Top Dad

🎙️ Episode 258 – "Book It, Dad! Pizza, Paperbacks & Parenting in the Age of Screens" Remember when reading five books earned you a free personal pan pizza? Those were the days when literacy was delicious. This week on The Top Dad Podcast, Ken and Matt tackle one of modern parenting's greatest challenges: How do you raise kids who love reading when they're competing against unlimited screen time, video games, and the dopamine factory known as YouTube? 📚 BOOK IT! The Golden Age of Reading ...

🎙️ Episode 257 – "Spread the Dad: Peanut Butter, Pizza & Questionable Life Choices" This week on The Top Dad Podcast, the dads tackle one of the greatest culinary debates of all time... Creamy or Crunchy? What starts as a simple peanut butter conversation somehow spirals into vasectomies, golf strategy, pizza wars, and enough food talk to make you raid the pantry before the episode is over. 🥜 The Top 10 Peanut Butters... Even Though There Are Only Seven Ken and Matt rank every peanut but...

🎙️ Episode 256 – "Popcorn, Paperbacks & Peak Dad Technology"Summer vacation is almost here, which means every dad is busy asking life's most important questions: "Do we really need a bigger rental SUV?" (The answer is always... probably.) This week on The Top Dad Podcast, the dads pack their bags, fire up the popcorn machine, and take a nostalgic trip through books, beaches, and buttery memories. 🏖️ Kiawah Island: Dad Vacation Planning Beach or pool? Morning golf or afternoon nap? The Top...

🎙️ Episode 255 – "You're Not the Butler, Dad! Mac & Cheese, Cereal Prizes & Letting Go" At some point, every dad has the same realization: "I don't work for these tiny people." This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we tackle one of the hardest parts of parenting—knowing when to stop doing everything for your kids... and start teaching them to do it themselves. 🥣 The Golden Age of Cereal Box Prizes Remember when breakfast came with submarines, decoder rings, and enough sugar to power a sma...

🎙️ Episode 254 – "Do You Know Where Your Kids Are? Concerts, Camp & World Cup Chaos"This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we're taking a nostalgic trip back to the days when every TV station reminded parents, "Do you know where your children are?" The real question today? Do you know where your phone is... because apparently it has 14,000 pictures of your kids on it. 📸 Living in the Moment… or Living Behind the Camera? From disposable cameras and one-hour photo labs to AI cleaning up blurry f...

🎙️ Episode 253 – "Clock It, Dad! Bingo, Baseball & Canned Cocktails" This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we're spanning generations faster than a dad trying to figure out what his teenager just texted. 🚬 Cigarettes & Bingo Take a nostalgic trip back to the days when bingo halls smelled like cigarette smoke, everyone had a lucky dauber, and somehow Grandma still knew exactly who was cheating. 🗣️ Gen Z Sayings... "Clock It!" The Top Dads attempt to decode the ever-changing language of Gen...

🎙️ Episode 252 – "By the Power of Dad! Eggs, Audiobooks & Omaha Dreams" This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we're proving that dads can discuss Saturday morning cartoons, baseball, breakfast, and parenting... all before the coffee gets cold. ⚔️ He-Man: The Movie By the power of Grayskull... Hollywood is bringing He-Man back! We relive the cartoons that shaped our childhoods and ask the important question: can Skeletor survive modern movie critics? 🎧 Audiobooks: A Dad's Best Friend? Whether ...

🎙️ Episode 251 – "Wham, Bam... Thank You, Dad!" Warning: This is officially the fastest Top Dad Podcast episode ever recorded. You're welcome. We know dads are busy. Between practices, projects, grocery runs, and trying to remember why you walked into the garage, sometimes you've only got a few minutes. So this week, we're delivering maximum dad with minimum runtime. 🎤 Family Feud: The Greatest Game Show Ever? Survey says... probably! We debate whether Steve Harvey, Richard Dawson, or simply ...

🎙️ Episode 250 – “The Dadministration: Apologies, Birthday Parties & Standing Ovations” 250 episodes! That’s hundreds of dad jokes, thousands of questionable opinions, and at least one child asking, “Dad… are you recording again?” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we celebrate Episode 250 by tackling one of the toughest jobs in the world: being Dad… and occasionally acting like a functioning adult. 🎓 Major or Minor: Business Administration College majors, career choices, and why ev...

