Trading Careers for Time With My Kid | Joel Costigan on Fatherhood, Adventure, Summer Bonding

Trading Careers for Time With My Kid | Joel Costigan on Fatherhood, Adventure, Summer Bonding

Author: Adam Flaherty, Marc Checket August 22, 2025 Duration: 48:47
Does the idea of a whole summer one on one with your kid sound idyllic... or intimidating? If you’ve ever been the primary parent for a whole season, you've likely experienced both of those extremes. In this episode, we’re joined by Joel Costigan, a longtime educator, soccer coach, and dad to a 7-year-old daughter named Ruby. Joel recently made a major career move, trading a lucrative healthcare job for an Ed Tech position, which brought him back to his roots and awarded him an entire summer to spend with Ruby. Joel shares what he learned navigating a busy, adventure-filled season as both planner and playmate, his biggest parenting fears, and the surprising joys (and challenges) of being a hands-on “girl dad." After the chat, stick around for Marc’s family vacation story, complete his boys’ accidental new signature move: "Peen pinching."

Adam Flaherty and Marc Checket, two dads from suburban New England, are well aware the world doesn't need another podcast where guys just ramble. That self-awareness is precisely what fuels Modern Dadhood. Instead of claiming to have all the answers, they get real about the messy, rewarding, and constantly shifting landscape of fatherhood today. Each episode is built on candid, authentic, and often hilarious conversations that unpack what it means to be a parent now. They sit down with a wonderfully diverse range of voices-from famous fathers to those you'd never hear from otherwise, including stepdads, granddads, and dads-to-be. Listening in feels like pulling up a chair for an honest talk among friends, one where the challenges are met with empathy and the triumphs are genuinely celebrated. This isn't just a show for dads; it's for anyone interested in the modern dynamics of family. You'll hear stories that resonate, practical insights nestled within the laughter, and a refreshingly broad perspective on culture, education, and self-improvement through the lens of parenting. Modern Dadhood moves beyond the superficial to explore the genuine connections and personal growth at the heart of raising kids.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Modern Dadhood | Unpacking Fatherhood + Parenting for Dads (and Moms!)
Podcast Episodes
Rewind Episode | Sean Carrillo on Being Beck's Step Dad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:20
Still riding the high of seeing Beck perform with a live orchestra (and getting the rare chance to say hello to him post-show), Adam chose to resurface our 2021 interview with Beck's step-dad, the multi-talented Sean Car…
Rewind Episode | She / Her / DAD | Tessa White on Trans Fatherhood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:03
This "Rewind" episode doubles as our Father's Day 2024 episode! The guys chat about what an ideal Father's Day would look like, play a fun quiz game, and then throw back to the 2022 interview with trans dad Tessa White w…
U Mad Bro? | Men's Coach Sean Hotchkiss on Anger, Trauma, and Healing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:00
According to Men's Coach and Somatic Practitioner Sean Hotchkiss, everyone carries traumatic experiences with them from when they were young. These can be major emotional traumas like the divorce of your parents, or they…
Mother's Day Special 2024! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:48
It's Mother's Day 2024, and we dedicate this episode to ALL the moms—the real superheroes who make our families run like well-oiled machines with their dedication, selflessness, and boundless love. Marc and Adam wager gu…
Rewind Episode | Matt Gourley on Being a New Dad, Finding Balance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:41
In this "Rewind" episode, we revisit our February 2022 conversation with podcasting guru Matt Gourley, known for his work on Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, Superego, Drunk History, Keys To The Kingdom, and much, MUCH more…