Dads in Real Life Podcast

Today, Travis and Robert welcome special guest Jon Kelly to the podcast for a conversation about fatherhood, entrepreneurship, coffee, tattoos, and building a life from the ground up. Jon shares the journey from: ☕ Roasting coffee in his backyard 🎨 Tattooing friends in his garage ➡️ To eventually owning both a coffee roasting company and a tattoo shop while raising a daughter. What seem like two...

Today’s episode starts with a challenge from Travis: 🚨 If the YouTube channel gains 100 more subscribers… he’ll tear open his kitchen wall on camera. 🚨 Why? A few episodes ago, Travis mentioned a mysterious sound coming from inside the wall, and he’s been waiting for the right moment to investigate. So now the question is: 👀 What’s inside the wall? Send this episode to a friend, and let’s see i...

On today’s episode, Travis kicks things off with a game of “Where Did That Word Come From?” as he shares the origin story behind a word celebrating its 100-year anniversary. From there, the conversation shifts into today’s main topic: Mother’s Day ❤️ Travis asks Robert to share a favorite memory of his mom, which leads both dads into reflecting on early childhood memories and the impact their moth...

Today’s episode starts off with a simple observation from Travis… Why are there no crickets in Northern California? 🦗 Before they can even unpack that, a technical difficulty takes over—and after a 15-minute battle with his mic, Travis finally gets back on track… only to jump straight into a topic every dad knows all too well: 💥 Getting hit in the privates. From toddler meltdowns at the perfect...

We’re back after a quick spring break—and as always, Travis kicks things off with a Trader Joe’s review, this time featuring Beer Bread 🍺🍞. From there, it’s straight into real-life dad talk: Why holidays sometimes feel like more work than school days A random (but surprisingly useful) Chrome household pro-tip And the chaos of getting back into routine after time off Then the conversation shifts...

In today’s episode, Travis kicks things off with a mix of questions, stories, and real-life updates from his world as a dad. They start by talking about productivity: ⏱️ What’s your most productive hour of the day? Rob breaks it down into creative work vs. busy work, while Travis shares why mornings—and a surprising late-morning window—are his go-to times to get things done. From there, it’s class...

Today’s episode is a bit of a smorgasbord—and it starts exactly where you’d expect… the dentist. Travis and Robert share some good (and not so good) stories, from living room dental setups to wisdom teeth experiences you won’t forget anytime soon. Then things take a turn as Travis debates a very real dad dilemma: Do you cut into your drywall to chase potential treasure… or ask your wife first? Fro...

On today’s episode, Travis and Robert talk about something every dad experiences—but doesn’t always talk about: stress. Before diving in, Travis points out that it’s been one year since their stress and breathwork episode, so they revisit their original opening game… and let’s just say, it doesn’t go quite the same this time around. From there, the conversation gets real. Travis asks Robert: “How...

In today’s episode, Travis and Robert welcome a special guest, Dave — father and co-owner of Soccer Shots Sacramento — to continue the conversation on youth sports. Of course, the episode kicks off with Travis’s classic intro segment, where he shares his thoughts on on-ramp traffic lights and why stopping when they’re red might actually make everyone’s life easier. After that, the conversation shi...

On today’s episode, we’re celebrating a birthday. Travis kicks things off by sharing that it’s his birthday, and what better way to celebrate than by spending it with our listeners talking about fatherhood and the different stages of life. Robert and Travis reflect on how birthdays change as we grow older: 🎁 When we were kids, birthdays meant toys and presents 🍻 Early adulthood, when birthdays w...

Today we continue Part 2 of our Youth Sports series. In the first episode, Travis shared that his kids are still a little young for competitive sports, while Robert opened up about navigating the world of club sports in Southern California. This week, we widen the lens and welcome Travis’s cousin Ben from New Zealand, a father of two teenagers deeply involved in after-school activities and sports....

In today’s episode, Travis hits the ground running with a question no one expected… involving bowel movements and public pools. Yes, we go there. From there, it’s classic dad-life riffing—current family happenings, what we’re watching during the Winter Olympics, and how the vibe of the big event feels different as adults (and especially as parents). We talk about: ❄️ What the Olympics feel like no...

In today’s episode, we kick off a two-part series on Youth Sports—but first, Travis opens with the intro question: “What hasn’t changed?” From the smell of Play-Doh instantly transporting us back to childhood to the simple things that stay consistent over time, Travis and Robert reflect on what still feels the same… even as life moves fast. Then the conversation shifts to Youth Sports. Travis isn’...

In today’s episode, Travis and Robert talk about tools for dads—but not just the kind you keep in the garage. Before jumping into the main topic, Travis kicks things off with a few quick product reviews, including a drink from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, black sesame balls, and a sweet snack from a local spot. From there, the conversation widens into: DIY home improvement tools Tools to protect and...

In today’s episode, Travis brings a question to the table that feels both futuristic and uncomfortably close to home: What happens when robots take over the world? The conversation was sparked by comments from Elon Musk suggesting that in the near future, humanoid robots could be in every home, helping care for the elderly and even watching our kids. From there, Travis and Robert unpack the idea f...

In this episode, Travis and Robert pick up right where they left off, continuing the conversation around habits and systems for 2026. Travis starts things off with a few shout-outs—including a very important one to the man who invented a tool that cuts butter (respect where it’s due 🧈). Rob briefly addresses the elephant in the room… yes, the black eye. From there, the guys finally dig into the r...

Welcome to the first episode of 2026 🎉—and it was such a good conversation we had to split it into two sessions. Travis kicks things off with some classic dad-level questions: What is the proper way to eat a Bagel Bite? Can a Hot Pocket actually be cooked all the way through? And… do you have a plan if your Christmas tree catches fire? 😅 After warming up with a little humor, Travis and Robert sh...

In today’s Christmas episode, Travis surprises Robert—and the listeners—by inviting a Secret Santa guest onto the podcast. 🎅 Meet Johnny, a dad of four and a firefighter living in Australia. Together, we explore what it’s like celebrating Christmas when it’s cold and cozy versus sunny and hot, and how holiday traditions change when the seasons are flipped upside down. Johnny shares his experience...

Travis kicks off today’s episode with a hot take no one asked for: salads should include leaves. From there, things take a hard left when he asks the question of the day— 👉 “Do you have a throw-up bowl?” (Yes, Robert had to clarify what he heard.) After some classic dad banter—testing spoiled food, catching up, and the realities of parenting—Travis shifts the conversation into a more reflective t...

Today, Travis and Robert welcome a special guest—Jesse from Ten Mile Brewing—for the first episode of this series. Jesse takes us behind the scenes of how he went from brewing beer in his garage to running multiple locations across Southern California. In this episode, Jesse shares: 🍺 How homebrewing became a passion 🏭 What it took to open a microbrewery from scratch 📈 The challenges of scaling...

In this Thanksgiving special, Travis kicks things off with a fun game called “Chain Link”—something he picked up from another podcast and wants to try with family over the holidays. He and Robert try it live on the show, and it quickly sets the tone for a warm, reflective episode.  (If you want to get straight to the good stuff, skip to 20:03) From there, the guys dive into gratitude, sharing what...

Today’s episode starts with Travis’s favorite opener: “I was today years old when I found out…” From surprising discoveries to everyday dad revelations, both Travis and Robert share some fun (and slightly embarrassing) truths. But the real conversation? Why does the holiday season now start… in September? Travis brings a full list of complaints — Christmas ornaments the day after Halloween, holida...

In today’s episode, Travis and Robert dive deep into something every dad can relate to — the never-ending to-do list and the mental load that comes with it. Robert shares his secret to staying on top of it all, from daily routines to the habits that make or break productivity. He talks about what actually makes the list, what doesn’t, and how saying no can sometimes be the most powerful tool. You’...

In today’s episode, Travis admits something shocking… he hasn’t seen a lot of the big-name movies most of us grew up with! 🎞️ Robert and Travis dive into their must-watch movie lists, sharing everything from the classics they loved as kids to the films they now enjoy with their own families. Then, they wrap things up with a lightning round of the Top 50 Movies of All Time — debating which ones the...

This week’s episode kicks off with story time — and trust us, you don’t want to miss the “poop-copter” story. 😅 Travis and Robert catch up on dad life highlights from the week, including Robert’s experience with club sports in Southern California and Travis’s latest parenting adventure. Then, the guys dive into the main topic: Halloween! They share childhood Halloween memories, what’s changed now...