Ambitious Dads

Jeff Hittner
  • 5.0 (9)
  • ARTS

Fatherhood cracked me open in ways I never expected — and showed me how unprepared most of us are for the emotional work it demands. After learning I couldn’t be a biological father, I wrestled early with the fear that I might screw up my kids before they even existed — a feeling every dad, in one way or another, eventually comes to know. The Ambitious Dads Podcast is where we stop winging it and start talking — about balancing endless competing priorities like work, kids, partners (sex — yeah, right!), self-care, and finances; about the emotions that hit daily — guilt, stress, fear, fatigue, love — and about the quiet doubts that keep us up at night. We’ll get vulnerable. We’ll get honest. And yes, we’ll end every episode with a ridiculous poop story, because if fatherhood teaches you anything, it’s how to laugh while cleaning up disasters. Hosted by Jeff Hittner. Email Jeff with ideas for future episodes: jwhittner@gmail.com

  1. 4D AGO

    From Fighting for Access to Fighting Less: A Dad's Journey Through Divorce and Redemption: Richard Resnick

    Richard Resnick shares his raw and vulnerable journey as a divorced father fighting for access to his children. After years of court battles and emotional turmoil, he discovered that sometimes the best way to win is to stop fighting. This powerful conversation explores parental regret, the redefinition of providing, and how showing up consistently can rebuild even the most fractured relationships. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [00:01:59] - The Early Years of Divorce Richard discusses splitting from his former wife when kids were 3 and 1 years oldSeven years of court battles and hundreds of thousands in legal feesKey quote: "The child's identity is simply sort of the summation of their judgments of their two parents. So in fighting like that, you are giving them an identity and it's not one that they asked for."[00:07:30] - The Game-Changing Advice A court mediator's profound counsel that shifted everythingLearning that fighting less matters more than winning more timeKey quote: "It matters less how much time you have with the kids. It matters more that you and your former wife just stop fighting about anything and everything."[00:12:16] - The Mindset Shift How Richard immediately embraced the counterintuitive adviceDealing with criticism from supporters who felt he "gave up"Key quote: "There is justice for these two little children. There is justice and here it is."[00:15:40] - Modern Parenting Anxieties Concerns about launching adult children in today's uncertain economyThe broken promise of the American middle class playbookKey quote: "What keeps me up is when I graduated from college in 1994, there was sort of pretty clear playbook for how to start... there's just so much uncertainty about that playbook now."[00:21:04] - Managing Parental Guilt and Ego Compartmentalizing pain while staying committed to showing upReframing the struggle as a "righteous fight" rather than victimhoodKey quote: "I felt like I was fighting for fairness for the children to have access to their father, which I know was important."[00:25:54] - The Provider's Dilemma Missing games and events while running a demanding companyHis son going "dark" for months in response to dad's absenceKey quote: "You show up dudes, you show up, you just don't give up, you show up, you keep going, you keep asking, and we're back."[00:30:07] - The Impossible Middle Balancing financial obligations with presenceThe psychological ease of choosing work over painful family dynamicsKey quote: "I could spend more time with you if I chose to make less money, but I can't. I owe all these bills for you."[00:32:27] - Parental Regret as Fuel Processing the reality that things could have been differentUsing regret constructively to improve current relationshipsKey quote: "You can walk around with that sadness, that regret, but if it helps you to do something positive... then maybe that regret is a fuel as well." Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com Join me on March 12 for a free, 60-minute live workshop, Winning at Work Without Losing at Home, where you’ll identify your “Default Dad” moments and learn practical tools to become more intentional and present, building the first pillar of a Fatherhood Philosophy that helps you lead at home with the same clarity you bring to work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/registration-page

    35 min

  2. MAR 6

    From Secret Service to Surrogacy: A Dad's Journey Through Grief, Growth, and Building Legacy: Cory Allen

    Former Secret Service agent Corey Allen opens up about his unconventional path to fatherhood through surrogacy, including the grief of miscarriages and the challenges of balancing work, family, and aging parents. He shares how becoming a dad transformed his patience, led him to write a children's book about travel, and taught him to embrace flexibility while building meaningful legacy for his children. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [00:01:43] - The Surrogacy Journey Discussion of 5-year fertility journey including cultural considerations and multiple setbacksKey quote: "Nobody prepared us for the grief that came with having transfers... nobody prepared us for two miscarriages."[00:06:17] - Navigating Non-Biological Parenthood How couples handle rejection and different parenting instincts when one parent isn't biologicalKey quote: "We just have to do those check-ins... making sure we're checking in because it's not easy to witness or to experience."[00:09:40] - The Sandwich Generation Challenge Managing elderly parents on both coasts while raising toddler and expecting second childKey quote: "Something about the American baby boomer generation. Some of them just don't really have the ability to think beyond themselves."[00:14:13] - Writing "Data Takes a Trip" Creating children's book to help explain work travel and maintain connectionKey quote: "I would love to have a book that explains dadada has to leave, but he'll be back. He loves you."[00:22:04] - Learning from Parenting Mistakes Recognizing how children mirror our behaviors and the need for immediate changeKey quote: "I was fighting my own attributes... I was dealing with my own personality. He's got those attributes."[00:26:15] - Growing Patience as a Parent Strategies for managing frustration and developing flexibility with toddler behaviorKey quote: "I have to literally take a deep breath, exhale purposefully. And that usually does it for me."[00:30:58] - Fears About Mortality and Legacy Concerns about being present for children's milestones and creating lasting impactKey quote: "I'm just worrying about that a lot... the kids are young and if I pass away tomorrow, they're not going to have those core memories."[00:38:05] - The Pull-Up Diaper Disaster Humorous story about discovering pull-tab feature during messy diaper changeKey quote: "There is poo everywhere. I'm like, how are there no quick release on these stupid pull up diapers?" Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com Join me on March 12 for a free, 60-minute live workshop, Winning at Work Without Losing at Home, where you’ll identify your “Default Dad” moments and learn practical tools to become more intentional and present, building the first pillar of a Fatherhood Philosophy that helps you lead at home with the same clarity you bring to work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/registration-page

    41 min

  3. MAR 4

    Navigating Fatherhood Through Separation: A Sales Executive's Journey of Balance and Growth: Dominic Hithon

    Sales executive and father of two Dominic Hithon opens up about the real challenges of modern fatherhood - from managing technology with kids of different ages to co-parenting after separation. He shares honest insights about setting boundaries at work, the importance of being vulnerable with your children, and how to maintain strong relationships while building a career that requires constant travel. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [00:01:20] - Family Structure and Challenges Dominic shares his family dynamic: 17-year-old daughter pursuing forensic science, 8-year-old son on the spectrum, managing separation and two householdsKey quote: "It's just kind of balancing that relationship of being in the home. We were together 10 years in our relationship and then now managing it as two separate households."[00:02:17] - Modern Parenting Anxieties Discussion of daily challenges including school safety, social media influence, and protecting children from desensitizationKey quote: "In America, we had 48 school shootings last year. There's bullying and me in the world that I work in corporate America, I just know some of the unconscious bias that my children will face out there in this world."[00:04:32] - Technology Generation Gap Comparing how his daughter grew up with limited tech versus his son who had devices from birthKey quote: "My son, he had tablet and the phone pretty much out of the womb. The first thing is they're pressing buttons and it's to the point where he'll tell me stuff, he'll be like, I want to go to Ikea. And I'll be like, what makes you go to Ikea? He's like, because I saw an ad for it."[00:08:50] - Work Travel and Family Balance Managing a demanding sales career that requires frequent travel while maintaining family connectionsKey quote: "I try to let them know the best thing about it is you'll get to start seeing the world... But I said, that's the part of life that you'll have to balance because you'll be doing something and then you'll have a partner or anybody else."[00:17:56] - Transitioning Between Work and Dad Mode Strategies for switching from executive problem-solver to empathetic fatherKey quote: "In business, I'm there to fix it, find the problem, do it. As a father, I'm there to understand it and speak to it, but I'm not always there to fix it because if I fix everything, they'll never feel as if they can do it themselves."[00:21:14] - Creating Boundaries with Leadership Setting work-life boundaries, even with demanding executivesKey quote: "Sometimes I'll even tell my CEO, I'll just be like, Hey, I'm in dad time, so I'm not going to answer you texting me right now."[00:30:46] - Co-Parenting Challenges and Solutions Navigating different household rules and maintaining family unity after separationKey quote: "You had a relationship with this person, but you are out of the relationship with this person... So it's very much where I just try to make sure that they feel that time when I do have them, it doesn't change the dynamic as far as how I feel and care about them."[00:34:29] - Vulnerability and Growth as a Father The importance of showing children that parents are also learning and growingKey quote: "I think it is okay to sometimes just say, I'm learning as I'm teaching you at the same time... Sometimes I didn't know everything, so I want them to understand that I'm learning and growing at the same time just at different speeds." Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com Join me on March 12 for a free, 60-minute live workshop, Winning at Work Without Losing at Home, where you’ll identify your “Default Dad” moments and learn practical tools to become more intentional and present, building the first pillar of a Fatherhood Philosophy that helps you lead at home with the same clarity you bring to work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/registration-page

