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

What new dad doesn't feel over tired, overwhelmed, and thrown for a life-changing loop? But how do you know if YOUR experience is more intense than any other new dad—or when it warrants seeking help? Journalist and Editor Joe Keohane (Men's Health, Entrepreneur, The New York Times) joins the conversation to share about his research on, and personal experience with, paternal postpartum depression. He dissects the stigmas, describes warning signs, and shares helpful resources for those experiencing it. Don't drop off before Adam shares a spooky Instant Regret!
 

Episode 76 of Modern Dadhood opens with a brief banter about the guys' Halloween experiences before they get into a conversation about postpartum depression. Marc shares about his wife's experience with postpartum depression in the months after their twin boys were born. The guys bring up an article in Men's Health (linked below) by journalist Joe Keohane, in which he interviews a number of fathers who experienced paternal postpartum depression. Joe shares candidly about his own experience with it, and what he learned from his many interviews with dads and doctors about how the condition can be identified (but is hard to "diagnose"), the stigmas attached to it, and what the options are for new dads who think they may be experiencing it. 

Post-interview, Adam shares a Halloween-themed Instant Regret. (What a dummy!)

LINKS:
Joe Keohane (official)
The Unrelenting Agony of Being a Depressed New Dad (Men's Health)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

At what point in your life did you realize that you wanted to be a father? Even as a kid, actor Jon Heder recognized he was born to be a dad. When the cultural phenomenon Napoleon Dynamite unexpectedly launched him into the spotlight in 2004, Jon knew how he’d balance that with family life: family would simply always take priority. Nearly 20 years and four kids later, Jon works when he wants to, indulges selfie-hungry fans, and keeps his priorities in check.

Episode 75 of Modern Dadhood opens with a chat about when in their lives Adam and Marc knew they wanted to have kids, and some discussion of whether the family you grow up in might impact your vision or plans for your own family. The guys introduce Jon Heder, who grew up in a family of 6, who reflects on a positive upbringing. Jon, known for his roles in films like Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory, Mama's Boy, and Tremors: Shrieker Island, knew even as a kid that he was going to be a dad. He was married young, and he and his wife began growing their family several years after the release of Napoleon Dynamite brought him international fame. Jon shares candidly about his decision to continue acting while being selective about the roles he took so that his family and faith could always remain his priorities. The conversation goes deep, and covers topics like:

•  The pros and cons of raising twins
•  Does growing up in a large family influence your desire to have multiple kids?
•  The various ways parenthood is hard AND rewarding
•  How Jon balances family with his acting career
•  Bringing family to set when filming
•  The fear of “oversaturating” your kids
•  How Jon addresses fan interactions when he’s with his family
•  The importance of modeling kindness and respect
•  Jon’s NFT project “Order of the Tigons”
•  And more!
 

LINKS:
Jon Heder (Instagram)
Jon Heder (Twitter)
Order of the Tigons (NFT Project)
Napoleon Dynamite
Red Vault  Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer  Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

What do a sheep with a jetpack, a drunk uncle, and a pot smoking manatee have in common? They’re all hilarious characters from the brilliant mind of actor/comedian Bobby Moynihan. The Saturday Night Live alum joins Adam and Marc to swap dad stories, drop a little sage advice about meditation, and talk about his new children’s book “Not All Sheep are Boring!” Spoiler alert: some are actually quite dull. Stick around after the interview for another installment of the sensational new segment Kisses & Disses.

Episode 74 opens with a brief discussion about the upcoming Halloween season, including chatting briefly about SNL's now famous "Haunted Elevator" sketch featuring Tom Hanks as David S. Pumpkins. The guys share some laughs about Bobby Moynihan, the talented SNL alum who, since leaving SNL, has created and appeared in multiple TV shows, movies, and cartoons. Bobby is welcomed into the conversation to discuss fatherhood and the inspiration behind his new kids' bedtime story "Not All Sheep Are Boring!" Conversation topics Include:

• How being a father has changed in the past couple of years
• The inspiration for the unique characters in his new book
• Bobby's dream for his young daughter to one day organically discover SNL
• How Bobby's comedy style shifted after becoming a dad
• Being on SNL vs being a dad
• The benefits of breathing and mindfulness
• And more!

