Welcome to Dad Saves America!

0:00 (upbeat music) - Hi, my name's John Papola and welcome to Dad Saves America. We've started this new channel because we believe that dads have a really important role to play, not just in our families, but in our communities and our country. That's why we wanna support being a dad and explore all the important issues that matter to all of us. If you're in a natural skeptic like me this probably raises three big questions. Why dads? How does America need saving?

0:26 And who are you, John, and why should I care about anything you have to say? I've spent the past 20 years working as a TV producer, a documentarian, and a social entrepreneur. I'm not the expert, but I've had the opportunity to interview incredible people and wanna share their insights with you. After college, all I cared about was getting ahead in my career. I moved to New York city and I worked my way up through MTV, Nickelodeon, and then Spike TV, which we called the first network for men.

0:55 Then two things happened that changed everything. The first was the birth of my son. It changed my perspective on what matters and activated what neurobiologists call the dad brain in me. Soon after that, the financial crisis of 2008 hit. It was scary, it shook the world, and it forced me to think about bigger issues. What kind of country would my little boy inherit? That's a question that matters now more than ever, doesn't it? All this motivated me to start a non-profit studio, Emergent Order, dedicated to creating films and videos that explore important topics like our financial system, America's food supply, political corruption, and the global search for happiness and prosperity.

1:34 Through it all, we try to approach our videos with geeky humor and heart, because here's the thing, I love this country. Maybe it's because I was born in Philly, the birthplace of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. After all some of my favorite memories are my visits to the Ben Franklin museum with my dad and my grandpop. Trust me, it's not boring at all. It's awesome. For all its faults, what I believe makes America special is that it's a country founded on the principles of individual liberty and populated by ambitious immigrants, like my great-grandparents who were willing to risk it all in pursuit of happiness and the American dream.

2:12 Today, I believe that dream is in danger. I don't need to tell you that the country is facing big challenges. The pandemic, financial instability, a broken school system, the mental health crisis and a culture increasingly dominated by identity politics and fear. Americans of all ages, but especially our kids, are being bombarded by what I call the fear industrial complex. The media, politicians, cynical corporations, academics, and activists, and even us, over protective parents, have embraced fear as a primary motivator.

2:48 Fear is the enemy of freedom, which makes it the enemy of the American spirit. This is why America needs saving. FDR famously said we have nothing to fear, but fear itself. As dads, we have a unique and essential role to play in helping our kids overcome their fears and develop a healthy appetite for risk taking. We roughhouse, we play, we tease, we discipline, we make cringey jokes, mostly on purpose. We prepare our kids to have grit, resilience and a growth mindset so that they can survive the inevitable setbacks of life and ultimately thrive long after we're gone.

3:27 This is the essential American spirit of freedom and independence. This is our job and this is the reason we as dads need to embrace our potential to be heroes who can help save America. Again, I'm not the expert and I'm not here to tell you how to raise your kids. Like all of us, I'm still trying to figure that out for myself every day, but I hope this channel can help you navigate a complicated world, connect with a community, and provide resources for you and your family.

3:55 In the weeks and months ahead, we're gonna release indepth interviews, practical shorts, and powerful documentaries all dedicated to empowering dads, our kids, and frankly, anyone interested in improving their lives and our country's future. I invite you to subscribe to our channel and if you wanna learn more, visit dadsavesamerica.com. We're glad you're here. Welcome to Dad Saves America.