What strength really looks like
Plus – trading seasons
June 15, 2026 | Read online
Hey guys.
What a weekend for sports. USMNT dominated. Knicks ended a 52-year championship drought. And the Hurricanes hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in 20 years.
Good week to be a dad, too.
Here’s what’s on deck:
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The tradeoff
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A different kind of strength
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Our new office bag
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Blood work
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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 Tradeoff
Noticing: Every season of fatherhood comes with a trade. The baby years take your sleep. The little kid years take your personal space. The older years start asking for your trust instead of your hand.
Asking: Which season am I in right now and am I actually showing up for it, or still trying to father from the last one?
Taking: The assignment never really changes. Stay close. The way you do that just looks different every few years.
Frank Pittman put it well: “Fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man.” The job keeps changing. So do we.
RAD DAD
Mike Medved
Some dads show up in ways that make you rethink what strength really looks like.
Mike Medved is a husband, father of three, high school history teacher, musician, and former pro basketball player in Europe. He’s also the dad of Simon, his son who has severe cerebral palsy.
This week, we’re sharing Mike’s story in our next Go West film.
At the center of it is the Pittsburgh Marathon, where Mike pushed Simon through 26.2 miles.
But the story is bigger than a race. It’s about love, grit, gratitude, and what it means to keep showing up for your kids when the road is hard.
That’s the part that feels especially Rad Dad to us. Not the finish line. The daily choice to show up, push forward, and carry joy into hard places.
We don’t want to give too much away yet. Just know this one hit us pretty hard. Actually, really hard, and we’re excited to share.
Full film drops June 19. Catch up on the first three here.
DAD GEAR
Filson Briefcase
Somewhere between kid drop-off and the morning meeting, we realized we needed a better bag.
The Filson Dryden Briefcase has been that bag. Water-repellant, well-organized, and built like it means it. The kind of thing you buy once and stop thinking about.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Hisense Canvas TV (47% off)
» HOPWTR Variety 12-Pack (great poolside bev)
» Burley Cub X Bike Trailer (45% off)
DAD BOD
Your Blood Work Cheat Code
A lot of us wait until something feels wrong to get labs done. Don’t be that guy.
Blood work is a snapshot of how your body is actually performing right now. And if you know what to look for, it’s one of the most useful tools you have.
We had Tyler Nicholson (a Dad Day subscriber) drop some knowledge on our crew about blood work. Hit him up.
Here are the ones worth paying attention to:
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Fasting glucose — how your body handles sugar. High numbers are an early flag for insulin resistance.
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Triglycerides — the fat floating in your blood. Diet-driven, and very fixable.
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Cholesterol — total numbers matter less than the ratio of HDL to LDL. Know the difference.
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Vitamin D — most people are low. Affects energy, mood, and immune function.
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Testosterone — if you’re in the 600s or above, you’re aging well. Below that, worth a conversation with your doc.
Need blood work? We like Function Health. Save $25 bucks with code DADDAY25.
JUNK DRAWER
» 🎧 The 2% Manifesto Mindset Shift
» 📕 The Real Reason Dads Are Working Out
» 👀 Are We Raising Weak Kids?
Weekly Poll👇
When did the title “Dad” actually start to feel real?
Pick one and let us know why
Birth day
First Year
Toddler Years
Honestly, I’m not sure it has yet
Other
DAD HUMOR
Summer Saturday 1.0
Something new for us
June 13, 2026 | Read online
SUMMER SATURDAYS
Hey guys. We’re trying a little summer experiment. The normal Monday, Wednesday, Friday sends aren’t going anywhere. Those stay the same.
But we look at a lot of stuff every week. Some useful. Some ridiculous. Some weirdly perfect for summer dad life.
So 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…”
The first edition is all beach-themed.
MAIN PICK
Sun Ninja XL – $170
Sun Ninja XL
Can’t go to the beach without shade. We dig the Sun Ninja. You’ll break a sweat setting it up, but it’s worth it.
