We're going to go out on a light note after so many heavy episodes...mostly because I didn't want to cry in front of my father-in-law Rob Hood! He is a person I genuinely like and enjoy being around and not just because he's my wife's dad. We share a very similar sense of humor. He's a wonderful, self made, hard working provider too. I'm incredibly lucky to have him as a dad. Thank you for listening to this little journey with me. I do feel like the luckiest person in the world that I have...

This is going to be the penultimate episode for awhile at least. I sit down with my wife to review what I learned over the first 24 episodes of talking to my friends about parenting. I would like to return to this show every couple of years and check in with my guests to see where they're at and what's changed. So I hope you'll come back for that. Next week I'll be talking to my silly Father-in-Law Rob Hood and finally solve the mystery of why Allyson and her brother Kevin were able to watch...

I didn't know comedian and photographer very well before this interview, but she posted something on Facebook that I found really moving about how resourcefulness in her childhood contributed to the artist she is an adult. So I reached out to her to talk about that and the challenges of being a stepmom. I haven't really been putting links to my guests in these show notes, but if you would like to see Kara's amazing photography, check out her website: https://www.alcamophotography.com/

For as long as I've known him, my friend Jay has had a real strength of character where he will be completely honest with you no matter how much it may hurt your feelings. He's stoic. He's hard to crack too, which always made his approval at his job at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase the Holy Grail. When we became Facebook friends, I got to see a completely different side of him. I got to see him as a dad with so much love for his daughter. Every weekend they'd go on movie adventures and Jay...

Eric Haenke told me a wonderful story about a year and a half ago that stuck with me as the ultimate goal I had to strive for as a dad. I wanted him and his wife to share that story on this episode, which they do, in addition to giving me so much more to contemplate and digest. If there's one thing I'm really learning about successful parenting it's that often times it takes a team. The Haenkes are certainly no exception to that. Oh yeah, and we also talk about That Thing You Do, so there's a...

My depression gets the best of me sometimes and I get horribly intrusive thoughts and I worry about losing Benji. My friend JD Marshall had those nightmares become his reality when he lost his daughter Stephanie to Cancer. Somehow JD found the strength to carry on and develop A Mission of Love which helps other families who have kids fighting Cancer. One of the fundraising arms of that is Comedy 4 Cancer, which is how I met him. JD is a kind and selfless man. He's a strong and humble man. I...

I have perhaps too strong of a bond to my parents where even when they're not around I always look for parental figures. While I was in Los Angeles, Architect Eric Weeks became like a surrogate dad to me. When I found out how layered of a human he was after seeing him rock out with his band The Red Elevens I knew he was a friendship I'd value for my entire life. We joked around every single day we'd see each other and he kept my spirits up when they could be dour. Along with the silliness...

Samantha Hale is born and raised in Hollywood. She come from a Hollywood dynasty. Her Great Grandfather Alan Hale Sr. was buddies on screen and off with Errol Flynn. Her Grandfather was Alan Hale Jr., loved around the world to many as the Skipper on Gilligan's Island, the longest running television show in syndication of all time. I wanted to talk to Samantha about her relationship with movies and if they maintain their magical quality even though they're part of the family business. And more...

I've known my friends Jonathan and Hilary Robertson since 1991. We all worked together long before they were even married. The story of their relationship is quite epic in itself actually. They're married now, living in Pasadena and raising their exceptional daughter Dylan. The Robertsons made living in Los Angeles feel a little bit like home, welcoming me and my wife into their home very often. I love the three of them to death. Dylan is a smart, determined and good kid. Even though I would...

I've been friends with Joe Apel for a very long time. I actually graduated High School with his older brother Paul. Early on in our friendship Joe was faced with a humongous life decision. He ended up taking a leap of faith that drastically changed the trajectory of his destiny. It brought him his wife and his daughter. I get existential talking to Joe about momentous experiences and get a sneak peek at the show he's currently working on Tig N' Seek debuting on HBO Max tomorrow, July 24th.

Matt Naas is one of the most fun to watch performers in Michigan because you can always tell that he's having a great time. Performing live has taken a little bit of a back seat because now he has a daughter. Matt's creative ventures have become more home bound and he launched Gabber Media where he produces a variety of podcasts out of his home studio. He became a dad at 40 years old, so I was particularly interested in his thoughts about the "old dad" label since I became a dad at 47. Matt...

I've known Laurel Droz since the last century! She's married to my friend Andy and together they have two delightful kids. Laurel is one of the best writers I've ever read and I knew she's be able to express just what it takes to be a good parent. She also reveals and important lesson taught to her by Jar Jar Binks. This episode is a little long, but Laurel has a lot of great information to share. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

My friend Megan Cottington-Heath may be one of the most compassionate and empathetic people I've ever met. She's a comedian/comedy producer by night and a lawyer by day. She writes eloquently and honestly about the trials and tribulations. I was incredibly excited to talk to her about parenting. This is actually cut down from a 40+ minute conversation we had! She's a wealth of information. I couldn't be more grateful to have her as a friend. I hope you enjoy this conversation too.

My brother broke my podcast last week by showing me that being a good parent doesn't mean forcing the things I love onto my kid. This week, his wife, Danielle Bobbitt helps me get on track and gives me excellent parenting advice. We also talk about Lord of the Rings, Labyrinth, Breakfast Club and more!

My brother Brian is my younger brother, but as adults, he guides me like a big brother would. He and I are polar opposites. Where I enjoy the spotlight, he's kind of shy. He's a diesel mechanic. It's kind of a nice metaphor for how he parents too. You don't really see the engine working, you just kind of take for granted that it does, and it takes hard work and maintenance to keep it running. Brian and his son Jake talk to me about growing up and parenting. Through it all, this podcast...

Rebel Spies! lead singer Jeff Sanguis breaks my podcast.

Dance Dad Dennis Burdziak talks about sharing interests with your children

Comedian DJ Dangler talks about how he feels the future looks like for the children of today.

Comedian and Trivia Master (Trivia with Budds) Ryan Budds spoke with me about his love of spoofs growing up, as well as his daughter's delight with Disney +.

Sam Rager talks about the Brendan Frasier Mummy movies and how Waterboy is her Star Wars. We share horror stories about how Candyman and Sleepaway Camp scarred us as children. And then Sam interviews me about movie test screenings!

Actor Quintin Hicks talks to me about the experiences he's had introducing his son to art.

My first love is music, but I don't have enough skill at it to get by. The intro song, is my old band Exploded Toad, but honestly, all I did there was surround myself with incredibly talented people like Rob Bentley, Eric Walters, and Jeff Finazzo so they could carry my dead weight. My guest this week is an insanely talented musician who fairly recently began conquering improv comedy too. He's Matt Wixson. I first met him at a storytelling show, and told him afterwards that I wanted to be...

Comedian and Motor City Comedy Festival co-founder Lauren Uchalik talks about how growing up with a "rockstar" dad (Polish Muslims front man Dave Uchalik) affected the entertainment she watched as a child

Johnny Mocny from the We Are Movies podcast helps Mike Bobbitt understand how his love of movies began, and offers wonderful advice about the benefit of parody films.