Father Friend

Dr. Mike Ayers - Parenting Expert, Educator, Father
  • 5.0 (1)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

I'm Dr. Mike Ayers—welcome to Father Friend, a podcast to help you become the kind of dad your kids trust, respect, and want to be around. With 30+ years as a father, educator, and speaker, I bring research-rooted, faith-based wisdom on fatherhood, masculinity, and raising strong, emotionally healthy kids. We tackle real questions—discipline, sex talks, faith, leadership, etc. You'll get help with kids from crib to college to lean in, lead well and love big. New each Monday. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts. Find more at fatherfriend.net or on social @thinkingdads.

  1. 2D AGO

    From Control to Influence: The Shift Every Dad Must Make

    At some point, every dad hits a moment where what used to work… doesn’t anymore. The commands, the corrections, the authority—it stops landing the same way. And if you’re not careful, you don’t just lose control… you lose influence. In this episode, we talk about the critical shift every father must make—from controlling behavior to shaping the heart. You’ll learn why authority is still essential, but not enough, and how trust, connection, and credibility become the foundation of lasting influence as your kids grow. Through real stories and practical moments, this episode will help you recognize when to step in, when to step back, and how to lead in a way your kids will choose to follow—long after they have to.

    19 min

  2. APR 13

    Regret-Free Fathering

    Most dads don't struggle with fatherhood because they don't care — they struggle because they're overwhelmed, distracted, and losing a war they didn't know they were fighting. In this episode, Mike Ayers unpacks the real reason so many fathers feel the gap between the dad they want to be and the dad they actually are, and what it takes to close it. From the ancient Greek concept of kairos — learning to recognize the moments that matter most — to the practical framework for building your life around what you actually value, this conversation is a straight-talking, honest look at what regret-free fathering really requires. Not perfection. Not grand gestures. Just the courage to put the big rocks in first.

    14 min

  3. APR 6

    Ten Signs You're a Better Dad Than You Think

    Most dads carry a running mental list of their failures — the moments they lost it, the conversations they fumbled, the seasons they weren't fully there. This episode is about the other list. The one you never give yourself credit for. If you're the kind of dad who's thinking carefully about fatherhood, trying to grow, willing to be challenged — there's a good chance you are further along than you feel. In this episode, we're flipping the script. Ten signs that you're a better dad than you think — from staying teachable and repairing broken moments, to building routines that create stability, breaking generational cycles, and learning to correct without crushing. Nobody's handing out trophies for this stuff. But your kids are watching. And it's working.

    17 min

  4. MAR 30

    The 7-12 Window: What Might Be Your Most Important Years as a Dad

    Most dads think the hard work happens when their kids hit the teenage years. But the research tells a different story. The seven-to-twelve window — what I call the Confidence Builder stage — is when your child is quietly answering one of the most important questions of their life: Do I have what it takes? And dad, you are one of the most powerful voices in that process. In this episode, I walk through what's actually happening developmentally in your child during these years, why so many dads are in maintenance mode right when it matters most, and five practical things you can start doing right now to build the kind of confidence that carries your kid into adolescence with their head up. If you have a child between seven and twelve, this one is for you.

    15 min

  5. MAR 23

    Lead or Be Left Behind: The Strength Your Kids Need from You

    Every dad is leading his kids — the question is whether he's doing it on purpose. In this episode, Mike Ayers unpacks the one thing your children need from you more than anything else: a father who is strong enough to lead them. Mike explores what loving leadership actually looks like in practice — and why the battles you avoid early don't disappear, they just grow. Whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers, the three questions they're asking you haven't changed. This episode will help you answer them well.

    19 min

  6. MAR 16

    Raising Confident Kids

    Every dad wants to raise a confident kid. But confidence isn't something you manufacture — it's something you help your child discover. In this episode, Mike unpacks three questions every child is silently asking as they grow: Am I capable? Am I valued? Does anyone believe in me? You'll hear why a father's voice is one of the most powerful forces shaping a child's inner world, how your words form your kids long after they've left your house, and why you can't — and were never meant to — be the ultimate source of their confidence. Practical, honest, and grounded in both research and real-life fathering, this episode will challenge you to show up with more intention and speak life into the kids God has entrusted to you.

    20 min

  7. MAR 9

    Before Someone Else Does: How Dads Talk to Their Kids About Sex and Dating

    An interview with Pastor Casey Coats, cLife Church, Rockwall, TX.The earlier you start talking to your kids about sex and dating, the better — and most dads start way too late. Pastor Casey Coats and his wife Lauren — a licensed professional counselor — have four kids and a front-row seat to what happens when parents lead this conversation early and intentionally. In this episode, Casey shares the practical framework they've used from the earliest ages to build a home culture where nothing is off-limits, fear doesn't drive the conversation, and God's design for sexuality is woven into everyday life — long before the teenage years arrive. Casey opens up about his own story, his values for sons vs. daughters when it comes to dating, the annual milestone trips that create space for the real conversations, and what he'd tell any dad who has a 12-year-old and hasn't started yet. This isn't about having one perfect talk. It's about being the first voice your kid hears — and keeping that door open for life.

    53 min

  8. MAR 2

    7 Commitments of a Father Friend

    Most fathers don't fail because they don't love their kids. They fail because they've never really decided what kind of father they want to be. What does it mean to actually be a great dad? In this episode, Dr. Mike Ayers explores the purpose of a Father Friend and the 7 Commitments necessary to be one. These commitments fuel a dad's ability to be the kind of father his kids are connected to and whose influence lasts a lifetime. They're essential for effective, intentional fathering, and they develop dads into men who reach their potential for character and competence. They not only make you a better dad, but a better man.

    13 min
See All (54)

Trailer

About

I'm Dr. Mike Ayers—welcome to Father Friend, a podcast to help you become the kind of dad your kids trust, respect, and want to be around. With 30+ years as a father, educator, and speaker, I bring research-rooted, faith-based wisdom on fatherhood, masculinity, and raising strong, emotionally healthy kids. We tackle real questions—discipline, sex talks, faith, leadership, etc. You'll get help with kids from crib to college to lean in, lead well and love big. New each Monday. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts. Find more at fatherfriend.net or on social @thinkingdads.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Mike Ayers - Parenting Expert, Educator, Father
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dr. Mike Ayers - Parenting Expert, Educator, Father
  • Show Website
    Father Friend

You Might Also Like