Dads Interrupted

About Dads Interrupted

What does it mean to be a good man—and a present dad—in a world that never taught you how? Dads Interrupted is a podcast about fatherhood, masculinity, and the journey to becoming the man your family actually needs. Hosted by men’s coach and dad of 12+ years Fred Van Riper, Dads Interrupted dives deep into the conversations men aren’t having—but desperately need. We explore what it means to lead with purpose, break free from outdated roles, and build the kind of relationships that change everything—at home, at work, and in your own head. You’ll hear honest, real-world stories from men navigating fatherhood, marriage, emotional growth, and the myths that hold us back. As a Certified Fair Play Facilitator, Fred offers tools for shared responsibility, emotional leadership, and creating a home that works for everyone. This isn’t about losing power—it’s about gaining something far greater: Respect. Intimacy. Legacy. If you’re ready to break the cycle and build something better—this podcast is your starting point. Support the show here so we can keep bringing you powerful conversations: https://dads-interrupted.captivate.fm/ Visit https://www.seatatthetablecoaching.com/ for more tools and coaching resources.

Publisher

Frederick Van Riper

Category

education · kids & family · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

16 Jun 2024

Latest episode

6 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

1 of 20 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   6 Nov 2025

   The Moment That Redefined Fatherhood with Jeff Hittner

   When Jeff Hittner learned he couldn’t become a biological father, it shattered his definition of success — and ultimately transformed it. In this episode of Dads Interrupted, Jeff shares how grief, therapy, and courage helped him redefine what fatherhood really means. Together, we explore the tension between career and family, why asking for help is a leadership superpower, and how healing yourself is the first step to being the dad you want to be. Topics: Redefining fatherhood through grief The balance between ambition and presence Emotional courage and asking for help The messy middle of modern fatherhood Why healing yourself changes everything Takeaway: Jeff reminds us that ambition and fatherhood don’t have to compete... but only when we lead from alignment, not ego. Learn more: Ambitious Dads (https://www.ambitiousdads.com/) — About the Host: Hi, I'm Fred Van Riper—husband, father, former construction professional, and creator of the Connection Architecture Process. I help growth-oriented leaders become more clear, confident, and connected through transformational leadership development. I work with leaders who are successful on paper but know there's another level available—leaders who want to architect genuine connection rather than hope for it. Whether you're leading teams, building businesses, or navigating the complexities of modern fatherhood, everything starts with how you lead yourself. This podcast explores the intersection of leadership, connection, and authentic living. No corporate fluff. No outdated "authority" models. Just real conversations about the invisible forces that shape how we show up—and practical tools to transform them. My approach combines unconventional methods with proven frameworks because breakthrough moments happen when we bypass the analytical mind and access our authentic leadership wisdom. Think leadership archaeology, emotional weather systems, and connection as a competitive advantage. Ready to go deeper? The Connection Blueprint is my flagship 3-week leadership development experience launching September 2025. This live "course" is designed for leaders who see connection skills as leadership development, not crisis management. Reserve your spot here. (https://www.seatatthetablecoaching.com/connection-blueprint) Want immediate insight? Book a free Strategy Call (https://calendly.com/setyourkeystones/strategy-call-icon-leadership) to explore how the Connection Architecture Process applies to your specific leadership challenges. Looking for resources you can dive into right now? Check out my complete toolkit. (https://linktr.ee/seatatthetablecoaching) Everything begins with how you lead yourself. Your success, how you handle failure, conflict, and challenging emotions—it all connects back to how connected you are to yourself and others. Let's architect that connection together. ---- Disclaimer: The content contained herein is for inspirational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Nowhere in this podcast do we diagnose or treat a viewer/listener with any kind of psychological, mental, emotional or physical disorder as might be diagnosed and treated by a personal psychologist or other professional advisor. The content is not intended to be a substitute for working with a therapist but is for the purpose of educating the viewer about new approaches to working on personal problems. Viewers/listeners should use this podcast at their own risk, with the understanding that we are not liable for its impact or effect...

2. 

   18 Sept 2025

   From Aerospace to Alignment with Alex Egeler

   When aerospace engineer turned executive Alex Egeler stepped away from his high-powered career, he expected freedom. What he didn’t expect was the identity crisis that followed. In this episode of Dads Interrupted, Alex shares how becoming a dad “interrupted” his career in the best possible way—and why letting go of outdated ideas of success helped him find purpose, presence, and a career that truly fits his life. Topics include: The leap from aerospace executive to lead dad and coach Why success isn’t about hours worked, but energy and impact How empathy became Alex’s greatest leadership (and parenting) superpower The myth of working parents being “less valuable” Practical steps for finding work that aligns with family life A simple daily practice to rebalance work, parenting, and self Takeaway: Alex reminds us that being “interrupted” isn’t a setback—it’s an invitation to realign with what matters most. Need career coaching? ↓ Connect with Alex: empathicegg.com (http://www.empathicegg.com) Alex's Custom Career Clarity GPT: Career Clarity GPT (https://www.empathicegg.com/clarity_gpt) Find Alex on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-egeler-empathic-egg/) About the Host: Hi, I'm Fred Van Riper—husband, father, former construction professional, and creator of the Connection Architecture Process. I help growth-oriented leaders become more clear, confident, and connected through transformational leadership development. I work with leaders who are successful on paper but know there's another level available—leaders who want to architect genuine connection rather than hope for it. Whether you're leading teams, building businesses, or navigating the complexities of modern fatherhood, everything starts with how you lead yourself. This podcast explores the intersection of leadership, connection, and authentic living. No corporate fluff. No outdated "authority" models. Just real conversations about the invisible forces that shape how we show up—and practical tools to transform them. My approach combines unconventional methods with proven frameworks because breakthrough moments happen when we bypass the analytical mind and access our authentic leadership wisdom. Think leadership archaeology, emotional weather systems, and connection as a competitive advantage. Ready to go deeper? The Connection Blueprint is my flagship 3-week leadership development experience launching September 2025. This live "course" is designed for leaders who see connection skills as leadership development, not crisis management. Reserve your spot here. (https://www.seatatthetablecoaching.com/connection-blueprint) Want immediate insight? Book a free Strategy Call (https://calendly.com/setyourkeystones/strategy-call-icon-leadership) to explore how the Connection Architecture Process applies to your specific leadership challenges. Looking for resources you can dive into right now? Check out my complete toolkit. (https://linktr.ee/seatatthetablecoaching) Everything begins with how you lead yourself. Your success, how you handle failure, conflict, and challenging emotions—it all connects back to how connected you are to yourself and others. Let's architect that connection together. ---- Disclaimer: The content contained herein is for inspirational, educational,...

3. 

   10 Jul 2025

   Raising Resilient Sons in a World That Undermines Them with Jeff Nelligan

   How do you raise confident, resilient kids when the world feels stacked against them? Jeff Nelligan, a father of three and author of Four Lessons from My Three Sons, joins the show to break down how everyday dads can build ambition, emotional strength, and personal conduct into the DNA of their kids — no yelling, no lectures, just strategy and presence. In this episode, Jeff shares his story: from Capitol Hill to the bleachers with his boys, from military discipline to emotional safety. We also get personal about how generational resilience, Māori heritage, and structured rituals shaped how he raised three sons who went on to thrive at West Point, Williams College, and the Naval Academy. Topics include: Why culture will parent your kids if you don’t How to raise emotionally tough sons without shutting them down The underrated power of “bleacher time” and nightly walks Building lifelong trust through small daily actions Why resilience in parenting starts with personal resilience Takeaway: You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be present, intentional, and unafraid to lead. Fatherhood is a team sport — start playing like it. 📚 Connect with Jeff: 📖 NelliganBooks.com (http://nelliganbooks.com) 📬 Jeff@ResilientSons.com 📘 Four Lessons from My Three Sons - Get the Book Now (https://www.amazon.com/Four-Lessons-Three-Sons-Resilient-ebook/dp/B0CBN6XPTL/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=) 🗞 Featured in: USA Today, NPR, Fatherly, Parents Magazine About the Host: Hi, I'm Fred Van Riper—husband, father, former construction professional, and creator of the Connection Architecture Process. I help growth-oriented leaders become more clear, confident, and connected through transformational leadership development. I work with leaders who are successful on paper but know there's another level available—leaders who want to architect genuine connection rather than hope for it. Whether you're leading teams, building businesses, or navigating the complexities of modern fatherhood, everything starts with how you lead yourself. This podcast explores the intersection of leadership, connection, and authentic living. No corporate fluff. No outdated "authority" models. Just real conversations about the invisible forces that shape how we show up—and practical tools to transform them. My approach combines unconventional methods with proven frameworks because breakthrough moments happen when we bypass the analytical mind and access our authentic leadership wisdom. Think leadership archaeology, emotional weather systems, and connection as a competitive advantage. Ready to go deeper? The Connection Blueprint is my flagship 3-week leadership development experience launching September 2025. This live "course" is designed for leaders who see connection skills as leadership development, not crisis management. Reserve your spot here. (https://seatatthetable.kit.com/ca9aa67227) Want immediate insight? Book a free Strategy Call (https://calendly.com/setyourkeystones/connection-chat) to explore how the Connection Architecture Process applies to your specific leadership challenges. Looking for resources you can dive into right now? Check out my complete toolkit. (https://linktr.ee/frederickvanriper) Everything begins with how you lead yourself. Your success, how you handle failure, conflict, and challenging emotions—it all connects back to how connected you are to yourself and others. Let's architect that...

Inside a recent episode

Why Great Couples Still Break Up (and How to Make Sure You Don’t) with Nick Brancato

Published 15 May 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] But over the past X amount of time, they haven't been focused on it. So of course, the energy is not flowing to the relationship. Like I said earlier, you put it on the back burner, you almost take it for granted, especially people in longer term relationships, you just assume it's going to be there. And that's a really bad strategy to have if you want something to work out long term, you have to continue to put energy into the things you care about the most. And most of us do, if we're in relationships, we care about our relationships. But we often neglect them, not intentionally. It's not conscious thought like I'm going to wake up and neglect my relationship. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

7,566

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

37

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

51

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Guest appearances

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