The Imperfect Dads Podcast

On this episode we have on Rick Robles who does voice overs for TV and film, music and created the kids show Shoebiters. 

We talk about his need to better about the family calendar, finding ways to recent during the day, doing voice overs and how he get started in the business, being an older dad, helping kids regulate when you need to regulate yourself, being better about sleep schedules and routines, balancing marriage, fatherhood and career, staying professional on a session when a kid walks into the studio, and his show Shoebitters. How he got i...

In this episode I talk to Ken Newman, musician, advocate, and founder of Blanket the Homeless.

Ken tells me the story of adopting his son, the ways he learned to advocate for his son, his current relationship with son, and lots of story of being a dad.

A lot of this episode is Ken being extremely honest about the love and emotion and depth he has found from being a dad.  From the stories he’s learned about other people’s lives, to learning to accept love, to being in aw...

On this episode we talk to Craig Turner from the band Dadhats.

We talk about taking kids to water parks, watching your kids go down water slides, working as a teacher, going to law school in St Louis, going from lawyer life to dad life, his band Dadhats, studio vs live performance, doing mini tours, playing Jortsfest and Midwest Friend Fest, and dance parties with your kids.

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On this episode we have on author and musician Pierce Freelon, 

We talked about kids getting older, figuring out if they’re going to college, historically black colleges, state of education for kids, not paying for baby sitters anymore, his creation of children’s music, male initiation rites, the importance of initiation rites, modern masculinity, and his new album Black Boy Glow.

You can find the new album everywhere you stream musical and visit piercefreelon.com to find his books and other creative adventures!

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On this episode we have on Brian Whittington, also known for doing kids music as Mr Bri Guy
 
 We talked about being a handyman and making makeshift studio with packaging blankets, balancing childcare with being a handyman, not having a traditional career path, making kids music, flying to New Zealand with kids, screen time, hiking adventures, and getting way too into recording techniques. 

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On this episode we have on bassist Eric Baines.  Eric has played with Dwight Yoakam, Keiko Matsui, and currently is a member of the legendary band Chicago.  He also has a podcast called The Dive Bar Rockstar Podcast.
 
 We talked about how moving from LA to Nashville, touring when you’re a dad, transitioning from bus to home life, when your son thinks he owns the tour bus, sleep deprivation, parenting anxiety, working on his own music when home, what it’s like when family visits on tour, and how he joined Chicago and what it’s like to be...

On this episode we have on author Doug Johnston to talk about his book Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart
 
 We talked about his daughter graduating college and starting her career, the importance of language, his love of quotes, his career in business, knowing the voice in your head, and how a nightly routine with his daughter inspired him to explore emotions and later write this book.
 
 His book came out this year and it discusses 272 emotions and the importance of understanding them.  It’s filled with quotes insights, and languag...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon is joined by Andy and Luke of the legendary band Piebald for a fun conversation about fatherhood, music, careers, and the challenge of balancing family life with being in a band.

Andy and Luke share what it's like raising an only child while continuing to create music and tour. Andy talks about teaching his son how to cook and how being a chef influences the way he parents, while Luke discusses his work with Noble & Cooley Drums, life with an ever-growing collection...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon sits down with Ben Mench-Thurlow, a booking agent who helps artists plan tours and the creator of the Emo Orchestra—the live concert experience that combines iconic emo and pop-punk songs with a full orchestra.

Content Note: This episode contains an honest conversation about child loss and grief.

Ben courageously shares the story of becoming a father to triplets and the heartbreaking reality that two of his children never came home from the NICU. He opens up about na...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon reconnects with Stephen Stallings, frontman of the band Plot Points. Although they went to college together, it had been nearly 15 years since they last caught up, making this conversation equal parts reunion, music talk, and honest discussion about fatherhood.

Stephen shares what life has been like since moving to New York, balancing a full-time career with being a husband, dad, and musician, and the long journey of finally finishing Plot Points' latest EP. He opens up about how work, family responsibilities, and...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon is joined by Eddie Reyes, founding member of Taking Back Sunday and current member of Me.

