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Matt Hanson is the founder of Aion Path and president of the National Rite of Passage Council, a coalition of Christian leaders working to make intentional rites of passage a normal part of raising children in the church. Aion Path is a three-year journey designed for fathers and their 12–14-year-old sons or daughters to walk together toward physical, emotional, and spiritual adulthood. Other recent interviews with Matt describe the program as intentionally making fathers and children co-learners, rather than requiring Dad to arrive as the expert with all the answers. 1K Houses But this conversation with Ned Schaut goes well beyond the program Matt created. At 60, married nearly 35 years, with three adult children and grandchildren, Matt talks about what it means to organize your life around the relationships you hope to have decades from now. --------- Got a teenage son coming of age? Check out Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up Kings - the program where Ned coaches dads and teen sons. Go to: riseupkings.com/ffn --------- 5 Questions This Episode AnswersHow do I create a family vision that actually changes how we live?How can I spiritually lead my kids if I don't feel qualified?How do I stay close to my kids when they become adults?What does practical leadership from a father actually look like?How do I intentionally prepare my teenager for adulthood? --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

Got a teenage son coming of age? Check out Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up Kings - the program where Ned coaches dads and teen sons. Go to: riseupkings.com/ffn --------- Keith Dietrich is a husband, father, grandfather, and nonprofit leader whose career has included 20 years with Father Flanagan’s Boys Town and leadership with The Gathering Inn. At 65, Keith brings something particularly valuable to this conversation: hindsight. He and his wife Jennifer have a blended family of six children, now ages 20–33, and grandchildren entering the picture. Looking back at the years when career, marriage, and raising children were all competing for attention, Keith has some very specific things he wishes he had understood earlier. His message to dads in their 40s is simple: slow down. Not everything at work is a crisis. Pay attention to your wife and kids. It goes much faster than you think. 5 Questions This Episode AnswersHow can a busy father stay connected to his family while building his career?How do you build a strong family culture?What are better questions to ask your kids than “How was your day?”How should fathers handle conflict between siblings?How can dads correct their children without damaging the relationship? --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

Got a teenage son coming of age? Check out Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up Kings - the program where Ned coaches dads and teen sons. Go to: riseupkings.com/ffn --------- Lee Corey is a former US Air Force pilot, entrepreneur, husband, father of three, and founder of Naptured, an app designed to rebuild the “village” parents desperately need during the early years of raising children. His journey includes military service in special operations, infertility, raising twins, failed business ventures, deep spiritual wrestling, and learning that the greatest impact a man can have is often not through building his own legacy—but by intentionally shaping the next generation. In this conversation, Lee and Ned go far beyond parenting tips. They explore purpose, identity, ambition, fear, pride, Kingdom thinking, and what it truly means to refuse to waste the life God has given us. Many fathers spend decades chasing success for their families while unintentionally sacrificing the very relationships they claim they’re building everything for. Lee Corey understands that tension intimately. After serving in the United States Air Force, pursuing elite military opportunities, walking away from promising careers, enduring entrepreneurial failure, nearly losing his wife during postpartum struggles, and repeatedly rebuilding his life, Lee arrived at a profound realization: Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom may never be what you accomplish—it may be who your children become because of how you loved them. Throughout this deep conversation, Lee and Ned wrestle with questions every thoughtful father eventually faces: 5 Questions This Episode AnswersHow can fathers balance ambition with being present for their family?How do I know if my decisions are motivated by purpose—or by fear and pride?What does leaving a lasting legacy actually look like?What should I do when I can’t clearly hear God’s direction?Why do so many fathers feel like they’re never doing enough? --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

