The Dad Edge Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Nikki Sixx — founder of Mötley Crüe, rock legend, bestselling author, and a man whose story goes so much deeper than anything that ever happened on a stage.
This conversation is not about the music. It's about what happens when a boy grows up without his father, carries that wound through decades of addiction and chaos, and finally — through sobriety, therapy, forgiveness, and faith — becomes the kind of dad his own kids can always run to.
Nikki opens up about growing up without his dad in the picture, how the story he was told about his father wasn't the full truth, and the slow and painful process of forgiving both his parents. He shares the defining therapy session where a frumpy office, a dusty couch, and one sentence from his therapist — "you don't have to love your mom" — cracked something open in him that changed everything.
We talk about sobriety, and Nikki is direct: it always gets worse before it gets better. When you remove the substance, you have to face what's underneath. But if you can survive that first year, your whole life reorganizes. He's 20 years sober, and what he's built on the other side of that — as a husband, a father of five, a writer, and a creative — is nothing short of remarkable.
And Larry's son Ethan jumps in with a question that leads to one of the most important moments of the episode: Nikki's warning to today's teenagers about the very real and deadly danger of fentanyl-laced drugs — from someone who has lived every version of this story.
 
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities
[1:01] Introducing Nikki Sixx — founder of Mötley Crüe, author, and one of the most unexpected guests in Dad Edge history
[2:28] Growing up on vinyl, discovering music, and the self-discovery of being a young man in a different era
[5:13] Both Larry and Nikki share the experience of growing up without their fathers — and how it shaped them
[6:00] Writing The First 21 — the story of Frankie Farina, his dad's name, and what Nikki discovered about his father that surprised him
[7:15] How the absence of a father manifests differently in every man — and why Nikki's came out as anger in his late teens
[10:36] Larry's own story: being reunited with his father at 30 and building a relationship over 16 years
[13:30] Getting to maturity means facing reality — and what Nikki's kids get to see by watching their dad work through his own stuff
[14:22] Being gone on tour while raising kids — the guilt of absence and the work of making amends
[15:35] No gold records on the walls: how Nikki deliberately kept his celebrity out of the home to protect his kids
[16:32] "Not wanting to be my dad made me a better dad — but forgiving my dad might make me an even better one"
[17:16] At 62 with a two-year-old: what legacy do you want to leave, and how do you get there without carrying old baggage?
[18:31] Put down the baggage — it's heavy, it's exhausting, and it's crushing the people who love you most
[19:23] The therapy session that changed Nikki's life: a dusty office, beams of light, and "you don't have to love your mom"
[21:19] Letting go of the victim story and reclaiming the good — his dad was creative, his mom was charismatic, and Nikki carries both
[23:28] Creating a home where your kids can always call dad — no matter what, no matter when
[24:19] How unforgiveness clouds your ability to love the people right in front of you
[25:36] Why Nikki shares his story publicly — so someone else doesn't have to wait as long to have their moment
[29:18] When your daughter says "dad, you seem so happy" — the moment you know it's working
[30:11] Ethan tells Larry "I love my life" — and why that's the greatest thing a father can hear
[31:04] Moving from LA to Wyoming: finding simplicity in nature, watching moose in the yard, and what wildlife teaches about family
[37:24] 20 years of sobriety — and why Nikki says it is an absolute gift
[37:43] The hard truth about getting sober: it always gets worse before it gets better, and most people quit too soon
[41:28] Larry's 90-day sobriety challenge with 30 men — and what clarity feels like when you strip alcohol away
[43:41] Why humans are the only animals that can completely change the shape of their mind and body — and what that means for how we live
[45:21] Men's stag meetings, male support systems, and why Nikki found brotherhood in sobriety that he never had growing up
[47:37] Ethan's question for Nikki: what advice would you give a teenager in this generation?
[48:39] Nikki's urgent warning about fentanyl — the drugs today are not what they were, and they are killing healthy young athletes at parties
[50:19] How Nikki got sober: losing every friend, throwing himself into health and fitness, and writing Doctor Feelgood
 
Five Key Takeaways
The story you were told about your father may not be the full truth. Until you do the work to find out who he really was, you're carrying someone else's version of your own life.
Unforgiveness doesn't hurt the person you're holding it against — it closes you off from the people right in front of you who love you and need you.
Sobriety always gets worse before it gets better. When you remove the substance, you have to face what's underneath. That is the work — and it's worth it.
The greatest thing you can build as a father is an environment where your kids feel safe enough to call you when things go wrong — not hide it from you.
The drugs today are not what they were. Fentanyl doesn't care how healthy or young you are. This is not a conversation to put off with your kids.
 
Links & Resources
Roommates to Soulmates Cohort & Preview Call: https://thedadedge.com/soulmates
The Men's Forge: https://themensforge.com
The First 21 by Nikki Sixx: Available on Amazon
Follow Nikki Sixx on Instagram: @nikkisixxpixx
Episode Link & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/343
Closing
If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: the baggage you're carrying is not just yours to bear — it's being felt by every person in your home.
Nikki Sixx spent decades carrying wounds from a father who left and a mother who filled in the gaps with half-truths. And it wasn't until he put that baggage down — through sobriety, through therapy, through the hard work of forgiveness — that he could fully show up for his wife and his five kids.
That is the work. It's not glamorous, it's not fast, and it doesn't happen all at once. But on the other side of it is a man his daughter looks at and says, "Dad, you seem so happy."
That is the goal.
If this episode hit close to home, share it with a man who needs to hear it. Because every man deserves to put the weight down.
Go out and live legendary.

In this episode, I sit down with former NFL tight end Greg Olsen — a man who built one of the most decorated careers in professional football, but whose greatest story has nothing to do with what happened on the field.
We talk about Greg's upbringing in an all-boys household led by a high school football coach father who pushed hard, loved harder, and never let his kids settle for less than their best. Those lessons — accountability, perseverance, and doing the hard things when no one's watching — are ones Greg still carries and now passes on to his own kids.
We also get into the youth sports landscape today, the difference between a helicopter parent and what Greg calls a "Zamboni parent," and why letting your kids face real adversity early is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. Greg's philosophy is simple: you can teach skills, but you cannot coach desire.
But the heart of this conversation is TJ. Greg opens up about the moment an ultrasound revealed that his son TJ had hypoplastic left heart syndrome — a condition where only one side of the heart is functional and is 100% fatal if left untreated. He walks us through what it was like to be a husband, a father to other kids at home, and a starting NFL player — all while his newborn son was recovering from open heart surgery. And how he and his wife Cara made a conscious decision every single day to stay aligned, take turns being strong for each other, and refuse to let the weight of the uncontrollable destroy what they had built together.
This episode will challenge you, move you, and remind you that the measure of a man is not how he performs when everything is going well — it's how he leads when he has absolutely no control.
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities
[1:01] Why this replay hits differently the second time — and what makes Greg Olsen's story so powerful
[2:44] Greg's upbringing: an all-boys household, a football coach dad, and a life built around sports and high expectations
[7:29] Why Greg wouldn't trade his demanding childhood for anything — and the lessons he still carries today
[8:46] When dad is also coach: the life lessons sports instilled in Greg that carried him to the NFL
[9:27] The harder a coach pushes you, the more they believe in you — and why parents today have lost sight of this
[11:39] The Zamboni parent: why over-protecting kids from adversity sets them up to fail in the real world
[14:02] Finding the balance — building kids' confidence while still holding them to a real standard
[23:43] How Greg coaches his own kids differently: effort is the only thing he'll call out from the sideline
[26:24] The parents who don't show up to practice but have all the answers on game day — Greg's take
[29:05] The moment everything changed: finding out at an ultrasound that TJ had a serious congenital heart defect
[30:33] What hypoplastic left heart syndrome is — and why it's 100% fatal if left undetected
[32:24] How Greg and his wife Cara made a conscious decision to stay aligned through the unthinkable
[34:25] Wearing three hats at once: spouse, parent at home, parent at the hospital — and still performing on the field
[36:19] The hardest part for a fixer: facing something you cannot work, solve, or control
[37:17] Larry shares his own story of losing a son — and the helplessness every man feels when he can't protect his family
[39:39] Greg's response: how he navigated grief, kept the family moving, and put his own needs last
[41:59] Why you can't sit on the couch feeling sorry for yourself — even when no one would blame you
[44:02] Larry's 14-year-old son's questions for Greg: what kept you focused at my age?
[45:17] The moment at 14 that clicked — getting a scholarship offer from the University of Miami and realizing this could be bigger than high school
[47:03] Long-term vision over short-term comfort: why every hard decision Greg made in high school was worth it
[49:48] Why today's kids face more distraction than ever — and what Greg would tell them
[50:04] The kind of friends that will make or break you — Greg's advice on who to surround yourself with
[53:32] What Greg would tell his 14-year-old self: stop and smell the roses, because the hard stuff is coming
[57:04] What Greg wants from every kid he coaches: great attitude, great teammate, and fiercely competitive

Five Key Takeaways
The harder a coach or parent pushes you, the more they believe in you. When they stop pushing, they've stopped seeing potential.
Protecting your kids from every hard thing is not love — it's setting them up to fail. Let them face adversity early, while the stakes are still low.
When crisis hits your family, the most important decision you can make is to stay aligned with your spouse. If you two fall apart, everything falls apart.
Men are wired to fix things — but some of life's hardest seasons require you to simply show up, support, and surrender control. That's not weakness. That's leadership.
You can teach skills, but you cannot coach desire. If your kid has a competitive fire and a great attitude, they will find their way — in sports and in life.
Links & Resources
Roommates to Soulmates Cohort & Preview Call: https://thedadedge.com/soulmates
The Men's Forge: https://themensforge.com
You Think Podcast with Greg Olsen: Available wherever you get your podcasts
Follow Greg Olsen on Instagram: @gregolsen88
Episode Link & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1454
 
Closing
If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: a man's greatest test is not how he performs under the lights — it's how he leads when the outcome is completely out of his hands.
Greg Olsen had every reason to fall apart. A newborn son fighting for his life. Two other kids at home. A wife who needed him. A season that wouldn't pause. And yet, he and Cara chose every single day to stay aligned, to keep moving, and to give their kids the most normal, love-filled life they could.
That is the standard. That is what it means to lead a family.
If this episode moved you, share it with a father who is carrying something heavy right now and needs to be reminded that he is not alone.
Go out and live legendary.

In this episode, I sit down with Tara and Tim Katzman — a real couple from our own Dad Edge community who were standing at the doorstep of divorce and chose to fight for their marriage instead. This is one of the most downloaded episodes in Dad Edge history, and when you hear their story, you'll understand why.
Tim was a workaholic consumed by his business, available to clients around the clock while his wife and kids got whatever was left — which was almost nothing. Tara reached a breaking point where leaving felt like the only sane option. She was done. She told him daily she wanted a divorce. And yet something shifted.
We dig into what that turning point actually looked like — the flatline-or-mad emotional state Tim was stuck in, the moment Tara came prepared for a fight and got ownership and an apology instead, and how Tim went from never setting a boundary with a client to shutting work off at 4pm and protecting his family time fiercely. Their 18-year-old daughter even noticed — calling out that "dad is out of his people-pleasing era."
We also get into what it means to go from doing the right things to actually being a different man — and why that distinction matters more than any tactic or checklist. Tara describes going from keeping mental receipts and bracing for fallout every time she spoke, to fully melting into her husband. Tim describes going from avoiding his wife to not being able to spend enough time with her.
If your marriage feels like a checklist, if you're disappearing into work, or if you've already heard the words "I'm not in love with you anymore" — this episode is proof that it is possible to turn it all the way around.
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities
[1:01] Why this episode is one of the most downloaded in Dad Edge history — and what makes it so real
[1:47] Setting the scene: Tim the workaholic, Tara on the verge of walking out, and a marriage running on fumes
[3:24] Switching Wednesday Q&As to real stories of wins from men and couples in the community
[5:42] Tim and Tara introduce themselves — four kids, a pool business, and a 22-year relationship that started at 16
[7:32] Growing up in divorced households with no blueprint for what a healthy marriage looks like
[10:18] The forced house move that made everything worse — and the moment Tara hit her absolute lowest
[12:10] What the disconnection really looked like day to day: ships passing in the night, Tim treating family like a bother
[13:50] When the kids started getting the same treatment — and why that was Tara's breaking point
[17:34] The meditation exercise that shifted Tim's perspective and turned down the volume on work urgency
[18:34] Setting boundaries with clients for the first time — and Tara having to tell him to stop ignoring people
[19:40] Their 18-year-old daughter notices the change: "Dad's out of his people-pleasing era"
[20:52] Tim's side of the story: feeling completely alone while sleeping one foot away from his wife every night
[23:58] Tara's plan to leave — and the screaming match that became the turning point
[27:47] Tara's honest reaction when Tim said a podcast was going to fix things: she laughed
[29:50] The first signs of real change — Tim hearing her, owning his mistakes, and apologizing to the kids
[31:33] The difference between covert contracts and genuine ownership — and which one Tim chose
[35:42] Tara describes what it feels like to finally be safe enough to bring anything to him without bracing for fallout
[37:06] How the relationship has completely transformed — travel, connection, and a bond Tara never believed was possible
[39:26] Tim's perspective now: from avoiding conflict to not being able to get enough time with her
[41:25] The moment Tara started "melting" — and what it means when a woman can finally drop her defenses
[43:17] Masculine and feminine energy — why Tara stepping into her femininity changed the dynamic of everything
[45:00] If you could go back and give yourself advice — what Tim and Tara would tell themselves 2-3 years ago
[47:56] The difference between doing and being — when the work becomes who you are, not just what you do
Five Key Takeaways
Disconnection rarely looks like dramatic blowups — it looks like two people sharing a house but not a life, talking only about what has to get done.
A real apology combined with real follow-through is more powerful than years of arguing. Ownership without excuses changes everything.
When a man becomes the lowest heartbeat in the room — calm, present, and safe — his wife and kids will naturally move toward him.
The work you do on yourself doesn't stay contained to one area. When Tim changed, it transformed their marriage, their kids, their business, and their friendship.
There is a difference between doing the right things and being a different man. When it becomes your way of being, you stop having to try — it's just who you are.
Links & Resources
Roommates to Soulmates Cohort & Preview Call: https://thedadedge.com/soulmates
The Men's Forge: https://themensforge.com
Dad Edge Business Boardroom: https://thedadedge.com/mastermind
Episode Link & Resources (Episode 1453): https://thedadedge.com/1453
Closing
If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: it is never too late to turn your marriage around — but you have to be willing to truly change, not just try harder.
Tara and Tim were 18 years in, kids watching, divorce on the table daily, and they found their way back to something neither of them believed was even possible. Not because life got easier. Because Tim decided to become a different man.
If this episode spoke to something you're carrying right now, don't wait. The longer you wait, the more distance builds. Share this with a man who needs to hear it.
Because when a man leads well at home, everybody wins.
Go out and live legendary.

In this episode, I sit down with Terrence Ogden, founder of Official Project Grit — a man who transformed a life of addiction, jail time, and rock bottom into one of the most inspiring stories of resilience, grit, and faith you'll ever hear.
We start with the Immortal 32 Ruck — a 75-mile road march from Gonzales, Texas to the Alamo, now in its seventh year, inspired by the 32 men who answered the call at the Alamo knowing it was a one-way ticket. But what makes Terrence's story so gripping is where he came from. Years as a severe heroin addict, cycling in and out of jail, until a mentor named Kenny Baker reached out a hand and changed everything. That spirit of one man helping another became the DNA of Project Grit.
We also get into Terrence's most extraordinary feat: a solo, self-supported 1,046-mile ruck across the entire state of Texas — 40 days, no crew, with food caches buried in the desert weeks in advance. He shares what it taught him about faith, discipline, and a peace found not in the absence of chaos, but in the presence of God within it.
We close with a powerful call to any man carrying something heavy in silence. Terrence's message is simple: we are tribal by nature, and you will never find your true purpose until you're willing to ask another man for help.
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities
[1:01] Introducing Terrence Ogden — founder of Official Project Grit and one of the toughest non-veterans you'll ever meet
[1:46] The Immortal 32 Ruck: a 75-mile road march from Gonzales to the Alamo held every year around Texas Independence Day
[4:18] Terrence recaps the seventh annual event — 51 starters, 35 finishers, record-breaking heat in Texas
[7:32] How Official Project Grit was born — and why it starts with Terrence's story of addiction and redemption
[8:19] The mentor who changed everything: Kenny Baker, the man who pulled Terrence out of the gutter
[10:32] The Soul Crusher: the defining moment at mile 40 that gave birth to Project Grit's true mission
[13:25] Ad break — Roommates to Soulmates Cohort preview call
[15:11] Rucking as an equalizer: how a knee injury transitioned Terrence from ultramarathons to rucking
[20:28] The power of reaching out — Larry's personal story of texting a friend in a dark moment
[23:06] Six years sober and on the edge: Terrence's most gripping near-relapse story and the friend who saved him
[28:15] The battle cry — a message for any man who is lone-wolfing it right now
[30:04] Discipline before confidence: Terrence's leadership philosophy and how he's raising his kids
[32:49] The 1,046-mile Texas ruck: 40 days, solo, self-supported, food caches buried in the desert
[39:10] Finding peace in the desert — and why peace isn't the absence of chaos but the presence of God
[41:54] The spiritual parallels to 40 days in the desert — temptation, faith, and miraculous provision
[48:07] What's next: the Gritty 50 event, a book, and an upcoming documentary
[50:37] Final words for the man in the dark — why reaching out to a brother changes everything
Five Key Takeaways
You don't have to be born tough — grit is built through facing adversity head on, one hard decision at a time.
Every man needs a "running buddy" — someone who will call you out, show up for you, and help you make the right decision when your own mind is working against you.
Discipline comes before confidence. Motivation fades, but discipline gives you the structure and confidence to overcome whatever comes your way.
We are tribal by nature. Lone-wolfing it is a trap — strength, purpose, and redemption are almost always found by letting another man in.
Peace is not found in the absence of chaos — it's found in the presence of God within the chaos.
Links & Resources
Roommates to Soulmates Cohort & Preview Call: https://thedadedge.com/soulmates
The Men's Forge: https://themensforge.com
Official Project Grit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialprojectgrit
Official Project Grit Website: https://officialprojectgrit.com
Episode Link & Resources (Episode 1452): https://thedadedge.com/1452
Closing
If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: no man was meant to carry his heaviest load alone.
Terrence Ogden went from a heroin addict cycling in and out of jail to rucking 1,046 miles solo across the state of Texas — not because he was born tough, but because one man reached out a hand when he was at rock bottom. And Terrence paid that forward.
Whether you're in a season of darkness right now, or you know someone who is — this episode is a reminder that the bravest thing a man can do is pick up the phone and say, "I need help."
If this conversation moved you, share it with a man in your life who needs to hear it.
Go out and live legendary.

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Cocran, a young leader who is on a mission to help men in one of the most overlooked seasons of life—the years between 18 and 30. While many resources exist for married men, fathers, and established professionals, very few focus on young men who are still trying to find their footing in the world.
 
Dan shares the inspiration behind the Forging Your Future Young Men's Summit, an event designed to help young men build confidence, discover purpose, and develop the leadership skills they need to thrive in their careers, relationships, and communities.
 
We dive into the challenges young men face today—lack of mentorship, isolation, confusion around purpose, and the pressure to figure life out without guidance. Dan explains why community, mentorship, and intentional development are essential during this critical season of life.
 
We also talk about the responsibility fathers have to mentor the next generation—not just their own sons, but the young men around them. Because when men step up and invest in younger men, it doesn't just change one life—it changes families, communities, and future generations.
 
If you're raising sons, mentoring younger men, or simply want to understand the challenges facing the next generation of men, this conversation will open your eyes to why leadership and mentorship matter now more than ever.
 
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to create leaders of families and communities
[1:02] Reflecting on the uncertainty many men experience in their early twenties
[1:46] Why the years between 18 and 30 are often overlooked in male development
[2:24] The importance of mentorship, guidance, and community for young men
[2:45] Introducing Dan Cocran and the vision behind the Forging Your Future Young Men's Summit
[3:21] Why there are few resources designed specifically for men ages 18–30
[3:56] The modern challenges young men face when trying to find direction and purpose
[4:12] Why fathers should care deeply about the development of the next generation of men
[4:27] Reflecting on how many men feel lost during their early adult years
[4:43] Why mentorship and leadership development can dramatically change a young man's trajectory
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
The years between 18 and 30 are one of the most critical stages of development for men.
Many young men struggle today because they lack mentorship, direction, and supportive communities.
Fathers and older men play a vital role in guiding and investing in the next generation.
Community and accountability help young men build confidence and purpose.
When men intentionally mentor younger men, they strengthen families and communities for generations.
 
 
 
Links & Resources
Roommates to Soulmates Cohort & Preview Call: https://thedadedge.com/soulmates
The Men's Forge: https://themensforge.com
Episode Link & Resources (Episode 1449): https://thedadedge.com/1449
 
 
Closing
If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: young men need guidance now more than ever.
The years between 18 and 30 can shape the trajectory of a man's entire life. When young men have mentors, community, and strong examples to follow, they don't just survive those years—they build the foundation for leadership, purpose, and impact.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a father, mentor, or young man who could benefit from this conversation.
Because when men step up to guide the next generation, the ripple effects are felt for decades.
Go out and live legendary.