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. 1H AGO

    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

  2. 3D AGO

    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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. JAN 6

    Not Letting Anyone "Yuck Your Yum" in 2026

    In this episode of the Tired Dad and Tired Mom Podcast, we welcome 2026 by reflecting on how quickly time moves and how much we’ve grown along the way. We talk about what it’s taken to strengthen our communication, how outside negativity can quietly affect a relationship if you let it, and why learning to let go of resentment has mattered so much for us. We share why pursuing what lights us up isn’t selfish, how creativity plays a big role in the way we’re raising our kids, and what we’re focusing on in the year ahead. More connection. More authenticity. And building a community that feels honest, supportive, and real. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to 2026: Reflections on Time 02:54 Navigating Life Changes and Personal Growth 05:51 Yucking Your Yum: Overcoming Negativity 08:45 The Importance of Communication in Relationships 11:36 Letting Go of Resentment and Embracing Change 14:51 Finding Your Passion and Purpose 17:57 The Journey of Self-Discovery 20:52 Raising Creative Kids: Supporting Their Interests 23:51 Setting Goals for 2026: A Year of Connection 26:45 Embracing Aging: The Wisdom of Experience 29:42 Creating a Family Culture of Connection 32:33 The Power of Authenticity in Storytelling 35:35 Building a Community of Support 38:24 The Value of Vulnerability and Real Conversations 41:32 Looking Ahead: Goals and Aspirations for the Future   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 1m

  7. 12/30/2025

    The Impact of Stress on Relationships

    We lied! We had to get one more episode in! This is an important one becaus eof its honesty. Before recording, the stress got the best of us and we had an argument. During the recording we were decompressing through it. In this episode, I reflect on how external chaos can quietly create tension between two people who actually love each other. How easy it is to snap, withdraw, or just go into survival mode instead of connection. We talk about why boundaries matter—especially during busy seasons—and how protecting your family sometimes means protecting your energy first. We touch on family rhythms and traditions—the ones we’re trying to build, and the ones that keep us grounded when everything feels rushed. And I open up about sobriety, growth, and what it really means to live authentically instead of just getting through the days. At the core of it all is this: real support, honest communication, and choosing each other—especially when life feels loud. This is a reminder that growth doesn’t happen when things are easy. It happens when we stay present in the hard moments and keep showing up anyway. Chapters 00:00 The Chaos of the Holiday Season 13:03 Navigating Family Dynamics and Stress 19:27 Finding Balance and Self-Care 20:26 Authenticity in Marriage 24:11 Navigating External Stresses 29:55 The Journey of Sobriety 34:46 Understanding Alcohol's Impact 48:40 Community and Support in Sobriety 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

    48 min

  8. 12/19/2025

    The One Thing We Said We Wouldn't Do As Parents

    Last episode of 2025 and I think we bring it home well! In this episode, we sit down and talk honestly about parenting as we’re living it right now. We get into the ups and downs of co-sleeping, how stuff from our own childhoods shows up in ways we don’t always expect, and why helping our kids understand their emotions feels just as important as anything else we’re trying to teach them. We share what we’ve learned so far, what we’re still figuring out, and how becoming parents has forced us to grow in ways we never saw coming. It’s really a conversation about connection, being more aware, and accepting that parenting is a constant work in progress, not something you ever fully have “figured out.” 00:00 Introduction and Frame TV Art 01:41 Generational Trauma and Parenting Reflections 02:37 Co-Sleeping: Breaking Parenting Norms 11:38 Parenting Challenges and Emotional Intelligence 23:13 Rethinking Discipline and Gender Roles 35:01 Learning from Children: Wisdom and Empathy 47:36 The Journey of Parenthood: Growth and Change 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

    57 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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