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

At a rare moment of peak polarization in American history, John Dorlean, a hospitalized father of three, receives an anonymous, crucial donation of convalescent plasma to combat his intensifying case of COVID-19. An article shared thousands of times over 24 hours, along with a bit of good timing, just may have saved John’s life.
 

Episode 36 opens with an examination of "viral" content and some of the key factors that result in content being shared widely. The guys declare that beyond inimitable fail videos captured by accident, outrageous unicorns pooping rainbow sherbet, or tug-at-the-heartstrings branded content, there is a category of viral content that is underrepresented: the call for help from one’s community.

Adam chats with John Dorlean, a personal friend and a father of three from Maine. In December, despite willfully adhering to safety precautions, John and his wife both contracted COVID-19. Wanda didn’t have an easy go of it; intense flu-like symptoms knocked her out of commission. And while she was suffering and John was caring for her and their three children, his own symptoms started presenting. With two sick parents and three kids under the age of 13, now just days before Christmas, the Dorleans’ world was upside down. As Wanda improved, John’s condition worsened, rendering him increasingly short of breath and feverish, eventually landing him in Intensive Care.

Unaware of how tenuous his situation really was, John was told that he required a transfusion of convalescent plasma… (whatever that meant…) but his rare AB Negative blood type meant that the plasma was not immediately available.

While the hospital desperately searched their network, Wanda and a family friend got to work and ultimately got John’s story picked up by regional news networks and by Seacoast Online in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, their regional news outlet. And then the magic started to happen.

The article was shared thousands of times, and within 24 hours, there were multiple leads and interested parties, and a donation of AB Negative convalescent plasma was delivered to the hospital specifically for John the next day. The transfusion saved his life.

Now at home recuperating with lingering symptoms, John shares his incredible story and lends some words of advice to other parents about how to protect their families, and how to continue spreading kindness and generosity, just as it was shown to him.

Also, in an installment of So That’s A Thing Now, we learn that Marc’s kids suddenly love dancing naked!
 

[Episode Transcript]
 

Links:
Article: Kittery Dad Fighting COVID-19 Needs Emergency Plasma Donation
Article: Kittery Man Battling COVID-19 Gets Overnight Plasma Donation
Wife of Kittery Man Fighting COVID-19 'Blown Away' by Support
American Red Cross
Plasma Donation Information
Half Court Basketball Shot
Balloon Boy Hoax
Dove "Real Beauty Sketches"
Squatty Potty Commercial
Harmon Brothers
“Wonky Donkey” by Craig Smith
“Funky Dunky” by Harry Connick, Jr.
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Back in Episode 25, we spoke with Social Emotion Learning specialist Scotty Iseri. In addition to Scotty's important work with Committee For Children, he invented (and stars in) a wonderful and impactful podcast for kids called The Imagine Neighborhood. In a previously unreleased portion of our conversation, Scotty shares about the show's philosophy, goals, and storytelling mechanisms which help children navigate their "big feelings."

Scotty shares tips and insights into how we can help our children navigate their feelings, and what The Imagine Neighborhood is doing to support that effort.

Links:

The Imagine Neighborhood
The Imagine Neighborhood (on Apple)
Committee For Children
Scotty Iseri (Twitter)
Scotty Iseri (YouTube)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

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 whether Danny and Adam have actually been cosmically linked ever since one fateful day in 1997 at Universal Studios. Also, Marc exclaims profanities as he is doused with bodily fluids.
 

Episode 35 of Modern Dadhood opens with a brief conversation about milk, and speculation on why Adam's daughters both decided that they no longer care for it. The guys briefly address their guest selection process before introducing Danny Tamberelli into the conversation. Danny is best known for playing little Pete on Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete and Pete in the 90s, though he continued with the network for over a decade, appearing in seasons of All That and the game show Figure It Out. Additionally, Danny appeared in films such as Igby Goes Down and The Mighty Ducks, acting alongside former Nickelodeon pal Kenan Thompson, and has voiced many animated characters for television and video games. Danny discusses the events that led to him landing prominent acting roles as a child, as well as his own experience as a new dad to 19 month old Alfie. Topics include:

•  The joy of being the fun uncle
•  An examination of Sandra Boynton's catalog
•  Old fashioned names coming back into style
•  Being a child actor
•  Weezer's Blue album
•  How creativity can evolve when you become a father

The episode culminates with a rather "shitty" installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud?
 

