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PODCAST

The Dad Manual

The Dad Manual is a fatherhood podcast hosted by Tony Cooper, featuring honest conversations with dads about the real, unfiltered journey of parenthood. This parenting podcast for dads explores everything from the excitement of being a first time dad to navigating the teenage years. As one of the best podcasts for expecting dads and experienced fathers alike, we dive deep into what it actually means to be a modern dad—the struggles, the growth, the mistakes, and the moments that change you forever

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

39:11

Ep 15: From Classroom to Fatherhood: How Teaching...

The Dad Manual ·

2026/04/07

What if the best thing you can do for your kids is get out of their way?Tony sits down with Mike Mendelson — a former high school teacher, devoted co-parent, and self-described "great dad" — for a wide-ranging conversation about raising capable, independent kids. Mike shares how teaching shaped his parenting philosophy, why the word "yet" is a game-changer, and what it really looks like to co-parent with purpose. From a near-miss mountain adventure to gut-punch moments with his son, Mike

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43:11

Ep 14: Apologies, Accountability, and the Art of...

The Dad Manual ·

2026/03/31

He had twins at 23, no money, and no idea what he was doing…Jeff Speer has been Tony's friend for 15 years, and this episode is one of the most honest, candid conversations The Dad Manual has had yet. Jeff opens up about becoming a father to twins right out of college during a recession, navigating the friction of two people with different upbringings raising kids together, and what it actually takes to build trust with your children over a lifetime. This is a fatherhood podcast

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58:40

The Stepfather's Journey: Blended Families,...

The Dad Manual ·

2026/03/24

You can be physically present every single day — and still miss everything that matters.Evan Miller is a husband, father of two, and someone who's learned the hard way that showing up isn't enough — you have to actually be there. In this conversation, Tony and Evan explore the difference between attendance and presence, navigating stepfatherhood, raising kids who can handle real conversations, and how sobriety transformed Evan's relationship with his family. Evan also unpacks a jaw-dropping

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54:32

Ep 12: Screwing Up and Showing Up: Mike Knittel on...

The Dad Manual ·

2026/03/17

What happens when a dad hits rock bottom — and chooses to rebuild himself for his kids?Mike Knittel has lived through addiction, CPS intervention, family breakdown, and a long road to sobriety — and he's come out the other side as a father his kids actually call when they need help. In this raw and honest conversation, Mike shares the moments that broke him, the choices that rebuilt him, and the lessons every dad can take away regardless of where they are in their journey.Key

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50:18

Ep 11: Co-Parenting as a Superpower: Raising Kids...

The Dad Manual ·

2026/03/10

Your kid isn't just testing your patience — they're revealing everything you still need to heal.Shane Metcalf is a father who made a decision most dads never do: to do the deep inner work before the hard moments arrived. His daughter Ava is almost six, and Shane hasn't yelled at her once. Not because she's an easy kid — she's strong-willed, irrational, and negotiates like a seasoned attorney — but because Shane made an internal decision rooted in years of personal growth, therapy, and a

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47:45

Ep 10: Before the Baby Arrives: Real Talk From a...

The Dad Manual ·

2026/03/03

What does it look like to become a father through the windshield — not the rearview mirror?Tony Cooper sits down with Brad Barnes, a transformational trainer and dad-to-be at 12 weeks, for a conversation unlike any other on this fatherhood podcast. Brad shares the raw, unfiltered experience of stepping into fatherhood for the second time — carrying the grief of a pregnancy loss, the wisdom of a decade of personal growth, and a fierce commitment to showing up differently. This is fatherhood

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40:31

Being a Girl Dad: Modeling Manhood When Daughters Are...

The Dad Manual ·

2026/02/24

Tony Cooper sits down with friend and fellow dad Aaron Pava for a deeply personal conversation about the fatherhood he inherited and the father he's working to become. From growing up between a strict stepfather and a hands-off biological dad — with no clear middle way — to proudly identifying as a girl dad, Tony reflects with honesty and vulnerability on the patterns that shaped him and the practices that continue to sharpen him. This is The Dad Manual getting real about the man behind the

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59:19

Break the Bad, Pass on the Good: Second Chances at...

The Dad Manual ·

2026/02/10

Breaking cycles and building bonds across two families and thirty years.Paul Crawford raised four children across two marriages and now brings grandfather wisdom to modern parenting challenges. From becoming a father at 29 while in grad school to navigating divorce, strained relationships, and ultimately reconnecting with his adult children, Paul shares raw insights about intergenerational trauma and conscious healing. This parenting podcast explores attachment theory, the critical

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48:52

Fatherhood Through Cancer, Grief, and a Child's...

The Dad Manual ·

2026/01/27

Parenting doesn't follow a script, and sometimes life throws you every curveball imaginable.Danny Cooper shares his raw, honest journey of raising his child Sari while navigating his wife Emily's decade-long battle with breast cancer that began when Sari was just three months old. From aggressive chemotherapy and stem cell transplants to ultimately losing Emily when Sari was 10, Danny had to step into both parental roles while dealing with his own grief. Years later, Sari came out as

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44:36

Sports, Character, and Growing Up: A Father's Journey...

The Dad Manual ·

2026/01/13

When your teenager starts reflecting your own traits back at you, parenting gets realMichael Guidotti shares his journey raising 13-year-old Donovan, a remarkable young man who chooses family time over friends and stands firm when his character gets attacked. From sports bonding and travel adventures to navigating split households and teenage development, Michael reveals how authentic parenting means paving your own path while staying open to feedback. This fatherhood podcast explores the

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51:50

Co-Parenting with Intention: Building a Better Legacy...

The Dad Manual ·

2025/12/30

When one positive pregnancy test changes everything, transformation becomes inevitable.Diego Kuri's life shifted the moment he discovered he was becoming a father. From addressing his relationship with alcohol to breaking cycles of rage and anxiety, Diego shares how fatherhood pushed him toward becoming his best self. Now co-parenting two strong-willed boys in Miami, he's navigating the balance between nature and nurture, breaking generational patterns, and creating a legacy of presence and

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55:50

Aggression and Masculinity in Parenting with Circling...

The Dad Manual ·

2025/12/16

What happens when a master of human connection realizes he's barely talked about his most important role?Guy Sengstock, co-founder of Circling and dialogical practices expert, joins me to explore the implicit nature of fatherhood. With a 22-year-old son and a 4-year-old, Guy shares raw insights on the wonder of witnessing consciousness emerge, the profound regret of signing away proximity to his eldest, and why aggression needs socialization, not suppression. We discuss how fathers teach

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48:37

Everything I Learned as a Girl Dad - Raising...

The Dad Manual ·

2025/12/02

Tony Elliott shares his journey raising two daughters through the lens of game styles, Love & Logic principles, and real-world trial and error. From tea parties to state championships, discover how understanding biological styles under pressure transforms parenting. Tony opens up about being harder on daughters versus sons, navigating different game styles between siblings, and why supporting the mother is the single most important job for any new dad. Whether you're a new dad podcast

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50:49

Parenting Through Teasing, Trust, and One Thousand...

The Dad Manual ·

2025/11/18

This week on The Dad Manual, I’ve invited my friend Adam Hibble, father to 16-year-old Maya, to share his unconventional approach to modern fatherhood that began before pregnancy: a vision statement that evolved through playful teasing, open-ended questions, and countless short conversations. Adam reveals how his parenting style emerged from his own father's listening-first approach and the community of men around him. He opens up about the mistakes he made—including inadvertently limiting

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64:47

They're Not As Fragile As You Think: Real Talk About...

The Dad Manual ·

2025/11/04

Parenthood isn't about perfection—it's about showing up, opening up, and caring deeply.Rodrigo Lagos shares his transformation into a sports dad and how driving his 16-year-old daughter Willow to volleyball created unexpected moments of connection. He discusses navigating the teenage years with authenticity, supporting his son Drake's passion for archery and robotics, and why vulnerability strengthens father-child relationships. This parenting podcast explores the power of family rituals,

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2:03

Welcome to The Dad Manual

The Dad Manual ·

2025/10/25

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16 results

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