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What if the fastest way to connect with your child wasn’t advice, but better questions? Casey Jacox sits down with Shelby Stephens—dad of three, AI founder of Snacker, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelbystephens/]and lifelong learner—to explore how curiosity, calibrated vulnerability, and learner-led education can transform family life. From swapping “How was school?” for targeted T.E.D. questions to telling honest stories that don’t overburden kids, we map out a practical toolkit any parent can adopt.

Shelby opens up about choosing Acton Academy for his daughters, a model that replaces grades and homework with mastery badges, adaptive learning apps, and a studio contract kids write and sign. The outcome is powerful: children set their own goals, self-assess progress, and learn to hold themselves accountable. We talk through a pivotal moment—his daughter giving herself Xs on missed goals—and what it reveals about discipline, ownership, and intrinsic motivation. We also dig into EQ: why collaboration, boundary-setting, and healthy tech use might matter more than memorizing facts in a world rapidly reshaped by AI.

Beyond school, we lean into the inner game of parenting. Shelby shares small, durable habits—meditation, gratitude, micro-commitments—that improve presence and lower reactivity. We round out with Snacker.ai’s mission to remove friction from sharing knowledge on video, and a nod to Shelby’s music as another outlet for creative expression.

If you’re curious about raising self-directed kids, making vulnerability safe, and becoming a more present parent, this conversation delivers clear steps you can try today.   You also can follow Shelby's music on Spotify here! [https://open.spotify.com/album/1jgiObLfcVHr14l6Ud85c9]

Listen, share with a friend, and tell us: what question gets your child to truly open up? Subscribe, leave a review, and join us for more conversations that help us lead at home.

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From AI Founder To Present Father: Shelby Stephens On Building Intrinsic Motivation And Real Connection

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The most honest leadership lessons rarely come from a boardroom—they happen in the kitchen, the carpool line, and the sideline before a fourth-grade basketball tryout. Casey sits down with Andy Hutsell to explore how a dad builds a resilient home through faith, kindness, and unapologetic intentionality. 

From the joyful chaos of an open-concept house to the quiet courage required to navigate KBG syndrome, Andy shares the hard-won habits that keep his family connected: pause before you preach, celebrate effort as much as outcomes, and repair quickly when you get it wrong.

We trace Andy’s journey from failing out of college to rebuilding his identity with grit on a Texas farm, then channeling that growth into a meaningful career in staffing and leadership at Randstad Digital. He explains why permanent placement is about more than a paycheck—how career matching, culture fit, and long-term stability can transform people’s lives. Along the way, we talk about the power of apology, catching survival mode before it hijacks your evenings, and why consistent presence beats perfect plans.

You’ll hear practical insights on parenting through rare medical uncertainty, modeling real faith without performance, and raising kids who default to kindness even when life gets loud. It’s a conversation for anyone who wants to lead at home with more grace and less guilt, and to carry that same clarity into work. If you’re craving a playbook built on humility, humor, and hope, you’ll find it here.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a rating or review so more dads can find us. Your support helps grow this community of leaders at home and at work.

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Fatherhood Playbook, Pressure And Grace - Andy Hutsell

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What if the best ability as a dad is availability—and the fastest way to build it is with a circle of men who meet you at 5:30 a.m., rain or shine? Today, Casey Jacox sits down with sales leader and father of four, Matt Brownlee, for a conversation that blends vulnerability, practical habits, and a whole lot of heart. We talk about guiding kids through injury and adversity, why gratitude can be a competitive advantage, and how a free, peer-led group like F3 can change your mornings and your mindset.

Matt brings candid stories from a home where lights get left on, shoes pile up, and love wins anyway. He shares the values he learned from his teacher mom and service-driven dad: be present, finish what you start, and write more by hand. Those simple habits show up everywhere—from apology notes to kids that mend fences, to thank-you letters that unexpectedly close deals months later. We get honest about patience, the power of saying “I’m sorry,” and how to turn the tense car ride home into a coaching moment that sticks.

Youth sports pressure is real, so we tackle the specialization question with clarity and nuance. The answer isn’t a one-size-fits-all plan; it’s listening. Let kids chase what lights them up, protect recovery, and measure success by effort, attitude, and how they treat people. Along the way, Casey and Matt compare notes on building belief—at home, on the course, and in business. Matt’s leap from a 15-year corporate career to founding MPH, a sales leadership and coaching firm, reminds us that “go for it” can be a quiet, steady practice: build playbooks, reinforce skills, write the note, show up tomorrow.

If you’re craving a conversation that leaves you with concrete tools and renewed resolve—say thank you, apologize quickly, find your crew, and keep going—press play. Then tell us: what habit will you practice this week to lead your family better? Subscribe, share with a dad who needs it, and leave a review to help more parents find the show.

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Strong Fathers, Stronger Communities - Matt Brownlee

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The pace of family life can turn even the best intentions into frayed nerves and short fuses. We sat down with Dr. Kate Lund—psychologist, author, TEDx speaker, and host of the Resilient Parenting Podcast—to unpack a practical path back to calm leadership at home. Her core idea is refreshingly doable: step away to step in. By carving out a few minutes to regulate stress and reflect, we show up steadier, more patient, and more connected with our kids.

Dr. Lund opens up about her family, including supporting one twin’s choice to attend a boarding school that fits his learning style and rowing goals while his brother thrives locally. The message: there’s no single right path. When we stop comparing and start scouting for the right environment, kids gain confidence and momentum. She also shares her own story of childhood hydrocephalus, the role of her parents in focusing on possibility, and how those lessons shaped her clinical work with families navigating anxiety, burnout, and big transitions.

We dig into two small habits with outsized impact. First, the relaxation response: a five-minute breathing practice, morning and night, anchored by a calming word. It lowers your baseline stress so difficult moments don’t spiral. Second, the daily wins exercise: three to five things that went well each day to retrain your attention toward progress. One dad’s journey from burnout to renewed joy in sport and family connection shows how tiny, repeatable steps rebuild identity and trust. Along the way we talk patience, gratitude rituals, journaling you’ll actually use, and the power of two words to reset the room: breathe and think.

If you’re balancing career, parenting, and the invisible load, this conversation offers tools you can use tonight. Grab Dr. Lund’s book Step Away: Keys to Resilient Parenting, subscribe to the Resilient Parenting Podcast, and share this episode with a friend who could use a calmer game plan. If it resonated, leave a review and tell us: what’s one daily win you’ll write down today?

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Resilient Parenting For Dads - Author, Dr. Kate Lund

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What does it take to lead at home when your day job means leading a locker room under stadium lights? We sit down with Coach, Mike Holmgren—legendary coach of the Packers, 49ers, and Seahawks—to talk about love, honesty, and what it really means to leave work at the door. From meeting his wife at 12 to raising four daughters and now cheering for nine grandkids, Coach Holmgren opens up about rhythms that kept his family grounded through late nights, missed holidays, and cross-country flights.

Coach shares vivid stories: walking through Lambeau’s tailgates, learning to respect a whole state’s passion without letting it rule the household, and choosing faith over a city tennis final as a teenager. He breaks down the “coach-to-dad” switch with simple practices—family dinners, a five-minute huddle with his wife before the kids pile in, and a commitment to listen without turning feedback into pressure. We dig into youth sports, the infamous car ride home, and a better script: “I love watching you play.” Along the way, we revisit the sting of injuries and the quiet courage of getting back up when dreams bend, not break.

If you’re a parent trying to juggle ambition and presence, this conversation gives you a clear playbook: lead with love, tell the truth, ask better questions, and let your kids choose their passions. 

We also highlight causes close to Coach Holmgren's heart—the Salvation Army’s community work and Circlewood’s blend of faith and care for the land on Camano Island. Enjoy the stories, steal the habits, and pass them forward. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more families find tools that work.

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NFL Legendary Coach Mike Holmgren On Fatherhood, Faith, And Football

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What if the best tools for leading a team could reshape how you lead at home? That question threads through a fast, heartfelt conversation with performance advisor Justin Su'a, where we swap highlight reels for real-life reps: nightly reflection, fearless feedback, and decision-making under uncertainty. Justin brings the richness of his Polynesian roots—storytelling, respect, faith—and pairs it with the rigor he’s applied across MLB clubhouses, NFL camps, and elite academies.

We dig into practical ways to raise confident, grounded kids without turning your house into a scoreboard. You’ll hear how his family uses “fear reps” to make public speaking and performing feel normal, how celebrating failure on purpose strips away shame, and why the nightly questions (best part of today, what you learned, what you’ll do better tomorrow) change the tone of a household. We break down probabilistic thinking for families—estimating odds, running premortems, and separating process from outcomes—so your kids can navigate auditions, tests, and tryouts with calm, not panic.

Respect and discipline stay at the center. Justin’s parents treated everyone the same, and that humility shows up in his own home: eulogy qualities over resume lines, service before status, and empathy for the person who feels like the “only one” in the room. We also challenge the myth that one path fits all. College can be great, but curiosity, craft, and consistent systems matter more than credentials when you’re building a meaningful life. If you want a family playbook that blends love and structure, faith and feedback, this conversation delivers tools you can use tonight.

Subscribe for more candid, practical conversations on leadership at home. If this resonated, share it with a parent who values character as much as achievement, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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From Pro Sports To Parenting: Building Values, Grit, And Systems - Justin Su'a

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Thank you, Sabina Nawaz, for helping me find today's guest to finish up Season 6 on the Quarterback DadCast!

So, what if the best leadership training happens at your dinner table? We sit down with Dane Groeneveld—dad of four, CEO of LEAD3R, and host of The Future of Teamwork—to explore how raising kids, facing anxiety head‑on, and choosing curiosity over control can transform both families and companies. From eight schools across Australian mining towns to a newborn and teens under one roof, Dane shares the practices that keep his home grounded and his teams energized.

We dig into the messy middle: choosing therapy when a high‑achieving teen hits an anxious wall, stepping away from rugby to protect mental health, and having brave conversations about consent and sex without panic or shame. You’ll hear why the “car ride home” is the most dangerous coaching moment, how IFS “parts” language reduces shame and opens learning, and why stoic patience beats heat‑of‑the‑moment reactions. Expect tangible tools: the “I love watching you play” reset, TED questions that unlock specifics, and permission‑based coaching that turns advice into collaboration.

On the work front, Dane goes on offense against the myth of high performance at all costs. He lays out a model for healthy teams that still deliver results but no longer leave human wreckage behind. The three values guiding both his home and company—be human‑centered, be pioneering, and share in success—show up in simple, repeatable moves: assume positive intent, learn by building, and spread the win. We also trade stories about body language meltdowns on the golf course, 2 a.m. puppy chaos, and the quiet power of leaders who remove fear and instill confidence.

If you’re a parent, coach, or manager who wants stronger relationships and better outcomes without the burnout, this conversation is your playbook. Listen, share with a friend who needs a reframe on performance and parenting, and leave a quick review so more dads and leaders can find the show.

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From Rugby Practice To Boardrooms: How A Dad Builds Confidence Without Fear - Dane Groeneveld

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Thank you, Chad Murphy, for making this week's episode possible!

A bullied kid named Blue walked into a dojo and found a lifetime blueprint for leadership at home and at work. That mentor didn’t just teach kicks—he taught trust, focus, and a community model that turns students into teachers. In this conversation, we go deep on how those early lessons shape the way we parent, listen, and show up for the people we lead.

Blue Stiley is a professional keynote speaker, podcast host, and author who has spent decades uncovering and cultivating potential in himself and others. He discovered his passion for mentoring and entrepreneurship at just 13 while teaching martial arts, and over the past 30 years, he has carried that gift forward to inspire leaders, teams, and communities.

We talk about “currency,” the motivations that really move someone, and how a single, well-aimed sentence from a trusted mentor can redirect a teenager more effectively than a hundred lectures. Blue shares a raw look at learning from two fathers: the sensei who modeled presence and the biological dad who modeled what to avoid. That “two-teacher lens” fuels his philosophy as a model, actor, strength coach to Olympians, and now keynote speaker: earn trust, make genuine connections, and build a community where people feel heard, seen, and valued.

You’ll hear practical mindset tools too. Leave problems at the door to train your focus. Put the phone down because a kid’s request is a 10-minute window, not an hour. Let the egg break—experiments teach faster than warnings. Teach self-defense literacy without pressure by emphasizing hips-first power and clean fundamentals. And don’t miss the baseball cards hustle: a cafeteria side deal turned into licensed tables at card shows, powered by a mom who drove the miles and believed. That story paid for college and cemented a simple definition of success—pickups after school, family dinners, and presence that compounds.

If you’re a parent, coach, or leader, this one will sharpen your approach. Listen, learn someone’s currency, and build a community around them. If it resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what lesson are you taking into your home this week?

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From Dojo Lessons To Dad Wisdom With Blue Stiley

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Thank you, Zack Ticer, for making today's episode possible!

What if the fastest way to lead your home better isn’t another productivity hack, but the courage to slow down, feel uncomfortable, and ask for help? We sit with performance coach and Scratch Golfers Mindset host, Paul Salter, to unpack how a former perfectionist and firstborn “golden child” rewired his beliefs to become a more patient, present dad while co‑parenting his one‑year‑old son.

Paul takes us inside the real tradeoffs: surrendering control, choosing kindness over being “nice,” and learning to apologize well. He shares the simple, powerful rituals that build identity and safety at home—daily affirmations, a handwritten letter for each birthday, and modeling ownership when he misses the mark. We dig into hypnosis as a practical mindset tool, not a party trick: accessing the subconscious to unlearn scarcity, detach self‑worth from results, and install habits that support presence. The same patterns that show up on the golf course—fear of judgment, score obsession, tension under pressure—mirror how we show up at work and with our kids. Paul shows how to translate a calm pre‑shot routine into a pre‑meeting breath and how belief, not bravado, drives consistency on and off the course.

Along the way, we explore repairing sibling relationships, redefining masculinity through emotional availability, and navigating co‑parenting disagreements with patience and respect. You’ll leave with three anchors for home leadership: give your child a better emotional experience than you had, demonstrate kindness with firm boundaries, and treat your child as a teacher who reveals where you still grip too tight. If you’ve ever felt pulled between crushing goals and being fully present at the dinner table, this conversation offers a clear, compassionate path forward.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more parents lead with presence and courage.

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How Hypnosis, Surrender, And Vulnerability Turn A High Performer Into A Better Dad

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What if the most important leadership job you’ll ever hold doesn’t come with a test or a title? We sit down with Derek Belch—former Stanford kicker, startup founder, and dad of three—to unpack what real presence looks like, how values take root, and why failing publicly can be a gift to your kids.

Derek grew up with parents who made time their superpower. That “time-rich” model frames how he and his wife run the Belch huddle today: clear rules that point to deeper principles, kindness on repeat, and respect for your body and your limits. He shares the tough-love moment that transformed his baseball path at 13, the night he missed four field goals against Notre Dame and chose to show the tape to his kids, and the day he walked off a US AM Golf qualifier mid-shanks—then owned it at home. The throughline is radical accountability: you can’t control the bad round, but you can control your response, your repair, and your next rep.

We also trace the unlikely origin of STRIVR, Derek’s VR training company, born from a Stanford coaching thesis to help quarterbacks process faster. With a nudge from David Shaw, he turned a prototype into a platform used by major enterprises to build skills through immersive learning. Along the way, Derek explains why golf’s meritocracy resonates so deeply: the scorecard doesn’t care about your résumé, only your work. That mindset fuels his audacious goal to hopefully qualify for a PGA Tour event while leading a startup and coaching four youth teams.

If you’re a parent, coach, or leader who wants practical ways to model humility, set culture-shaping rules, and turn failure into momentum, this conversation will sharpen your playbook. Hit follow, share this with a friend who needs the reminder, and leave a quick review with your favorite takeaway—we read every one.

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From Stanford Kicker To Startup CEO - Devoted Father - Derek Belch

I’m Casey Jacox….the host of the Quarterback Dadcast.   I want to take a minute to tell you why I started this podcast.  I did it so that I can be a better father myself.  I did it because I wanted to learn from dads, just like you.  Together, we will explore how you were raised.  and discuss what your current family life looks like?   Additionally, we will find out what did you learn from your parents?  What did you not learn from your parents?  How did your parents help you?    With all of that information, how are you using all of that experience to become that ultimate leader or Quarterback of your household? You will laugh.  You might even cry.   You will learn.  And I will guarantee that in each episode, you will walk away with actionable tasks that you can apply to your life right now to become that ultimate Quarterback and leader of your household.  Together, we will learn from the successes and failures of dads who do their best daily.  So, sit back, relax and subscribe to receive each episode weekly on The Quarterback Dadcast.

The Quarterback DadCast

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Each episode, we learn from a dad working hard to become the ultimate leader or QB of his household!  Listen now, and let's grow together!

Casey Jacox

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