

The Daily Dad
Daily Dad
The audio companion to DailyDad.com’s daily email meditations on fatherhood, read by Ryan Holiday. Each daily reading will help you find the wisdom, inner strength, and good humor you need in order to be a great dad. Learn from historical figures and contemporary fathers how to do your most important job. Find more at dailydad.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 13, 2025 • 4min
How to Get Them to Love Learning
We’re afraid they’re not learning enough. We’re concerned they’re falling behind. Is it the school? Is there something wrong with them?📖 Preorder the final book in Ryan Holiday's The Stoic Virtues Series: "Wisdom Takes Work": https://store.dailystoic.com/pages/wisdom-takes-work👉 Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Become a member of The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society Tinker, create and innovate with KiwiCo! Get 50% off at KiwiCo.com with code DAILYDAD✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com 📱 Follow Daily Dad: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTubeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 11, 2025 • 21min
The Truth About Being Married to Ryan Holiday During a Book Launch
Discover the chaotic world of living with a writer during a book launch. Hear about the shift in priorities from bestseller obsession to meaningful work. They tackle the challenges of writing versus launching, emphasizing the importance of teamwork. Conversations touch on balancing family life, managing stress, and how parenthood transforms a writer’s rhythm. Enjoy insights on improving productivity and keeping launches from disrupting home life!

Oct 10, 2025 • 4min
Don’t Hurry Through This
Life as a parent often feels like a race against time. The host explores the importance of slowing down and cherishing fleeting moments with children. Rushing can lead to missing out on precious experiences and small joys of childhood. Valuable parenting tools, structure, and community support are emphasized for navigating these challenges. A call to action encourages parents to reflect on their daily pace and embrace the gift of presence.

5 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 4min
How Many Times Have You Told Yourself?
Childhood passes in the blink of an eye, yet staying present can be a challenge for parents. The power of reminders, like a memorable lyric from Counting Crows, emphasizes the importance of savoring fleeting moments. A special Tempus Fugit medallion serves as a tangible prompt to appreciate time with loved ones. This episode encourages listeners to embrace the journey of parenting while reminding us that every moment can be meaningful.

9 snips
Oct 8, 2025 • 5min
Help Them Figure It Out
Explore the art of nurturing curiosity in children. Discover how to effectively respond when kids ask questions, encouraging them to find answers themselves. Learn about teaching the invaluable lesson that everything is figureoutable, empowering them to solve problems through exploration. Plus, there’s an exciting announcement about a new book that dives deeper into these concepts. Join a community focused on enhancing parenting skills and promoting lifelong learning!

Oct 7, 2025 • 4min
As It Was in the Beginning is Now and Ever Shall Be
Ryan Holiday dives into the practical side of memento mori, urging listeners to see it as a necessary task. He challenges perceptions by highlighting that children's rebelliousness is a timeless issue, not a modern problem. The discussion unfolds on how kids behave out of developmental immaturity rather than parental shortcomings. With insights on predictive parenting, he emphasizes understanding and preparation over blame, reminding us all that parenting has always come with its challenges.

Oct 6, 2025 • 4min
You’re Not in This Bracket
The discussion opens with a deep dive into the fine line between safety and parental anxiety. Ryan Holiday highlights how worrying can lead to neglectful choices, urging listeners to rethink the risks they assess. He advocates for practical precautions like helmets and vaccines, encouraging parents to do their best and then relax. The conversation blends humor with wisdom, reminding us that taking care of our families doesn’t have to come with overwhelming stress. It's all about balance and embracing the chaos of parenting.

6 snips
Oct 4, 2025 • 14min
Why Kids Don’t Want to Be Astronauts Anymore | NASA Astronaut Terry Virts & Ryan Holiday
Why have kids shifted from dreaming of being astronauts to preferring careers like YouTuber? Former NASA astronaut Terry Virts explains how screen experiences may diminish the desire for real adventures. He emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in an AI-driven world and promotes reading as a spark for curiosity. The conversation explores how digital interests can lead to real-world activities, the value of public institutions, and the effects of Texas education policy on future aspirations.

Oct 3, 2025 • 4min
Always Put This First
In this engaging discussion, the importance of nurturing children's curiosity is highlighted, showcasing how creative projects fuel innovation. The host candidly addresses the challenges of prioritizing family amidst career demands, drawing on insights from Sandra Day O'Connor. Listeners are encouraged to foster open conversations about balancing personal and professional lives. It’s a refreshing take on parenting that emphasizes putting family first while also embracing creativity and exploration.

29 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 5min
Teach Them To Deal With Difficult People Like This
Navigating life's tricky interactions, the conversation explores teaching kids empathy towards difficult people. Learning by example is crucial; parents should model emotional resilience. The host connects Stoic virtues like courage and wisdom to the practice of empathy, emphasizing that it's a skill developed over time. This approach not only equips children for challenging relationships but also fosters their emotional growth. Parenting becomes a journey of instilling understanding and compassion through real-life experiences.


