Welcome back to the Call with Dads blog, where we dive into the real, unfiltered experiences of fatherhood. In a recent episode, hosts E.A. Maynard and Mr. Pancakes sat down with Walter Blau of the Be Raw Podcast for a candid, no-holds-barred discussion about life as a dad, the journey to parenthood, and what it means to raise kids with strength, kindness, and a little bit of grit. This isn’t your polished parenting guide—it’s a raw, honest look at the highs, lows, and everything in between. Let’s break it down for you dads out there.
Walter Blau’s path to fatherhood wasn’t straightforward. At 50, he’s a dad to a four-year-old son, but it took decades of challenges to get there. In his mid-20s, a severe accident left him with a 105.2°F fever and a cascade of health issues. Years later, a routine checkup revealed a devastating side effect: he was sterile. For a man who always dreamed of having kids, this was a gut punch. “I always wanted kids, man,” Walter shared. “Boy or girl, didn’t matter—I just wanted a family.”
What followed was a decade of annual tests, each one a red pie chart confirming zero potency. Walter admitted this drove him into a “pretty ****** up lifestyle” of reckless choices—until he met his wife. Fast forward to five years ago, when she playfully demanded a baby. Skeptical but hopeful, Walter tested again. This time, the chart was all green. His doctor explained it simply: “Your body naturally shut it down, and now it’s naturally fixed it.” Against all odds, Logan was born during COVID, a moment Walter calls a miracle cemented by a nurse’s quiet rebellion against hospital rules to ensure he witnessed the birth.
Life throws curveballs, but resilience—and a supportive partner—can turn the impossible into reality. Walter’s story is a reminder to keep pushing, even when the odds seem stacked against you.
The conversation quickly turned to parenting styles, and Walter didn’t hold back. He’s the disciplinarian in his house, a role he takes seriously. “I just need to walk in the room and give him a look, and he goes, ‘OK, Dad,’” he said with a laugh. Every day, he asks Logan, “Did you listen to your mother?” and follows it with a chest slap and a mantra: “Kindness is a superpower. Kindness, manners, and a good solid work ethic will get you anything you want in this world—but once in a while, you gotta let a mother****** know.”
This balance of gentleness and grit came to life in a story from an indoor play place. When a girl tried to steal his son’s go-kart, his son stood his ground, shouldering her off after she slapped him. Walter gave him a thumbs-up from the sidelines. “If that’s yours, man, you don’t let nobody steal it from you,” he said. Mr. Pancakes chimed in, sharing how he teaches his daughter to stand up for herself at school, even if it means walking away from pushy friends. “You can’t let people walk all over you,” he emphasized.
The trio didn’t shy away from big topics, diving into what masculinity means for dads today. Walter referenced the Vikings—not just the raiding, but the farming, community-building side. “Most of the time it’s peaceful,” he said, “but when it’s time to put the broad ax on, you know what needs to be done.” Mr. Pancakes drew a modern parallel, pointing to figures like Trump—soft-skinned but alpha—as today’s equivalent of the battle-axe warrior, leading through presence and resolve.
E.A. Maynard added a personal angle: his wife appreciates coming home to a man who’s not afraid to “knock someone out” if needed, a contrast to the softer masculinity she sees in her office world. The consensus? True masculinity isn’t just muscles or bravado—it’s leadership, self-control, and protecting what matters.
Amid the serious talk, the dads kept it light. Walter’s a self-proclaimed “trophy husband” who still gropes his wife at every chance, keeping their high school sweetheart vibe alive. Mr. Pancakes lamented his wife’s shift to “bedroom only” after kids, while E.A. bragged about mutual molestation with his wife—carefully out of the kids’ earshot. They swapped stories of dad fashion (cargo shorts for Walter, tightie whities and cowboy boots for Mr. Pancakes) and the hilarity of mixed-race kids—Walter’s son has Asian features, Mr. Pancakes’ daughter tans like an Italian, and E.A.’s son could pass for Mexican.
Dads don’t lose the fun. Keep your marriage spicy, embrace the chaos of parenting, and laugh at the absurdity—it’s what keeps you sane.
This convo was just part one—expect more unfiltered dad talk soon. Catch Walter at berawpodcast.com or
@BeRawPodcast on Instagram, where he’s building a YouTube community (help him and Call with Dads hit 1,000 subscribers!). Mr. Pancakes is at pancakeswithyourdad.com, packed with free woodworking plans, kids’ books, and merch to fund his mic. He’s also launching the American Liberty Foundation (american-liberty-foundation.org) to rebuild traditional family values—stay tuned for that. Find Call with Dads at callwithdads.com for show notes and links.
Final Word: Fatherhood’s a wild ride—messy, tough, and rewarding as hell. Whether you’re wrestling with infertility, teaching your kid to stand up, or just trying to keep the spark alive, you’re not alone. Keep it raw, keep it real, and keep showing up. That’s what being a dad is all about.
Stay tuned for part two, dads. Until then, share your thoughts below—what’s your take on raising kids with grit and grace?
