Then there was coffee
PLUS – a new playlist for us
August 07, 2026 | Read online
Hey y’all. The weekend has arrived. Set the phone down and have fun out there. Summer is flying by. See ya Monday!
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.
“Smile to life this morning and be assured, ma’am, that this life will make you smile. The present belongs to the optimists.”
Doris Veillette
THE DIGEST
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Wisdom of the Week: We’ve become really good at tracking everything, but none of the things that matter most as dads show up on a dashboard. Nobody tracks how many bedtime stories you read, how many times you kept your cool, or how often you put your phone down because your kid wanted your attention. Those are the reps that don’t earn streaks or badges. They’re just quietly shaping the kind of dad you’re becoming.
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Most Clicked: Are You Doing Enough As a Dad?
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Gear of the Week: New Brooks GHOST Amp Running Shoes
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For the Kids: Daily Multivitamin Made For Kids By Dads
Read, Watch, Eat, Listen
A few things to get into this weekend if you have a moment
📕 Read: The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway
📺 Watch: How 100 Bodyweight Squats Changes the Human Physique | ICYMI – This Dad Went All In On a Golf Brand (Dad Day original)
🍔 Eat/Drink: The Best Low Calorie Burger Ever | 4 Easy Summer Cocktails
🎧 Listen: Danny McBride on Ego, Grievance, and the Stories Men Tell Themselves
IN THE TRENCHES
From our Monday Poll:
What instantly puts you in a better mood?
The top two answers were a workout and time outside.
The comments made it pretty clear why.
A lot of dads talked about movement as a reset button. A run after work. Lifting with the phone put away. Getting outside long enough to clear your head before walking back into family life.
One dad put it well:
“Even if the run didn’t go well, you still had a chance to get outside and get your mind right.”
Time alone came up a lot too. Not necessarily hours of isolation. Sometimes just a quiet room, a little garage time, or 15 minutes with music and zero notifications.
And then there was coffee.
Not just the caffeine, either. A few dads talked about the ritual of it. Grinding the beans. Trying a new coffee shop with the family. Sitting on the deck while the kids play.
There were a few wild cards too: music, playing with the kids, and even a simple hug from your wife.
Kind of a good reminder that the reset usually isn’t complicated. Move your body. Get outside. Find a little quiet. Drink some coffee.
Sometimes that’s enough.
GARAGE
Show us your space or something you’re working on
Office shed for the win. Thanks for sharing, Sam! Looks awesome.
We want to see your projects. Send ‘em our way! Just reply to this email.
WEEKEND BURNER
For Time:
• 100 Back Squats / 45#
• 80 AbMat Sit-ups
• 60 Push-ups
• 40 Shoulder-to-Overhead 45#
• 20 Burpee Lateral over Bar
Per usual…scale accordingly y’all.
ONE LAST THING
🍻 Weekend Assignment: Take one photo that isn’t posed. The blurry ones usually end up being the favorites.
🧠 Worth Knowing: Researchers have found that people tend to remember experiences more vividly than things they bought. Good reminder before another weekend rolls by.
🎧 On Repeat: 🚨 New one for us: Dad Day Run Club Playlist → Listen
dad shower thoughts: Somewhere in your house is a phone charger that’s been “temporary” for about four years.
We ❤️ Coffee
Dad Day will always be free, but coffee helps with the early mornings and late nights that go into it. Grab us a cup here.
———
The Dad Pact
We’ll keep showing up with the emails. All we ask? If you’re digging it, share it with another dad who’d be into it.
👉 [Forward to a fellow dad]
Want More?
-
Check out the community
-
Listen to our ‘Guys Being Dads’ podcast
-
Work with Dad Day: We only partner with brands we’d actually use. Think there’s a fit? Hit us up.
Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here
© 2026 Dad Day Media LLC
237 King Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401, United States
The things that don’t track
Plus – add this to your lineup
August 05, 2026 | Read online
Hope the week is going well, gents.
Here’s what’s on tap today:
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What are you tracking?
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90-seconds
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Protein bars to avoid
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Are you doing enough as a dad?
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And more…
Let’s get into it.
If you’re new here, welcome. Happy to have ya!
📕 DAD WISDOM
The Things That Don’t Get Tracked
I saw a tweet that talked about building one habit you stick to no matter what.
It got me thinking…
We’ve become pretty good at tracking everything. Our watches know how many steps we’ve taken and how much we’ve slept. We know our heart rate, our pace, our screen time, our calories and more.
But the things that matter most (or should) as dads? Nothing tracks those.
How many bedtime stories you read this month. How many times you kept your cool when you wanted to lose it. How many times you put your phone down because your kid wanted to show you something. How many times you told them you loved them, etc.
