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

It's Mother's Day 2024, and we dedicate this episode to ALL the moms—the real superheroes who make our families run like well-oiled machines with their dedication, selflessness, and boundless love. Marc and Adam wager guesses on what would make for an ideal Mother's Day for their wives (and then hear directly from their wives about how accurate they were!) Then we turn the mics over to some of the top podcasters who specialize in all things MOTHERHOOD to share their insights and sound advice for us dads.

THANK YOU to all the amazing motherhood podcasters who shared their recordings with us! You are awesome!

LINKS
Bite Your Tongue (Podcast)
Oh Crap! Parenting  (Podcast)
Momwell  (Podcast)
Real World Peaceful Parenting  (Podcast)
Modern Mom Probs  (Podcast)
Moms On Call  (Podcast)
Peaceful Parenting Podcast
Motherhood Simplified  (Podcast)
 

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

In July 2021, Dateline NBC reporter and Today Show personality Craig Melvin joined us to talk fatherhood. He shared candidly about the process of writing his book Pops: Learning To Be A Son And A Father, including stepping out of his comfort zone to conduct a number of interviews with his own dad. Craig reflected on his childhood, his relationship with his father, and how the men in his life have shaped the dad that Craig is to his own kids. Listen to the end of the episode for a round of dad Confessions.

In this Rewind episode, the guys welcome NBC anchor/personality Craig Melvin’s new book Pops: Learning To Be A Son And A Father, a book he began working on during a 2020 quarantine. For much of Craig’s life, he and his brothers didn’t have much of a relationship with their father Lawrence, largely due to his alcohol and gambling addictions. A 2018 family intervention cleared a path to recovery for Lawrence, and an opportunity to redefine relationships with his sons and grandchildren—Including Craig’s son and daughter. Craig shared candidly about his family, and the process of interviewing his father for Pops. Topics include:

• The inspiration for writing Pops
•  The fear of interviewing a parent
• The importance of other “father figures” in Craig’s life
•  The nature of addiction
•  How the notion of “it takes a village” has shifted
•  Craig’s kids’ relationship with their grandfather
•  What “Modern Dadhood” means to Craig
•  And more!

The guys round out the episode with a new batch of dadhood Confessions.

LINKS:
Craig Melvin (Instagram)
Dads Got This!
"Pops: Learning To Be A Son And A Father"
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal
Modern Dadhood (website)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (TikTok)

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

Dads, raise your hand if becoming a parent resulted in falling out of healthy routines like exercise and mindful eating? Yeah, same here. And it's only natural... when there's a new baby in the picture your priorities immediately shift to your partner, the baby's well-being... and your own survival. But months (or years) later, it can be very intimidating to think about combating that "dad bod," and often, we don't even know where to start. Fitness founder Ryan Cooper joins us to share some actionable tips dads can use to revitalize their fitness journeys. As a bonus, Ryan extends listeners an exclusive Modern Dadhood discount code for his online fitness program CooperFit. Stick around to the end for an emotional roller coaster of a Kisses & Disses segment!

Episode 103 of Modern Dadhood opens with a chat about the infamous "dad bod" and the factors that contribute to it being so common among dads in the earliest stages of parenthood. The guys talk about their own relationships with diet, exercise, and wellness around the time when their kids were born, and where things stand now, years later.

The guys welcome Ryan Cooper into the conversation. Ryan is a model, an actor, a producer, and founder of CooperFit, an online physical fitness program for men and women in which Ryan programs weekly routines that include exercises, pilates, meditation, breathing, and more. Ryan shares about his personal journey as a dad of one daughter, what led him to start CooperFit, and how his program can benefit dads who might not now where to start when it comes to getting their health back on track. Conversation topics include:

•  What CooperFit is, and how it offers structured convenience for busy dads
•  Fitness as a form of therapy form to tackle the root of problems
•  The importance of stepping out of your comfort zone
•  The real value of breathing and breathwork
•  How modeling behavior can positively influence children
•  And more

Ryan generously offers a deeply discounted rate for listeners of Modern Dadhood using the code DAD50 when you sign up for CooperFit using this link.

After the interview, the guys share a very nice podcast review from a happy listener and a... not-so-nice one. Leave your review and you might be featured in a future episode!
 

LINKS
Cooperfit (homepage)
Cooperfit Modern Dadhood Exclusive Offer - Use code DAD50
Ryan Cooper (Instagram)
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

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

Episode 59 originally aired in February, 2020.

Becoming a new parent can be a special kind of mayhem. Add a global pandemic into the mix, and the chaos of the first few months are elevated to a new level. But depending on your situation, those challenges may be coupled with opportunity. In Episode 59, podcaster, producer, actor, and all around creative human, Matt Gourley, joins the conversation to discuss the joys, challenges, and insanity of new fatherhood—and how this shift has helped him discover some new perspective on what’s truly important.
 

Episode 59 of Modern Dadhood kicks off with a short discussion about the podcast's brief winter hibernation where the guys describe life chugging forward and the typical madness of having young kids. Adam shares the story leading up to landing a conversation with new dad Matt Gourley. Matt is the host of Superego, producer and co-host of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, actor, musician, and designer. In our time together, we discuss topics including:

•  Finding peace in the first few months of parenthood
•  The importance of a paternity leave
•  Redefining work/life balance
•  The importance of maintaining a sense of self
•  Anxiety associated with trying to keep your newborn safe during the pandemic
•  What kind of dad Matt envisioned he'd be before having kids

Post-guest, Marc shares a whopper of a Did I Just Say That Out Loud? which can't be described... the story must be heard to be believed.

LINKS:
Matt Gourley (website)
Matt Gourley on Twitter
Matt Gourley on Instagram
Housecat And Home
Keys to the Kingdom
Mallwalkin'
Townland
Superego
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend
With Gourley and Rust
I Was There Too
James Bonding
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Red Vault Audio
Stuffed Animal

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

For those of us who grew up watching Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Fred Rogers taught us many lessons via his cast of characters in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe; the most prominent of which is that there are many ways to express your love and appreciation for someone. One member of that cast in particular, Dr. Francois Clemmons ("Officer Clemmons" on the show), carries forth that message even today. Dr. Clemmons joins us to discuss his "cosmic father, cosmic son" relationship with Fred Rogers, spreading love and kindness through music, and how paternal love can flourish even in the absence of a biological relationship.

The guys kick off Episode 101 of Modern Dadhood with a short therapy session where Marc vents about the illnesses that have run rampant in his home and the unfortunate passing of the Checket family dog. The guys quickly celebrate crossing the 100 episode threshold, give major thanks and props to audio engineer + mixer Pete Morse, and let the audience know about the passing of Aram Delgado, the son of the late Modern Dadhood guest and Sesame Street star Emilio Delgado.

The guys transition to their recent conversation with teacher, actor, singer, and "cosmic father" to many, Dr. Francois Clemmons. For decades, Dr. Clemmons played the beloved character Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and in the early days, he quickly developed a professional relationship and close personal friendship with Fred and Joanne Rogers. Dr. Clemmons joins us to talk about his lifelong desire to be a father, and how he has achieved that despite not having biological kids of his own. He also shares about experiences working with Mister Rogers, including the famous scene where the two men bathe their feet in a kiddie pool on a hot day. Other conversation topics include:

•  Fred & Francois' mutual love of studying and discussing the Bible
•  Francois' sexuality and how it was handled on and off the show
•  Life lessons that Francois learned from his time on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
•  Francois' passion for mentoring students in a fatherly manner
•  The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble
•  The historical significance of the most famous "Officer Clemmons" scene
•  Francois' ability to identify cosmic parents around the world
•  And more!


LINKS
Dr. Francois Clemmons (homepage)
Most Famous Officer Clemmons Scene (with commentary)
Won't You Be My Neighbor documentary (Netflix)
Francois Clemmons' GoFundMe
Aram Delgado GoFundMe
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

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

What do bugs, sandwiches, skateboarding, comics, Saved By The Bell, mural painting, a chicken coop... and DADHOOD all have in common? Well, they have author and artist Brady Smith in common. (Duh.) Brady returns to the podcast to chat about many of the seemingly random things listed above... but most of all, how much he and his wife Tiffani Thiessen love being Harper and Holt's parents. After, Adam shares a straight-forward but delightfully odd Did I Just Say That Out Loud?

Despite being a rather epic milestone, Episode 100 of Modern Dadhood starts off like most other episodes, with a quick catch-up between the guys. Marc shares about his twin boys' epic Star Wars themed 6th birthday party (complete with home-made games) before they welcome author, artist, and friend to the show Brady Smith back for a second appearance. Brady shares what's new in his fatherhood journey (Spoiler alert: lots of skateboarding & Sephora), how he and Tiffani work hard to raise creative, kind, and empathetic kids, and he shares a teaser of his newest book "Bug Sandwich." Topics include:

•  The feeling of celebrating your partner's 50th birthday
•  Getting comfortable being the "dorky" skateboarding dad
•  The freedom of self-employment
•  The unexpected challenges of painting a mural
•  The first time Brady's daughter watched "Saved By The Bell"
•  Involving Brady's kids in his work
•  And more!

After, Adam discloses an odd dinnertime exclamation in an installment of "Did I Just Say That Out Loud?"

Episode art photography by Rebecca Sanabria

LINKS
Brady Smith (official website)
Brady Smith (Instagram)
Bug Sandwich (Powell's books)
Random Acts of Drawness!
You're Missing It!
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal
Modern Dadhood (website)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (TikTok)

#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)
Danny + Katelyn's books
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal
Modern Dadhood (website)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (TikTok)

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

When you hear the phrase "Lead Dad," what does it make you think? A "stay at home" dad? A dad who prides himself on being the more involved parent? To Paul Sullivan, Founder of The Company of Dads, being a "Lead Dad" is much different... and many of us naturally fall into the category. Hear Paul discuss The Company of Dads' mission to inspire more men to be Lead Dads, and inspire families to experience their full potential. At the end, Marc shares a curious installment of "Did I Just Say That Out Loud?"
 

Modern Dadhood Episode 98 opens with a brief catch-up between the guys before Adam shares about a video that recently crossed his feed about a group of dads who meet at a local elementary school to greet kids as they arrive for their school day. The video was shared by Paul Sullivan, Founder of the Company of Dads and father of three daughters between 6 and 14. Paul joins us to chat about his organization, its mission, and what it means to be a "Lead Dad." Topics of conversation include:

•  How did The Company of Dads come to be?
•  What is a Lead Dad?
•  By labeling oneself a Lead Dad, is it taking credit from the mom?
•  Average maternity & paternity leaves in the USA
•  Resources available to Lead Dads
•  And more!

Stay tuned for an installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud? featuring the newly 6-year-old Checket twins.

LINKS:
The Company of Dads
The Company of Dads (Instagram)
Paul Sullivan (LinkedIn)
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Caspar Babypants
Stuffed Animal
Modern Dadhood (website)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (TikTok)

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

What fresh hell is this episode all about? Well, it's a collaboration with our new friends Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables, hosts of the popular momhood podcast What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood. The four parenting podcasters waste no time digging into why there are so many more motherhood podcasts than fatherhood podcasts, the value of gaining new perspectives, and how the role of the father has dramatically shifted over the decades... and could stand to continue evolving!

Episode 97 of Modern Dadhood kicks off with Adam ribbing Marc for neglecting to call or text him on his birthday which he shares with both his dad and his daughter. Marc clearly feels no guilt, and Adam proceeds to inhale a helium balloon to introduce the show. The guys quickly welcome Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson, hosts of the podcast What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood into the conversation to discuss the "WHY" behind each podcast, the moms' take on the current state of fatherhood, and more. Topics include:

•  The story behind the name (and phrase) "What Fresh Hell"
•  How topics are chosen for their motherhood podcast
•  The benefits of having access to experts and people we admire
•   How "Modern Dadhood" is different than "Modern Fatherhood"
•  How women and men often prioritize the role of "parent" differently
•  Shifting gender roles
•  And more!

After the interview, the guys share a roller-coaster-of-a Kisses & Disses segment.


LINKS:
What Fresh Hell (Podcast)
What Fresh Hell (Website)
WFH (Instagram)
WFH (TikTok)
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Caspar Babypants
Stuffed Animal
Modern Dadhood (website)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (TikTok)

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

Being a single parent may result from an unplanned pregnancy, the relationship between two partners evolving or ending, or a purposeful decision. No matter the reason, it's fair to assert that single parents will navigate some unique challenges when raising a kid. George Basil (HBO's Crashing, Netflix's Flaked) joins us to reflect on raising his teenage daughter as a working actor and improv comedian, and how their relationship, in many ways, is a true partnership. George hangs around for a round of Confessions!

The guys kick off Episode 96 of Modern Dadhood with a quick discussion on dinnertime conversations with our kids and the types of questions which can inspire them to open up and share about their school day. The guys waste no time introducing actor and improv comic George Basil who listeners might know as Lief from HBO's "Crashing" starring comedian Pete Holmes, Cooler from Netflix's "Flaked" acting opposite Will Arnett, or the clothing shop proprietor in the Barbie movie. George is a proud parent to his teenage daughter Lula, and he joins us to share his story of bringing her up as a single dad and working actor in LA. Topics include:

•  George's self-described partnership with his daughter.
•  The joy of traveling abroad with his kid
•  Acting with, and directing his daughter
•  The benefit of introducing new partners to your child
•  The importance of inspiring a love for creativity in our kids
•  Getting the call to be cast in Barbie
•  And more!

At the end of the chat, George sticks around for a gut-busting Confessions session.
 

LINKS:
Crashing (HBO/Max)
Flaked (Netflix)
Six Pack (Short Film)
Peanut (Short Film)
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Caspar Babypants
Stuffed Animal

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