Why Being Too Good at Everything Quietly Hurts Your Kids (The Untouchable Hero) featuring Brandon Webb

Brandon Webb, former Navy SEAL and New York Times bestselling author, reveals a counterintuitive truth: being 'too good' at everything—especially as a father—can quietly damage your kids. In a powerful story, he recounts how his own father kicked him off a sailboat at 16 to force independence, a moment that shaped his life. Yet as a dad, he realized he was repeating the same pattern by being an 'untouchable hero'—a flawless, emotionally distant figure. His children, raised in the shadow of his elite military past, felt immense pressure to be perfect. When his youngest son was suspended for shoplifting pot gummies, Webb didn’t punish him immediately. Instead, he asked why seven times, uncovering that the boy was acting out due to peer pressure and a lack of belonging. This led to a radical shift: embracing vulnerability, apologizing for mistakes, and using performance psychology to teach resilience. The result? Kids who are self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and unafraid to fail. Webb’s new book, *Puddle Jumpers*, is a manifesto for raising fearless, joyful kids by replacing perfection with presence. The core of his parenting philosophy is simple but revolutionary: stop trying to be perfect. Instead, be present, ask better questions, and model emotional honesty. He shares how asking his son, 'What’s something you’re under pressure about that we don’t notice?' uncovered hidden stress from his father’s legacy.