Ep 10 - Girl Dads of the Year "First Love, Lasting Lessons"

What does it really mean to be a Girl Dad? In this special Fathers Making Progress Podcast episode, all four FMP Girl Dad of the Year honorees, Elisha Barren, Tristan Gross, David Comer, and David GreenHeck. They come together for a heartfelt conversation about raising daughters, fatherhood, marriage, co-parenting, boundaries, emotional growth, and the responsibility of being the first man in a daughter's life. From daddy daughter dances and doing hair to teaching confidence, respect, and self-worth, these fathers share powerful stories, lessons learned, and honest reflections on what it takes to raise strong young women in today's world. Whether you're a father, parent, mentor, husband, or community leader, this conversation is packed with wisdom, laughter, vulnerability, and inspiration. 00:48 – Meet All Four FMP Girl Dads of the Year 01:08 – Community Care & FMP Awards Announcement 01:42 – Who Are These Men Beyond Fatherhood? 01:58 – Elijah’s Story: Family First, Always 03:20 – Moving to Milwaukee on Juneteenth 03:52 – David Comer: Husband, Dreamer & Community Advocate 05:39 – Meet New Dad David Greene 07:24 – Tristan Gross on Purpose & Healing 09:25 – What Winning Girl Dad of the Year Really Meant 10:21 – Why Great Fathers Feel Undeserving 11:49 – Why Recognition Hits Different for Dads 12:29 – 15 Years of Daddy-Daughter Dances 14:06 – The Emotional Reality of Being Seen 16:14 – Why Fathers Need Safe Spaces Too 17:23 – Watching Your Daughter Grow Up 18:54 – The First Ever FMP Girl Dad of the Year 19:23 – Feeling Seen as a Nurturing Father 20:18 – Fatherhood Through Family Struggles 21:15 – Progress Over Perfection 22:21 – Learning to Accept Celebration 24:10 – Becoming a Better Dad Every Day 26:17 – What It Means to Be Her First Man 27:30 – Building Trust Through Everyday Moments 28:23 – Why Fathers Should Date Their Daughters 30:20 – Respecting Boundaries as Daughters Grow 31:25 – Learning to Parent Girls Differently 32:50 – Parenting Daughters Across Two States 35:23 – The Pain of Long-Distance Fatherhood 37:01 – Balancing Love Between Two Daughters 39:46 – Facts or Cap: Girl Dad Edition Begins 40:22 – Can Dads Nurture Like Moms? 43:17 – Do As I Say, Not As I Do? 46:05 – Different Rules for Daughters? 47:58 – Respecting Mom Is Respecting Your Daughter 50:15 – Modeling Love Through Marriage 52:20 – Best Father-Daughter Bonding Activities 53:04 – Why Doing Hair Matters 54:55 – The Power of Daddy-Daughter Dances 57:35 – How Gardening Connected a Father and Daughter 58:12 – Advice for New Girl Dads 59:07 – The Secret Power of School Pickups 01:00:00 – Final Reflections on Raising Daughters 01:01:07 – FMP Awards Invitation If this episode spoke to you, share it with another father, brother, or man who needs to hear this message because no matter where you are in life…You’re still making progress! Stay Connected: Facebook (Milwaukee Fatherhood Movement) Instagram (Fathers Making Progress)