The Dad Compass Podcast

Dmitry Unscripted

Welcome to our podcast, where two dedicated individuals—both fathers and professionals—share their journeys of self-improvement and growth.

  1. 1d ago

    How to Talk to Your Kids About Porn & Sex | The Dad Compass Ep. 59

    Send us Fan Mail When should you talk to your kids about porn, sex, sexting, social media, and everything they can access online? And how do you have those conversations without embarrassing them, shaming them, or accidentally introducing them to something they weren't even thinking about yet? In Episode 59 of The Dad Compass Podcast, Dmitry and Patrick tackle one of the most uncomfortable parts of parenting: having real conversations with your kids about pornography, sex, smartphones, Snapchat, sexting, peer pressure, and growing up in a world where almost anything is one search away. We get into the question of whether parents should get ahead of these conversations or wait until their child is ready, how age and maturity change the approach, and why simply telling kids “don’t do it” may not actually prepare them for what they’ll encounter. We also talk about something even bigger: Do you want your kid to call you when they screw up? Because the way we respond to the uncomfortable conversations today may determine whether they come to us during the really difficult moments later. Both of us grew up without fathers, which makes this conversation especially important to what The Dad Compass is about: figuring out how to give our kids guidance we didn’t always have ourselves.  patrick-dmitry In this episode we discuss: When parents should start talking about pornographyHow porn can affect expectations around sex and relationshipsCuriosity vs. compulsive behaviorTalking to boys and girls about sexKids getting smartphones too youngParental controls and internet accessSexting and permanent digital footprintsSnapchat and social mediaOnline predatorsPeer pressureLetting kids solve problems themselvesBuilding the kind of relationship where your child actually calls you for helpThe biggest takeaway isn't that parents need all the answers. It's that avoiding difficult conversations doesn't make those situations disappear. Our kids are going to get information somewhere. We'd rather they know they can come to us. 👇 Parents — we want to hear from you: What age should you start talking to kids about porn and sex? Should parents check their teenager's phone? And what's the parenting conversation nobody prepared you to have? Leave it in the comments. It might become a future episode. Subscribe to The Dad Compass Podcast for honest conversations about fatherhood, parenting, marriage, divorce, mental health, raising teenagers, and becoming the dads our kids need. ⚠️ This episode contains explicit language and mature discussions intended for parents. Chapter Markers 00:00 – Welcome to Episode 59 01:04 – Kids, Porn & Early Exposure 02:34 – Should Parents Check Their Kid's Phone? 05:21 – Does Porn Change How Boys See Women? 09:30 – Curiosity vs. Compulsion 11:42 – How Do You Talk About Porn Without Shame? 14:38 – Do You Have the Conversation Before They’re Ready? 18:35 – How Should Parents Talk About Sex? 22:12 – What Age Should “The Talk” Start? 24:47 – Phones, Parental Controls & Protecting Kids Online 26:16 – Why Daughters May Need These Conversations Earlier 28:41 – Can Talking About It Create More Curiosity? 30:55 – Sexting & The Digital Footprint That Never Goes Away 32:03 – Peer Pressure Isn’t Just About Drugs 33:11 – Snapchat, Teenagers & Trust 37:10 – Are Our Kids More Mature Than We Were? 39:38 – When Your Kid Calls You During a Crisis 44:44 – Should Kids Have to Figure Things Out Themselves? 48:21 – Growing Up Without Fathers 50:43 – Are Kids Missing Real-World Life Experience? 53:34 – Somehow We Completely Derail 😂 55:17 – The Question of the Week 1:00:34 – The New Direction of The Dad Compass 1:02:14 – Help Us Choose the Next Conversation

  2. Sep 14

    Father’s Day Hits Different When You’re a Dad EP 54

    Send us Fan Mail Father’s Day starts with jokes, gifts, steak, grills, and the chaos of being a dad — but this episode turns into something deeper. On this Father’s Day edition of The Dad Compass Podcast, Dmitry and Patrick talk about what Father’s Day actually means, the pressure dads carry, raising teenagers into adulthood, helping kids understand responsibility, and the health wake-up calls men often ignore until they become serious. From funny dad stories and Father’s Day facts to real conversations about blood work, cholesterol, testosterone, weight loss, parenting mistakes, and wanting to be around for your kids and future grandkids — this episode is a reminder that fatherhood is more than one day of appreciation. It’s about showing up, getting better, and doing the hard work even when nobody sees it. In this episode we talk about: Father’s Day expectations and dad gifts Why dads pretend they don’t care but actually do Raising teens and preparing kids for adulthood Communication, chores, jobs, and responsibility Health scares, blood work, cholesterol, and getting older Why dads need to take care of themselves What we would do if money was no object The legacy fathers leave behind Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, stepdads, grandfathers, father figures, and moms doing both jobs. Compass on. 00:00 Father’s Day Edition Begins 00:24 Father’s Day Facts, History & Traditions 02:15 Father’s Day Gifts, Dad Humor & The Giant Clock 04:10 Why Every Random Holiday Exists Now 04:49 What Father’s Day Actually Means to Dads 07:03 Father’s Day Plans, Kids, Steak & Sushi 08:15 Steakhouse Talk, Texas Roadhouse & Dad Food 10:37 Father’s Day Spending: Dads vs Moms 12:12 Grills, Smokers & Father’s Day Gifts Gone Wrong 14:23 Funny Father’s Day Truths Every Dad Understands 15:42 Growing Up Without a Father & TV Dads 17:37 The Myth of the Perfect Parent 19:19 Raising Teenagers Into Adulthood 20:23 Responsibility, EMT Training & Real-Life Consequences 22:38 How Do You Prepare Kids for Adult Life? 23:34 Teen Communication, Last-Minute Plans & Boundaries 25:28 Chores, Consistency & Teaching Responsibility 28:42 When Kids Don’t Follow Through 32:05 Teen Money Lessons, Toll Roads & Dad Problems 36:23 Speeding Tickets, Police & Learning the Hard Way 41:40 Blood Work, Cancer Scares & Dad Health 43:38 Weight Loss, Drinking Less & Getting Older 46:10 Why Dads Need to Get Blood Work Done 48:12 High Protein, High Fiber & Building a Healthier Dad Life 50:09 Quitting Energy Drinks & Starting Clean 51:25 Healthy Meals, Greek Yogurt Sauce & Small Changes 55:04 Cholesterol, Steak, Sushi & Dad Diet Anxiety 58:30 Get Checked, Dad: Health, Family & Grandkids 1:00:03 If Money Was No Object 1:00:34 Travel, Purpose & Working Because You Want To 1:01:13 Spending More Time With Your Kids 1:02:26 Raising Kids Without Spoiling Them 1:03:44 Legacy, Helping Others & What Really Matters 1:05:26 Final Father’s Day Message #FathersDay #Fatherhood #DadPodcast #TheDadCompass #ParentingPodcast #DadLife #MensHealth #RaisingKids #FatherhoodJourney #ModernFatherhood

  3. Sep 14

    Your Kids Won’t Be Kids Forever | The Dad Compass EP 56

    Send us Fan Mail **Your Kids Won’t Be Kids Forever | The Dad Compass** One day, the noise in your house gets quieter. The kids who constantly need you grow up. They graduate. They get jobs. They move out. And suddenly, all those ordinary moments you thought would always be there become memories. In this episode of **The Dad Compass Podcast**, Dmitry and Patrick have an honest conversation about **fatherhood, parenting, kids growing up, and what happens when your children begin leaving home**. Patrick talks about watching his older kids move into adulthood and how dramatically it changes the dynamic of the family. Dmitry looks ahead at his oldest son approaching adulthood and the strange combination of being proud of the person your child is becoming while knowing you're going to miss having them around every day. We also talk about how parenting changes as **we** get older. The way you parent your first child isn't necessarily the way you parent your third. You learn. You make mistakes. You become more patient. And eventually you realize that sometimes we spend so much time preparing our kids to become adults that we forget to appreciate them while they're still kids. This episode isn't about being a perfect parent. It's about **being present**. Because your kids won't be kids forever. We also somehow manage to talk about a 25-hour family road trip, moving houses, hot air balloons in New Mexico, terrible podcast decisions, parenting teenagers, adult children, and all the usual chaos that comes with being dads. If you're a **dad, mom, stepdad, parent of teenagers, or a parent watching your kids grow up**, this conversation is for you. 👇 **JOIN THE CONVERSATION** How has your relationship with your kids changed as they've gotten older? And if your children have already moved out, what's something you wish you had appreciated more while they were still living at home? Drop your story in the comments. We want The Dad Compass to be a place where parents can talk about the parts of **fatherhood and parenting** that don't always get talked about. 👍 Like the episode 💬 Leave us a comment 🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations about fatherhood, parenting, marriage, family, personal growth, and raising kids. **The Dad Compass Podcast** is two dads having honest conversations about fatherhood, parenting struggles, raising children, relationships, mistakes, growth, and figuring life out one week at a time. #TheDadCompass #Fatherhood #Parenting #DadPodcast #ParentingPodcast #KidsGrowingUp #ParentingTeenagers #Dads #Family #EmptyNest #FatherhoodPodcast #ParentingAdvice 00:00 Welcome Back to The Dad Compass 02:40 Dmitry’s First Real Vacation 04:10 Surviving a 25-Hour Family Road Trip 07:20 Patrick’s New Mexico Hot Air Balloon Adventure 13:40 Tinkertown Museum & Visiting the Kids 17:45 Moving Houses With Kids 23:40 Patrick Helps His Daughter Move Out 26:50 When the House Suddenly Gets Quiet 31:15 Advice for Parents When Kids Move Out 34:10 Watching Your Kids Become Adults 37:50 Preparing a Teenager for Independence 40:50 Will Your Kids Surprise You After They Move Out? 44:30 Teaching Kids Responsibility & Independence 47:15 Trusting the Process as a Parent 50:30 Your Kids Won’t Be Kids Forever 52:20 How Parenting Changes With Each Child 55:10 Parenting Differently as You Get Older 58:30 Sibling Relationships & Growing Up Together 1:01:40 What Our Parenting Teaches Our Kids 1:04:00 What The Dad Compass Is Really About 1:08:00 If Your Kid Switched Bodies With You 1:10:00 Weight Loss, Beer & Dad Life 1:12:30 Final Thoughts: Appreciate Your Kids While They’re Young

  4. Sep 14

    Fathers React to the Worst Parenting Cases We've Ever Heard EP 55

    Send us Fan Mail How does a parent look at their own child suffering and do nothing? In this episode of The Dad Compass Podcast, Dmitry and Patrick discuss some of the most disturbing cases involving parents accused or convicted of horrific child neglect, abuse, and murder. From a 7-year-old boy who died weighing 255 pounds, to Ruby Franke and the abuse of her children, Lori Vallow Daybell's extreme religious beliefs, the parents of the Oxford High School shooter, children tragically left in hot cars, and a 2-year-old who died from starvation while living with his own parents—these stories raise one terrifying question: How does a parent get to this point? We also discuss parental responsibility, recognizing warning signs in children, bullying, when parents should step in, discipline versus abuse, and whether society does enough to protect vulnerable children. As fathers, some of these stories are nearly impossible for us to comprehend. ⚠️ This episode discusses child abuse, child neglect, murder, starvation, and other disturbing subjects. Viewer discretion is advised. What do you think? Are there warning signs people ignore? When should family members, schools, neighbors, or the government intervene? And are the punishments for severe child abuse strong enough? Drop your thoughts and cases you think we should discuss in the comments. 👇 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & JOIN THE CONVERSATION The Dad Compass is a podcast about fatherhood, parenting, marriage, mental health, personal growth, and navigating life as a dad. 🧭 COMPASS ON. Chapters 00:00 The Most Horrifying Parenting Stories We've Ever Read 00:37 7-Year-Old Dies Weighing 255 Pounds 03:41 They Called a Veterinarian Before Helping Their Son? 07:33 What Happened to Casper O'Brien? 08:19 The Horrifying Conditions Inside the Home 10:53 Ruby Franke and the 8 Passengers Abuse Case 12:38 A 12-Year-Old Escapes and Begs for Food 14:05 When "Discipline" Becomes Child Abuse 15:31 Do Abused Children Know Their Life Isn't Normal? 17:17 The Therapist Connected to Ruby Franke 18:18 The Letecia Stauch Case 21:27 Should Parents Be Responsible for Their Child's Crimes? 22:25 The Oxford High School Shooter's Parents 24:24 What Would You Do If Your Child Became a Killer? 25:50 Bullying, School Violence and Warning Signs 27:22 When Should a Parent Step In? 30:59 Why Kids Join In on Bullying 32:03 Father Allegedly Forgets His Toddler in a Hot Car 33:45 Can You Really Forget Your Child Is in the Back Seat? 36:36 Should Negligent Parents Ever Have Children Again? 36:45 Lori Vallow Daybell and the Murder of Her Children 39:20 Religious Extremism and the "Zombie" Beliefs 42:52 The Streamer Connected to a Child Starvation Case 45:20 She Had Already Lost Parental Rights to Another Child 46:25 Other Children Were Living Inside the Home 48:48 Are Child Abuse Punishments Strong Enough? 50:43 Dad Life, Summer Heat and Neglect Jokes 51:58 Fireworks, Cherry Creek and Buc-ee's 54:12 Wawa vs Sheetz vs Buc-ee's 54:47 The Dumbest Things We've Done With Fireworks 58:37 Final Thoughts and Compass On #TheDadCompass #ParentingPodcast #Fatherhood #TrueCrime #ChildNeglect #ChildAbuseAwareness #DadPodcast #Parents #Parenting #RubyFranke #LoriVallow #FatherhoodPodcast

  5. Jun 7

    Fatherhood Unscripted: Kids Growing Up, Teen Driving & Girl Drama

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dad Compass Podcast, Patrick and Dmitry talk through the emotional reality of watching your kids grow up, graduate, start driving, face friendship drama, and become more independent. Graduation is supposed to be a celebration, but for many parents it also brings a strange kind of sadness. We talk about the feeling of mourning the younger version of your kids, watching them step into adulthood, and realizing that life is moving faster than you expected. This episode also dives into parenting teenagers, teaching a teen to drive for the first time, handling fear and confidence behind the wheel, summer break with kids at home, daughter friendship drama, phone boundaries, peer pressure, and the challenge of helping your kids become strong without controlling every part of their life. We also talk about raising kids who make good choices when no one is watching, what it means to be proud of your children, and how fatherhood changes as your kids need you differently. This one is for dads, moms, stepdads, blended families, and anyone trying to navigate the emotional chaos of parenting kids who are growing up way too fast. Topics covered: Graduation grief, kids growing up, parenting teens, teen driving anxiety, daughter friendship drama, girl drama, summer parenting, phone boundaries for kids, peer pressure, fatherhood, blended families, raising teenagers, letting go as a parent, work-life balance, and family growth. Subscribe to The Dad Compass Podcast for real conversations about fatherhood, parenting, marriage, family, discipline, mental health, and raising kids in today’s world. 00:00 Welcome Back to The Dad Compass Podcast 00:08 Summer Parenting, Graduation Season & Kids Growing Up 01:41 Older Kids Coming Home, Leaving Again & Family Transitions 04:02 Emotional Graduation Moments as a Dad 05:08 Mourning the Younger Version of Your Kids 06:56 Parenting Adult Kids, Rent, Responsibility & Independence 09:07 Teaching Young Adults Budgeting After Graduation 11:05 Alternative School Graduation & Demonstration of Readiness 12:05 Wilderness Trips, Life Skills & Real-World Learning 14:14 Graduation Support Meetings, Family & Mentorship 15:28 Walking Through a Child’s High School Journey 16:45 Raising a Good Man: Teen Mentorship & Kindness 18:01 Seeing Your Kids Become Better Versions of You 21:45 Teen Mental Health, Friendship & Being There for Others 24:30 Teaching Younger Students & Learning Humility 26:03 Friendship, Peer Pressure & Wanting to Fit In 27:43 Teen Vaping, Weed, Peer Pressure & Making Good Choices 30:43 Little Parenting Moments That Add Up Over Time 34:36 Are Kids Making Better Choices Than We Did? 36:43 Teen Gets His Driving Permit for the First Time 38:15 Teen Driving Anxiety, Fear & Building Confidence 41:00 Teaching a Teen Driver Without Losing Your Mind 43:50 Dad Tips for Teaching Teenagers How to Drive 46:50 Giving Driving Feedback Without Creating Panic 48:20 Confidence, Stress & Learning Under Pressure 52:30 Almost Missing a Stop Sign: First Driving Lesson Reality 55:08 Learning to Reverse, Park & Understand the Vehicle 56:20 Best Advice for a Teen’s First Driving Lesson 57:20 Daughter Drama, Phones, Crushes & Friendship Issues 58:20 Phone Boundaries, Texting Rules & Parenting Kids Online 59:30 Girl Drama, Friendship Pain & Self-Worth 1:00:35 Helping Your Daughter Handle Friendship Drama 1:02:05 Talking to Kids Without Crushing Their Confidence 1:03:20 Summer Break, Work From Home Parenting & Family Chaos 1:04:08 Kids Home for Summer While Parents Still Work 1:04:59 Giving a 10-Year-Old a Phone: Rules and Reality 1:05:22 Kids, Curiosity, Phone Safety & Digital Boundaries 1:07:36 Fatherhood Unscripted: This Whole Episode Was Real Life 1:07:52 Question of the Week: What Belief Changed in 10 Years? 1:08:07 Becoming a Dad Without Having a Father Figure 1:10:12 Work-Life Balance, Family & What Really Matters 1:11:33 Marriage, Partnership & Not Carrying It All Alone 1:13:54 Like, Subscribe, Comment & Closing Thoughts

    Fatherhood Unscripted: Kids Growing Up, Teen Driving & Girl Drama
  6. May 10

    Father Without a Blueprint: Raising Kids When No One Taught You How

    Send us Fan Mail Some dads are raising their kids without a blueprint. In this episode of The Dad Compass Podcast, Dmitry and Patrick talk about what it feels like to become a father when no one really taught you how to be one. From absent fathers and broken examples to raising sons, raising daughters, losing your temper, accountability, discipline, emotional shutdown, and the fear of repeating the past — this conversation gets real. We talk about the pressure dads carry, the mistakes we make, the moments we wish we handled better, and the responsibility of trying to become the kind of father our kids actually need. This episode is for the dads who are trying to break generational cycles, build better relationships with their kids, and lead their families even when they feel like they’re figuring it out as they go. If you’ve ever felt like you’re winging fatherhood, struggling with discipline, trying to repair a relationship with your child, or wondering if you’re doing enough as a dad — this one is for you. The Dad Compass Podcast is about real fatherhood, honest conversations, parenting, marriage, discipline, mental health, personal growth, and dads supporting dads. Drop a comment: What’s one thing you wish someone taught you before becoming a dad? Subscribe for more real conversations about fatherhood, parenting, discipline, marriage, growth, and what it means to show up as a dad. #Fatherhood #DadPodcast #Parenting #TheDadCompass #BreakingGenerationalCycles 00:00 Fathers Raising Kids Without a Blueprint 00:43 Did We Fake It Until We Made It? 01:50 Becoming the Dad You Wish You Had 03:23 Borrowing Lessons From Father Figures 06:03 Why Raising Daughters Feels Different 09:04 The Stages Where Dads Need Guidance 11:13 Can You Fix the Relationship Now? 12:16 When Your Kid Says, “I Can’t Do Anything Right” 13:31 Extreme Ownership in Parenting 14:41 Teaching Before Correcting 16:49 Kids, Responsibility, and Homework Battles 19:00 Chores, Gigs, and Teaching Ownership 21:03 Building Your Own Blueprint as a Father 22:53 What Does “Absent Dad” Really Mean? 23:36 Being Physically Present But Emotionally Absent 25:56 Showing Up Even When You’re Burnt Out 26:29 The McDonald’s Story and Dad Guilt 30:34 Not Having a Father Doesn’t Disqualify You 32:21 The Conversation Dmitry Wishes He Could Have 34:21 Accountability Is Not Soft Parenting 35:03 The Hidden Weight Dads Carry 36:30 Anger, Pressure, Fear, and Exhaustion 38:18 Being Honest With Your Kids 42:07 If Your Life Had a Narrator 43:32 Dark Humor, Murder Tapes, and Dad Banter 47:55 Like, Subscribe, and Send Us Your Questions

  7. Apr 29

    The Hidden Weight Dads Carry | Fatherhood, Anger & Accountability

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dad Compass Podcast, we talk about what it really feels like to raise kids when you never had a clear blueprint for fatherhood. Some dads grew up without a strong father figure. Some had examples they don’t want to repeat. Some are learning in real time how to lead, discipline, connect, apologize, and show up for their kids while still carrying stress, anger, pressure, exhaustion, and fear. We get into fatherhood without a map, raising sons and daughters, accountability, chores, emotional honesty, absent dads, breaking generational patterns, and why not having a perfect example does not disqualify you from becoming a strong father. This one is for the dads trying to become better while still figuring it out. Topics we cover: Fatherhood without a blueprint Dads who grew up without fathers Breaking generational cycles Raising kids with accountability Being present instead of just being physically there Anger, burnout, and pressure as a dad How to lead your kids by example Why communication with your kids matters Building a better fatherhood community Subscribe to The Dad Compass Podcast for honest conversations about fatherhood, parenting, marriage, discipline, growth, and becoming the kind of dad your kids can count on. Chapters 0:00 Fatherhood without a blueprint 0:43 Did we fake it as new dads? 1:50 Stepping into fatherhood without answers 3:23 Father figures and borrowed examples 6:03 Raising daughters and fear of losing connection 9:04 Why dads need guidance at every stage 11:32 When your kid feels like they can’t do anything right 13:31 Extreme ownership at home 15:32 Chores, expectations, and letting kids choose 16:49 Teaching responsibility without blame 19:00 Turning chores into “gigs” 21:03 Building your own fatherhood blueprint 22:53 Are dads present but still absent? 25:56 Showing up when you’re tired and burned out 26:58 The dad guilt fast food story 30:34 Not having a father does not disqualify you 32:21 The conversation some sons never get to have 34:21 Accountability is not soft parenting 35:03 The hidden weight dads carry 38:18 Being honest with your kids when life is heavy 42:07 Weird question: who narrates your life? 43:32 Murder Tapes tangent 48:04 Building a community for dads

About

Welcome to our podcast, where two dedicated individuals—both fathers and professionals—share their journeys of self-improvement and growth.