The Company of Dads Podcast

Interview with Keegan Albaugh / Founder of Dad Guild, Educator, Lead DadHOSTED BY PAUL SULLIVANKeegan Albaugh readily admits that his wife, a grad student and stand-up comic, pushed him into starting what became Dad Guild. But after he gathered with a handful of other new fathers in Burlington, Vermont, he realized what he was striving to do was no joke. Normalizing fathers taking care of their babies was serious business. Tons of funny moments ensued along the way. Imagine a gaggle of dads with babies strapped to their chests walking through a park – the reactions were more akin to seeing a Hell’s Angels parade than watching parents care for newborns. Albaugh has built Dad Guild into a network of 500-plus fathers around Vermont and he is partnering with national organizations to spread what they’re doing for new parents. Hear how he has brought new dads out of their shells and helped them overcome basic fears and anxieties around being a Lead Dad to their young children.---Get our free newsletter covering all things fatherhood delivered straight to your inbox: https://thecompanyofdads.com/thedad/

Interview with Michael Teager / Jazz saxophonist, Early Remote Worker, Lead DadHOSTED BY PAUL SULLIVANMichael Teager is a renown saxophone player with multiple recordings who was gigging several times a week before his son was born. His wife, a musician and teacher, needed to return to work fairly quickly, so he stepped up to take over childcare duties. He felt he could make it all work. He stopped teaching, reduced his gigs, and asked to shift the hours of his job as a business manager to nights. But it came at a cost: sleep, music friendships, free time. He thought his life would return to normal in 2019 when his son went to school, but then Covid hit and his son was back with him. Oh and the family had moved to Buffalo, where he knew no one. Listen to how Teager balanced so much, kept following his passion and never quit.---Get our free newsletter covering all things fatherhood delivered straight to your inbox: https://thecompanyofdads.com/thedad/

Interview with Nikola Gasic / Newly minted C.F.A. Charterholder, Parent and Lead DadHOSTED BY PAUL SULLIVANNikola Gasic believed his employer when it offered him paternity leave when his son was born: take it, someone else will cover for you, your job will be here when you return. He took paternity leave to spend time with his son but he also took it because his wife’s job was more entrepreneurial than his: if she was out for six months it would be a set back to her career. As an investment manager, he could step back into his role and rely on teammates to keep things going. And in between juggling Lead Dad responsibilities, he decided to complete the hardest professional exam in finance. So when he returns to work, he’ll do so as a C.F.A. charterholder. Listen in to hear more serious Lead Dad balancing.---Get our free newsletter covering all things fatherhood delivered straight to your inbox: https://thecompanyofdads.com/thedad/

Interview with Dr. Jamie Ladge / Expert on The Trade-Offs Parents Make and How Work is ChangingHOSTED BY PAUL SULLIVANJamie Ladge, an associate professor of management and organizational development at Northeastern University, comes at the work-life debate with a lot of questions. Why is it hard to be both a good parent and a good worker? Can fathers be competent dads and professionals? Will involved dads be penalized like working moms have been? Where does the change start? (Hint: Not at the top.) Listen to her answer these questions and also provide suggestions on what companies need to do to adapt to the new world of work and advice on how men and women can be parents and workers without guilt.---Get our free newsletter covering all things fatherhood delivered straight to your inbox: https://thecompanyofdads.com/thedad/

Interview with Alex McKenzie / Emperor of Ice Cream, Sobriety Advocate, Lead DadHOSTED BY PAUL SULLIVANAlex McKenzie was the Emperor of Ice Cream, a life-long food lover who created an ice cream business (named for a Wallace Stevens poem) that was thriving pre-pandemic. He’d done many other things in the food world. He’s worked in the fields and in restaurants. The fish business – he’s swum in that tank. He’s also produced rock music and public radio podcasts. The most challenging role, though, has been figuring out his current dynamic: part-time college professor, LeadDad to his daughter and husband whose wife’s career as an architect has taken off. Hear him talk about the need to define and re-define roles in a Lead Dad home.---Get our free newsletter covering all things fatherhood delivered straight to your inbox: https://thecompanyofdads.com/thedad/

Interview with Nathan Richardson / Entrepreneur, Florida transplant, Father of TwinsHOSTED BY PAUL SULLIVANNathan Richardson was a New Yorker, and the community in his neighborhood allowed him to be a single Lead Dad to twins, a boy and a girl, and still work at the top of his profession. He had time to volunteer and be with each of his kids alone, knowing his neighborhood network was there to help. But stuck in a New York apartment during Covid, he made the tough choice to leave the city behind and move to Miami. His kids have adapted, but there have been challenges.  Hear him talk about the importance of other parents for single Lead Dads.---Get our free newsletter covering all things fatherhood delivered straight to your inbox: https://thecompanyofdads.com/thedad/

Interview with Tino Ricci / Husband to an ER Nurse, Home Depot Associate, Lead DadHOSTED BY PAUL SULLIVANWhen the pandemic began, Tino Ricci’s wife was an emergency room nurse outside of Ft. Worth, Texas. She was seeing first-hand how devastating the virus could be – and worried about bringing it home to her family. Tino stepped up, shifted his schedule, and took the lead on parenting and virtual-schooling. It was a role he embraced. After being a professional golfer for a decade, Tino began working at the Home Depot so he could be the Lead Dad to their children and support his wife’s dream of being a nurse. The pandemic got him thinking: Why is this such a hard role for men to take on? Hear more.---Get our free newsletter covering all things fatherhood delivered straight to your inbox: https://thecompanyofdads.com/thedad/

An Interview with Brad Klontz / Financial Psychologist, Tik Tok Influencer and Lead DadHOSTED BY PAUL SULLIVANWhat holds some men back from becoming Lead Dads – or at least openly embracing the role? It starts with traditional perceptions of masculinity, of being the higher earner, of being the provider, of not engaging as much with parenting and family tasks. But it’s not something that’s hardwired. Men can become more comfortable being Lead Dads and still fulfill their potential. What does it take? Dr. Klontz discusses his findings.---Get our free newsletter covering all things fatherhood delivered straight to your inbox: https://thecompanyofdads.com/thedad/

Interview with Dave Andrews / Air Force Officer, Commercial Pilot, Lead DadHosted By Paul SullivanFlying was Dave Andrews’ dream. As an officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force, he flew military operations and supported humanitarian aid missions; he also flew the prime minister under the call sign, CanForce One. He went on to fly for Air Canada where he was just as likely to wake up in Hawaii as Canada. But his priorities shifted when his son was born. Now he works in civil aviation and is a Lead Dad to his wife, a doctor, and their son. Hear how he managed the shift and has continued to be fulfilled.---Get our free newsletter covering all things fatherhood delivered straight to your inbox: https://thecompanyofdads.com/thedad/

Interview with Steve Israel / Financial Adviser, Ex-NFL Player, Lead Dad of FourHosted by Paul SullivanTalking to kids about money and financial responsibility isn’t easy. What might matter more is what your kids see you doing, not what they hear you saying. “Whatever I preached, they had to see me doing it,” said Steve Israel, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and played 10 years in the NFL. He now works as a private banker and financial adviser to families.---Get our free newsletter covering all things fatherhood delivered straight to your inbox: https://thecompanyofdads.com/thedad/