Good Dads Podcast

Good Dads inspires, resources and encourages ALL dads to be more involved in the lives of their children. When a community encourages responsible fatherhood, everyone wins.
Find out more about Good Dads at our website: https://www.gooddads.com/
Get involved by finding the right program for you: https://gooddads.com/programs/
Donate to support the Good Dads mission! https://gooddads.com/donate/
What can coaching kids teach us about being better dads? In this episode, we're thrilled to speak with father of four Dr. Jon Spence about the ways dads can take what works on the field or court— like building trust, setting expectations, helping kids with confidence — and bring it into everyday life at home.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:45 Meet Dr. Jon Spence
03:00 Coaching Kids: What It Teaches
08:00 Building Trust and Leadership
14:00 Lessons for Dads
20:00 Final Thoughts
Subscribe for more conversations on fatherhood, parenting, and building strong families.
Keep in touch with Good Dads!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodDadsonline
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gooddadssgf/
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/good-dads
Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter: https://www.gooddads.com/newsletter

Why do people choose to invest their time in helping dads succeed? In the newest episode of the Good Dads Podcast, host J Fotsch sits down with two experienced Good Dads facilitators who are making a lasting impact on fathers and families:
Please join us in welcoming two highly skilled long-time facilitators: Janice Reynolds, a Good Dads master facilitator and retired teacher; and Dr. Benjy Lampert, a retired anesthesiologist who also serves on the executive board for Good Dads.
Together, Janice and Benjy share why they are passionate about guiding and supporting fathers who are working through the challenges of parenting, relationships, recovery and personal growth.
Facilitators lead Good Dads classes, but beyond that, they create a space where fathers can grow, and become more intentional in their role.
Benjy and Janice bring decades of experience in caring for people, teaching, and mentoring—and now they're using that experience to help dads:
✔ Navigate the pressures of fatherhood
✔ Strengthen relationships with their children
✔ Grow in confidence and leadership
✔ Build healthier family dynamics
Their stories show that when someone steps in to guide and support a dad, the impact can last for generations. When you think about it, our facilitators aren't just changing the lives of fathers and father-figures. They are also creating a ripple-effect that's visible throughout a family, and indeed, the whole community!
💡 KEY CONCEPTS AND IDEAS IN THIS EPISODE
🔵 Why facilitation plays a key role in fatherhood programs
🔵 What motivates people to support responsible fatherhood
🔵 The real challenges fathers face—and how support from a facilitator changes outcomes
🔵 How mentorship and guidance can transform families
🔵 Why investing in dads strengthens entire communities
This episode is for:
🟡 Dads looking for guidance and support
🟡 Mentors, coaches, and community leaders
🟡 People interested in family and parenting programs
🟡 Anyone passionate about building stronger families
ABOUT GOOD DADS
Good Dads is a nonprofit organization dedicated to "helping kids and communities one dad at a time." We do this through a variety of resources, programs and events built for ANY dad or father-figure. We rely on skilled facilitators like Janice and Benjy to help us lead classes for fathers.
00:00 Introduction
03:04 What Do you Teach
06:42 Dr. Benjy Lampert
09:10 Breaking Cycles
12:18 Sponsors of Good Dads 
12:56 Couples Support
15:46 Helping See Signs of Stress 
19:43 For All Dads
22:55 Positive Perspective
24:27 How to Get Involved

We're back! After a hiatus, the Good Dads Podcast returns with a reinvigorated focus on equipping dads with the tools they need to grow, lead, and succeed at home. In our first returning episode, Good Dads sits down with two new staff members to share our excitement about an all-new program that's changing the face of responsible fatherhood efforts in Missouri. We hope you'll join us for this fun and insightful conversation!
We're happy to introduce two key leaders making a real impact in the fatherhood space: Scott Lewis – Project Manager for the FORGE Program; and Ryan Glidwell – Regional Coordinator for the Kansas City area.
Together, they're working to support dads who are navigating the real challenges of fatherhood—including stress, responsibility, relationships, and personal growth.
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE 
Fatherhood can be overwhelming. Many dads feel like they have to figure it out alone—but that's not the case.
The Good Dads Forge program was created specifically for fathers who want to:
✔ Learn how to handle the pressures of being a dad
✔ Build stronger relationships with their kids
✔ Develop confidence and leadership at home
✔ Connect with other dads going through similar challenges
And with this new grant, Good Dads is able to serve couples for the first time. Introducing Good Dads +Us, our new program designed to help partners navigate parenting together. We know that strong families start with strong partnerships, and we recognize the crucial role partners play in the family unit.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Why so many dads struggle silently—and how to change that
How the Forge Program resources fathers with what they need to succeed
The importance of support systems for men and fathers
How the +Us program strengthens relationships between partners
Why investing in fatherhood creates stronger families and communities
WHO THIS VIDEO IS FOR
This episode is for:
Dads who feel overwhelmed or unsure
New fathers looking for guidance
Couples navigating parenting challenges
Men who want to become better leaders at home
Anyone interested in building stronger families
🙌 ABOUT GOOD DADS
Good Dads is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping fathers be more engaged, more present, and more effective in their families. Our slogan is "helping kids and communities one dad at a time." 
🔗 CONNECT WITH GOOD DADS
🌐 Website: https://gooddads.com
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodDadsonline
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gooddadssgf/
👉 Subscribe for more real conversations about fatherhood, parenting, and building stronger families.
00:00 Introduction
01:28 Meet Scott Lewis (Program Manager)
04:28 Meet Ryan Glidwell (Regional Development in Kansas City and Northwest MO)
07:18 What is the Forge program?
9:00 Introducing +Us (Couples Program)

In this episode of The Difference a Dad Makes, hosts J. Fotsch and Brian Mattson welcome elementary PE teacher and dad, Myles Wilson, for a fun and practical discussion about helping kids develop healthy habits for school success. From the importance of routines and physical activity to managing screen time, Myles shares how movement, emotional regulation, and positive social skills set the stage for better learning.
Drawing from his experience as both a teacher and parent, Myles emphasizes that kids thrive when they have consistent routines, opportunities to move, and encouragement to see activity as enjoyable. He explains how modern PE focuses less on competition and more on fostering cooperation, confidence, and lifelong healthy habits—both in the gym and at home.

Episode Highlights
[03:27] "If I'm teaching them to get along with other people and then like moving… I did a good job."
[05:40] "If your body is doing what it's supposed to be doing, it helps your mind… it all works together."
[08:10] "All of school is a routine… the quicker that you can get into the routine, the better."
[12:31] "Most kids don't really like competitive games where there's a winner… they just want to play with their friends."
[19:28] "We are routine people. I think we turned him into a routine person."
[30:22] "Your body is meant to move. Your body is not meant to sit."

Resources
📩 Sign up for the Good Dads Newsletter and never miss a podcast!
🌐 Learn more at gooddads.com
📧 Questions or comments? Reach out to Good Dads at [email protected]

In this episode of Good Dads Great Communities, J. Fotsch and Director of Communications Diana Dudenhoeffer sit down with Strong Schools Captains Joshua Rowlett and Ben Buschjost to hear firsthand how intentional father involvement is transforming schools, families, and communities. From the library to the manufacturing floor, Joshua and Ben share how dads—and other male role models—are stepping up through the Good Dads Strong Schools program to build stronger connections with their children.
Through simple activities like pipe cleaner monsters and water bottle flips, these fathers are creating moments that spark pride, improve behavior, and ripple far beyond the classroom. The episode emphasizes how low-cost, low-stress events can have a high impact when schools invite fathers to show up with presence and purpose. Whether you're a dad, grandfather, uncle, or caring male figure, Strong Schools offers a meaningful way to make a difference—one handshake, one breakfast, one memory at a time.

Episode Highlights
[03:42] "The hardest part was just standing in front of a room of people. But the Good Dads Strong Schools program makes it really easy."
[05:52] "The dads in the communities I've served are really waiting to be asked to be involved."
[09:07] "It gives me an outlet to connect with my daughter. We get to do something fun together—and I get to know her school and her friends."
[12:10] "One father told me his employer asked for the full list of Good Dads events so they could make sure he didn't miss any."
[17:53] "It's just being present in the present moment. That's all that matters."
[28:00] "He wasn't confident, his kids had behavior issues, and now? He was Good Dad of the Year."

Resources
📩 Sign up for the Good Dads Newsletter and never miss a podcast!
🌐 Learn more about Good Dads Great Communities!
📧 Questions or comments? Reach out to Good Dads at [email protected].