Podcast
To Dad From Dad
Hosted by Lee Wallace · EN
To Dad From Dad is a long-form conversation series where fathers reflect on life, family, and the advice they would give their younger selves.
12episodes
Episodes
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What Matters More Than Success: A Father, Doctor, and Granddad Reflects TDFD Ep. 12
Apr 1901:44:53Summary readyMost men spend years chasing things that feel important… only to realize later they missed what mattered most.In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, Brent shares what fatherhood, marriage, grief, faith, and grandfatherhood taught him after decades of life. From growing up with a truck-driver dad, to serving as a young doctor during the Oklahoma City bombing, to raising two sons and now helping with grandchildren, this conversation is full of hard-earned wisdom.This episode is for fathers, husbands, grandfathers, and men who want to build a family life they won’t regret.We talk about:what matters more than sports, success, and statushow to raise kids who stay close as adultsthe role grandparents should play without undermining parentshow hobbies, ambition, and identity have to change when kids are youngwhy being present matters more than being impressivecaring for parents at the end of lifewhat Brent wishes he had done more of, and less ofThere’s humor in this one, but also real weight. If you’re in the thick of raising kids, or trying to think farther down the road, this conversation will stay with you.Subscribe for more conversations on fatherhood, marriage, family legacy, and the lessons men learn the hard way.
SummaryWhat Fatherhood Taught Him About Marriage, Adoption, and Showing Up TDFD Ep. 11 (Fred)
Apr 1301:02:46Summary readySome dads build their wisdom the hard way.This conversation is about work travel, infertility, adoption, breast cancer, marriage, grandkids, and what it really means to be present when life gets heavy.In this episode of To Dad From Dad, Lee sits down with Fred for a deep, honest conversation about fatherhood across seasons of life. Fred shares what it was like to miss Christmas plays because of work travel, how he and his wife walked through infertility and ultimately chose adoption, and how their family endured a breast cancer diagnosis when their daughters were still babies.This episode is for dads, husbands, and grandfathers who are trying to lead their families well without pretending they have it all figured out. It is especially helpful for men navigating work pressure, marriage, parenting daughters, grief, infertility, adoption, and the challenge of building a home their kids actually want to come back to.In this conversation, we talk about:balancing work travel with being fully present at homewhat infertility and adoption taught him about surrender and familywalking with a spouse through cancer and uncertaintythe difference between being a dad and being a granddadhow to create a home your children want to return towhy your marriage may be teaching your kids more than your words ever willIf you care about becoming a better father, husband, or grandfather, this episode will stay with you.Subscribe for more real conversations about fatherhood, marriage, family, and the lessons men learn over time.
SummaryWhat a Dad Learns When Life Hits Hard (TDFD Ep. 10)
Mar 801:29:52Summary readyWhat do you do when life hits your family from every angle at once?And how do you raise strong kids without passing down the pain you came from?In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, David shares a raw and steady conversation about fatherhood, childhood trauma, marriage, faith, resilience, and what happens when a man is forced to surrender control. From growing up without a stable father, to building a business, to walking with his wife through cancer, this episode is about becoming the kind of dad you never had without making that pursuit an idol.This conversation is for dads who are trying to lead well, stay present, love their wives, and raise kids who can do hard things without becoming hard themselves.In this episode, we talk about:growing up with abuse, instability, and absent fathershow pain can shape a man without defining himraising resilient kids in a comfortable worldwhy dads should stop rescuing so quicklywhat it means to be a student of your spouse and your kidshow to respond when you feel angry at Godwhy presence matters more than performance in fatherhoodthe parenting framework: pause, connect, correct, celebrateIf you’re trying to become a better father, husband, or grandfather with honesty instead of perfection, this one is for you.Subscribe for more real conversations that pass wisdom from one dad to another.
SummaryWhen Control Fails: What Anxiety in Our Kids Is Teaching Us as Fathers (TDFD Ep. 9)
Feb 2201:44:00Summary readyWhat do you do when your kids are anxious… and you realize some of it looks like you?In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, we talk about control, church conflict, open loops, and the quiet pressure men carry to hold everything together.This conversation is for fathers who:Want to lead calmly, not react emotionallyAre raising kids who struggle with anxietyFeel the tension between adventure and controlHave walked through crisis and come out marked by itWe talk about:Why logic doesn’t fix anxiety in kidsHow your nervous system shapes your homeWhat crisis reveals about your leadershipWhy you shouldn’t make permanent decisions in temporary stormsFatherhood isn’t about optimizing every moment. It’s about becoming steady enough that your kids can borrow your calm.If you’re trying to become a better dad - not louder, not softer - but steadier… this one’s for you.Subscribe if you’re serious about growing into a stronger husband, father, and grandfather.
SummaryIn-Laws, Legacy, and the Dad I Miss: What Fatherhood Really Mirrors (TDFD Ep. 8)
Feb 1501:18:54Summary readySome of the biggest moments in fatherhood look… small. A spilled drink. A request to play checkers. A hand raised in worship when you feel awkward doing it.In this episode, Pete returns and opens up about losing his dad in January 2022, the legacy he left behind, and how that legacy still speaks - especially when life gets heavy. We talk about in-laws, boundaries, faith that shows up in real life, and why your kids are watching everything - even when you think they aren’t.This one is for dads who want to lead their home with steadiness—not perfection. Direction.What we get into:In-laws: how to navigate love, boundaries, and your own family “unit”Losing a father (and what a good dad leaves behind)Why “don’t major in the minors” changes the culture of your homeThe hidden weight of your reactions (spills, mistakes, little moments)A simple fatherhood move that pays off forever: say yes 👊If you’re trying to build a home your kids feel safe in—and a legacy they’ll want to carry—this conversation is for you.Subscribe if you want more honest, story-driven fatherhood conversations every week. 🙏
SummaryWhat a Grandpa Knows That Most Young Dads Learn Too Late TDFD Ep. 7
Feb 801:47:24Summary readyWhat happens when you sit down with a man who’s been a father for 50 years - and is now a grandfather watching his kids raise their own?This conversation went places we didn’t expect.In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, Lee sits down with Randy - the show’s first grandfather and a marriage & family therapist with nearly five decades of experience. What starts as a reflection on early fatherhood turns into an honest, unscripted conversation about guilt vs. shame, alcohol, regret, forgiveness, and what really makes kids want to come home as adults.This isn’t advice from a pedestal. It’s wisdom earned the hard way.Who this helps:Dads in the grind of raising young kidsFathers wrestling with regret or guiltMen thinking about the legacy they’re buildingAnyone who wants their kids to want to come home somedayKey takeaways:Why guilt and shame are not the same - and why that mattersHow your reactions shape your kids long after the moment passesWhat grandparents see that parents often missHow to build a home your kids are drawn back toIf this conversation resonates, consider subscribing. These are the talks most dads don’t get to have - but need.
SummaryThe Lies We Carry From Childhood - And How They Shape Us as Fathers (TDFD Ep. 6)
Feb 101:29:57Summary readyMost dads don’t realize they’re parenting out of old wounds. This conversation explores the lies we carry from childhood and how they quietly shape our anger, ambition, money habits, and relationships with our kids.In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, Matt shares a raw, grounded journey through politics, education, ministry, and fatherhood and how unresolved beliefs from our upbringing often show up as frustration, control, or burnout at home.We talk about why dad anger is often just misplaced selfishness, why financial security can become emotional armor, and how obedience without heart leads nowhere.This episode is for dads who:Feel constantly frustrated at homeAre driven, disciplined, and still unsatisfiedWant to break generational patterns without overcorrectingAre afraid of becoming the dad they never wanted to beKey Takeaways: Why anger usually masks something deeperHow childhood beliefs silently shape adult decisionsWhy community matters more than willpowerThe difference between compliance and heart postureWhat kids actually need from their dad over timeIf this episode resonates, subscribe and share it with another dad who needs to hear it. You’re not alone - and you’re not broken.
SummaryBefore You Have Kids, Hear This From a Newlywed (TDFD Ep. 5)
Jan 2501:15:13Summary readyMost advice about marriage and kids comes too late.This conversation happens before the chaos — and that’s the point.In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, I sit down with my friend Tye - newly married, no kids yet - to talk honestly about marriage, fear, stoicism, work, and what actually matters before you become a father.What we talk about:• Why “keep being married” should be the first goal• Stoicism, faith, and fear - how they coexist• The danger of waiting for the perfect time• Why kids live in the culture you create• Passing down skills, not just moneyIf this conversation made you think, share it with someone who needs to hear it.New episodes every Sunday.
SummaryRaising Kids in Different Stages: The Time You Don’t Get Back TDFD Ep. 4 (Ryan)
Jan 1801:24:39Summary readyMost dads don’t realize the clock is already ticking - until their kid is suddenly driving, shutting their door, and needing you less… while their choices start carrying real consequences. In this episode of To Dad, From Dad, Ryan and I talk about parenting kids in multiple stages at once (11, 14, 16), the “double standard” traps that create conflict at home, and the hard truth: time with your kids decreases while the consequences of their decisions increase. This episode is for dads who are trying to do it right - but feel stretched thin by work, pressure, and the chaos of family life. We talk about: Why the youngest “grows up faster” in a house with older siblings The chore/curfew/phone arguments kids can’t contextualize yet How to build trust with your kids with “no strings attached” time Why your marriage is the anchor that keeps the whole family steady How work can quietly undermine the husband/father you want to be A practical family-calendar habit that helps you show up more If you’re trying to become a more intentional father (and a better husband) without turning your home into a constant correction session - this one will hit. Follow if you’re building a better life for your family and you want real conversations with real dads.
SummaryRaising a Son to Replace You and a Daughter to Choose Well (Fatherhood at 50) TDFD Ep. 3
Jan 1101:20:25Tap to summarizeSomewhere around year five of being a dad, the fog lifts. You realize your window is shrinking… and the quality of your influence has to rise. In Episode 3 of To Dad, From Dad, I sit down with James - father of two (11 and 12), married 13 years - who’s staring down the next phase: raising a son who’s starving for independence, and a daughter who still wants her dad… for now. We talk about the hard stuff men don’t always say out loud: What it means to raise your son to replace you What it means to raise your daughter to choose the right man How attention, influence, and teenage years can go sideways if home isn’t safe Why mentorship doesn’t require “perfect men,” just honest community How career ambition changes when family becomes the priority Why travel doesn’t need performance - your kids just want your presence This episode is for dads who feel the weight of responsibility, want to lead their home well, and don’t want to wake up later wishing they had shown up more. Takeaways you’ll hear in this conversation: ✅ How to listen without over-correcting your kids ✅ A practical way to think about priorities: God, wife, kids, self ✅ Why “showing up” matters more than grand gestures ✅ How to create a family culture by design: words, actions, and choosing love If you’re building your life around being a better father and husband, follow for more conversations like this. And if something’s on your heart, you can submit a question at todadfromdad.com.
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