[Episode Transcript]
 

LINKS:
Danny Tamberelli (official website)
Tuesdays With Alfie (Instagram)
The Adventures of Danny and Mike
Jounce
Nostalgia Personified
Man Boobs Comedy
The Undone Sweaters
The Adventures of Pete And Pete (YouTube)
Sandra Boynton Books
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Let me guess: You thought it was SOOO unlikely that 2020 would serve up not one, but TWO hilarious fatherhood-themed podcasts... didn’t you, you Doubting Thomas, you? If 2020 has demonstrated nothing else, it’s that anything is possible. In Modern Dadhood's first anniversary episode, we welcome comedian and fellow podcaster Rory Scovel of Dads: The Podcast. We laugh, we laugh, and we wax philosophical on the role of the dad and why this fatherhood conversation is important. Also, our final Confessions of the year!

Episode 34 marks the one year anniversary of Modern Dadhood with a shamelessly self-indulgent conversation about the significance of discussing fatherhood with fellow dads from all walks of life. The guys catch up briefly on Christmas, and recount their early ideation sessions for the podcast, before welcoming comedian Rory Scovel into the conversation. Rory is a comedy writer, actor, performer and fellow podcaster who co-hosts the outstanding Dads: The Podcast on TeamCoco. The three reflect on their inspirations for starting dad-themed podcasts, and the wisdom they've gleaned through rich conversations with their guests. Topics include:

•  The identity shift when you become a dad
•  The dad "club"
•  How our parents shape our identity and we in turn shape our children
•  Rory's episodic show Robbie and parallels to his real life
•  Ways in which the role of the dad has evolved over time

The guys bid farewell to Rory and transition to the final Confessions of 2020, which largely revolve around food.

Thank YOU for making Modern Dadhood's first year so exciting and fulfilling! Your involvement and support means the world to us. We wish all of our listeners (dads or otherwise) a healthy 2021.
 

[Episode Transcript]

Links:
Rory Scovel (Official Website)
Dads: The Podcast
Robbie on Comedy Central
Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up For The First Time (Netflix)
Pen Pals With Daniel and Rory
Rory on Instagram
Team Coco Podcasts
Rory @ Fatherly's 100 Coolest Dads, 2018
Modern Dadhood Store
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Do you ponder your own death? Is it something you worry about? Wonder when it will happen? Did your perspective on death change when you became a father? Death is inevitable, and it can be uncomfortable, even stressful to talk about, especially when children are in the picture. For Robert Bailey, this is a familiar conversation. Robert has stage 4 cancer which started in his bladder and has taken over his body in just over two years’ time, leaving him no option but to prepare for the inevitable much sooner than anyone should. Robert joins us to share about his fatherhood joys, his impossibly hard journey, and how he is using his remaining time to build a legacy for his two-year-old son to remember him by.

Episode 33, the final episode of Modern Dadhood to release in 2020, opens with a disclaimer from Adam and Marc: Frequent listeners will know that Modern Dadhood is generally quite light-hearted, and though we don't avoid heavy or sensitive topics, today's theme is uncomfortable. We are examining mortality, particularly as it relates to fatherhood.

Before getting into the discussion, Adam shares a short recording of a recent meet up with past guest (and brand new dad) Chad Richardson. Chad and his wife Katie recently gave birth to their son, and despite the current state of the world, their hospital experience was positive, and their newborn son is healthy and thriving.

Marc poses the question "When was the first time you remember fully understanding what death was?" This prompt leads to a discussion on first experiences with relatives passing away, and transitions to the ways that we ponder and consider our own death, and whether that changed upon becoming a father.

The guys share some context about guest Robert Bailey, who began experiencing symptoms of bladder cancer over two years ago. By the time it was diagnosed, the cancer had spread, and after multiple treatments by different providers, Robert was told that his tumor was inoperable. They welcome Robert into the conversation, and Robert shares his heartbreaking and maddening story of failed diagnoses, constant pain, and coming to terms with the fact that his two-year-old son Parker will have limited (if any) memory of him. Robert has dedicated the remainder of his life to creating a legacy (by way of writing letters, cards, music, and even a book) that will show parker who his dad was, and how much he loved his son. Topics covered in the conversation include:

•  The emotional swings of receiving hopeful and dreadful news from providers
•  Appreciating what you have and not letting small things bother you
•  How easily everything can be taken away from you
•  What it means to create a "legacy"
•  "Living" versus "just living"
•  Emotional vulnerability and men

Adam rounds out the episode on an entertaining note, sharing a "So Thats A Thing Now" regarding his younger daughter and a dirty prank.


[Episode Transcript]
 

Links:
Robert Bailey GoFundMe
Medium article by Robert 11/2019
Robert Bailey "Legacy" on Spotify
Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee

 

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Real talk: What’s more remarkable than being an astronaut? Being an astronaut dad, that’s what. Adam and Marc are joined by former astronaut Winston E. Scott, who shares stories of his NASA space missions, his tenure as a US Navy Captain, the crucial importance of STEM education, and his own unique perspective on raising children to be bold, confident adults. Also, learn the answer to the burning question on everyone’s minds… what the hell is Adam’s middle name?
 

Modern Dadhood episode 32 opens with Marc and Adam playing a halfhearted game of “guess each others’ middle names” before alluding to an early episode of the podcast where Adam recalls his brief childhood desire to be an astronaut when he grew up... and realization that he wasn't cut out for it!

The conversation pivots to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and its vital importance in school curriculum starting at a young age. As technology evolves at a rapid pace, many current jobs will be replaced by AI, while other new career opportunities arise. Critical thinking, a component (or perhaps a valuable byproduct) of STEM education, will be essential to solving future world problems.

The guys tee up a recent conversation with a major proponent of STEM: Winston E. Scott. Winston is a former US Navy Captain, a former Astronaut, and yes, a father of two. Winston shares about his acclaimed career, his experience raising two children while continuously relocating around the country for his Navy career, how his family prepared for his departures to outer space, and how his personal philosophies on confidence and fear have influenced his kids’ interests and career paths. Topics of the conversation include:
 

•  The nomadic lifestyle of a Navy pilot
•  Aeronautical Engineering
•  Instilling a sense of excitement and opportunity in our children (over fear)
•  A new perspective that only comes from looking at Earth from outer space
•  Winston's family's reaction when he was selected by NASA
•  Spacewalking and Extra Vehicular Activity
•  Space flight is a team effort that requires specialists across many fields
•  What "critical thinking" means
•  How can we, as parents, encourage our kids to explore STEM?
 

[Episode Transcript]
 

Links:
Winston E. Scott (Wikipedia)
Winston @ TheHistoryMakers
Reflections From Earth Orbit
NASA
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Single parenthood is a common phenomenon and it occurs for a number of reasons, the most common of which is divorce. In the United States alone, an estimated 2.4 million divorces take place each year, many of them involving children. Seth Romano, a Los Angeles-based musician and single father of one joins the Modern Dadhood conversation to share his personal story of realization that he wasn't happy as a married person, and how he and his daughter's mother, and their families have worked together to create a positive situation where their seven-year-old can thrive. Also, Adam and Marc own up to another batch of "Confessions!"
 

Episode 31 of Modern Dadhood opens with a story of frustration, confusion, and resolution in the Checket household. Before long, Adam and Marc transition to a conversation about the amount of time parents are able to spend with their children as they grow up. Prior to Covid, many of us found ourselves in a very structured routine which awarded us little time with our kids during the week. The guys discuss feelings of guilt and a fear of missing out on important milestones in the lives of their young children.