Those are the reps that don’t show up on a dashboard. No streaks. No badges. No KOMs (we see you Strava). Just small moments that quietly shape the kind of dad you’re becoming.
Maybe those are the ones worth paying the closest attention to.
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 shortest commercial flight in the world takes less than 90 seconds. It connects two islands in Scotland that are about 1.7 miles apart.
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The average pencil can draw a line about 35 miles long or write roughly 45,000 words before it runs out.
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McDonald’s sells about 75 hamburgers every second. That’s roughly 6.5 million burgers every day.
DAD GEAR
Ace Hoodie
Hoodie season is upon us. We even brought this one up on the podcast. Mack Weldon’s French terry hoodie is easily the most comfortable hoodie we’ve owned to date. Soft, clean-looking, and absolutely worth it.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Brooks New Ghost Amp Running Shoe
» Edison Light Stick
» Sharpie S-Gel Pens (29% off)
DAD BOD
Protein Bars To Avoid
Grabbing a protein bar after the gym feels like a win sometimes. Then you flip it over and the ingredient list reads like a chemistry final.
We dug through five of the biggest names on the shelf and found high fructose corn syrup, sugar alcohols that’ll wreck your gut, and enough seed oils to fry a Thanksgiving turkey.
ONE Bar was the worst offender: HFCS, sucralose, maltitol, and four different oils crammed into one wrapper.
Barebells, Quest, Pure Protein, and Think! Bar all made the list too, hiding behind “20g protein” claims while stacking on sucralose, erythritol, and palm oil.
Read the back before you trust the front. Your muscles will thank you. Your gut will thank you twice.
JUNK DRAWER
» 📕 Are You Doing Enough As a Dad?
» 💪 55g Protein Breakfast Burrito Recipe
» 🧠 Are We Scrolling Our Life Away?
DAD HUMOR
A whole lot of life
Plus – your kids taking these?
August 03, 2026 | Read online
Back to Monday. Hope y’all had a great weekend.
Here’s what’s on deck today:
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93-year-old wisdom
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A dad who makes stuff smell good
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Kids vitamins
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Pump up the volume
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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
Ninety-Three
Spent the last week back in my hometown and got to see my 93-year-old grandmother. It’s not lost on me that I’m not sure how many more times I’ll get to say that.
It was also the first time she’d met our newest addition.
As we were getting ready to leave, she pulled me in a little closer and said:
“Enjoy these times. They’re the best days of your lives.”
That’s the kind of advice that hits a little different coming from someone who’s raised seven kids and has lived through 93 years.
No productivity hacks. No life optimization.
That’s just a grandma who’s seen a whole lot of life reminding me not to miss the one I’m living.
I figured it was worth passing along.
RAD DAD
Steve Soderholm
Met Steve Soderholm during a surf pop-up here in Charleston. Solid dude. He shared some insights on fatherhood.
Steve is a dad of 3 in Nashville, TN, and is responsible for making stuff smell good at Ranger Station.
His biggest challenge right now is trying to give his best to work, family, and himself without pretending he has unlimited hours in the day. Very relatable. Annoyingly relatable, even.
What stuck with me is how he sees those parts of life working together. He’s a better dad when he makes time for himself and his work. He’s better at work because of his family.
His advice is simple: don’t let fear keep you from trying. Whether it’s building a business or raising kids, the regret comes from sitting it out.
His non-negotiable? Friends. Because dads need people around them who know them beyond work, family, and provider mode.
Follow along at @rangerstation.co.
DAD GEAR
The Easiest Box to Check
Refillable bottle with sticker pack included ^
With school coming back, this felt worthy of the Dad Gear treatment today.
Our kids take hiya’s Kids Daily Multivitamin every morning, and it’s become one of the easiest parts of their routine: one chewable with 15+ essential vitamins and minerals, no sugar, and no gummy additives.
It’s not a replacement for real food, just a solid backstop for the days when the vegetables come home untouched. More than 6,700 five-star reviews suggest we’re not the only parents into them.
Dad Day readers get 50% off their first order with code DADDAY.
Sponsored by hiya. We only work with brands we actually use.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» EGO Power+ Cordless Electric Leaf Blower + 2 Batteries (19% off)
» Relwen Flyweight Flex Blazer
» Desk Clamp Power Strip (20% off)
DAD BOD
Press Play
There’s a reason a good song can make the last mile feel a little less miserable. Research suggests music can improve performance, boost your mood, and lower how hard a workout feels.
The right playlist can also help you settle into a rhythm and stay there when your brain starts looking for an excuse to quit.
So maybe don’t save your best music for the car ride home. Build a playlist specifically for the workouts you usually struggle through.
