This is the All Pro Dad podcast, where in each episode dads of all ages dive into just one question. Today, we ask, “Why should I get good at empathy?”Empathy seems to be lacking in our world. In his song, The News, popular performer Jack Johnson sings, “Why don't the newscasters cry when they read about people who die? At least they could be decent enough to put just a tear in their eyes.” In today’s episode, Bobby Lewis and Ted Lowe discuss why “empathy is the way” in our relationships, esp...

We make mistakes all the time as parents. It never feels good, especially when feels have been hurt! We can beat ourselves up as dads worrying if we are messing up our kids, even if our intentions are pure. Sometimes, we mess up without even realizing it. How does that impact our children? Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, and Jason Hood share some of their failings as dads and ways to avoid them in this episode. We want men to avoid becoming someone who, through his words and actions, contin...

Can you ride a unicycle? For how long? Sure, some guys can but most of us need a little extra support to keep from crashing. The same goes for parenting. You can try to ride it out solo, hoping for the best, but having supportive people in your life to lift you up when things get shaky is a great idea as a dad. Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, and Reggie Lewis talk about how to be a great dad and why all fathers shouldn’t try to handle the task of raising kids on their own. Society tells men to be...

Deciding between addressing kids’ mistakes in the moment or waiting for a better time in the future is a delicate balance. Figuring out when to discipline a child is crucial and can impact the father–child relationship tremendously. How do we find the sweet spot? Veteran dads Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, and Buck Buchanan weigh the options in today’s episode. We want them to develop problem-solving skills and resilience but watching them struggle can be tough! This may be a confusing question ...

Humorist Richard Armour is credited with being the first person to use the phrase, “hindsight is 20/20.” He used it in a California newspaper article in 1949. It felt true then and still does today. As a dad, how many times have you wished someone had pulled you aside and whispered some fatherly advice in your ear? Don’t blame yourself for what you didn’t know when your kids were younger. We learn and grow as we gain experience. Consider the wisdom you’ve gained and apply it in the...

We all know the frustration of holding onto a grudge. Getting out from underneath it requires choosing forgiveness. It’s a powerful tool that allows us to work through conflict, free from the burden of anger and resentment. It’s a skill we must master and teach to our kids. Why do we want kids to be good at this? It’s a vital skill that leads to healthy conflict management and better friendships. How do we teach our kids to forgive? Try these three steps: 1. Define it.We like to say...

As guys, we tend to be critical of ourselves from time to time. Introspection is a good thing, but getting too down on yourself can cause issues for you as a dad. Ted Lowe, Jason Hood, Buck Buchanan, and BJ Foster teach dads how to fight back against their inner critic by showing men how to “name your Fred.”Pick a name for the voice inside your head. You know the voice. The one that tells you you’re not good enough. The one who says that you’re a failure. The voice can be loud and aggressive,...

If stung by a jellyfish, you can neutralize the pain by urinating on it. Not true.Humans lose most of their body heat through their heads. Not true. There are plenty of lies out there that we believe. Which ones plague us as dads?Ted Lowe, BJ Foster, Jason Hood, and Buck Buchanan tell the truth about how often we fall captive to lies. You are well-made, no matter what people say. You are loved unconditionally by God, who created you. These truths can become clouded by the lies...

When we were little, monsters and aliens were terrifying. Now that we are parents, real-world troubles keep us up at night much more than Godzilla. Fear can be crippling or a motivator. Ted Lowe, BJ Foster, and Buck Buchanan dive into what scares us the most as dads. (Also, they hate clowns)   Our fears as dads are a big deal because they impact how we feel about ourselves, how present we can be with our kids, how we respond to them, and even what we teach them about their fears. The 5 fears...

 Kickball in the park. Ice cream on the porch. Having an epic snowball fight on Christmas morning. One of the best parts of being a dad is having fun with your kids, but not every day is a great one. Ted Lowe, Maddow Womble, BJ Foster, and Buck Buchanan share their thoughts on helping kids handle their low moments and provide happy ones.  Could the key to happiness be unhappiness? Dr. Tovah Klein, a leading child psychologist, says, “Kids know how to be happy, it’s the other emotions where...

Dads mess up. Yours did. His did. You will, too. We can dwell on those missteps or consider all the things our dads got right. Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, and BJ Foster talk about how our upbringings shape us.    We are not going to pretend everyone had a perfect relationship with their dad. Many people can recall hurtful moments from childhood. Those negative memories are powerful. But it is good for our souls to also remember times when our dads loved and rescued us. Remembering what your dad...

Woodworking. Golf. Tinkering around under the hood of your old pickup truck. Whatever it is, dads enjoy “me time” just as much as moms. But, have you ever felt guilty about taking a few minutes to just get away by yourself? Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, Reggie Lewis, and Buck Buchanan talk about how they recharge their dad batteries in today’s episode. Speaker and author Jon Acuff says he has the goal of being an active, fun grandfather. We can’t be active granddads and dads in the future if we...

