Better Off Dad

Matt & Tim speak with a real, live public official (and dad, too) about the importance of getting involved in local politics, how to raise kids up to college-age, and his worst parenting memory...spoiler alert, there's two kinds of poop! Plus, first haircuts, competitive kids, and someone's child can't stop listening to Kendrick Lamar. And Matt shares his fears of flying while Tim gets drunk with his neighbors on the regular.

Welp, it's been a year, has it not? Time for Matt & Tim to reflect on the biggest parenting takeaways of a year that brought us the Paris Olympiad, rat-shaped holes in Chicago, and the ever encroaching doom of Artificial Intelligence. Side note: when will it take the job of stay-at-home parents? TAKE ME NOW, GOD. Plus, what happens when you stop pretending you don't have kids in work and other social settings? Tim decides to find out. And it's time to return to everyone's favorite controversial subject - daylight saving time.

Here at the Better Off Dad Podcast, we pride ourselves on balanced reporting and unbiased perspectives on politics, just as we do in parenting. Oh, who are we kidding? We've got election hot takes as undisciplined, uninformed and one-sided as we always do. Find out what has us freaked out about Trump 2.0. Plus, the trick-or-treat takeaways from this year's candy haul. And Matt makes us all feel inadequate as he plans an awesome party for his son.

Got kids headed off to school for the first time? Thinking your kid needs prepped for pre-k? Morbidly curious about how ugly of a crier you'll be at the first day drop off? Matt & Tim are here to answer all your questions from pre-k and beyond - like, what's with that "T" in kindergarten? The Germans, really? The beer's enough, we don't need the spellings. Get a download on early childhood education from two guys with no formal training, but all the misplaced confidence to share their perspectives. Plus, are neighborhood schools destined for the history books? The guys cover some local headlines that could be playing out in your community. And what does the perfect Presidential ticket look like - for a 5 year old? We offer critical insight.

Matt and Tim interview the creator of Dad Fixes Everything, and now the author of the book "Dad Camp", Evan Porter. Then, we discuss the Surgeon General's Op-Ed about placing tobacco-style warnings on social media sites for kids. Plus, some tips on summer travel from a parent who nearly got his daughter's leg ripped off by a moving train (no gore in this episode, we promise). And the boys get a little misty eyed over firsts and lasts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-off-dad-pod/message

Matt & Tim return to the studio to discuss screen time. How much is too much? When did you introduce screens in your child's life? Which episode of Bluey makes you cry? We share all our learned insights. Plus, we talk cord cutting that's totally unrelated to the television set. You might say it's a vas deferens topic all together. And the guys share their views on everything from Cleveland Browns stadium proposals to getting plucked of Disney Cruise Ships. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-off-dad-pod/message

Remember when we cyber bullied a guy at the children's museum for the simple crime of dressing like a bad ass? Well, he's come to the BOD Pod studios to take revenge. We spoke with T Nadas about fatherhood, working while parenting and he shared the incredible (horrifying?) story of their child's birth. We have to say - it was amazing of T to share his story. Delivery day did not go as his family expected and their story is so helpful for all of us to hear. It pierces the Instagram filtered bubble of birth! Plus, Matt & Tim are still hanging around with nothing better to do than complain about their children. They share some New Year's resolutions on the parenting front and tackle the media's problems with Taylor Swift. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-off-dad-pod/message

Matt & Tim stop being nice and start being real about what's been nagging them about their kids as they air their grievances in this Festivus spectacular. Plus, feats of strength! Big wins for the Dad Duo this year. And, a soccer stunt and trip to the ER - find out which kid is wearing a cast and how the family has dealt with the fallout. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-off-dad-pod/message

Why is child care such an acute problem in this country and what can we do to solve it? If you're a new parent or planning to be soon, no doubt you've found yourself asking some form of this question. Wait lists, long drives across town to child care centers, begging and borrowing time from grandparents and neighbors to stitch together something that works. Matt & Tim interview Laura Johnston, the content director for the Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com about the Rethinking Child Care series she's spearheaded that deals with these questions and more. Plus, horror movie or real life parenting horror story - can you tell the difference? We've got a new spooky season game. And the guys have their first big on air disagreement - about poop - and the dirty details of dealing with it. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-off-dad-pod/message

Who will ascend to the porcelain in throne? Matt and Tim share the dirty truth of potty training toddlers. Scare yourself with horror stories, steal their tips and tricks, and be sure to bring some wipes - things are about to get messy. Plus, what happens when kids start kindergarten? Matt shares his experiences. And headlines including death rays at the playground and the alarming pediatric mental health crisis. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-off-dad-pod/message

The boys are back with some timely advice on how to survive summer travel season with kids and throw in some recent experiences out on the road for good measure. Plus, the nine rudest things to say to a stay-at-home dad. Find out which irks us the most. And Matt & Tim take on the latest challenges to being a parent whether it's Canadian wildfires or worse. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-off-dad-pod/message

As parents, we all have memories that will be entirely irrelevant to our children - let's face it, it's probably most of them. But - there are some in particular we hold dear and without further ado, here's our list! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-off-dad-pod/message

We're back (and apologize for it being so long)! Matt and Tim catch you up on what's happening in their kids lives. Plus, our interview with Peter and Julie Rea, authors of the book Better Humans, Better Performance: Driving Leadership, Teamwork, and Culture with Intentionality. And Matt learns to be a #GirlDad. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-off-dad-pod/message

Parenting full-time is a fulfilling, exhausting job - but the pay, honestly it's not great. Matt & Tim revisit the topic of money and share more sense on dollars and cents when it comes to family, kids and keeping up with the Jones's. Plus, is social media destroying our children's lives? And the guys casually discuss preparing for the armageddon (kind of). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-off-dad-pod/message

Kid sleep! Parent sleep! The tips, the tricks, the things Dad's really do when they're desperate to put children to sleep that they would never tell their partners. Matt & Tim discuss it all on an episode that definitely won't put you to bed. Plus, a Hogwarts grad goes full Dad of the Year. And Tim struggles with sharing in a new two-child household while Matt introduces his son to the lottery. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Dead hard drives and new living, breathing babies can't stop Matt & Tim from crawling back into the basement and returning to the airwaves. There's a new baby in the BOD Pod family, Tim shares stories from the frontlines of new parenting. Plus, could you raise children in a totally different environment? Matt reflects on a recent trip to New York and whether his Midwest parenting could cut it on the coast. All that plus headlines and more as the guys knock off rust and get back to business. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

We all know making friends as adults can be - weird? Difficult? Choose your adjective, but remember you're going to need a worse one when it comes to making friends while parenting. Matt & Tim share their views on the topic. Plus, we quarantined with our kids and lived to tell the tale. A story from the front lines of the waning pandemic. Plus, Matt gets asked some hard questions about where babies come from and what you do with a person's leg after they die. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Matt & Tim share a major announcement affecting the future of the pod and their lives as they know it. Then we tackle the headlines, from viral stories about Dads putting their kids on a leash to the CDC proclaiming splash pads 'fecal fountain disease spreaders'...we may be editorializing there a bit. Plus, do older friends make our kids more mature or more likely to get in trouble? And going to war with our kids obsession with snacks. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

As parents, we have the difficult task to create and maintain a stable environment for our children to grow and develop. We wouldn't say we're masters at that, but in this episode Matt & Tim share their tips for keeping things together when you'd prefer to let them fall apart. Plus, Tim believes he's entered the famed TERRIBLE TWOs. And Matt talks about what can happen when you break a kid (and yourself) out of a comfort zone. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Matt and Tim spend Father's Day the only way they know how, sharing the lessons they've learned parenting and podcasting over the last year. Plus, worried about the continuing formula shortage? University Hospitals pediatrician Dr. Lauren Beene shares information every parent needs to hear. And at long last the COVID-19 vaccine is here for kids as young as 6 months old; we share our thoughts on the shots. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Ready to get out and explore with kids? Matt & Tim share their Top 10 family-friendly activities in the Greater Cleveland area. Plus, we speak with Samantha Fryberger of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium to find out, among other things, why we're apparently very similar to weedy sea dragons. And, am I raising a bully? Or a money-obsessed child? We tackle our parental fears in What's New Kiddo. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

It's time for our most impactful, important, and potentially damaging interview yet - we speak with our wives, and the mothers of our children, about why they married us and what they've learned about motherhood. Plus, LinkedIn opens the door to the non-linear career path. And why the Scissor Sisters and Utahraptor are top of mind in our households. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

It's been said money makes the world go round. So how do you keep things from turning sideways when you give up an income to take care of kids? Matt & Tim share 14 financial lessons they've learned that could help calm any parent's currency concerns. Plus, college planning expert and Certified Financial Planner Brad Baldridge's advice for parents concerned about the high cost of higher ed. And Matt provides a dispatch from a 12-hour car ride with kids. If he survived, how did he manage it? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Read the title and somehow still morbidly interested in this show? Matt & Tim discuss headlines and trends that could be impacting our kids for years to come including Florida's new legislation restricting certain topics in schools, making Daylight Savings Time permanent, and yes - we even discuss our Cleveland Browns trading for Deshaun Watson. Plus, dealing with death and the conversations it brings with our children. And how the warming weather on the North Coast is making all the difference when it comes to Tim's parenting. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Let's face it the world can be a dark place, so how do we give our bright eyed offspring a fighting chance? Matt & Tim share their experiences of coping and conversing with kids on tough topics. Plus, the frustrating reality of rising maternal death rates in the United States during COVID. And splish splash we're talking taking a bath and dealing with a runny nose too. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Looking forward to more human interaction post-pandemic? Matt & Tim have 7 steps to plan the perfect play date. Plus, we interview local father, entrepreneur, musician and sailor Brandon Young on his parenting path and what in the world drove him to start a business and a family simultaneously. And some quick thoughts on keeping your kids fed and getting them to sleep (with force if necessary!) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

The winter freeze is in full swing for Matt & Tim so they are offering a few tips on how to stay active, engaged (and sane!) with kids as the weather gets wicked. Then we're stirring the pot and weeding out misinformation when it comes to rising unintentional cannabis exposure and kids! Plus, Matt's kids have a close encounter at the zoo while Tim ventures under the sea. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Matt & Tim are back and ready to start the new year with a look back, and ahead, at parenting lessons learned. Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to plague parents; how we're adapting our households. And walking kids, dropping naps - how to keep up with the rapid rate of childhood change. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

The holidays are here! Matt & Tim break out their “favorite things” in a blatant attempt to lure sponsorship and share products that really work! Plus, our interview with Newell Brands' Kelly Seagren on innovation and design in some of the world's most recognized baby brands. And Matt talks playing favorites while Tim takes up residence as a short order cook. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Tim & Matt are back and taking on the taboo subject of the urologist from both ends of the spectrum. And the public debate sparked by the Build Back Better plan - we take a look at the current state of child care and what some proposed legislation could mean. Plus, Tim teeters at the edge of toddler stage and Matt tells us what the 'Boo-Boo Bunny' is. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

On this episode of the BOD Pod, Matt & Tim welcome U.S. Navy Veteran, former submariner and expecting father, Garrett Wash, on the show. Plus, our first tantrum calls out internet trolls waging war against parental leave. And we're talking birthday party planning, zoo visits and screen time (for our kids, not you. Spend as much time as possible staring at our podcast.) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Matt & Tim are back, Dad jokes and all, for their first (and hopefully last!) all-remote broadcast. Since they're remote, the guys discuss strategies on how to stay present with your kids. Plus, Matt shares his thoughts on kids and COVID trials. Tim has engagements and babies to celebrate galore. And what is the 'poop trifecta' in Matt's house. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

On this week's pod, our interview with the co-founders of Fathering Together, a non-profit and parenting hub that's building a supportive community for all kinds of fathers. Plus, Matt's kid foretells of his impending death and Tim shares a story of a family activity gone horribly wrong. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

The guys are back and share their experiences traveling with children as well as some ideas to help in your own vacation planning (when we can take vacations safely again?). Plus, it's part two of our interview with Thomas Fletcher. We put him on the hot seat with some rapid fire father fodder. And what do you do when your kid traps you in the bathroom? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

The Olympic Games are underway in Tokyo, so Tim & Matt take a moment to share their plans to raise world-class athletes. Plus, the guys breathe a sigh of relief as a "Progressive" move in the MLB saves them from some difficult convos with their kids. And - our first guest! Thomas Kildren joins the fatherly duo to talk SAHD life and share his remarkable story of an at-home birth. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

This week's pod covers the transition from work to full-time parent (aka even more work). Matt & Tim also hit on the parenting side of the #FreeBritney movement and how to avoid starting a house fire when cooking for your kids. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

Matt & Tim tackle the challenges of educating kids on the concept of stranger danger. Plus, beginning in July, 90% of American families can expect checks in the mail as advance child tax credit payments from the IRS - we've got the scoop on that and how the changing face of the COVID pandemic has altered our parenting. And we're opening the listener mailbag for the first time, including a message of support from the father-in-law - and really, what more can you ask for? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

In the first episode of the pod, Matt & Tim detail the manifesto for the show, share their insights on the transition from the cube to being full-time caregivers and share the latest happenings in their kid's lives including their sincere hope they never have to perform the heimlich maneuver. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message

The BOD Pod has arrived. In this trailer you'll get to know your hosts, Matt & Tim, and get a sense of things to expect in episodes to come including parenting philosophies, information on childhood development, interviews and a minimal amount of dad jokes (we promise!). Please subscribe and stay tuned for more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/better-off-dad-pod/message