Fatherhood Field Notes

A state championship was his daughter's dream and massive victory. For Seth Garten, learning as a dad-coach when to speak, when to stay silent, and how to guide his child through failure were some of his own personal wins in the process. This episode is a masterclass in timing, trust, and raising faithful, resilient kids who know who they are in Christ. This episode highlights a critical leadershi...

In this Friday Craft of Fatherhood short, Ned shares an honest look into a midweek moment of fatigue, fatherhood, and personal growth—centered around one powerful theme: patience . Living in Hawaii while navigating the demands of running a business in another time zone and family life, he unpacks the tension between exhaustion and intentional presence as a father. Prompted by his ongoing journey t...

Ned sits down with Dave Ronning, faithful Christian and Kona real estate professional, to talk about how to incorporate playfulness into your parenting style. They uncover 5 actionable ideas that will help you connect with your kids and create lasting memories. Did you know that playfulness is not just for kids, that it’s vital for parents too? Engaging in playful activities can rejuvenate our spi...

On this Friday Craft of Fatherhood episode of Fatherhood Field Notes, Ned shares about a recent shift he's implemented in his family's morning routine: a ten minute time sharing something they're thankful for within the family, then naming somebody they could be praying for... and then doing it. This comes on the heels of asking questions about how we can be really modeling to our kids a lifestyle...

By popular demand, we dug deep into the archives to bring you a rewind of an oldie but a goodie from 2020 when Ned sat down with former UFC fighter and Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. Urijah and Fatherhood Field Notes Guide, Ned Schaut, sit down to talk Fatherhood and Dad Life. In 2019 Urijah came out of retirement and fought Ricky Simmons, knocking him out in 46 seconds. But 2019 was also the year th...

What if the secret to truly impactful fatherhood isn’t about being perfect but about being present, vulnerable, and intentional? In this episode, Ned's friend, dad and entrepreneur "Hype Man Dan" Chang shares how his own painful childhood fuels his deep commitment to his kids, to revealing the subtle but powerful shifts that transformed his marriage and parenting. His story is a reminder: your leg...

In this episode of Craft a Fatherhood, Ned talks about how powerful he's found it to be intentional about asking his kids a question every day. Big things happen. How are you inquiring about the thoughts, hopes, dreams, challenges your kids are having? Ned has a challenge for all of us on how we can change the very trajectory of our kids' lives just through intentional curiosity. He also shares so...

In this episode of Fatherhood Field Notes, host Ned engages in a deep conversation with Mike Yarbrough, co-founder and co-owner of Rustic & Main and Wolf & Iron. They explore the complexities of fatherhood, marriage, and personal growth. They also discuss the importance of connection, communication, and the role of spirituality in parenting. Mike shares his journey of overcoming personal c...

In this episode of Craft a Fatherhood, Ned talks about finally getting into golf, being surprised to still to get to know his wife more and the importance of dating your wife. He shares about the significance of rest through the concept of Sabbath. He encourages fathers to actively engage in their families' interests and to create meaningful connections with their partners and children. ---------...

In this engaging conversation, Patton Dodd, author of the recent book The Father You Get: And the Ones You Make, Believe In, and Become , shares his insights on fatherhood, personal growth, and the power of windshield time with your kids. Dodd reflects on his journey through the challenges of growing up with a removed and isolated father who created hurt and pain in most of his relationships and g...

In this Craft of Father episode of the Fatherhood Field Notes podcast, Ned tells about his "death hike" adventure led by his teenage daughter. He reflects on the evolving journey of fatherhood, emphasizing the importance of legacy, family values, and the transition of children into independence. He shares his thoughts about his children's adventures and the challenges of homeschooling, while also...

In this episode of the Craft of Fatherhood Podcast , host Ned Schaut reflects on his journey as a father, sharing insights from his experiences and conversations over the past year. He emphasizes the importance of observation in parenting, how impactful it can be to have annual family meetings for reflection on the year and connection, and the sheer power of setting goals and dreams as a family. -...

