📕 DAD WISDOM

Be less impressed, and more involved…

I consume a lot of content. Occupational hazard. Podcasts, books, late-night rabbit holes; it comes with the territory.

Case in point: Matthew McConaughey on The Diary of a Modern CEO. The dude dropped a line that had me replaying it three times:

“Be less impressed, and more involved.”

Here’s the gist: It’s easy to stand back, clap your hands, and feel grateful just to be in the room. But if all you do is stay impressed, you never actually participate. You don’t step into the arena.

That’s not just a business lesson. That’s a dad lesson.

It’s cool to be in awe of fatherhood; those first steps, the birthday parties, the report cards. But if we just watch from the bleachers, we miss the real game.

McConaughey’s point: gratitude without action is half-baked. Presence without participation is just spectating.

Don’t just watch your kid’s life. Play in it.

Give the whole episode a listen here.

RAD DAD

Chip Gaines

Photo via Money

Chip Gaines, dad of five and Magnolia co-founder doesn’t treat parenting like a polished project. For him, it’s about being present, laughing through the chaos, and saying yes to adventure.

He admits: “I’ve forgotten birthdays…But I’m a firm believer that it’s the mistakes that make us who we are. We learn the most from them, and I think that goes for parenting as well.”

Presence is his secret weapon.“Children want our time…to be engaged with them and present.” That’s why his phone often stays in the truck when he gets home. “Even when I’m tired at the end of a long day, it’s fuel to see the look in their eyes when I ask them to cook with me or go play outside.”

Adventure? That’s in the blueprint, too. Outdoor play, chores, road trips, goofy fun, and he’s even been known to say yes to “just one more kid.”

Quotes from People, Today, Business Insider, and US Weekly

DAD TOYS

Survival Food

Yesterday, Charleston had a massive AT&T outage. No calls. No texts. No internet.

And then it hit me: I don’t have nearly enough in place for a zombie takeover. Or even a hurricane.

Enter Mountain House Meals — freeze-dried comfort food that lasts 30 years. Just add water, eat straight from the pouch, and boom: beef stew, spaghetti, stroganoff.

Preparedness = peace of mind. Get it here.

🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE EYING UP

» The Cotton Hemp Tee (if you like a comfy tee)

» Z-Creeper Seat

» Admiral's Mug 20 oz

DAD BOD

Moderate Eating Window

Forget the 20-hour fasts and biohacker gimmicks.

Research shows even a moderate eating window of 10–12 hours can deliver real benefits: better metabolism, less inflammation, and easier weight control. And it’s actually doable for dads.

Eat breakfast at 8, finish dinner by 6, and you’ve already clocked a 14-hour fast without skipping family meals.
Late-night snacking? Skip it. Your body stores more fat and struggles with blood sugar at night.
Keep it consistent. A steady rhythm makes your energy and heart health stronger long-term.

It’s simple, sustainable, and yes, still leaves room for pizza night.