Ep 23: Before the Birth: A Surgeon Prepares to Become a Father

About this episode

Vascular surgeon Lucas Ferrer shares his emotional journey as an expectant father, discussing the challenges and insights of preparing for fatherhood.

What happens inside a man when he finds out he's going to be a dad — and he's still months away? Vascular surgeon and expectant father Lucas Ferrer joins Tony Cooper for a candid conversation about what life looks like at 25 weeks pregnant. Lucas opens up about the in-between feeling of impending fatherhood — the moments of disconnection at work and the gut-punch of feeling Santiago kick for the first time. Together, Tony and Lucas explore generational patterns, the fear culture Lucas grew up with in Puerto Rico, and the powerful model his grandfather set. This is a rare, honest look inside the heart and mind of a man preparing to become a dad. Key Takeaways: The emotional reality of expectant fatherhood often oscillates between disconnection and profound shock Becoming a parent heightens awareness of unconscious patterns and generational trauma Growing up around self-aware role models can shape a man's approach to fatherhood long before he becomes a father Fear of risk is a learned behavior — and it can be unlearned Being present as a father starts as an intention you set before the baby arrives A man's relationship with support and community matters as much as his individual…

People in this episode

Host: Tony Cooper

Guest: Lucas Ferrer

Topics covered

• expectant fatherhood
• generational patterns
• fatherhood preparation
• emotional reality
• support networks

Keywords

• expectant father
• fatherhood
• emotional journey
• generational trauma
• support networks

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Puerto Rico

More episodes of The Dad Manual

• Ep 24: The Dad Who Chose to Break a Family Legacy of Alcoholism Forever · June 9, 2026 · 1h 4m
• Ep 22: From Lemonade Stands to MBA: A Father's Guide to Raising Lions · May 26, 2026 · 1h 7m
• Ep 21: What Boarding School Taught Me About Being a Better Father · May 19, 2026 · 45 min
• Ep 20: How a Tough Childhood Built a Better Dad with Daniel Ramsey · May 12, 2026 · 48 min
• Ep 19: Girl Dad Wisdom: Building Trust, Traditions, and Unbreakable Bonds · May 5, 2026 · 44 min
• Ep 18: Breaking the Pattern - How One Dad Rewired His Approach to Raising Kids · April 28, 2026 · 48 min