Modern Dadhood

What do bugs, sandwiches, skateboarding, comics, Saved By The Bell, mural painting, a chicken coop... and DADHOOD all have in common? Well, they have author and artist Brady Smith in common. (Duh.) Brady returns to the podcast to chat about many of the seemingly random things listed above... but most of all, how much he and his wife Tiffani Thiessen love being Harper and Holt's parents. After, Adam shares a straight-forward but delightfully odd Did I Just Say That Out Loud?

Despite being a rather epic milestone, Episode 100 of Modern Dadhood starts off like most other episodes, with a quick catch-up between the guys. Marc shares about his twin boys' epic Star Wars themed 6th birthday party (complete with home-made games) before they welcome author, artist, and friend to the show Brady Smith back for a second appearance. Brady shares what's new in his fatherhood journey (Spoiler alert: lots of skateboarding & Sephora), how he and Tiffani work hard to raise creative, kind, and empathetic kids, and he shares a teaser of his newest book "Bug Sandwich." Topics include:

•  The feeling of celebrating your partner's 50th birthday
•  Getting comfortable being the "dorky" skateboarding dad
•  The freedom of self-employment
•  The unexpected challenges of painting a mural
•  The first time Brady's daughter watched "Saved By The Bell"
•  Involving Brady's kids in his work
•  And more!

After, Adam discloses an odd dinnertime exclamation in an installment of "Did I Just Say That Out Loud?"

Episode art photography by Rebecca Sanabria

LINKS
Brady Smith (official website)
Brady Smith (Instagram)
Bug Sandwich (Powell's books)
Random Acts of Drawness!
You're Missing It!
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal
Modern Dadhood (website)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (TikTok)

A Day-Glo orange splatter of paint. A geyser of green slime. A seductive forearm tattoo named Petunia. If this doesn't conjure up some serious nostalgia, you either weren't a kid in the 90s, or your mom banned you from watching Nickelodeon. We invited Nick veteran and new dad Danny Tamberelli to the podcast to chat about growing up in the spotlight and how fatherhood is treating him 19 months into his journey. Tune in to find out whether Danny and Adam have actually been cosmically linked ever since one fateful day in 1997 at Universal Studios. Also, Marc exclaims profanities as he is doused with bodily fluids.
 

Episode 35 of Modern Dadhood opens with a brief conversation about milk, and speculation on why Adam's daughters both decided that they no longer care for it. The guys briefly address their guest selection process before introducing Danny Tamberelli into the conversation. Danny is best known for playing little Pete on Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete and Pete in the 90s, though he continued with the network for over a decade, appearing in seasons of All That and the game show Figure It Out. Additionally, Danny appeared in films such as Igby Goes Down and The Mighty Ducks, acting alongside former Nickelodeon pal Kenan Thompson, and has voiced many animated characters for television and video games. Danny discusses the events that led to him landing prominent acting roles as a child, as well as his own experience as a new dad to 19 month old Alfie. Topics include:

•  The joy of being the fun uncle
•  An examination of Sandra Boynton's catalog
•  Old fashioned names coming back into style
•  Being a child actor
•  Weezer's Blue album
•  How creativity can evolve when you become a father

The episode culminates with a rather "shitty" installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud?
 

[Episode Transcript]
 

LINKS:
Danny Tamberelli (official website)
Tuesdays With Alfie (Instagram)
The Adventures of Danny and Mike
Jounce
Nostalgia Personified
Man Boobs Comedy
The Undone Sweaters
The Adventures of Pete And Pete (YouTube)
Danny + Katelyn's books
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal
Modern Dadhood (website)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (TikTok)

When you hear the phrase "Lead Dad," what does it make you think? A "stay at home" dad? A dad who prides himself on being the more involved parent? To Paul Sullivan, Founder of The Company of Dads, being a "Lead Dad" is much different... and many of us naturally fall into the category. Hear Paul discuss The Company of Dads' mission to inspire more men to be Lead Dads, and inspire families to experience their full potential. At the end, Marc shares a curious installment of "Did I Just Say That Out Loud?"
 

Modern Dadhood Episode 98 opens with a brief catch-up between the guys before Adam shares about a video that recently crossed his feed about a group of dads who meet at a local elementary school to greet kids as they arrive for their school day. The video was shared by Paul Sullivan, Founder of the Company of Dads and father of three daughters between 6 and 14. Paul joins us to chat about his organization, its mission, and what it means to be a "Lead Dad." Topics of conversation include:

•  How did The Company of Dads come to be?
•  What is a Lead Dad?
•  By labeling oneself a Lead Dad, is it taking credit from the mom?
•  Average maternity & paternity leaves in the USA
•  Resources available to Lead Dads
•  And more!

Stay tuned for an installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud? featuring the newly 6-year-old Checket twins.

LINKS:
The Company of Dads
The Company of Dads (Instagram)
Paul Sullivan (LinkedIn)
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Caspar Babypants
Stuffed Animal
Modern Dadhood (website)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (TikTok)

What fresh hell is this episode all about? Well, it's a collaboration with our new friends Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables, hosts of the popular momhood podcast What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood. The four parenting podcasters waste no time digging into why there are so many more motherhood podcasts than fatherhood podcasts, the value of gaining new perspectives, and how the role of the father has dramatically shifted over the decades... and could stand to continue evolving!

Episode 97 of Modern Dadhood kicks off with Adam ribbing Marc for neglecting to call or text him on his birthday which he shares with both his dad and his daughter. Marc clearly feels no guilt, and Adam proceeds to inhale a helium balloon to introduce the show. The guys quickly welcome Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson, hosts of the podcast What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood into the conversation to discuss the "WHY" behind each podcast, the moms' take on the current state of fatherhood, and more. Topics include:

•  The story behind the name (and phrase) "What Fresh Hell"
•  How topics are chosen for their motherhood podcast
•  The benefits of having access to experts and people we admire
•   How "Modern Dadhood" is different than "Modern Fatherhood"
•  How women and men often prioritize the role of "parent" differently
•  Shifting gender roles
•  And more!

After the interview, the guys share a roller-coaster-of-a Kisses & Disses segment.


LINKS:
What Fresh Hell (Podcast)
What Fresh Hell (Website)
WFH (Instagram)
WFH (TikTok)
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Caspar Babypants
Stuffed Animal
Modern Dadhood (website)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (TikTok)

Being a single parent may result from an unplanned pregnancy, the relationship between two partners evolving or ending, or a purposeful decision. No matter the reason, it's fair to assert that single parents will navigate some unique challenges when raising a kid. George Basil (HBO's Crashing, Netflix's Flaked) joins us to reflect on raising his teenage daughter as a working actor and improv comedian, and how their relationship, in many ways, is a true partnership. George hangs around for a round of Confessions!

The guys kick off Episode 96 of Modern Dadhood with a quick discussion on dinnertime conversations with our kids and the types of questions which can inspire them to open up and share about their school day. The guys waste no time introducing actor and improv comic George Basil who listeners might know as Lief from HBO's "Crashing" starring comedian Pete Holmes, Cooler from Netflix's "Flaked" acting opposite Will Arnett, or the clothing shop proprietor in the Barbie movie. George is a proud parent to his teenage daughter Lula, and he joins us to share his story of bringing her up as a single dad and working actor in LA. Topics include:

•  George's self-described partnership with his daughter.
•  The joy of traveling abroad with his kid
•  Acting with, and directing his daughter
•  The benefit of introducing new partners to your child
•  The importance of inspiring a love for creativity in our kids
•  Getting the call to be cast in Barbie
•  And more!

At the end of the chat, George sticks around for a gut-busting Confessions session.
 

LINKS:
Crashing (HBO/Max)
Flaked (Netflix)
Six Pack (Short Film)
Peanut (Short Film)
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Caspar Babypants
Stuffed Animal

2023 has come to and end and Adam & Marc reflect on the guests, topics, and great conversations from the past year. The guys each present their Top 3 clips from the various episodes, and Marc closes out the episode with an utterly explicit edition of "So That's a Thing Now." 

The guys open Episode 95 of Modern Dadhood by catching up briefly on health, fatherhood, and Christmas before jumping right into their "Top 3" lists of their favorite soundbytes from 2023 episodes. The episodes referenced in the top 3 lists are:

Ep 081 - Interabled Parents-To-Be | Shane Burcaw
Ep 083 - The Brick Wall That Is Fatherhood | Chris Gethard
Ep 084 - Being Cool With Not Being Cool Anymore | Chris Gethard
Ep 087 - Raising Privacy-Conscious Kids in the Digital Age | Marc Groman
Ep 091 - The Art of Explaining Farewells | Victor M. Sweeney
Ep 093 - Reviving Empathy Through Images of Real Leadership | Pete Souza

LINKS:
Modern Dadhood Instagram
Modern Dadhood Facebook
Modern Dadhood TikTok
Modern Dadhood YouTube
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal Music

In our holiday 2023 episode, we landed an interview with Father Christmas himself, Santa Claus. This episode is designed for parents and kids to enjoy together, as we ask Santa some hard-hitting questions which are on the minds of children around the world... and Santa delivers! Happy Holidays from our families to yours. We are grateful for you!

Episode 94 of Modern Dadhood is a unique one-- it's meant to be enjoyed by both parents and kids, as the guys got VERY lucky and booked an interview with Father Christmas himself, Santa Claus. Adam asks Santa a number of questions which many young people wonder about in hopes of shining a bit of light on some of the bigger mysteries of Santa's superhuman capabilities.

After the interview, Marc shares about an illness he's been dealing with and how his wife Jamie has risen to the occasion to make the holiday season special for the boys even though Marc's been unable to contribute.

Adam closes out the episode by sharing a preview of his almost 10-year-old's progress playing the recorder. (Spoiler alert, she's gotten very good very quickly!)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from our families to yours. Thank you for listening. We appreciate you and wish you a happy, healthy, entertaining, and prosperous 2024.
 

LINKS:
NORAD Santa Tracker
Modern Dadhood Instagram
Modern Dadhood Facebook
Modern Dadhood TikTok
Modern Dadhood YouTube
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal Music

There are certain qualities, like leadership, empathy, kindness, respect, and compassion, that we all aspire for our children to embody as they grow. In this episode, Adam and Marc get a bit deep with Pulitzer Prize winner and Official White House photographer for two presidential terms, Pete Souza, who had the remarkable opportunity to capture these qualities in iconic moments throughout the Obama presidency. The guys chat with Pete about dangerous situations, split-second decisions, and the tremendous responsibility of working in the highest office in the land, documenting the values we wish to see in our leaders and our children.

Episode 93 of Modern Dadhood opens with a conversation about storytelling and what features make for a strong spoken word story. The guys waste no time welcoming Pete Souza into the chat. Pete's credits an accolades include International Photography Hall of Fame Inductee, Pulitzer Prize winner, documentary film subject, and Chief Official White House Photographer for both terms of Barack Obama's presidency. He has taken some of the most iconic photos in history over his decades-long career, and while he still stays very busy putting out books, public speaking, and teaching photography workshops, his main photography subject matter... has become his grandkids.

Pete opens up about his method for capturing authentic moments with a leader who exemplifies traits that all parents hope to see in their children. Topics include:

•  Pete and his wife Patti's marriage and children
•  How Pete's "always on" work schedule impacted his personal life
•  The choice to work under physically dangerous circumstances
•  The shift from film to digital photography
•  The qualities that make a photo "authentic"
•  And more!

LINKS:
Pete Souza (official)
Pete Souza (Instagram)
Pete Souza (Twitter/X)
The Way I See It (Documentary on Amazon Prime Video)
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Caspar Babypants
Stuffed Animal

PETE'S BOOKS  (please buy locally if you can!)

Obama: An Intimate Portrait
Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents
Dream Big Dreams Photographs from Barack Obama's Inspiring & Historic Presidency Young Readers
Rise Of Barack Obama
The West Wing and Beyond: What I Saw Inside the Presidency

Is there a "right" way to reach our children to be independent and self-reliant? If we always do everything for them, they may never learn to own their responsibilities. But it can be emotionally trying (and short-term inconvenient) to allow them to fail and learn from their mistakes. B Kim joins us to discuss his family's approach to instilling a sense of personal responsibility in their two teenage kids, allowing them to fail safely, and preparing them for adulthood. Don't miss a "squeaky" new installment of So That's a Thing Now! at the end of the episode.