Jim Morrison, a 26-year veteran of marriage and father of three (ages 24, 22, and 19), shares his unconventional approach to fatherhood that rebels against the idea that parenting ends at 18. As an insurance broker with 36 years of experience, Jim has learned to prioritize presence over perfection, building a family culture around travel, embracing failure as a gift, and maintaining deep relations...

Join Ned as he sits down with entrepreneur and father of four, Garr Russell, for a raw conversation about what really matters in fatherhood. Garr shares his unconventional approach to raising kids—from buying a restaurant so the whole family could work together, to full-time RVing for five years, to navigating his daughter's most vulnerable moment. They dive deep into the power of physical touch,...

Blake Casteel opens up about his journey from a fear-driven father repeating generational patterns to becoming a man committed to authentic connection with his six children. Blake shares the pivotal moment when he realized his older kids weren't getting the best of him, and how he's been intentionally changing the "menu" of his fatherhood over the past six years. He challenges dads to stop blaming...

Sean Bothelio shares how he transformed from a scared 23-year-old father into a man who raised two confident sons who followed him into military service. After 30 years in the Air Force, Sean reveals the intentional decisions he and his wife Kim made to create a home where their sons' friends felt so safe that over 100 teenagers gathered there during a tragedy. He discusses the critical role of bu...

Jeremiah Cooper opens up about his journey through divorce, remarriage, and learning what it truly means to be a father. After eight years of marriage, separation, and four years divorced, Jeremiah and his wife Wendy remarried in 2013—a story that proves hope exists even in the darkest moments. He shares the hard-won lessons about unconditional love, the difference between happiness and joy, and w...

In this powerful conversation with Bob Fraser—bestselling author, international speaker, and partner in a private equity firm—we explore three transformative concepts every father needs to understand. First, how do you see people? Your view of mankind shapes everything. Second, what's the real purpose of wealth and finances? It's not what you think. Third, how do you launch your children into thei...

Ned sits down with his former high school Bible teacher, Mr. Tom Amato, who has dedicated 54 years to working with youth. At 78 years old, Mr. Amato shares profound wisdom about unconditional love, the power of presence, and what it truly means to be a father. He reveals how he emerged from six years of total darkness and bitterness to discover God's infinite love, and how that transformation shap...

Russell Kimura, creator of Fathers with Daughters and girl dad of three, shares his journey of learning to show up with intention for his daughters. In this rich conversation, Russell reveals why consistency beats perfection, how to create emotional safety without sacrificing leadership, and why fathers must commit to connection over convenience. He opens up about the tension of releasing control...

When Thomas Pfanner's eighth-grade son walked out of his life for six months, he realized something had to change - and it wasn't his son. In this powerful conversation, Thomas breaks down his FORGE framework (Faith, Ownership, Respect, Groundbreaking Adventure, and Expectation) from his new book "Dads Who Lead," revealing why teen rebellion happens and how fathers can shift from being the "police...

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Ned opens up about the chaos of everyday fatherhood—from dead rats in the trash to staying up late with his twelve-year-old daughter on her last night of being twelve. He challenges the pressure dads feel to do everything perfectly, reminding listeners that presence trumps perfection every single time. Ned shares how he's learned to say yes to the moments that m...

Zack Ponder shares his raw journey from struggling entrepreneur with a DUI to becoming a present father who homeschools four kids while his wife battles cancer. A former special education teacher who worked with profound autism students, Zack discovered God through the daily challenges of non-speaking, violent students and translated those insights into his books "Special Days" and the upcoming "H...

 In this episode, Ned challenges the destructive cultural narrative that young men need to "get it out of their system" in their twenties, sharing insights from a recent father-son gathering and introducing Adam Lane Smith's transformative framework for masculine leadership based on four areas of safety that men must provide: resource safety, protection, emotional safety, and bonding safety. This...

Ned sits down with Brad Plett, a father of four and full-time missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Kona, Hawaii. Brad opens up about his journey through a dark season of anxiety, shame, and guilt in his early years of fatherhood, and how discovering his identity as a son of God transformed not only his life but his entire family's trajectory. Learn more about YWAM here: https://ywamkona....