Dad Conversations

Today you'll hear from Ben Connell, the County Councilman, Attorney, National Champion Wrestler, Farmer, and Father of 3. 

We discussed:

being a county councilman

national championship in wrestling

the mindset it takes to win a national championship

hanging out with Clayton Christensen and HBS faculty

being a double UNC grad

partnering with his father as an attorney

growing up in a family with multiple state champions

the wisdom of Thomas Sowell

how faith has impacted his life

operating a light-touch tech-enabled farm

fostering strength and independence in children

podcast recommendations

Tip of the Spear Foundation

Today you'll hear from Dorian Abbot, the professor, climate change and exoplanet scientist, and cancel culture survivor. 

We discussed:

• Latest research
• exoplanets and the search for life
• climate change
• getting attacked by a woke mob for being reasonable (begins at 29:09)
• lessons learned from his dad
• what future fathers want to know
• favorite books
• learning from failure
• best investments he's made
• reasons for optimism

Dorian on Twitter

Faculty page

Today you'll hear from Chauncie Thrift, the restaurant manager, soccer star, and father of 1.

We discussed: 

• managing a restaurant during Covid
• life advice from his dad
• having a man yell in your face at the Air Force Academy
• getting humbled by a strong coach to become a successful D1 soccer athlete
• being a black man in Charlottesville, VA
• his thoughts on racism in America
• opening up about learning from a failure
• advice for new dads
• helping people with second chances
• much more

Charleston Sports Pub

Today you'll hear from Greg Brannon, the doctor, former political candidate, constitutional government advocate, entrepreneur, and Father of 7.

We discussed:

• His career delivering babies
• Changes in medicine
• Merging modern western medicine with "alternative" medicine
• Home schooling
• Making use of dinner time
• Running for US Senate 
• Corruption in local government
• limited constitutional government
• The real Kings and Queens in America
• Becoming a better person
• and much more

Greg on Facebook

Optimal Bio

Today you'll hear from Seth VanderVlucht, a software sales executive, little league coach, faith leader, and father of 3 boys. 

We discussed:

• Coaching little league
• Screwing up in public
• Judging others based on their best days
• Selling time shares
• Favorite books
• Lessons learned as a dad
• Marriage advice
• Reasons for optimism

Today you'll meet Ethan Chandler, the tattoo artist, cancer survivor, foodie, and father of 1. 

We discussed:

• Getting started and refining your craft in the tattoo industry
• recent tattoo trends
• cancer diagnosis and treatment story
• growing up in Lugoff, SC
• best fast food restaurants
• Being a dad
• Recent improvements as a husband
• reasons to be optimistic for the future
• and much more

Today you'll meet Jeremy Deaver, a healthcare administrator, startup enthusiast, and Father of 4 children.

We discussed: 

What healthcare administrators do

Healthy collaboration between doctors and business people

Lessons learned from his dad

Growing up in Kinston, NC

Grinding through an unpaid internship for experience

Progressing through his career

Cryptocurrency 

Jeremy on Twitter

Today you'll meet Bruce Mullan, an Entrepreneur, Agility Consultant, Volunteer, and Father of 3.

Bruce's Consulting Firm: Vinaigrette Leadership Agility

Today you'll hear from Jerome Beaman, a technology salesman, CSAP alum, aspiring minimalist, hide-and-seek champion, and Father of 1.

Topics:

• entry into Cisco
• growing up in Mississippi
• being a husband and father
• much more

Today you'll meet "Smile'n" Sam Alvey, a famous UFC fighter, musician, foster parent, and father of 5.

We discussed:

Getting started in MMA

Working for an organization without signing any contract

Comparing nut shots from kids to getting punched by a grown man

Highs and lows of his career

Musical interests

Pre-fight tradition (pizza)

Being a dad

Adopting a foster child

Marriage advice

much more...

Sam's Website

Sam on twitter

Today you'll meet Dustin. He is a Cancer Survivor, Non-Profit Fundraiser, Author, Podcaster, Sales Manager, and Father of 1

We talked about 

• his story of being diagnosed with a serious form of Leukemia right before his wedding,
• receiving a sick Standing O
• the topic of his book: Cheeto Dust
• finding happiness
• life-changing books and podcasts
• home schooling
• being a dad

Dustin's Website

Dustin's new Podcast

Today you'll meet Eric Knipp, a VP of Systems Engineering, MMA fighter, Author, Fitness Enthusiast, and Father. 

We discussed:

• His approach to managing a team of experienced, technical salespeople
• An incredibly embarrassing professional failure
• His workout routine
• Favorite books
• Growing up poor
• An awful grunt job as a 17-yr old
• His attitude and philosophy on life and leadership
• The joys of being a dad
• Choosing not to beat yourself up as a dad
• Why he got into MMA in his late 30's
• A good cause he is passionate about
• Writing a book on the fly in his early 20s

Today you'll meet Mike Grinberg, a husband, podcaster, founder of a marketing firm, and father to a precious young girl born at only 11 ounces, not pounds. 

We discussed:

His experience as a husband with a wife very sick during her pregnancy

His daughter's health and long-term outlook being born so early

Starting a marketing firm to get more flexibility

Growing up with parents from Eastern Europe

His life story

His approach to being a dad

Mike's Podcast: Mixing Business with Pleasure

Mike on LinkedIn

Mike's firm: Proofpoint Marketing

Today you'll meet Mike Coles. Mike is an attorney with his own law firm, specializing in startups. He also founded his own company, Choose Your Reader, approximately 2 years ago. 

We discussed:

his startup

cooking

poverty, wealth, and happiness

advice for other founders

and much more

Choose Your Reader

Coles Firm

Today you'll meet Jeremy, the Vice President of Americas Software and Services sales at Cisco Systems. He is also an avid surfer, runner, and father of 2.

We spoke about:

His career in Sales and Sales Leadership

The best and worst parts of being an executive

Growing up in SoCal

Intro to sales: competing with Xerox

Favorite books

How a significant obstacle set him up for success

An important truth very few people agree with him on

What he wishes new dads understood

Marriage advice

Lessons learned parenting teenagers

Overcoming bad days

Lightning round questions

Jeremy on LinkedIn

This was another episode that instantly ranks among the best. You'll get to meet John, an avid mountain climber and global adventurer. 

John has some crazy stories to tell about: 

being caught up in a third-world civil war with blow darts and bows and arrows

getting saved by the secretary of state

insane animal encounters

high-stakes teamwork and interdependency on each trek

hiking up the peak in Antarctica 1000 miles from other life forms

financing his journeys through creating self-sustaining businesses

his book that teaches kindness, courage, and grit to boys becoming men.

https://www.johnbeede.com/

Today you'll hear from Forrest Tuff, a Film Producer, Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, D1 Athlete, and Father of 3. 

We spoke about his company One Vision Productions, his role as CEO, lessons learned in small business, his life story, growing up with a very strict preacher as his father, playing basketball in college, and building his company. We also got to learn about his philosophy on life and his approach to being a dad. 

Forresttuff.com

Today you'll hear from Adam Young, the director of business development at Weave HQ, a cycling enthusiast, and Father of 3. 

Adam shares the incredibly journey that his family has been through with the ongoing health challenges of their youngest child. You will enjoy hearing his story and hug your kids tighter tonight. 

Connect with Adam on LinkedIn

Today you'll hear from Russell Vaughan. Russ is a Senior Solutions Engineer at VMware, former Systems Engineer at Cisco, lifelong Sci-Fi fan, and father of 1. 

Today you'll hear from  Fuss, a Navy Seal, Troop Commander on Dev Group, Speaker, Financial Services Professional, and Father of 3. 

We Discussed:

What is a SEAL, and what do they do?

What is a Troop Commander? What is Development Group?

For the average person who has watched movies about Navy Seals and Dev Group, what do we have wrong in our understanding of who you are and what you do?

What is a typical day like when you are deployed? What are some of the roles on the team?

How has your military experience prepared you for joining the civilian workforce?

In what ways are veterans ahead of the curve? Any advice for veterans who are joining the civilian workforce in the near future?  

Life Story - growing up in military family, wrestling in college

General life questions

A little about his family and an epic road trip

Becoming a better husband and father

Patriot Leadership Development

Fuss' Family Travel Blog