There is a difference between being present and being reachable. Ben O’Meara is learning that in real time.
Ben lives in Austin, Texas and serves as Chief Brand Officer at Huckberry, a brand many of us have been fans of for years.
If you have watched Huckberry’s 72 Hour Challenge series on YouTube, you have seen Ben in action. Two teams. 72 hours. Over 100 challenges. Toyota 4Runners. Mountains. Rivers. Gear pushed hard in the real world.
It is durability under pressure. Performance in motion. Real field testing. But the most important tests do not happen in the Rockies. They happen at home.
The Downshift
Ben describes his work world as fast paced and high output. Campaign launches. Creative reviews. Big wins. Big stress. The hardest part of parenting for him is not logistics. It is the transition. Leaving that frequency at the front door.
He protects family time. He is physically there. But often his brain is still spinning on a project or deadline. His wife said something that stuck.
It is one thing to be in the room. It is another thing to be reachable.
That is the work now.
Adventure Is the Reward
The most rewarding part of fatherhood for Ben has been watching his daughters fall in love with adventure. His family travels often. They spend time outside. They test gear with him. They sit in on video edits. They show up to his sandlot baseball games.
He used to think balance meant clean separation. Work in one box. Family in another. Now he believes integration beats isolation. The more he brings his girls into his world, the more connected they feel. Instead of building walls between passions and parenting, he invites them in.
He hopes that by showing them what lights him up, they will learn how to find their own spark.
Community Matters
Growing up, his mom always told him that you are who you hang with. That advice hits differently as a dad. You cannot raise great kids in a vacuum. You need other fathers. Other families. Community that fills your cup and challenges you.
Your kids are not just listening to your advice. They are watching your friendships.
And in classic Ben fashion, he has one practical tip for new dads. Skip the fancy diaper bag. Buy a great outdoor backpack with real pockets. You will use it long after the diaper days are over.
The Daily Rhythm
Ben wakes at 5am. That window before the house wakes up is sacred. Movement. Exercise. Reset.
Breakfast with the girls. School drop offs. Full workday. Pickups around 5. Dinner together. Bedtime routine. His wife works full time too, and he calls her the glue. They hold weekly meetings after the kids go down. Tea or sometimes something stronger. They talk through schedules and remind each other to find joy in the chaos.
Reset Button
When things feel loud, Ben runs. Short run. Long run. It does not matter.
Running clears the mental clutter and creates momentum before a big day or after a heavy one. Add the right playlist and it works every time.
Non Negotiables
Saturday morning pancakes with music blasting in the kitchen. Morning workouts. Community. He plays on an Austin sandlot baseball team called the Moontowers. The friendships built there will last a lifetime.
Fatherhood for Ben is not about separating life into neat boxes. It is about integration. Bring your passions home. Slow the frequency. Be reachable.
Meet Zack Telander — Austin-based musician, new dad, and the kind of guy who’ll rip a guitar solo at night and crush a diaper change at sunrise. You can find him on Instagram (@zack_telander) and hear his music on Spotify (search “Telander” and turn it up).
His take on fatherhood is honest, grounded, and absolutely on-brand for the Rad Dad universe.
The Dad Who Had to Slow Down to Keep Up
Zack has lived most of his adult life in go-mode. Music careers don’t care about “balance.” They’re fast, unpredictable, and built on momentum.
Then Charlie arrived.
The hardest part for him wasn’t the sleepless nights, although those are real. It was learning to slow down, to let the world shrink to the size of a baby’s hand gripping his finger.
Funny thing. The hardest part became the best part.
Every morning he goes on a walk with his wife, daughter, and their dog. No rushing. No forcing. Just a young family moving through the world together. He told us it’s the one thing he’d happily do forever.
That’s the type of dad moment you remember when you’re old.
View this post on Instagram
Duty Over Balance
A lot of dads talk about “balance.” Zack laughs at that idea.
He told us, “I don’t. It’s my duty to be a good dad and husband first.” No life hacks. No elaborate systems. Just simple duty and excitement to show up for his family. And when things get overwhelming, he returns to the things that reset him: playing guitar, singing, and lifting. The essentials.
He also protects two non-negotiables:
• Alone time
• Real dates with your partner
Quick Hits From Zack
Hardest part of parenting:
Slowing down. And yes, the sleep.
Most rewarding part:
Those morning family walks.
Wish he knew earlier:
Kids bring emotional balance.
Best advice he’s gotten:
“Your kids are watching everything you do. So do right.”
(A perfect Dad Wisdom fit. )
Typical day:
Up around 6:30, diaper, bottle, walk, play, nap. Repeat until bedtime.
Reset button:
Guitar, singing, the gym.
Flying solo hobbies:
Guinness, wings, YouTube. A legendary trio.
Why This Q&A Stuck With Us
Zack is the blueprint for the modern dad. Creative but grounded. Driven but present. Intentional without being precious about it. He is not chasing balance. He is not chasing perfection (we’ve talked about that one. Progress beats perfect every time. ) He is chasing presence.
Dad Day Takeaway
Slow down. Walk with your people. Keep one ritual that reminds you who you are outside of diapers and bottles. Remember your kids are watching. Let them see a life that’s worth following.
Want more of Zack? Follow him on IG (@zack_telander) and stream his music on Spotify. Perfect soundtrack for that early morning stroller walk. 🎧👶🏼