I started this with a few thoughts in a Google Doc. Now, I’m 100 newsletters in and more excited than ever to see this community grow. Appreciate you being here — and reading along.

📕 DAD WISDOM 

Always Watching

Your kids are basically walking surveillance drones. They might not clean their room or remember where their shoes are, but trust—they’re studying you like it’s game film.

• That sigh when your partner asks for help? Logged.

• The sarcasm? Filed.

• How you show up when no one’s “watching”? Burned into their memory.

We talk a big game about raising respectful, kind kids—but the truth is, they’re learning way more from how we treat their mom than anything we say.

So every time you say thank you, listen without checking your phone, or offer to take the night shift—you’re not just being a good husband. You’re programming their relationship software.

Your kids may tune out your words. But how you love their mom? That sticks.

RAD DAD 

James Van Der Beek

From Dawson’s Creek to six kids deep, James Van Der Beek has traded teenage angst for dad wisdom—and he’s crushing it.

Gone are the days of pondering life on a dock in Capeside. These days, James is navigating something far more intense: the controlled chaos of a family of eight.

Fatherhood has completely reshaped him. He once said, “Becoming a father is the craziest thing I've ever done, but also the thing that's made me happiest.” That joy has been tested—miscarriages, health scares, even a stage 3 cancer diagnosis—but his response has been nothing short of remarkable: show up, stay grounded, love hard.

One of the most powerful lessons he’s shared? That our kids need to know they’re loved not for what they do—but simply for who they are. That’s real dad wisdom.

From red carpets to bedtime routines, Van Der Beek’s journey proves one thing: being a great dad isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence, perspective, and the willingness to embrace the beautiful mess.

Follow James on IG at @vanderjames to catch some sweet behind-the-scenes dad life.

DAD TOYS 

Every Dad Needs a Pair

Whether you're watching your kid's soccer game from the nosebleeds or spotting wildlife on your next camping trip, you should probably add a set of Nikon binoculars to your dad bag. Lightweight enough for all-day wear but durable enough to survive being dropped by curious little hands. Get these, and you’re set for a long time.

PS: Dad Hack - These will keep your kids busy!

→ Get yours at Nikon

DAD BOD 

Feed Your Gut the Good Stuff

We read this over at Arnold’s Pump Club—and it’s worth passing on: probiotics get all the love, but polyphenols might be the real gut-health MVP.

Found in stuff like berries, dark chocolate, coffee, and leafy greens, these plant compounds feed your good gut bacteria, reduce the bad, and support digestion, immunity, and energy.

Here’s your quick grocery list:

• Berries

• 70% dark chocolate

• Coffee or green tea

• Olive oil

• Leafy greens

• Walnuts & almonds

We’re not knocking probiotics (take ‘em every day), but don’t forget to start with your plate. Your gut (and dad bod) will thank you.

JUNK DRAWER 

COMMUNITY NOTES

• We had a solid turnout yesterday for Run Club in Charleston. If you’re in the area, join us.

• If you’re able to rally a few dads in your hometown to join a run, let us know. Email [email protected]

• Dad Advice from the crew: “Push through the hard because the good times will come. The hard is how you earn the good.”

DAD HUMOR