After the interview, the guys follow up Episode 73's inaugural "Kisses + Disses" segment with a second rip-roaring installment.

LINKS
Not All Sheep Are Boring! (Powell's books)
Bobby Moynihan (Instagram)
Bobby Moynihan (Twitter)
Loafy
David S. Pumpkins
Bobby in SNL's "Gilly"
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

Raise your hand if you’re sort of done with the buzz phrase work/life balance? Same. As parents, the balance that we strike every day goes far more granular than just “work” and “life.” Stress, mindfulness, nourishment, sleep, play, relationships, role modeling, mental health, social life… that’s a challenging equilibrium! And when you don’t put in the work to keep this balance in check, it can easily slip out of whack. Dad of three and early adopter of Modern Dadhood, Keith Belanger, joins us to discuss that balancing act. Don’t drop off before the “Piano Man” challenge, and a ROFLMAO-worthy new segment Kisses & Disses.

Episode 73 of Modern Dadhood opens with some laughter about  the hosts' inability to grow real facial hair, and a brief back-to-school catch up. The guys quickly welcome Keith  Belanger into chat. Keith divides his time between managing operations for a transportation company and entertaining crowds from behind a piano. And when he's not doing those things, he's a devoted husband  and a father of three young boys. Keith speaks candidly about how he balances the various aspects  of his personal life and professional life in a single income family. Keith also  shares about his history as a Modern Dadhood listener, learning of the show very early on. At the end of the chat, things get bit playful when Marc quizzes Keith on  Billy Joel lyrics.

Don't skip out  before the end... we debut a new segment (complete with a theme song from Adam's eight-year-old) called Kisses & Disses.

LINKS:
Keith Belanger Music (official)
Keith Belanger on Instagram
Keith Belanger on YouTube
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Caspar Babypants
Stuffed Animal

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

As if there isn’t enough we parents have to keep straight between juggling work, kids’ schedules, meal prep, endless laundry, and maybe the occasional workout sesh… And on top of it all, we’re expected to manage our finances and plan for the future. When money is abundant, this can be a fun and exciting challenge. But when money is scarce, it can be a colossal source of stress. Self-proclaimed “Anti-Financial Advisor” Chris Miles, father of 8 and host of Money Ripples, joins Adam and Marc to dispel some money myths, share advice directly from his personal experiences, and educate us on some best practices when it comes to our finances. Stick around after the interview for a  new installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud?
 

Episode 72 of Modern Dadhood opens with a brief catch-up between the guys as they reflect on a recent get together with their families. Marc goes awkward and asks Adam if he has money, which breaks the ice for a great chat about becoming parents and how your relationship with money changes. For many young parents, in addition to student loans, rent, mortgage, insurance, utilities, and more, they're suddenly faced with childcare expenses and the idea of saving for future college tuition. The guys welcome Chris Miles into the conversation. Chris is a self-proclaimed "Anti-Financial Advisor," whose company and podcast "Money Ripples" educates listeners on best practices for saving money, creating passive income, and building wealth to work toward not only financial independence, but financial freedom. Chris also happens to be a father of 8 kids! Conversation topics include:

•  How work/life balance works as an entrepreneur and father of 8
•  The mistakes that Chris made along the way that helped him solve the mystery of money
•  How typical financial advisors work... and why Chris disagrees
•  "Financial independence" vs. "financial freedom"
•  Tips for how to manage your expenses
•  How to change the way you think about money
•  How and when you should start talking to your kids about finances
•  And more!

The guys round out the episode with Marc sharing a quiz-based installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud?

Links:
Money Ripples (official)
Chris Miles (LinkedIn)
Money Ripples (Apple Podcasts)
Money Ripples (YouTube)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

Announcement:  Modern Dadhood is featured in the August 2022 issue of Podcast Magazine! Subscribe at http://podcastmagazine.com or follow Modern Dadhood on Facebook or LinkedIn to view the article.

