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A lot of dads quietly carry guilt, self-criticism, and the feeling that they’re never doing enough. One late pickup, one moment of impatience, or one hard day can spiral into the belief that you’re failing as a father.

This breaks down why perfection is the wrong standard, how to redefine failure, and why validation and reassurance are essential for dads who actually want to enjoy the journey. Progress, not perfection, is what builds stronger relationships and a healthier mindset as a dad.

Episode Description Continued: DadderUp — Join the Movement

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KYLE BEATS, music producer, YouTube creator, and new dad, opens up about how fatherhood reshaped his priorities, sharpened his focus, and gave his life real meaning beyond views, money, and momentum.

Kyle Beats is one of the most influential creators in modern music culture, known for building a massive audience through creativity, consistency, and authenticity. In this conversation, he steps away from algorithms and uploads to talk honestly about becoming a dad, navigating sleep deprivation, and preparing to welcome his second child.

He explains:

◼️ Why becoming a dad made his life feel clearer, not smaller

◼️ How unlimited freedom actually created noise and burnout

◼️ Why fatherhood forces creators to focus on what truly matters

◼️ The mental shift from grinding endlessly to working with intention

◼️ How having kids made him more disciplined, present, and purposeful

◼️ Why society gets fatherhood completely wrong for young men

◼️ How ambition and presence don’t have to compete

Follow Kyle Beats

Website: https://kylebeats.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KyleBeats_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylebeats/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jt0slkwCPorL4PeFoQtWZ?si=I2XUcoFuQGGscz5vrFm9QQ&nd=1&dlsi=efb9f4691ec34e77

DadderUp — Join the Movement

Website: https://dadderup.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadderup/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dadderup?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61577426596906/

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JULIEN J. MARION, father of six and men’s coach, reveals why good men shrink, how unhealed wounds show up in fatherhood, and what it really takes to lead with strength, presence, and love.

Born in the Congo, raised across continents, and now raising six kids while building a business with his wife, Julien works with married entrepreneur dads navigating pressure, identity, and emotional weight. His work focuses on helping men stop shrinking, face their inner storms, and become steady leaders at home.

He explains:

◼️ Why good men choose peace over truth and slowly lose themselves

◼️ How achievement gets mistaken for worthiness in men

◼️ Why resentment must be released before real growth can happen

◼️ How kids expose unhealed wounds in fathers

◼️ Why presence matters more than perfection, even when you’re not physically there

◼️ The difference between control and leadership in parenting

◼️ Why emotional intelligence is a non-negotiable skill for dads

◼️ How to stop bringing work stress home and protect your family from it

Julien Marion— Where to find him

Website — https://www.julienmarion.org/

Coaching: https://www.julienmarion.org/coaching

Book Julien: https://www.julienmarion.org/book-julien

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julieninspires/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julienmarion/

Free Breakthrough Call: https://gentleragemethod.com/

DadderUp — Join the Movement

Website — https://dadderup.com/

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/dadderuppod/

Contact — marketing@dadderup.com

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DR. NATASHA CABRERA, one of the world’s top fatherhood researchers, reveals why dads were missing from parenting science, how “dad identity” shapes a child’s life, and the small daily habits that build lifelong connection.

Dr. Natasha Cabrera is a Professor at the University of Maryland and Director of the Family Involvement Lab. Her work has helped redefine what father involvement actually means in modern families, including diverse, blended, and non-traditional homes.

She explains:

◼️ Why early parenting research accidentally centered moms and left dads out

◼️ How dads form their identity differently than moms and why the prenatal runway matters

◼️ The “dad brain” shift that changes a man neurologically after a baby

◼️ The daily behaviors that create secure connection (and what kids actually need most)

◼️ Why stepfather relationships work best when built with time, honesty, and real commitment

◼️ How fatherhood is evolving and why dads are becoming less “replaceable” culturally and legally

Dr. Natasha Cabrera (University of Maryland)

Connect: https://education.umd.edu/directory/natasha-cabrera

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_J._Cabrera

DadderUp — Join the Movement

Website — https://dadderup.com/

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/dadderuppod/

Contact — marketing@dadderup.com

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KEVIN BARNEY, Executive Director of Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse, reveals why youth sports aren’t about winning and how dads on the sidelines shape confidence, character, and lifelong memories.

Kevin Barney leads one of the largest youth sports organizations in the country, serving over 21,000 boys and girls across Massachusetts. As a coach, father, and nonprofit leader, he’s seen firsthand how presence, restraint, and encouragement matter far more than trophies.

He explains:

◼️ Why kids don't remember the final score but remember the car rides and actions after

◼️ How a dad’s sideline behavior becomes lifelong modeling

◼️ Why losing is essential for resilience and confidence

◼️ The most powerful thing a parent can say after a game

◼️ How youth sports can build community instead of pressure

Follow Kevin & Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse:

Website — https://www.massyouthlax.org/

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/Mass_Youth_Lax

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/MassYouthLax

DadderUp — Join the Movement

Website — https://dadderup.com/

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/dadderuppod/

Contact — marketing@dadderup.com

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DR. JEFFREY SHEARS, professor of social work and fatherhood researcher, explains why dads are more than providers, how father presence shapes child development, and what the data says kids uniquely get from fathers.

As co-chair of the Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy and author of What All Dads Should Know, Dr. Shears has spent decades studying how fathers influence self-regulation, school readiness, emotional security, and long-term outcomes. He breaks down the science in a way that every dad can use, whether you live in the home or not.

He explains:

◼️ Why “living in the house” is not the same as being present

◼️ The unique ways dads shape self -regulation and school readiness through play

◼️ Why society keeps labeling fathers as just a paycheck and why that is wrong

◼️ The difference between residential and non -residential dads when it comes to real involvement

◼️ The four biggest influences that shape how men learn to father

◼️ One simple question that reveals what your kids actually need from you

◼️ How the phone quietly weakens the connection and what to do instead

◼️ Why co-parenting and blended families work best when adults stay mission -focused on the child

DR. JEFFREY SHEARS: Where To Find Them

Website - https://thefathercenter.org/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thefathercenter/

DadderUp — Join the Movement

Website: https://dadderup.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadderup/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dadderup?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61577426596906/

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Andrew sits down with Dr. Diann Cameron Kelly (Adelphi University) for a practical, heart-forward conversation about modern fatherhood: how presence, mentorship, and emotional intelligence change kids’ confidence and social readiness. From balancing compassion with structure to navigating schools, grandparents, and the phone-in-pocket problem, this episode offers grounded tactics dads can use today, plus a fresh, research-backed frame for masculinity that favors assertiveness, service, and grace over stereotypes.

About Dr. Diann Cameron Kelly

Dr. Diann Cameron Kelly is the Associate Provost for Student Success and a Professor of Social Work at Adelphi University. A thought leader on family systems, civic readiness, and father engagement, she challenges outdated narratives about manhood and parenting, arguing for fathers who are present, intentional, assertive (not aggressive), and emotionally intelligent. Her scholarship and mentoring focus on how dads, schools, and communities can work together to raise confident, socially ready kids.

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Dr. Kari Adamsons, one of the nation’s leading researchers on father involvement, breaks down what decades of data actually say about dads, presence, and connection. After 20+ years studying father–child relationships, co-parenting, and masculinity, she reveals how small daily behaviors shape long-term outcomes and why dads matter far more than society has ever acknowledged.

In this episode, Kari and Andrew Russell dig into the science of fatherhood, the gap between “being around” and being engaged, and how tools like DadderUp can turn research into real daily action for dads everywhere.

About Dr. Kari Adamsons

Dr. Kari Adamsons is a professor, researcher, and nationally recognized expert on father involvement, co-parenting, and men’s development. Her work spans childhood development, risk behavior prevention, masculinity norms, and how dads uniquely influence outcomes across a child’s life.

Her research has shaped how universities, family programs, and parenting educators understand what dads bring to the table and why fatherhood needs a cultural reset.

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