Modern Dadhood | Unpacking Fatherhood + Parenting for Dads (and Moms!) - Searching For Answers on Masculinity | Michael Ian Black on Manhood, Strength, Vulnerability

Searching For Answers on Masculinity | Michael Ian Black on Manhood, Strength, Vulnerability

Explicit content warning

05/20/22 • 35 min

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

The concept of masculinity is straight-up intimidating to even begin to comprehend. There’s no real cut-and-dry definition. Like so many big concepts, it’s far easier to throw your hands up and say, “it’s too complicated!” rather than commit to understanding the topic more deeply. Luckily for us, comedian Michael Ian Black has spent countless hours exploring masculinity. In his book A Better Man, he approaches what it means to be masculine through an open letter to his teenage son. His musings pave a clear path for any father, son, mother, daughter (or, incidentally, saber-tooth tiger) to approach the subject with an open mind and heart.

Episode 66 of Modern Dadhood open with Marc reflecting on his recent experience with Covid, and a belated Happy Mother's Day wish to all of the moms, before the guys throw it to the second half of the chat with Michael Ian Black. Michael is a father of two college-age children, Elijah and Ruthie, and is best known for his roles in Wet Hot American Summer, The State, and the comedy troupe Stella. Additionally, he hosts the podcasts "Obscure," "How To Be Amazing", and Topics (with Stella cohort Michael Showalter). Michael has written books for grown-ups and kids, and his 2020 book A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son, which balances the exploration of topics like "toxic masculinity" and gender inequality with personal anecdotes from his childhood and career in comedy. Conversation topics include:
• Emotional strength and vulnerability
• The value of men expressing when they need help
• Why the concept of masculinity is hard to define
• Various ways to approach thinking about masculinity
• The cultural importance of A Better Man
• The importance of demonstrating healthy masculinity to our children
• And more!
This is part two of a two part conversation.

LINKS:
Michael Ian Black (official)
Michael Ian Black (Instagram)
A Better Man (book)
Obscure (podcast)
Stella
Michael & Michael Have Issues
Caspar Babypants
Red Vault Audio
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Previous Episode

Working Toward A Better Man | Michael Ian Black on Fatherhood, Empty Nesting, Ironic Detachment

Episode 65 of Modern Dadhood opens with a brief discussion about being run down and defeated by our children. The guys gab for a bit before introducing comedian Michael Ian Black into the conversation. Michael is a father of two college-age children, Elijah and Ruthie, and is best known for his roles in Wet Hot American Summer, The State, and the comedy troupe Stella. Additionally, he hosts the podcasts "Obscure," "How To Be Amazing", and Topics (with Stella cohort Michael Showalter). Michael has written books for grown-ups and kids, and his 2020 book A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son, which balances the exploration of topics like "toxic masculinity" and gender inequality with personal anecdotes from his childhood and career in comedy. Conversation topics include:
• Becoming empty nesters
• How your relationship with your kids changes as they grow
• Kitchen appliance trends
• Sarcasm vs sincerity as a dad
• Ironic Detachment
• What is "strength," really?
• And more!
This is part one of a two part conversation. Subscribe now to be alerted when part two drops!

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast

Next Episode

Looking at Problems With Perspective | Ben Feller on Fatherhood, Empathy, Problem Solving

It's easy to get frustrated when your kid loses their mind over something that you know is inconsequential. The old adage "don't sweat the small stuff" doesn't really apply when they don't have enough life experience to know what the "small stuff" even is. As parents, with decades of life experience under our belts, it's our job to help them examine the actual magnitude of their problems. (And if we're lucky, maybe the next problem they encounter will involve less theatrics.) Ben Feller, former Chief White House Correspondent and father to 10-year-old Sam, joins us to shed some light on how best to approach putting problems into perspective with our kids... and how they can surprise us with their wisdom, too.

Episode 67 of Modern Dadhood opens with a rather shocking discovery around anagrams of Adam's and Marc's names. The guys chat about a new milestone for the 4-year-old Checket twins: verbal altercation. The guys use the example of Marc's boys new found communication style to transition into a chat about problems and perspective. They welcome Ben Feller, former Chief White House Correspondent for the Associated Press, Father of a ten-year-old son, and author of "Big Problems, Little Problems" into the conversation. Ben talks about the inspiration for writing his book, the value of helping your kids understand the true impact of their problems, and how they too, can help us as dads understand that our problems may not be as big as we sometimes feel they are. Conversation topics include:

• The importance of slowing down and listening to your kid
• How to help your child understand the actual impact of their problem
• The importance of a single father/son dynamic in a children's book
• How Ben dealt with a stressful problem aboard Air Force One
• And more!
The guys conclude the episode with a soul-bearing series of Confessions.

LINKS:
Big Problems, Little Problems (official book website)
Ben Feller (Instagram)
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

#moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast