Intentional Fatherhood

This is the episode we were nervous to record. Justin admits greed might be a blind spot, something he’s still in the middle of figuring out. So instead of teaching, we asked some revealing questions and answered them honestly. What we found is that greed is rarely about money. It usually shows up as anxiety, like checking the bank account one more time, and underneath that anxiety is often control, comparison, and fear. It reveals deeper questions about safety, security, and trust, and often a fear of being embarrassed or dependent if we were to lose what we have. As we dug further, it got emotional. Justin wrestles honestly with whether he’s greedy or grateful, and notices that as God has entrusted him with more (a business, a family and other responsibilities), his trust in God hasn’t kept pace. Behind it is a deep desire to provide and an equally deep fear that he won’t. As we concluded, men still carry the insecurities of a small boy; manhood just teaches us how to hide them. From there we bring the…

Our Seven Deadly Sins series continues with gluttony: the desire to consume beyond what we actually need. That certainly shows up at the table, but also in our scrolling, shopping, and substance consumption. Gluttony is sneaky and easy to dismiss, and since your metabolism can hide both your sins and your virtues, it can go unnoticed for a lifetime. So this conversation is really about the heart. Are you eating to delight in God's creation, or to cope? Or a better question might be: What do you reach for when you're hurting? Food and drink aren't bad in themselves. They're gifts from God. Even in Eden, we were made for dependence, needing food to live, and for delight, enjoying trees that were pleasing to the eye. Gluttony perverts those into excess and shame. Its promise is comfort, but whether we run to food or starve ourselves of it, we're trying to solve some sort of pain that food can't fix, and many people stay spiritually and emotionally stuck because they won't face it. We also walk through Aquinas'…

As we continue our series on the seven deadly sins, we pivot to the more outward, consumptive sins: lust, greed, and gluttony, specifically focusing on lust in this episode. Pornography often comes to mind first, but it's only one of many ways lust can show up in our lives. Since most of us have heard plenty about what not to do, we start with a better question: what is sex actually for? Sex was God's idea from the beginning. It points to our deeper longing for union with God, unites us with our spouse, and brings forth new life. Lust isn't the desire for sex within marriage. It's a disordered search for intimacy that promises connection but trains us to avoid it, keeping us in a loop fueled by excuses like "you're stressed" or "you're lonely." Desire isn't the enemy, but it becomes destructive when it stops asking, "How can I love?" As Augustine said, our hearts are restless until they rest in God, and lust promises to fill that restlessness but never delivers. In the end, lust isn't wanting too much of…

We don't usually call it envy. We call it "just being honest," or "I'm not jealous, I just wish things were different." But envy is sneakier than that. It's a refusal to be content with the life God actually gave us, and it shows up as comparison, insecurity, gossip, and pushing people out. This week continues the Seven Deadly Sins series with a hard look at where envy starts, why it hurts the person feeling it most, and how to fight it with the one thing strong enough to counter it: love. Envy starts with discontentment in your own story, not with someone else's blessing. And here's the part we don't say out loud enough: the primary victim of envy is you. It's easiest to feel toward people close to us, within the same sphere or vocation, which is part of why it shows up so often in the church, where we're quick to rejoice at someone's downfall and slow to rejoice at their win. And it almost always has some sort of wound underneath it: shame, a father wound, or performance-based love. That's why you can't…

Anger might be the quintessential sin of fatherhood. It's the one that shows up at bedtime, in the car, in the moment a kid won't listen for the fifth time, and it's the one our kids are most likely to watch us model and then repeat. We open this episode with a pattern Brook is still working through: bedtime gets stressful in his house, and it often ends in anger. But when we look closer, what makes us angry in that moment usually isn't the kids at all, it's everything sitting underneath. Brook and Justin dig into why anger is a secondary emotion, and why our families so often get our worst, even when we hold it together everywhere else. Most of us don't have an anger problem. We have an awareness problem: we don't recognize what's actually driving the reaction, which is usually a realization that we're not in control, we're not God, and we can't always get what we want. But we don't stop at the diagnosis. We get honest about our own angry moments, name the pride that's often underneath ("this shouldn't be…

This week, we're opening a new season built around the seven deadly sins: sloth, anger, envy, lust, gluttony, greed, and pride. We’re spending this season walking through each one in depth, not to shame you, but because you can't fight what you won't name. This episode starts with sloth, what we think is the defining sin of our generation. Sloth isn't what most of us picture. Thomas Aquinas called it “sorrow about spiritual good,” a sadness that sets in when the right thing is also the hard thing. That means you can be productive at work all week and still be spiritually asleep. It's a sin of omission, not commission: the gap between the life you're living and the life you were made for. And you don't close that gap on willpower alone. You can only do it with the help of the Holy Spirit. We trace where this actually shows up in a father's life: the hard conversation you keep putting off, the disengagement that looks like exhaustion but is really avoidance. It's the same instinct Adam had in the garden. God…

In this episode, Brook sits down with Fred Odom for the second installment of Fatherhood in the Wild, our series featuring everyday dads in the trenches of marriage, work, and raising kids. Fred is a dear friend, a husband to Becca, a father of three young daughters (affectionately dubbed the family "C-suite"), and part of the team behind Chick-fil-A's leadership conferences, where his gift is helping others find the words to say what matters most. What began as a work call became a real friendship, and this conversation is a window into what fatherhood actually feels like for a man carrying a lot all at once. Much of the conversation centers on the difference between the title of leadership and the weight of stewardship. Fred shares how a recent promotion taught him that greater responsibility isn't about accolades but about carrying more people, and how that same posture applies at home. We're not owners of our work, our marriages, or our kids; we're stewards of all of it. Fred opens up honestly about…

In our final episode of the season, we explore what it means to build a legacy that extends far beyond our own lifetime. Legacy is more than money. It’s the wisdom, faith, values, and way of life we pass on to future generations. We discuss why legacy isn’t something we think about later; it’s being shaped right now through the work we do and the lives we live. Together, we wrestle with questions like: What are you building? Are you pursuing something bigger than yourself…something you may never see finished? We talk about building with hope instead of anxiety, embracing humility about what we cannot accomplish alone, and recognizing that the most meaningful work is always passed on through others. We also ask a challenging question: What does it feel like to live with you while you’re building your dreams? Our families may never remember the metrics, goals, or bottom lines, but they will remember our presence, our character, and the memories we create together. As two imperfect fathers still trying to…

This week, we explore the importance of being an amateur, and doing things simply because you love them. In a culture that pushes us to monetize every skill and maximize every minute, many men have lost touch with hobbies that exist purely for joy. But God created us not only to work, but also to create, play, and enjoy the gifts He has given us. We discuss the barriers that keep us from embracing this part of life, including the pressure to turn hobbies into side hustles and a world that values consumption more than creativity. Whether it's woodworking, cooking, camping, golf, music, or working on cars, these pursuits can provide the kind of rest, fulfillment, and connection that passive, mind-numbing entertainment often cannot. We also talk about how hobbies can deepen our relationship with God, build community, and create meaningful memories with our children. As C.S. Lewis said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” This episode is an invitation to reclaim the things that make you come alive, not…

In this pivotal episode of the season, we explore the relationship between family and work, challenging the common idea of “work-life balance.” Rather than seeing work and family as competing priorities, we discuss how they are meant to be integrated and ordered rightly. The real question isn’t how to fit your family into your work, but what your work is ultimately for in light of your family. We answer common questions many fathers have about setting healthy work boundaries, staying present with your family after a long day, sharing the responsibilities of the home, and teaching your children the value of work. From establishing rhythms of rest to embracing the “second race” of family life after work, we discuss how fathers can faithfully serve both their vocation and their household. We also explore the importance of inviting children into meaningful work through chores, household responsibilities, and even opportunities to observe or participate in your work when appropriate. Family and work are not…

Many fathers carry a deep sense of responsibility to provide, achieve, and work hard, yet often wonder how their faith should shape both their work and their family life. In this episode, we explore the spiritual disciplines that surround and inform the life of work: before you leave for work, while you're at work, and when you return home. We discuss the hidden life of a father and why spiritual formation matters when much of your most important work goes unseen. Drawing from poetry, teachings, and our own lived experience, we examine how spiritual disciplines reorder our loves, expose what is driving us, create space for God to interrupt our patterns, and quietly shape the kind of fathers we are becoming. Key Disciplines of Fathers (Which Also Apply to the Workplace): Presence. Blessing. Repair. Attention. Slowing down. Play. Emotional awareness. Saying no. We also talk about the transformative impact of prayer, Scripture, fasting, Sabbath, and generosity, as well as two practical rhythms for the workday:…

This week, we dive into leadership and why it matters for every man. Most people think of leadership as something reserved for business owners, managers, or people with authority, but the reality is that we're all leading somewhere. As fathers and husbands, the way we show up influences the people around us and shapes the culture of our homes, workplaces, and communities. In this conversation, we unpack what healthy leadership actually looks like and why so many leaders get it wrong. We explore why leadership is less about competency and more about character, why servant leadership creates healthy cultures, and how many of the same qualities that make someone a good leader also make them a good father. We also discuss some of the common reasons people struggle in leadership, including insecurity, performance-based identity, a need for control, and the tendency to avoid hard conversations. Along the way, we talk about the responsibility leaders have to bring calm in moments of chaos, make difficult decisions…

In this episode, we continue our conversation on stewardship by looking at one of our most valuable and limited resources: time. Time is the currency of our purpose, and stewarding it well means finding the balance between laziness and anxiety. While some of us need to embrace greater ambition and intentionality, others need to embrace the gift of limitation. Rest, sleep, Sabbath, and slower rhythms are not flaws in our design, they are part of it. Drawing from Ephesians 5:15-16, we discuss what it means to “redeem the time.” The goal is not perfect productivity but faithful stewardship. You may not have enough time to do everything you want to do, but you do have enough time to do the things God is calling you to do. Wisdom helps us release unrealistic expectations, trust God with the future, and use our days with greater purpose. We also explore the importance of using mornings and evenings well, building life-giving rituals, and developing habits that shape a sustainable rhythm of life. Because in the…

This week, we talk about money, work, providing, and vocation through the lens of biblical stewardship. Stewardship is the faithful management of what belongs to God, and Scripture reminds us that our money, time, relationships, influence, families, and opportunities are ultimately His, not ours. Jesus speaks often about greed and warns against living with an ownership mindset instead of a steward’s heart. We explore what it looks like to faithfully steward not only finances, but also our wives, children, organizations, and responsibilities. Seeing ourselves as stewards kills entitlement and reshapes how we use our resources for the good of our families, neighbors, churches, and communities. The conversation also highlights the importance of simplicity and generosity, which means living with intentional limits instead of unnecessary excess, while cultivating a lifestyle of open-handed giving with our money, time, and energy. We also discuss practical ways to build habits and structures around generosity,…

This episode wraps up our conversation on the spiritual foundation of work before we move into the practical side of vocation and calling. We explore the tension between ambition and idolatry, and how we were created to pursue meaningful things, yet how easily ambition can become self-centered. Together, we discuss how Scripture reframes ambition as something good when it’s rooted in humility, service, and faithfulness rather than ego, pride, or status. Justin reflects on how his understanding of “making it” was shaped by watching his father’s success and notoriety, while Brook shares how parenting a child with special needs has reshaped his view of ambition, rhythms, and career expectations. We also talk through the things that often hold us back from healthy ambition: fear, comfort, distraction, comparison, exhaustion, financial pressure, and the lies we believe about ourselves. Ultimately, we ask what it looks like to pursue success with integrity and a focus on spiritual formation, remembering that the…

In this episode, we continue our season on work and vocation by tackling one of the most misunderstood words in the Christian life: calling. The thesis is simple but disruptive: you don’t find your calling, you form it. So much of our cultural imagination around vocation runs on what we call the “lightning bolt myth,” the idea that one day clarity will strike, you’ll know exactly what you’re made to do, and the path forward will appear. But that’s not how calling actually works, and waiting for the zap keeps a lot of men stuck living someone else’s life. We lean on a line from Dallas Willard that reframes the whole conversation: “Your job is not your calling; your calling is to become a certain kind of person.” Before vocation is ever a profession, it’s a formation, becoming the kind of person who, like Peter on the water, says, “Lord, if you’re there, call me to yourself.” From that foundation, the question shifts from what am I supposed to do? to who am I becoming, and where is God already at work in my…

We’re BACK with season 3, diving into work and vocation in fatherhood. We start by laying a foundation with a biblical theology of work, because work isn’t just a necessary part of life, it’s something God designed. From the very beginning, God was at work, and He invites us to join Him in it, which means our everyday jobs carry far more spiritual significance than we often realize. It’s easy to divide life into “sacred” and “secular” categories, but Scripture pushes back on that idea. Your work doesn’t have to be in ministry or a nonprofit to have eternal purpose; whether you’re earning money or raising it, both can be God-ordained. The real question isn’t how “spiritual” your job appears, but whether you’re doing it for God or simply to make something of yourself. At its core, all work is service. We were made to serve, and every role is an opportunity to meet real needs in the world. The Hebrew word “avodah” captures this well, bringing together the ideas of work, service, and worship, and reminding us…

Note: This episode contains mature themes that may not be suitable for younger listeners. Please use discretion. In this bonus episode, we sit down live in San Diego to reflect on a powerful Fatherhood Retreat weekend, one marked by vulnerability, confession, and a clear movement of the Spirit. We talk about what it looks like to notice where God is already at work and simply join Him there, and we carry that idea into a conversation around some of the questions we didn’t get to during the retreat. We spend time talking through the tension of work and family life, and how building intentional rhythms and setting up guardrails can help protect what matters most without treating vocation and home as competing priorities. We also discuss the vital role of covenant friendships, especially when confession feels difficult in marriage, and how inviting other men in can lead to wisdom, healing, and the courage to move forward. We talk about the weight of financial stress and how easily it can become tied to our…

In this bonus episode, we welcome a very special guest: Justin’s wife, Lauren, the first woman to ever appear on the Fatherhood podcast. Together, they reflect on marriage, parenting, and partnership while raising four boys, and what it looks like to raise sons into men as a united team. Lauren shares a mother’s perspective on how parenting can feel different for moms and dads, and why fathers play a key role in helping “decode” boys, whose expressions of love and affirmation often look very different than expected. Justin and Lauren also share the story of how their relationship began, including their breakup, getting back together, and a memorable first date at one of Justin’s punk rock screamo shows (yes, he was the screamer). The conversation moves into the realities of married life: learning to meet in the middle on expectations, choosing the right tools for the job, and resisting the temptation to keep score. They speak candidly about difficult seasons in their marriage, the danger of bitterness, and…

In this episode, we sit down with Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, one of the most trusted and influential spiritual voices of our time, and someone whose work we deeply admire and return to often. A Catholic priest, theologian, and author, Fr. Rolheiser has spent more than 50 years teaching and writing about prayer, vocation, and the interior life, helping countless people understand how God meets us in ordinary, everyday faithfulness. Now 78 and a cancer survivor of more than a decade, Fr. Rolheiser reflects on this current stage of life and what it means to finish well. Drawing from his framework of getting your life together, giving your life away, and giving your death away, he shares wisdom shaped by experience, suffering, and surrender, reminding us that the way we die is the spirit we leave behind. Much of the conversation centers on restlessness, particularly in midlife. Fr. Rolheiser explains that our restlessness is not something to eliminate but a sign that we are “built too big for this world.” Rather than…

Note: This episode contains mature themes that may not be suitable for younger listeners. Please use discretion. This bonus episode tackles a topic that is central to the male experience but often left unspoken: sex. Speaking directly to married men, the conversation calls them to engage sex honestly, framing it as a spiritual, physical, and powerful dimension of their lives. Beginning with Genesis 2, the episode explores why God invented sex and placed it so prominently in the biblical story, naming it as God’s good creation — meant for procreation, beauty, and connection. From there, the conversation turns to our role as fathers, emphasizing the importance of talking openly with our kids about sex through small, ongoing conversations. For many who grew up with silence or shame around the topic, the reminder is simple: clarity is kindness, even when it feels uncomfortable. The episode then centers on three themes: intimacy, sex as sacrament, and practical wisdom for sexual connection. We outline six types…

In this episode, Brook sits down with Ruslan KD — YouTuber, musician, author, cultural commentator, speaker, and father — for a rich and deeply personal conversation around his new book, Godly Ambition: Unlocking the Full Potential of Your Time, Talent, and Treasure. Ruslan shares pieces of his upbringing, from a tumultuous childhood to coming to know Jesus, early marriage, becoming a father, and navigating seasons of financial struggle. We explore the “law of replacement,” the bridge between the supernatural and the super practical, and why ambition — though often misunderstood — is both beautiful and biblical. Ruslan names the tension many men feel between ambition and godliness, pushing back against unhealthy ideas around Sabbath rest, toxic masculinity, and the shame some carry for wanting to pursue more. He reminds us that Sabbath is only meaningful in the context of six days of faithful work, and that Jesus doesn’t rebuke the desire for greatness — He redirects it toward service. Drawing from…

In the final episode of season two, we explore what it really means to give your death away — to live and lead in such a way that your life becomes a lasting gift to those who follow. We unpack the word legacy, not as something we build for ourselves, but as something we intentionally sow into the next generation through prayer, blessing, and everyday faithfulness. Legacy begins with prayer. Before we practice it, we have to pray it — asking God to refine our desires and shape our vision for who our children are becoming. We talk about what it looks like to be initiated into new stages of life by those ahead of us while initiating our kids into maturity, responsibility, and faith. From writing letters and creating family rituals to teaching practical life skills and setting healthy parameters — like viewing a smartphone as a rite of passage — we share tangible ways to pass along wisdom and form character. Because the little things are the big things. Our children will often become who we tell them we see…

In this episode, we explore the provocative idea of what it means to give your death away — to truly live in light of your mortality. Drawing from the ancient Christian practice of “memento mori” — remembering your death — we talk about how only Christianity can make sense of this uncomfortable reality through the hope of resurrection and eternal life. We discuss what it means to build a legacy within our families, not just by passing on skills that fade, but through wisdom, blessing, and a life rooted in eternal perspective. Inspired by Arthur Brooks’ From Strength to Strength, we reflect on the shift that happens as we age — moving from fluid to crystalized intelligence. Looking to Psalm 92’s promise that the righteous “will bear fruit in old age,” we talk about becoming the kind of person who grows old and sweet rather than old and bitter, someone secure enough to bless and encourage the next generation. This episode centers on the power of blessing — through appropriate touch, a spoken message, attaching…

Following last week’s conversation about giving your life away, this episode dives into the everyday practices that help us live that out — even in the middle of our busy, overwhelmed lives. We’re talking about what it looks like to lean into the self-emptying way of Jesus — the way that actually leads to life to the full, both for us and for those we love. We explore what this looks like through three key areas: spiritual disciplines, physical disciplines, and gratitude and joy. In the first, we talk about how to lean in and experience the God who gave His life for you — looking at Jesus’ rhythm of withdrawing to pray, and how to build our own patterns of prayer, reading Scripture, and experiencing silence that are rooted, not rigid, and focused on rhythms rather than rules. In the second, we focus on physical disciplines like exercise and fasting, learning to embrace self-emptying as a way of finding true fulfillment. We discuss the spiritual and even scientific connection between movement, anger, and…

In this episode, we explore what it really means to give your life away — and why it’s the natural next step after getting your life together. Our homes, marriages, and families become our modern monasteries, the sacred spaces where formation happens. God’s goal isn’t our comfort but our transformation into His likeness, a process of self-emptying modeled in Philippians 2:1–11. We suffer in order to be exalted, and few things shape us like marriage and parenting. As we move through adulthood — especially in our late twenties and early thirties — we often face disappointment as we confront who we actually are rather than who we hoped to be. That realization can be painful, but it’s also the soil where joy and sanctification take root. Much of this episode centers around those struggles that keep us from surrendering fully to the life God’s inviting us into, and the freedom that comes when we name them honestly. We reflect on how suffering can make us either hard and bitter or soft and loving, and how choosing…

This week, we continue last week’s conversation about getting your life together, digging into pivotal moments from young adulthood that shaped the course of our lives. In season two, we’re exploring the three movements of spiritual maturity and fatherhood: getting your life together, giving your life away, and giving your death away, sharing practical stories and real-life examples of how these stages unfold. From career shifts and breakups to marriage and parenthood, we reflect on seasons where God reordered our desires and called us to clarity in identity and vocation. Drawing on passages like Peter walking on water and Psalm 37, we talk about stepping out in faith, asking God to guide our hearts, and trusting Him to realign what we long for. We also examine the importance of naming — our experiences, struggles, and hopes — and how accountability, therapy, and intentional reflection help us process and grow. Real change takes time, and getting our lives together often means healing from the past. By…

Season 2 of the Intentional Fatherhood Podcast kicks off with a new framework for understanding the journey of spiritual maturity, specifically through the lens of fatherhood. This season, we’re exploring the three great movements of the spiritual life: getting our lives together, giving our lives away, and giving our deaths away. In this first episode, we dig into that first movement: getting our lives together. What does it really mean to move from boyhood to manhood — to take on responsibility, lead with integrity, and build a family — especially when no one ever showed us how? Many of us find ourselves in jobs, routines or situations we don’t love, wondering if this is what life was meant to be. We talk honestly about that struggle and the grace needed when we haven’t been guided through it by a father or mentor. We also explore how following Jesus leads to a fuller, richer life — one that begins with death to self. Despite what culture tells us, the cross reminds us that life isn’t about achievement or…

In this bonus Q&R episode, we tackle real and honest questions from listeners — covering everything from anxiety and reliance on substances, to conflict with our spouse around phones, to the challenge of leading spiritually at home, and choosing to parent differently than we were raised. We talk about the importance of practicing healthier rhythms instead of swinging between extremes, and how bringing your spouse into the process creates space for humility and vulnerability. We also look at how to approach conversations about excessive phone use with empathy rather than shame, and how curiosity can open the door to honest dialogue. From there, we explore what it takes to move surface-level friendships toward deeper, covenant-level connection, and how vulnerability breeds vulnerability. We also discuss the awkward but necessary work of starting new spiritual habits at home — pushing through the discomfort to create rhythms that will last. And finally, we talk about the desire so many of us carry to parent…

We’re back with a special Q&R episode, answering real questions from fathers navigating the tensions of parenting, faith, and calling. We talk about what to do when you feel isolated in the early years of raising kids, especially when your closest friends aren’t parents yet, and how to create the kind of community your fatherhood needs. We also dive into the power of confession — why it’s deeply biblical, how to start small with someone you trust, and how regular rhythms of honesty can bring freedom and healing. From there, we discuss what it looks like to parent with both authority and love, offering practical ways to set boundaries, repair when you snap, and become a student of your kids — especially if they’re wired differently. We also talk about how essential prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit are in this process, because lovingly discipling our kids isn’t something we can do in our own strength. Finally, we unpack the tension between work and family — setting healthy boundaries, releasing guilt,…

In the final episode of season one, we explore what it means to find meaning, beauty, and art as fathers. In response to last week’s episode on work, this one turns toward the life-giving pursuits that bring us joy. This conversation is an invitation to remember that you were created to delight — that deep within each of us is a longing for beauty and a desire to pursue what lights us up from the inside out. Whether it’s music, poetry, travel, fitness, writing, reading, camping, cold plunging, or even mushroom hunting, discovering what brings you joy is part of becoming a whole, grounded father. We also touch on the tendency to overdo hobbies as a form of escape — and how, when rightly ordered, these passions aren’t distractions but sacred spaces where peace, contentment, and even healing can take root. We share some of our own hobbies — both the ones we enjoy alone and the ones we share with our kids — and how they’ve helped shape the fathers we are today. More than that, we explore how delight can become a…

Fatherhood is more than raising children — it’s about showing up in the world as a worker. You were created to work. Not just to earn a paycheck, but to cultivate, build, and serve others through your vocation. This week, we explore the vocational calling within our Intentional Fatherhood diagram, focusing on God’s original design for work starting in Genesis. From the very beginning, we were made to “garden” the world — to shape it with care and intention. But work isn’t always easy. We talk about the pain, frustration, and resistance we encounter — what Scripture calls the “thorns and thistles” — and how that struggle can actually become a place of deep sanctification. We reflect on the pursuit of the vocational “trifecta”: doing what you’re good at, what you love, and what the world actually needs. Each of us shares personal stories from the early, often hidden years of our careers — seasons marked by uncertainty, obscurity, and growth. Looking back, we see how God used those years to develop humility,…

Feeling overwhelmed as a father? Like you’re constantly reacting instead of leading with intention? Maybe you lose your temper more than you’d like or feel like you’re just running a daycare with someone you used to date. You might even wonder if you’re failing as a dad. In this episode, we get honest about the struggles of fatherhood and explore how simple, consistent habits can shape the atmosphere of your home. From bedtime liturgies and breath prayers to marriage rhythms and boundaries around technology, we unpack small yet meaningful habits — often formed through our own failures and weaknesses — that have become tools of spiritual formation in our families. The truth is: we become our habits, and our children become us. The routines and rhythms in your home aren’t just daily tasks; they’re shaping the hearts and minds of your family. You already have habits unfolding — responses, defaults, routines. The question is whether you’re being intentional about them. In moments of conflict or chaos, these…

Note: This episode contains mature themes that may not be suitable for younger listeners. Please use discretion. We are storied people, living within the grand narrative of the kingdom of God. And as a father, you need to know your story. Not just the highlights or heroic moments — but the whole of it. The truth is, your past shapes your present: in your work, your marriage, your friendships, and your fatherhood. To lead well, you must face the story that formed you — including both your own childhood and the generations that came before. In this powerful episode, we look back to move forward. Together, we explore how our family of origin — with all its beauty and brokenness — deeply influences the families we are building now. Brook opens up about the story he comes from: one marked by abuse, secrecy, and chaos. He shares honestly about the slow and painful work of healing, and how unaddressed generational sin began to surface in his own work, relationships, and family — which nudged him toward the hard…

