How An Idea Turned Into A Worldwide Brotherhood For Dads

As the final guitar riffs echo through the small convert venue in Austin, Texas, I glance to my left and right. Standing in the row on either side of me, are four men I love and cherish deeply. Ten years ago, we didn't know one another. Today, any of these men would show up for me in my darkest hour. And I would for them. No question. 

What we have is more than a friendship. It's a brotherhood. It's a connection that runs deeper than anyone can begin to imagine.  

It didn't begin in junior high. We didn't go to the same college. And we've never lived in the same city, or on the same street (this group hails from the likes of Austin, Indianapolis, Bloomington, IL, Denver, and Coeur d'Alene). We actually met one another in the mountains of Colorado, 9100 feet above Colorado Springs, in 2017. We joined together, along with men from all over the world, for an event that I, along with three other men created, called Road Trip. 

On a May afternoon back in 2016, myself, along with Andrew Schneidler, Jason Morriss, and Jason Kovacs, met up in Austin, Texas in a conference room with a blank white board that sprawled the length of the wall.

There was one big question we centered our meeting around: what would it look like to create an experience JUST for foster and adoptive dads? We each spoke openly about our struggles, fears, and some of the stresses we faced on this journey. With each conversation, we scribbled across the white board. We not only determined what this experience should be, but also what it shouldn't be.

Men didn't need another men's retreat. We didn't need another exhausting, sleepless event where we walked away drained from all the activity on the schedule. No 'breakouts,' no 'main sessions with elaborate powerpoints,' and for goodness sakes, 'no singing!' ABSOLUTELY NO SINGING! There's nothing weirder, or more awkward, than standing in a room with a bunch of grown-ass men, singing songs to the same 3-chord progression! No thanks. 

We came to one powerful and simple conclusion from our time together: more than anything, men on this journey needed a safe space to speak openly and honestly in with zero fear of judgement or criticism. Along with that, men needed a break. No packed-out schedule for three days. On the contrary, an open schedule with lots of free time, where they could go fly fishing, visit a brewery, take a nap, or hike in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. The biggest realization? Conversation! Men needed space for authentic and vulnerable conversation to take place.  

Thus, Road Trip for foster and adoptive dads was born.

Beginning that fall, we invited dads from all over the world, to join us in the mountains of Colorado for three days of open conversation, adventure, and camaraderie. Also, hiking, napping, micro-brewery trips, fly-fishing, horseback riding, Pikes Peak trips, you name it. For the past ten years we've been blown away as we listen to stories of dads coming down from the mountain and reconnecting with their spouses and children, giving up alcohol in order to be present and dialed in, healing broken relationships, deciding to work on their marriage and not give up, or simply, become a better man. The list goes on and on!

After that very first fall, we even received an email from the wife of one dad who simply asked, "What in the world did you do to my husband? He's not the man I knew before he left for Road Trip. All I can say is thank you!" She attached a picture of him on the floor playing with his small children. Our hearts were moved!

Standing in that small concert venue in Austin a few weeks ago, listening to the beautiful, introspective, and moving lyrics of Sean McConnell, I was reminded of how all of this began. Strangers on the same journey to a brotherhood that'll last for life. We have that simple idea back in 2016 to thank for this brotherhood. 

Learn more about Road Trip 2025 here.