Dad TALKS

Were you aware this was a podcast? Hey, what’s a pod — No worries, Tina and Andrew have all the meta-answers on the wildly popular platform that ultimately just consists of people talking — and why podcasting provides a refuge of substantive connection and digital wellness in an internet sea of vapidity. Also, Andrew reveals to Charlotte that they’ve actually been recording this whole time.

Yo Alexa, turn it up! Kick off the jams with Tina and Andrew —who harmonize about the utter vitality of music for all of humanity, but especially for children. From cello prodigies to ‘The Floss’ to the hallowed realm of bedtime songs, this episode features some deep cuts. And —Charlotte tells Andrew the truth about what she thinks of his taste in music. 

From attention deficit to compromised vision to cancer, Tina and Andrew delve into our ever-changing physiology due to tech, particularly that of post-Millennials. Expect the authority of statistical research on Tina’s end while Andrew chimes in with anecdotal insights. And it should be remembered: mutation is not intrinsically negative, and as tech changes us, our culture needs to adjust accordingly.

Hey parents, you know when your child is totally losing their mind when you’re out and about and all you get are glares and stares? Yes, so do we. Tina and Andrew talk of the general lack of empathy from strangers when parents are struggling — but also how sometimes people can surprise you for the better.  And Char shares the secret for diffusing tantrums – comedy.

Welcome to “Because I Said So” Version 2.0 — what is the value of parental knowledge in the Internet age? Tina and Andrew decode how the illusion that “mom and dad know everything” is getting demystified even sooner than before. And Char gets posed the classic question, “Who knows more, Daddy or a multi-billion dollar tech conglomerate?”

Dwarf hamsters, blobfish, Bengal cats — oh my! Tina and Andrew chat about why — even when surrounded by all this tech — small children still always gravitate towards pets and animals and the value furries et al. bring to a family household. Also, a PSA for “dog people” and Char makes animal noises.

Just because the sweaters are ugly doesn’t mean the holidays have to be. Andrew and Tina deconstruct the festivities — from minimizing family awkwardness, maximizing healthy tech and acknowledging that Amazon is the new Santa Claus. Also, Char discusses the quantum physics of Santa’s sleigh — and why doesn’t he just use unicorns?

Equipped with national statistics and anecdotal evidence, Andrew and Tina unearth how the current crisis in over-medication and mental illness (particularly with post-millennials) is certainly linked to tech. Advice to Millennial parents on grappling with the necessity of screens and devices along with the need to have the occasional digital detox. Technology is literally changing our genes in 2018, but it needn’t be for the worst.

What is the line between internet exploitation and friendly digital sharing? Andrew and Tina discuss the ethically gray universe of family-oriented Instagram Influencers and YouTube stars — and how we’ve gone from carrying one photo of our children in our wallets to tagging them in ten thousand for the whole world to see (and without their permission).

Dad TALKS is a new podcast series hosted by Millennial dad, Andrew Amundson. Each week, Andrew and Co-Host Tina will break down the woe and wonder of young parenting in our digitally fraught age.  At the end of each episode, Andrew will have a fireside chat (no actual fire) with his daughter, Char, and get her whimsical take on what the grown-ups have just discussed.