79 | The Dad Warm-Up

Have you ever found yourself mentally returning to a version of yourself that doesn't even exist anymore?Maybe it's a mistake you made years ago. A relationship that changed. A season of life you struggled through. Or simply someone reminding you of who you used to be.In Episode 86 of the Just Call Dad Podcast, I'm exploring something I've been thinking about lately: Sometimes we're not stuck in a season of life. We're stuck in a space in our minds.As dads, husbands, and leaders, we're constantly growing. But sometimes our thoughts keep replaying an old version of us, like a scratched CD that keeps skipping back to the same spot.In this episode, I talk about recognizing those stuck spots, writing down what's holding us back, and intentionally building the person we want to become.A few things to think about today:Are you holding on to a version of yourself you've already outgrown?What thoughts or experiences keep pulling you backward?What can you write down today to help shape who you want to be tomorrow?You can't control how everyone remembers you. But you can control the choices you're making today.Stop replaying the old track. Start writing a new one.And remember to stop, pause, and praise your progress. Today is your best day yet.

85 | What If the Weight Was Never Yours to Carry?What are you doing with what you have today?As dads, coaches, and men, it's easy to get caught up thinking about who we used to be, what we could have done differently, or who we think we're supposed to become. But what about who we are right now?In today's episode of the Just Call Dad Podcast, I share a personal realization: My parenting muscles are weak right now.Just like training in the weight room, life requires a balance between work and rest. Too often, we keep adding weight, pushing through fatigue, and carrying expectations that were never ours to begin with.This episode is about recognizing what you have to give, being intentional with your energy, and learning when to drop the weight.Three questions to take with you today:What do I have to offer today?Who am I trying to become?What weight am I carrying that I need to put down?Focus on who you want to be. Train the man you want to become. Build a man you can believe in.Strive light today.Remember, today can be our best day yet if we don't forget to live it.

Sometimes the best opportunities aren't the biggest ones. They're the ones we believe in.Basketball season is here, and for the first time, I'm coaching basketball! We have ten players, a program that's rebuilding, and an opportunity to be part of something special.In today's quick car ride episode, I share why I decided to coach, what I'm learning about chasing goals as a dad, and why we can't let someone else's experiences determine our opportunities.Sometimes people tell us to jump ship because something isn't working. But what if that's exactly when we're supposed to jump in?As dads, our kids need to see us pursue things we believe in, even when the outcome isn't guaranteed.Today's takeaway: Stop chasing the next big thing. Look for the small opportunities where you can make a big impact.Thanks for listening to the Just Call Dad Podcast. Keep showing up, keep growing, and be a call away.

What Season Are You In? | Just Call Dad PodcastEvery season has a purpose. Are you paying attention to yours?On a drive surrounded by the changing colors of fall, I started thinking about how quickly life changes.As dads, we spend so much time noticing how fast our kids are growing that we sometimes forget we're growing and changing, too.In this short solo episode of Just Call Dad, I reflect on the different seasons of fatherhood and why awareness matters more than having everything figured out.Some seasons bring growth. Others bring challenges, change, or uncertainty. But every season has something to teach us.The question isn't just what season you're in. It's what that season is helping you work through.Why dads need to recognize their own growth.The four seasons of life: fall, winter, spring, and summer.How awareness changes our perspective on difficult seasons.Why every season serves a purpose.Learning to pause and praise your progress.Take a minute and ask yourself:What season am I in right now as a dad?Then ask: What problem is this season helping me solve?You don't have to rush into the next season to appreciate the one you're in."We need them all. We need every season."00:00 – A fall drive sparks a reflection on time02:09 – Dads change too, not just their kids03:24 – Notice and appreciate your current season04:10 – Name your season: fall, winter, spring, or summer04:59 – What problem is this season helping you solve?05:47 – Pause and recognize your progressAffliates and Links:The Emotional Shoes – Kids BookHelping kids understand emotions, confidence, and the choices they make.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7Y95ZNWHonorable Savagehttps://www.skool.com/honorablesavage/about?ref=19bd685db886441f861aaba80c04aa061st Phorm – Nutrition & Supplementshttps://1stphorm.com/?a_aid=m8vz246x8190jGarage Gym Athlete – Free 7-Day TrialCome train with me through structured programming built for garage gym athletes.https://app.garagegymathlete.com/r/FTKREPJVTwo8 Bands – Movement & Traininghttps://www.two8.shop/?dt_id=3503884Some links are referral or affiliate links that may support the podcast.I'm not here because I've figured fatherhood out. I'm here because I'm figuring it out, too.These conversations are about becoming better dads, husbands, coaches, and people, one day at a time.Every great dad has someone to call.Thanks for listening. Keep showing up, keep growing, and don't forget to appreciate the season you're in.Just Call Dad.

Daily Over Decades | Faith, Fitness & Fatherhood with Dave PaczkowskiJUST CALL DAD | A Conversation with Dave Paczkowski of Garage Gym AthleteWhat if becoming a better dad isn't about doing more, but being more intentional with what you're already doing?In today's call, I'm joined by my friend Dave Paczkowski from Garage Gym Athlete. We're talking about faith, fitness, fatherhood, and learning to build a life around what matters most.Dave is a husband, father of three, and coach who understands what it's like to balance family, fitness, and personal goals.FAMILY FIRST — Your kids don't just need to see what you accomplish. They need to see how you get there.PROCESS OVER RESULTS — The small things you consistently do matter more than the big goals you're chasing.DAILY OVER DECADES — Whether it's fitness, faith, marriage, or parenting, lasting growth starts with showing up.CONNECTION OVER ISOLATION — You weren't meant to figure everything out alone. Find people who encourage you, challenge you, and walk alongside you.We also talk about garage gym training, God's timing, building better habits, setting meaningful goals, and the importance of letting our kids be part of the process.One of my favorite parts of our conversation was hearing Dave share how his daughter joined him at the track while he trained for a major fitness challenge. It was a reminder that our kids may not remember the numbers we hit, but they'll remember the time we spent together.We also get into my own journey through injury, changing priorities, and discovering how conversations and relationships can help us move forward.I'm not the expert. I'm just another dad making the call.Today's challenge: Pick one small action that moves you toward the person you want to become.Move for a few minutes. Open your Bible. Encourage your wife. Play something your kids love. Or call a friend.You don't need a perfect plan. You need a place to start.Stop. Pause. Praise your progress.Today is Day One.📓 Just Call Dad | Episode ResourcesExplore practical ideas, reflect on your goals, and turn what you hear into action.Explore the Just Call Dad Notebook🎙️ Dave Paczkowski | Garage Gym AthleteFollow Dave on Instagram📖 The Emotional Shoes | Children's BookGet the Book💪 Honorable SavageExplore Honorable Savage⚡ 1st Phorm | Nutrition & PerformanceShop 1st Phorm🏋️ Garage Gym Athlete | TrainingReal programming for everyday athletes. Build strength, improve conditioning, and train consistently through every season of life.Start Your Free 7-Day Trial🔗 28 Bands | Movement & MobilityExplore 28 BandsJUST CALL DADReal conversations. Better dads. One call at a time.Some links are referral or affiliate links that may support the show.

