217: Why God "Tricks" Good Men Into Leadership | Richard Gordon & Jason Vallotton

This week on the BraveCo Podcast, I sat down with one of my closest friends, Richard Gordon, for a conversation I've been wanting to have for a long time. Richard is on our executive team at Bethel Church, and over the years I've had the privilege of watching him grow from a son in our house into one of the strongest fathers I know. We dug into the journey of moving from "what can I get?" to "what can I give?" — that quiet, often invisible shift that turns boys into men and sons into fathers.

We got real about marriage, parenting, and the things nobody warns you about — bedtime battles, sensory struggles with our kids, co-sleeping, and the seasons where you feel like you're failing even when you're showing up. I shared what it was like walking my daughter Edy through years of dysregulation after my mother-in-law passed, and Richard opened up about how God keeps inviting him deeper into leadership through his family first. We also talked about what I call "the noble drug" — the way work and ministry can quietly become an escape, even when it looks valiant from the outside.

If you're a husband, a dad, or a leader feeling pulled in a thousand directions, this conversation is for you. My prayer is that it gives you permission to make your family your number one team, to be led by vision instead of need, and to remember that the seasons that feel the hardest are often the ones you'll look back on as the most sacred. Hit subscribe so you don't miss next week, and check out our new gear at braveco.org. Love you guys.

Connect with Richard: https://richardgordon.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardgordon_/

Chapters:
00:00 — Welcome Back & Meet Richard Gordon
03:24 — From Son to Father: The Mindset That Changes Everything
06:48 — How God "Tricked" Richard Into Leadership
10:14 — Jesus as Lord AND Friend: Leading Your Kids Without Losing Connection
13:38 — Bedtime, Routines & Why Connection Regulates Everything
17:04 — Walking Through Edy's Sensory Journey & Our Hardest Season
20:28 — Co-Sleeping, Emotional Safety & Building a Bubble at Home
23:54 — Your Family Is Your #1 Team (And Why That Matters)
27:18 — Led by Vision, Not by Need: The Noble Drug of Overworking
30:44 — Your Greatest Assignment & Final Encouragement

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