Podcast Summary: The Determined Society with Shawn French

Episode: "How to Lead Your Family in a Broken World: Larry Hagner’s Blueprint"

Date: November 21, 2025 | Guest: Larry Hagner

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Shawn French sits down with Larry Hagner, renowned fatherhood expert, author, and host of the Dad Edge podcast, to discuss actionable strategies for leading your family and nurturing strong relationships—especially in an era dominated by uncertainty, social media overload, and cultural noise. Drawing from his personal faith journey and years of coaching fathers, Larry presents practical insights on active parenting, marital connection, navigating digital challenges, and embracing vulnerability as a father and husband.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Parenting and Presence in Turbulent Times

• Chaos Isn’t New—But It Feels Different:
  Larry contextualizes current events (political turmoil, violence, media saturation) as part of a longer historical pattern, but notes that social media’s immediacy and pervasiveness intensify the experience for today’s families.

  “If you really look at human history... it's been chaotic since the beginning of time. It's new to us because we've never experienced it.”
  (Larry, 00:51, 05:33)

• The Social Media Challenge:
  Both speakers highlight how children are growing up normalized to perpetual digital exposure.

  "It's almost like this generation is almost so used to it, they don't know any other way... but it still requires, I think, a conversation."
  (Larry, 08:17)

• Faith as a Navigational Anchor:
  Larry shares that he and his son maintain daily Bible study as their way to process the world’s noise and remain grounded:

  “If it’s not biblical, then it’s not truth, period. That’s the filter that we run things through.”
  (Larry, 09:54)

2. The Faith Journey & Community Accountability

• Breaking from Tradition—Starting a Real Faith Journey
  Larry contrasts his Catholic upbringing (marked by guilt/fear) with a later, transformative mentorship beginning in 2019, through a program called Operation Timothy.

  “I don’t have a good relationship with Christ. I don’t know much about the Bible. I’m totally overwhelmed by it... And then I got this invite from him. And the invite said Operation Timothy.”
  (Larry, 13:20-14:41)

• Power of Doing Faith Together:
  Making faith a shared father-son activity creates both accountability and deepens connection:

  “I never want to look my son in the eye and be like, I got really busy today… Accountability is key.”
  (Larry, 16:17)

• Recommends: Pairing Bible reading or spiritual reflection with loved ones (kids, spouse) for mutual growth and consistency.

3. The Realities of Active Parenting

• Struggles with Being Present:
  Both men candidly discuss guilt around not “playing enough” with their kids and the tension between work, household obligations, and being present:

  “I have a very hard time playing with my kids... It’s not that I don’t want to. I always feel like I should be doing something that’s going to move the needle somewhere else... But playing with my kids IS a massive needle-mover.”
  (Larry, 20:28-23:23)

• Saying “Yes” as a Legacy:
  Larry shares a memorable story from a podcast guest, Rock Thomas, whose father repeatedly declined to play; he urges dads to err on the side of “Yes,” as those moments are what children remember most.

  “I've never once regretted saying yes when I want to potentially say no.”
  (Larry, 24:17)

4. Legendary Fatherhood & Book Journey

• Birth of Two Books from Adversity:
  Larry explains how a setback in publishing led to two books, including Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood and Spirit of Fatherhood, and how imposter syndrome almost derailed him:

  “I seriously think you guys have the wrong guy for this one... I'm so new to my faith... And they said, 'We know. That's why we want your perspective.'”
  (Larry, 27:21-29:22)

• Writing Under Hardship:
  He describes a knee injury as divine intervention, forcing him to slow down and focus on writing despite fears of inadequacy:

  “It gave me a battle, it gave me an adventure... that book was a lifesaver.”
  (Larry, 32:22)

5. Marriage First, Parenting Second

• Prioritizing Your Spouse as the Foundation of Family:
  Counter to common belief, Larry insists the marital relationship must come before parenting duties, not to minimize kids, but recognizing the ripple effect on family well-being:

  “You’re married first and you’re a parent second... One of the best gifts we can give as parents is to teach kids how to have a functional relationship.”
  (Larry, 40:52-45:43)

• Modeling Love and Affection:
  Larry and his wife are openly affectionate, believing it’s essential for their four sons to see what true partnership looks like, including healthy communication and conflict resolution.

  “These kids are watching every move that we make... I feel this responsibility of... what it means to love a woman well, to make her feel seen, heard, safe.”
  (Larry, 43:52)

6. Creating a Safe Family Environment

• The Power of Safety and Stability:
  Stories are shared about the safe havens provided by grandparents, serving as emotional blueprints for adulthood.

  “That’s one of the best gifts you can give your kids... to feel seen, heard, and safe.”
  (Larry, 50:53-51:06)

7. Vulnerable & Humorous Parenting Moments

• Conversations about embarrassment, kids hearing things on the podcast, and humorous stories about “date night” mishaps, all reinforce the importance of authenticity and openness within the family.

  “My youngest will go to her teachers: 'Do you listen to Determined Society?' She’s like my biggest marketing assistant!”
  (Brian, 37:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Parenting in Crisis:

  “The one common ground that we have is we’re dads, you know, and that’s always the way that I’ve wanted to be.”
  (Larry, 05:33)

• On Social Media and Youth:

  “When have you ever been able to see a live assassination? ... Now the media is shoving it in our faces and in our kids faces.”
  (Brian, 07:36)

• On Faith and Accountability:

  “Doing it with my kid... accountability is key. Left to my own vices, I probably wouldn’t [stick with it].”
  (Larry, 16:17)

• On Saying "Yes" to Kids:

  “Your kids will always remember that Dad, most of the time, said yes. They will also remember if Dad always said no.”
  (Larry, 23:23)

• On Marital Modeling:

  “If you really think about it, one of the best lessons that we can teach as parents is to teach kids how to have a functional relationship.”
  (Larry, 43:52)

Recommended Resources

• Larry's Latest Book: Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood
  • TheDadEdge.com/legendarybook (includes bonus courses “Creating More Patience” and “Creating Extraordinary Marriage”)
• Dad Edge Podcast: 10 years, 1400+ episodes, practical fatherhood resources.
• Dad Edge Alliance & Boardroom: Coaching programs and communities for fathers and entrepreneurs.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Faith & Navigating Chaos: 00:00 – 10:11
• Larry’s Faith Journey & Operation Timothy: 10:36 – 15:06
• Making Faith Practices Tangible and Accountable: 16:17 – 18:54
• Struggles with Parental Presence: 20:28 – 24:33
• The Story Behind Larry’s Books: 26:18 – 32:05
• Marriage and Modeling Connection for Kids: 40:24 – 46:39
• Safety & Family Traditions: 47:10 – 52:08
• Dad Edge Community & Resources: 54:37 – 56:41

Tone and Style Reflections

The conversation is open, candid, and peppered with relatable humor. Both Shawn and Larry balance vulnerability with practical advice. The tone is welcoming, making space for both spiritual reflection and family struggles, and encouraging listeners to embrace progress over perfection in their journeys as parents and spouses.