Healing From Trauma and Leading Your Family Through Grace and Grit ft. Os Aponte
The Dad Edge Podcast
Larry Hagner
4.8 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 22 September 2025
⏱️ 55 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of the Dad Edge Podcast, Larry Hagner is joined by Oscar "Oz" Aponte—a U.S. Army veteran, StrongFirst kettlebell instructor, and founder of Iron Core—to explore what real strength means as a man, a father, and a leader.
Oz brings a powerful blend of physical mastery and spiritual depth, helping men move from brute force to intentional presence. Together, they unpack how posture, breath, nervous system regulation, and movement patterns shape your long-term vitality—not just in the gym, but at the dinner table, in your marriage, and in your legacy.
More than a conversation about fitness, this is a deep dive into fatherhood, grief, and building your life with intention. Whether you're a kettlebell junkie or just a dad looking to show up better, this episode will challenge you to redefine strength on every level.
TIMELINE SUMMARY
[0:00] - Welcome to the Dad Edge mission: changing generations
[1:00] - Os' dad: love, legacy, and shaping a son through presence
[4:05] - The final moments Os had with his father before he passed
[6:42] - The cycle-breaking power of a father who never had one
[9:58] - Combining Eastern mindfulness with Western strength
[12:21] - Training for longevity vs. ego
[14:45] - Redefining masculinity as balance, not burnout
[19:23] - Nervous system health: "the threat bucket" metaphor
[25:36] - The seasons of fitness (and why to respect them)
[28:15] - How posture and gait silently break men down
[30:37] - Tissues adapt to dysfunction—unless you intervene
[33:33] - Why kettlebells work: simple tools, elite results
[38:55] - Busy dads: how to train with limited time and space
[40:37] - Core movements every man should master
[44:13] - The "Simple & Sinister" training approach
[47:13] - Kettlebell workshops, coaching, and learning more
5 KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Strength Is Presence
Being strong isn't just about lifting weight—it's about how grounded, aware, and calm you are with your family.
2. Your Nervous System Is Running the Show
Stress, posture, sleep, and breath all impact your strength more than ego lifting ever could. Master your internal world first.
3. Movement Is Medicine
Poor gait and posture don't just cause pain—they drain your energy and shorten your lifespan. Train smart, not just hard.
4. Simplicity Wins
You don't need a fancy gym or complicated gear. One kettlebell and intentional reps can outperform a cluttered workout.
5. Legacy Is Built in the Small Moments
Oz's story shows that being a strong father isn't about perfection. It's about showing up, being present, and choosing intentionality every day.
LINKS & RESOURCES
Os Aponte's Website & Coaching:
Book Mentioned:
Simple & Sinister by Pavel Tsatsouline
https://www.strongfirst.com/shop/ebooks/simple-sinister-ebook
StrongFirst Kettlebell Certifications + Programs:
Live Workshops in San Diego:
Check Oz's site for current event listings
Dad Edge Podcast Hub:
https://thedadedge.com/podcast
Book Preorder: The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Dad Edge podcast. The Dad Edge movement creates leaders of men, leaders of families, and leaders of communities. We will not only impact this generation of fathers, but the next generation as well. The kids we are raising will have better chances and odds stacked in their favor because of the amazing example |
| 0:21.2 | that their fathers emulated for them. We are here to change the world. We are here to change |
| 0:27.6 | relationships. We are here to positively disrupt this generation of fathers so no man goes to their |
| 0:33.6 | grave with regret. We disrupt the drift of busyness and replace it with razor-focused intention, |
| 0:40.3 | passion, purpose, and direction. |
| 0:43.7 | We are the Dad Edge, |
| 0:45.7 | and we're here to change the game. |
| 0:47.8 | We're here to change the game. |
| 1:13.2 | I don't know. So what does it really mean to be a strong dad? Is it the amount of weight that we can lift? Is it the fact that we can run miles at a certain speed? Or maybe it's because we want to see our abs in the mirror or maybe it's something deeper it's how we move it's how we breathe maybe it's even |
| 1:20.2 | how we lead our family when life hits really really hard my guest today is as aponte he is a |
| 1:26.5 | nationally recognized strength and conditioning coach, strong first team leader, U.S. Army veteran, and the author of the Iron Corps Basic Training Pamphlet 10-5, a field guide to mastering the one-arm push-up. |
| 1:41.7 | Gentlemen, what's going on? |
| 1:42.6 | My name is Larry Hagner. |
| 1:43.7 | I am the founder of the Dad Edge podcast. I am the father of four crazy boys. I am the husband of one amazing woman. I am also the founder of the Dad Edge Alliance. That's our mastermind for our career guys out there who want to kick ass and take names in their marriage with their kids, within their careers, within their health, |
| 2:01.1 | and within their wealth. |
| 2:02.4 | I'm also the founder of the Dad Edge Business Brotherhood. |
| 2:05.2 | You have to be a business owner to be a part of that one. |
| 2:07.4 | This is for our men who are entrepreneurs, who are leading teams, who are creating businesses, |
| 2:12.4 | creating empires. |
| 2:13.5 | This is our elite brotherhood for business owners who refuse to leave the relationships that are most important to them on the table at home while they're out building their empire. |
| 2:24.5 | So we've got those programs for you guys. |
| 2:26.9 | Back to Oz and what he's all about. |
... |
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