About this episode

Evan Miller discusses the importance of presence in parenting and the complexities of stepfatherhood with Tony Cooper.

You can be physically present every single day — and still miss everything that matters. Evan Miller is a husband, father of two, and someone who's learned the hard way that showing up isn't enough — you have to actually be there. In this conversation, Tony and Evan explore the difference between attendance and presence, navigating stepfatherhood, raising kids who can handle real conversations, and how sobriety transformed Evan's relationship with his family. Evan also unpacks a jaw-dropping family origin story involving a 23andMe test, a baseball player, and a secret that stayed buried for four decades. Key Takeaways: Presence and attendance are two completely different things — and your kids know the difference. Stepparenting adds layers of complexity that two-parent households don't face — respect that reality. Nature plays a massive role in who your children become, regardless of your parenting environment. Unwavering love and support doesn't mean accepting bad behavior — it means the two are never confused. Treating your kids like capable human beings, not fragile children, builds confident, articulate adults. Alcohol and other disconnectors rob you of time you can't get…

People in this episode

Host: Tony Cooper

Guest: Evan Miller

Topics covered

• stepfatherhood
• blended families
• parenting
• sobriety
• family dynamics
• communication

Keywords

• stepfather
• blended families
• presence vs attendance
• sobriety
• family origin story
• communication with kids
• parenting skills

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: 23andMe

More episodes of The Dad Manual

• Ep 17: Find Your Tribe: A Girl Dad's Guide to Fatherhood and Evolving · April 21, 2026 · 40 min
• Ep 16: What Your Kids Learn When You're Not Looking · April 14, 2026 · 36 min
• Ep 15: From Classroom to Fatherhood: How Teaching Made Mike a Better Dad · April 7, 2026 · 39 min
• Ep 14: Apologies, Accountability, and the Art of Being an Imperfect Dad · March 31, 2026 · 43 min
• Ep 12: Screwing Up and Showing Up: Mike Knittel on Sobriety, Redemption, and Fatherhood · March 17, 2026 · 55 min
• Ep 11: Co-Parenting as a Superpower: Raising Kids Through Conscious Separation · March 10, 2026 · 50 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Dad Manual podcast page.