The Dad Edge Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nicole McNichols, psychologist, professor at the University of Washington, and author of You Could Be Having Better Sex, for one of the most honest, research-backed conversations we've ever had about sex, intimacy, and connection in long-term marriage.
 
This isn't about sex positions, tricks, or "trying harder." It's about why good marriages lose momentum over time, how pressure and expectations quietly kill desire, and why emotional connection is often the real foreplay. Dr. Nicole breaks down why scheduling sex can backfire, how shame and guilt around sex are learned early, and how curiosity—not performance—creates the kind of intimacy couples actually crave. I also share personal stories from my own marriage about connection, timing, and why mediocre sex just to "check the box" no longer works. If you want a healthier, more connected sex life, this episode gives you a roadmap grounded in science and real-life experience.
 
 
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Why this episode isn't about sex positions or tricks
[1:26] Introducing Dr. Nicole McNichols and her background
[2:09] Why scheduling sex can quietly backfire
[2:36] How pressure and expectation kill intimacy
[2:58] Emotional connection as the real foreplay
[3:36] Why intimacy dates matter more than sex calendars
[5:18] How Dr. Nicole became a "sex professor" by accident
[6:10] Loneliness, disconnection, and the role of sexual health
[7:08] Shame, stigma, and misinformation around sex—especially for women
[9:14] Why healthy sex improves forgiveness, health, and longevity
[10:25] The failure of shame-based sex education
[12:10] Countries with sex-positive education and better outcomes
[13:18] Identifying the sources of shame we carry into marriage
[15:09] Why sex shouldn't be the first thing sacrificed in busy seasons
[16:07] Why conversations about sex should happen with clothes on
[17:00] Using curiosity instead of pressure to improve intimacy
[18:11] Announcement: Dad Edge Alliance February focus on intimacy and attraction
[20:03] Curiosity vs. agenda in hard conversations
[21:17] Why scheduling sex alone doesn't work
[22:09] Creating the right context and mood for intimacy
[23:24] Sexual effort that creates pressure instead of desire
[24:55] Emotional lead-up and responsive desire
[26:01] Initiation–rejection cycles and resentment
[27:23] "Intimacy dates" and reconnecting outside the bedroom
[29:11] Larry shares a personal story about connection over convenience
[31:26] Choosing quality connection over mediocre sex
[33:17] Maintenance sex vs. meaningful sexual connection
[35:04] Balancing connection and realistic expectations
[37:22] Long-term rejection cycles and rebuilding intimacy
[39:00] Hormones, menopause, and why libido changes aren't personal
[41:29] Division of labor, resentment, and loss of identity
[43:48] Gottman research and why distance doesn't heal intimacy
[45:43] Making your partner feel seen and heard
[47:23] Listening vs. fixing in emotional conversations
[49:13] Resources for better conversations with your wife and kids
[49:31] Dr. Nicole's book and New York Times features
[50:44] Where to find Dr. Nicole and her work
[53:08] Why improving your sex life is a powerful way to start 2026
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
Pressure and expectation kill desire, while curiosity and emotional safety create attraction. 
Emotional connection is often the real foreplay, especially in long-term marriages. 
Scheduling sex without context can backfire if couples don't create space to reconnect first. 
Sexual shame is learned, and identifying its sources is the first step toward healthier intimacy. 
Better sex isn't about frequency—it's about quality, safety, and connection. 
 
 
 
Links & Resources
25 Intimate Conversation Starters: https://thedadedge.com/25questions
Conversation Cards for Kids (Ages 5–Teen): https://thedadedge.com/kidquestions
Dr. Nicole McNichols – Faculty Spotlight (University of Washington):
https://psych.uw.edu/newsletter/summer-2020/faculty/faculty-spotlight-on-nicole-mcnichols
New York Times – Modern Love Podcast Feature:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/podcasts/modern-love-better-sex-tips.html
Book — You Could Be Having Better Sex
Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1430
 
 
Closing Remark
If this episode gave you language, clarity, or hope around intimacy in your marriage, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. Strong marriages don't drift into great sex—they build it intentionally, with curiosity, connection, and courage.