Adam and Marc welcome Seth Romano into the conversation. Seth is a professional musician and a single father of one seven-year-old daughter. Seth shares his story of moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music, falling in love and getting married, being amazed by the miracle of the birth of his first daughter, and realizing that being in a marriage wasn't right for him. He explains that despite the difficult and hurtful situation they found themselves in, they have landed on their feet in a situation that works. With the support of their families, their daughter Sydney is growing up in loving and nurturing environments with parents who respect and care for each other. Other topics of conversation include:

•  The idea that marriage is something you're "supposed to do."
•  There is no single definition of "family"
•  The experience of seeing your first child being born
•  How having a child changes your perspective on life
•  Managing your time as a single father

[Episode Transcript]
 

Links:
Seth Romano Livestream Concerts
The Trip
90s Rock Show
"Gonna Save You" on YouTube
Seth Romano on Instagram
Seth @ Rockstars of Tomorrow Musicians Academy
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Remember life before kids? We did things a certain way, we went places, we stayed up late, had hobbies, and some of us were even thrill seekers. Did that change when kids came into the picture? Or were you able to strike a balance between caring for kids and doing things for you? Peter Shankman, a best-selling author, entrepreneur, Ironman triathlete, and single dad, joins the show to talk about his experiences with balancing things in his “Faster Than Normal” life. Plus, in a new installment of So That’s a Thing Now we learn about the latest questionable thing Marc has inadvertently taught his kids to say. (Or perhaps it wasn’t so inadvertent after all.) Stick around until the tail end of this one for a special treat.
 

Episode 30 of Modern Dadhood debuts just shy of a week after Halloween, which for most of us, looked very different in 2020 than any Halloween we’ve experienced in the past. Marc and Adam begin by discussing their socially distanced fright nights and Adam’s pathetic, insatiable sugar addiction. Adam poses to Marc: “Growing up, did your parents have hobbies or habits that, even as a kid, you recognized were dangerous?” Marc goes on to share about his father’s woodworking hobby, and the machinery sounds which haunted a young Marc as he tried to fall asleep. When the discussion turns to risky or dangerous hobbies that we ourselves enjoy, Adam shares about his love for skydiving, a daredevil activity which he has abstained from since becoming a father. The guys welcome Peter Shankman to the Modern Dadhood conversation. Peter is a father to a seven-year-old daughter in addition to being a social media expert, a keynote speaker, an author, a podcaster, and yes, a fellow skydiver. Peter shares his technique for balancing work, play, and fatherhood, while remaining clear-headed and productive all the while. Other topics include:

•  Making time for what’s important to you
•  Making ADHD work to your advantage
•  Skydiving and dopamine
•  Coming back from the dead to haunt people
•  The danger of complacency (in all aspects of your life)
•  Eliminating choice
•  Finding effective routines
 

Post-interview, Marc shares a proud dad moment in a mad-as-a-hatter installment of “So That’s A Thing Now.” You might stick around until the tail end of the episode to hear the theme song that accompanies Marc’s groin-themed story.
 

[Episode Transcript]
 

Links:
Peter Shankman [website]
Peter on Facebook
Peter on Twitter
Peter on Instagram
Peter on YouTube
Shankminds
Faster Than Normal [website]
Faster Than Normal [book]
FTN Instagram
Caspar Babypants
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

We all have them: Those kids’ books we were gifted or we picked up on a whim because the title was intriguing or the characters were familiar. But then we crack them open, and BAM— total schlock. With the sheer amount of content for children out there, it's increasingly difficult to find the good stuff; the content that inspires wonder. The types of shows, movies, and books we remember loving as kids. Jon Klassen, father of two and celebrated author and illustrator of I Want My Hat Back, joins us to talk about his thoughts on creating books that kids and parents love. Stick around for the end, where Marc, Adam, and their kids fire off some personal book endorsements and condemnations.

The guys open the episode with a conversation about television shows and movies that are made for kids. In an age where the amount of content seems to grow exponentially, it becomes equally difficult to parse through it all to find the really good stuff. The hidden gems seem to be few and far between. Sometimes it’s the tried and true movies or books that stand the test of time and still fill our kids with excitement and wonder, but frequently the best recommendations come to us through people we trust. The guys philosophize a bit as they discuss a couple of their kids’ current favorites, before they introduce Jon Klassen into the conversation. Jon is a father of two sons, and an artist and author who gained worldwide notoriety in 2011 with his picture book “I Want My Hat Back,” the success of which spawned two more books in what would become the “Hat Trilogy.” Jon continues to write and illustrate children’s books in addition to frequent collaborations with authors such as Mac Barnett, Sara Pennypacker, and Lemony Snicket. The guys discuss Jon’s inspirations, his thought process and artistic process for creating books that can be enjoyed by kids of any age, and how his approach to his work has changed since he became a father. Other conversation topics include:


•  Creating work that sticks out in the age of self-publishing
•  How his work in animation influences his art
•  Finding your inner third-grader
•   The value of simplicity and minimalism
•   Reading alone vs. being read to
•   “Quintessential” children’s books
•   The importance of independent bookstores


Before closing out the episode, Adam and Marc take turns swapping some rapid-fire book recommendations and… unrecommendations?

[Episode Transcript]
 

LINKS
Jon Klassen Twitter
Jon Klassen Instagram
Mac Barnett
Go! Go! Cory Carson
Bluey
Chrri & Chirra
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Frog and Toad
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, by Oliver Jeffers
One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
Toot by Leslie Patricelli
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip and Erin Stead
Bob the Artist by Marion Deuchars
Katy Hudson, Too Many Carrots
Powell's Books, Portland, OR
RiverRun Books, Portsmouth, NH
Water Street Books, Exeter, NH
Longfellow Books, Portland, ME
26 Independent Bookstores
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Caspar Babypants

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

The Dad Bod: Is it a myth? A legend? A joke? Does it happen to all dads? How can we avoid it? Or better yet, how can we effectively combat if we choose to? Modern Dadhood welcomes its first female guest, Courtney Wyckoff, to the conversation. Courtney’s success as a Certified Personal Trainer and the creator of MommaStrong/PappaStrong gives her unique insight into some of the real underlying issues that spawn postpartum changes in dads’ bodies. Spoiler alert: it’s more than just having a “beer gut.” Plus, we survey our favorite fatherhood Facebook group to hear first hand what factors led to their dad bods.
 

Episode 28 of Modern Dadhood wastes no time getting into the theme of the conversation: the common shift in male physique that occurs in the months or years after becoming a father—a phenomenon widely known as the “dad bod.” Adam and Marc explore definitions of the slang phrase while swapping stories of their own challenges making health a priority upon becoming fathers. Adam welcomes the first woman (and mom) to the podcast; the phenomenal Courtney Wyckoff, creator of the MammaStrong and PappaStrong exercise programs, mom of three, and total badass. Courtney challenges the idea that the “dad bod” is just about allowing ourselves to eat too much junk or drink too much beer, but rather that there are physical, mental, and emotional stressors that come with fatherhood which can manifest physically—and that returning to exercise, even in 15 minute-per-day increments, can help facilitate a return to strength and health. Other conversation topics include:

•  Body image in men vs. women
•  Redefining what it means to be “strong”
•  Common structural issues in men
• Anchor points of the body
•  Do men have a “pelvic floor?”
•  The secret to habit building
•  Finding the motivation to start
•  Ignoring the “bully voice” in your head
 

The guys check in with their favorite fatherhood-themed Facebook group to take a poll on the driving factors of their change in physique. Unsurprisingly, the most cited reasons centered around time management and food consumption. (Surprisingly, there were many other unexpected answers as well!)

[Episode Transcript]
 

LINKS
PappaStrong
MammaStrong
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast