The Dad Was Right There... But Didn't See: Lessons from Netflix's 'Adolescence' (Part 1)

The Dad Edge Podcast

Larry Hagner

Project, Self-improvement, Stevenson, Podcast, Edge, Education, Kids, Shawn, Family, Kids & Family, Fathers, Fatherhood, Community, Advice, Dad, Good, Health & Fitness, Children

4.8 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 2 May 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What If “I Know My Kid” Isn’t Enough?

We all like to think we know our kids. That they’re good. That they’re okay.

But what if being “present” isn’t the same as being connected?

In this episode, I dive into the gut-wrenching lessons from the hit Netflix series Adolescence, unpacking the story of Jamie Miller — a 13-year-old boy whose silent struggles lead to a heartbreaking tragedy that blindsides his family.

I reflect on how even well-meaning, hardworking dads — myself included — can miss the emotional warning signs hiding in plain sight. And I get real about the cultural myths we buy into that keep us from going deeper with our kids.

This episode isn’t about guilt. It’s about awareness, ownership, and action.

If you’ve ever said “my kid is fine,” this might be the most important podcast you hear all year.

I’ll also give you practical tools to start asking better questions, create a space of psychological safety, and build the kind of connection your kids can count on—especially when life gets heavy.

Become the best husband and leader you can: www.thedadedge.com/mastermind

In this episode, I share:

Why “How was your day?” might be the most dangerous question we ask.
The three emotional blind spots that cost parents connection and trust.
How to ask powerful questions that open your kids up (without forcing it).
Why being a good provider isn’t enough—and what your family really needs.
What to say (and not say) when your kid finally opens up.

Here's what research supports about the power of action and intention:

Studies show that couples who engage in regular, small acts of kindness report a 28% increase in relationship satisfaction.
Research indicates that setting specific, shared goals increases the likelihood of improved communication and intimacy by 35%.
Prioritizing quality time has been shown to reduce feelings of loneliness in relationships by 20%.

If you're ready to stop waiting for motivation and start actively building a stronger, more connected marriage, this episode is for you. Let's take that first step together.

www.thedadedge.com/friday206

www.themensforge.com

www.thedadedge.com/25questions

www.thedadedge.com/alliance

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,
0:45.9	and we're here to change the game.
0:47.8	We're here to change the game.
1:04.4	I don't know. All right, jents, we are talking about it.
1:07.8	The four-part series on Netflix called Adolescence.
1:11.1	If you're a dad or if you're a mom, we've got a lot of moms to listen to this show.
1:18.1	If you saw that series, man, it just completely unhinged you. I have no doubt in my mind.
1:22.9	It's really, really uncomfortable for parents to watch to see this series. And it made a lot of us really second guess our parenting. And what I'll tell you is there's going to be spoilers in this podcast.
1:28.7	And for the entire month of May, I'm going to be doing a series once a week on Fridays on this
1:33.9	Netflix show called Adolescence. And I'll tell you, if you haven't seen it, maybe hit the
1:38.0	pause button on this one. If you don't want any spoilers, go watch it, come back and listen to
1:41.7	this because I am going to be talking about spoilers. This one shocked the world. Netflix did a killer job on this, but it really has shocked the world.
1:49.7	As of mid-April, this series was the third most watched Netflix series ever.
1:56.9	So trailing behind Wednesday, which I thought was kind of odd.
1:59.7	I didn't know anybody even really watch that one, but I guess it might be pretty good.
2:02.6	And then the season four of Stranger Things, in the first two weeks of this thing launching on March 13, 2025, there were almost 67 million views just in the first two weeks alone. And to date, 1.4 billion minutes watched. I mean,
2:23.4	obviously, and on Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes, a 73% score from the audience,
	...

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