Ambitious Dads

When Dion Elliott Jensen lost his job and came out to his wife, he was forced to confront who he was beyond his professional identity. In this deeply personal conversation, the Australian father of five shares how losing everything led him to discover unconditional love, redefine success, and transform his approach to fatherhood. A powerful discussion about vulnerability, presence, and the courage...

Larry Hagner, founder of The Dad Edge, shares his raw and transformative journey from childhood abandonment to becoming a father of four boys. After a moment of rage with his 4-year-old that broke his own promise never to hurt his children, Larry embarked on a 15-year mission to learn the skills of intentional fatherhood. This conversation explores shame, vulnerability, and the power of choosing g...

Serial entrepreneur and podcast host Dom Rubino shares how he sold a 250-location global franchise business to be more present for his children. In this candid conversation, he discusses the challenges of raising teenagers, the protective instincts that come with parenting a daughter, and why "Cats in the Cradle" should be required listening for every ambitious dad. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [00:01:43]...

Dr. Corey Holmes , former State Department affairs officer and author, shares his journey of raising a 5-year-old son in the Dominican Republic while building his writing career. This honest conversation explores the challenges of expat parenting, different disciplinary approaches between spouses, and how golf principles apply to fatherhood - patience, presence, and showing up consistently even on...

Tony Berardo , a full-time content creator and father to a 2.5-year-old daughter, opens up about the raw realities of modern fatherhood when his wife unexpectedly gets laid off after 10 years with her company. This honest conversation explores the emotional weight of being the sole provider, learning to regulate emotions alongside your toddler, and the constant tension between building a business...

Edward Rivera shares his powerful journey of breaking generational cycles, building emotional regulation skills, and creating the family presence he never had growing up. This conversation dives deep into practical strategies for managing anger, communicating vulnerably with children, and balancing entrepreneurship with intentional fatherhood. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [00:02:44] - Intentional Business...

Former actor Randy Spelling opens up about the realities of parenting two teenage daughters while navigating his own transformation from addiction to authentic fatherhood. In this honest conversation, Randy shares practical wisdom on listening versus solving, embracing failure as a teaching tool, and how his past mistakes became the foundation for deeper connections with his kids. EPISODE HIGHLIGH...

Brandon Harrison, CEO and father of three, shares his journey of intentional parenting after losing his father at 63. From managing three kids four years apart to taking solo cruises for self-care, Brandon offers honest insights on emotional regulation, mentorship, and building a lasting legacy as a father. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [00:02:06] - Managing Three Different Personalities Discussion on paren...

Mark Willis , a certified financial planner and father of two, shares his experience taking paternity leave as a business owner while welcoming his second daughter 10 years after his first. He discusses the challenges of rebalancing family life, the power of strategic absence in both business and parenting, and how intentionality transforms the parenting experience. From financial wisdom for famil...

Richard Resnick shares his raw and vulnerable journey as a divorced father fighting for access to his children. After years of court battles and emotional turmoil, he discovered that sometimes the best way to win is to stop fighting. This powerful conversation explores parental regret, the redefinition of providing, and how showing up consistently can rebuild even the most fractured relationships....

Former Secret Service agent Corey Allen opens up about his unconventional path to fatherhood through surrogacy, including the grief of miscarriages and the challenges of balancing work, family, and aging parents. He shares how becoming a dad transformed his patience, led him to write a children's book about travel, and taught him to embrace flexibility while building meaningful legacy for his chil...

Sales executive and father of two Dominic Hithon opens up about the real challenges of modern fatherhood - from managing technology with kids of different ages to co-parenting after separation. He shares honest insights about setting boundaries at work, the importance of being vulnerable with your children, and how to maintain strong relationships while building a career that requires constant tra...

Elliot Blodgett , performance coach and father of two adopted children, shares his unique journey into fatherhood and how intentionality shapes every aspect of his parenting. From creating family value songs to navigating the complexities of raising Black children as a white father, Elliot offers profound insights on letting go of ego, redefining success, and building authentic connections with ou...

Paul Millard , author of "The Pathless Path" and "Good Work," shares his journey from high-powered consultant to self-employed writer and father. He explores how becoming a dad to a 2.5-year-old has reshaped his understanding of ambition - moving from external markers of success to inner fire and authentic connection. This conversation dives deep into emotional regulation as a parent, building a l...

In this episode of Ambitious Dads, host Jeff Hittner sits down with  Maurice Philogene , a multifaceted professional whose resume spans federal agent, police officer, real estate investor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveler. But beyond all those titles, Maurice shares his most meaningful role: being a father to two sons.  We talk honestly about what it takes to balance ambi...

Licensed clinical social worker and parenting coach  Braxton Storm  shares his powerful journey from growing up in California's foster care system to becoming a father of three (soon to be four) children. In this vulnerable conversation, Braxton explores how his childhood experiences shape his approach to helping parents build calmer, more connected homes, the importance of emotional reg...

James Boddy , a Harvard-trained leadership consultant and former UK barrister, shares his transformative journey from viewing ambition as a "dirty word" to embracing authentic success while being a present father. This honest conversation explores the challenges of leading a growing company while raising two children, the importance of self-awareness in breaking generational patterns, and practica...

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...