The Modern Dads Podcast

Child psychologist and author Dr. Tovah Klein joins us to talk about her new book, How Toddlers Thrive, What Parents Can do Today for Children Ages 2-5 to Plant the Seeds of Lifelong Success. Dr. Klein suggests that we consider our perspective and expectations as we guide our toddlers. We also talk about Universal Pre-K programs and Dr. Klein's advice for a developmentally appropriate curriculum. The Parents Phrase Bookauthor Whit Honea joins us again to share his script for repairing the relationship with your child after those inevitable moments when you lose your cool and say something you wish you hadn't.

New York Times personal finance columnist and author Ron Lieber talks to the Modern Dads Podcast about his book, The Opposite of Spoiled, Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money. We talk about what is means to be spoiled and the steps parents can take to avoid spoiling their child. Ron also gives advice for parents thinking about allowance, giving, birthday presents, and saving for college. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins again to suggest that the opposite of spoiling your children is not depriving them of life's experiences.

Dr. Michael Reichert talks about his new book, How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men. He suggests that we rethink our understanding of boys and recognize that strong relationships with parents, coaches, and teachers help them succeed at school and in life. We discuss how to talk to boys about the #MeToo movement and gender equality.

Two of our favorite dads and online voices Jeff Bogle and Mike Reynolds join us to talk raising daughters. We talk about the uphill climb our daughters still face in the 21st century and the role that we as dads can play in challenging the long-held beliefs and stereotypes that are foisted upon women and girls. Josh Kross chimes also chimes in with why he thinks chivalry as we know it is dead (but there might be hope)

In this episode, we talk about a subject that is keeping parents up at night, kids and technology. We talk to technology expert, entrepreneur, and Dad Labs Co-Founder, Clay Nichols about a realistic approach to kids using technology and social networks. We also talk to Clay about his latest initiative, LookOut Social, an online education and monitoring tool for parents to collaborate with their children to build a safe-online presence.

We’re noticing that parents, especially parents of young children, are unhappy.  We all desperately want to enjoy this time with our children, but it is easy to get bogged down in late night feedings, pre-school admissions, trying to get our kids to eat a vegetable, or worrying about our kids' addiction to Fortnite. We’re tackling the issue head-on with former New York Times Motherlode Editor, KJ Dell’Antonia, as we talk about her new book, How to be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute.

More than ever, fathers are caring for their children, tending to domestic chores, and providing for their family financially. In this episode of The Modern Dads Podcast, we feature a recent webinar City Dads Group organized with our friends at A Better Balance, a work and family advocacy center. Experts talk about how employer policies and legal rules interact to offer support to men as they consider starting a family, taking paternity leave, asking for a flexible schedule, and caring for sick kids. The Working Dad's Survival Guide author Scott Behson discusses the stigma of  prioritizing family, and what resources are available to assist dads in becoming our own best advocates in the workplace. Special thanks to our friends at The Handsome Father, Dad 2.0 Summit, and Life of Dad for co-sponsoring the webinar.

Until recently, the science of parenthood focused almost exclusively on mothers. As fathers have taken a more active role in childcare, researchers have begun to look at the impact dads have on their children. In this episode of The Modern Dads Podcast, we bring a 92Y Parenting Conference panel discussion: The New Science of Fatherhood, How the Research is Changing the Conversation. Panelists include sociologist Dr. Michael Kimmel, neuroscientist Dr. James Curley, psychologist Dr. Michael Thompson, and author Paul Raeburn moderates.

NPR Digital Education Correspondent and Author Anya Kamenetz talks about her new book, The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media & Real Life. Anya shares her realistic, research-based approach to enjoying screen time with our children. City Dads Group contributor Whit Honea joins to share how he helps his two boys fit technology and screen time into their lives.

Lauren Smith Brody talks about her new book, The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom’s Guide to Style, Sanity, & Big Success After Baby. We discuss the ways families can plan for a parent’s return to work and how dads can support their working partners. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins to talk about how he and his wife have set up their work life to support active parenthood and meaningful employment.

Do you rush your son's lunch to school when he forgets it? Have you called your daughter's teacher to urge her teacher to raise a B to an A? This is a message that many parents have been secretly waiting to hear-- we need to stop protecting our kids from failure so they can can develop the competence and confidence that comes from solving their own problems. We talk to New York Times bestselling author Jessica Lahey about her new book, The Gift of Failure, How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins to plead with teachers and schools to consider the value of homework.

City Dads across the reflect on the music that inspires and informs their parenting. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea reveals the Ray Charles song that he uses to get his kids going in the morning. #FatherhoodIsLit blogger James Lopez shares the parenting lessons he took from a Notorious B.I.G. song. The Cipher Producer Josh Kross discusses the Pink Floyd song that he uses to encourage his son to take advantage of his time as a kid. Designer Daddy Brent Almond tells us about a song he wrote for his son that made a big impact in their family’s life. One Good Dad Jason Green points to a Rolling Stone song to tell us about how his dreams have changed since becoming a father.

It's summer time! We talk to Dad's Book of Awesome Projects author Mike Adamick and Cool Mom Picks Founder Kristin Chase about some low-tech projects and high-tech apps that will set us up for a fun, creative, and relaxed summer with the kids. We also talk about the dastardly framed, but ultimately interesting NYT Room for Debate discussion about the necessity of dads.

Children’s book author Jake Gosselin talks about The Pinkaboos, the series he is writing with his wife that helps children face their fears. We talk about the inspiration for the series and a more evolved approach to writing for and about girls.

Happiest Baby on the Block author Dr. Harvey Karp joins to talk about the development of his approach to calming crying babies and the crucial role dads play. We also discuss Dr. Karp’s groundbreaking Snoo Smart Sleeper that took him five years to create with MIT-trained engineers and famed designer Yves Behar. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins to encourage us to let our teenagers cry.

All too often, we see dads in the news threatening their daughters’ boyfriends with various forms of bodily harm. Recently, it was former NFL kicker Jay Feely holding a gun by his side as he wished his daughter and her date a good time at prom. The Internet blew up with the usual debates about guns, but we saw another issue though-- fathers of sons don't want their children to be treated like predators. For this episode, we brought together some of our favorite dads to offer Mr. Feely and other dads of daughters a different perspective. Jason Greene, Mike Reynolds, and Chris Bernholdt offer their perspective as dads of daughters, and Whit Honea offers his perspective as a father of sons.

MenAlive Founder and Author Dr. Jed Diamond shares the latest research about men's experience with stress, anxiety, and depression and the new symptoms men should look for as they consider whether they need help. We also talk about Movember, a global campaign to raise awareness and funds for men's health research and treatment.

It's our second annual Movember episode, and we once again focus on men's health, and more specifically men's mental health. Three of our favorite dads, Ryan Hamilton, Lorne Jaffe, and Ron Mattocks join us to talk about their individual experiences with anxiety, depression, and bi-polar disorder, and the various ways each has found treatment and support. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins again to talk about why he is working so hard to make sure his two young sons know that feelings matter, their own and those of the people around them.

Stew Friedman, Wharton Professor and author of Baby Bust: New Choices for Men and Women in Work and Family reveals the astounding discovery that only 42% of 2012 college graduates plan to have children—half the percentage who took the same survey in 1992. We discuss the similarities in the value that both generations place on career and family, and the challenges today's generation reports about the difficulty of "having it all" including high debt, increased work hours, and extreme careers. Professor Friedman gives advice for individuals trying to find their own work-life fit and for organizations trying to manage a changing workforce.

Kori Reed and Mike Becker talk about their new book, Zag Zig Parenting: (Mis)Adventures of a Career-Driven Mom and a Stay-at-Home Dad. We also talk about how their family arrangement started and how it has evolved over 20 years and four kids.