Before Dad Day, Adam Kunes and Ben Petchel ran Have Fun Do Good, an adventure travel company that mixed volunteering with adventure.

Now that they're dads, they look back at what that job taught them about fatherhood. This episode covers four things: being always on, learning by getting thrown in, setting the tone when plans fall apart, and how you change lives for better or worse, whether that's a trip guest or your own kid. They also catch up on Hill Yeah (a day of walking up and down a hill in Black Mountain, NC), selling hats at Second Sunday in Charleston, and what Adam has been using lately.

Guys Being Dads is for dads who want honest talk about work, family and trying to be better at both. If you've been listening, a review helps a lot.

Join us:
Dad Day newsletter, Mon/Wed/Fri: dadday.co
Hill Yeah RSVP: dadday.co/hill-yeah
Dad Gear: Coulée SWIRL Mini coffee maker, $99.99: www.couleecoffee.com/products/swirl-mini

Is AI making dads more productive or just more stressed? On episode 20 of Guys Being Dads, Adam Kunes (founder of Dad Day, dad of three) and Ben Petchel (first-time dad of a five-month-old) talk honestly about how AI is changing work and parenting.

Guys Being Dads is a podcast for new dads and dads of young kids. This one is also our first episode on video.

We get into why the ideas never stop once you have an AI assistant, and why "done" has to be something you decide for yourself now. We also talk about when you should Google a baby rash versus call your mom, and how to set screen time and AI boundaries before your kids are old enough to need them. Plus Ben's first flight with a baby, robotaxis, the October 60 mile challenge, and the first details on Hill Yeah, our end-of-year Dad Day hike outside Asheville.

In this episode

• 0:00 Episode 20 and why we're finally doing video
• 2:23 320+ Dad Day newsletters and the reader emails that keep us going
• 4:50 The October 60 mile challenge in the Dad Day Slack and Strava
• 6:14 Ben's first flight with a baby (and a rookie boarding mistake)
• 10:14 AI as dads: more productive or just more stressed?
• 17:00 The new luxury is putting the phone down
• 18:18 Kids model our behavior, so who do they ask for help?
• 22:40 Defining "done" when the work never ends
• 25:00 Phones, screen time and AI with young kids
• 29:15 Announcing Hill Yeah, a sunrise to sunset dad hike
• 31:12 Gear: the Colugo Compact+ travel stroller and Tracksmith running shoes

Gear from this episode

• Colugo Compact+ travel stroller ($199)
• Tracksmith Eliot Ryder max-cushion running shoe ($220)

Join Dad Day

• Get the Dad Day newsletter
• Join the Dad Day community
• Follow Dad Day on Instagram
• Watch Dad Day on YouTube

Enjoying the show? Leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts. It's the single biggest thing that helps other dads find us.

We're back. After a September sabbatical, a house full of sick kids, and one very aggressive hand washer, Adam and Ben are recording again with 91 days left in 2026.

This one is about owning Q4 instead of letting it own you. Between holidays, kids' sports, a 5-month-old, an 8-month-old, and winter creeping in, the calendar is already full. So how do you get to December 26th feeling like you actually did something for yourself? We talk non-negotiables, breaking out of Groundhog Day, planning ahead for the bad-weather months, and mentally prepping for the holiday stuff you already know is gonna suck.

Plus: the Dad Day October 60-mile challenge, a pull-up bar that lives in Adam's office, a Goggins detour, gear we're wearing on repeat, and Adam dropping some hoodie history on Ben in real time.

What's in this episode:

00:00 Back in the studio, sick kids, and why dads don't get sick days

02:08 Dad Day updates: Austin moves to spring, more gear videos, the October challenge

04:20 60 miles in a month (and a dumb idea to do it in one day)

05:47 The Bullbar freestanding pull-up bar and Goggins' torn-up hands

07:24 Baby check-ins at 5 months and 8 months

09:48 Today's sponsor: Dude Wipes

12:07 Owning Q4 with 91 days left

16:45 Non-negotiables, Groundhog Day, and planning for winter with a baby

21:04 Prepping for the holiday stuff you know will suck

23:09 One for you, one for your people, one you're building

23:37 Gear: Mugsy Bayside pants, the 4Runner hunt, Luca loafers, the Filson briefcase

28:47 When was the hoodie invented? (Adam knew. Ben did not.)

Thanks to Dude Wipes for sponsoring this episode. Stock up during Amazon Prime Days, October 6-7.

Get Dude Wipes

Join the October 60-mile challenge. Run, ruck, walk, push a stroller. It all counts. Search "Dad Day Run Club" under Clubs on Strava (free version works).

[Strava link]

Stuff we mentioned:

• Bullbar pull-up bar: bullbarfit.com
• Mugsy Bayside pants
• Luca Terra Penny Loafer at Huckberry
• Filson Dryden Briefcase

Join the free Dad Day Slack.

Get the newsletter: dadday.co/subscribe

Tell us what you're setting out to do before 2027 hits. Reply to the newsletter or find us in the Slack.

In this episode, Adam and Ben discuss the importance of focusing on where you're going in life, parenting lessons, social media's impact, and upcoming events. They share personal stories, insights on mindset, and practical tips for staying focused and intentional.

Links:

Dad Day Newsletter
Built for More Experience
Filson Dryden Briefcase

In this episode of Guys Being Dads, Adam and Ben explore the importance of enjoying the present moment, balancing work and family, and finding happiness amidst life's hustle. They share personal stories, insights on setting goals, and practical tips for embracing joy now.

Links:
Dad Day Newsletter

Go West - Tony Knapton
Toyota 4Runner Car Review

In this episode, Adam and Ben explore the nuances of living away from family, the importance of intentionality in parenting, and navigating life's transitions with resilience and perspective. They share personal stories, listener calls, and practical insights to help listeners find balance and purpose.

Key Topics:

• Living away from family and its impact on parenting and relationships
• The importance of intentionality and presence in daily life
• Overcoming analysis paralysis and taking action
• The role of routine and boredom in personal growth
• Balancing career, family, and personal development

Resources:

• Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins
• JUNGMAVEN T-Shirts
• Marine Layer Hemp T-Shirts
• Adidas Adizero Evo SL Shoes

Want more?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Join Adam and Ben as they explore the importance of taking action, embracing authenticity, and overcoming fear in personal growth and entrepreneurship. This episode offers practical insights and real talk for dads and aspiring creators alike.

Resources:
Ethos Life Insurance
Dad Day Newsletter

Land Cruiser Review Video

Takeaways:

• Just start before you're ready; action beats perfection.
• Authenticity resonates more than polished perfection.
• Courage is required for every new step in life.
• Consistency and persistence outperform quick wins.
• Surround yourself with motivated, positive influences.

  
  
  

In this lively episode, Adam and Ben discuss the complexities of family dynamics, the realities of fatherhood, and unexpected adventures. They share humorous stories, insights on balancing family relationships, and tips for navigating in-laws, all while keeping it real and relatable for dads everywhere.

Main Topics:

• The unpredictability of family interactions and maintaining boundaries
• Fatherhood milestones and adjusting to the chaos of kids
• Navigating in-laws and managing different parenting styles
• The importance of communication and love as family glue
• The humorous side of parenting mishaps and trip preparations
• Mentions of the DG mindset podcast and personal growth through storytelling
• Upcoming events and how to connect via newsletter and social channels
  

Resources & Links:

• DG Mindset Podcast by Derek Grant
• Ethos Life Insurance
• Built For More Event

Are you getting the Dad Day Newsletter

• Sign up here