DOD260: You're a Lefty but Your Kid Wants to Join the Military

We have a listener question that asks something very reasonable: so many in this podcastiverse community are pretty left, and have strong feelings about the United States military and various federal agencies. What if our kids wanted to pursue careers in those fields? Would we stop them? But first, please enjoy a ridiculous story from Thomas and Lydia's Valentine's Day evening (safe for work). And only the patrons get exclusive cooking insight from Donovan at the end of this episode! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email [email protected]

A stunning press moment at the Olympics has the dads discussing "grand gestures" in romantic relationships. Does anyone ever actually want to be on the receiving end of one of those, or are they primarily done for the benefit of the person "giving" them? And in the patron exclusive bonus, hear how Tom's kids absolutely blew the rest of us out of the water for Valentine's Day. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email [email protected]

One of the dads was very surprised to find out that many people expect their kids to take care of them when they are elderly. Beyond that, it also is a very common reason people give as to why they even HAD kids. This seems insane. Is it? Yes. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email [email protected]

We've got another listener question, and the dads dig into it almost right away! How do you tackle conspiratorial beliefs from your partner? Is this type of mismatch in a relationship DOA or is there hope to work it out? It isn't OFFICIALLY claimed as a three bears situation during the show, but I can tell you now that it's definitely a three bears episode. PLUS: our amazing patrons get an extra long patron-only segment at the end! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email [email protected]

The dads are here today to answer a listener question in which their teenager's friend started talking (talking talking, iykyk) with the teen's very recent ex-girlfriend. Oh boy. Did the listener handle this opportunity for advice well? What, if anything, would the dads have said differently, and how do we feel about a friend like that? Is this part of the "bro code"? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email [email protected]

Y2K aesthetic is back beyond just butterfly clips and low-rise jeans, and #skinnytok is making sure our kids know it. How do we talk about bodies with our kids in healthy, positive ways? And how does that fit in a world where we've intentionally tried to stop commenting on other people's bodies entirely? Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email [email protected]

Following an update on Tom's mom's overseas end-of-life saga, the dads discuss a listener email about genealogy, family trees, and shared family history. Do you feel connected to stories from your ancestral lineage just because they are "family"? To close the episode, Eli shares a story of personal growth; and for the patrons, a Smith kid milestone! It's not a baby announcement, don't worry. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email [email protected]

The dads take on a listener question about how to manage a situation where a kid from a bit of a troubled home is coming over unannounced frequently, even though they're not exactly close friends with your children. Are we going to get a three bears here? But first, some chat about knocking on wood and other superstitions! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email [email protected]

The dads get together (OR DO THEY) to answer a listener question about making choices between career and family. How do you make decisions between the two when they absolutely affect the other? We know the toxic concept thrust onto women that "they can have it all," but is there also a version of this targets men? In the patron-only bonus segment, check out how pillar-of-the-atheist-podcast-community Eli Bosnick totally fumbled atheism. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email [email protected]

Following our last episode about preparing for death and wills, on today's show we have a major Eli health news drop paired with a medical-adjacent listener question! Let these old dads talk about health and aging! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email [email protected]