🎙️ Episode 249 – “Vacation Dad, Turf Wars & Tee Times” There are regular dads… and then there’s Vacation Dad. He’s relaxed, wears the loud golf shirt, orders dessert without asking, and somehow becomes everyone’s favorite parent for exactly five days. This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we’re packing the clubs, loading the SUV, and proving that every great dad deserves at least one golf trip a year. ⛳ Golf Trip Travel Tips from a Pro From packing your clubs without paying a second mortgage...

🎙️ Bonus Episode 248 – “Pour Decisions & Dad Wisdom”This week on a special bonus episode of The Top Dad Podcast, Top Dad Ken sits down with Greg from PourMore to discuss one of the greatest inventions in modern fatherhood: having premium spirits show up at your door without having to wander the liquor store for 45 minutes pretending to know what you’re looking for. 🥃 What is PourMore? PourMore is a spirits-of-the-month club that delivers full-sized bottles directly to members, helping wh...

🎙️ Episode 247 – “Fore Please! Oreos, Ho Hos & Horrible Dating Advice” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, the dads celebrate what might be the greatest holiday on the calendar: Masters Weekend. That’s right—forget birthdays, anniversaries, and major religious observances. For dads everywhere, Augusta is sacred ground. ⛳ Masters 2026 – We discuss every dad’s favorite weekend, the beauty of perfectly striped fairways, and why watching golf on Sunday afternoon counts as self-care. 🌭 Chicago ...

🎙️ Episode 246 – “Space Launches, Sports Carpools & the Eternal Dinner Question” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, the dads are running on caffeine, sports schedules, and whatever’s left in the fridge. ⚽ Kids in Sports: The Grind & The Struggle Practices. Tournaments. Forgotten water bottles. We dive into the beautiful chaos of raising youth athletes while pretending we totally meant to spend our Saturday at a freezing soccer field. 🍕 What’s for Dinner?! The most dangerous question ...

🎙️ Episode 245 – “Rufio, Snape & the Dad Dinner Survival Guide” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, things get weird, wild, and mildly educational—just the way dads like it. 🧙‍♂️ Rufio Meets Professor Snape We kick things off with the crossover nobody asked for but every dad now needs. Leadership lessons from Neverland meets “points deducted from your household.” 🐕 Top Dad Ken vs. The Giant Dog There are dog bites… and then there are stories you tell forever. Ken survives a run-in that pr...

🎙️ Episode 244 – “Conspiracies, Costco Runs & Underwear Decisions.” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we connect the dots… whether they need connecting or not. 🕵️ Dad Conspiracy Theories From “why are socks always disappearing?” to “who keeps moving the thermostat?”—we uncover the truths they don’t want dads to know. 🛒 Meijer Breakdown & Review Is it a grocery store? A lifestyle? A full-blown dad playground? We deep dive into aisles, deals, and the emotional rollercoaster of going in ...

🎙️ Episode 243 – “Sack Lunches, Safety Patrol & the Mr. Destiny Dad Dilemma” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, the dads lace up their New Balance and enter full Field Trip Dad Mode™. 🚌 Field Trip Dad + The Secret Sack Lunch Recipe We reveal the elite-level dad move: the perfectly engineered sack lunch. Balanced. Efficient. Slightly embarrassing. Possibly legendary. 🎒 School Trips with the O.G. Top Dads From zoo trips to museum meltdowns, we break down the unspoken hierarchy of chaperones ...

🎙️ Episode 242 – “Groundhog Gas Tanks & Dad the Taxi Man” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we’re stuck in a parenting time loop… and honestly? It feels suspiciously like Groundhog Day. 🐿️ Groundhog Day Shenanigans Is winter over? Is it not? Does it matter when your kid still can’t find their gloves? We break down the annual rodent-based weather report and why dads secretly respect the confidence of a groundhog. 🚗 Family Road Trip Do’s & Don’ts Pro tip: leave early. Real tip: you will...

🎙️ Episode 241 – “Spitball Science, Derby Drama & Dad Joke Disasters” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we enter the sacred arena of Dad Engineering™ — where blueprints are optional, but confidence is mandatory. 🚗 Pinewood Derby 2026 Recap Top 5 finish, baby. Plus… the legendary Dad Race. Because nothing says “healthy competition” like grown men arguing about graphite and aerodynamics while pretending it’s “for the kids.” 🛠️ Spitball Engineering & Design From garage prototypes to full...

🎙️ Episode 240 – “Waterparks, Lightbulbs & Dad-level Bright Ideas” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, it’s dads on the move, on a mission, and—let’s be honest—a little over their heads. 💦 Top Dad Matt goes to the Dells! A splashy adventure full of water slides, overpriced snacks, and the annual reminder that dads are not built for lazy rivers. 💡 Top Dad Ken goes crazy with lightbulbs! We’re talking LEDs, lumens, and the kind of home improvement chaos that makes you question your wattage… a...

🎙️ Episode 239 – “Stretch Goals, Small Talk & Mighty Ducks Dad Energy” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we’re loosening up the hamstrings, the parenting rules, and maybe a few belts. 🦆 Mighty Ducks & Gentle Parenting – The dads dive into whether Gordon Bombay would survive modern parenting (“timeout, not penalty box”). 🍻 Dads Drinking Tips – From “just one more” to “how did we end up singing Journey again?” we cover the fine art of knowing your limits (and pretending you’re still in ...

🎙️ Episode 238 – “French Toast & Fresh Starts” New year, same dads—slightly less motivated. The Top Dad Podcast kicks off 2026 with a sizzling start (and a sizzling griddle) as we unveil Top Dad Ken’s Secret French Toast Recipe—the perfect mix of carbs, confidence, and questionable measurements. 🍞 We talk staycations in the Windy City—Top Dad Matt's trip to the Second City 👃 We debate the official dad scent of 2026 (spoiler: it’s somewhere between gasoline and pancake syrup). 🎯 And we wra...

🎙️ Episode 237 – “Band Camp, Indy’s Easter Eggs & the Watch List Finale” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we’re closing out the year with brass, class, and a touch of dad sass. 🎺 Middle School Band Breakdown – Because nothing tests a parent’s love like 37 trombones playing “Jingle Bells” slightly off-key. 🕵️‍♂️ Top Secret Easter Eggs – The dads decode hidden gems from Indiana Jones and Top Gun: Maverick while admitting they’ll never look that cool in a fedora or flight suit. 🎄 It’s a Won...

🎙️ Episode 236 – “Shots, Super Coaches & Sit, Ubu, Sit” This week on the Top Dad Podcast, we’re bringing the party favors, the pep talks, and the parenting wisdom—just don’t expect them in equal measure. 🎂 We start with Birthday Party Magic—aka how to survive a sugar tornado and still smile for the photo. Then, it’s onto Rec League Chaos, where we discuss how to deal with “Super Coaches,” those sideline superheroes who think every 8-year-old game is the World Series. 🥃 Next, we debate the...

🎙️ Episode 235 – “Confident Dads, Creepy Nights & Half Price Ribs” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we’re serving up a full plate of dad wisdom—with a side of Halloween flashbacks and leftover confidence issues. 👻 We kick things off with some spooky tales from Halloweens past (spoiler: the scariest part was the sugar crash). Then we dig into Dad Downtime—that magical, mythical moment between cleaning up dinner and passing out on the couch. 🍽️ Plus, we tackle the all-important Family Dinn...

🎙️ Episode 234 – “Confidence, Crayons & Viking Choruses” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we’re getting artsy fartsy—with just a touch of Norse mythology and a dash of 80s movie trivia. 🎨 Whether you’re painting confidence with broad strokes or dodging dodgeballs at middle school intramurals, we’ve got your dad-life lessons covered. We tackle the wild world of musical Vikings (yes, that’s a thing), debate when a harmless lie becomes a full-blown household truth, and confess our love for ...