In Episode 92 of Modern Dadhood, Adam and Marc open with a discussion of Marc's idyllic, spontaneous neighborhood gathering which resulted in Marc being moderately "lubricated" for our episode. The guys chat about the first month of school for their kids, including their morning routines, and how each family navigates moving things along in the morning to ensure that everything gets done before their kids are off to school for the day. They welcome in Bunthol "B" Kim, and the conversation pivots from "what happens if they miss the bus?" to "what happens if they run out of money?" B shares his family's approach to instilling a sense of personal responsibility, ways in which he has allowed his kids to "fail safely," and times that his kids have pleasantly surprised him with their self-reliance.

Listen to the end where Adam shares about his fourth grader's current music class lesson that will bring back memories for most listeners!

Links:
Creatives Not Robots (B's creative social gathering)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal Music

There are a million idioms about death: It's "the only certainty in life." It's "the end of the road." It's "the great equalizer." But even as adults, death can be impossibly difficult to understand and process, let alone to know the best way to explain death to our kids. Mortician Victor M. Sweeney joins the conversation to share his wisdom on how to answer our kids' questions, and why it's important to include them and be honest with them rather than try to shield them or protect them from grief. Stick to the end for a segment on good and bad death scenes in children's movies!

Episode 91 of Modern Dadhood gets right down to business with Adam and Marc chatting about discussions they've had with their kids around the concept of death. They share about their own experiences with attending funerals, and how they've broached the subject when their kid have brought it up. They introduce Victor M. Sweeney into the conversation. Victor is a dad of 4 who has worked in the funeral industry for the last 15 years, earning the reputation of a sought-after funeral director and mortician. Victor opens up about his career, the relationship between his line of work and his family, and some ideas on how to include young people in the death process.

Post interview, Marc names a number of death-related scenes in kids movies and the guys rate them on a "helpful or hurtful" scale, debating whether the scenes could support a kid's understanding of death, or simply traumatize them.

Links:
Wired Segment 1
Wired Segment 2
Wired Segment 3
Wired Segment 4
Victor M. Sweeney (Instagram)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

The guys make a formal apology for ghosting listeners for a short late-Summer stretch before talking "back to school" season with friend and dad of two, Scott Mazuzan.

Episode 90 of Modern Dadhood starts with a rapid-fire catch up between Adam and Marc in which they each share several quick life updates in just a few words with no additional context. As you might expect, hilarity ensues! The guys welcome Adam's friend Scott Mazuzan into the conversation. Scott is a dad to a fourth grader and second grader, and the guys waste no time getting into topics like:

•  Dealing with feelings about returning to school
•  Back to school shopping and fashion
•  Making new friends, and the sibling dynamic
•  School bus etiquette
•  And more!

Links:
Modern Dadhood (homepage)
Modern Dadhood on Instagram
Modern Dadhood on Facebook
Modern Dadhood on YouTube
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Caspar Babypants
Stuffed Animal

"Work-Life Balance" is a buzzworthy phrase that has taken on new meaning since 2020. And it's a funny one, because it essentially divides your time into two camps: Work... and everything else. As parents, we all strive to set boundaries such that when we're NOT working, we can be present with our family or rediscover our sense of self... but it's rarely as simple as it sounds. In fact, Young Han, an entrepreneur, business consultant, and father who has ownership in over a dozen companies, would argue that human beings aren't even programmed to segment our lives in that way. Young shares his method for prioritizing both the work he is so driven to do with the family he loves so much... and the challenge of staying present and focused throughout. Stick around until the end to hear Marc's misophonia-themed installment of "So That's a Thing Now!"

Episode 89 of Modern Dadhood opens with a discussion between Marc and Adam about the challenges of being present with your family when work is busy. They discuss how they individually manage their time, and the pros and cons of working from home, including setting appropriate expectations with co-workers and clients. Adam shares a recent conversation he had with Young Han, an entrepreneur who owns stake in over a dozen businesses via his business consulting agency Owners Club. On his podcast, The Girl Dad Show, Young interviews successful businesspeople about how they structure their lives to prioritize what's most important to them. Young shares his philosophy that work-life balance is a myth, and they discuss other topics including:

•   A mutual appreciation of coffee
•  The struggle to be a better dad than your own
•  The importance of self-care
•  Modeling behavior to be benchmarks, not to raise clones of ourselves
•  Why Young considers work-life balance a myth
•  And more!


LINKS
Owners Club
The Girl Dad Show
Forever Young Agency
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

One of the most important things we must drive home to our children before putting a device in their hand, according to Privacy Professional Marc Groman, is that what they share on the internet should be treated as public and permanent... even if they only intend for one person to see it. Groman, who served in the Obama administration as chair of the Federal Privacy Council and Senior Advisor for Privacy in the White House, joins us to discuss kids and online privacy. This is part 2 of a 2 part episode.
 

Episode 88 of Modern Dadhood opens with the guys catching up about their recent outing to Boston to see recent guest Dustin Nickerson perform, and a chat about sexting before they pick up with part 2 of a conversation about privacy, social media, and digital footprints with Privacy Professional Marc Groman. Topics of conversation include:

•  The surprising responses from people over 20 when asked about their first devices
•  The responsibility of parents AND industry to teach privacy protection
•  Privacy protection legislation currently being developed by Marc and others
•  Privacy concerns with online gaming
•  The "wrong question" most parents ask about devices and screen time
•  How AI forces us to recalibrate our "bullshit meters"
•  And more!

Stick around until the end for a new installment of "Instant Regrets!"

Links:
Their Own Devices (Marc's phenomenal podcast)
Marc @ Family Online Safety Institute
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal
 Mr. Boodaddy "No Shirt Like My Dad"

We've all heard (or experienced) the horror stories around cyber bullying, the consequences of sexting, or kids accidentally blowing through thousands of dollars on a popular video game. And as dads, contemplating how (and when) to grant our kids access to certain types of technology can be overwhelming. But even beyond which social media accounts or how much screen time we allow, it's imperative that they understand privacy. It's a big, loaded word, and thankfully there are experts like Marc Groman who can help us understand the important benefits of protecting one's privacy... and the very real threats when we don't. Listen to the end for a hilarious Father's Day-themed quiz! [This is part 1 of a 2 part episode.]

Episode 87 of Modern Dadhood kicks off with some shared stories between Marc and Adam about their kids' struggles with listening, and a great recommendation from Marc on how to entice your kids to be self-accountable. The conversation transitions to privacy and technology when Adam asks Marc about how he intends to address privacy protection when his twin five-year-olds are old enough to start really interacting with internet enabled devices. Spoiler alert: neither dad has a great plan!

The guys welcome privacy professional Marc Groman into the conversation. Among many other privacy-related jobs, credentials, and accolades, Marc was the first chief privacy officer of the US Federal Trade Commission, and he served in the Obama administration as chair of the Federal Privacy Council and Senior Advisor for Privacy in the White House. Marc and his husband David Reitman have a 17 year old son who they no longer monitor on social media, and trust that he has a good understanding of privacy-related issues! The conversation covers a LOT of ground, including:

•  Kids' inability to perceive potential consequences of their actions
•  Why smartphones should not be called "phones" at all.
•  How social platforms stoke FOMO which is very harmful to kids
•  The question that's far more important than "what's the right amount of screen time?"
•  What you post is permanent
•  The vital importance of being familiar with the platforms and games your kids are using
•  And more!

If you've made it this far, you're in for a treat: Marc has cooked up some Father's Day themed trivia!

Subscribe to Modern Dadhood to be alerted when Part 2 of this episode drops on Friday 7/7.

Links:
Their Own Devices (Marc's phenomenal podcast)
Marc @ Family Online Safety Institute
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal
 

It was never all that easy to predict the future, but it always felt like there were at least a few things you could rely on. However, these days, the fate of even some of the more historically steadfast institutions is murky at best: for example, the notion of attending college to get a degree so you can venture out on the path to your career. What will any of that look like in five or ten years? Will affordable higher ed even exist? Will AI scoop up all the jobs? Will our kids live with us until they have kids? Comedian, podcaster, husband, and dad of three Dustin Nickerson can tell you that regardless of the ambiguity the future may hold, modeling a strong work ethic can have a net positive effect on the kids who witness it. Listen in as Adam, Marc, and Dustin wax philosophical about standup comedy, raising kids, strong work ethic, and the permission to laugh. 

Episode 86 of Modern Dadhood opens with a quick catch-up about the recent podcast siesta and a few laughs about recent celebrity dad news before the guys welcome Dustin Nickerson into the conversation. Dustin is a stand-up comedian, a husband, a father of three (including two teenagers!) an author and a fellow podcaster. The guys hit it off quickly, covering topics such as:

•  The challenges of touring with three kids at home
•  Touring alone vs. with family
•  The craziness of teaching your kid to drive
•  The shift in work ethic and motivation to leave home
•  The uncertain future of higher education
•  Finding true happiness in your career
•  And more!

LINKS
Dustin Nickerson (official)
Dustin Nickerson (YouTube)
Dustin Nickerson (Instagram)
Dustin Nickerson (TikTok)
How to Be Married to Melissa (book)
Don't Make Me Come Back There (podcast)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

We love and respect all the mothers all year 'round... and can't think of a better day than Mother's Day to turn the show over to our wives to let them catch up about "modern momhood." This episode features the "Mom Takeover" by Sarah Flaherty and Jamie Checket, originally shared in June of 2021.

With little instruction and a batch of questions and prompts to address at their will, Sarah and Jamie jumped right into conversation about motherhood. They covered topics such as:

•  How they learned about (and didn't learn about) the "Mom Takeover" concept
•  Motherhood myths
•  The benefits and pitfalls of social media to a new mother
•  Being your child's "entertainer"
•  Letting go/stepping back
•  Listening vs. problem solving
•  Pregnancy mindsets
•  Sleep deprivation
•  Mom confessions
•  Dumb dad moves
•  And more!

We celebrate you, Sarah, Jamie, and ALL moms, step moms, bonus moms, and moms-to-be! THANK YOU for being you! (And for accepting us and loving us for the idiots we are, too.)

[Episode Transcript]

Links:
Hunt, Gather, Parent
How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

Adam and his 9-year-old daughter Summer share about their epic family vacation to Orlando which included several days at Universal Orlando Resort, and their once-in-a-lifetime invitation to join hosts David and Kari on the Discover Universal podcast.

Episode 85 of Modern Dadhood, a "bonus episode," opens with a chat about April vacation. Marc shares that at 5 years old, his twin boys don't yet conform to school vacation schedules, but that Kindergarten is feeling closer and closer, with the boys quickly realizing that big changes are coming.

Adam shares about his recent Orlando vacation which included several fun-packed days at Universal Studios Orlando, Universal's Islands of Adventure, and Universal's Volcano Bay. He shares the story of how this crazy vacation came to be, and how he and his family ended up in Universal's Radio Broadcast Studio for an episode of the Discover Universal podcast.

The guys play back a detailed recap of the vacation by Adam and his 9 year old daughter Summer, which includes discussion of attractions in all of Universal's parks (including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) and Volcano Bay.

LINKS
Natural Nature Youth  (9 year old Summer's podcast)
Universal Orlando Resort
Discover Universal Podcast
Universal Studios Florida
Universal's Islands of Adventure
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Jurassic Park
Universal's Volcano Bay
Universal's Endless Summer Resorts: Dockside Inn and Suites
Universal on Instagram
Universal on Twitter
Universal on Facebook
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

[This is part 2 of a 2 part conversation]  In "The Lonely Dad Conversations," comedian Chris Gethard interviews a dozen dads to explore commonalities between their fatherhood journeys. What he finds, is that, plain and simple, when we become dads, we turn pretty lame. That's not to say that becoming a parent isn't an amazing, powerful, and positive life change, but think about it... are you as cool as you used to be before you had kids? Me neither. Chris joins us to laugh, ponder, and dissect some of the recurring themes in "The Lonely Dad Conversations."

In Episode 84 of Modern Dadhood, the guys quickly recap Easter and Adam asks Marc to kindly share some compliments about his wife, before returning to Part 2 of their conversation with Chris Gethard. Chris is promoting his new book on Scribd called "The Lonely Dad Conversations," and the guys ask him about some of the recurring themes that pop up in the book, including:

•  How dads are like "backseat passengers"
•  How the baby boomer generation are different dads than we are
•  The role of your social life when you become a dad
•  Our kids observing our screen time
•  And More!

Before closing out the 'sode, Adam and Marc share a quick round of "Kisses and Disses" inspired by recent podcast reviews. Leave a review for the show and you, too, could be featured in an upcoming segment!

