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

Every parent hopes to cruise through potty training so they can be rewarded with the sweet liberty of a diaper-free lifestyle. But sometimes the toilet training journey is less of a cruise and more of a crawl… or worse yet, a series of fits and starts. Marc and his wife Jamie know this journey all too well as they’re currently navigating the harsh (and sometimes messy) terrain with their twin boys. Guest Evan Ozimek-Maier, along with his wife and two-year-old daughter, on the other hand, are just buckling in. Will they discover the perfect technique? Will they encounter regression road blocks? Or will they careen down a YouTube rabbit hole? Evan joins the Modern Dadhood conversation to share his perspective, and to get down and dirty on the journey of potty training.
 

Episode 27 of Modern Dadhood begins with an acknowledgement that the past two episodes have been heavy. “Heavy topics for heavy times,” as noted appropriately by Marc. The guys have decided to lighten things up with a topic that every parent goes through: Potty training. As it turns out, the Checkets are currently fully immersed in the potty training adventure with their twin boy toddlers, so Marc, in particular, has plenty in common with guest Evan Ozimek-Maier. Evan is the Associate Director of Creative Services at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and is a father of a two-year-old daughter Louis.

Evan shares about his family’s journey training Louis (who he and his wife Alyssa affectionally call Lulu) to ditch the diapers and commit to using the toilet. The guys discuss various techniques that they’ve read about, heard about, and tried themselves, and they share what has been most successful in their own experiences. Other topics include:
 

•  The value of including your child in the conversation
•  Letting your kid take the initiative vs. encouraging it based on age
•  Associating feelings of negativity with the toilet/peeing or pooping without a diaper
•  Parents’ reactions to their child successfully using the toilet
•  Incentivizing potty use
•  Being influenced by peers who are potty trained
•  Embarrassment/shame around pooping
•  Regression
•  The Respectful Parenting Method
•  The "Oh Crap!" method
•  Potty training books/videos/resources

[Episode Transcript]

LINKS:
Evan Ozimek-Maier
Oh Crap! Potty Training
RIE / Respectful Parenting Method
Caspar Babypants
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee

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

Social-emotional learning, mindfulness, soft skills, emotional intelligence— call it what you want. Learning how to understand and deal with emotions plays a significant role in our ability to handle all varieties of problems we face throughout our lives. In this episode, we get into the nitty-gritty with Scotty Iseri, father of a 7-year-old son and fellow podcaster, on the true value of social-emotional learning (SEL) in school and at home. Also, we test out a new drinking game and encounter a commode-themed mystery in the Flaherty household.
 

Episode 26 of Modern Dadhood opens with a conversation about the emotional effects of quarantine on our kids. Adam shares about his daughters spent their Summer, and how their experience likely differs from that of an only child. Despite kids, generally speaking, being resilient little beings, the current state of the world is different than anything they (or we) have ever experienced, so it shouldn't be a surprise that there could be some behavioral side effects.

The guys welcome to the conversation Scotty Iseri, a father of one 7-year-old son. Scotty works at Committee for Children, and hosts a podcast called The Imagine Neighborhood, among many other unique talents and experiences. And he also deeply understands the importance of social-emotional learning. Scotty teaches us that the social-emotional conversation impacts everyone regardless of age, sex, or whether they're a child or parent. Topics of conversation include:

•  It's just as important for us as fathers as it is for our kids, to understand and manage our emotions
•  Learning how to redirect our energy
• Teaching ourselves to be okay with big emotions
•  Social-emotional growth and strengthening isn't inherent - it takes work
•  How schools are starting to place importance on these skills
•  Tips for dads when these conversations don't come naturally
•  The rise of kindness and empathy
 

Adam shares a So That's a Thing Now concerning his daughters' deuces before the episode comes to close.
 

[Episode Transcript]
 

LINKS:
Scotty Iseri (YouTube)
The Imagine Neighborhood
The Imagine Neighborhood (Apple Podcasts)
The Imagine Neighborhood (Instagram)
Committee For Children
Social-Emotional Learning
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee

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

Entering into a new school year is anxiety-inducing as it is. This year, for many parents it feels like teetering on a precipice— each way down lined with more questions than answers. We sit down with Jon L’Ecuyer, a high school Government teacher and dad to a second grade daughter, to discuss the choices that his family is contemplating. We talk navigating hybrid learning models, juggling homeschooling with working from home, getting creative with hands-on assignments, and the myriad other back to school considerations. Also, find out whether Marc’s kids share his preferred method of eating an ice cream cone.
 

Episode 25 dives with reckless abandon into a discussion on the concerns,  contemplation, and contention around the fast-approaching school year. Adam and Marc discuss their own arrangements before welcoming guest Jon L'Ecuyer, a father of one 7-year-old daughter and a freshman Government teacher at a school of 3,300 students in New Hampshire.

Jon candidly shares his his personal opinions regarding the return to school for both younger and older students, as well as his district's plans for a safe return. The conversation touches on topics including:
 

•  The challenges of being a two-teacher family
•  Being forthright with our kids about the dangers of the virus
•  The moment the news came in about remote learning in March 2020
•  Expectations for the remainder of the 2020 school year
•  Expectations for the future of learning
•  Why remote learning is often harder for teachers
•  The importance of socialization for high school students
•  What most classrooms look like now
 

Marc shares a recent unusual exclamation in an installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud?  before closing out the episode.

We would like to sincerely wish all parents and students a smooth and safe transition back to learning, whatever that may look like.
 

[Episode Transcript]

LINKS:
Caspar Babypants
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee

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

Expecting your first child can be both exciting and unsettling. There’s so much to learn, do, prepare, and buy before you take on the single most important job you’ve ever had. Becoming a first time dad in 2020, when it feels like the whole planet could just fold in on itself at any given moment, is a different kind of unnerving. Thankfully, Chad Richardson is feeling optimistic and focused on the silver linings as he prepares to take on fatherhood in three short months.

Chad Richardson grew up in rural Wisconsin and gained plenty of experience with babies and small children as he was a teenager when two of his younger sisters were born. Now he lives with his wife Katie in their home outside of Boston, and in non-pandemic times, they both commute into the city for work. Chad and Katie also happen to be host Adam Flaherty's brother- and sister-in-law, and in three months, they’ll introduce a new little member into the family. While on vacation together recently, Chad and Adam retreated to the back porch to enjoy the scenic mountain vista, a cold pop, and a conversation about Chad’s hopes, fears, and dadhood goals. They broached topics including:
 

•  Dad humor
•  Having a baby during a worldwide pandemic
•  How to handle visit requests when the baby is born
•  The positives of working from home during the pregnancy
•  Redirecting kid meltdowns and tantrums
•  Threatening your child with consequences
•  The different styles of dad-to-be resources
•  Taking pride in teaching your kid life skills
• The importance of a coffee maker with a programmable timer

Before the conversation concludes, Chad commits to making himself available for a follow up conversation in the baby's first two weeks of life. Adam is excited to capture genuine and unadulterated brain fog, and the prospect of witnessing a full grown man be reduced to tears due to lack of sleep.

[Episode Transcript]

LINKS:
I’ll Tell You What! Podcast
Chad Richardson on Instagram
The Expectant Father
The New Dad's Survival Guide
Caspar Babypants
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee

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

Imagine, if you will, you’re a young Latino man in your late twenties living in Los Angeles. You’ve just had your first child and you’re pounding the pavement, working your ass off to land any acting gig you can get. And then one day the telephone rings, and the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself… three thousand miles away. That’s the beginning of Emilio Delgado’s journey as both a father and an esteemed actor best known for portraying the beloved Luis Rodriguez on Sesame Street. Emilio joins us on Modern Dadhood to discuss being a father to his son, stepsons, and adopted daughter—and a role model and father figure to millions of kids across the world.

The episode opens with a conversation about paternal influences on kids. Adam shares about how he was not only shaped by his own father’s personality, but by a family friend with a very different parenting style. The guys discuss the communal activity of gathering around the television as kids, and some of the actors who played trusting paternal characters on network television, serving as role models to young people.

Adam and Marc welcome actor Emilio Delgado into the conversation. Emilio is most well known for his role as Fix-It-Shop owner Luis Rodriguez, a Latino actor who joined the cast in 1971 and earned the impressive superlative of “longest running role played by a Mexican American actor in a television series.” The characters of Luis and his wife Maria portrayed the Mexican Americans realistic/accurate/real realistically, which was rare at the time on American television. Emilio’s character literally introduced the Latino culture to millions of American-born children, exposing many to their first Spanish words and providing a launch ramp for further exploration of the many cultures of the world.

