The Brave Father: What It Really Means to Show Up for Your Kids

Dr. Kelly Flanagan is a clinical psychologist with 20 years of experience, a Front Row Dad since 2020, and the author of several books including Lovable and True Companions. His newest book, The Road Less Triggered, is about the moment your heart closes — and what to do about it before you set your relationships back. In this conversation, Kelly and Jon get into why having the right communication tools doesn't matter if you shut down in the moments that matter most. They explore defensiveness, boundaries, the difference between reacting and responding, and what it actually looks like to keep your heart open when everything in your body is telling you to close it. If you've ever known better and still lost it with your wife or kids — this one's going to land. 📕 Grab The Road Less Triggered + $348 in pre-order bonuses: roadlesstriggered.com 📚 The Front Row Dads Book List: frontrowdads.com/books  

Download the free Money Meeting Implementation Guide — everything Dave walks through in this episode so you can start with your kids this week: https://frontrowdads.com/moneymeeting Two Front Row Dad VIP members. One big disagreement. Eric Farewell thinks allowances are a mistake. Dave Powders swears by them. In this episode, they hash it out — and what comes out of it is a practical framework any dad can use to raise financially confident kids. Dave breaks down the exact system he's used since his oldest was 8 (she's now 12 and asking about maxing out her Roth IRA), while Eric shares why he pays his kids $25–$75/hour and makes them cover their own expenses — including half their dance lessons and even dental bills. In this episode you'll learn: The 5-jar system for splitting allowance money (play, save to spend, wealth, education, give) Why biweekly "money meetings" build financial literacy most schools never teach How to use a simple ledger to teach kids budgeting before they're teenagers The difference between allowance and commissions — and why it matters less than you think How one 12-year-old is funding her Roth IRA through her crochet business Why letting your kids make money mistakes young saves them from costly ones later Whether you're team allowance or team commission, this episode will change the way you talk to your kids about money. 📚 Want more? Grab the top book recommendations from our community of 300 dads — including the reads that changed how we think about money and family — at https://frontrowdads.com/podcast-books  

This conversation was originally shared inside the Front Row Dads community — just for members. But it was too important to keep behind closed doors. Ali Jafarian sits down with Philip McKernan — world-class speaker, coach to pro athletes and top executives, and the man leading a retreat for FRD fathers at a 500-year-old castle in Ireland this June. Philip also led two powerful sessions at FRD Live 2025. They dig into the hidden guilt driving so much of our parenting, why doing the opposite of your own father still isn't authentic, and whether who you are — not what you do — is actually enough for your kids. Philip says something you won't forget: if you can't find value in just sitting with your child doing nothing, it doesn't matter what you do for the next 25 years.  

Bryan Post has spent 30 years working with families in crisis. He's a father of seven, a former foster and adopted child himself, and the author of 20 books — including From Fear to Love, which has sold over a million copies. In this conversation, Bryan breaks down why most of what we call "bad behavior" in our kids is actually stress — and why the most powerful thing a dad can do isn't fix, coach, or correct. It's slow down and breathe. What you'll learn:  — How a parent's energy directly shapes a child's anxiety  — Why love-based parenting isn't permissive (it's actually harder)  — The difference between coaching your kid and connecting with them  — How to hold space when your child is melting down without losing yourself  — Why Bryan says grief is the most overlooked tool in a father's life If you're a dad who wants to lead with love instead of fear, this one's for you. 📕 Bryan's book: feartolovebook.com 🔗 Free course for men: courage-iq.com  

Alison Armstrong has been studying men since 1991. What started as a personal mission to stop bringing out the worst in them turned into over three decades of research, workshops, and books that have changed how thousands of people understand relationships, masculinity, and what really drives human behavior. In this episode, she sits down with Jon Vroman and goes deep on what none of that research prepared her for — what it looks like when these dynamics show up between fathers and their children. What you'll learn: The 6 Dominant Drivers — building, knowing, sharing, growing, expressing, and enjoying — and how to spot yours Why your dominant driver is visible to everyone except you How a dad's drive to build can unintentionally crush a child whose driver is joy The "hidden why" behind everything you do — and why it lives in your blind spot Why Alison banned her husband from Disneyland (and what that taught her about overprotective fathers) What her stepson meant when he said "Greg was the man" — and why Greg may never have known The shame conversation every father needs to hear: why penance is easy but forgiveness takes courage Jon also shares an unscripted moment from his son's birthday that brings everything Alison teaches into sharp, personal focus. Learn more about Alison's work at alisonarmstrong.com  

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be stressful. Front Row Dad Jason Bronstad (married 21 years) breaks down how to ditch the performative stuff and actually reconnect with your wife. He shares practical moves any dad can do this weekend — a connection signal, a no-agenda date, and one powerful question most men are afraid to ask. Want to keep leveling up your marriage? Grab the top book recommendations from 300+ Front Row Dads — including the relationship books that changed the game for us — https://frontrowdads.com/books/  

What does real brotherhood look like for dads? One of the most powerful parts of Front Row Dads is something called a Band — a small group of men who meet regularly to go deep on life together. Not surface-level stuff. Not backyard BBQ small talk. The real stuff. The hard stuff. The stuff most men never talk about with anyone. In this episode, we're sharing something we've never released publicly before: a portion of an actual Band meeting. Our meetings usually run about 3 hours. This is just over an hour — a sample of what it sounds like when men do the work together. You'll hear Jon Vroman, Hal Elrod, Justin Donald, Dane Espegard, and Tim Nikolaev show up, put in the reps, and have the kind of conversations that change how you show up as a man, a husband, and a dad. They talk about: → Faith and what it means to pray out loud for the first time at 50 → Losing your spark — and the work it takes to get it back → The difference between surviving a year and actually thriving → Goals, dreams, and the accountability most men are missing → Why brotherhood isn't optional anymore And yes — there's plenty of humor. They give each other a hard time. They laugh. They interrupt. Tim almost walks out of the meeting. That's part of it too. But what you'll really hear is what it sounds like when men trust each other enough to tell the truth. A lot of guys tell us that joining a Band has been one of the most impactful decisions of their life. This episode will show you why. If you know another dad who needs this kind of brotherhood in his life — share this with him.  

If you've ever felt guilty about taking time away from your family to work out — this one's for you. Front Row Dads Scott Groves and Jason Bronstad share real wisdom from inside our community on how they solved the fitness vs. family dilemma. You'll walk away with: A new way to think about fitness and family time Permission to start even if you're out of shape The power of finding an activity you can do with your kids Why having other dads in your corner changes everything ___________________________________ Join us for our Family Boarding Meeting Masterclass: https://frontrowdads.com/fos-masterclass

This is a ~20-minute episode built around one powerful idea: Your stories create your reality. Most dads know how they want to show up — patient, present, calm. But when your kid pushes your buttons or interrupts your work… you lose it anyway. The gap isn't willpower. It's wiring. In this episode, VIP Front Row Dad Scott Groves interviews Front Row Dad member Adam Coelho, who breaks down the neuroscience behind why we react — and the simple daily practice he uses to rewire his brain so he actually shows up the way he wants to. Here's what Adam teaches his kids (and himself) every single day: "Your story creates your reality." Before bed, his son literally says: "I will have good dreams tonight" — because he used to be afraid of nightmares. That's not positive thinking. That's neuroplasticity in action. The framework Adam shares: Get clear on your vision — Who do you want to be as a dad? How do you want to feel? Create mindset affirmations with evidence — Don't say "I'm patient" if you don't believe it. Say "I'm patient, curious, and kind" and find ONE example from your life. Then find another. Your brain will start looking for more. Talk about your vision — Tell your band, your wife, your kids. It forces clarity and plants seeds in other people's minds. The real shift: From "I have to be present with my kids" → "I get to be present with my kids." It's not just language. It's literally rewiring how your brain sees the world. Get Adam's free envisioning guide here - https://Askwhatspossible.com/frd   📚 What Front Row Dads Are Reading: 👉 frontrowdads.com/books  

The 30-Minute Connection Ritual  👉 htt[ps://frontrowdads.com/connection This is a quick ~11-minute episode built around one powerful idea: Schedule 30 minutes a week to reconnect with your wife — no phones, no distractions, just presence. Because in a hard season, you can't always fix the problem… but you can protect the connection. In this week's episode, two Front Row Dads, Jason Brondstad and David Aceves break down the simple weekly ritual David uses to stay on the same team with his wife — especially when life feels heavy. Here's the ritual: Put 30 minutes on the calendar (weekly) No phones. No screens. No distractions. Ask two questions: "How are you really feeling?" "What are you really struggling with?" And when there's nothing to "fix," lead with presence: "What do you need right now?" "Do you want to be hugged?" 👉 Download the FREE 30-Minute Connection Ritual one-pager and try it this week: https://frontrowdads.com/connection