
Dear Old Dads
Dear Old Dads is a podcast that examines and deconstructs all things Dad, from parenting to patriarchy, grilling to manning up. The hosts ask what it means to be a good man in today's world and what it should mean. Featuring Eli Bosnick, Thomas Smith, and Tom Curry, the show aims to find correct, concise answers to these questions.
Episodes

Best of Tom: The Car Wash Fight Club (December 2022 Bonus)
Best of Tom continues, and this one has never been on the public feed. It's a patron bonus from December 2022, and it holds the story we've called back more than any other: Tom's first job, at the car wash fight club. It's a repeat for patrons, and every download helps keep Tom's share of the show coming while he's out. We work through a backlog of listener questions: what activities we'd want for

Best of Tom: Are We Spoiling Our Kids? (DOD4)
Best of Tom continues. While Tom recovers, we're replaying his classic stories in order so the running jokes make sense, which means we're still in the early episodes, and they're packed with lore. This one is an all-time favorite, full of jokes we still reference to this day. It's a repeat, and every download helps keep Tom's share of the show coming while he's out. Are we spoiling our kids? Thre

Best of Tom: How Do We Protect Our Kids From Bullies? (DOD3)
Best of Tom, part 2! While Tom recovers, we're replaying his classic stories in order. They're repeats, but each one is the extended patron cut, so if you're not a patron, there's a story at the end you've never heard. These early episodes were all about our backstories, so this one is loaded with deep Tom lore, plus maybe the best Eli lore ever recorded. Every download helps keep Tom's share of t

Best of Tom: Get to Know the Dads (DOD1)
While Tom recovers, Dear Old Dads is on a break, so this month we're replaying the Best of Tom: a curated run of his classic stories, in order. These are repeats, and each one is the extended patron cut, so if you're not a patron, there's a story at the end you've never heard. Every download helps keep Tom's share of the show coming while he's out. We're starting at the very beginning, with the in

Tom's Not Ok. We're Taking A Break.
Yeah so you kinda have to hand it to Tom's luck demon. It's undefeated. It has Tom fighting his own bones.

DOD302: Viced Rhino Transed All the Kids
Tom is out (spine goblin is at work today), so the dads are joined by YouTuber and dad-of-five Viced Rhino, who has a really good Tom impression. His family also stole the entire alphabet apparently. For patrons only: Thomas makes it to Chuck E. Cheese for the very first time. Arlo has thoughts. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD301: Lydia's Got Her Groove Back (Tom Does Not)
Tom is still in the hospital, so the dads are keeping it (relatively) mild this week. Joining Thomas and Eli is the one, the only Lydia Smith, honorary dad and apparent inverse of Tom's luck, who is very much thriving right now. Lydia is getting her groove back, and strangers keep noticing. Also, a listener asks: is it okay to sit on your phone while your kid plays at the playground? (Eli has feel

DOD300: She'll Do It If You Want To
Note: This episode was part of the double record while Tom was home from the hospital. As mentioned previously, he is currently back in the hospital and we wish him speedy healing and a swift return home! He probably has more HVAC issues to deal with!!! Tom apparently hasn't earned his rest; poor dude had HVAC issues the second he returned home from the hospital. Luck Demon strikes again. Then the

DOD299: Tommy's Got Back (Problems)
Note: Since this episode recording, Tom has been readmitted to the hospital. He's been keeping folks updated in the Facebook group so join up there if you haven't yet! Looking forward to his good healing and getting him back again soon. Well folks, Tom is back (mostly) and he's got stories about his time in the hospital. Plus, for only patrons, hear how Donovan and Finnegan have stepped up in hand

DOD298: The Enwrights Answer Everything (Including the Separate Houses Thing)
Note: this one was recorded the same day as the previous release, so mentions of Tom in the hospital are related to that time period! Heath and Anne join Thomas and Eli for a very special Ask the Enwrights Anything! It all starts with a lovely rendition of "Rip Into It" and it only goes up from there honestly. Then, just for our incredible patrons, Kai joins stepdad Heath, Thomas, and Eli to...mai

