Dadicated Joe

Joe Carr

There's no manual for becoming a dad—but there should be. Dadicated Joe is a new dad's guide to navigating the wild ride of early fatherhood. From the moment you hear "we're pregnant" through those sleepless, life-altering early months, host Joe Carr (dad, husband, and co-founder of Serenity Kids) brings real talk, helpful tips, and shared experiences to the mic. This journey can be overwhelming—you shouldn't have to do it alone. New episodes every Tuesday.

  1. 2d ago

    56. Dads: Here's How I Take Time for Myself Without Making My Wife Hate Me

    I didn't feel free to go water skiing or spend three hours making a costume when my wife was still worrying about the house. It didn't feel fair, so I didn't do it. And then I felt resentful. Fair Play changed that for us. It gave my wife and me a clearer way to divide the household mental load, not just the chores. When I fully own my cards, she does not have to keep worrying about them, and I do not have to carry vague guilt every time I want space for myself. This is for dads who care but feel tired, stretched thin, or stuck between being present and wanting freedom. The Fair Play method helped me see that self-care is not the enemy of fatherhood. Resentment is. Inside this episode • Why dads need self-care without guilt • How Fair Play reduces household resentment • Why moms still carry the mental load • How couples can divide chores more clearly • What unicorn space gives back to dads • How freedom can make you more present Past Episodes:  Want to go deeper on this? Start with my Fair Play episode, where I explain the system that helped us stop fighting about chores and start sharing the household mental load more clearly. Fair Play: Why Moms Still Carry the Mental Load (and How Dads Can Change That): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ2KExQ-Y8Y&t=1s  Then listen to my conversation with Ken Blackman, our relationship coach, for a deeper look at marriage, intimacy, and staying connected as parents. Why Marriage After Kids Fails (It's Not What You Think): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3up1FDPaIFw&t=12s  And don't forget to check out the DILF shirt — Dad I'd Like to Follow — for the dad who wants to lead with presence, not pressure. https://www.etsy.com/listing/4422135471/dilf-unisex-softstyle-t-shirt-fun-gift?sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=shop_home&ref=shop_home_active_1&logging_key=7ca0c461de2dafc613d3f4bac409fb48dfbba498%3A4422135471 👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/ Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up. It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe. Follow Joe Carr on social media  Instagram: @dadicatedjoe  TikTok: @dadicatedjoe  YouTube @dadicatedjoe

    8 min
  2. You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    2d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing Dr. Ramani: If You're Thinking About Going No Contact With a Family Member - Listen to THIS (How to Know If It's Time To Walk Away) from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Some relationships leave us questioning whether love is enough to stay. In this conversation, Jay sits down with Dr. Ramani to explore the painful reality of family estrangement and the growing number of people considering no contact with those closest to them. Together, they unpack the difference between self-protection and punishment, why guilt often accompanies healthy boundaries, and how years of unresolved hurt can lead someone to step away from a relationship they once fought hard to save. Rather than offering simple answers, this episode invites a deeper reflection on safety, repair, accountability, and healing. It challenges the belief that family ties should come at the expense of your well-being and reminds us that choosing yourself is rarely easy. Whether you're navigating a difficult relationship, supporting someone who is, or trying to understand a loved one's decision, this conversation offers compassion, clarity, and the reassurance that healing doesn't always look the way we expect. In this episode you'll learn: How to Know When No Contact Is Necessary How to Stop Abandoning Yourself for Family How to Recognize When Repair Isn’t Working How to Handle Guilt After Going No Contact How to Protect Your Peace Around Toxic Relatives How to Navigate Family Pressure and Backlash How to Choose Self-Protection Over Self-Betrayal Not every relationship is meant to be kept at the cost of your peace. Sometimes healing means repairing a connection, and sometimes it means creating distance from what continues to hurt you. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe   Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 01:29 What Does Going No Contact Really Mean? 06:24 When No Contact Becomes Your Only Option  08:10 Can a Broken Relationship Be Repaired? 11:40 The Most Common Reasons People Go No Contact 14:48 It's Not the Mistake, It's the Repair 17:01 Pay Attention to Your Why 21:58 Detaching from a Harmful Relationship 26:29 You Have to Do What Feels Right for You 30:12 When Family Requires Self-Abandonment 35:37 The Weight of Internal Shame 36:44 The Hidden Cost of Always Keeping the Peace 42:26 When Someone Cuts You Off Without Explanation 44:13 When Is It Time to Cut Off Contact? 48:01 But They're Family... 53:16 Building Your Chosen Family 55:05 No Contact vs. A Falling Out 55:54 The Silent Treatment Is a Form of Emotional Aggression 58:01 Are We Getting Worse at Repairing Relationships? 01:02:38 The Relief of Finally Deciding to Go No Contact  01:04:09 How to Repair a Relationship After Being Cut Off 01:05:37 Forgiveness Isn't Always Healthy 01:08:26 The Challenges of Trying to Heal Trauma 01:11:29 Why Some Parents Don't Understand Estrangement 01:13:13 Handling Family Backlash After Going No Contact 01:15:12 When a Parent Is Both Supportive and Harmful 01:17:54 When Breaking No Contact Is Worth Considering 01:19:26 Can a Narcissistic Parent Change? 01:22:16 Should You Invite an Estranged Family Member to Your Wedding?  Episode Resources: Website | https://doctor-ramani.com/  YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@DoctorRamani  Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/doctorramani  Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/doctorramani/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramani-durvasula-4132067  TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@doctorramani  X | https://x.com/DoctorRamani See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. Jun 8

    55. The Formula for Perfect Marriage After Kids with Relationship Coach Ken Blackman

    I wanted a formula for a better marriage. Ken Blackman basically told me that was the problem. After more than 10 years of coaching Serenity and me through our marriage, business, and parenting, including many very real breakdowns, Ken has seen the pattern clearly: I keep trying to replace presence with scripts. If your relationship has felt different since having kids — harder to connect, easier to drift — this episode is for you. We get into why the old ways of showing up stop working after fatherhood, why trying to be the "good husband" or "good dad" can still leave you emotionally checked out, and why your partner is probably not the actual problem. Ken also helped me tell the truth about something I hadn't talked about publicly before: the years I spent addictively numbing out when marriage, fatherhood, and business felt like too much all at once — and how close that took us to the edge. The real work, it turns out, is not finding the right formula. It is learning to feel, to own your choices without resentment, and to build something with your partner that actually fits your family. Inside this episode:  Why the perfect marriage formula does not exist How fatherhood changes the emotional connection with your partner Why resentment builds when dads say yes without owning the choice How to stop numbing and start feeling again Why your partner is probably not the problem How to co-create a relationship that gets better over time, not worse Resources mentioned  Read Ken's blog: https://kenblackman.medium.com/  Brené Brown: https://brenebrown.com/  Esther Perel https://www.estherperel.com/  Other episodes: Keep the Spark Alive https://youtu.be/j0MvVRe3Vng  Enhance your Relationship with your Wife and Yourself after baby with Scott Wild https://youtu.be/3y7NnwqNTRE  Reel: https://riverside.com/shared/exported-clip/6272cd4099370c81176d  12 years in, my and Serenity's relationship is the BEST it's ever been. We run a successful business together, have an amazing daughter, and have ten times the connection and intimacy we had in the honeymoon phase.  We are proof that this is possible! But it was not easy! We could not have done any of it without the support of this man!  👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/ Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up. It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe. Follow Joe Carr on social media  Instagram: @dadicatedjoe  TikTok: @dadicatedjoe  YouTube @dadicatedjoe Ken Blackman is one of the BEST relationship coaches in the world. In this episode he shows us how the best formula for having a perfect marriage is that there is no formula! We have to throw out what we thought marriage was "supposed" to be and create the marriage that works for us.  The good news is that finding the right person is only 14% of the battle. So it's overwhelmingly likely that you already have a person who works; the rest is doing the work.  Learn more about how you could have a thriving relationship like mine on this week's episode: The Formula for Perfect Marriage After Kids with Relationship Coach Ken Blackman Learn more about Scott  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottsolowild/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottsolowild/

    1h 9m
  4. May 25

    54. Dads Who Always Say Yes Are Slowly Destroying Their Marriage

    If this one resonated, go back and listen to the episode on why men feel unappreciated. It gets into the resentment that builds when we serve from sacrifice instead of joy, and it pairs directly with what I cover here.  Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv9L_Bhz6bk Also worth hearing: the Fair Play episode, where I break down how clearer roles at home help dads set better boundaries, protect their time, and show up with more presence. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ2KExQ-Y8Y&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=47 Past Episode mentioned  If this episode resonated with you, go back and listen to the DadicatedJoe episode on why men feel unappreciated, where I get into the resentment that builds when we serve from sacrifice instead of joy. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv9L_Bhz6bk You can also check out the Fair Play episode to learn how clearer roles at home can help dads set better boundaries, protect self-care, and show up with more emotional presence. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ2KExQ-Y8Y&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=47  LINK TO BOOK OF BOUNDARIES https://a.co/d/0104YNM4 👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/ Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up. It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe. Follow Joe Carr on social media  Instagram: @dadicatedjoe  TikTok: @dadicatedjoe  YouTube @dadicatedjoe

    13 min
  5. May 18

    53. The Science of Motivating Kids, Managing Tantrums with Jenna Mazzillo

    Parents spend a lot of time trying to get their kids to change their behavior. I know I struggle a ton with how to do this in a way that teaches her long-term skills, and doesn't just manipulate her into bending to my will in the short run. The heavily researched science of "behavioral psychology" has the answer! Put simply, humans DO things because they WANT something.  I discovered that some of my strategies were actually rewarding the wrong behavior. Like I noticed my daughter Della will clean up a mess for my wife with no problem, but with me it can turn into a whole thing. And that made me wonder if the behavior keeps happening because, without meaning to, I'm giving it more attention than I realized. Jenna Mazzillo is a board-certified behavior analyst, mom of two, and the creator behind ABA Naturally. She brings real behavior science to a challenge I face constantly: how do we help our kids listen, cooperate, regulate, and learn without yelling, bribing, coddling, or sending them away? Plus the science also applies to how we motivate ourselves, our partners, or other adults!  What surprised me most in this conversation is that the problem often isn't what we do during a tantrum or moment of defiance — it's everything we do before it. Jenna breaks down why proactive connection, not in-the-moment reaction, is what actually changes behavior over time. And how to help us remember the goal isn't just to change a certain behavior. It's to teach a better skill. If you're a dad trying to stay connected while also holding the line, this one will hit home. It's for parents who want less reactivity, more confidence, and a clearer way to handle challenging behavior without swinging too harsh or too soft. Inside this episode: Why kids might repeat behavior that gets negative attention How punishment may stop behavior but never teach a skill Why over-validating can keep kids stuck in the loop How 10 minutes of proactive connection helps you hold boundaries with less guilt What behavior science teaches us about tantrums and motivation How to help kids listen without yelling, bribing, or disconnecting 👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/ Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up. It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe. Follow Joe Carr on social media  Instagram: @dadicatedjoe  TikTok: @dadicatedjoe  YouTube @dadicatedjoe Jenna Mazzillo is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Special Education Teacher, and mama Follow her on Instagram: @abanaturally

    1h 12m
  6. May 10

    52. She Fought for Me When Everyone Else Gave Up | I Interview Mom on Mother's Day

    For this Mother's Day special, I sat down with my biggest fan, the woman who raised me — my mom, Jackie Carr, aka Nana — for a conversation about childhood, parenting, shame, unconditional love, and what it looks like when a kid who never fit the mold grows up to become a dad who's trying to do it better. My mom was in every parent conference. She heard the same words on repeat — bright, enthusiastic, but…. doesn't stay in his seat, can't pay attention, wants to do his own thing — and while the teachers saw those as problems, she saw something else. She could see I was different and fought for me to be tested even when schools pushed back. She held me back a grade when experts said it would hurt me. She wrote notes to teachers. She showed up. She invested heavily in my love for theatre and performing. And when other parents told her she was "enabling" me, she kept supporting me anyway. Then she listened to my podcast — and found out there was something she hadn't known. This episode is a rare, honest, multigenerational conversation about what it costs to raise a kid the system keeps flagging, what unconditional love actually looks like in practice, and how the things our parents did — and didn't do — shape the parents we become. In this episode: Why my mom fought back when schools refused to test me or label me The line between advocating for your kid and enabling them Why she stopped spanking — and why the research backed her up How a diagnosis changed the way I saw myself as a kid The shame I carried that she didn't know about until this podcast What unconditional love actually looked like in our house What she sees now watching me parent Della — and what she wishes she'd done differently How watching my parents' marriage made me commit to doing it differently 👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/ Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up. It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe. Follow Joe Carr on social media  Instagram: @dadicatedjoe  TikTok: @dadicatedjoe  YouTube @dadicatedjoe

    1h 1m
  7. May 4

    51. Why Dads Feel Unappreciated

    Feeling unappreciated as a dad? If you do a lot for your family and still feel invisible, this episode is going to challenge something you might not want to hear. I used to think feeling unappreciated meant the people around me weren't seeing how much I was carrying. What I had to face is that a lot of that pain wasn't about them at all — it was about self-sacrifice, resentment, and the story I was telling myself. In this episode, I unpack why so many dads feel unseen at home, why victim mentality is quietly killing joy in fatherhood, and what it actually looks like to show up from a full place instead of a depleted one. This is for dads who feel heavy, resentful, or stuck in blame — and want a fatherhood mindset built on pride, presence, and real ownership. In this episode: Why dads feel unappreciated even when they do a lot How self-sacrifice quietly turns into resentment Why victim mentality is the biggest threat to fatherhood What emotional responsibility actually looks like at home How ownership changes the way you lead, love, and show up Why serving your family should feel meaningful, not defeating If this episode hit close to home, listen next: How I Stopped Yelling to My Kid: Reparenting Ourselves While Parenting Our Children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXatbr_sOa0&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=19 Become the King of Your House, and Your Wife's Nagging Will Cease: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv9L_Bhz6bk&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=4 How Fatherhood Forced Me To Heal My Childhood Trauma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnIKLRtL_50&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=45  👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/ Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up. It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe. Follow Joe Carr on social media  Instagram: @dadicatedjoe  TikTok: @dadicatedjoe  YouTube @dadicatedjoe

    9 min
  8. Apr 27

    50. The Pregnancy Fitness Mistake Most Women Make (And What Ben Greenfield Did Instead)

    Ben Greenfield's wife lifted and swam until six days before giving birth to twins. That's not the surprising part. The surprising part is what he says he'd change. A lot of dads want to help during pregnancy but still feel unsure about what actually matters. This conversation reminded me that support isn't always big or complicated — sometimes it looks like helping your partner stay steady, protected, and cared for while making smarter choices together. Talking with Ben Greenfield pushed me to think differently about pregnancy fitness, staying active until birth, and the father's role during pregnancy. We get into strength and mobility, why overtraining isn't the goal, and one thing Ben openly admits he'd do differently: international travel during pregnancy. If you're an expecting dad or parent trying to navigate a healthy pregnancy with real life still happening, this one is worth hearing. Inside this episode:  Ben Greenfield's approach to pregnancy fitness and mobility  Why staying active until birth may support recovery  Strength training during pregnancy without overdoing it  The travel during pregnancy risk Ben would rethink today  What dads can actually do to support pregnancy well  Why a dad's role during pregnancy is simpler than most think If this conversation was helpful, you might also like: Baby Biohackers: Dave Asprey on Optimizing Pregnancy & Parenting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgCk7FklL3M&list=PLV-0dTh77R_nI1i3WZ7kYeagM51WeC2-h&index=17  👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/ Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up. It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe. Follow Joe Carr on social media  Instagram: @dadicatedjoe  TikTok: @dadicatedjoe  YouTube @dadicatedjoe  About Ben Greenfield Ben Greenfield is a health consultant, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author of a wide variety of books, including the popular titles Boundless, Boundless Parenting, Boundless Kitchen, Beyond Training, Fit Soul, Spiritual Disciplines Journal, Boundless Cookbook, and Endure.  Boundless Parenting by Ben Greenfield: https://www.amazon.com/Boundless-Parenting-Tactics-Habits-Parents/dp/0999722778 Boundless by Ben Greenfield https://www.amazon.com/Boundless-Upgrade-Brain-Optimize-Aging/dp/1628603976 Boundless Life podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/boundless-life/id283908977 Follow Ben on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bengreenfieldfitness/

    5 min

About

There's no manual for becoming a dad—but there should be. Dadicated Joe is a new dad's guide to navigating the wild ride of early fatherhood. From the moment you hear "we're pregnant" through those sleepless, life-altering early months, host Joe Carr (dad, husband, and co-founder of Serenity Kids) brings real talk, helpful tips, and shared experiences to the mic. This journey can be overwhelming—you shouldn't have to do it alone. New episodes every Tuesday.

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