Let this register
Plus – betting on yourself
June 08, 2026 | Read online
Happy Monday, guys. Hope y’all had a great weekend.
Here’s what’s on deck:
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Good days
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Betting on yourself
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Your Father’s Day hat
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Greens powder. Worth it?
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And more…
Let’s get into it.
And if you’re new here, welcome aboard. Glad you found us.
📕 DAD WISDOM
The Good Days
I came across a line recently that really hit…
We let bad days affect us too much and good days affect us too little.
And I think part of the reason is that the good stuff rarely announces itself. It’s usually small.
A kid wanting to tell you a story you’ve already heard three times. Everyone laughing at the dinner table. Kicking a soccer ball around. A random hug.
The problem is we’re often moving so fast that we don’t let those moments land. The hard stuff gets highlighted. The good stuff gets filed away as normal.
But one day, a lot of these “normal” moments are going to be the things we miss most. So here’s your reminder to let the good stuff register.
Not later. Now.
RAD DAD
Richie Mata’afa
Richie Mata’afa walked away from the safe path to build Daylight Burrito in Greenville, South Carolina.
Which sounds fun until you remember restaurants are brutal. Early mornings. Thin margins. Long hours. A thousand tiny details that all matter.
And somewhere in the middle of that, he’s also a dad trying to build something his kids can watch take shape in real time.
That’s what makes Richie’s story hit.
It’s not just about burritos. It’s about showing your kids what it looks like to bet on yourself. To do the hard thing. To build something honest, one day at a time.
Daylight started with pop-ups and word-of-mouth, and now it’s become one of those places people talk about like they discovered it first.
Richie’s reminder for dads is pretty simple: your kids are watching what you build, what you risk, and how you show up when it gets hard.
And sometimes, the family business is not really the business. It’s the example.
Check out his story here.
DAD GEAR
The Dad Hat
We made a hat. Not a performance hat. Not a tactical hat. Not a hat with 47 features and a moisture-wicking origin story.
Just a clean, simple, timeless Dad hat.
Great for Father’s Day. Great for every other day you’re out there doing dad stuff. Get one for yourself, or send this to a loved one as a subtle Father’s Day hint.
Thanks for supporting Dad Day.
Get $5 bucks off with code: HIGHFIVE
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Foam Roller (28% off)
» Righteous Sampler – Beef Jerky and Meat Sticks
» Wireless Meat Thermometer (25% off)
DAD BOD
Greens Powder. Worth It?
Greens powder is fine. Not magic. Not useless.
It can add some vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds to your diet…helpful since only about 1 in 10 adults gets enough fruits and vegetables, according to the CDC.
But it does not replace real vegetables. Whole plants come with fiber, water, chewing, fullness, and the full food matrix. Green powder is more like nutritional insurance. Not dinner.
The science? Thin. Some research on fruit-and-vegetable concentrates shows possible improvements in markers like blood pressure and oxidative stress, but the studies are generally small and not strong enough to crown this stuff a miracle scoop.
If you buy some greens powder, make sure you look for third-party testing.
Worth taking? Yes, if it helps you build a better habit.
Worth relying on? Nope.
Use it like a seatbelt, not a chauffeur.
JUNK DRAWER
» 🎧 Getting Out Of Your Kids Way
» 📕 Band of Brothers
» 👀 Don’t Race Against Time
Better Coffee This Father’s Day
In Partnership w/Aeropress
Father’s Day is a couple weeks away and here’s our honest suggestion: get yourself an AeroPress.
We’re not baristas. Just regular dads who’ve come to really appreciate that first cup in the morning before everyone wakes up, whether it’s at home, fishing, camping, you name it.
The AeroPress makes it easy…rich, smooth, ready in under two minutes, and it tastes like the beans you actually paid for.
It travels well too. Toss it in your bag for the office, a work trip, wherever. Good coffee wherever you land.
Hand the code to your partner or just treat yourself. Either way you won’t be mad about it.
Weekly Poll👇
What’s motivating your workouts right now?
A race/event
General health
Weight loss
Keeping up with my kids
I don’t workout currently
Other
DAD HUMOR
One must choose
PLUS – stoked on today’s drop
June 05, 2026 | Read online
Hey guys. Summer weeks move fast. Too fast.
Today we’re taking a slight detour from our usual Friday format. You’ll see why below. We’re fired up about this one.
Have an awesome weekend. Get outside with the kids. Dare we say it: live, laugh, love.
Lol.
Let’s get into it.
PS: If you’re new here, we mix it up on Fridays with a quick recap from the week and a few extra gems to head into the weekend right.
“Sometimes fear does not subside and one must choose to do it afraid.”
Elisabeth Elliot
GO WEST
If you’ve been following along, you may have caught one or two episodes of our Go West series on YouTube.
The idea was simple: tell stories about dads carving their own path, going against the grain, and taking the harder road.
For episode 3, we actually went west.
We connected with Tom and Michael a few months back and knew immediately we had to tell their story.
Best friends from college. Decided early they weren’t built for the conventional path. After a couple of failed swings and only a few hundred bucks left in their business account, they threw a Hail Mary.
We’ll let the film do the rest of the talking.
What really stuck with us beyond the business story is how intentional they are about getting their kids outside and off screens. In a world where we’re on track to spend 16 years of our lives on our phones, these two are doing something about it.
Give it a watch this weekend. A lot goes into these, and we’re always pumped to share them.
THE DIGEST
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Wisdom of the Week: Fatherhood is less about the big moments and more about the thousands of little ones nobody else notices. So if you’re feeling behind, don’t worry about the mile. Just focus on the next inch.
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Most Clicked: What Successful People Did With Their Kids That Most Parents Never Think About
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Gear of the Week: Helly Hansen Loke Jacket
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Summer Apparel: Faherty Camp Shirt (Great For BBQs)
📕 Read: The Promise of a Pencil – Adam Braun
📺 Watch: From Broke College Grads to the Cover of Outside Magazine | Go West Episode 3
🍔 Eat/Drink: The #1 dessert in all of BBQ – Homemade Banana Pudding
IN THE TRENCHES
Topic: Summer Vacation
We asked dads where things stand with summer vacation plans.
The results were pretty clear: nearly two-thirds already have something on the calendar.
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Some are heading to the beach.
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Some are squeezing in visits with extended family.
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Others are stacking up long weekends and road trips closer to home.
But one thing stood out in the responses. For a lot of dads, the question isn’t where are you going?
It’s can we make it happen at all?
Several dads shared that between work, young kids, rising costs, and busy seasons of life, a big family vacation just isn’t in the cards this year. Many are skipping travel entirely while raising toddlers and newborns, choosing instead to save for a bigger trip down the road.
And honestly, there’s something refreshing about that perspective.
A successful summer doesn’t require flights, resorts, or a packed itinerary. Sometimes it’s a few long weekends, a backyard project, a day at the lake, or simply being together with nowhere else to be.
GARAGE
Send us what you’re working on…
“6 hours, a bunch of Dead & Co., and a sunburn, and we’re ready to go.” – Thanks for sharing, Brian!
We want to see your projects. Send ‘em our way! Just reply to this email.
WEEKEND BURNER
For Time:
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100 Push-Ups
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400 meter Run
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75 Push-Ups
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800 meter Run
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50 Push-Ups
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1,200 meter Run
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25 Push-Ups
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1,600 meter Run
ONE LAST THING
🧠 Worth Knowing: Researchers found that people tend to underestimate how much others enjoy talking to them after a conversation. In other words, that text, call, or coffee catch-up is probably more appreciated than you think.
🍻 Weekend Assignment: Put something on the calendar you’re genuinely looking forward to.
🎧 On Repeat: Some fresh jams dropped in our Dad Day Playlist. → Listen
dad shower thoughts: As a kid, every adult looked like they knew what they were doing. As an adult, you realize everyone is mostly winging it.
An inch of movement
Plus – how’re you sleeping?
June 03, 2026 | Read online
Hey guys. The week is flying by on our end. Summer has arrived.
Here’s what’s on tap today:
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Intention vs. movement
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Dad brain
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Your next t-shirt
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A phone worth checking out
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And more…
Let’s get into it.
If you’re new here, welcome. Happy to have ya!
📕 DAD WISDOM
An Inch of Movement
I saw a quote recently that stuck with me:
“An inch of movement is better than a mile of intentions.”
That feels especially true as a dad. We all have good intentions.
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We want to be more patient
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More present
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Work out more
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Spend more one-on-one time with the kids
The problem is that intentions are easy. Action is harder. And the funny thing is, fatherhood is built on inches.
Reading one more book before bed. Taking the five minutes to throw the ball around. Apologizing after a rough morning. Going for the walk instead of scrolling your phone.
None of those things feel huge in the moment. But they stack.
Fatherhood is less about the big moments and more about the thousands of little ones nobody else notices.
So if you’re feeling behind, don’t worry about the mile. Just focus on the next inch.
That’s usually how the good stuff gets built anyway.
SMALL TALK
A couple random facts you probably don’t need to know… but might come in handy the next time you’re standing around at a kid’s birthday party making awkward conversation with another dad you barely know.
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New dads’ brains physically change after becoming parents. One study found first-time fathers lost about 1% of gray matter volume during the transition to parenthood. So “dad brain” is not just forgetting where you put your keys. It’s science.
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The average person will spend about 26 years of their life sleeping. Which means if you got a full 8 hours last night, congratulations on beating the odds.
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Researchers found that walking meetings generate more creative ideas than sitting meetings. Steve Jobs was famously a big believer in them. Turns out movement helps the brain.
DAD GEAR
Your Next T-Shirt
Big t-shirt guys over here. Always hunting for that perfect boxy-but-not-sloppy fit. The kind of tee that says “I care,” but not “I watched 35 YouTube videos on garment weight.”
This one from Bronson is built the old-school way on a vintage knitting machine. 10.5 oz. ringspun cotton,
And for $28? C’mon.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Killer Hogs BBQ Rub
» Timex Expedition Scout Watch (10% off)
» Oura Smart Ring 5
DAD BOD
Sleep Position?
Your sleep position might be doing more than deciding which side of your face gets pillow creases.
Research has linked left-side sleeping with less acid reflux, mostly because your stomach sits slightly left of center and gravity helps keep acid where it belongs.
Side sleeping can also put extra pressure on the shoulder, which is worth noting if you wake up feeling like you lost a bar fight to your pillow.
The big takeaway isn’t to panic-roll yourself into a new position tonight. It’s to know how you sleep, then make sure your pillow and mattress actually support that setup.
Hat tip to Arnold’s Pump Club for putting this one on our radar.
JUNK DRAWER
» 🧠 Not Raising Kids to Be Kids
» 📕 How to Find the Bottlenecks Slowing Down Your Life
» 🎥 Heading to Beach This Summer? We Reviewed 3 Beach Umbrellas.
The First Phone Conversation Nobody Tells You To Have
In Partnership w/Bark
We’re not here to tell you whether your kid should have a phone. That’s your call. Every family is different.
But here’s the conversation nobody warns you about: it’s not “should they have one?” It’s “what happens after they do?”
Because once that device is in their hands, you’re not just managing screen time. You’re dealing with the open internet, group chats, and rabbit holes that didn’t exist when we were figuring out how to record over VHS tapes.
Over 7.3 million kids are covered by it, which tells you something.
Bark monitors content across apps and platforms and alerts you when something actually needs your attention. No reading every text. No micromanaging. Just a heads up when it matters.
Not ready for a full smartphone yet? The Bark Phone and Bark Watch let kids call and text the people you approve, without handing them a portal to the entire internet.
You set the rules. Bark helps you hold them.
DAD HUMOR
Are you trying this?
Plus – the price of greatness
June 01, 2026 | Read online
Happy Monday guys. Hope the weekend was solid.
Here’s what’s on deck:
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The price of greatness
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What John Wooden learned from his dad
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Better coffee?
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Fish Oil
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And more…
Let’s get into it.
And if you’re new here, welcome aboard. Glad you found us.
📕 DAD WISDOM
The Price of Greatness
I watched the Jerry West documentary over the weekend. Highly recommend it.
He was one of the greatest to ever do it, on the court and in the front office.
But the part that stuck with me had nothing to do with basketball.
He gave his life and heart and soul to the game. And by his own admission, there were things he neglected. His marriage. His kids. The stuff that doesn’t get a trophy.
His last phone call with his father, West made sure to say he loved him. It was rare for him, a man who struggled to say those words his whole life. You can hear the weight of that in how he tells it.
Here’s what I kept coming back to: this guy had everything the world says you’re supposed to want. And he still felt like something was missing.
We talk a lot in this newsletter about showing up. Being present. Saying the thing.
Jerry West is a good reminder of why that actually matters. He had more trophies than he knew what to do with. Didn’t fill the gap.
Go tell your people you love them.
RAD DAD
John Wooden
We’ll keep the basketball theme rollin’ today.
John Wooden won 10 national championships at UCLA. What a lot of people don’t realize is that almost everything he taught started with lessons from his own dad.
