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Positively Dad

132 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 58 ratings

Fatherhood is fascinating. Let's enjoy the journey. The Positively Dad Podcast is all about supporting dads in becoming amazing leaders, cheerleaders and supporters of their kids, families and partners. We'll learn, grow and be challenged together by connecting with experts on fatherhood and families.

Kids & Family Society & Culture
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Episodes

Kids & Conflict: The Impact of Divorce or Separation on Children

March 22, 2021 09:00 - 33 minutes - 31.3 MB

Not all relationships work out. That's not a surprise. What may be a surprise is just how that is impacting our kids. With divorce rates going up during the pandemic, it's important we understand how any conflict with our partner, or former partner, is affecting our children. We talked with Dr. Karey O'Hara from Arizona State University on the mental and physical health challenges kids face when their parents are divorced, separated or struggling in their relationships.

Everything is Not Fine

March 08, 2021 09:00 - 33 minutes - 30.2 MB

Have you ever had a tough day – a super stressful one – and tried to hide it from the kids? After all, we don’t want them to worry, right? Turns out – they can tell. They know when something is up. And, lets’ face it, often times Dads could teach a MasterClass in hiding emotions. Turns out – hiding our emotions and suppressing our stress – is – well – stressing our kids out. The last year has been a challenging one. It was right around this time last year that COVID became a real and major ...

A Winning Mindset with Justin Su’a

March 01, 2021 09:00 - 33 minutes - 28.5 MB

As we celebrate two years of Positively Dad, we're also are close to another anniversary, a year of COVID in the United States. Our lives have been so different over the last 12 months and it comes with so many challenges. Justin Su'a is all about keeping focused in the face of adversity. He's the mental performance coach with the Tampa Bay Rays and a father of three. He shares his strategies that help elite athletes that can help you too.

Back To School: Dr. Hope Seidel on Tough Decisions in a Pandemic

August 10, 2020 14:00 - 23 minutes - 20.7 MB

Parents are faced with what feels like an impossible situation... sending kids back to school during a pandemic. It's been a tough choice for many families. Do you send the kids back to the school building, do some type of e-learning or even homeschool? There are many factors at play too... your work situation, the educational needs of your kids, mental health and more. Dr. Hope Seidel is a mom of two, a parent coach and a pediatrician in Cary, North Carolina. She has some great things for ...

Back to School?

July 27, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 29.1 MB

It’s back to school time – or is it? Coronavirus has the start of this school year up in the air. As COVID-19 cases rise in most of the country, administrators, teachers, parents and kids are being forced to make tough decisions. We'd like to help as you and your family consider this upcoming school year. We're kicking off this series with a conversation with Dr. William Haseltine. He's written the book A Family Guide to COVID and believes kids in most areas should stay home right now. He a...

Emerick Peace on Taking Action

June 15, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 28.4 MB

We’ve focused on race in America for our last several episodes. We talked about how we can talk with our kids about what we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks and how we can inspire change. Now it's time to move from inspiration to perspiration. Emerick Peace is a dad of two adult kids and he says now is the time to take action. Don't just talk - do something too. We'll talk about how all families can be part of the change and turn the moment into a movement.

Josh Gossard on Perspective

June 11, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 24.8 MB

Are you accepting to different perspectives? Be careful before you answer. Honestly ask yourself – are you really accepting to different perspectives? Dad of four, Josh Gossard, says that is one way we end racism in America. Josh is a white man, married to a black woman and with four biracial children and a grandson. He says our willingness to accept a different perspective is key to change.

Derrick Slack on Inclusion and Diversity

June 08, 2020 09:00 - 27 minutes - 24.2 MB

We're continuing our series on Race in America with a conversation around inclusion and diversity with Derrick Slack. Derrick is a husband, father, social studies teacher and author. His latest book Orange teaches kids about the importance of being kind and connecting with those who aren't like you. We have a powerful conversation on the state of race in America and how we can turn this moment into a movement.

Eric Lindsey on Race in America

June 04, 2020 09:00 - 26 minutes - 22.7 MB

We’re focusing on race in America for the next several episodes. We began our conversation with our last episode. I talked with Andrew Grant-Thomas from EmbraceRace about where we are today and how we can move forward. We talked about how we can talk with our kids about what we've seen over the last 10+ days and the underlying racial injustice that's been part of America's history for 400+ years. We'll continue these conversations over the next several weeks as we talk with fathers from all...

Race in America | A Conversation for Families

June 01, 2020 09:00 - 42 minutes - 33.2 MB

America is in crisis. 40 million unemployed, 100,000+ dead from Coronavirus and US cities are burning. This is a moment in history unlike we’ve seen in my lifetime. How do you talk about this with your family? How can you use this moment to actually inspire hope and change? We're talking with Andrew Grant-Thomas from Embrace Race, an organization that helps parents raise children who can do just that - embrace all races. This is Andrew's second visit to Positively Dad. While this conversat...

Getting Emotional | An Encore Episode with Dr. Marc Brackett

May 28, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 26.6 MB

It's no doubt that emotions are high right now. COVID-19 has us making change after change in our lives. It's impacting every part of our world and it can be tough on us, our partners and our kids. This week we present an encore conversation with Dr. Marc Brackett from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and the author of Permission to Feel. This episode will help you and your family be aware of your emotions during what can be an emotional time.

Supporting the Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center Food Pantry

May 25, 2020 11:00 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MB

Join us in supporting the Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center food pantry with the Positively Dad Virtual 5k & Family Fun Run on May 30. In the last two months, Mattie Williams has nearly doubled the number of families it supports. Food is becoming more expensive for the center to purchase and so we've asked Gigglewaters to help. We talk with Janet Hooper, Director of the Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center and Rachel Wilson, owner of Gigglewaters on Facebook Live last week a...

Wil Loesel on His Biggest Fight Yet

May 21, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 26.5 MB

Wil Loesel left his corporate job to become a middle school math teacher. Just six months into his first year in teaching, everything changed. Concerns over COVID-19 shutdown the school and Wil had to move his classes online. What this dad of two didn't realize is that Coronavirus was nothing compared to the battle he was about to fight.

Fatherhood & Finances

May 18, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 26.9 MB

It's a common cause of stress for families... money. The economic impact of COVID-19 isn't helping. Nearly 36 million Americans are out of work and almost 70% of adults in this country say they are worried about money. Jay Gabrini wants to help and his organization, Prepared Fathers, is doing just that. He joins us to share tips on fatherhood and finances.

Help From A Homeschool Dad

May 14, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 24.5 MB

Jason White's girls have been homeschooled their entire lives - until this year. His three daughters went to public school last fall and now they're back home again, just like the rest of us. Jason has some advice that can help the rest of us who are figuring out homeschool for the first time.

Parenting In A Pandemic

May 11, 2020 10:00 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MB

Our now normal is here to stay and we'll continue to be a resource for you. We welcome back Audrey Monke from Sunshine Parenting for an important conversation on parenting during a pandemic.

Dad, Are You OK? | The Impact of COVID-19 on Your Mental Health

May 07, 2020 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MB

We're in challenging times. How are you doing? You know, it's OK to not be OK. Sometimes we feel like we have to be the strong dad when we may be struggling inside. This week we're talking with Mark Williams about our mental well-being. He is part of an organization called Fathers Reaching Out and specializes in mental health, fathers and family.

Happy Campers: How Thinking Like a Camp Counselor May Make You a Better Dad

May 04, 2020 10:00 - 33 minutes - 28.8 MB

No doubt you’d like your kids to grow up to become amazing, successful and happy adults. That’s the end goal of being a dad, right?!?! To set your kids up for success in life. So are you doing that? You likely think you are. Audrey Monke says summer camp is a great parenting model. She wrote Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids who Become Thriving Adults. She shares how we can take what happens at camp and bring it home.

Brian Lewis on Positive Parenting and True Connection

April 30, 2020 10:00 - 28 minutes - 20.6 MB

Brian Lewis is a dad of three and wants is kids to grow up in an uplifting home. That can be tough at times and he and his wife work really hard to keep things positive. Brian shares how they believe we can build a true connection with our kids. It's a follow up to the episode we did with Brian's wife, Katherine Reynolds Lewis on behavior and one that will help you see what really happens in their home.

I'm Lonely | Could Social Distancing Make Your Kids & Teens Socially Distant?

April 27, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MB

Social distancing is a way of life right now. We're staying home and away from others. What is the impact on our kids and teens? It's may not be a big issue for young kids. It can be one for school age kids and only children. Dr. Amy Learmonth from William Paterson University shares what parents should know about how social distancing could make kids socially distant.

I’m Lonely | Could Social Distancing Make Your Kids & Teens Socially Distant?

April 27, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MB

Social distancing is a way of life right now. We're staying home and away from others. What is the impact on our kids and teens? It's may not be a big issue for young kids. It can be one for school age kids and only children. Dr. Amy Learmonth from William Paterson University shares what parents should know about how social distancing could make kids socially distant.

Screens & Quarantine | Dr. Jordan Shapiro on Kids and Technology During COVID-19

April 23, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 26.9 MB

Your kids are home from school, most of their after school events are cancelled, they don't get to play with their friends as much, so what do you do? Many parents are worried about kids over-using technology and spending too much time on screens. We talked with Dr. Jordan Shapiro, author of The New Childhood about screen use right now. Is it the big issue many parents think it is and how do our rules around tech change right now? It's a follow up to a conversation we had with him last yea...

Parents & Kids And Their Behavior: What Really Works?

April 20, 2020 10:00 - 31 minutes - 30.6 MB

Let’s talk about our kids, their behavior, their decision making and how we’re helping them and holding them back. The days of, “because I’m the dad” are over. The research shows that style of parenting just doesn’t work. Spanking, screaming – even the time out – are out. So what do we do? How do we as parents teach our kids to grow into great people, how do we set the expectations of what’s acceptable and what isn’t, how can we begin to remove the stress of helping our kids grow up? Those a...

Something is Changing | The Gift COVID-19 May Bring to Parenting

April 16, 2020 10:00 - 28 minutes - 23.8 MB

You already know, family life is very different right now. More people are working from home, nearly every American child is out of school, families are making massive adjustments to make it all work. It turns out the adjustments we're being forced to make may actually be good for our families. Dr. Matthias Doepke from Northwestern University and a team of researchers is looking at how our response to stopping COVID-19 is impacting family life. While it will be several years before they kno...

Keeping Faith in Times of Doubt

April 13, 2020 10:00 - 27 minutes - 22.7 MB

We’re in challenging times People are losing jobs at a record rate, small businesses are closing, your kids are away from their friends. You may be nervous, uncertain or scared. You may be wondering when it will “go back to normal.” Your faith may be tested. Today we're talking with Pastor Willy Rice from Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, on how you keep faith in times of doubt.

Staying Active! | A Bonus Episode to Help Families Keep Moving

April 11, 2020 10:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MB

90% of children across the world are out of school. No recess, no PE, no extracurricular activities. That means we get to work together as a family to stay fit and healthy. We talked with Chris Wright of the Youth Sport Trust in the UK about why it's important that we keep moving. He shared some great resources that will help you and your family.

How Are You Doing? | Three Dads Talk About Living During Coronavirus

April 09, 2020 10:00 - 26 minutes - 22.7 MB

It was a message in our group chat, "How are you doing?" A friend wanted to know how we were coping through life today. It was a great question and one we figured we could answer together. Today we talk with two great dads, Scott Stevens and Robert Eaton about how they're living during Coronavirus.

Helping Our Family Cope With COVID-19 Disruptions

April 06, 2020 10:00 - 38 minutes - 32.1 MB

Our lives have been thrown upside down. It's been tough for many families and you may be a bit more stressed. How can we help our kids, teens and family cope? We talked with Dr. Kelly Tu from the University of Illinois about how we can get through this and how to manage the feelings and stress our entire family may be experiencing.

Safe At Home – Our Decision to Stay in the House

March 30, 2020 10:00 - 23 minutes - 26.6 MB

It's a different time. We're all being asked to make sacrifices as we look to battle COVID-19. School is out, you're working from home, events are cancelled. It' kinda stinks. Our view of this situation has changed over the last couple weeks and we thought we'd share how we're looking at it as a family. We trust that you are making the best choices for you and your family and also thought you may be open to the conversation on how we got where we are. Terri and Naomi join me for a special ...

Welcome to Home School | Teaching Your Kids, and You, During COVID-19

March 23, 2020 10:00 - 31 minutes - 28.4 MB

Nearly every school system in the country is closed and now you're a home school parent. Some parents are worried about how to make it work or what the day should look like. Others are nervous about their child getting behind or not doing enough learning during the day. We asked a 12 year elementary teacher to help us set up our kids and families for success.

Parenting During COVID-19 | Dr. Rebecca Schrag Hershberg on Our New Normal

March 16, 2020 02:45 - 32 minutes - 28.8 MB

We're entering a new normal. Schools closed, sports suspended, concerts rescheduled. Life as we knew it is hitting the pause button and we're in new times. How can we help our kids and ourselves during the Coronavirus outbreak? Dr. Rebecca Schrag Hersberg is an expert on parenting and she shares some things we can think about that will help our families move forward.

The Kids Are Home, Now What? – Dave Schmittou with Ideas for Parents

March 14, 2020 15:45 - 27 minutes - 25.7 MB

Nearly 5 million American kids are out of school as the government looks to stop the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. How can parents make this extended time at home work? Educator and author Dave Schmittou joins us in a special edition of Positively Dad to help parents make the most of this time.

Chris Lessard on How Hiring an Au Pair Is Helping His Family Connect

March 12, 2020 10:00 - 24 minutes - 23.3 MB

Life gets busy and keeping things moving with the family is tough for many. That's why some American families turn to an au pair for help. That's what Chris and Nicole Lessard decided to do to help with their three children and their busy schedules. There are so many misunderstandings about an au pair does and how the process works. Chris shares how having one is helping their family and how it's helping him stay connected to his kids.

Are Your Relationships Starved? – Dr. Matt Townsend on the Seven Basic Needs of Healthy Relationships

March 09, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 30.4 MB

We all desire a dynamic relationship with our family. It's not easy. Truly having strong and healthy relationships can come with challenges. Dr. Matt Townsend is an expert on relationships and his book Starved Stuff shows us how we can have great ones with our partner, children, friends - just about anyone. He'll share the seven basic needs of healthy relationships and tips to help you connect at a higher level with those you care about.

Shawn Watson on Fatherhood & the Road to Recovery | Dad Talk #37

March 05, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 24.7 MB

Shawn Watson was addicted to meth. His life was spent in and out of jail until he made a decision to put that life behind him. Now Shawn is a single dad raising his 11 year old daughter. He shares his story of fatherhood and his road to recovery and redemption.

Under Pressure: Our Daughters and Their Stress | E53

March 02, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 32.6 MB

Our kids, especially our daughters, are more stressed than ever. Some of that stress is good, it helps them grow and learn - like the stress over taking a test or learning something new. So when can it move past the good and into something where we should be concerned? How can we support our daughters in getting through the normal anxieties of life? Our guest will help us with that. Dr. Lisa Damour is an expert on young people and helping them through their stress. In her latest book Under ...

Today’s Dad: An Encore Episode to Celebrate One Year of Positively Dad

February 29, 2020 12:30 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MB

It's our one year anniversary and it's time to celebrate! Thank you for supporting Positively Dad and our mission to help you become a better parent, partner and person. We thought we'd celebrate today by going back to the beginning and sharing an encore of our first episode. A Dad's role is changing. You’re spending more time with your family, helping out more at home and more engaged with your children. There are more single dads than ever, more stay at home dads than ever and more two da...

Michael Flores on Fatherless to Fatherhood | Dad Talk #36

February 27, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 28.7 MB

Michael Flores' dad wasn’t around when he was growing up. In fact, Michael says that his dad "left and never looked back." Unfortunately, that’s the story for many kids in the country – dads who, for some reason or another, just aren’t there. We’ve talked to several dads who have similar stories and every single one of them tells me it’s their goal to break that cycle. Michael is doing that and he’s going to share that story with you today.

Dad, You're Stressing Me Out | E52

February 24, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27 MB

Yes, we just want to help. We want our kids to realize things aren’t as bad as they think. We have so much more experience… if they would only listen. It’s something we think often and it’s making us struggle in connecting with your kids. And then the older our kids get, the less effective this type of parenting can be. Dr. Kelly Tu from the University of Illinois did the research on what’s stressing kids out and how parents are sometimes contributing to that stress. She says that as kids ...

Mark Solomon on Being a Military Dad | Dad Talk #35

February 20, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 28.4 MB

Mark Solomon is a member of the U.S. Navy Reserves and he’s getting ready for a year away from his family in service to our country. That means he’ll be away from his wife and two teenage boys for a year of school, holidays and moments. It's the story nearly two million American families experience. What does that look like? How do you share with your kids you’ll be gone, how do you set up your family so they are prepared and how can we help military families while mom or dad are gone? 

Living a Life on Purpose | E51

February 17, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 31.4 MB

Do you ever feel like life is the same story – different day? Day after day after day is the same – with no real sense of direction or purpose. Or maybe you do feel like you’re living on purpose and even more clarity or direction could help you. Think about what life is like for your kids when they know why they’re here and what their life should be about. This week we talk with Simon T. Bailey. He’s an author, speaker and dad. You may have seen his work in Success magazine. His latest book...

Jon & Brittany Brooks on the Balance Between Business and Family | Dad Talk #34

February 13, 2020 10:00 - 33 minutes - 27.1 MB

If you'd ask Jon and Brittany Brooks they'd tell you their life is awesome. Great marriage, successful business and a new baby girl. They'd also admit that the last year has been a "beautiful disaster." Jon and Brittany joined us to share their story of the last year and all they've learned about balancing family and business.

We’re Different, We’re the Same | E50

February 10, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MB

If you’ve been listening to us for a while, you know that learning about others, understanding diversity and getting to know people from different cultures, religions and backgrounds, is important to us as a family. Saadia Faruqi is the author of the popular Yasmin children’s books and her mission is to educate others about different cultures, religions and people. The Yasmine books are about an Muslim-American girl navigating second grade and Saadia’s goal is to teach us that we’re more t...

Glen Bulloss on Dads & Depression | Dad Talk #33

February 06, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 30.8 MB

New dad Glen Bulloss couldn't figure out why he wasn't happy after he became a dad. What was supposed to be an amazing time in his life didn't feel like one. It turns out he, like many new parents, suffered from postpartum depression. Yes, dads experience it too. One study says it's actually just as common with dads as moms. Glen listened to an earlier Positively Dad episode called When Dad is Depressed where we talked with Indiana University's Dr. Erika Cheng about postpartum depression. T...

How To Be A Happier Dad | E49

February 03, 2020 10:00 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MB

Parenting isn't easy and it's making you unhappy. One study says 73% of parents were happier before kids. Woah. Happiness for parents is complicated and we found an expert to help. KJ Dell'Antonia wrote the book on it, How to Be a Happier Parent and she joins us this week for a conversation with dads.

Remembering Kobe & Gigi: A Tribute to Kobe Bryant - Girl Dad

January 30, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 25.8 MB

The entire world was shocked with Sunday's news. Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash in southern California. Since then we've heard so many stories about how important being a father was to Kobe. One man got an up close look at Kobe the dad. His name is Russ Davis and he's the head coach of the women's basketball team at Vanguard University. Kobe often held practice for his daughter's team at the Vanguard facility. We talked with Coach Davis about his...

Getting Focus in 2020: Mike Ashcraft on "My One Word" | E48

January 27, 2020 10:00 - 31 minutes - 43 MB

We're just about a month into a new year. How's it going? Chances are you planned to make some changes in 2020, yet most people fail to pull off those New Year's resolutions. Pastor Mike Ashcraft was curious on why so many fail and decided to change things. Instead of focusing on a resolution he chose to pick just one word for the year. A word that would represent what you'd like to see happen. He's shared this idea with his church for years and even turned it into a book. We talked with hi...

Kelly McCann on His #1 Job - Being a Dad | Dad Talk #31

January 23, 2020 10:00 - 25 minutes - 34.7 MB

Kelly McCann made a major shift when his daughter was born. He gave up the big career to focus on being a dad. Now, this dad of four is both - a great dad and a successful business owner with his wife Leah. He shares how he changed his focus and began living his life by design.

#MeToo & Middle School – An Encore Episode | E47

January 20, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 33 MB

Sexual harassment is real and it’s happening earlier in life than you think. A recent study says more that 40% of middle school students said they’ve been victims of sexual harassment. That along with the #MeToo movement prompted children’s author Barbara Dee to write a novel called Maybe He Just Likes You. She takes a look at harassment and #metoo through the eyes of a seventh grader. We're releasing this encore episode as a follow-up to last week's conversation with Tony Porter from A Cal...

Ladd Gasparovic on Being a Purposeful Parent | Dad Talk #30

January 16, 2020 10:00 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

What does it mean to be a purposeful parent? Father of two, Ladd Gasparovic believes he knows and he says it's important in raising his kids. This week he shares how all of us can be purposeful with how we engage, support and spend time with our families.

Twitter Mentions

@audreymonke 2 Episodes
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