What if your biggest success story begins at your lowest point?
In this raw and deeply honest conversation, leadership consultant and Dad Nation founder Mitchell Osmond shares how he went from a depressed, addicted, $100k-in-debt ex-executive on the brink of divorce… to rebuilding his marriage, paying off all his debt, losing 60 pounds, and becoming the man his family actually wants to follow.
We break down the moment everything snapped on the living room couch, the haunting question he heard at a stranger’s funeral, and the exact inner work and community he used to rewrite his story. If you’ve ever felt like a high performer at work but a failure at home, this episode will challenge how you define success—and give you a blueprint to start again.
You’ll learn:
- How a brutal fight over money became Mitchell’s rock-bottom turning point
- The single funeral question that forced him to confront his legacy
- Why high-achieving men win at work but quietly lose at home
- The “eulogy exercise” to redefine success as a husband and father
- How to design your “best three years” and reverse-engineer it into daily actions
Timestamps
- 00:00 – From senior leader to rock bottom: Mitchell’s introduction and hidden collapse behind the title
- 01:08 – The fight that nearly ended his marriage: Depression, debt, addiction, and feeling powerless at home
- 03:40 – The funeral that changed everything: “Are you living a life worthy of imitation?”
- 06:50 – Rewriting the story: Paying off $100k, losing 60 lbs, rebuilding his marriage, launching Dad Nation
- 08:13 – Why high performers fail at home: Masculinity, metrics, and the trap of only chasing visible wins
- 10:20 – The Eulogy Exercise: How to define the legacy you actually want your family to speak about
- 16:48 – “Best three years” & legacy ladders: A practical framework to reclaim time, health, and presence
Guest Links
- Website: https://dadnationco.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dadnationco
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Junaid Ahmed is a multi-passionate creator, storyteller, and home studio architect who believes your voice can change your world. As the host of Hacks and Hobbies, he dives deep into the journeys of people turning passion into purpose — from garage inventors to global entrepreneurs.
The podcast began as a simple idea: record honest conversations about side projects, creativity, and the hustle behind the scenes. Years later, it’s become a movement — showcasing the real, raw, and inspiring stories of everyday innovators.
Whether he’s building pro-level studios or geeking out over podcast gear, Junaid’s mission is clear: help people show up with confidence, clarity, and character.
🎧 New episodes weekdays. New perspectives in every story.
