Fathers Unscripted

We're baaaaaack! After a year off Mike and Chase continue the podcast for Fathers. This episode is catching up to what has gone on in the past year. New locations, new jobs, and new adventures. Mike and Chase dive into what their lives look like now!

Are you ready for some football talk?! In this episode Chase and Mike talk football. They look at their earliest memories of football, their high school football experiences and their fandom of the Niners. Chase talks about letting his 9-year-old son play tackle football and everything that went into that decision. Give it a listen let us know if you agree with tackle football at a young age.

"Think of a wonderful thing..." Imagination... Where does it go when you become an adult? Chase and Mike talk about their imagination growing up and how to interact with their kid's imagination. This one was an interesting topic, don't use your imagination on what it was about, just listen to the episode!

We are still here! After a month off, we are back and at it. In this episode, Chase and Mike talk about some major updates with their lives, where they have been and what they have been doing in the month of August. They address a new format they are going to try with episodes. Let us know what you think, let us know what you want to hear!

Chase and Mike kickoff season 5 with reflecting over the time they spent together with the families. But during this time there was an incident about sharing, between Mike's kids and Chase's kids. They talk about the situation in depth and how to navigate having/forcing your kids to share. As a parent making sure you empower your kids to think and feel for themselves but also help them problem solve too. We both feel like this is a great episode that parents deal with a lot. Give it a listen!

Checking in! In this episode Chase and Mike check in with each other and with you, the listener. They talk about where they are with their New Years Resolutions, (It's not going great for Chase). But some of the topics that come up: Moving, new hobbies, new opportunities and so much more. This was a great conversation and a nice update!

Things will be revealed... or will they, when will they? This topic stemmed from an email that a listener had a question on. When will you talk about the mistakes you made with your children, how will you do it? Chase and Mike talk about mistakes that they made growing up. Finding time to talk about this with your children varies per kid and per situation. Most of the mistakes we made as kids happened in the high school years... naturally. But every kid is different and timing is everything. Check out this episode if you want our game plan... as of right now.

The D-word... Divorce. Chase and Mike talk about divorce. Being that both of their parents never went through a divorce they talk about it from their prospective. Growing up they both had friends whose parents got divorced. Chase and Mike try and describe how they saw what happened as a kid and what it divorce did to their friends. They bring up stats and how it might be changing with a certain generation. The generation might catch you by surprise...

What encompasses the 4th of July for us. Mike and Chase dive into some random stats about the 4th. They also take us through their past experiences on what they did as kids on the 4th. Starting traditions with the families are still in progress but this episode is a great start on what is to come for both families.

Father's Day is upon us... well it was. When this episode hits the airwaves, Father's day is long gone. But anyways, Chase and Mike talk about Father's day, what they remember growing up and how their father's spent the day.

Kids are like sponges, they pick up on the good and they pick up on the bad. In this episode Chase and Mike talk about what their kids have started to copy (whether on purpose or by accident). It might be words, actions or body language but as parents we have to be careful on how say or do anything. There comes a time where you don't need to look in the mirror anymore, you just have to look at your kids to see your reflection.

In this episode, Chase and Mike finish up the Mayday series by talking about solutions. Honest solutions on keeping our kids safe at school, not just getting rid of guns and making gun laws more strict. Whether you agree or disagree, at least, let's start talking about solutions that attack the core issues that lead to mass shootings.

Mayday! Mayday! Part 2 of this May series (being launched in June). This episode Chase and Mike continue the talk through the Uvalde shooting that happened at Robb Elementary. They open up and go a little deeper discussing the underlying issue in this society. SPOILER ALERT: it isn't the gun. They dive into deeper issues that effect young boys and men in this country. This episode isn't for everyone, especially if you get your feelings hurt easily or if you are on the anti-gun train. The root of this evil lies with the heart of certain humans. Chase and Mike refuse to use the excuse of video games and a tool (guns).

Mayday! Mayday! It's May and this month has been anything but calm. This episode Chase and Mike talk through the Uvalde shooting that happened at Robb Elementary. They discuss guns, police and the parents that have to live through this horrible situation. This episode isn't for everyone, especially if you get your feelings hurt easily.

SEASON 4 is HERE!! Dog... a man's best friend. Chase and Mike start this season off with talking about dogs. Yes, you heard that correctly. Dogs are a very important part of families across the country. Chase and Mike share dogs stories. Growing up with dogs, the dogs the own now. They also share some pretty crazy stats about dogs that you will want to listen to.

