Daddy Unscripted Podcast

Episode 51 is the second half of my conversation with fellow podcaster, fellow Dad, fellow music and sports fanatic: Brian Brinkman. Brian makes up one half of the team that brings you the Beyond the Pond podcast. If you haven't heard checked out that podcast yet and you love music, you should make sure to make your way over to them.

Beyond the Pond is a partner podcast with Daddy Unscripted in the Osiris Podcast network. Shortly after the Osiris network officially launched, Brian and I started the conversation about our desire to connect for these episodes. I can't believe it took us this long... but I couldn't be more emphatic in telling you that this was absolutely worth the wait.

Brian is yet another guest that shares my intense passion for both sports and for music. This episode taps into a lot of that. We talk about how important both of those are to many people and the why and how of both of them tapping into something deeper between humans. Between strangers, even. I am not shy about talking about how many friendships I have that revolve around one or both of those common interests I share with that person. I think even my wife gets embarrassed when we are out and either my music-related clothing or Red Sox attire I may have on allow me to strike up, what may seem to her like an un-ending conversation with a total stranger.

Brian is one of "those guys". Yes, I just put that in quotes because I am about to put him into a category. Sorry, Brian. But, he is immensely intelligent and has a Venus Flytrap of a brain when it comes to information. I envy people like this, I gotta admit. But you'll get to hear Brian rattle off a lot of his favorite Phish shows at the end of this episode that will have you grabbing your collection or looking up setlists to find some new (possibly, to you) shows to listen to. You'll also hear some of his "Island Albums" that aren't by Phish. Always a fun bit of info to get from someone who loves music as much as Brian does.

Like I said in the notes from our previous episode: Brian is one of those incredibly genuine great guys and I do believe that comes through very clearly to you as you listen to either halves of our conversation.

The "Beyond the Pond" podcast can be found pretty much anywhere you find your podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher Radio, etc.

Daddy Unscripted can be found at:

iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play | Tune-In Radio

Twitter: @DaddyUnscripted

Facebook: Daddy Unscripted

www.daddyunscripted.com

Daddy Unscripted is proud to be a part of the Osiris Podcast Network! You can check out the Osiris Pod website to see what other great podcasts are part of the network by going to OsirisPod.com.

Intro and Outro music proudly provided with a partnership by Umphrey's McGee.

You can send questions and suggestions for future guests to us via email to [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 50 is the first half of my conversation with fellow podcaster, fellow Dad, fellow music fanatic: Brian Brinkman. Brian makes up one half of the team that brings you the Beyond the Pond podcast. If you haven't heard checked out that podcast yet and you love music, you should make sure to make your way over to them.

Beyond the Pond is a partner podcast with Daddy Unscripted in the Osiris Podcast network. Shortly after the Osiris network officially launched, Brian and I started the conversation about our desire to connect for these episodes. I can't believe it took us this long... but I couldn't be more emphatic in telling you that this was absolutely worth the wait.

Brian has a very close relationship with his Dad... from his time as a youth to today. He describes pretty fully how much the two of them share a lot of the same interests and passions in life. This conversation almost makes me want to start a scorecard detailing Fathers & Sons that have great relationships that share interests in a significant manner.

I got a little emotional during our conversation and that was even a little bit more heartfelt as I was re-listening and editing this episode. The paternal line in Brian's family is a really cool story. The strength of that bond is remarkable and, as silly as I felt saying it to him: I told him that I was happy and excited for him that he has that in his life. Part of that really was because of what a genuinely good person Brian is. I think that will all come through very clearly to you as you listen to this half of our long conversation.

The "Beyond the Pond" podcast can be found pretty much anywhere you find your podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher Radio, etc.

Daddy Unscripted can be found at:

iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play | Tune-In Radio

Twitter: @DaddyUnscripted

Facebook: Daddy Unscripted

www.daddyunscripted.com

Daddy Unscripted is proud to be a part of the Osiris Podcast Network! You can check out the Osiris Pod website to see what other great podcasts are part of the network by going to OsirisPod.com.

Intro and Outro music proudly provided with a partnership by Umphrey's McGee.

You can send questions and suggestions for future guests to us via email to [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 49... so close to 50 and it's a mini-episode. Father's Day is always a perfect opportunity for me to sit and get a little personal. Father's Day and Thanksgiving always bring that out of me on the podcast and it should allow those of you with shorter timeframes to listen to an episode a great chance to get an actual full episode in a single sitting!

This is my 3rd Annual Father's Day episode. And I'm getting closer to the mark of 30 years of Father's Days without my Dad around to celebrate them with. And this is officially my 10th Father's Day with "Dad" as part of my title or job description or lifestyle. I'm thrilled about that!

For those of you who may have missed my previous Father's Day episodes, let me bring you up to speed -- though, you really should go back and listen to those, too -- My Dad's last Father's Day was during my Senior year in High School. The doctors had very recently diagnosed him with brain cancer. I was 17 and that was the last time I would be able to praise him according to the holiday for being the fantastic Father that he had been to me and my 7 siblings.

In this episode, I spent a little less time focusing on that part of the holiday. Due to current events in the world that are weighing on me as a Father, this episode took a bit of a different turn. Don't get frightened by that; again, I avoided getting political. But, I couldn't avoid bringing in the recent death of Anthony Bourdain. As a fellow Dad, his suicide really affected me. All the more because of my own suicide attempt when I was 21 years old. Yes. You read that right. Have I not told you how imperfect I am?

As the survivor of a suicide attempt, having lived through being in a coma for 3 plus days, I am now fully aware of how precious life is. I completely get that every breath I have had on this planet for the past 24 years or so is a complete gift to me that I am pretty much undeserving of. I do firmly believe that this podcast is one of my life's efforts to deserve this bonus time I am living on.

So, it should go without saying how I feel that much more blessed to have my little family. My wife, my daughter, my son... it is all a miracle. A true miracle. I should not be alive right now. Not only because I tried to make that happen so long ago, but even the Doctors at that time said they were amazed I came out of my coma, that my body fought through it all.

I am a firm believer in speaking openly about these events... even if I can be a positive in one person's life: that is all absolutely worth it.

This episode contained my first shout-outs and inclusion of some of you out there! Listeners and followers on social media were asked a question and I read a few of the responses from Twitter and Facebook near the end of this episode.

I also went into a discussion about how we all should live our lives a little bit in that manner: wanting to make a difference for someone else. It can even be the most simple and minor thing. Affecting someone's day today could change lives down the road. It could have a snowball effect on how they treat others that same day and so on and so on.

I know that changing the world isn't that simple. It's not that easy. Those are not the answers to some of what plagues our planet or certain countries or societies. But it can be so simple to spread love, happiness, joy and -- something I talk about a fair amount on my podcast -- humankindness.

Let's all try to do that a little more... right? Many thanks to all of you listening. And tremendous thanks to the Dads who have been a part of my podcast and to those that are about to be a part of it, as well!

Daddy Unscripted can also be found at:

iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play

Twitter: @DaddyUnscripted

Facebook: Daddy Unscripted

www.daddyunscripted.com

All music proudly provided with a partnership by Umphrey's McGee. You can find everything about them at www.umphreys.com

You can send questions and suggestions for future guests to our podcast/blog...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 48 is the long-awaited second half of my conversation with Chris Lizotte. I'll repeat what I started Episode 47 with as my description of Chris, that he is known as and for a great many things by a great many people. He is a successful Christian music artist --

Wait! Where are you going?! I say the words "Christian music" and you want to leave this episode behind already? Well, you'll be missing out. This is another great episode filled with a lot of laughter, deep conversation and we got really close to tears as well. Or, maybe that was just me.

Again, I took these episodes with Chris as a direct challenge to make them extremely listenable for people of any and all faiths. Chris is an incredibly humble man who has done a lot of great things with his talents and gifts. We originally met about 25 years ago when a band I was singing in (yes... you read that correctly) opened up a couple/few times for Chris at various local spots.

This episode doesn't exactly start right where the previous episode left off. Maybe more than some other 2-parters, you really will benefit from listening to the 1st part with Chris and I.

We dig in a little more into some of the different backstory of Chris' path through music and becoming a fully-fledged recording artist: starting with his start shortly after high school with a band called The Spiritones. It was a few years later when I first met Chris and the band I was singing in (we were called 99) opened for and performed with him. Though Chris really urged me to, I saved you all and avoided putting any of that band's music on this episode.

We touched on a lot of the different iterations of Chris' bands and held out some high praise for a lot of the grandiose musicians that have played with him over the years: Ray "Sleepy Ray" McDonald, Shawn Tubbs and, most recently, Marc Ford (yes... that Marc Ford, formerly of the Black Crowes).

I teased this a little in my post of the 1st episode. This is way more on my shoulders than on Chris'... so, if anyone is going to complain, it should be to me. I dove right into the lions' den and brought up the topic of: "Why is so much Christian music just not great?!" It's something I have wondered for decades. I talked about a time long ago when I really tried to find more Christian music to listen to and how difficult and nearly completely unfruitful that search was for me. And, yes... I did in fact say during this episode that Christian music is like the brussel sprouts of music.

Chris challenged me a little on my thoughts on this. We talked about how "the industry" works... and I know that can go for the music industry, in general. Heck... that can go for nearly any entertainment industry, when you really think about it.

Christ brought up some of the early music that was not called "Christian music" before "the industry" came in and started taking over. Artists like Mavis Staples, Alison Krauss and even Bob Dylan. After recording this episode, Chris listed out a few more artists I should check out. Let me just tease this out right now: this entire conversation has led to me starting to work on a new podcast that delves into this. It's in its infant stages... but keep your eyes and ears open for that.

A list of the music on this episode: Chris Lizotte "Change My Heart Oh God", The Black Peppercorns "Helplessly in Love", Dicky Ochoa "My Beloved", The Black Peppercorns "Please", Chris Lizotte "Sweet Mercy", Chris Lizotte "Close to Your Heart", Richfolk "Peace in the Middle of the Storm", Chris Lizotte "Glory to the King > I Shall Be Released".

Chris Lizotte's music can be found pretty much anywhere you stream your music: iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, Pandora, etc.

Daddy Unscripted can be found at:

iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play | Tune-In Radio

Twitter: @DaddyUnscripted

Facebook: Daddy Unscripted

www.daddyunscripted.com

Daddy Unscripted is proud to be a part of the Osiris Podcast Network! You can check out the...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 47 of the podcast is here. There aren't many episodes I'm not excited about releasing, let's be honest. And there are many that I am even more excited about just the conversation and recording with my guest. This episode (and the next) have all of that and more. Because, this man is one amazing man... one that I am proud to call my friend and feel not only honored to know and be able to spend time with, but I am incredibly blessed by it, too. Yes. I just used that word: blessed. Don't @ me.

Chris Lizotte is known as and for a great many things by a great many people. He is a successful Christian music artist --

Wait! Where are you going?! I say the words "Christian music" and you want to leave this episode behind already? Well, you'll be missing out. This is a great episode filled with a lot of laughter, deep conversation and we got really close to tears as well. Or, maybe that was just me.

I took this episode (and the next forthcoming one with Chris) as a direct challenge to make them extremely listenable for people of any and all faiths. Chris is an incredibly humble man who has done a lot of great things with his talents and gifts. We originally met about 25 years ago when a band I was singing in (yes... you read that correctly) opened up a couple/few times for Chris at various local spots.

In my day-to-day life, I end up talking quite a bit about leading by example. Chris embodies this. He is one of the most genuine, generous and loving men I have known. He actually reminds me a good deal of my own Dad. And, if you really want to play the Degrees of Separation game, the cool thing is that Chris, for some time now, has been the worship leader at a church in Laguna Beach that is pastored by the same man who was a co-pastor with my Dad way back in the 70's and 80's.

Chris told me some stories I definitely had no clue about before this deep dive into his life. Who knew that his band would be on the same stage as a very young Seattle band, vying for the ear of record producers? You'll want to hear that one.

We also got very real about some of the different struggles that parents in this day and age have to deal with compared to when we were kids. And, as we talked about our transition from kids to adults to parents, we led into the role also of our parents as grandparents and the inevitable path of life transitioning toward death.

I hope you all enjoy this sometimes deep, sometimes hilarious conversation between two friends. Make sure you check this one out so you're ready for what may be seen a little bit of a controversial episode coming soon from the second half of our conversation. You won't want to miss that one. Especially because it could very well prove to be the launching ground for what may become my next podcast that I create and put out for all of you!

Chris Lizotte's music can be found pretty much anywhere you stream your music: iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, Pandora, etc.

Daddy Unscripted can be found at:

iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play | Tune-In Radio

Twitter: @DaddyUnscripted

Facebook: Daddy Unscripted

www.daddyunscripted.com

Daddy Unscripted is proud to be a part of the Osiris Podcast Network! You can check out the Osiris Pod website to see what other great podcasts are part of the network by going to OsirisPod.com.

All music proudly provided with a partnership by Umphrey's McGee.

You can send questions and suggestions for future guests to us via email to [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 46 of the podcast is one I've been holding onto for a while now. Another great guest that I waited for the Osiris Pod Network to launch. So, here it finally is: a groundbreaking, inspiring and relentless conversation. My podcast is fairly different from Order of Man, which Ryan created a few years ago. But, this episode with him as a guest finds a pretty solid middle-ground between our two platforms.

I'm not going to say that Ryan and I are complete opposites, because we aren't. Ryan, however, is an extremely manly man. I said it more than once to Ryan: I really looked forward to this conversation because of how much it would expand my own way of thinking to hear his viewpoint.

We went back into Ryan's past a bit to start, as per usual. The stories he had to tell are a new facet to this podcast. Ryan did not really have his biological father around during his entire youth. His Dad chose alcohol over his family, as Ryan put it. Unfortunately, not too much after that, his step-Dad took the exact same path. Ryan's forthcoming discussion about that time for himself, his sister and their Mom was difficult to hear.

Having not just one, but multiple negative father figure models in Ryan's life did not deal the crushing blow that some might expect. We dove into that subject, as well, talking about the importance of rising up against what can be too easily used as a crutch or a behavior excuse for people later in their lives.

Ryan told me he uses his life experiences to help others and that he is a pretty open book about any of his failures. He wasn't lying. We jumped right into how some years back, he and his wife came to a tough time in their relationship and he nearly walked away from her and their first-born son. This is likely one of the most significant turning points in Ryan's life and he described how he turned his original way of thinking upside-down to not only save his marriage, but to eventually go on to create Order of Man to help other men in their lives as well.

Ryan talks about three of the key components that he described men as being designed to be: protectors, providers and presiders. He has been inspiring thousands of men for years now to return to this approach to life and their responsibilities.

Ryan Michler and Order of Man can be found on Twitter at @OrderOfMan

Order of Man is also on Facebook or their website is OrderOfMan.com

His new book: "Sovereignty: The Battle For The Hearts And Minds Of Men" can be purchased here at Amazon or you can but it here at Barnes and Noble

Daddy Unscripted can be found at:

iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play | Tune-In Radio

Twitter: @DaddyUnscripted

Facebook: Daddy Unscripted

www.daddyunscripted.com

Daddy Unscripted is proud to be a part of the Osiris Podcast Network! You can check out the Osiris Pod website to see what other great podcasts are part of the network by going to OsirisPod.com.