    40 min

  4. FEB 11

    The Intentional Dad Building Family Through Adoption, Values, and Vulnerability with Elliott Blodgett

    Elliot Blodgett, performance coach and father of two adopted children, shares his unique journey into fatherhood and how intentionality shapes every aspect of his parenting. From creating family value songs to navigating the complexities of raising Black children as a white father, Elliot offers profound insights on letting go of ego, redefining success, and building authentic connections with our kids. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [00:01:30] - The Non-Traditional Path to Fatherhood Elliot shares his adoption journey and letting go of the ego around biological childrenKey quote: "I finally lost my ego. My wife was always for adoption. I always thought we would have children of our own if we did. And I stripped that away and said yes to family."[00:03:13] - Parenting with Intentionality Discussion on how adoption creates intentional parenting and community choicesKey quote: "The community is by choice. Both of my kids are not white. So we've moved houses, made some intentional financial decisions to make sure that we're in a community where families look like ours."[00:06:41] - Stripping Away Ego in Fatherhood How traditional upbringing shaped his ego and how fatherhood transformed his perspectiveKey quote: "That ego was really disappearing because it wasn't about me anymore. It was about something so much bigger. It was about my wife and caring for her, it was about my kids and caring for them."[00:11:26] - Redefining Success for the Next Generation Moving from results-oriented expectations to exposure and discovery-based parentingKey quote: "I want my kids to do well, and I put resources towards the opportunities that make the most sense for them... It's just exposure, not necessarily the pressure of be the best at it."[00:18:05] - Teaching Kids to Do Hard Things Strategies for helping children push through challenges and build resilienceKey quote: "Hard things are worth doing, and we use that all the time. It is okay to do a hard thing and we have to learn how to do a hard thing because in school and in life, you're going to run into those situations."[00:29:25] - The Family Values Song Creative approach to instilling family values through music and storytellingKey quote: "We have a song. I had a song created... our family value song is something that we play on a regular basis in our house, so they get to hear those things."[00:32:15] - What Keeps Him Up at Night Honest discussion about the unique challenges of raising Black children as a white fatherKey quote: "My kids will not grow up the same way that I grew up, oblivious to the world around them, and that world around them continues to change and shift and become divided, and I worry about that." Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com Join me on March 12 for a free, 60-minute live workshop, Winning at Work Without Losing at Home, where you’ll identify your “Default Dad” moments and learn practical tools to become more intentional and present, building the first pillar of a Fatherhood Philosophy that helps you lead at home with the same clarity you bring to work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/registration-page

    40 min

  5. JAN 28

    Reclaiming Inner Ambition: How One Dad Ditched the Default Path w/ Paul Millard

    Paul Millard, author of "The Pathless Path" and "Good Work," shares his journey from high-powered consultant to self-employed writer and father. He explores how becoming a dad to a 2.5-year-old has reshaped his understanding of ambition - moving from external markers of success to inner fire and authentic connection. This conversation dives deep into emotional regulation as a parent, building a life around your values, and why the best thing we can do for our kids is model the life we actually want to live. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [00:03:23] - Learning Ambition from a Toddler Paul describes how his 2.5-year-old daughter embodies pure inner ambition - dancing with complete abandon and zero concern for others' opinionsKey quote: "She is incredibly ambitious exactly about what she wants to do to the most extreme degree possible... This is sort of what I'm calling inner ambition, which is just this natural fire that humans have"[00:05:30] - Modeling vs. Worrying About Kids Discussion on how parents can influence children through their own behavior rather than constant worry about rules and guidelinesKey quote: "If I'm actually doing the things I care about, that's going to be a powerful example... I can be not a negative influence"[00:13:11] - Emotional Work Before Parenthood Paul explains how he deliberately worked on emotional resilience and capacity before having children, viewing these as more valuable skills than making moneyKey quote: "This is what I worked on before I had a kid. I was spending all my time not working, developing emotional resilience, developing capacity"[00:19:36] - Understanding Triggers as a Parent Deep dive into what triggers are and how to handle them when children are having meltdownsKey quote: "When your child is crying and you want them to stop, you've been triggered"[00:22:24] - The Power of Emotional Validation Paul shares techniques for validating children's emotions rather than dismissing themKey quote: "If all your feelings are valid... just being seen and accepted for what you're feeling is such a powerful thing because few people ever experience that"[00:35:19] - The Reality of Creativity After Kids Honest discussion about how having children has actually made Paul's work more challenging, not easierKey quote: "I hear all these dads that are like, oh, I had a kid and I'm doing better than ever. I don't know. This has not been the case for me"[00:39:27] - Redefining Success as a Father Paul's vision of success: spending abundant time with his daughter while maintaining creative workKey quote: "If I can spend a lot of time with my kids, I feel like that's going to be super fun, satisfying and not something I'll regret when I'm older"[00:41:51] - True Ambition Feels Light Reading from his book about what authentic ambition actually feels likeKey quote: "Following your own true path does not feel like we might expect ambition to feel. It does not come with pain, contraction, or endless suffering. Instead, it feels light, it feels natural"[00:56:39] - Rejecting Traditional Dad Expectations Critique of the cultural expectation that dads should just "grind" for their familiesKey quote: "Separate yourself from your kids at the most fun years possible and go earn a paycheck and shut up about your emotions. It's dumb, it's stupid" Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com Join me on March 12 for a free, 60-minute live workshop, Winning at Work Without Losing at Home, where you’ll identify your “Default Dad” moments and learn practical tools to become more intentional and present, building the first pillar of a Fatherhood Philosophy that helps you lead at home with the same clarity you bring to work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/registration-page

    1h 4m

  6. JAN 21

    Balancing Ambition and Fatherhood with Maurice Philogene: An Ambitious Dad's Journey

    In this episode of Ambitious Dads, host Jeff Hittner sits down with Maurice Philogene, a multifaceted professional whose resume spans federal agent, police officer, real estate investor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveler. But beyond all those titles, Maurice shares his most meaningful role: being a father to two sons.  We talk honestly about what it takes to balance ambitious careers with being a present and intentional parent — the conscious choices, the challenges of deployment, and the moments that test you in ways no job description ever could. Maurice opens up about raising kids across continents, fostering independence, and instilling values like resilience, happiness, and financial literacy. What stood out most is Maurice’s belief that life should be experienced fully — and that parenting is about preparing kids for the world, not shielding them from it. This conversation is a reminder that ambition and fatherhood aren’t opposites; they can coexist with intention and purpose. If you’ve ever wondered how to chase big goals without losing sight of what matters most... you’re not alone. In This Episode, We Talk About: Balancing ambition with intentional fatherhood Raising kids across continents and cultures Instilling resilience, independence, and financial literacy Navigating fear and modern parenting challenges Why happiness and purpose matter more than success How intentional experiences shape family life About My Guest Maurice is a father of two and a seasoned professional with experience as a federal agent, police officer, real estate investor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveler. His greatest ambition? Raising his sons to be independent, resilient, and good human beings. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Ambitious Dads Podcast 00:46 Meet Maurice: A Man of Many Lives 01:38 Balancing Ambition and Fatherhood 02:07 Maurice's Career Journey 04:54 Raising Kids Across Continents 09:59 Instilling Values and Resilience 12:06 Navigating Fear and Independence 16:33 The Importance of Happiness and Purpose 21:18 Balancing Free Time and Intentional Parenting 22:05 Challenges of Deployment and Parenting 23:14 Evolving Communication with Kids 24:41 Managing Personal and Parental Challenges 27:01 Listening to Your Kids' Voices 28:04 Navigating Modern Parenting Issues 35:29 Intentional Travel and Experiences 40:11 Expanding Intentionally in Life and Parenting 41:25 Conclusion and Reflections on Fatherhood Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com Join the Conversation 👍 Like the episode 💬 Comment: What’s your biggest challenge in balancing ambition and fatherhood? 🔁 Share this with a dad who needs this conversation 🔔 Subscribe for more honest, behind-the-scenes stories of ambitious parenting #AmbitiousDads #Fatherhood #ParentingPodcast #DadLife #IntentionalParenting #WorkLifeBalance #ModernParenting #ParentingTips #ResilientKids #FinancialLiteracy #ParentingGoals #FamilyFirst #ParentingJourney #PodcastEpisode #ParentingWisdom Join me on March 12 for a free, 60-minute live workshop, Winning at Work Without Losing at Home, where you’ll identify your “Default Dad” moments and learn practical tools to become more intentional and present, building the first pillar of a Fatherhood Philosophy that helps you lead at home with the same clarity you bring to work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/registration-page

    42 min

  7. JAN 19

    From Foster Care to Fatherhood: Rewriting Family Patterns with Braxton Storm

    Licensed clinical social worker and parenting coach Braxton Storm shares his powerful journey from growing up in California's foster care system to becoming a father of three (soon to be four) children. In this vulnerable conversation, Braxton explores how his childhood experiences shape his approach to helping parents build calmer, more connected homes, the importance of emotional regulation, and why "messy is normal" when it comes to raising emotionally healthy kids. Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com Join me on March 12 for a free, 60-minute live workshop, Winning at Work Without Losing at Home, where you’ll identify your “Default Dad” moments and learn practical tools to become more intentional and present, building the first pillar of a Fatherhood Philosophy that helps you lead at home with the same clarity you bring to work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/registration-page

    41 min

  8. JAN 15

    Redefining Ambition: A Leadership Expert's Journey to Fatherhood-Work Harmony w/ James Boddy

    James Boddy, a Harvard-trained leadership consultant and former UK barrister, shares his transformative journey from viewing ambition as a "dirty word" to embracing authentic success while being a present father. This honest conversation explores the challenges of leading a growing company while raising two children, the importance of self-awareness in breaking generational patterns, and practical strategies for achieving work-life harmony rather than balance. Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com Join me on March 12 for a free, 60-minute live workshop, Winning at Work Without Losing at Home, where you’ll identify your “Default Dad” moments and learn practical tools to become more intentional and present, building the first pillar of a Fatherhood Philosophy that helps you lead at home with the same clarity you bring to work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/registration-page

    45 min
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out of 5
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About

Fatherhood cracked me open in ways I never expected — and showed me how unprepared most of us are for the emotional work it demands. After learning I couldn’t be a biological father, I wrestled early with the fear that I might screw up my kids before they even existed — a feeling every dad, in one way or another, eventually comes to know. The Ambitious Dads Podcast is where we stop winging it and start talking — about balancing endless competing priorities like work, kids, partners (sex — yeah, right!), self-care, and finances; about the emotions that hit daily — guilt, stress, fear, fatigue, love — and about the quiet doubts that keep us up at night. We’ll get vulnerable. We’ll get honest. And yes, we’ll end every episode with a ridiculous poop story, because if fatherhood teaches you anything, it’s how to laugh while cleaning up disasters. Hosted by Jeff Hittner. Email Jeff with ideas for future episodes: jwhittner@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Hittner
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jeff Hittner
  • Show Website
    Ambitious Dads