, failures, and most importantly the lessons he has learned along the way.
This episode is full of strong advice and wisdom for everyone. Grant's sole mission is to help others succeed where he has failed. His heart's desire to give the leadership and teaching to others to rise above their struggles and pain and to thrive.
Subscribe to Grant here: @DashLegacy79 on all his platforms

Apr 24, 2024 • 54min
#65 NICK KOUMALATSOS | The Secret Pain of Men Revealed
Nick Koumalatsos is a former Marine Raider and Recon Marine. He is an entrepreneur (most notably owner of Johnny Slicks) and he is a devoted husband and father.
In this episode we explore why men suffer and what we must do to raise the next generation of young men to be modern day knights. Men are Lonely, Angry, Tired, and Stressed. We uncover why in this episode.
Learn more about Nick's Programs here: https://nickkoumalatsos.com/

Apr 17, 2024 • 1h 23min
#64 STEVE ECKERT | Turn Suffering into a Superpower
Steve Eckert shares his journey of overcoming adversity and turning his suffering into a superpower. He emphasizes the importance of being intentional, setting boundaries, and having fun as a man. He also discusses the significance of being a man of your word and keeping promises to yourself. Steve highlights the value of reading books, particularly those on stoic philosophy and emotional intelligence, for self-improvement. Overall, he encourages men to embrace their imperfections, be open-minded, and continuously learn and grow. Steve Eckert discusses the importance of being present and engaged as a father, creating a balance between intensity and calmness. He emphasizes the need for fathers to prioritize fun and create intentional moments with their children. Steve also shares his family's rituals and how they set goals and create a vision for their family. He talks about their decision to homeschool their children and the benefits it has brought. Steve highlights the importance of self-care and finding a balance between being selfish and selfless. In this final part of the conversation, Steve Eckert emphasizes the importance of being a present and engaged father. He discusses the need for men to prioritize self-care and take care of themselves first in order to show up as the best fathers they can be. Steve highlights the issue of fatherlessness and the impact it has on society. He also shares his perspective on legacy, stating that legacy is not about the future, but about the present moment and how we show up in our daily lives. The conversation concludes with Steve discussing the Modern Day Knight program and its mission to help men overcome their challenges and become better husbands, fathers, leaders, and men.Subscribe to Steve here: https://www.youtube.com/@SteveEckertOTD
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