LINKS:
Chris Gethard (official)
The Lonely Dad Conversations (Scribd)
Chris on Twitter
Chris on Instagram
Chris on Facebook
Beautiful Anonymous
New Jersey Is The World
Career Suicide (HBO)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

Most new-dads-to-be do the obligatory preparation: You look through the couple of "survival guide" style books gifted to you by a friend. Watch YouTube videos on swaddling techniques. Read up on tips for potty training. Buy a new coffee maker to elevate your caffeine game. And ready your mind for the impending insanity of parenthood. But somehow, despite all the "thorough" preparation, every new parent gets sideswiped with a slew of unexpected emotions and challenges. And here's what those "survival guide" books can't possibly set you up for: Becoming a parent will change you... And it can bring on some intense emotions and self-revelations. Comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster Chris Gethard returns to Modern Dadhood to chat about the cultural shift that's enabling dads to examine these feelings. In classic Gethard style, even the heavier themes which appear in his new book The Lonely Dad Conversations are explored with openness, sincerity, and a lot of humor, and the same is true of our chat in this episode. Don't drop off before another installment of the beloved (sub)segment Did I Just Hear That Out Loud?  [This is part 1 of a 2 part episode.]
 

Episode 83 of Modern Dadhood opens with Marc & Adam trying out an exercise where they expedite their catch up by reducing it to 5 words. They keep it brief because they know that their first returning podcast guest, comedian Chris Gethard, is going to bring the goods. Chris hosts his own podcasts Beautiful Anonymous and New Jersey Is The World, he stars in standup specials, has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, and he returns to Modern Dadhood to discuss his new book The Lonely Dad Conversations.

Chris and Hallie's son Caleb ("Cal") is 4 years old, and as Chris shares candidly, he's potty trained, but can't yet wipe his own butt. After reassuring him that Cal will hit that game-changing milestone soon, we get down to business and talk loneliness. When Cal was born, Chris found himself in a state of deep loneliness, and in an effort to better understand these feelings, he interviewed a bunch of fellow dads about their unique fatherhood experiences. Chris grouped the answers by common themes that came up, and spoiler alert... it turns out he wasn't alone in his loneliness.

The guys discuss a number of themes which pop up in The Lonely Dad Conversations, including:

•  The rejection of "Hustle Culture"
•  Focusing on your own death when you become a parent
•  The importance of maintaining your sense of self
•  How your concept of time shifts when you become a parent
•  And more!

The conversation will span two episodes, so please subscribe to Modern Dadhood so you'll be alerted when episode #2 releases!

The guys round out the episode with an installment of Did I Just Say Hear Out Loud?
 

LINKS:
Chris Gethard (official)
The Lonely Dad Conversations (Scribd)
Chris on Twitter
Chris on Instagram
Chris on Facebook
Beautiful Anonymous
New Jersey Is The World
Career Suicide (HBO)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

Remember AOL Instant Messenger? ICQ? Friendster? Do you recall the excitement and curiosity of exploring these platforms and connecting with new people? The internet was new, and our parents were either learning it alongside us... or maybe not interested in it at all. Either way, for many of us, our parents were not closely monitoring our exploration of the internet, or even aware of the inherent risks. Our kids are growing up in a very (very) different world, and as parents, it's our job to ensure they develop a healthy and safe relationship with the technology which will only become a more prominent fixture in their lives as they grow. Father of three, Tom Adjemian, joins the conversation to discuss how his family is navigating this complicated journey. Don't skip out before our dad Confessions!

Episode 82 of Modern Dadhood opens with the guys chatting about Marc's twin boys' birthday party which had been rescheduled due to a last minute illness. Marc shares some of the nice, funny, and sometimes downright eerie handwritten birthday cards his boys received.

The guys introduce guest Tom Adjemian into the chat. Tom's three kids range from ages 4 to 13, and from very little exposure to technology, to a lot of exposure. Tom shares how he and his wife are traversing things like screen time, internet safety, privacy, boundaries, and more, with their 13 year old. Spoiler alert: They're figuring it out as they go. Conversation topics include:

•  When (and why) Tom and his wife got their eldest daughter her first smartphone
•  The conversations they've had as a couple and with their kids about technology use
•  How to not scare your kids away from the internet
•  How to not entice your kids to hide their internet usage from you
•  Tools for limiting and monitoring internet/app usage
•  The ethics of monitoring your kid's internet usage
•  The importance  of open communication
•  When your kid betrays your trust
•  And more

The guys invite Tom to stick around and participate in a gut-busting round of Confessions before closing out the 'sode.

Links:
ConnectSafely
Bark app
How and When to Limit Kids' Tech Use (NY Times)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal