The Modern Dads Podcast

Building Resilience in Children and Teens author and Center for Parent & Teen Communication director Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg joins with a set of virtual hugs to parents of tweens and teens as we discuss what our older kids need as we exit the pandemic. Dr. Ginsburg helps us think about what our kids have gained, lessons to take forward, and how to open the lines of communication.

Barnard Center for Toddler Development Director and How Toddlers Thrive author Dr. Tovah Klein joins with a set of virtual hugs to parents of young children as we discuss what our youngest kids need as we exit the pandemic. We talk about what our children have gained, how we can thoughtfully help our kids return to camp and school, and the gift that screen time has been for frantic parents.

Father, author and thinker Jordan Shapiro joins to talk about his new book, Father Figure, How To Be a Feminist Dad. We talk about a collective need to reassess what it means to be a “good dad” and Jordan's call for dads to consider whether our actions are in line with our desire for a more equal and just world for our children.

City Dads blog contributor Vincent O'Keefe talks to fighter pilot and counterterrorism expert turned school leader and author Dr. Marisa Porges about her new book, What Girls Need: How to Raise Bold, Courageous, and Resilient Women.

Cincinnati Dads Group Organizer and  The NOMADad Podcast host Brock Lusch talks dad to dad with #CityDads blog contributor and author Vernon Gibbs II about at-home fatherhood, parenting twins, and Vernon's new children's book, When Good Fruit Goes Bad.

Our Dad-to-Dad series continues with #CityDads contributor and Black Fathers Now podcast host Michael Dorsey in conversation with father and venture capitalist Erik Moore about fatherhood, recovering from loss, and Mr. Moore's path through the Ivy League and Silicon Valley.

Season 7 Premier: Through this season we will include conversations between dads across our #CityDads network. In this episode, NYC Dads Group Co-Organizer and #FatherhoodIsLit podcast host James Lopez talks with father and opera singer Kenneth Kellogg about growing up in tough neighborhoods, blazing unique career paths, and encouraging their kids to have big dreams.

Philanthropist and Fodada founder Bobby Barzi talks his work to recognize fatherhood as an opportunity to create a better world for our children by investing in communities and efforts that inspire positive change.

Author Jonathan Oliver joins to talk about marriage, at-home fatherhood, and his new book, To the Little Boy in Me: Learning with Dyslexia & ADHD. We discuss the partnership he and his wife have created, the importance of mentorship and community, and the message he wants to send to other people learning with dyslexia and ADHD.

Dr. Michael Reichert talks about his new book, How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men. He suggests that we rethink our understanding of boys and recognize that strong relationships with parents, coaches, and teachers help them succeed at school and in life. We discuss how to talk to boys about the #MeToo movement and gender equality.

Art Eddy and Jon Finkel talk about their new book, The Life of Dad: Reflections on Fatherhood from Today's Leaders, Icons, and Legendary Dads including highlights and advice from featured dads Mark Cuban, Mark Hamill, and Alfonso Ribeiro.

Author Mike Adamick joins to discuss his new book, Raising Empowered Daughters: A Dad-to-Dad Guide, and his effort to meet dads where they are to discuss equality, representation, and feminism.  NOTE: This show includes discussions of some challenging topics including rape culture, racism, and sexism.

Author, Podcaster, and Community Organizer Mike Dorsey talks about his book, Dynamic Black Fatherhood Manifesto. We talk about Mike's motivation to create a community for active and engaged black fathers and the impact of his work within and outside the black community.

Author Brett Grayson talks about his new book, What Could Go Wrong?: My Mostly Comedic Journey Through Marriage, Parenting and Depression. He discusses his effort to bring humor to stories related to his own mental health and why he thinks it is important to be open and honest about the darker moments of parenting and marriage.

Author Clint Edwards discusses his new book, I'm Sorry—Love, Your Husband, a collection of humorous and heartfelt apologies written from his viewpoint as husband and father. Impacted by the absence of his own father, Edwards confronts his own lack of a role model through honesty, trial, and error.

City Dads Group Contributor Whit Honea speaks with former  Disney Interactive Editor In Chief Catherine Connors about her new startup, Maverick, a video and photo-driven social network for tweens and teens that encourages and rewards creativity, authenticity, and support.

We're noticing that parents, especially parents of young children, are unhappy.  We all desperately want to enjoy this time with our children, but it is easy to get bogged down in late night feedings, pre-school admissions, trying to get our kids to eat a vegetable, or worrying about our kids' addiction to Fortnite. We're tackling the issue head-on with former New York Times Motherlode Editor, KJ Dell'Antonia, as we talk about her new book, How to be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute.

All too often, we see dads in the news threatening their daughters' boyfriends with various forms of bodily harm. Recently, it was former NFL kicker Jay Feely holding a gun by his side as he wished his daughter and her date a good time at prom. The Internet blew up with the usual debates about guns, but we saw another issue though-- fathers of sons don't want their children to be treated like predators. For this episode, we brought together some of our favorite dads to offer Mr. Feely and other dads of daughters a different perspective. Jason Greene, Mike Reynolds, and Chris Bernholdt offer their perspective as dads of daughters, and Whit Honea offers his perspective as a father of sons.

Whit Honea speaks this week with two powerful voices on parents' roles in #MeToo, Karen Walrond and Mike Reynolds.  Mike is a blogger and journeyman cross-stitcher and Karen is an author, photographer, speaker, and coach. Each gives their unique perspective on how we, as parents, can best prepare our children for a new -- and more equitable -- world.  

The Dangerous Book for Boys was required reading in City Dads contributor Whit Honea's house when his sons were younger, and the new Amazon Prime series by Bryan Cranston and Greg Mottola is now must-watch TV.  Whit speaks with one of the young stars from the new show, Gabriel Bateman, who plays Wyatt, a boy trying to find himself through loss and imagination. Whit's 12-year-old Zane Honea also joins to share his thoughts on the book, the show, and his dad's overall job performance.

Psychologist, Author, and Mom of 3 Dr. Sheryl Ziegler talks about her new book Mommy Burnout, How to Reclaim Your Life and Raise Healthier Children in the Process. We discuss strategies for both moms and dads can avoid burnout as we navigate between work, childcare, eldercare, our relationship, and self-care.

A Better Balance Co-Founder and Co-President Dina Bakst talks about her work to help women and men across the economic spectrum care for their loved ones without risking their jobs.  We talk about New York's employee-funded paid family leave law that provides most non-government workers with job-protected, paid leave to care for a new child or a loved one with a serious health condition. We also talk about the 25th Anniversary of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the potential for a nationwide paid family leave program. Whit and Tricia Honea join at the end of the show to talk about the challenges they faced with no access to paid leave after the birth of their sons.

Los Angeles parents and bloggers Heather and Mike Spohr share humorous, but practical tips from their new book, The Toddler Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Whiny Unfed. They talk about the non-judgmental advice they have for surviving the toddlerhood and share the story behind Friends of Maddie, the charity they started after the loss of their first child.

NPR Digital Education Correspondent and Author Anya Kamenetz talks about her new book, The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media & Real Life. Anya shares her realistic, research-based approach to enjoying screen time with our children. City Dads Group contributor Whit Honea joins to share how he helps his two boys fit technology and screen time into their lives.

Bestselling author and dad of two Drew Daywalt talks about his popular books The Day the Crayons Quit, The Day the Crayons Came Home, The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, and Star Wars BB-8 on the Run. We talk about his creative process as a writer, why he does it, and the impact of success on his family. Drew also shares some behind-the-scenes insight into the upcoming film version of The Day the Crayons Quit.

Dad, author, and entrepreneur Peter Shankman talks about his new book, Faster Than Normal: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity, and Success With the Secrets of the ADHD Mind. We talk about the success that he attributes to living with ADHD. He also shares the tips and tricks he has developed to be more effective and productive. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins to share what happened when he stopped worrying and embraced his son's individuality.

TTPM Content Director and Toy Time! author Christopher Byrne reveals the hot toys and games for toddlers to teens this holiday season. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea tells us how to encourage our kids to think about more than the gifts they receive.

Author and father of 2 Doyin Richards joins Whit Honea and Josh Kross to discuss his latest book, What's the Difference: Being Different is Amazing and the continuing national conversation about bias, privilege, and how to talk to our kids about race relations.

New York Times bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haims talks about her new book, Real Americans, a memoir of her experience as a biracial black girl, woman, daughter, and mother raising two biracial children in modern America. We talk about the steps allies can take to support and understand the perspectives of “the other” and advice for parents raising children of color.   The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea, a white male raising two white males, shares the conversation he is having with his boys about race.

Whit Honea talks to dad of 4, Twitter celebrity, and author James Breakwell (aka Exploding Unicorn) about his new book: Only Dead on the Inside: A Parent's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse.

Author, speaker, coach, and father of 3, Devon Bandison talks about his new book, Fatherhood is Leadership: Your Playbook for Success, Self-Leadership, and a Richer Life. Devon shares how he has used his own life experience to create a set of tools that fathers can use to overcome their own challenges in work, marriage, and parenting.

City Dads across the reflect on the music that inspires and informs their parenting.   The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea reveals the Ray Charles song that he uses to get his kids going in the morning.   #FatherhoodIsLit blogger James Lopez shares the parenting lessons he took from a Notorious B.I.G. song.   The Cipher Producer Josh Kross discusses the Pink Floyd song that he uses to encourage his son to take advantage of his time as a kid.   Designer Daddy Brent Almond tells us about a song he wrote for his son that made a big impact in their family's life.   One Good Dad Jason Green points to a Rolling Stone song to tell us about how his dreams have changed since becoming a father.

Lauren Smith Brody talks about her new book, The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom's Guide to Style, Sanity, & Big Success After Baby. We discuss the ways families can plan for a parent's return to work and how dads can support their working partners.   The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins to talk about how he and his wife have set up their work life to support active parenthood and meaningful employment.

Kori Reed and Mike Becker talk about their new book, Zag Zig Parenting: (Mis)Adventures of a Career-Driven Mom and a Stay-at-Home Dad. We also talk about how their family arrangement started and how it has evolved over 20 years and four kids.

Speaker, author, and Boston Dads Group Co-Organizer Robbie Samuels talks about networking with parents and his experience as a trans dad. We also discuss our mutual appreciation for the adjustments that people and organizations are making to embrace acceptance.   The Parents Phrase Book Author Whit Honea joins to suggest it is time for parents to stop teaching their kids about tolerance.  

Happiest Baby on the Block author Dr. Harvey Karp joins to talk about the development of his approach to calming crying babies and the crucial role dads play. We also discuss Dr. Karp's groundbreaking Snoo Smart Sleeper that took him five years to create with MIT-trained engineers and famed designer Yves Behar.   The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins to encourage us to let our teenagers cry.

Dads from our City Dads Group community share their stories of raising tweens and teens.   Author Whit Honea talks through the struggles he had with his 11-year old son and the teacher that gave too much homework.   Teacher and writer Seth Taylor worries about his daughter's classmates' reaction to her very public support of the gay community   At-home dad and writer Vincent O'Keefe recalls his reaction to the moment his tween became a teen.   Leadership coach and speaker Devon Bandison remembers a moment that he knew his 15-year old son was watching his every move.   Blogger and photographer Jeff Bogle encourages dads to embrace being fathers of daughters.

Journalist and Author Beth Kobliner talks about her new book, Make Your Child a Money Genius (Even If You're Not).  We talk through some of the age-appropriate money concepts including the neutral value of allowance and why paying for chores might not be a good idea.

Dr. Kent Hoffman talks about his new book, Raising a Secure Child. We discuss the “Circle of Security” that helps parents be nurturing and protective while still encouraging children's independence. We also talk about the difference between Attachment Parenting and attachment theory, and the idea that "good enough" is far better than parenting perfection. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea talks to his sons about how their relationship is changing as the boys get older.

Dad 2.0 Summit Co-Founders Doug French and John Pacini join to preview this year's conference, the 6th annual chance for dad influencers, marketers, and the media to connect. We discuss how the conversation has evolved over the years, and the team's focus to bring a diversity of voices the table. We also talk about the potential risk for influencers as they enter the political fray.   Never shy to voice his opinion, The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins with his thoughts on the first days of the Trump Presidency.

At-home dad and author Brian Craig joins to talk about his new book, Lone Pair of Blue Jeans In A Sea of Yoga Pants. We talk about writing the life of an at-home dad and how he writes “funny” without making dads look like doofuses. Brian also reads two passages from his book that epitomize his life at home with three kids.

Children's book author Jake Gosselin talks about The Pinkaboos, the series he is writing with his wife that helps children face their fears. We talk about the inspiration for the series and a more evolved approach to writing for and about girls.

Episode LVI:  City Dads Chad MacDonald and Lorne Jaffe and Chad MacDonald analyze the fathers of Star Wars through 40 years and eight movies. They dig deep into the decisions various fathers and father figures make and the evolution of dads through the decades. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins at the end of the show to talk about how Star Wars informs his own parenting.

Author and Founder of the DATE SAFE Project Michael Domitrz joins to talk about his new book, Can I Kiss You?  We talk about building a culture of sexual consent and how to have age-appropriate conversations with our children about relationships, intimacy, and respect. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea discusses why he lets his kids see both his strengths and his flaws.

It's Movember, and City Dads Group has once again joined forces with Life of Dad, Dad 2.0, and the National At-Home Dad Network to grow mustaches and raise money and awareness for men's health. Movember Foundation Director of Development JJ Owens joins to talk about why this annual campaign is so important. We also talk about the research and development that is saving lives, and how your donations are used. Whit Honea joins to talk about his own health scare and his newfound perspective.  If you are moved to support our #MovemberDads team, consider donating to our team.

Modern Dads Podcast producer Josh Kross and contributor Whit Honea share their raw feelings about the Presidential election, and what it means for their families. They also brainstorm the conversations they might be having with their children in the coming days. Note: adult language is used in this episode.

State of America's Fathers report author Brian Heilman joins to talk about the status of American dads in 2016. We discuss the differing challenges white collar, college educated dads are facing compared to less educated, lower income fathers. We also look at the impact of a dad's increased involvement on his children, his partner, and himself. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins us with a conversation he recorded with his son about the state of fathers in their Los Angeles suburb.

Author and play advocate Meredith Sinclair talks about her new book, Well Played: The Ultimate Guide to Awakening Your Family's Playful Spirit. We talk about the joys of jumping in with your kids to play, and when we as parents need to step back.   The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea waxes poetic on his definition of play.

To celebrate our 50th episode, we asked New York Family Magazine Editor Eric Messinger to turn the tables by interviewing us about the future of fatherhood and the future of City Dads Group. We talk about the changing expectations of dads, the growth of our community, and what's next in the world of fathers. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins in at the end to talk about what having a community of dads has meant to him.

We tackle a conversation that is hard for us as adults, but even harder to approach with our children. Josh Kross was dealing with the loss of his father and struggling with the best way to talk about it with his three young children. He asked four of our City Dads for their advice, and recorded the response for this show. Thank you to Josh, Whit Honea, Adam Gertsacov, Lance Somerfeld, and Jason Greene for opening up about how they talked to their children about the loss of a loved one.

Paul Raeburn discusses his new book, The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting: How the Science if Strategic Thinking Can Help You Deal with the Toughest Negotiators You Know—Your Kids. We talk about practical win-win methods that teach kids about human nature, negotiation, and cooperation. The Parents Phrase Book author Whit Honea joins with a few words on his parenting approach, perhaps the opposite of strategic parenting?