The Dad Edge Podcast

This week I sat down with Dr. Bradley Nelson, a holistic physician, USA Today bestselling author, and founder and CEO of Discover Healing, the creator of the Emotion Code, the Body Code, and the Belief Code. He's a father of eight, a grandfather of seven, and a great grandfather, and he opened with an incredible story about how his wife's first daughter, placed for adoption before they met, found them and was officially adopted into the family at 47.
We got into his newest book, The Heart Code, which he wrote with his wife Jean, and the idea of a heart wall that many of us build after painful experiences. Dr. Nelson shares his view on trapped emotions and the body, stories from his practice, and how emotional patterns can pass from one generation to the next. I also respectfully pushed back with my own 20 years in the operating room, and near the end I opened up about what I've been feeling as my 18 year old leaves for college. If you grew up in an unpredictable home and want to break the cycle for your kids, this one is for you.
 
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introduction and the October Dad Edge Alliance promo: a signed book, two free courses, and an advance copy of The Marriage Drift
[3:05] Dr. Nelson on his family of eight kids, seven grandkids, and one great grandchild
[4:00] His wife's first daughter, placed for adoption before they met, finds them 18 years ago
[7:36] A faded whiteout on a birth certificate and a call to BYU help put the pieces together
[12:40] Dr. Nelson's background and his three systems: the Emotion Code, the Body Code, and the Belief Code
[16:59] Why Dr. Nelson sees symptoms as the check engine light, not the real problem
[18:17] Muscle testing as a way to communicate with the subconscious mind
[22:18] A waking vision in 1998 that led to the discovery of the heart wall
[28:01] A patient with severe low back pain and a trapped emotion of anger from 20 years earlier
[34:47] A nurse who swore off dating for eight years, and what happened after her heart wall was cleared
[38:29] Larry respectfully pushes back with his 20 years in the OR and thousands of spine surgeries
[50:16] Why emotional patterns repeat even when a dad promises himself he won't become his own father
[55:00] Unconditional love, and Dr. Nelson's own struggle with conditional love as a father
[57:18] Dr. Nelson's closing message to dads: slow down, because childhood goes by so fast
[1:00:11] Larry shares what he's feeling as his 18 year old leaves for college and what his therapist helped him see
[1:05:57] Where to find Dr. Nelson and the free video that walks you through releasing a trapped emotion
 
Key Takeaways
Dr. Nelson teaches that unresolved emotions can get trapped in the body, and that symptoms like pain can be messages pointing to something deeper.
The heart wall is Dr. Nelson's term for the protective wall many of us build after a painful experience, and he says it can make it harder to connect with your wife and kids.
If you ever hear your father's words come out of your own mouth after promising you never would, take it as a sign there may be old baggage you haven't dealt with yet.
Dr. Nelson shares that he loved his kids conditionally for a time, giving or withholding love to shape their behavior, and that unconditional love is what he now works toward.
Slow down and tell your wife and kids what they mean to you now, because time goes faster than you think and being willing to hear criticism and change is part of being a man.
 
Links & Resources
Dr. Bradley Nelson and Discover Healing: https://discoverhealing.com
The Heart Code: https://discoverhealing.com/the-heart-code-book/
Dad Edge Alliance (October Bonuses): https://thedadedge.com/join
Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl
The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1538
 
Closing
What stayed with me most was the moment at the end when I shared, for the first time on this show, how hard it has been watching my 18 year old leave for college, and how my therapist helped me see that it touches the old wound of the men who left me as a kid. Dr. Nelson's story about his own conditional love as a father reminded me that none of us does this perfectly, and that being willing to look at it honestly is what changes the next generation. Take a few minutes this week to slow down, tell someone you love what they mean to you, and ask yourself what you might be carrying that you haven't named yet. Go out and live legendary.

This week I sat down with Nick Friedman, the original college hunk behind College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, a company that started with a beat up cargo van the summer before his senior year of college and has grown to more than 200 franchises and over $300 million a year in sales. Nick has been on Shark Tank and Undercover Boss, is a two time Emmy Award winning producer, and is a dad of four who has been married since 2013.
We got into the culture he built at work and the one he tries to build at home, including the four L's his family lives by and what it means to be a chief repetition officer. Nick shared the story of his son swallowing a glass bead, how a false viral accusation tested his patience, why he tells entrepreneurs to have urgency of effort and patience for the results, and the honest way he and his wife handle resentment in their marriage. If you're a dad chasing something big while trying to keep your marriage and kids first, this one is for you.
 
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introduction and the October Dad Edge Alliance promo: a signed book, two free courses, and an advance copy of The Marriage Drift
[3:11] How a best friend's mom, a beat up cargo van, and a joke turned Nick into the original college hunk
[6:42] Turning HUNKS into an acronym: honest, uniformed, nice, knowledgeable service
[7:52] Why 80 to 90% of calls came from the female household decision maker
[13:39] Why a company without a culture is like a picture frame without a photo
[14:55] Chief repetition officer: reinforcing purpose and values every single day
[17:12] The family core values Nick lives by: listen, learn, laugh, and love
[23:07] Nick's son swallows a glass bead, and the framed lesson that now hangs in his room
[25:23] From Shark Tank to Undercover Boss: the two bookends of Nick's TV journey
[35:22] Staying steady when a viral false accusation hits social media
[39:58] Urgency of effort, patience for the results, in business and in parenting
[41:48] The critter state: why kids and adults need to cool off before logic can land
[48:02] Raising the floor: your character as a leader, a father, and a human
[50:27] Nick's honest take on his marriage and why being intentional matters
[52:49] The no resentment longer than 24 hours rule
[55:09] Larry shares why only 12% of married couples call their marriage fulfilling
 
Key Takeaways
Purpose and values shape behavior, behavior shapes culture, and culture shapes results, so be the chief repetition officer and reinforce them every single day.
Teach your kids your values with stories they can remember, like the framed glass bead on your son's wall, because stories stick in a way rules never do.
Have urgency of effort and patience for the results, and give your kids and yourself grace along the way.
When emotions run high, let the critter state settle before you reach for logic, whether you're talking with your wife or your kids.
Don't let your marriage run like a family LLC, be intentional with date nights and honest conversations, and don't let resentment last longer than 24 hours.
 
Links & Resources
Nick Friedman: https://nickfriedman.com
College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving: https://www.collegehunkshaulingjunk.com
Dad Edge Alliance (October Bonuses): https://thedadedge.com/join
Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl
The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1551
 
Closing
Nick's story about his son swallowing that glass bead, and now having it framed on his wall, stuck with me because it shows how one story can teach what a lecture never will. His answer about his marriage, that he wouldn't give himself an A+ and knows he can do better, is the kind of honesty that keeps us from drifting. Pick one thing from this conversation this week, maybe a no resentment longer than 24 hours rule with your wife or a story that teaches your kids a value. Go out and live legendary.

This week I sat down with Steven Wolt, the founder of Valor Recovery, a virtual coaching program that helps men overcome pornography abuse and compulsive sexual behavior. Steven is a husband, father, and entrepreneur who spent decades fighting a private war with sexual addiction while looking successful on the outside. After hitting rock bottom in 2008, he rebuilt his life and now uses that story to help other men get free.
We went underneath the shame, the secrecy, and the promises of I'm done. Steven explained why willpower alone fails, why porn abuse is really an intimacy disorder, how a phone became his main tool for regulating emotions, and what recovery looks like through emotional regulation, community, and vulnerability. If you're a dad who has struggled in silence, or you want to break the cycle so your sons do not inherit it, this one is for you.
 
Timeline Summary
[1:02] Larry welcomes Steven Wolt and explains why porn recovery episodes get big downloads but few comments
[2:25] Larry shares his own origin story with pornography, starting at age nine
[4:09] Larry introduces Steven, the founder of Valor Recovery, and what dads will learn
[7:33] Steven's start in 1990s New York City, using porn to numb depression and loneliness
[9:07] How his use escalated, and the shame that came with a progression no one explained to him
[12:18] Hitting rock bottom in 2008 after losing his career and cycling through treatment centers
[19:40] Why porn abuse is an intimacy disorder and why the opposite of addiction is connection
[23:18] How shame feeds the belief "I am flawed" and keeps your life small
[26:59] The difference between porn use and porn abuse, and using it to regulate emotions
[28:21] Why it's not about willpower: the phone as a primary regulation tool and retraining the nervous system
[30:30] Three things a man must address: regulating emotions, finding root causes, and tolerating boredom
[36:16] How exercise and caring for yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually replace the need to escape
[44:59] A walk with the baby, with and without a phone, and why men need time away from screens
[50:24] Larry sits with his sadness over his first son leaving, and why emotions are neither good nor bad
[56:49] How men find the courage to go first with vulnerability, and why it creates a domino effect
[1:00:12] How Valor Recovery works as a 90 day coaching program led by men in long term recovery
 
Five Key Takeaways
Willpower alone doesn't fix porn abuse because it is a learned way to regulate emotions, so recovery means retraining your nervous system to handle urges, discomfort, and cravings.
Porn abuse is often an intimacy disorder, which means the opposite of addiction is connection, and very few men overcome it by white knuckling it alone.
Guilt says I did something wrong while shame says I am wrong, and moving past shame is what stops it from keeping your life small.
Learning to sit with boredom and uncomfortable emotions like sadness and loneliness, without reaching for your phone, is a key part of lasting recovery.
Caring for yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and being brave enough to be vulnerable with other men, builds a life you don't need to escape from.
 
Links & Resources
Valor Recovery social media: https://www.facebook.com/ValorRecovery/, https://www.instagram.com/valorrecovery1/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-recovery
Valor Recovery: https://findyourvalor.com
The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1545
 
Closing
Steven said the opposite of addiction is not recovery, it's connection, and I felt that when I admitted I'd been distracting myself with busyness instead of sitting with my sadness over my first son leaving for college. If you're struggling with this, you're in good company, and it's a battle none of us should fight in isolation. Reach out to a brother or to Valor this week, put your phone in another room, and let yourself be bored for a few minutes. Go out and live legendary.

This week I sat down with Dr. Diane Mueller, a board certified sexologist with doctorates in natural medicine and acupuncture and oriental medicine. She is the host of the Libido Lounge and a best selling author and international speaker who helps committed couples who went from passionate lovers to feeling like roommates. She looks at the whole picture, including hormones, stress, kids, menopause, communication, and life transitions.
We got honest about how easily intimacy slips off track, including my own sadness since our first son left the nest and the drinking habit I traced back to it. Dr. Mueller explained why new relationship energy fades after 6 to 18 months, the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, how novelty brings the spark back, and why talking about sex feels like such a threat. If you're a husband or dad who wants to stop settling for roommate status in your marriage and rebuild desire and connection, this one is for you.
 
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introduction and the October Dad Edge Alliance promo
[3:01] Larry welcomes Dr. Diane Mueller of the Libido Lounge and asks how she got into this work
[4:24] Her story of how life gets couples off their intimate track and turns them into roommates
[8:42] What somatic experience means and why we escape uncomfortable feelings in the body
[11:32] Larry shares how sadness over his son leaving led him to drink more, and why he gave it up
[12:47] Breaking habits by asking "why am I doing this" and letting the ego take a back seat
[15:15] Larry introduces Dr. Mueller and the questions on roommate syndrome, desire, and kids
[17:04] Why new relationship energy lasts 6 to 18 months and how dopamine and novelty drive desire
[19:49] Why couples plan intimacy before moving in together, then expect it to happen on its own
[24:16] Spontaneous desire versus responsive desire and why the difference matters in marriage
[25:30] Why a partner with responsive desire needs 15 minutes to an hour of warm up
[27:32] Bringing novelty back with a yes, no, maybe checklist and a date night conversation
[30:14] How to set your partner up to respond well when you share something vulnerable
[33:01] Why talking about sex feels like a bigger threat than other conflicts
[35:07] Start by talking only about what's going right to help the nervous system feel safe
[40:30] The right next step for dads: start the conversation and don't put intimacy on autopilot
[43:17] Where to find Dr. Mueller's books, free resources, and social channels
 
Five Key Takeaways
The rush of new relationship energy lasts about 6 to 18 months, so when it fades it doesn't mean something is wrong with your marriage.
Spontaneous desire and responsive desire are different, and a partner with responsive desire often needs 15 minutes to an hour of warm up before the desire shows up.
Bring novelty back by going through a yes, no, maybe checklist on a date night, and tell your partner ahead of time how you want them to respond to what you share.
Conversations about sex feel like a bigger threat than other conflicts, so start by only talking about what's going right until both of you feel safe.
Intimacy can't run on autopilot any more than your health can, so ask what you're avoiding and take one small step toward talking about it.
 
Links & Resources
Dr. Diane Mueller (My Libido Doc): https://mylibidodoc.com
Want to Want It by Dr. Diane Mueller: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=want+to+want+it+diane+mueller
Dad Edge Alliance (October Bonuses): https://thedadedge.com/join
Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl
The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1547
 
Closing
Dr. Mueller reminded me that the body doesn't lie, and when I admitted I'd been drinking more because I was sad about our son leaving, I saw how easily we avoid the feelings we don't want to face. Her challenge is simple: tell your wife what she does well, make it safe to talk, and don't let your marriage run on autopilot. Pick one thing you love about the way she connects with you and tell her this week. Go out and live legendary.

Bill Winchester is back on the show, and one word kept coming to mind as I read his story: builder. He started with backyard tree forts, married his high school sweetheart Christy at 21, raised three kids, and helped build the church his family worshiped in and the school his kids attended. Somewhere along the way he realized the most important thing he'd ever build was men, which led him to create the Dangerously Good Men rite of passage in Bend, Oregon, and Improving Grounds, where men gather around a fire on Saturday mornings.
We talked about raising sons in a digital world, why despair and loneliness are rising among men, and the difference between protecting your son and preparing him. Bill walked through the liminal space between boyhood and manhood, the six core values behind his framework, and the men of significance every young man needs in his corner. If you're a dad raising a boy who is nearing his teens and you want to send him into manhood supported instead of unprepared, this conversation is for you.
 
Timeline Summary
[1:01] Larry welcomes Bill Winchester back and asks about the rite of passage he created for his oldest son
[3:18] How Dangerously Good Men serves boys 12 to 15, and a father and son who came full circle after four years
[5:59] Larry introduces Bill: a builder, a father of three, and a man helping fathers lead sons into manhood
[9:22] Raising sons in a digital world, the despair among men, and living in 3D in a 2D world
[12:46] Why fathers must shift from protecting their sons to preparing them
[18:00] The liminal space: the threshold between boyhood and manhood
[19:53] How absent fathers, latchkey kids, and screens left young men unprepared
[22:34] Why anything that can give you everything can take it all away
[24:16] Turning the SOS into shared strength and building community before the crisis
[29:28] Six arrows, a shadow box, and the four year journey that ended in a college dorm room
[31:38] The six HEROIC core values: honorable, enterprising, responsible, original, intimate, and creative
[38:49] Men of significance: the letters five men write to a son, each tied to a core value
[40:36] Driving away from a college dorm knowing his son was prepared and not alone
[44:25] Why a boy needs other good men besides his dad, from grandfathers to coaches
[56:46] Why a deep installation process beats cramming, and why it is simple but not easy
[1:02:15] Where to find Bill's work and a free 90 minute call for registering for the January 2027 event
 
Key Takeaways
Shift from protecting your son to preparing him, because a boy who has only been protected steps into manhood empty handed.
Give your son a clear threshold between boyhood and manhood, because a graduation party alone doesn't tell him who he is becoming.
Recruit a small circle of trusted men who will write him letters and answer the phone at 3 a.m., because a boy listens differently to a man he respects.
Teach your son that his worth doesn't come from likes, followers, or screens, because anything that can give you everything can take it all away.
Build values deep over years instead of cramming them in a crisis, because what is bolted on quickly gets unbolted at the first challenge.
 
Links & Resources
Dangerously Good Men (January 2027 event, use code FirstArrow for a free 90 minute coaching call): https://dangerouslygoodmen.com
Improving Grounds: https://improvinggrounds.com
Dad Edge Alliance (October Bonuses): https://thedadedge.com/join
Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl
The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1548
 
Closing
Bill told me about driving away from his oldest son's dorm room, knowing his boy had a quiver of arrows and a handful of men who would pick up the phone, and how that gave him peace he couldn't have gotten any other way. That's what I felt when I watched Mason walk through his own rite of passage, and it's why I'm bringing Lawson to Bill's January 2027 event. Whether you do it with a mountain hike, a weekend away, or a simple circle of men, don't leave your son's manhood to chance. Start by picking one man you trust and asking him to step in. Go out and live legendary.