# Ep 17: Find Your Tribe: A Girl Dad's Guide to Fatherhood and Evolving

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dad-manual-7554137/ep-17-find-your-tribe-a-girl-dad-s-guide-to-fatherhood-and-evolving
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dad-manual-7554137/ep-17-find-your-tribe-a-girl-dad-s-guide-to-fatherhood-and-evolving.md
Podcast: [The Dad Manual](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dad-manual-7554137)
Published: 2026-04-21T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/052c4d63
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/052c4d63/7edae217.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-dad-manual-7554137/episodes/ep-17-find-your-tribe-a-girl-dad-s-guide-to-fatherhood-and-evolving
Duration seconds: 2400

## Resource

What happens when a 24-year-old decides, in the middle of Alaska, that failure is not an option? Dustin Shephard — mortgage professional, girl dad, and North Shore of Oahu native — joins Tony Cooper for a raw conversation about becoming a father young, raising three daughters across two very different seasons of life, and what it really means to evolve as a dad. Dustin shares how a difficult childhood became the fuel that drove him to be better, why surrounding yourself with the right people changes everything, and the honest mistakes he made pushing too hard — and what he learned from them. Key Takeaways: There's no playbook for fatherhood — every dad is figuring it out as they go The anger or "chip on your shoulder" that drives you early on eventually needs to evolve into something healthier Your kids are always watching how you model work ethic, resilience, and getting back up Being a girl dad requires learning how to motivate differently than you might motivate yourself Community and tribe matter — the concept of ohana isn't just Hawaiian culture, it's a blueprint for fatherhood Full custody is a gift and a responsibility — Dustin's story of dropping everything to get Grace is a defining moment Each child gives you a new opportunity to grow — Dustin's approach to his youngest looks nothing like his approach to his eldest Social media consumption vs. creation is a conversation every parent needs to have with their kids Writing down your goals as a father — not just physical or financial goals — is a practice that changes your intentionality Vulnerability with your adult children isn't weakness; it's the bridge to a new kind of relationship This is a fatherhood podcast for dads who want to do more than just get through the day — and Dustin delivers the kind of ground…

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## Transcript

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