Why, Dad?

What are your kids learning from what you do, not just what you tell them? Chris Avery believes becoming a dad shouldn’t mean shelving your dreams. It should mean learning how to pursue meaningful things alongside your family and letting your kids see the struggle, failure, repair, and growth that come with it. In this episode: 👨‍👧 Why kids need to see their dads fail, apologize, and try again 🗣...

Twenty years after high school, Paul and Andrew finally went back. What they expected to be a fun reunion became something deeper: a reminder of how powerful old friendships can be, how shared experiences can bond people for decades, and how important it is to actively build community instead of waiting for it to magically appear. Because apparently adult male friendship does not maintain itself t...

Paul and Andrew are heading back to New Hampshire for their 20-year high school reunion, which means it’s time to crack open a fairly unusual chapter of their past. In this duosode, they talk about growing up together at an intensely structured all-boys Catholic boarding school, the brotherhood that developed there, and why many of those relationships still hold up two decades later. They discuss:...

This episode of the Why Dad? Podcast explores the pressure many men feel to become the "perfect" husband, father, and provider—and why that pursuit often misses the point. Inspired by a scene from Everybody Loves Raymond, Paul reflects on how one father's simple decision to stop repeating the physical discipline he experienced as a child created a generational shift. The conversation argues that m...

In this episode of Why, Dad?, Andrew kicks off the conversation by asking Paul a simple question after a weekend of yard work: How important is it to teach our kids practical household skills? What begins as a discussion about landscaping and home maintenance quickly becomes a deeper conversation about fatherhood, intentionality, and the kind of men we hope to raise. Paul reflects on the tension m...

A lot of dads don’t have a motivation problem or a values problem. They have unconscious rules about responsibility, protection, and provision that keep them stuck in work mode, correction mode, or rescue mode, even when they’re home with the people they’re working so hard for. In this episode, Paul and Andrew sit down with Tim Shurr, a father, author, speaker, and expert in unconscious beliefs, t...

A fake NBA news story sparked an hour-long conversation between Dr. Fred Moss and his adult son that had almost nothing to do with basketball. Instead, it became a conversation about truth, corruption, honesty, relationships, and the kind of connection every parent hopes to have with their children decades from now. We explore why lying, cheating, and stealing destroy trust, what it looks like to...

In this duosode of the Why Dad? podcast, Paul and Andrew discuss a parenting influencer whose videos sparked questions about discipline, physical punishment, and teaching children resilience. The conversation begins with an influencer who requires his young son to run suicides (sprint drills) to earn video game time and claims that raising children is "no different than training a dog." While Paul...

Matthew Jandernoa believes many men know what the right thing is… but don’t really know their own hearts. In this conversation, we explore what happens when fatherhood exposes the parts of ourselves we’d rather avoid. We talk about frustration, patience, humility, comparison, healing, and why becoming a better dad starts long before becoming a dad at all. Matthew shares a powerful story from his t...

Episode Summary In this episode of Why, Dad? , Paul and Andrew tackle a question every parent eventually faces: What is the real purpose of education? Starting with Paul's search for the best educational path for his children, the conversation quickly moves beyond public school vs. homeschool and into a deeper discussion about what education is actually supposed to accomplish. The hosts challenge...

Summary: How do we raise boys into good men when the world seems confused about what a good man even is? In this episode, Paul and Andrew sit down with Shaun Dawson, host of Raising Men, to talk about modern masculinity, brotherhood, emotional safety, ego in parenting, and what boys need from the men around them. Show Notes: How do we raise boys into good men when the world seems confused about wh...

This week on Why, Dad? , Paul and Andrew unpack a family vacation that turned into an unexpected lesson on parenting, boundaries, and community. After a few tense moments involving overtired kids, public meltdowns, and well-meaning corrections from close friends, the guys dive into a difficult but important question: What happens when the people who love your kids discipline them differently than...

Most dads know they need to talk to their kids about the digital world. Most just don’t know where to start. In this episode, we sit down with Chris Rogers, a former teacher and coach who works with teens and families navigating unhealthy digital habits, shame, identity, and hard conversations. We talk about: Why shame pushes kids into secrecy The dangers of a screen-first childhood Why filters an...

This episode of the YDad Podcast is a “duosode” conversation between Paul and Andrew exploring whether modern kids are being overstimulated into passivity . They begin with light banter, then shift into a deeper discussion about how the number of toys, screen time, and constant stimulation may affect creativity, attention span, independence, and social development. Andrew references small-scale ob...

Sean McManus shares his journey from feeling overwhelmed, impatient, and uncertain as a new father to becoming a coach who helps men rebuild themselves physically, mentally, spiritually, and relationally. This conversation explores how dads can stop relying solely on discipline and instead build practical systems that create consistency, strength, and leadership in their homes. Sean opens up about...

In this reflective episode of Why, Dad? , Paul and Andrew take a step back after 43 episodes and over a year of conversations on fatherhood, virtue, and growth. Rather than introducing a new topic, they revisit the moments, lessons, and guests that have shaped the podcast—and their lives. They highlight the power of gratitude , recalling how a simple daily practice—especially within the family—can...

In this episode, Paul and Andrew sit down with Ken Kunken to talk about how a life-changing football injury at age 20 led him down a completely unexpected path. Ken shares how paralysis reshaped his identity, why he never thought marriage or fatherhood would be possible, and how meeting his wife Anna changed everything. He opens up about becoming a dad to triplets at 54, raising sons with empathy...

This episode is different. We sit down with Mick Wienholt to talk about fatherhood that begins with loss. Mick and his wife lost their firstborn son, Luke, at full term. What followed wasn’t a clean or simple healing process. It was grief, questions, anger, surrender… and eventually, transformation. In this conversation, we talk about: What it feels like to become a dad and lose your child in the...

In this reflective and unscripted episode, Paul and Andrew dive into a personal tension many men face: the balance between structure and presence. What begins as a casual conversation quickly unfolds into a deeper exploration of routines, habits, and the danger of letting them become the end goal rather than a means to something greater. Paul shares his struggle with relying on routine to stay dis...

Most dads don’t have a plan. They just try to do their best. Nathaniel Turner challenges that completely. In this episode, we explore what it means to raise a child intentionally by working backward from who they should become. From building a “starting five” of mentors to writing letters that shape identity, this conversation pushes beyond surface-level parenting into legacy-level thinking. If yo...

Pride gets a bad reputation. Most of us have been taught that pride is something dangerous—something that leads to ego, arrogance, and selfishness. But is all pride actually bad? In this episode of Why, Dad? , Paul and Andrew explore the difference between destructive pride and healthy pride , and why that distinction matters for men, fathers, and the next generation. The conversation dives into q...

This episode explores the transformative power of men's groups, emphasizing support, accountability, and emotional connection for men and fathers. Jason Lange shares insights on how community impacts personal growth, parenting, and identity shifts, offering practical advice for men seeking deeper connection and self-awareness. Key Topics The importance of men's groups for support and accountabilit...

Paul Wandrey and Andrew Stolpestad unpack the popular idea that “men should be dangerous” through the lens of Wild at Heart. They explore what the phrase gets right, what it risks communicating, and where a better target might be “capable and intentional.” The conversation threads through human nature, adventure, protection, taking calculated risks, and the crucial difference between dangerous and...

In this episode of the Why Dad Podcast, hosts Paul Wandrey and Andrew Stolpestad engage in a profound conversation with Chad Hufford, a father of six and founder of Veritas Wealth Management. The discussion revolves around the importance of intentionality in parenting, particularly in financial stewardship. Chad emphasizes that financial health, much like physical health, requires active attention...

In this episode of the Why, Dad? Podcast, Paul Wandrey and Andrew Stolpestad dive into teamwork and partnership in marriage and family life. Paul reflects on a week of solo parenting, the highs and lows of patience, and how stress can either divide or refine you. Together, they unpack the shift from living as a “lone wolf” to building a shared life with a spouse. They challenge the 50/50 myth, exp...