Dad Tired

Host a Dad Tired Conference at Your Church Some days don’t fall apart because of one big thing.They fall apart because of a hundred small ones.The gas light comes on.The kids spill something.The ice cream cone hits the floor.Nothing catastrophic happens… and yet everything feels heavy.In this episode of Dad Tired Daily, we talk about what psychologists call negativity bias—the way our brains are wired to fixate on what’s going wrong instead of what’s going right. It’s not because you’re ungrateful or negative. It’s because your brain is trained to look for threats.But here’s the good news: what you pay attention to, your brain prioritizes.Scripture tells us, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and “Forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2). Gratitude isn’t about pretending things are great. It’s about retraining your soul to remember what’s good—even on hard days.Today’s Practice:Before your day gets rolling, list three things you’re thankful for.They don’t have to be profound. Just real.Gratitude rewires your brain.It lowers stress.It restores perspective.And it helps you show up a little more healed for the people you love.Strong families begin with healed men.

Today's Sponsor: ToyBox 3D Printers In today’s episode, we talk about wine, anesthesia, and the quiet ways men numb pain instead of feeling it.As Jesus was led to the cross, He was offered wine to dull the pain. He refused it. Not because the pain didn’t matter — but because He chose to fully feel the weight He was carrying.Many men don’t explode emotionally.They disappear.Instead of anger, they feel numb.Instead of emotion, they feel distance.Instead of presence, they reach for distraction.Scrolling.Drinking.Porn.Overworking.Anything that keeps the feelings at bay.In this episode, we explore what it looks like to stop numbing and start feeling again — not all at once, not perfectly, but honestly. Because when you begin to feel, you begin to heal. And healed men become present men.In This Episode:Why emotional numbness is just as serious as emotional blowupsThe overlooked moment when Jesus refused wine on the way to the crossHow men practice “avoidant coping” without realizing itThe cost of numbing out on marriage, fatherhood, and presenceA simple one-minute practice to begin feeling againToday’s One-Minute Practice:Instead of asking, “What am I feeling?”Ask this:“What am I avoiding feeling today?”Sit with it.Name it.Don’t numb it.You don’t need to fix everything.You just need to stay present.Strong families begin with healed men.

Today's Sponsor: ToyBox 3D Printers Have you ever said, “I don’t know what happened — I just snapped”?In today’s episode of Dad Tired Daily, Jerrad explores why men don’t actually go from calm to out of control in an instant — even though it feels that way. Using a simple (and memorable) analogy about teleportation and flying cars, this episode explains how stress builds gradually in the nervous system long before a blowup ever happens.This episode is about learning to notice the early warning signs — the off-ramps — so you can tend your inner world before frustration spills onto the people you love most.This is daily inner hygiene — small, practical awareness that helps men lead with steadiness instead of reaction.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy the nervous system doesn’t jump from “zero to 100”How stress and anger actually escalate in stagesThe physical and emotional warning signs most men missWhy reactions often feel sudden — even when they aren’tHow Scripture calls men to tend and guard their inner worldOne simple daily practice to reduce reactivity at home and workScripture ReferencedProverbs 4:23 (ESV)“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”Today’s Inner Hygiene PracticeBefore transitioning from one part of your day to another —car → workwork → meetingdriveway → homePause for one minute and ask yourself:“What am I feeling right now?”Name it without fixing it:tiredirritatedoverwhelmedanxioushungrytenseResearch shows that simply naming an emotion helps reduce its intensity and brings clarity back online. This small act of awareness can prevent bigger reactions later.Research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17576282/

Today's Sponsor: ToyBox 3D PrintersWelcome to the very first episode of Dad Tired Daily — a short, intentional daily reset designed to help men tend their inner world so they can show up more healed for their families, work, and communities.In this episode, Jerrad introduces the heart behind Dad Tired Daily and explores an often-overlooked reality: while much attention has (rightly) been given to a mother’s mental load, many fathers are quietly carrying deep emotional strain with little language or support.Drawing from recent research, real-world stories, and Scripture, this episode invites dads to stop carrying heavy things alone — and to begin practicing simple inner hygiene, daily care for the soul.What You’ll Hear in This EpisodeWhy fathers often carry mental and emotional strain in silenceThe cultural stigma that keeps men from talking about mental healthA real story illustrating the hidden cost of untreated distress in menWhy Scripture invites us to bring what’s hidden into the lightResearch showing how a father’s mental health impacts his childrenOne small, practical step you can take today to show up more healedScripture ReferencedHebrews 4:12–13 (ESV)“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword… and no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”Today’s Inner Hygiene PracticeAsk yourself:What is one thing I’m carrying today that I haven’t told anyone about?Reach out to one trusted friend and say something simple like:“I’m not looking for advice — I just need to say this out loud.”Bringing something into the light often reduces its power — and reminds us we’re not meant to carry things alone.Why This MattersResearch increasingly shows that a father’s mental and emotional health has a direct impact on his children — even before birth. Unaddressed stress, depression, or emotional dysregulation in fathers is associated with challenges in children’s emotional regulation, social skills, cognitive development, and overall well-being.Strong families don’t begin with perfect dads — they begin with healed men willing to tend their inner world.Referenced Research & ReportingJAMA Pediatrics (2024) — Meta-analysis of 84 studies showing associations between paternal mental distress around pregnancy/postpartum and poorer social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development in children.Hutchinson et al., Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics.Pacific Clinics — Reporting on paternal mental health, noting that nearly half of men experiencing mental health challenges never speak to anyone about it, and highlighting higher suicide rates among men.The 74 Million — Coverage on how paternal stress and mental health influence child development and family systems.News reporting on professional athletes and paternal suicide — Illustrating how many men struggle silently, even those closest to us never knew they were in pain.

Confession can bring healing—or devastation—depending on how it’s done.In this episode, I speak directly to men who are carrying secrets in their marriage and feel torn between honesty and fear. If you’ve ever thought, “If she really knew me, everything might fall apart,” this conversation is for you.Drawing from Scripture, lived experience, and walking alongside other men on the healing path, I explain why secrets rob us of intimacy, joy, and peace—and why impulsive confession can actually cause more harm than healing.This isn’t about dumping your shame on your spouse.It’s about learning how to confess wisely, lovingly, and with a plan.I also speak directly to wives who may be listening, offering perspective, compassion, and clarity in the midst of fear and uncertainty.This is a heavy episode—but it’s also an invitation to freedom, wholeness, and a deeper experience of the gospel in your marriage.Today's Sponsors:TheOneYearBible & Cozy Earth