Listen Now

Part of being an experienced dad is that you have messed up and made some mistakes and hopefully you learned from them.  But sometimes we are making mistakes without even knowing it.  In this episode of the Dad University Podcast, Jason and Allen discuss seven of the most common mistakes men make as fathers. Learn strategies to avoid making these simple mistakes and improve your parenting skillset.  If you want to learn more parenting tips for dads, you’ll want to checkout out Dad University Program. This program will help you gain more confidence in your parenting, reduce stress, improve your mindset and provides you a proven fatherhood formula.​ For more information on the Dad University Program, click here: https://www.daduniversity.com/program…​ ​

The unknown can cause anxiety and stress.  For most men, fatherhood is a big unknown. In this episode of the Dad University Podcast, Jason and Alan discuss the impact of becoming a new father. They discuss tips and strategies for both new dads and soon-to-be fathers to handle the stress and anxiety of transitioning to the role of fatherhood. If you want to learn more parenting tips for dads, you’ll want to checkout out Dad University Program. This program will help you gain more confidence in your parenting, reduce stress, improve your mindset and provides you a proven fatherhood formula.​ For more information on the Dad University Program, click here: https://www.daduniversity.com/program…​ ​

The definition of natural consequence is the logical outcome of a decision that is made.  It’s the result of behavior that isn’t planned or controlled  Utilize natural consequences can effectively help you parent.  If you want your child to learn, sometimes the best thing you can do is allow them to make mistakes. Natural consequences are a great way to allow your child to safely make mistakes. Your child is resourceful. They will learn from their own mistakes. In this episode of the Dad University Podcast, Jason and Allen discuss strategies to utilize natural consequences when parenting. If you want to learn more parenting tips for dads, you’ll want to checkout out Dad University Program. This program will help you gain more confidence in your parenting, reduce stress, improve your mindset and provides you a proven fatherhood formula.​ For more information on the Dad University Program, click here: https://www.daduniversity.com/program…​ ​

Both the toddler and the parent are learning how to deal with each other during this time. Most people associate discipline with punishment.  The reality is that punishment doesn’t teach the child anything.  It’s the discussion and explanation of how the situation can be corrected. In this episode we go over some strategies you can use as you approach dealing with your toddler and how you can keep yourself from going crazy.

Sometimes the most powerful concepts in the world, the things that can literally change the way we think, change the way we live….sometimes these concepts are really simple to understand.  So why don’t we implement these things into our life?   Most of the time it’s because we THINK they are difficult to do.    If you are not familiar with the concept of the Power of Choice, I feel lucky and privileged to be able to introduce it to you.  If you are familiar with it, then you know that it can improve the quality of your life, your relationships, your career, or anything else that is important to you.   If you are familiar with Tony Robbins, he talks a lot about the Power of Choice.  In this podcast episode, we discuss 3 areas of our lives in which you have the power of choice yet so many of us don’t use that power.

New Dad Tips When Bringing the Baby Home From the Hospital Is it your first time bringing your baby home? If your answer is yes, then welcome to the club! Being a father for the first time is one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences anyone can have. You will be hard-pressed to find anyone who would say otherwise. Setting your newborn on his or her crib as a new father is a moment worthy of some Kodak film or a Hallmark card. Everybody, from your partner to your in-laws, is abuzz with excitement, and so are you. You may have done your homework about what to do from this point onward. However, the truth is that no amount of research and planning can make you 100% ready for your first daddy shifts. We are here to show you the ropes. Read our top new dad tips on what to do after you take your newborn home! Tip #1: Take Time Off From Everything After bringing your baby home, the last thing you want is a to-do list — one that includes all your responsibilities from before you became a father. This can include work, side projects, or even school if you are pursuing a degree. Whatever you had on your plate before, now is not the time to attend to them. You may be familiar with the cliché that being a dad is a full-time job. Well, no other period shows this to you than the first few weeks your newborn is at home. The first few weeks will be filled with diaper changing, feeding, tending to your partner’s needs, and self-care (yes, this is still important). Hence, you will surely not have time for other things like work or other commitments. Taking time off from your job will be helpful to your partner, your new child, and to yourself as well. Tip #2: Get Rid of the Idea of Baby Schedules Health care professionals like nurses and midwives may disagree with this tip. However, there is nothing more disconnected than a written schedule of how your baby might behave and reality. Remember: babies are babies. They have no regard for how you want them to act and when. With this in mind, you will have to get comfortable with the idea of being prepared for everything your baby might throw at you — whenever and wherever this occurs. For babies, there are no such things as set meal times, diaper changes, and nap times. Wait a few more years before introducing structure into their days and habits. Tip #3: Babies Need Sleep, and You Do Too! Every father will attest to late-night cries and odd-hour diaper changes. Attending to your baby’s needs throughout the day can make being a father seem no different from being a firefighter. Taking care of your baby can heavily disrupt your sleeping pattern, however well-established it may be. You need to sleep to prevent parent burnout. Since unbroken eight-hour sleep can be a rarity at this point, we have this one recommendation: Sleep when you can, as often as you can, as long as you can! Tip #4: Approach the First Few Weeks of Fatherhood With a Calm Mentality As rewarding and memorable as it can be, fatherhood can be a nerve-wracking time for many new dads. It’s hard to shake off thoughts of what might be, what can go wrong, and whether we are doing things right. If you are experiencing these thoughts, know that they are normal. You can even view them in a positive light as they prove how much you care for your baby. However, for your sake, try not to dwell on them. Worrying too much can add to the mental fatigue you may already be experiencing. So long as your baby sleeps, feeds, cries, breathes, and moves, he or she is doing well — and, of course, so are you, so kudos to you! Tip #5: Only Spend on the Essentials We understand that you want only the best for your newborn. So, do not let us stop you from buying a crib, a set of pillows, some clothes, and even a few mobiles for sensory stimulation. These are essentials that you would be wise to buy. Essentials can also be anything that helps your partner rest and stay comfortable. After all, your partner also deserves some rest and leisure just like you. Anything that might be too fancy like highly-priced wipe warmers and bottle sterilizers may require some careful decision making. If your budget is tight, spending on what is necessary may get you and your wallet through the first phase of fatherhood. On the other hand, in the absence of financial constraints, feel free to splurge. Tip #6: Find A Good Pediatrician Today, Google seemingly has answers to any health problem. If you notice that your baby might be ill, do not fall into the temptation of Googling the symptoms. The SERPs will not always have accurate and calming answers. A good pediatrician has the expertise to which you can turn for your baby’s health. They have experience in medicine as well as how to provide parents with guidance. Indeed, calling a pediatrician for every cry, poop, and puke may be unnecessary. However, having someone to call can add some peace of mind to your new parental undertaking. Tip #7: Enjoy These Moments Beneath all the inconveniences that seem guaranteed for new fathers, the early days of parenthood are something to cherish. As fathers, our time caring for our newborns does not last forever, and we will look back at these memories with fondness. Early fatherhood is worth enjoying, so treasure your first few days or weeks of caring for your newborn. Final Thoughts What are your thoughts on the topic? Being a new dad can be tough, but it can be one of the most memorable times of your life. If you want to learn more, check out our free 40-minute parenting video. Also, feel free to learn our eight strategies for new dads caring for their newborns.

Pregnancy is a unique experience.  Unless you have gone through it, it is sort of difficult to understand all of the different things going on.  You have your own emotional roller coaster and stress, you have a partner with all of the things she is going through….and life as you know it, is going to change soon. I know when we were going through pregnancy, I felt a little lost. Sure friends and family members offered some advice.  It was such a strange experience and I had never been around kids very much, let alone understand what I was about to go through.    In this podcast, we are going over some pregnancy tips for dads.   It’s my advice for you expecting fathers.  I do hope they are valuable.  Be sure to leave some feedback in the comments section below. 

Being a new dad is like nothing else.  It’s unique.  It brings out emotions and shows sides of you that you didn’t even know you had.  There are new dad books and even other new dad videos that provide great advice and tips.  We have a lot of episodes on this podcast that are hopefully helpful.

Being a teen dad is certainly not an easy situation. You may be feeling scared and stressed that your life is about to change. The questions what do I do? And how am I going to handle this? Are probably coming up pretty frequently.   In this podcast, we are talking about specific things you can do to get yourself ready to be a teen dad.  How can you prepare yourself and be a great father to your child. 

Some men have great role models as fathers while some are very sure they want to be a different father than they have.  I consider myself pretty lucky with my father.  Now having my own son, I get to pass along some of the same things my father passed along to me.     In this podcast, I want to talk about how to be a good father to a son.  What are the attributes that make a good father?  Is there really a roadmap?  I think there is.   

It feels so good to never had made those first-time father mistakes.  I didn’t leave the house without diapers and then the child goes to the bathroom all over the place, forget to strap the car seat in, or put on my son’s clothes backward. Glad I never did that stuff.  Reality check...we all make mistakes as first-time fathers and we make a lot of them.  In this video, I’m going to go over 8 common mistakes made by first-time fathers.  This way you get to learn what to not do. 

For my entire professional career, I have been an entrepreneur.  Coming out of graduate school, I got involved with my mother’s business (she was a very successful author and seminar speaker), and shortly after that started my first real company.  I’m not counting the business I started one summer in elementary school as a real company.    Then I had a series of companies that I had either started or been involved with for nearly 25 years.  Along the way, I got married and had 2 kids.  I’ve learned a lot from that time.  Both what to do and certainly what not to do.    In this episode, I wanted to talk about what it’s like to be an entrepreneur dad and offer some tips on how to make it work and maybe some things to avoid.  There is actually a term Fatherpreneur.  You might be an entrepreneur who is thinking about being a father....or you are already a father and thinking about starting your own business.  Either way, I hope some of these tips are valuable for you. 

If you are first time dad, you might be feeling a little new dad anxiety.  Whether your baby is on the way or you just had it, some thoughts and feelings you have never experienced before are coming up.  In this episode, I am going to touch on a few of the most common things that cause new dad anxiety, and then we will go over a few ways that can help you overcome it.

Mindfulness is paying attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them. It’s being aware of surroundings and our state of being. It can be as simple as just focusing on the present moment. Not dwelling about what happened in the past or worrying about the future. You are focused on the now. For my own children, practicing mindfulness has helped them be more relaxed and calm.  It’s important to keep any practice of mindfulness simple and fun.  It also shouldn’t be forced.  If they are resistant to a specific practice, try something else. In this video, we are going to go over 5 simple mindfulness exercises for kids. They are fun and really easy to do. 

There is a saying, There are only 2 things for certain in life: death and taxes.  They really should add a third: that you will be frustrated by trying to get a toddler to listen to you.   Getting a toddler to listen isn’t easy, but it is possible...and this video I'm going to give you some very specific techniques you can use to get your toddler to listen to you...and no, it doesn’t involve bribing them with ice cream or candy

The “I’m the MAN of this house” bravado and “Wait until your father comes home” coming from mom, DOES NOT happen in the house of a Modern Dad.  See what defines a Modern Dad in this episode.

When you have a child... and this starts when they are babies, there is something that happens to you when you see your child accomplish something.  As a baby, this might be rolling over or taking their first steps, then climbing up the jungle gym, riding their bike for the first time, etc. Then we get into school things like grades, maybe a music or dance performance, sports, graduation, college, you name it.  There are so many moments that affect us as parents. There could be a feeling of joy, a sense of accomplishment, and a feeling of being proud.   However, I’m asking you to stop telling your child you are proud of them.  You aren’t helping them.  In fact, it could be impacting them in a negative way and in this video, I’m going to tell you why it’s not a good idea and what you should be saying to them instead. 

There is a special bond between a father and a daughter.  This concept of “girl dad” became really popular recently when Kobe Bryant past away.  A story by ESPN’s Elle Duncan highlighted Kobe’s relationship with his daughters and during her interview (in which she was pregnant with a girl) he said “girls are the best”.   Many fathers of daughters feel this same way.  It doesn’t take away from the relationship we have with our sons, but being a girl dad is unique, it’s different. This one is for you new dads with a daughter.  In this episode, I am going to go over some new dad tips for girl dads.  What makes this relationship so unique and how can you best position your daughter to thrive. 

We have all been conditioned that when you do something wrong, you are supposed to get punished. When our kids misbehave, we want solutions on how we can correct their behavior so they don’t do it again.  So what are the types of punishment that work best?  In this episode, we are going to review a few different common types of punishment and go over whether they are effective or not.  Hopefully, by the end of this video, you will be able to choose what type of punishment works best for you and your family.

I don’t know what’s going on in your house, but the first few days of social distancing and self-quarantine because of the coronavirus (or Covid-19) were pretty messed up.  I found myself overwhelmed with anxiety and depression.  After a couple of days of my pity party, I began doing what I knew I had to do.  I needed to figure out how to change my attitude and get rid of the negativity I was pushing on my family and the anxiety I was feeling.    I can tell you it worked.  It’s not perfect but boy do I feel better.  So in this podcast, we are giving you 5 tips for fighting the coronavirus anxiety and depression that worked for me.  Let’s get you feeling good and calm.