Better Off Dad

What is wrong with healthcare in our society? Like most problems, the  issues are systemic and require systemic solutions. Paul and Steve  discuss how to make sure you and your kids get the right care when you  can't rely on the system to operate in the best interest of the  patients.

Paul and Steve take up the serious topic of how to keep your kids  safe and how to teach them to keep themselves safe in an unsafe world.

Reminder: if you feel like saying something to my son in a truck stop  bathroom, you always have the option of keeping your mouth shut. One  MAGA trucker found out the hard way that speaking vile filth in real  life has consequences. He went full on snowflake faster than I could  turn my cap backwards.

Working to Live or Living to Work? How to raise our kids with an  abundance mindset in an increasing scarce world. Or, how many avocados  does rent cost?

Part 2: Power Dynamics. Previously, we talked about the academic part  of school. This time, we are talking about the uneven and useless power  dynamics. Why does the school-to-military pipeline only happen at poor  schools? How to deal with security guards in school (and at State Fair  active shooter incidents) and bully teachers.

And a challenge this week: Change our minds. We say some  controversial stuff that might make you mad. And we would love for you  to set us straight. Tell us your side of the story and your ideas for  making school work better.

But what do we know? We're just trying to do the right thing when things are hard. AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS HARD!

Our kids spend more time in school than almost any place else. So why  does school still suck after all these years. It will come as no  surprise that Paul and Steve have some thoughts on the matter. From  Springfield Township to the MIT of the Midwest and from weeding carrots  to heading up the most powerful D&D party of all time, these guys  have some genius (and hilarious) ideas about what's wrong with education  in this country.

Steve has been heavily influenced in his ideas on education by Seth Godin (ever hear of him?). Seth's podcast is here: This is Akimbo

Here's the recipe for a Geometry Sandwich: Freakonomics Radio: America’s Math Curriculum Doesn’t Add Up

What are parents concerned about these days? Paul and Steve run through their top 10 list this week (which includes at least 16 things). Changing diapers, social media, school, violence, work, money...well, how about I just put the list down below.

Also, for expecting parents, here's a couple book recommendations.

From Steve: Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads by Gary Greenberg | Goodreads

From Paul: She's Having A Baby and I'm Having A Nervous Breakdown

And now the 16 item top 10 list:

Nobody Wants to Work!! Paul and Steve respond to this tired old  statement with facts, but more importantly with logic and ridicule. From  low unemployment, to lingering pandemic problems, to late stage  capitalism, and unwillingness to subject our youth to undignified wage  slavery, we break down the real reason why Arby's still hasn't opened  their lobby/dining room.

Facts don't care about your feelings, so here they are:

Current Employment Statistics - CES (National) : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)

Jobs_and_quits_rate.webp (1468×417) (wikimedia.org)

Millennials became the largest generation in the labor force in 2016 | Pew Research Center

Share of working U.S. teens increases in summer, but less so than in past decades | Pew Research Center

Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions | CDC

Introducing  another regular talker from Big Broccoli Studios. It's Better off Dad  with Paul and Steve. Just two dads trying to figure out how to do the  right thing when things are hard. In Episode 1, we cover the history of  the Don't Panic Radio Show, try not to swear (while swearing a lot), and  try to describe what Better off Dad is all about. We also touch on  school sports, mental health care, and parenting in general.

If you or someone you know needs legal help for queer issues, check out this free resource: Lambda Legal

Ukrainians might be pushing back the Russians in some areas. The Russians are blowing up bridges. Why? Russian spies in Poland. Western spies in Russia. Russian spies in the US. Still no No Fly Zone. Humanitarian corridors in the most inhumane of circumstances.

We have all fallen for the misleading video or the headline that  turns out to be false. In this episode, Paul and Steve work through a  few recent stories about the war in Ukraine that turned out to be not so  accurate. They also give some pointers and share examples of how they  sniff out the fake stuff. U.S. sponsored Biolabs in Ukraine? Ukraine biggest donor to Clinton Foundation? Rothschild family connection to invasion of Ukraine? Biden selling Alaska back to Russia? Babylon Bee: Satire or thinly veiled conservative shitposting? Fact check: What's true and what's false about the invasion of Ukraine (usatoday.com)