Dads on Doody

Given that yoga participation in the United States is roughly 80/20 (female/male), what would happen if four men gathered in a small room to discuss its merits for an hour?  Would the yoga universe tilt from an abnormal balance of testosterone?  If you've always wondered about this very scenario, your wait is over! Male yoga teachers Michael Wilde (aka the "Namaste Nerd") and Jeffrey Cattan join Will and Chris in studio to talk yoga shop.  We all know that Yoga is Super Manly, so why don't more men get their pretzel on?  Maybe they don't know the different varietals?  Perhaps the loud "oms" coming from the yoga room at the gym scare them away?  It could also be that most men believe that they aren't flexible.  Good news!  It turns out that in yoga "flexibility" is only a state of mind.  If you can breath, you can do yoga.  The "oms" may take longer to accept. If this episode doesn't peak your interest to assume downward dog, you'll come away with some wisdom regardless.  Apply Michael and Jeff's yogic ways of thinking, and things like parenting, traffic, and elections might be easier to stomach moving forward.  Namaste!

Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States of America.  In actuality, he's only the 43rd man to serve as President (Grover Cleveland served as both the 22nd and 24th).  All of our Presidents to date have been dads (in one form or another), yet only three had children born while in the White House.  Go figure... In this episode, with assistance from Joshua Kendall (more precisely with assistance from his book First Dads: Parenting and Politics from George Washington to Barack Obama), we share Presidential parental anecdotes and wisdom.  From Abe Lincoln to Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama, there's much to glean and some to squeam (Tyler and Nixon, yikes). Perhaps after this week, we will have our first, First Mom.  

We've all heard it.  No childhood is complete without a trip to Disney.  If only it were that easy.  There's Disney Land and Disney World.  There's hotels and ticket and attraction options galore.  What to do? Dads on Doody called in Ken Wiggins, Disney history and theme park aficionado, to help families everywhere make sense of the magic that is Disney.  What makes Ken qualified to provide this crucial advice?  Over 20 consecutive years Ken and his family visited Disney parks 35 times! Ken is a student of Disney.  His opinions are based on both thoughtful research and in-the-park experience.  In this episode you'll learn everything from the history of the parks to the best times to visit to the most delicious places to dine. The big question, though, is whether or not Ken will be able to convince Chris that it's time to start planning a Disney vacation for his family.  To date, Chris has fought off the requests.  Can Chris resist the magic, or is too strong for any one man to handle?  Listen in to find out, and learn about an American institution along the way.

What happens when we go to Las Vegas for two days, in the middle of the week, without our families?  We go to the ABC Kids Expo, of course.  At night, we record a podcast from the Sheraton Four Points Hotel on Tony Bennett Way.  Of course. With over 1000 exhibitors utilizing 3,300 booths in nearly one million square feet of exhibit space, The ABC Kids Expo is one of the largest trade shows in North America.  The event showcases the best of the children's product industry for the coming year.  They also give media badges to podcasters.  (Just because podcasts are free doesn't mean there aren't MASSIVE perks for those of us who make them.) This episode covers new products we saw at the Expo that we wish we had when our kids were younger.  Chris found some of the offerings so exciting that he's considering another child.  From electronics to strollers to potty training aides, after listening you'll feel like you were in Vegas with us, minus the regret and weight gain.  

Meet Dr. Gregory Thiel from Thiel Pediatric Dentistry, board certified in Pediatric Dentistry and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.  He's the one they call Dr. Thielgood.  Well, maybe only we call him that...but perhaps it will catch on. Dr. Thiel, who cares for the teeth of all six Dads on Doody offspring, didn't just stumble into pediatric dentistry.  Of course he loves kids.  Beyond that, his own childhood experience with dentistry was a unique one (you have to listen to find out). This episode will give you all the information you need to have little ones with healthy mouths and fresh breath.  You'll get answers to questions including when dental care should begin, why starter teeth need love too, if fluoride treatments are necessary, and so much more. There might also just be a #doodybeat tucked into this episode.  After all, Will's kids do call him Dr. Thielgood.

No one goes into marriage planning for divorce, yet the divorce rate is close to 50%.  In other words, someone you care about will have to manage through the inevitable messiness that is divorce.  If kids are involved, things get even trickier. In this episode we are joined by Dads on Doody listener Rudy Gutierrez, who was divorced soon after the birth of his daughter.  Rudy, who initiated the divorce, reflects on his experience both as a husband and a father.  Topics covered include immediate and long term challenges post divorce, how to put children before personal issues, dating after divorce and the reality of becoming a part time parent. This discussion will not only help those going through or considering divorce, but also friends and family as they seek to understand how best to provide support during and after the divorce.  

When we started this podcast fifty episodes ago, our objective was to bring a father's voice to the parenting discussion.  What we didn't realize was how it would inform our own parenting, not to mention how many interesting people and stories it would bring into our lives.  This episode features ten memorable moments from our first fifty. Special thanks to all of our guests, who have helped us learn about everything from pets to eyeballs to communes to coffee.  Most of all, thanks to those of you who have listened, engaged and shared.  We hope you're looking forward to the next fifty episodes as much as we are!  Until then, moms and dads...DO THE DOODY!

What is the role of religion in the modern family?  While most of us associate with a particular faith, in our over scheduled world religious practice is often substituted for any number of activities.  Does it matter? The Reverend Chuck Treadwell, current rector of St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin, joins us in studio to discuss faith and our families.  Father Chuck is also a husband and father of three older children.  In other words, his views are informed and battled tested. Father Chuck attended seminary at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Georgetown College.  Over the course of the last 25+ years Father Chuck has worked as a deacon, priest and rector at churches in Dallas, Waco and now Austin.  Much of his work has focused on the healthy development of teenagers and young adults.  With the time not committed to family and the priesthood, Father Chuck is an avid hunter, hiker, fisherman and guitar player. Father Chuck shares his thoughts on the state of religion today, the benefits of religious practice for families, raising tolerant children within a particular faith, how to start or restart religious practice, considerations for families of mixed faiths, why the concept of the Sabbath matters more now than ever...and so much more! Whether you are practicing or not, agnostic or an atheist, there is something in this discussion that can apply to your child rearing philosophy.

The single largest investment most humans ever make is the purchase of their house.  Unfortunately, many of us fall short in the basic care and feeding.  None of us wants our abode to fall apart.  Typically we neither know what regular maintenance should be performed nor have the confidence to step into some of the more technical areas (like electrical). Joe Slawter, from Triumph Home Improvement, joins us in studio to talk house.  Joe takes us on a voyage that includes what to look for when buying a home, tasks that every home owner should be able to perform, tasks that most home owners shouldn't perform, thoughts on remodeling and what to do if you find pirates in your walls.  Your house will be happy that you listened to this episode.  You'll be happy because you'll save yourself time and money down the road, not to mention the endorphin rush from this entertaining and funny discussion.  Pirates? This episode also includes feedback from Will's kids as they work through TODAY movie expert Dave Karger's suggestions from Family Movie Night Solved.  It turns out Pee Wee Herman was onto something.

Kids versus food. For most parents, it's a daily battle. We want our children to eat well, but we also need them to eat...period. Why is it so hard to get kids to eat healthy food? What does healthy food even mean for these calorie burning machines?

While we can neither confirm nor deny that Michael Jordan was breast fed, we do know that guys universally struggle to understand what women experience throughout pregnancy and during the early phases of child rearing.  We also know, thanks to recent studies, that the men folk are more likely to pay attention if a macho celebrity or sports hero is somehow mentioned in the same breath as say, breastfeeding.  Hence the title of this episode.  If you're a guy and still reading this, we just made our point.   Two uniquely qualified guests join us in studio for this lively discussion: Mike Mackert is the Deputy Director of the University of Texas Center for Health Communication.  A large component of his work focuses on developing and evaluating content designed to engage dads around prenatal health and pregnancy.  Mike is also a husband and new father.  Alise Moncure is a working mom with two young girls.  Alise, who refers to herself early in our discussion as the "resident vagina", keeps us honest as we attempt to get more in touch with our feminine sides.  Women listeners will love her humor and honesty.  Guys who have yet to have kids will greatly benefit from her insights.  Those of us who have already gone through the process will likely be left rationalizing our missteps. In a world where gender roles continue to blur in the parenting process, this episode is incredibly valuable as we all attempt to be the best partner possible.

News flash!  Parenting is all consuming, often consuming our physical fitness (pun intended) in the process.  Tired, stressed and strapped for time, exercise is frequently the first thing we discard.  Bad choice, and we all know it.  Fitness is the fountain of youth, and a critical component of effective parenting.  If only someone could tell us how to make it ... Read More

Jason Morton, our guest on both Professional Fantasy Sports Dad and From Folgers to Fresh Roasted podcast episodes, stops by to help Dads on Doody listeners ace this year’s fantasy football draft.  Unfortunately, this discussion happened a few days late for Will’s benefit.  Oh well, there’s always the waiver wire. Jason is a football expert (as in he played the ... Read More

Dave Karger is a well-known television host, interviewer and entertainment expert.  In fact, he is THE resident movie expert on TODAY.  You may have seen him on Access Hollywood, the Oscar’s red carpet for E! or Turner Classic Movies where he hosted a weekly movie series this past July. Dave also worked and wrote for Entertainment Weekly for 17 years.  ... Read More

It’s officially back to school time.  Are you ready?  Shawn Whitehouse, a popular elementary school teacher in Austin, joins us in studio to share his wisdom with parents all across this great land.  Topics covered include strategies for preparing your children (and yourself) over the remaining few weeks of summer, how to effectively engage with your child’s new teacher out ... Read More

It’s the moment we all dread as parents.  The moment we knew was coming but tried to put out of our minds.  The moment many of our own parents let pass by, electing to have others provide our education on the facts of life.  Yes folks, it’s the sex talk. Well guess what?  As modern parents, it’s our responsibility.  Moms ... Read More

Part two of a two part series on the number one parenting tool, coffee!  If you missed episode one, listen to learn about the history of fresh roasted coffee in America.  In this episode RC Beall, one of America’s coffee pioneers, reveals the secrets to creating the perfect brew at home.  Learn from the master! And if you really just ... Read More

Thirty years ago, the best part of waking up was Folgers in your cup.  Today, Starbucks sets the bar as a baseline for decent coffee, and there is a growing culture that contemplates coffee the same way connoisseurs do fine wine. Coffee is also one of, if not the, most popular parenting tools.  Most of us, as modern parents, rely on ... Read More

So you’re about to have your first kid.  Of course you’ll think the baby is cute.  Of course those carefree weekends will roll on.  Of course you’ll still have sex.  And no, you won’t need to get a minivan.  Or will you? In this episode we discuss whether common beliefs about life after kids are FACT or FICTION.  In a ... Read More

Perspective. It is easy in our culture of convenience and comfort to lose perspective. The 24 hour news cycle and non-stop train of social media often leads us to believe that we live in a world full of only hate and destruction. We focus on small things that we can’t control, and forget the simple blessings that are right in ... Read More

Perspective. It is easy in our culture of convenience and comfort to lose perspective.  The 24 hour news cycle and non-stop train of social media often leads us to believe that we live in a world full of only hate and destruction.  We focus on small things that we can’t control, and forget the simple blessings that are right in ... Read More

As parents, we all know the importance of teaching our children the value of hard work. Yet how many of us have attempted to implement a chore regime, only to have it fall apart a week later in the midst of our over busy lives?  Well, your solution is here.  Homey, a chore tracking application that is fun for the ... Read More

Dads on Doody medical expert Dr. Oddz, professionally known as Dr. James Marroquin from our Healthy Dad Basics episode, joins us again for an important discussion on autism.  Not only does Dr. James have a professional perspective on autism, but also a personal one as his son Micah is autistic.  Hear Dr. James discuss his journey with autism, from the ... Read More

Part two of a two part series.  In this episode we visit with Kristan Shimpi, who shares her family’s personal experiences with adoption. After making the active decision to adopt, the Shimpis encountered unexpected challenges to make their dream a reality.  Two adopted children later (from India and Guatemala), Kristan is full of advice and passion that will give you ... Read More

Have you ever spoken with someone in depth about their experiences as an adopted child?  Elva, who was born into a closed adoption herself, graciously joins us in studio to share her perspective on growing up without any knowledge of her birth family.  Her honest account sheds light on the struggles and triumphs for both the adopted and the adopter ... Read More

Our first podcast, Roadtrips, needed a book end.  Seeing that train, boat and bus travel have fallen out of favor, we opted to release an episode on family air travel.  Now that we have you covered on the road or in the air, you’ll be all set for your next vacation.  Topics covered include packing for the plane, timing your ... Read More

Fireman Dave, super dad of 7 kids from our popular Livin’ Large episode, joins us again in studio as we round table on what we want for Father’s Day.  In a shocking turn of events, it turns out that what we need is far less complicated than imagined.  We break down a selection of gifts curated by Amazon in their ... Read More

Who amongst us hasn’t fantasized about living on a commune?  Free from the rat race and surrounded by loving people, passing our days tending to the land and the animals that ultimately end up on our table.  Sounds nice, no?  Communes gained popularity in America in the ’60s, many of which still exist today.  Still, most of us have never ... Read More

Ever wonder about the people behind your children’s favorite books?  Wait no more!  Children’s author Norman Tomas, of the soon-to-be-released The Devil in Duke’s Den, stops by our digs to talk about everything from his creative process to eye popping illustrations to life in Mother Russia to “chorror” (the specific genre that Tomas credits himself with creating).  This interview is ... Read More

Mother’s Day is a holiday that most dads routinely fail.  There’s actually a good chance that you’ve never delivered one that mom (not your mom, but THEE MOM) remembers for the right reasons.  Well, those days are over.  Chris, Will and Scott Hoopman (founder of Kidterview) discuss the good, the bad and the ugly surrounding the Mother of all holidays, ... Read More

The capitol of our great nation, Washington DC, also happens to be a great place visit with your family.  From the Smithsonian to the National Zoo to the monuments to government building tours, there is no shortage of FREE family fun.  Couple that with excellent food and ample public transportation, and you have all the ingredients to make Clark Griswold ... Read More

Guys know stuff.  We know that stuff based on our own personal experiences.  Frequently, we believe that we are qualified to be experts on anything that we have lived.  Well, no guy has ever been pregnant (beer guts don’t count).  We may think that we know what our wives and partners go through during pregnancy, but we have no idea.  ... Read More

Potty training is one of the most challenging and mythical parental tasks in the early years.  While it is true that all humans learn to use the toilet, every child comes to potty training with their own unique issues.  In this episode, Chris takes us through his recent potty training weekend and shares tips for any parent preparing for the ... Read More

Remember when your friends started getting married and having kids, long before you were even in a serious relationship?  Or maybe you’re in a committed relationship and have decided not to have kids, while everyone in your peer set carries on like rabbits, popping out one after the next.  You used to meet up every Sunday for brunch, now all ... Read More

Only child Dominic comes from a long line of only children.  Both his father and grandfather were only children.  He is carrying on the legacy with his own family, as he and his wife have elected to have “only” one child, Fletch. Given his experience, we’d say that Dominic is well qualified to provide insight into the world of an ... Read More

Professional fantasy sports dad Jason Morton plays fantasy sports for a living (football and NASCAR).  He lives to be a dad.  If this sounds like a fantasy, it isn’t. Enough of the wordplay.  If you’ve ever wondered about how to turn your obsession with fantasy sports into a full time career, listen to this show and decide if you have ... Read More

Eyeballs!  Eye care is a critical topic for families, yet perhaps one that we know less about than other basic health protocols.  Dr. Robert Wong joins us in studio to talk eyeball essentials, from vision testing to LASIK to sports injuries, it’s all in here and then some. Dr. Bob, a young dad with two kids himself, is an accomplished ... Read More

