Ambitious Dads: Redefining “Provider” and Presence w/ Jeff Hittner
Executive coach Jeff Hittner, founder of Ambitious Dads, joins Rod to unpack why so many high-performing men feel confident at work yet uncertain at home. Jeff shares his personal journey into intentional fatherhood, the six big gaps he sees in modern dads (balance, confidence, emotional regulation, community, clarity, and aligned co‑parenting), and how to raise emotionally intelligent kids without losing your identity. We go deep on triggers, repair, redefining what it means to “provide,” and integrating your leadership skills from the office into the living room. If you’ve ever thought, “I’d die for my family,” Jeff challenges you to grow for them—starting today. Practical, vulnerable, and immediately actionable.
Executive coach Jeff Hittner, founder of Ambitious Dads, joins Rod to unpack why so many high-performing men feel confident at work yet uncertain at home. Jeff shares his personal journey into intentional fatherhood, the six big gaps he sees in modern dads (balance, confidence, emotional regulation, community, clarity, and aligned co‑parenting), and how to raise emotionally intelligent kids without losing your identity. We go deep on triggers, repair, redefining what it means to “provide,” and integrating your leadership skills from the office into the living room. If you’ve ever thought, “I’d die for my family,” Jeff challenges you to grow for them—starting today. Practical, vulnerable, and immediately actionable.
In this episode:
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Jeff’s intentional path to fatherhood and why it changed his definition of “dad.”
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The Six Gaps modern fathers face (and how to close them): balance, confidence, emotional regulation, community, clarity/vision for home, co‑parenting expectations.
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Triggers → tools: spotting overreactions, tagging out, apologizing, and repair.
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The new meaning of “provider”: nurture and presence alongside finances.
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Integrating leadership: using your strengths from work to create calm, clear systems at home.
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How to talk with your kids sooner (and better) about hard topics.
Resources Mentioned
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Mindset: The New Psychology of Success — Carol Dweck
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Ambitious Dads (blog, podcast, programs) — ambitiousdads.com
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Coaching site — jeffhittner.com
Connect with Jeff
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Web: ambitiousdads.com | jeffhittner.com
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Podcast: Ambitious Dads
Connect with Rod
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Podcast hub: 4fitfatherhood.com
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IG: @4fitfatherhood
If this hit home, share it with a dad who’s leading at work and wants to lead with love at home. Rate the show ★★★★★ and drop a review—it helps more fathers find the conversation.
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00:40 Welcome • The four pillars & why fatherhood changes the world
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02:46 Jeff’s story: intentional fatherhood & redefining “father”
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04:50 From 50 to 200 interviews: what ambitious dads are missing
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07:19 Confidence at work vs. uncertainty at home
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08:23 The “low bar” of dad success—and raising the standard
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09:14 The Six Gaps: balance, confidence, emotions, community, clarity, co‑parenting
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12:37 Kids mirror us; building emotional self‑awareness & repair
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15:53 First steps: notice overreactions (triggers) & ask for help
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19:54 Buckets, valves, and overreaction vs. effective response
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29:42 Change is uncomfortable: helping kids (and dads) stick with it
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31:34 Provider, redefined: nurture + presence, not just income
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35:09 Why two incomes are common—and rewriting role expectations
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38:48 Integrating work leadership at home (authenticity & energy)
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55:01 Prepping the “hard talks” (sex, tech, culture) before school does
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1:01:21 The message Jeff hopes his sons will say about him
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1:03:12 Rapid fire: book, unlearn, one word, reconnection, brotherhood
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1:05:23 Where to find Jeff & Ambitious Dads
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👉🏿 @4fitfatherhood
Jeff Hittner
Founder and Father
I’m a leadership expert, executive coach, and founder of Ambitious Dads - a growing movement for fathers who want to lead with as much clarity and purpose at home as they do at work.
About ten years ago, I discovered I couldn’t become a biological father, something I had dreamed about my entire life. It was devastating. But that moment became the beginning of something far deeper: the disassembly of my old definition of fatherhood.
Fast forward to today, I’m the proud dad of two incredible boys who are the lights of my life. That journey taught me this: when we’re willing to let go of the stories we’ve clung to the longest, we create space to imagine something better, something truer.
I previously founded IBM’s global Corporate Social Responsibility consulting practice, and developed the curriculum for the Bard MBA in Sustainability where I was the leadership professor. Over the past two decades, I’ve coached CEOs on six continents and built leadership programs for some of the most mission-driven companies in the world.
Now, I bring that experience to Ambitious Dads programs, helping dads lead with courage, presence, and a definition of success they actually want their kids to inherit.
