The Dad Edge Podcast

This week I sat down with Dr. Diane Mueller, a board certified sexologist with doctorates in natural medicine and acupuncture and oriental medicine. She is the host of the Libido Lounge and a best selling author and international speaker who helps committed couples who went from passionate lovers to feeling like roommates. She looks at the whole picture, including hormones, stress, kids, menopause, communication, and life transitions. We got honest about how easily intimacy slips off track, including my own sadness since our first son left the nest and the drinking habit I traced back to it. Dr. Mueller explained why new relationship energy fades after 6 to 18 months, the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, how novelty brings the spark back, and why talking about sex feels like such a threat. If you're a husband or dad who wants to stop settling for roommate status in your marriage and rebuild desire and connection, this one is for you. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction and the October Dad Edge Alliance promo [3:01] Larry welcomes Dr. Diane Mueller of the Libido Lounge and asks how she got into this work [4:24] Her story of how life gets couples off their intimate track and turns them into roommates [8:42] What somatic experience means and why we escape uncomfortable feelings in the body [11:32] Larry shares how sadness over his son leaving led him to drink more, and why he gave it up [12:47] Breaking habits by asking "why am I doing this" and letting the ego take a back seat [15:15] Larry introduces Dr. Mueller and the questions on roommate syndrome, desire, and kids [17:04] Why new relationship energy lasts 6 to 18 months and how dopamine and novelty drive desire [19:49] Why couples plan intimacy before moving in together, then expect it to happen on its own [24:16] Spontaneous desire versus responsive desire and why the difference matters in marriage [25:30] Why a partner with responsive desire needs 15 minutes to an hour of warm up [27:32] Bringing novelty back with a yes, no, maybe checklist and a date night conversation [30:14] How to set your partner up to respond well when you share something vulnerable [33:01] Why talking about sex feels like a bigger threat than other conflicts [35:07] Start by talking only about what's going right to help the nervous system feel safe [40:30] The right next step for dads: start the conversation and don't put intimacy on autopilot [43:17] Where to find Dr. Mueller's books, free resources, and social channels Five Key Takeaways The rush of new relationship energy lasts about 6 to 18 months, so when it fades it doesn't mean something is wrong with your marriage. Spontaneous desire and responsive desire are different, and a partner with responsive desire often needs 15 minutes to an hour of warm up before the desire shows up. Bring novelty back by going through a yes, no, maybe checklist on a date night, and tell your partner ahead of time how you want them to respond to what you share. Conversations about sex feel like a bigger threat than other conflicts, so start by only talking about what's going right until both of you feel safe. Intimacy can't run on autopilot any more than your health can, so ask what you're avoiding and take one small step toward talking about it. Links & Resources Dr. Diane Mueller (My Libido Doc): https://mylibidodoc.com Want to Want It by Dr. Diane Mueller: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=want+to+want+it+diane+mueller Dad Edge Alliance (October Bonuses): https://thedadedge.com/join Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1547 Closing Dr. Mueller reminded me that the body doesn't lie, and when I admitted I'd been drinking more because I was sad about our son leaving, I saw how easily we avoid the feelings we don't want to face. Her challenge is simple: tell your wife what she does well, make it safe to talk, and don't let your marriage run on autopilot. Pick one thing you love about the way she connects with you and tell her this week. Go out and live legendary.

Dr. Goran Jezic is a dual board certified physician practicing in Houston since 1996 who has focused on hair restoration for over a decade, with his team reporting more than 1 million hair grafts implanted. He personally conducts every consultation and specializes in the follicular unit extraction (FUE) method, working with everyday men as well as professional athletes, actors, and celebrities. In this episode Larry and Dr. Jezic break down why men actually lose their hair, what finasteride and minoxidil really do (and their side effect profiles), and how modern FUE transplants compare to the older strip method and the "hair plugs" of the past. If you're a man noticing thinning or a receding hairline and you want straight answers on genetics, medications, and what's possible before your hairline is gone, this conversation is for you. Timeline Summary [1:01] – Larry welcomes Dr. Goran Jezic and frames the topic every man quietly thinks about: hair loss [1:24] – Dr. Jezic on his father, a three time Olympian in water polo and PhD chemist who called fatherhood his proudest achievement [4:22] – His dad's early passing from prostate cancer just shy of 74, and being inducted into the Water Polo Hall of Fame posthumously [6:14] – The one standard his father held him to: integrity and "do the right thing when nobody's looking" [9:07] – Larry's intro to Dr. Jezic's credentials, 1 million plus grafts, and hands-on consultations [12:10] – Why high-performing dads often pressure their kids, and how Dr. Jezic's father chose "did you do your best?" instead [20:11] – Larry reveals he had hair restoration surgery in 2012 and has zero regrets [20:35] – The real cause of hair loss explained: androgenic alopecia, DHT, and genetically susceptible follicles [22:43] – Busting the myth that baldness comes only from your mother's side of the family [25:32] – Finasteride, DHT, and the small subset of men who get low-T side effects including depression and suicidal ideation [28:21] – How minoxidil actually works, why it's different from finasteride, and the oral pill option [33:36] – FUE versus the older strip (FUT) method, linear scarring, and why both beat the old hair plugs [37:21] – What men are most worried about in consultations and the real psychological weight of hair loss [40:04] – How TRT and testosterone optimization can accelerate hair loss in predisposed men [45:11] – Dr. Jezic's closing message: free consultations, no stigma, and "you've got nothing to lose but more hair" 5 Key Takeaways Hair Loss Is Genetic And Hormonal — Male pattern baldness is androgenic alopecia, driven by genetically susceptible follicles that react to the testosterone byproduct DHT. It's roughly a third of men by 30 and half by 50. The Mother's Side Myth Is Mostly Myth — Baldness was once thought to be inherited only from the maternal line, but research now shows it's multifactorial, can come from either side, and can skip generations. Finasteride Keeps, Minoxidil Grows — Finasteride blocks DHT to protect the hair you still have, while minoxidil lengthens the growth cycle to stimulate fuller hair. They work by completely different mechanisms and pair well together. Know The Side Effect Profile — A small percentage of men on finasteride experience low-T type effects like low libido, mood changes, and in rare cases depression or suicidal ideation. It's uncommon but real and worth discussing with a doctor. Modern Transplants Are Not Hair Plugs — Today's FUE method extracts individual follicles with no linear scar, minimal downtime, and natural-looking results, a far cry from the strip method and the obvious plugs of decades past. Links & Resources Houston Hair Transplant Center — https://houstonhairtransplant.com Maxim Hair Restoration (Dr. Jezic is medical director) — https://maximhairrestoration.com The Dad Edge website and episode page — https://thedadedge.com/1552 Join The Dad Edge Alliance — https://thedadedge.com/alliance Enjoyed This Episode? If you've ever stared at a clump of hair in the shower drain and wondered whether anything actually works, this conversation gives you the straight science without the Instagram hype. Share it with a friend who's been quietly battling the bald and wondering what his options really are. Follow The Dad Edge, and if the show's helped you, leave a rating and review so more dads can find it.

