Not everyone instinctively knows when they’ve reached the point in life where they’re ready for kids. For Nick Hexum, the self-proclaimed “dad” of his band 311, that moment came when he realized his wild days were behind him and he was ready to step into family life as a husband and father. Nearly two decades later, he’s a proud dad of three daughters, ages 5 to 16. We caught up with him for a rare in-person conversation during a tour stop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Nick opens up about the challenges and rewards of raising kids while touring, the jaw-dropping story of delivering his own daughter during a home birth, how fatherhood reshaped his songwriting, and the powerful influence his own upbringing has had on the way he parents today.

Episode 130 of Modern Dadhood finds the guys recording in person, outside, over a frosty fall beverage. The guys chat briefly about finding positivity in a world that can feel particularly dark at present, and why the autumn has a certain exciting energy. They catch up with Nick Hexum, lead singer and songwriter for 311, before a gig promoting his 3 new americana/bluegrass EPs (compiled on a full length album called Phases of Hope and Hollow). Nick candidly shares stories about his family and his career as a touring musician, reflecting on how becoming a dad has impacted his work and put his life into perspective. Topics include:

• Touring as a musician dad: balancing life on the road with being present for important family milestones.
• How becoming a father transformed Nick's creative process, songwriting inspiration, and outlook on life.
• Nick's incredible (and dramatic) story of delivering his daughter at home
• The evolving relationship between Nick’s children and music, including their early involvement in creating songs and videos.
• The influence of Nick’s own upbringing, especially his positive relationship with his father, on his parenting style.
• Navigating social media, privacy, and the shifting dynamics as his kids grow into their teen years.
• Maintaining a positive worldview amid challenging news cycles, and fostering open, vulnerable communication with his kids.
• And more!

LINKS
Nick Hexum (website)
Nick Hexum (Instagram)
Nick Hexum (TikTok)
311 (official)
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

We've been teasing it for months; a new podcast that we are producing in conjunction with Wavland which is hosted by former Modern Dadhood guest, Victor M. Sweeney. And now the time has come to make the official announcement and share the trailer. And we couldn't think of a better way to do that, than to couple it with a Rewind episode of our original chat with the Internet's famous mortician himself. Stay to the end for some death-themed movie trivia... And please subscribe to the new podcast using the links below!

LINKS
Victor M. Sweeney (YouTube)
Victor M. Sweeney (Instagram)
Death And (Apple Podcasts)
Death And (Spotify)
Now Departing (Victor's book!)
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Does the idea of a whole summer one on one with your kid sound idyllic... or intimidating? If you’ve ever been the primary parent for a whole season, you've likely experienced both of those extremes. In this episode, we’re joined by Joel Costigan, a longtime educator, soccer coach, and dad to a 7-year-old daughter named Ruby. Joel recently made a major career move, trading a lucrative healthcare job for an Ed Tech position, which brought him back to his roots and awarded him an entire summer to spend with Ruby. Joel shares what he learned navigating a busy, adventure-filled season as both planner and playmate, his biggest parenting fears, and the surprising joys (and challenges) of being a hands-on “girl dad." After the chat, stick around for Marc’s family vacation story, complete his boys’ accidental new signature move: "Peen pinching."

Episode 128 of Modern Dadhood opens with a brief catch-up between the guys about the back-to-school season, and they discuss their plans to see friend-of-the-show Pete Holmes. Marc shares about an epic family vacation to Bar Harbor before they replay a recent conversation between Adam and longtime friend Joel Costigan. Joel is a husband, a father of one, and an Ed Tech at a public high school in Maine. His recent job change awarded him a full summer to spend with his 7-year-old daughter Ruby.

LINKS
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Navigating the legal maze of child support and custody can feel impossible... especially when the system seems stacked against you. Picasso Cognizance learned this the hard way when his partner's family took his son away from him at the age of two. Picasso spent the next nearly two decades paying child support, immersing himself in the world of parental rights, and being ping-ponged between agencies who made no effort to help him. Picasso opens up about the emotional and legal challenges he faced when trying to regain access to his son, and shares why he started Resolute Fathers, an organization dedicated to educating other parents about how to navigate these complicated systems.

Topics include:
Challenges of Child Support and Custody: Picasso Cognizance shares his personal experience navigating the legal and emotional difficulties of losing custody and paying child support.

The Importance of Knowing Parental Rights: Emphasis is placed on the need for parents to understand their rights, state laws, and how the system works in order to protect themselves and their relationship with their children.

Emotional Toll and Resilience: The conversation highlights the emotional hardships, feelings of frustration, and the need for perseverance and hope when facing a complex family court system.

Advocacy and Support: Picasso discusses his work with Resolute Fathers, aiming to educate and support parents (particularly fathers) going through similar struggles.

Encouragement for Constructive Co-Parenting: The value of cooperative co-parenting without unnecessary legal intervention is underscored as a path to healthier family dynamics.

After the interview, Marc shares a tender (and hilarious) story of a 7 year old with big feelings.

LINKS
Resolute Fathers (Instagram)
Who's The Daddy? (Amazon)
Victor M. Sweeney on Modern Dadhood
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

What does it mean to be a "feminist dad"? Maybe a better place to start is asking: what does it mean to be a feminist at all... and why is that term so controversial? There are many ideas and misunderstandings associated with the concept of feminism, and in August of 2021, we were fortunate to explore feminism and fatherhood with the brilliant Jordan Shapiro: author, educator, and senior fellow at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop. In his acclaimed book, Father Figure: How to Be a Feminist Dad, Jordan unpacks how traditional ideas of masculinity shape our parenting, why inclusivity matters, and what it takes to raise "radically inclusive" kids in a rapidly changing world. Whether you’re new to the topic or ready to challenge what you thought you knew, this Rewind episode is full of big ideas and practical takeaways.

Topics include:

• Fatherhood as an evolving, not fixed, role shaped by changing ideas about masculinity and gender.
• Embracing feminism in parenting by modeling inclusivity, equality, and respect for all.
• Challenging traditional masculine norms and embracing vulnerability and growth as a dad.
• Prioritizing responsibility and adaptability over authority in fatherhood.
• The importance of self-reflection and open dialogue about gender, identity, and family roles.
• And more!

LINKS:
Farther Figure: How To Be a Feminist Dad
Jordan Shapiro (official website)
Jordan Shapiro (Twitter)
Jordan Shapiro (Instagram)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Ever notice how most spray cleaners and detergents seem to be marketed straight out of the 1950s... and almost always to moms? Entrepreneur Sean Busch is on a mission to flip the script. Sean is a dad of two kids who LOVE to make messes, and he's the founder of Dad Mode, a new line of high-performance cleaning products designed specifically for dads. Sean joins us to talk about why it's important that dads meaningfully contribute to housekeeping, what “choreplay” means (and how it might just be the secret to more balance), and the potential risks and rewards of selling gendered products.

Several of Adam's favorite recent episodes:
Navigating Miscarriage and Grief as a Dad (Kelly Jean-Philippe)
What Will Our Kids Be Saying About Us? (Pete Holmes)
Dismantling Birth Care Stereotypes (Teddy the Doula)

LINKS
Dad Mode (official)
Dad Mode (Amazon)
Dad Mode (Facebook)
Dad Mode (Instagram)
Dad Mode (TikTok)
Dad Mode (YouTube)
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Does it get more "meta" than interviewing your own parent about parenting? For our Father’s Day 2025 Special, Adam Flaherty goes deep with a truly special and personal guest: his own father. Tom Flaherty isn’t just Adam’s dad; he's a father of four (spanning 20 years in age!), an Air Force veteran, a retired police officer, and an inspiration and beacon of hope to many people recovering from alcohol addiction. In a first for the show, Adam and his dad get real about raising kids across two generations, building resilience through tough times, and the evolving role of fathers over the decades. After the interview, Marc and Adam tackle the wild world of kids' slang in a gut-busting So That's a Thing Now about the cringeworthy phrases their children have brought home.

LINKS
What Does It Mean To Be a Modern Dad (article by Adam)
Mom's Guide to Finding Herself Podcast
Storypillar Podcast
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Think back to your childhood... Did you have a TV neighbor, friend, or mentor who you trusted? For millions of young people, that person was Luis from Sesame Street, played for over four decades by the legendary Emilio Delgado. In this Rewind episode which originally aired in July of 2020, Emilio discusses becoming a positive role model and even a father figure to kids around the world, even as he was navigating the joys and learning curves of fatherhood himself.

Episode 123 of Modern Dadhood explores the powerful impact that television father figures and role models can have on our lives and on our parenting. In this Rewind episode, we're joined by stage and screen actor Emilio Delgado, best known for his decades-long portrayal of Luis on Sesame Street—a beloved character who was an advocate for positive Latino representation in media. Delgado shares insights on becoming aware of his influence as a role model, the importance of portraying authentic families and diversity on television, and his own experiences as a father, adoptive father, and stepfather.

The conversation touches on balancing family life with a demanding career, the extended Sesame Street “family” behind the scenes, and integrating personal cultural values into his character.

After the interview, Marc shares a side-splitting edition of Did I Just Say That Out Loud?

LINKS
Emilio Delgado on IMDB
Emilio Delgado on Wikipedia
Emilio’s Instagram
Baa Baa Bamba
Quixote Nuevo
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Modern Dadhood (website)
AdamFlaherty.tv
Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)
MD (Instagram)
MD (Facebook)
MD (YouTube)
MD (TikTok)

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast