Modern Dadhood | Unpacking Fatherhood + Parenting for Dads (and Moms!)

DADS: Are you stuck in a rut, desperate to shake off bad habits and replace them with healthier ones? Or maybe you want to be a better role model for your kids but just can’t find the time or motivation? It’s so common, and it can be incredibly hard to take the first steps toward positive, long-term change. Our guest, Nick Henry, is a father of four who faced a life-changing whirlwind when he pivo...

Ever feel like your home is a swirling hive of chaos? That’s daily life for author, podcast host, and wellness trailblazer Jeff Krasno. In this special Father's Day episode of Modern Dadhood, we welcome Jeff—father to three teenage daughters and creator of the new Diaries of a Dance Dad podcast an audio book. From the hilarious trenches of dance competitions to the poignant depths of father-daught...

Have you ever gotten a text from your kid that made you question, just for a second, whether you’re living in the same reality? Today we’re joined by Chip Leighton, a dad of two and the mastermind behind The Leighton Show, where Chip shares head-scratching texts from his teens and hilarious relationship observations that all parents can relate to. We dive into dad cringe, modern teen vernacular, a...

Feel like you and your partner are ships passing in the night lately? Or keeping a quiet mental scorecard over things like laundry and garbage duty? Maintaining a strong relationship while raising kids isn’t easy—and it’s one of the biggest challenges couples face. So if you’ve ever felt the strain of growing responsibilities, misaligned priorities, or resentments creeping in, you’re not alone.  I...

The word “mindfulness” gets thrown around a lot... But have you ever taken the time to consider what it really means to parent mindfully? Or how embracing all of your emotions—even the tough ones—can transform your family life? Gestalt Therapist, certified mindfulness meditation teacher, and father of one, Vikram Kolmannskog, joins us to share wisdom from his upcoming book Reflections on Parenting...

We all have them: Those kids’ books we were gifted or we picked up on a whim because the title was intriguing or the characters were familiar. But then we crack them open, and BAM— total schlock. With the sheer amount of content for children out there, it's increasingly difficult to find the good stuff; the content that inspires wonder. The types of shows, movies, and books WE remember loving as k...

There are countless reasons why a parent might choose to step away from their career to stay home and raise their kids—financial considerations, personal values, or simply wanting to be more present during those formative years. But even in 2026, most people still assume it’ll be Mom who makes that move. Enter Shannon Carpenter: a stay-at-home dad of three who traded investigating elder abuse for...

In this special episode we're calling Moments of Profundity in 2025 , we're revisiting some of the most meaningful conversations from the past year, celebrating the joys and complexities of fatherhood in 2025. The topics range from building trust around screens and social media with Soren Poulsen, to supporting men through the grief of miscarriage with Kelly Jean-Philippe, and reimagining parent-c...

Have you ever considered why the experience of being a dad can look radically different across cultures and communities?  In our 2025 holiday episode, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Alvin Thomas—associate professor, mentor, thought leader, award-winning podcast host, and an internationally respected researcher in human development and family studies. Dr. Thomas has devoted his career to supporting B...

The holidays are here, and so is that energy—frantic, magical, and a tad overwhelming. But for children’s book author and illustrator Matt Tavares, it’s also the season of book signings and creative endeavors. Matt is an award-winning author and illustrator of nearly 30 books, among them the beloved Dasher series and its latest installment, Dasher and the Polar Bear . Matt joins us fresh off his b...

Feel like working from home with kids is a constant juggling act, and you’re dropping balls left and right? More dads than ever are navigating the chaos of Zoom calls interrupted by tiny voices, endless snack requests, and the struggle to be present both at work AND at home at all times. Thankfully, in this episode we're joined by social media strategist Thom Gibson, founder of Work From Home Dads...

Ever find yourself losing your cool when your kid melts down, or scratching your head as they refuse to clean up their room (again)? Turns out, there’s a surprising science behind keeping calm amid the chaos of parenthood. We're joined by Kirk Martin, founder of Celebrate Calm and host of the immensely popular Calm Parenting podcast. Kirk is the proud dad of one grown son, Casey, and “America’s Ca...

