Strong Families and Self-Aware Fathers w/ Glen Henry
Known & Secure
Equipping parents during their child’s academic years to bring learning to daily moments.
The Parenting IQ Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org
On today’s episode…
In this heartfelt conversation, Glen Henry—author of Father Yourself First—joins Dr. Kelly Cagle to explore what it truly means to lead your family with wisdom, humility, and emotional awareness. Glen shares how healing childhood wounds, slowing down for connection, and embracing play with his children helped him become the kind of father his family needs. He opens up about the cost of success, the importance of mentorship, and how strong families are built on the foundation of self-awareness and intentional love.
Insights
Strong Families Begin with Self-Aware Fathers
In this honest and transformative episode, Dr. Kelly Cagle welcomes Glen Henry—entrepreneur, content creator, and father of four—for a powerful conversation about healing, humility, and wholehearted parenting. Glen brings transparency, wisdom, and years of lived experience to a topic often overlooked: the emotional and spiritual preparation needed to become the kind of father your family truly deserves.
Fathering Starts with Self-Reflection
Glen’s new book Father Yourself First challenges men to unpack the emotional baggage of their own upbringing before they attempt to raise the next generation. He shares how his healing journey began by acknowledging childhood wounds, strained family dynamics, and deeply ingrained messages about masculinity and leadership.
“I started treating myself the way I would treat my son. That changed everything.”
By becoming more emotionally intelligent—through therapy, boundaries, and spiritual maturity—Glen models a path forward for fathers seeking authenticity and connection.
Healing Isn’t Weakness—It’s Legacy
One of the most powerful themes of the episode is that emotional awareness is not a sign of weakness, but strength. Glen discusses the tension between societal expectations of men and the inner reality of fatherhood. He vulnerably shares how unresolved pain from his relationship with his mother shaped how he approached marriage and parenting—until he began to do the deep internal work.
“When a man starts healing, sometimes the people around him aren’t ready.”
Through that process, Glen gained clarity, healthier communication with his wife, and a stronger emotional foundation to lead his family well.
Adventure and Play Build Bonds
Dr. Kelly and Glen explore the role of play and childishness in strong father-child relationships. Glen encourages dads to accept their kids' invitations to “come play,” whether it’s building something, roughhousing, or spontaneous trips in the family RV.
“We told our kids the fun stops when you grow up. That’s a lie. Let them see that the joy continues.”
These small moments of shared adventure create lasting core memories and deepen the father-child bond. They’re also a reminder that connection doesn’t come from grand gestures—it’s built through presence.
When Success Costs Connection
Glen shares how rapid success on YouTube—at one point generating over a million dollars annually—began to strain his connection with his older kids. He realized that their trust and participation were fading, and in an act of radical leadership, he chose to slow down.
“We lost money, but we gained trust. My kids wanted me in the room again.”
That decision speaks volumes about prioritizing relational wealth over financial gain—a central tension many parents navigate today.
Know Your Kids Like You Know Yourself
Glen reminds us that self-awareness as a parent must expand to understanding each of our kids as unique individuals. He shares beautiful and tender insights about his children’s personalities—including a son with autism who needs “10–15 hugs a day”—and how fathering each child requires tailored emotional wisdom.
Mentorship Multiplies the Mission
Glen concludes with a powerful call to surround yourself with godly community. Whether it’s older mentors or trusted male friends, he stresses that men were never meant to carry the emotional weight of life and leadership alone. Being “submitted to the Lord and to others” has helped him become the present, grounded father his family needs.
About Glen Henry
Glen Henry is an author, content creator, husband, and father of four who specializes in helping men lead their families with emotional awareness, integrity, and purpose. Having grown up in a single‑parent household and navigating his own journey of healing, Glen launched his upcoming book *Father Yourself First: Everything You Need to Become the Father Your Family Deserves. Through his personal story—from building a YouTube channel to stepping away for the sake of relationship equity—he now equips fathers to unpack their past, heal their wounded places, and enter into fatherhood as their best selves. You can follow him on Instagram @glenhenry and pick up his book wherever books are sold.
🌿 Join the Mom IQ Community
Biblically-rooted. Research-backed. Practically designed for real moms.
Tired of the constant parenting noise, conflicting advice, and never-ending Google rabbit holes?
The Mom IQ Community, led by Dr. Kelly Cagle, is your one-stop hub for wisdom, support, and real-life strategies to navigate motherhood with clarity, confidence, and peace.
Inside, you’ll get:
Expert coaching and workshops
Research-based parenting tools and routines
Biblical guidance for everyday family life
Support for moms navigating ADHD (diagnosed or suspected)
A private, like-minded community of moms
Monthly live coaching calls with Dr. Kelly
No more parenting overwhelm—just actionable solutions and a clear vision for your family.
In just 6 weeks, you’ll go from exhausted and unsure to confident, connected, and thriving.
Join today and build a peaceful, purpose-filled home—one intentional step at a time.
HEY THERE! I’M DR. CAGLE… DO YOU NEED HELP WITH CREATING GREAT HABITS???
Parenting is hard work. It requires tons of boundaries, daily consistency, so much awareness, as well as lots of patience, grace, wisdom, and filters. Combine that hefty list with all of life’s demands and others’ voice may become louder than yours in your child’s life, increasing their anxiety, fears, and doubts.
Healthy parenting is about seeing yourself as your child’s #1 teacher, saying the right words (or nothing at all) at the right time, and having the right tools to be intentional and impactful. Guessing your way through life, which is what most parents do, is a recipe for failure, but following the lead of someone who has two decades of research-based information and fully understands the demands of parenthood is a recipe for a full life— for you and your child.
With a PhD in education, I’m here to teach you how to use daily moments are learning opportunities so you raise confident and competent lifelong learners that thrive in an ever-changing world.
Additionally, I offer workshops and keynotes on various topics to parents, educators, students, and business leaders— because the need to understand, support, and empower learners is everywhere..
