Christian Dad's Podcast

Dr. Terry Hargrave, founder of Restoration Therapy, joins the Christian Dad Podcast to show why so many fathers stay stuck in reactivity. When a dad feels dismissed, insignificant, or unsafe, his brain defaults to the pain cycle—anger, withdrawal, blame, or control—and that reactivity damages both his marriage and his kids. Hargrave explains the practical way out: name the trigger, then deliberate...

You win the argument. She goes quiet. The kids hear the tone. And somehow the house feels worse than before you proved your point. A listener wrote in because he and his wife fight, and he wants to fight fair. James and Arlene Pellicane have been married 27 years. They still disagree. They have learned which blows land below the belt, and which ones actually build the marriage. Proverbs is blunt:...

Most fights between husbands and wives about the kids aren’t really about chores, bedtime, or screen time. They’re about grace versus truth. James and Arlene Pellicane unpack the three ingredients every child needs to become a capable adult: grace (nourishment), truth (resistance), and time. Too much grace produces entitlement and later disillusionment. Too much truth produces performance anxiety...

James and Arlene Pellicane talk about faith as a powerful anchor in a child’s life. Some things are taught. Most things are caught. Kids get a front-row seat, and a household of faith and optimism can quietly defines what normal looks like. Faith is not passive belief. Hebrews 11 calls it the substance of things hoped for. It looks like action: Noah prepared an ark, Abraham left without knowing wh...

We all know intellectually that a parent of a 20-year-old should not treat their child like a 5-year-old. Yet many of us still do it without realizing it. Is there a parenting style that grows with your kids? In this episode we walk through Focus on the Family’s four parenting stages — Commander, Coach, Counselor, and Consultant — and why shifting from one to the next is one of the most important...

In this heartfelt episode of the Christian Dad Podcast, James Pellicane sits down with their 16-year-old daughter Lucy to discuss the things her dad got right as a father. Lucy shares openly about how being pushed into physical challenges like martial arts, skiing, mountain biking, and early morning rowing built resilience and adaptability. She also reflects on the blessing of being raised in the...

Join James Pellicane on the Christian Dad Podcast as he sits down with longtime friend, client, and successful real estate agent Dan O'Dell from Kansas City. With over 25 years in coaching. Dan shares powerful insights on why coaching is an investment—not an expense—in your faith, family, business, health, and personal growth. Dan opens up about the importance of humility, receiving truth from...

From implementing parent-controlled feeding that had all their kids sleeping through the night by two months, to ending the “Fettuccine Alfredo era,” banning whining with “Cure-All” (liquid cod liver oil), building real competence through family activities, and drilling academics on Saturday mornings — this episode shows dads exactly how to lead their families with confidence. Discover how to rais...

In this heartfelt and practical conversation, James Pellicane sits down with her daughter Noelle (19) to talk about real fatherly leadership in the home. They dive deep into Proverbs 22:6 — “Train up a child in the way he should go” — and what that actually looked like in their family. Noelle shares honestly about:Being forced to do things she didn’t want to do (martial arts, intense driving train...

What if the most toxic kind of leadership isn’t yelling or controlling… but staying silent? In this powerful episode, we expose how the absence of clear leadership quietly destroys families. Using Scripture from Ephesians and Colossians, the tragic story of King David’s family, and real-talk practical steps, we show why being unclear is actually unkind. You’ll walk away with five game-changing mov...

Tired of constant complaining from your children (or maybe even yourself)? In this powerful episode, James Pellicane reveals the "secret sauce" to end whining in your family for good. Drawing from Scripture—especially 1 Corinthians 10 and Numbers 21—she shows why God takes complaining so seriously and how it blocks us from His best blessings. Discover three game-changing principles every parent ne...

Dad's old abandonment wounds are sabotaging Mom's push to get their 2-year-old out of the family bed—leading to 2 a.m. meltdowns, that hit Dad right in the gut. In this raw coaching session, host James calls it straight: You're not your absent dad, boundaries aren't abandonment, and your big-hearted "benefactor" nature is getting played by a toddler who knows exactly which button to push. With bab...

