The Tired Dad & Tired Mom Podcast

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  • 4.8 (44)
  • PARENTING

Jon Gustin, The Tired Dad, and his wife Jessica, The Tired Mom, get real, honest, and authentic about their 13-year journey in marriage and parenting. Jon has over 2 million followers on social media and openly shares his vulnerabilities and truths about fatherhood and husbandhood. Jessica joins him to bring perspective from a mom's point of view, sharing what it means to be an involved mother and wife. Together, with their honesty, they make all parents, husbands, and wives feel less alone on this journey.

  1. MAR 10

    Friendships After Kids, Discipline, and You're Not Doing As Bad As You Think

    Pre-Order a Signed Copy of The Tired Dad Pre-Order The Tired Dad 00:00 - Welcome and episode overview 00:18 - How parenting can isolate social life 01:10 - The impact of sobriety and limited social opportunities 02:09 - Longing for female friendship and deep connection 03:07 - Recalling pre-parenthood friendships and their depth 03:45 - Winter isolation and planning spontaneous meetups 04:21 - The importance of informal hangouts and neighborhood bonds 04:52 - Building new friendships without a long shared history 05:03 - Challenges of starting over socially in adulthood 06:44 - Men’s struggle with connection, interests, and shared hobbies 07:43 - Common male pursuits: exercise, golf, food, and hunting 08:50 - The cultural differences in interests and hobbies 09:04 - Parenting phase differences and social opportunities with young children 10:24 - Male loneliness epidemic and emotional health 11:51 - The effect of fulfilled childhood friendships on current loneliness 12:49 - Recognizing loneliness and seasonal depression 13:25 - The tendency to isolate and burnout management 14:28 - The need for planned adult outings and social planning 15:38 - Moving out of toddler survival mode into a more balanced phase 16:25 - The joys of children’s self-expression and growth 17:14 - Balancing sports, commitments, and family priorities 18:08 - Age and interest alignment in extracurricular activities 19:08 - Debating sports legends and cultural icons 20:46 - The emotional significance of witnessing childhood milestones 23:44 - Parenting moments, memories, and the fleeting nature of childhood routines 28:23 - Recognizing and celebrating children’s independence and growth 29:29 - The influence of children’s communication and emotional development 33:05 - Teaching children life skills like gratitude and boundaries 34:30 - The importance of modeling good behavior, not just compliance 35:42 - The emotional depth of parenting and self-regulation 36:47 - Continuing to show up and care despite fatigue 37:04 - Exciting announcement: pre-ordering the host’s book, special incentives, and a playlist 38:03 - Closing remarks and gratitude for listeners Subscribe to my weekly reflections on Substack Follow The Tired Dad on Instagram Follow The Tired Mom on Instagram Subscribe to Youtube  Follow on TikTok Follow on Facebook For partnerships, email collabs@tireddad.com

    38 min

  2. MAR 3

    Your Partners Inner Child, Insecurity, and The Future of Our Children

    Pre-Order a Signed Copy of The Tired Dad Pre-Order The Tired Dad Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Parenting and Marriage Dynamics 02:54 The Impact of Childhood on Adult Relationships 05:35 Empathy and Understanding in Marriage 08:38 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence 11:43 Navigating Financial Dynamics in Relationships 14:50 The Role of Fathers in Family Dynamics 17:37 Men's Mental Health and Loneliness 20:14 Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes 23:33 The Importance of Open Communication 26:33 Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children 29:16 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Parenting 32:11 Confronting Insecurities in Relationships 35:11 The Power of Conversation in Relationships 38:20 Creating a Better Future for Our Children 41:15 Conclusion and Call to Action Subscribe to my weekly reflections on Substack Follow The Tired Dad on Instagram Follow The Tired Mom on Instagram Subscribe to Youtube  Follow on TikTok Follow on Facebook For partnerships, email collabs@tireddad.com

    52 min

  3. FEB 23

    Gilmore Girls, Modern Dads, Adderall and Sharing The Mental Load

    Pre-Order a Signed Copy of The Tired Dad Pre-Order The Tired Dad Another conversation of stuff consuming our lives. The Gilmore Girls Tour, Adderall and does it help or is it just drugs? My audiobook recording experience, modern dads, and more! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Studio Tour 02:57 Exploring the Warner Brothers Studio Tour 05:49 Recording the Audiobook Experience 11:33 Insights on Music and Nashville Studios 17:34 The Journey of Writing and Parenting 23:38 Final Thoughts on the Book and Its Impact 26:36 Exploring Literature and Personal Connections 28:27 The Journey of Writing and Parenthood 30:08 The Importance of Fatherhood and Unique Perspectives 33:55 Candid Moments and Self-Perception 34:23 Navigating Mental Health and Medication 38:55 Understanding ADHD and Its Impact 42:18 Finding Joy in Dance and Self-Identity 44:18 Balancing Parenthood and Personal Needs 46:12 The Modern Dad's Role in Family Dynamics 55:06 Partnership in Marriage and Parenting

    59 min

  4. FEB 13

    Uncomfortable Conversations

    Pre Order My Book Here  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Parenting and Marriage 02:02 Uncomfortable Conversations with Kids 05:05 Sharing Personal Stories and Mistakes 10:23 The Impact of Parental Vulnerability 12:10 Navigating Puberty and Parent-Child Relationships 17:35 The Consequences of Naivety and Trust 24:18 Creating Safe Spaces for Open Dialogue 30:02 The Importance of Healing for Parents 34:28 Managing Household Responsibilities 49:42 Teamwork in Marriage and Parenting Subscribe to my weekly reflections on Substack Follow The Tired Dad on Instagram Follow The Tired Mom on Instagram Subscribe to Youtube  Follow on TikTok Follow on Facebook For partnerships, email collabs@tireddad.com

    52 min

  5. FEB 9

    We Need More Conversations

    Pre Order My Book Here In this episode of the Tired Dad and Tired Mom Podcast, Jessica and I talk life. We touch on winter weather, family trips we already miss while we are still in them, and our love for reading, not just for knowledge but for perspective. We talk about why it matters to understand how other people see the world, even when we do not fully agree. We get into money too. Living below your means. Being intentional. Building a life that actually feels good to come home to instead of chasing more just to keep up. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:11 Winter Weather and School Days 03:14 Life in Cold Climates 05:18 Life on Mackinac Island 09:54 Exploring Northern Michigan 12:22 Family Vacations and Experiences 20:17 Book Reviews and Recommendations 29:27 Reading Preferences and Audiobooks 39:04 Conversations and Understanding 46:22 Living Below Your Means 01:00:43 Financial Wisdom and Future Planning 01:11:14 Unspoken Rules in Marriage Subscribe to my weekly reflections on Substack Follow The Tired Dad on Instagram Follow The Tired Mom on Instagram Subscribe to Youtube  Follow on TikTok Follow on Facebook For partnerships, email collabs@tireddad.com

    1h 12m

  6. FEB 2

    Nihilist Penguin, Being Weird, Deep Thinking, and Doom Scrolling

    Pre Order My Book Here In this episode, Jess and I talk about life in the middle of chaos, from getting snowed in to helping our kids process the loss of a pet. We also dive into the “Nihilist Penguin” idea and what it says about identity, social media, and mental health. At the core, we’re just trying to raise kids who feel safe being themselves, in a home built on acceptance, creativity, and love. We’re figuring it out as we go. 00:00 Weathering the Storm 05:38 Navigating Pet Loss 11:42 The Nihilist Penguin 17:34 Raising Weird Kids 23:44 The Impact of Social Media on Parenting 29:36 Creating a Positive Environment for Kids Subscribe to my weekly reflections on Substack Follow The Tired Dad on Instagram Follow The Tired Mom on Instagram Subscribe to Youtube  Follow on TikTok Follow on Facebook For partnerships, email collabs@tireddad.com

    46 min

  7. JAN 23

    Learning As We Go

    Pre Order My Book Here Get 50% OFF your first order of Nutre Meals PLUS free shipping when you use promo code “TIREDDAD” at www.gonutre.com In this conversation, I talk about the everyday stuff that makes up family life. From trying to figure out meals, to dealing with kids getting sick, to what we’re watching at night and even the books we read in high school. It’s a mix of random moments and real life. We get into personal growth and how knowing things doesn’t mean much if you don’t actually execute. I share what the process of writing this book has been like, the doubts, the motivation, and why I felt called to do it in the first place. We also reflect on marriage, relationships, and how everything shifts when you have a family. At the end of it, it comes back to chasing your dreams, doing the work, and hopefully setting the example for your kids to do the same. Chapters 00:00 Lunch Break Conversations 02:53 Family Dynamics and Meal Prep 05:49 Sickness and Family Care 09:00 Thrillers and Entertainment Preferences 11:52 Book Recommendations and Reading Preferences 14:51 High School Literature and Its Impact 17:44 Negative Influences and Overcoming Challenges 20:41 Personal Growth and Relationships 23:40 Execution Over Knowledge 26:43 The Importance of Following Dreams 29:29 Parenting and Marriage Dynamics 32:36 Self-Help and Personal Development 35:31 The Journey of Writing a Book 38:34 Final Thoughts and Reflections Subscribe to my weekly reflections on Substack Follow The Tired Dad on Instagram Follow The Tired Mom on Instagram Subscribe to Youtube  Follow on TikTok Follow on Facebook For partnerships, email collabs@tireddad.com

    1h 4m

  8. JAN 15

    My Wife Has ADHD

    In this episode, we talk about setting up our new podcast studio and how that whole process has been equal parts exciting and chaotic. From there, the conversation shifts into something we deal with daily: ADHD in a relationship and what that looks like while raising kids. We share how ADHD shows up differently for each of us and how learning to understand those differences has changed the way we communicate and divide responsibilities. We talk about building simple systems to survive the day-to-day, parenting kids who are encouraged to be themselves, and finding a balance between social lives, activities, and family time. We also reflect on how different childhood looks now compared to when we were growing up, especially with how convenience has reshaped social skills and resilience. At the heart of it all, this episode is about showing up for your partner, your kids, and yourself, even when you’re still figuring it out. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the New Podcast Studio 02:55 Understanding ADD in Relationships 05:43 Dividing Responsibilities in Parenting 08:47 Managing Overwhelm and Daily Routines 11:49 The Importance of Structure and Systems 14:46 Encouraging Self-Expression in Children 17:58 Navigating Social Interactions with Kids 20:43 Balancing Extracurricular Activities 23:37 Reflections on Childhood Experiences 26:35 The Impact of Convenience on Social Skills 29:33 Final Thoughts and Encouragement Subscribe to my weekly reflections on Substack Follow The Tired Dad on Instagram Follow The Tired Mom on Instagram Subscribe to Youtube  Follow on TikTok Follow on Facebook For partnerships, email collabs@tireddad.com

    47 min
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4.8
out of 5
44 Ratings

About

Jon Gustin, The Tired Dad, and his wife Jessica, The Tired Mom, get real, honest, and authentic about their 13-year journey in marriage and parenting. Jon has over 2 million followers on social media and openly shares his vulnerabilities and truths about fatherhood and husbandhood. Jessica joins him to bring perspective from a mom's point of view, sharing what it means to be an involved mother and wife. Together, with their honesty, they make all parents, husbands, and wives feel less alone on this journey.

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