On this episode we have on author Patton Dodd.

We talked about his kids getting older and now being a plane flight away, life in Texas, and  his day job helping families.  Most of this conversation was about his new book The Father you Get.  Patton had a difficult relationship with his dad.  His dad made his family move a lot, burned a lot of bridges, and Patton wrote this book about their relationship.  Patton was pretty honest about the journey of trying to learn about his father when he distanced himself from him for so long.  I also talked to Patton about the toll writing a book like this took on him, and the exhaustion of doing the audio book. 

The conversation isn’t all heavy because there’s life lessons he learned about fatherhood from this journey.  But I really appreciate Patton letting me into his mental space to discuss a book he never thought he’d write. 

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Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theimperfectdadspodcast . Look for new episodes of The Imperfect Dads Podcast every Monday and Thursday.

This podcast is part of the Never A Phase Network, follow them on instagram at @neveraphasenetwork and check out their podcasts like Emo Kids Anonymous and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on author, lawyer, and therapist Lauren Tetenbaum

We talk about kids crafting, being a cool mom, having the best snacks at your house, how she became a lawyer, social worker, and advocate for women, writing her book, what it’s like being on a book tour with family at home, and trying to answer the question what the ef is menopause.

Her new book is called Millennial Menopause: preparing for perimenopause, menopause and life’s next period. And it has a chapter helping you undertake phase of life your partner is about to enter into.  I do recommend this book if you have a partner or wife, because it pretty much just tell you to be more empathetic and nicer as their body changes.  And that’s always a good thing to be told.

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Support the show

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theimperfectdadspodcast . Look for new episodes of The Imperfect Dads Podcast every Monday and Thursday.

This podcast is part of the Never A Phase Network, follow them on instagram at @neveraphasenetwork and check out their podcasts like Emo Kids Anonymous and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on Randy James from the band Hopeful.

We talked about his journey with fertility and having 3 kids, having a band centered around hope and faith, starting a music career in his 30s, being from a music family, how he wants to be present for his family, getting older and getting healthier.

I got a real sense of gratitude from Randy in this call and excitement for life.  And that felt really cool to tap into on a call.  He’s making music, he’s a dad, and he seems like he’s entering into a chapter of life where he’s in disbelief this is his life.

His band Hopeful just recorded a new album, but they don’t have a release date set yet. But still make sure to find their music on all streaming platforms and give it a listen!

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Support the show

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theimperfectdadspodcast . Look for new episodes of The Imperfect Dads Podcast every Monday and Thursday.

This podcast is part of the Never A Phase Network, follow them on instagram at @neveraphasenetwork and check out their podcasts like Emo Kids Anonymous and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on Matt Pryor who you might know from The Get Up Kids, The New Amsterdams, The Terrible Twos, or playing under his own name.

We talked about his time podcasting, his old podcast Nothing to Write Home About, story arcs and conflict in kid entertainment, his experience making kids music, food, his sense of humor, thoughts on songwriting, his new album, getting sober, kickstarter campaigns, promoting yourself and having kids who are now adults.

Matt’s new album The Salton Sea is available on all streaming services, he’s about go on tour with his kids band opening for him, and you can also go to mattpryorandthesaltonsea.com to find the album and tour dates.

This was my 200th episode doing this podcast! I’ve listened to Matt’s music career since I first heard The Get Up Kids in like 2000.  To say that Matt doing an episode and talking to me is surreal is an understatement.  It’s really cool to do this podcast and talk to people about every day life and get this perspective on their life.  If you’ve been here since episode 1, or just found us, thank you!

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Support the show

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theimperfectdadspodcast . Look for new episodes of The Imperfect Dads Podcast every Monday and Thursday.

This podcast is part of the Never A Phase Network, follow them on instagram at @neveraphasenetwork and check out their podcasts like Emo Kids Anonymous and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on musician Tony Kamel.

I talked to Tony about expecting his second kid in 2026, life a musician, having a painting business, mental health, and activities he likes to do with his daughter.

A big part of this conversation was talking about the stress and anxiety of figuring out how to make sure your wife feels supported, but also you’re financially secure and trying to be present for your family.  Tony was really honest about the tension of wanting to get out on the road and play shows, but also not miss moments with his kids.

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Support the show

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theimperfectdadspodcast . Look for new episodes of The Imperfect Dads Podcast every Monday and Thursday.

This podcast is part of the Never A Phase Network, follow them on instagram at @neveraphasenetwork and check out their podcasts like Emo Kids Anonymous and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on comedian Mal Hall.

We talked about the chaos of having three kids, traveling across the country as a stand up comedian, business realities of being a comedian, making a lot of pizza and doing a pop up pizza business during the pandemic, cooking with your kids, growing up poor,  and what he does to help around the house when in town.

Mal Hall has a new family friendly comedy special  called What Are We Doing Today? It’s him telling stories about his life as a parent, like Costco trips, things your parents told you as a kid, and all the things.  You can find it on YouTube, or by going to malhalltv.com. Make sure to check his website for tour dates and see when he’s coming to a town hear you

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Support the show

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theimperfectdadspodcast . Look for new episodes of The Imperfect Dads Podcast every Monday and Thursday.

This podcast is part of the Never A Phase Network, follow them on instagram at @neveraphasenetwork and check out their podcasts like Emo Kids Anonymous and The Ska Mailman

• On this episode we talk to touring drummer Mark Stepro.  Mark is the current touring drummer for the Wallflowers and has also played with Ben Kweller.
   
   We talked about both being German and from the midwest, reflections on his son turning 10, talking to your kids about darkness in the world while also wanting them to stay a kid, generational parenting differences, how he stays connected while on tour, learning to set boundaries as a musician, doing family admin on a tour bus, and being present for his family. 
  
  

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Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theimperfectdadspodcast . Look for new episodes of The Imperfect Dads Podcast every Monday and Thursday.

This podcast is part of the Never A Phase Network, follow them on instagram at @neveraphasenetwork and check out their podcasts like Emo Kids Anonymous and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on drummer Mike Robinson.  Mike is currently the touring drummer for the band Say Anything and has a podcast called Food on Tour where bands talk about their favorite places to eat while on tour.

Mike talked about his son loves playing drums with him, how difficult working in the creative industry can be, his excitement to play with Max Bemis, letting his son go to sound check for bands, his son thinking he knows all the cool drummers, and the reality of having so much of his identity in being a touring musician while wanting to be home for his family. 

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Support the show

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theimperfectdadspodcast . Look for new episodes of The Imperfect Dads Podcast every Monday and Thursday.

This podcast is part of the Never A Phase Network, follow them on instagram at @neveraphasenetwork and check out their podcasts like Emo Kids Anonymous and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on Allan Shedlin from Daddying Film Festival.

How I found Allan was kind cool. An account called Daddying Film Festival start following us on instagram and I noticed it was a film festival about fatherhood and encouraging people to make videos about fatherhood so I thought I’d reach out to them to see if they wanted to talk about it on the podcast!

Then I was introduced to Allan and found out he’s been an advocate for film and fatherhood his entire career, his articles have been featured in the New York Times, he’s sat on presidential forums to talk about fatherhood, and coined the term Daddying to make being a dad a verb.

For this conversation we talked about his journey with fatherhood, from being a teacher, to leading schools, conducting interviews with dads to learn about their lives, writing a book, being a dad, being a grandpa, and a lot of the life lessons he’s learned about fatherhood along the way. 

Make sure to go to daddyingfilmfestival.com the learn about the rules for submission for films and all the organization does!

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Support the show

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theimperfectdadspodcast . Look for new episodes of The Imperfect Dads Podcast every Monday and Thursday.

This podcast is part of the Never A Phase Network, follow them on instagram at @neveraphasenetwork and check out their podcasts like Emo Kids Anonymous and The Ska Mailman

This episode’s guest is Rob Reider the executive director of the Sad Dads Club.  The Sad Dads Club helps bereaved fathers navigate life after the loss of a child.  

This episode discovers child loss and the darkness that comes after it.  The Sad Dads Club exists to create community for dads after such a huge loss.

Rob and I talked about his love of music and his time in a band and the do it yourself punk scene, his experience with having a stillbirth, going through IVF, and having a second kid.  Rob shared stories of how this group gives men a life line when they’re surrounded by so much darkness.

I really respect and believe in what Rob is doing.  He’s leaning into meeting men where they are when they are isolated and making sure they feel seen and have space to discuss their lives. Rob has hard conversations with men all the time about their darkest moments, and the love and light he carries is really inspiring.

If you or a dad you know has experienced child loss at any point in their fatherhood journey, please let them know about Sad Dads Club. You can go to their website saddadsclub.org or follow them on instagram sad.dads.club 

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Support the show

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theimperfectdadspodcast . Look for new episodes of The Imperfect Dads Podcast every Monday and Thursday.

This podcast is part of the Never A Phase Network, follow them on instagram at @neveraphasenetwork and check out their podcasts like Emo Kids Anonymous and The Ska Mailman