Send a text to Girl Dad Nation Mike aka Dad Rap joins Girl Dad Nation to share how fatherhood has changed his mindset, his music, and his mission. With honesty and humor, Mike reflects on parenting in his 40s, learning to regulate emotions, and letting go of the illusion of control. He opens up about balancing work, creative passion, and being fully present for his kids. We talk about: What tantrums teach us about ourselves Giving kids space to just be How rap became his creative outlet The insp...
Jun 24, 2025•41 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this honest and hilarious episode, Matthew is joined by Hollywood actor and fellow podcaster, Preston Geer, for a raw and relatable conversation about the highs, lows, and curveballs of parenting. Preston compares raising kids to running a business you can’t quit—with “employees” you can’t fire—and reflects on how quickly parenting turns into survival mode. Together, they discuss: The mental shift from idealistic parenting plans to real-life flexibility and grac...
May 23, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode of Girl Dad Nation , host Matthew Krekeler welcomes back author Evan S. Porter! While their last conversation focused on Evan’s novel, Dad Camp , this time they’re diving into another passion of his—playing games with his daughters. Matthew and Evan discuss their favorite board games, card games, and video games, and how these experiences help strengthen the bond between dads and their kids. Whether it’s classic board games, strategic card games, or...
Feb 18, 2025•8 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this exciting episode of Girl Dad Nation, host Matthew Krekeler sits down with Evan S. Porter, a talented writer and dedicated dad to two daughters. Evan shares insights into his journey of fatherhood and discusses his recent novel, Dad Camp . Together, Matthew and Evan explore the themes of the book, the joys and challenges of being a girl dad, and how storytelling shapes our experiences as parents. From humorous anecdotes to heartfelt reflections, this episode...
Feb 17, 2025•43 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation Happy Valentine’s Day, Girl Dad Nation! In this special episode, host Matthew Krekeler reflects on the joy of celebrating Valentine’s Day with his four daughters and shares some fun dad hacks for school valentines. From choosing allergy-friendly treats to the magic of handwritten notes, Matthew offers simple yet meaningful ways to spread love to our kids, spouses, and communities. Matthew also revisits the incredible Valentine’s tradition of past guest Lonnie Ander...
Feb 14, 2025•12 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this important episode of Girl Dad Nation , I welcome back Chris McGhee, who courageously shares his family's story of trauma and resilience after his daughter was sexually assaulted by a police officer. Chris talks about the grooming behaviors of predators and provides practical advice for parents to recognize red flags and protect their children. This conversation delves into the alarming statistics around child sexual abuse and the tactics predators use to ga...
Dec 05, 2024•19 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this deeply impactful episode, Chris McGhee shares his personal story of advocating for his daughters after his teen daughter was sexually assaulted by a police officer. Chris opens up about the emotional and difficult journey of seeking justice, changing laws, and protecting his daughters from harm. Through this conversation, he provides invaluable insights into the importance of being present, proactive, and engaged as a father. He discusses the significance o...
Dec 03, 2024•57 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode of Girl Dad Nation, host Matthew Krekeler welcomes back pilot and fellow dad, Ben Bashinski, for an insightful conversation on flying with kids. With 19 flights under his belt with his 14-month-old daughter, Ben shares practical tips and personal experiences from traveling as both a pilot and a dad. From managing expectations and navigating TSA, to keeping your little one comfortable during takeoff and landing, Ben provides a wealth of advice to mak...
Aug 23, 2024•19 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this heartfelt episode of Girl Dad Nation , host Matthew Krekeler sits down with Ben Bashinski, a pilot and proud girl dad, whose touching moment of flying his daughter on her first flight with him as the pilot went viral on social media. Ben shares the experience of balancing his dream job as a Southwest pilot with being a new father. He talks about the joys and challenges of traveling with his daughter, the unique work-life balance in aviation, and the invalua...
Aug 23, 2024•42 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this bonus episode I welcome back Richard Franklin to share his miraculous story about how his life was saved through a kidney donation, and being thankful for each day. LINKS National Kidney Foundation PKD Foundation KDA (Kidney Donor Athletes) Thank you to Richard for sharing and being part of Girl Dad Nation. I encourage you to be thankful for each day and help those most in need. If you have an inspiring story to share, please leave a comment on social media...
Aug 16, 2024•16 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation Welcome to Girl Dad Nation! In this episode, I sit down with Richard Franklin, the proud father of five-time Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin. As a fellow girl dad, I'm excited to delve into Richard's experiences raising Missy and navigating the waters of fatherhood. Join us as Richard opens up about becoming a dad at 50 and the unexpected joys and challenges that came with it. From early swim lessons to cheering Missy on at competitions around the world, Richa...
Jun 15, 2024•47 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode I welcome Nathaniel Noble Jr who is a girl dad of two biological daughters, 3 stepdaughters, a goddaughter, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters. Air Force Veteran and patriot artist Nathaniel Noble Jr (Nate Smoove) is a fabulously talented and creative song writer and producer who brings his political and spiritual views to life with his poetry set to some serious beats and fantastic music. Nathaniel recently started his podcast March 2022 call...
May 05, 2024•47 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this bonus episode I welcome back Shawn Nelson of Lovesac to share an awesome story about when his kids opened for the I Love the 90s Tour! LINKS About Shawn Nelson Let Me Save You 25 Years - Book Lovesac - Modern Furniture @shawnoflovesac Thank you to Shawn for sharing and being part of Girl Dad Nation. I encourage you to make the most out of each opportunity. Inspire your kids to be bold and confident! And if you have a fun family story to share, please leave ...
Apr 28, 2024•9 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode I welcome Shawn Nelson, the Founder and CEO of Lovesac, to delve into the entrepreneurial journey he's embarked on and how it intertwines with his role as a dedicated father. Inspired by his recent book, Let Me Save You 25 Years , we explore the invaluable lessons Shawn has learned along the way, fondly termed 'Shawnisms', and their relevance to his experiences in both business and fatherhood. It's important to keep everything in proper priority. Sh...
Mar 12, 2024•48 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation I am joined once again by Allan Shedlin, creator of the Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F) to talk about the 2024 festival! My short film 'Love Grows Here' was selected for the 2023 festival and I encourage everyone to submit a film! DADDYING FILM FESTIVAL & FORUM (D3F) Virtual Festival - May 2-9, 2024 Live Forum in Philadelphia, PA - May 17, 2024 Call for Entries via FilmFreeway NOW OPEN! Submit by MARCH 4th! LATE FEE DEADLINE: MARCH 25th Watch the 'Love...
Mar 02, 2024•28 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode I welcome Bryce Kenny. Bryce is a father of 3, and a professional Monster Jam driver as the Great Clips Mohawk Warrior. He shares his experience raising kids, what he’s learned from raising daughters, and advice from his new book Geared for Life: Making the Shift Into Your Full Potential . LINKS Website: https://brycekenny.com/ Instagram: @warriorbryce TikTok: @warriorbryce Facebook: Bryce Kenny Book order: Geared For Life: Making the Shift Into You...
Dec 14, 2023•53 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode I welcome J Hall. J is a father of four (2 daughters, 2 sons), a podcaster, and an author. He recently released a book titled “God Help Me! I'm a Young Dad: 10 Essentials for Becoming the Dad Your Kids Need.” We dive into the inspiration for his book and what he’s learned from raising girls. LINKS Book, Podcast, and more about J https://www.jhallwriter.com/ Thank you to J for sharing his journey and for being part of Girl Dad Nation. If you've enjoy...
Nov 15, 2023•45 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this bonus episode I welcome back Kevin McCarty of The McCarty Family to talk about enjoying spooky family fun! LINKS www.TheMcCartys.tv https://www.youtube.com/@TheMcCartyfam Thank you to Kevin for sharing and being part of Girl Dad Nation. I encourage you to make the most out of each season. And if you have a fun family tradition to share, please leave a comment on social media or send me an email to [email protected] And if you haven't done so ye...
Oct 27, 2023•13 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode I welcome Kevin McCarty of The McCarty Family. You may have seen them on YouTube or social media with their comedy videos starring the whole family. It was a great conversation about inspiring creativity and prioritizing what matters. Let’s get to it! LINKS www.TheMcCartys.tv https://www.youtube.com/@TheMcCartyfam IG: @girldadnation Twitter: @girldadnation [email protected] NEW MUSIC ALBUM BY DAD RAP: Mid-Life Crisis EP https://dadrap...
Oct 26, 2023•44 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode I welcome Brian Young. Brian has 4 daughters and he’s the author of the book “Thriving Girl Dad: A Dude’s Guide to Raising Daughters.” A major theme of his is not just to survive, but how we can thrive as men, husbands, and fathers. It was a great conversation. Stick around after the interview for my takeaways. LINKS Thriving Girl Dad Book Thank you to Brian for sharing his journey and for being part of Girl Dad Nation. Check out the links in the de...
Sep 27, 2023•59 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation I welcome Carter from The Touched Out Podcast. Carter has three kids and he says his parenting style has evolved over the past year after he was diagnosed with ADHD and autism, alongside his 2-year-old son. His podcast focuses on men’s mental health and parenting, and it's about to launch into Season 2. Let’s get to it! LINKS The Touched Out Podcast Thank you to Carter for sharing his journey and for being part of Girl Dad Nation. Check out the links in the descrip...
Sep 13, 2023•42 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this bonus episode I welcome back Eleanor Leddick to talk about her podcast, Talkin' Puppies. LINKS Talkin' Puppies Podcast Thank you to Eleanor for sharing your puppy (and all animals) expertise and being part of Girl Dad Nation. I encourage you to give Talkin' Puppies a listen, like, and subscribe! You can find the links in the description. And if you have an animal story you want to share, please leave a comment on social media or send me an email to girldadn...
Sep 01, 2023•18 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation This is a special episode! I welcome Justin Leddick and his daughter Eleanor. Justin is not only a friend, but he is also my boss. We’ve worked together for the past 8 years at the Augustine Institute creating video content. He was the first video creator hire for the institute and now serves as Executive Director for the Studios. He is joined by his teenage daughter, Eleanor, who also is a creative and co-host for her podcast called Talking Puppies. LINKS Augustin...
Aug 21, 2023•40 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation Long time no see (or hear) Here to share some updates! IG: @girldadnation Twitter: @girldadnation [email protected] Support the show Follow me Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter): @GirlDadNation For more episodes, merch, events, and updates, visit the website: www.girldadnation.org Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at [email protected]...
Aug 21, 2023•6 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode I welcome Eric Taylor. He is a dad to two young daughters and known as “@girldad_e ” on Instagram. We talk about the importance of being present, admitting mistakes, and holding men to higher standards. That includes us especially as fathers and role models to our kids. No dusty sons allowed! Our daughters deserve better! Let’s get to it! LINKS Eric Taylor - @girldad_e AFFIRMATION SONG I’m strong. I’m smart. I’m beautiful with a brave heart. I love ...
Jul 13, 2023•50 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode I welcome Allan Shedlin. Allan is a father of and daddy to three daughters and five grandchildren. He has devoted his life’s work to education and the importance of good fatherhood, what he calls “Daddying.” He holds many titles and degrees, but he is most proud of his title D.A.D.. In this episode we talk about his goals for the Daddying Film Festival and Forum. Plus, I share my inspiration for the short film, ‘Love Grows Here’, that I submitted fo...
Jun 06, 2023•58 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this bonus episode, Jerome Kluck of the Everyday Parents Podcast shares his Survival Guide for Being a Stay-at-home Dad. He did not prepare this beforehand. It was not scripted. I put him on the spot and he sure delivered! Hope you enjoy this as much as I did! LINKS Everyday Parents Podcast Thank you to Jerome for sharing his top tips as a stay-at-home dad, and being part of Girl Dad Nation. This episode is coming out shortly after the Nuggets swept the Lakers i...
May 31, 2023•5 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode I welcome Jerome Kluck. Jerome and his wife Caitlin have a daughter named Charlie, and they host a podcast called Everyday Parents, featuring the day-to-day stories from many different parents. My wife, Becca, and I were guests on that podcast (link in the description) and now it’s an honor to welcome Jerome as a guest on Girl Dad Nation. LINKS Everyday Parents Podcast Thank you to Jerome for sharing his story and being part of Girl Dad Nation. Chec...
May 31, 2023•49 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this bonus episode, I ask Greg Bishop and Chuck Ault from Boot Camp for New Dads to share their top moves for new dads. Basically, these are their recommended best actions that any new father should take from years of experience! LINKS Boot Camp for New Dads Boot Camp for New Moms Thank you to Greg and Chuck for sharing their top tips and being part of Girl Dad Nation. I think all of the advice shared is really great and I encourage you to share this episode wit...
May 11, 2023•10 min
Send a text to Girl Dad Nation In this episode I welcome Greg Bishop and Chuck Ault from Boot Camp for New Dads. Greg is the founder of Boot Camp for New Dads, and Chuck jumped on board early on and has helped it grow. I was fortunate enough to attend Boot Camp before my first daughter was born and I highly recommend it for any new dad! Really enjoyed this conversation around fatherhood! LINKS Boot Camp for New Dads Boot Camp for New Moms Thank you to Greg and Chuck for sharing their stories and...
May 11, 2023•35 min
