Certified Bad Example Podcast

August Black & Jameel Mayers

Certified Bad Example is a weekly podcast hosted by August Black and Jameel Mayers that turns terrible parenting moments into teachable ones. Each episode digs into real stories from current events, history, and everyday life where parental figures made spectacularly bad choices. Instead of just judging, August and Jameel break down what went wrong, why it matters, and how those “bad examples” can actually help us become better parents and people. Because sometimes the best way to learn what to do… is seeing exactly what not to do.

Episodes

  1. S1:E2 - Fryer Festival, Sephora, and United ft. Ethan Levy

    3h ago

    S1:E2 - Fryer Festival, Sephora, and United ft. Ethan Levy

    Hold on to your click because today's episode is full of epic fails, celebrity missteps, and the hilarious chaos of social media hype gone wrong. We’re diving into wild tales that remind us all to pause before hitting "post" or risking a meltdown, meltdown, or worse. Plus, Ethan Levy drops some jet-setting wisdom, and we unpack what puts us all in these viral jams. In this episode: The disaster behind Fyre Festival and social media hypeThe controversial Valenciaga campaign and child-like shock factorsHow airline mishaps, from a passenger removal to viral videos, teach us about chaos and accountabilityThe insanity of influencer scams, kids' spending debates, and fashion on steroidsPlus, Ethan’s travel tales, and how to navigate a world that’s always watching Timestamps: 00:00 - Puerto Vallarta, the gay mecca and guacamole heaven 00:44 - Introducing the parental lens on social chaos and kid fails 1:18 - Ethan Levy’s jet-set life and flying every two weeks 4:17 - Impact of global turmoil on private aviation business 7:36 - The $25 million Fyre Festival disaster & lessons in oversell 8:02 - The social media influence on real-life scams 10:00 - The Netflix documentaries that exposed social media hype 12:26 - How influencer marketing turned into a mirage of legitimacy 13:32 - The importance of knowing your business before rushing in 14:44 - The viral #FryIsland and influencer pitfalls in travel scams 19:44 - The grim reality of “luxury” on a fake island 22:38 - The risky trend of carnivore diets for babies & the importance of research 28:16 - The dangers of going back to old diets, learned the hard way 34:30 - The viral video of a passenger violently removed from a United flight 39:02 - How airlines handle incidents and passenger rights 42:37 - The mega-spend kid at Sephora & the voyeuristic judgment online 45:26 - Teaching kids the value of money and social media’s role in entitlement 49:57 - Justin Bieber’s crash into fame & the parenting mishaps 56:01 - The Valenciaga child campaign: fashion or child abuse? 63:14 - Making kids feel seen via small compliments in public 66:14 - The fine line between social awareness and creepiness in kid interactions 67:19 - Ethan’s final thoughts on respecting personal boundaries and social cues Note: Remember folks, whether you're online or in real life, think before you click, post, or pull a stunt. You never know which viral disaster might be next!

    1h 2m
  2. Certified Bad Example – Introduction

    Apr 7

    Certified Bad Example – Introduction

    Coming this June 1st, 2026, Certified Bad Example officially steps in with hosts August Black and Jameel Mayers leading the conversation. This is where real-life situations, pulled from headlines, everyday moments, and the kind of stories people usually avoid, get put under the microscope. Not to shame, but to unpack. Every “bad example” becomes a conversation, and every conversation becomes a choice: what would you do instead? Episode One sets the tone. You’ll hear exactly what this show is about, how it works, and why it exists. August and Jameel bring perspective, parenting experience, and sassy opinions. From personal missteps to social dynamics, cultural moments, and everything in between, the goal is simple: call it out, break it down, and leave better than we found it. This isn’t just about parenting. It’s about behavior. Decision-making. Accountability. Growth. The kind that happens when you’re willing to look at something messy and say, yeah…we’re not doing that. Whether you’re a parent, partner, friend, or just someone navigating life, this show is built to make you think, react, and maybe even laugh at the chaos of it all. Season One kicks off June 1st, 2026, with weekly episodes across all major platforms. Watch and subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CertifiedBadExamplePodcast Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/certifiedbadexample Search terms: Certified Bad Example Podcast, August Black, Jameel Mayers, parenting podcast, LGBTQ dads podcast, real-life stories podcast, opinion podcast, modern fatherhood, social commentary podcast, relationship dynamics, behavioral accountability, podcast launching June 2026

    28 sec

About

Certified Bad Example is a weekly podcast hosted by August Black and Jameel Mayers that turns terrible parenting moments into teachable ones. Each episode digs into real stories from current events, history, and everyday life where parental figures made spectacularly bad choices. Instead of just judging, August and Jameel break down what went wrong, why it matters, and how those “bad examples” can actually help us become better parents and people. Because sometimes the best way to learn what to do… is seeing exactly what not to do.