Ep 044: The Family Man’s Blueprint: Strategy, Strength & Emotional Presence with Greg Denning
In this powerful episode of the Dad Nation Podcast, host Mitchell Osmond sits down with Greg Denning, a high-performance family coach, world traveler, and father of seven, to explore what it truly means to be a formidable family man. After overcoming a tumultuous childhood and homelessness at 16, Greg transformed his life through personal development and now helps other men do the same, especially in cultivating strong family dynamics.
Greg shares why most men fail to thrive at home: they lack strategic intention and emotional presence. He emphasizes that men must approach family leadership with the same focus they bring to their careers. From creating rituals of presence, like morning greetings and bedtime hugs, to redefining masculinity through “dumb goals” (Demanding, Unrealistic, Meaningful, and Bold), Greg challenges cultural norms and invites men to reclaim their strength, direction, and purpose.
Episode Highlights
Creating Family Culture: Family success doesn’t happen by accident. Greg breaks down how daily habits, rituals, and presence build a thriving family life.
Masculinity & Refinement: Men must be both hard to kill and easy to love. Greg redefines masculinity as the ability to handle hard things with strength and tenderness.
Active Listening as Love: Deep intimacy with your wife starts by truly listening—without fixing, interrupting, or disengaging. Connection is created through emotional presence.
Strategic Living: Micro-doing (daily discipline) + macro-dosing (big, bold experiences) creates alignment between your identity and your actions.
The Danger of the Caged Lion: Suppressing your masculinity to "keep the peace" leads to a loss of attraction and personal disconnection. You were made for bold, noble pursuits.
Phones & Priorities: Nothing disconnects a wife faster than her husband’s phone. Protect your family by guarding your attention.
From Hope to Habits: “We don’t live at the level of our hopes. We live at the level of our habits.” — Greg encourages men to develop habits that reflect their values, not their circumstances.
Chapters:
00:00 - Building Habits for Masculine Strength
00:42 - Welcome to Dad Nation Podcast
03:28 - From Desperation to Determination
05:06 - Designing a Thriving Family Culture
09:17 - The Myth of “Having It All”
13:45 - Exposure and the Path to Extraordinary Living
17:49 - Reigniting Intimacy in Marriage
20:10 - Mastering the Art of Listening
26:50 - Presence in the Chaos of Work and Life
32:47 - Reclaiming Masculinity and Your Edge
43:21 - The Legacy You Leave Behind
GREG'S LINKS:
YouTube: gregdenning
Instagram: greg.denning
Apple Podcast: Formidable Family Man
Facebook: greghdenning
Website: www.gregdenning.com
MITCHELL’S LINKS:
FREE GIFT: Igniting Intimacy: www.dadnationco.com/intimacy
Work with Mitchell: www.dadnationco.com/coaching
YouTube: @dadnationco
Instagram: dadnationco
