Father Son Coming Of Age Retreat
An introduction to the father-son retreat, where dads and sons mark the transition toward adulthood through shared challenges and conversations about responsibility.
The Fathers Guild / The library
Tools for the work of fatherhood.
An introduction to the father-son retreat, where dads and sons mark the transition toward adulthood through shared challenges and conversations about responsibility.
Pat discusses a father’s responsibility to protect his family and create enough emotional safety at home for his partner and kids to disagree with him.
Pat explains who The Fathers Guild community is for and how its conversations, challenges, and accountability support fathers who want to grow.
Pat reacts to a Dude Dad video on why some fathers lack close friends and talks through how shared activities can make it easier to build friendships.
Pat builds on Chris Williamson’s idea of a “F*ck You Family” and explores the freedom that can come from commitment, purpose, and a strong family life.
Taz Barber talks with Pat about feeling like she’s failing as a mom after a hard stretch and how she thinks about the needs of their four kids.
Pat and Taz share their different readings of a conflict with one of their sons and talk through disagreements about parenting and family routines.
Pat shares what helped him handle four common transitions in fatherhood, from messy diaper changes and apologizing after an outburst to shifts in intimacy and identity.
It's hard to apologize, but learning when and how is essential.
A preview of The Fathers Guild retreat and the space it gives dads to step away from their routines, reflect, and spend time with other fathers.
Using a clip of Chris Williamson, Pat reflects on how accepting that you’re enough can help you receive love and appreciate the life you already have.
Pat explains how being honest with kids about why you hold a view and making room for other perspectives can help preserve trust through the teen years.
Pat reflects on miscarriage from a father’s perspective and the way pregnancy loss affects dads and their partners.
Pat explores the decision to have more children and the way a growing family reshapes daily life and the experience of parenting.
Pat reflects on how his wife’s emotional support helps him feel safe and on the different ways partners can protect and care for each other.
Pat shares an Instagram message and the advice his community offered in response to a difficult question about having children.
Pat reflects on the leap from one child to multiple children and what changes when parents take on a larger family.
Pat recommends giving a child a clear apology first and saving the conversation about what they could do differently for another moment.
Pat reacts to a discussion of divorce predictors and considers what couples can learn from the way they communicate during conflict.
Pat asks Taz what she thinks of his No Yell Challenge and invites her to share what she’s noticed at home.
Pat explains what pushed him to start a community for fathers and how shared challenges, reflection, and accountability would help members practice together.
Pat argues that communication, genuine connection, and taking action are especially valuable when information is easy to find.
A preview of Pat’s podcast conversation with Lamont Lomax on fatherhood, co-parenting, and relationships.
Pat proposes trying a daily five- to ten-second hug with your partner and kids to build more connection at home.
Pat talks about the unconditional love fathers feel for their children and how it can motivate them to grow.
Pat reflects on learning to pay attention to how his behavior lands with others, alongside understanding his own intentions.
A light moment about a son’s angry words and how their meaning changes as kids grow and gain perspective.
A clip promoting the Jamie Glowacki conversation on family boundaries, communication, and personal responsibility.
Pat tells the story of meeting a fellow surfer at a CrossFit seminar and how a custom Robert August longboard came into his life.
A preview of Pat and Jason Lewis discussing connection, curiosity, and the work of fatherhood.
Pat describes how an encouraging mother can help children trust their abilities when they are about to try something challenging.
Pat asks parents to choose tactics that help the relationship work over time, even when they require more effort upfront.
Pat explains how parents can be friendly and supportive while still making the decisions children need adults to make.
Pat describes the Fathers Guild as a place to test personal changes, ask honest questions, and find other men to hold you accountable.
Pat shares how revisiting a book by Esther Perel helped him and his wife understand themselves and their intimate relationship.
Pat and Taz talk through how to consider having another child when parenting one already feels difficult.
A podcast excerpt about keeping purpose, close relationships, and adventure in view alongside financial success.
Pat asks prospective parents to prepare for the stress and relationship demands of having children alongside the financial ones.
Pat urges partners to agree on what they want for their kids and decide which boundaries and follow-through will support it.
Pat looks at what notes left for a partner can reveal about trust, control, and how responsibility is shared at home.
A preview of Pat’s conversation with image consultant Phil Tarling about first impressions, family life, and being present.
Pat recalls a conversation with his wife about making choices with the health of their relationship in mind.
Pat responds to a dad who feels like a failure when he can’t buy things for his kids and considers what time and attention can give them.
In a clip with Rob Bill Jr., the conversation turns to how trying to make family life go perfectly can create tension at home.
Pat reflects on how years of working through disagreements helped him and his wife communicate and make each other feel heard.
Pat marks 14 years of marriage by discussing emotional compatibility, shared values, and how intimacy with his wife developed over time.
A Stefanos Sifandos podcast excerpt about two ingredients for personal growth.
A preview of Pat’s discussion with Stefanos Sifandos on emotional honesty, relationships, and personal growth.
Pat shares what he learned from retreats and conversations with dads about how common struggles with presence, communication, and health can be.
Pat discusses the place of grief in healing and what it means to make room for pain after a loss.
Pat talks about finding people who challenge you to grow as a father, partner, friend, and leader.
Pat makes the case for a phone-free dinner table as time to slow down and connect with the people in front of you.
Pat thanks the people who watch, disagree, and share their perspectives for making the conversations around his work better.
Pat introduces a community for dads to talk honestly, work on monthly challenges, and keep developing as fathers.
Pat reflects on slowing down, owning a mistake, and staying connected so both the apology and the lesson have room to land.
Pat thanks Frank and reflects on the value of meeting men who are working to show up better in their relationships.
Pat discusses finding a community that fits your circumstances and asking other people for support when you need it.
Pat shares what five days away from screens and usual routines felt like while hosting an off-grid gathering for fathers.
Pat explains how including the other person in decisions and conversations builds a healthier relationship with a partner or child.
Pat discusses considering feedback from others while keeping responsibility for how he sees and evaluates himself.
Pat invites dads to a retreat where they can step away from daily demands, reflect, and spend time with other fathers.
Pat discusses the role of close male friendships and accountability in maintaining a sense of honor through adulthood.
Pat shares the story of finding secondhand pottery equipment to support his wife’s new interest in making dishes for their home.
Pat discusses how taking action and holding one another accountable in a men’s group can help people sustain change.
Don Ross explains how men earn honor through their actions, commitments, and accountability to people they respect.
Pat discusses why being honest about vulnerability can help men develop the strength to face difficult things.
Pat reflects on the example he hopes his children can draw strength from after he dies.
Pat asks viewers to examine what is driving their desire for intimacy and how that awareness can inform a relationship.
Joe and Ashley Jernigan explain how shared values can help parents make decisions and lead a family with a clearer purpose.
Pat shares how one-on-one conversations and replies to direct messages can reveal more about people than their public comments.
Pat and Taz discuss adapting their sleep approach when their fourth son responded differently from their other children.
Pat reflects on three years of changing how he approaches himself and his family, including becoming more curious about the people around him.
Pat reflects on why he evaluates how safe and dependable he is through his behavior and the people who know him well.
Blake Kasemeier and Pat discuss what it feels like when a father shows up at home with attention and genuine connection.
Blake Kasemeier discusses how art and language help people share experiences and how that ability carries into parenting.
Pat reflects on giving his family more of his attention and energy and uses journaling to see where that needs work.
Pat shares how his children’s feedback about his yelling led him to try a 30-day challenge with a $5 penalty.
Pat explains how he adapts the way he gets his sons’ attention, including a closer, more direct approach for one child.
Pat encourages men to consider how active, hands-on work alongside other people might change the way they spend their leisure time.
Pat reflects on choosing friends who support his growth and influence how he shows up for his family.
