Millions of men are in recovery. Millions of men are fathers. Yet the specific, daily, emotionally demanding work of being a dad in recovery has been largely ignored.
Dads in Recovery changes that.
Each week, co-hosts Brandon and Cliff sit down with a guest - a father in recovery, an adult child of an addict, or a clinical expert - and go to the places other podcasts don't. The shame. The amends. The disclosure conversation you've been dreading.
This is not a show about being the perfect parent. It's a show about doing the work one day at a time.
Let's make sobriety our superpower.
In this episode, Cliff and Brandon recap the first season of Dads in recovery. They revisit the topics they covered with guests:
Selfishness versus self-care with Trey Laird
Stigma and disclosure with Scott Mansfield
Boundaries with John Hyland
Accountability with Michael R
Living amends with Torin S
Stepping up with Chris U
Cliff and Brandon express their overwhelming gratitude to the guests for sharing their experience, strength and hope on the podcast. And they share what they are doing differently as fathers and men in recovery as a result.
8 Oct 2026
Stepping Up with Chris U
In this episode, Cliff and Brandon talk with Chris U about parenting as a motivating factor in recovery. Chris shares the story of his bottom and how the thought of abandoning his daughter provided a moment of clarity. The groups discusses the importance of getting sober for ourselves, and how everyone in our orbit benefits. Chris shares the challenges of his first 90 days, and what his life is like now as a sober father who shows up on a daily basis. He also shares his emotional growth, and how the ability to be vulnerable has led to deeper connections in his life.
1 Oct 2026
Living Amends with Torin S
The hosts speak with Torin S about how to practice living amends to our children and our families. Torin and Brandon also share the nuances of recovery from sex addiction - the additional layers of stigma and shame, the difficulty of describing sobriety, the ease of denial.
24 Sept 2026
Accountability with Michael R
Michael R and the hosts discuss the importance of accountability in their recovery programs and the benefits of modeling accountability for their children. They also delve into the themes of seeking control, unhealthy work habits, positive psychology and wellness, and identifying and nurturing passion in children.
Takeaways
The importance of accountability - in sobriety and as a parent
Understanding how very common and legitimate parental fears lead to an unhealthy desire to control
The importance of identifying and fostering passion in children
Chapters
00:00 The Importance of Accountability
08:12 The Sobriety Mason Dixon Line
13:20 Accountability and the 12-Step Program
19:06 Expectations and Accountability
24:26 Parental Control and Fear
29:58 Seeking Control
35:05 Redefining Success
40:08 Positive Psychology and Wellness
45:22 Enabling Children's Passions
17 Sept 2026
Boundaries with John Hyland
Many addicts don't understand the concept of boundaries until they get into recovery. In this episode, John Hyland discusses his own journey with boundaries and why they are necessary in recovery. The conversation talks about the importance of setting boundaries for our kids and modeling boundaries as parents.
Takeaways
Importance of setting boundaries in relationships
The impact of boundaries on parenting and personal growth
The influence of recovery on family and children
Chapters
00:00 Reflections on Father-Son Relationship
09:30 Impact of Boundaries on Parenting
14:59 Challenges of Setting Boundaries
21:24 Emotional Boundaries in Relationships
26:26 Moments of Clarity and Self-Reflection
33:29 Boundaries in Career and Success
40:33 The Impact of Boundaries on Children
10 Sept 2026
Stigma and Disclosure with Scott Mansfield
This episode discusses a topic many parents in recovery struggle with - how and when to disclose your addiction and recovery to your children. Scott Mansfield tells his story, and explains why he's open not only with his family but also with others about his recovery. His "recovery out loud" is an act of service and helps reduce the stigma of this disease.
Takeaways
Living in consultation
The impact of addiction on family and children
The importance of open communication about addiction and recovery with children
Overcoming stigma and being open about addiction can lead to a sense of accountability and the opportunity to help others.
Chapters
00:00 Living in Consultation and Service
08:13 Impact of Addiction on Personal and Professional Life
19:24 Open Communication with Children About Addiction and Recovery
28:28 Overcoming Stigma and Openness
3 Sept 2026
Meet the Dads
Meet Cliff and Brandon, the hosts of Dads in Recovery. In this first episode, they each share their personal experiences with addiction, recovery, and fatherhood. The conversation explores the themes of vulnerability, toxic masculinity, and the type of fatherhood their own dads modeled. Most importantly, it introduces the goal of the podcast - to create a space to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by dads in recovery.
Takeaways
Rock bottom is not always a singular event, and recovery can be a journey with multiple turning points.
Vulnerability and self-awareness are crucial in the recovery process and in building healthy relationships. Toxic masculinity can have a profound impact on individuals, shaping their self-perception and emotional expression.
Sensitivity and empathy are valuable traits that should be embraced and nurtured, rather than suppressed or stigmatized.
Chapters
00:00 Influence of Parental Figures
28:18 Impact of Parental Expectations
33:52 Parenting and Nurturing Individuality
39:41 Challenging the Model of Masculinity
46:27 Breaking the Cycle and Rebirth
3 Sept 2026
Selfishness vs Self-Care with Trey Laird
Trey Laird, founder and CEO of the Lighthouse, an organization offering coaching services and residences for professionals in recovery, joins Dads in Recovery to discuss the delicate balance between selfishness and self-care. Addicts in their addiction are inherently selfish. We don't want to carry this selfishness into our recovery. Yet we know that in order to show up for our families we need to refill our tanks. How do we discern between these two things.
In this conversation, we explore Trey's recovery journey, the transition from selfishness to service, and the importance of self-care and balancing family and work. Trey's transformation and dedication to service are highlighted, along with the challenges and rewards of parenting in recovery.
Takeaways
Thriving - a new vocabulary for success
Moving from selfishness to service
How to discern between selfishness and self-care
Chapters
00:00 Redefining Success Vocabulary
08:19 Self-Care vs. Selfishness in Parenting
15:06 Transition to Service and Balancing Work and Family
23:48 Importance of Self-Care and Balancing Family and Work
30:06 Challenges of Parenting
45:02 Recovery and New Perspectives
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
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