The Imperfect Dads Podcast

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, I talk with Sean McCorkle from the band Morella’s Forest about fatherhood, music, creativity, and figuring out what comes next in life. Sean is a stepdad to two kids who are now old enough to be on their own, and we talk about how those relationships change as children grow into adults. We also talk about Sean’s journey from playing music to becoming...

In this episode we we have on Chris Ballew of Caspar Babypants and The Presidents of the United States of America    We talked about learning to listen to your body, making 19 kids albums as Caspar Babypants, what made him start making kids music, having adult kids, valuing empathy and curiosity, childhood wonder influencing life, recording music at home, learning how he creates the best, his time...

On this episode we have on Rick Robles who does voice overs for TV and film, music and created the kids show Shoebiters.  We talk about his need to better about the family calendar, finding ways to recent during the day, doing voice overs and how he get started in the business, being an older dad, helping kids regulate when you need to regulate yourself, being better about sleep schedules and rout...

In this episode I talk to Ken Newman, musician, advocate, and founder of Blanket the Homeless. Ken tells me the story of adopting his son, the ways he learned to advocate for his son, his current relationship with son, and lots of story of being a dad. A lot of this episode is Ken being extremely honest about the love and emotion and depth he has found from being a dad.  From the stories he’s lear...

On this episode we talk to Craig Turner from the band Dadhats. We talk about taking kids to water parks, watching your kids go down water slides, working as a teacher, going to law school in St Louis, going from lawyer life to dad life, his band Dadhats, studio vs live performance, doing mini tours, playing Jortsfest and Midwest Friend Fest, and dance parties with your kids. Send us Fan Mail Follo...

On this episode we have on author and musician Pierce Freelon,  We talked about kids getting older, figuring out if they’re going to college, historically black colleges, state of education for kids, not paying for baby sitters anymore, his creation of children’s music, male initiation rites, the importance of initiation rites, modern masculinity, and his new album Black Boy Glow. You can find the...

On this episode we have on Brian Whittington, also known for doing kids music as Mr Bri Guy    We talked about being a handyman and making makeshift studio with packaging blankets, balancing childcare with being a handyman, not having a traditional career path, making kids music, flying to New Zealand with kids, screen time, hiking adventures, and getting way too into recording techniques.  Send u...

On this episode we have on bassist Eric Baines.  Eric has played with Dwight Yoakam, Keiko Matsui, and currently is a member of the legendary band Chicago.  He also has a podcast called The Dive Bar Rockstar Podcast.    We talked about how moving from LA to Nashville, touring when you’re a dad, transitioning from bus to home life, when your son thinks he owns the tour bus, sleep deprivation, paren...

On this episode we have on author Doug Johnston to talk about his book Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart    We talked about his daughter graduating college and starting her career, the importance of language, his love of quotes, his career in business, knowing the voice in your head, and how a nightly routine with his daughter inspired him to explore emotions an...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast , Devon is joined by Andy and Luke of the legendary band Piebald for a fun conversation about fatherhood, music, careers, and the challenge of balancing family life with being in a band. Andy and Luke share what it's like raising an only child while continuing to create music and tour. Andy talks about teaching his son how to cook and how being a...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast , Devon sits down with Ben Mench-Thurlow , a booking agent who helps artists plan tours and the creator of the Emo Orchestra —the live concert experience that combines iconic emo and pop-punk songs with a full orchestra. Content Note: This episode contains an honest conversation about child loss and grief. Ben courageously shares the story of becoming...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast , Devon reconnects with Stephen Stallings , frontman of the band Plot Points . Although they went to college together, it had been nearly 15 years since they last caught up, making this conversation equal parts reunion, music talk, and honest discussion about fatherhood. Stephen shares what life has been like since moving to New York, balancing a full-...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast , Devon is joined by Eddie Reyes , founding member of Taking Back Sunday and current member of Me . Eddie opens up about fatherhood, family, and rediscovering his love for music after stepping away to focus on himself and the people who mattered most. He shares what it's like raising a family where ADHD is a daily reality, why honest communication...

Musician Travis Talbert joins The Imperfect Dads Podcast for a powerful conversation about grief, fatherhood, sobriety, faith, and finding purpose through life's hardest moments. Travis opens up about the heartbreaking experience of losing a child as an infant and how that loss shaped him as a husband and father. He also shares what it's been like raising three children after that traged...

On this episode we have on Ryan Dominguez from the band Tokyo Rose.  We talk about becoming a father through adoption, going from a music career to school to a teacher, how they got the band back together after 20 years, being a New York sports fan, going to baseball games with his son, what’s different making music as a teenager vs in your 40s, playing shows and reconnecting with fans, and how he...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast , Devon is joined by Cameron Conrad , better known online as Your Elder Emo Mom . Cameron is a creator in the Never A Phase Network , where she shares her love of emo, pop-punk, concerts, nostalgia, and the music that continues to shape generations of fans. While Cameron is known for her music content, this conversation focuses on something even more p...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast , Devon sits down with Todd Millenacker , one half of the children's music duo Todd 'n' Tina , for a conversation about fatherhood, creativity, music, and building a meaningful life. Todd shares how he balances a traditional career in logistics with his passion for writing and performing children's music. They discuss preparing kids...

On this episode we have on tattoo artist Chipper Harbin who is based out of Nashville. We talk about Nashville’s creative scene, how he chose his style of water color tattoos, realities of being a tattoo artist, having kids that are good students, teaching empathy and kindness, being intentional when with family, touring with bands, doing tattoos on tour buses, and a staying authentic.  Send us Fa...

On this episode we have on Jonny Phillips.    Jonny has been the drummer for the band Limbeck for over 20 years, and currently works for National Addiction Specialists and hosts the podcast Breaking Down Addictions.     We talked about Jonny’s family wanting to move closer to water, being a fan of all Milwaukee teams, making sure he’s around for his family, playing shows and going out feels differ...

On this episode we have on Joe Carr from The Dedicated Joe Podcast and Serenity Kids.    We talk about trying to motivate your kid to do something, being late diagnosed with autism, how that diagnosis and therapy have really helped him, male initiation rights, learning how to  be the husband and dad your family needs, community around that journey, learning to regulate your emotions, the damage sh...

On this episode we have on David Reminick from Paper Mice and his new kids band DadJoke. We talked about food, loving to cook, some of our favorite things to cook or eat, therapy, ADHD, learning to prioritize yourself, trying new things and challenging yourself, being nicer to yourself, what life lessons you teach your kids,  what you unlearn when you become a parent, his time in Paper Mice and hi...

On this episode we have on painter and artist Jennifer McCaffrey.  Jennifer and I have been friends since kindergarten! So she is a life long friend.  If you have any life long friends, you know how much time goes by between talking to each other.  When you have a podcast, you just make them be on the show to catch up about life. But really, we talked about Jennifer getting ready to have a 4th chi...

On this episode we have on Steve Soboslai from the bands Punchline, Blue of Colors, and the podcast A Band Called Punchline.      We talked about his time in Nashville, moving back to Pittsburgh, being an older dad, having a young kid, finding mental space to write songs, coffee shop adventures with kids, community in Pittsburg, navigating screen time, enjoying the simple moments of life, his band...

On this episode we have on musician Annie Clements.  You might know her from her time playing bass with Marren Morris, Sugarland, Jason Isbell, and The Highwomen to name a few.   We talked about how he family moved to Big Sky Montana, playing with Tuesday Night Radio Club, loving life out west and being outside more, when you can’t lose your voice because part of your job is singing but you’ve got...

On this episode we have on musician Jeff Klemm who you may know for his kids music as Mr. Jeff or his other bands Diamon Kites or Maid Myriad. We talked about guitar gear, songwriting,  life with 3 kids, going from touring musician in his 20s to having kids, to changing careers to pre k teacher, to writing songs for pre kids, then becoming a full time kids musician.  A lot of this discussion is ta...