Ambitious Dads

In this episode of the Ambitious Dads podcast, host Jeff Hittner welcomes Khe Hy , a former Wall Street Managing Director who left behind a lucrative career to focus on creativity, presence, and fatherhood. Khe shares his journey of evolving through three distinct chapters of life: his pre-fatherhood years, the transformative period of active parenting, and his current entrepreneurial pursuits in...

In this episode of the Ambitious Dads podcast, host Jeff Hittner welcomes his friend and neighbor, Dave Inglis , a Canadian executive and couples coach living in Valencia, Spain. The conversation delves into the complexities of blended family dynamics, as Dave shares his journey of becoming a stepdad to two teenagers while also welcoming a biological son, Will. He reflects on the challenges and jo...

In this episode of the Ambitious Dads podcast, host Jeff Hittner welcomes Bob Glazer , the founder and chairman of Acceleration Partners, a leader in partnership marketing. Bob, a serial entrepreneur and author of seven books, shares his insights on fatherhood, parenting challenges, and the importance of instilling values in children. With three kids nearing adulthood, he discusses his concerns ab...

In this episode of the Ambitious Dads podcast, host Jeff Hittner engages in a heartfelt conversation with Morgan Rich , a coach and facilitator dedicated to supporting men in navigating their inner struggles and finding purpose. Morgan, a father of two adult children and author of the book "The Invitation Beyond: Reclaiming Healthy Masculinity," shares his insights on fatherhood, personal growth,...

In this episode of the Ambitious Dads podcast, host Jeff Hittner engages in a heartfelt conversation with Dr. Kelly Flanagan , a clinical psychologist, author, and father of three. The discussion centers around the challenges and emotional complexities of fatherhood, particularly as children grow into young adults. Jeff opens the episode by emphasizing the importance of honest conversations among...

In this episode of the Ambitious Dads podcast, host Jeff Hittner engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Michael Grose , a prominent Australian parenting educator and author of twelve books on parenting. With a background as a former teacher, Michael shares his journey into parenting education, which began unexpectedly while pursuing a master's degree in education. He discusses how his ex...

In this episode, we sit down with Tom Critchlow to delve into the art of juggling professional ambitions with the beautiful chaos of fatherhood. In this episode, Tom shares his unique journey from being an independent consultant to transitioning back into the corporate world—all while taking his family on a year-and-a-half road trip during the COVID pandemic. 🚗🏞️ Discover how owning his schedule...

Join us as we dive into the unique experience of navigating parenthood while leading a startup. When Jean-Luc Zehnder founded his company, Virtido, in the same month his first child was born, he found himself nurturing two newborns: a business and a baby. In this episode, Jean-Luc opens up about the raw challenges of managing a growing family alongside a budding enterprise. Here’s what you can exp...

In this heartfelt episode, we feature Kelly Griego, an endurance athlete, leadership professional, and devoted family man. Kelly opens up about his experience as a bonus dad to three teenagers and shares valuable insights on building strong family bonds while managing a demanding professional life. He emphasizes the importance of stability, open communication, and the mantra of "no surprises" in c...

In this episode, Joshua Gillow opens up about his journey from working in his family's garden center to building successful landscaping businesses. He candidly shares his struggles with aligning professional goals with core family values, emphasizing the importance of introspection and emotional presence. Key highlights include: The transformative realization that led Joshua to align his ambitions...

In this episode, Carl Manlan offers a refreshing perspective on how he and his wife, both thriving in the finance industry, manage to expose their children to diverse professional environments. Through storytelling, Carl reveals how he incorporates lessons from his work into his parenting, enriching his children's understanding of the world's complexities. Key Highlights: Discover how Carl guided...

🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with two incredible dads, Shantanu, a soon-to-be CFO in Chicago, and Greg, a strategy director in Denver. They share their candid experiences of navigating fatherhood alongside demanding careers, offering insights into setting boundaries and cherishing family time. Topics we cover:🔹 The art of co-parenting and personal growth in fatherhood.🔹 The role of therapy in...

In this compelling episode, guest Mitchell Osmond of The Dad Nation shares his transformative journey from feeling lost at home to finding balance between his career ambitions and family life. After a pivotal fight with his wife and a profound experience at a funeral, Mitchell was inspired to reassess the legacy he was leaving behind. Join us as Mitchell discusses: His struggle with depression, de...

In this episode of the Ambitious Dads Podcast, we sit down with leadership advisor Rens van den Broek to explore how he successfully navigates his high-paced career while prioritizing family life. Rens challenges the notion that prioritizing loved ones negatively impacts career growth. He shares his personal philosophy of fostering open communication about family commitments in the workplace, insp...

In this episode, "Raising Kids with Brain Science & Heart," we explore Dr. Robert Melillo's unique journey as a neuroscientist and father. Discover how his personal experiences with his children's ADHD and other neurodevelopmental challenges transformed his professional career and parenting philosophy. Dr. Melillo shares valuable insights on: Balancing professional ambition with personal growt...

In this episode, our special guest, Prakash Raman —a dedicated coach and father—shares his personal journey of defining family values and fostering a supportive community. We explore the delicate dance of nurturing family bonds while pursuing professional goals, and how tools like the emotions wheel can help modern dads navigate this complex landscape. We dive deep into understanding children's em...

In this episode, former NFL athlete and American Ninja Warrior, Anthony Trucks , shares his incredible journey through fatherhood, business, and personal growth. Anthony opens up about his commitment to being a role model for his children and the importance of authenticity and integrity in parenting. Join us as we delve into: The concept of "dark work" and setting boundaries as a cornerstone of ef...

In this episode of the Ambitious Dads Podcast, we delve into the heart of modern fatherhood. Join us as Chase Friedman and Ramphis Castro , two inspiring dads from our Founding Fathers program, share their honest journeys of juggling professional dreams with family responsibilities. 🌟 In this episode, we explore: 🔹 The constant tug-of-war between work obligations and family life.🔹 How fatherhoo...

Navigating the intricate dance between leadership and fatherhood? This week on Ambitious Dads, I'm thrilled to have an insightful conversation with Robert Mulhall , CEO of Kripalu . Together, we delve into the challenges and joys of balancing high-pressure leadership roles with the unpredictable demands of fatherhood. 🔹 Discover how Robert manages co-parenting his spirited seven-and-a-half-year-o...

I didn’t start the Ambitious Dads Podcast because I had all the answers. I started it because I was asking the same questions most dads are. How do I show up better at home when work pulls me in a thousand directions? How do I break cycles I swore I wouldn’t repeat? How do I stay patient when I feel anything but? After a surprising infertility journey into fatherhood — and a lot of late-night doub...