DOD297: The Dead Speak! Somehow, Tom Returned
Tom is in the hospital, and it's not just his usual laziness. We don't think, anyway. Thomas and Eli play three voice memos Tom recorded from his hospital bed, including one that may just be drugs. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge

DOD296: Give Your Baby a Whole Bottle of Cocaine
Eli reports back on Max's first night on Baby Adderall, and it went exactly as well as you'd expect. The dads then tackle a listener who is losing an argument with his partner about Michael Jackson, which turns into a conversation about Leaving Neverland and why the special pleading never quite makes sense. Then: a Nobel laureate's research on falling birth rates, the manosphere, and whether mascu

DOD295: Fight Me, Children
Eli comes back from a dad-friends vacation with a story about roughhousing, including a rare joyful moment for Max. Later, a Reddit dad gets benched from family time because his relationship with the kids is TOO good. Stick around for a patron-exclusive story about Eli's beach vacation and a basket of bread that wasn't meant for him. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddadsFor comm

DOD294: Hi Bored, We're Dad
The dads dive into a discussion about boredom, and what kind of responsibility you have as a parent to prevent or resolve it for your kids. And at the end, Tom gives a sneak peek for this episode's patron-exclusive story. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE S

DOD293: "My Partner Threw Something At Me and Our Son..."
After talking about AI and Tom's cat adoption journey, the dads turn to a concerning listener email that is asking the wrong question. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon!

DOD292: Thomas Turns Old
Thomas turned 40 and is crumbling to dust before our very eyes. He chose poorly. The dads start planning his funeral and talking about what it means to be old. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddadsFor comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon!

DOD291: Is Punching Each Other Therapy?
After a delightful Curry update in the pre-show, the dads dig into the central issue from a recent Vice article about...dudes just hitting each other instead of talking to a therapist? Then, in the patron segment, Eli shares a delightful story from his household and the kindness of strangers. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD290: It Was An Accident!
The dads have some things to "yell" about...like how they get accused of yelling (wasn't yelling) by children who are most definitely yelling. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddadsFor comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon!

DOD289: Eli's Got Nissan Money
Eli's car saga has some major updates that somehow continue to be insane. Then the dads dig into r/AskMenOver30's list of books that'll supposedly fix your thirties. In the patron-exclusive story, Thomas shares some stories from the California State Fair, including a very bizarre interaction. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddadsFor comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com For ex

DOD288: Childfree By Choice, with Cecil Cicirello
Although we all miss Eli in this episode, we have an incredible treat of a guest host: Cecil Cicirello! Cecil shares how he and his wife determined that childfree by choice was a good fit for them, and the dads get into childhood memories, being childfree and maintaining friendships with people who have children, and so much more. Plus an especially long patron-only segment at the end! Join the Fa

DOD287: Til Too Many Memes Do Us Part
A number of listener emails have been coming in, so the dads tackle a couple of these, including navigating family dynamics of people being invited and not invited to wedding celebrations. And though we have yet to receive an update about Eli's suspected-totaled cars, we DO get a Haeley Health Update! Plus: a game that Thomas sucks at?! Tune in to the Patron bonus to hear how bad it was. Join the

DOD286: Eli and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Well Eli had an absolutely surreal 12 hours immediately before recording, so the dudes get into it. At least we all have each other. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD285: How Many Dads Are We Buying for Anyway?!
It's a belated Father's Day round table! Plus, a listener question about a nephew who needs way more intervention than is being offered by their parents, and the dads chime in with what they would do if faced with a similar situation. For patrons only: Eli's kindest friend really stepped in it when taking a stab at a joke recently and Eli is beside himself with glee. Join the Facebook Group! faceb

DOD284: It Must Be Hot Divorcée Summer Or Something
The dads work through listener emails. How many exactly? A NEW UNBEATABLE DADS RECORD. You'll have to tune in to find out! But it all boils down to a simple question, really: how many listeners to Dear Old Dads should file for divorce? PLUS: patrons get an extra-long bonus segment at the end of this episode! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearo

DOD283: When No One At the Pool Party Knows How to Swim
Tom threw a birthday party for Eamon and the chaos that ensued is quite literally unbelievable. We're not sure if Tom has actually recovered from this yet. And later, in the patron-exclusive story, more unbelievable Curry household lore. What in the world is happening in Illinois... Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD282: A Talent Show with No Talent
A listener question about kids performing in talent shows is paired with incredible news from Thomas about one of the Smith kids facing their own fears. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD281: When Your Couple Friends Divorce
Thomas's friends are divorcing, and hearing the details hits a little too close to home. The dads dig into what it really means when someone can't stop making their partner feel small, whether people can actually change, and what it says about you when a friend's failing marriage makes you quietly wonder about your own. For Patrons: Eli is chaperoning a field day and we are all praying for him. Jo

DOD280: How Much Can We Control What We Find Attractive?
Thomas got served a weird Christian-y video about marriage and attraction. In the bonus for patrons: Tom does what his kid wanted and then is punished and gaslit... Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD279: When Should You Tell Your Kid They're Neurodivergent?
The dads take a listener email about how and when to talk to your kid about a diagnosis like ADHD or autism. When do you share this information with your kid, and is it something you should anticipate sharing at multiple points at different developmental stages? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD278: I'm Not Gonna Cause I Don't Wanna
It's another "Tom is sane despite all odds" episode! The dudes revisit a topic that Tom brought up in a previous episode about whether or not permission and support from parents are linked. If your parents let you do something (like join a school sports team), would that mean you could expect them to cheer you on at your games? What were the dads' experiences in their childhoods with this, and how

DOD277: This Husband's In the Doghouse
The dads spend today's episode exploring a few different areas of concern from a listener email. But at it's core: how do you negotiate one partner's needs and the other partner's hurt? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD276: The Annual Poopy Pants Review
It's that time of year: Mother's Day happened last weekend. On a scale of perfectly clean butt to the most poopy of poopy pants, how did the dads do this year? And, in the patron bonus, we get an update on the fire that shut down the entirety of Eli's town! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD275: Does Banning Phones at School Work?
A recent NYT article discussed a study outlining the impact of cellphone bans in school. The dads chat about those results, and get into a number of tangents, such as age verification. Then, in the bonus exclusive to patrons, Thomas lays out one of the weirdest medical relationships (his doctor) he's ever been in. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads

DOD274: You Better Ask Nicely
Eli provides some important news from his corner of the globe (and it hopefully continues to be funny and hasn't resulted in anything terrible for anybody) before the Dads discuss gut reactions to something their kid does that they would have never done themselves as a kid. How do we process that response, and can we eventually calm this response? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearo

DOD273: We Almost Did An Episode Before Remembering Eli Golfed
We started this episode with a plan in mind, and then we remembered that ELI BETHESDA BOSNICK went GOLFING (?!) recently and had to stop everything to get the full story. And torment Thomas. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD272: "Am I the Asshole?" Asks World's Biggest Asshole
Spoiler alert: this guy from r/AITA is definitely an asshole, but there's SO much to talk about from his unhinged post. In the story reserved for patrons only, Tom shares the coolest update about one of the kids. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD271: Hell in a Handbasket, I Say!
The dads continue evaluating those morality survey results and there are some WILD positions in this half! Plus the dads categorize the issues they find most immoral. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD270: Poll on Moral Issues Explains Everything Wrong with America
After absolutely bonkers Dentist stories, the dads explore a recent Pew Research Center study that surveyed Americans on whether or not various behaviors were moral or not. How are things looking in America these days? Will the dads agree on the morality of these questions, or are we going to get a three bears situation? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email

DOD269: RIP Mr. Kitty 2012-2026
WAIT. NOW TOM'S GONE?! Lydia sneaks on the show as Thomas shares an important Smith Family update (IT'S NOT A FOURTH KID). Eli, Thomas, and Lydia discuss how to support kids through loss, especially when grief (or not grief?) may look different for each of your children. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com For extended episodes, bon

DOD268: A Helluva Haeley Health Hupdate
Haeley recently had literal brain surgery, and Tom is here to share how it all went and what's next in their pursuit of her health. Many thanks to everyone that sent messages of support or kept the Currys in your thoughts as Haeley tackled this part of her story. It means a lot to the family and everyone at Dear Old Dads! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email

DOD267: When Your Partner Needs an Abortion
The dads continue visiting topics that haven't received the proper Dear Old Dads treatment. Beyond the position of "being pro-choice", how else can you show up for your partner when they are considering (and perhaps get) an abortion? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD266: When You're A Virgin Who Can't Drive
Eli poses a discussion topic for the dads that they somehow have not talked about before. Let's talk about virginity - the pressure to lose yours, to pressure to take it from someone else, and how toxic masculinity and the manosphere intersect with it all. Also, how do kids define "bases" these days?! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.