Not everyone instinctively knows when they’ve reached the point in life where they’re ready for kids. For Nick Hexum, the self-proclaimed “dad” of his band 311, that moment came when he realized his wild days were behind him and he was ready to step into family life as a husband and father. Nearly two decades later, he’s a proud dad of three daughters, ages 5 to 16. We caught up with him for a rar...

We've been teasing it for months; a new podcast that we are producing in conjunction with Wavland which is hosted by former Modern Dadhood guest, Victor M. Sweeney. And now the time has come to make the official announcement and share the trailer. And we couldn't think of a better way to do that, than to couple it with a Rewind episode of our original chat with the Internet's famous mortician hims...

Does the idea of a whole summer one on one with your kid sound idyllic... or intimidating? If you’ve ever been the primary parent for a whole season, you've likely experienced both of those extremes. In this episode, we’re joined by Joel Costigan, a longtime educator, soccer coach, and dad to a 7-year-old daughter named Ruby. Joel recently made a major career move, trading a lucrative healthcare j...

Navigating the legal maze of child support and custody can feel impossible... especially when the system seems stacked against you. Picasso Cognizance learned this the hard way when his partner's family took his son away from him at the age of two. Picasso spent the next nearly two decades paying child support, immersing himself in the world of parental rights, and being ping-ponged between agenci...

What does it mean to be a "feminist dad"? Maybe a better place to start is asking: what does it mean to be a feminist at all... and why is that term so controversial? There are many ideas and misunderstandings associated with the concept of feminism, and in August of 2021, we were fortunate to explore feminism and fatherhood with the brilliant Jordan Shapiro: author, educator, and senior fellow at...

Ever notice how most spray cleaners and detergents seem to be marketed straight out of the 1950s... and almost always to moms? Entrepreneur Sean Busch is on a mission to flip the script. Sean is a dad of two kids who LOVE to make messes, and he's the founder of Dad Mode, a new line of high-performance cleaning products designed specifically for dads. Sean joins us to talk about why it's important...

Does it get more "meta" than interviewing your own parent about parenting? For our Father’s Day 2025 Special, Adam Flaherty goes deep with a truly special and personal guest: his own father. Tom Flaherty isn’t just Adam’s dad; he's a father of four (spanning 20 years in age!), an Air Force veteran, a retired police officer, and an inspiration and beacon of hope to many people recovering from alcoh...

Think back to your childhood... Did you have a TV neighbor, friend, or mentor who you trusted? For millions of young people, that person was Luis from Sesame Street, played for over four decades by the legendary Emilio Delgado. In this Rewind episode which originally aired in July of 2020, Emilio discusses becoming a positive role model and even a father figure to kids around the world, even as he...

Do you feel uneasy about handing your kid an internet-enabled device? Or feel like you know very little about what they're doing online? It can be really tough to broach conversations about this stuff without instantly putting our kids on the defense. We're joined by Soren Poulsen, co-founder of Raising Digital Citizens and father of two, who, alongside his wife, created the Essential Conversation...

Feeling unprepared for the challenges of fatherhood? You’re certainly not alone. In this Rewind episode, Editor-In-Chief Tyghe Trimble, formerly of Fatherly, joins us to navigate the roadmap to modern dadhood. When we chatted with Tyghe in November of 2021, he and his team at Fatherly had just released the insightful book Fatherhood: A Comprehensive Guide to Birth Budgeting, Finding Flow, and Beco...

Struggling with kids who are picky eaters? Want to involve your kids in meal preparation but don't know where to start? This episode is for you. We welcome esteemed professional chef (and professional dad) David Nayfeld, who brings fresh ideas to your family kitchen. With his upcoming cookbook, Dad, What's for Dinner? , David shares recipes and strategies for engaging your kids in cooking—transfor...

Dads, ever feel like you're on autopilot, where each day is just running through the same motions? You're not alone. Dad of three Chris Robbins joins us to discuss how Soul Degree seeks to help men interrupt the flow, get outside, and take some well-deserved time to focus on bettering ourselves. Chris also shares candidly about being a new "empty nester" along with his wife, legendary podcaster, a...

🎥 Watch the video trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKuKFz1u3_Q Adam Flaherty and Marc Checket are two dads from suburban New England. And while they might think they’re pretty funny and cool, the world clearly does NOT need another white dude ramble-cast.   That’s why Modern Dadhood explores what it really means to be a "dad" through candid, authentic, and often hilarious conversatio...