Believe it or not, caring for your physical body is essential to becoming the intentional father you're called to be. In this episode, we explore the deep connection between physical discipline and spiritual formation — and why your body isn’t just a shell, but an integral part of your discipleship. We push back against the gnostic idea that separates the material from the divine, grounding our conversation in Genesis 2:7, where God breathes spirit into dust to form a whole human being. Drawing from Justin’s upcoming book, The Body Teaches the Soul: Ten Essential Habits to Form a Healthy and Holy Life, we talk about the spiritual implications of everyday physical habits — from how you eat and sleep to how you rest and move. We also highlight the link between physical health and mental well-being. Like a gardener entrusted with land he didn’t choose and weather he can’t control, you’ve been given a body — with all its genetics, limitations, and challenges. But just like a garden, it’s worth tending. We…

Before we can be fathers to our children, we must first learn to live as sons of the Father. The truth is, it’s impossible to be a good father — let alone an intentional one — without the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. In this episode, we explore the essential role of spiritual disciplines in the life of a father. From kneeling prayer to spending what we call “luxurious wasted time in God’s presence,” we share personal rhythms and honest reflections — not lofty ideals, but grounded, consistent, doable practices that shape who we’re becoming as men and as fathers. We talk candidly about the habits that form us, the spiritual reading that challenges us, and why your kids don’t just need your presence — they need a father who’s being formed. Because in the journey of spiritual formation, there is no neutral ground. As Romans 12:2 reminds us, we are either being conformed to the patterns of this world or being transformed by the renewing of our minds. So choose something rather than nothing. Start small.…

If you’re trying to live as an intentional father, you need to know this: the enemy is after you. Fatherhood is not neutral terrain — it’s a battleground. And too often, that battle drives men into vice, isolation, and quiet resignation. But there’s an antidote: covenant friendship. In this episode, we explore the transformative power of soul-level friendship — the kind that sees all of you, calls out the best in you, and refuses to walk away when things get hard. We share personal stories of how covenant friendship has rescued us in dark moments, sharpened us in seasons of growth, and held us accountable when we wanted to give up. We talk about why deep friendship is not just helpful but necessary — and why it requires courage: the courage to be known, the humility to be challenged, and the commitment to stay. Drawing from scripture and our own stories, we reflect on how covenant friendship is one of God’s most powerful tools for shaping us into the fathers we are called to be. Authentic friendship may be…

Welcome to the Intentional Fatherhood Podcast, hosted by Brook Mosser and Justin Whitmel Earley! In this inaugural episode, we lay the groundwork for the season by introducing the eight core tensions fathers experience as they navigate the many roles of fatherhood. We begin with one of the most painful and universal: the pull toward isolation and the grip of harmful vices. Drawing from our own deeply personal and raw stories, we name what so many men feel but rarely say — that fatherhood can be lonely, disorienting, and filled with private battles. It can involve addiction, anger, a retreat into hiding, and ultimately, fear of who we're becoming. This ache isn’t new — it began in Eden. The moment Adam hid in the garden, we see the first fracture in intimacy between God, man, and others. And like Adam, we still hide when we’re ashamed. But isolation isn’t the end of the story. In this episode, we offer a practical framework for moving out of hiding and into healing — from cultivating covenant friendships to…

Introducing…the Intentional Fatherhood Podcast with Brook Mosser and Justin Whitmel Earley, launching Friday, June 13 with weekly episodes starting Tuesday, June 17. Fatherhood is anything but simple. It lives at the intersection of many roles — husband, disciple of Jesus, provider, embodied soul, and more. And the weight of these responsibilities (and the expectations that come with them) can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re here: to offer a clear biblical framework and practical habits to help you live with clarity, purpose, and intention in every aspect of your calling as a father. As dads of four kids each, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. But we believe God designed fatherhood with meaning, direction, and immense joy. In this podcast, we’ll explore how to embrace that vision — and take real steps toward it in everyday life. Season one is built around eight core tensions we feel in fatherhood. Each episode zooms in on one of those tensions, offering insight, encouragement, and doable…