Emilio shares fond memories of his time on the set of Sesame Street, the camaraderie with the cast and crew, and working with Jim Henson. Simultaneously, off camera, Emilio was raising his own children and step children, frequently traveling between Los Angeles and New York to keep up with a rigorous filming schedule. We discuss topics including:
 

•   Being a role model to young people
•   Becoming “part of the family” to viewers
•   The familial set culture on the show
•   Working with child actors
•   Recognizing the impact of Sesame Street
•   Learning what it means to be a father, a husband, and a man
•   Bringing his son Aram to the set of Sesame Street
•  Raising his daughter Lauren later in life
•  Being a mentor to newer cast members
•  The stress of being away from home for months at a time
•  Knowing Jim Henson

To close out the show, Marc describes in detail saving his naked toddlers from disaster in an installment of “Did I Just (Have To) Say That Out Loud?”

[Episode Transcript]
 

LINKS:
Emilio Delgado on IMDB
Emilio Delgado on Wikipedia
Emilio’s Instagram
Baa Baa Bamba
Quixote Nuevo
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee

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

How often does your kid do something so funny, cute, smart, or outrageous that you wish you could capture it and share it with the world? (And how often do you follow through on that?) Multi-talented content creator and father of one, Andre Jalil, is a master of documenting life with his-two year-old daughter Lyric Sanaa on video. The result is a treasure trove of hilarious and heart melting content that leaves no doubt that Andre, who grew up without his own father, embraces and adores his role as Lyric’s dad.

Most episodes of Modern Dadhood center around topics or themes that hosts Adam and Marc have some degree of experience with… but not this one. Episode 22 finds the guys welcoming guest Andre Jalil, father of one daughter (2 year old Lyric Sanaa), content creator, influencer, music producer, writer, musician, and emcee, to talk about growing up without a father at home, and how Andre uses his social media platform to show aspiring dads how fulfilling and fun fatherhood can be. The guys discuss:

•  The perception and narrative of the Black father
•  Absentee fathers
•  The desire to be present and involved when Andre had kids
•  Inspiring other dads and dads-to-be via social media
•  Protecting your kids without being overprotective
•  Building a family legacy
•  The importance of introducing prominent Black artists and historical figures to our kids
•  Rewriting the history books
•  Developing a plan before having kids. And staying present and available even if you don’t yet have a plan.

A second installment of hit mega-hit Talkin' With Toddlers carries Adam through a range of emotions including giddiness, excitement, pride, confusion, disbelief, and rage... and pleases Marc to no end.

[Episode Transcript]

LINKS:
Andre Jalil on Instagram
The Dad Chronicles on YouTube
Andre’s song “It’s You”
Andre Jalil on Spotify
Andre Jalil Visual Art Store
Joy Marilie
Caspar Babypants
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee

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

Take a moment to think back across your life. Do you have certain experiences that have always resonated with you, whether significant or unremarkable? Commercial director, editor, show runner, and author Michael Addis has spent years documenting his favorite life stories, and he joins the Modern Dadhood conversation to share about his new book Who’s Your Daddy?: Bedtime Stories I Tell My Kids, But Maybe Shouldn’t. Mike shares some wisdom about honesty and the value of being open and direct with our kids about complex issues, dealing with life’s pitfalls, and questioning the narrative. Also, the the long-awaited return of the super smash hit segment Confessions.
 

Modern Dadhood Episode 21 opens with a few shout-outs to some listeners we love, before Marc and Adam swap humorous stories about their kids’ bedtime routines which sometimes include baths, books, and inventing songs on the spot. Adam introduces a routine called “Switcheroo,” and promptly fails to  explain what it actually means. The guys introduce guest Michael Addis, father of two sons, a commercial director, editor, and showrunner, by day, and an author by night. Michael’s new book, “Who’s Your Daddy?: Bedtime Stories I Tell My Kids, But Maybe Shouldn’t,” documents many stories from his life which he has shared with his two sons, in hopes that they would find valuable and applicable lessons from his experiences. The conversation centers around the value of being honest  with your children and yourself, and not being afraid to share your life’s adventures (and misadventures) with them. Topics include:

•  Using your experiences to make your kids better people
•  Teaching your children to question the narrative and to lack certainty
•  Demonstrating that dad is capable of making mistakes (and being an idiot!)
•  The value of honesty
•  The danger of dishonesty

The guys close out the episode with another round of “Confessions” where Adam reveals a secret celebrity crush, and Marc brags about another podcast that he was invited onto.

[Episode Transcript]
 

Links:
Who's Your Daddy?: Bedtime Stories I Tell My Kids, But Maybe Shouldn't
Michael Addis: Showrunner & Director
Chukka Talk (ft. Marc Checket)
Rick's Big Heart - GoFundMe
Cosmic Kids Yoga
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Red Vault Audio

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

Whether it's singing your heart out on stage or spending an afternoon smashing rocks into a lake with a Wiffle ball bat, our kids learn valuable lessons when they see their dad immersed in something he loves. To kick off Father's Day weekend, the guys share the qualities of a solid Father's Day, and Marc waxes philosophical about the values he took away from his own father's woodworking hobby. They welcome legendary musician, dad, and all-around soulful human being, Martin Sexton onto the show and have a marvelous conversation about passion, soul, heartbreak, and fatherhood. And we learn to stay away from the throw pillows at the Flaherty house.
 

The 20th episode of Modern Dadhood kicks off Father’s Day weekend 2020, with Adam and Marc discussing what an ideal Father’s Day might look like. They quickly realize they’re on the same page… it’s about spending quality, low-key time with the people you love the most. The conversation shifts to the value of our children seeing us express appreciation and excitement for the things we love to do.

Moving into the episode topic, Adam reminds Marc of a conversation prior to the launch of Modern Dadhood, where Marc quickly identified  legendary singer/songwriter Martin Sexton as a guest he’d love to have on the show. Marc shares that Sexton’s music has been there for him since he was a teenager, and accompanied him through joyous times and challenging times. The theme of family frequently appears in Martin’s music, and since having children, the lyrics speak to Marc on a totally different level.

Martin shares stories of growing up in a Catholic family of 12. He describes his own kids, each with a unique story, and what being a dad means to him. Unsurprisingly, the soul that you see Martin emanate on stage is the same passion that he finds in digging in the dirt or playing Wiffle ball with his 11-year-old son Shane. Other topics include:
 

•  Supporting your kids’ interests (even when they’re very different from your own)
•  Valuing time together
•  Bringing your all to your work
•  Following your bliss
•  Growing up in a large, diverse Catholic family
•  Giving and receiving “tough love”
•  The importance of hope, faith, and optimism
•  Experiences from your childhood that leave lasting impressions on you
 

The guys wrap up the episode with another installment of “Did I Just Say That Out Loud?” which might leave you hoping that Adam thoroughly cleans the upholstery in his home.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Links:
Martin Sexton
Martin on Facebook
Martin on Instagram
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Bubby Lewis
 

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

This conversation with Army Officer Kevin White is an extended version of the conversation featured in Modern Dadhood Episode 18.

We understand that with the short-form nature of our show (30 minute episodes), sometimes the conversations with our guests leave our listeners wanting more. Kevin White, Officer in the US Army and father of one, was particularly candid, and we thought you'd like to hear the remainder of our conversation with him.

LINKS:
The Military Father: A Hands On Guide For Deployed Dads (book)
2017 Webinar on Resources for Military Dads
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Red Vault Audio

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

The military lifestyle can be hard. Uncertainty and risk are ever-present, and that stress can affect family members just as much as the active duty soldier... Perhaps even more. US Army Officer and dad of one daughter, Kevin White, shares openly about his family's experience navigating a challenging, rewarding, and often nomadic military lifestyle. Plus, Marc shares about a recent trip to the ER. And, in a new segment called "Confessions," Adam reveals a deep dark secret that might just make his kids lose their very minds.

Marc begins another remote recording session by recounting a recent (and rather traumatic) trip to the emergency room with one of his toddler twins. (Spoiler alert: everyone's okay!)

The guys discuss the phrase (and the act of) "social distancing," and decide that while it's easy to form an opinion based on one's personal situation, there are many variables which impact peoples' social distancing experience. Many don't have the luxury of collecting income from the safety of their home while spending more time than they're used to with their immediate families-- in fact, many people risk their own lives each day serving others. And in the case of our guest, US Army Officer Kevin White, sometimes you are required to put yourself at risk and physically distance from your family for weeks or months at a time.

Kevin candidly discusses his experience in the military including the challenges of being deployed with a wife and young daughter at home, and the unique opportunities that military life presents to his family. Our conversation also touches on:

•  The various types of deployments and missions
•  Making fast friends in new places
•  How to explain to a toddler that their dad will be away for an unknown length of time
•  How to communicate to your child the inherent danger in your line of work
•  Reintegrating back into civilian life as a father

Adam and Marc round out the episode by revealing their deep, dark dad secrets in a new segment aptly titled Confessions.
 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

LINKS:
The Military Father: A Hands On Guide For Deployed Dads (book)
2017 Webinar on Resources for Military Dads
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Red Vault Audio

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