Honorable Mention From the Slack Crew:
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Soli Air Canopy
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Beach Umbrella System
CHEAP WIN $
Waterproof Phone Pouch – $9.99
Waterproof phone pouch so your $1,000+ phone survives the beach, the kids, whatever.
Kids Essentials:
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Beach Mesh Shovel
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Wave Powered Mini Surfer (endless entertainment)
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Portable Cornhole Set
SOLID UPGRADE $$
Lined Swim Trunks – $79
Nothing better than some trunks you can jog and swim in. Fast drying. Multiple colors. 5in and 7in inseam available.
Also Worth Checking Out:
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Vissla Short Sets
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Roark Shorey Board Short
BIG SWING $$$
Veer Beach Wagon – $998
They don’t get any better than this. Buy it once…you’re not buying a beach wagon again.
Effective, Less Expensive Options:
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Collapsible Wagon
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Sekey Heavy Duty Beach Wagon
DREAM CART $$$$
1973 Ford Bronco
This 1973 Ford Bronco was a custom build by Highline Classics of Hubbard, Oregon. Sexy!
Current Bid: $155k on Bring a Trailer
NOSTALGIA HIT
Super Soaker
Super Soaker 90s Ad
👋 Before You Go:
A few quick links worth having around.
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Father’s Day Last-Minute Gifts under $50
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Kids Swimwear
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Hydrate Yourself
🧠 Beach Tip From The Crew: Try spending your day/morning doing things you would normally do at night (out to eat, putt putt, etc.), then do the beach after naps in the afternoon into the evening. Less people, less heat, less meltdowns.
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© 2026 Dad Day Media LLC
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A stacked weekend
PLUS – what’s your motivation right now?
June 12, 2026 | Read online
Happy Friday, gents.
We’ve got ourselves a proper sports weekend. World Cup action. Knicks-Spurs. And the Carolina Hurricanes sitting one win away from hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Have a fun one. Get outside. Grill something. Throw a ball with the kids. Give your partner a little break.
We’ll see ya tomorrow morning, bright and early. We’re trying something new for summer.
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.
“Childhood may be defined as the age of play; therefore some children are never young, and some adults are never old.”
Will Durant
THE DIGEST
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Wisdom of the Week: The problem is we’re often moving so fast that we don’t let certain 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.
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Most Clicked: Why Every Dad Should Take a Solo Trip With Each Kid (And How to Do It at Every Age)
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Most Clicked Gear: Backcountry Hooded Pullover
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Deal of the Week: Greenworks 40V Leaf Blower (47% off)
📕 Read: 50 Hard Earned Lessons in Fatherhood
📺 Watch: World Cup — USA vs. Paraguay | 9pm ET FOX ⚽️
🍔 Eat/Drink: Easy Burrito Bowl Meal Prep
😂 Laugh: This Dude Got Called Out By David Goggins
IN THE TRENCHES
Topic: Motivation Behind Your Workouts
We asked y’all what’s motivating your workouts right now. The overwhelming winner wasn’t a race, a six-pack, or a number on the scale.
It was general health.
Here’s what folks had to say:
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One dad wants to surf into his 70s 🤙
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Another wants to keep beating his son at basketball for at least another decade
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A few are training for marathons, triathlons, Spartan races, and charity rides
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Others are simply trying to manage stress, recover from injuries, or have enough energy left at the end of the day for the people who matter most
The common thread?
Most dads aren’t chasing fitness for fitness’ sake. They’re training for life.
To pick up their kids without throwing out their back. To stay mentally sharp. To be around longer. To set an example. To keep showing up.
As one dad put it:
“Signed up for a race to hold myself accountable, but the end goal is keeping up with the kids on a daily basis. Not for the present, but for 10-20 years from now.”
That’s probably the healthiest mindset in the room. The workout itself isn’t the goal. The life it allows you to live is.
GARAGE
Send us what you’re working on…
Custom built-ins DIY project. Awesome job. Thanks for sharing, Blaze.
We want to see your projects. Send ‘em our way! Just reply to this email.
WEEKEND BURNER
Set your clock for 20minutes and get as many rounds as you can.
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20 Walking Lunges w/Dumbbells
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20 Push Ups
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10 Sit-Ups
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400 m Run
ONE LAST THING
🧠 Worth Knowing: Researchers have found that nostalgia can actually boost mood, increase feelings of connection, and make people more optimistic about the future.
💯 Top Tier Summer Smells: Fresh-cut grass. Coffee brewing before everyone wakes up. Burgers on the grill. Ocean air. A campfire that actually started on the first try.
🎧 On Repeat: Some fresh jams dropped in our Dad Day Playlist. → Listen
dad shower thoughts: At some point, the songs your kids hear in the backseat today will become “the oldies.”
A lot lighter
Plus – the case for a solo trip
June 10, 2026 | Read online
Here’s what’s on tap today:
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You vs. You
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Decision overload
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Don’t get sunburnt
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Go get checked
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And more…
Let’s get into it.
If you’re new here, welcome. Happy to have ya!
📕 DAD WISDOM
A Lot Lighter
I was listening to Jerry Seinfeld on the Graham Bensinger, and he mentioned he’s been reading a lot of Marcus Aurelius.
Jerry was talking about how much time we spend worrying about what other people think. The criticism. The judgment. The perception.
And then he made a pretty simple observation:
All of those people are going to be gone someday. Their opinions, too. Kind of a freeing thought if you sit with it for a minute.
As dads, it’s easy to carry around invisible pressure. Wondering if we’re doing enough. Making the right decisions. Keeping up with everyone else.
Meanwhile, most people aren’t thinking about us nearly as much as we think they are.
The job is pretty straightforward. Love your family. Do good work. Keep your word. Try to get a little better every day.
Then wake up tomorrow and do it again.
Life gets a lot lighter when you stop carrying around opinions that were never yours to begin with.
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 estimate the average person makes roughly 35,000 decisions per day. By 6pm, deciding what’s for dinner can feel like solving a hostage negotiation.
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The average golf ball has 336 dimples. Not 335. Not 337. Somebody got paid to figure out the exact number that makes it fly farther.
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Kids who spend more time outside have a lower risk of developing nearsightedness. One study found that adding 40 minutes of outdoor time at school reduced new cases of myopia over the next three years.
DAD GEAR
Don’t Get Sunburnt
Getting sunburnt is a rookie move.
We’ve been rocking this Backcountry sun hoodie this summer, and it’s the rare piece of gear that’s light, soft, stretchy, and actually makes you want to keep it on. UPF 50+ protection, a fixed hood, and a zip chest pocket.
Multiple colors available.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Under Desk Treadmill (20% off)
» The Roamer Pant
» Greenworks Leaf Blower (47% off)
DAD BOD
Get Checked
Getting older comes with a few perks…better taste in bourbon, stronger lawn opinions, and a growing need to get your butt checked.
Colorectal cancer can start as quiet little polyps, which means you can feel totally fine while something nasty is brewing. Most guys should start screening at 45, but earlier if you’ve got family history or other risk factors.
The good news: evidence-based screening, especially colonoscopies, can catch and remove polyps before they become a bigger problem.
Flashy new blood tests that claim to detect dozens of cancers sound great, but the evidence isn’t always there yet, so don’t let “future tech” distract you from the boring stuff that actually works.
Hat tip to Derek over at 5ht.com for bumpin’ this
JUNK DRAWER
» 📕 Why Every Dad Should Take a Solo Trip With Each Kid
» 💪 7 Exercises to Keep You Young
» 🎥 Keep Chasing Y’all
DAD HUMOR
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
-
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
