The Real Dad Podcast

The Real Dad Podcast
  • 5.0 (6)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Welcome to "The Real Dad Podcast," the hilarious and heartfelt podcast that dives into the ups and downs of fatherhood. Join HGTV Personalities Dave Kenny and Joey Fletchler, alongside their two best friends, Brian and Mark, as they share their candid and vulnerable experiences as dads. Each week, these four fathers cover a wide range of "Dad" related topics, from the joys of watching your child grow up to the challenges of balancing work and family life. With their unique blend of humor and authenticity, Dave, Joey, Brian, and Mark provide a refreshing perspective on what it means to be a dad in today's world. Tune in for the laughs, stay for the heartfelt conversations about the struggles and triumphs of parenting. Whether you're a seasoned dad or a soon-to-be father, "The Real Dad Podcast" is the perfect place to connect with other dads and get the support you need. Join us on this journey of fatherhood, and subscribe to "The Real Dad Podcast" today!

  1. 1D AGO

    The First Sleepover

    Your kid’s first sleepover can feel like a tiny leap toward independence and a massive punch of parental anxiety. We’re talking through how we made the call, why we once said “no sleepovers” as a rule, and what finally changed when the invite came from a family we genuinely know and trust. The big takeaway is simple but hard: boundaries matter more than bravado, and the best safety plan starts with an honest conversation with your kid about confidence, discomfort, and calling home anytime. From there, we zoom out to the wider reality of raising kids who move through unfamiliar rooms and unfamiliar adults. A youth group game played in the dark turns into a real talk about supervision, consent, and body autonomy for kids, plus how we handle faith conversations without pushing shame or fear-based morality. We’re trying to raise kids who understand choice, can say “no” early, and don’t feel trapped by rules they don’t understand. We also get into the daily stuff that quietly crushes parents: developmental milestones, comparison, and the way parent guilt often lands hardest on the partner who’s home the most. Add in kids who have absolutely no fear, plus a school slang moment so awkward it sounds scripted, and you’ve got a full tour of what “different stages of parenting” really means. If you got something out of this one, subscribe, share it with a parent friend, and leave a review so more tired moms and dads can find us. What’s your hard rule for sleepovers or new activities?

    55 min

  2. APR 8

    When AI Turns Sunday Dinner Into Chaos

    Graham crackers on ham should not be a plot point in your weekend, but here we are. We sit down as four dads trying to catch up, and within minutes Mark’s “Smoker Sunday” turns into a full-blown March break legend: AI cooking instructions from Gemini, potatoes that basically dissolve, a glaze that tastes wrong, and the horrifying moment you realize the “brown sugar” you trusted is not sugar at all. It’s funny because it’s real, and it’s real because every parent has tried to pull off something nice and watched it unravel in front of the entire family. From there, the conversation opens up into the stuff that sits under the jokes. We talk about childhood memories, why some of us remember everything and some of us remember almost nothing, and how embarrassment and scarcity can follow you into adulthood. The tone shifts when we get into what it’s like to navigate a strained relationship with a dad who’s seriously ill, how closure can feel honest in one moment and confusing the next, and why therapy is less about “fixing” you and more about understanding what triggers you and why. We also hit the practical dad life that listeners search for: kids who can cut you down with one sentence, the guilt of working on a home or cottage project while they just want you to play, and a genuinely useful newborn parenting tip about taking shifts at night so your partner can get real rest. We even end with a surprisingly relatable detour into vasectomy stories and how dads bond over the weirdest topics. If you enjoy unfiltered fatherhood stories, parenting humor, and honest talk about mental health, subscribe, share this with a fellow dad, and leave a review. What’s your most unforgettable parenting fail or your hardest dad conversation?

    1h 23m

  3. FEB 23

    Raising Resilience Without Losing Your Cool

    A bathroom laugh turned into a masterclass on resilience. We start with the messy, human moments—sick nights, forgotten bags, and a hotel check-in with no wallet—and trace how those hiccups reveal what our kids really need from us: presence over perfection, support without smothering, and the right kind of hype at the right time. From there, we get real about the tightrope parents walk. When your kid’s crush fizzles or a coach leaves them on the bench, do you correct, console, or cheer like their best friend? We unpack how to read the room, why sometimes you validate the sting before you teach the lesson, and how to avoid turning every moment into a lecture. The heart of it all: kids grow most when they feel seen, not managed. Sports become our testing ground. Wrestling and jujitsu bring emotion to the surface fast—wins, losses, and the raw struggle to escape a hold. We break down how schools structure safe early exposure, what mismatches look like, and how parents can coach from the sidelines without rescuing. The takeaway isn’t medals; it’s tolerance for discomfort and the belief that effort changes outcomes. We also share practical scripts for letting kids talk to coaches and teachers, handle sibling conflicts, and own their choices—while knowing we’re right there if they need backup. We close by reframing hard seasons as training, not failure. Life cycles through tough, neutral, and good; the goal isn’t to dodge the hard parts but to learn you can survive them. Show up for their debate, their match, their play—whether you fully get it or not—and you teach them their voice matters. Tap play, subscribe, and share this with a parent who’s learning to step back without stepping away. What’s one challenge you’re letting your kid own this week?

    1h 1m

  4. JAN 28

    Backyard Boundaries, Teen Freedom

    What if the most powerful parenting tool is just five words: “I’m so glad you told me”? We put that idea to the test as four dads trade first-drunk stories, secrecy, and guilt for a more honest approach to risk and responsibility. The conversation begins where real life happens—smokers, kitchen wins and fails, Friday night rituals—and then heads straight into the messy middle: teens will test limits, so do we clamp down or coach up? We talk about why prohibition often backfires and how education—clear info, safe plans, and a standing “call me” policy—keeps kids safer than silence. The script “I’m so glad you told me” becomes our anchor through every stage: broken mugs, tough friendships, serious concerns like eating disorders, and those late-night calls from college. We unpack how it shifts us from judges to guides, reduces shame, and keeps the relationship strong when it matters most. No one plays expert here; when we don’t know, we model curiosity, ask what our kids think, and use prompts like “What would you tell a friend?” to match depth to readiness. Then we share a big life moment: after a rollercoaster of appraisals, lenders, and last-minute doubt, the cottage dream finally lands. That first winter weekend brings ice-skating, tree-dodging toboggans, and a surprising kind of healing—the kind you feel when kids rediscover boredom as a superpower and the woods become their playground. It’s equal parts practical and personal: set safe edges, honor small bids for attention, and keep the door open for the big stuff with those five words. If you’re navigating teen curiosity, craving better scripts, or just need a reminder that trust grows in small moments, you’ll feel at home here. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—it helps more parents find conversations that matter.

    59 min

  5. JAN 26

    Dad Wins, Burnt Grilled Cheese, Big Feelings

    A single grilled cheese can tell you a lot about family life. Between butter-versus-mayo debates, broiled-versus-pan loyalties, and the panic of realizing you’re out of bread mid-sizzle, we found the comedy and stress that live in every kitchen. We also followed a high-stakes trip to the butcher that ended in wide eyes at the register and a crash course in cooking a pricey beef tenderloin on a tight timeline. Spoiler: a bourbon-tent save turned chaos into a win—and taught us more about prep, timing, and recovery than any recipe ever could. Beyond food, we opened up about the stuff that hits deeper. A listener’s NICU journey sparked thoughtful support and real advice from parents who’ve been there. At home, a raw wood table and white chairs met paint, crumbs, and ketchup rituals, forcing a hard look at form versus function when kids rule the room. Health concerns popped up too: a broken finger discovered late, a kid nervous about tonsil surgery, and how to steady emotions when everyone’s tired and the snow days won’t quit. We talked about breaking all-or-nothing thinking with “75 light,” claiming the identity of reader, and designing routines that fit actual lives. Sports and shared projects pulled it together. Coaching youth hockey turned out more rewarding than expected, and kids stepping into the kitchen—pancakes, pot pie, and more—gave families both skills and pride. It’s a messy, honest snapshot of modern dad life: small milestones that feel huge, expensive lessons that stick, and a community that makes the load lighter. If you’ve ever burned lunch but saved dinner, argued about buns, or stared down a bill you weren’t ready for, you’ll feel seen. Enjoyed the ride? Follow and subscribe for more real-talk parenting, share this episode with a friend who needs a laugh and a nudge, and leave a quick review—your notes help us keep the conversation going.

    54 min

  6. 11/18/2025

    What Dads Should Expect When They’re Expecting, Revisited

    Expecting a baby doesn’t hand you a script; it asks you to improvise with heart. We went back to our most-downloaded topic and pushed further into what new dads actually face: the dizzying pivot from being self-focused to being genuinely needed, the way plans crumble in the delivery room, and the small, steady moves that matter more than grand gestures. We talk candidly about fear—watching your partner labor, trusting a midwife or nurse when you feel helpless, and staying grounded when NICU stays, stalled latches, or conflicting advice pile on. You’ll hear real tactics that lower the temperature: stocking bedside snacks and water, bringing your own pillow and blanket to the hospital, ordering dinner on the nights no one can think, and asking the magic question, How can I support you right now? We also dig into boundaries and expectations—who’s in the room, which visitors help or harm, and how to handle family dynamics without making your partner manage your side. If you feel shut out or second-guessed, we’ve been there. The move is quiet competence: change the diaper, reset the room, prep the next feed, and stop keeping score. Bonding doesn’t always land on day one, so create rituals that invite it—witching-hour walks, skin-to-skin, narrating your day, and finding your unique dad sleep routine for each child. Your scenario is yours; filter advice, keep what fits, and choose the path that protects your partner’s wellbeing and your family’s bond, whether that’s nursing, pumping, or formula. Come for the humor, stay for the hard-earned calm. If you’re a new or soon-to-be dad looking for grounded guidance, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a steady voice, and leave a review with the best tip you wish you’d heard sooner.

    1h 17m

  7. 11/06/2025

    Where Everyday Mess Becomes A Masterclass In Modern Fatherhood

    A kitchen confession about moldy Tupperware turns into a surprisingly tender map of modern fatherhood. We open with the small stuff—waffle settings, pizza box etiquette, hot dog head tilts, and why no one should make eye contact mid-bite—and find the values hidden inside the jokes: boundaries, bandwidth, and the daily tradeoffs that keep a home moving. Then we head outside, from a back-friendly sock trick to a smoky, brined turkey win that earns a new household badge of honor, fueled by neighbor wisdom and internet recipes. The heart of the story lives on the court. One of us prepped a son for bench minutes with honesty and care, absorbed the sting of the first game, and watched him light up in the next—first basket, better positioning, and an open mind for coaching. Later that night came a second breakthrough: stepping into a voice chat to call out friend-group chirps that had crossed into bullying. Risky? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. The hug and the trust that followed say everything about when to let kids figure it out and when to show up, loud and clear. We don’t skip the hard parts. Triggers around lying, tone that lands too sharp, and the worry of a strong-willed peer rubbing off on your kid—they’re all here. So are the wins that knit a family together: sibling seat negotiations, Halloween costume chaos, and a home team run that becomes a core memory. It’s messy, funny, and real, the way parenting actually feels at 8 p.m. on a Tuesday. If this sounds like your house, pull up a chair. Subscribe, share this with a dad who needs a laugh and a lift, and leave a review to help more parents find the show.

    1h 1m

  8. 11/03/2025

    Shepherds, Not Engineers: Letting Kids Choose, Learning When to Step Back

    The hardest part of parenting isn’t the calendar or the carpools—it’s knowing when to cheer louder and when to get out of the way. We sit down, shorts weather and all, to unpack the thin line between healthy encouragement and the kind of blind confidence that leaves a kid declaring they’re “the best at hockey” after crying through evaluations. From the glass at a rink to the bleachers at gymnastics, we explore what it actually looks like to let kids struggle, self-correct, and choose their own path. Our conversation ranges from back-to-school overload and the hidden cost of over-scheduling to the surprisingly tender lessons inside a messy morning meltdown—including a drywall repair and a real apology. We talk honestly about coaching your own kid versus stepping back so they can hear another voice, the difference between praise that builds grit and praise that inflates ego, and how to set consequences that teach priorities without shaming effort. You’ll hear why “shepherds, not engineers” has become our north star, plus practical ways to handle siblings who disrupt cherished rituals, like a peaceful fishing trip that goes gloriously sideways. Whether your child is trading team hockey for solo gymnastics, begging for new basketball shoes without logging reps, or insisting they’re “fine” for tests they didn’t study for, you’ll get tools to navigate motivation, resilience, and repair. Expect candid stories, hard-won strategies, and a reminder that your voice doesn’t have to be the loudest to lead. If you’re trying to raise grounded, confident kids who can handle feedback and find their drive, press play and join the conversation. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review—what’s one place you’re ready to step back so your kid can step up?

    1h 7m
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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to "The Real Dad Podcast," the hilarious and heartfelt podcast that dives into the ups and downs of fatherhood. Join HGTV Personalities Dave Kenny and Joey Fletchler, alongside their two best friends, Brian and Mark, as they share their candid and vulnerable experiences as dads. Each week, these four fathers cover a wide range of "Dad" related topics, from the joys of watching your child grow up to the challenges of balancing work and family life. With their unique blend of humor and authenticity, Dave, Joey, Brian, and Mark provide a refreshing perspective on what it means to be a dad in today's world. Tune in for the laughs, stay for the heartfelt conversations about the struggles and triumphs of parenting. Whether you're a seasoned dad or a soon-to-be father, "The Real Dad Podcast" is the perfect place to connect with other dads and get the support you need. Join us on this journey of fatherhood, and subscribe to "The Real Dad Podcast" today!

Information

  • Creator
    The Real Dad Podcast
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Real Dad Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Real Dad Podcast

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