Pat, Fire of Mom

Hashtag No Filter For Reels - Shawn's Sister, Cynthia

We teach our kids to try new things, that it's okay to fail, and that it's good to ask for help. So instead of featuring a new dad this month, I'm seeking help from my sister, Cynthia (@ctay_wong), to start something new that I'm afraid will fail: The Dad Bod Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/shawn_the_dad_bod_dad].

Pat, Fire of Mom

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! The Dad Bod is all about sharing stories of what it means to be a dad today, but we actually captured one mom's story back in season 1. It was during my interview with my fellow dad Edwin [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7i5DaSbMsxHWa23oiXDfV6?si=NVFjrQHKTCqnLDD3zX88ig]. Throughout our conversation, he kept pointing back to his wife, Pat. At one point, I said to himx, “You’ve come a long way in life from your childhood to where you are now. What are the best decisions you’ve made? When did you start to find some stability in life?” He answered, “When I married Pat. She does everything, for our kids, for her parents, for my mom. I wouldn’t be where I am without her. Our kids wouldn’t be where they are without her. She’s the glue that holds us all together.” Months after our conversation, I reflected on Edwin and Pat's story in an essay on The Dad Bod substack simply titled, "Fire [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mTga8MrGuS0HTs1Jo8s5d?si=T8Y6dP9lQ_q8JJBlqXaaXg]," because of the way fire was a defining word, element, and force in their lives as individuals, as a couple, and as parents. So in honor of Mother's Day, I am sharing Pat's story, a specially-wrapped gift for the occasion. I'm grateful to be sharing this conversation with you: Pat, Fire of Mom.

Abe, Joy of Dad

My friendship with Abe began 17 years ago when he was a pastor at my church and my wife and I asked if he would officiate our wedding. After saying "I do" to our proposal, Abe ministered to us in the months before our wedding day by leading us through coursework and conversations designed to prepare us for marriage from the perspective of our faith. Truth be told, I can't recall a single word that Abe said during our wedding ceremony, but I frequently look back at the time that he spent with us - yes, for some specific pearls of wisdom, but most of all for Abe's presence as an honest-to-goodness man a few years and a couple stages ahead of me who made me feel that, yes, the convictions that you swear by are worth keeping. Even though Abe and I have had mostly random, chance encounters over the years, I still think of him in that way. My kids are in grade school; he has two kids in college, one in high school, and one in middle school. So when we sat down, I had three pages of questions designed to check my notes on life against his. But I also had wisdom from experience (and advice from Tony Reali) [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2mV95eFCQIMvVf70JeDSbp?si=F-EPLvW6TIKO5mw8UguP6w] that it's important to let the conversation take you to places that weren't part of your plan. I think it worked out quite well. I'm truly grateful to be sharing this conversation with you: Abe, Joy of Dad.

Andrew, Stages of Dad

Andrew is a children's book author whose latest book, "The Colors of My Sky, [https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Sky-Andrew-Joel-Ginsburg/dp/1960323350/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DZpH-OBOuLUy7F79XZlTlg.Zfo7GuCEl_J3hyKJLJH-LI2SaHueO3Ob2OQrLyHxE-c&dib_tag=se&qid=1774724402&refinements=p_27%3AAndrew+Joel+Ginsburg&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Andrew+Joel+Ginsburg]" is a touching story with a timely message on diversity and kindness. The story behind the story is that before becoming a children's book author, Andrew was a stand-up comic for 25 years, as well as a champion bodybuilder. Photos from his website, andrewginsubrg.com [http://andrewginsubrg.com], show Andrew on stage as a headliner at Caroline's; Andrew on stage signing books at Barnes & Noble; Andrew on stage at Saturday Night Live; and most eye-popping of all, Andrew on stage smiling and flexing in a thong. I was impressed but also surprised - Andrew barely gestured at these accomplishments in his email to me. The photos, it seemed, were of scenes from a past life. What does it take, I wondered, to turn a stand-up comic into a children's book author? And for that matter, what makes any of us decide that it's time to step off one stage and onto the next? Check out Andrew's children's books, The Colors of My Sky [https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Sky-Andrew-Joel-Ginsburg/dp/1960323350?dplnkId=2e18213c-4573-44c3-9e24-511e14024f02&nodl=1]and Critter Caravan [https://www.amazon.com/Critter-Caravan-Andrew-Ginsburg/dp/178788533X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GKOD139LW69T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.b07_t2mZ1N3Ubnqtt3kq8NDAQbGH4eTJwD1co8WPmOVymZDyWDrFjaloOWX2WpkwWpgIQfzB_4bsYZKKEYSZIR1Vn78e40NSjlmMcSeNeshl4VeppFVllXMYnz9NCcJIztAePFBbIaj51Uw80zi9oQ.r28QK629usjFAAErFgGOqUC7dkODbVz0xevmySL73z4&dib_tag=se&keywords=critter+caravan&qid=1774723805&s=books&sprefix=critter+caravan%2Cstripbooks%2C119&sr=1-1] as well as his fitness book, Pumping Irony: How to Build Muscle, Lose Weight, and Have the Last Laugh [https://www.amazon.com/Pumping-Irony-Build-Muscle-Weight/dp/1510716122]. *UPDATE* shortly after our interview, Andrew added JFK Jr. Look Alike contest winner [https://www.jta.org/2026/03/20/culture/jew-fk-jr-meet-the-connecticut-dad-and-childrens-book-author-who-won-a-jfk-jr-lookalike-contest]to his many accomplishments! Congrats, Andrew! A big win for all of us dads and a reminder that WE STILL GOT IT, BABY.

David, Meaning of Dad

I met David last November at the same dad's night out where I met Andrew, Creativity of Dad [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ywUbiKVihga1D7aSMukOl?si=ksUATdomTiebLM70rj0ZmA]. Sitting across from David that evening, I got to know him through the dramatic glow, smoke, and aroma of all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ. Sharp and witty while also deeply contemplative; the son of a Jewish mom yet bearing the surname Rivera; a software developer by profession and a practitioner of Muay Thai and BJJ - only in New York, baby. But was it just the magic of dad’s night and new friendship that brought out the most gregarious and introspective sides of us? Or would the same David and Shawn who bonded over BBQ show up and dive even deeper over a simple cup of coffee? The answer is pretty clear to me, but I’ll let you decide for yourself.