PS: Spotify recently added a ‘fitness with Spotify’ section that makes finding one based on your workout and duration pretty easy.
JUNK DRAWER
» 📕 What Nobody Tells You Before Your First Kid (and why it wouldn’t matter)
» 🎥 ICYMI – This Dad Went All In on a Golf Brand
» 🗣️ A Reminder To Keep Putting Logs On The Fire
Weekly Poll👇
What instantly puts you in a better mood?
Pick one or let us know yours and why
A workout
Coffee
Time outside
An hour to myself
Other
DAD HUMOR
A convo with yourself
PLUS – living in the moment
July 31, 2026 | Read online
Hey guys. Happy Friday.
Fun one for us today as we just wrapped up another episode of our ‘Go West’ series. Check it out below. We’re also closing in on 300 newsletters published. Wild to think about. Thanks for following along. We’re just getting started!
Have an awesome weekend.
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.
“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?”
T.S. Eliot
THE DIGEST
-
Wisdom of the Week: There’s something powerful about making sure your kids are the first people you really see in the morning…and the last people you intentionally spend time with before the day ends. Whatever it looks like, those bookends have a way of reminding us what all the stuff in the middle is actually for.
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Most Clicked: 10 Things Every Dad Should Know How to Cook
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Gear of the Week: Katin Swell Sweater
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For the Kids: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Card Game
GO WEST
Really excited about today’s ‘Go West’ (our in-house series).
Quick backstory…I met Tony a few years ago in Austin.
He’s one of those guys that’s just effortlessly cool. We stayed in touch over the years, and when the opportunity came up to tell his story, we jumped on it.
This one isn’t really about golf. It’s about creativity, fatherhood, chasing work that actually means something, and realizing that nobody has this whole thing figured out.
It feels like a conversation every dad has with himself at some point.
If you’re in a season where you’re questioning yourself a little more than usual, this one’s for you.
Thanks for watching. And a huge shout-out to Tony, Nikon Golf, and Caddyshanks for helping bring this story to life.
Read, Watch, Eat, Listen
A few things to get into this weekend if you have a moment
📕 Read: The Kid Who Climbed Everest
📺 Watch: The Colorado Most People Never See
🍔 Eat/Drink: The $3 Healthy Burrito Bowl | An Orange Julius Recipe
🎧 Listen: Winning & Losing Never Really Mattered | Spotify and Apple
IN THE TRENCHES
We asked a simple question on Monday:
What’s one thing your kids have made you better at?
A few hundred dads weighed in, and two answers finished neck-and-neck: living in the moment and being patient.
A lot of dads admitted they naturally live in the future. Thinking about work, tomorrow’s schedule, the next goal. Kids have a way of pulling you back to what’s happening right now.
One dad wrote:
“My mind has always been wired to think about the future…but with kids, they live in the moment. It’s great to turn off the future brain and come down to the experience with them.”
Patience was right there too. Not because anyone suddenly mastered it, but because fatherhood gives you thousands of chances to practice it.
And a few dads reminded us not to overcomplicate things.
Get on the floor. Do the silly voices. Play with the same toy for the hundredth time. One dad said having kids flipped his “have fun” switch back on after years of taking life too seriously.
Maybe that’s what fatherhood does. It doesn’t just change your priorities. It changes the way you experience an ordinary Tuesday.
GARAGE
Show us your space or something you’re working on
Basement refresh. Looks rad. Thanks for sharing!
We want to see your projects. Send ‘em our way! Just reply to this email.
WEEKEND BURNER
For Time:
-
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Burpees
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400 meter Run
Scale accordingly y’all.
ONE LAST THING
🍻 Weekend Assignment: Do one thing this weekend that your future self will thank you for. Clean the garage. Book a trip. Call or text a friend. Start the project. Just get the ball rolling.
🗺️ Today I Learned: In 1937, Sylvan Goldman invented the shopping cart in Oklahoma, but customers initially refused to use it because men thought it made them look weak and women felt it looked like a baby stroller. 😂
🎧 On Repeat: Fresh tracks added to the Dad Day Playlist → Listen
dad shower thoughts: You can tell a lot about a person by how they load the dishwasher.
We ❤️ Coffee
Dad Day will always be free, but coffee helps with the early mornings and late nights that go into it. Grab us a cup here.
———
The Dad Pact
We’ll keep showing up with the emails. All we ask? If you’re digging it, share it with another dad who’d be into it.
👉 [Forward to a fellow dad]
Want More?
-
Check out the community
-
Listen to our ‘Guys Being Dads’ podcast
-
Work with Dad Day: We only partner with brands we’d actually use. Think there’s a fit? Hit us up.
Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here
© 2026 Dad Day Media LLC
237 King Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401, United States
Before the day ends
Plus – a t-shirt worth a look
July 29, 2026 | Read online
Here’s what’s on tap today:
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Bookends
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5-7 year itch
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Full range of motion
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Can you cook these?
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And more…
Let’s get into it.
If you’re new here, welcome. Happy to have ya!
📕 DAD WISDOM
The Bookends
Listened to a podcast on a long road trip yesterday featuring successful entrepreneur Mark Pincus (dad to 5). Someone gave him a piece of advice that stuck with him for years:
Spend the first 15 minutes of your day with your kids. Spend the last 15 minutes with them too.
Not because that’s all the time they need.
Because no matter what happens in between, you’ve bookended your day with what matters most.
I liked that.
Some days work runs long. Meetings pile up. Flights get delayed. Life gets messy.
But there’s something powerful about making sure your kids are the first people you really see in the morning…and the last people you intentionally spend time with before the day ends.
Maybe it’s breakfast. Maybe it’s reading a book before bed. Maybe it’s sitting on the edge of their bed for five extra minutes.
Whatever it looks like, those bookends have a way of reminding us what all the stuff in the middle is actually for.
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 first email ever sent was in 1971. It was just a test message and the sender couldn’t remember exactly what it said.
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The average American family moves every 5–7 years. Which explains why every garage seems to have one box labeled “Misc.” that never actually gets unpacked.
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There are more than 200 known muscles involved in taking a single step. Walking is way more complicated than it looks.
DAD GEAR
Styling Powder
Okay, not the most exciting feature today but incredibly useful. Been using the heck outta his L3 styling powder. Looks natural, doesn’t feel greasy, and costs just $10 bucks. Big fans.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Katin Swell Sweater
» Raide Running Belt (worth it)
» Adjustable Workbench w/Power Outlet
DAD BOD
Use The Full Range
Gif by sunnyfxx on Giphy
A stat from Arnold’s Pump Club caught our attention: in one study, the least flexible men had a 1.87-times higher risk of dying over the next 13 years than the most flexible.
That doesn’t mean stretching is some magic longevity hack, but it does suggest flexibility is another useful marker of how well your body is holding up.
The good news is you don’t need to spend 30 minutes folding yourself into a pretzel.
Research has found that strength training through a full range of motion can improve flexibility about as well as dedicated stretching.
Think deep squats, controlled rows, and actually using the full movement instead of rushing through half-reps.
So ya, better form might be doing more for you than just building muscle.
JUNK DRAWER
» 📕 10 Things Every Dad Should Know How to Cook
» 💪 5 Minutes of Daily Mobility
» 🎥 A Reminder to Disconnect to Connect
DAD HUMOR
How much more?
Plus – the snack attack
July 27, 2026 | Read online
Hey guys. Back on the grind. Hope you had a great weekend.
Quick heads-up: we made a few updates to our website, so if you’re a regular, things might look a little wonky. A quick cache clear should fix it.
Big week for us. We’re launching another short film, and the Austin Experience is dropping too.
Save the dates: October 15–17.
Here’s what’s on deck today:
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The ‘More’ mentality
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Dad. Golfer. Artist
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New pans
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Snack attack?
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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
More
I ran into a fellow dad in the neighborhood the other day. We caught up for a minute, and I asked him what was shaking.
“Just trying to make more money.”
Feel familiar? I’ve had versions of that same conversation with a lot of dads lately. Even when we’re not saying it out loud, it’s usually somewhere in the background.
Make more. Provide more. Give the family more. A better house. Better schools. Better vacations. A little more breathing room.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting any of that. Working hard for your family is part of the job.
But there’s a strange tension in it too. At what point does trying to give your family more start taking more of you away from them?
More hours. More stress. More time thinking about the next thing instead of the thing right in front of you.
I don’t have a perfect answer. I wrestle with it too. Maybe the work is simply remembering what all the work is for.
Because the world will always find a new version of “more” to put in front of us. Our families might just need more of us.
RAD DAD
Tony Knapton
This week, we’re dropping our next Go West film.
For anyone new here, Go West is our in-house film series about dads taking risks, going against the grain, and building a life that looks a little different than the default setting. Catch up on the series here.
This one is on Tony Knapton, a Sheboygan, Wisconsin dad of three and the guy behind Radry Golf.
Like a lot of dads building something of their own, Tony admits balance is a bit of a myth. At any given time, work, life, or parenting is probably taking a back seat. The win is having enough flexibility to keep showing up where it matters.
For Tony, that means school drop-offs, quick dinners between activities, nightly calendar syncs with his wife, and protecting the small stuff that will probably end up being the big stuff.
