📕 DAD WISDOM

The Hard Doesn’t Mean You’re Doing It Wrong

Lately, I’ve been meeting with a lot of dads. Different ages, different stages — but one theme keeps coming up: this is hard... but I want to do it well.

And man, I feel that. It took me a solid year, maybe longer, to find my footing. To stop resisting the “old life” I left behind and start accepting the new one I was building. But now — six years in — I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I didn’t know it was possible to love someone this much. My focus is sharper. My priorities are clearer. I feel more dialed in than I ever did before.

Parenting doesn’t get easier — but you do get stronger. More intentional. More rooted in who you’re becoming, not just what you’re doing.

If you’re in it right now, still finding your groove — that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you care. And that’s the best possible place to start.

RAD DAD

Robert Huffman

Coffee guy. Customer Success guy. El Camino guy. New dad.

Robert Huffman is balancing life with a 4-month-old son, a full-time role at GoodUnited, and a side hustle that’s equal parts nostalgia and caffeine: Camino Caffeino.

The story?

Robert spent summers on his grandfather’s farm, watching him sell homegrown tomatoes out of the back of a 1986 pearl white El Camino.

In 2023, after a little encouragement from his wife Laura, Robert tracked down the exact same model — bed rails and all — and made the drive from Charleston to Orlando to bring it home.

That childhood memory sparked something bigger: a dream to bring a little nostalgia, a little grit, and a lot of great coffee to life.

“Dont sleep on your dreams. As a new dad, I thought I had to put my dreams in the backseat, until I realized I get more energy from working 15 minutes on Camino Caffeino than I do from 15 minutes of sleep. It’s just 15 minutes, but they keep my dreams alive and allow me to become the father I want my son to be proud of.”

Today, Camino Caffeino isn’t just about caffeine — it’s about chasing the kind of dream you’ve been thinking about for 30 years, and passing that spirit on to the next generation.

Give Robert & Camino Caffeino a follow here.

DAD TOYS

The coolest shirt on the market—literally

It hit the 80s here in Charleston a few weeks ago, and I already know this is the shirt I’ll be reaching for all summer. Backyard BBQs, beach days, pool hangs—this is my go-to.

It’s light, breathable, and dries so fast you almost forget you were sweating. The collar stays sharp (so you can rock it on that Zoom call), and there’s even a built-in microfiber to wipe down your sunnies or phone. Hidden stash pocket, anti-odor magic, wrinkle-resistant—check, check, check.

Worth the $$ for hot weather comfort.

→ Get it here

🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE EYING UP

» Inwa Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers

» Nike SB Janoski+ Slip

» Kids Waterslide Bounce House (days of entertainment)

DAD BOD

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Growth doesn’t happen inside your comfort zone. It happens when you push your body (and your mind) a little further than you want to.

Here’s the move:

Set a clear goal:
Sign up for the 5K. Book the jiu-jitsu class. Find a race, a ruck, a challenge with a date on the calendar.
Make a simple plan:
Start where you are, not where you think you should be. Build week by week, not hero-to-zero.
Push the edge:
Train until you hit that “this sucks” moment — then stay there a little longer.
Adjust if needed:
Feeling wrecked? Pull back. Feeling lazy? Lean in.
Reset and repeat:
Comfort is the enemy. A little controlled discomfort every week builds real strength over time.

Read more on the science of comfort zones.

JUNK DRAWER

» How to Keep Your Explosive Strength as You Age

» Why Not to Let Your Kids Become Reliant

» Why You Should (Consider) Training Like A Hybrid Athlete (Running + Weight Lifting)

Community Challenge of the Week: 100 sit-ups a day — break it up however you want. Leave work early one day (30 minutes to an hour) — spend that extra time doing something with your kid(s).
New Run Clubs: Annapolis, MD is up and running (go Todd!), Charleston has been rockin’, and Pittsburgh is launching soon. If you can rally some dads in your town, hit us up.
From our Slack community: the importance of a weekly family meeting with your partner, creatine intake, and not forgetting Mother’s Day. Join the convo here.