Explore every episode of the podcast Dear Old Dads
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOD247: Yuckin Yummers | 24 Dec 2025 | 00:51:22 | |
Tom's kids have a tendency to yuck other people's yum and it's driving him nuts. So settle in with a tall glass of chunky goat milk and listen to a Christmas Eve Dads.
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| DOD246: When You Want Takesies Backsies on Being a Parent | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:44:38 | |
What do you do when you regret being a parent and feel like the whole thing might have been a mistake? A listener writes in with these feelings and the dads are on it! It's probably a more common experience than you think. Unless you're Thomas. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads | |||
| DOD238: A Step-Tom's Lament | 14 Nov 2025 | 00:39:01 | |
Oh, hey! Want to have all of the responsibility and weight of parenthood without any of the legal benefits ensuring you are connected to your kids? Try stepparenting! Tom leads today's chat with the dads as he breaks down the frustrating structure of America's step-parent. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads | |||
| DOD149: Are Parents Living More Meaningful Lives? | 16 Aug 2024 | 00:44:55 | |
Today's discussion is focused on a tweet that caused a bit of a stir between the child-rearing and the child-free regarding finding meaning in life without children. Will the dads end up three-bearsing it? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD148: Becoming the Black Sheep | 09 Aug 2024 | 00:40:38 | |
Recently, Tom has been challenging a family dynamic that is unwittingly "othering" one of the kids. The dads talk about being a black sheep, and the role parents can play in mitigating that risk in the future. And only patrons get to hear the bonus story where Tom had the chance to...rip into it. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD147: No Kids Allowed | 02 Aug 2024 | 00:43:04 | |
The dads talk about spaces and events being inclusive and exclusive of kids. What do we do when our friends or family are creating the space but are oblivious to (or dismissive of) the significant logistics that are part of these decisions for parents? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD146: Would You Kill 1 Trolley Problem To Save 2 Trolley Problems | 26 Jul 2024 | 00:44:08 | |
We've got a Reddit hypothetical that launches some great philosophical discussion regarding the push and pull of morality when our partners and kids would bear the sacrifice. We also discover Tom and Thomas are actually literal twins, and it freaks them out as much as it's bound to freak all of you out just reading it here. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD145: I Am Become Announcement Dad | 24 Jul 2024 | 00:46:57 | |
First, Eli gives us a bit of a lesson on the CrowdStrike situation for some reason. Then, Thomas's family has turned him into something he never thought he'd be. He shares the story of his shame in having to hire help. Warning: this one gets yelly. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD144: Having Our Kids' Backs | 19 Jul 2024 | 00:42:23 | |
Eli's TikTok-ery continues in this episode as the dudes discuss effectively advocating for your kid and tools to counter our, often unhelpful, natural reactions in that advocacy. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD143: Eli's Lawsuit; Dad Taxes Part 2 | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:47:43 | |
It's an episode of updates in some stereotypical dad arenas: construction and taxes. Eli explains his experience of anger as he tackles his construction headache, while Thomas does something UNTHINKABLE to try and solve the dads' tax problems. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD142: Old Old Olds | 12 Jul 2024 | 00:46:38 | |
The dads talk about getting older, and accidentally discover they're all on diets and mad about it. Tom shares his theory which kicks off a discussion about the common aging outcomes for men. Rip into it. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon!
