Shows
Just Winging It132 // Work-Life BoundariesWhat does a healthy work-life balance look like nowadays? With school out, and kids likely home more often with less structured time, the transition between work and home life can feel a lot more jarring.
John and Patrick check in about how they weave together work and home life without the physical boundaries of commuting into their workplace.
2022-07-0443 min
Just Winging It128 // Dealing With AngerThe role that anger plays in parenting is very real. And it's often laced with guilt when we know we're supposed to model calmness for our kids.
John and Patrick delve into how anger crops up for them and how they might have a healthier outlook on the emotion that deserves space and acceptance just like any other.
2022-04-1050 min
Just Winging It125 // Enemy At The GatesJanuary 2022 marked another turn in this rollercoaster pandemic, disorienting families across the US as school returned from the holiday break.
Now in February, John and Patrick return for their fifth season to take stock of the whirlwind start to the new year with childcare and school up in the air and COVID entering the home. Welcome back!
2022-02-1343 min
Just Winging It123 // Practicing MusicMost kids won't grow up to be professional musicians, but shouldn't every child get the chance to explore their ability to make music?
As a follow-up to their last episode on teaching music, John and Patrick welcome elementary school music teacher, Adam Shumate, to the show to share his journey into making and then teaching music. The dads dig deeper into how they might play some part in shaping their own kids' musical journey.
2021-11-221h 04
Just Winging It121 // RoutinesA new school year often comes with making and breaking routines, from morning to nighttime and everything in-between.
John and Patrick catch up on life during the first few weeks of the new school year; the start of sick days, disrupted sleep habits, getting out of the house in the morning, and the list goes on.
2021-10-0440 min
Just Winging It119 // Aligning to Another School YearWe're once again entering the new school year. And to some extent, it seems we've come to terms with the reality of managing COVID through it.
John and Patrick orient themselves to the school year with some summer debriefing and looking ahead to the next year of their kids' development.
2021-09-0642 min
Just Winging It117 // Summer OutletsIt's summer, when fun and emotions run high. What are the right outlets to focus all that free time into?
John and Patrick bring on Jake Robertson, father-of-two—including a newborn—to chat about summer, handling emotional outbursts, and whales.
2021-07-1956 min
Just Winging It116 // Holding FearWhat does a healthy relationship with fear look like? How do we equip ourselves and our kids to work through fear and anxiety?
After the extended simmering anxiety through the pandemic, John and Patrick dig into how they might look at fear differently and some strategies for helping kids do the same.
2021-06-2855 min
Just Winging It114 // Re-entryThe pandemic continues to abate in the US, now to the point where some degree of normalcy is sliding back in. What will the transition look like?
John and Patrick process the momentous re-entry stage they are now in as they are able to operate in the world again without masks and with a lot more people and plans, all the while still navigating life with kids who can't yet get vaccinated.
2021-05-3132 min
Just Winging It111 // Rethinking Modern ParentingWhat if much of what we take for granted as parenting in the US is... wrong?
John and Patrick take a step back to consider how we even arrived at the modern day parenting playbook, and they dive further into the recent book, "Hunt Gather Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans" by Michaleen Doucleff to see what we have to learn from cultures that have kept up with ancient parenting techniques.
2021-04-1157 min
Just Winging It109 // The Battle to Raise Helpful KidsWhy does so much of parenting feel like a battle of wills? Getting kids to contribute around the house—or even clean up their own mess—is a struggle amplified to greater volumes now that we've been stuck home for so much of the last year.
Thankfully, John and Patrick can tap a better resource then their own brains for this one. The new book, " Hunt Gather Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans" by Michaleen Doucleff could not have come at a better time. The dads dig...2021-03-1441 min
Just Winging It107 // Pandemic PetsPet adoptions are skyrocketing during our pandemic lives. In households already occupied with raising little beings, the choice to add animals into the mix gets complicated. So what goes into making the decision to bring a pet into our families now?
John and Patrick reflect on their recent pet adoptions and add a bit of commentary on pet culture and animal ethics.
2021-02-141h 08
Just Winging It104 // The FeelsThe transition to the cold, dark months brings on some tough emotions even in a normal year. In this intense 2020, the impending winter feels particularly intense.
John and Patrick sort through the latest parenting challenges brought on by the pandemic, how they're feeling about the upcoming season, and the concept of adult pandemic tantrums. Yeah, it's a thing.
2020-12-0643 min
Just Winging It102 // Work From Home DadPandemic life has transformed our work and home lives for the indefinite future. With school back in session for several weeks now, a new rhythm is emerging.
John and Patrick talk specifically about their work from home setup; while their wives are out working, the two dads balance working from home with getting kids through hybrid school schedules and abrupt quarantines.
