Happy Monday, gents.

Today’s a big one for us: Issue #200.

Consistency isn’t sexy, but it compounds. Appreciate every read, reply, and forward, whether you’ve been here since day one or just found us.

Cool things coming in 2026. If you’ve been enjoying these, wanna see more of something, etc., hit reply and let us know.

I found myself in a rare spot on Friday night. My wife took the kids to a Christmas play, and suddenly it was 5pm and the house was quiet until almost 9:30.

And I honestly didn’t know what to do with myself.

Do I work? Do I enjoy the silence? Do I just sit there and… exist?

It’s a strange feeling that shows up the deeper you get into dad life. That low hum in your head that says you should be doing something. Fixing something. Helping someone. Showing up somewhere.

Part of that is restlessness. But part of it is something else.

It’s identity.

Being a dad rewires you. Your default setting becomes usefulness. So when the house goes quiet, it can feel off, even when it’s peaceful.

And maybe that’s not a bad thing.

It means you care. It means you’ve built a life that needs you. It means doing something has slowly turned into being someone.

So if the quiet ever feels strange, take it as a sign. You’re in it. You’re showing up. And that’s a pretty good place to be.

Chris Burkard is a world-renowned photographer and filmmaker whose work has taken him to some of the most remote corners of the planet.

We’ve been fans of Chris for years, so getting a few minutes from him to talk fatherhood was a big one for us.

Chris and his wife are raising two boys, and despite a career built on adventure, he’s quick to admit that parenting humbled him fast. No blueprint. No certainty. Just learning as he goes.

The hardest part? Letting go of the idea that he needed to have it all figured out. The surprise was realizing that the early years he once feared would slow him down were actually the moments worth protecting.

The best part is simple. Watching his boys experience pure joy. Not achievements. Not milestones. Just awe, laughter, and curiosity. Coming from someone who has chased wonder across continents, that perspective hits different.

Chris’s guiding belief is straightforward: showing up is the job. The real adventure isn’t always out there. Most days, it’s at home.

👉 Read the full ‘Rad Dad’ Q&A with Chris here and give him a follow.

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It snaps on with a serious magnet, gives you a rock-solid grip for one-handed scrolling, and flips out into a kickstand when you’re watching a game, taking a call, or pretending your phone is a desktop computer.

Get one here.

The weather sucks. You’re tired. The couch is calling your name.

Here’s the truth: motivation isn’t coming. You have to go get it.

Cold runs. Freezing garages. Rain-soaked walks. The dads who stay in shape aren’t more fired up, they’re just better at starting.

A few ways to push through the elements (and your own excuses):

Remember the after. No one regrets the workout they didn’t feel like doing. This isn’t about crushing PRs. It’s about proving to yourself that conditions don’t run your life.

Every ‘one sec’ adds up.

This week’s focus: When they ask you to play, drop what you’re doing once this week and say “Yeah, let’s go.”