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

We love and respect all the mothers all year 'round... and can't think of a better day than Mother's Day to turn the show over to our wives to let them catch up about "modern momhood." This episode features the "Mom Takeover" by Sarah Flaherty and Jamie Checket, originally shared in June of 2021.

With little instruction and a batch of questions and prompts to address at their will, Sarah and Jamie jumped right into conversation about motherhood. They covered topics such as:

•  How they learned about (and didn't learn about) the "Mom Takeover" concept
•  Motherhood myths
•  The benefits and pitfalls of social media to a new mother
•  Being your child's "entertainer"
•  Letting go/stepping back
•  Listening vs. problem solving
•  Pregnancy mindsets
•  Sleep deprivation
•  Mom confessions
•  Dumb dad moves
•  And more!

We celebrate you, Sarah, Jamie, and ALL moms, step moms, bonus moms, and moms-to-be! THANK YOU for being you! (And for accepting us and loving us for the idiots we are, too.)

[Episode Transcript]

Links:
Hunt, Gather, Parent
How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

Adam and his 9-year-old daughter Summer share about their epic family vacation to Orlando which included several days at Universal Orlando Resort, and their once-in-a-lifetime invitation to join hosts David and Kari on the Discover Universal podcast.

Episode 85 of Modern Dadhood, a "bonus episode," opens with a chat about April vacation. Marc shares that at 5 years old, his twin boys don't yet conform to school vacation schedules, but that Kindergarten is feeling closer and closer, with the boys quickly realizing that big changes are coming.

Adam shares about his recent Orlando vacation which included several fun-packed days at Universal Studios Orlando, Universal's Islands of Adventure, and Universal's Volcano Bay. He shares the story of how this crazy vacation came to be, and how he and his family ended up in Universal's Radio Broadcast Studio for an episode of the Discover Universal podcast.

The guys play back a detailed recap of the vacation by Adam and his 9 year old daughter Summer, which includes discussion of attractions in all of Universal's parks (including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) and Volcano Bay.

LINKS
Natural Nature Youth  (9 year old Summer's podcast)
Universal Orlando Resort
Discover Universal Podcast
Universal Studios Florida
Universal's Islands of Adventure
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Jurassic Park
Universal's Volcano Bay
Universal's Endless Summer Resorts: Dockside Inn and Suites
Universal on Instagram
Universal on Twitter
Universal on Facebook
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

[This is part 2 of a 2 part conversation]  In "The Lonely Dad Conversations," comedian Chris Gethard interviews a dozen dads to explore commonalities between their fatherhood journeys. What he finds, is that, plain and simple, when we become dads, we turn pretty lame. That's not to say that becoming a parent isn't an amazing, powerful, and positive life change, but think about it... are you as cool as you used to be before you had kids? Me neither. Chris joins us to laugh, ponder, and dissect some of the recurring themes in "The Lonely Dad Conversations."

In Episode 84 of Modern Dadhood, the guys quickly recap Easter and Adam asks Marc to kindly share some compliments about his wife, before returning to Part 2 of their conversation with Chris Gethard. Chris is promoting his new book on Scribd called "The Lonely Dad Conversations," and the guys ask him about some of the recurring themes that pop up in the book, including:

•  How dads are like "backseat passengers"
•  How the baby boomer generation are different dads than we are
•  The role of your social life when you become a dad
•  Our kids observing our screen time
•  And More!

Before closing out the 'sode, Adam and Marc share a quick round of "Kisses and Disses" inspired by recent podcast reviews. Leave a review for the show and you, too, could be featured in an upcoming segment!