Growing up on a farm in Indiana, his father gave him a simple seven-point creed. Things like: be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece.
Wooden carried that piece of paper in his wallet for the rest of his life.
Long before he was coaching future NBA stars, he was focused on being a husband and father.
Married his high school sweetheart, Nell. They were together for nearly 53 years until she passed away in 1985.
Even after becoming one of the most successful coaches in sports history, Wooden was known for spending more time talking about character than basketball.
His famous “Pyramid of Success” wasn’t really about winning games. It was about becoming the kind of person your family could count on.
One of his best lines:
“The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example.”
Feels a lot like parenting too.
DAD GEAR
Better Coffee In Your Spot
With Aeropress
Every dad has a spot. The garage. The back porch. The basement setup nobody else is allowed to touch.
The coffee in those spots is usually an afterthought. Whatever’s convenient. Whatever’s fast.
That’s why we’ve been rocking the AeroPress. It tastes like the beans we actually paid for. Better than drip, way better than pods, and ready in under two minutes. Easy to clean. Tough enough to go wherever you go.
Every dad has his place. Now it has better coffee.
They’re hooking our crew up with 25% off, too. Use code: DADDAY25
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Helly Hansen Rain Jacket
» 14 Piece Car Wash Kit (20% off)
» Vice Pro Golf Balls (23% off)
DAD BOD
Should You Add Fish Oil to Your Diet?
Maybe. But don’t expect Wolverine-level healing.
Fish oil contains omega-3s…EPA and DHA, which help support heart health, normal cell function, and the body’s inflammation response.
The clearest science-backed benefit: helping lower triglycerides, especially if yours are high.
The best move is still food first: salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovies. Twice a week is the classic target.
Supplements can help fill the gap.
JUNK DRAWER
» 🎧 Alex Honnold On Diary of a CEO: “I shouldn’t have attempted that climb.”
» 📕 What Successful People Did With Their Kids That Most Parents Never Think About
» 👀 Jerry West Documentary
Weekly Poll👇
What’s the status of your summer vacation plans?
Already booked
Planning it now
Still deciding
No trip this summer
DAD HUMOR
Smile or you’re doing it wrong
PLUS – stuck in the middle
May 29, 2026 | Read online
Love us a short week.
The inbox is lighter. The coffee hits better. The weekend feels like it’s already got one foot in the door.
Get outside. Throw something on the grill. Toss a ball. Touch grass like your screen time report depends on it.
Have fun out there. We’ll see ya Monday.
PS: If you’re new here, we mix it up on Fridays with a quick recap from the week and a few extra gems to head into the weekend right.
“Less is more and more is more. It’s the middle that’s not a good place.”
Paula Scher
THE DIGEST
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Wisdom of the Week: How are you showing up for your family? For your kids? Your people? That’s your race. And the dads who burn out the fastest are usually the ones trying to keep pace with everyone else instead of settling into their own stride.
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Most Clicked: 5 Home Office Hacks For More Productivity
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Gear of the Week: No Reception Club Duffel Bag (Made For Parents)
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Summer Apparel: The Jack Shirt in Vintage White Linen
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Take 5 Minutes Today and Do This: Ya, life insurance isn’t exciting stuff. But if you’re a dad, it’s important as hell: no medical exam, just a few health questions online, and you can be covered in a few minutes. For a healthy 40-year-old, $1M in coverage runs around $54/month. Take a couple minutes today and get your number here.
📕 Read: Atomic Habits – James Clear
📺 Watch: Huckberry – DIRT Hawaii
🍔 Eat/Drink: Cheap And Healthy Meals For The Week, Done In 1 Hour
🎧 Listen: Smile Or You’re Doing It Wrong – Rich Roll Podcast
IN THE TRENCHES
Topic: Video Games
Video games came up in the Slack group. Here’s what the crew had to say…
The common theme wasn’t really about the games. It was about the guardrails.
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Nintendo Switch was the preferred system.
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Dads talked about earning game time, weekend-only play, parental controls, and making gaming something the family does together instead of something kids disappear into alone.
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Mario Kart, Mario Party, Wii Sports, Minecraft. A lot of nostalgia. A lot of sibling competition. A lot of dads still convinced they can smoke their kids on Rainbow Road.
One dad summed it up perfectly: “The most important thing is to make sure they know they do not have any chance of beating dad in Mario Kart.”
The other takeaway? Nearly every dad who owned a system said the same thing:
The kids ask for it way less than they expected. The anticipation is often bigger than the actual playtime.
(Also, multiple dads specifically said: absolutely no Roblox.) 👀
GARAGE
Send us what you’re working on…
Our dude is locked in for the summer. Thanks for sharing!
We want to see your projects. Send ‘em our way! Just reply to this email.
WEEKEND BURNER
2 rounds for time:
• 750 m Row
• 25 Front Squats
• 25 Burpees over Rower
If you don’t have a rower, do a run instead.
ONE LAST THING
🧠 Random Fact: The average dad spends roughly 67 days of his life mowing the lawn.
📼 Rewatchability: Movies that get better as a dad: Field of Dreams, The Sandlot, Hook
🎧 On Repeat: Some fresh jams dropped in our Dad Day Playlist. → Listen
dad shower thoughts: Every family has a cup that nobody likes but somehow nobody throws away.
Finding your stride
Plus – your home movie camera
May 27, 2026 | Read online
We’re back. Hope y’all had a nice holiday weekend.
Here’s what’s on tap today:
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Running your own race
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Taking risks
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A sweet digital video camera
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Peptides
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And more…
Let’s get into it.
📕 DAD WISDOM
Run Your Race
I recently signed up for an ultra. Decided it was time to put something uncomfortable on the calendar and get after it.
And every single person I’ve talked to about running one has said the same thing: don’t get caught up on what everyone else is doing at the start. Run your own race.
I’ve been chewing on that during my long runs lately. Because it’s the same thing in fatherhood.
It’s easy to get caught looking sideways. What the other dad is driving. Where they’re vacationing. What school their kids are in. What they’ve got figured out that you don’t.
Truth be told…none of that matters.
How are you showing up for your family? For your kids? Your people?
That’s your race.
And the dads who burn out the fastest are usually the ones trying to keep pace with everyone else instead of settling into their own stride.
SMALL TALK
A couple random facts you probably don’t need to know… but might come in handy the next time you’re standing around at a kid’s birthday party making awkward conversation with another dad you barely know.
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Researchers found that dads are more likely to take risks and try new things when they become parents. Apparently “I have kids now” and “I should buy a smoker” are closely connected.
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Studies have found that firstborn children are more likely to become CEOs and politicians than their younger siblings. Older sibling superiority complex: partially confirmed.
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Research shows babies are more responsive to “parent voice” than normal adult conversation. So yes, the ridiculous high-pitched voice you swore you’d never use is actually working.
DAD GEAR
Camp Snap CS-8 Digital Video Camera
We picked one of these bad boys up a few weeks ago to shoot some home movies and let the kids film too. It’s been awesome mostly because it’s screen-free and keeps us all actually in the moment.
No playback, no instant previews (it’s still digital, though). You shoot, you move on, and you watch everything back later like it’s Christmas morning. The kids love the retro Super 8 vibe and honestly so do we.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» NRC Carry-On Duffel (Made For Parents)
» For the Kids – Magnetic Tiles Roadset (25% off)
DAD BOD
What Are Peptides?
A lot of fitness guys, longevity bros, and “I have a guy” seem to be talking about peptides.
Here’s the deal: Peptides are short chains of amino acids…tiny protein fragments that signal your body to do specific things, like recover faster, sleep deeper, or burn fat.
Some are used in real medicine. Others are sold online with big promises and evidence that ranges from solid clinical data to “we tested this on rats.”
They’re not a dad-bod eraser…think of them less like a miracle cure and more like a very broad category: some legit, some overhyped, some sketchy.
The ones getting the most real-world buzz right now are BPC-157 (recovery and joints), Ipamorelin (sleep and body comp), and Semaglutide, yes, that’s Ozempic, and yes, it’s technically a peptide.
Do your research and talk to a real doctor before you do anything crazy.
JUNK DRAWER
» LISTEN: 10k Steps a Day Or This?
» READ: Flying With Kids: The Complete Dad’s Guide From Baby to Big Kid
» WATCH: 5 Home Office Hacks For More Productvity
DAD HUMOR
A little behind today
PLUS – we ride at dawn
May 22, 2026 | Read online
Holiday weekend mode: engaged.
We’re a little late today because being outnumbered by 3 kids is the real deal. Have an awesome holiday weekend. We’re taking Monday off, and we’ll see ya Wednesday.
PS: If you’re new here, we mix it up on Fridays with a quick recap from the week and a few extra gems to head into the weekend right.
“Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one’s self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily; and why older persons, especially if vain or important, cannot learn at all.”
Thomas Szasz
THE DIGEST
-
Wisdom of the Week: Stuff usually isn’t taught through one big moment or speech. It happens in everyday things. The comments we make around the dinner table. The way we talk about strangers. The example we set when nobody’s really paying attention.
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Most Clicked: Eric Church’s Graduation Speech
-
Gear of the Week: Tecovas Slip-Ons
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A Dad Box Worth Checking: We featured Ethos on Monday, and ya, life insurance isn’t exactly holiday weekend material. But if you’re a dad, it’s important as hell: no medical exam, just a few health questions online, and you can get a number in minutes. For a healthy 40-year-old, $1M in coverage runs around $54/month. Take a few minutes this weekend and get your number here.
📕 Read: Consider the Lobster: And Other Essays
📺 Watch: Why Bear Grylls’ Morning Routine Hasn’t Changed in Decades
🍔 Eat/Drink: The 3 Sides That Steal Every Memorial Day Cookout
🎧 Listen: A New Dad Reality Check (we just dropped a new podcast episode)
IN THE TRENCHES
Topic: The Village (Or Lack Of One)
Over 300 dads weighed in on whether they have family nearby to help with the kids.
Interestingly, the majority said they do have family close by…and most admitted they rely on them heavily. Grandparents 15 minutes away. Siblings who can step in. Last-minute babysitting help. More than one dad called it “priceless.”
But there was also a huge group doing this without much help at all.
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Different state. Different country. Military moves. Work relocations. Just trying to build a life far away from where they started.
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One thing that stood out: even dads without family nearby kept talking about building their own version of a village. Friends. Neighbors. Parents from school. People showing up when it mattered most.
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And honestly, some of the strongest responses came from the dads doing it solo. A lot of guys said it’s forced them and their spouse to become an even tighter team.
One dad wrote: “Quitting on each other has never been an option.”
That one stuck with us.
GARAGE
Send us what you’re working on…
A legit basement pub. Thanks for sharing!
We want to see your projects. Send ‘em our way! Just reply to this email.
WEEKEND BURNER
“Murph” is a legendary CrossFit “Hero WOD” performed to honor Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy.
The Workout:
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1-mile run
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100 pull-ups
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200 push-ups
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300 air squats
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1-mile run
Traditionally done while wearing a 20-lb weighted vest. Scale accordingly, y’all.
ONE LAST THING
🛒 Dad Economy:
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$7 coffee: “absolutely not.”
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$38 beef jerky at the gas station: “we ride at dawn.”
📼 Core Memory:
Your kids have absolutely no idea how hard you’re trying. Which is probably a good thing. They just think dad always knows how to fix the bike, carry them upstairs, and make pancakes on Saturday.
🎧 On Repeat
Some fresh jams dropped in our Dad Day Playlist.
→ Listen
dad shower thoughts: Kind of wild that figure skaters don’t wear helmets.
Pretty dang important
Plus – what to do when you’re alone
May 20, 2026 | Read online
Middle of the week! Let’s go.
In today’s edition:
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The weight of the role
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Small talk
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Get yourself some slip-ons
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Does mouth taping work?
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And more…
Let’s get into it.
📕 DAD WISDOM
The Weight of the Role
The news from Monday was one of those reminders that the role we have as dads carries a lot of weight.
Not just in providing or protecting, but in raising good people.
Kind people. Compassionate people. Kids who know how to treat others with dignity and respect.
And if you’re reading this newsletter, there’s a pretty good chance you already care enough to think intentionally about the kind of father you want to be.
That matters more than we realize.
Because this stuff usually isn’t taught through one big moment or speech. It happens in everyday things. The comments we make around the dinner table. The way we talk about strangers. The example we set when nobody’s really paying attention.
A lot of parenting is planting seeds you may never fully see grow.
But that’s the weight of this role. And it’s pretty damn important.
SMALL TALK
A couple random facts you probably don’t need to know… but might come in handy the next time you’re standing around at a kid’s birthday party making awkward conversation with another dad you barely know.
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The average toddler takes about 176 steps per minute when running.
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The average LEGO set contains enough bacteria to technically qualify as a small ecosystem after a few months in a kid’s room. Scientists actually studied this.
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Researchers found that parents of young kids lose the equivalent of about two full nights of sleep every week during the early years.
DAD GEAR
Nestout Power Bank
This might be the coolest power bank we’ve seen to date. Reliable and durable for any conditions, including the kids chucking it.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Tecovas Monterey Slip-Ons
» Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 (15% off)
» Indoor Baby Gate (23% off)
DAD BOD
Mouth Taping
Mouth taping has been on the “sounds crazy but maybe?” sleep hack charts for a minute now.
The idea is simple: tape your mouth shut, force nasal breathing, snore less, sleep deeper, wake up feeling like Bradley Cooper in a watch ad.
But the science is a lot less sexy. A recent review looked at 10 studies and found that, for most people, mouth taping didn’t meaningfully improve sleep.
A couple small studies showed possible benefits for mild sleep apnea, but only in people who could already breathe well through their nose, which is kind of the whole catch.
The bigger issue: if your nose is blocked, allergies are raging, or you have undiagnosed sleep problems, taping your mouth shut is less “wellness optimization” and more “bad idea with adhesive.”
Seems like the play is to skip it for now. Better sleep still comes from the boring stuff: a cooler room, less booze, fewer late-night scrolls, and not treating TikTok like a medical degree.
JUNK DRAWER
» LISTEN: Fitness Fixes Everything (and its simple)
» READ: A Dads ‘No BS Guide’ to Life Insurance
» WATCH: 34 Things to Do When You Are Alone
DAD HUMOR
Stay tuned, dad
Plus – get your dang number
May 18, 2026 | Read online
Happy Monday fellas. Hope the weekend treated you right. We’ve got a slightly longer one today.
Here’s what’s on deck:
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How to keep your guitar in tune
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The “drink in my hand” guy
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Maybe our most important Dad Bod yet
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And a few solid deals worth a look
Let’s get into it.
And if you’re new here, welcome aboard. Glad you found us.
📕 DAD WISDOM
Keep The Strings In Tune
Eric Church’s commencement speech at UNC is having a moment, so I gave it a listen over the weekend. It was legit.
He built the speech around the six strings of a guitar. Different parts of life acting like different strings…faith, family, partnership, ambition, community, individuality.
And the idea was simple:
When the strings are in tune, life sounds pretty good. When one gets neglected long enough, the whole chord feels off.
It really hit me as a dad. Why? Because it’s easy to spend all your time tuning one string. Work. Money. Providing. Productivity. Etc.
Meanwhile, another string quietly drifts out.
Maybe you stop checking in with your spouse. Maybe you lose your hobbies. Maybe you stop showing up for your friends. Maybe home starts feeling tense because you’ve been running too hard for too long.
That doesn’t mean the song is over. It just means something needs tuned up.
That’s dad life in a lot of ways. Constant adjustments. Constant tuning. Trying to keep the whole thing from getting too out of balance.
No perfect chord exists for very long. You just keep tuning and keep playing.
RAD DAD
Eric Church
Photo Credit: UNC
Thought it’d only be fitting to feature Eric Church here today, so we dove in a little deeper after hearing his speech…
Most people know him as the outlaw country guy in aviators screaming “Drink In My Hand.” What people don’t realize is the dude nearly quit music before any of this happened.
Early Nashville years were rough. Broke. Spinning his wheels. Ready to head back home to North Carolina.
Then his brother Brandon moved to Nashville and slept on his couch for a year just to keep him from quitting.
A year later, things finally started happening.
Fast forward and Church builds his whole career doing things his own way. Too loud. Too long. Got fired from opening for Rascal Flatts because he kept blowing past his set times. Taylor Swift replaced him on the tour. Incredible.
Married his wife Katherine in 2008. Two boys now. Then in 2017, life punches him in the face a bit.
Massive blood clot in his chest caused by a congenital condition. Emergency surgery. Doctors basically told him it could’ve killed him.
A year later, his brother dies unexpectedly at 36. You can feel some of that perspective in the way he talks about family now.
At one point, talking about fatherhood, Church said watching kids grow up is “terrifying and wonderful and sad at the same time.”
Honestly…pretty spot on.
DAD GEAR
150 Gallon Large Deck Box
We know. We know. An outdoor storage box isn’t exactly drool-worthy dad gear.
But if you need somewhere to toss the scooters, helmets, balls, chalk, bubbles, and other backyard shrapnel…this is $150 well spent.
Currently 25% off. Not sexy. Extremely useful.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Towel Terry Johnny Collar Polo
» EGO Power+ Lawnmower (40% off)
» REI Hydration Vest
DAD BOD
Go Get Your Number. Srsly. Just Do It.
With Ethos
We don’t run a lot of ads. This one we wanted to run.
Life insurance isn’t a sexy sponsor.
But if we’re being straight with you, it might be the most important thing we put in front of you all year.
Most dads keep putting it off. Not because we don’t care. But because it feels like a pain in the ass. Doctor’s appointments. Paperwork. Agents who won’t stop calling.
Ethos fixed all of that. No medical exam. Just a few health questions online. As little as ten minutes. Coverage can start the same day in some cases.
For a healthy 40-year-old, $1M in coverage runs around $54/month. Less than a lot of us spend on coffee each month.
That’s it. Go get your number.
Sample rate: 10-year term $1m policy for a 40 y/o healthy, non-smoking male. Online health questions required. 4.8 stars on Trustpilot as of 03/09/2026. This is an advertisement. Ethos operates in some states as Ethos Life Insurance Services. CA license #0L28949; AR license #100164629. This email was sent by a marketing associate of Ethos, not Ethos itself. Ethos mailing address: 1606 Headway Cir #9013, Austin, TX 78754.
Products not available in all states.
JUNK DRAWER
» 🎧 Eric Church’s UNC Commencement Speech
» 📕 Going from 1 to 2 Kids (or More): What No One Tells You
» 👀 Bear Grylls’ Morning Routine
Weekly Poll👇
Do you have family nearby to help with the kids?
Yes
Somewhat nearby
Not really
We’re doing it solo
Other
DAD HUMOR
What you need more of…
PLUS – let it rip this weekend
May 15, 2026 | Read online
Happy Friday, gents.
Quick favor…if these emails have been useful, funny, or just a decent excuse to avoid work for three minutes, forward this to another dad.
Appreciate you.
PS: If you’re new here, we mix it up on Fridays with a quick recap from the week and a few extra gems to head into the weekend right.
“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough, and a sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested.”
Seneca
THE DIGEST
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Wisdom of the Week: Nobody fully knows what they’re doing. Every stage is new. Every kid is different. So if you feel a little uncertain sometimes, good. That probably means you care. Just don’t get too trapped in your own head about it.
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Most Clicked: America 250 National Parks Pocket Atlas
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Gear of the Week: AeroPress Coffee Maker – Go Plus
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Health Check of the Week: Know Your Numbers. Get a $25 Credit With Function
📕 Read: Barbarian Days
📺 Watch: If You Feel Behind – Watch This
🍔 Eat/Drink: 3 Amazing Things Off The Grill For This Summer
🎧 Listen: Are Sleep Trackers Harmful or Helpful?
IN THE TRENCHES
Topic: What dads need more of
We asked what you wish you had more of right now as a dad.
The top answer was simple: time
A few things that came through loud and clear:
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A lot of dads feel like they’re moving too fast. Trying to squeeze work, parenting, marriage, health, and life into one day that never feels long enough.
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Patience was right behind time. Not because guys don’t care, but because exhaustion and stress shorten the fuse. More than one dad admitted they’re trying to slow down and stop treating their kids like another thing to optimize.
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Energy showed up too. The desire is there. A lot of guys just feel cooked by the end of the day and hate feeling like they don’t have enough left for their kids.
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And one response hit hard:
“At the end of the day, I realize none of my to-do list got done…but our son is loved, fed, bathed and ready for tomorrow. So maybe I did get something done.”
GARAGE
Send us what you’re working on…
Lance shared this…”A few years back, my dad and I made a wine barrel wine rack like this project! It was great bonding with my dad and a great addition to our new house!”
Nice work, Lance. Thanks for sharing.
We want to see your projects. Send ‘em our way! Just reply to this email.
WEEKEND BURNER
4 Rounds For Time:
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400m run
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15 push-ups
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15 sit-ups
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15 air squats
ONE LAST THING
🧠 This Hit Us
One day your kid will be old enough to stop reaching for your hand automatically.
👊 Try This
Say yes faster this weekend. Popsicle before dinner. Backyard at night. One more story. Sometimes the memory is in the extra two minutes.
🎧 On Repeat
Some fresh jams dropped in our Dad Day Playlist.
→ Listen
dad shower thoughts: Half of parenting is saying “be careful” to someone actively ignoring you.