The Payphone | Who's Directing Your Steps?JUST CALL DAD | A Quick Call for DadsWe have more ways to communicate than ever before. So why does it sometimes feel harder than ever to connect?In today's call, I'm taking a trip back to payphones, bag phones, and dial-up internet to talk about something I'm learning as a dad.DIRECTION — Don't let someone who doesn't know your goals direct your steps.CONNECTION — More communication doesn't always mean better relationships.INTENTION — Your plan for becoming a better dad doesn't have to look like anyone else's.As a dad to three daughters, I'm still figuring out what being a great girl dad looks like. And sometimes, all the advice available makes that harder instead of easier.I'm not the expert. I'm just another dad making the call.Today's challenge: Write down what being a good dad looks like to you. Find someone you trust who understands your goals. And don't be afraid to talk about how you're feeling.Feelings first. Conversations follow.Stop. Pause. Praise your progress.Today is Day One.📓 The Payphone | Episode NotebookExplore the ideas, reflect on your own goals, and turn this episode into action.Open the Episode Notebook📓 Just Call Dad | Additional ResourcesExplore the Just Call Dad Notebook📖 The Emotional Shoes | Children's BookGet the Book💪 Honorable SavageExplore Honorable Savage⚡ 1st Phorm | Nutrition & PerformanceShop 1st Phorm🏋️ Garage Gym Athlete | TrainingReal programming for everyday athletes.Start Your Free 7-Day Trial🔗 28 Bands | Movement & MobilityExplore 28 BandsJUST CALL DADReal conversations. Better dads. One call at a time.Some links are referral or affiliate links that may support the show.TAKE THIS EPISODE FURTHERLINKS & RESOURCES

Feedback. Form. Fight. | Breaking the LoopJUST CALL DAD | A Quick Call for DadsEver feel like you're doing everything but not actually moving forward?In today's call, I'm sharing three lessons from coaching that I'm learning to apply to fatherhood, leadership, and everyday life.FEEDBACK — Who are you listening to?FORM — What habits are you building?FIGHT — Are you making decisions for who you are today or who you want to become?I'm not the expert. I'm a dad figuring this out, too.Sometimes moving forward starts with better feedback, more intentional habits, and a little fight for the person you're becoming.Today's challenge: Reach out to someone. Remind them they matter. Build the relationships that matter most.Today is Day One.📓 Your Just Call Dad NotebookExplore the ideas, reflect on what you've heard, and put this episode into action.Open the Episode Notebook📖 The Emotional Shoes | Children's BookGet the Book💪 Honorable SavageExplore Honorable Savage⚡ 1st Phorm | Nutrition & PerformanceShop 1st Phorm🏋️ Garage Gym Athlete | TrainingReal programming for everyday athletes.Start Your Free 7-Day Trial🔗 28 Bands | Movement & MobilityExplore 28 BandsJUST CALL DADReal conversations. Better dads. One call at a time.Some links are referral or affiliate links that may support the show.TAKE THIS EPISODE FURTHERLINKS & RESOURCES

The Dad Warm-Up | Just Call Dad PodcastWe warm up before a workout, but how often do we prepare ourselves for the challenges of fatherhood?In this episode, I share how faith, fitness, coaching, and having the right team are helping me show up better for the people who need me most.The real workout is life. How are you warming up?📓 Build Your Own Dad Warm-Up RoutineTake what you heard in this episode and apply it to your life. Use this interactive notebook to create your own daily warm-up routine as a dad.https://notebook.google.com/notebook/f60ca44a-4e1c-4ac6-9ffe-7d0ceb482494📖 The Emotional Shoes – Kids Bookhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7Y95ZNW💪 Honorable Savage Bootcamphttps://www.skool.com/honorablesavage/about?ref=19bd685db886441f861aaba80c04aa06⚡ 1st Phorm – Supplements & Nutritionhttps://1stphorm.com/?a_aid=m8vz246x8190j🏋️ Garage Gym Athlete – Free 7-Day Trialhttps://app.garagegymathlete.com/r/FTKREPJVJust Call Dad — Real conversations about fatherhood, faith, fitness, and becoming better today.JCD -- Strive Light Co. LLC

