JUST DO YOU.

S3E02 with David Morgenstern - When Parenting Isn't One Size Fits All


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When David Morgenstern and his husband became dads, they quickly realized that while parenting advice is everywhere, community for gay dads is not. The joy of fatherhood was real — but so were the assumptions, the erasure, and the systems still built around the idea that every family has a “mom and dad.” From public spaces to school forms to everyday interactions, their family often felt unseen.

Rather than accepting that gap, David decided to build what he and his husband couldn’t find. That vision became Gaddies — the first brand created specifically for gay dads, rooted in pride, visibility, and connection. What started as fun, their apparel has now evolved into something much bigger: a platform for storytelling, community-building, and celebrating the lived experiences of gay fathers.

In this episode, David shares what it’s really like to navigate parenthood as a gay dad — the moments no one prepares you for, the questions that come from strangers, and the importance of focusing on family, not formation. As he puts it, maybe 90% of parenting is the same — but it’s the remaining 10% that no one is talking about, and that’s where representation and community matter most.

We also talk about building gay dad culture in real time, honoring those who fought for the right to love and parent openly, and why visibility isn’t just affirming — it’s necessary. Whether you’re a gay dad, thinking about parenthood, or simply interested in how community gets built when it doesn’t already exist, this conversation is about belonging, pride, and parenting on your own terms.

Welcome to the conversation! 

To learn more about Gaddies, visit https://heygaddies.com  

Just Do You listeners get 20% off with code GAY20 — that’s G-A-Y 20 — at heygaddies.com

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JUST DO YOU.By Eric Nicoll