2020-11-0152 min
Just Winging It100 // Celebrating The Big One HundredJust like that, we've been just winging it for 100 episodes. In case you missed it, a lot has happened over the last 2.5 years since the show began. But we're not here to talk about world events right now.
John and Patrick reflect back with listeners on the last 99 episodes; some of the funniest JWI moments, their favorite topics, and as a reminder of why the heck they're doing this in the first place.
2020-10-051h 27
Just Winging It98 // Emerging From The ChrysalisAs the summer winds down, the reality ahead for families is sinking in. We're about to emerge from our relatively sheltered Spring and Summer to hunker down for school, work, and all that the Fall and Winter will bring. And maybe transform into something entirely new.
John and Patrick unpack the emotional toll of the pandemic during this transitional time of year.
2020-08-3140 min
Just Winging It97 // Back to... School?The Fall is approaching quickly and the reality of beginning a new school year amidst the pandemic is settling in.
Patrick and John work through what's on every school age parent's mind right now; how the heck is school going to work this year?
2020-08-1637 minJust Winging It96 // Kids Birthday Parties (During the Apocalypse)Two years ago (episode 19), planning kids birthday parties was stressful enough. Somehow now with the pandemic backdrop, it has become both simpler and more complicated.
John talks Patrick through his daughter's week of birthday parties and their strategy to manage expectations with their kids, while still celebrating their big day with friends and family.
2020-08-0338 min
Just Winging It95 // Change Is In The AirThe pace and scale of change around us is without precedent in our lifetime. So it's no surprise that change is manifesting in all sorts of ways, big and small, in our families.
John and Patrick chat about some of the latest changes in their households, including a transition back to daycare, a new dog, and the beginning of a new career.
2020-07-2051 min
Just Winging It94 // Rediscovering Outdoor ActivitiesGetting outside with our families has been more important than ever. So why not take the time to teach our kids—and ourselves—some new outdoor activities?
Patrick and John share their latest outdoor discoveries as they keep on working through how to take advantage of all this extra time with the kids.
2020-07-0548 min
Just Winging It93 // The Neverending Home ProjectsFrom the moment you move into a new home, the projects begin and never stop. With all this extra time at home now during the pandemic, it seems the projects have multiplied.
John and Patrick celebrate Father's Day with a chat about their home improvement ups and downs. Let's be honest, mostly downs. Happy Father's Day!
2020-06-2142 minJust Winging It92 // Showing Up For Black Lives MatterA spark has ignited across the country as we slowly climb out of the pandemic while facing head on a crisis that continues to plague the US: the oppression of black people.
Patrick and John work through how to show up meaningfully and helpfully in this moment as two white men. Most important, they want to listen and amplify black voices. Founder and co-host of the Perfect Organism podcast, Jaime Prater, joins to share some of his experience growing up holding dual identities, black and white, and to reflect with John and Patrick on the significance of...2020-06-081h 12
Just Winging It91// New BeginningsSpring is peaking, the pandemic curve is sloping down, and we're all gradually emerging to figure out our new reality.
That new reality for Patrick and his family includes a new house in new state. He and John chat about the big move, what it has been like to transition homes at this particular moment, and how we're all feeling some sense of new beginnings.
2020-05-2434 min
Just Winging It90 // Just Zooming ItWe meant it when we said it's important to check in with each other during this time of insanity. John and Patrick bring on a group of listeners for a Zoom roundtable on how we're all managing life during a pandemic.
2020-05-101h 26
Just Winging It89 // Preparing For The Long HaulThe school-year is officially canceled. Daycare is closed for a couple more months. What has felt temporary, is now settling into something more.
Patrick and John dig into what it's going to take to prepare for this longer-than-expected episode of life.
2020-05-0355 min
Just Winging It88 // Relearning How to Get Stuff DoneAs we settle into week five of staying home and trying to balance managing a family and work, we're having to relearn how to keep up with parenting.
John and Patrick catch up on the latest life events and how they're getting stuff done, continuing to adapt, and maybe making some discoveries along the way.
2020-04-1956 min
Just Winging It87 // The Importance of Checking InMore than ever, it's important that we find time to check in with ourselves and with our friends and family.
As the COVID-19 crisis peaks in the US, Patrick and John catch up on their weeks—the continued stress of parenting through a pandemic. Because honestly, what the heck else is there to talk about?
2020-04-1237 min
Just Winging It86 // Attempting Business As UsualThis is life now. It's socially distant. It's virtual school and work. It's 24/7 parenting. And as much as it's all feeling like Groundhog Day, each week has it's own flavor.
This week, John and Patrick describe what it has been like to attempt the things we had been doing before the pandemic. In the face of these challenges, the two dads try to figure out how they can do better.
2020-04-051h 03
Just Winging It85 // Adapting to QuarantineOur society's response to COVID-19 has triggered rapid changes in how we live—with such frequency that we're left trying to adapt daily as best we can.
Patrick and John talk through how they're managing to settle into some kind of new rhythm with their families and what they're learning so far amidst this crisis.
2020-03-2959 minJust Winging It84 // Processing a PandemicAlright folks, now we are just winging it at a whole new level. Families everywhere are coping with the day-to-day uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. And this is only the beginning.
John and Patrick take some time together to process the last couple of weeks—the closing of schools, the quarantining, the working from home with kids, and all the rest of it. As usual, we don't have any answers here. We're just learning how to be okay with that.
2020-03-2247 min
Just Winging It83 // Fathers Finding FriendsSocializing becomes a whole lot different after having kids; when it happens at all, it often involves a half-engagement with other people and half-focus on watching or thinking about our kids. We know friendships are generally a good thing to pursue, but who has the time to put into them anymore?
Patrick and John welcome guest Finn McSweeney to chat about what it has been like for he and John to connect via their kids. The three dads explore why the pursuit of friendship with other dads is a worthy one.
2020-03-091h 09
Just Winging It82 // The Best Laid PlansWhen it comes to planning anything with kids, there's the fantasy version of the event we hope will happen and then there's the reality. Parenting is all about how you mind the gap.
John and Patrick talk about their recent Valentine's Day and other activities they plan with their families—and how they've managed when things don't turn out the way they were "supposed" to turn out.
2020-02-2458 min
Just Winging It81 // Managing ImpermanenceTime keeps on rolling by, each and every moment fleeting. Despite having a multitude of methods to capture memories of our kids, it never quite feels like we're recording enough of them.
Patrick and John work through the right balance between being in the moment and capturing the moment to enjoy later, sharing some strategies on how to do a better manage their responsibility as parents to make some of the impermanent permanent.
2020-02-1059 min
Just Winging It80 // Get Down With the SicknessThe first few years of our kids lives come with an onslaught of sickness. Slowly, their immune systems build up while we get to repeat childhood episodes of colds, fevers, and vomit.
John and Patrick chat about some of their kids' recent ailments and how the families dealt with it in the moment and in the stressful aftermath. You might not want to listen to this episode while you're eating, or after you ate, or... ever.
2020-01-2752 min
Just Winging It79 // Doubling Down in 2020A new year. A new season! A new me?
Patrick and John are back for season three of Just Winging It! It's time to catch up and chat about why, no matter how many new years we've begun already in our lives, it still feels like a time we need to reinvent ourselves. How will we make this year, this season, and ourselves, better than ever?!
2020-01-1952 min
Just Winging It78 // Taking Stock 2019It's the end of the year! A season filled with celebrations and maybe a bit of time to reflect on the fact that we raised our family through another full year.
John and Patrick close out season two of Just Winging It. The dads take stock, reflecting back on the 40+ episodes they recorded this year, and chat about where they'd like to take their lives and the show in the new year.
To all those just winging it in 2019 and those about to just wing it in 2020: thank you for hanging out with us and...2019-12-2346 min
Just Winging It77 // All Joy And No Fun (Part 2)The modern US family household typically centers around children, dictating many of the life choices that parents make. It wasn't always that though. In her book, "All Joy And No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood," Jennifer Senior brings some historical context to parenting today.
Patrick and John continue their discussion, going deeper into the pressures of modern parenting and exploring what the future stages might look like as their kids get older.
2019-12-161h 03
Just Winging It76 // All Joy And No Fun (Part 1)What if parenting doesn't bring the happiness we're led to believe it should? How do we deal with the gap between our experience and the expectations we've set with every other parent? These are some of the questions Jennifer Senior explores in her book, "All Joy And No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood."
John and Patrick unpack the first half of the book, hitting on many of the threads discussed previously on the podcast about how kids impact parents— this time based in some insight from somebody who might actually know what they're talking about.
2019-12-0953 min
Just Winging It75 // Star Wars DadsA generation that grew up with the Star Wars phenomenon now get the chance to pass on the ways of the force with their children.
Ahead of the latest Star Wars theatrical release, Patrick and John reflect back on their love of the movies and franchise. And they consider the joys of being part of the millennial dad Jedi order.
2019-11-2551 min
Just Winging It74 // Just Stay-at-home-dadding ItWhat does the life of a stay-at-home-dad look like? Episode 34 guest Joe Ketner returns to report live from the front lines after leaving his job ten months ago to be home with his young children.
Joe reports back to John and Patrick what it has been like to transition, how he manages his days, and what he's learned about himself on this journey.
2019-11-1152 min
Just Winging It73 // Monster Mash-upAfter a week off, Patrick and John have a monstrous mash-up of catching up to do. The dads talk about how to level up family vacations, take advantage of nature hikes, do Halloween costumes, and more.
2019-11-0435 min
Just Winging It72 // The Decision To Have More KidsHow many children do we want to have? How will we know when we have the right number?
The decision on whether or not to have more children can be jam-packed with financial, logistical, emotional, and practical considerations. John and Patrick sort through it all while it's a fresh conversation they frequently have with their spouses: should they bring a third child into the world?
2019-10-2143 min
Just Winging It71 // Making A Call On PetsThere are some big decisions that come along with making the choice to get a pet, particularly when we've already got little ones running around. There's another set of tough decisions when it comes to treating a sick pet.
Patrick and John recall their experiences with pets, before and with kids, as John weighs the options around putting his cat down and (eventually) bringing a new one into the family.
2019-10-1458 min
Just Winging It70 // Just Winging it Live! WTF Am I Doing?In their first ever live show, Patrick and John chat with an audience at the Somerville Armory Cafe to explore what the fudge they are doing.
As parents, we're faced with this sort of question constantly; am I making the right decisions with my parenting style? Where do I find meaning in life? And what the flip-phone am I doing recording a live show about parenting?
2019-10-071h 21
Just Winging It69 // This Is WaterIn 2005, the writer David Foster Wallace gave a commencement speech that would take on a life of its own, traveling far beyond the audience he delivered it to that day. It spread all across the world and would deeply influence countless people.
Patrick shares how he came to discover the speech and why it and Wallace's work left such a lasting mark on his life. He and John unpack the significance of this speech and how it informs their lives as parents.
Listen to the full speech or watch this short film with an abridged...2019-09-301h 10
Just Winging It68 // Back to the Future: FOMOJohn is traveling back in time to bring episode four, FOMO For Parents, back to the future. Yeah okay, it's a fancy way of saying Patrick and John had a hectic week and couldn't record a new episode for you.
Sometimes, going back to the advice you gave yourself a year and a half ago is just what the doctor ordered. John begins the episode with an original, never-before-listened-to (and never-should-be-listened-to) reflection on what made episode four such a great one, and why time management for parents remains an important practice in insanity.
2019-09-2351 min
Just Winging It67 // From Planning Activities to Writing The BooksWouldn't it be handy to have actual guides to planning activities for young children? Author and former educator Autumn McKay decided to turn the creative activities she planned with her own kids into a range of useful guides for other parents. Her engineer husband, Seth, decided to create coloring books to teach kids how things are made.
This enterprising duo talk to Patrick and John about what it's like to author their own books while managing three kids of their own. And because we all like you so much, they offer a special free resource for Just...2019-09-1652 min
Just Winging It66 // Always Trust MagicThere are some children's books that stand out and strike a particularly strong chord with only a few words. That succinct power became a trademark of the prolific author Amy Krouse Rosenthal.
Many parents know her from reading one of her many children's books. Even more know her from an essay that quickly went viral after she wrote it for the New York Times only days before she died of cancer, "You May Want To Marry My Husband."
John shares excerpts from one of Rosenthal's memoirs, Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and contemplates with Patrick the...2019-09-0951 min
Just Winging It65 // Moving Our Family Out of Their Comfort ZoneMuch of this podcast has focused on how to break out of auto-pilot mode in our everyday lives as a parent. What would it look like to take it up a notch and totally disrupt life to discover more as a family together?
Cully Lundgren made this choice with his family when they decided to pickup their life and move it all to a rural village in Nicaragua. Cully joins John and Patrick on the show to talk about what spurred them to live abroad for nearly a year and what it has meant to them now...2019-09-011h 01
Just Winging It64 // Back to SchoolEach year the end of summer seems to come more quickly. Back to school season hangs in the air. Anticipation, anxiety, excitement, worry; our kids go through the spectrum of emotions, and so do we.
Patrick and John chat about this latest back-to-school season, with a mix of kids just starting school and going back again, working through how they support their kids and get through it themselves.
2019-08-2654 min
Just Winging It63 // Road TripsGoing on vacation with young kids often means hours-long car rides. If all goes well, the journey can be as much fun as the destination. If not, it can make for a rough vacation.
John and Patrick talk about their approach to enjoying family road trips, or sometimes just getting through them.
2019-08-191h 04
Just Winging It62 // Is Social Media Good For Us?Remember life before social media? It's difficult to recall how we stayed connected with our network of friends before Facebook, but somehow we did.
Social media is here to stay, so Patrick and John ponder this question: Has this powerful connector of people across the world made our lives better or worse?
2019-08-1259 min
Just Winging It61 // Actively ParentingGetting into a rhythm is pretty essential to parenting. But what happens when routine becomes a little too routine and we fall into patterns that might benefit from being broken?
John and Patrick dig further into how to stay motivated, change up our repertoire, and make the choice to actively parent.
2019-08-0459 min
Just Winging It60 // Getting Creative With ActivitiesThe task of thinking up new ways to keep our kids engaged each day can be exhausting. So how do we keep it from feeling like a burden?
Sometimes we just need some fresh ideas. Patrick walks John through the crazy, creative festival of activities he planned for his kids, and breaks down how other parents can have fun with planning out engaging—even educational—activities.
2019-07-2942 min
Just Winging It59 // The Beach With KidsA trip to the beach is typically equated with rest and relaxation. But now going to the beach with little kids is pretty much the opposite.
And yet, we still decide to do summer outings to the beach as a family. John and Patrick chat about how to beach with kids and keep it from being awful.
2019-07-221h 06
Just Winging It58 // MindfulnessHealthy eating and exercise will get you pretty far in life, yet there's still the major mental challenge in our day-to-day that is stress.
In this latest of the healthy living trilogy of episodes, Patrick and John navigate practicing mindfulness to stay present (and sane) amidst hectic parenting life.
2019-07-011h 09
Just Winging It57 // Finding a Healthy DietWorking out is one aspect of taking care of yourself and living a while, but a healthy diet is equally important. And with this too, being a parent means we've got to model what it looks like to eat right. So... what does it look like?
John and Patrick talk about their continuing journeys to find healthier diets; from junk food college days to the modern day foodie adult times. Needless to say, they've still got some work to do.
2019-06-2457 min
Just Winging It56 // Working OutWe all know we're supposed to get in some exercise every week in order to live long, healthy, happy lives. How exactly do we pull it off when work and parenting devour most of our days?
Patrick and John haven't necessarily figured this one out all the way (as you can tell looking at them), but in this episode they talk about how they've managed to cobble together some workout routines that get in that critical physical activity even amidst full schedules.
2019-06-1757 min
Just Winging It55 // Prioritizing Human ConnectionWhen's the last time you had a real conversation with your neighbor? Or asked someone at work more than the obligatory, "How are you?" These days that kind of connection to people in our real everyday lives can feel pretty distant.
John and Patrick reflect on how they operate in their day-to-day with people beyond their close family and friends to consider how they might disrupt things and maybe serve as better examples to their watchful kids.
2019-06-0942 min
Just Winging It54 // SmorgasbordAfter a couple weeks off from recording, it's time to catch up on what's going on with Patrick, John and their families. A smorgasbord of topics, featuring some of the latest challenges with food, tales from Great Britain, the art of dance, and, as always, pee and poop shenanigans.
2019-06-0347 min
Just Winging It53 // Time TravelIf time travel were possible today, would you do it? What would the world look like if it were as commonplace as flying in an airplane?
As a follow-up to there recent just imagine it segment, Patrick and John delve into the subject of time yet again, this time through a crazy ass thought experiment. As parents, we're constantly aware of the passage of time. What if time didn't carry that same weight in our lives?
2019-05-2047 min
Just Winging It52 // Take Your Kids to Work DayWhat, there's a national day to bring your kids to work on the fourth Thursday in April?! Is it a wonderful idea or totally bonkers?
John and Patrick talk about how they pulled off their first-ever, world-colliding experience taking kids to work for a day.
2019-05-1344 min
Just Winging It50 // Potty TrainingWhen it comes to potty training, there are lots of strategies to choose from. But like all the rest of parenting, strategy only gets us so far. Getting kids to use the toilet is messy—physically and emotionally.
Patrick updates John on the last few days of potty training his youngest son, and the two dads go a level deeper to try and understand this milestone and its challenges from their kids' perspectives.
Happy 50th episode! If you're enjoying the show, drop us a review and share it with someone you love... or hate.
2019-04-281h 06
Just Winging It49 // Thawing OutThere's nothing quite like the magic of entering a new Spring. Dark days yield to sunshine, and warm air beckons us all outside, finally.
Patrick and John reflect on the challenges and joys of getting outdoors with little ones, and some back-in-my-day stories you'd expect from the old fogies.
2019-04-2253 min
Just Winging It48 // A New DadEntering parenthood is rough. No matter how prepared you think you are, the first few weeks home are utter, sleep-deprived chaos.
Jeff Deutsch returns to the show, now as a new dad, to talk to John and Patrick about the reality of this deeply challenging transition into fatherhood.
2019-04-151h 03
Just Winging It47 // Catching UpSometimes we just need to take a bit of time to catch up: with our kids, our partners, our selves, and our co-hosts.
John and Patrick catch up on their latest adventures including a vacation, a science fair, and an unfortunate poop.
2019-04-0859 min
Just Winging It46 // Reconnecting With Your PartnerRemember that person you have a relationship with outside of co-parent? It's all too easy to lose touch with that person when you're both so focused on the daily demands of parenting life.
Patrick and John talk through how they try to keep strong connections with their partners amidst the craziness, including some ideas for breaking out of the daily routines that can keep us taking our better halves for granted.
2019-04-0136 min
Just Winging It45 // Finding Some InspirationEvery now and then it's nice to recharge with a dose of inspiration—open our minds to some new ways of thinking. Not that there's much time for that as a parent.
John shares with Patrick his experience traveling to a conference recently, featuring a healthy serving of wisdom he heard from the likes of President Obama and Oprah Winfrey.
But first, some proper dad-whingeing in yet another new segment on the show.
2019-03-2558 min
Just Winging It44 // How to WinterWinter with children can be a magical thing, filled with sledding, snow angels, and hot cocoa. But magic takes work, and a ridiculous amount of laundry.
Patrick and John chat about how they enjoy (and make it through) winter with the kiddos with a variety of outdoor and indoor activities to keep life full.
2019-03-1152 min
Just Winging It43 // Beating CancerWe all know someone who has fought cancer. It carries a particularly heavy weight in life, taking away far too many people we love and remaining high on our list of fears. What happens when it strikes us?
John recounts his episode with cancer ten years ago as he was graduating college. He and Patrick work through the perspective shifting moment that comes with this diagnosis and how it impacts more than just the individual.
Heavy topic, but don't worry, we manage to get in the usual Just Winging It insanity—poop jokes and all—up f...2019-03-041h 12
Just Winging It42 // Dad-to-beThe decision to become a parent is probably the biggest one we make in our lives. And we each have a unique series of events that bring us to that decision point.
Patrick and John bring on Dad-to-be, Jeff Deutsch, to hear what led him to the decision a little later in life, and to explore his current state of blissful ignorance when it comes to the earth-shattering world he's about to enter.
2019-02-251h 15
Just Winging It41 // Tidying UpShe's taken America by storm with her novel approach to tidying up. Now Marie Kondo joins John and Patrick for a conversation about how she manages the spotlight, the fame, and the clean house, all while raising her children.
That would be a pretty great conversation. Instead, the two dads will fumble through the KonMari method to see whether it passes the just winging it test. Can it really be done with kids? Is it possible to stay this organized? Can anyone really fold like that?
2019-02-181h 10
Just Winging It40 // Handling PlaydatesWere playdates even a thing when we were kids? Getting together with our friends sure seemed simpler then, but maybe that's because we weren't the parents who had to deal with the dynamics of organizing with other families.
Patrick and John navigate the interesting, the fun, and the sometimes awkward situations that arise when planning with other parents.
On another note: Did you know studies have shown that people who share this podcast are eleven times happier than people who don't? Give it a try!
2019-02-111h 07
Just Winging It39 // Choosing A PreschoolObsessing about the best preschool option for our kids is probably not something most parents anticipate happening. But once the time comes to make a choice, the same part of our brain that craves reviews (Yelp!) before going out to eat or purchasing a product kicks into full gear.
John and Patrick discuss the stakes when it comes to choosing the right preschool: will it set their kids on a path of future success (or failure)? Is it just daycare under the guise of school? And why does it have to be so expensive!?
2019-02-041h 06
Just Winging It38 // Sharing the SharingTeaching our kids to share is one of those fundamental things we're supposed to do as a parent, lest we have the kid who isn't sharing toys at a play date. Combine that challenge with the sibling dynamic and we've got some explosive situations—even without poop.
Patrick and John work through the difficulties of teaching sharing between siblings and whether it can even be done with young kiddos.
But first, and more importantly, what would you do if your kid turned into a zombie? You'll hear John and Patrick talk about it in this ep...2019-01-2855 min
Just Winging It37 // Call it a ComebackA new year, a new season, and the same two dads who know everything about nothing—and can't wait to share it with you.
John and Patrick are back from holiday break chock-full of useless stories about taking time off, getting kids (and ourselves) involved in recreational activities, and—of course—poop.
2019-01-211h 08
Just Winging It36 // Wrapping Up The YearThe end-of-year festivities and craziness are upon us! As with most of parenting, the magic and the stress are a package deal during the holidays.
In this episode, Patrick and John close out the year—and the first season of Just Winging It—with the latest stories, a reflection on the year, and a look ahead.
Thanks for, you know, putting us in your ears this year. From our just-winging-it families to yours: have a fantastic holiday and joyous new year.
2018-12-241h 02
Just Winging It35 // Gifts & Gratitude'Tis the season to buy lots and lots more stuff. Gift-giving (and getting) can be another magical aspect of the holidays, especially for the kiddos. How do we keep consumerism at bay this time of year, and keep grounded in ye olde spirit of generosity and gratitude?
John and Patrick prep for holiday fun, strategize gifts, and think about how to add a dash of thankfulness to the festivities.
2018-12-1758 min
Just Winging It34 // Stay-at-home DadWe're living at a time where more than half of families with children have two working parents—a shift from the days when it was typically expected that mothers would stay home. Yet even with today's increasing acceptance that either parent can bring home the bacon, so few dads choose to stay home.
Enter this episode's guest, Joe Ketner, who is about to transition from the workforce to the diaperforce. Joe talks to Patrick and John about what went into his decision and how he's planning to enter life as a stay-at-home Dad.
2018-12-1057 min
Just Winging It33 // Is Santa Claus Coming to Town?The concept of Santa Claus is just one of those things that's in the air during the holiday season; our kids will catch it one way or another. But the extent to which we indulge in the magic (lie!) of Santa and the way we work through the eventual unraveling is a parenting responsibility worth giving some thought.
John is about to enter this holiday season with a three-year-old who's only just starting to become aware of Santa Claus. Patrick helps him work through whether and how he'll go about it. Oh, and this article from PBS...2018-12-0353 min
Just Winging It32 // NostalgiaHard to believe we're already breaking out the, "back in my day" phrase, but here we are. Young parents have been through dramatic changes in pop culture, technology, and life over the last few decades. Sometimes it's nice to pause and remember how damn cool the nineties were.
Patrick and John look out to their past from rocking chairs on the front porch as they dwell on the good ol' days. And then ponder what their kids will look back upon with nostalgia.
2018-11-1953 min
Just Winging It31 // Perception of TimeWhen you become a parent, time and its passing can quickly become an obsession. The whole notion of time, of memory, of aging surfaces constantly as that little being grows.
John and Patrick stumble into this episode's subject, looking at how they perceive time and how they can maintain a healthy relationship with it.
2018-11-121h 13
Just Winging It30 // Cultivating Character (Avoiding Entitlement)Maybe there's more to this whole identity thing after all. While our kids are the center of our world, how do we raise them to know they aren't the center of the world?
Patrick and John go deeper to explore a parent's role in cultivating moral character, this time with some guidance from the book 8 Keys to Old School Parenting for Modern-Day Families by Michael Mascolo. They talk through why their generation often gets labeled as entitled and how they can prioritize virtues that avoid that sort of behavior in their own kids.
2018-11-051h 11
Just Winging It29 // Forming IdentityMuch of the time our focus as parents is on the now; helping our kids and ourselves navigate daily life. But we're also playing the long game, attempting to raise what we hope will become well-adjusted, self-sufficient human beings.
Who are our kids going to be when they grow up? How much of their identity is set and how much is being shaped?
John and Patrick think back to their (sometimes awkward) searching for themselves as they grew up, and talk about how they might help their kids form identities of their own.
2018-10-291h 11
Just Winging It27 // Grasping DeathThere's a moment in each of our lives where we first come to terms with the concept of death. The concept, like so many, carries even more weight now as a parent. How do we help our kids have a healthy understanding of the fact that we've all got an expiration date? And what are we going to tell them happens next?
Probably, these are questions we've got to work through ourselves first. Just another light, fluffy conversation as John and Patrick reflect on how their own understanding of death has been shaped over the years.
2018-10-151h 16
Just Winging It25 // Exposure to Violent ThemesViolence is everywhere in our culture, both real and fictional. When it comes to the former, we do our best to shelter our kids for as long as possible. But when and how do we handle exposing them to violent toys, games, and media?
In this episode—which originally featured an entirely different topic, by the way—John and Patrick work through experiences introducing their kids to some favorite action-packed fiction from their own childhood and how they've handled violent play.
2018-10-011h 10
Just Winging It23 // BreastfeedingIt's one of those subjects we don't hear much about before having kids, and then suddenly breastfeeding—whether or not to, how to, and the countless challenges that arise—became a major focus of life when raising a new baby. It's also a topic with fierce opinions behind it.
You won't hear those opinions here, but John and Patrick feel like it's worthwhile to share some of their perspective as dads through this critical aspect of child-rearing. Needless to say, they play the supporting role. So how do dads lean in to that and help moms navigate this...2018-09-1758 min
Just Winging It21 // Childcare?After a week off from the show, John and Patrick have a lot to catch up on. Which means an episode chock-full of tangents... and maybe something to do with the topic of childcare.
Summer is ending, vacations are over, and it's time to transition into a new school year. The dads chat about some of their experiences (stresses!) with daycare, nannies, preschool, and now starting a child in kindergarten.
2018-09-031h 06
Just Winging It19 // Kids Birthday PartiesWhether you're planning or attending a birthday party for the kiddos, the experience can be more than a tad overwhelming. Celebrating these significant milestones while not getting carried away is a challenge—especially when you're hosting. Who gets invited? What's the theme? And where the heck are all these kids going to fit?
John and Patrick chat about hosting their kids' birthday celebrations and what they think makes for a successful party.
But first! They spend a half hour talking about robes, how their balancing time these days, a food update, coyotes, Angela Lansbury, and mo...2018-08-131h 01
Just Winging It17 // Judging Other ParentsIT'S JUDGMENT DAY, WINGLETS.
It doesn't take long for new parents to start getting relentlessly judged. Before we leave the hospital, we find out we aren't swaddling the baby with the latest, hottest technique. Or we aren't breastfeeding her properly. Or we're putting too many layers of hats on her and now she looks too much like a snowman.
But just as we find ourselves being judged, we find ourselves judging others as well. And suddenly we find ourselves wondering: what's with all the judging? Is there something useful at the heart of this? Are...2018-07-301h 09
Just Winging It16 // Screen TimeThese days it seems screens are like cigarettes for kids. Are they the health-hazard we’re hearing about all the time in the news or a new technology for us to embrace? Let’s get real on what it means to parent kids with 21st century technology.
John and Patrick share their experiences with their kids’ screen time, distinguishing between the wide spectrum of media and technology—and exploring how the heck to deal with it all in a sensible way.
Some further listening/reading on the subject:
Can You Balance Screen Time And Family Time? On...2018-07-2359 min
Just Winging It14 // Answering the "Why" QuestionNobody told us we need to know the answer to every question our kids ask us. But why does it feel like we sorta do need to know?
John and Patrick work through their approach to responding to that favorite follow-up "why" question that kids have, and why talking about why matters at all.
But first: why levitation might be possible!2018-07-0954 min
Just Winging It12 // Dealing With TantrumsYou're having a picture-perfect day out with the family when suddenly that adorable kiddo turns into a screaming banshee. Trapped in a public space, there's no place to run and hide. Tempted as you are to walk away and pretend they aren't your kid, you've got to deal with the situation. Now.
Forget about the poopy diapers—tantrums are one of the worst parts of parenting a little one. We've all been there. So what's the trick to handling them? Let us know if you've figured it out!
John and Patrick share some war stories and their strategies for getting through i2018-06-2550 min
Just Winging It09 // Raising Feminist BoysThe #MeToo era has convinced a lot of men around the world to look in the mirror and ask themselves some pretty tough questions: What's masculinity? What's manhood? What power dynamics have I taken advantage of? What behaviors have I left unchallenged because it was easier to stay silent?
Raising boys in these gender-aware times can be challenging. Unpacking some of those challenges with John and Patrick this week is Sebastián Molano of Defying Gender Roles, who is about to welcome a son of his own into the world.
Check out the articles referenced i...2018-06-041h 03
Just Winging It08 // Healthy Relationships With FoodWe all want to raise kids who love to eat vegetables and "just say no" to junk food, but has anyone really figured out how to do that? With the plethora of modern-day foods to choose from, why does it feel more difficult than ever to get your kids to eat healthy?
In this episode, John and Patrick explore their own relationships with food, how they approached introducing their babies to eating solids, and the challenges that come with getting their kids interested in the right kind of food.2018-05-2848 min
Just Winging It07 // The Power of Kids' BooksIn our increasingly plugged-in world, it's refreshing to know that books are still as integral to the parenting experience as ever. Whether we're reading a book about trucks for the nine hundred thousandth time or fighting through the tears as we try to get through "Goodnight, Moon," parents end up spending a surprising amount of time reading to their children.
In this episode, John and Patrick are joined by Jemma Stringer (a guest!!). Jemma, a gender expert, has a ton to say about the power of ideas in children's literature.
And when you're ready for...2018-05-211h 00
Just Winging It05 // Appetite for DestructionBefore we had kids, we had these images in our heads of what parenthood was going to look like. Holding our daughter's hand as she plants a seed in the garden. Hoisting our son onto our shoulders so he can pretend to be an airplane.
But for some of us, parenthood ended up looking like a fistful of beheaded action figures being hurled through the air towards our eyes.
And you know what? There's something beautiful about that, too.
This week, John and Patrick discuss kids' strange enthusiasm for making messes.
2018-05-0750 minJust Winging It04 // FOMO For ParentsWhat role does fear of missing out (FOMO) play in parents lives when the task of time management is already a practice in insanity. John and Patrick talk about the ridiculous moments that make us stop and think about what it really means to miss out on life.
2018-04-3051 minJust Winging It02 // Who's in control?We go into parenting preparing as best we can, despite the fact that nothing can truly prepare us. In this episode, John and Patrick tackle the concept of control—over situations, kids, or... anything. Plus, more poop stories!
(Stay tuned: subsequent episodes will feature much-improved microphones!)
2018-04-1842 minJust Winging It00 // Just Winging It TeaserTwo thirty-something dads, John Abdulla and Patrick Greene, explore poopy diapers and the meaning of life.
2018-04-0901 min