Working Dads

Dear Media
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Daily

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything between.

  1. 3d ago

    His 2-Year-Old Asked Him to Put His Phone Away

    Three things you'll learn: The simple 5:30 to 7:30 rule Matt uses to be fully present every single day — and what it took to finally stick to it Why Matt says the partner you choose either pushes you to be your best self or doesn't — and how his high school sweetheart has been the quiet engine behind everything he's built How Matt and his wife went from communicating like teenagers to building one of the most intentional marriages he knows — and the shift that made it happen What we cover: 00:00 — Introduction Matt Campbell, Business Development Director at Advertise Purple, co-creator of Dadgood, husband, and father of two 00:00 — Finding out he was going to be a dad The honeymoon. The surprise. The pressure of providing that hit before the baby even arrived. 00:00 — The first three months Taking shifts. High anxiety. And the moment life finally started to feel normal again around month six 00:00 — From one kid to two Why going from one to two took a full six to twelve months to find a rhythm — and why two years in he's finally hitting his stride 00:00 — The 5:30 to 7:30 rule Phones away. TV off. Fully present. How Matt built the habit and why it took four years to actually get there 00:00 — The wake up call When his two-and-a-half-year-old asked him to put his phone away — and the look from his wife that followed 00:00 — Staying organized with ADHD The paper notebook. The daily priority list. Why if it's not written down it doesn't get done 00:00 — High school sweethearts Meeting at seventeen. Going to the same college. Growing up together. And why communication was the thing they had to unlearn and rebuild 00:00 — Moving from California to the Midwest Leaving his best friends behind. Building community from scratch. And what it did for his mental health to finally let new people in 00:00 — The Dadgood community Why Matt helped build a space for dads to show up authentically — and what winning at home actually means 00:00 — Letting go of relationships that don't serve you The groomsmen he doesn't talk to anymore. The bar invites that stopped coming. And why thirty hit different About Matt Campbell Matt Campbell is the Business Development Director at Advertise Purple, co-creator of the Dadgood community, Division One baseball alum, husband to his high school sweetheart, and father of a four-and-a-half-year-old son and two-year-old daughter. He lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. LinkedIn: [Matt's LinkedIn] Dadgood Community: [link] About Working Dads Working Dads is the podcast for fathers figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Every week host Johnathan Grzybowski sits down with working dads — founders, executives, investors, and everyday fathers — for honest conversations about the guilt, the grind, the marriage, the money, and what it actually takes to build a career and a family without dropping the ball on either. No gurus. No highlight reels. Just real talk. 🎙 New episode every week 📩 Subscribe to Built During Bedtime — our weekly newsletter for working dads 💬 Join the community — Slack and Facebook group Subscribe & Connect 🎧 Spotify: [link] 🎧 Apple Podcasts: [link] 📺 YouTube: [link] 📩 Newsletter: [link] 💬 Slack: [link] 👥 Facebook Group: [link] 🔗 LinkedIn: [link] 🌐 Website: [link] For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Nobody prepares you for this. Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything. I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone. So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there. We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff. And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere. Come find your people. Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

  2. Aug 9

    He Sold a 100-Person Business, Then Had an Ego Moment That Changed Everything.

    Three things you'll learn:  What eight years of cross-country travel actually costs you — not just in miles but in your marriage, your presence, and your own mental health — and what Mike would do differently if he could go back  The ego moment in a Dallas lunch that made Mike realize he could never be an employee again — and what it taught him about identity, entrepreneurship, and knowing how you're wired T he one piece of advice Mike got from a stranger at a golf tournament that changed how he shows up as a dad — and why he says never say no when your kid wants to join you  What we cover:  00:00 — Introduction Mike Mosel, founder of Polarity, twenty-plus years as a business owner, and girl dad to a rising college senior and a fresh high school graduate 00:00 — The decision that cost him Moving his four-month-old daughter and wife from California back to the East Coast for the business. Eight years on planes. And what his wife said in a personal improvement class that stopped him cold.  00:00 — Coming home off a red eye Landing at 5am on Thursday night. Three hours of sleep. Up with the kids. Grocery shopping with his girls. And the mental weight of a business that never fully left his head.  00:00 — The moment he knew something had to change Waking up in the middle of the night to check if Verizon had wired the invoice payment. Payroll runs twice a month. And the realization that there had to be more to life than this.  00:00 — Selling the business Five and a half years in. An investment banker. A publicly traded buyer. And two daughters who were three and six when he finally walked away.  00:00 — The Dallas lunch The waitress hands the bill to his boss. She says you must be the big guy in charge. And Mike realizes in that moment — he can't do this.  00:00 — Reimagining himself From CEO to employee to consultant to founder again. What the entrepreneur's sickness actually feels like. And why once you've hunted your own food you can never go back to being fed.  00:00 — Street smart over academic smart What Mike is proudest of in his daughters. The resourcefulness he learned from his mother. And why he's sitting alongside his youngest as she follows her faith and figures out her calling.  00:00 — Teaching money the right way Spreadsheets. Cell phone bills. Car insurance. Gas money. And why the lesson doesn't land until the money is physically leaving their bank account.  00:00 — Advice for new dads Never say no when your kid wants to join you in what you love. The golf story that changed Mike's approach to fatherhood forever.  00:00 — Advice for where he is now Lean into your faith. And tell your kids you love them every single day. Because a lot of kids never hear it from their dads.  About Mike  Mosel Mike Mosel is the founder of Polarity, a consulting business focused on understanding human behavior and how people are naturally wired. He spent twenty-plus years as a business owner including founding and selling a construction company that managed cellular tower work for the major carriers. He is a man of faith, a girl dad to two daughters, a golf lover, and one of the most self-aware guests we've had on the show.  LinkedIn: [Mike's LinkedIn]  Polarity: [link]  About Working Dads  Working Dads is the podcast for fathers figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Every week host Johnathan Grzybowski sits down with working dads — founders, executives, investors, and everyday fathers — for honest conversations about the guilt, the grind, the marriage, the money, and what it actually takes to build a career and a family without dropping the ball on either.  🎙 New episode every week  📩 Subscribe to Built During Bedtime — our weekly newsletter for working dads  💬 Join the community — Slack and Facebook group  Subscribe & Connect  🎧 Spotify: [link]  🎧 Apple Podcasts: [link]  📺 YouTube: [link]  📩 Newsletter: [link]  💬 Slack: [link]  👥 Facebook Group: [link]  🔗 LinkedIn: [link]  🌐 Website: [link] For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Nobody prepares you for this. Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything. I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone. So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there. We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff. And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere. Come find your people. Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

