New Dad Gaming

Trevor Alexander & Jeff Smalley
  • 5.0 (17)
  • VIDEO GAMES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

New Dad Gaming | The Podcast for Gaming Dads Since 2015 Just because you became a dad doesn't mean it's game over. New Dad Gaming is the longest-running podcast for dads who game. Hosted by Trevor Alexander and Jeff Smalley since 2015, NDG is where gaming meets fatherhood — real talk about finding game time, playing with your kids, navigating screen time, and keeping your favorite hobby alive through the chaos of raising a family. Every week we cover the games worth your limited time, co-op picks for playing with kids, hardware that fits a dad budget, and the hilarious reality of gaming while parenting. Whether you're sneaking in 30 minutes after bedtime or building a Minecraft world with your 8-year-old, this show is for you. 380+ episodes. Two dads. One rule: Game Over is not an option.

  1. 2D AGO

    Ep. 389: Old Dad Sayings, Infinite Craft Gone Wrong & Your Kid's First Instagram

    Can your kids finish the classic parent threats? Jeff and Trevor find out — and the answers are heartwarming.   This week starts with a social media trend we couldn't resist: parents asking their kids to finish old-school sayings like "as long as you live under my roof..." and "I'll give you something to..." The kids have absolutely no idea. Trevor and Jeff test their own recall against the trauma of the past, and the takeaway is surprisingly sweet — this generation's kids just don't know those threats because modern dads aren't using them anymore.   Then Trevor drops an update on Infinite Craft — the browser-based word mashup game we covered last week. Turns out there's no kid-safe mode, and looking over his eight-year-old's shoulder revealed some very adult word combinations. Laptops were shut, the game was banned, and Jeff confesses his teen already "made everything" in the game. The eternal dad question: do you ask what they saw, or let a sleeping dog lie?   Jeff hits a milestone nobody's excited about: his 15-year-old is officially on Instagram. It's the first NDG kid on social media. Despite being a teen account, the algorithm immediately served up political garbage instead of skateboarding and art. Jeff and his wife spent day one retraining the feed together and set up a family chat to share good content. Trevor shares a genius trick he used with his kid on Messenger Kids — he had him send a goofy selfie, refused to delete it, then forwarded it to mom. "I didn't let you do that!" "Doesn't matter. You don't own it anymore." Parenting in the digital age, one teachable moment at a time.   In lighter news, Trevor was FLOORED to discover that Pokémon TCG Pocket has actual battles. He thought it was just a pack-opening simulator. His kids have thousands of physical Pokémon cards and have never once played the actual game. Jeff might download it for the card battler angle. Trevor might stream it. The future is wide open.   Finally, for our Gaming Dad Question of the Week, Logan asks: has becoming a dad made you more emotional during games? Jeff talks about feeling Joel's panic in The Last of Us, and Trevor can't get through "Love You Forever" without losing it. The scenario of playing something heavy late at night and having to wake your kid up just to hug them? Yeah. That hit home.   🎮 Topics: Old parent sayings trend, Infinite Craft parental warning, first kid on Instagram, digital literacy for teens, algorithm retraining, photo consent lesson, Pokémon TCG Pocket battles, Songs of Six city builder, Dwarf Fortress vibes, Last of Us dad emotions, God of War parenting, Love You Forever, Ori and the Blind Forest   📬 Got a story, question, or a digital parenting win? Reach out at newdadgaming.com   Timestamps: 00:00 — Poem: old dad sayings & Infinite Craft 00:27 — Welcome & intros 00:44 — Intros: Trevor (10yo & 8yo) & Jeff (15yo & 12.5yo) 00:57 — Old parent sayings trend: can your kids finish "as long as you live under my roof..."? 02:57 — "I'll give you something to cry about" — trauma blocks unlocked 04:27 — Jeff's kids HAVE heard these — and had no idea what they meant 05:57 — Infinite Craft update: no kid-safe mode, adult content discovered 07:57 — Jeff's teen "made everything" — do you ask what they saw? 09:57 — Songs of Six: Jeff's new city builder obsession (Dwarf Fortress vibes) 13:27 — One solo dev, generous demo, incredible soundtrack 15:57 — Jeff's kids want war, dad wants to build a longhouse in peace 17:37 — First NDG kid on social media: Jeff's 15-year-old joins Instagram 19:47 — Algorithm immediately serves garbage to a teen account 21:57 — Being a millennial parent navigating social media for the first time 23:57 — Trevor's photo consent trick with Messenger Kids 26:12 — "You don't own it anymore" — digital literacy teachable moment 26:57 — Pokémon TCG Pocket: wait, there are actual BATTLES? 29:27 — Dad completely missed half the game for months 30:57 — Show wrap-up & sign-off

