Raising Resilient Sons in a World That Undermines Them with Jeff Nelligan

Dads Interrupted

How do you raise confident, resilient kids when the world feels stacked against them?

Jeff Nelligan, a father of three and author of Four Lessons from My Three Sons, joins the show to break down how everyday dads can build ambition, emotional strength, and personal conduct into the DNA of their kids — no yelling, no lectures, just strategy and presence.

In this episode, Jeff shares his story: from Capitol Hill to the bleachers with his boys, from military discipline to emotional safety. We also get personal about how generational resilience, Māori heritage, and structured rituals shaped how he raised three sons who went on to thrive at West Point, Williams College, and the Naval Academy.

Topics include:

• Why culture will parent your kids if you don’t
• How to raise emotionally tough sons without shutting them down
• The underrated power of “bleacher time” and nightly walks
• Building lifelong trust through small daily actions
• Why resilience in parenting starts with personal resilience

Takeaway: You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be present, intentional, and unafraid to lead. Fatherhood is a team sport — start playing like it.

📚 Connect with Jeff:

📖 NelliganBooks.com

📬 [email protected]

📘 Four Lessons from My Three Sons - Get the Book Now

🗞 Featured in: USA Today, NPR, Fatherly, Parents Magazine

About the Host:

Hi, I'm Fred Van Riper—husband, father, former construction professional, and creator of the Connection Architecture Process. I help growth-oriented leaders become more clear, confident, and connected through transformational leadership development.

I work with leaders who are successful on paper but know there's another level available—leaders who want to architect genuine connection rather than hope for it. Whether you're leading teams, building businesses, or navigating the complexities of modern fatherhood, everything starts with how you lead yourself.

This podcast explores the intersection of leadership, connection, and authentic living. No corporate fluff. No outdated "authority" models. Just real conversations about the invisible forces that shape how we show up—and practical tools to transform them.

My approach combines unconventional methods with proven frameworks because breakthrough moments happen when we bypass the analytical mind and access our authentic leadership wisdom. Think leadership archaeology, emotional weather systems, and connection as a competitive advantage.

Ready to go deeper?

The Connection Blueprint is my flagship 3-week leadership development experience launching September 2025. This live "course" is designed for leaders who see connection skills as leadership development, not crisis management. Reserve your spot here.

Want immediate insight? Book a free Strategy Call to explore how the Connection Architecture Process applies to your specific leadership challenges.

Looking for resources you can dive into right now? Check out my complete toolkit.

Everything begins with how you lead yourself. Your success, how you handle failure, conflict, and challenging emotions—it all connects back to how connected you are to yourself and others. Let's architect that connection together.

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Disclaimer: The content contained herein is for inspirational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Nowhere in this podcast do we diagnose or treat a viewer/listener with any kind of psychological, mental, emotional or physical disorder as might be diagnosed and treated by a personal psychologist or other professional advisor. The content is not intended to be a substitute for working with a therapist but is for the purpose of educating the viewer about new approaches to working on personal problems. Viewers/listeners should use this podcast at their own risk, with the understanding that we are not liable for its impact or effect on its users. Viewing/listening to the podcast does not form a practitioner/client relationship between the viewer/listener.