Big weekend for us dads. Always a good excuse to slow down for a second and think about what this whole dad thing really means.

Whether you’ve been reading for a week or a year, you’re here because you care. About your kids. About showing up. About getting a little better.

And that’s everything right there.

Appreciate y’all. Have an awesome Father’s Day. We’ll see ya tomorrow for our ‘Summer Saturday’ edition with a surprise guest editor.

PS: If you’re new here, we mix it up on Fridays with a quick recap from the week and a few extra gems to head into the weekend right.

This might be our most powerful story to date and pretty cool that we get to release it over Father’s Day weekend.

Quick background: I met Mike a long time ago. He was dunking on people in high school, ripping guitar, and just always one of those genuinely good dudes.

We had our sons right around the same time in 2018. And when we started making these Go West films, I knew we were eventually going to tell his story.

Life threw Mike and his wife Hillary a curveball. How they responded is everything.

I’m not someone who gets super choked up by stuff, but this one hit me on a lot of levels. Fatherhood. Friendship. Gratitude. Perspective. All of it.

Our scrappy team is beyond proud of this film, and we’d be honored if you gave it a watch this weekend.

It’s a strong reminder of what really matters. And if it hits you, send it to another dad.

→ Watch It Here

Topic: When Did "Dad" Feel Real?

We asked dads when the title "Dad" actually started to feel real.

There wasn't a clear consensus.

One dad said: "It's one thing for adults to call you a dad. It's totally different to be called 'Dad' as your name."

Another shared that after his first child was born, he still felt more like a "parenting assistant." It wasn't until his second child arrived and life demanded more of him that the role truly clicked.

A few dads admitted they're still waiting for that moment. One has an 11-year-old and said it's still weird to think he helped create another human.

Maybe that's the takeaway. Becoming a dad happens in a day. Feeling like a dad can take years.

And sometimes it sneaks up on you in unexpected places. A cashier calling out "Mom and Dad" at Trader Joe's. A toddler yelling for you from the other room. A doctor saying, "Congratulations, Dad."

One day you realize nobody has called you by your first name all morning. You're just Dad now.

And somehow that's the best title you'll ever have.

T. with the office shed build. Excited to see the final product.

We want to see your projects. Send ‘em our way! Just reply to this email.

4 Rounds For Time:

Extra Credit: 1-mile finisher

🍻 Weekend Assignment: Before the weekend is over, write down three things you're proud of as a dad this year. Most dads spend plenty of time thinking about where they can be better. Spend two minutes thinking about what you've done well.

🎧 On Repeat: We just added some ‘Father’s Day-approved jams. Some deep cuts in there 😂 → Listen