    33 min

  2. APR 1

    Ep. 388: Bandwidth Wars, Secret Consoles & the GTA 6 Talk Every Dad Dreads

    Jeff's mid-combat in Kingdom Come Deliverance when everything goes blocky. A quick router check reveals his teen is downloading 100 gigs and pulling 10x the bandwidth. Then comes the plot twist: Trevor secretly set the router to prioritize gaming traffic — meaning his kid's download got VIP treatment because of dad's own settings. Self-own of the year. From there, Trevor reveals he has a retro console secretly shipping to the house. Problem: his son just bombed his grades and is banned from all games. Now dad's staying up late coaching him through exams — not because he's a great dad, but because he desperately wants to hand over the surprise. Jeff one-ups him with his own tale of self-inflicted punishment: IMAX tickets to Project Hail Mary, snacks packed, ready to pull the kids from school — then the kids acted up and he had to cancel. On himself. We pitch the ultimate generational escape room: it's 1994, and you have to survive the internet. Download an MP3 without someone picking up the phone. Print MapQuest directions and hope you got the right page. Dads would crush it. Kids would be completely destroyed. Then we get into console pricing reality. The PS5 is six years old and still getting more expensive. The Pro is $800 CAD. Pre-ordering a console is now the financially responsible move because it will never be cheaper than today. Meanwhile, our kids are happy on browser games. Finally, the big one: your 14-year-old wants GTA 6 for his birthday. We roleplay the conversation every gaming dad is about to have. The reasoning, the trust angle, and Jeff's closer: "You can't unsee some things." 🎮 Topics: Kingdom Come Deliverance bandwidth wars, router QoS self-own, secret retro console vs. bad grades, IMAX Project Hail Mary dad punishment, 1994 dial-up escape room, PS5 Pro pricing, GTA 6 age-appropriate parenting, dad schemes that backfire 📬 Got a story, question, or a backlog confession? Reach out at newdadgaming.com

    35 min

  3. MAR 18

    Ep. 387: Poems, Plagues, Pokémon Pokopia & the Backlog Paradox

    Jeff survived the family plague (barely), and this week we're recording live — poems and all. This episode kicks off with a live poem creation featuring the Steam Deck and Skate 3. From there, Jeff shares how the Steam Deck was his lifeline while sick on the couch: full Steam library plus PS5 streaming, all from under the blankets. We compare it to the consoles that shaped our lives — the Game Boy SP, the PSP, and why portability matters more than ever for gaming dads. Then we dig into Pokémon Pocketopia on the Switch 2. Jeff's family is all-in and Trevor might not be far behind. We break down what it is (Minecraft meets Pokémon in a post-apocalyptic world), the Switch 2's GameShare feature that lets you play co-op from a Switch 1, and whether this could be the next Animal Crossing for families. Jeff's kid discovered Skate 3 on Game Pass and asked dad for help beating a challenge. 100+ hours of muscle memory kicked in — double kickflips, dark slides, 920s. The kid walked out of the room. Trevor confesses he may have traumatized his own kids at Mario Kart and GoldenEye beyond recovery. We also talk about the "I didn't marry a loser" social media trend — wives pushing back on the incompetent dad stereotype — and what it means that this generation of dads has arrived. Millennial dads are spending three times more quality time with their kids than previous generations. It hit us right in the feels. Finally, it's the debut of New Dad Gaming Questions! A listener sent in a study from 2averagegamers.com: what 10,000 Reddit comments reveal about the adult gaming backlog. The median gamer sits on 100–150 unplayed games, plays 8–10 hours a week, and 75% feel genuinely guilty about it. Adults who can finally afford all the games they want but lack the time to play them. Sound familiar? Welcome to New Dad Gaming. 🎮 Topics: Steam Deck sick day, Pokémon Pocketopia, Switch 2 GameShare, Skate 3 dad flex, Mario Kart trauma, "I didn't marry a loser" trend, modern fatherhood, gaming backlog paradox, No New Games 2025, adult gaming guilt 📬 Got a story, question, or a backlog confession? Reach out at newdadgaming.com

    31 min

  4. MAR 4

    Switch 2 vs Quest 3 for Kids? + Crimson Desert Hype & Pokemon TCG | New Dad Gaming Ep. 386

    The New Dads dive into a great listener email covering why it's time to kick Roblox to the curb, the magic of the Steam Deck on snow days, and fan-made Pokémon ROM hacks. We also debate the perfect birthday gift for an 8-year-old (Switch 2 vs. Meta Quest 3), discuss whether the Pokémon TCG Mobile app is just a digital pack addiction, and look ahead at the massive hype surrounding Crimson Desert. Finally, we come to terms with the harsh reality that our kids are already better at Hades than we ever were. Connect With Us: Have a gaming dad fail, success, or "headshake moment" to share? We want to hear from you! 🌐 Visit us: newdadgaming.com   Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw Others on Our Website: https://newdadgaming.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating, and drop a comment! It helps the algorithm push the show out to other gaming fathers figuring out their gaming lives.   #NewDadGaming #GamingDads #FatherhoodAndGaming #NintendoSwitch2 #MetaQuest3 #PokemonTCG #PokemonShield #CrimsonDesert #HadesGame #SteamDeck #DadLife #Podcast

    35 min

  5. FEB 24

    Pokemon Red for $30 & Smurfing in Marvel Snap | Ep. 385

    Welcome back to New Dad Gaming! This week, Trevor and Jeff are surviving the wild energy of their kids—who are currently acting like Red Bull-fueled boars at a banquet. With the family adjusting to life down in Medellín, the guys discuss bribing the kids with $100 to learn Spanish on Duolingo and how this educational "loophole" is racking up screen time. We also dive into the beautiful peace of a post-Roblox household, which has led the kids right back to the classics like Pokémon Sword and EA FC. On the adult gaming front, Nintendo is testing our patience (and wallets) by charging a premium for retro Pokémon Fire Red ports, Trevor confesses to a slightly guilty relapse into Marvel Snap, Jeff returns to the Final Fantasy 14 grind, and we confront the terrifying reality of a 15-year-old pirating Balatro on school computers. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw Others on Our Website: https://newdadgaming.com/ #podcast #podcaster #podcasting #fatherhood #gaming #dadgaming   Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro & The "Boars at a Banquet" Analogy 4:39 - The Duolingo Screen Time Loophole & Spanish Bets 10:51 - Life After Roblox: Kids Return to Pokémon & Soccer 15:06 - Nintendo's Wild $30 Price Tag for Retro Pokémon 22:16 - Relapsing into Marvel Snap & Smurfing Low Levels 26:23 - The Endless Cycle of Final Fantasy 14 30:05 - Kids Pirating Balatro on School Computers 31:49 - Outro & How to Support the Show

    34 min

  6. FEB 16

    Dad as an Uber, Getting Kids on Skyrim, and Cheating for the memories | New Dad Gaming Ep. 384

    This week, Jeff is hustling as an Uber driver for his kids and subtly suggests they buy Skyrim VR, Trevor finished Hades 2 and is caught between endgame content and some retro fun with Pokemon Fire Red, and Trevor pulls a fast one as the dealer during a game of Flip 7 for a good cause. Subscribe to the Podcast!   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw Others on Our Website: https://newdadgaming.com/ #podcast #podcaster #podcasting #fatherhood #gaming #dadgaming

    35 min

  7. FEB 9

    Surviving Valheim Chaos With Kids & Sneaking Balatro into School | New Dad Gaming Ep. 383

    What happens when your teenager gets caught playing a bootleg version of Balatro on school computers? Do you ground them, or are you secretly a little proud? 😂 Plus, Trevor is moving his family to Colombia for the winter and had to make some heartbreaking choices about what gaming gear makes the cut! Welcome back to New Dad Gaming! In Episode 383, Trevor and Jeff are breaking down the ultimate travel gaming setup for dads on the move—why the Xbox Series S and Switch made the trip, but the PS5 and gaming PC had to stay behind. We also dive into the absolute chaos of playing Valheim with our kids (spoiler: do not let your teenager lead a troll horde back to your newly built cabin),and our struggles with giant gaming backlogs as we try to make time for Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Hades 2.   👇 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 👇 Have you ever had to make a painful sacrifice with your gaming setup for a big move? Or do you have a hilarious story of playing co-op games with your kids? Let us know in the comments below! 🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE for weekly episodes on fatherhood, gaming, and finding balance:  🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST ON THE GO: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts Everywhere Else: https://newdadgaming.com ⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS: Use these to jump straight to your favorite topics! [00:00:00] - Intro: Twitch Live Streams & Podcast Updates [00:03:54] - The Big Move: Trevor Takes His Family to Colombia![00:05:26] - The Ultimate Travel Gaming Setup (What made the cut?) [00:10:10] - The Hardest Choice: Heavy Gaming PC vs.MacBook Air [00:19:20] - Expedition 33, Kingdom Come, and the Backlog Struggle [00:24:59] - My 15-Year-Old Got Caught Playing Balatro in Class![00:31:32] - Valheim With the Kids: Pure Co-Op Survival Chaos [00:36:10] - Outro & How to Support the Show 📱 CONNECT WITH US: Website: https://newdadgaming.com Twitter / X: https://x.com/NewDadGaming #DadGaming #Valheim #Balatro #XboxSeriesS #TravelGaming #Fatherhood #Podcast #NewDadGaming

    37 min

  8. JAN 27

    Skyrim in 2026, Valheim's "Beautiful Ugly," and Letting Games Breath | New Dad Gaming Ep. 382 | Ep. 282

    We are back for 2026! After a year-long challenge of purchasing zero new video games in 2025, Trevor and Jeff break down the aftermath. Did we survive the FOMO? What is the first game we bought in 2026? In this episode, we dive into the "Dad Dust" of getting back behind the mic, the joy of finally playing Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and Hades 2, and the promising horizon of 2026 releases like Fable and potential Witcher 3 DLC. We also discuss the state of gaming in our households: from successfully banning Roblox, to our kids discovering Skyrim with heavy mods, to the hilarious realization our children had while playing WWE 2K24—that you used to be able to unlock characters just by playing the game. Finally, Jeff shares his newfound obsession with Valheim on the Steam Deck and why its "beautiful ugly" aesthetic is perfect for gaming dads. Timestamps: 00:00 – Dusting off the mics: We are back for 2026! 00:03 – The "No New Games in 2025" Challenge: The Verdict 00:06 – Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 & The Freedom of 2026 00:08 – The 2026 Gaming Horizon: Fable & Witcher 3 rumors 00:09 – The Great Roblox Ban & What the kids are playing now 00:10 – Review: Clone Drone in the Danger Zone (Voxel Roguelike) 00:14 – WWE 2K24: Kids are shocked by "Free" character unlocks 00:17 – Skyrim in 2026: Mods, Special Editions, and Family Sharing 00:22 – Valheim Review: The "Beautiful Ugly" on Steam Deck Links & Resources: Join the conversation: newdadgaming.com Connect with us on social: @NewDadGaming About the Show: Welcome to New Dad Gaming, a show about fatherhood, gaming, and new fathers figuring out their gaming lives. Hosted by Trevor and Jeff, we prove each week that just because you became a dad, does not mean it's Game Over.

    29 min
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5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

New Dad Gaming | The Podcast for Gaming Dads Since 2015 Just because you became a dad doesn't mean it's game over. New Dad Gaming is the longest-running podcast for dads who game. Hosted by Trevor Alexander and Jeff Smalley since 2015, NDG is where gaming meets fatherhood — real talk about finding game time, playing with your kids, navigating screen time, and keeping your favorite hobby alive through the chaos of raising a family. Every week we cover the games worth your limited time, co-op picks for playing with kids, hardware that fits a dad budget, and the hilarious reality of gaming while parenting. Whether you're sneaking in 30 minutes after bedtime or building a Minecraft world with your 8-year-old, this show is for you. 380+ episodes. Two dads. One rule: Game Over is not an option.

Information

  • Creator
    Trevor Alexander & Jeff Smalley
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    371
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 New Dad Gaming. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    New Dad Gaming

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