JP Dinnell Podcast 072: "Born to Lead | The Dinnell Twins Return | Girl Dad"

Release Date: February 7, 2025
Host(s): JP Dinnell, Lucas Pinckard
Guests: The Dinnell Twins (Cora & Nola Dinnell – JP’s daughters, age 13)

Overview

This special annual "birthday episode" brings back JP Dinnell’s twin daughters, Cora and Nola, for a candid discussion about growth, faith, discipline, family milestones, and leadership from a "girl dad" perspective. The conversation—facilitated by friend and co-host Lucas—peels back the curtain on parenting, homeschool versus traditional schooling, jiu jitsu, faith journeys, goals, memorable events, and life lessons.

Main Discussion Themes

• Navigating Adolescence, Friendships & Faith
• Transitioning from Traditional to Homeschool Education
• Family, Discipline & Service
• Women in Leadership, Sports, and Military Ambitions
• Business Ventures, American Manufacturing & Leadership Lessons
• Personal Wellness, Body Image & Positive Habits
• Values, Purpose, and Building Legacy

Key Discussion Points, Insights, and Timestamps

1. Skincare and Normalizing Teenage Challenges

[00:40 – 01:15]

• The twins openly discuss acne and teenage skin struggles.

• Lucas jokes about facial hair as a remedy ("I just grew my beard out…").

• Cora and Nola talk about lavender-scented beef tallow skincare products.

  “Let's normalize having acne as a 13 year old.” – Nola [01:04]

2. Growing Through Friendships, Faith, and Jiu Jitsu

[02:28 – 13:48]

• The girls reflect on finishing the school year at Trinity Prep and discuss faith-based friendships made at church youth camps (Elevate and BOTS—Battle of the Sexes).
• Cora and Nola share testimonies about support systems after a serious Jiu Jitsu injury, emphasizing prayer, compassion, and resilience.
• JP explains BOTS as biblically-based exposure therapy to modern adolescent issues in a safe environment.
• Cora illustrates how she feels the Holy Spirit guiding her to support friends in prayer ("I saw a vision of her bowing before the cross..." [10:32]).
• Scripture that guided them: Psalm 91:11.

3. Transitioning to Homeschool

[15:04 – 24:26]

• The family experiences increased freedom and flexibility through homeschooling, particularly accommodating jiu jitsu training and travel.

• The girls describe discipline challenges, the privilege of learning at home, and being more involved in household chore routines.

  “Most kids don't do well sitting inside all day long in one spot... For our kids, it wasn't ideal.” – JP [20:58]

• The twins value being able to walk around, be active, and learn in a way that best suits them.

• Realization that homeschooling is a privilege that many peers don’t have.

• Curriculum trial and error: learning to "buckle down" and self-motivate.

4. Jiu Jitsu: Growth, Competition & Family Bonding

[25:21 – 32:30]

• Both girls share their progress and injuries in jiu jitsu; Cora reflects on competition nerves, and Nola talks about practical and emotional support from teammates and friends.
• Family ethos: nerves before competition are healthy and natural.
• Playful recounting of signature moves, sibling rivalry, and motivation for future competitions.

5. Ambitions and Life Planning

[32:30 – 35:31]

• Nola aspires to interior design at Cornell University—and possibly starting her own bespoke home decor business.
• Cora considers UCL or a military track, aiming to be a sniper like her father, but also enjoys cosmetology, hair, and makeup.
• Discussion of women in special operations and military paths.

6. Lessons from American Manufacturing & Origin Maine

[41:05 – 46:08]

• The twins reflect on annual visits to Origin Maine, seeing American jobs in action, and learning about the discipline, leadership, and work ethic of Pete and Amanda Roberts.

• Key takeaways: Nothing comes for free; hard work and a healthy environment matter; treating employees as family is powerful.

  “It teaches me to know that stuff doesn't come for free... It’s not like they knew how to run a business when they started.” – Nola [45:13]

7. Summer Highlights & Faith-Based Experiences

[46:32 – 53:18]

• The twins share favorite memories: worship mosh pits, crowd surfing at summer camps, and the importance of music, faith, and community.
• Discussion of the physical and social growth from attending Christian camps—how even wild moments come with lessons about safety, connection, and fun.

8. Health, Fitness, and Body Image

[53:18 – 56:59]

• The girls set goals: improve strength, get consistent with workouts, support each other in health, and build good food relationships.

• They reject unhealthy focus on weight and the scale, emphasizing confidence and feeling strong.

• JP underscores the lesson: the scale is less important than health and capability.

  “It doesn't matter what the scale says. If I wake up and feel strong and am healthy, I don't need to look at it.” – Cora [56:01]

9. Spiritual Practices & Guarding Faith

[57:07 – 58:51]

• Cora and Nola outline habits: reading the Bible in the morning and evening, listening to worship music, and surrounding themselves with positive, Godly friends.

• Knowing when to step back from negative relationships to protect faith and purpose.

  “Change your friends or change your friends.” – JP [59:01]

10. Babysitting, Responsibility, and Sign Language

[59:09 – 67:04]

• The twins detail their organized, safety-conscious babysitting business: CPR/First Aid training, parental forms, routine planning, and even learning ASL to be inclusive for hard-of-hearing children.
• Anecdotes of teaching babysitting kids jiu jitsu, and how little things like bedtime routines build trust.

11. Gorillas, Chickens & Humor

[67:33 – 69:47]

• Lighthearted banter: aspirations for owning a gorilla (for dad-waking purposes!), fear of New York City, and chicken-whispering skills.

12. Lessons from the Bible & Body Confidence

[70:00 – 77:08]

• Cora and Nola reflect on scripture that taught them to guard their hearts, maintain purity, and be “doers of the Word.”

• Frank talk about body image, peer comparison, and the wisdom learned from Jocko Willink's daughter, Rana: “Everyone's insecure about something... comparison is the thief of joy” ([76:29]).

  “You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and the Bible says you’re worth more than rubies.” – Cora [76:43]

13. Closing Highlights & Memorable Quotes

[77:08 – 87:00]

• The twins joke about JP being forever a purple belt (“purple forever!”).

• Final words encourage staying real, maintaining perspective, and continuing to build legacy.

  “Stay real, I guess.” – Nola [86:57]

  “I would rather have my dad over $5 million any day.” – Cora [69:44]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Let’s normalize having acne as a 13 year old, okay?” – Nola [01:04]
• “It’s awesome having Godly friends. We even got baptized together.” – Nola [06:46]
• “If you are reading the Bible and you're listening to worship music...then [God] can work through you to help them and help you.” – Cora [10:16]
• “Freedom. Traveling. And not dealing with drama.” – Cora, on homeschooling [17:19]
• “I don't want to work a 9-to-5. I'm starting my own business.” – Nola [32:35]
• “Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Lucas [76:29]
• “You are fearfully and wonderfully made...worth more than rubies.” – Cora [76:43]
• “Stay real, I guess.” – Nola [86:57]
• “I would rather have my dad over $5 million any day.” – Cora [69:44]

Episode Structure & Timestamps

00:01 – 01:32 Introductions, birthday tradition, skincare chat
02:28 – 13:48 School & faith—Elevate recaps, BOTS, supporting friends, baptism
15:04 – 24:26 Homeschooling—motivation, structure, freedom
25:21 – 32:30 Jiu jitsu—progress, competition nerves, sibling rivalry
32:30 – 35:31 Ambitions—college plans, military/cosmetology dreams
41:05 – 46:08 Origin Maine visit—manufacturing, leadership lessons
46:32 – 53:18 Summer highlights—camp stories, worship mosh pits
53:18 – 56:59 Health, wellness, and body positivity
57:07 – 58:51 Faith habits, healthy friendships, spiritual growth
59:09 – 67:04 Babysitting business, sign language, responsibility
67:33 – 69:47 Humor—gorilla discussions, chickens, parenting banter
70:00 – 77:08 Bible lessons, guarding faith and confidence, wisdom from role models
77:08 – 87:00 Closing thoughts, inside jokes, social media plugs

Overall Tone

• Warm, humorous, authentic, and family-focused.
• At once playful—with teen energy and jokes—and earnest about lessons in faith, responsibility, and discipline.

Summary

JP Dinnell’s annual “girl dad” podcast episode remains a touching reflection on intergenerational learning, resilience, ambition, and gratitude. Through open discussion and lighthearted teasing, JP, Lucas, and the Dinnell twins offer listeners a blueprint for raising capable, faith-driven, and self-aware young leaders. This episode blends meaningful advice ("discipline equals freedom," "comparison is the thief of joy") with relatable moments and laughter, leaving listeners uplifted and inspired, whether they’re parents, teens, educators, or leaders themselves.