The concept of the stay-at-home dad was a foreign one only a few short years ago.  Today, being a stay-at-home dad is becoming more and more common.  It’s a logical progression – not only do women have far greater career opportunity than in the past (as they should), but the expectation for men to #sharetheload is generally accepted.  Still, a ... Read More  

Ah yes, the annual Daddy Daughter Dance.  Is there a better activity for a dad and his little girl(s)?  Talk about an opportunity to #dothedoody.  We break down the daddy daughter dance with special guest Travis, who joined Will for this year’s edition at Life Time Fitness in Austin, TX.  In addition to being a great dad, Travis is a ... Read More

Finding and selecting the right nanny, in addition to integrating them into your family, is a tall order. We tackle this critical topic in a game show format, as Chris and his wife Amy, square off in the “Nanny Ed Game”. Will plays game show host in this raucous and informative affair, covering everything from the interview process to expectations ... Read More

This podcast is a departure from our usual fun-loving content, but the issue at hand is a very important one. We must protect the women in our lives and stand up for them. The backdrop is recent allegations that Baylor University failed to properly recognize, support, advocate for, protect and provide justice to several female students who were victims of ... Read More

Will and Chris go solo on this one, reviewing the salient points from Leonard Sax’s new book “The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-ups”. If you’ve read his previous books, “Boys Adrift” or “Girls on the Edge”, you know that Dr. Sax has strong yet informed opinions on parenting. We discuss how ... Read More

Has one of of your siblings had a child, and you’ve suddenly found yourself an uncle (or “little grandfather” from the the Latin term “avunculus”)? Or perhaps you’ve been an uncle for some time, and you desire to be even more awesome? Certifiably awesome uncle Muz Musal joins us to talk about his views, not only on what it takes ... Read More

  Dads on Doody medical expert, Doctor James (aka Dr. Oddz), joins us to discuss the most critical components of health, fitness and general well being for men of all ages. How often should you get a physical? Does your cholesterol count matter? Is it time to take your relationship with your prostate to the next level? Why does Will ... Read More

The back of half of our discussion with Will’s wife, Krista, about the parental nightmare/opportunity that is your child’s birthday party. Since releasing the first episode, we’ve each had multiple pending invitations retracted. Oh well, at least we have each other.  

Was Cat Stevens wrong all these years, or perhaps he wasn’t singing about vasectomies? Whatever the case, 500,000 men get vasectomies every year in the United States. Unfortunately for those men there isn’t much first hand patient information available prior to the snip snip. The Dads on Doody team endured THREE vasectomies for the sake of mankind. You’ll learn everything ... Read More

Baker Harrell, Ph.D, soon-to-be father and Founder/CEO of It’s Time Texas, joins us in the Dads on Doodio Studio to talk about how we can raise the healthiest generation ever.  We discuss a range of topics, from the state of the national health epidemic that is childhood obesity and diabetes to how much exercise kids need each day (think 60 ... Read More

In a Dads on Doody exclusive, we conduct the FIRST EVER interview of a living, breathing Elf on the Shelf – Carl (aka “Datch”). You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel the magic (if you don’t have Energy Displacement). We promise this thirty minutes will change everything you thought you knew about our favorite holiday sprite, the Elf on the Shelf. ... Read More

Think of this episode like “Deal or No Deal,” but for kid stuff. We provide our opinions on a rapid-fire list of items the world says you need, but maybe you don’t. Part one of a two-part series. In this episode we cover strollers, bottle warmers, bottles, circumcision, car seats, wipe warmers, baby swings, baby clothing, rash cream, flouride treatments, ... Read More

Ewwww… Lice! Come spend some time with Cody Bradstreet, CEO and Chief Nitpicker of The Lice Place Austin, as we discuss everything you need to know about combating this growing menace.  What is lice?  What should you do if someone in your family has lice?  What are lice treatment options?  Can lice hurt you?  How is lice spread?  Do I ... Read More

#doodybeats!  What do Thomas the Tank Engine, mustaches, mushrooms and skidmarks have in common? Will and his kids made songs about them!  “Thomas No ‘Mo” might just be your next official jam.  Penguana is likely to be your new favorite artist. The gift of music is one of the single best gifts we can give to our children, and for ... Read More