Nurse Papa

Dear Nurse Papa...Hands Off My Cheetos

October 01, 2022 12:59 - 11 minutes - 13.1 MB

Hello dear listeners and welcome back to a classic parent letter to Nurse Papa. We all have been in sticky situations with our kids at one time or another. Listen on to seen how I advise two parents who are a bit confused about how to react to a little Cheeto thief. I am proud to have EKO as a sponsor to the Nurse Papa podcast. I use this special stethoscope every day at work and it has indeed changed my nursing practice for the better. Please check it out and use the code word PAPA for 10...

The Tooth Fairy And All The Lies We Tell Our Children

September 01, 2022 12:35 - 22 minutes - 27 MB

Hello listeners. Did you believe in the tooth fairy when you were a child? How about Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny? For most kids, the period in which they can still believe in the unbelievable is quite short. This week I will tell you about the many pitfalls I experienced as a dad just trying to make a little magic in this world for my daughter. Meet Nikita, my daughter's very real tooth fairy. I hope you enjoy! I am proud to have EKO as a sponsor to the Nurse Papa podcast. I use this...

The CircumDecision

August 01, 2022 17:33 - 16 minutes - 18.7 MB

Welcome back to the Nurse Papa podcast. This week, I will be helping two queer parents encounter the age old question of circumcision. If their baby has a penis should they snip it or save it? Should they snip it and then save it? Should they save it for snipping later? We're gonna take a deep dive into the weird history of circumcision and also discover how this ancient ritual stands in modern times. I'd like to dedicate this episode to a friend of mine. Christian Doll is a fellow pediatr...

Nurse Papa - An Interview

July 01, 2022 13:00 - 24 minutes - 32.3 MB

Wow this is the 31st episode of the Nurse Papa podcast. I have decided to add a novel element to the Nurse Papa podcast. I think it might be a good time to bring in some new voices to this space and some new ideas too. In the coming months I will be sharing some spirited conversations between myself and various experts all in the effort to help enhance your journeys as parents or people. But today, to ease on into this new realm, I will be sharing a conversation between myself and the host...

Dear Nurse Papa...Parenting In A Changing Climate

June 01, 2022 15:43 - 29 minutes - 33.3 MB

Welcome to the latest segment of the Dear Nurse Papa series. This week, I do my best to help a father who can no longer sleep. He can't sleep because he can't get his mind off of the sorry state of the world these days and, more specifically, climate change. Join me as I address this dad's concerns with the help of author and integrative health coach, Elizabeth Bechard. Elizabeth is an eloquent authority of the social, emotional, and psychological dynamics of climate change. She writes all a...

Time

May 01, 2022 02:51 - 18 minutes - 22.6 MB

Welcome to the latest episode of the Nurse Papa podcast. Lately, I have been thinking about time - how it seems to operate in such a relative manner according to what is happening in my life and how I feel about those happenings. My relationship to the passing of time has become even more difficult to nail down now that I have kids. Please enjoy this very timely episode! I am proud to have EKO as a sponsor to the Nurse Papa podcast. I use this special stethoscope every day at work and it h...

Dear Nurse Papa...Buying Less

April 01, 2022 17:24 - 17 minutes - 19.9 MB

Nurse Papa is back with yet another letter from one of his parent listeners. Like all of us, this mom lives in a world in which online purchasing has come to dominate our lives. But how can we navigate this process in a way that is healthy? How do we teach our children to do the same and, finally, is there a way to opt out altogether. Listen up and find out. I am proud to have EKO as a sponsor to the Nurse Papa podcast. I use this special stethoscope every day at work and it has indeed cha...

Family Is Where You Find It

March 01, 2022 17:06 - 16 minutes - 19.6 MB

Wow...It's a crazy world out there. In times like these especially, I am so grateful for my family. Not just the people I live with and love, but for my human family. Take care of each other. This episode is for all of us. Please enjoy Family Is Where You Find It. I am proud to have EKO as a sponsor to the Nurse Papa podcast. I use this special stethoscope every day at work and it has indeed changed my nursing practice for the better. Please check it out and use the code word PAPA for 10% ...

Dear Nurse Papa...The Sex Talk.

January 31, 2022 17:50 - 15 minutes - 18.5 MB

Welcome back to yet another episode from my serial advice column to parents trying to be their best selves for their children. It is not such an easy task for most of us. This letter comes from a Bay Area mom whose son is beginning to have questions about sex and his changing body. Unsure how to approach his burgeoning curiosity, she has come to Nurse Papa for some advice. Stay tuned! I am proud to have EKO as a sponsor to the Nurse Papa podcast. I use this special stethoscope every day at...

Lessons In Life From My Indian Father-in-law And A Watermelon

January 02, 2022 04:44 - 15 minutes - 19.9 MB

Welcome to a new year and a new season of the Nurse Papa podcast. To usher in 2022, I hope to drop a little wisdom on you courtesy of Davinder, my amazing father-in-law. I hope you enjoy it! I am proud to have Eko as a sponsor to the Nurse Papa podcast. I use their special stethoscope every day at work and it has indeed changed my nursing practice for the better. Please check it out and use the code word PAPA for $50 off any stethoscope of your choice through the month of January. Rememb...

Dear Nurse Papa...Toilet Training. Again?

November 15, 2021 17:10 - 16 minutes - 17.8 MB

Hello Nurse Papa fans! I am back with yet another episode of my serial advice column to parents and this one is a real doozy. In the sport of parenthood, you can never really count on anything. Sometimes, your kids throw a smelly curve ball your way and you have no choice but rediscover who your child is and who you are as a parent too. Take a listen to this unique episode to find out more. I am proud to welcome Eko, a brand new sponsor to the Nurse Papa podcast. I use this special stethos...

We Are The Broken Toys

November 01, 2021 17:25 - 15 minutes - 20 MB

Welcome Back! In this episode of the Nurse Papa podcast I tell a story of what it truly means to be a parent. It's not always fun and it is definitely not easy. In fact, sometimes it hurts more than I could have ever imagined it would before I became a dad. Please enjoy and discover for yourself who the broken toy is. I am proud to welcome Eko, a brand new sponsor to the Nurse Papa podcast. I use this special stethoscope every day at work and it has indeed changed my nursing practice for t...

Dear Nurse Papa...Empathy For Toddlers

October 15, 2021 16:14 - 13 minutes - 15.1 MB

In this fun and informative episode of Dear Nurse Papa, I help two woke parents teach their overgrown toddler how to be a bit more empathetic. Don't forget to vote for my dad bod in the Legendary Dad Bod contest. If I win, I will be donating the funds to help kids with cancer! Remember, Nurse Papa is also a popular book about my experiences as a pediatric nurse and father. It is getting some wonderful reviews from book critics. You can buy it on Amazon and learn more about it at www.nu...

The Long Walk

October 01, 2021 06:05 - 13 minutes - 14.8 MB

School Is back? Oh My Gosh, our kids are now actually leaving the house to receive their education! In some ways, this return to normalcy is much more complicated than it has ever been before, but it is also a welcome return to my favorite moment of each day - the long walk. Please don't forget to vote for my Dad Bod in the Legendary Dad Bod Competition. Your votes and donations to my svelte papa figure will help raise funds for the B+ foundation, the largest provider of financial assistan...

Don't Feel Like You Have To Fix Everything

September 16, 2021 20:26 - 17 minutes - 18.8 MB

Dear Listeners, Welcome back to Nurse Papa. Before we return to my regularly scheduled programming of the pitfalls and hijinks of parenting to young kids, I'd like to share one more chapter from my new book, Nurse Papa - 16 Meditations On Parenthood From A Pediatric Oncology Nurse. I have to warn you once again that the subject matter of this episode might be triggering. These stories are not easy to share or to listen to, but listen you must. In this episode, called Don't Feel Like You ...

Remember What You Have

September 04, 2021 01:16 - 13 minutes - 14.1 MB

Welcome to this newest episode of the Nurse Papa podcast. I'm back with yet another tale from my new book, Nurse Papa. I must warn you that what you will hear in this upcoming episode might be triggering. It was and still is for me. Nurse Papa, the book, is being very well received by many readers. Please take a moment to check it out on Amazon. If you read it, I would love to hear how these amazing stories have changed your perspective as a parent, caregiver, and human. Thanks so much fo...