Part of being a parent is helping to teach our kids to have—and utilize—a creative mindset. And even though sometimes it can be a struggle to bring a creative idea to life, there are plenty of lessons to be learned from the process itself. Jeff Fajans, a Creative Performance & Executive Coach, joins Adam and Marc to chat about the potential benefits of carving out time in our lives for creative passion. To round out the episode, Marc shares some recent bedtime routine struggles.

Episode 71 of Modern Dadhood opens with a discussion of Marc's 4 year old son's new chosen moniker and accompanying hand signal, followed immediately by Adam sharing a recent grocery store experience for a conscience check. The guys begin talking about the value of dads expressing themselves creatively, and Marc gives an update on his musical project Stuffed Animal before they play back a recent chat with Creative Performance & Executive Coach and musician, Jeff Fajans. Jeff lives in Colorado with his wife and son Hendrix, and releases music for kids under the name "MrBoodaddy." Conversation topics include:

•  How Jeff uniquely blends executive coaching and inspiring people to follow their creative passions
•  What holds so many parents back from pursuing creative endeavors
•  Jeff's inspiration for starting the MrBoodaddy project
•  His writing and recording process
•  What Jeff hopes that Hendrix will get out of the experience
•  And more!

To round out the episode, Marc shares some recent bedtime routine snuggles.
 

Links:
Jeff Fajans (official)
MrBoodaddy (official)
MrBoodaddy (Spotify)
MrBooDaddy (Instagram)
Strategies to Get (and Stay) Unstuck (LinkedIn Learning) 
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

There’s no argument that we, as humans, learn from our mistakes. As we grow, we apply learnings from our negative or challenging experiences in order to be happier, more comfortable, or more prepared in the future. As parents though, it can be a challenge to give our children the opportunity to fail at something—especially when we have the foresight to see it coming and the ability to prevent it. But is it doing our kids justice if we always shield them from the often valuable lessons that come from failing? Our guest Pete Murray, a father of two teenagers and former Boy Scouts of America troop leader, says no. Pete joins us to chat about his childhood in the Boy Scouts program, and the art of balancing Scoutmaster and Dad. 

Episode 70 of Modern Dadhood opens with a brief session of commiserating about emotional children and the desire to leave one's body in order to escape the drama. The guys begin talking about Boy Scouts of America. Though neither Adam nor Marc participated in the program, they ponder about the values of the organization before welcoming Pete Murray into the chat. Pete works for Firaxis Games by day, and until recently, served as Scoutmaster for his teenage son's Boy Scouts troop. Pete candidly shares his experiences with Boy Scouts both as a scout he was growing up, and as a leader when his son went through the program. Pete shares a lesson that he learned during his time with Boy Scouts which centers around the notion of failing in a safe environment, and learning from your mistakes to become a more experienced and well rounded person. Other topics include:

•  Pete's journey spanning multiple roles at Firaxis Games
•  Boy Scouts as a family tradition
•  The value of giving young people opportunities to fail and learn from their mistakes
•  Positive peer pressure
•  Dad bonding
•  And more!

LINKS
Pete Murray (LinkedIn)
Boy Scouts of America
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

Though the phrase “work/life balance” has taken on new meaning in recent years, the concept is one that many parents struggle to achieve. Balance is a very individual thing, but at its core, it’s about identifying what’s important to us and consciously making time for those things. Matt Fox coaches men to live happy and fulfilled lives as dads and working professionals. Matt joins Modern Dadhood to share some wisdom. Afterward, Marc shares a blasphemous So That's a Thing Now.

Episode 69 of Modern Dadhood opens with the guys catching up on Marc's 4 year old fraternal twin boys, followed by Adam's recount of his 8-year-old daughter's first time at an overnight camp. The guys briefly discuss the work of Matt Fox, a London-based father of two, and coach who works with dads to identify their personal priorities and balance their work with their families and passions. They share a recent conversation between Adam and Matt, which covers topics like:

•  Breaking the "workaholic" habit
•  Setting, and sticking to, personal boundaries
•  Personal income as it relates to happiness
•  The value of meditation and/or stillness
•  And more!
 

After the interview, Marc shares a blasphemous So That's a Thing Now which finds one of his boys blaming his woes on a divisive political figure.

LINKS:
Matt Fox Coaching (official website)
Matt Fox Coaching (LinkedIn)
Matt Fox Coaching (Facebook)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

First time dads-to-be might receive a satiric book from a friend or relative on "how not to screw up" as they experience the first year of fatherhood. And sure, there's value in step-by-step instructions on executing the perfect swaddle... but what about remembering to communicate respectfully with your partner when you both are at the end of your rope? And what about being a role model to your child when you might not have had a dad who was a role model for you? Author (and dad) Kendall Smith addresses this and more in his new playbook for first-time dads, "Rookie Father," and he joins us to talk all about it. Stick around after the chat as we rate a series of ridiculous DAD JOKES submitted by our listeners!

Episode 68 of Modern Dadhood opens with a reflection on Marc's love for vintage diner-style coffee mugs. The guys discuss early Summer in New England, and Adam shares about his daughters' (5 and 8 years old) very different stages of bike riding. The guys tease that after the interview portion of the show, they'll share some dad jokes submitted by listeners, and will rate them in real time. Adam and Marc welcome Kendall Smith to the conversation. Kendall is a father of one and the author of "Rookie Father: A Playbook For Men Experiencing Fatherhood For The First Time." Kendall grew up estranged from his father from age 8 on, and recently released his book for dads-to-be who also may not have had a father figure in their lives. Conversation topics include:

•  Men and "self help" books
•  The structure of "Rookie Father"
•  Kendall's tenure with Men's Health
•  Men growing up in a single parent home
•  Learning to be a dad if you didn't have one present
•  The value of  positivity and a positive mindset
•  The importance of fiscal responsibility
•  And more!

More than two years ago, we invited listeners to leave us a voice mail with their best DAD JOKES. We got a bunch of great submissions, and then our plan was derailed... but we've finally put them to use! Marc and Adam react to dad jokes submitted by our amazing (and hilarious!) listeners.

Happy Father's Day Weekend!
 

Links:
The Rookie Father (website)
The Rookie Father (Indie Bound)
Kendall Smith (Facebook)
Kendall Smith (Instagram)
Kendall Smith (Twitter)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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

It's easy to get frustrated when your kid loses their mind over something that you know is inconsequential. The old adage "don't sweat the small stuff" doesn't really apply when they don't have enough life experience to know what the "small stuff" even is. As parents, with decades of life experience under our belts, it's our job to help them examine the actual magnitude of their problems. (And if we're lucky, maybe the next problem they encounter will involve less theatrics.) Ben Feller, former Chief White House Correspondent and father to 10-year-old Sam, joins us to shed some light on how best to approach putting problems into perspective with our kids... and how they can surprise us with their wisdom, too.

Episode 67 of Modern Dadhood opens with a rather shocking discovery around anagrams of Adam's and Marc's names. The guys chat about a new milestone for the 4-year-old Checket twins: verbal altercation. The guys use the example of Marc's boys new found communication style to transition into a chat about problems and perspective. They welcome Ben Feller, former Chief White House Correspondent for the Associated Press, Father of a ten-year-old son, and author of "Big Problems, Little Problems" into the conversation. Ben talks about the inspiration for writing his book, the value of helping your kids understand the true impact of their problems, and how they too, can help us as dads understand that our problems may not be as big as we sometimes feel they are. Conversation topics include:

•  The importance of slowing down and listening to your kid
•  How to help your child understand the actual impact of their problem
•  The importance of a single father/son dynamic in a children's book
•  How Ben dealt with a stressful problem aboard Air Force One
•  And more!

The guys conclude the episode with a soul-bearing series of Confessions.

LINKS:
Big Problems, Little Problems (official book website)
Ben Feller (Instagram)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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