In this Q&A episode, I'm joined once again by Uncle Joe for a deep, honest conversation around one of the most painful places a man can find himself—feeling unwanted, disconnected, and hopeless in his marriage. We respond to a question from a husband who hasn't felt physical or emotional connection from his wife in over two years, and we unpack what really breaks down in marriages long before intimacy disappears.
 
This conversation goes far beyond surface-level advice. We talk about why most men were never trained for marriage, how resentment quietly builds, why treating marriage like a contract destroys connection, and how changing your internal narrative can shift everything. We also bring in perspectives from men inside the Dad Edge Alliance to show how humility, coachability, and intentional skill-building can restore trust, safety, and leadership at home. If your marriage feels distant or stuck, this episode offers clarity, hope, and a path forward.
 
 
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Welcoming listeners to the third Q&A episode of January 2026
[1:19] Uncle Joe returns and the power of community-driven wisdom
[2:13] Introducing a listener's marriage question about rejection and hopelessness
[2:55] Why only 12% of married couples report feeling deeply connected
[3:33] Asking the most important question: what have you actually learned about marriage?
[4:26] Joe reflects on personal failure, divorce, and hard-earned lessons
[5:14] Why hope exists if attraction once existed
[5:35] How complacency and busyness quietly push marriage to the back burner
[6:02] Marriage compared to learning an instrument—you can't wing it
[7:21] Resentment, skill gaps, and whether marriages can truly be restored
[8:05] Marriage as a covenant, not a contract
[8:55] How destructive inner narratives shape behavior and connection
[9:43] Transactional expectations and why they kill intimacy
[10:41] Why "nice guy" energy erodes respect and attraction
[11:30] Listening to understand instead of listening to defend
[12:12] Mutual submission, humility, and shared leadership in marriage
[13:15] Alliance member insight on asking for feedback from your wife
[14:16] Faith, unity, and intentionally doing life together
[15:49] Receiving feedback without ego or defensiveness
[17:14] Emotional bank accounts and the power of daily deposits
[18:50] Gottman's 5:1 and 10:1 ratios for healthy marriages
[19:40] Giving your wife permission to coach you
[20:45] Why conflict isn't the enemy—avoidance is
[22:00] Reframing the role of a wife as a strengthener, not a subordinate
[23:17] "It's not me vs. you, it's us vs. the problem"
[23:43] Larry shares a personal season of anger and choosing humility
[25:16] How couples can build something better than what they had before
[25:51] Episode wrap-up and where to find resources
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
Most men were never taught how to lead a marriage, and guessing your way through it creates disconnection. 
Marriage breaks down through narratives and resentment long before intimacy disappears. 
Treating marriage like a covenant—not a contract—changes everything. 
Emotional deposits made consistently rebuild trust and safety over time. 
When couples unite against the problem instead of each other, restoration becomes possible. 
 
 
Links & Resources
Dad Edge Alliance: https://thedadedge.com/alliance
The Legendary Marriage Book: https://thedadedge.com/legendarybook
Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1429
 
 
Closing Remark
If this episode resonated with where you're at in your marriage, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. You don't have to figure this out alone—skill-building, humility, and brotherhood can change the direction of your marriage and your family. From my heart to yours, go out and live legendary.

What does real leadership actually look like at home—not just at work? In this episode, I sit down with Mick Hunt, leadership and culture coach, to break down what emotional intelligence, boundaries, and masculine presence really mean for husbands and fathers.
 
Mick shares powerful insights on why being the "nice guy" often kills polarity and attraction in marriage, how emotional intelligence is a strength (not a soft skill), and why men need intentional transition rituals to show up fully present for their families. We talk about journaling as a daily leadership practice, setting boundaries without control, and how a father's emotional presence shapes the safety and confidence of his kids. This conversation is practical, grounded, and deeply relevant for men who want to lead with backbone and heart.
 
 
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introducing Mick Hunt and why leadership matters most at home
[2:06] Morgan Freeman narrating Mick's videos and the unexpected connection
[2:27] Why emotional intelligence is a critical leadership skill
[3:01] How the "nice guy" approach kills polarity and attraction
[3:29] Daily practices Mick uses to stay emotionally present with his kids
[4:09] The importance of transition rituals between work and home
[6:04] Mick's marriage story and reconnecting after decades of friendship
[9:07] Emotional intelligence as awareness, regulation, and response
[11:01] Why empathy doesn't mean losing authority as a husband or father
[14:05] Self-awareness as the foundation of emotional leadership
[15:18] Growing up with an emotionally unavailable father
[17:13] Mick's simple daily journaling practice
[19:17] Why writing trains the brain to separate fact from emotion
[21:07] Boundaries as love—not control—in marriage and family
[23:54] Defining boundaries through core values
[24:16] Protecting "me time" to show up better for others
[27:33] Why skipping transition time hurts marriages and families
[28:38] A real story of ignoring boundaries and paying the emotional cost
[31:27] Masculine presence and modeling healthy marriage for kids
[33:11] Being the emotional anchor of the household
[35:30] Teaching daughters confidence and sons how to care
[38:44] Where to find Mick and his leadership resources
 
 
Five Key Takeaways:
Emotional intelligence is a leadership advantage, not a weakness, for men at home and at work. 
Being agreeable isn't the same as being emotionally present, and "nice guy" energy often kills attraction. 
Transition rituals protect your family from your stress, allowing you to show up grounded and present. 
Boundaries rooted in core values create safety, not distance, in marriage and parenting. 
A father's emotional presence shapes confidence, safety, and leadership in his children. 
 
 
Links & Resources
Mick Hunt Official Website: https://mickhuntofficial.com
Instagram: @mickunplugged
LinkedIn: @mickhunt
Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1428
 
 
Closing Remark
If this episode challenged how you think about leadership, boundaries, or emotional presence at home, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. The most important leadership role you'll ever have is the one your family experiences every day.

Why do kids raised in the same home react so differently to the exact same situation? In this episode, I'm joined by Alyssa Campbell, author, educator, and founder of Seed & Sew, to unpack what's really happening beneath our kids' behaviors—and why understanding their nervous systems changes everything about how we parent.
 
Alyssa returns to the show to talk about her new book Big Kids, Bigger Feelings, and we go deep into the overlooked developmental stage of kids ages 5–12. We discuss why "shouldn't they know better?" is the wrong question, how regulation and access to skills are two different things, and why each child's unique sensory profile determines how they experience stress, connection, discipline, and learning. This conversation will give you clarity, compassion, and practical tools to parent each child for who they actually are—not who you expect them to be.
 
 
Timeline Summary 
[0:00] Why kids raised by the same parents can behave so differently
[2:33] Introducing Alyssa Campbell and her work in emotional intelligence
[3:27] Alyssa's first book Tiny Humans, Big Emotions and its success
[3:49] Celebrating Alyssa hitting the New York Times bestseller list
[4:11] Introducing the new book Big Kids, Bigger Feelings
[5:00] Why ages 5–12 are a massively overlooked developmental stage
[6:03] Central nervous systems and why kids respond differently to the same stimulus
[7:36] "Knowing better" vs. having access to skills in the moment
[9:15] Dysregulation in adults—and why kids struggle even more
[14:24] Why kids under 25 don't have fully developed prefrontal cortexes
[16:03] How screens and overstimulation dysregulate kids
[18:12] Why nervous system awareness builds empathy instead of frustration
[22:45] The nine sensory systems every parent should understand
[24:01] Vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive senses explained
[26:17] Sensory sensitivity vs. sensory seeking
[28:12] Introducing the Seed Quiz as "GPS for your kid's brain"
[29:05] How the Seed Quiz works for kids, parents, and families
[31:10] Real-life school example of regulation transforming behavior
[33:09] Why behavior improves when regulation improves
[35:25] Trauma, environment, and how nervous systems evolve
[41:03] Why understanding nervous systems transforms marriages too
[42:06] Parenting two kids with opposite sensory needs
[44:48] Why the same parenting response can calm one child and escalate another
[45:30] Tapping out to your partner when regulation styles differ
[47:01] Where to find Alyssa, her books, and Seed & Sew resources
 
 
Five Key Takeaways:
Every child has a unique nervous system, which determines how they experience stress, connection, and learning. 
Knowing what to do and being able to do it in the moment are not the same thing, especially when kids are dysregulated. 
Behavior improves when regulation improves, not when punishment increases. 
One-size-fits-all parenting often backfires because kids need different inputs to calm and connect. 
Understanding nervous systems builds empathy, patience, and more effective parenting strategies. 
 
 
Links & Resources
Seed Quiz (Free Tool): https://seedquiz.com
Seed & Sew Website: https://www.seedandsew.org
Seed & Sew on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seed.and.sew/
Seed & Sew on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedandsew.org
Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1427
 
 
Closing Remark
If this episode helped you understand your kids—and yourself—on a deeper level, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. Parenting isn't about getting it right every time; it's about learning how to show up for the unique humans we're raising.

In this second Q&A episode of 2026, I'm joined once again by Joe Bailey for a raw, honest, and deeply practical conversation with men inside our Dad Edge Alliance. We tackle two of the most common—and emotionally charged—challenges dads face: navigating marriage when divorce feels like it's on the table, and learning when to step in (or step back) as parents with our kids.
 
Joe brings wisdom forged through failure, humility, and redemption as he shares lessons learned from three divorces and what it actually takes to rebuild trust, emotional safety, and leadership in marriage. We also dig into parenting—specifically how often we default to "no," how helicopter parenting robs kids of growth, and how learning to pause can transform our connection with our children. If you're a dad who wants to lead with ownership instead of ego, and presence instead of control, this episode is for you.
 
 
Timeline Summary 
[0:00] Welcoming listeners to the second Q&A of 2026 with Joe Bailey
[1:37] Live Q&A format with Alliance members on the call
[2:03] Anonymous question: marriage arguments escalating and divorce being discussed
[2:52] Joe shares his experience with three divorces and hard-earned lessons
[3:49] Taking full ownership as the leader of the relationship
[4:18] Winning the argument vs. winning your wife's heart
[5:02] Separating identity from failure in marriage
[5:21] Why agreement gives things power over your life
[5:40] Emotional safety, being seen, and being heard
[6:04] How your inner world creates your outer world
[6:55] Why asking "What are you willing to do?" matters more than "Can we fix this?"
[8:03] Leading with humility, apology, and commitment to growth
[8:26] The importance of being coachable as a man and husband
[9:35] Larry explains why the Dad Edge Alliance exists
[10:37] More context: resentment and imbalance with kids and responsibilities
[11:16] Why we're trained for careers—but not for marriage
[12:15] Marriage compared to training and skill development
[13:29] The mental load and resentment that silently builds in relationships
[14:35] Larry shares his own wake-up moment with his wife
[16:19] How to approach conversations with curiosity instead of defense
[17:19] Expecting resistance and understanding trust rebuilds slowly
[18:46] A real coaching story where separation was reversed after consistency
[21:03] "Waiting for the other shoe to drop" and consistency over time
[22:12] Second question: saying "no" too often to kids
[23:12] Helicopter parenting and letting kids solve problems
[24:27] Letting kids work it out unless safety is at risk
[26:02] Stepping in when conflict becomes dangerous
[28:16] Boys, aggression, and healthy outlets
[29:45] Is saying "no" about safety—or convenience?
[30:51] Searching for the "yes" and using delayed yeses
[31:38] The day kids stop asking—and why it matters
[32:16] How selfishness often drives our "no"
[33:22] Episode wrap-up and directing listeners to the show notes
 
 
Five Key Takeaways
 
Marriage leadership starts with ownership, not blame or defensiveness. 

Your inner world shapes your marriage, and emotional chaos creates relational chaos. 

Trust is rebuilt through consistency over time, not quick fixes or intensity. 

Kids grow through problem-solving, and dads don't need to jump in unless safety is at risk. 

Saying "yes" whenever possible builds connection, while reflexive "no's" often come from selfishness or convenience. 

 
 
Links & Resources
Dad Edge Alliance (Apply & Book a Call): https://thedadedge.com/alliance

Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1426

 
 
Closing Remark
If today's episode gave you clarity, hope, or a new way to lead at home, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. You don't have to white-knuckle marriage or fatherhood alone—brotherhood, humility, and consistency change everything.