DOD265: Positively Negative
Pretty sure this is the first episode where the dads touch on adoption, and we have a great listener email to kick off discussion about a particular aspect of creating an adoptive family. And since we kicked off the episode talking about optimism and pessimism, please be sure to chime in on the comment thread below or in the Facebook group with your position on whether you are a "hope for the best

DOD264: Choice Paralysis Analysis
Tom gives us a health update of his own that is WILD and exactly what we've come to expect and love about our Tom; then, the dads answer a listener email involving choice paralysis and how to help our kids, if it's something they experience, through it. Personally, I blame the Grail Knight scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade for mine. "He chose...poorly." Join the Facebook Group! faceboo

DOD263: If I Had a Nickel for Every Time Some Dude Used Polyamory as an Excuse to Cheat...
... we could turn off auto ads. I don't know. I almost titled this "If I had a new partner" instead of a nickel but it didn't actually make sense. Annyyyyway We're making Tom talk about polyamory again! Join the dads as they dissect a truly awful Reddit post about a marriage opening up. Is any part of what happened in that story actually ethical non-monogamy? Does the polyamory community co-opt la

DOD262: Rent's Due, Kiddo
The dads dive into a question that they saw in the super fun Facebook group that you should definitely join - is it okay to charge your kid rent while they live in your house after 18 years old? What about if they're 30? And at market rates? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD261: Does Inclusivity Have Limits?
A pair of topics for today! First - something awful happened at the BAFTAs and the dads dig into it. Who all messed up in that situation? Are we blaming Alan Cumming?! Is there actually a limit to inclusivity? Then - Tom shares some important and personal updates. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD260: You're a Lefty but Your Kid Wants to Join the Military
We have a listener question that asks something very reasonable: so many in this podcastiverse community are pretty left, and have strong feelings about the United States military and various federal agencies. What if our kids wanted to pursue careers in those fields? Would we stop them? But first, please enjoy a ridiculous story from Thomas and Lydia's Valentine's Day evening (safe for work). And

DOD259: If I Publicly Humiliate Us Both Will You Take Me Back???
A stunning press moment at the Olympics has the dads discussing "grand gestures" in romantic relationships. Does anyone ever actually want to be on the receiving end of one of those, or are they primarily done for the benefit of the person "giving" them? And in the patron exclusive bonus, hear how Tom's kids absolutely blew the rest of us out of the water for Valentine's Day. Join the Facebook Gro

DOD258: Should We Expect Our Kids to Take Care of Us?
One of the dads was very surprised to find out that many people expect their kids to take care of them when they are elderly. Beyond that, it also is a very common reason people give as to why they even HAD kids. This seems insane. Is it? Yes. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD257: Help, I'm Dating a Conspiracy Nut
We've got another listener question, and the dads dig into it almost right away! How do you tackle conspiratorial beliefs from your partner? Is this type of mismatch in a relationship DOA or is there hope to work it out? It isn't OFFICIALLY claimed as a three bears situation during the show, but I can tell you now that it's definitely a three bears episode. PLUS: our amazing patrons get an extra l

DOD256: What If Your Friend Starts Dating Your Ex...
The dads are here today to answer a listener question in which their teenager's friend started talking (talking talking, iykyk) with the teen's very recent ex-girlfriend. Oh boy. Did the listener handle this opportunity for advice well? What, if anything, would the dads have said differently, and how do we feel about a friend like that? Is this part of the "bro code"? Join the Facebook Group! face