All music proudly provided with a partnership by Umphrey's McGee.

You can send questions and suggestions for future guests to us via email to [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 45 of the podcast is one I’m excited to bring to all of you. I was thrilled to receive a favorable response quickly after I originally reached out to James Breakwell. When I stumbled onto his Twitter feed some months ago, I felt a kindred spirit connection right away.

James is probably known to a lot of people by his Twitter handle and website name: Exploding Unicorn. He has been plugging away at bringing the reality and levity of being a parent to other parents via the internet for quite some time now. He typically does not pull punches on his posts and allows the humor and goofiness of his kids fully shine through.

Already very successful with his own true life experiences, he went on to create a new character that grew into massive popularity as well: Very Lonely Luke (under that same username). The account caught the attention of Star Wars fans globally, even as much as attracting Mark Hamill to talk about it. I’m only the tiniest bit envious of that part of the accomplishment.

We did a dive into James’ family history that you probably won’t find in many places. He told some great stories about his own Dad and the traits and characteristics that he acquired from him.

James documented the enduring work he put in to not only make a name for himself with his comedy writing but also connecting with people over the internet. His story is unique and shows his dedication to what he does, his passion for it and his understanding of the work it takes to go beyond the Single Viral Tweet Syndrome.

James Breakwell can be found on Twitter at @XplodingUnicorn

His latest book: “Only Dead On The Inside: A Parent’s Guide To Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse” can be purchased here at Amazon

Daddy Unscripted can be found at:

iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play | Tune-In Radio

Twitter: @DaddyUnscripted

Facebook: Daddy Unscripted

www.daddyunscripted.com

Daddy Unscripted is proud to be a part of the Osiris Podcast Network! You can check out the Osiris Pod website to see what other great podcasts are part of the network by going to OsirisPod.com.

All music proudly provided with a partnership by Umphrey’s McGee.

You can send questions and suggestions for future guests to us via email to [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 44 of the podcast is the second half of my conversation with Tom Keeley. If I was a fancier type guy who maybe also lived in England, I would probably describe Tom as a rather lovely fellow. He really was a fantastic bloke (look at me being even more British-y!) and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation.

A lot of you may already know that Tom is the guitarist in the band Thursday. Now, I will be honest here. Thursday isn’t the type of music I would normally seek out these days. There would have been times in previous times of my life that I may have been a little more apt to do that. However, in my steadfastness to research guests and to avoid being that host that says to an author: “I loved your book!” without having read a page of it, I have listened to quite a bit of Thursday. And, legitimately, I am honestly looking forward to seeing them in concert later this year.

During this section of our extended conversation together, Tom talks a lot about the early genesis of his foray into music and being a musician. We compared the two art forms that were his possible life directions at that young age: taking a risk with the whole band thing, or settling into starting a possibly well-grounded career in graphic design.

Our conversation meandered into a discussion about inspiration; inspiration of self and of others, as well. We talked about the importance that self-fulfillment plays in your ability to provide to others in your life.

“…try and find some non-fatal danger to build your character…”

That may be one of my favorite quotes from Tom during our conversation. Tom and I ended up talking quite a lot about the weight of decisions and choices in life. Speaking from his own life experiences, Tom really puts a lot behind the idea that people should take opportunities that may seem a little risky when they are able to. Perhaps something for youth more than for adults. However, we both agreed that some of the crossroads we come to in our lifetime can lead to some amazing things if we don’t always choose the easier or more safe path.

Thursday the band can be found at Thursday.net

Daddy Unscripted can also be found at:

iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play | Tune-In Radio

Twitter: @DaddyUnscripted

Facebook: Daddy Unscripted

www.daddyunscripted.com

Daddy Unscripted is proud to be a part of the Osiris Podcast Network! You can check out the Osiris Pod website to see what other great podcasts are part of the network by going to OsirisPod.com.

All music proudly provided with a partnership by Umphrey’s McGee.

You can send questions and suggestions for future guests to us via email to [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 43 of the podcast is the first half of my conversation with Tom Keeley. If I was a fancier type guy who maybe also lived in England, I would probably describe Tom as a rather lovely fellow. He really was a fantastic bloke (look at me being even more British-y!) and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation.

A lot of you may already know that Tom is the guitarist in the band Thursday. Tom was led to me by previous guest, RJ, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Although my immediate thought when I looked up Tom and his band was, honestly: “This is not really my type of music these days…” I was reminded fairly quickly that this podcast is not at all just about me and what I like. That was a quite welcome reminder. What can I say? I’m human.

Tom got extremely honest in this episode and didn’t seem to really hold back or pull punches about his childhood. As much as some of the positive stories started to pile up about his experiences with living with his Dad and with his Mom, the fact remains: it isn’t always the simplest thing to grow up in a broken home. So, I was all the more impressed by some of the life choices Tom has made along the way.

As Tom so eloquently put toward the very end of this episode, all of this helped lead to him “finding and marrying the woman of his dreams”. As someone who has traveled a great many roads in his own life: that statement resonated with me and made me wish that type of contentment and happiness for all of mankind! Or… at least for over 25% of it.

Thursday the band can be found at Thursday.net

Daddy Unscripted can also be found at:

iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play | Tune-In Radio

Twitter: @DaddyUnscripted

Facebook: Daddy Unscripted

www.daddyunscripted.com

All music proudly provided with a partnership by Umphrey’s McGee.

You can send questions and suggestions for future guests to us via email to [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 42 of the podcast is another of my smaller episodes that doesn’t involve a guest. This episode was born from my desire to further explain the whole point of this podcast. Why does it exist? Why do I keep putting all of this time and energy into it? There is more than this text in the actual podcast episode that accompanies this. But, here is the gist of it for you:

We’ve become fantastic documenters, haven’t we? Armed with our smartphones. Within the last decade, we’ve become well-equipped to document events, big and small and all of the little moments in between.

You see it so often now, when someone is telling a story to someone else: whether it’s a wedding or a vacation or even just the night before. We pull out our phone and show someone all of the photos we took or just direct them to our Instagram or Facebook.

But, we’re always moving forward with the documentation. We’re recording all of these things, taking all of these photos. Piling it all up. Adding onto our camera roll… daily or weekly. At some point, we’re forced to upload everything to our computer or the cloud. Or even worse, being notified that your storage is full. Because of how quickly and ravenously we’re moving forward. Continuing the ongoing documenting of life.

What I am doing is moving backward. Going back in time and back in relationships and even back in generations. Going to a time when we didn’t and couldn’t document things the way that we do now. I’m helping rebuild the documentation of personal history… of relationships.

I’m facilitating that documentation of my guests’ histories. Of their parents and sometimes their grandparents and beyond. And, yes, a lot of it is in the scope of parenting. But, it’s these stories that maybe spouses or children or grandchildren maybe haven’t heard and otherwise may not have the chance to. So much of that is just fading away because of how much time we spend on this moment. And then the next moment. And then all of the moments after that.

All of that has its place. All of that is important. I do that as much as the next person. But, because of the loss I have experienced in my life, the importance of the past is very real to me, as well.

That’s my goal. Not only finding entertaining, inspirational and fascinating lives and stories. But, to also document these people and these pasts. For the people who know and love these people. But, also for the rest of us to learn some things from.

Daddy Unscripted can also be found at:

iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Google Play | Tune-In Radio

Twitter: @DaddyUnscripted

Facebook: Daddy Unscripted

www.daddyunscripted.com

All music proudly provided with a partnership by Umphrey’s McGee.

You can send questions and suggestions for future guests to us via email to [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.