Dad Conversations: Recent Episodes
Sean Radvansky
The media typically makes dads out to be lazy, bumbling idiots. This long-form podcast will spotlight Successful, Interesting, Normal people who happen to be Dads.
You'll hear from entrepreneurs, corporate executives, UFC fighters, D1 and pro athletes, veterans and/or active duty from each military branch, private equity investors, manual laborers, and of course dads with "normal" corporate and small business jobs.
You'll learn about their backgrounds, careers, successes, failures, hobbies, mentors, and parenting philosophies.
The topic of fatherhood will be tied into each conversation, but by no means will it be the only topic, or even the predominant topic.
Today you'll hear from Ben Connell, the County Councilman, Attorney, National Champion Wrestler, Farmer, and Father of 3.
We discussed:
being a county councilman
national championship in wrestling
the mindset it takes to win a national championship
hanging out with Clayton Christensen and HBS faculty
being a double UNC grad
partnering with his father as an attorney
growing up in a family with multiple state champions
the wisdom of Thomas Sowell
how faith has impacted his life
operating a light-touch tech-enabled farm
fostering strength and independence in children
podcast recommendations
Tip of the Spear Foundation
Today you'll hear from Dorian Abbot, the professor, climate change and exoplanet scientist, and cancel culture survivor.
We discussed:
- Latest research
- exoplanets and the search for life
- climate change
- getting attacked by a woke mob for being reasonable (begins at 29:09)
- lessons learned from his dad
- what future fathers want to know
- favorite books
- learning from failure
- best investments he's made
- reasons for optimism
Dorian on Twitter
Faculty page
Today you'll hear from Chauncie Thrift, the restaurant manager, soccer star, and father of 1.
We discussed:
- managing a restaurant during Covid
- life advice from his dad
- having a man yell in your face at the Air Force Academy
- getting humbled by a strong coach to become a successful D1 soccer athlete
- being a black man in Charlottesville, VA
- his thoughts on racism in America
- opening up about learning from a failure
- advice for new dads
- helping people with second chances
- much more
Charleston Sports Pub
Today you'll hear from Greg Brannon, the doctor, former political candidate, constitutional government advocate, entrepreneur, and Father of 7.
We discussed:
- His career delivering babies
- Changes in medicine
- Merging modern western medicine with "alternative" medicine
- Home schooling
- Making use of dinner time
- Running for US Senate
- Corruption in local government
- limited constitutional government
- The real Kings and Queens in America
- Becoming a better person
- and much more
Greg on Facebook
Optimal Bio
Today you'll hear from Seth VanderVlucht, a software sales executive, little league coach, faith leader, and father of 3 boys.
We discussed:
- Coaching little league
- Screwing up in public
- Judging others based on their best days
- Selling time shares
- Favorite books
- Lessons learned as a dad
- Marriage advice
- Reasons for optimism
Today you'll meet Ethan Chandler, the tattoo artist, cancer survivor, foodie, and father of 1.
We discussed:
- Getting started and refining your craft in the tattoo industry
- recent tattoo trends
- cancer diagnosis and treatment story
- growing up in Lugoff, SC
- best fast food restaurants
- Being a dad
- Recent improvements as a husband
- reasons to be optimistic for the future
- and much more
Today you'll meet Jeremy Deaver, a healthcare administrator, startup enthusiast, and Father of 4 children.
We discussed:
What healthcare administrators do
Healthy collaboration between doctors and business people
Lessons learned from his dad
Growing up in Kinston, NC
Grinding through an unpaid internship for experience
Progressing through his career
Cryptocurrency
Jeremy on Twitter
Today you'll meet Bruce Mullan, an Entrepreneur, Agility Consultant, Volunteer, and Father of 3.
Bruce's Consulting Firm: Vinaigrette Leadership Agility
Today you'll hear from Jerome Beaman, a technology salesman, CSAP alum, aspiring minimalist, hide-and-seek champion, and Father of 1.
Topics:
- entry into Cisco
- growing up in Mississippi
- being a husband and father
- much more
Today you'll meet "Smile'n" Sam Alvey, a famous UFC fighter, musician, foster parent, and father of 5.
We discussed:
Getting started in MMA
Working for an organization without signing any contract
Comparing nut shots from kids to getting punched by a grown man
Highs and lows of his career
Musical interests
Pre-fight tradition (pizza)
Being a dad
Adopting a foster child
Marriage advice
much more...
Sam's Website
Sam on twitter
Today you'll meet Dustin. He is a Cancer Survivor, Non-Profit Fundraiser, Author, Podcaster, Sales Manager, and Father of 1
We talked about
- his story of being diagnosed with a serious form of Leukemia right before his wedding,
- receiving a sick Standing O
- the topic of his book: Cheeto Dust
- finding happiness
- life-changing books and podcasts
- home schooling
- being a dad
Dustin's Website
Dustin's new Podcast
Today you'll meet Eric Knipp, a VP of Systems Engineering, MMA fighter, Author, Fitness Enthusiast, and Father.
We discussed:
- His approach to managing a team of experienced, technical salespeople
- An incredibly embarrassing professional failure
- His workout routine
- Favorite books
- Growing up poor
- An awful grunt job as a 17-yr old
- His attitude and philosophy on life and leadership
- The joys of being a dad
- Choosing not to beat yourself up as a dad
- Why he got into MMA in his late 30's
- A good cause he is passionate about
- Writing a book on the fly in his early 20s
Today you'll meet Mike Grinberg, a husband, podcaster, founder of a marketing firm, and father to a precious young girl born at only 11 ounces, not pounds.
We discussed:
His experience as a husband with a wife very sick during her pregnancy
His daughter's health and long-term outlook being born so early
Starting a marketing firm to get more flexibility
Growing up with parents from Eastern Europe
His life story
His approach to being a dad
Mike's Podcast: Mixing Business with Pleasure
Mike on LinkedIn
Mike's firm: Proofpoint Marketing
Today you'll meet Mike Coles. Mike is an attorney with his own law firm, specializing in startups. He also founded his own company, Choose Your Reader, approximately 2 years ago.
We discussed:
his startup
cooking
poverty, wealth, and happiness
advice for other founders
and much more
Choose Your Reader
Coles Firm
Today you'll meet Jeremy, the Vice President of Americas Software and Services sales at Cisco Systems. He is also an avid surfer, runner, and father of 2.
We spoke about:
His career in Sales and Sales Leadership
The best and worst parts of being an executive
Growing up in SoCal
Intro to sales: competing with Xerox
Favorite books
How a significant obstacle set him up for success
An important truth very few people agree with him on
What he wishes new dads understood
Marriage advice
Lessons learned parenting teenagers
Overcoming bad days
Lightning round questions
Jeremy on LinkedIn
This was another episode that instantly ranks among the best. You'll get to meet John, an avid mountain climber and global adventurer.
John has some crazy stories to tell about:
being caught up in a third-world civil war with blow darts and bows and arrows
getting saved by the secretary of state
insane animal encounters
high-stakes teamwork and interdependency on each trek
hiking up the peak in Antarctica 1000 miles from other life forms
financing his journeys through creating self-sustaining businesses
his book that teaches kindness, courage, and grit to boys becoming men.
https://www.johnbeede.com/
Today you'll hear from Forrest Tuff, a Film Producer, Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, D1 Athlete, and Father of 3.
We spoke about his company One Vision Productions, his role as CEO, lessons learned in small business, his life story, growing up with a very strict preacher as his father, playing basketball in college, and building his company. We also got to learn about his philosophy on life and his approach to being a dad.
Forresttuff.com
Today you'll hear from Adam Young, the director of business development at Weave HQ, a cycling enthusiast, and Father of 3.
Adam shares the incredibly journey that his family has been through with the ongoing health challenges of their youngest child. You will enjoy hearing his story and hug your kids tighter tonight.
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn
Today you'll hear from Russell Vaughan. Russ is a Senior Solutions Engineer at VMware, former Systems Engineer at Cisco, lifelong Sci-Fi fan, and father of 1.
Today you'll hear from Fuss, a Navy Seal, Troop Commander on Dev Group, Speaker, Financial Services Professional, and Father of 3.
We Discussed:
What is a SEAL, and what do they do?
What is a Troop Commander? What is Development Group?
For the average person who has watched movies about Navy Seals and Dev Group, what do we have wrong in our understanding of who you are and what you do?
What is a typical day like when you are deployed? What are some of the roles on the team?
How has your military experience prepared you for joining the civilian workforce?
In what ways are veterans ahead of the curve? Any advice for veterans who are joining the civilian workforce in the near future?
Life Story - growing up in military family, wrestling in college
General life questions
A little about his family and an epic road trip
Becoming a better husband and father
Patriot Leadership Development
Fuss' Family Travel Blog
Today you'll hear from Jeremy Barray, a wealth manager, author, entrepreneur, and father of 1.
We discussed:
Overview of his career as a CPA, Wealth Manager, and Entrepreneur
Becoming OK with being different
The good fortune of a positive, confident mindset
Their struggle having a child
Being a dad
and more
Jeremy on Instagram
Non-profit foundation Jeremy mentioned
Today you'll hear from Curt Steinhorst: the #1 expert on focus in the workplace. Curt is a Business Consultant, Best-Selling Author, ADHD, Researcher, and Father of 3.
We discussed:
Takeaways from his book: Can I have your attention?
The myth of multi-tasking
Practical advice (without the dogma)
Growing up with great parents
Career journey
Becoming a better husband and father
His approach to parenting
https://www.curtsteinhorst.com/
Today you'll meet Eric Anderson, an Open Source Advocate, Venture Capitalist, Harvard Business School Alum, and Father of 4.
We discussed:
Open Source software
Eric's Contributor.fyi podcast
Joe Blair's Epic Human Podcast
The value of Wrestling
Career path
A little about Venture Capital
Chacos sandals
Valuing someone for their differences
Lessons learned as a father and husband
Eric's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericmander
Eric's professor mentioned in the show: https://twitter.com/bussgang
Today I spoke to Ben Holm, Director of Sales at Microsoft Azure, Vikings Fan, and Father of 4
We spoke about:
Primer on Azure and AI
Solutions that AI can enable
Where AI is headed in the future
Growing up in a huge family
The benefits of having amazing parents
Getting started in door-to-door sales
Going to business school and entering the tech industry
How to snap out of a bad day
Ddeveloping meaningful connections in remote settings
Creating "the best day ever" for your kids
How he's a better husband and father than 3-5 years ago
Helping kids through obstacles
Today you'll hear from Shawn McGrady, a Marine, Police Officer, Technology Salesman, and Father of 3.
We talked about:
Joining the Marines
Lessons learned in the military
Incredible stories from his 17 years in law enforcement
Why being a cop is ROUGH
Thoughts on the state of policing in 2020
Getting into tech sales
The process of reinventing yourself
Progression as a husband and father
His approach to being a dad
Today you'll hear from Rick Hill, the General Manager and Vice President of Sales at AVA Security (ava.uk). Rick is a lifelong learner and father of 2.
We discussed:
Becoming GM at AVA Security
Why he joined AVA
Building culture
His approach to management
Growing up in Boston with a stepdad
Being a decathlete
Exercise and food for longevity
Trying to hard close a car dealer
Mistakes as a young manager
An important truth very few people agree with him on
A new habit that has most improved his life
Being a better husband than 3-5 years ago
Being a better father than 3-5 years ago
Instilling accountability in his kids
Today you'll hear from my good friend Kendal Quinn. Kendal is an American expat living in Portugal. He is a sales manager at Cisco, and father of 3 sweet girls.
We discussed:
What it's like relocating a family of 5 to another continent with a new language
Food he is loving in Portugal, food he wishes he could get from back home
What was harder than expected about moving
Advice for others thinking about moving internationally
Lessons learned from his dad
Career journey
Mentors
Hobbies
Books that have changed his life
Being open about faith in his professional life
Why he chose a life of sobriety
Meeting his wife in a dog park
Equality, teamwork, and communication in marriage
proactively sync'ing as a couple
Sunica.org
Today I spoke to Ron Haas, Partner at PwC, Head of Leadership and Executive Development, and Father of 8.
Among other things, we discussed:
Overview of Management Consulting and what Partners do
The importance of a human connection and being an authentic person
"No other success can compensate for failure in the home."
Husband first, Father second
Work-Life Harmony instead of work-life balance
Becoming really good at listening
Having a foundation of faith
Thoughts on raising teenagers
Reinforcing good behavior with kids
Why boundaries are good
Choosing to act rather than being acted upon
Gratitude and relationships
Today I spoke to Jeff Moore, a Director of Sales, STEM non-profit founder, and Father of 3
We Discussed:
Overview of channel sales
Putting the most important things in place (family) while chasing 200% of plan
His approach to managing an experienced and successful team
What does a Director of Sales operations do at Cisco?
Spotlight on the Connected Black Professionals
Founding a program called Roots in STEM kids
The importance of exposing underprivileged kids to STEM careers
Growing up as the son of a High School principal in Louisiana
Being married to his High School sweetheart for 34 years and going
Attending Southern University and joining the Marching Band
The value of having parents with high expectations
Working his way up from an unstructured entry-level sales job
Being there for others
In what ways is he a better husband and father than 3-5 years ago?
One thing he's nailing as a parent
Having faith in a higher being
Tips for overcoming a bad day
Good causes he's passionate about
Today you'll hear from Brandon Smith, The Workplace Therapist, executive coach, adjunct professor, and father of 3.
Working for the world's worst boss
Starting a business with virtually no network and experience
Challenges consulting for large companies, nonprofits, and startups
Particularly bad workplaces
When politics trumps performance
What every startup needs: clear roles, clear expectations, balanced feedback (more positive than negative)
Why cleaning up nonprofits is way more work than for profit institutions
Why C-level leaders are herding cats most of the time: managing politics and managing stakeholders
The Hot Sauce Principle - what to do when everything is urgent all the time
What it's like being an adjunct professor
Favorite classes he's taught
Thoughts on open workspaces
Walking into other people's houses as an adventurous 5 year old
Orange Theory fitness
Favorite purchase under $100
Failures that turned into net positives
The most valuable tattoo: Purpose, Courage, and Faith with Will in the middle
Posture Work: Customized Yoga via Egoscue technique that relieved chronic back pain
Kids are like a box of chocolates
Teaching accountability and mental toughness to children
Decision Makers Pay
Ozzy Man
Make A Wish Foundation & Give Kids The World
https://theworkplacetherapist.com/
https://twitter.com/theWPTherapist
https://theworkplacetherapist.com/podcast/
Today you'll hear from Jonathan Kay, the Canadian Editor at Quillette, a Podcast Host, Board Game Enthusiast, and Father of 3.
What is Quillette and how did it get started?
The label-less platform for free thought
Writing 10,000 word articles full of logic and scientifically defensible arguments
Overview of his TEDx talk: Why political correctness works for no one
Thoughts on Cancel Culture, Rioting, and more
Growing up in Montreal
Intense board games
John Kennedy Toole's: Confederacy of Dunces
A failure that led to a net positive
Becoming a better father and husband than 3-5 years ago
How eating dinner together improved his family life
The value of exercise and fresh air
How wolves became an amazing species we call dogs
The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria
https://twitter.com/jonkay
https://quillette.com/
https://medium.com/@jonkay/latest-articles-3fe43fbdcce
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/
Today you'll meet David Hirsch, an Investment Banking SVP, Father of 5, Founder of the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative, and the Founder of the Special Fathers Network, a nonprofit connecting dads of special needs children and mentors and mentees.
Highlights:
-Growing up with a single mom
-Having a strong male role model
-Starting a nonprofit as a Dadvocate
-Receiving 30,000 essays
-Biking 2200 miles in 21 days
-Going on Oprah
-Getting close to shutting down his 1st nonprofit
-Starting the Special Father's Network
-Hosting a podcast
-Using fear as a motivation
-Breaking the cycle of father absence
-Conversion to Catholicism
-Skydiving and bungee jumping on family vacation
-Lessons learned as a father of adult children
https://21stcenturydads.org/
http://www.4fathers.org/
Today you'll hear from Joe Martin. We talk about his experience in analytics, marketing, and content production at Adobe and CloudApp.
As usual, we also profile his life story, including childhood, college, career, mentors, approach to parenting, and the importance of mental health. Enjoy.
Marvyn is a strategy consultant, father of 2, and founder of a group called Dope Black Dads, which is a strong network of black dads who communicate regularly on the important topics that guys rarely talk about or seek out peer advice on.
He has a great system for developing trust, accountability, and even calling BS on your closest friends as they work towards becoming the best dads they can.
I had a blast talking with Marvyn talking about not just dope black dads, but his life story and approach to parenting.
He was very open and engaging, and he has such a positive focus and empowering message that we all need to hear. Enjoy!
Today you'll hear from Aaron, a UFC Reporter and Content Editor at TSN and Father of 3.
The upcoming UFC fight he is most excited about
Why Toronto is awesome
His approach to working with Dana White
How he got into media production and broadcasting
Mentors and Hobbies
Lessons learned as a husband
How he has improved as a dad in the last 3-5 years
Best purchase he's made in the last year
Advice for those interested in broadcasting
OUR FIRST FEMALE GUEST!
Today you'll hear from The Dad Whisperer, Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield, a licensed counselor, PhD, author, and wife. She specializes in father-daughter relationships.
Dr. Michelle shares practical takeaways for dads of daughters, including several fun, funny, and inspirational stories.
http://www.drmichellewatson.com/
https://twitter.com/mwatsonphd
Today you'll hear from Brandon, a Prosthodontist, Entrepreneur, Inventor, Veteran, and Father of 6.
What is a prosthodontist?
What are fake teeth made of?
Buying and merging dental practices.
Managing Human Resources as a first-time owner/manager.
The surprises of being a business owner.
The value of being an associate vs going straight to owner.
Seeing a problem and patenting a solution.
Advice to other entrepreneurs.
Learning to sell a product from scratch.
Licensing vs. building a business.
The joys of USAF basic training for medical officers.
Deciding on Doctor vs. Dentist.
Getting a $66,000 punch in the gut.
Paying off debt vs. enjoying life with the kids.
A funny story about yelling at the kids.
Using the socratic method with kids.
Operation Underground Railroad. (https://ourrescue.org/)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-kofford-6362b026/
https://www.smartdentureconversions.com/
https://www.caryprosthodontics.com/
Today you'll hear from Jeff, a PhD and Associate Director in Bioinformatics and Genomics and Father of 3.
What is genomics?
Current research and the latest developments with stem cells.
The future of injury treatments.
Videos being stored in human cells and replayed across the world.
How "facts" from 5 years ago are proven wrong through the scientific method.
CRISPR.
How to fix every cell in the human body through gene editing.
Transitioning from a role with technical expertise into leadership and business development.
Using raw DNA files from Ancestry.com or 23andMe to get further insights through affordable DNA analysis tools.
Why every human is genetically broken.
Growing up in Wyoming.
Playing Track and Football in college.
Advice for driven college students entering the real world.
Staying fit through exercise and intermittent fasting.
BE AWESOME!
Parenting and Marriage advice.
What he's learning lately as a dad. (Patience, respect, space).
How to snap out of a bad day.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsjasper/
Today we are joined by Gavin Christensen, Founder and Managing Partner of Kickstart Fund (Venture Capital), Adjunct Professor, Board Member, Father of 2
What is Venture Capital? What is a seed fund?
Starting his own VC fund in the middle of the Great Recession
The benefits and challenges of working in a small, growing business
Barely skating by (career, family, life) in the early years of entrepreneurship
What founders have that others don't
What motivates successful founders (hint: not just money)
What has changed in the industry during the last decade?
Background on successful investments and failures
Following "the Steph Curry Model"
What is a dragon in VC?
How often do venture investments pan out?
A very memorable first board meeting
Thoughts on starting your own company vs working for someone else
Growing up all over with two different family cultures
Investing in your family while sprinting in your career
Being open and honest about failures and not having all the answers
Causing (and avoiding/repairing) collateral damage in the family
If we forgive ourselves, we can be open to our weaknesses
Getting a lifelong chronic illness during his early 20s
Family fun with a One Wheel, Air Stream, and Flight Board
The single theme included in every great book
The importance of counseling and self-awareness
The arrogance associated with forgiving others but not yourself
Lessons learned in the past few years of parenting teenagers
The exciting world of Virtual Reality
https://www.kickstartfund.com/
https://twitter.com/gavin_kickstart
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavinchristensen/
Today you'll hear from a CrossFit World Record Holder, Fitness Coach, and Father of 1:
Squatting 500 lbs and running a sub 5 minute mile in the same day
Does Crossfit lead to injuries
Working out and coaching each day with the 2015 Fittest Man on Earth
Going from High School star to the small guy in college
Battling through concussions
Getting into coaching on a whim
How "fit" can someone possibly be? (Where will CrossFit be in 10 years?)
How 8 yrs of experience has changed his coaching philosophy
Growing up a Navy Brat
Redefining the Dad Bod
Doubting yourself
Fluctuations in discipline
Using daily goals to reach long-term goals
Weird habits and routines
Advice for new dads
Utilizing Task Management to turn around a bad day
https://www.instagram.com/adamklink/?hl=en
ebook with training plan for heavy squats and fast mile run: https://gumroad.com/l/YNxoC
https://crossfitkrypton.com/
https://dadbodfitnessonline.com/
Today you'll hear from: Jared, a Vice Chair of Strategy at Duke Health, Doctor, Professor, Bishop, and Father of 8:
Who makes decisions in medicine
How Covid is impacting his practice
Changes he'd make if he were healthcare Czar
Why medical residents get shafted
Challenges of fee-for-service healthcare
Lifelong pursuit of learning
Benefits of an MBA
The Christensen family "5 to survive"
Holding family outings that aren't trainwrecks
Daily connections with each child
Rad Aid
https://twitter.com/JRadMD
Today you'll hear from Larry, a Retired SVP at Cisco, avid Golfer, and Proud father of 3:
How not getting money for college was a blessing in disguise
Why he switched into sales from engineering
What happens when your employer is bought by another company
Being announced as a new manager without being offered the job
A failure from his early years in management
The importance of a sleep routine
What he is doing right as a parent
Why 'follow your passion' may not be good advice
How he recovers from bad days
Why marriage is a 60/40 partnership
https://twitter.com/lpaynecisco
Today you'll hear from Shay, a Burn survivor, Father of 5, Team USA IronMan Athlete, Author, and Motivational Speaker:
How he develops mental toughness in his kids
Getting 65% of his body burned as an 8-yr-old
The life-changing impact a Get-Well card can have
Sedating a bear with a syringe in your hand rather than darting it
How getting smoked by an old man in a workout changed his life
Only being able to sweat through part of your body
Playing little-league baseball when you can't raise your arm
How to get into endurance running from scratch
Why he does not stretch and does eat pizza before each race
Why Gratitude is the key
Learn more at:
https://shayeskew.com/
https://twitter.com/ShayEskew
Shay's Book:
https://www.amazon.com/Shay-Eskew/e/B07HFDGVPF%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Today you'll hear from Paul Stewart, a former pro athlete, Father of 4, Technology Salesman, and all-around good guy:
Why baseball pitchers hit batters
Growing up in Garner, NC
Unleashing creativity to build relationships
Using his experience as a pro athlete to inform how he coaches his kids
Best purchase under $100 he he's made in the last year
Today my special guest is JJ Mahon: Combat Helicopter Pilot, Math Teacher, Sales Manager
JJ is a friend and role model who I always enjoy speaking to.
We talk about getting married at 18 yrs old,
joining the army,
briefly dying and then recovering from a deadly helicopter crash,
transitioning from the army to a few civilian jobs,
including teaching high school math, and
eventually winding up in technology sales as an individual contributor and then manager.
Bonus: Lessons learned as a dad.
Today you'll hear from Ruben: a startup founder, Y-combinator alum, podcast host, man of faith, future father of 5.
After entering silicon valley as an outsider, he was inspired to start a company (careerkarma.com) that connects job seekers with qualified tech bootcamps that rapidly reskill people at little to no cost and place them in entry-level tech jobs making a good salary with benefits.
We talk about throwing massive hip-hop dance parties in Atlanta,
studying music at a religious school,
disruption in the classic education model,
how someone can go from making a meager hourly wage to earning a salary with benefits,
Income Share agreements,
finding mentors when you start with none, and
being open about having faith while living in a secular world.
Contact Ruben:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rubenharris/
https://www.instagram.com/rubenharris
https://twitter.com/rubenharris
https://careerkarma.com/
Today you'll hear from Jeff: an entrepreneur, consultant and happily married father of 2.
We discuss his childhood growing up as the son of a teacher,
his time studying music, economics, and business strategy in college.
He worked at McKinsey, Vivint, and several startups.
We discuss the fear of failing, enjoying the journey,
"Final 5" primaries,
rank-choice voting,
entering tech as a non-tech person,
mentors, being wrong,
lessons he's learning as a dad,
and the best book to give virgins who are getting married.
I think you'll love this episode with Jeff, but please let me know what you think. If you have certain questions you'd like me to ask future guests, or any other feedback, message me on LinkedIn, or write a review on one of the podcast platforms and I'll find it. Thank you!
Today we'll hear from Richard Yeargin: Former Clemson Football and Boston College Scholar Athlete, non-profit founder, Father of 1.
Following in his older brother's footsteps, he became a football star, eventually being ranked as a top linebacker-DE.
Richard chose to play college football at Clemson University, where he made numerous highlight plays during his first years on campus.
The summer before his junior year, right as his football life is peaking, when he was projected to be a starter on a dominant team, he suffered a terrible car accident that among other serious injuries, broke his neck.
Richard battled through a 2-yr recovery going through rehab and therapy while helping his teammates as a student coach. He briefly retired from football, and then after a surprising recovery, chose to play his senior year at Boston College in the fall of 2019.
As he contemplates starting his career in pro football or entering the corporate world, he has stayed active. He recently founded the RY3 Foundation, a non-profit geared towards assisting underprivileged youth in South Florida.
Richard has a beautiful fiancee and is the dedicated father of an 18 month old son. Richard has been described as an old soul, and I think that's fitting. He's one of the most thoughtful people I know. He doesn't seem like a 23 year old.
I hope you enjoy the conversation as Richard opens up on a variety of topics. He is a good man. I want to thank Richard for eagerly accepting the invite to join an upstart podcast and putting up with a rookie interviewer who fumbled multiple questions and gave the audience more "umms" and "you know"s than they'd like to hear.
Neither the quality of my interviewing skills nor the audio file is where I'd like it to be. Rather than waiting for perfection to somehow arrive without experience and investment, I'm forcing myself to publish this episode as the first of many. In entrepreneur-speak, this is the minimum viable product for my new side project. It will only get better from here. I genuinely appreciate you listening. Please let me know what you think. If you have certain questions you'd like me to ask future guests, or any other feedback, message me on LinkedIn, or write a review on one of the podcast platforms and I'll find it. Thank you!
This 3 minute clip provides context and background for what you'll get as you listen to Dad Conversations.