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, and why “What time is noon?” might be a more common question than you think.

Topics include:

• The unexpected rise of Chip’s social media content centered around marriage and fatherhood with teenagers.

• Balancing authenticity and humor while respecting children’s privacy and dignity online.

• Chip’s evolution from a traditional corporate career to a creative, second chapter focused on writing and performing.

• Exploring generational shifts in language, communication, and the “vernacular gap” between parents and kids.

• Advice for parents and creators on navigating new media careers and diversified income streams.

• And more!

Stick to the end for a fun quiz on current teen/tween slang!

LINKS:
The Leighton Show (official)
The Leighton Show (Instagram)
The Leighton Show (TikTok)
The Leighton Show (Facebook)
What Time is Noon (book)
Dad, Can You Not? (book)
DEATH AND (YouTube)
This Headache Journey (Apple Podcasts)
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

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.

In this episode, we’re joined by Eli Weinstein—licensed clinical social worker, host of The Dude Therapist Podcast, and author of From I Do to We Do. As a father of two (with a third on the way), Eli offers thoughtful, actionable insights on staying connected, communicating effectively, and navigating the evolving dynamics of partnership during the parenting years.

Conversation topics include:

• Navigating the shifting dynamics of marriage after becoming parents, and how priorities naturally change
• The inevitability of resentment in relationships when needs go unspoken and the importance of open, direct communication
• Creating team unity with your partner—adopting an “us versus the chaos” mindset instead of “me versus you”
• Tangible tools couples can use to defuse tension and process conflict
• Letting go of the past and choosing, together, how to write the next chapter of your relationship story
• Recognizing the necessity of self-care in order to better support your partner and family
• And more!

Stick around to the end for a sub-sub-recurring segment we're calling, Did My Wife Just Hear That Out Loud?

LINKS
Eli Weinstein (homepage)
Dude Therapist Podcast
From I Do To We Do (book)
Eli Weinstein (LinkedIn)
Eli Weinstein (TikTok)
Eli Weinstein (Instagram)
DEATH AND (YouTube)
This Headache Journey (Apple Podcasts)
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

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 From a Gestalt Therapist Father: Life With Leo. Vikram shares about his own alternative family structure, the importance of embracing emotional honesty, making space for playfulness, and how the principles of Gestalt therapy can help us raise confident, empathetic kids.

Topics include:

• Understanding Gestalt therapy and its focus on awareness, mindfulness, and relational dialogue in both therapy and everyday life.
• Applying Gestalt and mindfulness strategies to parenting, especially around navigating emotions (both our kids' and our own), while aiming to be a “good enough” dad.
• Exploring co-parenting in an intentional, non-traditional family structure with two fathers and a mother, and the legal, social, and personal challenges encountered.
• The importance of allowing and naming all emotions, including anger, for both children and adults, and breaking emotional taboos in parenting.
• Navigating cultural and institutional heteronormativity around family structures and parenthood, and advocating for greater inclusivity.
• The value of playful parenting, eco-parenting, and the influence of childlike spontaneity and joy on both personal and professional life.
• Creating safe and open environments for children to freely express gender and identity, while preparing them for a world that isn’t always accepting.
• And more!

LINKS
Vikram Kolmannskog (homepage)
Reflections on Parenting From a Gestalt Therapist Father: Life With Leo.
Vikram Kolmannskog (Instagram)
Vikram Kolmannskog (Facebook)
DEATH AND (homepage)
DEATH AND (YouTube)
This Headache Journey (Apple Podcasts)
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

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 state agencies for full-time parenting almost 20 years ago, and has never looked back. Shannon is the author of The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad (Penguin Random House), a humorous, heartfelt guide for dads navigating the world of primary caregiving. He opens up about fighting isolation, bucking stereotypes, and how he has redefined success and identity in his life. Listen to the end for Kisses & Disses!

Topics include:
• The decision-making process behind becoming a stay-at-home dad and challenging traditional gender norms.
• Navigating isolation, building community, and the importance of friendships for at-home fathers.
• Strategies for connecting with teenagers and adapting parenting styles for different phases and individual children.
• Mental health for dads: separating personal identity from the parenting role and prioritizing self-care.
• Societal perceptions of stay-at-home dads and ongoing barriers to equality in caregiving roles.
• The impact of workplace policies, cultural changes, and paid family leave on modern fatherhood.
• Writing "The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad" and advocating for actionable, practical advice for fathers.
• And more!


LINKS
Shannon Carpenter (homepage)
The Ultimate Stay At Home Dad (Bookshop.org)
Shannon Carpenter (Instagram)
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

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-child communication to encourage openness and problem-solving with Nick Hexum of 311.

Links to the full episodes:
Building Trust Around Screens + Social Media | Soren Poulsen on Raising Digital Citizens
Navigating Miscarriage and Grief as a Dad | Kelly Jean-Philippe on Pregnancy Loss + Healing
Breaking The Cycle, Filling The Void | Chris Robbins on Self Development + Empty Nesting
Music, Milestones, and Mindfulness | Nick Hexum of 311 on Raising Creative, Empathetic Girls
Finding Calm in the Parenting Chaos | Kirk Martin on Triggers, Patience, Problem Solving
Father's Day 2025 | Father/Son Reflections on Being a Dad

Thanks, Modern Dadhood listeners for sticking with us, and here's to a positive, healthy, and fruitful 2026!
-Adam & Marc

LINKS
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

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 Black fathers, families, and children, and advancing anti-racism efforts, and in our conversation he opens up about anti-racism, modern masculinity, and our responsibility as parents to raise empathetic, informed, and resilient kids.

Topics include:
• Exploring the broad definition of fatherhood—including mentorship, community care, and “cosmic children”—beyond biological ties.
• Dr. Thomas’s anti-racism work and what it means to create spaces for Black children and families to thrive authentically.
• The challenges and responsibilities of teaching kids about racism, empathy, and dualities in the world, especially as white parents in predominantly white communities.
• Storytelling, mentorship, and the creation of The Black Fathers' Pulse podcast as tools for sharing research, building community, and supporting fathers.
• Modern masculinity, vulnerability, and the evolving expectations of men and fathers in society—and how culture and the internet can impact those roles.
• The importance of supportive spaces for men, breaking generational cycles, and building resilient, healthy family ecosystems.
• And more!

LINKS
Dr. Alvin Thomas (homepage)
Dr Alvin Thomas (LinkedIn)
Dr. Alvin Thomas (YouTube)
Dr. Alvin Thomas (Instagram)
Dr. Alvin Thomas (X)
The Fatherhood Depot (Substack)
The Black Fathers' Pulse (TikTok)
The Black Fathers' Pulse Podcast (Apple)
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Modern Dadhood listeners! We are so grateful for you.
-Adam & Marc

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

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, including the beloved Dasher series, including its newest title: Dasher and the Polar Bear. Matt joins us fresh off his book tour and right in the midst of holiday hustle to chat about raising two young adult daughters, and how storytelling and art keep the spirit of the season alive year after year. Don't miss Adam's Instant Regret which found him in an uncomfortable predicament!

Topics Include:
• The journey to becoming a children's author and illustrator, even before having kids
• The creative process behind beloved holiday books like Dasher, including the origins and expansion of the series
• Navigating the collaboration and feedback loop with publishers, editors, and even family
• Exploring new genres such as graphic novels, and the role of children's reading habits in creative evolution
• The upcoming Dasher animated Christmas special for Disney+
• And more!

Links:
Matt Tavares (homepage)
Matt Tavares (Facebook)
Matt Tavares (Instagram)
Matt's Illustrated Prints
Dasher
Hoops
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast