Unemployed AF Dad

Being sad is a part of life as we all experience a wide range of emotions on a daily basis. But sometimes in society there seems to be a message that if you're sad, there must be something wrong. Well that's simply not always true! It's okay to feel down, and we explore the reasons behind our emotions, breaking down the stigma around sadness. We don't have to smile through the sadn...

This episode has become a yearly tradition for the podcast during the holidays as we discuss how to navigate the Season alcohol free, whether you're starting day one of your alcohol free journey or have been on it for years. Alcohol consumption historically spikes during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day and it can be often times be incorporated into many people's holi...

One year ago Leslie and I released our very first episode of the Unemployed AF Dad podcast. Starting a podcast had been something we had discussed for a long time, but life has always just kept us from ever taking any further action. When I lost my job at the end of October 2022, we knew that it was time to take that leap of faith and record an episode, put it out there and just see what happened....

Even in 2023, there are still gender stereotypes that exist when it comes to defining masculinity and femininity. As children, society seems to gear boys and girls towards certain colors, toys, activities that society has determined the norm for that gender. Then as we grow into adults, there are expectations that we act a particular way, dress a certain way, and like specific things based on our...

We are so honored to have the opportunity to speak with today's guest, Allison Guilbault. Allison is a New Jersey based licensed therapist specializing in anxiety and trauma.  Her mission is to promote radical and relentless self-love and empowerment to populations that are often marginalized, mainly women, the queer community and individuals with non-traditional lifestyles. During this amazin...

Today’s episode is one that I knew that we would record at some point, but I wasn’t sure when we’d be ready to do so. It’s not a story that we necessarily were excited to tell and certainly one Leslie and I wish didn’t happen, but in this episode of Unemployed AF Dad we revisit a night in September of 2015 when I was arrested for drunk driving. It was an all-time low moment in my life and a really...

Finances are a challenge we all face and especially in today's world, it can be really difficult to make ends meet. This can cause a huge strain on your relationship with your partner and may be a topic you tend to avoid. It can especially be difficult if only one partner works and you are reliant on one income. Let's face it, struggling to pay your bills can impact even the strongest of r...

The most challenging thing that Leslie and I ever faced in our marriage was my drinking. It began as casual nights out with friends that continued even as we became parents and had little ones that we were responsible for. I would still want to go out and have fun with my friends when I could, and even though I always promised that I would only "have a few" and be fine the next morning, that usual...

First of all, so sorry for all the feedback throughout the episode. Something was interfering with our mics so we'll get that resolved for next time. Thanks for your patience! A few months back someone asked me why I use the term alcohol free when I talk about my life now that I don't drink. I thought this was a great question and a topic we could tackle on today's episode. As with any...

According to data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), a total of 391,641 chil­dren and youth were liv­ing in fos­ter care in 2021. Once chil­dren enter fos­ter care, the goal is to either safe­ly reuni­fy them with their par­ents if the fam­i­ly con­cerns are resolved or secure anoth­er per­ma­nent fam­i­ly. So that means there are tons of kiddos out there tha...

Long-term relationships can be tough. That's a given. Sometimes we just forget to have fun and lose that connection with our partner that seemed so strong at the beginning of the relationship. That can be for many different reasons of course, but for Leslie and I, it was mainly because of the wedge that alcohol had driven between us. That lead to arguments and resentment and began to affect al...

We've all heard the phrase, "just think positive thoughts" and all will be well, but what if there's more to it than that? What if what you put out into the universe is what you attract back to you? In this episode, we explore the influence of mindset, positive affirmations, and the remarkable ability to shape your own reality through the power of your thoughts. Sound a little fa...

Raising kids has never been more challenging with everything going on in our world today. But then again, isn't that probably what our parents thought too? In this episode, we share our thoughts on how we approach raising our children in a world full of distractions and of course that means diving into technology among other things. Do we have all the answers? Of course not. But we believe you...

Today we are super excited to have our brother-in-law, Wesley Paul Hughes, on the pod! We've been wanting to get Wes on here for awhile because he and Adam have very similar alcohol free stories (and anniversary dates)! We cover everything from his drinking history, why he decided he needed to give up alcohol all together, relearning how to be a husband and father, the role alcohol plays in sp...

No show notes this week to give you a hint, listen to the episode for the latest Unemployed AF Dad update! C'mon, it's only 10 minutes! If you're enjoying Unemployed AF Dad and find the content valuable, please make sure to share episodes with your friends and family. We really appreciate it! Follow us on Instagram: @unemployed_af_dad Make sure to check our website at https://www.unemp...

We often talk about our own alcohol free journey starting in our late 30s, but our guest today, Lauryn, has become alcohol free in her mid 20s! Lauryn realized that her drinking habits were becoming an issue for her, but also liked the feeling of cutting loose and being carefree when she drank. However, at the end of 2022, she finally decided that enough was enough and has been alcohol free since...

On April 23, 2022, Leslie and I started our alcohol free journey and what a year it's been! On today's episode we not only reflect on what the last year has been like and what we've learned, but we look forward to the future as well. Nothing could have prepared us for what we would have experienced this year and while our lives are so much better today than they were a year ago, we cer...

This is such an exciting episode of Unemployed AF Dad as we were honored to have our first guest, Matt Gardiner! Matt is a Recovery Coach & Storywork Coach who has helped numerous people get out of their "stuck stories" and manage their addictions to effectively integrate sobriety into their lives. His coaching method focuses on breath awareness, inner dialogue word choice, and refra...

The terms "self-care" and "self-love" seem to a buzzword these days, but what do you think of when you hear them? Do you think of bubble baths, shopping, spa days, a glass of wine at the end of a long day, etc.? If so, you NEED to listen to this episode. Self-care and self-love are much more than just treating yourself with temporary pleasures. While they are connected, they ar...

If you were given a time machine and had the ability to go back and give your younger self advice, what would you tell yourself? Inspired by my favorite movie, Back to the Future, we discuss what we would go back and tell young Adam and Leslie so that maybe they would have done some things a bit differently. However, we also acknowledge that even though we may not always make the best decisions, w...

Today's episode has a bit different vibe, it's just me (Adam) flying solo! The word "unemployment" probably has a negative connotation for most people. It may bring up thoughts of fear, financial troubles, unknown future employment, etc. And trust me, I've had those thoughts as well. However, I've looked at my latest unemployment as an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to develop new skills. It's...

We commonly think of the food we eat affecting our physical health, like gaining weight for example, but the food and drinks we consume also play a big role in our mental health as well. In a day and age where we are constantly bombarded by mixed messaging about "healthy" foods, we try to bust some of the common misconceptions about what we've been told is or is not healthy. We also share Dr. Amen...

Has alcohol ever been the source of problems in your marriage? Does your partner drink more than you'd like? Do you feel like your relationship would be much improved if alcohol was removed from it? As we learned, it started with working on change within ourselves and as a result, our marriage has flourished without alcohol. Y'all, we get deep in this one! We hope that anyone who finds themselves...

*SPOILER ALERT! There is no such thing as a perfect way to raise a child, no matter what anyone might tell you.  Being a parent is such a privilege and one of the greatest things a person can experience, but it also challenges you in ways you never dreamed. Everywhere you look there are "experts" telling us what we should and should not do when it comes to raising our children. Society also u...

Happy New Year from Unemployed AF Dad! When we meet someone new, one of the first questions that is bound to come up is, "What you do for a living?" You may even feel defined by your occupation. Many people tie their sense of self-worth and value to their job title or career path, but this can be detrimental to our mental and emotional well-being. Especially if you lose that job (which I have some...