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by Larry Hagner
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- Yesterday54 min
Why Traditional Therapy Fails Men and What Actually Works Instead featuring Vince Benevento
In this episode, I sit down with Vince Benevento — licensed counselor, founder of Causeway Collaborative, author of Boys Will Be Men: Eight Lessons for the Lost American Male, and a man who has worked with over 2,000 young men between the ages of 14 and 30 over the past 15 years. But before we get into any of that, Vince opens up about the most formative experience of his life. Last July 4th weekend, his son Leo went from a rash on his wrist to 15 days in the ER, a diagnosis of aplastic anemia, a bone marrow transplant, a fungal infection that ate through his lung and ribs and attacked his spine, three emergency surgeries, a broken back, a seven-vertebrae spinal fusion, and 150 total days in the hospital. A doctor pulled Vince aside and told him to prepare for the fact that his son was not going to make it. Leo just got cleared to go back to school. Vince also opens up about his own story — a closeted gay father whose secret life exploded when Vince was a senior in high school, a substance use disorder from 17 to 22, two hospitalizations, a mood disorder diagnosis, getting sober, leaving college, and building the blueprint for Causeway — his own recovery blueprint — before he even knew it would become a business. This one covers why traditional therapy fails young men, what actually works instead, what it means to find your wild, and what the lost American male most needs right now. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:15] Leo's story begins — a rash on his wrist, a pediatrician appointment, and an ambulance to Yale [3:14] Aplastic anemia, a bone marrow transplant, and a one-in-a-million perfect donor match [5:19] The fungal infection that changed everything — lung, ribs, spine, three emergency surgeries, broken back [6:39] The doctor pulls Vince aside — prepare yourself. Your son may not come out of this. [8:09] How Vince and Gina navigated 150 days in the hospital — and why he's honest that they didn't do it perfectly [11:03] Their different vantage points — Vince shrinking Leo's world to protect him, Gina knowing his spirit needed connection [16:32] Vince's own mental health history — hospitalized at 19, mood disorder diagnosis, sober at 22 [17:08] The 6 to 7am ritual — one hour alone every morning at the Ronald McDonald House to lift and pray before facing the day [20:10] Introducing Vince — Causeway Collaborative, Boys Will Be Men, and 15 years working with over 2,000 young men [21:22] Vince's origin story — a father's secret life exploding senior year, substance use disorder, leaving college, and building the blueprint that became his business [30:17] Why traditional therapy fails men — especially young men — and what Causeway does differently [31:31] The deficit-driven medical model vs. a strength-based, goal-driven, action-focused framework [32:57] Less talk, more do — teaching a man to fish instead of processing open-ended about his feelings [37:25] Name it to tame it — chapter two and the struggle of accepting a diagnosis that restricts what you want to do [39:00] Find your wild — chapter four and what it means to resurrect the part of yourself that died between 22 and 38 [40:55] Rolling his addictive tendencies into workaholism — and his wife's ultimatum that changed everything [41:30] Having coffee with guys, building friendships, and slowly filling back up what the years had hollowed out [45:28] Jimmy — sober in high school, construction job, Covid isolation, breeding exotic reptiles, and coming back to life [48:28] Men need a battle to fight, a beauty to love, and an adventure to be had — and when those are gone, something dies [49:08] What Vince hopes every young man takes from his book — you're messy, I'm messy, and it's going to be all right Five Key Takeaways Traditional therapy fails most young men because it asks them to do something they're developmentally not wired for yet — express and process emotions openly. What works is action, structure, goal-setting, and doing things alongside someone until they can do it alone. You can't outrun what you haven't dealt with. Vince rolled his substance use into workaholism, his workaholism into his marriage, and it took his wife's ultimatum to make him stop and look at what was missing. Finding your wild is not optional — it is maintenance. The soul that gets buried under work, kids, and obligation doesn't disappear. It just stops showing up everywhere else. You have to nourish it on purpose. Men need a battle to fight, a beauty to love, and an adventure to be had. When Jimmy found his thing — breeding exotic reptiles — he found his reason to stay sober, his entrepreneurial spirit, and hi
- 4 days ago1h 2m
He Lost His 14 Year Old Son to Suicide and Turned the Pain Into a Mission That Is Saving Lives featuring Jason Reid
In this episode, I sit down with Jason Reid — founder of Tell My Story Foundation, producer of the documentary films Tell My Story, What I Wish My Parents Knew, and Shift, author of seven books, Iron Man athlete, and a father who lost his 14-year-old son Ryan to suicide in 2018 while on vacation with his wife. Jason was back for the second time on Dad Edge, and this conversation went somewhere neither of us expected. We open with AI — why the easy button is robbing kids of the growth that comes from struggle, and why an AI chatbot girlfriend who only says nice things is the most dangerous mental health threat facing kids right now. We get into the warning signs parents miss, why the most at-risk kids often look like the quarterback or the cheerleader, and the clouds analogy that reframes everything about how you try to help a struggling kid. Jason is direct: stop trying to fix it. Ask about the clouds. Listen longer. And when they're ready to talk, they'll talk on their terms — almost always side by side, never face to face. We also get into one of the most unconventional but practical parenting conversations this show has ever had: how to teach your kids to fight back with their words. Not their fists. Their words. It's called verbal self-defense — and it may be the most underrated gift a father can give his kid. And then there's Shift — Jason's newest documentary about kids who protect their mental health by having a passion that's entirely their own. The message is simple and urgent: your kid needs an anchor. Help them find it before they need it most. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:04] Why AI is the new mental health boogeyman — and why the chatbot girlfriend is the most dangerous thing on a kid's phone right now [4:15] You rob yourself of growth when you take the easy path — Jason's songwriting process and why the journey is the whole point [7:34] AI will make you smarter or dumber — it's entirely about how you use it [11:14] Introducing Jason Reid — founder of Tell My Story Foundation, back for the second time on Dad Edge [12:02] What happened to Ryan — a 14-year-old son lost to suicide in 2018 while Jason and his wife were on vacation [15:58] The choice Jason made — stay married, stay working, stay focused, and turn the pain into purpose [16:20] Tell My Story on Amazon Prime, What I Wish My Parents Knew in schools, and Shift — three films born from one loss [18:31] The warning signs parents miss — and why stopping the shower is often the first one to look for [19:53] The most at-risk kids look like the quarterback and the cheerleader — not the dark quiet kid in the corner [20:59] The clouds analogy — why telling your kid the sky is blue makes them stop talking [21:51] Ask about the clouds. Ask how they look, how they feel, whether they come and go. Don't give advice first. [23:30] Don't rush to your kid tonight and say "we need to talk about your mental health" — they will shut you out [24:14] Kids talk on their terms — when it's inconvenient for you, side by side, never face to face [26:40] Extend the talk — take the long way home, go for ice cream, keep moving so they keep talking [30:55] Larry's experience being bullied — and what he battles as a dad when his kid faces the same thing [32:28] Jason's counter-cultural advice: a bully will continue until your kid punches back — verbally or physically [34:49] Teach your kids verbal self-defense — find the bully's insecurity and make it funny in front of everyone [37:04] Brad Williams the dwarf comedian — and the greatest gift his dad gave him [40:21] Coach them on their comeback lines before it happens again — because it will happen again [45:30] Why kids today are under more pressure than any generation before — war, climate change, college costs, social media [50:45] Shift — what the film is about and why every kid needs a passion that has nothing to do with school or friends [53:20] Jason's Iron Man races — came in last every time and didn't care, because it was his thing [54:14] What did you love doing as a kid that you stopped? — and why that question could change everything [57:14] Larry and his 18-year-old learning guitar together — and why struggling alongside your kid is the whole point Five Key Takeaways An AI chatbot that only says nice things to your kid is not a friend — it's a dangerous distortion of reality. The real world is going to push back, and kids raised on pure affirmation won't be ready for it. Don't tell a struggling kid the sky is blue. Ask them about the clouds. Ask how they look, how they feel, whether they come and go. You fix things in this
- 6 days ago25 min
How to Show Up for Your Kid When the Environment Around Him Is Toxic
In this episode, Larry and Uncle Joe tackle one of the most relatable questions any sports dad has ever asked — what do you do when the environment your kid is playing in is toxic, and it's breaking his spirit? The question comes from Mike — a dad of two boys whose 11-year-old has recently had his love for baseball crushed by the culture of travel sports. The kid is now telling himself he's not good enough and that quitting is the answer. Mike is doing the work, modeling emotional regulation at home, and feeling like an imposter because none of it seems to be helping. Larry shares his own story of pushing his son too hard in wrestling, learning to let him lead, and watching him play football for ten years before deciding on his own to walk away. Joe drops an ancient Chinese archery proverb that reframes the entire conversation — and explains why the need to win literally drains a kid of every skill he has. Alliance member Calvin adds a coach's perspective on getting to the root of what's really going on with your son. This is a short, punchy, deeply practical episode that every sports dad needs to hear — especially if you've ever wondered whether the investment of time and money in travel sports is actually worth it. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:02] Mike's question: my 11-year-old's spirit is being broken by travel baseball's toxic culture — what do I do? [3:47] Larry's wrestling story — getting excited about a scholarship, pushing too hard, and learning to follow his son's lead [6:26] Dr. John Delany's take: travel sports is ruining the dinner table of the American family [7:37] The stats — only 1.5% of kids who play youth sports will play in college [9:03] How kids start attaching their identity to their performance — and why that's dangerous [11:47] Whatever you start, you finish — the Hagner family rule and why it matters [12:32] The hockey coach who got kicked out of games three times — and the son who never played hockey again [13:41] 82% of kids quit a sport because of the coach — not the sport itself [15:33] Joe's ancient Chinese archery proverb — when an archer shoots for nothing, he has all of his skill [16:39] Why travel ball brings out the worst in parents — the lottery mindset and the toxicity that follows [17:12] If you play for somebody else's approval, you play half the game you would have played [17:45] Be the anti-venom — how to show up as the most positive presence in the stands [20:25] Calvin's perspective — get down to his level, ask the real questions, and watch how he shows up at practice [22:14] Mike's takeaway — finish the season, support his decision, and help him find his football whatever that looks like Five Key Takeaways Only 1.5% of kids who play youth sports will play in college. Before you invest five figures a year in travel sports, ask yourself who this is really for — your kid or you. When a child's identity gets attached to their performance, and the environment around them is relentless and critical, they don't just quit the sport — they start believing they aren't good enough at life. Whatever you start, you finish. Let your kid know you support whatever they decide when the season is done — but the commitment they made to the team matters and they're going to honor it. The need to win drains a player of every skill they have. When a kid stops playing for the love of it and starts playing for approval, they play half the game they're capable of. You can't insulate your kids from toxic environments — but you can be the anti-venom. Be the most positive person in those stands, speak life into every kid, and let your son see what that looks like. Links & Resources Dad Edge Alliance: https://thedadedge.com/alliance Dad Edge Business Boardroom: https://thedadedge.com/boardroom Dad Edge Youth Sports Resources: https://thedadedge.com/tag/youth-sports/ Dad Edge Youth Athletics Resources: https://thedadedge.com/tag/youth-athletics/ Using Sports to Strengthen Father-Child Bonds: https://thedadedge.com/using-sports-to-strengthen-father-child-bonds-life-lessons Coaching Kids: https://thedadedge.com/coaching-kids/ Greg Olsen Episode — Marriage Under Pressure: <a href= "https://thedadedge.c
- 1 weeks ago1h 2m
Surviving the Unsurvivable and Finding God in the Rubble featuring Pierre Mousseau
In this episode, I sit down with Pierre Mousseau — entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and author of From the Ashes: A Father's Journey Through Grief, Grace, and Faith. This is one of the most extraordinary, raw, and spiritually powerful conversations this show has ever had. Pierre grew up with a severely alcoholic and mentally abusive father, was molested at 11, slept on the streets at 17, and was kicked out of his home at 19. He built himself into an entrepreneur, a husband, and a father. And then his son Parker — sweet, joyful, endlessly loving Parker — was taken from him at 21 years old after a catastrophic bowel emergency, five surgeries, and seven weeks in the ICU. Pierre made the decision to remove him from life support. Five months later, with his company collapsing and the grief unbearable, Pierre got into his car at full speed aimed at a maple tree. He should have died that day. He didn't. What follows is one of the most extraordinary stories of faith, forgiveness, and divine intervention you will ever hear — from the church he walked into while still hating God, to the deacon whose homily that Sunday was about losing a child, to the moment in the shower when something held him and everything changed. This episode will stop you in your tracks. And it will remind you to hug your kids today. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:02] Pierre's childhood — alcoholic and abusive father, bullied at school, Spider-Man comics as his only escape [5:33] Moving in with a drug-addicted uncle at 17, sleeping on the streets, and nobody noticing he was gone [7:44] Being molested at 11 — and the family that never did anything about it [8:31] Driving four hours to see his dying father determined to tell him everything — and what actually happened instead [10:41] Saying "I forgive you" at his father's bedside — and still carrying the hatred for years after [15:51] Introducing Pierre — entrepreneur, speaker, and author of From the Ashes [17:30] Who Parker was — how he loved, what made him extraordinary, and the boy who still believed in Santa Claus at 14 [21:30] The phone call from the hospital — and the doctor who said "I don't know what happened but his bowel is pink" [23:33] Seven weeks in the ICU, ICU delirium, and the decision Pierre had to make [25:39] "I felt like I murdered my child" — the guilt that followed Pierre for years [32:18] The hardest decision he has ever made — and why he couldn't keep Parker alive for himself [38:02] Five months after Parker's death, the company collapsed — and on a Saturday morning Pierre got in his car to end his life [39:09] Heading for a maple tree at full speed — and what stopped him [40:44] Eleven months of hating God — and the Sunday morning he suddenly drove to church [41:21] Walking into mass on the homily about losing a child — and sobbing until the woman beside him put her hand on his shoulder [43:52] Meeting Deacon Curtis, the grief retreat, Parker's orange tag, and the text that said "I think Parker is trying to tell you something" [47:30] In the shower in March 2025 — the purple light, the arms that held him, and the love that changed everything [51:14] Strength is not pushing through — strength is vulnerability, asking for help, and being willing to say "this sucks" [52:38] The keynote at the convent and the woman with a cane who walked up at the end without one [56:47] The man in the steam room bashing his kids — and what Pierre said that silenced the room Five Key Takeaways Forgiveness is not a feeling — it's a decision you make before the feeling follows. Pierre said the words at his father's bedside before he was ready. The release came years later. Grief and guilt will destroy you if you carry them alone. The bravest thing Pierre did wasn't surviving the worst moments — it was finally saying "I need help" and meaning it. Strength is not pushing through. Strength is vulnerability. Strength is allowing yourself to cry, to feel, to say this is hard, and to ask for another man to come alongside you. You never know when the moments will be gone. Cherish the ordinary ones — the arcade nights, the couch cuddles, the conversations that start after midnight. Parker would tell you that. God meets you in your most broken moment — not when you've cleaned yourself up. Pierre was still hating God when he walked through that church door. It didn't matter. Links & Resources Dad Edge Business Boardroom: https://thedadedge.com/boardroom From the Ashes by Pierre Mousseau: Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
- 1 weeks ago55 min
Going to the Doctor Is Not Weakness (Why Proactive Health Is an Act of Leadership) featuring Dr. Lenny Kaufman
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Leonard Kaufman — board certified urologist and men's health physician with 25 years of experience practicing in South Florida. Dr. Kaufman specializes in urology, hormonal health, sexual health, and preventative men's health care, and he brings a level of warmth, honesty, and clinical depth to this conversation that you won't find anywhere else. We cover a lot of ground — from why reactive health care is costing men years of quality life, to what erectile dysfunction is really telling you about your cardiovascular health, to the TRT conversation every man in his 30s and 40s needs to hear before he walks into one of those clinics and shuts off his own fertility without knowing it. But this is not just a clinical episode. Dr. Kaufman is 33 years married, dad of three, and one of the most genuinely human guests we've had on this show. We talk about the deli where he met his wife in medical school, what 33 years of a real marriage actually looks like, how to build a home where your kids feel safe enough to tell you anything, and what his wife's early loss of her mother taught them both about not wasting time. If you've been putting off that appointment — this episode is the nudge you need. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:02] Reactivity vs. proactivity — why waiting until something is broken is costing men their lives [2:09] What Dr. Kauffman sees when men come in too late — prostate cancer, ED as a cardiovascular warning sign, and diabetes [4:14] How Viagra accidentally revolutionized men's health — and why men started showing up to doctors for the first time [7:27] Dr. Kaufman's background — board certified urologist, 25 years, fellowship in male infertility and andrology, MBA in Health Management [9:00] How he met his wife Cindy — a deli, a list of phone numbers, and a blind date that turned into 33 years [11:52] The non-negotiables of a long marriage — trust, transparency, communication, and shared values [13:49] Seen, heard, and safe — the three things a woman and your kids need to feel in your home [16:29] Vulnerability is not weakness in marriage — it's the foundation of real trust and real connection [19:49] What men most commonly come to Dr. Kaufman for — ED, low testosterone, and prostate health [32:00] ED is the canary in the coal mine — penile arteries are the first to show restricted blood flow, which means something else is coming [33:36] Diet talk — why extreme diets backfire and what a urologist actually recommends for men's health [38:45] The labs every man should be getting — ApoB, cholesterol panel, PSA, and why most men aren't being fully evaluated [42:07] Total testosterone vs. free testosterone — what the current guidelines actually say [43:15] Why getting a testosterone baseline in your 30s is one of the smartest proactive health moves you can make [44:17] Clomid as an off-label option — how it helps men produce their own testosterone instead of shutting the system down [45:06] The risks of walking into a TRT clinic without proper evaluation — fertility, blood thickness, PSA changes, and chasing a number that may not fix anything [51:10] Prolactin — what it is, why it matters, and what a high level could actually mean for your brain Five Key Takeaways Proactive health care is not weakness — it's how you stay around for your kids and grandkids. The men who wait until something is broken are the ones who look back and say "I should have come in a year ago." Erectile dysfunction is not just a bedroom problem. It's a cardiovascular warning sign. The smallest arteries in your body are affected first — and that means something bigger is building downstream. Before you walk into a TRT clinic, get a full workup from a qualified urologist. Young men are unknowingly shutting off their sperm production and permanently altering their pituitary axis without realizing it. Stop chasing the number. A man at 500 who feels great doesn't need to be pushed to 1,000. How you feel matters more than the number on the lab result. Safety is the foundation of everything — in your marriage and with your kids. When the people you love feel safe to bring you anything, it changes everything. Links & Resources First Form Microfactor: https://1stphorm.com/products/micro-factor/?a_aid=dadedge First Form Level 1 Protein Powder: https://1stphorm.com/products/level-1/?a_aid=dadedge Dr. Leonard Kaufman's office: (954) 228-0924</
- 1 weeks ago50 min
When A Man's Wife Gives a 90-day Ultimatum (The Marriage Repairing Secrets)
In this episode, Larry and Uncle Joe are back for another live Wednesday Q&A with real men from the Dad Edge Alliance — and this one hits on two of the most common struggles we hear from men: a marriage in repair mode that's sending confusing signals, and a hot-tempered nine-year-old that nobody knows how to reach. The first question comes from Jimmy — a man whose wife gave him a 90-day ultimatum, who has been doing the work, and who is now completely confused by what's happening. She's been affectionate. Then she's not. Then she pulls back and says no more physical contact. Is it over? Should he give up? Joe and Larry speak into this with the kind of wisdom that only comes from having lived it — including Joe's own experience with physical contact happening and then the wall going right back up, and Larry's stock market analogy that every man in a marriage repair season needs to hear. The second question comes from Mark — a teacher and dad of three whose nine-year-old middle child has a hair-trigger temper that seems to come out of nowhere. Joe drops one of the most memorable pieces of wisdom this show has ever heard about what anger in a young boy actually means, what's running underneath it, and how to find the magma before it erupts. Larry adds his own raw, honest story about his ten-year-old Colton — a family meeting he called, the guilt he took full ownership of, and what it means when the softest voice in your family has to fight just to be heard. Joe closes with a Solomon quote that stops the whole room cold. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:02] Larry and Joe open the Q&A — May is here, and the Alliance Bible study group gets a shoutout [5:28] Jimmy's question: my wife gave me a 90-day ultimatum, I've been doing the work, she's been affectionate — then suddenly pulled back and said no more physical contact. Is it over? [8:59] Joe's answer: she doesn't feel safe yet — the narrative justifying the divorce is still running, and physical contact is cracking it open in a way that terrifies her [11:47] The mistake Joe made — trying to use physical contact to manipulate the situation back to his side [13:18] It ain't over until you say you're done trying — Joe's message to Jimmy [16:23] Larry's answer: the EKG pattern — she softens, pulls back, softens, pulls back. This is not failure. This is repair. [18:00] The stock market analogy — marriage repair is not a straight line, and the only thing that crashes it is when the man stops doing the work [21:47] Have the clarifying conversation — if you initiate, what do you want from me? Get clear so the lines stop getting blurred [24:49] Do the work for you, not for her — and don't be needy. That standoffish groundedness is what actually draws her back. [27:45] Core values as a filter — Awesome's answer on staying congruent when everything feels chaotic [30:15] Mark's question: my nine-year-old middle child has an explosive temper and I don't know how to reach him [33:24] Joe's answer: middle kids often don't feel seen or heard — and a hot temper at nine means there is a river of rage running just under the surface. Find out what's feeding it. [35:47] What drove Joe's youngest son's anger — self-image struggles and the "am I good enough" question that lives in every boy [37:15] Larry's answer: go in soft, go in curious, and do it shoulder to shoulder — not nose to nose [39:10] The family meeting Larry called about Colton — taking full ownership and asking everyone to do better [42:04] Colton is the softest voice in the family and he's always fighting to be heard — and that has to change [45:07] Joe drops Solomon — the power of life and death is in the tongue. Speak the behavior you want to see. [47:33] The 45-second greeting rule — and why how you welcome your kid home sets the tone for everything that follows Five Key Takeaways Marriage repair is not a straight line — it's the stock market. She will soften and pull back over and over. The only thing that crashes it is when you stop doing the work. If she says no physical contact, have the clarifying conversation. Honor her request — and ask what happens if she initiates. Getting clarity is not weakness. It's leadership. Do the work for you, not for her. The groundedness of a man who keeps growing regardless of her response is one of the most attractive things a woman can witness. A hot temper in a young boy is never just a temper. There is something running underneath it — usually tied to self-image, feeling unseen, or something happening at school that he doesn't have the words to explain yet. The power of life and death is in the tongue. If you want a
- 2 weeks ago1h 6m
Why Being Too Good at Everything Quietly Hurts Your Kids (The Untouchable Hero) featuring Brandon Webb
In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Webb — Navy SEAL, former head instructor of the Navy SEAL Sniper Course, New York Times bestselling author of twelve books, and now the author of a brand new parenting book called Puddle Jumpers, releasing May 12th. Brandon's story starts where most men's don't — kicked off the family sailboat at 16 in the South Pacific after a blowup with his dad, finding a boat headed to Hawaii, and navigating his way into the Navy and eventually SEAL Team Three. But what makes this conversation extraordinary is watching a man who trained the most elite warriors on the planet — including some of the legends you already know — apply that same performance psychology to raising his three kids. We dig into what performance psychology actually is, why the sniper school's failure rate dropped to nearly zero when they stopped pointing out mistakes and started painting the picture of what to do instead, and how Brandon built that same positive reinforcement framework into how he parents. We also get into the moment his daughter humbled him while he was writing Puddle Jumpers — telling him that because he was their untouchable Navy SEAL hero, she never felt like it was okay to fail. We swap shoplifting stories, talk about the power of getting to the why before you drop the hammer, why boys between 12 and 15 are standing at a fork in the road that can go either way, and why asking better questions on a one on one trip unlocks conversations that would never happen face to face at home. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:02] Getting kicked off a sailboat at 16 in the South Pacific — and what his dad actually taught him [3:21] From deckhand at 13 to SEAL Team Three — and the book that made him think he could do it [7:29] Class 215 — graduating with Mike Ritland and serving with Eric Davis [9:20] Brandon's full background — SEAL, sniper instructor, NYT bestselling author, and now Puddle Jumpers [11:12] Why the book is called Puddle Jumpers — the mud puddle moment that became a philosophy [13:28] What performance psychology actually is — and why Brandon integrated it into the sniper program [17:22] The three pillars: mental rehearsal, self-talk, and positive reinforcement versus negative reinforcement [18:41] Why saying "stop flinching" programs failure — and what to say instead [21:17] The sniper school failure rate dropped to near zero — and what that taught him about his own kids [22:26] Why Brandon left the SEALs at his peak — and what the broken families around him told him about his own future [27:23] Consequences without the belt — wall squats, push ups, and eventually the iPhone [29:52] Owning your mistakes as a parent builds more credibility than never making them [33:05] What made him write a parenting book — his kids impressing people at Harvard Business School [34:19] Don't come home with a wallet full of money and a house full of strangers — the billionaire with three kids in addiction [37:01] The 12 to 15 fork in the road — why boys in that liminal space need a present, intentional dad [39:23] The seventh grade spiral — selling pot gummies, ordering Uber Eats to the principal's office, and what was really going on underneath [41:27] Ask why seven times — and the teacher who publicly humiliated his son and started the whole thing [43:42] Pull him out, take his side, change the environment — and the coach's email that said everything [44:33] His daughter's answer when he asked what he'd done differently — and why being the untouchable SEAL hero was actually a problem [48:42] Shoplifting, a Sonic parking lot, and the real reason his son did it — peer pressure and not knowing who his friends were [54:11] Kids open up in cars, on bikes, on walks — never face to face [54:41] One on one trips every year — and the two questions at dinner in New York that lasted two and a half hours [58:40] What his daughter said in Lisbon — and why creating a home they want to come back to is one of the most underrated parenting moves Five Key Takeaways Stop pointing out mistakes and start painting the picture of what to do instead. Telling a kid what not to do programs them for failure. Tell them where to put their attention — not what to avoid. Owning your mistakes as a parent isn't weakness — it's the most credible thing you can do. Your kids will model ownership and accountability because they watched you do it first. Boys between 12 and 15 are at a fork in the road. If they don't feel supported during that season, you can push them in a direction that takes years to correct. Get to the why before you drop the hammer. Bei
- 2 weeks ago50 min
The App a Ten Year Old Helped Build That Is Ending Screen Time Battles in Real Homes featuring Adam Adler
In this episode, I sit down with Adam Adler — Charleston-based founder, private equity investor, and dad of two — and his ten-year-old daughter Isla, who is not just the inspiration behind their app Wyzly but an active co-founder and integral part of the business. Yes, you read that right. A ten-year-old co-founded a company. And when you hear the idea, you'll understand why. At seven years old, Isla asked a simple question: what if kids could earn screen time by learning first? That question became Wyzly — a learn-to-earn platform that ends daily screen time battles without punishment, restriction, or power struggles. Instead of ripping the device away, Wyzly locks the apps and gives kids 5 to 10 curriculum-aligned questions to answer — specific to their grade, school, and school district — before the device unlocks. The whole thing takes about five minutes. The bunny runs across the screen, and the apps open back up. We dig into what too much screen time is actually doing to kids' brains, why the lock-and-block method always fails, and why giving kids the power to earn their own screen time changes everything. We also cover how the parent portal works, how Wyzly compares to Bark, and what's coming next — including avatars, brand partnerships, and Android. Larry has been using it with his 10 and 12 year old and it's already changing behavior, reducing anxiety, and eliminating the daily battle. Use code DAD20 when you download Wyzly for 20% off the $6.99 monthly membership. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:02] Meet Isla — ten-year-old competitive gymnast, co-founder, and the brains behind Wyzly [4:24] Adam's background — private equity investor, founder, and dad of two girls [8:22] The idea that started it all — a seven-year-old's question that no app had ever answered [13:06] Why Adam went looking for the app in the App Store first — and what he found [15:48] Larry's firsthand experience using Wyzly with his 10 and 12 year old — and what changed [16:21] Two plus years building a category that didn't exist — and thousands of downloads in 60 days [19:44] How Wyzly actually works — what the device does, how the bunny unlocks the screen, and why kids love it [21:14] What makes it different — curriculum and school district specific questions powered by their own AI [23:03] How many questions, how long it takes, and what happens when you get them wrong [27:45] Why Wyzly flips the script — from power struggle to collaboration [29:12] Available now for kindergarten through sixth grade — and what's coming next [31:20] What too much screen time is actually doing to kids' brains — from Isla and Adam's firsthand experience [35:07] The data Wyzly is collecting on brain breaks and how they're helping kids regulate better [38:36] How Wyzly compares to Bark — and the key difference in the learn-to-earn model [41:03] No Family Sharing required — scan a QR code and it works instantly [47:34] Isla's next big idea inside the app — customizable avatars earned through points, with brand partnerships coming Five Key Takeaways The lock-and-block method doesn't work. Ripping away a device causes rage and resentment — it doesn't teach kids anything. Giving kids the ability to earn their screen time changes the entire dynamic from power struggle to collaboration. Too much uninterrupted screen time changes your child's behavior, attitude, and anxiety levels — and most parents can see it clearly but don't have a sustainable tool to address it. A five-minute learning break before screen time is not a punishment. It's a speed bump — and kids who earn their time actually look forward to the process rather than resenting the restriction. School district and grade-specific AI-powered questions mean your child is reinforcing exactly what they're learning in school right now — not generic content that may or may not be relevant. Giving kids ownership changes everything. When a child earns their own screen time, they don't need to run to mom or dad and beg. The battle disappears because the child is empowered. Links & Resources Download Wyzly on the App Store: https://www.wyzly.app/ — use code DAD20 for 20% off the $6.99/month membership Wyzly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyzly.app/ Episode Link & Resources (Episode 1472): https://thedadedge.com/1472 Closing If there's one message from this episode th
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About The Dad Edge Podcast
The Dad Edge Podcast is a movement. It is a strong community of Fathers who all share a set of values.Larry Hagner, founder of The Dad Edge, breaks down common challenges of fatherhood, making them easy to understand and overcome. Tackling the world of Fatherhood can be a daunting task when we try to do it alone.The mission of The Dad Edge Podcast is to help you become the best, strongest, and happiest version of yourself so that you can help guide your kids to the best version of themselves. Simple as that. Everything you need and all of our resources can be found at thedadedge.com/podcast
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