Do you have secret desires? Things you wish people knew about you but you’re too nervous to verbalize? There’s a good chance your kids have those feelings, too. Ted Lowe, Jonathan Manke, Buck Buchanan, and BJ Foster uncover some of the deeply important things kids wish their parents knew. Knowing what your kids want and need from you can strengthen your relationship, build trust, and even help them become healthier and happier adults. Here is why it’s so important to know what your kids are...

The days of “cooties” and ignoring the opposite sex don’t last forever. Your son or daughter will eventually get their first crush, maybe write some love notes, and fall head over heels for someone they think is cute. They may even want to go on a date soon. Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, BJ Foster, and All Pro Dad founder Mark Merrill break down ways to have important conversations with your kids about dating. Are you ready for this season of life? Dating will likely mean introducing the topic of...

 When you were a kid, what did you want to do when you grew up? Play shortstop for the Yankees? Become an astronaut? A firefighter? Kids dream big dreams. Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, Buck Buchanan, and BJ Foster examine how to encourage our kids to chase their dreams without losing sight of reality. Per NCAA (2020 stats), the “estimated probability of competing in professional athletics" by sport: Baseball: 9.9% Ice hockey: 7.4% Football: 1.6%  Men’s basketball 1.2% A 2019 survey conducted by...

If you’re like us, you watch videos too loudly, give long-winded directions, and totally forget the names of your kids’ friends. While those examples may feel like no big deal, there are plenty of other habits that hinder us as dads. Ted Lowe, BJ Foster, Reggie Lewis, and Buck Buchanan dive into a couple of these destructive dad habits.  What are 5 bad habits dads need to stop? Have you struggled with any of these? 1. Yelling 2. Overreacting  3. Disengaging  4. Getting drunk 5. Watching...

We believe establishing better habits lead to being better dads. So, what habits will make us better? Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, and Jonathan Manke run through a short list to encourage fellow fathers to be at their best for their kids.  1. Reading 2. Playing 3. Exercising 4. Praying 5. Engaging   Today’s Pro Move: Pick one of the five things we discussed during the show and establish a new good habit this week.   Related resources: Today’s podcast was based on this article: 5 Good Habits...

Last episode we talked about the 7 things a son needs from his dad. Today, we focus on daughters. They have very different needs from boys. Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, Buck Buchanan, and Jason Hood talk about their relationships with their daughters.    The types of needs we are talking about on today’s episode are not your daughter’s basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. We are talking about the 7 things a daughter needs relationally from her dad.     What are the 7 things? 1. She needs...

This question was inspired by one of the top-3 All Pro Dad blog posts of all time. Dads really want to know how to connect with their boys. Ted Lowe, Mark Merrill, Bobby Lewis, and BJ Foster talk about their relationship with their sons.    The types of needs we are talking about on today’s episode are not basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. We are talking about the 7 things a son needs relationally from his dad.     What are the 7 things? 1. He needs you to love his mother. 2. He...

Disney World is great, but most families can’t afford going there every week. It doesn’t require big bucks to have big fun with your kids. You can make lasting memories with your children just by looking around your house and thinking outside the box. Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, Buck Buchanan, and BJ Foster share some creative ideas for having a good time with their families.  Why is it important to prioritize having fun with your kids? Research tells us spending quality time together...

Labels can have a profound impact on our children, influencing how we view them, treat them, discipline them, and ultimately, how they view and treat themselves. Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, BJ Foster, and Reggie Lewis discuss how often dads label their kids, sometimes without even realizing it.  Labels can come from anywhere, but they're especially impactful when they come from parents. There are three things we can do to avoid labeling our kids: 1.    Be careful with introductions. 2.    Be...

Have your kids ever belittled someone, or said something judgmental? How do you handle those moments as a dad? How do you steer your children away from a judgmental attitude? Ted Lowe, Buck Buchanan, Reggie Lewis, and Jason Hood break it down. Questions to consider from this episode:   1. What can we do as dads to model non-judgmental behavior for our own kids?  2. What can we do to address our own biases and prejudices to ensure we are not unintentionally passing them on to our child?  3....

Most people want to be liked. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, unless your desire to get along with others comes at the expense of your child’s well-being. Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, BJ Foster, and Jason Hood tackle the common problem of parenting to please others in today’s episode.    Putting others’ ahead of our kids can lead to feelings of inadequacy and impact your decision-making as a dad. Doing what’s right for your kids can be hard sometimes, but your choices as a parent must mirror...

We're all striving to be the best fathers we can be, and sometimes it can be tough to know what to say. Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, Maddox Womble, and Reggie Lewis list multiple affirmations kids crave from their dads and examine why those words are so important.   Dads need to understand the power of our words. It's important to be intentional and make sure your kids know that you care. Take a moment to reflect on the words you use with your kids. Are you saying the things they need to hear? It’s...

Millions of people around the world struggle with anxiety. That includes our children. How do we help them handle those feelings? Ted Lowe, Mark Merrill, Buck Buchanan, and BJ Foster break it down into digestible steps.   Raising an anxious child can be challenging. As parents, it’s our job to love them well while helping them deal with their feelings. Let them know that it's okay to feel anxious, and that you are there to support them. Empathize and encourage them to share their thoughts and...