In this episode of More Than Capable, Kyle sits down with Jacob Esser, founder of Dads of Down Syndrome, for a conversation about fatherhood, purpose, fear, advocacy, and the unexpected ways our lives are shaped by the moments we never saw coming.

But this conversation is not only about diagnosis. It is about what happens after. Jacob shares how the early days of fatherhood eventually led him to start Dads of Down Syndrome, a growing community created to give fathers a place to be honest, encouraged, and connected. What began with a small group of dads sitting together has grown into a movement built around presence, compassion, and the belief that these men are among “the luckiest men in the world.”

This is a conversation about special needs parenting, Down syndrome, marriage, community, honest conversations among men, and the quiet power of simply showing up.

Chris Burns built his career at the highest levels of television—winning Emmys and working on Duck Dynasty—while quietly battling an addiction that would nearly kill him.

At one point, on set, he was one of only three people sober.

One of them was Robert Downey Jr.

That contrast—success, pressure, proximity to people who had survived their own battles—was happening at the same time Chris was slipping deeper into his own.

Then everything caught up.

Chris went into liver failure and was forced to confront the reality that he might not survive. What followed were the calls no one ever wants to make, the wait for a transplant, and the weight of knowing that someone else would have to die for him to live.

In this conversation, Chris walks through:

• Building a career while losing control behind the scenes
• The lie of “getting away with it”
• Addiction as a solution—and what it was actually solving
• The moment his body gave out
• Facing death and waiting for a second chance
• What it takes to rebuild a life after surviving it

This is a story about contrast—winning at the highest level while falling apart in private—and what it looks like to come back from the edge.

What does it actually take to build a life you don’t want to escape from?

In this conversation, Kyle sits down with Luke Thorkildsen, Chief Operating Officer of Weatherby, to explore the long, often uncomfortable process of building a life rooted in faith, family, and responsibility. From early career rejection to navigating the realities of marriage, Luke shares what it looks like to stop chasing the wrong things—and start doing the work that actually matters.

This isn’t about quick fixes or surface-level advice. It’s about the quiet, repeated decisions that shape who you become over time.

Luke opens up about the challenges in his marriage, including the hard realization that growth doesn’t come from trying to fix someone else, but from taking ownership of yourself. Through counseling, faith, and a commitment to stay, he began to rebuild not just his relationship, but his perspective on what it means to lead a life with intention.

Together, Kyle and Luke discuss the role of faith in decision-making, the responsibility that comes with being a husband and father, and the importance of showing up consistently—even when it’s difficult.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, restless, or unsure whether you’re building the right life, this conversation will challenge you to take a deeper look at what matters—and what it actually requires to build something that lasts.

Topics:

• Building a meaningful life without a clear roadmap
• Navigating rejection and creating your own opportunities
• The reality of marriage: love, tension, and growth
• Personal responsibility and ownership
• Faith as a foundation for life decisions
• Parenting with honesty and intention
• The slow, daily work of becoming