  3. Aug 2

    6-Year-Old Started Asking How Many Calls I Made Today

    Three things you'll learn: The simple star reward system Joel and his wife built that's teaching their girls how to earn things — and why it's working better than threats ever did Why Joel says letting go of control is the single best thing he's done for his mental health as a working dad How a community of dads changed the way Joel shows up at home — and why he says don't do this alone   What we cover: 00:00 — Introduction Joel, VDR at Barracuda, husband, and dad of two girls aged six and three 00:00 — The star system How Joel and his wife built a reward system that teaches values, earns trust, and keeps the house from falling apart 00:00 — Board games over screens Why Joel's family is deep in their Disney and board game era — and how they got there 00:00 — The community piece How Joel found DadGood, why he stays, and what it means to finally have a group of dads who get it 00:00 — Walking in the door What it actually feels like to go from sales mode to dad mode in sixty seconds — and how Joel makes the switch 00:00 — Letting go of control Why Joel says this is the most important thing he's done for himself as a father 00:00 — The hundred calls moment When his six-year-old started asking how many calls he made that day — and what that moment meant 00:00 — Parting words Don't do it alone. Go further together.   About Joel Joel is a VDR at Barracuda Networks and a father of two girls — Kennedy, six, and Mickey, three. He is a husband, a community builder, and a working dad figuring it out one star chart at a time. LinkedIn: [Joel's LinkedIn]   About Working Dads Working Dads is the podcast for fathers figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Every week host Johnathan Grzybowski sits down with working dads — founders, executives, investors, and everyday fathers — for honest conversations about the guilt, the grind, the marriage, the money, and what it actually takes to build a career and a family without dropping the ball on either. No gurus. No highlight reels. Just real talk. 🎙 New episode every week 📩 Subscribe to Built During Bedtime — our weekly newsletter for working dads 💬 Join the community — Slack and Facebook group   Subscribe & Connect 🎧 Spotify: [link] 🎧 Apple Podcasts: [link] 📺 YouTube: [link] �� Newsletter: [link] 💬 Slack: [link] 👥 Facebook Group: [link] 🔗 LinkedIn: [link] 🌐 Website: [link]   For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Nobody prepares you for this. Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything. I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone. So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there. We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff. And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere. Come find your people. Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

  4. Jul 26

    How a Dad of 5 Figured Out the One Thing Nobody Talks About

    Three things you'll learn: Why Logan and his wife budget their time the same way they budget their money — and the simple weekly system that keeps a family of eight from falling apart The one Amazon habit that was silently destroying their budget — and the dead simple fix that changed everything Why calling something a "season" before it starts is the only thing that makes the hard seasons survivable For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Nobody prepares you for this. Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything. I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone. So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there. We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff. And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere. Come find your people. Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

  5. Jul 19

    The One Thing Matt Wishes He Did Differently While Building a 10-Year Company | Matt, CEO of Hunter

    Three things you'll learn in this episode: Why Matt says the biggest mistake he made wasn't working too much — it was not taking enough risks early when he still could bounce back How his wife's unconditional support became the silent foundation of everything he built — and what happens to founders whose partners don't have that belief What it actually feels like when your kids leave the house and go build their own lives — and why they never really leave your mind, they just occupy it differently What we cover: 00:00 — Introduction Matt, CEO of Hunter, husband, stepfather turned biological father, and the guy who went from bachelor to dad of a four-year-old in a very short window of time 00:00 — From San Francisco to Kansas Why two young people in one of the most expensive cities in the world packed up and moved back to a small town — and what that culture shock actually felt like 00:00 — The dot com bubble with a toddler at home Navigating a bursting industry, a career change, a new baby, a house purchase, and a relocation — all inside a two-year window 00:00 — What he gave up Sleep. Friendships. Art. Photography. The personal stuff that quietly disappears when you're building a career and raising kids at the same time 00:00 — The night shift strategy How Matt structured his days — work hard all day, come home for dinner and the kids, then grind again from nine until whenever — and whether he'd do it the same way now 00:00 — The risk he wishes he took Why he played it safe early in his career and why he'd go back and bet bigger if he could — even with kids at home 00:00 — His wife's role in all of it What unconditional support actually looks like. Why he says the partner question is binary — either they support it or the relationship breaks 00:00 — Building Hunter Ten years bootstrapped. Profitable. Built to fight for small businesses that everyone else ignores. Where the idea came from and what keeps him going 00:00 — When the kids leave How fatherhood changes when your kids stop being physically present and start building their own lives — and why they somehow take up just as much space in your head 00:00 — What success looks like for his kids Not what Matt built. Not what he earned. Just that they're living life entirely on their own terms. 00:00 — The risk envelope Why the best thing an entrepreneurial parent can give their kids isn't money or connections — it's a healthy relationship with risk About Matt Matt is the CEO of Hunter, a bootstrapped and profitable software company helping small businesses with lead generation and outreach. He has spent over two decades building companies and leading teams, starting with Bold Chat — which was acquired by LogMeIn — before founding Hunter. He is a husband and father of two grown sons, one of whom followed him into tech and one of whom became a tattoo artist in New York. He lives in Massachusetts. Website: hunter.io LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matttharp/ About Working Dads Working Dads is the podcast for fathers figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Every week host Johnathan Grzybowski sits down with working dads — founders, executives, investors, and everyday fathers — for honest conversations about the guilt, the grind, the marriage, the money, and what it actually takes to build a career and a family without dropping the ball on either. No gurus. No highlight reels. Just real talk. 🎙 New episode every week 📩 Subscribe to Built During Bedtime — our weekly newsletter for working dads 💬 Join the community — Slack and Facebook group For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Nobody prepares you for this. Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything. I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone. So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there. We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff. And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere. Come find your people. Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

  6. Jul 13

    How a Casino VP Balances a Hotel Opening, Two Kids, and 9 Year Marriage

    Andrew Effiong — VP of Hospitality, Casino Executive, and Father of Two Andrew Effiong is a VP of Hospitality at a casino, husband of 9 years, and father of two. In this episode, Andrew gets honest about what it actually looks like to build a high-pressure career in the casino industry while showing up at home for his 8-year-old daughter, 6-year-old son, and 1-year-old dog. We talk about the morning chaos, the parenting evolution nobody warns you about, how he gets 8 hours of sleep every night without an alarm, and why he's never touched a cup of coffee in his life. Real talk. No highlight reels. Just a working dad figuring it out.  Three things you'll learn in this episode:  1. Why parenting doesn't get easier — it just gets different, and what that actually means when you're managing a high-demand career at the same time  2. The exact morning routine Andrew uses to get two kids out the door by 7:31am — including the countdown timer system that saves him every single day  3. How 8 hours of sleep became his non-negotiable foundation for performing at the executive level without caffeine or shortcuts About Andrew Effiong Andrew Effiong is a VP of Hospitality with 14 years of experience in the casino industry.  🎙 New episode every week  📩 Subscribe to Built During Bedtime — our weekly newsletter for working dads  💬 Join the community — Slack and Facebook group Subscribe & Connect  🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aicwtpAEKrXfeViWeCESn?si=sP-QFbZETneBRIGUuoXC1w  🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/free-ideas/id1082216467  📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@workingdadsco  👥 Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/workingdadsco/  🌐 Website: https://workingdads.co/ For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Nobody prepares you for this. Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything. I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone. So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there. We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff. And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere. Come find your people. Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

  7. 04/02/2025

    Naming Your Business: Why It Matters More Than You Think

    Your name sets the tone. It’s the first impression, the identity, the hook that makes people pay attention (or forget you instantly).  - What makes a great business name - Why the name needs to make sense and feel true to what you do  - How to avoid overthinking and still make progress  - Real-world advice for choosing something memorable and meaningful  Don’t let naming your business slow you down—but don’t treat it like an afterthought either. Find something that clicks, then run with it. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Nobody prepares you for this. Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything. I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone. So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there. We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff. And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere. Come find your people. Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

  8. 03/31/2025

    Services You Should Offer (Here’s How to Decide)

    In this episode, we cover:  - Why clarity beats complexity when choosing your services  - How to narrow down your offers based on what you’re confident and comfortable doing  - Why your service should be the exact answer to one clear problem  - How to position yourself as the obvious solution to your prospect’s #1 question  Whether it’s digital marketing, consulting, content creation, or anything else—you don’t need to be everything to everyone. Focus, specialize, and do it well. The real win? Knowing your strengths and building your services around them. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Nobody prepares you for this. Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything. I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone. So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there. We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff. And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere. Come find your people. Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

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5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything between.

Information

  • Creator
    Dear Media
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    341
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Working Dads