In this episode of World’s Greatest Dad, we sit down with speaker and performance coach Kyle Rodgers for a powerful conversation about what it truly means to choose fatherhood. Kyle shares how his own dad broke the cycle of emotional absence by committing to being present, and how that decision shaped the way Kyle now parents his own two young kids. He opens up about the weight of responsibility he felt the moment he became a father, and why consistency is the greatest gift he hopes to leave his children. We dive into his real-life dad fails, the moments he tags in his wife, and how apologizing to his kids has become a cornerstone of his parenting. Kyle reflects on discipline across generations, from spankings in his childhood to gentle parenting today, always stressing the importance of explaining the “why.” He talks about sacrifice, from working extra jobs to taking FaceTime calls before keynote speeches, and how presence matters more than perfection. And even though faith plays a grounding role in his own journey, Kyle teaches that every dad can anchor themselves in strong values regardless of religious affiliation. We explore the role of community, the power of mentors, and the village it takes to raise healthy kids. Plus, Kyle shares what golf has taught him about patience, joy, and handling life’s misses. Check out this can't miss episode where we lay down the facts that fatherhood isn’t a side hustle, it’s a legacy in motion.

Adam Sandler, sitcom jingles, and barbecue ribs aren’t the only things on Neil and Ali’s minds this week. In this jam-packed solo episode of World’s Greatest Dad, the guys dive into the wild Reddit story of a father who shut down his wife’s “period party” for their daughter and what it says about respecting kids’ boundaries. They tackle the Wall Street Journal’s piece on “FAFO” parenting (aka f** around and find out*) and weigh it against gentle-parenting wisdom: when do consequences become retaliation? Listener letters spark more laughs and lessons: a teen crusading against Monopoly and smartphones, and a dad who secretly fed his son food from a banned Thai restaurant. Along the way, they trade their personal memories of Happy Gilmore, Full House, and other ‘90s TV classics, plus a detour through Fuddruckers, dog-parent culture, and the eternal debate over dicks dot com. Ali shares his new obsession with “hot-and-fast” Texas barbecue ribs, proving dad life is as much about the grill as it is about guidance. But despite the many detours, the conversation always circles back to the real work of fatherhood: balancing empathy, limits, and our own nostalgia for simpler times. If you’ve ever wondered how to set boundaries without crushing your kid’s spirit...or just need a laugh about the absurdity of modern parenting, this one’s for you. Equal parts wisdom, comedy, and cultural time travel, it’s proof that dads can care deeply and still joke about everything. Grab a plate of ribs and settle in: this episode is peak dad, from start to finish.

Join us as we sit down with Oliver Gee, host of The Earful Tower, for a heartfelt chat about life in Paris, raising kids across three cultures, and why wandering off-plan might be the best way to see the City of Light. Oliver shares how he swapped a newsroom career for podcasting, building a show that celebrates the stories hiding behind Paris’s cobblestone streets and 800-year-old walls. We talk about parenting in a French–Swedish–Australian household, teaching kids three languages, and finding balance between work, curiosity, and family life. From tips on kid-friendly cafés and spontaneous picnics to reflections on staying present through sleepless nights, this episode is packed with warmth and insight. Whether you’re a parent, traveler, or simply someone who loves good stories, you’ll find inspiration in Oliver’s thoughtful approach to adventure and fatherhood.Tune in for a conversation that reminds us to explore, connect, and enjoy the magic of everyday moments.

In this back-to-school parenting episode of World’s Greatest Dad, Ali and Neil share real-life stories about fatherhood, kids, and family life. Neil dives into the first day of French immersion kindergarten in New York City, his daughter starting second grade, and planning a creative board game birthday party, while Ali talks about raising an 8th grader in Austin, navigating middle school parenting, volleyball camps, and the milestone of giving his son his very first iPhone. Together, they discuss kids and technology, how parental controls really work, and what it means to let children explore texting and digital friendships. They also swap family travel stories from Paris and Mallorca to Japan and beyond, offering tips for traveling with kids, plus a surprising review of the Dave & Buster’s season pass. Along the way, the dads riff on pop culture from Breaking Bad and The Hunting Wives to K-Pop Demon Hunters and even the bizarre 1970s puppet show The Letter People. It’s a funny, relatable parenting podcast episode full of nostalgia, practical advice, and reminders to savor the little milestones whether it’s skee-ball, lasagna dinners, or late-night show binges.

What happens when you trade algorithms for orioles? Michael Lombardo joins us to talk about his leap from Google and YouTube into fatherhood, community building, and birdwatching. Along the way, we dig into tech disillusionment, the addictive pull of screens, and why birds might be the antidote all dads and parents all over need to understand a chaotic world. With binoculars, poems, and plenty of dad jokes, he’s turned birding into more than a hobby—it’s become a community lifeline for the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn where he hosts weekly birding group events on Saturday mornings. In this can't miss episode, Michael helps us understand how nature, neighborhood, and new parenthood all intersect.

Chef Jet Tila (Food Network, Iron Chef America, Cutthroat Kitchen) joins us for an unfiltered conversation about food, family, and fatherhood. Jet opens up about growing up in LA as the first U.S.-born child of Thai-Chinese immigrants, how his father’s choices forced him to restart life at 17, and why he ultimately walked away from a high-paying Vegas chef job to be present for his wife and kids. Jet shares how therapy, parenting with “firm but loving boundaries,” and resisting the pressure of smartphones for his 12-year-old have shaped his fatherhood journey. We also get Jet's hot take on authenticity in food, creating a family culture from scratch, and why he believes the best recipe he’s ever written is the one at home.

Ali and Neil sit down with Augustine Sedgewick, historian, dad, and author of Fatherhood: A History of Love and Power, to talk about the myths, stories, and struggles that shape what it means to be a dad. From ancient patriarchs to gentle parenting, Taylor Swift to the Founding Fathers, the dads cover it all this week and learn why the best fatherly advice might be: just listen.

Ali wears a red hat WITHOUT ANY WORDS ON IT. Neil gets roasted online by displeased TikTokkers. And together they unpack what it’s like to parent in the era of virality, cancellation, and preteens who correct your vocabulary. Plus: Gen X parenting guilt, and how to lose at chess without losing your kid’s respect. Don't miss our listener mailbag with questions on: grilling, DIY fails, kid anxiety, and family fart etiquette. Oh...and we talk about the Coldplay Affair because how could we not?

The World's Greatest Dads unpack the subjects other dad podcasts refuse to tackle: from composting blood clots to dying our gray hair to why carnitas may be the answer to everything. And the guys try to figure out if they’ve done anything right as dads. Spoiler: probably? PLUS: is it wrong to leave a toddler strapped to a bike outside a coffee shop? Neil and Ali consult the “Dad Ethicist” (aka themselves) in an episode full of truly questionable fatherly advice.

In this episode, Neil and Ali navigate the big stuff: kids, boredom, creativity, and letting go of perfection. Hear why bad singing isn’t the worst thing, how vintage sneakers might teach finance, and what How to Train Your Dragon says about fatherhood. We also cover: screen time battles, sarcastic six-year-olds, and what Pixar’s Elio taught us about shedding emotional armor. Plus, Neil does an Elmo voice. You’ve been warned.