DadHouse

What Dadhouse Did this Summer and What's to Come.  The Intro Challenge:  1:10-In this week's intro challenge, each dad has to sum up in one sentence what they did this summer and also promote any other outside projects they are working on. And with that said, go check some of these out!  The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad Manual-This is your essential guide on how to be a better father. Dads are dads, and we deserve the knowledge and support no matter which road we take in life. Get all the great advice you hear on the podcast and a lot of funny stories about some of our greatest failures. Buy it on Amazon, at your local bookstore, or request your library to carry it!  The Planter's Table:  Our mission is to both grow and give produce to those in need in our community, using sustainable gardening practices in a chemical-free environment. We dedicate at least 50% of our produce to local food kitchens and pantries. In addition to our fresh food donation program, we sell garden plants each spring. The sales of these plants fuel our ability to donate more produce. We hope to encourage and inspire others to give and grow locally.  Cantabury Cottage KC: Perfectly located in The Golden Triangle! Our home is charming with a modern flare and close to everything you desire to see and do in KC. Luxury linens, comfortable beds, a fully stocked kitchen, and a coffee bar are ready for you! Equipped with 3 smart TVs and fiber internet. There is a deluxe gas grill with patio seating. JKDesginco-No matter if you're looking for a something that accents your home or a custom-made piece of furniture that will be an heirloom for generations, you can find it at JK Designs. Each creation showcases the fusion of both use and design and is made with superior craftsmanship you don't find in our mass-produced world.  10:54-Changes are coming to the pod, and this is where we let you know about that.  13:11-We are redesigning a lot of logs and websites. So here you go, the new Dadhouse Pod Logo!  13:38—Ask A Dad—Do you have a question for the podcast? Do you need a dad to give you an answer? Ask a Dad is a new section where you can do just that. Check it out and ask us questions!  14:13—Big Announcement! Dadhouse Pod has crossed the border of 10K downloads!  16:23—Follow Dadhouse Pod on social media  Twitter Instagram Facebook Call-In 17:16-The Chicken Update is ready to go!  19:50-DadCon Dad Advice. This is some of the best advice at last year's HomeDadCon. This year's will be in Phoenix and we'll ask the guys there to share their best experiences.  How I Spent My Summer Vacation! 22:43—One of the first activities that we did this summer was Father's Eve. It's a great event and we hope more join us next year.  24:06—It's time to tell everyone what we did for our family vacations. There was a lots of travel this year, so follow along.  The Dad's Trip 2022! 30:45—This summer we decided to do the Dad's Trip just a little bit different. With gas prices so high, we instead rented a house for the majority of the stay. But we did see some things on the way!  31:22-Big Brutus is one of the biggest earth movers in the world. It's one of the original stops on the second Dad's Trip. It remains one of the more amazing things that we have done.  33:27—We also got to see Mickey Mantle's Boyhood Home, and for Shannon it's one of his favorite stops because you can still see the dents in the tin barn where he took batting practice.  35:27—Then we drove through the most toxic place in America: Pitcher, Oklahoma. Because of zinc and lead mining, less than 10 people remain.  39:17—Head over to our Instagram to see pictures from the first (and probably only) Dadhouse Cannonball contest.  The Big Projects of the Summer 42:09—Shannon had a huge summer of fixing everything. From hanging drywall to building retaining walls, that was his entire summer.

Talking about Father's Eve with John Francis  What are you doing the day before Father's Day? Coming to Father's Eve! In this episode of Dadhouse, we talk with John Francis, founder of Father's Eve to give us the rundown of how to find your community and come together for Father's Eve. From their own website: “Father's Eve is a national event that is about connecting dads in a meaningful way to talk about and celebrate the joys and challenges of fatherhood.” And it all takes place the night before Father's Day. So, let's get to it!  The Socials:  But before we get there, here is your reminder to like, share, subscribe and do all the stuff to help us get seen more. Here are the socials: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. The Weekly Dad Round Up:  1:21-If you've never had a smoked whiskey, you've got to try it at McCormick's and Schmicks. And what the heck, here is how it's done.  7:16—It is garage sale season! Want the best tips and tricks? Then check out Episode 18! 9:34-Who is Marty that we talk about here? The guy that figured out the speed of an unladden swallow in space in Episode 31.  10:00—Please enjoy 10 seconds of silence in honor of…nothing. We've all just had a long week and you get what you get and don't throw a fit.  12:25—The Planter's Table is giving out its last pickup! Then the dads start talking about yards and grass for some reason. Honestly, I have no idea why this happens, but it does. So, I don't know, go onto our Facebook page and tell the dads your best yard story.  21:39—Mick lays it down with a chicken update. Production is up! When can Shannon expect some omlets?  22:12—DadCon Dadvice comes from Phillip Fry from Arizona. Thanks Phillip!  Father's Eve with John Francis 23:40—Let's say hi to John Francis!  “John Francis is the found of Father's Eve. In 2012, John wanted to show off his new garage to some male friends, all who happened to be dads. So he threw a party that happened to take place the night prior to Father's Eve. They had so much fun they did it again the next year and called it Father's Eve. Within a few short years, it has become a meaningful “Dads Night Out” even in over many, many cities.”  27:30—The origin story begins: "Father's Day is about dads and families. Father's Eve is about all the dads.” John Francis 28:19—Father's Eve takes place in over 60 cities prior to covid. What will the turnout be like this year?  35:00—What is the biggest challenges John has had raising his kids into teenagers? The question that Shannon likes to ask all the guest dads that have experience.  37:00—Parent the kids you have, not the child you wish you had. Great advice for dads.  39:04—The Dadhouse big announcement. We will be hosting our own Father's Eve Event in Kansas City. Want to come? Send us an email at TheDads@dadhouse.com or hit us up on the socials. Come hang out with us and let's celebrate. Or eat Mick's barbecue.  The Dadhouse Top 5! 45:07—And here we go, the Dadhouse Top 5 where we check your dadness!  Come check out this section and a few laughs. And John comes up with an answer we've never had before.  And that's it everyone. At this point, we want to take a moment to give a big shout out to all the dads out there that are showing up every day and getting work done. We don't expect accolades, and we are never helping out mom. We are just there to be the best fathers that we can be.  And remember that you are never alone, not matter how much you may feel like it as you parent. There are groups out there and millions of other fathers that are going through what you are. So join us at Father's Eve and let's tell some dick jokes, drink a bit, and have a great time. 

How you can do a little bit of both. Before we start, take a minute to like, subscribe, and follow Dadhouse on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Your support really matters!  In this episode of Dadhouse, the dads talk gardening! Or farming. Or growing stuff. Whatever you want to call it, gardening is a big past time of many at-home parents, including Dadhouse. Except Shannon, he doesn't garden at all. But he does love the fresh fruits and vegetables he can steal from Larry and Mick. Face it, Shannon is basically a hobbit. So join us on this episode as Mike, Larry, Mick, Jack, and not so much Shannon as they share their best tips and tricks about gardening with your kids.  The Dad Round-up.  1:33-Oh no, Jake has problems.  3:30-For some reason we get into whether it's Stay Puft Marshmallow man or Stay Puff Marshmallow man.  6:00-The Dads talk about scheduling for the spring and summer and the nightmare that it has to become.  7:09-Shannon lets The Dads know that he has mold in his house! We take a break from Marshmallows to talk about how to deal with this. Shannon tried to fix it himself and yup, messed it up.  9:07-Shannon's daughter got her first real job! Here are Shannon's thoughts. Which prompts a discussion on who pays the bills? This is turning out to be a weird episode.  12:54-Let's check in with Mick!  14:30-Need a soil sample to see how your yard or garden is doing? There are state resources where you can get this done! Here is a helpful listing. 21:57—Want more Dadhouse in smaller doses? Check us out on Call-In! And we've got a few more reviews up on Apple Podcasts so a special thank you to everyone that listens!  23:00-And a special comment from a fan of the show!  Gardening Tips and Tricks!  30:30-“I like your tomatoes.” Take that comment as you like.  31:34-How much land do you need to start a little hobby garden and how much do The Dads dedicate to it?  34:16 “Larry's is bigger than mine.” You know what, I'm just going to take all these comments out of context for fun.  36:00-What is the difference between gardening and farming?  36:32-And how much space should you ear mark for your garden?  39:10-One of the biggest problems of starting a garden is killing the grass when you first start your bed. Here Larry and Mick tell you how to do it.  39:55-Mick mentions something called a Lasagna Garden. Here is what that is. And here are Larry's Five Tips for starting a plant:  Choose the proper size container Fill the container with a quality potting mixPlace seed into soil at the depth recommended on the package and cover with soilWater in with a gentle spray of waterAs the plant grows give it a supply nutrients (liquid or granular)Extra Tip: Water carefully, it is better to underwater than over water. 43:50-Where the hell do you even get compost?  45:20-Over a period of time, your soil will lose nutrients. I just think that is a fun fact to mention. So how do you replenish them?  How do you bring your kids into your hobby garden? 47:52-Larry has some answers about how to get your kids involved.  49:11-And HERE is where you can get purple green bean seeds so you can grow this radioactive vegetable. I mean, it's not radioactive, it just looks like it is.  But apparently you there are many different versions of green beans. We learn something new every day.  50:18-We get into Beefsteak Tomatoes and how they look gross.  The Planter's Table 51:37-The Planter's Table is Larry's family's way of making the world a better place, although he would never phrase it that way. So here it is from their own website:  “We are Larry and Jane, owners of The Planter's Table, a small business founded in 2021. Our mission is to both grow and give produce to those in need in our community, using sustainable gardening practices in a chemical-free environment. We dedicate at least 50% of our produce to local food kitchens and pantries.

Craft Beer is its own festival In this episode of Dadhouse, the dads welcome 4 Hands Brewery Beer Ambassador Jeremy Danner to the show. It should be no surprise that five dads love talking about beer, and some of us have the bellies to prove it. What's the current craft beer scene look like and what kind of beer should you try to get into it? With a thousand different mixtures and flavors, there's something for everyone. Dadhouse tries to get into it, so join us as we talk about beer, beer, beer!  Stay at home dad round up 3:12--Who knew that Mick has experience growing hops? Also, it surprises none of us. Jump in here to hear our Iowan farm boy talk about what makes beer, well, beer. Take a deep dive on the link and learn even more about the iconic plant.  3:44—It wouldn't be a Dadhouse episode without one of us picking a fight. In this case, Shannon and Larry have a few words for Mike.  5:00—The Dadhouse crew and their families went to the Kansas City Improv. They had a blast and Shannon took the stage to participate on a skit. And although he was nervous, what he was mostly worried about was if his pants were unzipped. We also want to give a shout out to Fat Sully's for seriously one of the biggest pizzas we have ever seen. 2 feet across and goes well with craft beer, just saying.  11:15—Take a minute to like, subscribe, and follow Dadhouse on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.  11:50—Before jumping into the topic, let's set the record straight. Every dad deserves support and the question we get asked the most is where to find friendships. City Dads Group and the National At-Home Dad organization are your first steps. We get this asked this so much, Shannon wrote an in depth article about the best places and ways to find your dad community.  14:54—We were lucky enough to go to HomeDadCon the last year and get advice from a great community. Here is this week's contribution from Alex.  Craft beer talk with Jeremy Danner 17:42—Welcome to the show 4 Hands Brewery Beer Ambassador Jeremy Danner. Jeremy has worked in the beer world for years and no one knows the scene quite like him. Join us as he answers all the questions the dads have for him. As a father of 1, he loves to share what he knows with everyone. And take a minute to listen to his podcast I Love This Town, which is about Kansas City!  19:42—The craft beer environment can be intimidating as hell to get into. There is a fear that gatekeepers are ready to drop your man buns right on top of you. Turns out this isnt' the case at all as Jeremy answers the first question: Where do you even start? And what better place than trying some brews from 4 Hands.  23:29—How does it work when a specialty beer is made? Is there a starting barrel count or do you just brew away? 24:47—And speaking of how we make beer, how do you market it? Is there any market research conducted? This is the ins and outs of the process that fascinate Shannon 30:02—Are you looking for an introductory beer? Jeremy Danner has you covered here.  31:00—One of the great moments of HomeDadCon was the beer exchange where dads from all over the country brought their best local beers to share.  36:07—Does Jeremy share his hobbies and passion with his kids? There is a science behind the crafting and it's enough to get any inquisitive kid intrigued.  38:58—What's the difference between a pale ale, and IPA and all the other types of beers? This is one of those beginner questions that need an answer.  42:14—4 Hands Brewery does some fantastic charity work and their City Wide Mission initiative has rasied hundreds of thousands of dollars for non-profits in the St. Louis area. These are the kind of companies we can all get behind.  Time for the Dadhouse 5 47:41—It's time for the Dadhouse 5! The questions we ask to check your dadness!  Plus, Mick comes up with an extra one.  A special thank you to Jeremy Danner and 4 Hand Brewery company for having a laugh wi...

Welcome to another great Dadhouse episode. We tackle this episode with Danan Hughes. You know him as a commentator and former player for the Kansas City Chiefs. As a standout at The University of Iowa, he helped lead them to the Rose Bowl. As a father and Grandfather, Danan Hughes has all kinds of advice and insight that he is willing to share with the dads. So, huddle up, make the right beer call, and let's get into fatherhood with Danan Hughes.  2:26—In case you're missing your daily Dadhouse and all the smack talk, join us on Call-In, the social network for podcasters. It's live radio at its best. We run smaller, shorter episodes there. This last week we talked about what to do when you are sick with the kids and also maternal gatekeeping and how it affects fatherhood.  4:42—Shannon got his son the turtle! Everyone meet Trizzy, the yellow-bellied slider that is destined to rule all. Shannon makes the claim that his turtle will now beat up Mick's chickens.  6:54—Get ready for Mick's chicken up date and unfortunately, they've turned to prostitution.  8:02—This is our call out to like, share, subscribe and do all the stuff to help us get seen more. Here are the socials: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram 14:13—Good friend of the show Kyle Denny sent an email asking how we find time for a workout routine.  16:46—This week's DadCon Dad Advice is from Grady Black. Take a minute and listen in to what he has to say this week. How do we keep our moods level?  20:42—It's time to get into our conversation with Danan Hughes. A two-sport star that was drafted by both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Milwaukee Brewers. He played for five seasons. He has been an analyst for the Big Ten Network as well as the Kansas City Chiefs. He is active in his community, the father of 5 kids, and 3 grandkids.  23:08—Danan gets into what it was liked to get recruited back in the 90s. We love hearing stories like this.  25:38—How do the skills as an athlete transfer to becoming a better father? Danan gives us his insights. It starts with learning and convincing your kids that you love them no matter what.  28:16—How do you deal with conflict resolution when it comes to our children?  33:01—Building a community as a dad is very important to all us. How has Danan Hughes built his community?  35:57—How do you balance all your responsibilities as a player and broadcaster with all the needs of fatherhood?  39:47—Welcome to the Dadhouse 5, let's check your dadness!  45:00—What is the proper technique to make a snow angel?  Find it at the 1:40 mark in this video.

It's time to sit back, grab your favorite drink, and join the dads on their annual Man Weekend. Do we get crazy during a weekend away from our families? No. But do we at least do something super fun? Also, no. We rent a barn and play board games and sleep in. That's it. We barely even cook and live off bags of chips and Nutty Bars. But we also record a podcast episode! Come on down for relaxing at the barn!  3:04—And we get right into it by explaining why it's important that we get away and take time for ourselves.  5:58—How many Man Weekends have we taken? 12.  6:56—A quick shout out to our favorite board games: Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne. 12:55—Mick gives his review of taking a bath.  19:55—Mick's son texted Shannon to ask for permission to drive. Yup, that happened. So now we get into the whole situation of a lot of our kids about to get their driver's license.  21:54—Shout out to The Lawn Guardian who gave us this question: What was the turning point that each of us experienced as a stay-at-home dad.  33:12—Did one of our kids puke on a Mormon shrine? Yup, that happened. Here's a bit of the story.  36:00—How did our wives meet for the first time? At the Shatto Milk Company 40:00—We get asked to talk about turtles. Alright, let's talk about turtles.  The Barn (summertime picture)

In this episode of Dadhouse, we explore science with Marty Kelsey, co-host of the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum's Stem in 30. We loved this episode so much that we have officially christened this Marty Day. It's a new holiday and Hallmark will have cards and chocolates for you soon. Marty's mission in life is to bring STEM to kids in a way that is fun, engaging, and educational. They learn by doing, and that's something that Dadhouse loves. And he has met real life astronauts. Sit back and enjoy this conversation with Marty Kelsey. 2:30: We jump into this episode by talking about how the dads don't take their shaving seriously enough and refuse to use a shave brush or take any enjoyment at all in it. Self-care needs to be encouraged. Basically, only Shannon is right. And since he write's the show notes, that is the official position of Dadhouse.  9:50: Mick admits that he shaves with this stuff that comes from a toothpaste tube. Mick needs some self-care, too!  16:00: What is Shannon's professional shave place? The Gent's Place. It's the best.  19:09: Before we get to Marty, we get a piece of great advice from Andy Jones about how to deal with conflicts with your kids. We met Andy at HomeDadCon. Thanks for the advice, Andy!  21:31: Let's talk to Marty! Marty Kelsey is one of the hosts for the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum's Stem in 30, a fast-paced show for middle-school students. Prior, he was a teacher in Liberty, Mo. Father of two, welcome to Marty! 21:45: Did you know that Amelia Earhart wrote poetry?  32:36: Our kids participated in the Hurricane episode of Stem in 30!  34:12: How does Marty plan his weirdo adventures? AtlasObscura.com! He saw a two-story tall crash test dummy plus a Vincent Van Gogh mural made out of doorknobs.  And don't forget about using RoadsideAmerica.com! 37:58: What was it like to watch the Dragon Launch of Space X Crew 2? Marty lets us know.  40:00: Megan McArthur was on that crew!  40:41: One of the coolest people he's met? Michael Collins who flew with Neil Armstrong to the moon.  41:30: He also loves to work with Bill Ingalls, photographer for NASA.  44:17: And here's Marty on an aircraft carrier. 45:17: Is there a water heater on the ISS?   47:18: Can we launch one of Mick's Chickens into space? Marty says yes!  52:11: We check Marty's dadness with the Dadhouse Top 5. 

Join Jake, Mike, Mick, Larry and Shannon as they discuss some of the most common home repairs that dads have to do around the house. From unclogging sinks and fixing toilets to repairing holes in the wall—they give their best advice on how to do some of those everyday tasks. There's also a chicken update, Shannon has an unfortunate confession, and Larry doesn't like his kids helping. Turn on this funny episode while you do those chores around the house!  2:00: Shannon talks about the joy of his new Oculus 2, VR for the family. You can go to a retail job in VR!  3:00: Did you know that Mike now has Mike's Hot Honey. There're no dick jokes. Probably.  5:25: BJ is coming over to Jake's house and we are wondering if he is bringing Mike's Hot Honey.  6:01: “Speaking of facials…” I'm just going to leave that there.  7:05: The dads have some pretty strong opinions about serrated steak knives.  10:56: Mick and Shannon have been doing Dadhouse Snippets over at the Call-In App. Head on over and get a ten-minute dose of the Dadhouse over current topics.  12:24: Let's find out how Mick's chickens are doing in the winter.  14:31: DadCon dadvice from Kyle Thompson.  16:28: And we are off and get into home improvement! First up, how to fix holes in walls.  21:54: Toilets clog and break down over time. Let's go over how to fix them.  29:58: As far as repairs to the house go, water leaks are one of the worst.  33:00: Preventative maintenance is key in avoiding repairs all together.  35:18: Garbage disposals come up a lot because kids throw all kinds of crap down there. Shannon recommends going with Insinkarator. Mick fixes his garbage disposal with a hammer.  38:18: Mick has dishwasher issues.  40:04: And what kids don't throw into the garbage disposal, they throw down the drains. For example, when you throw a gallon of syrup down the sink, it will clog the drain.  43:35: What the hell is a worm bin and why are we talking about worm poop?  45:20: Jake has a lot of strong opinions concerning command strips.  47:00: The main advice from the dads is to Google the repair before you call someone. You would be surprised what you can actually do.  53:00: The dads give their best tips on managing repairs while taking care of the kids. 

This episode of Dadhouse is brought to you by American Underdog. It's the story of Kurt Warner and his rise to be one of the best quarterbacks ever.  Join us as the dads get into gaming with your kids. We are joined by Joel Willis who runs the multimedia group The Dad and The Dad Gaming. The Dad Gaming brings dads together with their kids to help them bond, communicate, and play some games!  Joel guides us through gaming with the kids and how to make it a better experience for us all. Also, how dads can cheat to continue to beat their kids but that may just be Shannon.  1:24—Our thoughts and prayers to Mike, whose water heater has gone away. Oh, he also went to the Air and Space Museum in DC.  13:45-Dadhouse would like to announce that we are now on Call-In. The new social media platform for podcasts. We post Dadhouse Snippets in-between longer episodes. So if you need a ten minute hit of Dadhouse on topical subjects, give us a listen there! 15:22—Mick's Chicken Update!  16:50—We are staring a new segment with Dad Advice from Dad Con. It's straight advice from more dads to help us all. We start with John Francis, founder of Father's Eve. 18:01—Our first sponsored show comes with American Underdog! Zachary Levi stars as Kurt Warner. It opens on Christmas day. You don't have to be a huge football fan to love this film. It's about perseverance, fatherhood, family, and pushing yourself to succeed.  And you can hear the interview that Dad 2.0 did with Zachary Levi  on their podcast, plus learn about screenings in your area. Plus, don't forget to join the Dad 2.0 Twitter party on December 13th at 8:00 Central! Just head on over to@dad2summit on Twitter. All of Dadhouse is going to be there!  22:04—And now we get to the interview with Joel Willis! Joel Willis editor and chief of The Dad, a media brand that celebrates modern fatherhood and reaches over 75 million people every month. He's the co-author of The Dad Law, a hilarious guide for fathers, as well as The Dad Book: Truths, Hacks, and Dadisms. 23:10—Joel Willis kicks us off with talking with us about what Dad Gaming is and how it got started.  26:46—Joel puts out a challenge to anyone on Mario Kart! Who's going to take him on? Not me, I'm awful at Mario Kart.  31:06—Joel's controversial take!  Roblox is better than Golden Eye. Visit the Dad Gaming to disagree.  34:32—What is the positives in gaming with your kids. There are a ton. A father interacts with their child where they go, and gaming is one of those places.  41:50—Don't sleep on mobile gaming. There are ton of games and father's and kids can bound over. From educational games from Blooket and Kahoot. 43:49—To get a workout, try Just Dance!  46:00—How do we handle toxic gaming in some of the online games, and Joel gives great advice on how to deal with it, and show your kids a positive example.  50:05—Like we do with every guest, Joel answers the Dadhouse Five, check our Dadness! 

.  In this episode, the Dads are taking on Mental Health and celebrating all things Movember. Movember is the leading advocate for men's mental and physical health. Every November they run a campaign to grow out your stache and support the cause. Men's mental health isn't talked about enough and there are too many guys suffering in silence. So, the dads tackle the subject with the hope to remove some of the stigma, give great advice, and places where you can get some help. Let's get to it!  2:00—If you're looking for a signed copy (with a book plate-which is a sticker) of Shannon's book The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad Manual, head on over to Left Bank Books!   5:50—Jake goes to the one of the most unusual Hardware Stores he's ever been to. Harry J Epsteins. This place is worth a look for how cool it is. The building used to be a bank and they've got tons of unusual stuff!  11:00—Larry went to a different hardware store and found used cleaning supplies and windows. He's going to use the windows because Larry is building a new greenhouse! It looks awesome. Larry also needed a lot of Jake's caulk.  15:40—A new segment for the show is forth coming! Dad Advice from DadCon. Get a snippet of advice from guys we've met along the way. This is a teaser for the next episode! 17:08—Mick's Chicken Update!  19:44—Let's get into mental health. And what better way to get into it than by talking about the Human Centipede series. 22:30—Why is it so hard to talk about our own mental health?  28:00—Here the dads discuss risk factors that may affect our mental health. What are our triggers and how do we deal with them?  37:20—Here we get to the advice given to us by Mark Hedstrom, Executive Director of Movember.  40:00—What are the dad's triggers and how do they manage them to improve their mental health.  45:25—Tips and tricks on how to manage your mental health. But remember, a great place to start is Movember.  Recycled Windows Greenhouse Recycled Windows Greenhouse Extreme ToolsExtreme ToolsExtreme ToolsExtreme ToolsExtreme Tools

What happens at HomeDadCon stays at HomeDadCon! Unless Dadhouse decides to relive it all. Join us for this episode where the guys give their experiences of the annual stay-at-home dad conference. This year's HomeDadCon was hosted in Cincinnati and Mick, Jake, and Shannon were able to go and spend time with some great dads, drink some beer, and meet a couple of stay-at-home dads from Kazakhstan.  3:53-Before digging into this episode, do us a favor and subscribe, review, and rate Dadhouse on the platform of your choice. And if you want to send us an email, we LOVE those! TheDads@Dadhousepod.com 9:06—The dads kick off their recap with Mick digging into where it was at and how this was the 25th year. This includes meeting the founder, as well as all the past presidents, that have made this convention happen over so many years.  11:13—The dads first went to the convention over ten years ago and here talk about how much the convention and the community has changed.  15:00-We want to give a shout out to Brock Lusch, Danny Mercer, and Jonathon Heisey-Grove and the amazing work they've done to create this community.  15:48—How did each of the guys get to the convention? Shannon flew and Jake and Mick had to drive like suckers.  23:27—Here we get into the nuts and bolts of the convention. With the kick out even hosted by Father's Eve and John Francis and Jake knocking on the wrong rooms to find the Beer Share—where guys brought local, craft beer from their area of the country. 25:56—A major shout out to Joe Saladino from the SAHD Beercast.  28:38-Jake and Mick really liked the Beer Share.  30:00-The dads get into some of their favorite speakers including Billy Kilgore and Al Watts.  33:20—Jake talks about How to Get Book Published with Vernon Gibbs and Shannon Carpenter.  35:20—What is Dad Gaming? You need to check it out. Joe Willis from The Dad Gaming was fantastic.  40:00—Mick walks in on Shannon in a very uncomfortable situation. The movie Shannon was watching was called High Life.  43:29—Shannon wrote a CNN article about paternity leave while at the convention. This is how that happened.  45:18—How the guys ended the conference and celebrated Shannon's book. A special thank you to all the dads that took Shannon out to dinner. 

Are your ready to be a stay-at-home dad? In this episode the dads go into why they decided to be the ones to stay home with the kids. They give you their best advice about what to think about before you take the plunge, how to make the transition happen, and what you can expect. Come join the dads for this great conversation! For even more advice on this topic and so many others along with some fantastic humor head over to shannoncarpenterautor.com and purchase The Ultimate Stay At Home Dad.

In this episode, the dads go through what made it into the book The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad, and what DIDN'T make it! They'll go through some of the arguments, give a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the process, and tell the role that poison ivy had to play in the creation of the book. So, join the dads on this hilarious episode, and have a great time!  1:17—Before the dads get into the book, we get into Jake and his amazing woodworking. If you need a gift this holiday season, JK Design CO has tons of great designs such as cutting boards made from locally harvested wood, Charcuterie boards for entertaining, and a host of other fantastic creations.  3:40—And a special shout-out to Ember.pearl_co for being a great friend of the show!  11:53—The chicken update! Things are not going well. Are the chickens getting closer to the grill?  12:57—And now we get into the behind the scenes of The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad Book! The book comes out on October 12.  Our first question you need to know: Did the other dads ever get tired of Shannon talking about his book?  21:06—Which notebooks can you get so you can write in the rain? Rite in the Rain Notebooks! 22:30—Which piece of advice did the dads not let Shannon put in his book?  30:19—Join the great debate of where you should buy your cleaning products. There are some surprisingly strong opinions on this one.  36:10—Out of all the chapters, what is the one piece of advice that each dad is really proud of.  45:05—It's time for an INTERVENTION! Mick needs help with his poison ivy obsession.   Thanks for listening! You can buy The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad Here or wherever you buy books. Or visit ShannonCarpenterAuthor.com for more from Shannon. Follow him on Twitter @HossmanAtHome and Instagram @HossmanAtHome53. 

What's it like for an introverted parent?  How do they connect and find that support? The world of parenting is hard enough.  In this episode, The Dads talk to author Julie Vick and her new book Babies Don't Make Small Talk (So Why Should I?) Filled with expert advice combined with razor sharp wit and humor, Julie takes The Dads through the ins and outs of being an introverted parent. Get your copy of Babies Don't Make Small Talk (So Why Should I?) and join The Dads and Julie Vick on this fun episode.  4:00-Before The Dads get into the conversation with Julie Vick, they talk about the first car they ever had.  Why?  Because Mike's oldest daughter is getting her very first car.  Larry had a Pontiac Sunbird with a spoiler on the trunk and flip up headlights.  Larry is full of surprises. Mick says that he had a Chevy Berretta, but let's be honest, he probably had a tractor first and won't admit it. Shannon had a 1980 Sky Blue Extended Bed Ford.  Mike brings up the rear with his first car, a 1985 Buick Somerset with a digital dash.   17:41-Mick gives a Chicken Update by opening up on which is the ugliest chicken in his coop.  19:33-And our interview with Julie Vick begins! Julie Vick is a writer living in Colorado whose work has appeared in New Yorker Daily Shouts, The Washington Post, Real Simple, And McSweeney's Internet Tendency.  Babies Don't Make Small Talk (So Why Should I?) is her first book.  “All parents want the same things: to balance work and home life, to raise happy kids, to never attend a baby drumming class, and to build a secret room in their home where they can hide (preferably not the bathroom). Yes, an introverted parent would more keenly want to be free of the slew of attention and expectations that accompany both pregnancy and parenthood, but even the most outgoing person is sure to reach their limit eventually. Here, with laugh-out-loud humor and well-earned experience, Julie Vick offers coping mechanisms for everything from sharing the news that you are becoming a parent to the moment the baby is born (one way or another, it will happen), from managing doctor's visits to handling playdates. She offers advice on finding childcare and ignoring the nursing versus formula conversation with strangers. Witty yet valuable, her tips, checklists, and the occasional chart focus on the time from pregnancy through preschool.” 20:36-Why did Julie write the book?  Get your answer here.  25:48-How can extroverts not freak out the introverts.  34: 15-The evaluation criteria for visitors coming into your home right after your baby is born. What can introvert parents set boundaries?  38:15-Mick goes into why Babies Don't Make Small Talk (So Why Should I?) is going to resonate with so many parents and why did with us.  42:07-How does an extroverted parent make friends?  47:08-How do you respect introverts but not excluding them at the same time.  49:48-What are the common misconceptions of introverts.  57:30-And we end this episode with the Dadhouse Five—Five questions to check every guest's dadness.  Thanks to Julie Vick for coming on the show with us!  Be sure to go buy her book Babies Don't Make Small Talk (So Why Should I?).  You can follow her comings and goings at JulieVick.com and sign up for her newsletter. Or find her on Twitter at VickJulie and Instagram at JulieVickWriter

What is the Dad's Trip?  It's 16 kids, 5 dads, and 1 grand adventure!  The dads pick a direction, load up the minivans, and go see the weirdest and coolest stuff they can find with the kids.  In this episode, we recap the 2021 dad's trip to the great state of Kentucky. So join us as we tell you the amazing things we found, the disasters that happened along the way, and the hotel room that had…problems.  Let's get to the Dad's Trip Recap!  :40-The dads go through their favorite memories from dads' trips in the past.  3:25-Mick's favorite stop on the dad's trip is the Grotto of the Redemption.  Is it a Shrine or a Jesus Castle?  4:50- Larry loves Big Brutus.  Big Brutus is the largest movable electrical shovel.  It is 140 tons.  9:13- Mike's favorite stop was this year and the Corvette Museum.  16:00-Let's get into the 2021 Dad's Trip, the Kentucky Addition!  22:10-The first stop, the Dungeons and Dragons Playground.  This playground was built by a father as a memorial for his son and a great visit.   27:18-Somewhere in Illinois, Big John's Grocery Store has a giant statue in front.  It's one of those unexpected adventures that you don't plan but still find it.  However, I have no idea where this was.  29:27 – The next stop with the Muhammad Ali boyhood home, a place that everyone should see.   30:35-In Cave Hill Cemetery, you can see the graves of both Muhmmad Ali and Colonel Sanders of KFC fame.  32:07-In Downtown Louisville, we saw the World's Largest Baseball Bat, A tall bottle of Whiskey, The Slugger Walk of Fame, The Birth of the Happy Birthday Song, a vampire bat sculpture, a possum,  and a giant gilded statue of David.  38:24-For dinner that night, we went to 80/20 at Kaelin's, which happens to be the birthplace of the American Cheeseburger.  43:56-We didn't get a chance to see the World's Longest Go-Kart Track. 44:50-Next stop, Mammoth Cave. Even though we couldn't take a tour, it was awesome.   49:15-The Corvette Museum was our last stop on day 3 and absolutely amazing. It has a giant sink hole in it.  57:58-The best diner we ever had was Yesterday's Home Cooking in Metropolis, IL.  Give them a try.  58:22-On the  last day of the dad's trip was the Superman statues in Metropolis. 59:48-Finally, what do the kids think about the dad's trip?  Let's find out here.  There are a lot of pictures for the dad's trip, so head over to the Dadhouse Instagram account and take a look! 

In this episode, the dads are happy to welcome Shannon Brescher Shea and to talk about her book Growing Sustainable Together.  It's a great guide on how to engage your children on how to make a positive impact on the world through sustainable living.  It's a fun conversation with lots of great advice, practical tips, and, of course, some dad jokes.   1:20—We kick off this episode by naming what we like to grow in the garden.  4:10—Mick goes all Forrest Gump as he talks about cucumbers.  Dudes' really into cucumbers.  You can pickle them, gumbo them, fish for them in the sea on the gump boat.  Then Larry throws some farmer's shame at Mick.  13:260-Catch up with what's going on with the dads.  Jake starts with Facebook Marketplace misadventures.  20:57—Chicken update 21:37—The interview with Shannon B. Shea begins. She has written the book Growing Sustainable Together: Practical Resources for Raising Kind, Engaged, Resilient Children.  “Growing Sustainable Together is packed with easy tips, expert parenting advice, and practical hands-on activities for the toddler years up through the early teens. The enriching activities, resource guides, and recommended book lists in each chapter distill core sustainability knowledge, like:  •  Understanding energy efficiency and renewables  •  Instilling anti-waste and anti-consumerist values  •  Learning where our food comes from  •  Developing a lifelong love for environmental activism, volunteering, and community engagement.”  29:12-She talks about how to get your kids into gardening with specific advice.  Including seed starting hacks.   33:04-What are good starting plants to use with children?  34:19-You give them power by putting them in control and making them feel they are the owner of this item.—A quote from Larry on this episode that is just straight up good advice about life.  37:32—There is such a thing as squash bugs.  Basically, they are squash vampires.  Shannon is a supporter of squash vampires.  38:09—The Washington Youth Garden This is basically the country's garden that teaches and engages with youth.  Finding something like this in your area is well worth your time.  In Kansas City there is the Kansas City Community Garden that is amazing. It's were we learned to pet a bee.  44:15—Shannon's Husband is a stay at home dad, find out how they made that decision.  49:20—What it means to teach your kids to be resilient.  52:25—What is a green team and how to create it?  Shannon lets you know how.  53:48-Let's dad up things to build out of recycled of material.  Start with a marble run. 55:27—You can add ash to the garden.  They let you know why and how at this point.  56:35—How do you get tweens involved and engaged?   59:44—The Dadhouse Top 5, checking your dadness questions.  Don't forget to order your copy of Shannon Brescher Shea's book, book Growing Sustainable Together: Practical Resources for Raising Kind, Engaged, Resilient Children. You can also find more information at her website Welleatyouupweloveyouso.com and join her newsletter!  Or connect with her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. 

Well, we did it.  We packed up the entire crew and for the first time ever and took a vacation with all 26 of us.  Yes, 16 kids and 10 adults rented a house in Florida.  This isn't the normal dad's trip.  This time we brought the wives. Come along as we recap the adventure and give you our best tips while traveling with kids.   3:00—Jake recounts the story the time his mom told him Disneyland was closed.  Ouch.   6:40—Big Announcement!  Leave a review of the podcast and we will have a Cameo actor read it right on the podcast!  Go nuts and have fun with it and we will make that happen! Let's make this happen!  9:58—It's time for a chicken update!  Mick's son, Luke, has built something special so we are going to talk about that.  And contrary to Shannon's wish, it's not about throwing chickens.  14:15—The dads discover that there is something called Medical Grade Organic Honey.  It's used for burns, and in this case, it's used for Jake's thumb that he cooked on his new Blackstone Grill.  17:00—Larry got his homemade zipline done.  Did he ask for help?  Nope.  Is it awesome?  Yes.  Larry used Sika Post Fix to set the poles.  22:00—The Dads get into the Florida trip.  How it went, what went wrong, and what they learned while doing it.  Finding a house that fit 26 people was the first problem.  23:40—And what's the first thing Mick and Jake do when they get to the house?  They pull out the house's tools and try to fix the house.  Why?  Nobody knows. But it was a hot water heater problem so they had to jump in.  27:07—How do you save 21 seats on an airplane?  Apparently, you send Mike's wife, Amanda, on first.  27:47—The dads give their best tips for going on trips with younger kids.  34:16—What car games can you play with your kids while on the road with the kids?  40:58—The dads ended up getting a house that also came with a guest house.  The guest house is where the kids stayed.  Was this a good idea?  43:45—The teenagers got a bit too rowdy the night before, so this is how we handled it.   50:00—This is how Shannon got Larry's kid to wear his swim shirt.  51:50—On vacation, Mike tried to find a rocket launch from the wrong side of the state.   53:52—The dads best beach tips. Let's get into it here because a lot of families go to the beach and this is the advice you really need. 

In this episode, Dadhouse tackles the dad clichés.  The ones that we love, the ones that we hate, and the ones that define us.  We answer some big questions such as what is the coolest NASA tool and how old is your oldest T-Shirt?  Which dad has the oldest T-Shirt?  Find out this answer on this week's episode! 1:06 - We jump right into it with our favorite T-shirts and how old they are. Also, Mick busts out some old-time dad knowledge by naming the entire offensive line for the Green Bay Packers from the Ice Bowl.  16:23 - The dads go into the power drill that NASA uses.  The NASA Pistol Grip Tool is everything a father would love to have in his toolbox. It was 1.5 million dollars to develop with a little bit of a steampunk look.  19:30 - Welcome to our new segment.  Mick's Chicken Update.  20:30 - Mike has taken up golf again but has not invited Shannon, which is honestly a bit rude.  But Mike has new golf clubs and he's ready to break them in.  23:05 - It's time to start this week's topics.  The dad clichés.  The guys start the conversation by recounting some of the home improvement projects they've done and how much they appreciate Shannon supervising from his lawn chair.  They say that they don't, but they also don't write the show notes.  So, in this version, they love how Shannon supervises and now believe that they should use his system when moving.  29:50 - The next dad cliché is the size of dad's wallet.  But apparently Shannon is the only one that has a thick wallet.    31:39 - What is the one dad cliché that totally fits you. At this part, they all get into which ones that they fit.  43:55 - It turns out that Mick is a hundred different dad clichés.  But that's why we love him.  46:37 - The biggest dad cliché out there but also one of the best.  Here the dads give out their best life advice for the younger generation.  As we end here, we want to say happy Father's Day to all of you.  Keep making those memories.  

You know him as internet famous @xploding unicorn.  Buzzfeed calls him “the funniest dad on Twitter.”  He stops by the podcast to talk about his new book How to be a Man (Whatever That Means): Lessons in Modern Masculinity from a Questionable Source.  So, sit back and enjoy the conversation that is chocked full of dad jokes, good times, and the perfect design for a man stroller.   And for the first time ever, we roll out the Dadhouse Five:  Check Your Dadness.   7:12-- We are right into the conversation with James and the greatness of hot sauce.  Mick gives a shout-out to Des Moines hometown favorite Lola's Fine Hot Sauce.  9:28—James has urban pigs.  Mick has never been so happy to talk livestock.  And Shannon learns that there is a thing called a pellet spreader to feed pigs.   15:55—Everyone loves the Indianapolis Children's Museum.  And for Kansas City, don't miss the WWI Museum or Hallmark's Kaleidoscope.  18:58—And if you're in Iowa, don't miss Pulpit Rock Brewing Company or Toppling Goliath Brewing.  20:10—We kick off today's topic: Manhood and Fatherhood and how it intersects in today's world.  We start with the question of the best and worst examples of fatherhood in today's media.  23:51—There was a time where the five dads on Dadhouse shot a reality show pilot for TLC.  It was ten years ago and never made the air, but here is the story.  29:28—How does the world market to dads?  37:31—And here it is, the perfect stroller for a dad.  41:47—Something new that we are doing with every guest.  The Dadhouse Five!  Five Questions to Check Your Dadness.  Now go by the book!   Visit XplodingUnicorn.com to find links to everything James Breakwell.   Twitter: @xplodingunicorn.com Facebook: James Breakwell Xploding Unicorn.  Instagram: James_Breakwell And don't forget to sign up for his super funny weekly newsletter! 

6:38:  Shannon has a TikTok channel and would like to publicly apologize to everyone for this transgression.  There's going to be a giveaway.  Join his channel and get a chance to braid his belly hair *Legal Notice-This is not a real contest.  Please do not braid his belly hair.  10:21:  Mike and Jake talk about the Buschy McBush Race.  Apparently, that's a real thing.  15:41:  Mick gets into the “Chicken Incident.”  Only Iowa farm boys call things chicken incidents.  Tune in and find out what happened to Mick's chicken babies.  22:30:  The garage sale talk starts. Let's get into it!  23:22:  The dads give tips for finding the best garage sales.   24:40:  There are a lot of apps that can organize your garage sale hunt.  Try Yard Sale Treasure Hunt or Garage Sale Map to get started.   26:08:  The best place to get toddler clothes, especially for summer, is at the garage sales.  Prices can vary wildly but the dads stick to 50 cents for a shirt and a dollar for pants. 31:00:  Kids toys, especially brand name stuff, gouge parents.  One of the best tips the dads have is to skip the stores and buy things like Thomas the Train and Legos at garage sales. Not to mention sports gear and fishing supplies.  And don't forget about estate sales and auctions can have some great deals.   34:35:  You can also turn flipping items you get at a garage sale into a nice side hustle.   35:11:  Who is the best negotiator of the dads?  The game starts here!  36:00 Everyone meet Linda, she is selling a complete set of Thomas the Tank Engine toys.  What kind of deal can Larry get?  37:14:  Mick is up and trying to negotiate the best deal on a book called the Bigfoot and the Biologist.  It's, um, a special book.  40:50:  Mike is trying to get the best deal on the Ruud, the world's first water heater ever made.  Mike goes the wrong way and actually offers more at the garage sale. In fact, he yells at the seller.   43:00:  The best Star Wars Poster Mike ever bought.   46:06:  Ready to run your own garage sale?  Here the dads talk about what you need to know when setting up your own garage sale.  50:49:  The dads wrap up the show with their takeaways for garage sales. 

In this episode, it's back to question and answer time.  You asked, and we answered.  We go through all the questions and answer them only as a dad can.  Probably.  3:00—The guys help Mike with his new bar game to install in his garage.  8:37—Did the dads really teach toddlers how to throw axes?  You bet we did.  It was a great day at the Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve is a one-of-a-kind adventure you should take your kids to!  9:00—Larry has fixed his loose sheet problem.  11:14—Larry's Master Sheet Service as read by Macho Man Randy Savage. Dear God, this is the best ad I have ever written.  Did we hire a guy just to have a little fun with Larry?  Yes.  Yes, we did.   15:00--The dads get into the questions.  16:00—What are the dads' biggest disasters?  18:00—Why did the dads get asked to leave a football stadium?  Listen and find out.  20:00—By now, the famous Mormon disaster.  23:39—Larry shares why you should never mow with flip-flops on.  25:40—How do you get rid of squirrels that are causing you problems? We suggest Mark Rober 34:04—The dads describe their go-to meals on the grill or the smoker.   44:30—Shannon's new website is up and running and his newsletter is ready for signups!  Get monthly updates on the podcast, behind-the-scenes stuff on the book The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad, and a free giveaway!  This month's giveaway is 10 awesome and unexpected adventures for you and your kids.  Sign up today at ShannonCarpenterAuthor.com

1:31: We talk about the world's second-biggest ball of twine, the Grotto in West Bend Iowa, the Winnebago Factory tour, and the SPAM Museum.  It's a real thing and we spend some time getting into it.  7:20:  Mike talks about his new hobby of vinyl records.  What we really want to know if he's got the Metallica Black album yet.  But so far, he's got Lady and the Tramp and 101 Dalmatians.  11:25:  Larry gets a new mattress, and this is what counts as exciting for middle-aged dudes.  But apparently, there have been some technological advancements in the mattress world.  And it appears that Larry has a weird thing for tight sheets.  But if you want tight sheets, the dads recommend getting some ratchet straps.  Although a bed scrunchy might be the dumbest thing we've ever talked about.  16:18:  And it's time to get into talking about toddlers! 17:40:  We answer the big question:  Which is more difficult—babies or toddlers?  But we also decide that toddlers and teenagers act basically the same.  20:50:  We get into some of the things that our kids broke when they were toddlers.  From potted plants to the hoods of our cars.  But we call that the “price of adult conversation.”   22:02:  It's time to get into toddler tips!  From discipline to how to handle the meltdowns.  25:45:  Shannon gives one of his best pieces of toddler advice of positive reinforcement and redirecting their energy.  27:37:  Any kind of attention is still attention, and as a parent it's important to remember that.  Mick says the best way to deal with toddlers is to get on their eye level.  29:30:  How do you get anything done when you're caring for a toddler?  This is the problem that plagues parents.  The dads get into some specific answers.  34:04:  Getting your kids into your hobbies, and Shannon talks about building a guillotine with the kids.  34:06:  Screen time.  How much time is too much screen time?   Do we even care or should we?  38:55:  The dads get to their takeaways and give their best actionable advice on how to make deal with toddlers. 

Welcome to an entire show about water heaters!  Yup, that's what we are talking about in this episode, but maybe not in the way you think.  Can water heaters be interesting and funny?  Shannon tries to make it that way, but the dads turn the tables.  On what was meant to be a joke about an old water heater, the dads take it seriously and all of a sudden, we are into the history of water heaters.  Thus proving Shannon's point that the dads talk about water heaters way too much.   But before we get there, we take a trip down memory lane and check in with some of the places we've been.   4:19—The dads take a little trip down memory lane and talk about the Spam Museum.  Yes, it's a real thing and yes, it was fun.  Who knew that people take Spam so seriously?  Turns out, there's a lot!  6:20—Jake tells his pee deal.  It's weird but fun. 8:45—Before getting into the topic of water heaters, the dads get into rain barrels for some reason.  And in case you need to know, there are kits to buy to hook up your downspout to your rain barrel.  But check your local laws because in some places it's illegal to have a rain barrel.   11:15—Then the dads get into the Ogallala Aquifer up in Nebraska.  Only because it's a fun word to say, but tough to spell.  Fun fact, it would take 6,000 years to refill this aquifer.  13:52—The conversation turns to other fun things to see in Nebraska using the website Roadsideamerica.com. There is Duck Bill Bowling, the highest point in Nebraska, and a Missile Silo. All worthy to see on an adventure with the kids.  15:32—And now it's time to get to tonight's main topic, Water Heaters!  Jump right in Play the Match Game to find your dream water heater.  Is it one from 1889, the Rudd?  How about The Yarrow Boiler that is used on battleships?  Follow along and find which water heater is right for you!  Which would be none of these but it's fun.  32:04—The dads actually get to the discussion of their real dream water heater.   33:04—The dads, in typical fashion for Mick, Jake, Larry, and Mike, completely ignore the topic at hand and do a deep dive on the Rudd Water heater.  You want to know what gets a dad's emotions going?  The Rudd water heater. Actual quote from the show: “That thing is a piece of art.”  So here it is, the RUDD WATER HEATER.   38:20—If you're choosing a water heater, how do you know which one is right for you.  I know that this sounds boring, but trust us, it's not.  It's good dad knowledge!  46:39—Yup, we are back on The Rudd Water Heater.  Now the dads are trying to guess how much it weighs in the terms of a piano.   47:55-The intervention to getting Mike a new water heater begins.  48:18 –We might as well talk about hard water versus soft water.   49:15 –But first we take a detour to talk about water heater museum.  Yup, this really happened.  51:29—We get there eventually.  This is where you actually get this week's takeaways on water heaters.  53:18—Yup, we are back on the Rudd water heater. 

In this episode we do a deep dive into kid's sports.  From rec leagues and competitive leagues to coaching our own children.  Youth Sports can mean a lot of things and navigating all that while trying to get the best out of your children can be difficult.  Join the Dads on this conversation and as always, give us your own opinions.   There are a lot of amazing adventures to be had in Omaha, Nebraska.  Mike went to the Hollywood Pinball & Arcade Museum.   But they also have an amazing Zoo and the world's largest ball of stamps!   If you're ever out that way, it's definitely worth a stop!  We have found many different types of weird soda on our travels.  Ranch Dressing Soda, Sweet Corn Soda, and Bacon Soda.  Someone please try them and let us know how they taste and if you live through the experience. 

From fabulous cakes to scrumptious cookies, baking with kids is a great activity. Is it messy?  Of course!  But we live by the rule of if you're not getting dirty, you're not doing it right.  In this episode we talk about our experiences, what recipes we like making with the kids, and any tips we have discovered on the way.  But first, the older kids are planning a trip to Utah without the dads.  They have a PowerPoint presentation, a Spotify playlist, and a hundred-dollar budget.  We hope that Arches National Park is ready for them.  A 16-year-old and two 15-year-olds can probably make it over the Rockies, right?  The Great Dad Bake Off Quiz! A Fool is:A dessert made with pureed fruit mixed with cream.A type of puff pastry. 5 dads that thought it was a good idea to let Shannon write questions for this episode. A Grunt is a:A type of fishA combination of pie or cobbler made out of fruit. The sound I make during my morning sabbatical. The person that makes Larry's meals.What is a Ramekin? A finger bowl that you can bake a tiny custard in or a distant cousin of Rumpelstiltskin. What is a Reamer? What is a Stripper? Now on to the show! You can use the leftover eggshell to pick up any shell bits that get into the mixture.  Don't use your finger, use the eggshell!If you want to make a Roulade, here's the recipe! Lydia's Macaroons are good!Rory's Cherry CrispElla's Cardamom BunsWyatt's Mean Loaf of BreadLuke's Homemade PretzelsShannon's Lemon Tart recipeMick's Monkey Bread Recipe (Pioneer Woman)Larry's No-Bake cookieJakes Joy of Baking New York Style CheesecakeMike's Famous Lemon Cookies from Grandma1 box yellow cake mix, 3 eggs, 3 tablespoons of flour, 3 tablespoons of butter flavored Crisco, 1 tsp of lemon juice.  Mix all together and chill for at least one hour.  Roll into walnut-sized balls in a mixture of sugar and dry flavored gelatin.  Put on greased baking sheet and back at 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies. Baking Tips from the Dads Find something you really want to make and do it over and over until you've got exactly where you want it. Make it fun.  Make whatever they want to make. It's more about making memories than it is about making something perfect (or edible.)Use kid-sized utensils to help your kids out! Be in the right place mentally, because you know that it's going to be a mess and that's half the fun.  Get ready to get dirty! For your teaspoons, get the stand-up version because it's easier to use with children. Using honey or peanut butter, spray your measuring utensils with a cooking spray first so the honey and peanut butter comes out easier.  Or measure your oil ingredients first. Use a cheese grater to chop your butter.  Mixed your dry ingredients and your wet ingredients separately before combining them. And finally, Shannon and his kids made a perfect puff pastry right after the recording of this episode! 

In this short special episode, Shannon and the guys talk about his new book The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad. How do you cook and clean with children around?  Where do you go for an adventure, and what do you need to bring with you?  What about your mental health?  Are you paying attention to it?  Shannon's book The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad can help you answer these questions.  Stocked with all the wisdom from Mick, Larry, Jake, Mike and 57 other dads, it's the dad advice book that dads deserve.   Pre-Order at Penguin Random House, Amazon, Target, Audible, or your favorite book supplier.

A dad has a lot to do to get the house, and himself, ready for when a new baby comes home.  In this episode, the dads go through everything they did that worked, didn't work, and made things worse.  You're not a supporting character in your kid's life, you are the hero.  So, put down the books that talk to mom, and get ready to get your dad on.  The DadHouse has you covered.  Quick hits of the products we recommend:  Baby swing—there are so many that you could go with.  You could go with something fancy that swings from side to side and front to back or something that vibrates on the floor.  Whatever you need to give yourself a break.   Baby Bouncer—when you've got to poop, and need a way to soothe the baby, this is a good option.  Baby Bjorn—This is basically your dad saddle. There a lot to choose from, so get the one that works right for you.  Travel Pillow—Mick says it helps for those long nights where the kid won't sleep, and you're stuck in the chair.  Dad up your choice by getting something that can be heated or cooled.  You might as well destress yourself on those late-night feedings.  Boppy—Great for nursing mothers and great for fathers that need their hands free for a few minutes.   Baby Bottle Warmer—Shannon believes that this is dad's best friend.  Great for thawing breastmilk or heating formula.  No muss, no fuss.  

You Ask, We Answer When you need to do some serious dad talk, you head out to the Barn to get it done!  All five dads were finally able to come together in-person to answer popular dad questions from across the web.  In our annual man weekend in a barn somewhere close to Iowa, special guest Mark makes an appearance on the Dadhouse.  Who's Mark?  Come take a listen and find out.  Now, let's get to the questions. What should you have in your first toolbox?  Crescent wrench—You can't go wrong with a Milwaukee Adjustable Wrench.  10 inches for your first tool kit is just fine.  And it's ok here to go with something cheaper, but a Milwaukee will last you a long time. Utility Knife—A retractable quality utility knife will save you a lot of time, especially when you have kids around.  The blade easily stores away with one quick push of your thumb so the kids stay safe, and the Lennox can hold up to five blades.  That's a win in the dad book. Tape Measure—You don't need a big contractor's tape measure for your toolbox but get something that can take a beating.  The dads love the DeWalt brand.  They make some quality tools.  But get what works within your budget. Level—A small 3 “ level is going to save you a lot of time when you hang pictures.  And if it has a laser attachment, even better.  It's just cool. Hammer—You know what, everyone knows what a hammer is, so we won't recommend one here in the show notes.  A hammer is as personal to a dad as his underwear.  So, try some out and see what fits best. Ratchet Screwdriver—Nine screwdrivers in one, plus the ratchet action.  When it's your first toolkit, having something that takes the place of several tools is a bonus. This is the one Shannon likes. Leatherman Multitool – Convenient, mobile, and a name you can trust.  You can even put this in your diaper bag and be all set. Dogbone Wrench – 48 sockets in one is the way to go.  It will save you money and space in your toolbox.  Plus, never misplace a socket again. Needle Nose Plyers – great for those tough to reach places.  And as this is the one that Bob Villa recommends, we will go with that. What should you keep in your car?  Car sick bags and blankets are pretty standard.  And if you have girls, add a brush, hair ties, and detangler spray.  But add some of these as well. Jumper Cables—This set that Jake recommends has 1 gauge and are long to make jump starting in awkward places even easier. First Aid Kit –Just keep in mind to put multiple different types of band-aids in there.  You'll use them a lot. Baby wipes—you can't go wrong with the Kirkland brand from Costco. What is one unique thing you kept in your diaper bag?  Portable Placemats—great for any adventure, and any dirty table when you are out and about. What does a dad want at a baby shower? Let the cutesy stuff go to someone else.  You want baby wipes, diapers, and gift cards to restaurants. If you have questions that you want the dads to answer, hit us up on the socials or email us at thedads@dadhousepod.com.  We'll get to them and give you the best answers that we can Or we'll make some dick jokes.  One of those two are going to happen.

As a father you wear a lot of different hats.  It's tough to not lose yourself while you parent.  In this episode of Dadhouse, the dads discuss how to separate yourself from “dad” and maintain your identity while finding time to do those things that define you outside of parenting.    Mike's birds really, really hate him and here is his proof.  And if you ever need a heated dog bowl, well, here you go.  It works great to melt snow to use in the back of the toilet.  

You asked and we answered.  In this week's episode, Dadhouse goes through it's very first Q & A.  Some of the questions were hard, and some were silly, but all of them get an answer.  Join us to see if your question got picked, and if it didn't there's always next time!  Apparently, light bulb plug adapters do exist and are quite common.  You learn something every day. And something else you can learn today is that there is a Vacuum Cleaner Museum!  But sadly, it has now closed, and we may have been some of its last guests.  If you're a dad then one of the things you're going to need is a good Toilet Snake.  Which leads us to another piece of good advice:  Don't poop in a clogged toilet. Looking for a new chainsaw?  Mick says to start here and don't forget about your wedge. Tired of carrying around too many pocket knives?  Get a tried and true Swiss Army Knife.

In this episode, we get into all things lawn care.  From fertilizing and grass seed to why the hell we care about our lawns to begin with.   And also, Mick has a mole problem. Screw those things.   As cliche as cargo shorts and black socks with sandals, lawn care is in a dad's DNA.  Join us as we talk about the steps you need to take to get your lawn ready this spring

What's more frustrating than a picky eater.  All parents have been through it, and the five of us are no exception.  You spend hours in the kitchen making the perfect meal, but because it's not nugget shaped, the kids won't touch it.  In this episode, we go through the buffet of all the issues surrounding the picky eater.

Mick's paint saga finally comes to an end.  Finally.  After that, we get into all things grilling.  Smokers, charcoal, gas--no matter your preference, get the right meat for the right job.  Then we get into sauces and rubs and are going to end this episode with our best grilling recipe.

It's time to talk about burnout.  Parenting is hard.  Parenting right now in a pandemic is even harder.  The exhaustion is setting in, and every choice you make seems like the wrong one.  We try to answer the question of how do you fight back against burnout and keep yourself centered and grounded. 

When you have a new baby at home, the first thing you realize is that you are going to go through a lot of diapers.  The second thing you'll need to know is that it's easier when you find your community.  In this episode, we tell you how to reach out and get your community around you.

It can be intimidating getting out of the house with a newborn. In this episode, we talk about some of the common difficulties you'll face and then give you strategies to make each outing a success.  Are you going to mess up?  You bet.  But each mistake is just a great story to tell when they are older.

In this very first episode, we jump right into the great SUV versus Minivan debate. Is this an important topic?  No.  Is Larry right about why owning a SUV is better?  Probably, but that's for you to decide.  Join Mick, Larry, Jake, Mike, and Shannon as they kick off this epic podcast: Dadhouse.

Welcome to DadHouse, we are here to be your tour guides through the adventures of fatherhood.