Modern Dadhood | Unpacking Fatherhood + Parenting for Dads (and Moms!) Podcast By Adam Flaherty Marc Checket cover art

Modern Dadhood | Unpacking Fatherhood + Parenting for Dads (and Moms!)

Modern Dadhood | Unpacking Fatherhood + Parenting for Dads (and Moms!)

By: Adam Flaherty Marc Checket
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Adam Flaherty and Marc Checket are two dads from suburban New England. And while they might think they’re pretty funny and cool, the world clearly does NOT need another white dude ramble-cast. That’s why Modern Dadhood explores what it really means to be a "dad" in 2024 through candid, authentic, and often hilarious conversations with diverse dads of all walks of life… including famous dads, NOT famous dads, dads-to-be, step dads, grand dads, trans dads, and more. By celebrating present, engaged parenting and commiserating over common fatherhood challenges, listeners will gain new perspectives and feel empowered to become more present and mindful fathers, raising the next generation of kick-ass, world changing kids. Expect a mix of humor, heart, and 90s nostalgia in each episode. Modern Dadhood is a 2025 Signal Award winner, including the Gold award in the category Family & Child-Raising! #moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenting #dadding #dadpodcast #parentingpodcast2025 Modern Dadhood Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Rewind Episode | Author Illustrator Jon Klassen on Cutting Through The Kid Lit Clutter

    Rewind Episode | Author Illustrator Jon Klassen on Cutting Through The Kid Lit Clutter
    Feb 20 2026
    We all have them: Those kids’ books we were gifted or we picked up on a whim because the title was intriguing or the characters were familiar. But then we crack them open, and BAM— total schlock. With the sheer amount of content for children out there, it's increasingly difficult to find the good stuff; the content that inspires wonder. The types of shows, movies, and books WE remember loving as kids. In this rewind episode from October 2020, Jon Klassen, father of two and celebrated author and illustrator, joins us to talk about his thoughts on creating books that kids AND parents love. Stick around for the end, where Marc, Adam, and their kids fire off some personal book endorsements and condemnations. In an age where the amount of content seems to grow exponentially, it becomes equally difficult to parse through it all to find the really good stuff. The hidden gems seem to be few and far between. Sometimes it’s the tried and true movies or books that stand the test of time and still fill our kids with excitement and wonder, but frequently the best recommendations come to us through people we trust. The guys philosophize a bit as they discuss a couple of their kids’ current favorites, before they introduce Jon Klassen into the conversation. Jon is a father of two sons, and an artist and author who gained worldwide notoriety in 2011 with his picture book “I Want My Hat Back,” the success of which spawned two more books in what would become the “Hat Trilogy.” Jon continues to write and illustrate children’s books in addition to frequent collaborations with authors such as Mac Barnett, Sara Pennypacker, and Lemony Snicket. The guys discuss Jon’s inspirations, his thought process and artistic process for creating books that can be enjoyed by kids of any age, and how his approach to his work has changed since he became a father. Other conversation topics include: • Creating work that sticks out in the age of self-publishing • How his work in animation influences his art • Finding your inner third-grader • The value of simplicity and minimalism • Reading alone vs. being read to • “Quintessential” children’s books • The importance of independent bookstores Before closing out the episode, Adam and Marc take turns swapping some rapid-fire book recommendations and… unrecommendations? LINKSJon Klassen (Substack)Jon Klassen (X)Jon Klassen (Instagram)Go! Go! Cory CarsonChrri & ChirraSylvester and the Magic Pebble by William SteigFrog and ToadHere We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, by Oliver JeffersOne Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskeyToot by Leslie PatricelliA Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip and Erin SteadBob the Artist by Marion DeucharsKaty Hudson, Too Many CarrotsPowell's Books, Portland, ORRiverRun Books, Portsmouth, NHWater Street Books, Exeter, NHLongfellow Books, Portland, ME26 Independent BookstoresRed Vault AudioSpencer AlbeeCaspar BabypantsModern Dadhood (website)AdamFlaherty.tvStuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)MD (Instagram)MD (Facebook)MD (YouTube)MD (TikTok) #moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast #moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast
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    30 mins
  • Rewriting the Rules | Shannon Carpenter on Owning Stay-At-Home Fatherhood

    Rewriting the Rules | Shannon Carpenter on Owning Stay-At-Home Fatherhood
    Jan 30 2026

    There are countless reasons why a parent might choose to step away from their career to stay home and raise their kids—financial considerations, personal values, or simply wanting to be more present during those formative years. But even in 2026, most people still assume it’ll be Mom who makes that move. Enter Shannon Carpenter: a stay-at-home dad of three who traded investigating elder abuse for state agencies for full-time parenting almost 20 years ago, and has never looked back. Shannon is the author of The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad (Penguin Random House), a humorous, heartfelt guide for dads navigating the world of primary caregiving. He opens up about fighting isolation, bucking stereotypes, and how he has redefined success and identity in his life. Listen to the end for Kisses & Disses!

    Topics include:
    • The decision-making process behind becoming a stay-at-home dad and challenging traditional gender norms.
    • Navigating isolation, building community, and the importance of friendships for at-home fathers.
    • Strategies for connecting with teenagers and adapting parenting styles for different phases and individual children.
    • Mental health for dads: separating personal identity from the parenting role and prioritizing self-care.
    • Societal perceptions of stay-at-home dads and ongoing barriers to equality in caregiving roles.
    • The impact of workplace policies, cultural changes, and paid family leave on modern fatherhood.
    • Writing "The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad" and advocating for actionable, practical advice for fathers.
    • And more!


    LINKS
    Shannon Carpenter (homepage)
    The Ultimate Stay At Home Dad (Bookshop.org)
    Shannon Carpenter (Instagram)
    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
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    51 mins
  • Moments of Profundity in 2025

    Moments of Profundity in 2025
    Jan 2 2026

    In this special episode we're calling Moments of Profundity in 2025, we're revisiting some of the most meaningful conversations from the past year, celebrating the joys and complexities of fatherhood in 2025. The topics range from building trust around screens and social media with Soren Poulsen, to supporting men through the grief of miscarriage with Kelly Jean-Philippe, and reimagining parent-child communication to encourage openness and problem-solving with Nick Hexum of 311.

    Links to the full episodes:
    Building Trust Around Screens + Social Media | Soren Poulsen on Raising Digital Citizens
    Navigating Miscarriage and Grief as a Dad | Kelly Jean-Philippe on Pregnancy Loss + Healing
    Breaking The Cycle, Filling The Void | Chris Robbins on Self Development + Empty Nesting
    Music, Milestones, and Mindfulness | Nick Hexum of 311 on Raising Creative, Empathetic Girls
    Finding Calm in the Parenting Chaos | Kirk Martin on Triggers, Patience, Problem Solving
    Father's Day 2025 | Father/Son Reflections on Being a Dad

    Thanks, Modern Dadhood listeners for sticking with us, and here's to a positive, healthy, and fruitful 2026!
    -Adam & Marc

    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
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    37 mins
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