Certified Bad Example Podcast

What do an alleged doomsday kidnapping, a fake crypto fortune, a multimillion-dollar child modeling scheme, and publicly humiliating your kid have in common? Adults making very big decisions with questionable judgment.

In Episode 18 of Certified Bad Example, Jameel Mayers and August Black dig into stories where fear, money, ego, and parenting collide.

First, they unpack the alleged case of a mother who took four children overseas ami...

What do Batman, James Bond, 35 girlfriends, a fake kidnapping and a severed hand have in common?

Apparently, nobody involved knows how to do anything the easy way.

Episode 17 of Certified Bad Example starts with Jameel Mayers and August Black debating men who live double lives — Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson as Batman, Daniel Craig as James Bond — before accidentally stumbling into an episode almost entirely populat...

A dad runs onto a youth football field and trips a 9-year-old. A false pregnancy and paternity case spirals into allegations of fabricated evidence. A viral Crumbl video gets employees fired and triggers a state inspection. And somehow, that’s only part of Episode 16.

Jameel Mayers and August Black open with a tribute to Dolly Parton and the legacy she built through generosity, literacy advocacy, and actually putting her value...

When does setting boundaries for your kid turn into trying to control everybody else?

Jameel Mayers and August Black are back with another round of Certified Bad Examples pulled from the social media zeitgeist.

First up: Oreo Gate. A kindergarten parent reportedly asks other families to stop sending Oreos to school because her daughter isn’t allowed to have them. Is that a reasonable request, or is learning to deal with disappo...

Jason Caceres joins Jameel Mayers and August Black for an unfiltered episode of Certified Bad Example that moves from viral relationship chaos to some much bigger questions about judgment, responsibility, power, and consequences.

The conversation starts with the strange world of prison romance and influencer Ash Trevino, who became known online for relationships with incarcerated men. Jameel, August, and Jason debate what drives som...

Where does personal freedom end and professional responsibility begin?

In Episode 13 of Certified Bad Example, Jameel Mayers and co-host August Black get into three stories where the answer is anything but simple, from teachers facing consequences for what happens outside the classroom, to a mother leaving her four-year-old home alone overnight, to what can happen when someone decides to intervene in a dangerous situation.

Jameel als...

What happens when one viral moment becomes a career crisis, a celebrity dies without a will, artificial intelligence is weaponized against students, and a parent decides homework simply isn’t happening?

In Episode 12 of Certified Bad Example, Jameel Mayers and co-host August Black break down the bad decisions, public consequences, parenting debates, and uncomfortable gray areas behind some of the internet’s biggest conve...

Every decision has consequences, whether it’s made at home, online, or in the public eye. In this episode of Certified Bad Example, August Black and Jameel Mayers dive into the moments that reveal character, from parenting decisions and child safety to racist online behavior, public accountability, and the difference between genuine remorse and performative apologies.

The conversation explores how trust is built with children,...

Success, fame, and talent don’t shield families from difficult decisions. In this episode of Certified Bad Example, August Black and Jameel Mayers examine what the stories of Matthew Knowles and Brandon Marshall reveal about parenting, accountability, and the lasting impact adults have on the next generation.

From celebrity family dynamics to social media, public perception, and everyday parenting challenges, the conversation ...

Ever wondered why some school board meetings feel more like reality TV than public service? Or how the shows we binge can spark meaningful conversations about bullying, parenting, and LGBTQ+ representation? This episode takes a look at the adults setting questionable examples, the stories shaping our kids, and why the media we choose actually matters.

In this episode:

Why some school board meetings have become public spectacles&mdash...

Hold onto your diapers and hashtags! This episode dives into influencer parenting, social media ethics, playground lessons, and the sometimes bizarre choices adults make in the name of content. From viral adoption controversies to the dads who think diaper changes are optional, we’re separating the good examples from the certified bad ones.

In this episode:

• The influencer adoption controversy and the ethics of mone...

Pride Month, viral internet stars, school assignments, and parenting decisions collide in an episode that explores the challenges of raising kids in a world where every moment can become content. From Baby Gronk to Target’s Pride controversy, we’re looking beyond the headlines to the lessons adults leave behind.

In this episode:

• Celebrating Pride Month and discussing whether Pride events are family-friendly.
• H...

Hold onto your coffee mugs, folks. Today’s episode is a whirlwind tour of celebrity fallout, family feuds, and social media faux pas—all with a healthy sprinkle of wit and wisdom. If you thought your family drama was intense, these tales make yours look like a Saturday night dance party.

In this episode:

• Kim Kardashian vs Kanye West—public co-parenting chaos
• The pitfalls of posting personal problems online
• Brad Pi...

Parenting is messy, emotional, hilarious, and sometimes completely out of control. In this episode of Certified Bad Example, we break down viral parenting moments, the Britney Spears conservatorship conversation, social media parenting culture, and the growing debate around gentle parenting versus accountability.

From parents throwing iPads out windows to public punishments on TikTok, this episode dives into the chaos of modern pare...

Buckle up, folks! Today, we're diving into a chaotic world filled with basketball blowups, viral Zoom bloobers, and teacher lapses that make you go "WTF?" If you thought parenting was tough, hang tight, these stories might just redefine your definition of "parenting wins." We’re talking schoolyard showdowns, viral mishaps, and the importance of good ol’ fashioned self-talk.

Spoiler alert: It’s messy, hilarious, and...

Hold onto your coffee cups, folks! Today we’re diving into stories that range from balloon-based mischief to college admissions scandals, all sprinkled with witty insights on parenting, integrity, and everything in between. Buckle up—these tales come with lessons, laughs, and a dash of reality check.

In this episode:

The wild, inflated tale of Balloon Boy, and what social media fame can drive parents to do. Parental prior...

Hold on to your click because today's episode is full of epic fails, celebrity missteps, and the hilarious chaos of social media hype gone wrong. We’re diving into wild tales that remind us all to pause before hitting "post" or risking a meltdown, meltdown, or worse. Plus, Ethan Levy drops some jet-setting wisdom, and we unpack what puts us all in these viral jams.

In this episode:

• The disaster behind Fyre Festival and soci...

Ever wish you could rewind and pass on some parenting wisdom? Or maybe just laugh at the spectacularly bad behaviors caught on social media? Welcome to Certified Bad Examples, where the goal is not to judge, but to learn (maybe with a smirk).

In this episode:

• How parents handle risky social media pics and the importance of context
• The fine line between pranks and trauma — spoiler alert, don't traumatize your kids for views
• Ma...

Coming this June 1st, 2026, Certified Bad Example officially steps in with hosts August Black and Jameel Mayers leading the conversation. This is where real-life situations, pulled from headlines, everyday moments, and the kind of stories people usually avoid, get put under the microscope. Not to shame, but to unpack.

Every “bad example” becomes a conversation, and every conversation becomes a choice: what would you do i...