LINKS:
Chris Gethard (official)
The Lonely Dad Conversations (Scribd)
Chris on Twitter
Chris on Instagram
Chris on Facebook
Beautiful Anonymous
New Jersey Is The World
Career Suicide (HBO)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

Most new-dads-to-be do the obligatory preparation: You look through the couple of "survival guide" style books gifted to you by a friend. Watch YouTube videos on swaddling techniques. Read up on tips for potty training. Buy a new coffee maker to elevate your caffeine game. And ready your mind for the impending insanity of parenthood. But somehow, despite all the "thorough" preparation, every new parent gets sideswiped with a slew of unexpected emotions and challenges. And here's what those "survival guide" books can't possibly set you up for: Becoming a parent will change you... And it can bring on some intense emotions and self-revelations. Comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster Chris Gethard returns to Modern Dadhood to chat about the cultural shift that's enabling dads to examine these feelings. In classic Gethard style, even the heavier themes which appear in his new book The Lonely Dad Conversations are explored with openness, sincerity, and a lot of humor, and the same is true of our chat in this episode. Don't drop off before another installment of the beloved (sub)segment Did I Just Hear That Out Loud?  [This is part 1 of a 2 part episode.]
 

Episode 83 of Modern Dadhood opens with Marc & Adam trying out an exercise where they expedite their catch up by reducing it to 5 words. They keep it brief because they know that their first returning podcast guest, comedian Chris Gethard, is going to bring the goods. Chris hosts his own podcasts Beautiful Anonymous and New Jersey Is The World, he stars in standup specials, has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, and he returns to Modern Dadhood to discuss his new book The Lonely Dad Conversations.

Chris and Hallie's son Caleb ("Cal") is 4 years old, and as Chris shares candidly, he's potty trained, but can't yet wipe his own butt. After reassuring him that Cal will hit that game-changing milestone soon, we get down to business and talk loneliness. When Cal was born, Chris found himself in a state of deep loneliness, and in an effort to better understand these feelings, he interviewed a bunch of fellow dads about their unique fatherhood experiences. Chris grouped the answers by common themes that came up, and spoiler alert... it turns out he wasn't alone in his loneliness.

The guys discuss a number of themes which pop up in The Lonely Dad Conversations, including:

•  The rejection of "Hustle Culture"
•  Focusing on your own death when you become a parent
•  The importance of maintaining your sense of self
•  How your concept of time shifts when you become a parent
•  And more!

The conversation will span two episodes, so please subscribe to Modern Dadhood so you'll be alerted when episode #2 releases!

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

LINKS:
Chris Gethard (official)
The Lonely Dad Conversations (Scribd)
Chris on Twitter
Chris on Instagram
Chris on Facebook
Beautiful Anonymous
New Jersey Is The World
Career Suicide (HBO)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

Remember AOL Instant Messenger? ICQ? Friendster? Do you recall the excitement and curiosity of exploring these platforms and connecting with new people? The internet was new, and our parents were either learning it alongside us... or maybe not interested in it at all. Either way, for many of us, our parents were not closely monitoring our exploration of the internet, or even aware of the inherent risks. Our kids are growing up in a very (very) different world, and as parents, it's our job to ensure they develop a healthy and safe relationship with the technology which will only become a more prominent fixture in their lives as they grow. Father of three, Tom Adjemian, joins the conversation to discuss how his family is navigating this complicated journey. Don't skip out before our dad Confessions!

Episode 82 of Modern Dadhood opens with the guys chatting about Marc's twin boys' birthday party which had been rescheduled due to a last minute illness. Marc shares some of the nice, funny, and sometimes downright eerie handwritten birthday cards his boys received.

The guys introduce guest Tom Adjemian into the chat. Tom's three kids range from ages 4 to 13, and from very little exposure to technology, to a lot of exposure. Tom shares how he and his wife are traversing things like screen time, internet safety, privacy, boundaries, and more, with their 13 year old. Spoiler alert: They're figuring it out as they go. Conversation topics include:

•  When (and why) Tom and his wife got their eldest daughter her first smartphone
•  The conversations they've had as a couple and with their kids about technology use
•  How to not scare your kids away from the internet
•  How to not entice your kids to hide their internet usage from you
•  Tools for limiting and monitoring internet/app usage
•  The ethics of monitoring your kid's internet usage
•  The importance  of open communication
•  When your kid betrays your trust
•  And more

The guys invite Tom to stick around and participate in a gut-busting round of Confessions before closing out the 'sode.

Links:
ConnectSafely
Bark app
How and When to Limit Kids' Tech Use (NY Times)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

You know that feeling when you really want to be a dad but you've been in a powered wheelchair since you were two years old and you aren't sure if your balls can produce enough viable sperm that you and your partner can conceive so you do some testing and find out that the doctors aren't certain either which means that you can totally TRY but you're carefully considering all your options because you KNOW you'll be awesome parents despite what all the trolls on the internet want you to believe? ... No? Well then allow influencer, author, and disability advocate Shane Burcaw (Squirmy & Grubs) to enlighten you. This is Part 2 of a 2 part episode.  [Episode photo by Studio Twelve:52]

[Listen to Part 1 of this episode here]

Episode 81 of Modern Dadhood opens with a Marc sharing about the unexpected postponement of his twin boys' 5th birthday party. The guys waste no time diving back into the second half of their interview with Shane Burcaw. Shane candidly shares about his shared desire with his wife Hannah to become parents, and the unique challenges that they may face as a result of his Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Conversation topics include:

•  Alternative options to conceiving via IVF
•  How to encourage healthy sperm when you are in a wheelchair
•  The pros and cons of sharing your private life on YouTube
•  Managing trolls and negative/hateful comments
•  Exposing our kids to technology
•  Would Shane and Hannah's baby be genetically predisposed to his disability?
•  And more!

The guys close out the episode by sharing a positive AND a negative review of the show in a new installment of Kisses and Disses. Leave a review of Modern Dadhood on Apple Podcasts for a chance to be featured in a future segment!

Links:
Squirmy and Grubs (website)
Squirmy and Grubs (YouTube)
Junkyard Mayhem Podcast (Apple)
Shane's books
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

Shane Burcaw wants to be a dad. He and his wife Hannah Aylward make no secret of their desire to become parents as they share some of the most private aspects of their unique interabled life together in weekly videos and podcast episodes on their YouTube channel Squirmy and Grubs. But will their ability to have biological kids be thwarted by Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the disease that has found Shane in a powered wheelchair since he was two years old? Only testing and time will tell. Shane joins the Modern Dadhood conversation to share candidly about their journey with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This is part 1 of a 2 part episode.

Episode 80 of Modern Dadhood opens with Adam and Marc quickly recounting their recent experience at Podfest Multimedia Expo in Orlando. They shout out to a handful of new podcaster friends and gleefully giggle as they recount their antics. Then shit gets real when they introduce Shane Burcaw into the Modern Dadhood conversation. Shane is a 30 year old author, influencer, podcaster, and founder of a nonprofit called Laughing At My Nightmare, a name which brilliantly sums up Shane's amazing sense of humor and attitude toward his lifelong disability, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Shane shares candidly about his disability, his attitude toward his disability, and why he and his wife Hannah (who is not disabled) dedicate their time to advocating for those with physical disabilities, proudly representing the interabled couple population, and living an adventurous and unique life. They've documented the beginning stages of their In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) journey on their channel and their podcast Junkyard Mayhem, and Shane openly discusses it with us. Topics include:

•  What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)?
•  The advancements in treatment
•  Young Shane's vision for his future
•  Shane's shift in his feelings of self-worth
•  Challenges of conceiving when you are dependent on a wheelchair
•  Shane and Hannah's options for trying to conceive
•  The "testing" process and results
•  The odds of having multiples through IVF
•  And more!
This is part 1 of a 2 part episode.

Before closing out the episode, Adam shares a quick and ridic installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud?

Links:
Squirmy and Grubs (website)
Squirmy and Grubs (YouTube)
Junkyard Mayhem Podcast (Apple)
Shane's books
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Podfest Multimedia Expo
Cycle Chats Podcast
Magical Mindset Moments Podcast
Keeping Up With The Chaos Podcast
Rich Does a Thing
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

January 2023 marks the third birthday of Modern Dadhood. And at 79 episodes in, we've had some remarkable conversations with dads of all walks of life. In line with our mission, we've gained plenty of new perspective on what it means to be a father... but the learning and laughs don't stop here! In the "New Years" episode, we ponder new topics to cover and guests to invite in 2023. Don't drop off before Marc drops a jaw dropping installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud?
 

