Ambitious Dads
Ambitious Dads
Podcast Description
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: [email protected]
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes related to fatherhood, mental health, work-life balance, and emotional intelligence with episodes exploring personal stories like navigating the guilt of missed opportunities, balancing professional ambitions with family responsibilities, and discussing the joys and challenges of parenthood through a light-hearted lens, like sharing amusing parenting mishaps.
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.
Ranked in the Top 10% of all podcasts globally. Hosted by Jeff Hittner. Email Jeff with ideas for future episodes: [email protected]
Dr. Corey Holmes, former State Department affairs officer and author, shares his journey of raising a 5-year-old son in the Dominican Republic while building his writing career. This honest conversation explores the challenges of expat parenting, different disciplinary approaches between spouses, and how golf principles apply to fatherhood – patience, presence, and showing up consistently even on the bad days.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[00:01:32] – Expat Parenting Challenges
Discussion of language barriers and school transitions for their 5-year-old son
Key quote: “I want to go home. I miss our house… I want to see my red door.”
[00:06:59] – Parental Anxiety vs. Child Resilience
How parents often have more anxiety about new situations than their children
Key quote: “Sometimes you just have to push them, let them go out there and stand back and force yourself to just stand there and just observe.”
[00:09:31] – Golf as a Metaphor for Fatherhood
Connection between golf’s lessons of patience and being present with parenting
Key quote: “Golf can’t be rushed and neither can fatherhood.”
[00:11:33] – Different Disciplinary Approaches
Navigating different parenting styles between spouses
Key quote: “I’m not here to be his friend. I’m here to be his father… kids actually want discipline. They want structure.”
[00:17:25] – Leading by Example
The importance of modeling behavior you want to see in children
Key quote: “You can’t ask your child to do some stuff that you don’t do specifically when you’re talking about organization and being clean and tidy.”
[00:24:23] – Redefining Ambitious Fatherhood
How to maintain professional ambitions while being present as a father
Key quote: “Being an ambitious dad means that you can still be thriving in your sector of choice, but you don’t have to negate the presence of your children.”
[00:30:59] – Unexpected Joys of Fatherhood
Discovering therapeutic aspects of cooking and Saturday morning pancake rituals
Key quote: “Cooking has been very therapeutic… by seven 30 we’re making pancakes.”
[00:33:47] – Managing Parental Exhaustion
How fatigue affects parenting and the importance of self-care
Key quote: “I have to be my best self for him. If I’m not my best self, if I’m running on empty, I have nothing to give.”
On June 17th, I’m hosting a free, live workshop, Become a Better Leader By Becoming a Better Dad, for fathers who are tired of living a divided life. We’ll explore how “Default Dad” shows up when you’re tired, overloaded, or distracted, and how those same patterns affect your leadership at home and at work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/better-dad-better-leader
Sign Up for the Ambitious Dads Newsletter: https://www.ambitiousdads.com
Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com
Subscribe on:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-dads/id1815863328
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xCHG30Ms9wcGRJmDqHcW8?si=46654ba2a0654099 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads
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