Dad's World

Calico Sonder, Nathan Bach

A conversation series about the joys and complexities that come with modern-day fatherhood. Hosted by Nathan Bach. Presented by Calico Sonder.

Episodes

  1. 11/26/2025

    Season 02: Episode 03 - Jason Hales

    Jason Hales is a creator, a photographer, a husband, a father, and one of the most intentional people I know. In this episode, we talk about the long arc of becoming who you want to be - from leaving corporate sales, to building a family-run creative studio with his wife Natalie, to raising daughters with grit, independence, and imagination.Jason opens up about the early days of discovering photography, the whirlwind of wedding work that launched his career, the adventure years of taking any kind of photography job he could get, and the creative studio he’s built out of his home alongside his wife, Natalie. We also talk about the power of photos in shaping memory, navigating screens and boundaries, and a vasectomy story that’ll leave you without words. I walked away from this conversation encouraged and grateful. Jason’s life is a reminder that being a great dad isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence, intentionality, and choosing (again and again) to build a life around the people you love. As always, chapter markers and relevant links can be found below. 👉 Subscribe to join the conversation, hear new episodes, and explore more stories from Dad’s World and Calico Sonder. 🔗 Links: Jason’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hales_photo Hales Photo: https://www.hales.photo Wild Dingo Studios Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilddingostudios Wild Dingo Studios: https://www.wilddingostudios.com Dad’s World Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadsworldpodcast Calico Sonder: https://www.calicosonder.com 📖 Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro 01:34 Welcome 02:05 Elevator pitch 03:14 The power of a name 04:10 From corporate sales to creative life 05:06 The power of a spouse 06:36 Creative spark 09:23 The engagement shoot 11:09 Meeting Natalie: a love story 13:57 Fitness, aging, and refusing to be “the old dad” 15:21 Running a business from home as a family 16:37 Parenting in the early years & remembering through photos 19:19 Pulleys, dinosaurs, and nurturing curiosity 20:50 Social growth & the landline idea 22:22 The Vasectomy Story 25:19 Raising strong, independent girls 28:00 What do you want your kids to know about you? 29:30 Closing Thoughts + outro

    31 min
  2. Season 02, Ep. 02 - Brett Boudreaux

    10/09/2025

    Season 02, Ep. 02 - Brett Boudreaux

    Brett Boudreaux is a lifelong homie, a devoted father, and a decorated firefighter with a heart of gold. We grew up together in the 90s, back when life was all about baseball, Blockbuster Video, and dreaming big. This episode feels like stepping back into those golden years.In this conversation, Brett opens up about his unconventional upbringing and how it's shaped into the father he is today. Born to a mother who had just turned 16 and raised largely by his grandparents, Brett and I dive down the rabbit hole to revisit our childhood, discussing everything from chasing adventure in the woods to scoring front-row seats at the 2002 Royal Rumble. Through it all, we reflect the reality of raising kids, navigating exhaustion, and finding purpose in this chapter of our life.Brett's story is one about resilience, reflection, and what it really means to grow into fatherhood, all while keeping that 90s spark alive for the next generation.I walked away from this one feeling grounded, grateful, and nostalgic in all the best ways. I think you will too.👉 Subscribe to join the conversation, hear new episodes, and explore the wild, messy, meaningful journey of being a dad in today’s world!🔗 Links:Brett's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdro87Calico Sonder Website: https://www.calicosonder.comCalico Sonder Links: https://www.linktr.ee/calicosonder📖 Chapter Markers:00:00 – Intro01:10 – Growing up with young grandparents 05:11 – Baseball and the Pinto Braves09:13 – Growing up without a dad 10:01 – 90s Nostalgia11:37 – Discovering wrestling 12:14 – 2002 Royal Rumble 18:15 – Getting spooked20:17 – The Shack23:30 – Spend-the-nights 25:04 – Unconventional Friendships27:13 – Meeting Kolayna30:37 – Becoming a firefighter 36:07 – Life in Atlanta Fire Dept. 37:35 – Joining Cobb County Fire 38:37 – Marriage and early challenges 41:42 – Becoming a dad 43:07 – Learning patience47:10 – Seeing yourself in your kids 50:50 – Passing down the 90s 52:50 – Coaching Little League 55:36 – Facing fears of fatherhood 58:04 – Flaws1:00:32 – "That's a sign that they're happy."1:03:17 – Balancing parent life with a stressful job1:05:30 – The Squad1:09:51 – Watching them grow up1:12:20 – Caring for your toys1:14:46 – Closing Reflections

    1h 17m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A conversation series about the joys and complexities that come with modern-day fatherhood. Hosted by Nathan Bach. Presented by Calico Sonder.