Most parents think they're rewarding good behavior…but what if they're actually training their kids to lie, sneak, and hide problems instead?

In this episode, Brian and Dave break down how "well-intentioned" rules and rewards often create the exact opposite of what we want. From the famous Cobra Effect in British India to Brian's real-life experience as a safety manager, we explore Goodhart's Law and why your parenting "program" might be backfiring.

We discuss:

• Why zero-tolerance rules often train kids to become excellent liars

• How reward systems can destroy trust and honesty • The difference between controlling your kids and designing better incentives

• Practical ways to reward honesty, early problem-reporting, and real responsibility

If you've ever wondered why your rules aren't working the way you expected, this episode will make you rethink everything.

What's one rule or reward in your house that might be creating a perverse incentive?

New episodes every Thursday at 8:00 PM Mountain Time.

👉 All Episodes & Show Notes: https://www.unhingeddadspod.org/video...

👉 Support the Show: https://ko-fi.com/unhingeddadspodcast

#UnhingedDads #Fatherhood #Parenting #PerverseIncentives #GoodhartLaw #DadLife

Most modern parenting says "give kids more freedom." But what if taking away structure is actually making everyone more anxious, exhausted, and miserable?

In this episode, Brian and Dave make the case that clear, reasonable, and consistently enforced boundaries are one of the greatest gifts we can give our children — and ourselves. Real freedom isn't the absence of rules. It's knowing exactly where the lines are so you can actually relax and thrive inside them.

We cover:

• Why vague household rules create chaos and resentment

• How structured screen time can save your family's peace and attention spans

• The difference between controlling kids and giving them healthy structure

• Why many dads are afraid to set strong boundaries (and why we must)

Structure isn't the enemy of freedom — it's the foundation of it.

What's one boundary you know you need to set (or strengthen) this week? Shoot us an email [email protected] we read comments live on air!

👇 New episodes every Thursday at 8:00 PM Mountain Time.

👉 Full episodes & show notes: https://www.unhingeddadspod.org/video-episodes

👉 Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/unhingeddadspodcast

#UnhingedDads #Fatherhood #Parenting #Boundaries #DadLife

Brian and Dave take a hard look at the popular phrase "It takes a village to raise a child" — and how it's increasingly being used to justify forced collectivization, government overreach, and the erosion of parental responsibility.

We break down:

• The difference between a voluntary "village" (the kind that actually works) and forced community

• Why scattered families and modern life make chosen tribes more important than ever

• How we've intentionally built our own real village despite living far away from blood relatives and chosen family

• The dangers of outsourcing parenting to the state or society

This episode gets honest about community, freedom, and what real masculine responsibility looks like in 2026.

What does "village" mean to you — chosen family or something else? Drop your thoughts in an email and we'll read them on the next show! [email protected]

Live every Thursday at 8:00 PM Mountain Time on YouTube, Twitch, Kick, and BitChute.

👉 www.unhingeddadspod.com

There are lines that stick with us:

- "Gordy's gone man. I'll be outside." -Black Hawk Down

- "Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here, obedient to their laws, we lie" -Simonedes of Ceos

- "Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! ... Ride now, ride now! Ride to ruin and the world's ending! Death! Death! Death! Forth Eorlingas!" -The Return of the King

What's the real male fantasy? Charging into battle with your brothers, shields locked, screaming as you make one glorious last stand?

It sure as hell isn't surviving another day of diapers, tantrums, bills, and never-ending dad duties.

In this episode, Brian and Dave get to unleash their inner history nerd, unpack our cultural addiction to the tragic romance of the "last stand" — Thermopylae, the Alamo, Stamford Bridge, you name it — and why so many men secretly (or not so secretly) find that fantasy more appealing than the quiet, grinding endurance required to actually be a good father and husband.

We talk about:

• Why the "die gloriously" fantasy hits so hard

• How it messes with our ability to show up for the daily grind

• What real masculine strength looks like when no one's watching and there's no dramatic music

• Shield walls vs. changing another diaper at 3 AM

This one gets honest, a little dark, and very relatable. What's your version of the "ultimate male fantasy"? Shoot us an email, we read them on air! [email protected]

👉 www.unhingeddadspod.com

Mrs. Dave dropped a not-so-subtle callout on us: stop selling yourself short and actually give credit where it's due — starting with yourself.

In this episode, Brian and Dave get uncomfortably honest about why acknowledging our own accomplishments feels so weird (and why we're quick to do it for our friends but never for ourselves).

We dig into the mental blocks, the dad guilt, the fear of sounding arrogant, and how learning to celebrate your wins can make you a better father, husband, and man.

There was plenty of squirming, dark humor, and zero filter — just like always.

If you've ever downplayed your achievements or felt guilty for feeling proud, this one's for you.

What's one win you've been brushing off lately? Email it to Brian [email protected] and we'll read it on the next episode! 🔗 www.unhingeddadsPod.com

Join Brian and Dave as they tackle the ultimate goal of parenting: raising happy, healthy, and independent adults in a rapidly changing world.

In this episode, they break down the shifting landscape of higher education, career paths, trade schools, and occupational licensing — and why the old "college at all costs" script might be failing our kids.

Side quests include:

• Why Caillou (and a lot of modern kids' programming) is terrible
• How Futurama might actually be better for kids than most "educational" shows
• Brian's disdain for HR drones

The episode ends with an honest conversation about the real reason behind Unhinged Dads: Brian gets very frank about the mistakes he's made as a dad and his hope that this podcast helps other fathers avoid the same pitfalls.

If you're a dad trying to raise capable kids in today's world, this one hits hard.

What was your biggest takeaway? Drop it in the comments or shoot us an email [email protected] — we read them on the show!

📅 Live every Thursday at 8:00 PM Mountain Time

🔗 www.unhingeddadsPod.com

Hold onto your hats — this episode is pure, unfiltered chaos!

Brian and Dave were joined by Ian McMurtrie (better known online as LawDog) for an absolute riot of a show.

Growing up in West Africa, Ian turned "childhood" into something completely next-level.

In this episode he shares:

• How he helped found the (short-lived) Nigerian Space Agency
• The time 12-year-old Ian accidentally became a minor warlord
• Accidentally declaring war on the Nigerian Army with a homemade trebuchet and a 16 lb bowling ball
• Learning to make black powder…from his mom
• The headache of trying to dispose of an unwanted rocket launcher in Beirut and Lagos in 1977

If you think your kids are chaos gremlins, Ian is about to redefine the term.

We also got an update from Ian on his work as head of Raconteur Press, where they're bringing back classic-style boys' adventure novels in the spirit of Heinlein.

Grab The Africa Files (and more of LawDog's stories) here: https://www.amazon.com/Africa-Files-LawDog-Book-ebook/dp/B0C3PCN3VS

Check out all the new adventure books from Raconteur Press: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=raconteur+press

Ian will be back soon to share stories from his 27-year law enforcement career — you will NOT want to miss that one.

What was your favorite story from this episode? The trebuchet? The warlord origin? Mom's lessons in "applied chemistry"? Drop it in the comments below or use the contact form at https://www.unhingeddadspod.com — we read them on air!

👍 Like | 🛎 Subscribe | Turn on notifications so you never miss the chaos!

#LawDog #UnhingedDads #WildChildhood #africastories #Dadhumor #storytime #BoysAdventure #RaconteurPress #AccidentalWarlord #Podcast

When your "free time" finally starts at 9:00pm… but you're already exhausted. Sound familiar?

In Episode 10 of Unhinged Dads, Brian, and Dave get real about how hard it is to maintain friendships as middle-aged dads with kids, marriages, and zero energy left by the end of the day.

We talk about:

• Why adult friendships slowly fade after kids come along

• The 9pm "trauma bonding" window most dads live in

• How military moves, deployments, and daily chaos make it even harder

• Practical (and sometimes funny) ways we're trying to keep our friendships alive

If you're a dad who's ever texted "we should grab a beer" and then never actually did it… this one's for you.

What's your biggest struggle with maintaining dad friendships right now? Email Brian [email protected] and we'll discuss on-air!

more unhinged dad talk → unhingeddadspod.com

Follow us on Instagram @unhingeddadspod

Ever feel like you're raising kids in the wrong decade?

Brian and Dave discuss the strange reality of being a modern dad — trying to hold onto old-school values while navigating technology overload, rapidly changing social norms, and a world that feels completely alien compared to the one we grew up in.

We talk about:

• The challenges of parenting with 90s/early 2000s values in 2026

• Technology, screens, and social media

• How not to screw up the next generation while feeling like a stranger in your own time

• The humor and frustration of being a time traveler in your own family

If you've ever thought "This isn't how I was raised…" — this episode is for you.

What's the biggest difference you've noticed between how you were raised and how you're raising your kids? Drop it in the comments.

Live every Thursday at 8:00 PM Mountain Time.

👉 www.unhingeddadspod.com

Why does it feel like every other dad has parenting figured out?

Brian and Dave dive deep into the toxic habit of comparing your behind-the-scenes reality to everyone else's perfectly curated highlight reel. They talk about how social media warps our view of fatherhood, why comparison steals our joy, and how to break free from it.

We discuss:

• The dangers of "tripping on brainrot" and comparison culture

• How to practice radical self-compassion as a dad

• Giving yourself the same grace you freely give to others

• Staying grounded and focused on continuous self-improvement

This episode is honest, a little vulnerable, and full of the real-talk dad advice you've come to expect — plus some bad dad jokes along the way.

If you've ever felt like you're failing while everyone else is winning, this one's for you.

What's something you've been comparing yourself on lately? Drop it in the comments.

Live every Thursday at 8:00 PM Mountain Time.

👉 www.unhingeddadspod.com