Podcast
The Dad Bod
Hosted by The Dad Bod · EN
The Story Of What It Means To Be A Dad Today, One Dad At A Time
Each episode, we interview one dad to get his story of being a dad. Over time, all of these stories will start to tell the bigger story of what it means to be a dad today.
Hosted by Shawn, a dad living in NYC with his wife and their two young native New Yorkers.
Visit thedadbodpod.com to stay in touch and tap the "refer a dad" button to recommend a guest for the show.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Joe, Tennis Dad
4w ago01:06:45Tap to summarizeI've gotten to know Joe about as well as two dads can over five years of school events: close enough to appreciate the work he's doing as a dad to wonder how - and why - he does it. Superficially, Joe is unique at our school for his commitment to his kids' tennis endeavors. He once described to me in intricate detail the cost-benefit analysis and lived experience of choosing a daily car rental over taxi rides for his multiple-times-a-day trips to the John McEnroe Tennis Center on Randalls Island, a small spit of land next to Manhattan that you access via the blink-and-you'll-miss-it Platform 9¾ exit of the RFK Bridge. To this role of parent-coach, Joe brings his own experience as a varsity tennis player at Stanford.I'll be honest: Joe is the kind of dad who makes me wonder if I'm doing enough as a dad. Also, how cool is it that he played varsity tennis at Stanford? It activates the region of my Asian American heart occupied by Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan, Jeremy Lin, and of course, Michael Chang, who became a household name when he shocked the world by winning The French Open in 1989 as a 5-foot-6 135-pound 17 year old.When Joe and Crystal recently shared their plans to move back to Joe's hometown in Southern California, I assumed it was for tennis. That's just the beginning of the story you're about to hear: it takes place on the tennis court, but the game being played is life and karma matters more than your first serve.
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Chad, The Fit Dad
Jun 2900:59:42Tap to summarizeEven though “The Dad Bod” sounds more like a fitness podcast, I’ve come to realize recently that the subconscious reason why I landed on “The Dad Bod” as the show’s name was a hidden sadness in me with the way that the pop culture term “dad bod” diminishes modern fatherhood to a mere punchline about middle-aged paunch, satisfied to trace a silhouette rather than traverse the soul of this incredibly meaningful moment in life. Based on my own experience and witnessing the dads around me, the show’s motivation is to redefine this term, one dad’s story at a time, and by doing so, to help point toward truth and beauty. I mention all this because this month's dad exemplifies this deeper definition of a dad bod: my friend and fellow dad Chad. With an understated demeanor, Chad blends anonymously into the crowd and yet you all know him: he’s the school health teacher and athletic director; he’s the proud owner of a minivan who used to dream of driving a sports car, the husband who holds communication as the key to marriage; he’s the flag football coach who puts the Jimmies and Joes above the X’s and O’s; and he’s the reason why your kid comes home from school one day standing a little straighter and announcing at the dinner table that he’s trying out for the basketball team. As for his dad bod, well, it’s 40 years old and fitter than ever, chiseled by a determination to be there for his family for the long haul. As Mark Jackson likes to say, "That's a grown man move."
Transcribe →How Did Dad Make You a Better Man? | The Andrew, Dim Sum Dad Branch of The Dad Bod Tree
Jun 2100:14:11Tap to summarizeHappy Father's Day! For this special episode, I'm sharing quotes from Andrew's Dim Sum Dad's branch of the Dad Bod tree: TJ, Seven Habits of Dad; Doug, Pursuit of Happiness Dad; Mitch, Generational Wisdom of Dad; and Royce, Epiphanies of Dad.
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Greatest Ever Meet Cute
Jun 1200:11:22Tap to summarizeThe greatest ever meet cute plus a preview of new angles on the original mission of "telling the story of what it means to be a dad today."A written version of this episode is available on The Dad Bod substack.Also, check out the recently launched Dad Bod Instagram.Thank you for listening and sharing!
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Hashtag No Filter For Reels - Shawn's Sister, Cynthia
May 2300:16:22Tap to summarizeWe teach our kids to try new things, that it's okay to fail, and that it's good to ask for help. So instead of featuring a new dad this month, I'm seeking help from my sister, Cynthia (@ctay_wong), to start something new that I'm afraid will fail: The Dad Bod Instagram.
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Stand Up For Your Kids | Pat, Fire of Mom
May 1000:43:24Tap to summarizeHappy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! The Dad Bod is all about sharing stories of what it means to be a dad today, but we actually captured one mom's story back in season 1. It was during my interview with my fellow dad Edwin. Throughout our conversation, he kept pointing back to his wife, Pat. At one point, I said to himx, “You’ve come a long way in life from your childhood to where you are now. What are the best decisions you’ve made? When did you start to find some stability in life?” He answered, “When I married Pat. She does everything, for our kids, for her parents, for my mom. I wouldn’t be where I am without her. Our kids wouldn’t be where they are without her. She’s the glue that holds us all together.”Months after our conversation, I reflected on Edwin and Pat's story in an essay on The Dad Bod substack simply titled, "Fire," because of the way fire was a defining word, element, and force in their lives as individuals, as a couple, and as parents.So in honor of Mother's Day, I am sharing Pat's story, a specially-wrapped gift for the occasion. I'm grateful to be sharing this conversation with you: Pat, Fire of Mom.
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Seeking Joy | Abe, Joy of Dad
Apr 2801:36:49Tap to summarizeMy friendship with Abe began 17 years ago when he was a pastor at my church and my wife and I asked if he would officiate our wedding. After saying "I do" to our proposal, Abe ministered to us in the months before our wedding day by leading us through coursework and conversations designed to prepare us for marriage from the perspective of our faith. Truth be told, I can't recall a single word that Abe said during our wedding ceremony, but I frequently look back at the time that he spent with us - yes, for some specific pearls of wisdom, but most of all for Abe's presence as an honest-to-goodness man a few years and a couple stages ahead of me who made me feel that, yes, the convictions that you swear by are worth keeping. Even though Abe and I have had mostly random, chance encounters over the years, I still think of him in that way. My kids are in grade school; he has two kids in college, one in high school, and one in middle school. So when we sat down, I had three pages of questions designed to check my notes on life against his. But I also had wisdom from experience (and advice from Tony Reali) that it's important to let the conversation take you to places that weren't part of your plan. I think it worked out quite well. I'm truly grateful to be sharing this conversation with you: Abe, Joy of Dad.
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Not About Me Anymore | Andrew, Stages of Dad
Mar 2800:49:20Tap to summarizeAndrew is a children's book author whose latest book, "The Colors of My Sky," is a touching story with a timely message on diversity and kindness. The story behind the story is that before becoming a children's book author, Andrew was a stand-up comic for 25 years, as well as a champion bodybuilder. Photos from his website, andrewginsubrg.com, show Andrew on stage as a headliner at Caroline's; Andrew on stage signing books at Barnes & Noble; Andrew on stage at Saturday Night Live; and most eye-popping of all, Andrew on stage smiling and flexing in a thong. I was impressed but also surprised - Andrew barely gestured at these accomplishments in his email to me. The photos, it seemed, were of scenes from a past life. What does it take, I wondered, to turn a stand-up comic into a children's book author? And for that matter, what makes any of us decide that it's time to step off one stage and onto the next?Check out Andrew's children's books, The Colors of My Sky and Critter Caravan as well as his fitness book, Pumping Irony: How to Build Muscle, Lose Weight, and Have the Last Laugh.*UPDATE* shortly after our interview, Andrew added JFK Jr. Look Alike contest winner to his many accomplishments! Congrats, Andrew! A big win for all of us dads and a reminder that WE STILL GOT IT, BABY.
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Contemplating the Cosmos | David, Meaning of Dad
Mar 900:45:12Tap to summarizeI met David last November at the same dad's night out where I met Andrew, Creativity of Dad. Sitting across from David that evening, I got to know him through the dramatic glow, smoke, and aroma of all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ. Sharp and witty while also deeply contemplative; the son of a Jewish mom yet bearing the surname Rivera; a software developer by profession and a practitioner of Muay Thai and BJJ - only in New York, baby. But was it just the magic of dad’s night and new friendship that brought out the most gregarious and introspective sides of us? Or would the same David and Shawn who bonded over BBQ show up and dive even deeper over a simple cup of coffee? The answer is pretty clear to me, but I’ll let you decide for yourself.
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Overcoming Tragedy | Logan, Fight of Dad
Jan 3001:18:42Tap to summarizeLogan is known by many for his work on Scenic Fights, a YouTube channel where he and his fellow co-hosts apply their martial arts expertise to separate what’s truly real from the pure Hollywood in movie fight scenes. Scenic Fights recently reached one million subscribers - a milestone achieved by fewer than 0.1% of YouTube channels - on the strength of videos like Logan's analysis of John Wick's knife skills which, at 2.7 million views, is Scenic Fights' most-watched video. But when I ask Logan about Scenic Fights, it serves as a mere segue to the biggest fight scene of his life when, shortly after becoming a dad a decade ago, Logan found himself surrounded by his wife's battle with brain cancer, his father's decline, and his cousin's failed suicide attempt. If a happy life consists of health, wealth, and relationships, these events decimated all three for Logan and literally brought him to his knees.Fast forward to today, Logan is newly married to his wife, Sara, and his main focus in life is being a dad to his now 10 year-old son. His number one advice when it comes to fighting is do everything you can to avoid the fight. He gets off his scooter at intersections to look both ways. He's a self-described "funcle" to Sara's son, and his own son just joined a soccer league so that makes Logan a soccer dad. This splitscreen of Logan's life - today's peace next to yesterday's grief - brings to mind one of the many sayings that Logan uses to guide his life and prepare his son for his own: "Here's the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid."
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