Finances. Job performance. Relationship strife. All of those things impact your stress. Do you know how to handle it? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about the plague of dad stress and how important it is for men to manage it well.

Why This Matters
When you’re stressed out, you’re not at your best for your kids.

Key Takeaways
-There’s no single culprit: Finances, their jobs, and relationships are consistently listed as the top three stressors for men.
-There are 3 kinds of stress: Acute, episodic, and chronic. All three impact dads differently.
Stress doesn’t have to win: Methods like slow breathing and pausing help men manage their stress.
-Short-term stress can be good: It helps your immune system fight.
-New dads struggle with stress: The Movember Foundation reported 7 in 10 dads feel increased stress in the first year of parenting.

Stress Relief for Dads: Simple Mental Health Tips That Actually Work
1. When you’re stressed, breathe.
Breathing matters. Inhaling deeply and exhaling for longer than you inhaled signals the heart to speed up, which increases blood flow to the areas in the body needed to fight off stress.

2. Name your stress.
Research shows that just naming the topic and the emotion calms your nervous system. When dealing with stress, you can’t effective fight what you don’t name.

3. Talk about it.
Dads need someone who is safe to talk with who isn’t going to judge them. That person can become the support you when you’re stressed.

4. Pour into yourself
It is not easy to do, but dads dealing with stress need more sleep, exercise, and strong social connections. Try going for a walk, doing 10 pushups, or stretching.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 02:40 | Stressed-Out Dads and Teenage Reactions
The dads joke about being so stressed that even teenagers don’t want kids after watching them melt down.

02:40 – 05:42 | “I’m More Stressed Than I Realize”
Bobby reflects on how differently he and his wife show stress and how men often mislabel what they’re actually feeling.

05:42 – 07:03 | What Stress Really Is
The dads define stress and explain why dads benefit from understanding it rather than lumping every hard feeling together.

07:03 – 10:10 | The Top 3 Stressors for Men
Finances, jobs, and relationships top the list for men every single year. The dads break down why they’re so interconnected.

10:10 – 11:38 | The Work–Life Balance Spiral
The dads discuss how stress at home and at work bounce off each other until men feel stuck in a never-ending cycle.

11:38 – 14:11 | When Your Stress Spills Onto Your Family
Stories of snapping at kids illustrate how stress changes behavior.

14:11 – 16:48 | Kids Know When Dad Is Stressed
Research and real-life examples show how children read their dad’s tone, body language, and reactions long before he notices it himself.

16:48 – 20:26 | You’re Modeling Stress Management
The dads emphasize that kids learn how to handle pressure by watching how their father reacts—not how he says he reacts.

20:26 – 23:50 | Real, Scientific Breathing
Bobby explains the “double inhale, long exhale” breathing method that quickly lowers heart rate and reduces anxiety.

23:50 – End | Becoming a Calmer Dad
The dads remind listeners that calm leadership starts with stress regulation.

APD Pro Move:
1) Practice breathing. Inhale twice and exhale slowly.

2) Find a trusted person you can lean on to talk about your stress.

Sponsor:
The All Pro Dad Podcast is proudly brought to you by Family First, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping parents with resources to strengthen their families. Learn more at FamilyFirst.net.