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The Daily Dad

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The audio companion to DailyDad.com’s daily email meditations on fatherhood, read by Ryan Holiday. Each daily reading will help you find the wisdom, inner strength, and good humor you need in order to be a great dad. Learn from historical figures and contemporary fathers how to do your most important job. Find more at dailydad.com.

Episodes

This Solves Most Problems

“We’ve said before that taking a walk will solve most of your parenting problems. Getting the kids outside, rocking them with the ambulatory sway of our species, stimulating them with some sunlight and scenery. It’s decent for your relationships too—with both your kids and your spouse—to get some space, turn down the volume, distract the mind.” Ryan describes the simple solution to most of your problems, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to l...

Apr 12, 20212 minEp. 86

Daily Dad on How to Raise a Resilient Child

“Every parent wants a resilient child. Nobody feels good sending a fragile or vulnerable kid in the world. We know that resilience isn’t just a tool to weather the inescapable hardships in life, but also the secret to surviving everyday problems without losing your cool, like dealing with difficult people or running late to an important meeting.” On today’s podcast, Ryan reads a few fundamental strategies for dads looking to teach their kids the art of resiliency. This episode is brought to you ...

Apr 10, 202113 minEp. 85

It's Your Job To Check In

“Nobody steals a scene on Seinfeld quite like George’s parents, Frank and Estelle Costanza. And of course, nobody makes George more miserable than them. They are a crazy, absurd set of parents.” Ryan uses the example George Costanza from Seinfeld to explain why it’s your responsibility to understand your child’s life, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more people liste...

Apr 09, 20213 minEp. 84

Have You Seen Their Perspective?

“We think they’re making excuses. We think they’re making stuff up. We just want them to go back and sleep in their bed. Or listen to their coach. Or get their work done. It’s fine, we tell them. Just give it a try. Wear your jacket, it’s not that uncomfortable. Do your homework, it’s not that difficult.” Ryan explains why you should do your best to see things through your kids eyes, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Appl...

Apr 08, 20213 minEp. 83

You’ll Always Have This

“The last twelve months have been rough. They were defined by lockdowns and job losses and masks and wildfires and protests. But what about someone with a one-year-old? To them, the last twelve months certainly had all those things, but it was mostly defined by the birth of their child, their first smile, their first…so many things.” Ryan explains why your children should be your most prized possession, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to le...

Apr 07, 20213 minEp. 82

If You Want Your Kids To Respect You

“Every parent wants to be respected. They want to be listened to. They want their advice to be taken seriously. They want to be looked up to. And how do far too many of us try to get these things from our kids? By endless words. By force. By fear. By simply assuming it’s ours by right.” Ryan explains how you can truly earn the admiration of your children, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. Ryan Holiday's book Lives of the Stoics is on sale as an E-Book for just $1.99! The pages of this book start wit...

Apr 06, 20213 minEp. 81

They Don’t Know Your Battles

“The story of Major Taylor is an inspiring one...and a tragic one. Major Taylor was the greatest cyclist of his generation, perhaps one of the great athletes to ever live. The only problem was that he was born in 1878 and he was born black in America.” Ryan illustrates why you should always be open with your children by telling the story of Major Taylor, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our ...

Apr 05, 20213 minEp. 80

Daily Dad and Ron Lieber on Preparing Your Kids For Financial Success

Ryan speaks to author Ron Lieber about the key Stoic virtue of temperance, how money can be a great tool for teaching, how parents and kids should approach college and gap years, and more. Ron Lieber is a bestselling author of several books and has been a New York Times columnist since 2008. His newest book The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make released in January 2021. This episode is brought to you by Harry’s , the...

Apr 03, 202157 minEp. 79

Teach Them To Think and Evaluate

“Plutarch tells us the story of a Spartan leader: "As he reclined after his meal the Eiren would tell one boy to sing, while to another he would pose a question which called for a considered reply, like "Who among the men is best?' or 'What is your opinion of so-and -so's action?' Thereby boys grew accustomed to judging excellence and to making a critical appraisal of the citizens right from the start.” Ryan discusses how you should mold your kids minds to question and review, on today’s Daily D...

Apr 02, 20213 minEp. 78

They Get It Better Than You

“We told the story recently of the wakeup call that Rich Cohen got from his son’s hockey coach. Complaining about playing time, the coach asked if Rich’s son was happy, and when Rich said he was, the coach asked, “Then what do you care?”” Ryan explains why you should listen to your kids view on things, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more people listen to the podcast...

Apr 01, 20213 minEp. 77

It’s Usually Not an Accident

“Florence Nightingale was an incredible woman. She revolutionized nursing. She saved thousands and thousands of lives. This came as a surprise in Victorian England because women weren’t supposed to do career-type things, let alone something as hands on as work in a hospital. Her spirit and her determination came as a surprise to her parents too, as we’ve talked about, who thought their wealth and status, should have bestowed on their daughter a quiet dignity and taste for the finer things.” Ryan...

Mar 31, 20213 minEp. 76

It’s a Family Affair

“Taylor Branch’s incredible series on Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights Movement spans three volumes. It’s almost 3000 pages with hundreds of footnotes. It won awards like the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award. More importantly, it’s really, really good—a must-read for anyone trying to understand social change or American history.” Ryan describes how your kids are a part of the journey that you are on, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoy...

Mar 30, 20213 minEp. 75

Be Careful of Your Implications

“In an early episode of The Crown, Princess Margaret and her sister Queen Elizabeth wax nostalgic about their loving, late father, who used to refer to his daughters as his “pride and joy.” It was a beautiful memory, but also a painful one.” Ryan explains how the things that you aren’t aware of may be impacting your children the most, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the ...

Mar 29, 20213 minEp. 74

Daily Dad and Volleyball Legend Gabrielle Reece on How Family Gives Us Meaning

Ryan speaks to Gabrielle Reece about how family gives us meaning, the stillness that is required to accurately observe ourselves, how to properly maintain healthy relationships and find enough for yourself, and more. Gabrielle Reece is a professional volleyball player and author of the New York Times bestseller My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper . She is also an executive member of Laird Superfood and is also the host of the Gabby Reece Show . This episode is brought to you by Box of Aweso...

Mar 27, 20211 hr 8 minEp. 73

Do You Do This Over Dinner?

“Some families watch TV at dinner. Some families eat separately. Some families talk idly about their day. Dinner at Agnes Callard’s house is different. She and her children debate. ” Ryan challenges you to think about what your family dinner conversation is concerned with, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more people listen to the podcast, the more we can invest into ...

Mar 26, 20213 minEp. 72

They Don’t Understand Time (Do You?)

“Think about where you were fifteen years ago. Twenty. Just how long ago that was. Now think about your thoughts from fifteen years ago. Maybe that takes you back too far, but even that is illustrative: when we’re younger, we have a very limited conception of time… because we haven’t experienced much of it.” Ryan explains why you should instill a genuine concept of time in your kids, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Appl...

Mar 25, 20213 minEp. 71

Be Something and Somebody

“E.H Harriman was a hell of a businessman and, as we’ve talked about before, a surprisingly good father. He had a reputation as a rapacious industrialist, but at home he was tender and engaged with his kids. He was patient and instilled in them good values.” Ryan discusses why you should set high expectations for your children, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. This episode was brought to you by Magic Spoon . Magic Spoon makes delicious cereal just like you remember from when you were a kid—only thi...

Mar 24, 20213 minEp. 70

Lay Down These Rules

“Every family is going to have their own rules. Some parents want a “Yes, sir” and Yes, Ma’am,” others are OK being called by their first name. Some tolerate elbows on the table, others won’t even allow screen time. Every family is different, so every family will have different rules.” Ryan explains why you must show more than you tell, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. The Boy Who Would Be King is out now, written by Ryan Holiday in the depths of the pandemic (not unlike the one Marcus ruled throug...

Mar 23, 20213 minEp. 69

Are You Telling Them This?

“As a young novelist, Susan Straight was told by her mentor, the great James Baldwin, “You must continue to write. It is imperative.” Imagine how different that was than the example she got from her own mother, who as we explained , believed her own creative life was over the day she had kids.” Ryan explains why you must believe in your children, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibili...

Mar 22, 20212 minEp. 68

How to Teach Your Kids About Ancient Philosophy

On today’s podcast, Ryan Holiday discusses some tips for teaching your kids about ancient philosophy and Stoicism. We want to pass on our knowledge to our children, but it isn't always easy to know how to best do that. Skillshare is an online learning community that offers membership with meaning. With so much to explore, real projects to create, and the support of fellow creatives, Skillshare empowers you to accomplish real growth. Skillshare is also incredibly affordable—especially when compar...

Mar 20, 202113 minEp. 67

We Can Choose Our Parents

“We were given two parents. Or maybe one. Or maybe more. All of our upbringings were different, and outside of our control. We didn’t get to decide who our mom was or who our dad was, if they got divorced, if they were present, if our stepparents were a blessing or a nightmare.” Ryan discusses the ability that you have to choose who you model yourself after, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. The Boy Who Would Be King is out now, written by Ryan Holiday in the depths of the pandemic (not unlike the o...

Mar 19, 20213 minEp. 66

Classics Are The Key

“You like stuff. your kids like different stuff. It’s a conflict as old as parenthood itself. Music, food, art--the generational divide is real. Does this mean we can’t even connect? No, of course not. There is something we should always be able to enjoy together--the stuff that transcends generations: The classics.” Ryan explains why you should bond with your children over things that will stand the test of time, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. The Boy Who Would Be King is out now, written by Rya...

Mar 18, 20213 minEp. 65

Here’s What Matters

“Rich Cohen loves hockey. He loves watching his kids excel at it. Like any parent, the last thing he wants to see is for them to struggle, or worse, to not get their fair share--whether it’s playing time or respect.” Ryan explains why you should learn to let go of what isn’t essential to your job when parenting your children, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. *** If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more peop...

Mar 17, 20212 minEp. 64

Your Job Is To Bother

“They’d rather you not check in so much. They’d rather you not tell them how you feel about them so much. They’d rather you not hug them in front of their friends. And? It’s not a coincidence that father rhymes with bother. That’s our job. To be up in their business.” Ryan discusses the importance of being involved in your children’s lives, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. The Boy Who Would Be King is out now, written by Ryan Holiday in the depths of the pandemic (not unlike the one Marcus ruled th...

Mar 16, 20212 minEp. 63

The Kinds of Stories To Tell Them

“It was a dark time. The world was falling apart. School was a distant memory. All they had was time. Is this your life? Or is it the plot of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road? ” Ryan explains why you should expose your kids to inspiring and entertaining stories that instill values in them, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. The Boy Who Would Be King is out now, written by Ryan Holiday in the depths of the pandemic (not unlike the one Marcus ruled through), this new beautifully crafted book is available now...

Mar 15, 20213 minEp. 62

Daily Dad and Illustrator Victor Juhasz on Marcus Aurelius and The Boy Who Would Be King

On today’s podcast, Ryan speaks to his collaborator and illustrator for his new book The Boy Who Would Be King about the process of creating the art for the book, imposing discipline on yourself, how he was impacted by Marcus Aurelius’ story, and more. Victor Juhasz is an artist and illustrator whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Time Magazine, and Esquire Magazine, and more. He has illustrated many books including G is for Gladiator: An Ancient Rome Alphabet and is for Zeus: A Greek Mytho...

Mar 13, 20211 hr 5 minEp. 61

Transcend this Bitter Math

“We know our parents sacrificed for us. That’s what history is...people giving stuff up for future generations, whether it’s crossing lonely oceans or fighting in wars or, as it was in the old days, enduring painful, suffocating relationships and stultifying gender roles.” Ryan explains why you should be careful about how you view the relationship with your children, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. The Boy Who Would Be King is out now, written by Ryan Holiday in the depths of the pandemic (not unl...

Mar 12, 20213 minEp. 60

They’re Only Going To Ask You So Many Times

“They’re only going to ask you so many times: to get in the pool with them, to sit next to them, to help with their homework, to talk about the problem they’re having. No, not because you only get a certain number of summers and car rides and moments with your kids, like we’ve talked about. They’re only going to ask you so many times, because at some point they’re going to get the message.” Ryan talks about why the urgency of the present should encourage you to be better to your kids, on today’s...

Mar 11, 20212 minEp. 59

What’s More Important?

“Yeah, it costs money to heat a house warmer than it needs to be. Yeah, rooms should be clean. Yeah, it’s annoying when shoes are left in a pile. Yeah, you told them to knock that off already. But? But what’s more important? ” Ryan explains why you shouldn’t sweat the small stuff, cause it’s not what really matters, on today’s Daily Dad podcast. The Boy Who Would Be King is out now, written by Ryan Holiday in the depths of the pandemic (not unlike the one Marcus ruled through), this new beautifu...

Mar 10, 20213 minEp. 58

You Can Educate and Entertain

“You want to put them to sleep, so you read them the first book off the shelf. You’re on the couch with your daughter, so you watch whatever movie is on TV. You want the kids to relax in the car, so you put something on the iPad.” Ryan explains why the stories that you expose your children to should inspire and instruct them, and launches his newest book The Boy Who Will Be King , on today’s Daily Dad podcast. The Boy Who Would Be King is out today, written by Ryan Holiday in the depths of the p...

Mar 09, 20213 minEp. 57