In this milestone episode, the Sockel brothers welcome their first-ever guest, longtime friend Pat Sullivan, for an open, honest, and often hilarious conversation about the unpredictable ride of parenting. From Adam navigating life with his now nine-week-old daughter, Wren (who's officially outgrowing her dog bed), to Jason balancing sports, activities, and teen boyfriends with his three kids — the bros get real about the chaos, the logistics, and the importance of staying present through it all.

Pat shares the deeply personal story of his family's harrowing and inspiring experience with premature birth, NICU life, and how his eldest son, Eamon, continues to thrive today. The conversation takes listeners through what it's like to go from high-risk pregnancy to NICU to life at home, and how their second son's birth was a totally different experience. If you're a new parent, a seasoned dad, or just curious about the many flavors of the parenting journey, this episode has something for you.

We also dive into:

• The magic of oversized bottles (and how fast babies can outgrow them)

• Jason's chaotic family activity calendar (spoiler: it involves soccer, t-ball, dance, and rock climbing)

• The logistics of prioritizing parental fitness, relationship health, and solo time

• Why letting kids be kids (and being okay with being late) is the best mental health tip of all

💡 Dad Stuff of the Week:

• Pat recommends the Crunch Labs subscription box and old-school fishing to get kids off screens.

• Jason shares travel hacks like inflatable booster seats and car seat harnesses for city adventures.

• Adam highlights the Wonder Weeks app — a game-changer for understanding your newborn's mental leaps (and their sudden, unexplained crankiness).

Welcome back to Let’s Dad This, the podcast by two brothers just trying to dad their best. In Episode 3, “When It All Goes Wrong,” Adam and Jason get real about what happens when the parenting plan derails—hard.

From poop emergencies to delivery room scares, this one dives deep into the messiness of being a dad, emotionally and literally. Buckle up.

• Holden’s Revenge: Adam shares a very crappy story involving his 15-year-old Weimaraner, Holden, and the aftermath of a restaurant outing with baby Wren.

• One Month of Wren: Baseball onesies, longer stretches of sleep (hallelujah!), and what early dad life really feels like.

• Group Pediatric Visits: Adam and Alex attend a newborn group checkup—and discover the magic of not feeling alone in the chaos.

• To Swear or Not to Swear?: The bros talk about keeping things clean-ish for the sake of other parents and their kiddos.

• The Night Shift: Jay asks how Adam and Alex are surviving the newborn nighttime routine—and spoiler alert, they’re crushing it (for now).

After sharing Wren’s birth story in the previous episode, this week Jason opens up about the birth of his two youngest kids, Eliza and Skye. It’s real, it’s raw, and it gets heavy.

• Eliza’s birth: back labor, midwives, and a surprise speed-up to delivery.

• Skye’s birth: a smooth start… and then a terrifying postpartum hemorrhage that nearly took Jess’s life.

Jason’s honest reflection on being scared but trying to stay calm, supporting his wife, and what it means to be a partner when everything feels like it’s falling apart will stay with you long after the episode ends.

Some real MVPs for the parenting trenches:

• Snuggle Me Lounger (or its cousin, the DockATot): The portable baby nest that looks suspiciously like a dog bed but makes newborn life easier.

• Temperature Turtle (Dream Baby Bath Thermometer): Because boiling your baby is bad.

• Portable Sound Machines: White noise is king.

• Video Monitors with Temperature Sensors: Peace of mind at a glance.

• Dye-Free, Scent-Free Laundry Detergent: Sensitive skin = happy baby.

• BlueLand Cleaning Products: Environmentally-friendly and surprisingly awesome.

• Creative Explained on Instagram: Lemon peels + baking soda = household magic.

• 🎥 Full video episodes + extra parenting content are on YouTube and TikTok.

• Like, subscribe, and leave a review—it helps more dads (and moms) find us.

A SECOND episode!?!!?

In this one, big brother Jay flips the script on new dad Adam to explore how new parents actually want to receive advice—without the unsolicited opinions. Adam shares what it's been like navigating the first two weeks with his newborn daughter, including the books that helped (and didn’t help) prepare him for dad life. The brothers also get into the nitty-gritty of labor and delivery, discussing the highs, the lows, and the moment Wren made her dramatic entrance into the world.

We wrap up with our Dad Stuff segment—where we talk about the gear, gadgets, and parenting hacks getting us through dad life.

🔹 How to actually give advice to new parents without being annoying
🔹 The best (and worst) parenting books for preparing for newborn life
🔹 What happens during a 30-hour labor and emergency C-section
🔹 Why Dave’s Cosmic Subs should be sponsoring this podcast
🔹 Must-have dad tools for newborns and toddlers

🍼 Little Baby Topic #1: How do new dads want to receive advice? (Hint: unsolicited = bad)
📚 Little Baby Topic #2: What parenting books helped in the first two weeks? (Spoiler: Mom’s On Call wins)
🎢 Main Event: The emotional rollercoaster of Baby Sockel's birth—30 hours of labor, emergency C-section, and an unforgettable moment
🛠️ Dad Stuff: From the Owlet monitor to the Huckleberry app and why Jay is bulk-ordering pouches

• Books Mentioned: Mom’s On Call, Matrescence, Expecting Better, Crib Sheet, Bringing Up Bébé
• Dad Gear We Love: Owlet sock, Huckleberry tracking app, Avent & Dr. Brown’s bottles, magnet onesies (with an anti-magnet PSA)
• Toddler Gear Jay Swears By: Resolve pet spray (for accidents of all kinds), Wellamint’s Chest Rub, and endless smoothie pouches

🚨 Special thanks to the incredible nurses at University Hospitals for guiding Adam and Alex through a challenging but ultimately rewarding delivery experience.
🥪 Also, big love to Jay and Jess for being the first to deliver food post-baby—Italian subs do taste better after labor.

📩 Have a dad dilemma or question? Hit us up!
🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review if you’re loving Dad Bros!