Nurse Papa the Book Is Here!!

August 19, 2021 17:31 - 9 minutes - 11.2 MB

Nurse Papa fans, the day you have all been waiting for is finally here! You can now buy this long anticipated book. Find it on Amazon and other places where you buy books. To celebrate this event, I am releasing a special episode of the Nurse Papa podcast in which I tell some hospital stories that just might make you giggle. Taking care of children with cancer is indeed no joke, but it is also not sad all the time. In fact, it is sometimes the funny moments that are the most important and ...

The First Chapter of Nurse Papa the book!

August 02, 2021 17:54 - 12 minutes - 13.5 MB

Okay Nurse Papa fans, the day you've all been waiting for is almost here. Nurse Papa the book will finally be available to the world on August 17th, 2021. In this episode of the Nurse Papa podcast, I will be featuring the first chapter of this long awaited book. Beyond my own personal experiences as a nurse and father, in this book I introduce the voices of seasoned nurses, some of my young patients, and these patients' parents. They each offer their own very personal perspectives about li...

Dear Nurse Papa...To Zoom or Not To Zoom?

June 22, 2021 19:50 - 12 minutes - 14.1 MB

In this latest of Nurse Papa, I answer a letter from a dad living in Los Angeles who is struggling to get his daughter to embrace the Zoom life. There is no sign of this pandemic ending anytime soon. How do parents balance their desire to virtually connect their kids with their loving relatives with their kid's needs to simply disconnect? You'll find out and also discover some fun tricks along the way :) Remember, Nurse Papa is also an upcoming book about my experiences as a pediatric onco...

Embrace The Silly

June 22, 2021 19:48 - 12 minutes - 16.2 MB

One of the funniest lines I ever heard came from the deadpan mouth of a mother standing over her dying teenage daughter. It was an unexpected quip from a mom who certainly had nothing to laugh about at that moment, but there she was anyway, making a perfectly on point joke... Join me, this week and through to mid August, as I introduce you to selected writings from my upcoming book, Nurse Papa. You can preorder the Nurse Papa ebook now or wait to purchase the paperback on purchase on Au...

Dear Nurse Papa...To Dad Or Not To Dad?

June 22, 2021 19:47 - 20 minutes - 22.5 MB

For many people, the decision to become a mom or dad is not one which they question much. They simply know that the experience will be right for them. For others, though, the choice does not come quite as easily. In this latest episode of Nurse Papa I feature a letter from a man who loves a woman, but does not necessarily love the idea of being a father. The answer to this question was a perfect opportunity for a Pro and Con list! Please enjoy this latest edition of Dear Nurse Papa. Rememb...

Father's Day

June 13, 2021 01:30 - 12 minutes - 15.2 MB

Welcome to this very special Father's Day edition of the Nurse Papa podcast. In this episode I reveal the slightly pathetic turn of events which helped me gain a more healthy perspective upon my role as a dad. It's hard not to harbor expectations for how we would like our lives to be. It is especially challenging to accept our limitations and failings as parents. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed creating it for you. Remember, Nurse Papa the book will be ava...

The Shelf Of Special Things

May 24, 2021 21:19 - 20 minutes - 24.5 MB

In this episode of Nurse Papa, called The Shelf of Special Things, I examine the way in which we all decide what is most special to us. All of us need and deserve a sacred and often secret space to guard the items which we most covet. Do you have one? Find out how this special space plays out in the Nurse Papa household. In the second half of this episode, I answer a letter from a concerned mama from Sebastopol, CA who is puzzled about how to get her three year old son to wash his damn hands...

Happy Mother's Day

April 30, 2021 18:41 - 15 minutes - 19.8 MB

Welcome to this very special Mother's Day edition of Nurse Papa the podcast. Today, I would like to celebrate every amazing mom out there who is simply rocking the often thankless job of parenting. It’s a shame that our society so often down plays the contribution of all our awesome moms while at the same time, up playing the sometimes dubious contributions of the fathers. Let’s be honest, most dads would be utterly lost without the guidance of our wives and our mothers. So, sit back an...

Awkward Words In An Elevator BONUS EPISODE

April 19, 2021 23:39 - 13 minutes - 18 MB

Welcome to the very first BONUS EPISODE of the Nurse Papa podcast in which I share an illuminating tale from the rarified confines of the hospital. In this story, I will relate the very cringe-worthy reality of my gigantic mouth which is out-matched only by the enormity of my unfiltered mind. Often, I find myself navigating situations in which I really have no idea what to say or what to do. Sometimes, there is no correct way forward, but there is most certainly an incorrect way forward. Ple...

Don't Mess With My Mess

April 12, 2021 13:00 - 21 minutes - 25.4 MB

The balance of powers are shifting in Nurse Papa's home. The natives (my kids) are restless. Make no mistake, a rebellion is certainly underway and the main point of contention is the cleanliness and order of our shared home. In this latest episode of Nurse Papa, I navigate the creative chaos of my children as they implore with every cell of their beings: Don't Mess With My Mess. In the latter part of this episode, Nurse Papa counsels a new dad on how to best embark on a plane for the first ...

A Marriage Scrabbled

March 29, 2021 05:30 - 16 minutes - 20.1 MB

How exactly people use their words says a great deal and certainly guides personal relationships with those we love. In this latest episode called A Marriage Scrabbled, learn how I discovered how a simple board game taught me the difference between winning, losing, loving, and learning.

Truths of Parenthood - Part 1

March 15, 2021 05:30 - 11 minutes - 13.4 MB

Before I became a dad, I thought I was prepared for what was to come, but of course, I was ever so wrong. I wish another battle-worn parent had warned me all about these Truths Of Parenthood, but in fact, many did. I just failed to hear them. These truths may not all be true at the same time, but they will all be true at some time.

When We Thought We Knew Each Other

March 03, 2021 06:19 - 9 minutes - 11.9 MB

Does anybody truly remember what life was like before this pandemic? So much looks and feels so differently than before. We look different to each other too. In this latest episode of Nurse Papa, aptly called When We Thought We Knew Each Other, this reorientation of attitudes, emotions, and personalities hits home in a typical hilarious Nurse Papa fashion. Enjoy!

A Slice of Fatherhood

February 15, 2021 15:50 - 16 minutes - 20.3 MB

In this very special episode, called A Slice Of Fatherhood, Nurse Papa admits to all his listeners the closely held secret that he sometimes goes a bit crazy. Before I had kids of my own, I foolishly considered myself somewhat of an expert in the hearts and minds of children and one uniquely equipped to never lose my cool, but I was ever so wrong. This sad fact came to fruition in a big way one day in a crowded Costco.

Meta Parenting

February 01, 2021 18:00 - 10 minutes - 13.3 MB

I've come to regard my experience as a parent as one unceasing punchline. I never know what to expect, but I do usually expect it to be funny. In this fourth episode of the Nurse Papa podcast, called Meta Parenting, I discover once again that, when it comes to my children, the joke is usually on me and I am absolutely okay with that. Enjoy!

Corona, The Virus That Potty-Trained My Son

January 15, 2021 06:00 - 18 minutes - 22.3 MB

One of my greatest discoveries of parenthood has been that I often have very little control over the fate of my children. Often, the achievement of even their most basic milestone has little to do with my own actions. These same goals and aspirations may even achieve success despite my dubious parental moves. This great truth inspired this third episode of Nurse Papa called Corona, The Virus That Potty-Trained My Son. In the second half of the episode, I help a mama from Oakland, California ...

Momo's Revenge

January 07, 2021 06:00 - 15 minutes - 19.9 MB

What is parenthood if not a series of many unforced errors which moms and dads must face up to and ultimately fix? Parenthood isn't always fun, but it is always confusing. In this exciting second episode of Nurse Papa, I tell the gripping saga of how my wife and I facilitated our baby girl's addiction to the almighty pacifier and how we eventually freed her and ourselves from it. Enjoy!

The Sport of Parenting

January 07, 2021 06:00 - 13 minutes - 17.6 MB

Welcome to this very first episode of Nurse Papa - a podcast from the heart and mind of a pediatric oncology nurse and father. Do you ever wonder who's really in charge in your family - the parents or the kids? Well, I often do. So, sit back. Relax. Prepare to laugh and maybe cry as I explore our delicate family balance of angst and ego in The Sport of Parenting.

Episodes