Relatively Functional Dads

The Relatively Functional Dads
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Parenting

Relatively Functional Dads is a podcast for fathers doing their best and learning every day. Hosted by three young dads and brothers-in-law, we have honest conversations about faith, fatherhood, and real life. From sleepless nights and discipline struggles to marriage, leadership, and growing in faith at home, we talk about what it really looks like to show up as a dad. We’re not experts—just dads figuring it out together. Some days we’ve got it together. Other days, we’re just trying to make it to bedtime. If you’re a dad in the middle of it, you’re in the right place. New episodes every other Thursday

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 007 - Angry Dad? How Fathers Can Control Anger Without Hurting Their Families

    Why do dads get so angry sometimes? And what’s really underneath it? In Episode 7 of Relatively Functional Dads, we have an honest conversation about anger in fatherhood, emotional health for dads, and how fathers can process frustration without hurting their kids or families. We talk about: Why anger often hides deeper emotions like sadness, grief, fear, stress, or disappointmentCommon triggers for dad anger and parenting frustrationUnrealistic expectations about fatherhoodHow Christian dads can respond instead of reactHealthy ways to process emotions as a husband and fatherPractical tools for emotional regulation in parentingBuddy also shares his “React vs Respond” prayer framework for handling anger in difficult parenting moments: I feel…I want to react by…But the truth is…So I will respond by…If you’re a dad struggling with anger, parenting stress, patience, or emotional control, this episode will encourage you and give you practical tools to become a more intentional father. Mentioned Books Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On for Life - David ThomasRaising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World - Sissy GoffRelatively Functional Dads is a podcast about Christian fatherhood, parenting, marriage, emotional health, and becoming the dads God calls us to be. Subscribe and join the conversation: Weekly Reflection: What triggers anger most for you as a parent?What helps you respond instead of react? Music Provided By: Derek McClardy We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com  Instagram: @relativelyfunctionaldads

    1h 23m

  2. May 21 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode: The Pressure of Perfect Parenting

    Why do dads feel like they’re failing, even when they’re doing their best? In this episode of the Relatively Functional Dads podcast, we sit down with our first guest, Morgan Selecman from the That’s A Win podcast, to talk about the pressure of perfect parenting and the hidden weight so many moms and dads carry every day. From parenting guilt and social media comparison to fear, shame, and perfectionism, we unpack why modern parenting can feel emotionally exhausting—and why your kids don’t actually need a perfect parent. They need a present one. This conversation is full of honest stories about marriage, fatherhood, motherhood, sleepless nights, emotional regulation, apologizing to your kids, and learning how to parent with grace instead of fear. In this episode, we discuss: Why dads and moms feel pressure to be perfect parentsHow parenting exposes impatience, insecurity, and fearThe impact of social media on modern parentingWhy repair matters more than perfectionHow to apologize to your kids in a healthy wayWhat dads can do to support overwhelmed momsParenting stress, emotional regulation, and family leadershipHow faith and dependence on God shape us as parentsWhy parenting is about faithfulness, not performance If you’re a dad trying to lead your family well, grow spiritually, love your wife better, and become more intentional as a father, this podcast is for you. Relatively Functional Dads is a Christian fatherhood podcast focused on faith, fatherhood, marriage, spiritual growth, and raising a healthy family while following Jesus. Key Reminder: Your faithfulness matters more than your performance. Weekly Reflection: What fear might be underneath my need to “get parenting right”? What would change if I focused more on being faithful than being perfect? Episode Mentions: That’s A Win Podcast: Follow on Instagram @thatsawinpodcast  That’s A Win Podcast on Apple Podcast Decoding Boys, Expectations in Marriage + Fighting Bitterness (BONUS Interview w/ Lauren Earley) Music Provided By: Derek McClardy We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com  Instagram: @relativelyfunctionaldads

