Digital Dads

It’s that time of year again. The kids have their wish lists for Santa filled out and ready to go. Which got us thinking. Toys sure have changed over the years.

Our childhood was filled with everything from He-Man action figures to LiteBrite. Nowadays technology is hardwired into nearly everything.

Who had it better? We present the case and let you decide. We hope you enjoy this episode and the trip down memory lane.

One Cool Thing

* Andrew – Console Wars

* Brent – Toys for Tots

Thanksgiving is a special time of year. In a world full of chaos we take this single day to come together with family and shift our focus to those things we are most thankful for. Plus we even bring up piecaken. What could be sweeter than that?

In this special episode we share with you the things we express our gratitude for those things in our own lives. And we share why we believe this is an important holiday and one we hope you also get to share with those closest to you.

One Cool Thing

* Brent – Li-Fi

* Andrew – Jessica Jones

It’s no secret reading has many advantages for children. From increased academic performance to higher quality communication skills, there’s no denying encouraging them to read is valuable. But with so many distractions like video games competing for their attention this is often easier said than done.

In this episode we discuss some ways to inspire your little one to read more. We run down the list and of course still believe the “screen time” has it’s value. But as with anything balance is an important thing to strive for.

Sponsor: Mack Weldon – Men’s Basics (Use code “GREATSCOTT” for 20% off)

One Cool Thing

* Brent – Jetpack first responders

* Andrew – Fallout 4

There will come a time in the not-too-distant future when cars will drive themselves. You read that right. Cars will be zipping around with no one behind the wheel. There may not even be a wheel for that matter.

With companies like Google, Tesla, and probably Apple (unconfirmed) in the mix its no doubt the self driving car will soon be a reality. But is it one we are prepared to accept?

There are many pros and cons to the idea not the least of which is figuring out “algorithmic morality.” It’s an odd term but basically it means programming the car to choose between killing others or sacrificing the passenger. A choice not so easily decided. Especially if you’re going to be riding in one.

But the future is rushing in regardless. Listen in as we weigh the idea and chip in our two cents on where this technology is headed. Plus we discuss the benefits and drawbacks likely to arise.

Sponsor: Little Elliot – Big Family

Our new podcast: Outatime Retro Movie Club

One Cool Thing (coming soon)

* Andrew – Apple TV

* Brent – Color Escapes (coloring books for adults)

Habits. We all have them. Some good, some not so good. But one thing is certain, they have a decided impact on how effective we are in our life.

In this episode we discuss the huge bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Yes, this is a “self help” book. And yes you should still listen.

The insights contained in this book will have a profound and immediate impact on your life. We summarize the key points of the book giving you a taste of the wisdom contained inside.

Sponsor: Little Elliot – Big Family

One Cool Thing (coming soon)

* Andrew – Workflowy

* Brent – Remedies for Spicy Sphincter Syndrome

Discipline is always a challenge for anyone with kids. Any parent knows how trying it can be to get them down at night. Sometimes, even a simple trip to the store can be difficult. Then there’s whining, negotiating, pouting… you name it, kids will try it.

But short of giving up we have to find techniques that work. And not just in the short term. We want to make sure the discipline we are exhibiting is in the best interest of our children. Sure we’re tired, stressed, and sometime emotional ourselves. But someone has to be the adult. And you can bet it won’t be them.

In this episode Brent and Andrew explore some of the many mistakes we all make when attempting to raise our kids. As crash-test parents in the digital world they’ve found some stuff that works and lots that doesn’t. but they are committed to becoming better parents and enjoying the journey along the way.

Sponsor: Little Elliot – Big Family

One Cool Thing (coming soon)

* Andrew – Halo 5

* Brent – Cure for baldness… in mice… sort of

The future. It’s fun to speculate what the world might be like 30 years from now. And that’s exactly what the writers of Back to the Future II did.

We had a blast with Marty as he experienced everything from hoverboards to the Cubs winning the World Series in future of 2015. Well, they didn’t get everything right but there were surprisingly close. Listen as Andrew and Brent discuss the movie predictions and come up with their own for the next 30 years.

Sponsor: Little Elliot – Big Family

One Cool Thing (coming soon)

Star Wars trailer and pre-sale tickets

 

Halloween candy. Now them’s fighting words. Or at least they used to be. But now thanks to a great idea by Christina Anderson of the Huffington Post, we can rest assured we’ll get our fair share. And this time it’ll be legal. To some, the idea of making their children sign a written contract for the sake of holiday candy seems like overkill. Thankfully Christina doesn’t think that way.

She has provided us with a usable (if not legally binding) contract template to make sure we score our share of the spoils. We encourage each of you to make the necessary modifications and print, sign, and notarize this with your children immediately. Years of future Kit Kat depend upon it.

Christina Anderson Twitter: @Xtina_Anderson

Sponsor: Little Elliot – Big Family

One Cool Thing (coming soon)

* Andrew – Carvana

* Brent – Disney World trip

 

Everybody loves a good movie. Even better if it’s a retro film from the days of our youth. Well, that’s Brent’s opinion anyway. His kids have other ideas. They claim movies from their era are far superior than their pop’s day and age.

You would think Andrew would have Brent’s back in this little debate. After all, he is a co-host and they have another new project they are working on TOGETHER (this week’s one cool thing). But alas, he is empathetic with Brent’s kids on this one and falls squarely in the camp of “all movies are awesome.” Brent sees this as a clear sign of weakness and is actively recruiting a new partner. All applications welcome.

Sponsor: Little Elliot – Big Family

One Cool Thing (coming soon)

Outatime: Retro Movie Club

 

Not so long ago, the Internet came along and changed everything. Few people realized at the time just how profound an impact this would have on the world. But it did. And there were a couple people back then who actually could see what was coming. And history has proven them right.

Well, it’s happening again. There’s something taking place right now, something in its infancy, that just may have as big an effect on society as the creation of the Information Superhighway. In fact, there are some people out there who believe they see something potentially even bigger. That something? The Internet of Things.

I know, I know. It sounded pretty boring to me when I first heard about it too. But it keeps popping up. And the companies betting big on it are a who’s who of the tech world ranging from Apple to Google. So I decided to investigate. And from what I can tell, it may indeed live up to the hype. And maybe within the next five years. So without further ado, here’s to the next big thing.

One Cool Thing

* Episode 15: Mars Feasibility with Sydney Do

* Episode 16: Mission to Mars with Sonia Van Meter

* Andrew – Liquid water on Mars

* Brent – NASA Man on Mars