Pat and Taz talk through how they see things differently and how those differences contribute to their partnership.
Pat highlights Birds & Bees as a resource for talking openly with children about sex and human development.
Pat explains his aim of helping men become more resilient and more available to the people they love.
Pat reminds parents to put devices aside and bring their attention back to the children in front of them.
Pat announces three summer men’s retreats and explains the limited group size and what he asks participants to bring to the experience.
Pat invites a creator to have an open disagreement and explains why he thinks constructive conflict can teach both people something.
Pat reflects on mistakes he made using love languages and how his understanding of them matured through his relationships.
Pat encourages men to support one another by being honest, reflecting, and showing up when it matters.
Pat discusses using love languages as a way to notice which small, intentional actions help each of his children feel cared for.
Pat reflects on how repeated interactions build a parent-child relationship and why he considers the whole pattern when reviewing his parenting.
Pat explains why he prefers to respond to people in direct messages and still reads what viewers share in the comments.
Pat explains why he wants to talk openly with his sons about sex, sexuality, and pornography before they encounter it on a device.
Pat reflects on the joy of learning how to handle the demands of fatherhood and marriage without losing sight of the people he loves.
Pat discusses asking people close to you for honest feedback about your behavior and listening long enough to learn from it.
Pat shares his son’s unexpected response to a handwritten note and considers small ways fathers can reach out to their kids.
Pat describes listening to his son’s objections on a family surf trip and appreciating that he was willing to speak up.
Pat invites dads who want to talk about a parenting concern to have a more personal conversation through direct messages.
Pat credits his wife with nudging him to say yes to travel, hikes, and spontaneous beach days with their children.
Pat shares a favorite clip from his family’s 2017 world trip and laughs about the rivalry his sons still have.
Pat shares an intention to give the people he meets his full attention and treat that presence as a way to offer stability.
A weekend check-in where Pat invites fathers to reach out if they want to talk or share what they are working through.
Pat reflects on his “Harder to Kill, Easier to Love” motto as a reminder to develop strength and remain open to others.
Pat shares his gratitude for Taz and reflects on how lucky he feels that she took a chance on him when they first met.
Pat reflects on discovering that his son thought he knew better and adjusting how he communicated once he understood that.
Pat reflects on hearing a different view as a chance to discuss an idea and learn what someone else sees in it.
Pat discusses how each child needs a different amount and kind of attention and why time together depends on the family’s circumstances.
Pat appreciates friends who point out something he is missing in a way that makes it easier for him to hear it.
Pat reflects on how he and his wife work through awkward conversations and the closeness they can gain from doing it.
Pat reflects on how letting go of the need to win arguments helped him communicate more humbly with his wife.
Pat explains why loving fatherhood and wanting to share what works in his family led him to speak about it.
Pat invites fathers to reach out privately if they are more comfortable sharing what they are dealing with that way.
Pat shares a funny exchange with his wife about housework and remembers what he will do differently for her plants next time.
Pat reflects on what happened when he started letting go of small disagreements and how his wife’s willingness to do the same helped them grow.
Pat reflects on how fortunate he feels in his marriage and in the family life he and his wife share.
Pat describes how he and Taz are capable on their own and give each other additional support as partners.
Pat asks other parents what value they see in using baby talk and invites them to share a different view.
Pat looks back on 12 years of life with his boys and reflects on the family and sibling relationships that have grown in that time.
Pat reflects on a father-son clip and encourages dads to offer their kids time, attention, and direct expressions of love.
Pat discusses using love languages to understand how a partner receives care and to notice when your usual way of expressing it misses them.
Pat reflects on how acknowledging weakness honestly can help fathers learn to respond better under pressure.
Pat describes unconditional love and support as a foundation children can draw on when adult life gets difficult.
Pat describes loving discipline as showing children how their choices affect others and giving them a chance to take responsibility.
Pat discusses meeting a family’s practical needs and making room for the relationships that help them feel loved.
Pat uses the idea of an infinite game to talk about supporting each other, communicating, and building a marriage worth continuing.
Pat talks about how parents can use their different strengths to support each other and give their children a fuller example.
Pat shares a reminder from @save.your.sons about giving children time and attention so they feel your love.
Pat encourages dads to keep caring for their babies through the early months while the bond has time to grow.
Pat reflects on vulnerability as being willing to see what needs work and take on the challenge of changing it.
Pat speaks about miscarriage and encourages fathers to share what the loss feels like with people who can support them.
Pat reflects on a harsh comment and considers what it takes to repair a relationship when people are willing to try.
Pat reflects on giving children a steady experience of unconditional love they can draw on as they grow.
Pat looks back on the house projects Taz took on before each baby arrived and shares the humor he finds in the pattern.
Pat shares how he keeps discussions of politics, sex, religion, and other hard subjects concrete and appropriate to a child’s level.
Pat and Taz discuss how children can hear an intense tone as anger and how changing delivery can build more trust.
Pat expands on his 50-pound-bomb analogy for carrying responsibility and recognizing when to rest or ask someone for help.
Pat encourages viewers to consider someone’s broader context before drawing conclusions about them from a brief clip.
Pat reflects on his default response to conflict and how learning to adjust it improved his marriage.
Pat describes staying calm and curious in disagreement so it becomes a chance for both people to learn.
Pat reflects on growing up with divorced parents and how that shapes the effort he puts into keeping his children close to their grandparents.
Pat encourages parents to express love directly, include their kids in what they do, and make time to be together.
Pat shares a reminder from @save.your.sons about how a partner, friends, and everyday habits can shape the direction of your life.
A discussion about treating marriage as teamwork and using communication and counseling to work through difficult periods.
Pat describes telling his kids how he feels so they can understand what is going on and learn to talk about their own emotions.
Pat reflects on a CrossFit community built around high expectations and people who support each other in meeting them.
Pat corrects a signup detail and explains why the platform required a $1 charge for the private fatherhood community at that time.
The speaker discusses rebuilding a sense of identity after divorce and adjusting to spending less time with his children day to day.
Pat shares how two undistracted hours with his children can give him a chance to be fully present and connect.
Pat describes wanting to raise capable, independent sons who grow up to value the relationship they have built with him.
Pat shares how he and his wife divide tasks such as cooking and bedtime by strength and step in for each other when needed.
Pat reflects on sharing parenting work in a way that makes use of what each partner is good at.
Pat talks about giving children unconditional love and holding them to clear boundaries at the same time.
A reflection on working through a difficult period of marriage and putting effort into becoming partners again.
Pat urges fathers to set their phones down and give their children more of their attention during time together.
Pat reflects on learning to notice how someone else wants to be treated and adjusting how you show up for them.
Pat discusses teaching kids to make good choices by building trust and helping them understand the reasons for a rule.
Pat asks prospective parents to consider their health, stress management, values, and connection alongside money when deciding if they are ready for children.
Pat describes vulnerability as being honest about needing help and turning to people who can support you.
Pat discusses how growing up with siblings gives children everyday practice sharing, adapting, and making room for other people.
Pat talks about holding a strong opinion and speaking respectfully with someone who sees things differently.
Pat discusses seeking out conversations with people who hold different views and using disagreement to examine what you believe.
Pat explains how listening to another person’s perspective can reveal something you missed and strengthen the relationship.
A family discussion about growing up with siblings, being an only child, and what regular time with siblings can teach.
Pat reflects on how family life changed as they went from one child to four and what he and his wife learned along the way.
Pat reflects on giving the most important parts of marriage and family life a level of effort that matches their importance.
Pat reflects on loving his children’s mother deeply as one way to show up well for the whole family.
Pat reflects on giving a child an apology its own space and coming back to the teaching moment later.
Pat shares Taz training with their boys and her belief in helping them get moving early and keep at it as they grow.
Choose your focus