Happy Monday. After a weekend of getting absolutely steamrolled by my children, I’m almost grateful for a work inbox. Congrats to Rory McIlroy for completing the Grand Slam. Fun to watch!

📕 DAD WISDOM 

Making Your Own Playbook

Every dad brings a history with him. Some of it’s solid — the way he showed up for games, taught you how to shake a hand, or grilled the perfect burger. Some of it... maybe not so much.

But here’s the deal: You’re not here to run his playbook page-for-page. You’re here to take the good, question the rest, and write your own version.

That might mean being more emotionally available. Saying “I love you” more often. Asking hard questions. Breaking cycles. Starting new traditions.

You’re not erasing the past — you’re learning from it.

Legacy isn’t about repeating. It’s about refining.

RAD DAD 

Andrew McCutchen

Andrew McCutchen, AKA Cutch, the five-time All-Star, is a dad to three sons. And if you scroll his socials, one thing’s clear: family comes first.

McCutchen has spoken openly about how becoming a dad changed his perspective. After the birth of his first son in 2017, he told The Players' Tribune:

“Everything I do now, I do for him.”

In interviews, he’s reflected on how fatherhood pushed him to grow—not just as a player, but as a man. In 2020, when asked what he’s learned most from parenting, he said:

“Patience. And how to just slow down and enjoy the moment.”

McCutchen also sees his role as a dad through a generational lens. In a 2022 Father’s Day post, he talked about “breaking cycles” and the importance of showing up for his kids emotionally, not just physically. He’s part of a wave of modern athletes redefining what it looks like to lead on and off the field.

And yes—he’s that dad who still makes time for batting practice and preschool drop-offs.

Follow Cutch here »

DAD TOYS 

Etekcity Infrared Thermometer

Let's be real—you don’t actually know if your pizza stone is at the perfect 750°F by eye. Enter: this infrared temp gun from Etekcity.

Whether you’re grilling, cooking pizzas, or nerding out on your cast-iron, just point, click, and instantly see the surface temperature. Plus, it's rated 4.7 stars from thousands of buyers—which is a win in our book. Level up your cooking game without burning your knuckles.

→ Get it here

DAD BOD 

Face Dunking

A bowl of ice water and a face dunk…

File this one under: “Weird but weirdly effective.” Cold plunges might be the flashy wellness trend, but lately, a growing number of athletes, and biohackers are going low-tech with a bowl of ice water and a face dunk.

Why? It stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system—aka the “rest and recover” side of your brain. It can reduce stress, bring your heart rate down, and give you that instant reset when the day’s gone sideways.

Feeling overwhelmed? Grab a bowl, fill it with water and ice, and dunk your face for 15–30 seconds. Doesn’t sound like much, but trust us—it hits.

Want the science behind it? Learn more here.

JUNK DRAWER 

• Our Built for More Slack community is starting to bump. Great to see the conversations rolling outside of the newsletter. If you submitted a form, I’m on it. If you’d like to learn more, click here.

• Run Clubs: We’re trying to get some grassroots run/workout clubs going. I’ve spoken to a few of you. If you can rally up some dads, hit us up, and we’ll get you set up on the Heylo app.

• Challenge of the week: 100 pushups per day. Do something intentional with your kid(s) this week — no matter their age.

DAD HUMOR