Eddie opens up about fatherhood, family, and rediscovering his love for music after stepping away to focus on himself and the people who mattered most. He shares what it's like raising a family where ADHD is a daily reality, why honest communication with his kids has become one of his greatest parenting tools, and how being a Gen X dad has shaped his approach...

Musician Travis Talbert joins The Imperfect Dads Podcast for a powerful conversation about grief, fatherhood, sobriety, faith, and finding purpose through life's hardest moments.

Travis opens up about the heartbreaking experience of losing a child as an infant and how that loss shaped him as a husband and father. He also shares what it's been like raising three children after that tragedy, why being present for his family matters more than ever, and how quitting alcohol changed his life.

Beyond parenting, we talk about Travis's work as a pedal steel guitarist, balancing music...

On this episode we have on Ryan Dominguez from the band Tokyo Rose. 

We talk about becoming a father through adoption, going from a music career to school to a teacher, how they got the band back together after 20 years, being a New York sports fan, going to baseball games with his son, what’s different making music as a teenager vs in your 40s, playing shows and reconnecting with fans, and how he found time to be creative and write new music.

Their new album Never Say Die com...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon is joined by Cameron Conrad, better known online as Your Elder Emo Mom. Cameron is a creator in the Never A Phase Network, where she shares her love of emo, pop-punk, concerts, nostalgia, and the music that continues to shape generations of fans.

While Cameron is known for her music content, this conversation focuses on something even more personal: motherhood and the lasting impact of growing up with a father in recovery.

Devon has spoken with many dads...

On this episode of The Imperfect Dads Podcast, Devon sits down with Todd Millenacker, one half of the children's music duo Todd 'n' Tina, for a conversation about fatherhood, creativity, music, and building a meaningful life.

Todd shares how he balances a traditional career in logistics with his passion for writing and performing children's music. They discuss preparing kids for college, raising confident and creative children, finding stability while pursuing artistic passions, and how becoming a dad changed the way he approaches work and life.

The conversation also explores...

On this episode we have on tattoo artist Chipper Harbin who is based out of Nashville.

We talk about Nashville’s creative scene, how he chose his style of water color tattoos, realities of being a tattoo artist, having kids that are good students, teaching empathy and kindness, being intentional when with family, touring with bands, doing tattoos on tour buses, and a staying authentic. 

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On this episode we have on Jonny Phillips.
 
 Jonny has been the drummer for the band Limbeck for over 20 years, and currently works for National Addiction Specialists and hosts the podcast Breaking Down Addictions. 
 
 We talked about Jonny’s family wanting to move closer to water, being a fan of all Milwaukee teams, making sure he’s around for his family, playing shows and going out feels different when you have a kid, the daily rhythms he and his wife get to do with their kid, a love of golf, getting sober, what sobriety means to him, e...

On this episode we have on Joe Carr from The Dedicated Joe Podcast and Serenity Kids.
 
 We talk about trying to motivate your kid to do something, being late diagnosed with autism, how that diagnosis and therapy have really helped him, male initiation rights, learning how to  be the husband and dad your family needs, community around that journey, learning to regulate your emotions, the damage shame can do, reparenting yourself, shadow work, 

I did an episode of Dedicated Joe you guys should go check out.  And I want to say that Joe w...

On this episode we have on David Reminick from Paper Mice and his new kids band DadJoke.

We talked about food, loving to cook, some of our favorite things to cook or eat, therapy, ADHD, learning to prioritize yourself, trying new things and challenging yourself, being nicer to yourself, what life lessons you teach your kids,  what you unlearn when you become a parent, his time in Paper Mice and his experience make music for kids as DadJoke, and realizing you’ve added way too many layers to a kids song.

On this episode we have on painter and artist Jennifer McCaffrey. 

Jennifer and I have been friends since kindergarten! So she is a life long friend.  If you have any life long friends, you know how much time goes by between talking to each other.  When you have a podcast, you just make them be on the show to catch up about life.

But really, we talked about Jennifer getting ready to have a 4th child, buying snacks at COSTCO, knowing kids won’t eat some of the snacks of CO...

On this episode we have on Steve Soboslai from the bands Punchline, Blue of Colors, and the podcast A Band Called Punchline.  
 
 We talked about his time in Nashville, moving back to Pittsburgh, being an older dad, having a young kid, finding mental space to write songs, coffee shop adventures with kids, community in Pittsburg, navigating screen time, enjoying the simple moments of life, his band Punchline, and starting a podcast with with his band to talk about their experiences and DIY punk. 

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On this episode we have on musician Annie Clements.  You might know her from her time playing bass with Marren Morris, Sugarland, Jason Isbell, and The Highwomen to name a few.  

We talked about how he family moved to Big Sky Montana, playing with Tuesday Night Radio Club, loving life out west and being outside more, when you can’t lose your voice because part of your job is singing but you’ve got to parent, her love of Harry Potter, reading books for Tonies for when she’s on the road, how her and her...

On this episode we have on musician Jeff Klemm who you may know for his kids music as Mr. Jeff or his other bands Diamon Kites or Maid Myriad.

We talked about guitar gear, songwriting,  life with 3 kids, going from touring musician in his 20s to having kids, to changing careers to pre k teacher, to writing songs for pre kids, then becoming a full time kids musician.  A lot of this discussion is talking about creativie energy and realizing the depth that exist in kids music. And the difference between playing for adults an...

On this episode we have on Josh Caterer from Smoking Popes.

We talked about being an empty nester, feeling like there’s gotta be a better name instead of empty nester, reflecting on how fast time goes, driving a school bus, leading worship at churches, thoughts on his upcoming tour, and wanting to be around for defining the next phase of life with his wife.

Make sure to go to Smoking Popes Music . Com or their instagram smokingpopesmusic to find their tour dates and how to get tickets!

...

On this episode we have on Chris and Steve from the band Further North.

We talked about life on tour, how their band feels like a brotherhood, Chris’ life with twins and journey with fertility, Chris’ day job with plumbing, Steve’s PHD in Boenhoffer, a detour into peaceful protest, planning on Steve not playing a show because of family commitment, and deep conversations in the van.

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On this episode we have on artist, designer, consultant Jon Chase.
 
 We talked about his daughter getting into emo/hardcore music, going to shows with kids, going from a  corporate job to self employed, being burnt out, learning mediation rituals, realizing you’re not fun when you’re stressed, his midlife crisis moment, thrifting for books, our shared love of music, former music connections making his kids think he’s a cool dad and how he helps companies as a consultant. 

Also if you want to hook up Jon with some My Chemical Romance ti...

On this episode we have on therapist and author Martina Nova. 
 
 We talked about having 2 kids, kids being almost out of diapers, being overwhelmed at a farmer’s market with 2 kids, nervous system regulation, why she focuses on nervous systems, curiosity in relationships, her work as a trauma therapist, and writing her book Same Page Parenting.
 
  I really enjoyed her book Same Page Parenting.  This book takes so many subjects that you encounter when you have kids and gives you a way to start conversations about it.  She takes subjects like identity, intimacy, screen time, food, neu...

On this episode we have on musician Thomas Csorba!

We talked life with 2 sons and expecting a daughter, mini van vs third row SUV, being mentally present for his kids, supporting his wife’s art career, balancing his business and creative mental spaces, recording new music, how he wrote his new album, the quiet moments of day to day life, a love of Wendell Barry poetry, and how he handles touring with family life.

Thomas’ new album Tender Country is out on May 22nd this year.  It’s an album where he explores the quieter moments of ever...

On this episode we have on author and retired US Air Force Special Missions Aviator Anthony Dyer
 
 We reflected on his daughter getting older, realizing how fast time goes, that every cliche has truth to it, his life after retirement, therapy, getting sober and learning to share his story.

Anthony recently wrote a book called Moon Child.  It’s about his experience in the military and retiring and returning to civilian life.  He discusses how he got sober and faced his demons before imploding his life.  Anthony told me in this call that he...

On this episode we have on musician Josh Fiedler who you might know from his bands The Juliana Theory, Pack, or Lowrev.
 
 We talked about Third Eye Blind’s self title being the perfect ending to an album, albums played in the van, being a dad to three kids, getting ready for a kid to go to college, working full time, choosing when to play shows, recording an album at home, releasing his first album as Lowrev, being the focal point of a band for the first time since high school, and how losing his dog made him...

On this episode we have on Keeth Apgar from the band Harmonica Pocket.

We talked about life in the Pacific Northwest, connecting with nature, playing music for kids, being inspired by how kids view the world, life with his son, going from pre school teacher to musician, loving the craft of writing songs, and embracing your mistakes as a parent.

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On this episodes we have on musician, producer, and guitarist for The Used Joey Bradford.
 
 We talked about life in California, having 3 daughters, being cool with Disney princess life, how kids keep you humble, raising independent kids, transitioning from tour to home life, building a home studio, loving golf, family helping when he goes on tour, and how he and his wife support each other.
 
 A lot of this episode is a genuine love of the life he’s building with his wife, and how they both get excited to support each following their dreams.  And I r...

On this episode we have on Ryan Parrish who may from his time in bands like Hopesfall or Celebrity.

Ryan is a dad to two daughters and they adopted and biological sisters.  Ryan shares the very emotional journey of going from never thinking he’d be a dad, to going through the adoption process, to becoming a dad, and then a couple years later getting the call that there was a sister on the way.  So this is his first hand experience of all the ups and downs and joy that comes with the adop...

On this episode we have on Jared Bowers with Midwest Friends Fest in Cincinnati area.
 
 We talked about loving physical mediums over digital, how much space they take up, having too many books to read, having a teenager, valuing kindness and empathy, navigating social media, deconstruction, treating your kid like an adult, and being an older parent.
 
 The Midwest Friends Fest is May 28th - 31st and tickets are on sale. Go to midwestfriendsfest.com to check out the bands and buy tickets

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On this episode we have on Shane and Mason from the band Turn Two.  

They both have 1 kid under the age of 2.  So a lot of this conversation is about the chaos, exhaustion and changes that come in the first year of a kids life.  Like when your kid chokes on a chip and then you’re googling hand held vacuums to see if you need one around the house.  

Mason’s daughter spent time in the NICU and we talked about the reality of when your daughter is born at...

On this episode we have on Jake Snider from Minus the Bear.

We talked about when your kids are right and you’re wrong, learning to give yourself more grace, school and parenting during COVID, navigating school when your kids have ADHD, wondering what college would be like for them, mental health, Minus the Bear Taking a break, getting getting the band back together,  being primary parent and focusing on family  more, how he and his wife handle him being on tour, and reunion shows and opening for Jimmy Eat World.

On this episode we have on author and podcast Jordan Ritter Conn.

Jordan recently wrote a book called American Men which came out on April 21st.  And did a podcast series called Sonic Boom about the Seattle Sonics leaving Seattle.

We talked about when a 2 year old critiques your story telling ability, a shared love of story telling, wanting your kid to be kind, being excited to watch them learn about the world, being a sport writer for the Ringer, and the empathy required to be a journalist and t...

On this episode we have on musician Andy Jackson. You may know Andy from his bands Hot Rod Circuit, Terrible Things, or Death In the Park.

We talked about moving from Alabama to Connecticut and being back in Alabama, working as an engineer with The B Side Studio and with TrimTab Brewing in Birmingham Alabama, having daughters, telling your kid happy birthday too early, life on the road, too much Taco Bell, making new music when the band lives out of state, and playing shows as Hot Rot Circuit this year.

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On this episode we have on Brian from Jet Fuel Artistry.

We talked about how kids keep you humble, teaching your kids to say truth but nicely, being Poppa Brian to his girlfriend’s twin daughters, having a son with autism, spending a lot of time at chuck e cheese with his son, post partum depression, depression, finding out his was bipolar and getting medicated correctly, going to therapy, mental health and his time in artist management and what started his journey with that.

Brian says multiple times in th...

On this episode we have on Sid from the band The Emergency Exit.  You also might have seen his videos on socials talking about being a Punk Rock Girl Dad and teaching his daughter about punk rock music.

We talked about letting her daughter play with his vinyl and guitars, how being a dad adds a layer of depth and love that’s hard to explain, horror movies, recording music, his love of star wars, and the story of how started posting videos of being a punk rock dad.

My...