🎙️ Episode 233: “Dents, Deals & Dad-Level Halloween Skills” Buckle up, dads — this week’s episode swerves harder than Top Dad Ken after someone didn’t check their blind spot. That’s right: Ken gets into a fender-bender, which means we’re diving deep into the Rules of the Road (Dad Edition) — including why using your turn signal is not, in fact, a sign of weakness. Meanwhile, Top Dad Matt goes full Antiques Roadshow after discovering a treasure that apparently costs… a nickel? We break dow...

🎙️ Episode 232 – “90s Jingles, Goonies & Dad Bathroom Zen” This week on the Top Dad Podcast, we’re rewinding to the '90s—when jingles slapped, movies had heart, and your biggest fear was forgetting to rewind your latest Blockbuster rental. Top Dad Matt returns from Turks & Caicos with salt in his bones and sunscreen in his soul, while Top Dad Ken dives deep into his kids’ irrational fears (spoiler: everyone is afraid of getting eaten by something while sitting on the 🚽 ). We debate Mo...

🎙️ Episode 231 – “Dirt Bikes, Shampoo Jugs & Going Off the Grid” This week on the Top Dad Podcast, we’re cracking the cap on dad life one family-sized jug of shampoo at a time. Seriously—who decided shampoo needed to weigh as much as a toddler? Top Dad Matt goes full throttle with his first dirt bike adventure (spoiler: it ends with dust, dad grunts, and mild soreness), while Top Dad Ken tackles the complexities of the digital detox. Can dads survive without fantasy football apps, g...

🎙️ Episode 230 — Alge-bros: Two Dads vs. Fifth Grade Math This week on the Top Dad Podcast, we ask life’s most dangerous question: Are you smarter than a 5th grader? (Spoiler: No. No, we are not.) Top Dads Ken and Matt dust off their calculators, sharpen their #2 pencils, and try to survive a pop quiz from the most terrifying teacher of all—elementary school math. Common core? More like common confusion. We also get deep and sentimental (but not too sentimental) with some lightly uninformed t...

🎙️ Episode 229 – “Scratch Marks & Schoolyard Time Trials” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we slam the dad pedal to the metal and hit the NOS—because parenting doesn’t come with brakes (or insurance coverage for car scratches). Top Dad Ken relives his high-octane days as an elementary school volunteer—think less “Cool Dad” and more “Snack Dad”—while Top Dad Matt contemplates whether Beverly Hills jail is as plush as its 90210 zip code. Also in this episode: 🚗 Your kid scratched your car…...

🎙️ Episode 228 – “Golf, Tuna & Indie Bookstore Drama” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we tee it up with the ultimate guide to introducing golf to your kids—without making them hate you or the sport. Spoiler: bribery helps. Top Dad Matt shares his run-in with Michael Jordan’s actual house (and no, it’s not an Airbnb), while Top Dad Ken reveals his secret weapon for lunch domination: the world’s most dad-approved tuna salad recipe. We also recap a classic family vacation to Kiawah Island,...

🎙️ Episode 227 – “Hats Off, Fasts On & Dad Goals” This week on the Top Dad Podcast, we’re breaking a sweat—literally and metaphorically. From blue-collar hustle to figuring out your hat size (apparently, it’s a thing), we’re tackling it all. We talk fasting—fun cleanse or hangry nightmare?—the importance of exercise (mostly to offset those Costco hot dogs), and why one-on-one time with your kids matters more than any dad bod PR. Plus, our Top Dad Tips on helping your kids set goals withou...

🎙️ Episode 226 – “Bananas, Birthdays & Bunker Shots” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we tee off at Jr. Golf Camp, debate grocery store ethics (yes, grape grazing is stealing), and ask the real question: why are bananas so confusing? Is it per pound? Per banana? Per your busshel? Who knows. We also dive into the chaos of birthday sleepovers—where kids never sleep, snacks vanish in seconds, and someone definitely cries (sometimes it’s a dad). Speaking of terrifying: we reveal our top scar...

🎙️ Episode 225 – “Bulk Buys & Hot Dog Lies” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we lace up our dad shoes, flash our membership cards, and head straight into the hallowed halls of Costco. Where dreams are sold by the pallet and your kids magically vanish in the snack aisle. We’re diving deep into the joys of buying in bulk—because nothing screams “fatherly responsibility” like 7 pounds of shredded cheese and a drum of pretzels. Plus, we pay tribute to the greatest deal in dad history: the le...

🎙️ Episode 224 – “Sports, Scotch, and Solo Dad Time” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we break a sweat (figuratively), pour a Scotch (literally), and dive into the chaos of dadhood one-on-one. We’re talking sports—playing them, watching them, and mostly pretending we’re still good at them. Plus: why one-on-one time with your kids is more valuable than a front-row seat at the Big Game (unless it’s Da Bears… then it’s a tie). We introduce a bold new drink idea: The Water Hazard—hydration meets...

🎙️ Episode 223 – “Knives, Rotten Tomatoes & The Birds and the Bees” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we wrestle with the real parenting questions—like when to have “the talk,” what counts as a knife (that’s not a knife), and whether Waterworld deserves a second chance (spoiler: no, but the stunt show slaps). Join us as we crack open the Great Egg Debate (how do you like your eggs, and are you wrong?), revisit 1986’s finest Aussie export Crocodile Dundee, and try to figure out if Rotten T...

🎙️ Episode 222 – “Dads, Disney, and the Great Butterscotch Comeback” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we’re taking a detour through the Magical Kingdom of Midlife Dadhood. From navigating Disneyland with kids (and a fanny pack full of granola bars) to defending the honor of butterscotch like it’s 1987—this episode is packed tighter than a minivan headed for vacation. We debate the real reason behind traffic slowdowns—are we rubbernecking or just taking a good, long “gapper's delay” to mental...

🎙️ Episode 221 – “Ladders, Field Day, and the End of Elementary Innocence” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we climb the ladder of dadhood—literally. From the unspoken bond between dads and their ladders (we don’t need a taller one, we want a taller one), to the bittersweet mayhem of Field Day season, we’re covering it all. School’s out, summer’s in, and our kids are leveling up from elementary to middle school—and we’re not crying, you’re crying (okay, we’re also crying… behind our sunglass...

🎙️ Episode 220 – “You’re Killing Me, Smalls!” This week on The Top Dad Podcast, we step up to the plate and swing for the fences in the wild world of kids’ baseball — where the grass is patchy, the snacks are elite, and the politics are more intense than a parent-teacher conference gone sideways. Top Dad Matt breaks down the drama of Little League politics (spoiler: someone didn’t make All-Stars and momma’s not happy), while Coach Ken navigates the chaos of coach pitch—where every ball is eit...

🎙️ Episode 219 – “Be Kind, Rewind… and Raise Kids” This week on the Top Dad Podcast, we’re firing up the VCR, grabbing a Lunchable, and diving headfirst into the ultimate 90s movie time capsule. From action-packed blockbusters to feel-good family flicks, we rank our favorite must-see 90s movies—complete with questionable fashion choices, dramatic slow-motion walks, and at least one Kevin Costner reference too many. We’ve got movie quotes flying like dodgeballs in gym class and dad jokes strai...

🎙️ Episode 218 – “Unfriend, Unbun, Unbelievable Yards” This week on the Top Dad Podcast, we trim the fat—on our lawns and our Facebook friend lists. That’s right, it’s spring cleaning season, both digitally and digestively. Join us as we dive into the tricky art of unfriending people you haven’t spoken to since dial-up, share weight loss tips only a dad would think work (spoiler: mowing the lawn does count as cardio), and take a firm stance against tiny meats—no more hot dogs, bring on the bi...

🎙️ Episode 217 – “Golf, Goonies, and the Harsh Truth About Losing” This week on the Top Dad Podcast, we’re teeing off with some hard truths: golf is impossible, Goonies never say die, and your kids will eventually lose — at something. Join your favorite suburban sages as we dive into the real struggles of parenting, like breaking your toddler’s thumb-sucking habit (without breaking your sanity), turning “life’s not fair” into a valuable lesson (instead of just yelling it in the car), and teac...

🎧 Episode 216 – “Cosplay, Cops, and Cars” Buckle up, dads — it’s a road trip down memory lane, complete with Dad-approved detours, Lego mishaps, and a few questionable fashion choices. In this episode of the Top Dad Podcast, we unpack the chaos of spring break hangovers (spoiler: the kids bounce back faster than we do), dad-style April Fool’s jokes (mostly harmless… mostly), and the critical differences between pre-dad and post-dad road trips (hint: more Goldfish crackers, fewer mixtapes). We...

🎙️Top Dad Podcast - Episode 215 Spring Break & Spilled Drinks: An 80s Flick, a Limewire Kick, and Midwest Mayhem Episode Description: This week on the Top Dad Podcast, we dive into a Midwestern Spring Break so thrilling, you’ll need a hoodie and a snow shovel. Ken and Matt discuss the glory days of pirated music—Napster vs Limewire—aka the Cold War of digital theft. The Top Dads apologize to their parents for swearing and mildly offensive jokes delivered on the podcasts and No Boomers, th...

Episode 214: Big Dad Energy, Budget Battles & Bingo Nights This week on the Top Dad Podcast, we’re bringing the laughs and the life lessons. Ken and Matt share Big Daddy Parenting Tips, dive into St. Patrick’s Day ☘️ shenanigans, and recap a wild game of Grandparents Bingo. We’re talking real dad stuff: budgeting wins (and fails), dieting struggles, and all the ancient tech our kids just don’t get—telephones, fax machines, and even the ol’ Rolodex. Plus, a little early morning radio trivi...

“Algorithms, Cub Scouts, and the Dad Joke Algorithm – Episode 212” 📖 Episode Description: Welcome to Top Dad Podcast Episode 212, where the Wi-Fi is strong, the jokes are stronger, and the dad wisdom is dialed in tighter than your dad’s fanny pack on vacation. This week we’re deep-diving into our algorithm rabbit holes (turns out we’re 87% dad jokes, 10% wristwatch reviews, and 3% how-to videos on starting fires with pinecones). We talk technologically impaired parents, start our very own Top...

🎙️ Episode 212: Reebok Pumps, Pizza Ranch, and the Lost Art of Hotel Room Service From Reebok Pumps and Mr. 80’s dad vibes to Pizza Ranch’s secret sauce (literally), Episode 212 is a nostalgic trip through everything that made growing up awesome. The Top Dads dive into the evolution of beer pong, why hotel room service isn’t what it used to be and share questionable takes on some “newish” movies. Spoiler: 🇫🇷 Franch dressing might be a thing. Whether you’re an ’80s kid or just miss the glory d...

“Post-Vacation Dad: Golf, Airports & $80 in Taco Bell Regrets” 🌮⛳✈️ The Top Dad Podcast is back from vacation, and we’ve got travel wisdom, golf dreams, and fast food regrets to unpack! ✈️ Airport Dad Mode – Tips, tricks, and what not to do while navigating terminals like a pro. ⛳ Can You Play Too Much Golf? – Asking for a friend (and our backs). 🌮 $80 on Taco Bell?! – A dad’s guide to making questionable financial decisions. 🧳 Planning the Ultimate Mancation – Because dads deserve trips ...

“Breadsticks, Birdies & Dad Wisdom: A Top Dad Guide” This week on Top Dad, we’re serving up a full plate of dad life, date nights during the day, and pre-golf trip greatness! 🍝 Endless Breadsticks & Marriage Maintenance – The secret to a solid relationship? Unlimited soup, salad, and carbs. ⚽ Parenting the Ted Lasso Way – Because believing works on and off the pitch. ⛳ Dad’s Golf Trip Prep – Packing, planning, and pretending to work while booking tee times. 🧢 Minor League Hat Store – ...

“Top Dad 209: New Cars, Dad Style & Super Bowl Crystal Balls” This week on Top Dad, we’re shifting gears and tackling all things cars, style, and sports! 🚗🏈 🔹 New Car Drama – Is buying a car worse than potty training? We break down the process. 🔹 Insurance Nightmares – Tips, tricks, and horror stories that’ll make you want to bike everywhere. 🔹 Dealing with Car Salesmen – Pro dad tactics for getting the best deal (and free floor mats). 🔹 Leveling Up Dad Style – Finding a look that says re...