Dadville with Dave Barnes and Jon McLaughlin

In this episode of Dadville, the fellas dive into the chaos of summer parenting. Jon shares the "play-by-play" heartbreak of his daughter’s first sleep away camp experience, and Dave recounts a childhood "life of crime" involving a camp nurse and a missing stitch. But it’s not all jokes—the guys get vulnerable about aging in the music industry. They discuss what success meant at 30 versus what it...

In this episode of Dadville, we sat down with Lee C. Camp, a professor of theology and ethics who has spent over two decades helping people wrestle with what it means to live a life worth living. While he is the host of the nationally syndicated show No Small Endeavor, Lee got remarkably vulnerable about his own "spiral" into depression at age 47 and the "unresolved crap" he had to address within...

We are thrilled to welcome back three-time guest Jon Acuff. As a New York Times bestselling author, Jon has built a career helping people stop overthinking and finally get unstuck. In this episode, we tackle the "architecture of enough" and the transition to empty nesting. Jon shares insights from his new book, Procrastination Proof, explaining how procrastination is often a failed "solution" for...

We sat down with 4-time Grammy winner Sara Watkins to solve a problem every professional faces: How do you maintain a 30-year career without burning out or losing your creative edge? From founding Nickel Creek at age eight to touring with icons like Jackson Browne, Sara has mastered the "communal dance" of longevity. In this session, we tackle the high-stakes pressure of performance anxiety. Sara...

Welcome to a special video edition of Dadville! We’re kicking things off with Dave’s high-energy celebration of Arsenal’s Premier League victory and a deep dive into why sports culture feels like family. Then, we pivot to the "frontal assault" of summer parenting. As school rhythms fade, we share our best survival "tips and tricks" to keep the chaos at bay. Discover the power of tangible bucket li...

Today we’re hanging out with the legendary Anjelah Johnson-Reyes. You’ve seen her viral "Nail Salon" bit and her iconic characters from Mad TV, but in this episode, we get into the nuts and bolts of her career and life as a mom. Anjelah shares her fascinating process for building a comedy hour, from recording every set to "cut the fat" to the daunting anxiety of starting a project from scratch. We...

Today, we’re hanging out with our friend Erin Napier, who is busy saving Laurel, Mississippi, one 25,000-square-foot hotel at a time. We dive into the "unfortunate" (that’s code for ugly) projects and the heart behind her latest restoration, The Heirloom, which survived a "devastating" fire just weeks before opening. Erin spills the tea on her first year as a homeschooling mom—turns out it only ta...

Welcome to Momville! In this episode, we’re hanging out with the legendary Lori McKenna, a three-time Grammy winner who somehow balanced raising five kids with a world-class songwriting career. We dive into her "internal rhythm" of 74 BPM and the hilarious reality of her early days showing up to open mics with a minivan and actual peanut butter on her guitar. Lori gets real about her 30-year marri...

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS HERE! The legendary Sissy Goff and David Thomas join us this week. Things get off to a wild start when host Dave realizes that a woman who changed his life decades ago is actually David’s sister. Once the shock wears off, the group discusses the duo’s new book about raising capable kids in a world that feels increasingly fragile. They explore why today’s kids are hesitant to do...

This episode features a "PowerPod" collaboration between the fellas and the creators of the 3% podcast, Jamie and Blake. The conversation explores radical honesty, specifically the "3% concept"—the practice of sharing the final, shame-filled layer of truth that individuals typically withhold from even their closest friends. The participants discuss the transition from childhood "proximity friendsh...

The fellas are back with our dear friend Ben Rector. It’s a classic dad-session—think driveway-wine-in-camping-chairs vibes. Ben drops some hilarious truth bombs, like his daughter's most accurate description of what he's like. He also breaks down his quest to look less like an accountant with his new robust beard and a legendary sock shootout method to find the perfect pair. But it’s not all oatm...

How quickly could you get a horse to downtown Boston? Well, today's guest McKittrick Simmons posed that very question to Dave and it really framed their 20+ friendship in a new way. After meeting his new friend, Jon McLaughlin, McKittrick breaks down the "neutron bomb" of intentional friendship and why "no theologians allowed" Bible studies are the secret to growth. Whether navigating the "beta te...

This week the fellas join up with former world number one tennis player and US Open champion Andy Roddick to discuss his legendary career and the transition into fatherhood. Jon is very excited! Roddick reflects on holding the world’s fastest serve record, his humorous rivalry with Roger Federer, and the "light" feeling of retiring at age 30. He shares candid stories from the "School of Earth," in...

The fellas talk to Jamie Winship, a former DC police officer and federal agent turned global peacemaker. Winship shares "absolutely bananas" stories, including the time he felt a divine prompt to "de-arrest" a suspect who committed two felonies, leading to a year-long partnership and a miraculous outcome for the man’s family. Then, they explore the Identity Method, which teaches listeners how to d...

Whether you are currently on spring break or just trying not to be "spring broke," the struggle of dad guilt is a universal experience. The fellas dive into the work-versus-presence conundrum, exploring how early "husband guilt" evolves into a paternal fear of missing out on key milestones. Then, they get honest about the triggers of feeling like a "warm body" while zoning out on soccer scores and...

Buckle up, Dadville, because Matt Maher is in the house, and he’s bringing more than just hit worship songs. Ever wondered what happens when you walk into a college radio station, pretend to be Dave Barnes, and realize mid-song that your XLR cables aren't even plugged in?. Or how to survive "The Talk" with a 10-year-old using only tacos and a very necessary, panicked swig of Topo Chico?. We’re div...

In this episode, the fellas sit down with Stephen Kellogg—singer, songwriter, author, and "professional road dog." He joins the show from a waterless hotel in Indianapolis with a "lumberjack" vibe and a "hot word shower" of career reflections and parenting wisdom. As he approaches his milestone 3,000th show, Stephen reflects on a 28-year career built on connection and relentless hard work. The hea...

The fellas welcome the official "Pastor of Dadville," Elliott Cherry back to the pod to discuss the hilarious and humbling realities of fatherhood, from the "gates of Thunderdome" (the teenage years) to the chaos of solo parenting at soccer games where treadmills are left unplugged. Beyond the laughs, they dive into the profound concept of "making peace with the proximate"—learning to love the wor...

Think of this show as a "real-life ad for friendship" between two celebrity Nashville dads who are just like you. The fellas are just hanging out, laughing, and navigating the bizarre realities of life—like why the Kroger meat department employees are always so put out when you actually ask them to do their jobs. This week, they discuss dealing with a "post-apocalyptic" ice storm that resets the d...

Using AI-driven prompts in their Dad GPT series, the felas tackle how marriage is "assailed by outside forces" like screaming babies and the difficulty of maintaining an "eternal foot down". A central theme is the battle for presence; they candidly discuss phone addiction and using physical "bricks" to stay engaged. Focusing on the "repair" over the "rip," the show aims for a future where children...

This week's episode features the fellas catching up with Greta Eskridge, a second-generation homeschooling mother and author, sharing a powerful narrative of redemption and proactive parenting. We talk about her latest book, It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn, and some practical advice for protecting kids in a digital world. She advocates for connection over policing, treating "the talk" si...

After two years away, the wives are back in Dadville—and the best part? They’re all still married to the same people! In this catch-up episode, the couples dive into the emotionally exhausting reality of raising older kids, where arguments are far more robust than the toddler days. They also tackle the hilarious side of parenting, like why their kids now narrate their father's rising frustration (...

The fellas navigate the highs and lows of 2025, from vocal health scares to interactions with musical icons. Dave opens up about his battle with ulcerative laryngitis, a condition that forced him into total silence and led to a profound spiritual moment of surrender while walking near Vanderbilt. John reveals why he scrapped a completed record for the first time in his career, and they discuss the...

In this insightful return to Dadville, Stephen James joins the fellas to explore the "ecology" of leadership, parenting, and personal evolution. Focusing on Council Leadership, Stephen explains his transition from licensed therapy to viewing leadership as a lived practice rather than a mere class. He delves into the profound concept of "I amness", advocating for stillness and presence over constan...

We welcome Elizabeth and Brook Mosser from the Intentional Parents Podcast for a "copod" that—despite the catchy name—is definitely not a killer whale documentary. They tackle the "Godzilla of intentionality", a terrifying concept that often looms over parents like a massive monster with surprisingly tiny arms. Moving beyond "prescribed trails" and scripture-based scavenger hunts, the group focuse...