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

How do you define creativity? If we encourage our kids to be creative, will they be more successful in life? Adam and Marc explore the topic of creativity with Chris Ballew, lead singer of Presidents of the United States of America, creator of Caspar Babypants, and, dare we say, friend of the show. Also, the trials of talking to our kids about how to say no when something feels off. And what was Marc's childhood buffoonery that should have cursed him with gingivitis for life?
 

Episode 17 opens with a discussion on... you guessed it: creativity. Why is it important? How is it useful? How does teaching and encouraging creativity as dads help our kids in the long run? The guys waste no time introducing a guest who is celebrated frequently on the show, and who is a supremely creative being: Chris Ballew. A father of two, Chris shares stories of his stately tenure with Presidents of the United States of America, his time writing, recording, and performing Caspar Babypants, and of course, being a dad. Born to a line of musicians and immersed in music and art since birth, Augie and Josie Ballew have creativity in their blood. Now in their 20s, Chris explains how they have used that creativity to carve their own paths. Chris shares a personal philosophy on giving your children the tools for success and then releasing them into the world—but confesses that in his own experience, letting go is easier said than done. Other conversation topics include:

•  Involving your kids in your own creativity
•  How to encourage creativity in your kids when you’re not an inherently creative person
•  The Ballew kids' involvement in Caspar songwriting and shows
•  Chris’ recent fatherhood joys and challenges
•  Letting your creation run free
•  The future of Caspar Babypants
 

In an installment of So That’s a Thing Now, Adam chronicles his six year old daughter’s curiosity around “red flags” and “green flags” as described in a book by Zack and Kimberly King.

There’s still time to submit your dad jokes to the Modern Dadhood voice mailbox at 603-431-5465. Along with the help of guest judge Comedian Juston McKinney, the top 3 winners will receive a swell prize from BrüMate.
 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT


LINKS:
Caspar Babypants
Babypants on FB
New Album: BUG OUT!
Tiny Song Jukebox
Chris Ballew
Chris' Art!
Chris on Instagram
Presidents of the United States of America 
Kate Endle Illustration & Fine Art
I Said No!
How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
Why Creativity is the Most Important Skill in the World
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee

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

Gender inequality. Vulnerability. Consent. No doubt, these can be tough subjects to broach with our sons. But if we hope to raise our boys to be respectful, emotionally healthy men, then these are conversations which must be had. Adam explores these themes and more with father of six and Chief Development Officer of A CALL TO MEN, Ted Bunch. Plus, Marc has yet another awkward, dairy-themed encounter with his kids. 
 

As life in quarantine continues, Adam and Marc dig in on the topic of talking to boys about valuing women as equals. This sparks a deeper exploration of how, among themselves, men talk about and ally with women—and how these things have evolved over time. Adam introduces guest Ted Bunch, father of six and chief development officer of A CALL TO MEN, an organization devoted to promoting healthy and respectful manhood and shifting attitudes and behaviors toward women. Adam and Ted cover many topics, including:

•  Defining the “Man Box”
•  The “collective socialization” of men
•  Calling men out using affirmation instead of accusation
•  Encouraging young men to be vulnerable
•  What “consent” really means
•  Techniques for having the “birds and the bees” talk with your son
•  Modeling gender equality, and respectful and loving behavior with your spouse
•  Raising your son to be his authentic self
 

Also, Marc asks himself (twice), “Did I Just Say That Out Loud?" The guys promote an upcoming episode on the topic of “dad jokes” and invite listeners to leave their best dad joke in the Modern Dadhood voicemail box at 603-431-5465 for a chance to win a prize from Brümate!

Happy Mother’s Day, Moms!
 

Links:

A CALL TO MEN
ACTM Virtual Trainings
Ted Bunch on Instagram
A Mighty Girl
Caspar Babypants
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Bubby Lewis

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

Humor can be a welcomed distraction for the writer, reader, performer, and audience alike. And in times of despair, it can be hard to make heads or tails of what’s funny. Matt Fisher, comedian, writer, and on-screen talent with The Dad, joins the podcast to wax about why the role of dad is so ripe for comedy. Things get a wee bit deep as we discuss how a shift from sarcastic and cynical comedy to sincerity and empathy has the potential to bring people together and encourage escapism. Plus, Adam discovers breathing, and Marc gets his punchline stolen.
 

The guys welcome a new wave of subscribers to the Modern Dadhood family before diving right into a weighty conversation with comedian Matt Fisher of “The Dad.” The three swap stories of life in quarantine during the current Coronavirus pandemic and wax philosophical about suddenly being thrust into full-time-teacher mode while also balancing work, parenting, and maintaining your own identity. Matt discusses his work with “The Dad,” a revered organization which self-describes as “not a person; a lifestyle.” But our listeners will likely know The Dad as a website and immensely popular Facebook community constantly churning out dad-themed articles, memes, and videos that are shared widely among fathers and mothers alike. The Dad has offices and a production studio in Brooklyn, but the team—whose content depends on close collaboration—is now forced to create individually in isolation. We discuss how The Dad continues to delicately write and produce humorous content in a time of global panic, and other topics including:
 

•  How life has changed since quarantining
•  How comedy has evolved in response to the pandemic
•  The decline of sarcasm in comedy, and the introduction of empathy and respect
•  Why dad humor is so relatable (and shareable)
•  Humor as a tool for escapism
•  Utilizing The Dad’s platform to celebrate present and involved fathers


The guys give a big thank you and send off to intern Nic Roes, and remind the listeners about collecting dad jokes for an upcoming episode.

You could hear your voice on Modern Dadhood and win a great prize from BrüMate by leaving your best dad joke on our voicemail at 603.431.5465.

Links:
The Dad
The Dad on Facebook
Matt Fisher on Twitter
Matt Fisher on Instagram
Scary Mommy
Carly Jo Carson Breathwork
Caspar Babypants
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Bubby Lewis

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

Nostalgia, man. It can be brought on by an errant lego or a beloved movie. A longing affection for days gone by can be nearly overwhelming, especially when we catch our own children staring, transfixed at a Matchbox car. For Adam and Marc, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a catalyst for a nostalgic trip. In this special, partly live episode, our hosts meet with Steve Lavigne, one of the original TMNT artists, to talk about his experiences and, of course, nostalgia.


Episode 14 finds Adam and Marc on stage at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, NH after a screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, to moderate a Q&A with TMNT comic artist Steve Lavigne. Between the on-stage portion and a pre-event conversation in the green room, Steve shares stories about his long history with Turtles creators Eastman and Laird, and the many incredible opportunities that his involvement in the Ninja Turtles franchise has presented. Topics of conversation include:

•  The birth and early days of the Turtles
•  The people who inspired the characters
•  Steve’s reaction to seeing his artwork translated to live action cinema
•  Being on the set of the film
•  Meeting Jim Henson
•  Visiting Henson’s Creature Shop in London
•  How Steve’s children felt about the Turtles growing up
•  What inspired Steve to get into comic illustration

The guys continue to discuss the allure of revisiting things from our past, and share comments from their favorite “dad” group about nostalgic movies, items, and experiences other dads are excited to share with their kids.

DADS: We’re working on an episode on DAD JOKES. Leave us a voicemail featuring your favorite dad joke, and you could be featured in the episode AND win an awesome prize from BrüMate. Share your joke by leaving a message at 603-431-5465.

LINKS:
Shellback Artworks on Facebook
Shellback Artworks on Instagram
TMNT film (1990) Wikipedia
Mirage Studios Wikipedia
Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Red Vault Audio

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

For most dads, when our first child is born, a switch flips inside our brains which alerts us that we're now responsible for protecting another human... and we'll go to extremes to fulfill that responsibility. But how do we protect our kids from an intangible, invisible threat that upends our daily routines and challenges our stability? Kevin Sturtevant shares the story of his six-year-old son Sam's high risk infancy and dangerous vulnerability to viruses like Covid-19, and what his family is doing to stay safe during an uncertain time.

Episode 13 finds Adam in self-isolation, recording at a makeshift work station in his daughters' basement playroom. At two weeks in, social distancing and isolation is starting to become the "new normal", and Modern Dadhood will adapt. Adam chats with childhood friend Kevin Sturtevant, a father of two, from Kevin's family's home in rural Maine. Kevin, his wife Moe, and the kids have wisely vacated their apartment in Portland to isolate and spend time in nature in an effort to keep immunocompromised Sam shielded from the Coronavirus. We discuss topics including:

• Being a stay-at-home dad for several years
• Vaccination awareness
• Having your own identity outside of "dad"
• The feeling of helplessness in protecting your kid from an infections disease
• How to explain Coronavirus to your child
• Modeling strength, stability, and honesty
• Finding the positives and becoming better parents during a pandemic
 

From the recent Modern Dadhood archives, the boys discuss the irrational "NO!" in another installment of "So That's a Thing Now!" 

Not to fret, Marc's now setup with a mic at home and Squadcast will enable the dads to return to their typical asinine banter.

Links:

Boston Children's Hospital: Saving Sam
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Bubby Lewis

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

The mission of Modern Dadhood is to meet and learn from dads whose fatherhood experiences are different than our own. In this episode, guest Stephen Stratton gives us some new perspective and helps us realize the transgender taboo we grew up with doesn't exist in the same way for our kids. If we can bypass the stubborn notion that we might offend someone by asking the wrong question, we might find there’s a ton we have in common simply by being present, engaged dads.


Adam begins Episode 12 by recalling the recent “sweetheart dance” he attended with his kindergarten-aged daughter, and how it differed from their first time attending last year. The guys introduce guest Stephen Stratton, a stay-at-home father of one, who happens to be transgender. Stephen  shares his compelling story from his childhood as a “tomboy” in rural Connecticut, through planning his own family, becoming a father, and raising his son with his partner Josh. Stephen candidly answers questions about his own story, about his son who was assigned female at birth but now chooses “he/him” pronouns, and about how to have a conversation with a transgender person without  being disrespectful, pissing them off, or sounding like a dope. Topics include:

•  Getting past the instinct to avoid people who are different than you
•  Language and questions that are appropriate (or inappropriate) regarding transgenderism
•  Discovering as a teen that the feelings Stephen had been experiencing had a name, and that it was an option he could pursue
•  Stephen’s desire to be a parent, and his personal goals surrounding fatherhood
•  Being a pregnant man (without turning heads!)
•  How a transgender person handles discovering the sex of his baby
•  How to talk to our kids about sex/gender/the transgender community
•  Our children don’t have the same baggage that we have from our childhoods when this was considered much more taboo

The show wraps up with a riveting “So That’s a Thing Now” (spoiler alert... the twin boy toddlers are fighting! When will it stop?) and the guys gush about Marc’s cherished  Hopsulator Trio by BrüMate. Turns out, Modern Dadhood listeners can get 15% off your first order by using the code “DADHOOD”. So use it!

Thanks to Tanner at Portland Pod for hosting and engineering our session with Stephen.
 

Links:

Stephen Stratton's blog
BrüMate (use code DADHOOD at checkout!)
Portland Pod
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Bubby Lewis

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

This world is full of distractions. And those nagging distractions often pull us away from the people we care about the most. Tyler Ramsey, solo artist and former songwriter and lead guitarist for Band Of Horses, has actively worked to create a life for his family that reduces distraction and promotes living in the moment. In this episode, he shares that when he’s not touring the world on a bus, a slower-paced, self-sufficient lifestyle leads to a deeper connection with nature and his family.
 

To kick off the 11th episode of Modern Dadhood, Adam and Marc shout out to a few loyal listeners and MD supporters. Then things get real when Marc recounts his childhood in rural Pennsylvania, and expresses hope that his own sons will develop similar imagination and sense of adventure as they grow, despite the unrelenting distraction of modern technology.

Adam introduces guest Tyler Ramsey, who shares the story of raising his infant daughter while on tour with Band of Horses, and how he balances world travel with a slower paced lifestyle in his quiet home outside of Asheville, NC. Tyler, his wife, and now five year old daughter work, play, learn, and share meaningful time together as they explore the great outdoors right in their backyard. Now releasing solo albums, Tyler explains, he has more freedom and ownership over his schedule, resulting in more time being a present dad. Our conversation covers topics including:

• Tyler's decision to move away out of the city
• The impact of nature on Tyler's lifestyle, music, and family
•  Demonstrating to your child that you are constantly learning
• Teaching your kid to be self-sufficient
• The importance of imagination and play
• Offsetting tour life with solitude and space
• Self discipline when working from home
• The raw emotion of holding your newborn
• Being fully present and appreciating the time you have with your family


Links:
Tyler Ramsey (official website)
Tyler Ramsey albums and merch
Forest Creature Dolls (Tyler's wife's company)
I'll Tell You What! Podcast
TMNT Screening & Modern Dadhood Q&A with Steve Lavigne
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Bubby Lewis
Red Vault Audio
 

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

This conversation with rapper Spose is an extended version of the conversation on the topic of music that demands our kids' attention, featured in Modern Dadhood Episode 5.
 

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. Our conversation about Spose was a particularly fun one, which we feel warrants its own episode. Laugh along as we discuss fatherhood, music, and topics such like:

• The pros (and cons) of Alexa
• The days of requesting a song on the radio
• The death of the Compact Disc
• The various ways our children are exposed to music
• What makes a particular artist or song appealing to young people?
• Censoring songs for our kids
• The formula for a catchy pop song
• Spose's kids book "Pinecone Pete is Not Impressed"


Links:

Spose
Spose Podcast
Pinecone Pete is Not Impressed
Tascam Porta-02 (we both used to record on this awesome 4 track)
Weezer - Lost in the Woods
Black Pink "Dududu"
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
TMNT Screening @ 3S
(^ this event includes a Q&A with Ninja Turtles comic artist Steve Lavigne, hosted by Marc & Adam!)
 

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

Are you a dad who loves pulling pranks? Are you unable to stop goofing around with your kids, even when it's past their bedtime? Would your spouse say that you're the "fun dad"? If so, this episode is for you. We rap with legendary radio personality Greg Kretschmar about how to maintain authority as the dad, when you also seek the mischief and companionship of a friend.

Episode 9 finds Adam and Marc discussing the thrill of playing a good prank, and the joys and challenges of being a playful parent. Guest Greg Kretschmar shares his own "fun dad" stories, while imparting some wisdom on how to navigate playing the role of both "dad" and "friend." Topics include:

• The satisfaction that comes from making your kids belly laugh
• When your influence comes back to bite you
• When does a boy become a man?
• Embarrassing your kids in public intentionally
• Embarrassing your kids in public unintentionally
• Doing funny voices
• A prank that crossed the line
• Switching from friend to disciplinarian

The guys round out the episode with another installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud?
 

Links:

Greg and the Morning Buzz
Greg Kretschmar Photography
Morning Buzz Podcasts
TMNT Screening & Modern Dadhood Q&A @ 3S Artspace
Steve Lavigne/Shellback Artworks
Caspar Babypants
Bubby Lewis
Spencer Explores the Universe
 

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

We understand that with the short-form nature of our show (30 minute episodes), that sometimes the conversations with our guests leave our listeners wanting more. Well, we're here to deliver. In an extended cut of our conversation with actor Terry O'Quinn, he candidly speaks about his experience growing up in a family of 11 with a father who was a prominent and sometimes intimidating figure, and raising his two sons in Maryland, working hard to make a living as an actor. Topics we discuss include:
 

• The implications of having a father who is also your school principal
• Moving your wife and kids around the country for months at a time
• Going to see a movie that you didn't know your DAD was in
• Hitchhiking in Hawaii
• The trend of recreating successful films
• Financial strain
• The joys of grandkids
• Terry's parenthood advice for young actors
• The rise of "binge watching" and "watch parties"
• Alec Baldwin's babies
• The Stepfather 1, 2, and the reboot
• What NOT to say in the delivery room when you set eyes on your newborn for the first time
 

Links:
Terry on Twitter
Terry on Instagram
Terry O'Quinn Filmography
Perpetual Grace, Ltd.
The Sea Captains' "You Were Wrong" (the song about Locke!)
Red Vault Audio
Izotope Rx7
Caspar Babypants

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