Traver Boehm is back on the show for the third time, and I still remember his first story like it was yesterday. He's a former professional MMA fighter and bodyguard with a master's degree in traditional Chinese medicine, a hospice volunteer, more than 11 years sober, and the founder of the Uncivilized movement. He's the author of Today I Rise, Uncivilized, and 28 Days in Darkness, and he has now spent 77 days of his life in complete darkness, including 49 straight days in a dark room in Tuscany with no phone, no people, and no clock. We talk about what it takes to stop running from yourself, the fragmentation I see in so many men, and the morning a phrase landed so hard that Traver dropped to his knees. We also get honest about suicide, why men need to pick up the phone, and what a relationship with yourself does for your marriage and your kids. If you're a dad who feels the drift of busyness and wonders who you really are underneath it, this conversation is for you. Timeline Summary [1:01] Larry welcomes Traver Boehm back for his third time on the show [4:32] Larry introduces Traver: MMA fighter, bodyguard, hospice volunteer, 11 years sober, and 77 days in the dark [6:01] How 2016 brought a lost pregnancy, a divorce, and a lost business, and the question of who he was as a man [8:27] Fragmentation: the man everyone sees, the man his family sees, and the man nobody sees [10:26] Why Traver felt called back into the dark after his father died [11:49] The call about his cousin's death that pushed him to write his book and go back into darkness [19:09] Terror and acceptance: why a true initiation has to carry the risk of a breakdown [23:04] A message to men in dark times: pick up the phone, because we want you to reach out [28:52] The mantra One Life, All In: why a man is meant to live one life, not a public, private, and secret one [30:35] The morning a word came to him while pacing the dark mile and dropped him to his knees [36:34] Day 45: the hardest morning of the 49 days, and the guide who sensed it from afar [46:44] Walking out on day 49: the sunrise, birds, and tears after seven weeks without light [50:20] Welcome back to reality: credit card fraud, a rough landing, and a year of reorganizing [54:32] The core lesson: your relationship with yourself changes every other relationship [57:13] Questions every father should answer, and why kids need a dad who knows himself [1:00:52] Larry on human doing versus human being, and what he avoids with distraction Key Takeaways You don't have to wait for a crisis to ask who you are as a man, and one quiet hour with yourself is a good place to start. Keeping the public, private, and secret versions of yourself apart drains your energy, and living one life gives it back. If you're in a dark place, pick up the phone and tell someone, because the people who love you would rather hear from you than lose you. Everything you build on top of a relationship with yourself is a bonus, and chasing success to fill that void never works. Your kids get a better father when you can honestly answer what you want and whether this is the life you want to live. Links & Resources 28 Days in Darkness by Traver Boehm: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=28+days+in+darkness Dad Edge Alliance (October Bonuses): https://thedadedge.com/join Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1541 Closing Traver said the most important relationship we have is the one with ourselves, and I've been asking myself those same questions ever since we stopped recording. I told him I can't sit still for 30 minutes, and that tells me I have some work to do on what I'm avoiding with distraction. So this week, take one hour, ask the man in the mirror how he's really doing, and ask your wife whether she's happy. And if you're in a dark place right now, call someone today. Go out and live legendary.

This week I sat down with Jordan Raynor, a bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and one of the leading voices in the faith and work movement. Jordan wrote Called to Create, Redeeming Your Time, The Creator in You, and his newest book, Redeeming Your Goals, and he's the executive chairman of Threshold 360 after stepping down as CEO to write full time. He has been married since 2009, is a dad to three daughters, and he asks a much better question than most goal-setting gurus: who are we becoming while we chase these goals? We started with the all-boys versus all-girls dad debate, and I told the story of a sold-out daddy daughter retreat that left me with serious FOMO. From there we got into the Tim Keller book that changed Jordan's faith, the day his kids' drawings of the family left him out and he gave his board 15 months notice, and the nightly ritual that keeps his phone out of his hands from 5 p.m. to 6:37 a.m. If you're a dad who wants to stop compartmentalizing your faith, your work, and your family, this one is for you. Timeline Summary [1:01] Larry welcomes Jordan, and the two compare life raising all girls versus all boys [2:25] Larry shares how a sold-out daddy daughter retreat with 12 dads and 12 daughters became his favorite event [10:27] Larry introduces Jordan: bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and faith and work voice [12:23] Jordan explains how he became a Google Fellow running a political tech company [13:58] Jordan on his faith, his first campaign at 17, and why he left politics for entrepreneurship [18:23] Jordan credits Tim Keller and The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness with changing how he follows Jesus [22:05] Jordan tells the story of meeting his wife at Florida State and two years in the friend zone [28:56] Jordan on writing his first book, Called to Create, and betting on himself as a full-time writer [33:05] Why Jordan gave his board 15 months notice as CEO after his kids drew family pictures without him [38:12] Why Jordan refuses to compartmentalize faith, marriage, parenting, and work [42:11] Two practical steps: remember God cares about your work, and pray in short silent moments all day [44:08] Jordan's phone ritual: no phone from 5 p.m. to 6:37 a.m. so his kids see his full presence [50:27] A study showing kids run the bases faster and make fewer mistakes when parents aren't on their phones [51:56] Redeeming Your Goals: seven principles, 58 practices, a no template, and kill criteria for strategic quitting [57:00] Jordan's family goal to love like Jesus, and his 12-year-old raising money to send two orphans to college [1:03:23] Jordan shares where to find him and how preordering Redeeming Your Goals enters you to win $4,000 Five Key Takeaways God cares about your work, so you don't have to live in separate worlds for your faith, your job, and your family. Short, silent prayers throughout the workday, even a sticky note that says pray, invite God into ordinary work. Turn your phone into a landline after work, and your kids get your presence instead of your leftover attention. Set kill criteria for a goal or strategy ahead of time, so you quit on purpose instead of on emotion. Write down a family goal and review it every quarter, because confident kids come from a clear target and a loving example. Links & Resources Jordan Raynor: https://jordanraynor.com Redeeming Your Goals (preorder before October 16 to enter the $4,000 giveaway): https://jordanraynor.com/redeeming-your-goals The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller: https://gospelinlife.com/book/the-freedom-of-self-forgetfulness Dad Edge Alliance (October Bonuses): https://thedadedge.com/join Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1549 Closing Jordan said he can't imagine a more valuable present to give his kids than his presence, and that line has stayed with me. I've watched a mom at my son's soccer game barely look up while her little boy banged on the glass for attention, and I don't want to be that dad for even one day. If this conversation moved you, pick two hours tonight, put your phone in another room, and give your family everything you've got. Go out and live legendary.

Justin Pickering spent nearly two decades in U.S. Army Special Forces, retiring as a Green Beret Sergeant Major with the 7th Special Forces Group, earning a Purple Heart and five Bronze Stars along the way. He's now an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and author of The Deliberate Mindset, a book built from his own collapse and recovery after coming home from his final deployment. In this episode, Justin joins Larry to talk about the moment his youngest son didn't recognize him after his final deployment, the flashback that sent him to check himself into a psychological care program, and the five pillars he built to rebuild his marriage and fatherhood from the ground up. Timeline Summary [2:12] Larry opens with the moment Justin's youngest son, then five years old, looked at him after his final deployment and asked, "Who are you?" [5:34] Justin's middle son, seven at the time, tells him he wishes he had died overseas after a week of nonstop new discipline at home. [8:25] Justin describes why combat felt peaceful to him: one task, one standard, and a clear drill for every threat. [11:40] Justin shares that he was depressed, medicated, and losing friends to suicide, and started wondering if he'd be the next statistic. [13:05] Justin explains how watching elite Green Berets take their own lives led him to build the blueprint that became his book. [15:06] Larry formally introduces Justin's record: two decades in Army Special Forces, a Green Beret Sergeant Major, a Purple Heart, and five Bronze Stars. [20:47] Justin begins the story of his breaking point, a 30 day span that changed everything. [22:51] During a disagreement on the family farm, Justin has a flashback and mistakes his 12 year old son for a disrespectful Afghan elder. [24:44] Justin drives himself straight to base afterward and checks into the psychological performance program. [25:05] Justin initially refuses medication, having watched his mother's lifelong struggle with pill addiction end in her death. [25:59] Blood work reveals extremely high cortisol levels, explaining why Justin was constantly on edge after multiple deployments. [27:26] Justin introduces the five pillars behind his recovery: gratitude, framing and reframing, controlling the controllable, action over perfection, and the power of words and thoughts. [27:45] Justin admits he later stopped his medication cold turkey without telling his wife or his doctor, a decision he's explicit about not recommending to anyone else. [35:04] Justin shares how reframing "I have to" into "I get to" changed his relationship with his kids, starting with school drop off. [1:02:57] Justin tells the story of a blown trailer tire on the drive home from Florida, and how his new mindset replaced "Pickering luck" with gratitude. [1:07:05] Justin shares where to find his book, his business, and his weekly newsletter, The Sunday Compass. Five Key Takeaways Coming home can be its own deployment. Justin says combat felt simpler than fatherhood because it had clear tasks and standards. Reentry doesn't come with a manual, and that gap is where a lot of men get lost. Watch for the moment you stop feeling anything at all. Justin describes years on medication where he wasn't angry, but he also wasn't happy, sad, or anything else. Numb is not the same as healed. The five pillars are simple on purpose: gratitude, reframing, controlling the controllable, action over perfection, and watching your words. None of them are new. What matters is actually doing them. A single word swap can change a relationship. Justin changed "I have to take the kids to school" to "I get to take the kids to school," and silent car rides turned into conversations his kids will remember for decades. Never stop medication or change a treatment plan without your doctor. Justin is explicit that going cold turkey off his prescription without telling his wife or his doctor was the wrong way to do it, even though it worked out for him. Links & Resources The Deliberate Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/Deliberate-Mindset-Overthinking-Resilience-Intentional/dp/B0GXMTCWSX The Deliberate Blueprint: https://deliberateblueprint.com Find Justin on Facebook/Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/justin.pickering.927/, https://www.instagram.com/thedeliberateblueprint/ Dad Edge Alliance (October Bonuses): https://thedadedge.com/join Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1539 Closing Justin's story is proof that the strongest men still break, and that breaking isn't the end of the story. The dad who once told his own son "I'm going to have to defend myself" is the same dad now driving his kids to school and calling it a gift instead of a chore. If anything in this episode hit close to home, whether it's PTSD, a mental health crisis, or the loss of someone to suicide, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) is there any time you need to talk to someone. Go out and live legendary.

Chris Schuett is a Brooklyn dad of two, the COO of Little Cinema, and the author of You Are Now the CFO of a Very Small Family, where he writes about what he calls "the financial drift," the slow, unintentional neglect of a family's financial foundation. He's also the writer behind the New Family CFO newsletter, sharing what he's learned building his own financial system from scratch. In this episode, Chris joins Larry to unpack why dads put off wills, life insurance, and college savings until "later" quietly becomes years, how to talk to your spouse about money without triggering a fight, and why identifying your family's core values makes financial decisions dramatically easier. Larry also shares the story of paying off $95,000 in debt in five years, and how it nearly sent his wife into a grocery store panic because he never looped her in. Timeline Summary [1:02] Chris joins from Brooklyn and the two swap hometown food takes, landing on Texas barbecue over Chicago pizza. [9:32] Larry introduces Chris as the author of You Are Now the CFO of a Very Small Family and writer of the New Family CFO newsletter. [11:12] Larry names the concept at the heart of the episode: "the financial drift," the slow neglect that turns one exhausted night into years. [13:25] Chris defines the financial drift and traces it back to writing his book after three years of getting his own finances in order. [15:32] Chris explains the drift isn't laziness. Urgent daily tasks always beat important but invisible ones like a will or life insurance. [16:18] Chris and Larry compare notes on never being taught personal finance in school, only learning it later through trial and error. [19:36] Chris describes texting a finance-industry friend at 4 or 5 a.m. to ask the "ignorant" money questions he was embarrassed to ask anyone else. [27:08] Larry shares paying off $95,000 in debt in five years using Dave Ramsey's method, without looping his wife in on the plan first. [28:17] Larry's wife is left with $150 in checking and no idea why, a story he uses to show what happens when money isn't communicated. [29:31] Chris says the worst way to start a money conversation is pulling up bank statements. Start with feelings first, numbers second. [36:16] Chris describes helping a friend buy his first property by focusing on the friend's goals instead of comparing income or net worth. [40:07] Chris and Larry connect financial decisions to a shared vision, and how couples often never actually align on what that vision is. [54:14] Chris walks through his family's core values (connection, environment, adventure) and how they make spending decisions almost automatic. [1:01:37] Chris points listeners to the New Family CFO Substack and his book, available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback. Five Key Takeaways The financial drift happens to almost every dad. It's not that you're ignoring your family's finances on purpose, it's that urgent daily tasks always crowd out the important but invisible ones, like a will or life insurance, until years have quietly gone by. Don't open a money conversation with bank statements. Start by asking your spouse how they're feeling about your finances first. Leading with numbers turns the conversation into an audit, and audits start fights. You only have two ways to create more money in your life: increase your income or decrease your expenses. Once you accept that, you can stop guessing and start deciding where your finite balance actually goes. Know your family's core values before you make big financial calls. When Chris and his wife identified connection, environment, and adventure as theirs, spending on travel and family time stopped feeling like a debate. Paying off debt in secret isn't a win if your spouse doesn't know the plan. Larry paid off $95,000 in five years, but he also left his wife staring at $150 in checking with no explanation. Communication has to come before the strategy. Links & Resources You Are Now the CFO of a Very Small Family: https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Very-Small-Family/dp/B0H2G1NVZM New Family CFO: https://newfamilycfo.substack.com Little Cinema: https://www.littlecinema.net The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey: https://store.ramseysolutions.com/money/books/the-total-money-makeover-by-dave-ramsey/ The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Languages-Secret-That-Lasts/dp/1594153515 The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1536 Closing Chris's story about paying off debt without ever looping his wife in, and the panic she felt staring at $150 in the checking account, is a reminder that a good financial plan means nothing if your spouse isn't part of it. The real work isn't the spreadsheet, it's the conversation that happens before you ever open one. Start with how you're both feeling about money, get clear on your family's core values, and let those values point you toward your vision instead of chasing whatever the Joneses bought this week. Go out and live legendary.

This week's Wednesday Q&A tackles a single question, but it's one that touches a lot of co-parenting dads. A member named Mike wrote in about a genuinely tricky situation. His ex-wife coaches their daughter's softball team and wants her fully involved, but Mike is also trying to build his own relationship with his daughter through something they both love, jiu jitsu. The two schedules keep colliding, and Mike is left wondering how much effort he should really be putting into supporting an activity that's eating into his own time with her. Joe took the lead on this one, drawing from his own experience raising five kids across multiple co-parenting relationships. His core message was simple but hard to live out. Stop asking what's convenient for you and start asking what's genuinely best for your daughter, and never let your kids feel like they have to be the peacekeepers in a situation adults created. Larry tied it together with a reference to a past guest, Gary Chapman, and a lesser known book of his built specifically for blended families. If you're navigating co-parenting tension of your own, this conversation offers real, hard won perspective rather than easy answers. Timeline Summary 1:01 Introducing today's single question format and Joe joining from a borrowed candy shop closet 3:21 Mike's question. Balancing his daughter's softball commitment, coached by his ex-wife, against their own jiu jitsu time together 4:24 Joe's own co-parenting background. Three prior marriages, five kids, and blended families from every angle 6:41 Larry announces a rare, small group preview of the Dad Edge Business Boardroom Brotherhood 8:38 Joe's first question back to Mike. What does his daughter actually want, not what either parent wants for her 11:38 Naming the trap of projecting our own wants and needs onto our kids instead of putting theirs first 13:52 Joe's underlying philosophy. Every co-parenting decision is a chance to build partnership and trust for the years ahead 14:16 Larry announces the first ever Dad Edge Day with the Arizona Cardinals, November 15th 16:39 Joe reflects on his own childhood as a blended family kid caught in the middle 18:24 Naming the difference between being a peacekeeper and a peacemaker 19:23 The scriptural reframe. Blessed are the peacemakers, not the peacekeepers 21:04 Larry shares his own childhood memory of physically stepping between fighting parents 22:07 Mike reflects on what he's taking away from the conversation 23:20 Joe's honest admission that co-parenting wisdom came through years of trial and error 24:44 The long term payoff. Joe's grown kids now raising strong, peaceful families of their own 25:28 Larry introduces Gary Chapman's book on blended families and the five love languages 26:33 Closing reminders about the Boardroom Brotherhood preview and the Arizona Cardinals game Five Key Takeaways Put your child's actual wants and needs ahead of your own convenience or resentment. Kids can tell the difference between a parent who is genuinely supportive and one who is just tolerating an obligation. Kids in co-parenting situations often quietly take on the role of peacekeeper, trying to manage tension between the adults around them. Naming that pressure and removing it from their shoulders is one of the most protective things a parent can do. There is a real difference between keeping the peace and making peace. Peacekeeping is passive and avoids conflict. Peacemaking means actively confronting hard conversations for the sake of the whole family. Building trust with a difficult co-parent takes years of trial and error, including plenty of failed attempts. The goal is not a quick fix, it is a foundation that will matter even more once your kids reach their teenage years. The work you put into peaceful co-parenting now can shape your children's own future marriages and families, long after the original conflict is resolved. Links and Resources Building Love Together in Blended Families by Gary Chapman and Ron L. Deal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WJ1DFT6?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback The Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl Dad Edge Business Boardroom Brotherhood Preview: https://thedadedge.com/guest The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1534 Closing If you take one thing from this episode, let it be Joe's line that peacemaking means dying to your own wants for the sake of your kids. It is not easy, and it will not happen overnight, but the payoff, watching your own children grow up to build peaceful families of their own, is worth every bit of the work. Go out and live legendary.

I opened this episode by asking Kaseena Birnbaum about something I'd heard her talk about online: the 72 hour rule, a simple commitment she and her husband made years ago to never go more than three days without prioritizing physical intimacy in some form. What made this conversation different from a lot of marriage talks I've had is how honest Kaseena was about how hard that was for her to actually implement, even though it ended up being, in her words, the single thing that changed their entire marriage. We got into what was really underneath her own resistance early on: unaddressed resentment, unspoken expectations, and a cultural upbringing that made talking openly about sex feel shameful. Kaseena shared the exact moment her husband finally understood that her "no" wasn't rejection of him, just exhaustion in that moment, and how that reframe changed everything for both of them. We also talked through the small, everyday behaviors, being observant, following through on your word, creating emotional safety, that build the kind of trust and attraction that makes physical connection feel natural instead of like an obligation. Timeline Summary [1:02] Kaseena's unusual name and a lighthearted detour into the pressure of naming your own kids [3:49] Introducing the 72 hour rule and what changed after Kaseena and her husband started following it [6:20] Why implementing the rule was far harder for Kaseena than she expected [9:21] A full introduction to Kaseena: marriage coach, content creator, and mother of two [10:06] Resentment as "the polyp," and why it quietly grows until it becomes something much bigger [11:26] Unpacking unspoken and unmet expectations as the root of most disconnection [16:12] Larry announces the first-ever Dad Edge Day with the Arizona Cardinals, November 15th [16:49] Naming an expectation your spouse never actually agreed to isn't really their failure [17:51] The Instagram story that resonated with Larry: flirting all day, then feeling "smoked" by evening [19:53] Understanding the "baby mode" reaction men fall into after being turned down [24:03] The moment Kaseena's husband learned that her "no" wasn't rejection, just exhaustion [25:48] What specific behaviors outside the bedroom actually build attraction and trust [29:06] Larry announces a rare, small-group preview of the Dad Edge Business Boardroom Brotherhood [31:05] Getting curious instead of triggered when your spouse is having an off day [34:23] The two or three things Kaseena hears most often from clients in crisis [37:35] How Kaseena coaches couples: identifying the one shift that will move the needle fastest [41:13] Why small, consistent follow-through matters more than big romantic gestures [42:19] The grocery list example: how small broken promises quietly erode trust [43:47] Why offering two specific options works better than an open-ended "what can I help you with" [45:01] What Kaseena is most excited about next for her mission and message [48:10] Where to find Kaseena and the 72 hour rule challenge Five Key Takeaways Resentment behaves like a polyp: not every instance turns into something serious, but nearly every serious breakdown started as an unaddressed resentment that was left to grow. Most disconnection in a marriage traces back to expectations that were never actually communicated out loud. If your spouse doesn't know what you expect, you can't fairly hold them accountable for missing it. A "no" to intimacy is often a no to the current moment, not a rejection of your spouse as a person. Understanding that distinction can remove years of unnecessary hurt and insecurity. Trust is built or broken in small, ordinary moments, following through on what you said you'd do, being observant, noticing when something's off, far more than through grand gestures. When your spouse is overwhelmed or triggered, respond with curiosity instead of reacting personally. Getting curious about what's really going on defuses conflict far faster than matching their energy. Links & Resources Making Marriage Sexy: https://www.instagram.com/makingmarriagesexy The Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1532 The Dad Edge Boardroom Mastermind: https://thedadedge.com/guest Closing What's staying with me from this conversation is how simple Kaseena's reframe actually is: a no is usually a no to the moment, not a no to you. So much unnecessary hurt in a marriage comes from taking things personally that were never meant that way. Whether it's the 72 hour rule, addressing an expectation you've never said out loud, or just getting curious instead of defensive the next time your spouse is having a hard day, small, consistent shifts are what actually rebuild connection. Go out and live legendary.

Baruch HaLevi opens this conversation with a statistic most listeners have never heard: every 13 minutes in America, a man dies by suicide, and men account for roughly 80% of all suicide deaths. For Baruch, this isn't abstract. He's lost family members to suicide across multiple generations, and he candidly shares that he himself came close to the same fate about a decade ago, during a period of profound identity loss after stepping away from 20 years as a rabbi. Grounded in the work of Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, Baruch and Larry talk through what actually helps a man in genuine despair: finding a "why not," the specific reason to keep going, learning to sit with guilt without letting it curdle into shame, and the necessity of real, honest community instead of empty check-ins. Both men share their own history with suicidal crisis directly. If you or someone you love has ever been in a season that felt unbearable, this conversation offers a clear, compassionate way through it, but given the depth of what's discussed, please take care with how and when you engage with it. Timeline Summary [1:24] Introducing the statistic behind Baruch's mission: a man dies by suicide every 13 minutes in America [2:41] Baruch shares that his father and grandmother both died by suicide, and that it's deeply personal to his work [4:50] Larry and Baruch each share their own history of suicidal crisis [7:07] Discovering Viktor Frankl's work as a turning point during his own darkest season [11:11] Rebuilding identity from the ground up after stepping away from a lifelong profession [12:22] A full introduction to Baruch: logotherapist, rabbi, author of "The Guy in the Glass" [13:40] The origin of the book's title, tied to a poem given to Baruch by his grandfather [16:21] Larry announces the first-ever Dad Edge Day with the Arizona Cardinals, November 15th [18:24] Baruch reflects on why his father reached the point he did [27:46] Introducing the concept of a "why not" as a foundation to keep living [29:49] Discussing how the idea of "finding your why" has become diluted in modern culture [31:19] Viktor Frankl's concept of self-transcendence: living for something beyond yourself [36:50] Larry announces a rare, small-group preview of the Dad Edge Business Boardroom Brotherhood [38:00] How genuine community changes the experience of shame and crisis [41:11] Why hiding in isolation during a hard season is actually a disservice to others [45:37] The loss of Baruch's closest friend, and the concept of "bearing witness" to another man's life [47:45] Unpacking the phrase "shame dies in safe conversations," and the difference between guilt and shame [49:53] Details on Baruch's book, his mission, and where to find his work [51:37] What Baruch would say directly to a man in a moment of crisis [53:24] Larry shares an important reframe he once heard from his own therapist Five Key Takeaways Finding a concrete "why not," a specific reason not to give up, can be as important as finding a broader life purpose when someone is in genuine crisis. Guilt and shame are not the same thing. Guilt corrects behavior and can be redemptive; shame attacks a person's fundamental worth and has no redemptive value. Healthy communities make room for guilt and accountability without slipping into shame. Self-transcendence, living for something or someone beyond yourself, is described as the deepest source of meaning available to a person, more foundational than personal happiness or self-actualization alone. Withdrawing into isolation during a hard season doesn't protect the people who care about you, it deprives them of the chance to show up for you, and it removes the example of bravery that could help someone else going through the same thing. Genuine connection, being truly seen and known by another person, is one of the most protective forces against despair. Real community requires honesty, not surface-level check-ins that accept "I'm fine" as a real answer. Links & Resources Baruch HaLevi: https://bhalevi.com The Guy in the Glass by Baruch HaLevi: https://bhalevi.com The Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl The Dad Edge Boardroom Mastermind: https://thedadedge.com/guest The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1530 Closing If you are having thoughts of suicide, or you're worried about someone who might be, please don't wait. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, every day. You are not a burden, and the people who love you would rather have you, in any season, than lose you. If you're not in crisis yourself but this episode brought something up for you, please talk to someone you trust, or a licensed therapist, today rather than carrying it alone.

For the second time, Marc Hildebrand flips the format and puts Larry in the interview seat, this time to unpack the five things men consistently say changed everything after joining the Dad Edge Business Boardroom Brotherhood: clarity, challenge, strategy, accountability, and brotherhood. Using real, anonymized member stories, Larry walks through how the group helps a business owner named Taylor rebuild connection with his wife using the four pillars of marriage and three levels of listening, why "rusty relationships" built on enabling friends keep 78% of men stuck, and why vague goals like "more communication" aren't actually strategies. Larry also shares the origin story of the group's gamified accountability system, born on a cruise ship when he realized he hated holding people accountable the traditional way, and closes with a blunt challenge: most men wait for a crisis before they get help, and by then it's often too late. If you're a business owner who feels like your family gets the leftovers of your time and energy, this conversation is a direct look at what actually changes that. Timeline Summary [1:02] Larry opens on the tension every entrepreneur feels: building an empire without sacrificing family [4:21] Introducing Marc Hildebrand as this week's interviewer, flipping the usual format [6:42] The first pillar: clarity, and the story of onboarding a new member named Taylor [7:45] Introducing the Brave Man system: bond, raise, amplify, vitality, enjoy, movement, action, network [9:47] The comparison trap and the real divorce and disconnection statistics behind most marriages [10:28] The four pillars of an extraordinary marriage: individual, partnership, friendship, and lovers [13:20] Giving Taylor the 50 Intimate Conversation Starters and a simple daily walk-and-talk challenge [15:13] The three levels of listening: to respond, to understand, and to hear the emotion underneath [20:43] Larry announces a rare open preview of the Dad Edge Business Boardroom Brotherhood [22:29] Why the same relational skills that fix a marriage also apply to clients and employees [26:35] The second pillar: challenge, and the difference between friends and objective advisors [27:22] Introducing "rusty relationships" and the 78% statistic from Mansfield's Book of Manly Men [30:08] The story of a member named Tim who left his gym to stop being the smartest guy in the room [33:38] The third pillar: strategy, and why "more" or "better" communication isn't actually a strategy [35:25] The Casey 1.0 and 2.0 example: moving from scarcity and fear to strategic thinking [38:20] The story of a member named Blake, whose time management problem was really about protecting family time [40:03] Larry announces the first-ever Dad Edge Day with the Arizona Cardinals, November 15th [42:49] The fourth pillar: accountability, and the cruise ship story behind gamifying it [45:29] Introducing "the tent," the virtual system where members plan and track weekly missions [47:20] The story of a member named Jayden whose recurring unfinished mission revealed a deeper marriage issue [48:51] The fifth pillar: brotherhood, and why shame dies in safe conversations [54:30] Larry's closing challenge: most men wait for a crisis, and by then it's often too late Five Key Takeaways Real clarity often comes from realizing your problem isn't what you think it is. A man convinced his issue is "not enough communication" usually discovers, through the right questions, that the real issue is which questions he's asking and how he's listening. The four pillars of an extraordinary marriage, individual, partnership, friendship, and lovers, break down when couples get stuck managing logistics (partnership) and skip friendship entirely, which makes physical connection feel confusing or absent. A friend who only agrees with your complaints isn't helping you, he's enabling you. An objective advisor without emotional stake in your friendship will challenge you in ways a lifelong buddy often won't. Vague goals like "more communication" or "better connection" aren't strategies, they're wishes. Real change comes from identifying specific, concrete actions, the same way a health goal requires a specific plan, not just an instruction to "get healthier." Accountability works best when it's gamified rather than shame-based. Publicly tracked weekly goals, done with humor and healthy competition, produce more consistent follow-through than accountability rooted in guilt. Links & Resources The Dad Edge Business Boardroom Brotherhood Preview: https://thedadedge.com/guest Roommates to Soulmates: http://thedadedge.com/soulmates The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood by Larry Hagner: https://thedadedge.com The Dad Edge Podcast: http://thedadedge.com/1531 Mansfield's Book of Manly Men by Stephen Mansfield The Miracle Morning for Couples by Hal Elrod, Lance Salazar, and Brandy Salazar Closing If there's one thing Larry wants every business owner dad to hear from this episode, it's this: don't wait for a crisis. He read an email that same day from a man who waited seven years to address a marriage on the brink of collapse, and now he's scrambling. Clarity, challenge, strategy, accountability, and brotherhood aren't things you need once things fall apart, they're things you build before they do. Go out and live legendary.