In this Friday Craft of Fatherhood episode, Ned talks about how a simple, intentional pause during a busy day can foster meaningful conversations and deepen your relationship with your kids. This episode emphasizes the importance of presence, authenticity, and listening in parenting. Key TopicsThe significance of quiet moments for connection with childrenHow sharing personal struggles humanizes parents and builds trustUsing storytelling to foster emotional and spiritual growthHandling difficult questions like faith and injustice with opennessThe role of non-judgmental curiosity over immediate solutionsInsights from a father about managing his own faith wrestlingA practical affirmation for dads stepping into leadership rolesThe importance of being emotionally available without trying to fix everything --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

Got a teenage son coming of age? Check out Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up Kings - the program where Ned coaches dads and teen sons. Go to: riseupkings.com/ffn --------- What if becoming a better father has less to do with learning more parenting techniques and more to do with becoming a man who is fully alive? Zac Ernst is a husband of 22 years, father of two teenagers, entrepreneur, co-founder of ActivityPay, and founder of Pursuit, a men’s movement helping men come fully alive through community, fitness, spiritual formation, and adventure. Living in Seal Beach, California, Zac has built his life around one central conviction: the greatest adventure isn’t paddling to Catalina or riding bicycles down the California coast—it’s becoming the husband and father God created you to be. In this conversation, Ned sits down with Zac Ernst to explore what it looks like to intentionally pursue God, your wife, your children, and your own formation as a man. From the opening minutes discussing dreams and how God still speaks today, the conversation quickly moves into entrepreneurship, margin, fatherhood, adventure, raising teenagers, discipling children, and the loneliness epidemic facing modern men. Zac shares how building businesses wasn’t primarily about money—it was about creating enough freedom to be present at every game, school event, and important moment in his children’s lives. He explains the family values acronym “GraceFi,” why adventure slows time down with kids, and why fathers should become students of their children’s hearts instead of trying to make them into younger versions of themselves. One of the most powerful moments comes when Zac explains the transition every Christian parent eventually faces: moving from telling children about Jesus to revealing Jesus through a life of answered prayer, faithful obedience, and authentic dependence on God. The conversation concludes with Zac sharing the heart behind Pursuit—a nationwide movement helping men fight isolation through community, physical challenge, spiritual growth, and honest relationships. This episode is packed with practical wisdom for fathers who want to raise resilient kids, build intentional families, and become the kind of men whose lives point people toward Jesus. 5 Questions This Episode AnswersHow do fathers build deeper relationships with teenage children?How do I help my kids develop their own faith instead of simply borrowing mine?What should fathers do when their kids don’t enjoy the same interests they do?How can entrepreneurship create more freedom for family life?How do Christian men build authentic friendships with other men? --------- Check out Zac's Christian men's fitness and fellowship program Pursuit: www.joinpursuit.co Join a nationwide 90-Day Challenge with Pursuit in August 2026 - or anytime! Pursuit 90 Day Challenge --------- The Dream Journal App --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

Bam Marshall is the host of The Wild Chaos Podcast, an entrepreneur, husband, father, a US Marines veteran and leader of the BAM Nation men’s community. He is intense, funny, blunt, protective, and deeply tender toward his wife and daughters. In this conversation, Bam brings a no-BS message to fathers: your kids do not just need to know you love them — they need to trust you. They need to know they can call you, or drop a pin in a text, and trust you'll show up to save them - no questions asked. Or be able to confess what is really going on, and not be met by ego, rage, or a lecture before they are heard. This is a raw, passionate episode that touches on: girl dad fatherhood, trust, faith, homeschooling, playfulness, college alternatives, military skepticism, protecting your family, breaking generational chains, and refusing to become the grumpy old a-hole who nobody wants to visit. Key TakeawaysTrust is the real currency.A child who knows dad loves them may still hide from him. A child who trusts dad will call when it matters. Your wife may see what you refuse to see.Bam’s wife called him out, and instead of dismissing her, he eventually let that confrontation make him better. Listening is not the same as hearing.Bam learned to ask, “Do you want my opinion or do you want my ears?” That changed his relationship with his daughters. Break the chain.Bad fathering, trauma, addiction, rage, and neglect are real. They are not excuses to become the same man. Presence beats presents.Your kids do not need a dad who buys more stuff but is emotionally unavailable. They need your time, attention, and nervous system in the room. Fatherhood does not expire.Turning 18 does not mean your kids stop needing you. The relationship should shift, not disappear. 5 Questions This Episode AnswersHow do I become the dad my daughter will call when she is in trouble?How can fathers build trust instead of just demanding obedience?What does it look like to break generational patterns instead of blaming your past?How should dads think about college, trades, entrepreneurship, and alternative paths after high school?How do fathers build self-worth and faith into their kids before the world gets to them? --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

