I love being a dad.
It's my favorite thing I've ever done. Not close.
Years ago, I left my corporate career so I could spend more time with my kids. We homeschooled. We traveled. I built a business around being present for my family. Looking back, it was the best decision I ever made.
But here's something nobody tells you about fatherhood:
Loving it doesn't make it easy.
And for a lot of men, there aren't many places where we can talk honestly about the hard parts.
In this episode, I sit down with Mike Berry, founder of Road Trip, a unique gathering that brings fathers together for real conversations, connection, and support. What started as an event for foster and adoptive dads has grown into a community for fathers from every walk of life.
One idea from our conversation I loved:
Most of us approach parenting like carpenters. Something's wrong? Fix it. Tear it down. Rebuild it.
But maybe great parenting is less about being a carpenter and more about being a gardener—showing up, nurturing growth, and trusting the process.
We also talk about something many dads experience but rarely discuss: identity.
When your kids grow up, move out, and stop needing you the way they once did, it can feel a lot like losing a job title you've held for decades. The transition can be surprisingly difficult, and most men aren't prepared for it.
If you're a father, a husband, or simply a man trying to figure out who you are in your next chapter, I think you'll get something from this conversation.
In This Episode
✅ Why so many dads feel isolated
✅ The support system fathers are missing
✅ The difference between being a carpenter and a gardener parent
✅ Why men struggle to ask for help
✅ Fatherhood and identity
✅ The power of brotherhood and honest conversation
✅ The Road Trip experience for dads
Learn More About Road Trip
www.RoadTripDads.com/2026
Timestamps:
00:00 Why I Love Being a Dad
00:48 How Road Trip Started
02:00 The Challenge Fathers Face Alone
03:15 Why Men Need Safe Spaces Too
04:30 You Don't Need Someone to Fix You
05:45 What All Dads Have in Common
07:00 The Questions Every Father Asks Himself
08:00 Carpenter vs. Gardener Parenting
09:20 Why Brotherhood Matters
10:00 The Missing Support System for Men
11:30 What Makes Road Trip Different
12:00 Colorado, Conversation, and Connection
13:15 Final Thoughts
#Fatherhood
#DadLife
#MensMentalHealth
#Parenting
#MikeBerry
#Brotherhood
#PersonalGrowth
#FamilyLife
#Dads
#SelfImprovement
#ParentingJourney
#MentalHealth
#Relationships
#LetsGetReal
#NextChapter
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✅ Instagram: @soul_spanish
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