Episode #26: Stopping the Cycle - Becoming the Father He Never Had

In Episode #26, "Breaking the Cycle: Becoming the Father He Never Had," Don shares his journey from a traumatic childhood to becoming a committed father and coach. He opens up about the emotional toll of feeling abandoned as a child, how becoming a parent triggered unresolved wounds, and the importance of finding healthy outlets for coping.
Don also offers tough-love advice for parents navigating divorce, along with a heartfelt message to their kids. This episode is a candid look at breaking the cycle of emotional neglect and building a better future for the next generation.
In This Episode:
01:50 - Take Two: Recording challenges and overcoming technical difficulties
02:30 - Reflection on how Krista’s episode inspired personal growth
06:05 - Introducing Don, the “Gym Bro” and younger “Big Brother”
11:40 - Discussing how your past doesn’t dictate your future
15:25 - Emotional impacts of growing up in an unstable home
19:20 - The consequences of adults breaking promises to their children
22:44 - The positive shift that came from finding a healthy outlet
23:27 - How becoming a father triggered Don’s unhealed childhood wounds
26:48 - The cycle of emotional neglect passed down from parents to children
30:17 - The parallel between Water Boy and Don’s aggression and frustration
31:10 - Creating a safe space for processing all emotions from a traumatic childhood
34:24 - The pivotal moment when injury forced Don to choose a new path
39:07 - The dangers of ego and its need for negative attention
42:36 - How Don’s childhood experiences have made him a better coach
52:20 - The risk of projecting personal wounds onto one’s children
53:30 - Differentiating between a healthy ego and an unbalanced one
59:20 - Don’s advice for parents going through divorce and a message to their kids