William Brinker is an entrepreneur, husband, father of three, and business leader connected to The Landfill Group and Enerdyne Power Systems, companies working in the landfill gas-to-energy space. In this conversation, William shares how his family history, entrepreneurial upbringing, faith journey, marriage, fatherhood, and stewardship of land have shaped the way he thinks about legacy. He also talks about his work turning landfill methane into usable energy, his outdoor hospitality businesses, and the deeper realization that the things he once chased were never as valuable as the family, faith, and relationships he already had. This episode is a rich conversation about fatherhood, family legacy, marriage, entrepreneurship, faith, and the importance of stewarding what has been entrusted to you. Ned and William begin with the normal aches and humility of being in their early forties, but the conversation quickly turns toward deeper themes: choosing your wife daily, learning to control emotional hijacks, setting expectations for children, and leading from faith rather than finance. William tells the story of growing up as one of six kids in a tight-knit family where resources were limited but work ethic, discipline, faith, and family connection were strong. That upbringing shaped him into an entrepreneur who now helps lead multiple businesses, including The Landfill Group and Enerdyne Power Systems, where landfill gas is captured and used as an energy source. The heart of the episode centers on legacy. William describes his family farm in North Carolina, protected through a conservation trust so that future generations can continue to use it, hunt it, walk it, and carry the family story forward. Ned reflects on the power of having a “homeland” and a shared place where family memories are rooted. The conversation becomes a vision-casting moment for fathers: don’t just think about getting your kids to 18; think about what kind of family culture, land, story, faith, and relationships might exist when your children are 42. 5 Questions This Episode AnswersHow can fathers build a family legacy that lasts beyond one generation?What does it look like to teach kids stewardship, work ethic, and financial wisdom without spoiling them?How can a man reprioritize faith, family, fitness, and finance when he realizes his life is out of order?Why does land, place, or a “family homeland” matter in building family identity?How can fathers lead their kids spiritually without forcing faith in a way that feels hollow or performative? --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

In this short Friday episode of The Craft of Fatherhood, Ned reflects on finishing his son Brody’s junior year of homeschool and what the experience taught him about a father’s role in noticing, guiding, correcting, and affirming his son. The episode is not primarily about homeschooling; it is about proximity. Ned uses the end-of-year moment—reading Brody a letter on the back porch with Sarah present—as a picture of what it means for a father to be close enough to his son’s life to see growth, name character, recognize effort, and speak life into him. The core message is that fathers should not outsource their influence entirely to teachers, coaches, youth pastors, schools, or programs. Those supports can be valuable, but they cannot replace a father’s words, attention, and presence. Ned challenges fathers to find practical ways to stay close to their sons’ work, development, struggles, and character formation so they can offer meaningful affirmation and direction. Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

For nearly a decade, Mike Foster has been helping people become stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually. As the owner of CrossFit 1776 in Loomis, California, and founder of the Resolute Life Foundation, Mike’s mission is bigger than fitness—it’s about freedom. But before CrossFit became his ministry, Mike was fighting a different battle. Alcohol had become his coping mechanism. He was physically present for his son, but mentally absent. Everything changed ten years ago when sobriety forced him to confront the man he had become—and challenged him to become the father his children deserved. In this deeply authentic conversation, Mike and Ned discuss addiction, recovery, CrossFit, parenting teenagers, raising resilient kids, and the life-changing difference between simply being around your children and truly being present with them. Mike shares how sobriety transformed every area of his life, including one unforgettable moment when he realized his son wasn’t upset about losing a video game—he was carrying wounds that needed a father who could finally slow down long enough to listen. The conversation explores: Why freedom—not fitness—is the real mission behind CrossFit 1776.How suffering builds connection between fathers and children.The hidden cost of coping mechanisms.Why reacting less helps fathers hear more.Raising teenagers through trust instead of control.What it means to become the kind of man your daughter hopes to marry.Breaking generational patterns while honoring your parents.How physical training develops emotional resilience.Why showing up mentally matters more than simply showing up physically. Mike also shares one of the most practical parenting ideas of the episode: instead of confronting his teenage son immediately after discovering drug use, he took him on a two-and-a-half-mile run before talking. The shared suffering opened a conversation that punishment alone never could have accomplished. Whether you’re battling addiction, trying to become more present with your family, raising teenagers, or simply wondering how to lead your children through life’s hardest moments, this episode offers hope, wisdom, and practical fatherhood. 🔎 Top Questions This Episode AnswersHow can a father become emotionally present after overcoming addiction? What’s the best way to respond when your teenager makes a serious mistake? How can CrossFit and fitness help men recover from addiction and rebuild their lives? How do fathers earn deeper trust with teenage sons and daughters? What does it really mean to become the father your children deserve? --------- Check Out Mike and Crossfit 1776 at: https://www.crossfit1776.com --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

Few books change how you see yourself. Even fewer change how you see every relationship in your life. In this conversation, psychologist, speaker, and bestselling author Dr. Kelly Flanagan returns to Fatherhood Field Notes to unpack the central ideas from his newest book, The Road Less Triggered—a practical roadmap for transforming the moments that usually create conflict into opportunities for deeper connection. Ned begins with an honest confession. Minutes before recording, Kelly was a few minutes late logging into the call. Almost instantly, Ned noticed an old story awaken inside him—the familiar fear that he wasn’t important enough, that someone else mattered more. Instead of brushing it aside, they use that real-time moment to explore one of the biggest challenges every husband, father, and leader faces: being triggered. Together they explore why our nervous systems react before our minds do, why our hearts instinctively close to protect us, and why emotional triggers are not signs of weakness—but invitations for growth. Kelly explains that our past isn’t behind us; it’s carried within us, and understanding that reality changes the way we approach marriage, parenting, friendship, leadership, and even our relationship with God. The conversation moves into practical territory as they discuss the hidden ways men try to control relationships, why boundaries are often misunderstood, and how true strength isn’t found in managing people but in cultivating an open heart that remains present even when life feels unsafe. For fathers, this episode becomes a masterclass in emotional leadership. Kelly explains why the best father to your twelve-year-old is the healed twelve-year-old within yourself, why children don’t need perfect parents, and why a father’s greatest influence isn’t found in having the right answers but in the quality of his presence. This isn’t simply a conversation about psychology. It’s a conversation about discipleship. About marriage. About parenting. About becoming the kind of man whose calm presence creates safety for everyone around him. If you’ve ever wondered why you react the way you do—or how to stop repeating the same conflicts with your spouse, children, or coworkers—this may become one of the most transformative episodes you’ve ever heard. 🔎 Top Questions This Episode AnswersWhy do I get emotionally triggered by small things that shouldn’t bother me?How can I stop reacting defensively in my marriage?What’s the difference between healthy boundaries and emotional walls?How can fathers become emotionally safe leaders for their families?Why does my childhood still affect my relationships today, and what do I do about it? --------- Check Out Dr. Kelly Flanagan at: Substack: https://substack.com/@drkellyflanaganYoutube: @DrKellyFlanagan The Road Less Triggered on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eGR91r Podcasts episodes about The Road Less Triggered: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marriage-on-the-daily/id1869106202?i=1000758409682 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-road-less-triggered-turning-conflict-into/id1344850656?i=1000754658658 --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

Joevon Barnes is a plumber, coach, speaker, radio host, and father of two daughters. But more than anything, he’s a man who chose to break cycles, stay present, and become the father his daughters needed. In this deeply practical and inspiring conversation, Joevon joins Ned Schaut to discuss fatherhood after divorce, raising daughters, healing family wounds, overcoming anger, building generational relationships, and why showing up consistently matters more than being perfect. Joevon shares the story of growing up as the youngest of seven children, navigating the fallout that followed his parents’ passing, and learning hard lessons about family, legacy, and preparation. He offers a powerful challenge to fathers everywhere: get your affairs in order, communicate your wishes clearly, and don’t leave your children with unnecessary burdens after you’re gone. The heart of the conversation centers around one remarkable commitment: For more than 16 years, Joevon has maintained a weekly Daddy-Daughter Night with his daughters. Through divorce, custody changes, career shifts, and every season of life, he never stopped showing up. Today, at ages 28 and 24, his daughters still prioritize that time together. Joevon and Ned discuss: Raising daughters after divorce.Why children should never be placed in the middle of parental conflict.The importance of being present, even when life gets messy.How fathers shape the future relationships of their children.Healing from anger and childhood wounds.The role of mentors, teachers, and coaches.Building friendships with aging parents.Preparing for grandfatherhood.Financial wisdom and generational legacy.Why every child deserves a father who stays. One of the most moving moments comes when Joevon reflects on his father: “He may not have been the best of pops, but he was always there.” This episode is a reminder that fatherhood is not about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about consistency. It’s about being there. 🔎 Top Questions This Episode AnswersHow do I maintain a strong relationship with my children after divorce?What can fathers do to build lasting relationships with daughters into adulthood?How do I overcome anger and break unhealthy family patterns?What should parents do now to prevent family conflict after they pass away?How can fathers become trusted advisors instead of just authority figures as their children grow older? --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

This episode focuses on HOPE for an epidemic affecting men (and women) in and outside the church: pornography addiction. (Ready to get free? Men: go to liberatedkings.com to get started on your journey with Jesus.) Before founding Liberated Kings, Thomas Bills spent years trapped in the same struggle affecting millions of men today: pornography, shame, secrecy, and the belief that freedom was out of reach. Everything changed when he met Jesus, discovered his true identity in Him, and stopped fighting for freedom and started living from freedom. In this powerful conversation, Ned and Thomas tackle one of the most uncomfortable—and important—topics facing men, marriages, and families today: pornography, masturbation, shame, identity, and the spiritual battle for the minds of men. Thomas shares his personal story of addiction, redemption, and transformation, explaining how pornography was never the real problem—it was the cycle he had created to medicate deeper wounds, insecurity, pain, and feelings of inadequacy. Together, Ned and Thomas unpack: Why pornography is devastating families and marriages.How AI is making the addiction crisis exponentially worse.Why shame keeps men trapped in destructive cycles.The difference between accountability and true transformation.How identity in Christ changes everything.Why most men are fighting the wrong battle.How fathers can protect future generations by doing their own healing work today. One of the most powerful moments comes when Thomas explains that many Christian men continue to identify themselves as “dirty sinners” rather than saints redeemed by Christ, creating a cycle where their beliefs continue producing the very behaviors they hate. The conversation also explores the generational impact of a father’s decisions. Ned passionately argues that fathers who refuse to fight these battles today often pass those same struggles to their children tomorrow. This episode isn’t ultimately about pornography. It’s about freedom. It’s about identity. It’s about becoming the kind of man who no longer desires the counterfeit because he has discovered the real thing. Top Questions This Episode AnswersHow can a Christian man break free from pornography and masturbation?Why does shame keep men trapped in addictive behaviors?What does the Bible actually say about identity and freedom in Christ?How should fathers talk to their children about pornography and online temptation?Why are accountability groups often not enough to create lasting freedom? ResourcesLiberated Kings --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