Do YOU want to hear about the topics the guys want to cover in 2023?

Or their "pie in the sky" dream guests?

Well, you're just gonna have to listen to the 'sode.

LINKS:
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

Joe Mandravelis was about to become a dad to twins when he and his wife learned their two year old daughter had Autism Spectrum Disorder. What they also learned, was having one child with autism means any other children you have are 20 times more likely to be on the spectrum. Joe joins Modern Dadhood to discuss the joys, challenges, and general insanity of raising three amazing and powerful kids who each need support in unique ways as they navigate through school, therapies, and social situations.

Episode 78 of Modern Dadhood releases the day before Christmas Eve eve, 2022. The guys discuss the energy level in their homes and Marc shares about the misadventures of his boys which may potentially land them on the "naughty" list. The guys welcome Adam's long time friend and fellow dad, Joe Mandravelis, into the conversation. Joe's three kids, all under the age of 7, all have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Joe shares candidly what has been difficult an what has been awesome about his fatherhood experience. Topics of the conversational include:

•  The signs that Joe's family noticed prior to his oldest daughter's diagnosis
•  What are ABA services, and how do they work?
•  When you have one child on the spectrum, what are the odds that their siblings will also be on the spectrum?
•  Insurance coverage for autism-related services
•  Integrating them into public schools vs. private schools which offer more intensive support
•  Normalizing ASD
•  How Joe's fatherhood experience has opened his mind
•  And more!
 

Marc kicks off the episode close with a (bad) joke.

We wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday, and a HUGE and positive 2023!

Get tickets to the Podfest Multimedia Expo here and see the guys in Orlando, FL January 26-29th, 2023!
 

LINKS:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (CDC)
Autism Speaks
Autism Society of America
Joe Mandro Music (Instagram)
Joe Mandro Music (YouTube)
Joe Mandro Music (Facebook)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

Everyone wants to belong. According to Jermaine Moore, to feel welcome, respected, seen, and heard, comes second only to our human desire to be loved. That's why Jermaine, a father of four, has devoted his career to teaching and training business leaders on the vital importance (and proven benefits) of prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace, while also teaching young  people, including his own children, the true value of empathy. Jermaine joins the Modern Dadhood conversation to share some wisdom about DEI, raising empathetic children, and why he's so encouraged by today's youth.

Episode 77 of Modern Dadhood opens with a brief catch-up between hosts Adam Flaherty and Marc Checket. The guys announce they'll be at Podfest Multimedia Expo 2023 in Orlando in January, where Adam will present a breakout session on the use of video to promote podcasts.

The guys briefly discuss the excitement (and stress) about the upcoming holidays, before welcoming Jermaine Moore into the conversation. Jermaine is Co-Founder of the Mars Hill Group, a New England-based consulting firm which specializes in leadership training, workplace culture, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Jermaine is a father of four children who are currently scattered across the world, and he shares candidly about what  led him to this line of work, why it's so important and valuable, and  how we as parents can actively exercise it and celebrate it within our families in order to raise empathetic kids. The conversation covers topics including:

•  What is DEI? Jermaine defines diversity, equity, and inclusion
•  WHY Jermaine is passionate about DEI work
•  DEI Misconceptions
•  Diversity in NON-diverse areas
•  The importance of exposure and representation
•  "More is caught than taught"  - Modeling behavior
•  Allyship and how to be a true ally


LINKS
Jermaine Moore (LinkedIn)
Mars Hill Group
McKinsey: Diversity Wins / How Inclusion Matters
eXtension Foundation: What Is DEI
Forbes: 15 Key Benefits of DEI
Dr. Joy Degruy: A Trip To The Grocery Store
Jermaine Moore Presentation at Creative Mornings
Podfest Expo
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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