

What a Hell of a Way to Dad
What a Hell of a Way to Dad
Francis and Nate bring you weekly dad chats, plotting the growth of their daughters and themselves. Episodes are interspersed with interviews with various authors and journalists. The hosts are both veterans, so also expect a lot of meandering stories
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 30, 2023 • 1h
DadChat: Busting to Text Games
This week, Nate and Francis conduct a DadChat on a special day: it’s Francis’ 40th birthday and we are officially Old. However, we don’t dwell on that too much, but instead discuss the travails of being the one person at work who knows how computers work (and network management, and hardware management, and knowing different kinds of USB plugs). But more importantly, we discuss the storied history of Sierra games, to include their 1981 sexual text game. This is 100 percent real. Like Hell of a Way? Check out our Patreon and get hundreds of hours of bonus content dating all the way back to 2017: www.patreon.com/hellofawaytodie *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Mar 23, 2023 • 53min
DadChat: Commence Wriggling Out of This Jam
We recorded an episode on the morning of the day that Donald Trump claimed he was going to get arrested. We decided to offer our predictions on what we thought might happen, fully knowing that the situation would most likely change between recording time and publication. Call it a compass check–an assessment of whether or not we know anything at all. We also respond to your Ask A Dad questions. Hope you enjoy! Like Hell of a Way? Check out our Patreon and get hundreds of hours of bonus content dating all the way back to 2017: www.patreon.com/hellofawaytodie *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Mar 16, 2023 • 47min
2022’s Worst Military Movies feat. Sarah Sicard
This week, Francis speaks with Military Times senior editor Sarah Sicard about the absolute worst military films to grace our screens in 2022. They’re almost always bad, but last year they might have been worse? Check out Sarah’s writing here: https://www.militarytimes.com/author/sarah-sicard/ Like Hell of a Way? Check out our Patreon and get hundreds of hours of bonus content dating all the way back to 2017: www.patreon.com/hellofawaytodie *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Mar 9, 2023 • 1h
DadChat: Your Dads Want You to Relax and Enjoy Things
A banner week for DadChat: Nate and Francis discuss how to combat the feeling that you’ve got so much stuff left to do that you can’t relax. We also discuss the Army bringing back its 1980s-vintage recruiting slogan ‘Be all that you can be,’ why ductless mini-split heat pumps are amazing, and offer responses to your ‘Ask a dad’ questions. Hope you enjoy! Like Hell of a Way? Check out our Patreon and get hundreds of hours of bonus content dating all the way back to 2017: www.patreon.com/hellofawaytodie *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Mar 2, 2023 • 52min
DadChat: The Gun Coffee Lament
This week, Nate and Francis react to news that a certain patriotic gun troops coffee company is in hot water, both because they’ve failed to make millions of dollars in payments to vendors, and because their CEO got so mad at a guy for being a better shot than him that he allegedly sexually harassed the man for a year. It’s bad stuff! But not surprising. Also: we answer your Ask A Dad questions. Like Hell of a Way? Check out our Patreon and get hundreds of hours of bonus content dating all the way back to 2017: www.patreon.com/hellofawaytodie *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Feb 23, 2023 • 58min
Purple Drank Poppyseeds: 100% Real
This week, Nate and Francis discuss a recent Military dot com article about how the U.S. Army may have punished people for positive drug tests because they ate poppy seeds. This 100 percent sounds like an urban legend, but the Army had to make a statement about it and apparently has research scientists on retainer to study this. Read the article here: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/02/21/stop-eating-poppy-seeds-or-you-might-fail-drug-test-pentagon-warns.html Like Hell of a Way? Check out our Patreon and get hundreds of hours of bonus content dating all the way back to 2017: www.patreon.com/hellofawaytodie *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Feb 16, 2023 • 49min
Balloon Talk feat. Kelsey Atherton
This week, Francis speaks with friend of the show and defense journalist Kelsey Atherton (@athertonkd) about the recent phenomenon of balloon interceptions. What’s the deal with these balloons–what is the technology involved, how come we’re just hearing about it now, and should we be concerned about a balloon-centric conflict in the future? Check out Kelsey’s substack here: https://athertonkd.substack.com/ Like Hell of a Way? Check out our Patreon and get hundreds of hours of bonus content dating all the way back to 2017: www.patreon.com/hellofawaytodie *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Feb 9, 2023 • 56min
Defining Ireland feat. Thomas O’Mahony
This week, Nate speaks with co-producer Thomas O’Mahony (or Irish Tom for short) about his recent series on the Troubles. What is it about Ireland and Irish identity that compels people with any link to the country to invent their own version of it? Why does England have no memory whatsoever of a war it waged in Ireland, and experienced in its own territory? Why can’t Nate pronounce Tom’s last name? All this, and more. Check out the Troubles series on Lions Led by Donkeys here: https://soundcloud.com/user-798629330 Check out Tom’s podcast ‘Beneath the Skin’ here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beneath-the-skin/id1637122752 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Feb 2, 2023 • 50min
DadChat: Mclusky Does Missouri
It’s another DadChat featuring Nate and Francis discussing what the hell it is that makes people get so excited about Branson, Missouri–and much more. We really hope you enjoy! *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Jan 26, 2023 • 52min
DadChat: Pissing Hot with Eugene Debs
Nate and Francis finally managed to meet in person after over six years of podcasting together. And they met at the Eugene V. Debs museum in Terre Haute, Indiana. This episode describes that meeting, and a discussion of the military’s system for drug testing, as well as much more. Did you know Missouri has legal recreational weed but Indiana has zero legal weed and will send you to prison for a single joint? Well, if you’re from Indiana, this isn’t a surprise. *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang