Kids’ fears grow up with them. Babies fear loud noises and separation, young kids battle monsters in the dark, and older kids worry about fitting in at school. In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about our kids’ fears and how dads can help guide them through it all.

Why This Matters
When kids are afraid, they need help processing their feelings.

Key Takeaways

· Fear and worry are different: Fear is a present problem while worry is a future problem.

· Bullying is #1: Pew Research conducted between 2020–25 showed virtually all kids fear being bullied.

· Failure is terrifying: As kids age, the idea they won’t succeed becomes a major fear for many kids.

Practical Tips for Dads
When your kids are fearful, try these action steps:

1. Acknowledge Their Fear.

2. Ask Why This Scares Them.

3. Consider Your Words.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 02:33 | Childhood Fears That Stick With Us

02:33 – 05:36 | Fear of Losing Parents as a Kid

05:36 – 07:11 | Common Fears Kids Have Today

07:11 – 09:01 | When Childhood Fear Turns Serious

09:01 – 11:54 | Fear vs. Courage: What Dads Should Teach Kids

11:54 – 13:36 | How Fear of Failure Starts Early

13:36 – 15:32 | How to Talk to Kids About Fear

15:32 – 17:20 | How Parents Accidentally Create Anxiety

17:20 – 21:22 | Why Overprotecting Kids Backfires

21:22 – End | Helping Kids Build Courage and Resilience

APD Pro Move:
The next time your kids say they’re afraid, tell them about a time you were afraid. Tell them how you showed bravery in the moment and encourage them to do the same.

All Pro Dad Resources

Episode 2: How Can I Help My Anxious Kid?

4 Responses That Turn Scared Kids Into Brave Kids

5 Ways to Raise A Son Who’ll Overcome His Fears

5 Fears We Pass On To Our Kids

The 9 Most Common Childhood Fears Explained

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Finances. Job performance. Relationship strife. All of those things impact your stress. Do you know how to handle it? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about the plague of dad stress and how vital it is for men to manage it well.

Why This Matters
When you’re stressed out, you’re not at your best for your kids.

Key Takeaways

· There’s no single culprit: Finances, their jobs, and relationships are consistently listed as the top three stressors for men.

· There are 3 kinds of stress: Acute, episodic, and chronic. All three impact dads differently.

· There are ways to deal with it: Methods like slow breathing and pausing help men manage their stress.

· Short-term stress can be good: It helps your immune system fight.

Stress Relief for Dads: Simple Mental Health Tips That Actually Work

1. When you’re stressed, breathe.

2. Name your stress.

3. Talk about it.

4. Pour into yourself

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 02:40 | Stressed-Out Dads and Teenage Reactions

02:40 – 05:42 | “I’m More Stressed Than I Realize”

05:42 – 07:03 | What Stress Really Is

07:03 – 10:10 | The Top 3 Stressors for Men

10:10 – 11:38 | The Work–Life Balance Spiral

11:38 – 14:11 | When Your Stress Spills Onto Your Family

14:11 – 16:48 | Kids Know When Dad Is Stressed—Even If He Doesn’t

16:48 – 20:26 | You’re Modeling Stress Management

20:26 – 23:50 | Real, Scientific Breathing

23:50 – End | Becoming a Calmer Dad

APD Pro Move:
1) Practice breathing. Inhale twice and exhale slowly.

2) Find a trusted person you can lean on to talk about your stress.

All Pro Dad Resources:

Episode 31 – Tony Dungy: Is Work-Life Balance Even Possible?

5 Things You Don’t Need to Stress About as a Dad

How to Reduce the Stress Level in Your Life

iMOM Feel Wheel

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Kids are living online, so it makes sense they want to get in on the fun. In a 2023 poll by Morning Consult, more than half of kids said they wanted to be social media influencers. As a dad, would you support that dream? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about the dangers that come with being social media influencers.

Why This Matters
Kids want to be liked, so they tend to imitate the people who seem to be the most liked.

What Are the Dangers of Becoming an Influencer?
1. Safety

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2024 that the followers of one particular pre-teen girl influencer was 92% adult men.

2. Pressure

The pressure to produce daily content, look perfect, and maintain an audience is not something kids are equipped to deal with, nor should they.

3. Exploitation

Once kids start making money it’s going to be hard for parents to pull the plug. The Netflix documentary Bad Influence is a perfect example.

4. Negative Feedback

Kids don’t usually have the experience, perspective, or identity to handle negative criticism from strangers.

5. Social Media Impact

Influencing takes place primarily on social media, which invites kids to pursue the unattainable, namely being perfect.

Important Episode Timestamps
00:00 – 00:36 | Childhood Dreams and Aspirations

00:36 – 02:17 | The Kids Want to Be YouTubers

02:17 – 03:38 | The Seven-Year-Old With 1,000 Views

03:38 – 06:22 | The First Red Flag: Who’s Watching Your Kids?

06:22 – 07:42 | Kids Are Still Developing Identity and Belonging

07:42 – 10:39 | The Hidden Weight of Early Fame

10:39 – 12:25 | Disturbing Stats About Pre-Teen Influencers

12:25 – 17:01 | The Exploitation Trap — When Money Clouds Judgment

17:01 – 18:12 | No Laws Protect Kids Online

18:12 – End | How to Respond When Your Kid Wants to Be an Influencer

APD Pro Move:
Talk with your kids about influencers. Ask them who they follow on social media, watch online, and what they think life is like for influencers.

Resources:

Episode 46 – How Do I Parent in a Social Media World?

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Modern dads are around their kids much more than men were a generation or two ago. We see their struggles more and have opportunities to fix them, but should we? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about supporting our kids without fighting all their battles.

Why This Matters
One of the best ways we can support our kids is to stand beside them as they fight their own battles.

Key Takeaways

· Modern dads are more involved: Research shows dads now spend 3–4x more time with our kids than men did in the 1970s.

· But more involved can become “too” involved: More time gave rise to helicopter, lawn mower, bulldozer, and drone parents.

· Kids will always need support: It will change during every stage, but dads will always play a role in their kids’ lives.

Action Steps for Dads

1. Know When To Step In

2. Step In vs. Step Back

3. Really Listen.

4. Helping Them Process.

5. Be Their Biggest Fan.

6. Letting Them Struggle.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 00:43 | Parenting Has Changed Drastically
00:43 – 02:12 | Helicopter, Lawnmower & Bulldozer Parents
02:12 – 03:38 | The Dawn of the “Drone Parent”
03:38 – 07:03 | Tracking, Tech, and Emotional Helicoptering
07:03 – 09:12 | Fixing vs. Helping: When Parents Do Too Much
09:12 – 12:27 | The Big Question: Support or Interfere?
12:27 – 16:40 | Knowing When to Step In: Safety, Severity & Seasons
16:40 – 23:03 | Helping Kids Process Challenges Without Taking Over
23:03 – 28:32 | Pro Move of the Week
This week, when you are tempted to jump in, pause and see if your kid can do it on their own.

More Resources:

Episode 88 – Could Your Son Be Struggling in Silence?

Episode 95 – What Challenges is Generation Alpha Facing?

3 Reasons Your Child Needs to Struggle

5 Areas Where Your Teen Needs to Struggle

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Have you ever messed up as a dad? Of course you have. We all have, and dad guilt is real. In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about how to handle our parenting mistakes in a way that keeps us close to our kids.

Why This Matters
How we respond after making a mistake shapes our relationship with our kids.

Types of Dad Mess Ups

1. Accidental Fails: These are NOT heart issues; these are just mistakes.

2. Emotional Mess Ups: These dismiss how your kids are feeling

3. Social Mess Ups: Things that embarrass your kids.

4. Guidance Mess Ups: Giving bad advice to you’re your kids.

5. Presence Mess Ups: Simply, not being there for your kids.

What is dad guilt?

Dad guilty is typically defined as the feeling men have when they think they have fallen short of their desires or expectations as a parent.

How To Get Over Dad Guilt?
Action Step 1: Have awareness.

Action Step 2: Own your mess up.

Action Step 3: Apologize.

Action Step 4: Forgive yourself.

Action Step 5: Plan for next time.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 03:53 | The Broken Wrist Vacation Fail

03:53 – 05:12 | When Kids Hide Their Pain to “Be Easy”

05:12 – 06:33 | The Garage Door Face-Plant Story

06:33 – 09:22 | When Your Mistake Becomes a 4,000-Pound Reminder

09:22 – 11:25 | The Big Question: What Do I Do When I Mess Up as a Dad?

11:25 – 13:49 | Embarrassing Kids in Public: Social Fails

13:49 – 16:20 | Presence Fails: When You’re There but Not Really There

16:20 – 20:33 | Action Step #1: Show Awareness and Identify the Mess-Up

20:33 – 25:23 | Action Step #2: Own It and Apologize Well

25:23 – End | Action Step #3: Plan for Next Time and Don’t Repeat the Pattern

APD Pro Move:
When you mess up this week, say you’re sorry. Tell your child they did not deserve it and remind them that you love them.

All Pro Dad Resources:

Episode 106 – What Is A Passenger Parent and Am I One?

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Are you a passenger parent? Yes, that’s a real thing. If you’re deferring to mom all the time or around your kids but not really engaged with them, you could be a passenger parent—just along for the ride. In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about how to avoid falling into this trap and staying fully engaged with our family.

Why This Matters

Our kids need us to be fully engaged dads, not part-time parents.

What causes passenger parenting? Research says...

1. Lack of Confidence

2. Fear of Criticism

3. Cultural Conditioning

4. Overwhelm and Distraction

5. No Shared Game Plan

Action Steps for Dads

1: Step in without being asked.

Take initiative on tasks like meals, bedtime, or school runs.

2: Take full responsibility for some things.

Own a specific area, like sports schedules or bath time, from start to finish.

3: Learn the details.

Know your kids’ routines, needs, and important dates so you can act without reminders.

4: Stay engaged.

Put away distractions, focus on your kids and what’s happening in the moment.

5: Plan together.

Have regular check-ins with your wife to divide responsibilities and make adjustments.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 02:21 | The Viral Mime Video and Dad Judgment

02:21 – 03:12 | What is Passenger Parenting?

03:12 – 04:01 | Five Signs You Might Be a Passenger Parent

04:01 – 05:21 | When Dad Checks Out Without Realizing It

05:21 – 07:17 | Why Moms Often Know More

07:17 – 08:20 | Solo Parenting Reveals the Gaps

08:20 – 09:14 | Three Questions Every Dad Should Ask Himself

09:14 – 13:07 | Don’t Wait Until Your Wife Hits a Breaking Point

13:07 – End | Developing Shared Leadership at Home

APD Pro Move:
Schedule a conversation with your wife and ask, “Do you see me as a passenger parent?”

All Pro Dad Resources:

Episode 92 – What’s the Best Part About Raising Boys?

Episode 97 – What’s the Best Part About Being a Girl Dad?

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Is your marriage in a rough season? Are you and your wife arguing more? Struggling to connect? You’re not the only one. In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster to talk about difficulties in marriage, the fights that result, and how not to give up on the relationship.

Why This Matters

No marriage is perfect, but all marriages are worth fighting for.

6 Ways to NOT Give Up on Your Marriage

1. Ask a better question.
Ask, “What am I doing to make this marriage work?”

2. Get help.
There’s no shame in going to counseling.

3. Take divorce off the table.
For most couples, their marriage can be fixed!

4. Take a vacation from your issues.
Set aside time when you aren’t trying to figure out what is wrong and enjoy what is right.

5. Surround your marriage
Surround your marriage with people who are for your marriage and not just you.

6. Be brave.
Fight for the courage to do the hard, uncomfortable, and self-sacrificing things to save your family.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 02:05 | Little Fights Add Up

02:05 – 04:17 | Small Annoyances Become Big Problems

04:17 – 05:53 | Is This Worth Fighting For?

05:53 – 07:43 | The Marriage Happiness U-Curve

07:43 – 09:35 | The Four Horsemen That Destroy Marriages

09:35 – 11:23 | Your Tone and Reactions Shape Conflict

11:23 – 14:59 | Ask a Better Question

14:59 – 20:15 | Don’t Wait to Get Help

20:15 – 23:26 | Take a Vacation From Your Issues

23:26 – End | Surround Yourself With Marriage-Builders

APD Pro Move:
Bravely, humbly, ask your wife, “What is one thing I can do to love and serve you this week?” (Once she responds, simply say, "Thanks for letting me know." Then do it. If your wife says it’s too late, talk to an expert.)

All Pro Dad Resources:

Episode 101 – How Does Having Kids Change Your Marriage?

Episode 91 – Is There a Secret to Balancing Marriage and Fatherhood?

How 4 Minutes 4 Times a Day Can Prote

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Is my child too spoiled? If you’re even asking, that means you’re spending a good amount of money on your kids. We get it. Youth sports, music lessons, and all those extracurriculars add up, but does that equal a spoiled kid? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about how much we’re spending on our children and if that’s even a bad thing.

Why This Matters
Stewarding our money well is one way we love our families.

Potential Problems of Overspending on Our Kids

1. Kids may get used to receiving all the time.

2. It demonstrates a lack of self-control by Dad.

3. It contributes to kids’ anxious feelings.

4. Parents may feel financial strain.

5. The line between need and want gets blurred.

What Can Dads Do?

Action Step 1: Take a hard look at your spending habits around your child. Is it excessive?

Action Step 2: Take a hard look at what your spending habits around your kids is doing to you. Are you overextended and stressed out about money?

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 01:19 | How Much Are We Really Spending on Our Kids?

01:19 – 03:51 | Am I Overspending or Just Feeding Them?

03:51 – 05:35 | Theme Parks, Passes, and Pricey Memories

05:35 – 09:03 | Did Our Parents Overspend? Not Even Close

09:03 – 10:37 | The Gas-Money Jar Strategy

10:37 – 13:48 | “This Isn’t Fair!” and the Car Lesson That Stuck

13:48 – 17:53 | Overspending Sets an Example—Good or Bad

17:53 – 21:20 | Needs vs. Wants: The Hockey Equipment Breakdown

21:20 – 25:57 | Am I Buying This for Them… or for Me?

25:57 – End | Pro Move: Identify 2-3 significant items or experiences you’ve provided for your child, and ask yourself: What lesson is it teaching them about money, patience, and value? If the answer isn’t clear, or feels negative, hit the brakes and reconsider.

All Pro Dad Resources

Episode 56: Dale Alexander: How Do We Teach Our Kids About Money?

Episode 57: Dale Alexander: What Should Ever Dad Know About Managing Money?

3 Ways to Think Differently About Your

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