Unhinged Dads Podcast

After 5 weeks apart, Brian and Dave finally catch up on all the beautiful chaos of real dad life. Brian's deep in summer dad mode, kids out of school, summer orchestra, daily exercise bootcamp, drafting the kids as work assistants, and pushing everyone with weekly mountain hikes + a big family road trip to Oregon. Dave and family just moved back into their house (repairs still in progress), surviv...

Why have fewer men and boys been reading fiction over the last century? Brian sits down with Malory — PhD researcher studying men's reading habits and author of gritty, action-packed stories like Psycho Marine and Morgan & Merlin — for a wide-ranging conversation. They discuss: • How fiction became culturally "unmasculine" and what that's done to boys • Why LitRPG and progression fantasy are pulli...

Most parents think they're rewarding good behavior…but what if they're actually training their kids to lie, sneak, and hide problems instead? In this episode, Brian and Dave break down how "well-intentioned" rules and rewards often create the exact opposite of what we want. From the famous Cobra Effect in British India to Brian's real-life experience as a safety manager, we explore Goodhart's Law...

Most modern parenting says "give kids more freedom." But what if taking away structure is actually making everyone more anxious, exhausted, and miserable? In this episode, Brian and Dave make the case that clear, reasonable, and consistently enforced boundaries are one of the greatest gifts we can give our children — and ourselves. Real freedom isn't the absence of rules. It's knowing exactly wher...

Brian and Dave take a hard look at the popular phrase "It takes a village to raise a child" — and how it's increasingly being used to justify forced collectivization, government overreach, and the erosion of parental responsibility. We break down: • The difference between a voluntary "village" (the kind that actually works) and forced community • Why scattered families and modern life make chosen...

There are lines that stick with us: - "Gordy's gone man. I'll be outside." -Black Hawk Down - "Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here, obedient to their laws, we lie" -Simonedes of Ceos - "Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! ... Ride now, ride now! Ride to ruin and the world's ending! Death! Death! Death! Forth Eorlingas!" -The Return of the King What's the real male fantasy? Charging i...

Mrs. Dave dropped a not-so-subtle callout on us: stop selling yourself short and actually give credit where it's due — starting with yourself. In this episode, Brian and Dave get uncomfortably honest about why acknowledging our own accomplishments feels so weird (and why we're quick to do it for our friends but never for ourselves). We dig into the mental blocks, the dad guilt, the fear of soundin...

Join Brian and Dave as they tackle the ultimate goal of parenting: raising happy, healthy, and independent adults in a rapidly changing world. In this episode, they break down the shifting landscape of higher education, career paths, trade schools, and occupational licensing — and why the old "college at all costs" script might be failing our kids.   Side quests include: Why Caillou (and a lot of...

Hold onto your hats — this episode is pure, unfiltered chaos! Brian and Dave were joined by Ian McMurtrie (better known online as LawDog) for an absolute riot of a show. Growing up in West Africa, Ian turned "childhood" into something completely next-level. In this episode he shares: How he helped found the (short-lived) Nigerian Space Agency The time 12-year-old Ian accidentally became a minor wa...

When your "free time" finally starts at 9:00pm… but you're already exhausted. Sound familiar? In Episode 10 of Unhinged Dads, Brian, and Dave get real about how hard it is to maintain friendships as middle-aged dads with kids, marriages, and zero energy left by the end of the day. We talk about: • Why adult friendships slowly fade after kids come along • The 9pm "trauma bonding" window most dads l...

Ever feel like you're raising kids in the wrong decade? Brian and Dave discuss the strange reality of being a modern dad — trying to hold onto old-school values while navigating technology overload, rapidly changing social norms, and a world that feels completely alien compared to the one we grew up in.  We talk about: • The challenges of parenting with 90s/early 2000s values in 2026 • Technology,...

Why does it feel like every other dad has parenting figured out? Brian and Dave dive deep into the toxic habit of comparing your behind-the-scenes reality to everyone else's perfectly curated highlight reel. They talk about how social media warps our view of fatherhood, why comparison steals our joy, and how to break free from it. We discuss: • The dangers of "tripping on brainrot" and comparison...

Sleep? What sleep? Brian and Dave go deep on one of the hardest parts of parenting — chronic sleep deprivation while raising toddlers in your 40s. From failed sleep training attempts and brutal night wakings to the long-term effects of never getting enough rest, this episode covers the reality most parenting podcasts won't touch. We discuss: • Why sleep feels impossible once you hit your 40s with...

Every family's favorite never-ending battle: CHORES. Brian and Dave go beyond the surface and discuss the real reason we make our kids do chores. It's not just about getting the dishes done or the house looking decent — it's about teaching responsibility, pride in your space, accountability, and real-life skills that will serve them as adults. In this episode we cover: • The deeper purpose behind...

Brian and Dave talk about what they've learned over the last 20 years about building a strong, functional marriage that actually works as a true team. From navigating Navy deployments and multiple life disasters to the everyday work of staying partners, this episode is packed with honest lessons — especially from Dave and Mrs. Dave as they approach their 19th anniversary. We discuss: • What "team"...

Join Brian and Dave as they talk about one of the hardest parts of being a dad — building real discipline in yourself and teaching it to your kids by example. We discuss: • Why self-discipline is so difficult for many dads • How to stop judging yourself so harshly when you mess up • Practical ways to instill discipline in your children without being a drill sergeant • Leading by example instead of...

Brian and Dave discuss one of the loudest (and most common) parts of parenting — when kids throw massive tantrums and have big emotional meltdowns. We also talk about other loud forms of emotional expression and, most importantly, our responsibility as parents to regulate our own emotions — especially when our kids can't. In this episode: • Why kids have tantrums and what they're really trying to...

Join Brian, Dave, and special guest Tom Knighton as they ramble about what self care actually looks like for responsible adults — not the fluffy Instagram version. This episode is full of honest conversation and plenty of side quests as they discuss: • Why self care feels foreign (or ridiculous) to a lot of dads • Practical ways to take care of yourself without guilt • The difference between real...

Join us for our very first episode!  Meet Brian, Dave, and Nik as they talk about where they are as fathers, how they came together as friends, and where they are now.  Hear some crazy history, like Brian's emergency liver transplant 21 years ago, Nik's devastating spinal injury, and Dave and Mrs. Dave's cross country PCS from hell.   We closed by introducing the segment that we'll be starting eac...