Chase and Mike mix it up a little with the final episode of season 3. They dive into some random stats as Chase almost loses his mind on if these stats are real or not. At the end of the episode they both share a story about dealing with throw up. Mike's story is EPIC and you need to stick around to listen to it. You won't want to miss out on this episode!

Chase and Mike discuss "favorites." They talk about who they thought the favorite child was growing up and now as parents what it is like to try and not have favorites. Since the beginning of time, this is something kids have to deal with and figure out as they grow up (cue Cain and Abel). Chase and Mike talk about how their parents handled them and their siblings. They talk about the babies of the family. They also talk about how they both work extremely hard to not have favorites or show favoritism with their own children.

We brought the BONUS episode early! Chase and Mike brought their wives on to talk Mother's Day. Introducing the two wonderful women that put up with these crazy husbands/dads. The talk goes all over the place... naturally. It was definitely a different setup but nonetheless. it was a great four way conversation! Join this double date podcast talk!

What money meant to us as kids and what it looked like to us as kids is much different than what it means and looks like now that we are adults. Chase and Mike jump right into finances once again. This conversation is much more light and fun. Some topics discussed in this episode are: Allowances, how we learned about money, using it as incentives, the idea that we have for our kids and how we want to teach them about money. You want ideas on what to do or not to do with teaching your kids about finances. Listen to this episode!

Money! Money! Money, Money! Challenges with your spouse and planning for the future that can evolve and creep up on you. Finding out who is in charge of what, when it comes to money feels like a never ending round of double-dutch jump rope. Chase says fidelity instead "infidelity" which is ironic since the talk was about finances. Chase talks about how he used to be in charge of their finances and why the responsibility has switched to his wife. Mike talks about how he and his wife have equal control of their finances and how it works within their marriage. They also dive into, when is the right time to talk about money... Spoiler alert: not when you wife is tired from working back to back 12-hour graveyard shifts.

Chase and Mike dive into goals. Life Goals, relationship goals, having kids and what happens to goals when you have kids. They both talk about going after their life goals and how their careers have had an impact on that. They talk about how kids have changed the trajectory and outlook on their past goals. Mike dives into how he decided to change the way his life was going and put some goals in place to accomplish them, which changed his family history. This is a great episode for those that might think that goals changing is a bad thing, or fathers that accomplish goals and need new ones. Give it a listen!

This episode Chase and Mike talk about a "sliver of freedom." The opportunity to get away from the family or kids for a small amount of time to help reset. A break for the dads. It takes a lot to unwind and clear the mind. What are your ways to get away and reset? Chase and Mike talk about indoor soccer, slow pitch softball, airsoft gun wars and many other ways to just help reset. It is an important topic! ...Also, Chase bags on Mike for playing slow pitch softball, its good times!

Living with your parents is a very common thing these days among young single adults. But Chase and Mike talk about their situations living with parents and in-laws when they first married their wives. It is always a slippery slope. If you need to stay with your parents/in-laws here are some tips: Set boundaries: make sure you set boundaries so both parties know the expectations and there are clear guidelines Set a timeline: make sure as the husband there is a clear date in mind to get out from under the parent's roof. Don't be afraid to ask for help: Sometimes we just need help. Don't be afraid to ask your family (whoever that is to you) for that help or advice. Last but not least, we love our parents and everything they have done for us!

Chase and Mike talk about saying goodbye to the family, specifically it is very tough to say "goodbye" to the kids. This episode was based around the video clip that went viral of a Ukrainian father saying goodbye to his young daughter. Chase and Mike talk not so much about the individual clip but dive into what it is like to say "goodbye." They share stories of the couple times they had to say goodbye for weeks/months to their families throughout the past. Chase talks about saying goodbye to his dad when he passed away. Mike shares what it was like to say goodbye to his dad while his dad was in the military. They also talk about how faith helped them through these different goodbyes and how it can help with a certain mindset. There are also some Jim Carrey moments!

As fathers there will come a time where your kid(s) will decide to not eat anything you or your wife cook. They will only want mac n cheese (probably). In this episode Chase and Mike share some stories of their past and how they both were very picky eaters as kids. They also talk about how they have learned to eat almost anything after they got married. This episode is filled with tips, tricks and strategies to get your kids to eat/try new foods. Some of these worked and some didn't but it is another tool in the toolbox that they wanted to share if you are struggling with getting your kids to try foods or finish their meals.

We ended season two with what happens when you kid(s) get sick, so for season three we ask the question what do you do when your wife gets sick? PANIC! Chase and Mike start the discussion off with the "levels of sickness." How they react to the different levels of the wives' sickness. Both of their wives are troopers when they get sick which is not very often. They share their personal food poisoning adventures. They finish with giving some tips in communication and duties if your wife gets sick.

We welcomed our second guest onto the show, Andrew Envent! Andrew went to high school with Chase and Mike but he is more like a brother. Andrew lived with Chase on and off the last year and a half of high school. He and Mike were the only ones that did the "jump hug" in high school. Andrew takes us all on a journey through his life and where he is at today. He has four kids, has lived throughout the United States and even lived in Japan. He shares stories about how he met his wife and how much she is a rockstar. She is a veteran, a doctor, former collegiate hockey player and an awesome mother. Andrew shares about how parenting changed dramatically when he went from two kids to four in a matter of a day. Yes, he has twins. He shares some great advice for fathers! This was such a fun episode to do, and there are so many good nuggets in this one. Sit back, enjoy and laugh with us!

What happens when the kids are sick? Who do you call? GHOSTBUSTERS! Or You let the wife take control and use her instincts! Chase and Mike talk about what happens when the kids get sick. Thankfully, both of their wives are nurses which helps. However, both wives are wonderful mothers and don't need a nursing background to be good at taking care of sick kids. Mike shares about a time where he was "learning" the ropes of communication with his wife through the first time his kid got sick. While Chase shares how he always defaults to his wife in this matter. Communication is key (like always) and making sure both parents are on the same page on how to deal with sickness is important. Finding a community to lean on with questions that you might have is important. Doing what you feel right for your kid is important. Chase and Mike both deal with this situation a little differently as do their wives. Give it a listen and let us know if it helped!

Chase and Mike talk about sibling rivalry! They talk about their past bouts with their brothers and what that was like. Chase talks about what it was like growing up with the Sims boys. Mike shares about the beginning stages of going through sibling rivalry now as parent. There are a lot of takeaways here that are hidden in the stories of the past childhoods. As a parent navigating these rivalry waters are tough, treacherous and ever evolving!

Chase and Mike continue the cell phone talk by diving into the black hole of kids having cell phones. Since they both have kids that are too young for cell phones they talk about their plan on parenting around this subject when their kids are old enough to have a cell phone. They talk about their strategy and thoughts about kids having cell phones and what they think is an appropriate age or circumstance for their kids to need a cell phone. We hope you enjoy this one!

Chase and Mike recall their first experiences with cell phones. They also reflect on stories about communication without having a cell phone. This discussion goes from description of phones, calling cards, 1-800-collect and AOL instant messenger. As they discuss the past, it might bring back some really good innocent memories of your childhood... or not. But either way we hope you enjoy the episode!

Chase and Mike recap the 2021 year as the New Years day has come and gone. Chase talks about switching jobs in 2021, his experience with coaching youth travel baseball, his boys trying organized sports for the first time, and his plans for 2022. Mike talks about his job and the security it provides, the new adventure of his son turning two years old, and welcoming his third child into the family. 2022 is going to be an exciting year and we look forward to what it brings us!

Chase and Mike talk about their Christmas Day plans and reflect on Chase's long vacation back home. Chase and Mike got to hang out for the first time in over a year. They went golfing, their families hung out and watched the Niner game. They even took all five kiddos and the wives to a Christmas light show! Great times and great stories!

Christmas time! Which means Christmas preparation, traditions, and family. Chase and Mike talk about Christmas traditions and which ones they are carrying on with their own families. As usual, they talk about their memories growing up and spending a lot of time together during this time of year. How to deal with gifts with multiple kids? what type of gifts should you get? Who is responsible for wrapping the gifts? There are endless topics around Christmas and Chase and Mike scratch the surface!

This episode was discussed around the Thanksgiving, 2021. Chase and Mike share about what they did, the food they cooked. They share about what their traditions were like growing as kids. Mike also has stories about knives... They end with traditions they look forward to starting and continuing with their young families. Be thankful for what you have and the people you have in your life!

Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never... Let's be real, words always hurt. And words from dads can have a lasting effect on kids. Chase and Mike discuss the importance of being mindful of what you say and how you say it, towards and around your kids. Like always, they share stories on their screw ups and give advice on how to avoid their mistakes going forward. No one is perfect, and being a dad means we must be very careful on how we talk to our kids.

Kicking off season 2 with an episode about Veterans! This episode was recorded around Veteran's day; Chase and Mike share stories about veterans they know, and how they go our of their way to thank a veteran when they can. Mike shares stories about growing up while his dad was still in the military. This episode was an awesome time to express gratitude to our veterans. Thank you to all the men and women that have served and their families for the sacrifices they make so that we can continue to have our freedom! We appreciate you!

We welcomed our first guest onto the show! Alex Joudy is many things, entrepreneur, consultant, BJJ enthusiast, coach, former HS football coach but the reason we brought him on is because he is an amazing husband and father. Alex coached Mike in HS (football), and Chase worked for Alex at one of his businesses and bringing Alex on as the first guest only seemed fitting. This episode is packed with father experience and advice that we think everyone can benefit from! Alex has his own podcast, you can find it here as well as many other platforms. Head over to it and give it a listen, he is building out quite a community and you should definitely be a part of it! Sit back and enjoy this episode!

Dad's Matter! Chase and Mike talk about a statistic that showed the U.S leading the world with single parent homes at 23%. Talking through the importance of having both parents being present in a child's life. They both share their thoughts through the lenses of limit personal experiences on this topic! Give it a listen, if you have thoughts of your own, share them with us, fathers.unscripted@gmail.com. We are also now on Instagram! @fathersunscripted

Chase and Mike discuss the story that went viral about the dads that started "Dad's on Duty." After 23 arrests in 3 days at a high school in Louisiana, dads stepped in and monitored the halls of the school. There have been no fights since this has started. Chase and Mike talk about the importance of being involved in a community and be a father figure. Check out the video of the group of "Dad's on Duty" if you haven't yet. It's great what these dads are doing!

Episode 8 is basically "part 2" of Episode 7. Chase and Mike talk about the drive home from the hospital, preparing the home and introducing dogs to the new member of the family. They share the joys of how excited their kids were to meet the new baby of the family and the anticipation of Mike's 3rd baby on the way! We hope you enjoy this episode!

When your wife says "It's time, we need to go to the hospital" for the first time, it is time to panic... well... try not to. Everyone has a different experience and Chase and Mike share their personal experiences in this situation. Mike gives excellent advice on what you can do when you are at the hospital, good questions to ask, while Chase gives some good tips for preparation when this day comes. Enjoy the stories, take some notes and tell someone about this episode if you think it will help! Thanks for all the support!

Come out from under the rock and talk "Homeschooling" which is a hot topic right now and was a trend during the "Pandemic." Chase and Mike talk about the benefits of homeschooling from their perspective since they both were homeschooled during their childhood. It won't always be easy but there are some great things can come from homeschooling your kids. Chase and Mike share some tips and strategies to effectively educate in the home.

Building a community around yourself for support in raising kids is extremely important. Chase and Mike discuss their meaning behind having their kids call certain people "uncles" and "aunts." They talk about the importance of family which isn't always blood related. They look back at some great childhood memories and who they call "family."

Not knowing where your kids are is a gut wrenching feeling. Chase and Mike discuss the "internal clock" dads must have to make sure everyone is safe. Being aware of the surroundings and all the possible outcomes assist with the internal clock. They tell stories of their experiences as dads in this situation and share what it was like growing up as kids. Building a foundation of rules and disciplines can pay off in the long run, and it can start with have a well tuned "internal clock." Hope you enjoy the episode! You can reach us at fathers.unscripted@gmail.com

Picking your battles as a husband and father is a very grey area. Chase and Mike try and clear the murky waters to try and find a fine line. Using the video of the UNC fan fighting at a VT football game as the example, they discuss what goes through a father's head when they feel their family could be in danger. At the end of the episode they talk about picking out their kid's names. The process that went behind it and the creativity of picking names for children.

Context is KEY!! Mike and Chase scrape the surface of the complexity of player/coach relationship based off the Trent Dilfer video that went viral. Mike talks about his experiences as a player in high school while Chase gives his perspective as a coach. They both talk about their reaction to the video and how parents can navigate the waters of high school sports, playing time, tough coaches and everything in between!

Perfect mornings is not a thing when you are a dad, Chase and Mike talk about what they thought fatherhood would be like when they were kids and how it is NOTHING like they expected. They reflect on how their dads did this fatherhood thing. Encourage dads to know it will never be perfect but that is ok!

Get to know us. Everything is "unscripted", raw, but hopefully informative and pleasant to the ear. We both aren't tech savvy so bare with us on this journey as we aim to improve this podcast every episode.