    50 min

  3. May 14

    Episode 006 - Your Kids Aren’t Interruptions… They’re Invitations

    Our kids interrupt us all the time… but what if those moments matter more than we think? In this episode of the Relatively Functional Dads podcast, we talk about fatherhood, faith, and how the way we respond to interruptions is shaping our kids in real time. It’s easy to feel entitled to our time, especially when we’re tired, working, or finally getting a moment to breathe. But our kids don’t understand our intentions… they experience our actions. Are we pushing them away? Or are we seeing these moments as opportunities to love, lead, and be present? This is an honest conversation about being a dad, navigating real life, and learning how to show up better, even when it’s inconvenient. If you’re in the middle of raising young kids, balancing work and family, and trying to grow in your faith as a father… this one’s for you. Subscribe for more conversations on: Christian fatherhoodFaith-based parentingBiblical leadership in the homeMarriage and family lifePersonal growth for dadsReal, honest dad life moments Challenge for the week: This week, treat interruptions as invitations. Ask yourself: “Is this a moment God is giving me to love my child well?” Respond with intention, not just reaction. We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com Instagram: @relativelyfunctionaldads Music Provided By: Derek McClardy Spotify

    1h 9m

  4. Apr 30

    Episode 005 – The Thankless Dad: Serving When No One Notices

    What happens when you give your best to your family… and no one seems to notice? In this episode, we’re getting real about something every dad feels but rarely talks about—the quiet frustration of serving without appreciation. We love our families, but if we’re honest, it’s easy to expect something in return… respect, acknowledgment, even just a simple “thank you.” And when we don’t get it? That’s when our hearts get exposed. We dive into the “invisible contract” many of us carry—the unspoken belief that if we serve, we should get something back—and how that mindset can quietly turn love into a transaction. More importantly, we talk about how to shift it. What if your service wasn’t about being noticed by your family… but about being seen by God? This episode will challenge your motives, encourage your heart, and help you serve from a place of identity—not expectation. In this episode: Why we really serve our familiesThe hidden expectations that lead to frustrationHow to break free from the “invisible contract”What it looks like to serve like Christ—without recognitionPractical ways to serve with the right heart this week Challenge for the week: Where can you serve sacrificially… without anyone noticing? Episode Mentions: Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms – Justin Whitmel Earley We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com Music Provided By: Derek McClardy Spotify

    1h 14m

  5. Apr 15

    Episode 004 – Running on Empty: Creating Margin as a Dad

    Tired… but not sure why? In this episode, we talk about the kind of exhaustion most dads are living with—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—and why it’s not all the same. There’s a difference between good fatigue and unhealthy exhaustion. If you don’t know which one you’re dealing with, you’ll keep trying to fix the wrong problem. In this episode, we cover: • The difference between meaningful fatigue and burnout • The 3 kinds of tired (and how to identify yours) • Why most dads are living with no margin • How margin impacts your patience, presence, and leadership at home • Simple, practical ways to create breathing room in your life • Why asking for help is essential—not optional Key Reminder: You can’t be a present dad if every second of your life is spoken for. Weekly Challenge: Where am I tired because I have no margin?Where am I tired from good work?What is one thing I can remove this week to create margin?How can I ask for help to create margin in my life? Episode Mentions: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry – John Mark Comer – https://a.co/d/0iR5Yk3y We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com Music Provided By: Derek McClardy Spotify

    1h 22m

  6. Apr 4

    Episode 003 – The Entitlement Trap: “I Deserve This”

    What does entitlement look like in fatherhood—and why is it so dangerous when we don’t even realize it’s there? In Episode 3 of the Relatively Functional Dads podcast, we talk about the subtle ways entitlement creeps into our lives as dads. It rarely shows up as arrogance. Instead, it sounds like, “I worked hard… I showed up… I did the right things… so now I deserve this.” The problem is, when entitlement enters the home, love slowly becomes transactional—and that changes the emotional and spiritual temperature of a family. We share real stories from our week as dads (the wins and the “Should’ve Known Better” moments), and then we dive into a deeper conversation about: How entitlement quietly turns effort into expectationHow “I deserve this” can show up in our tone, patience, and presence-The ways entitlement can damage connection with our wife and kidsWhy entitlement often comes from exhaustion, feeling unseen, or wanting reliefHow gratitude is one of the main ways we fight entitlement What it looks like to stop demanding return and start receiving from God as sonsThis is a fatherhood podcast focused on faith, fatherhood, spiritual growth, and family leadership—for dads who want to be present, intentional, and grounded in their faith. Key Reminder: Entitlement turns acts of love into transactions. Weekly Reflection: Where am I expecting something instead of receiving everything as grace? What would it look like to replace entitlement with gratitude this week? Episode Mentions: Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms – Justin Whitmel Earley - https://a.co/d/0dC8sxkP We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com Music Provided By: Derek McClardy Spotify

    1h 17m

  7. Apr 4

    Episode 002 – The Dad We Had and The Dad We’re Becoming

    How much does your relationship with your dad shape the way you father your kids? In Episode 2 of the Relatively Functional Dads podcast, we explore how our fathers shaped us—for better and for worse—and how God continues to father us through the places we’re still growing, healing, and maturing. We also share real-life dad moments from the week, including a Big Dad Energy win and a classic Should’ve Known Better moment. In this episode, we discuss: How your upbringing affects your parentingThe “fathering scripts” we all inherit about work, rest, anger, affection, and faithWhy the danger isn’t having a script—it’s never examining itThe stages of masculine growth and developmentHow God meets us in the places we missed or got stuckHow to honor your dad while still healing from what you didn’t receiveWhat it looks like to rewrite the script for your familyThis episode is about growth, healing, faith, and becoming intentional fathers—no matter what kind of dad you had. Key Reminder: You don’t get to choose your dad—but you do get to choose what you do with the story. Weekly Reflection: Take time to name the scripts handed to you by your dad. What are you grateful for and want to build on? Which do you want to rewrite for your family?Ask yourself: Which stage do you need God to meet you in right now? How do I need God to father me to provide wholeness?Episode Mentions: Fathered by God: Learning What Your Dad Could Never Teach You – John Eldredge - https://a.co/d/04hfnF6KANBESSA | A BPN Media Film on Haftu KnightIs 30yrs Old Too Young to Lead? with John Eldredge6 Stages of the Masculine Journey - John Eldredge - Beloved Son – Being seen, delighted in, provided for; safe and secure attachmentCowboy/Ranger – Freedom to play, test strength, and navigate the world through adventure and hard workWarrior – Strength, courage, and initiation; learning to fight for what is rightLover – Tenderness, intimacy, and connection; leading a wife and familyKing – Responsibility, blessing, and legacy; ruling with wisdom and humilitySage – Wisdom, mentorship, and counsel to younger generations as an “elder at the gates”We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com Music Provided By: Derek McClardy Spotify

    1h 25m

  8. Mar 28

    Episode 001 - Being Fathered By God

    What does it mean to be fathered by God—and how does that change the way we father our kids? In Episode 1 of the Relatively Functional Dads podcast, we talk about Christian fatherhood, parenting, faith, and the reality of being imperfect dads trying to lead our families well. We share real stories from our week as dads (the wins and the “Should’ve Known Better” moments), our personal fatherhood journeys, and the biggest surprises we’ve experienced as fathers. We also dive into a deeper conversation about: How becoming a dad changes the way you see God as FatherWhy you can’t give what you haven’t received as a parentThe importance of being safe, seen, secure, and soothed (attachment theory and parenting)The unhealthy places dads often go for comfort, identity, and reliefPractical ways to let God “father” you in everyday lifeThis is a fatherhood podcast focused on faith, fatherhood, spiritual growth, and family leadership—for dads who want to be present, intentional, and grounded in their faith. Key Reminder: Don’t try to be a better dad. Try to be a present son. Weekly Reflection: What does letting God father me look like in this season? How can I go to Him first to feel safe, secure, seen, and soothed? Episode Mentions: Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms – Justin Whitmel Earley - https://a.co/d/0fnff08lThe Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind – Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson - https://a.co/d/0fef3Kx9 We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com Music Provided By: Derek McClardy - Spotify

    1h 16m
  • 8 Episodes

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Relatively Functional Dads is a podcast for fathers doing their best and learning every day. Hosted by three young dads and brothers-in-law, we have honest conversations about faith, fatherhood, and real life. From sleepless nights and discipline struggles to marriage, leadership, and growing in faith at home, we talk about what it really looks like to show up as a dad. We’re not experts—just dads figuring it out together. Some days we’ve got it together. Other days, we’re just trying to make it to bedtime. If you’re a dad in the middle of it, you’re in the right place. New episodes every other Thursday

Information

  • Creator
    The Relatively Functional Dads
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Relatively Functional Dads
  • Show Website
    Relatively Functional Dads

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