# E583: Don’t Let the Hard Days Win w/Mike Foster

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/fatherhood-field-notes-248446/e583-don-t-let-the-hard-days-win-w-mike-foster
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/fatherhood-field-notes-248446/e583-don-t-let-the-hard-days-win-w-mike-foster.md
Podcast: [Fatherhood Field Notes](https://stenobird.com/podcast/fatherhood-field-notes-248446)
Published: 2026-06-30T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://fatherhood-field-notes.captivate.fm/episode/e583-dont-let-the-hard-days-win-w-mike-foster
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/478be1bc-7bb8-486a-989b-323cbc46eef1.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/fatherhood-field-notes-248446/episodes/e583-don-t-let-the-hard-days-win-w-mike-foster
Duration seconds: 3443

## Resource

For nearly a decade, Mike Foster has been helping people become stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually. As the owner of CrossFit 1776 in Loomis, California, and founder of the Resolute Life Foundation, Mike’s mission is bigger than fitness—it’s about freedom. But before CrossFit became his ministry, Mike was fighting a different battle. Alcohol had become his coping mechanism. He was physically present for his son, but mentally absent. Everything changed ten years ago when sobriety forced him to confront the man he had become—and challenged him to become the father his children deserved. In this deeply authentic conversation, Mike and Ned discuss addiction, recovery, CrossFit, parenting teenagers, raising resilient kids, and the life-changing difference between simply being around your children and truly being present with them. Mike shares how sobriety transformed every area of his life, including one unforgettable moment when he realized his son wasn’t upset about losing a video game—he was carrying wounds that needed a father who could finally slow down long enough to listen. The conversation explores: Why freedom—not fitness—is the real mission behind CrossFit 1776. How suffering builds connection between fathers and children. The hidden cost of coping mechanisms. Why reacting less helps fathers hear more. Raising teenagers through trust instead of control. What it means to become the kind of man your daughter hopes to marry. Breaking generational patterns while honoring your parents. How physical training develops emotional resilience. Why showing up mentally matters more than simply showing up physically. Mike also shares one of the most practical parenting ideas of the episode: instead of confronting his teenage son immediately after discovering drug use…

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## Transcript

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