I've had a lot of impressive guests on this show, but Khalil Zahar's story genuinely stood out to me. He's the founder and CEO of FightCamp, a company he built from a simple idea, wanting to actually measure his own progress as a boxer, into one of the biggest names in connected fitness, with over $100 million raised and backing from legends like Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, and Georges St-Pierre. He's also not married and doesn't have kids, but the lessons he's built his entire career around, discipline, discomfort, and identity, translate directly to fatherhood and marriage. We started with the pivotal moment in his early 20s, a late night watching Sportscenter, that made him realize he didn't have unlimited time to become who he wanted to be. From there we got into his philosophy around seeking discomfort intentionally, why he believes identity has to come before outcome, and what it actually means to become the person who does the things you want to be known for, rather than chasing the result directly. He shared a personal story about training around a serious injury by controlling everything he could, his nutrition and mindset, when he couldn't control his body, and I shared a nearly identical story from my own torn patella tendon recovery. We closed the conversation on what Khalil calls the mindset of a fighter, discipline, craftsmanship, accepting what you can't control, and learning to be genuinely thankful for your losses instead of resentful of them. If you've ever felt too comfortable, stuck in a rut, or unsure how to push yourself toward the version of you that you know is possible, this conversation gives you a real, practical way to start. Timeline Summary [1:04] Khalil's early 20s awakening: a late night realization that time wasn't unlimited [3:36] His teenage dream of becoming a professional B-Boy and the intimidating scene around it [7:00] The first concrete steps he took once he decided to stop just "trying a little" [9:25] How Khalil's relationship with failure changed once he actually started taking risks [12:20] Larry announces a rare, small-group preview of the Dad Edge Business Boardroom Brotherhood [12:37] Why embracing failure sooner would have changed everything, and Thomas Edison's light bulb story [14:31] Taking the first, smallest possible step instead of trying to see ten miles ahead [16:34] A full introduction to Khalil: FightCamp's founder, backed by Tyson, Mayweather, and Saint-Pierre [18:11] Khalil's controversial philosophy: why seeking discomfort matters more than self-acceptance alone [21:39] Practical advice for a man who feels too comfortable and stuck in a "dad bod" mindset [22:01] The core idea: identity comes first, and outcomes follow from who you decide to become [25:21] Larry announces Roommates to Soulmates cohort three, starting September 16th [27:16] Diving deeper into identity versus tactics, using Khalil's 13 bodybuilding competitions as an example [32:18] Why seeking discomfort is fundamentally about removing fear, not chasing a specific outcome [35:51] Confidence built through keeping your word to yourself, even when you don't feel like it [36:43] What the mindset of a fighter actually looks like, broken into four core principles [38:18] The first principle: discipline as doing what you don't want to do [39:48] The second principle: craftsmanship, applying full care and attention to everything you touch [40:31] The third principle: you can't control your opponent, only how you prepare and react [42:17] The fourth principle: losses and failure are praised in martial arts, not resented [44:10] Larry's own story of controlling what he could control during a torn patella tendon recovery [45:32] Khalil shares a strikingly similar story recovering from a severe hand injury [49:17] Where to find Khalil and FightCamp Five Key Takeaways Time is not unlimited, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you stop just "trying a little" and start actually pursuing the version of yourself you want to become. Identity comes before outcome. Instead of fixating on the result you want, define who that person would be and start living like them today, and the outcome tends to follow naturally. Confidence isn't built by achieving a goal once, it's built by consistently keeping your word to yourself, especially in the small moments when you don't feel like following through. You cannot control your circumstances, your opponent, or the environment around you. The only thing you control is how you prepare for and respond to what happens, and real peace comes from focusing there instead. Losses and failure should be treated as lessons to be thankful for, not outcomes to resent. A fighter's mindset toward getting knocked down and getting back up applies directly to marriage, parenting, and business. Links & Resources FightCamp (Khalil's at-home connected boxing and kickboxing fitness platform) — https://joinfightcamp.com FightCamp on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok — @fightcamp Khalil Zahar on Instagram — @khalilzahar Shownotes for this episode: http://thedadedge.com/1526 Roommates to Soulmates (Larry's 8-week marriage coaching cohort; next cohort starts September 16th, with free preview calls): http://thedadedge.com/soulmates Join the boardroom: http://thedadedge.com/guest Closing What's staying with me from this conversation is Khalil's point that losses are meant to be praised, not resented, because that's exactly the mindset a marriage and a family need too. You're not going to get every season right, and neither is your wife or your kids, but treating a setback as a lesson instead of a verdict on who you are changes everything about how you recover from it. Whatever discomfort you've been avoiding lately, in your body, your business, or your relationships, let this be the nudge to take the smallest next step toward it.

Gentlemen, welcome to the fourth and final episode of this month's series with my wife Jessica, and I want to start by saying thank you for showing up for this one, since August actually had five Fridays this year, which means she recorded a full bonus episode she didn't have to do. Today we're tackling something that trips up more marriages than almost anything else: roles and expectations, and specifically, all the unspoken assumptions about who does what that quietly cause resentment when they're never actually talked about. Jessica and I get into the finances first, how I took over bill paying for our first five years of marriage and, driven by my own anxiety around debt, paid things down so aggressively it actually put us in a bind more than once. We talk through why swapping our roles, me handling investing and her handling the day to day bills, ended up being the right fit for both of us, and why neither of us wants to trade back. From there we get into dinner, probably the single area that's caused us the most quiet frustration over the years, from Jessica's years of resentment doing all the cooking to the practical shift we finally made once we actually talked about it out loud instead of just enduring it. We also open up about how we split the harder parenting conversations, why the sex talk with our boys has always fallen to me, and why Jessica has become the one I lean on for basically every other hard conversation in our house. I share what I've learned watching her approach conflict, calm, strategic, and incredibly well timed, compared to my own instinct to just react in the moment. We close out by talking through how we split up kids' sports and activities, and what boundaries actually held up over 22 years of marriage. If your marriage has ever hit friction over who's supposed to be doing what, and you've never actually sat down and talked about it, this conversation is a real look at how two people figured that out over two decades together, including the parts that took way too long to fix. Timeline Summary [1:02] Introducing the fourth and final episode of the August series with Jessica [12:56] Reflecting on last week's lower-energy episode and setting up today's topic: roles and expectations [14:12] Larry announces Roommates to Soulmates cohort three, starting September 16th [16:33] Why unspoken and unknown expectations are what actually trip couples up the most [19:00] The early years of bill paying: Larry's aggressive debt payoff and the strain it caused [21:52] Why paying bills stressed Larry out so deeply, no matter how much money was in the bank [24:36] Checking in on whether Jessica still feels good about handling the bills 17 years later [25:39] Introducing the second financial role: why Larry handles all the investing [27:05] Larry's own journey from investing overwhelm to genuinely loving it today [30:45] Confirming neither of them wants to trade financial roles, and why that alignment matters [31:27] Introducing the dinner problem: why family meals can become a major source of strife [32:52] The moment, about a year ago, Jessica finally said out loud that she hated cooking [33:32] The fix: splitting cooking nights and having the non-cooking spouse handle cleanup [37:55] Larry announces the first-ever Dad Edge Day with the Arizona Cardinals, November 15th [42:22] Checking in on what Jessica would still change about how dinner works today [43:24] Jessica's regret: never requiring the kids to eat what was served instead of making separate meals [46:34] Why the sex talk role has always fallen to Larry, and how he approaches it with their boys [52:36] Breaking down Jessica's calm, strategic approach to conflict versus Larry's reactive instinct [57:14] A callback to an earlier, lighter moment in the series about Larry's past drinking [1:00:49] How they split kids' sports and activities, and the assumptions each of them still carries [1:03:22] What comes next: Jessica joining monthly, and how to submit topic ideas [1:04:51] Introducing two free resources: 25 Intimate Conversation Starters and 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage Five Key Takeaways Roles that feel natural today were often built through real trial and error, not instinct. Larry and Jessica swapped financial responsibilities after outside mentors pointed out they'd assigned them backward, and it took years to get right. Resentment builds fastest around unspoken expectations. Nearly every friction point in their marriage, from bills to dinner, traces back to one person assuming a role the other person quietly grew to dread. Sometimes the fix is simple once you finally say the hard thing out loud. Jessica's years of resentment around cooking dissolved almost immediately once she told Larry directly that she hated it, leading to a workable rotation within one conversation. Timing matters as much as the message when addressing conflict. Jessica's approach of waiting for a calm moment, rather than confronting an issue in the heat of frustration, consistently produces a better outcome than reacting immediately. Roles don't have to be permanent or symmetrical to work. Twenty-two years in, the goal isn't a perfectly even split of every responsibility, it's each person operating in the role that actually fits them, while staying willing to revisit it when it's not working. Links & Resources Shownotes for this episode: http://thedadedge.com/1524 Roommates to Soulmates (Larry's 8-week marriage coaching cohort; next cohort starts September 16th, with free preview calls): http://thedadedge.com/soulmates The Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium (Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams, November 15): https://thedadedge.com/nfl Closing Wrapping up this series, what stands out most is that Jessica and I don't have this figured out because we never struggled, we have it figured out because we finally stopped avoiding the hard conversations about who does what and why. Every role we've settled into came from a real conversation, sometimes an overdue one, not from assuming the other person would just handle it or just deal with it forever. If something in your own marriage has quietly been building resentment because nobody's actually said it out loud, let this be the nudge to finally have that conversation. Go out and live legendary.

Larry is back in studio with his wife Jessica for the fourth installment of their couples series, recorded the same month they hit 23 years of marriage and 30 years of knowing each other. This time the whole conversation centers on one word that quietly makes or breaks a marriage: alignment. Most couples, Larry notes from a decade of coaching, are misaligned on parenting, money, intimacy, and faith, and never realize it until it derails their connection. Larry and Jessica walk through how they actually got aligned over 22 years, from choosing experiences over stuff and a backyard over a sports car, to spending on healthy food and shared workouts, to raising kids who value connection over possessions. They're honest that it came through constant, daily communication, the kind most couples avoid. If your marriage feels more like managing a household than sharing a life, this conversation is a window into how two people build shared values on purpose. Timeline Summary [3:04] – What alignment in marriage actually means, and how misalignment shows up [6:09] – The daily reality of getting kids to help, and delegating chores [10:10] – Pulling back the curtain on a heated dinner with one of their kids the night before [10:52] – Why cleaning became Larry and Jessica's separate processing and thinking time [12:10] – The core values exercise and discovering they valued environment and connection, not possessions [13:36] – Their family mission: experiences over stuff, memories over things, connection over everything [16:05] – Why some couples need to buy or schedule experiences just to feel connected [17:53] – The Covid dishes conversation and Jessica's grounded response to Larry's darkest thought [19:52] – No luxury cars, no name brands, and being genuinely okay with less [22:36] – The backyard project versus a sports car, and what Ethan learned from it [24:16] – How they actually arrived at shared values through talking and reflecting [26:40] – 2017 as the turning point toward chasing experiences over stuff [27:04] – The three gifts rule at Christmas and where it came from [30:39] – Jessica's advice to their kids: communication is the key to any relationship [33:55] – Why couples talk about logistics but avoid the deeper alignment conversations [36:02] – The intimacy parallel: what happens when you stop pursuing each other [38:24] – Why they never run out of things to talk about, even after 23 years [40:14] – Can people be taught to communicate, or is that just who they are? [44:43] – Alignment as the make or break, and the non-negotiables they built together [45:33] – Going to bed at the same time, and when it's actually okay to go to bed angry 5 Key Takeaways Alignment Is the Make or Break — Most couples are quietly misaligned on parenting, money, intimacy, and faith, and it derails their connection without them realizing why. Building shared values on purpose is what holds a marriage together over decades. Experiences Over Stuff — Larry and Jessica built a family mission around memories over things and connection over everything. The backyard they gather in beat the sports car precisely because it creates shared experiences instead of solo possession. Communication Has to Be Daily — Talking through logistics isn't the same as real communication. Checking in every day, even briefly, keeps small tensions from compounding into the silence and assumptions that quietly end marriages. Don't Let Intimacy Drift — Just like conversation, physical intimacy erodes when you stop pursuing each other. Let too much time pass and it becomes awkward and hard to return to, so keep reaching for each other before the gap widens. You Can Change If It Matters Enough — "That's just who I am" is an excuse, not a fact. People revert to old patterns, but anyone can learn to communicate better if the relationship matters enough to them to keep practicing. Links & Resources Episode page and all links: https://thedadedge.com/1522 Roommates to Soulmates (cohort 3, starts September 16, free preview calls September 8 and 9): https://thedadedge.com/soulmates Dad Edge Day with the Arizona Cardinals (November 15, Cardinals vs Rams, State Farm Stadium): https://thedadedge.com/nfl Enjoyed This Episode? If hearing Larry and Jessica lay out the values they built on purpose made you wonder where you and your spouse are actually aligned, pick one area and talk it through this week. Ask your partner what they'd want more of, or download the 25 questions and work through a couple on your next date. If the show keeps delivering, follow, rate, and leave a review so more fathers can find these conversations.