Before becoming a creator, author, and founder of Sonjoy, Michael Leonardini spent decades wrestling with the same questions many fathers quietly carry: Why do I do the things I do? Why do I react the way I react? How do I become the man, husband, father, and son God created me to be? In this deeply reflective conversation, Ned sits down with Michael to discuss identity, recovery, suffering, vulnerability, fatherhood, marriage, grief, and the lifelong journey of becoming aligned with God’s love. Michael shares lessons learned from raising two sons, navigating childhood wounds, overcoming shame, recovering from unhealthy coping patterns, caring for his aging father, and ultimately losing his wife after 32 years of marriage. Through it all, he discovered a powerful truth: You cannot give what you do not possess. The conversation explores why many men struggle to receive love, why suffering often becomes the doorway to growth, and how fathers can avoid competing with their children and instead help them stand on their shoulders. Michael also introduces Sonjoy, a beautiful collection of 52 reflective cards designed to help men examine identity, loss, suffering, addiction, coping, faith, and purpose through guided reflection and journaling. This episode isn’t about becoming perfect. It’s about becoming authentic. It’s about learning to trust God, receive love, finish strong, and lead your family with an open heart. Fathers Will Learn:Why protecting children from all pain may actually hurt them.How unresolved wounds can create competition between fathers and sons.Why shame quietly destroys a man’s ability to lead.How vulnerability and trust work together in marriage.Why finishing strong matters more than finishing perfect.How to move from coping to healing.Why every man is ultimately on a journey of discovering who he truly is. ResourcesKickstarter Campaign for SunjoySonjoy CardsRomans 8Sonjoy WebsiteMichael Leonardini on Instagram --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

Eric Collins is a California entrepreneur, tax strategist, and business owner who has built and sold companies while navigating major physical adversity, including breaking his neck in five places and surviving multiple spinal fusions. In this episode, he and Ned go deep into discipline, certainty, emotional stability, fatherhood, business ownership, marriage, and the kind of intentional leadership most men want but rarely see modeled clearly. Eric shares practical systems he’s built into his home life — from making breakfast for his sons every morning for nearly a decade to helping lead an 80-man “Dad’s Club” at his sons’ school that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for families and students. This is one of those conversations that quietly sneaks up on you. It starts with stories about fishing trips, school fundraisers, and parenting struggles, but underneath it is a serious conversation about becoming the kind of man your family can trust. Eric talks openly about growing up around abuse, wrestling through ego and unhealthy habits, learning to control his reactions, and realizing that discipline without emotional connection was damaging his relationship with his son. Rather than doubling down in pride, he humbled himself, sought wisdom, and changed course. Fathers will walk away from this episode challenged to think differently about leadership in the home. Eric’s idea that a father should be “the oak tree, not the thundercloud” is one of the strongest themes in the conversation. He explains why certainty and consistency matter so deeply to children, how routines create emotional safety, and why many men unintentionally sabotage the very outcomes they want most. There’s also a powerful discussion around mentorship, growth-mindedness, replacing destructive habits with healthier pursuits, and learning to accept feedback from your wife without defensiveness. A few standout takeaways from the episode: Your children need certainty more than perfection.Discipline without relationship eventually creates distance.Men need community and purposeful involvement outside of work.Most growth comes through pain, humility, and repeated course correction.You become a better father by intentionally becoming a better man. --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis

In this Friday Craft of Fatherhood episode, Ned processes through the realization that he's been transactional at home with his family like he is at work. What does it take to be present instead? Best takeaway: Check yourself and see if you're showing up responsive to your family, rather than expecting them to just do what you say, like a boss. --------- Check Out the Program Talked About: Genesis by Rise Up Kings This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx ---------- Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?www.adventureoffatherhood.comwww.rebelandcreate.com Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate Mentioned in this episode: Rise Up Kings Genesis