IF YOU CAN'T RUN, WALK | Sprinting, Striding & Stretching Through LifeSometimes life calls you to sprint. Other times, all you can do is walk.In this episode of Just Call Dad, Coach Sean Patrick reflects on rediscovering videos he recorded in 2023, the challenges of accepting a slower season of life, and why personal growth isn't always about moving faster.From fatherhood and coaching to discovering the power of conversations and creativity, Sean explores how different seasons shape who we become.We also talk about recognizing your strengths, letting go of comparison, overcoming the fear of getting started, and finding purpose in the season you're in.CHAPTERS:00:00 If You Can't Run, Walk00:30 Seasons of Sprinting, Striding & Stretching01:04 Keep Stepping Forward01:24 What Is This Season Teaching You?02:12 Why I Started Recording Videos in 202303:05 Discovering the Power of Speaking03:16 Building Conversations, Community & Connections03:55 Stop Comparing Your Strengths to Others04:34 Why We're Afraid to Get Started04:47 Pressure, Purpose & Being Present05:20 Finding Growth in a Stretching Season05:53 Make Today the Best Version of TodayABOUT JUST CALL DADDad is more than a noun. It's an action.Hosted by Coach Sean Patrick, Just Call Dad explores fatherhood, coaching, leadership, faith, fitness, and the everyday work of becoming better.Better men. Better coaches. Better dads.LISTEN & FOLLOWSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1QnwAJ25SsFnzZBipLKopdINSTAGRAM:@justcalldadpodcast@coachseanpatrick@strivelightYOUTUBE: Strive Light StudioCONNECTGuests, collaborations & questions:[email protected] BY STRIVE LIGHT CO.Focus. Train. Build.Train the tangible so you can build the intangible.

CHOOSE YOUR HARDSometimes the rain isn’t the problem. It’s how much we fight the fact that it’s raining.It was a rainy Friday morning. Cold. Wet. One of those mornings where everything just feels a little harder than it needs to be.And honestly, the weather wasn’t even the biggest problem.The morning had already been chaos. Missing glasses. Missing shoes. Kids to get where they needed to go. Work waiting. A brain already running in ten different directions.I felt behind before the day had really started.And sitting in my truck, I started thinking:Maybe the goal isn’t to avoid the hard. Maybe it’s to choose how we meet it.CHOOSE YOUR HARDWe love making plans.I make them as a dad. I make them as a coach. I make them at work. I make them in business.Planning is good.The problem comes when we start believing the plan guarantees the outcome.Because then it rains. Someone loses their shoes. The schedule changes. Something doesn’t work. You get overwhelmed.And suddenly, instead of dealing with what’s actually happening, you’re frustrated because it isn’t what you thought should be happening.That’s where I’m trying to make a shift:Choose your hard instead of resenting the hard you’re already in.If it’s raining, meet the rain. If it’s cold, meet the cold. If life is busy, figure out how you need to manage the busyness.You might not get to choose the conditions.But you still get to choose your response.SOMETIMES YOU LET YOURSELF DOWNEven a Cleveland Browns win got me thinking about expectations.We spend a lot of time worrying about other people disappointing us. But sometimes the harder truth is this:We disappoint ourselves.We know how we want to show up—as husbands, dads, coaches, and leaders.And sometimes we don’t.That doesn’t mean we stay there. It means we recognize it, learn from it, and decide how we’re going to respond next.MY RAIN RIGHT NOWRight now, my rain is busyness.There are a lot of good things happening. Family. Work. Coaching. Building. Creating.But good things can still become too much when there’s no margin between them.And I’m learning that feeling overwhelmed doesn’t necessarily mean everything is going wrong.Sometimes it means I need to manage myself better.Slow down. Make room. Reset. Decide what actually matters today.Because maybe we appreciate the sunshine a little more after the rain. Maybe warmth feels different after the cold.And maybe some of the seasons we’re trying so hard to escape are actually building something in us.YOUR CHALLENGEWhat’s your rain right now?Don’t spend all your energy wishing the conditions were different.Ask yourself:What can I control?How do I want to respond?What could this be building in me?Then choose your hard.And meet the day you actually have.TRUCK TALKThat’s the idea behind these short conversations.A few minutes on the drive. A chance to think. A chance to reset.And hopefully, by the time you pull into wherever you’re going, you’re a little more prepared to show up the way you want to.Better men. Better coaches. Better dads.— Coach Sean Patrick
Just Call Dad | Strive Light Co.