Happy Monday, gents. Wild weekend in sports. Shoutout to my Steelers and to Aaron Rodgers, still proving he’s got it (for now). Let’s get into it.

📕 DAD WISDOM 

Full Circle Moments

Twenty years ago, I boarded a ship as a 19-year-old with 700 strangers and circled the globe on Semester at Sea. That trip cracked my world wide open. It shaped how I see life, travel, and purpose.

What hit me this week was my dad’s text after I posted about it. He reminded me how experiences like that were the product of his hard work and sacrifice. He made sure doors like that could open for me.

Now, with two kids at home and a third on the way, I feel that pull stronger than ever. It’s not about giving them everything, but about giving them opportunities - big or small -that expand their world and help them see life differently.

Cool trips, small adventures, even simple daily moments. These are the experiences that shape them. Twenty years from now, our kids won’t remember the toys we bought, but they’ll never forget the chances we gave them to see the world in a new way.

RAD DAD 

Jocko Willink

Photo via Podcast Notes

Jocko Willink, retired Navy SEAL, bestselling author, and father of four, is famous for his no-nonsense “extreme ownership” philosophy.

For Jocko, raising kids isn’t about protecting them from every scrape, it’s about preparing them for life.

“If you’re helping your kids, you’re hurting them,” he says, stressing the importance of letting children struggle, fail, and figure things out for themselves. Those little setbacks? They’re the calluses they’ll need for the future.

He’s also big on modeling calm leadership: “Losing control of your temper is a weakness.” Instead, he shows his kids how to face challenges with patience and discipline.

And perhaps most importantly, he reminds parents that kids aren’t meant to fit inside a box: “They’re going to be who they are and who they turn into.”

Why he’s a RAD DAD:
Because Jocko teaches that the best way to raise resilient, capable kids isn’t by shielding them from adversity, but by walking alongside them with discipline, calm, and the constant reminder: don’t quit.

Follow Jocko here.

DAD TOYS 

Everyday Watch

Slowly but surely getting more into watches. Wanted something I could wear every day without breaking the bank and stumbled onto this gem: the Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz.

Swiss-made, reliable, and rooted in Hamilton’s military heritage. It’s simple, rugged, and just plain sharp.

Get it here

DAD BOD 

Drink Your Water

Not the sexiest tip, but probably one of the most overlooked: drink your water. Most dads are walking around dehydrated, and it shows up as fatigue, brain fog, and stress.

A few quick rules to keep it simple:

• Aim for 2–2.5 liters a day (roughly 8–10 cups).

• Check your pee — light yellow = good, dark yellow = drink up.

• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Make sipping water a daily habit, not a panic move.

• Swap out soda or that extra beer for water. Your body will thank you.

Staying hydrated doesn’t just help with workouts; it can actually keep stress hormones in check and boost long-term health. Easy win, big payoff.

» Run Club News
We’ve been low-key adding more cities. Annapolis, Charleston, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Sierra Vista, with a few more on the horizon. If you’re down to get some dads out running in your town, hit us up. All about conversation and connection, not pace.

» Attention: Pittsburgh Dads
Next Sunday (9/14), we’re teaming up with Steel City for a 3ish mile run out of their Shadyside store at 8am. No pressure on pace—it's all about conversation. Bonus: 10% off Steel City gear for everyone who joins. Sign up here.

» Dad Beers
A beer. A cause. A crew of dads. We’re teaming up with breweries across the country for a simple concept: make sandwiches for local shelters, have a beer, and connect with other dads. Do some good, drink some beer, meet some dads. Win-win-win.

We’re looking for hosts. Hit reply if you want to bring Dad Beers to your city..

» Fall Challenge
We’re pushing dads to commit to something this fall. It could be a 5k or your first half-marathon. We partnered with Runna to make it simple: get a free 2-week trial with code DADDAY. The app builds a custom plan, syncs to your watch, and keeps you honest. Already signed up? DM us at @daddayrunclub—we’d love to feature you.

JUNK DRAWER 

DAD HUMOR