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Bryan Ward

@daduppodcast

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Husband, Father & Marine Veteran
🎙 Dad Up Podcast
ASAF Running Coach Certified
Co-Founder @precision.performance.running
@alteregorunning Ambassador

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Definitely be aware of your surroundings. Something I learned in my years in the Marines.

But as parents, it’s important to teach our kids this lesson because it is important to help keep them safe!

Do you agree? YES OR NO? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Dad Up!

#dadup #beawareofyoursurroundings #alwaysbealert #neverbetoocautious #maxout #bryanward #doyouagreewithme by @daduppodcast

🏃‍♂️ JUST RUN. JUST SHOW UP. DAD UP! 💪

Being a great dad isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up, leading by example, and becoming the best version of yourself for the people who count on you.

For me, running is about more than physical fitness. It’s about mental strength, discipline, resilience, and being a better husband, father, and man.

🔥 DADS, HERE’S MY CHALLENGE TO YOU!

Stop putting yourself last. Your physical and mental health matter, and investing in yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family.

🎁 READY TO MAKE A CHANGE?

Through Precision Performance Running, I’m offering your FIRST 30 DAYS OF PERSONALIZED RUNNING COACHING FREE with a 90-day commitment!

Whether you’re starting from zero or chasing a new personal best, I’ll help you take that next step.

📩 DM me “DAD UP” TODAY!

Stronger Dads. Stronger Families. Stronger Futures.

👊 DAD UP!

#DadUpPodcast #DadUp #Fatherhood #StrongerDads #MensMentalHealth by @daduppodcast

Happy 25th Birthday to our amazing son, Brett @brett.ward_4. We are so proud of the man and husband you have become. We love you! by @daduppodcast

Today I climbed two mountains.

One of them is 17 years of sobriety.
The other is Mt. Baldy.

And today, when my legs were burning and Mt. Baldy was telling me to stop, I did what the last 17 years have taught me to do.

Keep moving forward.
Keep choosing the next step.
Keep climbing.

Because while one of these mountains took me a few hours to climb, the other has taken me 17 years one day at a time.

On September 7, 2009, I made a decision that would completely change the direction of my life.

I didn’t know what the next 17 years would look like. I didn’t know how hard some days would be. I didn’t know how many times life would test me.

I just knew I had to keep going.

One day at a time.

One day became a week.
Weeks became months.
Months became years.

And today, those days became 17 years sober.

Sobriety gave me the opportunity to become the husband, father, friend and man I wanted to be. It gave me mornings I can remember, challenges I can face head-on, finish lines I once never imagined crossing, and a life I refuse to take for granted.

So maybe it’s fitting that on my 17th sobriety birthday, I decided to climb an actual mountain.

Today I ran the Mt. Baldy Run to the Top 7 miles straight up the mountain, climbing thousands of feet toward the summit.

There were stretches where I felt strong.

There were stretches where every step hurt.

There were moments when I wondered how much I had left.

But I’ve learned something over these last 17 years:

You don’t have to conquer the entire mountain at once.
You just have to take the next step.

That’s what I did 17 years ago.

I took the next step.

Then another.

And another.

Until those days became weeks.
Those weeks became years.
And those years became 17 years of sobriety.

Reaching the top of Mt. Baldy today is something I’ll always remember.

But the biggest mountain I’ve ever climbed didn’t have a finish line at the top.

September 7, 2009 → September 7, 2026.

17 years sober.
6,209 days.
One day at a time.

Today I stood on top of Mt. Baldy.

But the mountain I’m most proud of climbing is the one I started 17 years ago today.

And that climb continues tomorrow. by @daduppodcast

Thirty-one years ago today, I took my incredible Queen on our very first date.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was rocking my stylish GUESS jeans and matching shirt, convinced I looked pretty good. 😎 We headed to the movies and watched The Net, back when Sandra Bullock had us all wondering if the internet was about to take over the world.

Neither of us could have imagined what would come next.

That one date turned into a lifetime of memories. Thirty-one years later, we’ve built a marriage, raised two amazing sons (now one is married and the other is engaged), weathered life’s wild storms, celebrated its victories, and continued choosing each other through every season.

It’s funny how a simple night at the movies can change the entire course of your life.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Happy “first date” anniversary, Andrea. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I’d still put on those GUESS jeans, pick you up with butterflies in my stomach, and hope you’d say yes.

Here’s to the night that started our forever. ❤️ by @daduppodcast

Six miles done today. 826 miles done for the year.

Every mile I run reminds me that endurance isn’t built on race day, it’s built in the quiet moments when nobody is watching. It’s built by showing up when you’re tired, when life is busy, and when excuses would be easier.

I’ve learned that the same discipline it takes to become a stronger runner is the same discipline it takes to become a better husband and father.

My Queen deserves a man who keeps his promises, not just with words, but through consistent actions. My sons deserve to see that strength isn’t about ego or talent, it’s about integrity, resilience, and the willingness to keep moving forward when life gets difficult.

Fitness has never been about chasing a finish line. It’s about becoming the kind of man my family can rely on. Every workout is another investment in being healthier, stronger, and more present for the people who matter most.

The miles will eventually fade.
The medals will collect dust.
The races will become memories.

But the example we set for our families that lasts for generations.

Run with purpose.
Lead with character.
Love without reservation.

That’s the legacy worth building.

#DadLife #Husband #LeadByExample #Endurance #Discipline by @daduppodcast

This wasn’t praying.
This wasn’t faith.
This wasn’t luck.

This was and still is a choice.

A choice to get up when I didn’t feel like it.
A choice to train when no one was watching.
A choice to keep showing up long after the motivation wore off.

Six miles.
10:22 pace.
An hour of relentless work.

People love to celebrate the result, but they rarely appreciate the thousands of decisions that created it.

Endurance isn’t something you’re born with.
It’s built.

One early morning after another.
One hard workout after another.
One uncomfortable mile after another.
One disciplined decision at a time.

There are no shortcuts. No magic formula.
No faith. No lucky break. No praying to get me through.

Just grit.
Consistency.
Discipline.
And, more importantly, a willingness to work my ass off long after everyone else has quit.

If you want a stronger body, a stronger mind, or a stronger life, stop waiting for the perfect moment.

Show up.
Do the work.
Repeat.

The life you want isn’t found in wishing or praying.
It’s earned through relentless effort.

Grit beats talent when talent refuses to grind.

#NoExcuses #EarnedNotGiven #Grit #Discipline #Endurance by @daduppodcast

🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!

🟫 Habits Of Confident Fathers | Christopher Brown & Bryan Ward | Ep. 330

👉 In this episode of the Dad Up Podcast, Bryan Ward sits down with Christopher Brown.

👉 Christopher A. Brown is the President of National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), where he leads the organization’s strategy, operations, and fundraising efforts.

👉 Since joining NFI in 2000, Christopher has been instrumental in establishing the organization as the nation’s leading provider of fatherhood education, evidence-based programs, and training for professionals who serve families.

👉 An applied anthropologist, author, and nationally recognized fatherhood expert, Christopher has dedicated his career to studying masculinity, fatherhood, and men’s health across cultures.

👉 He has developed many of NFI’s evidence-based and evidence-informed fatherhood programs and continues to train organizations nationwide on effectively engaging fathers in their services and communities.

👉 His highly anticipated first book, The 24:7 Dad: 12 Habits of Confident Fathers, was released in 2026 and offers practical wisdom for dads seeking to lead their families with confidence and purpose.

👉 A sought-after media expert, Christopher has been featured by the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Nick Jr. Magazine, CNN, and has appeared on countless fatherhood and family-focused podcasts and webinars.

👉 In recognition of his impact, he received the 2024 Outstanding Fatherhood Leadership Award from the National Partnership for Community Leadership.

👉 Christopher is the proud father of two daughters, a grandfather, and lives with his wife in the Austin, Texas area.

👉 Follow the Dad Up Podcast for more conversations on fatherhood, leadership, and becoming the man your family needs.

👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.

👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!

Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies. by @daduppodcast

Tonight, my son @brett.ward_4 and I made our annual trip to @angels Stadium to watch the Angels and our team, the @redsox.

For more than two decades, we’ve kept this tradition alive. Different seasons. Different chapters of life. Different game results. But one thing has never changed, we make the time.

As fathers, it’s easy to think our kids need bigger vacations, more expensive gifts, or the next new thing.

They don’t.

They need you.

They need your attention more than your money.
Your consistency more than your perfection.
Your presence more than your presents.

Looking back, I probably can’t remember every score or every big play.

But I remember the conversations.
The laughs.
The drive to the stadium.
The shared moments that quietly became part of our family’s story.

That’s what traditions do.

They become anchors.
They remind our children that no matter how busy life gets, there will always be time for each other.

If you’re a dad, start a tradition.

It doesn’t have to be baseball.
It could be breakfast every Saturday.
A monthly hike.
Fishing.
Coffee.
A yearly road trip.

The activity isn’t what matters.

The commitment is.

One day, your kids won’t remember everything you said.

But they’ll always remember that you showed up.

What tradition have you created with your kids? Share it in the comments.
I’d love to hear it.

Dad Up
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies. by @daduppodcast

🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!

🟫 Balancing Personal Passions With Family Life | Dr. Corey Holmes & Bryan Ward | Ep. 329

👉 In this episode of the Dad Up Podcast, Bryan Ward sits down with Dr. Corey Holmes.

👉 Dr. Corey W. Holmes is a distinguished foreign affairs expert, educator, and devoted father whose career has spanned both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government.

👉 He holds a Ph.D. in African Studies from Howard University, an MBA, and a bachelor’s degree from Clark Atlanta University. In addition to his government service, Dr. Holmes has shared his expertise as an adjunct professor at both Howard University and New York University.

👉 A Fulbright and Boren Scholar with extensive international experience, Dr. Holmes has contributed thought-provoking work to publications including the London School of Economics blog and leading South African academic journals. His writing uniquely blends deep scholarly insight with practical wisdom and real-world application.

👉 Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Holmes now resides in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with his family. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is passionate about golf, fine spirits, and cigars, interests he views as opportunities to cultivate meaningful relationships and create moments of reflection.

👉 As a husband, father, educator, and global thinker, Dr. Holmes brings a powerful perspective on leadership, purpose, and the delicate balance of career, personal passions, and fatherhood.

👉 Follow the Dad Up Podcast for more conversations on fatherhood, leadership, and becoming the man your family needs.

👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.

👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!

Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies. by @daduppodcast

A father’s impact isn’t measured by the money he makes or the titles he holds.

It’s measured in the bedtime stories, the hard conversations, the sacrifices no one sees, and the moments he chooses to be present.

Fathers are protectors, teachers, encouragers, and examples. They show us what strength looks like, not by being perfect, but by showing up day after day with love, guidance, and unwavering support.

To every dad carrying the weight of providing, leading, and loving your family, thank you.

Your presence matters.
Your words matter.
Your example matters.

The world needs strong, loving, engaged fathers now more than ever.

💙 Be the dad your children will remember.
💙 Be the man they can look up to.
💙 Build a legacy that lasts beyond your lifetime.

Dad Up!

#FathersMatter #DadLife #Fatherhood #DadUp #PresentFathers by @daduppodcast

🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of the Dad Up Podcast!

🟫 Ambitious Dads | Jeff Hittner & Bryan Ward | Ep. 328

👉 In this episode of the Dad Up Podcast, Bryan Ward sits down with Jeff Hittner.

👉 Jeff Hittner is an executive coach, leadership expert, entrepreneur, and founder of Ambitious Dads, a movement dedicated to helping fathers lead with greater purpose, presence, and emotional intelligence both at home and in their careers.

👉 With more than 25 years of experience building leadership programs and coaching executives around the world, Jeff has worked with CEOs, global organizations, nonprofit leaders, and emerging executives to create healthier cultures and stronger leadership.

👉 Jeff’s journey into fatherhood deeply shaped his mission. After learning he could not become a biological father, he was forced to redefine what fatherhood truly meant.

👉 That experience became the foundation for his work helping modern dads navigate the tension between ambition, family, identity, and emotional well-being.

👉 Today, he is the proud father of two boys and uses his personal story to inspire fathers to lead with authenticity, courage, and connection.

👉 Prior to founding Ambitious Dads, Jeff launched IBM’s global Corporate Social Responsibility consulting practice and served as a leadership professor for the Bard MBA in Sustainability program.

👉 He has also coached leaders on six continents and designed leadership initiatives for mission-driven organizations worldwide.

👉 Through coaching, speaking, writing, and his Ambitious Dads podcast, Jeff is helping redefine success for a new generation of fathers, proving that leadership at home matters just as much as leadership at work.

👉 Follow the Dad Up Podcast for more conversations on fatherhood, leadership, and becoming the man your family needs.

👉 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your friends and families you know that may be trying to successfully coparent.

👉 Links are in my bio or in the show notes!

Dad Up!
Where Fathers Break Cycles & Build Legacies. by @daduppodcast