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| DOD141: Getting Frisky at a Quizno's | 05 Jul 2024 | 00:42:57 | |
Very Famous TikToker Eli shared a video with Tom and Thomas, and the dads get into a discussion about how much physical affection is appropriate in front of your kids. What about in a public place where other kids may be? How much of this is just shaped by society at this particular point in time, and should that be challenged? For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads
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| DOD140: All Apologies | 28 Jun 2024 | 00:42:29 | |
Eli has had a revelation regarding his previously stated psychopathic opinion on apologizing. His new position is... psychopathic but less? For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads | |||
| DOD237: How Many Net Productivity Units Are Your Friendships Providing | 07 Nov 2025 | 00:49:14 | |
Today's episode centers on the importance of friendship despite what dude self-help spaces might tell you. Also more hot takes that the dads dig into include: being vulnerable enough to apologize when you've wrongly let a friendship go, and whether or not you can truly build friendships in online communities. No way you get this kind of content from the anti-friendship dude-bros trying to sell you their course on crypto! But first, some brilliant tattoo discussion. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads | |||
| DOD139: Is "Hermeneutic Labor" a Real Thing? | 26 Jun 2024 | 00:39:19 | |
They're calling it Hermeneutic Labor! Tom read an article about this and he's mad about it. Or at least, we think he is. We haven't been able to interpret his feelings and frankly we don't really care enough to bother. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads
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| DOD138: I'm a...Sad Sad Fish with a Sad Sad Face | 21 Jun 2024 | 00:55:51 | |
...and I'll do my sadfishing all over the place. An article from Parents described the phenomenon of sadfishing, wherein youngsters post vague, emotional statuses, photos, memes, etc. in the hopes of support and community as they navigate some of those tough moments, but do they actually receive what they're looking for? For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD137: Happy Father's Day | 19 Jun 2024 | 00:44:52 | |
The dads discuss how they celebrated their Father's Day this year before checking out some REALLY HELPFUL fatherhood advice from other dads that was published in the New York Times. Seriously, you won't believe how helpful it is. /s And patrons get multiple stories in today's bonus, including a really heartwarming update! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll keep your mouth shut when you're around Max. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD136: You WILL Have Fun, Damn It! | 14 Jun 2024 | 00:40:23 | |
This dads discuss how family trips and activities might be harder on kids than we realize. Are we putting too many expectations on our kids? How do we have a successful family trip? | |||
| DOD135: Some Softball Hardball | 07 Jun 2024 | 00:44:38 | |
Thomas's kids finished the baseball season and it was a very surprising success. However, what's next? At a certain point, Phoebe will have to start playing a different game entirely, for some reason, called softball. Why the inequality on that? What other aspects of our kids' lives feature this kind of thing? For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD134: The Airing of Grievances | 31 May 2024 | 00:47:30 | |
The dads have been through a year-long tax weirdness that just resulted in the state of CA freezing Tom's kid's bank accounts. No normal episodes can happen until the grievances have been aired. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD133: More Like Harrison BUTTker | 24 May 2024 | 00:58:51 | |
The dads listen to the recent commencement speech from Harrison Butker that is way more inside Catholic baseball than they expected, but also Eli disturbingly understands every single reference. Are women people? Should they be allowed to vote and have jobs? This sentient mayonnaise has opinions. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD132: AITA Makes Local Eli Lose Mind | 17 May 2024 | 00:50:26 | |
We are finally covering an r/AITA that Eli sent a million years ago, and it's honestly a bit nonsensical but it launches Eli into one of the most amazing things you'll hear in Dear Old Dads history. Buckle up! For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD131: Hey Kid, Here's Some Shitty Lemons | 15 May 2024 | 00:43:40 | |
Thomas shares some medical news for one of the Smith kids, and the dads chat about how to show up for your child, and talk to them, in tough situations that aren't their choice, especially if you carry your own personal history and experiences with that same diagnosis. A great conversation all around and a couple of admissions that Tom's take...is...right? For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD130: Grieving Exes Hold Hands. The Dads Debate. | 10 May 2024 | 00:46:19 | |
On r/AmItheAsshole, a woman shares a moment she had with her ex-husband at their child's funeral and the subsequent reaction from his new wife. In seeking comfort, who do you turn to, and what boundaries do you have with others as your dynamic with them changes? We'll just say...the guys do not see eye to eye on this one. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD236: Find You a Woman Who Hates Men? | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:44:38 | |
Today's show kicks off with a near-immediate three bears situation related to the interpretation of a TikTok video that makes Thomas want to throw his computer out the window; the dads go on a bit of a journey discussing hot takes and whether or not people honestly believe their perspective, or if they just desire to be "viralized." There's a whole lot more in this episode that I honestly can't even describe. You'll just need to listen. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads | |||
| DOD129: Easy Kids vs Tough Kids | 03 May 2024 | 00:48:38 | |
If you're a parent of more than one child, chances are you have 1 or more kids who are super easy and chill, and 1 or more kids who is... not. How do we handle that? What's going on there? The dads discuss, and they NAME NAMES. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD128: The Age of Nonconsensual Deepfakes | 26 Apr 2024 | 00:55:31 | |
AI technology is advancing ridiculously quickly. Some day, if not today, AI image generators will be able to create incredibly realistic pornographic photos and video of... anyone. Including children. So, what are our responsibilities as dads? Is it possible to make this technology safe for our kids, and if it isn't, who bears responsibility for that? Also, little easter egg: only patrons will know what the constant noise in Tom's background is. You need to have heard the April 2024 bonus to be in the know! For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD127: 'Not Dying' Is Women's Work | 19 Apr 2024 | 00:44:53 | |
The dads discuss when men completely ignore their health in the name of "being tough" and then as a result the women in their lives have to take care of them and arrange their medical visits and track their medications and do a million other things. But the man is TOUGH. So manly. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD126: Birthday Parties - The Parental Cold War Arms Race | 17 Apr 2024 | 00:45:08 | |
The one and only Arlo turned 5 years old! Thomas shares the details from what he considers the best birthday party ever, and the dads chat about the pressure of kid birthday parties and the glory of one Charles Entertainment Cheese. And, the amazing patrons get a sack update; whose sack will it be this time? Trick question, it's always Eli's sack. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD125: Teaching Our Kids To Read Good | 12 Apr 2024 | 00:50:06 | |
Eli has been teaching Max to read... OR HAS HE. Max is an amazing reader already and the dads talk about how their kids learn anything and whether or not it is, in fact, magic. Then for reasons that will likely come out in litigation, Tom and Eli hijack the show to talk about books. Thomas is filing suit and cannot comment further about this episode at the current time. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD124: Call Your Own Damn Pizza | 10 Apr 2024 | 00:46:51 | |
It's time for another "Am I the Asshole" iteration of Dads! This time it's a dad who won't call to order pizza for his daughter who has anxiety. But there are a lot of details that make or break the assholeness. The dads go on to talk about challenges like this they've had with their kids. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD123: Partners Who Roast Each Other | 05 Apr 2024 | 00:47:06 | |
Do you know that couple? Are you that couple? That gives each other shit a lot. Like, a lot. And it's all "joke" but is it though? Thomas had a recent encounter with one such couple and has thoughts. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD122: Eli Sleeps With Other Dads | 29 Mar 2024 | 00:42:48 | |
Eli came back from a bro-cation and the dads chat about friendships, making friends as a dad, and different approaches to spending time with friends. Disclaimer: you may hear Thomas die in this episode (of laughter). For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD121: Should We Nuke The Nuclear Family? | 22 Mar 2024 | 00:42:21 | |
During and after COVID, there were many think pieces about the inadequacies of the nuclear family. Tom wants to talk about it. Should we all be living with our parents? Jesus Christ should we? Ugh, but like, ugh should we? I guess? For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD120: Tom and Eli Crash Thomas's Funeral | 20 Mar 2024 | 00:51:09 | |
Thomas and his family went to a memorial service recently; this sparks discussion about...well... Tom and Eli's business ideas? For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD235: Passion or Pragmatism? | 24 Oct 2025 | 00:43:17 | |
Thomas shares something Arlo loves doing and has declared he'd like to do for a career and the dads dig into helping our kids navigate the choice between pursuing a passion or seeking stability. Stick around for the story at the end if you want to hear Eli's newest sadness earworm! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads | |||
| DOD119: Model Role Models | 15 Mar 2024 | 01:07:12 | |
What responsibility do we have as role models for our kids to help them keep their own expectations of their skills, development, and identity reasonable for their age? A text between Tom and his son kicks off the discussion for this extra-long episode. And Thomas has his semiannual bone to pick with clocks changing. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD118: Sex vs. Intimacy | 08 Mar 2024 | 00:45:22 | |
Do men know how to ask for non-sexual intimacy? Do they tend to over-sexualize any kind of touch? That dads discuss a Trevor Noah clip about men needing physical intimacy and not knowing how to get it. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD117: When Kids Protect Parents | 01 Mar 2024 | 00:47:56 | |
After Eli tries a few new catchphrases that absolutely do not catch on, the dads talk about when kids protect their parents. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD116: Should Men Pay For Dates? | 23 Feb 2024 | 00:36:51 | |
was the question the dads started with, and then they got to talking about Sugar relationships. And it turns out Thomas and Eli are in the market. Hit 'em up. Not Tome though. Tom is busy being a little lad. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com Follow us on Twitter: @DearOldDads Facebook Page: Dear Old Dads on Facebook | |||
| DOD115: When Your Kid's Drawings Suck | 21 Feb 2024 | 00:46:26 | |
For a dad who is always used to trying to be encouraging, to help his talented kid keep going when they are discouraged, what does he do when... the opposite? When a kid is... extremely bad at something, but is completely convinced they are good? Look, we all know which extremely bad decisions are wrong there, but what about as the kid gets older? Is there a time when a little more realism is warranted? For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD114: Friend Request Your Kids? | 16 Feb 2024 | 00:49:02 | |
Tom raises a question for the dads to discuss: how do we model appropriate online behavior for our kids, especially if we aren't really online ourselves? And how much of it is just a natural part of growing up? Also, is Tom's dad Hitler? Great conversation around these questions and more! For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com Follow us on Twitter: @DearOldDads Facebook Page: Dear Old Dads on Facebook | |||
| DOD113: A Hallmark Holiday | 14 Feb 2024 | 00:52:14 | |
The dads talk about if they celebrate Valentine's Day, what it means to tend to your relationship, and how to show up for your partner over time. Do kids change this? Is it okay if they do? Also, Tom MAY OR MAY NOT sing in this one. Plus! Eli has a *very* spicy patron-only, sworn-to-secrecy, story. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD112: Make Up or Break Up? | 09 Feb 2024 | 00:52:26 | |
After a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, the dads discuss some devastating news... a certain couple has gotten back together. Maybe a certain couple that certain dads did not approve of being together. This spawns a discussion on getting back together with your (in Tom's case, invisible) exes. Is it a good idea? or a GREAT idea! Or bad. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com Follow us on Twitter: @DearOldDads Facebook Page: Dear Old Dads on Facebook | |||
| DOD111: Eli Plots A Murder | 02 Feb 2024 | 00:52:21 | |
We've got a bit of a jackhole and Hyde situation in this episode. Eli confessed an entire murder plot on the air for some reason. And Thomas is... trying to get his kids to do ice skating. I don't know, man, what do you want from me. Eli is going to ice a guy and Thomas has got his kids on the ice OHHHH that's it. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD110: Would You Rather Be Cheated On or Stabbed? | 26 Jan 2024 | 00:51:43 | |
Today's episode is centered on an Am I The Asshole post on Reddit that is an absolute doozy. It inspires a fun and hilarious conversation about jealousy, monogamy, monogamy, and... whatever Tom is. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD234: Kids Want Attention and That Is Okay | 17 Oct 2025 | 00:44:34 | |
First, the dudes compare music taste. Then, a listener email asks the dads for advice about handling a recent situation they experienced where their kid's school carried out its full crisis procedure after the child said something minor in class, and the consequences on their own life (their workday, the weekend, etc.) as a result. How should a parent react in that circumstance, what is appropriate to discuss with your child to avoid these situations in the future, and at what age might that advice change? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads | |||
| DOD109: There's an App for That | 24 Jan 2024 | 00:47:05 | |
The apps. if you're a parent, you already know the hell that we are talking about. Each dad has 7 different apps for tracking their kids' school or daycare or whatnot. These are their stories. ALSO PATRONS GET AN AMAZING TOM UPDATE. You won't want to miss it. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com Follow us on Twitter: @DearOldDads Facebook Page: Dear Old Dads on Facebook | |||
| DOD108: How To Handle Grumpy Kids | 19 Jan 2024 | 00:47:08 | |
Tom wants to talk about grumpiness in our kids. And maybe ourselves. How do we handle that? How does it change as kids get older? Also, bonus question, what's like the main trick a magician does? For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||
| DOD107: Weirdo Creep Fairy Seeks Child Teeth | 17 Jan 2024 | 00:58:51 | |
Big news in the Smith household! Phoebe lost her first tooth and Thomas and Lydia had to figure out tooth fairying for the first time. Did they pull it off? How much money are you supposed to leave kids per tooth nowadays anyway? For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! | |||