In this raw and heartfelt episode, new dad Josh D'Ambrosio sits down with host James to share his unexpected journey into fatherhood—one forged through personal hardship, renewed faith, and the wild reality of raising a spirited 2-year-old. Josh presses James for hard-won wisdom on what actually works when the toddler years hit. James lays it out plainly: staying fully present even when work pulls...

In this powerful and practical conversation, Bill Farrel — pastor, author of 61 books, father of three sons, and grandfather of eight — shares the proven principles that helped him raise confident, capable young men who are now three of his closest friends. Bill walks through the two core commitments that shaped his parenting: being fully present and becoming a student of each child. He discusses...

What happens when a husband feels unseen, unheard, and flat-out discounted in his own home? He stops leading. He stops speaking up. He quietly gives up on the role God gave him. If you've ever felt dismissed in your marriage, or if you're the one doing the dismissing (even unintentionally), this episode is for you. Christian dads, you're not alone. Hit play, lean in. To enjoy on Youtube: https://y...

In this heartfelt episode, Noelle Pellicane shares her perspective on what her dad did right while raising her — offering an honest and insightful look into successful fathering techniques that truly make a difference. From love and consistency to guidance and faith, this conversation will encourage dads everywhere to reflect, grow, and lead with intention. Whether you're a new father, a seasoned...

James used to believe the loudest voice in the room won. Then he discovered the opposite is true. In this warm, personal episode he shares his journey from constant talker to grateful listener—and the beautiful things that started happening the moment he got quiet: His wife felt safe and began sharing her real heart His kids stopped bracing for lectures and started opening up He finally heard what...

In this funny-but-convicting episode, James admits his own failures (loudly) and then hands you doable habits that actually turn you into the listener your wife and kids secretly wish you were. No therapy-speak, no guilt trip—just practical, dad-tested moves that calm the room, lower your blood pressure, and make your family feel heard. Pellicane Coaching: happyhomeuniversity.com/coaching

Businesses live or die by their mission statement—yet many dads run their homes without one. Result? Endless debates about screen time, sports schedules, money, and holidays because nobody knows what actually matters most. In this hands-on episode, James walks you through the exact process he used to create a short, memorable family mission statement and 4 core values that now guide every decision...

Nothing prepares you for the day a loved one passes. In this raw, James shares what the first weeks and months felt like after losing his dad—and, more importantly, what actually helped (and what definitely didn't). Plua specific, no-fluff ways you can walk alongside any man, coworker, neighbor, or friend who just lost a loved one. Pellicane Coaching: happyhomeuniversity.com/coaching

In this deeply personal episode, James pauses everything to honor his late father: No bullet points, no how-to list, just a son's overflowing gratitude for the things that can't be taught with words. What James caught is now what he's intentionally passing to his own children. If you've ever wondered what parts of you your kids will actually remember, or if you need fresh wind to keep pouring into...

Your kids don't need another toy, another activity, or even another life lesson from you. The single greatest gift you can hand them is a front-row seat to a dad who cherishes their mom—every single day. In this straight-to-the-point episode, James shares one surprisingly simple, totally doable habit that communicates love to your wife in a language she actually feels… and simultaneously gives you...

If "It's not fair," "I'm bored," and "Do I have to?" are on repeat in your house, this episode is your rescue plan. James gives three battle-tested, no-yelling-required strategies that turn chronic complainers into grateful kids—without bribes, threats, or losing your mind. Real stories from his own home, simple scripts you can use tonight, and the one mindset shift that makes everything else work...

James shares a recent Yosemite hike where losing the trail for even a minute made everything harder. Same with life—when you know where you're headed with God, family, work, money, and yourself, daily choices get simpler. In this practical message, you'll get a straightforward way to picture the finish line for each area of your life. Once you see it, today's decisions fall into place naturally. N...

Confidence isn't cockiness; it's knowing who placed those kids in your home and why. Too many fathers walk around half-convinced they're going to mess it all up. In this straight-up encouraging message, James reminds every dad: God didn't hand you this assignment by accident. He chose you, equipped you, and promises to back you up. You'll walk away believing three things deep in your bones: Your k...