SwingSesh on the Mic: The Story Behind Family-First Fitness

0:05 – “Leadership isn’t theory. It’s pressure.”

The episode opens by framing leadership as consequence-driven decision-making — a theme that runs through Brad’s experience as a Marine Corps pilot and founder.

2:30 – Limited time. Finite data. Make the call.

Brad shares how military aviation trains leaders to make decisions with incomplete information — and why waiting for the “perfect” answer often means you’ve already lost the window.

4:17 – If you wait for perfect, you miss the moment.

Aviation taught Brad that decisive action beats over-analysis — a mindset that now shapes how he runs SwingSesh.

5:35 – From life-or-death missions to business missions.

Brad discusses the challenge of leading in corporate and civilian environments where motivation and stakes look very different — and why rallying people around purpose still matters.

13:15 – “What if there was a playset you could work out on?”

Living in a motorhome during test pilot school, with a baby on the way, Brad and Naomi asked a simple question:

How can we stay fit without sacrificing family time?

That question became SwingSesh — a premium backyard fitness and play system designed to keep parents off the sidelines.

15:00 – The parts that were hard weren’t the parts I expected.

Brad reflects on how entrepreneurship stretched him differently than the military — especially in manufacturing, scale, and letting go of control.

22:49 – Powder coating crisis → new business launch.

When a supplier fell through, Brad built his own powder coating operation in two weeks — oven, wiring, sandblasting and all.

A perfect example of veteran adaptability applied to entrepreneurship.

25:05 – The broken “off switch.”

Brad talks candidly about the veteran mindset of never quitting — and how that strength must be balanced with risk management when you’re responsible for payroll and growth.

33:26 – Think second and third order effects.

Whether considering investors or expansion, Brad explains how he evaluates risk beyond the immediate upside — including how capital changes decision-making and company culture.

37:52 – The math of growth.

Sustainable growth, ownership equity, and long-term positioning matter more than quick wins. Brad shares how careful scaling protects the mission and the family behind it.

[00:00:00]
Brad: Kids want to be wherever you are. And, at least for us, this has been a great tool to be present, play, and then also be inspired through play. And I can’t reiterate that enough—for a dad, remembering that play is hard sometimes. They take you out there: “Go down the slide,” and you think, “Okay, I’ll go down the slide.” Then you realize it is actually fun. Remembering that is so important. 

[00:01:11]
Michael: When did you first feel the tension between work and family presence—especially around fitness and being present? 
Brad: Honestly, it started while I was still in the Marine Corps. We were moving often, deployments, rotations. It’s a great life, but eventually we wanted more stability and presence for our family—schools, everyday moments. That’s where the idea for SwingSesh came in: I wanted to stay fit and be present with the family. 

[00:11:45]
Brad: I had the idea while going through Test Pilot School, living in a motorhome while my wife was pregnant: what if I could make a play set I could work out on with the kids? That way I could train, be home, and be present for that hour of the day. 

[00:13:00]
Brad: Built it so I could pull gym time home and spend it with the family — and it’s turned out to be a phenomenal experience. 

[00:14:20]
Brad: That’s one benefit—my daughter now knows about squatting because she’s seen it. Not because she doesn’t, but because she’s seen it repetitively over time. Actions speak louder than words. 

[00:15:20]
Brad: Kids tend to arrive at similar life patterns as their parents—around 80% chance—so modeling movement and active behavior matters. You can’t just tell them; you have to show them. 

[00:20:55]
Brad: What I look at more than what kids are doing is what parents are doing. That’s key. You’re building their inner monologue by what you do, not just what you say. 

Key Takeaways 

• SwingSesh grew from a personal problem: Brad wanted fitness with presence, not fitness separated from family time. 

• The product is both a fitness and a family play tool: Designed so dad stays active with kids, not away from them. 

• Modeling behavior matters: Kids learn from watching your actions—especially around movement and challenge. 

• Presence > performance: Being there and playing with kids builds memories and internal habits more than just structured workouts.

•  

The Origin Story

Living in a Motorhome… Designing a Backyard Revolution

1:41 – The idea was born in a motorhome during test pilot school.

While living in an RV with a baby on the way, Brad began thinking about how fitness would fit into family life.

“What if I could take the gym home?”

That question turned into a deeper one:

Why doesn’t a playset exist that parents can actually train on?

Designing for Real Life

4:07 – Built for dynamic families.

From the beginning, SwingSesh was designed to:

• Be modular and move-friendly (especially for military families)
• Transition from toddler years to adulthood
• Support serious lifting — not just casual movement
• Let parents play without being limited by the structure

The Hard Part: Prototyping & Manufacturing

7:10 – Prototyping was the hardest phase.

Large manufacturers didn’t want to build “just one.” After dozens of attempts, Brad’s dad helped secure a first prototype build.

From there:

• Iteration.
• Redesign.
• New manufacturer.
• More refinement.

Eventually, SwingSesh found a long-term manufacturing partner in Indiana.

The First Sale

2020 – “Woohoo, we got our first sale!”

8:55 – Brad was flying a jet when the first order came in.

Naomi texted him mid-flight. That moment confirmed the idea had legs.

The Outdoor Problem: Solved

14:12 – Heat-resistant, self-healing coating.

One of the biggest challenges was durability outdoors. The result:

• Thermally resistant coating (safer in full sun)
• Flexible finish that moves with steel
• “Healable” surface — minor scrapes can be repaired with heat

That attention to detail reflects Brad’s engineering mindset from the aviation world.

Fitness + Parenting Philosophy

Why Work Out Around Your Kids?

26:48 – Performance, stress, and modeling behavior.

Brad connects fitness to:

• Stress regulation (from fighter pilot experience)
• Cognitive performance
• Long-term health modeling for kids

He references research showing exercise’s correlation with improved academic performance and emotional regulation.

“I can’t just tell you to be better. I have to be better.”

The Lifestyle Effect

31:00 – “Daddy, let’s go do pull-ups.”

One of the unexpected benefits? Kids initiate workouts.

Instead of: “I’m going to the gym.”

It becomes: “We’re going outside.”

That subtle shift keeps fitness integrated into family life instead of separate from it.

Who’s Buying SwingSesh?

38:50 – The customer base surprised them.

They expected suburban fitness dads. Instead, they’ve seen:

• Grandparents
• Pre-kid couples planning ahead
• Families with special needs children
• Serious lifters
• Parents just trying to lose 20 pounds

The common thread:

Parents who want fitness visible in daily life.

When It Felt Real

41:25 – A call from a major playset company.

Brad says the moment they realized they’d “rewritten” a market was when an established playset brand called to ask questions.

Not just a fitness product.

A disruption in a 30-year-old category.

Home Gym Con Impact

44:39 – Shock and awe.

At Home Gym Con, SwingSesh stood out — literally and conceptually.

The reception confirmed:

• Home gym owners are parents.
• The market was ready.
• Outdoor + indoor fitness can coexist.

Core Theme of the Episode

SwingSesh isn’t just about steel and swings.

It’s about this fork in the road: At the start of parenthood, fitness either becomes integrated — or it disappears.

SwingSesh exists to make integration easier

The 10-Second Pitch

0:25 – “Garage gym meets backyard playset.”

“A garage gym and a playset go on a first date… and this is the result.”

SwingSesh was built to merge serious strength training with backyard play — so parents don’t have to choose between workouts and supervision.

Why It Matters for Parents

0:54 – Train where your kids are.

Instead of:

• Opening the garage door
• Losing sight of your kids
• Cutting workouts short

SwingSesh puts parents in the backyard, training alongside their children — modeling strength, movement, and consistency in real time. It’s shared time.

What It Takes to Install

1:35 – DIY-friendly and modular.

Available at swingsesh.com, each model is:

• Modular and reconfigurable
• Designed for dynamic (and military) families
• Shipped on a pallet
• Bolt-together assembly

For those who prefer it, third-party installation is also available.

Accessories & Compatibility

2:37 – Built for serious training.

SwingSesh includes a wide range of training accessories, including:

• Climbing ropes
• Landmine attachment
• Battle rope attachments
• Gymnastic rings
• Pull-up configurations
• Targets and additional functional add-ons

Bumper plates and barbells are not included — by design — since most lifters already have preferred equipment.

Built to Lift — Not Just Play

3:37 – Tested to 500 pounds.

The structure was tested up to 500 lbs, well beyond typical backyard play equipment standards.

This isn’t decorative steel.

It’s built like a rack — engineered for real strength training.

The Core Message

4:20 – “There’s a better option than a playset from 1992.”

SwingSesh isn’t just upgrading backyard aesthetics — it’s redefining what backyard equipment can be:

• Multi-generational
• Fitness-capable
• Modular
• Durable