DOD255: Talk About Body Talk
Y2K aesthetic is back beyond just butterfly clips and low-rise jeans, and #skinnytok is making sure our kids know it. How do we talk about bodies with our kids in healthy, positive ways? And how does that fit in a world where we've intentionally tried to stop commenting on other people's bodies entirely? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearoldda

DOD254: Barking Up the Wrong Family Tree
Following an update on Tom's mom's overseas end-of-life saga, the dads discuss a listener email about genealogy, family trees, and shared family history. Do you feel connected to stories from your ancestral lineage just because they are "family"? To close the episode, Eli shares a story of personal growth; and for the patrons, a Smith kid milestone! It's not a baby announcement, don't worry. Join

DOD253: Maybe a Little Stitious
The dads take on a listener question about how to manage a situation where a kid from a bit of a troubled home is coming over unannounced frequently, even though they're not exactly close friends with your children. Are we going to get a three bears here? But first, some chat about knocking on wood and other superstitions! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, emai

DOD252: Choosing Between Career and Family
The dads get together (OR DO THEY) to answer a listener question about making choices between career and family. How do you make decisions between the two when they absolutely affect the other? We know the toxic concept thrust onto women that "they can have it all," but is there also a version of this targets men? In the patron-only bonus segment, check out how pillar-of-the-atheist-podcast-commun

DOD251: ZaaaaBOWnd
Following our last episode about preparing for death and wills, on today's show we have a major Eli health news drop paired with a medical-adjacent listener question! Let these old dads talk about health and aging! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD250: No Will? No Way!
It's the New Year so the two inevitables - taxes and death - are on our minds. Two of the dads lecture the third about not having a will. Make your pick before you press play on who that solo will-less dude is! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD249: I Got You the Anthropologie Rock
Eli starts us off with the most fiendish hypothetical Dinner Party Question(tm) ever conceived. After some recovery, the dads discuss a popular prank being done on dads and how all of the dads fail.

DOD248: WTF is the Nude Lingerie Test
The dads do basically an entire episode in the intro segment about something that shakes the very foundation of the pod. People have been forever changed as a result. And then, our main course: an insane take from a blog post (which includes many more takes) of a manosphere kind of guy that has created a test for everyone to use to check whether or not their lady partner cares about them. Join the

DOD247: Yuckin Yummers
Tom's kids have a tendency to yuck other people's yum and it's driving him nuts. So settle in with a tall glass of chunky goat milk and listen to a Christmas Eve Dads.

DOD246: When You Want Takesies Backsies on Being a Parent
What do you do when you regret being a parent and feel like the whole thing might have been a mistake? A listener writes in with these feelings and the dads are on it! It's probably a more common experience than you think. Unless you're Thomas. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD245: I'd Say My Biggest Weakness Is Stupid Interview Questions
If you're in the market for some fatherly advice from the dudes about interviewing for jobs, you're in luck! Listen in to hear the dads debate questions like, what do you do in the face of stupid interview questions? And in the very special, patron-only bonus at the end, we share an email from ABSOLUTE LEGENDS - the parents from sex doll gate aka the episode that sent Eli to an earlyish grave. Joi

DOD244: 48 Is the New 90
Tom is out today so we have a non-dad here to join the ranks of Eli and Thomas to take on a listener email about their daughter's surprise husband. How do we approach interpersonal relationships with folks that are important to our kids if they might feel like red flags to us? But first, listen up for how Thomas infected Max with ADHD. Eli has the receipts. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/gr

November 2025 Bonus!
LITERALLY NONE of us have ever heard Eli laugh as much as he did on this episode as we read (and answer?) a listener email. Patrons: this one was bonkers so we're going to let the normies have it too. Once y'all listen, I'm sure you will understand. We still love you more though.

DOD243: Tom's Hunt for Friendship
The guys have reunited post-Thanksgiving and have plenty of catching up to do! Tom has returned from a hunting trip with other dudes (not our DILFs) and brings some of his observations to the pod to discuss. Most importantly - what are signs as you get older of a good life? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD242: When Kid-Friends are Fighting and Your Child Might Be the Issue
After some quick Thanksgiving plans chat, Thomas recounts a tough parenting situation that he and Lydia experienced recently in which they had to simultaneously consider their child implicated in the mess, the friendships at stake, and the interpersonal challenge with other parents involved. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD241: Take My Waifu, Please!
The dads read a listener email and get into a candid discussion about this listener's particular experience and the lessons we can take related to identity, kink, online community, and partner dynamics - and how to navigate if those change during the course of a preexisting relationship. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD240: Dad Moods
A listener with a baby on the way is worried about his anger problem. Tom is not worried about his chimes. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD239: Fake It Till You Make It
A listener email sparks a discussion among the dudes about encouraging and supporting your kids' interests, especially when that interest is ABSOLUTELY not your cup of tea. How should we approach initiating interest-exploration for our kids, and what do we do if once they've found something they love, we actually can't stand it? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments

DOD238: A Step-Tom's Lament
Oh, hey! Want to have all of the responsibility and weight of parenthood without any of the legal benefits ensuring you are connected to your kids? Try stepparenting! Tom leads today's chat with the dads as he breaks down the frustrating structure of America's step-parent. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD237: How Many Net Productivity Units Are Your Friendships Providing
Today's episode centers on the importance of friendship despite what dude self-help spaces might tell you. Also more hot takes that the dads dig into include: being vulnerable enough to apologize when you've wrongly let a friendship go, and whether or not you can truly build friendships in online communities. No way you get this kind of content from the anti-friendship dude-bros trying to sell you

DOD236: Find You a Woman Who Hates Men?
Today's show kicks off with a near-immediate three bears situation related to the interpretation of a TikTok video that makes Thomas want to throw his computer out the window; the dads go on a bit of a journey discussing hot takes and whether or not people honestly believe their perspective, or if they just desire to be "viralized." There's a whole lot more in this episode that I honestly can't ev

DOD235: Passion or Pragmatism?
Thomas shares something Arlo loves doing and has declared he'd like to do for a career and the dads dig into helping our kids navigate the choice between pursuing a passion or seeking stability. Stick around for the story at the end if you want to hear Eli's newest sadness earworm! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com

DOD234: Kids Want Attention and That Is Okay
First, the dudes compare music taste. Then, a listener email asks the dads for advice about handling a recent situation they experienced where their kid's school carried out its full crisis procedure after the child said something minor in class, and the consequences on their own life (their workday, the weekend, etc.) as a result. How should a parent react in that circumstance, what is appropriat

DOD233: This Is Your Brain on Sports
Our dudes gather today to talk about what obligation parents have to decline their children opportunities in sports that have a high risk of brain injury and possible development of CTE. Is there a middle ground, where they can play things like football and soccer up to a certain level, before it gets dangerous - or is it always too risky? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddadsFo

DOD232: New Kids on the Roblox
The New York Times' recently ran a piece where they just get it completely wrong (surprise) on tackling security issues with Roblox and other online offerings after some particularly troubling incidents connected to the game. Eli comes prepped with an analogy that makes way more sense as we chat about the inevitability of our kids being in online spaces. How three bears is this one going to be? Jo

DOD231: How to Handle Not-Cash-Money Things That Happen to Your Kid
The dads gather to answer a listener question for an especially tough situation that the listener's friend is navigating. If a not-cash-money thing happens to our kid, how should we react? If a not-cash-money thing happens to your friend's kid, what can you do to be supportive during that moment? It's a real 2 bears and a psychopath! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For com

DOD230: It's All About the Motion of the Ocean
The dudes are here to discuss toxic male sexual inadequacy, the cultural underpinnings of it, and how most often it is something men just inflict upon themselves. A note from Lydia: Listeners, you'll hear Tom refer to this as Episode 269 during the intro and, obviously, classic humor ensues. You are not losing your mind: it is, in fact, Episode 230, but Tom shouted out the recording session number

DOD229: Cheering Your Kids On...Realistically
Thomas shares what he thinks might be a parenting win with one of his kiddos by walking a fine line between what his parents had done when he was a kid and what Eli would probably do. How realistic should we be when our kids share their expectations and dreams with us? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddadsFor comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com For extended episodes, bonus c











