Modern Dadhood | Unpacking Fatherhood + Parenting for Dads (and Moms!)

Have you ever read a book to your kids and been so disappointed by how uninspired the story is? Or how half-baked the visuals are? Or how poor the grammar is? Same. That's why when you come across the truly great ones, you elevate them and celebrate them. Maine author and illustrator (and father of two) Chris Van Dusen joins us to share about all that goes into creating purposeful, high quality children's literature.

Episode 115 of ...

Any parents of teenagers? (...Or have kids who will be teenagers before you know it?) The seismic shifts that take place during the teenage years can make parenting feel impossible. Inspirational speaker Ed Gerety joins the conversation to impart some wisdom on how to raise curious, grateful, resilient, and self-sufficient teenagers in today's fast-paced world. Hand around after the interview to hear Adam share a recent Instant Reg...

Every new parent stumbles and bumbles their way through learning the responsibilities of their new job, and adapting to their new lifestyle. Most of the "what to expect" books for dads seem to focus on swaddling and potty training, when what we really need is resources for loneliness or advice on how to keep your cool when you're totally overwhelmed. Today's guest, Joe Gidjunis, spent so much time contemplating fatherhood, that he ...

What do happiness hacks, magic mushrooms at Bonnaroo, and suburban dadding have in common? Comedian Pete Holmes, that's what. Pete (You Made It Weird podcast, HBO's Crashing) has been a "pie in the sky" guest for since the wee beginnings of Modern Dadhood, and the conversation didn't disappoint. Pete opens up about being a vulnerable dad, the importance of emotional transparency, working six-year-old Lila into his jokes, and more. ...

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a stressful, emotional path to becoming a parent. Adding a surrogate to the equation introduces a new set of risks and stressors. For Ryan O'Connell and his wife, when the stars aligned and their healthy, perfect baby was born, it was nothing short of a miracle... and then they hit the lottery a second time. During our conversation, Ryan opens up about the deeply personal and intricate process of hav...

Do you feel perpetually behind? Or so stressed each day that it’s debilitating? Well, it turns out you’re not alone. (Far from it, actually.) The US Surgeon General reports that 48% of parents say that most days, their stress is “completely overwhelming.” How do we know this? Because the Nation's Doctor told us himself. US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, joins us to discuss his new advisory report “Parents Under Pressure,” which...

Still riding the high of seeing Beck perform with a live orchestra (and getting the rare chance to say hello to him post-show), Adam chose to resurface our 2021 interview with Beck's step-dad, the multi-talented Sean Carrillo, for this week's Rewind episode. Sean's story of marrying into a family with two kids who were only 10 and 12 years his junior, is a wonderfully unique tale of a blended family of artists which, at times, felt...

Have you ever wondered about the true value that a doula brings to pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond? We're joined by Timothy Gant Jr., also known as "Teddy The Doula," a trailblazing male doula from Houston, Texas. Timothy shares his journey into the traditionally female-dominated field, the unique challenges and joys of his practice, and the vital role of educating and empowering dads-to-be.

Episode 108 of Modern Dadhood opens wit...

This "Rewind" episode doubles as our Father's Day 2024 episode! The guys chat about what an ideal Father's Day would look like, play a fun quiz game, and then throw back to the 2022 interview with trans dad Tessa White who shares candidly about her unique journey of trans fatherhood. Tessa opens up about her family's dynamics, the challenges she faces with public scrutiny, and the profound impact of a meaningful pin she received, w...

According to Men's Coach and Somatic Practitioner Sean Hotchkiss, everyone carries traumatic experiences with them from when they were young. These can be major emotional traumas like the divorce of your parents, or they can be micro traumas... but when they are left unresolved, they can shape who we are as adults (and parents), how we navigate life, and how we relate to others. In this episode honoring Mental Health Awareness Mont...

It's Mother's Day 2024, and we dedicate this episode to ALL the moms—the real superheroes who make our families run like well-oiled machines with their dedication, selflessness, and boundless love. Marc and Adam wager guesses on what would make for an ideal Mother's Day for their wives (and then hear directly from their wives about how accurate they were!) Then we turn the mics over to some of the top podcasters who specialize in a...

In July 2021, Dateline NBC reporter and Today Show personality Craig Melvin joined us to talk fatherhood. He shared candidly about the process of writing his book Pops: Learning To Be A Son And A Father, including stepping out of his comfort zone to conduct a number of interviews with his own dad. Craig reflected on his childhood, his relationship with his father, and how the men in his life have shaped the dad that Craig is to his...

Dads, raise your hand if becoming a parent resulted in falling out of healthy routines like exercise and mindful eating? Yeah, same here. And it's only natural... when there's a new baby in the picture your priorities immediately shift to your partner, the baby's well-being... and your own survival. But months (or years) later, it can be very intimidating to think about combating that "dad bod," and often, we don't even know where ...

Episode 59 originally aired in February, 2020.

Becoming a new parent can be a special kind of mayhem. Add a global pandemic into the mix, and the chaos of the first few months are elevated to a new level. But depending on your situation, those challenges may be coupled with opportunity. In Episode 59, podcaster, producer, actor, and all around creative human, Matt Gourley, joins the conversation to discuss the joys, challenges, and ...

For those of us who grew up watching Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Fred Rogers taught us many lessons via his cast of characters in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe; the most prominent of which is that there are many ways to express your love and appreciation for someone. One member of that cast in particular, Dr. Francois Clemmons ("Officer Clemmons" on the show), carries forth that message even today. Dr. Clemmons joins us to disc...

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 del...

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 w...

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 ...

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 shifte...