Friday pizza and movie night is ironclad.
He thinks often about what empty nesters say they miss: fingerprints on windows, toys everywhere, late-night bottles, the chaos you swear is too much while you’re in it.
So yeah, the days are full. Time is flying. Nobody has it fully figured out. But that’s kind of the whole point.
Full Go West film on Tony drops this week.
Follow him at @tony__knapton.
DAD GEAR
Stainless Steel Set
This is one of those boring adult decisions, but we recently upgraded our pans to Made In’s Stainless Set and haven’t looked back.
They’re made in Italy and used in a bunch of professional kitchens. They heat evenly, clean up well, and feel like the last pans we’ll need to buy. Right now, the set is 22% off.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» MeUndies Ball Caddy Briefs (50% off)
» The User Interface for Happiness and Success 📕
» Salt Washed Knit MacArthur in Chambray
DAD BOD
Make Snacking a Decision
Most snacking isn’t hunger. It’s proximity, boredom, or the fact that the bag is already open.
Try making one rule: if you want a snack, put it on a plate and sit down to eat it. That tiny bit of friction kills a lot of mindless handfuls, and if you’re still hungry, go with something built around protein or fiber.
Turns out the best way to stop grazing is to make snacking feel like an actual decision.
JUNK DRAWER
» 📕 The Activities You Learn Young That Pay Off for the Rest of Your Life
» 🎥 A Rookies Guide to Watches
» 🗣️ 5 Great Books About Road Trips
Weekly Poll👇
What’s one thing your kids have made you better at?
Pick one and let us know why
Being patient
Having fun
Slowing down
Living in the moment
Other
Not a Smartphone. Better.
Back-to-school season is coming. And for a lot of dads, that means one question is about to get louder: “Can I get a phone?”
The Bark Phone is built for exactly that moment. With the Starter Package, your kid gets a phone that actually grows with them. It starts with just calls and texts to the people you approve. As they get older, you adjust the settings. The phone evolves with them, on your timeline.
No handing over the whole internet on day one. No losing sleep over what they’re stumbling into.
And the Bark Watch is worth a look if they’re not quite ready for a phone at all. Location tracking, calls to approved contacts, that’s it.
Right now, Dad Day readers get $30 off a Bark Phone or Bark Watch with code DADDAY30. Not a bad back-to-school answer.
→ Check them out at bark.us
Sponsored by Bark. We only work with brands we’d actually recommend to a buddy.
DAD HUMOR
Clear the bench
PLUS – more likely to get a hole-in-one
July 24, 2026 | Read online
Hey guys. Happy Friday. Have an awesome weekend. Summer is winding down. Live it up!
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.
“Argue for your limitations and, sure enough, they’re yours.”
Richard Bach
THE DIGEST
-
Wisdom of the Week: With dad life, it’s really easy to slip into autopilot. Same breakfast. Same drive to school. Same bedtime routine. And while routines are important, I think our families need a little novelty too. The best memories don’t have to be expensive. They just have to be different enough to break the routine.
Maybe that’s your reminder today. Mix it up.
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Most Clicked: The Boring Money Move Every Dad Should Make Before Their Kid Turns One
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Gear of the Week: Relwen Highland Blues Long Sleeve Shirt
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For the Kids: Fender Mini Electric Guitar
Read, Watch, Eat, Listen
A few things to get into this weekend if you have a moment
📕 Read: How Far Apart Should You Have Kids?
📺 Watch: The New Rogue Rhino Air | Lucky (AppleTV) |
🍔 Eat/Drink: Every Way To Cook Chicken Breast (30 Ways) | Simple 3 Ingredient Drinks
🎧 Listen: How to Stop Caring What Others Think
IN THE TRENCHES
A little poll twofer today.
We never shared the final results from last week’s hardware store debate, so we’re clearing the bench before getting into this week’s question about the family car.
Best Hardware Store: Ace Hardware took the top spot.
The big reason wasn’t selection. It was service. A lot of dads said Ace is the place where someone actually knows what weird part you need and can help you find it in under 20 minutes.
Home Depot and Lowe’s both had strong showings, with local hardware stores, Menards, and Harbor Freight getting plenty of love too.
What Type of Family Car Are You Driving?
This week, we asked what’s currently sitting in the driveway.
The SUV still rules the family-car world, but the minivan crowd made a very convincing case.
Sliding doors. Third-row space. Room for strollers, sports gear, groceries, dogs, and everything else that somehow ends up coming with you.
One dad called it “putting the living room in drive.” Another basically said to stop fighting it and buy the minivan.
Trucks had their people too, especially for boats, campers, and weekend projects. And a few dads are still proudly making sedans and wagons work.
Nobody cared much about horsepower. The real question was how much stuff you can fit without unloading the entire car first.
FWIW: I like our minivan so much, we did a YouTube review on it.
GARAGE
Show us your space or something you’re working on
Garage gym setup for the win. Thanks for sharing!
Anyone here have a space like it? Send us photos. We’d love to see what you’ve built.
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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800 m Run
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60 Double Unders or 120 Single Unders
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40 Air Squats
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20 Dumbbell Bench Press 50/35#
Scale accordingly y’all.
ONE LAST THING
🍻 Weekend Assignment: Try not to use your phone this weekend.
🗺️ Today I Learned: You are more likely to get a hole-in-one than bowl a perfect 300 game.
🎧 On Repeat: Fresh tracks added to the Dad Day Playlist → Listen
🛠️ We Wanna Know: What’s one purchase under $100 that’s made your life noticeably better? Hit reply. We’ll share our favorites next Friday.
dad shower thoughts: The best naps are always the ones you weren’t planning to take.
We ❤️ Coffee
Dad Day will always be free, but coffee helps with the early mornings and late nights that go into it. Grab us a cup here.
———
The Dad Pact
We’ll keep showing up with the emails. All we ask? If you’re digging it, share it with another dad who’d be into it.
👉 [Forward to a fellow dad]
Want More?
-
Check out the community
-
Listen to our ‘Guys Being Dads’ podcast
-
Work with Dad Day: We only partner with brands we’d actually use. Think there’s a fit? Hit us up.
Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here
© 2026 Dad Day Media LLC
237 King Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401, United States
Powered by beehiivTerms of Service
9 hours from Grandma
Plus – a t-shirt worth a look
July 22, 2026 | Read online
Here’s what’s on tap today:
-
The older guy
-
300k household items
-
Do some pull-ups
-
Takes a village
-
And more…
Let’s get into it.
If you’re new here, welcome. Happy to have ya!
📕 DAD WISDOM
The Older Guy
I was out for a long run the other day. Humid as can be (even at 7am). An older guy had to be 70 rode past me on his bike.
As he went by, he looked over and said,
“Good job.”
That was it. I’ve thought about it more than I probably should. Maybe because he didn’t have to say anything.
Or maybe because there’s something about getting older that changes how you see people.
You can still be competitive. Still want more from yourself. Still chase big goals. But you also start to realize that someone else doing well doesn’t take anything away from you.
You can push yourself and still cheer for the guy next to you. That feels like a pretty good lesson for dad life too.
Our kids are always watching how we respond to other people’s wins. Whether we get bitter, stay quiet, or take a second to say, “Good job.”
We want to be the kinds of dads who are quick to encourage. Quick to celebrate someone else’s effort. Quick to root for people, even the ones we’ll probably never see again.
The world could use a few more of those guys.
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 American household owns about 300,000 items.
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The world’s oldest known tree is a Great Basin bristlecone pine nicknamed Methuselah. It’s more than 4,800 years old and was already standing long before the pyramids were built.
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A standard sheet of paper can only be folded seven times by hand. It’s not about strength. It’s because the thickness doubles with every fold.
DAD GEAR
The Basic Tee from Jungmaven
We’re always hunting for the perfect tshirt.
This one from Jungmaven is made with 30% hemp and 70% organic cotton, which gives it that soft, slightly worn-in feel right out of the gate. It also gets better after a few washes, like the old gym shirt you’ve somehow kept since high school.
Comfortable, easy, and not trying too hard, which is usually what you want from a T-shirt.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» VAER DS2 Meridian Watch 39mm
» Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speaker (20% off)
» Keurig Single Serve (36% off)
DAD BOD
Pull-ups For the Win
Pull-ups are the blue-collar hero of upper-body training: one bar, no fancy equipment, and a serious workout for your back, biceps, grip and shoulder stabilizers.
Muscle-activation studies confirm that the movement recruits several major upper-body muscles at once, making it one of the most efficient ways to build practical pulling strength.
The key is to practice them daily, not test your maximum daily by doing a few clean reps and stopping well before failure.
Can’t do one yet? Start with band-assisted pull-ups and gradually reduce the help as you get stronger.
JUNK DRAWER
» 📕 Living Near Family vs. Going It Alone: The Honest Dad’s Guide to Both | We Chat About This on Our Latest Podcast Episode, too. Listen on Spotify | Apple.
» 💪 The Cure for the Summertime Blues
» 🎥 Turn Kid Bickering Into Peace
EXTRA CREDIT
We’ve been telling dads about this for a reason.
Generational wealth conversations usually start way too late. The dads who actually build it start on day one, with something as small as $10 a week.
Left alone for 18 years, that’s almost $18,000. Go to $25 a week and it’s over $44,000. Not because you’re a genius investor. Because you started early and let time do the rest.
We use FutureMoney for this, the only place with a Junior Roth IRA, so your kid’s money grows completely tax-free with no earned income required. We’ve been in it a couple years now. It’s the closest thing to giving your kid a head start most of us never got.
Start your kid’s account here →
(Full breakdown here.)
*We’re an affiliate partner with FutureMoney. We know the team, we use the product, this isn’t a cold recommendation. Forecast based on 7% average annual return.
DAD HUMOR
Smells like teen spirit
Plus – mixing things up
July 20, 2026 | Read online
Back at it gents.
Wild weekend in sports: the mile record got smashed, Spain lifted the World Cup, and The Open delivered a finish worthy of Sunday afternoon nerves.
Let’s have a week.
Here’s what’s on deck today:
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Mixing it up
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Wearing a lot of hats
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Jam out with the kids
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Hydrated?
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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
Mix It Up
I was watching one of John John Florence’s sailing videos the other day and he mentioned something that caught my attention.
Part of the reason travel sticks with us is because it’s new. New places. New people. New experiences. Our brains wake up. We form new memories.
With dad life, it’s really easy to slip into autopilot.
Same breakfast. Same drive to school. Same bedtime routine. And while routines are important, I think our families need a little novelty too.
Not a trip to Indonesia per se. Maybe it’s taking the long way home. Trying a new trail. Having breakfast for dinner. Saying yes to an impromptu ice cream stop.
The best memories don’t have to be expensive. They just have to be different enough to break the routine.
Maybe that’s your reminder today. Mix it up.
RAD DAD
Matt Pagan
Matt Pagan is a husband, dad, surfboard designer, surf coach, community builder, and residential construction manager in Los Angeles.
The guy is wearing enough hats to qualify for a small-town parade.
But right now, the real work is learning how to stay present for his wife and two-year-old daughter while building a business and providing for his family.
For Matt, fatherhood has been a lesson in what kind of culture gets built at home. The way he loves his family through tension, stress, and tough seasons is the texture his daughter will absorb. That one feels worth taping to the fridge.
His days are still “under construction,” which honestly might be the most accurate description of dad life. Gym when he can. Work when he can. Nap help when needed. Making sure his wife gets time for herself too.
When things get chaotic, he comes back to the foundation: faith, structure, grace, patience, self-control, and the ability to pivot without losing it.
His non-negotiables are pretty great: beach days with his daughter, slip n slides, boogie boards, dance parties, and learning the lyrics to Disney princess songs.
Follow him at @matt_pagan or check out PAGANUSA.com.
DAD GEAR
Electric Kids Guitar
My first guitar was a Stratocaster, so naturally the five-year-old had to start there too. The Squier Mini Strat is built for smaller hands, but it still has the classic look, easy playability, and enough tone to make the living room feel like a dive bar.
The real test came when I hit the distortion and played “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Now he’s hooked.
5 colors to choose from.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Coleman 3-in-1 Stove
» First Aid Kit For Car
» Relwen Highland Long Sleeve Shirt
DAD BOD
Electrolytes?
Giphy
It’s hot as balls out there, which means every long run, garage workout, and afternoon mowing session comes with a side of serious sweat.
For normal days and workouts under an hour, water and regular meals will usually do the job.
But when you’re training hard for an hour-plus, sweating heavily, or spending half the day in the heat, mix one serving that gives you roughly 300–600 milligrams of sodium and sip it during or after.
Check the label though. Some “electrolyte” powders contain barely any sodium, while others pack enough to salt a driveway.
You don’t need to pound the stuff all day; use it when you’ve actually earned the sweat, and let thirst, not a gallon-jug challenge, be your guide.
JUNK DRAWER
» 📕 The Boring Money Move Every Dad Should Make Before Their Kid Turns One
» 🎥 Mile World Record Breaking
» 🗣️ Golf Life Lessons
Weekly Poll👇
What’s your family vehicle right now?
Pick one and let us know why
SUV
Truck
Minivan
Sedan / Wagon
Other
DAD HUMOR
Summer Saturday 4.0
A one-bag weekend
July 18, 2026 | Read online
SUMMER SATURDAYS
Hey guys.
On Saturdays this summer, we’re sending a quick roundup of things worth a look. Gear, finds, ideas, and maybe a few things that make you say, “I definitely don’t need that, but…”
Today’s theme: One-Bag Weekend
Basically, the stuff you’d grab for a quick summer escape. Road trip, trailhead, lake day, cabin weekend, beach town, backyard hang, whatever.
We brought Ben O’Meara back for this one.
Who is Ben?
Ben O’Meara is the Chief Brand Officer at Huckberry, dad to Zoie, 6, and Aila, 4. When he’s not working, he’s traveling with his family, training for his first 40k at UTMB in Chamonix, or playing sandlot baseball with the Austin Moontowers; he’s also probably being very judgmental about lobster rolls. Proud Mainer. Comes with the territory.
MAIN PICKS
Summer Staples
Why Ben Likes These?
I love specific gear for specific activities, like so many of you. But as a busy dad, especially in the summer, more often than not I want things that can flex.
Because you never really know what your weekend is going to look like.
Trail in the morning. Long flight that afternoon. Backyard BBQ. Beers with friends. Kids melting down somewhere in between.
These are the three most versatile pieces I could wear for probably 80% of my summer. They cover all the bases from our active/adventure lifestyle brand, Proof.
Ben’s 3 Picks:
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Airweave Performance Shirt
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Equator Hybrid Short – 7″
CHEAP WIN $
Packable Shower Towel – $39
Why Ben Likes It?
I keep one of these in my car and a couple more in my camping/adventure box.
It’s so light and packable. Perfect as a travel towel, but also clutch for those impromptu “found a swimming hole on a hike” swims, or the inevitable kid spill on a road trip.
Takes up about the size of an orange in your bag, which is exactly the kind of packing math I can get behind.
SOLID UPGRADE $$
Modular Gear Storage
Why Ben Likes Rux?
Speaking of containers, this is a great upgrade from cheap plastic bins.
It collapses down when you’re not using it, so it takes up almost no space in the back of the car or in the garage. I always keep one in my trunk.
It works as a storage bin, a tote, and a general catch-all. Waterproof, easy to clean with a hose, and great for hauling gear to a campsite, beach stuff, kid stuff, or whatever else ends up coming with you.
Makes sense in a lot of places, especially as a dad.
BIG SWING $$$
Norda Trail Runner – $325
Why Ben Likes These?
Any shoe from Norda, though my current pick is their new 005 all-terrain trail shoe.
Norda is pricier than most trail shoes on the market, but there’s a reason. I know the founders really well, and I’ve worn their shoes more than anything else in my closet over the last few years.
They’re made with Dyneema, which is stronger than steel, so they’re indestructible, super light, and they look awesome. The cost-per-wear is unmatched when you break it down, both in how long they last and how many excuses you’ll find to wear them.
Great all-weekend adventure shoe. Run in them, hike in them, and they still look good when you want to flex at the park with the kids.
Most-worn shoe at Huckberry.
DREAM CART $$$$
Storyteller Overland – $200,000
Why Ben Likes It?
There are so many cool adventure rigs out there, and I especially love the people building their own. Longer term, that’s the goal for me too.
But if I could hit the easy button, this would be my ultimate family adventure rig. Built for getting out there without turning every trip into a full-blown logistics exercise.
NOSTALGIA HIT
L.L. Bean Vintage Ad
First, as stated above, as a proud Maine native, I have a bias toward vintage LL Bean anything. But also just love the image on so many levels. Those long summer days adventuring with your kid(s) – and often, for me at least, that inevitable “where are you text”?
👋 Before You Go:
A few more recs from Ben…
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Huckberry Summer Sale
Not just because it’s my job to promote these things, but I wouldn’t give the heads up if I personally wasn’t excited about it: our annual summer sale is live at HB, and there’s some gold in there. -
John John Florence
John John Florence is living the family dream: adventuring around the Pacific on a boat with his wife and kids. Pretty hard not to romanticize that one. -
Michael Easter
Other than Dad Day, the newsletter I read most is from my friend Michael Easter. He has such a great POV on health, wellness, and mindset, but without all the fluff or clickbaity trends.It’s real, actionable, and always backed by his experience as a journalist, researcher, and author. His book The Comfort Crisis helped reshape how I think about living healthier.
“Do hard shit,” as Michael would say.
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Tracksmith Mesh Shorts
Maybe it’s the ’90s kid in me, but I have a special place in my heart for a good basic pair of mesh shorts.Tracksmith took that and made it just technical enough to train in, while still keeping the vibe. Just bought these and love them.
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Raide Running Belt
As part of my trail running training, I’ve been going deep on run belts and vests. Raide, a new brand out of Colorado, is making some of the best, hands down. Their running belts are so good for anyone who needs a comfortable storage option for longer runs.
🧢 Style Tip From Ben: If you’re going to wear no-show socks, make sure they actually are, well, not showing. If not, lean in and just make the sock complimentary to the rest of what you’re wearing. Still see too many of my friends wearing “no-shows” that awkwardly peak out above the shoe like my kid trying to sneak back into the living room after bedtime.
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