Dad Tired

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In this deeply moving episode of Dad Tired, Jerrad sits down with former country music star Granger Smith for a raw and hope-filled conversation about grief, faith, and true conversion.
Granger opens up about the tragic loss of his three-year-old son, River, the darkness that followed, and the moment on a tour bus when he cried out for Jesus to save him. He shares how that moment began to unravel everything he thought he knew about himself, his identity, and even his faith.
Together, Jerrad and Granger talk about what it means to move from simply knowing Christian language to truly tasting the goodness of God, why “I’ve always been a Christian” may be a warning sign, and how God sometimes strips away the very things we use to feel secure so that we can finally see Him clearly.
Granger also shares why he eventually walked away from country music, what it looks like to serve in ministry now, and the heart behind his book Poison in the Well, written for those stuck in nominal Christianity.
CONTENT NOTE
This episode includes discussion of child loss, drowning, grief, suicidal thoughts, and spiritual darkness. Please listen with care, especially if children are present.
IN THIS EPISODE
• Granger’s life as a husband, father, former country artist, and pastor
• The loss of his son River and the grief that followed
• The tour bus moment when Granger cried out to Jesus
• Why grief, shame, and despair exposed the emptiness of surface-level faith
• The difference between knowing about God and truly knowing God
• Why Scripture became food instead of a religious obligation
• What led Granger to walk away from country music
• The warning signs of nominal Christianity
• Why every man should examine whether he has truly been born again

RESOURCES
Pre-Order Granger Smith’s book: Poison in the Well
Dad Tired Retreat: dadtired.com

Former Green Beret John Arroyo survived the 2014 Fort Hood mass shooting after being shot through the throat. But in this powerful conversation, John shares why the deepest wound of his life wasn’t the bullet — it was growing up without a father.
John and Jerrad talk about father wounds, gangs, addiction, becoming a teenage dad, military life, trauma, and the healing power of realizing that God had been with him all along.
This is one of the most moving conversations we’ve ever had on Dad Tired.
Important Links:
Dad Tired Annual Retreat
Host A Dad Tired Conference at your church
Join the FREE Family Leadership Program
Shop the Dad Tired store for best-selling gear

Important Links:
Dad Tired Annual Retreat
Host A Dad Tired Conference at your church
Join the FREE Family Leadership Program
Shop the Dad Tired store for best-selling gear
In this episode of Dad Tired, Jerrad sits down with Kaleb and Chris for an honest conversation about one of the most common tensions Christian parents face: What do I do when my kid doesn’t want to go to church anymore?

Together, they talk through the difference between forcing empty religion and faithfully leading your home, why Sunday worship is about more than personal preference, and how our kids are formed by seeing real stories of redemption inside the body of Christ. This conversation is a call for dads to lead with conviction, compassion, and consistency as they disciple their families toward Jesus.

Important Links:
Dad Tired Annual Retreat
Host A Dad Tired Conference at your church
Join the FREE Family Leadership Program
Shop the Dad Tired store for best-selling gear
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What does real friendship actually look like for men?
In this episode of Dad Tired, Jerrad is joined by Kaleb Allen and Chris Hilken for an honest conversation about brotherhood, grief, betrayal, loneliness, and the kind of friendship that goes far deeper than networking, convenience, or shared success.
Together, they talk about why so many men struggle to build meaningful friendships, how pain often becomes the soil where real brotherhood grows, and why true friends are the ones who stay when your life is messy, costly, or inconvenient.
This conversation is a reminder that men were not made to follow Jesus alone. We need brothers who know us, love us, challenge us, and are willing to “waste time” with us for the sake of something eternal.

Important Links:
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Sponsor: VARA Safes. Promo code: DADTIRED20

In this episode of Dad Tired, Jerrad sits down with Dr. Kathy Koch, founder of Celebrate Kids, to talk about raising kids who feel fully known, deeply loved, and prepared for life.
Dr. Kathy shares practical wisdom for Christian dads on speaking identity over their children, understanding different learning styles, building emotional intelligence, avoiding over-parenting, and helping kids grow into confident, faithful adults.
They also discuss why a father’s words carry so much weight, how dads can affirm more than performance or appearance, why reading to your kids matters, and how to parent children who think, learn, and process differently.
This conversation will encourage any dad who wants to lead his family spiritually, connect more deeply with his kids, and raise children who know who they are in Christ.
In this episode:
Why dads need to speak identity over their kids
How children become who we tell them they are
Understanding your child’s unique learning style
The danger of over-parenting
How to prepare kids for adulthood
The difference between correction and criticism
Helping your kids feel known and loved at home
Key reminder: If your kids don’t feel known at home, they’ll look somewhere else to be known.
Dad Tired Annual Retreat
Host A Dad Tired Conference at your church
Join the FREE Family Leadership Program
Shop the Dad Tired store for best-selling gear
Sponsor: VARA Safes. Promo code: DADTIRED20