World's Greatest Dad with Ali & Neil

CNN's John Berman on Why Being a Dad Feels So Hard Today

John Berman joins us to talk about why modern fatherhood feels more difficult and less defined than ever. We dive into dad guilt, work-life balance, and the constant pressure to be present, successful, and emotionally available all at once. John explains why many dads feel like they’re failing even when they’re doing their best. We also dive into the lack of a clear definition of what a “good dad” actually is today. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re doing enough as a father, this conversation will hit home.

Peter Pan Dads, Cancel Culture & Why We Haven’t Gone Back to the Moon

This episode is a chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly thoughtful dive into modern dad life, internet culture, and everything in between. From “Peter Pan dads” at the playground to the rise of “yap videos,” the guys unpack how social media has turned everyone into a broadcaster. They get surprisingly real about grief, memory, and how music ties us to life’s hardest moments. Along the way, they debate cancel culture, redemption, and whether anyone actually deserves a comeback. Neil also breaks down the reality TV drama of Bravo's Summer House, parenting fails, and a serious question: why haven’t we gone back to the moon? Equal parts comedy and commentary, this one goes everywhere...and somehow still makes sense.

Midwest Nice: How Elliot Nathan Is Redefining What It Means to Show Up as a Dad

Elliot Nathan grew up in Minneapolis, lasted about a year and a half in New York, and eventually put down roots in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he works as a social media manager, coaches youth soccer, and somehow found time to build one of the most genuine voices in the dad content space. On Instagram and TikTok, his platform The Husband Dad has quietly grown a loyal audience, mostly moms, which Elliot takes as a compliment and a challenge. In this episode, we get into what drove him to start creating content, why he thinks consistency beats everything else, and how he approaches the question of being a good husband and a good dad at the same time without confusing the two. We also dig into the night he found out his wife was pregnant, a Vikings-Packers pregame that got derailed in the best way, and what it was like to bring his first son home in May 2020, at the same time the world outside was on fire. Elliot also tells us about founding the Sioux Falls Stroll Club, a monthly gathering for dads that grew from 2 guys and some coffee to 30 dads and counting. We talk gentle parenting, the gap in dad content, why guys who think changing diapers is soft probably have bigger issues to work through, and what Elliot wants his kids to say about him 20 years from now. He gets a little emotional. We let him. Lightning round includes a Tom Brady consistency quote, Sam Cooke, Kobe, and the case for Curious George over Blippi. This is a good one, enjoy!

Ernest Servantes: From Teenage Dad to Texas BBQ Legend

Ernest Servantes has cooked for hundreds, won grand champion titles across Texas, and built Burnt Bean Company into the number one barbecue spot in the state. But when Neil and Ali get him on the podcast between a 300-person catering job and a full day at the pits, all he wants to talk about is being a dad. Ernest became a father at 19, in college, in a fraternity, with no money and no culinary career yet and somehow it all turned out okay. He breaks down his parenting philosophy the same way he runs his kitchens: structured, fair, no excuses, but never a raised hand. We get into how he learned co-parenting before it was a word, teaching kids the difference between consequences and punishment, why one of his kids thrived in barbecue and one absolutely did not, and what it means to find out at 47 that you're going to be a grandpa. Ernest also goes deep on something we do not talk about enough, dad mental health, and why fathers are still the last ones anyone checks on. One of the most honest and heartfelt conversations we have had on this show.

Flying Solo With Kids: TSA Nightmares, Disney, and Dad Life

Fresh off spring break, the dads break down two very different family travel experiences: Arizona sunshine vs. Los Angeles chaos. From TSA stress and solo parenting on flights to Disney strategy and wedding logistics, this episode is packed with real-life parenting moments. The WGDs dive into the emotional shift of kids growing up, the changing nature of family vacations, and the unexpected nostalgia that comes with it. Plus, a hilarious mailbag question about snooping, attraction, and getting back in shape. It’s equal parts relatable, chaotic, and thoughtful. If you’ve ever traveled with kids, this one hits home.