The Imperfect Dads Podcast

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon sits down with Ben Mench-Thurlow, a booking agent who helps artists plan tours and the creator of the Emo Orchestra—the live concert experience that combines iconic emo and pop-punk songs with a full orchestra.

Content Note: This episode contains an honest conversation about child loss and grief.

Ben courageously shares the story of becoming a father to triplets and the heartbreaking reality that two of his children never came home from the NICU. He opens up about navigating unimaginable grief, supporting his family through loss, and why he wanted to share his experience in the hope that other dads facing similar circumstances know they are not alone.

The conversation also explores Ben's career in the music industry, how he found his way to Nashville, what it's like booking tours for bands, and the inspiration behind creating the Emo Orchestra with his daughter in mind. Ben also talks about raising a daughter who knows more opening bands than headliners, balancing a demanding career with fatherhood, the team that helps bring Emo Orchestra to life, and the emotional experience of watching his daughter graduate from pre-K.

This episode is an honest discussion about fatherhood, grief, resilience, music, and finding purpose after profound loss.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Becoming a father to triplets
• Life in the NICU and coping with child loss
• Grief, healing, and supporting your family
• Why sharing difficult stories can help other dads
• Moving to Nashville and building a career in music
• Working as a booking agent for touring artists
• Creating the Emo Orchestra
• Balancing fatherhood with a demanding career
• Parenting, milestones, and the emotions of watching your kids grow

If you've experienced pregnancy loss, infant loss, or know someone who has, we hope Ben's story reminds you that you are not alone.

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Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok YouTube. 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  Wasting Time Podcast Certified Fangirl and The Ska Mailman

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon reconnects with Stephen Stallings, frontman of the band Plot Points. Although they went to college together, it had been nearly 15 years since they last caught up, making this conversation equal parts reunion, music talk, and honest discussion about fatherhood.

Stephen shares what life has been like since moving to New York, balancing a full-time career with being a husband, dad, and musician, and the long journey of finally finishing Plot Points' latest EP. He opens up about how work, family responsibilities, and everyday life can slow down creative projects—and why it's still worth pursuing them.

The conversation also dives into the fun and relatable moments of parenting, including taking kids to baseball games, figuring out where to hide Christmas presents as they get older, learning that scavenger hunts are sometimes more fun for parents than kids, and making time to intentionally connect with your spouse every day.

They also reminisce about their college days in Nashville, talk about introducing their wives to concerts they weren't sure they'd enjoy, and why going to concerts alone can actually be a great experience.

Whether you're a dad, a musician, or someone trying to balance family life with creative passions, this episode is full of relatable stories, laughter, and honest conversations.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Fatherhood and raising a child in New York
• Balancing music, family, and a full-time job
• The making of Plot Points' new EP
• Staying creative as a husband and dad
• Marriage and finding daily ways to connect
• Taking kids to baseball games
• Parenting lessons and holiday traditions
• Going to concerts alone
• College memories and life in Nashville
• Growing up while still making the music you love

Send us Fan Mail

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok YouTube. 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  Wasting Time Podcast Certified Fangirl and The Ska Mailman

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon is joined by Eddie Reyes, founding member of Taking Back Sunday and current member of Me.

Eddie opens up about fatherhood, family, and rediscovering his love for music after stepping away to focus on himself and the people who mattered most. He shares what it's like raising a family where ADHD is a daily reality, why honest communication with his kids has become one of his greatest parenting tools, and how being a Gen X dad has shaped his approach to raising children.

They also talk about the humbling experience of watching his son become the better guitar player, why his kids encouraged him to start making music again, the story behind forming Me, and how he's learned to create music simply because it makes him happy—not because of outside expectations. Throughout the conversation, Eddie reflects on the importance of listening to your kids and allowing them to help shape your perspective as a parent.

Whether you're a parent, musician, longtime Taking Back Sunday fan, or someone navigating the balance between family, creativity, and personal growth, this episode offers an honest and encouraging conversation.

In this episode:

• Eddie Reyes on life after Taking Back Sunday
• The story behind Me
• Fatherhood and raising kids with ADHD
• Honest communication with your children
• Parenting as a Gen X dad
• Watching your kids surpass you
• Why Eddie stepped away from music
• His kids encouraging him to play again
• Making music for happiness instead of expectations
• Staying authentic as an artist and a father
• Why listening to your kids matters

If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Imperfect Dads Podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with another parent, musician, or Taking Back Sunday fan who would enjoy the conversation.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok YouTube. 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  Wasting Time Podcast Certified Fangirl and The Ska Mailman

Musician Travis Talbert joins The Imperfect Dads Podcast for a powerful conversation about grief, fatherhood, sobriety, faith, and finding purpose through life's hardest moments.

Travis opens up about the heartbreaking experience of losing a child as an infant and how that loss shaped him as a husband and father. He also shares what it's been like raising three children after that tragedy, why being present for his family matters more than ever, and how quitting alcohol changed his life.

Beyond parenting, we talk about Travis's work as a pedal steel guitarist, balancing music with family life, his children's educational experiences, and his evolving journey with religion, spirituality, curiosity, and critical thinking. It's an honest conversation about growth, resilience, and what it means to keep showing up for the people you love.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Losing a child as an infant and navigating grief
• Raising three children after loss
• Fatherhood and being present for your family
• Quitting alcohol and the impact of sobriety
• Travis's journey with religion and spirituality
• Critical thinking, curiosity, and personal growth
• Playing pedal steel guitar and performing while raising a family
• Navigating your kids' educational experiences
• Making the most of summertime with your children

If you enjoy conversations about fatherhood, grief, parenting, sobriety, music, faith, mental health, and personal growth, be sure to like, subscribe, and share this episode.

#TravisTalbert #Fatherhood #ParentingPodcast #Grief #InfantLoss #Sobriety #Recovery #PedalSteel #Musician #Faith #Spirituality #MentalHealth #TheImperfectDadsPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok YouTube. 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  Wasting Time Podcast Certified Fangirl and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on Ryan Dominguez from the band Tokyo Rose. 

We talk about becoming a father through adoption, going from a music career to school to a teacher, how they got the band back together after 20 years, being a New York sports fan, going to baseball games with his son, what’s different making music as a teenager vs in your 40s, playing shows and reconnecting with fans, and how he found time to be creative and write new music.

Their new album Never Say Die comes out July 24.  Make sure to follow their instagram tokyorosenj to find out information for where to buy the album and where to see them on tour. 

Send us Fan Mail

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok YouTube. 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  Wasting Time Podcast Certified Fangirl and The Ska Mailman

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon is joined by Cameron Conrad, better known online as Your Elder Emo Mom. Cameron is a creator in the Never A Phase Network, where she shares her love of emo, pop-punk, concerts, nostalgia, and the music that continues to shape generations of fans.

While Cameron is known for her music content, this conversation focuses on something even more personal: motherhood and the lasting impact of growing up with a father in recovery.

Devon has spoken with many dads about sobriety and the decision to get sober, but this is the first conversation from the perspective of a child who experienced life with a parent in recovery. Cameron shares how her dad's commitment to sobriety shaped her childhood, influenced her family, and continues to impact her life today. It's an encouraging reminder that recovery doesn't just transform one person—it can change an entire family for generations.

They also talk about raising two daughters with very different personalities, supporting kids through dance, continuing to attend concerts after becoming parents, finding a school that feels like the right fit, and how Cameron built a community through TikTok and Instagram by celebrating emo culture and motherhood.

Whether you're a parent, someone in recovery, an emo or pop-punk fan, or simply looking for an honest conversation about family, healing, and raising kids, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• Growing up with a dad in recovery
• How sobriety impacts the entire family
• Motherhood and raising two daughters
• Parenting children with different personalities
• Supporting kids in dance and extracurricular activities
• Continuing to go to concerts after having children
• Emo and pop-punk culture
• The Never A Phase Network
• Building an audience on TikTok and Instagram
• Balancing content creation with family life

If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Imperfect Dads Podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with another parent, someone in recovery, or an emo fan who would appreciate this conversation.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok YouTube. 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  Wasting Time Podcast Certified Fangirl and The Ska Mailman

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon sits down with Todd Millenacker, one half of the children's music duo Todd 'n' Tina, for a conversation about fatherhood, creativity, music, and building a meaningful life.

Todd shares how he balances a traditional career in logistics with his passion for writing and performing children's music. They discuss preparing kids for college, raising confident and creative children, finding stability while pursuing artistic passions, and how becoming a dad changed the way he approaches work and life.

The conversation also explores Todd's love of running ultra marathons, life in Minnesota, writing commercial jingles—including music for Little Caesars—and the story behind how Todd 'n' Tina was formed. He explains why lyric writing is his favorite part of songwriting, what makes children's music so rewarding, and why imaginative songs about dinosaurs continue to connect with kids.

Whether you're a parent, musician, songwriter, creative professional, or simply looking for an honest conversation about balancing family and creativity, you'll find something to enjoy in this episode.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Fatherhood and parenting
• Preparing kids for college
• Balancing a career with creative passions
• Children's music and songwriting
• Todd 'n' Tina
• Running ultra marathons
• Living in Minnesota
• Commercial jingle writing
• Little Caesars music
• Lyric writing and the creative process
• Music for kids
• Dinosaurs, imagination, and creativity

Audio Note: Due to a microphone issue before recording, portions of this episode were recorded using Todd's laptop microphone. You may notice occasional changes in audio quality, but the conversation was too good not to share. Thanks for listening and understanding!

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow The Imperfect Dads Podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with another parent, musician, or creative who would appreciate the conversation.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok YouTube. 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  Wasting Time Podcast Certified Fangirl and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on tattoo artist Chipper Harbin who is based out of Nashville.

We talk about Nashville’s creative scene, how he chose his style of water color tattoos, realities of being a tattoo artist, having kids that are good students, teaching empathy and kindness, being intentional when with family, touring with bands, doing tattoos on tour buses, and a staying authentic. 

Send us Fan Mail

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok YouTube. 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  Wasting Time Podcast Certified Fangirl and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on Jonny Phillips.
 
 Jonny has been the drummer for the band Limbeck for over 20 years, and currently works for National Addiction Specialists and hosts the podcast Breaking Down Addictions. 
 
 We talked about Jonny’s family wanting to move closer to water, being a fan of all Milwaukee teams, making sure he’s around for his family, playing shows and going out feels different when you have a kid, the daily rhythms he and his wife get to do with their kid, a love of golf, getting sober, what sobriety means to him, enjoying this phase of life, and how he started his podcast Breaking Down Addictions and the power of sharing your story.
 
 This is episode 250 for me! AND HOLY CRAP THAT’S COOL.
 
 I thought Jonny’s episode was a perfect example of what type of guests are on this podcast.  I talk to a lot of dads who are involved in music, recovery, and can’t believe they have a family and get to live the life they have.  So Jonny! Thanks for sharing your story, and thanks for being a good hang!

Send us Fan Mail

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok YouTube. 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  Wasting Time Podcast Certified Fangirl and The Ska Mailman

On this episode we have on Joe Carr from The Dedicated Joe Podcast and Serenity Kids.
 
 We talk about trying to motivate your kid to do something, being late diagnosed with autism, how that diagnosis and therapy have really helped him, male initiation rights, learning how to  be the husband and dad your family needs, community around that journey, learning to regulate your emotions, the damage shame can do, reparenting yourself, shadow work, 

I did an episode of Dedicated Joe you guys should go check out.  And I want to say that Joe was pretty honest and open with his journey of how to become a version of himself that lives within his integrity.  So Joe! Thanks for hanging out on a couple of calls and thanks for keeping it real.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok YouTube. 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  Wasting Time Podcast Certified Fangirl and The Ska Mailman