Dad Tired Daily: 5 Reasons Empathy Is Hard for Men (And One Simple Practice)

There’s a difference between remembering your past and being haunted by it.In this episode, I talk about the narrow road of discipleship—between spiritual amnesia and shame—and why God actually calls us to look back from time to time. Not to punish ourselves, but to remember His faithfulness.When we look back the right way, one of two things happens:Gratitude, when we see how far God has brought us.Repentance, when we realize we’ve drifted or stalled.What it should never lead to is shame.Conviction is an invitation from God.Shame is a verdict from the enemy.If you’re growing, let gratitude fuel you forward.If you feel further from God than ever, today is the day to return—not to hide.Jesus is still inviting you back.

What happens when God interrupts the dream you worked your whole life to build?In this episode of the Dad Tired Podcast, Jerrad sits down with country music songwriter and artist Drew Parker for one of the most honest conversations we’ve ever had.Drew shares his journey from writing number one songs, touring stadiums, and chasing success—to realizing he was spiritually immature, driven by insecurity, and living for approval. Then came a prayer asking God to be unmistakably clear… and five days later, an answer he couldn’t ignore.Together, we talk about:The quiet lie that drives many menFame, insecurity, and the need to prove yourselfWhat spiritual immaturity looks like in grown menWhy men are afraid to be fully knownFatherhood, obedience, and legacyWhat changes when a man finally takes God seriouslyThis episode is for the man who loves Jesus—but knows something deeper is missing.Strong families begin with healed men.Today's Sponsor: KidsGoBible.com

Most men aren’t unloving — we’re just under-trained in empathy.In this episode of Dad Tired Daily, Jerrad shares a personal moment from his marriage and unpacks why empathy is so hard for many men. From childhood survival patterns to chronic stress and the fear that empathy equals agreement, he walks through five common blockers that keep men emotionally distant from their wives and kids.Then he offers one simple, practical way to grow empathy this week — not by fixing, preaching, or escaping — but by learning to pause, name emotions, and stay present just a little longer than feels comfortable.Empathy isn’t weakness. It’s a muscle. And it can be grown.

Most of my prayers stay in my head.In today’s episode, I share a small but meaningful shift I’m making this year: praying out loud every day—especially for my wife and kids.We talk about Scripture, real life, and even some psychology behind why a calm, spoken prayer can bring peace and safety to those around us.This isn’t about performing or sounding spiritual.It’s about letting prayer move from thought to voice.Question to consider:What would it look like for you to pray out loud today—just once?

How do you know if you’re actually resting… or just checking out?In today’s Dad Tired Daily, Jerrad talks about the difference between restorative, soul-level rest and numbing behaviors that help us escape but don’t actually restore us.Most men aren’t lazy — they’re tired. And when we don’t know how to rest, we reach for things that temporarily quiet the noise but leave us more exhausted the next day.This episode will help you:Discern rest vs. numbing in everyday lifeUnderstand why numbing works short-term but drains you long-termLearn what real, boring, restorative rest actually looks likePractice a simple way to help your soul slow downInspired by Psalm 23 and Jesus’ invitation to rest.Rested men lead their families well.

Register for the Dadology Conference for DadsWhat if you’re not lazy…What if you’re just tired?In this episode of Dad Tired Daily, Jerrad talks about why rest isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. Drawing from military training, Scripture, and real life as a husband and dad, he unpacks why exhaustion quietly undermines our leadership at home and how learning to rest can actually protect the mission God has given us.You’ll hear:Why elite military teams train themselves to rest under pressureHow exhaustion impacts your decisions, presence, and relationshipsWhy Jesus prioritizes rest for weary menA simple, practical “micro-Sabbath” you can practice anywhere, anytimeThis isn’t about doing less because you don’t care.It’s about resting on purpose so you can lead well.Key Scripture:Matthew 11:28 — “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”Simple Practice:Take one minute today. Feet on the ground. Slow inhale. Longer exhale. Ask God for rest—not more answers.Rested men lead their families well.

Most men want to love their wives and kids well—but still feel stuck, disconnected, or misunderstood.In this episode of the Dad Tired Podcast, Jerrad sits down with Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages, to talk about the deeper issue beneath most marriage and parenting struggles:👉 We’re often loving sincerely—but in the wrong language.Together, they explore:Why effort doesn’t always translate to emotional connectionThe difference between loving sacrificially and loving manipulativelyHow unresolved childhood wounds affect how men give and withhold loveWhy empathy feels threatening to many men—and how to build itHow dads can discover and speak each child’s unique love languageWhat quality time really looks like in a distracted worldThe love language that actually matters most (and it’s not yours)This conversation is honest, practical, gospel-centered, and deeply encouraging for husbands and fathers who want a growing marriage, not a perfect one.🎧 Listen, take notes, and ask yourself:Do the people closest to me actually feel loved?Today's Sponsor: Cozy Earth (use promo code DADTIRED for an exclusive discount)

Host a Dad Tired Conference at Your Church Some days don’t fall apart because of one big thing.They fall apart because of a hundred small ones.The gas light comes on.The kids spill something.The ice cream cone hits the floor.Nothing catastrophic happens… and yet everything feels heavy.In this episode of Dad Tired Daily, we talk about what psychologists call negativity bias—the way our brains are wired to fixate on what’s going wrong instead of what’s going right. It’s not because you’re ungrateful or negative. It’s because your brain is trained to look for threats.But here’s the good news: what you pay attention to, your brain prioritizes.Scripture tells us, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and “Forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2). Gratitude isn’t about pretending things are great. It’s about retraining your soul to remember what’s good—even on hard days.Today’s Practice:Before your day gets rolling, list three things you’re thankful for.They don’t have to be profound. Just real.Gratitude rewires your brain.It lowers stress.It restores perspective.And it helps you show up a little more healed for the people you love.Strong families begin with healed men.

Today's Sponsor: ToyBox 3D Printers In today’s episode, we talk about wine, anesthesia, and the quiet ways men numb pain instead of feeling it.As Jesus was led to the cross, He was offered wine to dull the pain. He refused it. Not because the pain didn’t matter — but because He chose to fully feel the weight He was carrying.Many men don’t explode emotionally.They disappear.Instead of anger, they feel numb.Instead of emotion, they feel distance.Instead of presence, they reach for distraction.Scrolling.Drinking.Porn.Overworking.Anything that keeps the feelings at bay.In this episode, we explore what it looks like to stop numbing and start feeling again — not all at once, not perfectly, but honestly. Because when you begin to feel, you begin to heal. And healed men become present men.In This Episode:Why emotional numbness is just as serious as emotional blowupsThe overlooked moment when Jesus refused wine on the way to the crossHow men practice “avoidant coping” without realizing itThe cost of numbing out on marriage, fatherhood, and presenceA simple one-minute practice to begin feeling againToday’s One-Minute Practice:Instead of asking, “What am I feeling?”Ask this:“What am I avoiding feeling today?”Sit with it.Name it.Don’t numb it.You don’t need to fix everything.You just need to stay present.Strong families begin with healed men.

Today's Sponsor: ToyBox 3D Printers Have you ever said, “I don’t know what happened — I just snapped”?In today’s episode of Dad Tired Daily, Jerrad explores why men don’t actually go from calm to out of control in an instant — even though it feels that way. Using a simple (and memorable) analogy about teleportation and flying cars, this episode explains how stress builds gradually in the nervous system long before a blowup ever happens.This episode is about learning to notice the early warning signs — the off-ramps — so you can tend your inner world before frustration spills onto the people you love most.This is daily inner hygiene — small, practical awareness that helps men lead with steadiness instead of reaction.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy the nervous system doesn’t jump from “zero to 100”How stress and anger actually escalate in stagesThe physical and emotional warning signs most men missWhy reactions often feel sudden — even when they aren’tHow Scripture calls men to tend and guard their inner worldOne simple daily practice to reduce reactivity at home and workScripture ReferencedProverbs 4:23 (ESV)“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”Today’s Inner Hygiene PracticeBefore transitioning from one part of your day to another —car → workwork → meetingdriveway → homePause for one minute and ask yourself:“What am I feeling right now?”Name it without fixing it:tiredirritatedoverwhelmedanxioushungrytenseResearch shows that simply naming an emotion helps reduce its intensity and brings clarity back online. This small act of awareness can prevent bigger reactions later.Research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17576282/