Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 747 is my conversation with fatherhood advocate Chris Rodack about why strong, present fathers are so badly needed right now. We get into how the role of the father has shifted, what kids lose developmentally when a dad is absent, why daughters in particular need an engaged father, and how a man who grew up without that example can still break the pattern and become the dad his kids need.
Listen now: Megaphone · Spotify · YouTube.
Chris Rodack is a fatherhood advocate who speaks and writes about the importance of strong, engaged fathers in family life and in society. He joins Tom Rowland to share both his perspective on modern fatherhood and his own personal journey as a dad.
Chris argues that present, engaged fathers shape a child's sense of security, identity, and confidence in ways nothing else fully replaces. He says society increasingly downplays the father's role, and that the consequences of father absence show up in children's development and in the broader culture.
Chris explains that children who grow up without a present father often face gaps in confidence, security, and behavioral grounding. He connects engaged fatherhood to healthier development and stresses that the effects of absence ripple well beyond the individual family.
Yes. Chris is direct that a man's own upbringing does not have to determine the kind of father he becomes. He talks about the intentional work of showing up, being present, and choosing to break the cycle, drawing on his own journey through fatherhood.
Chris frames presence as a daily choice rather than a one-time decision, requiring intentional time, attention, and engagement even when the broader culture makes it easy to opt out. He talks candidly about what that commitment looks like in practice.
Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 747 with Chris Rodack is available on Megaphone, Spotify, YouTube, and the Tom Rowland Podcast feed. The video version is embedded at the top of this page.
I wanted Chris on because this is a subject I care about deeply and one that does not get talked about honestly enough. Being a present father is one of the most important things a man can do, and Chris has thought hard about why it matters and what gets in the way. What struck me was his refusal to let anyone off the hook for their own upbringing. He believes any man can choose to be the father his kids need, and I wanted listeners who are dads, or who are about to be, to hear that.
Press play in the player above to hear it.
Chris describes how the cultural picture of fatherhood has changed and why he thinks the present, engaged dad has been quietly pushed aside. He explains what that shift costs families. Hear his take in the episode.
Chris gets specific about the developmental gaps that show up when a father is absent, from security to confidence to behavior. He also explains why daughters need a strong father in particular. Listen to that section of the conversation.
Chris argues the culture often makes it easy for men to step back rather than lean in, and he names the forces he sees doing it. It is a pointed part of the conversation. Press play in the YouTube player above.
This is the part I keep thinking about. Chris insists a man's past does not have to dictate the father he becomes, and he draws on his own journey to show how. Worth hearing in full.
Listen to the full conversation: Megaphone · Spotify · YouTube.
What stays with me from Chris is how clearly he frames fatherhood as a choice you make every single day. It is not about being perfect. It is about being there.
The part about men who grew up without a strong father is the one I would point people to. Your upbringing is not your sentence, and Chris makes that case better than almost anyone I have talked to.
Press play in the player above, or grab Episode 747 on Megaphone or Spotify.
Chris Rodack · Tom Rowland (host)
The Tom Rowland Podcast brings you long-form conversations with the most accomplished anglers, hunters, conservationists, and outdoor professionals in the game. Listen to every full-length Tom Rowland Podcast interview.
Chris Rodack is a fatherhood advocate who speaks and writes about the importance of strong, present fathers in family life and in society. His work focuses on the developmental and cultural consequences of father absence, the shifting role of fathers, and the conviction that any man, regardless of his own upbringing, can choose to become an engaged and effective father.
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