Running Together: Building Strong Bonds, Confidence, and Healthy Habits with Your Daughter

If you’re a dad looking to deepen your relationship with your daughter and help her thrive, this week’s episode of the Dad and Daughter Connection podcast is a must-listen. Host Dr. Christopher Lewis sits down with Michelle Pettinger—owner of P3Running, coach, nutrition expert, and author of The Young Runner’s Guide to Nutrition—for an inspiring, heartfelt conversation about parenting, connection, and empowering young women. The Power of Presence and Shared Activities A central theme of the episode is the lasting impact of simply “showing up” for your child. Michelle recounts how her father, a high school cross country coach, introduced her to running by joining her on her very first run at age 12. It was more than physical activity; it was a moment of connection, respect, and mutual understanding. Even when they didn’t always see eye to eye, their shared love for running kept their bond strong. Michelle’s story reminds us that the foundations for confidence and independence are often laid not through grand gestures, but through small, consistent acts of engagement and support. Nurturing Healthy Habits—Body and Mind Drawing on her new book, Michelle emphasizes the importance of instilling positive nutrition habits in young athletes, particularly girls who can be vulnerable to mixed messages around food and body image. She highlights the unique influence fathers can have—by focusing on their daughter’s strengths and performance, not appearance, and by taking an active role in meal planning and family routines. Her advice? Share the kitchen, have open conversations, and model an attitude of curiosity and empathy. Beyond nutrition, Michelle also touches on how dads can support their daughters emotionally, helping them overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome by celebrating effort, resilience, and genuine interests. Sometimes, she notes, daughters just need you to listen rather than offer solutions. A Toolbox for Every Dad This episode is packed with practical insights—from finding moments of connection outside traditional family dinners, to fostering open dialogue about challenges like eating disorders and self-esteem. Michelle and Dr. Lewis provide actionable advice and heartfelt encouragement for fathers at every stage of parenting. If you want inspiration and real-world tips for being the dad your daughter needs, tune into this episode of the Dad and Daughter Connection. Listen now and become part of a community dedicated to raising strong, confident young women—one day and one conversation at a time. If you enjoyed this episode we ask you to take a moment to take our Dad and Daughter Connection Survey to let us know more about you as a dad. You can also sign up to get our newsletter to stay connected to our community and we will send items of interest to you to help you to be the dad that you want to be. Feel free to follow me on the following social media platforms: Facebook, Facebook Group, Instagram, LinkedIn, X. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:02]: Welcome to the dad and daughter connection, the podcast for dads who want to build stronger bonds and raise confident independent daughters. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:12]: If you're looking to build a stronger bond with your daughter and help her grow into a confident, independent woman, you're in the right place. I'm doctor Christopher Lewis, and the dad and daughter connection is the podcast where we dive into real stories, expert advice, and practical tips to help you navigate the incredible journey of fatherhood. In every episode, we'll bring you conversations that inspire, challenge, and equip you to show up as the dad your daughter needs. So let's get started because being a great dad isn't just about being there, it's about truly connecting. Welcome back to the dad and daughter connection, where every week, we have an opportunity to work together to walk on this path side by side as we are working to raise our daughters and to build those strong relationships with them one day at a time. This podcast is all about building strong connections between ourselves and our daughters, and there are things that you and I can do every day to be able to do just that. It's not always gonna be easy. There's going to be bumps in the road. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:25]: But as long as we keep showing up and keep working at it and keep engaging with our daughters and meeting them where they are, things are going to be positive. Things are gonna be moving in the right direction. But this podcast is here to be able to give you some tools for your toolbox, to give you some insights, give you some thoughts, give you some things to chew on as you are going through your day and to allow you and help you along this journey. That's why every week, I love being able to bring you different guests, different people with different experiences that can provide you with some perspective, provide you with some thoughts, some ...