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  <title>Raising Arrows</title>

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  <copyright>© 2026 Raising Arrows</copyright>
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  <itunes:author>Connor Sykes &amp; Pastor Scott Stewart</itunes:author>
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  <description><![CDATA[<p><b>Raising Arrows</b> is a podcast for the dad who's about to have his whole world flipped upside down — and the one who already has.</p><p><br></p><p>Hosted by Connor Sykes and Scott Stewart — two young fathers, husbands, and Christ-followers deep in the trenches of early fatherhood. Whether you just found out she's pregnant, you're holding your newborn wondering what the hell you got yourself into, or you're chasing a toddler who has zero regard for your energy levels — this show is for you.</p><p><br></p><p>We're not parenting experts. We're not talking from the other side of it. We're in it right now, and we're bringing you the raw, real conversations about what it looks like to step up as a husband, lead your home, stay close to God, and actually enjoy the wildest season of your life.</p><p><br></p><p>The stuff nobody told us. The stuff we wish someone had. That's what this show is.</p><p><br></p><p>"Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth." — Psalm 127:4</p><p><br></p><p>New episodes weekly.</p>]]></description>
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    <itunes:title>The Myth of the Perfect Dad </itunes:title>
    <title>The Myth of the Perfect Dad </title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[You're spending more time with your kids than your dad ever spent with you — and somehow the guilt is worse than ever. Connor and Pastor Scott tackle the myth of the perfect dad head-on: where it comes from, why social media is lying to you, and why your kids don't need a flawless father. They just need a present one. In this episode: Why 57% of parents report burnout — and what's actually driving it (Ohio State University, 2024)The science of "Dad Brain" — how fatherhood literally rewires yo...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>You&apos;re spending more time with your kids than your dad ever spent with you — and somehow the guilt is worse than ever.</p><p>Connor and Pastor Scott tackle the myth of the perfect dad head-on: where it comes from, why social media is lying to you, and why your kids don&apos;t need a flawless father. They just need a present one.</p><p>In this episode:</p><ul><li>Why 57% of parents report burnout — and what&apos;s actually driving it (Ohio State University, 2024)</li><li>The science of &quot;Dad Brain&quot; — how fatherhood literally rewires your brain and why your role is irreplaceable</li><li>Why consistency beats intensity every single time</li><li>What it looks like to be a steady, predictable anchor in your kid&apos;s chaotic little world</li></ul><p>Anchor Verse: <em>&quot;My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.&quot; — 2 Corinthians 12:9</em></p><p>The world will tell you you&apos;re not enough. God says your weakness is exactly where He shows up.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You&apos;re spending more time with your kids than your dad ever spent with you — and somehow the guilt is worse than ever.</p><p>Connor and Pastor Scott tackle the myth of the perfect dad head-on: where it comes from, why social media is lying to you, and why your kids don&apos;t need a flawless father. They just need a present one.</p><p>In this episode:</p><ul><li>Why 57% of parents report burnout — and what&apos;s actually driving it (Ohio State University, 2024)</li><li>The science of &quot;Dad Brain&quot; — how fatherhood literally rewires your brain and why your role is irreplaceable</li><li>Why consistency beats intensity every single time</li><li>What it looks like to be a steady, predictable anchor in your kid&apos;s chaotic little world</li></ul><p>Anchor Verse: <em>&quot;My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.&quot; — 2 Corinthians 12:9</em></p><p>The world will tell you you&apos;re not enough. God says your weakness is exactly where He shows up.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Connor Sykes &amp; Pastor Scott Stewart</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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  <psc:chapter start="0:15" title="The Myth of the Perfect Dad" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:59" title="Financial Pressure &amp; Social Media Comparison" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:29" title="Kids&#39; Performance &amp; Parental Guilt" />
  <psc:chapter start="17:37" title="You Are Irreplaceable as a Dad" />
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    <itunes:duration>2049</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>Why the First 3 Years Matter</itunes:title>
    <title>Why the First 3 Years Matter</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Why the First 3 Years Matter More Than Most Dads Realize  Think your toddler won't remember these early years? Science says otherwise — and it's not even close. In this episode, Connor and Scott break down three research-backed facts about early childhood brain development that every dad needs to hear. Your toddler's brain is running at twice the speed of yours. 80% of their brain development happens before they turn three. And the neural pathways tied to motivation, self-regulatio...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><b> Why the First 3 Years Matter More Than Most Dads Realize </b></p><p>Think your toddler won&apos;t remember these early years? Science says otherwise — and it&apos;s not even close.</p><p>In this episode, Connor and Scott break down three research-backed facts about early childhood brain development that every dad needs to hear. Your toddler&apos;s brain is running at twice the speed of yours. 80% of their brain development happens before they turn three. And the neural pathways tied to motivation, self-regulation, communication, and self-esteem? They&apos;re being wired right now — or they&apos;re not.</p><p>This isn&apos;t a guilt trip. It&apos;s a wake-up call. You&apos;re not waiting for your moment — you&apos;re in it.</p><p>We get real about the mirror effect (when you see your worst habits show up in your kids), the myth of &quot;I don&apos;t have time,&quot; and why small, consistent deposits beat grand gestures every time. Plus, Scott shares the daily affirmation he speaks over his son that stops tantrums in their tracks — and why identity-shaping matters more than behavior modification.</p><p>Whether you&apos;re a new dad, expecting your first, or feeling like you&apos;re already behind — this one&apos;s for you.</p><p><b>In this episode:</b> ‣ Why your 3-year-old&apos;s brain is twice as active as yours ‣ The 1,000-day window that shapes who your child becomes ‣ How dads accidentally pass down frustration, anger, and anxiety ‣ Daily habits that build unshakable father-child bonds ‣ The phone habit that&apos;s silently teaching your kids they&apos;re not a priority ‣ Speaking identity over your children before they can speak it themselves ‣ Encouragement for the dad who feels like he&apos;s already behind</p><p>📖 <em>&quot;Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one&apos;s youth.&quot;</em> — Psalm 127:4</p><p><b>New episodes weekly. Subscribe and share with a dad who needs to hear this.</b></p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b> Why the First 3 Years Matter More Than Most Dads Realize </b></p><p>Think your toddler won&apos;t remember these early years? Science says otherwise — and it&apos;s not even close.</p><p>In this episode, Connor and Scott break down three research-backed facts about early childhood brain development that every dad needs to hear. Your toddler&apos;s brain is running at twice the speed of yours. 80% of their brain development happens before they turn three. And the neural pathways tied to motivation, self-regulation, communication, and self-esteem? They&apos;re being wired right now — or they&apos;re not.</p><p>This isn&apos;t a guilt trip. It&apos;s a wake-up call. You&apos;re not waiting for your moment — you&apos;re in it.</p><p>We get real about the mirror effect (when you see your worst habits show up in your kids), the myth of &quot;I don&apos;t have time,&quot; and why small, consistent deposits beat grand gestures every time. Plus, Scott shares the daily affirmation he speaks over his son that stops tantrums in their tracks — and why identity-shaping matters more than behavior modification.</p><p>Whether you&apos;re a new dad, expecting your first, or feeling like you&apos;re already behind — this one&apos;s for you.</p><p><b>In this episode:</b> ‣ Why your 3-year-old&apos;s brain is twice as active as yours ‣ The 1,000-day window that shapes who your child becomes ‣ How dads accidentally pass down frustration, anger, and anxiety ‣ Daily habits that build unshakable father-child bonds ‣ The phone habit that&apos;s silently teaching your kids they&apos;re not a priority ‣ Speaking identity over your children before they can speak it themselves ‣ Encouragement for the dad who feels like he&apos;s already behind</p><p>📖 <em>&quot;Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one&apos;s youth.&quot;</em> — Psalm 127:4</p><p><b>New episodes weekly. Subscribe and share with a dad who needs to hear this.</b></p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Connor Sykes &amp; Pastor Scott Stewart</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <itunes:duration>3662</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
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    <itunes:title>Episode 1: Welcome to Raising Arrows</itunes:title>
    <title>Episode 1: Welcome to Raising Arrows</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Welcome to Raising Arrows. We're Connor and Scott — two young dads, husbands, and Christ-followers figuring out fatherhood in real time. In this first episode, we introduce ourselves, our families, and why we felt called to start this podcast. The truth? There's not a lot of real, faith-driven content out there for dads in the trenches of early fatherhood. No fluff. No "expert from a distance" energy. Just two guys walking through the toddler years, leading their families, chasing God's visio...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><b>Welcome to Raising Arrows.</b></p><p>We&apos;re Connor and Scott — two young dads, husbands, and Christ-followers figuring out fatherhood in real time. In this first episode, we introduce ourselves, our families, and why we felt called to start this podcast.</p><p>The truth? There&apos;s not a lot of real, faith-driven content out there for dads in the trenches of early fatherhood. No fluff. No &quot;expert from a distance&quot; energy. Just two guys walking through the toddler years, leading their families, chasing God&apos;s vision for their homes, and sharing what they&apos;re learning along the way.</p><p>&quot;Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one&apos;s youth.&quot; — Psalm 127:4</p><p>Whether you&apos;re expecting your first, holding your newborn, or chasing a toddler right now — this podcast is for you.</p><p>New episodes dropping weekly. Hit subscribe so you don&apos;t miss what&apos;s next.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Welcome to Raising Arrows.</b></p><p>We&apos;re Connor and Scott — two young dads, husbands, and Christ-followers figuring out fatherhood in real time. In this first episode, we introduce ourselves, our families, and why we felt called to start this podcast.</p><p>The truth? There&apos;s not a lot of real, faith-driven content out there for dads in the trenches of early fatherhood. No fluff. No &quot;expert from a distance&quot; energy. Just two guys walking through the toddler years, leading their families, chasing God&apos;s vision for their homes, and sharing what they&apos;re learning along the way.</p><p>&quot;Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one&apos;s youth.&quot; — Psalm 127:4</p><p>Whether you&apos;re expecting your first, holding your newborn, or chasing a toddler right now — this podcast is for you.</p><p>New episodes dropping weekly. Hit subscribe so you don&apos;t miss what&apos;s next.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Connor Sykes &amp; Pastor Scott Stewart</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <itunes:duration>206</itunes:duration>
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