Fatherhood Field Notes

In this powerful conversation with Bob Fraser—bestselling author, international speaker, and partner in a private equity firm—we explore three transformative concepts every father needs to understand. First, how do you see people? Your view of mankind shapes everything. Second, what's the real purpose of wealth and finances? It's not what you think. Third, how do you launch your children into their true identity and calling? Bob shares his journey of 41 years of marriage, raising four kids (now with 12 grandkids), and building a family legacy that spans generations. From learning to fly at 62 to writing "Invest Like a Billionaire" with his son Ben, Bob reveals why Earth's greatest days are unfolding now, how the Kingdom of God is steadily advancing, and why your family is here at this exact moment in history. This conversation will challenge your view of success, wealth, fatherhood, and what it means to partner with God in transforming the world.Guest Links:LinkedInWebsite---------Transform Your Body with Ned & RUK Fitness: RUK FitnessThis episode is sponsored by The Adventure of FatherhoodOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx----------Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/https://www.rebelandcreate.com/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!Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

Ned sits down with his former high school Bible teacher, Mr. Tom Amato, who has dedicated 54 years to working with youth. At 78 years old, Mr. Amato shares profound wisdom about unconditional love, the power of presence, and what it truly means to be a father. He reveals how he emerged from six years of total darkness and bitterness to discover God's infinite love, and how that transformation shaped his approach to loving others—especially children. This conversation challenges fathers to move beyond transactional relationships with their kids, to see themselves through God's eyes, and to understand that showing up with authentic, selfless love is one of the most powerful things we can do. Mr. Amato's insights on human needs, love languages, and walking beside others rather than controlling them offer practical wisdom for any father wanting to create deeper connections with their children. This isn't just another parenting conversation—it's a masterclass in what it means to love like God loves.---------Transform Your Body with Ned & RUK Fitness: RUK FitnessThis episode is sponsored by The Adventure of FatherhoodOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx----------Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/https://www.rebelandcreate.com/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!Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

Russell Kimura, creator of Fathers with Daughters and girl dad of three, shares his journey of learning to show up with intention for his daughters. In this rich conversation, Russell reveals why consistency beats perfection, how to create emotional safety without sacrificing leadership, and why fathers must commit to connection over convenience. He opens up about the tension of releasing control as daughters grow independent, the power of modeling faith through action rather than religious systems, and practical ways to stay connected during the chaotic teenage years. Russell challenges dads to rebel against cookie-cutter parenting, embrace the messiness of real relationship, and prepare for their future role as father-in-law. This episode will inspire you to audit your commitments, become a student of your family, and pursue your daughters with the same intentionality you once pursued your wife.Guest Links:Russell Kimura on LinkedInRussell on InstagramFathers with Daughter on Instagram---------This episode is sponsored by The Adventure of FatherhoodOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx----------Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/https://www.rebelandcreate.com/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!Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

When Thomas Pfanner's eighth-grade son walked out of his life for six months, he realized something had to change - and it wasn't his son. In this powerful conversation, Thomas breaks down his FORGE framework (Faith, Ownership, Respect, Groundbreaking Adventure, and Expectation) from his new book "Dads Who Lead," revealing why teen rebellion happens and how fathers can shift from being the "police officer dad" to becoming a trusted guide. We dive deep into the critical mistake most dads make (focusing on changing the kid instead of changing themselves), the concept of your "dad brand," why listening is more powerful than lecturing, and how to create groundbreaking adventures that build unshakeable bonds. Thomas shares practical strategies for handling the daily friction of homework, screens, and expectations, while maintaining the bigger vision for who our kids are becoming. Whether your kids are still young or you're in the thick of teenage rebellion, this episode offers a roadmap for showing up as the father your family needs - starting with mastering yourself first.Guest Links:Dads who Lead By Tom PfannerWebsite---------This episode is sponsored by The Adventure of FatherhoodOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx----------Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/https://www.rebelandcreate.com/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!Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Ned opens up about the chaos of everyday fatherhood—from dead rats in the trash to staying up late with his twelve-year-old daughter on her last night of being twelve. He challenges the pressure dads feel to do everything perfectly, reminding listeners that presence trumps perfection every single time. Ned shares how he's learned to say yes to the moments that matter most, even when it means the yard looks rough and the garage is a mess. This is a rallying cry for dads to stop keeping score, to invest deeply in the season they're in, and to lead their families with love—not guilt. If you've ever felt like you're not doing enough, this episode will remind you that you have what it takes.Links and Resources:Primal Path by John Tyson - https://www.primalpath.comCraft of Fatherhood Website - www.craftoffatherhood.com

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 LinksThe Unspecial Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unspecial-podcast/id1829866470Instagram: @unspecialllc or @zackponderWebsite: unspecialllc.comZack's book: Special Dayz: Finding God in Special Education---------This episode is sponsored by The Adventure of FatherhoodOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx----------Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/https://www.rebelandcreate.com/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!Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

In this episode, Ned challenges the destructive cultural narrative that young men need to "get it out of their system" in their twenties, sharing insights from a recent father-son gathering and introducing Adam Lane Smith's transformative framework for masculine leadership based on four areas of safety that men must provide: resource safety, protection, emotional safety, and bonding safety. This episode is essential listening for any father who wants to shape his sons into men of character and teach his daughters what to look for in a partner.(00:00:00) - Father-Son Night(00:02:00) - Challenging "Get It Out of Your System" Mentality(00:03:00) - Working It INTO Your System vs. OUT of Your System(00:05:00) - The Abundance Mindset vs. Hoarding(00:07:00) - Four Areas of Safety Men Must Provide(00:08:00) - Resource Safety and Protection(00:08:00) - Emotional Safety and Bonding Safety(00:09:00) - Teaching These Principles to Family(00:10:00) - Earning the Right to Speak Into Your Children's Lives----------Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/https://www.rebelandcreate.com/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!Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

Ned sits down with Brad Plett, a father of four and full-time missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Kona, Hawaii. Brad opens up about his journey through a dark season of anxiety, shame, and guilt in his early years of fatherhood, and how discovering his identity as a son of God transformed not only his life but his entire family's trajectory.Learn more about YWAM here: https://ywamkona.org/courses/family-dts/- 00:00:00 - Welcome to Brad Plett- 00:03:00 - 25 Years of Marriage: Keys to Longevity- 00:10:00 - Identity Before Function- 00:14:00 - Walking Through a Dark Season- 00:25:00 - The Power of Humility and Community- 00:27:00 - Marriage: Fighting Through to Deep Connection- 00:30:00 - Women Carrying the Torch: A Call for Men to Pray- 00:33:00 - Life with Four Kids: Ages 4 to 17- 00:38:00 - The Role of the Father: Imparting Identity- 00:41:00 - Why Compliant Kids Won't Change the World- 00:50:00 - Legacy: Raising Kids Who Know Their Identity

In this powerful solo episode of The Craft of Fatherhood Podcast, host Ned Schaut closes out his four-part marriage retreat series with a heartfelt message that blends raw honesty, practical wisdom, and encouragement for fathers. Sharing lessons from Greg and Julie of Married for a Purpose, Ned unpacks why we must stop defining relationships by differences, how to discipline our minds to focus on promises instead of problems, and the life-changing power of saying, “I didn’t handle that right.” Fathers will walk away with simple but profound tools to strengthen their marriages, model humility for their children, and lead their families with love, integrity, and purpose.00:00:00 - Welcome00:01:43 - The Foundation: Love Yourself, Love Your Spouse, Teach Your Kids00:03:00 - We Become What We Think About00:03:39 - Stop Thinking About Problems, Start Thinking About Promises00:05:25 - Shift #1: Stop Defining by Our Differences00:07:00 - Shift #3: Stop Building a Case Against Your Spouse00:07:30 - Shift #4: Discipline Your Mind (Book Recommendations)00:08:57 - The Sentence That Changes Everything: "I Didn't Handle That Right"00:09:24 - How to Apologize to Your Wife and Kids00:10:57 - Be the Man You Wish Others Would Be00:11:40 - Closing: You Matter, Fatherhood Matters

In this powerful episode of Fatherhood Field Notes, we sit down with Ryan Miller—a man whose joyful demeanor belies a journey through significant trials and transformation. Ryan opens up about his 24-year marriage, raising two daughters, and how embracing suffering has shaped him into the father and husband he is today. He shares vulnerable stories about his own mistakes, including a near-infidelity experience, surviving the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, and how these moments became catalysts for growth rather than destruction. Ryan discusses the importance of physical and spiritual health, intentional presence with our children, and how fathers can balance ambition with family priorities. He offers practical wisdom on passing faith to our children and extending fatherly influence beyond biological connections. This conversation will challenge you, inspire you, and equip you to embrace both strength and vulnerability in your fatherhood journey.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction and first impressions00:01:06 - Finding joy through suffering and Ryan's transformative experiences00:05:30 - Discussing suffering with children and embracing life's challenges00:09:09 - Ryan's background and focus on health00:11:19 - Life in California and creating family memories00:13:00 - Building relationships with daughters and potential sons-in-law00:22:38 - Ryan's central message to men about purpose and responsibility00:25:01 - Men of Greatness Brotherhood community and resources00:26:43 - Understanding discipline as alignment rather than control00:29:18 - Discussing God's purpose versus individual choices00:35:52 - Balancing career aspirations with family priorities00:40:17 - Rebelling against the idea that vulnerability is weakness00:45:45 - The father's role as provider and protector00:48:10 - Passing faith to children through modeling and conversation00:56:53 - Envisioning the future as a grandfatherLinks and ResourcesRyan's Community: Skool.com/men-of-greatnessRyan on YouTube: YouTube.com/RyanJamesMillerRyan's Website: RyanJamesMiller.comWounds: How Hurt, Heartache, and Tragedy Become the Keys to Unlocking Greatness: