Being a Dad. Favorite Thing Ever. Not Close.

I love being a dad.It's my favorite thing I've ever done. Not close.Years ago, I left my corporate career so I could spend more time with my kids. We homeschooled. We traveled. I built a business around being present for my family. Looking back, it was the best decision I ever made.But here's something nobody tells you about fatherhood:Loving it doesn't make it easy.And for a lot of men, there aren't many places where we can talk honestly about the hard parts.In this episode, I sit down with Mike Berry, founder of Road Trip, a unique gathering that brings fathers together for real conversations, connection, and support. What started as an event for foster and adoptive dads has grown into a community for fathers from every walk of life.One idea from our conversation I loved:Most of us approach parenting like carpenters. Something's wrong? Fix it. Tear it down. Rebuild it.But maybe great parenting is less about being a carpenter and more about being a gardener—showing up, nurturing growth, and trusting the process.We also talk about something many dads experience but rarely discuss: identity.When your kids grow up, move out, and stop needing you the way they once did, it can feel a lot like losing a job title you've held for decades. The transition can be surprisingly difficult, and most men aren't prepared for it.If you're a father, a husband, or simply a man trying to figure out who you are in your next chapter, I think you'll get something from this conversation.In This Episode✅ Why so many dads feel isolated✅ The support system fathers are missing✅ The difference between being a carpenter and a gardener parent✅ Why men struggle to ask for help✅ Fatherhood and identity✅ The power of brotherhood and honest conversation✅ The Road Trip experience for dadsLearn More About Road Tripwww.RoadTripDads.com/2026Timestamps:00:00 Why I Love Being a Dad00:48 How Road Trip Started02:00 The Challenge Fathers Face Alone03:15 Why Men Need Safe Spaces Too04:30 You Don't Need Someone to Fix You05:45 What All Dads Have in Common07:00 The Questions Every Father Asks Himself08:00 Carpenter vs. Gardener Parenting09:20 Why Brotherhood Matters10:00 The Missing Support System for Men11:30 What Makes Road Trip Different12:00 Colorado, Conversation, and Connection13:15 Final Thoughts#Fatherhood#DadLife#MensMentalHealth#Parenting#MikeBerry#Brotherhood#PersonalGrowth#FamilyLife#Dads#SelfImprovement#ParentingJourney#MentalHealth#Relationships#LetsGetReal#NextChapter❤️ Follow Let's Get Real everywhere!🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Let's Get Real for Updates and Surprises✅ Instagram:  @soul_spanish✅ Instagram:  @iammichaelsharkey✅ TikTok:  @iammichaelsharkey"Let's Get Real" is a weekly, interactive live talk show for guys on 102.5 FM in Tampa Bay. The show is live Friday nights at 8p ETIf you'd like to listen to the show live, stream at www.theboneonline.com or on your favorite live streaming radio app, like iHeartRadio or Audacy.We also post unique segments from every show on our YouTube channel. Click here to subscribe and get new content!To join the Lets Get Real community for exclusive content, click this link, enter your name and email and you're in!Please give us a 5-star rating and a written review to help others discover this show! And tell a friend to tell a friend about Let's Get Real!Thanks for listening!