What would your wife and kids say if someone asked, “Is your dad full of joy?”

In this episode, Jerrad gets honest about why so many dads feel grumpy, short-tempered, and exhausted, and why joy often feels out of reach. Sharing personal stories, biblical truth, and ten practical steps, he unpacks how Christian dads can move from frustration to deep joy rooted in Jesus.

With insight from Psalm 16:11, Galatians 5:22–23, and John 15:10–11, you’ll discover:

• The hidden reasons dads lose joy (unconfessed sin, silent pressures, numbing out)
• Why God actually cares about your joy as a man
• How joy flows from God’s presence, obedience, and salvation
• Practical rhythms to restore joy in your home—like confession, gratitude, play, rest, and community

Whether you’ve been stuck in grumpiness or just long to be a more joy-filled dad, this episode will help you step back into the life God designed for you.

Scriptures Mentioned

• Psalm 16:11
• Galatians 5:22–23
• Psalm 51:12
• James 1:2–4
• John 15:10–11
• Philippians 4:6–7
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
• Ecclesiastes 3:12–13
• Matthew 18:3
• John 16:24
• Mark 10:45
• Matthew 11:28–29
• Hebrews 10:24–25

Resources & Links

• Today’s Sponsors: Dwell Bible App & World Watch
• Invite Jerrad To Speak At Your Church
• Become A Monthly Partner
• Funny Video Jerrad Laughed At
• Scientific Benefits of Gratitude

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vNdWKOY3wmA

What would it look like if every part of your life was lived in the light. No shortcuts, no secrets, no lies?

In this episode, Jerrad challenges men to step into radical honesty, starting with the smallest details. Drawing from his own healing journey, he unpacks why healed men are truth-tellers, how integrity builds confidence, and why it matters to look more like your Heavenly Father—the Father of light—than the father of lies.

With biblical insight from 1 John 1:6–7, Proverbs 10:9, and Luke 16:10, you’ll discover:

• Why even “small” lies keep you stuck
• How walking in the light transforms your confidence and relationships
• Practical steps to start telling the truth in everything
• The role of trusted friends, counselors, and community in your healing

Whether you’re holding onto a hidden struggle or just want to live with more integrity, this episode will help you take your next step toward freedom.

Scriptures Mentioned:

• 1 John 1:6–7
• Proverbs 10:9
• Luke 16:10
• John 8:44
• James 1:17

Resources & Links:

• Today's Sponsor: Hands On Bible
• Invite Jerrad To Speak At Your Church
• Become A Monthly Partner

Watch on YouTube HERE

What if the most powerful discipleship moments with your kids weren’t planned, but hidden in the everyday?

In this heartfelt solo episode, Jerrad Lopes shares the honest struggle of staying connected with your kids; especially as they grow into pre-teens and teens. From the exhausting early days of parenting toddlers to the emotional complexity of raising a 14-year-old, Jerrad opens up about his own wins, failures, and surprising lessons learned.

Through a spontaneous UTV adventure in the Arizona desert, he discovered a truth that changed how he parents: deep connection isn’t built in big, perfectly planned moments, it’s formed in the small, mundane ones. With biblical insight from Deuteronomy and the example of Jesus, Jerrad shows how ordinary life can become the best classroom for pointing your kids to Christ.

This episode is an encouragement to slow down, notice the moments you might be missing, and remember that God uses the everyday to shape both your kids’ hearts and yours.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why parenting often gets harder as your kids grow older
• How to build “relational equity” with your kids in simple, everyday ways
• Why the mundane moments are often the most spiritually impactful
• How Jesus used ordinary life to disciple His followers
• Practical ideas to connect with both younger kids and teens
• How God uses parenting moments to shape your own faith

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Deuteronomy 6:4–7 — Teaching your kids in everyday life
• Matthew 6 & Mark 4 — How Jesus used lilies and storms to teach spiritual truths
• Arizona ATV Adventures
• Book Jerrad to speak: jerradlopes.com
• Grab Dad Tired and Loving It

Today’s Sponsors:

Courage For Life Bible & World Watch News

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/l6cKcqatpt8?si=yIQMZfIQxc-W2pPF

What if your emotions weren’t the enemy—but the invitation to grow into the man God’s calling you to be?

In this powerful solo episode, Chris Hilken explores the complicated relationship men have with their emotions. Most guys tend to fall off one side of the horse: either rejecting their emotions altogether or letting them run the show. But what if there’s a better way?

With biblical insight and real-life examples, Chris makes the case that emotions aren’t something to obey or ignore—they’re something to redeem. He shares a practical framework for navigating emotions like anger, fear, and sadness through a gospel lens, helping men avoid the extremes of emotional numbness or chaos.

This episode is a call for men to stop being passive with their emotions and start learning how to steward them like Jesus did—intentionally, righteously, and powerfully.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why men are more emotional than they realize
• The 3 questions every man should ask when he feels something deeply
• How to know if your emotions are leading you toward Christ—or away from Him
• Why “being true to yourself” is not a biblical idea
• What Jesus, Nehemiah, and Esther teach us about godly emotion
• How to break the pattern of reacting emotionally and start responding spiritually
• Why redeemed emotions can actually strengthen your leadership as a husband and father

Mentioned in This Episode:

• “Emotions are a check engine light, not a GPS” analogy
• Jonathan Edwards on righteous vs. carnal affections
• Mark 11 (Jesus’ righteous anger)
• Genesis 4 (Cain’s destructive jealousy)
• Nehemiah 1 and Matthew 27 (sadness that rebuilds vs. sadness that destroys)
• Esther 4 and Luke 22 (courage vs. fear)
• Book Jerrad to speak: jerradlopes.com
• Grab Dad Tired and Loving It: Amazon Link

Today's Sponsor: Classical Conversations

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7qy-dTUtTA4

Most men have learned how to clean up well.
We look calm. Composed. Put together.
We show up to church, crack a few jokes, keep the peace; and no one would know what’s actually happening in our hearts.

But Jesus isn’t fooled by appearance. He sees straight through the polish and into the pain.

In today’s episode, Kaleb unpacks what it means to “clean the inside of the cup.”
He shares a raw story about how God confronted him in the middle of the night, while he was busy rehearsing a bitter argument in his head, and revealed just how much unhealed junk was still living in his heart.

This isn’t about behavior management. It’s about soul work.
Because your wife doesn’t need a perfect version of you. Your kids don’t need a dad who looks impressive.
They need a man who is whole on the inside.

In this episode:

• The hidden difference between external discipline and internal health
• How to know if you’re just “managing the outside”
• The biblical call to clean the inside of your cup
• What makes a man useful to God
• Why your family needs a healed version of you—not a polished one

"Woe to you… You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. First clean the inside of the cup…”
— Matthew 23:25–26

Resources:

• Bring A Conference To Your Church: https://www.dadtired.com/conferences
• Support the mission: https://www.dadtired.com/donate
• Today's Sponsor: Hands On Kids Bible by Tyndale

Go deeper:

If this episode hit you—share it with a friend or take 30 seconds to leave a review. It helps us reach more men who are ready to do the hard work of becoming whole.

Lectric Xpedition Bike: Watch Here

What if the pain you’ve buried is the very thing blocking you from becoming the man God created you to be?

In this raw and emotional episode, Jerrad sits down with Dr. Brad Johnson—also known as BJ Communicates—to talk about grief, father wounds, and how trauma shapes us more than we realize. BJ shares the heartbreaking story of holding his newborn son as he took his last breath, walking through the fog of loss in his marriage, and later grieving the death of his own father before reconciliation could happen.

Together, they unpack how fatherlessness, unprocessed emotions, and generational pain keep men stuck—and why ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. They talk about how grief shows up in unexpected ways (like road rage and burnout), why most men lack true friendships, and how healing begins with honest conversations.

This episode is an invitation to stop carrying what God has called you to cast—and to believe that the best version of you is on the other side of your pain.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why men are emotional—even when they say they’re not
• How father wounds affect your identity
• The power of grief and what it reveals
• What it means to carry trauma in your body
• How to connect with your wife through emotional check-ins
• Why men struggle to form deep friendships
• How generational patterns repeat if we don’t interrupt them
• Why healing is spiritual—and why it matters for your family

Mentioned in This Episode:

• BJ Communicates’ books: Hard Conversations series
• Support group for grieving dads: Sad Dad
• “Feelings Wheel” for emotional check-ins
• Book Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
• Grab Dad Tired and Loving It: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB

Watch this interview on Youtube: https://youtu.be/4c_qHfeSGAE

What if the lie you're believing is the very thing keeping you from peace?

In this powerful and convicting episode, Jerrad sits down with bestselling author Gary Thomas to dismantle one of the most common, but rarely admitted lies Christian men believe: God owes me. Together, they talk about the quiet entitlement that sneaks into our faith, why peace feels so elusive, and how the Gospel offers something far deeper than comfort or success.

Jerrad and Gary explore how social media fuels discontent, how unspoken expectations erode intimacy with God, and why healing begins when we face our sin instead of hiding it. They share personal stories, biblical truth, and hard-won wisdom for men who want more than just behavior change, they want transformation.

This episode is a much-needed reminder: God’s not holding out on you. He’s already given you more than you deserve.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why entitlement might be the root of your spiritual frustration
• How believing a lie can sabotage your faith
• The difference between comfort and peace
• What Gary learned through suffering, silence, and surrender
• Why social media subtly kills gratitude
• How to be a man of peace in a world full of chaos
• Why facing your sin leads to deeper joy
• How the Gospel frees you—from your past, for your future

Mentioned in This Episode:
Gary Thomas’ new book: The Life You Were Reborn to Live
Gary’s website: https://www.garythomas.com
Book Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
Grab Dad Tired and Loving It: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB
Watch and subscribe on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4c_qHfeSGAE

Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ihMjsKPxdA8

What if your greatest strength… is also the thing that wears you out the most?

In this honest and inspiring conversation, Jerrad sits down with Michael Seifert—founder of PublicSq. and EveryLife—to talk about identity, pressure, purpose, and the hidden cost of success. Though Michael leads some of the most mission-driven companies in America, he opens up about the soul battles behind his ambition—and why Sabbath rest might be his greatest act of obedience.

They talk about legacy, fatherhood, and how a rebellious teenager found Jesus at a ranch in Northern California. Michael shares how a single week transformed his relationship with his dad, the real reason behind his inner drive, and the moment he realized that working for the praises of man would eventually break him.

This episode is a reminder that God doesn’t just care about what you build—but who you're becoming while you build it.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why your identity can’t come from what you accomplish
• The four roles a dad plays (caretaker, cop, coach, consultant)
• How pressure to succeed impacts father-son relationships
• What Michael learned about humility from his dad
• The beauty of building with God—and learning to rest
• How to lead your family while healing from your own wounds
• Why starting a values-driven business invites both criticism and purpose

Mentioned in This Episode:

• J.H. Ranch: https://jhranch.com
• PublicSq: https://publicsq.com
• EveryLife Diapers: https://everylife.com
• Today's Sponsor: dwellbible.com/dadtired
• Michael's South Korea launch at Yoido Full Gospel Church
• Jerrad’s mantra: “Strong families begin with healed men”

🔗 Resources:

• Book Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
• Grab Dad Tired and Loving It: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB
• Watch and subscribe on YouTube