text:
Armchair Expert: Experts on Expert with Wendy Mogel is Fire
If you follow us on Twitter (therelevantdad) you may have seen that we are obsessed with Dax Shepard's new podcast Armchair Expert. He has upped his game with a new series on his feed called Experts on Expert and his first guest is the amazing Wendy Mogel. Trust us this is a MUST LISTEN. It's like she knows all of the deep parenting worries that we all have…well, duh, of course, she does she is the expert in this shit. Please take a listen, it will make your day and make you a better parent instantly.
In this inaugural episode of Experts on Expert, the Armchair Expert speaks to author and child psychologist, Dr. Wendy Mogel about human patterns of behavior, the impact of social media on the family and the importance of free-reign grandparenting. Wendy gives advice on how to speak to children and Dax asks for reassurance on his parenting strategy. The two of them breakdown the moral dilemma of behavioral diagnoses, the role of fear and Wendy discusses a study that uncovered the one thing every child wishes they could tell their parents.
Dr. Wendy Mogel is a practicing clinical psychologist in Los Angeles, New York Times bestselling author and international public speaker.
Boy Scouts of America To Allow Girl Members
With the news that the Boy Scouts of America will be allowing girl members in the near future and will drop the word boy from their flagship title, the predictable backlash has started. Don't let the talking heads on certain cable news outlets and twitter circles fool you into thinking that this move is anything more than a savy business decision. This is about membership, this is about enrollment, this is about money. Period. The added benefit is that the once inclusive BSA is becoming more diverse and progressive. Time does that to institutions, or those institutions are left behind or at worst are forgotten but for the history books.
If you didn't take the time to read the press statements on this exciting news here is what you need to know. The new look BSA and Cub Scouts will be largely divided into male and female units with the common goal of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. It is not shocking that the Girl Scouts organization is fervently opposed to this news and who could blame them. Again, one must remember that this move is all about the bottom line, on both sides. So while you absorb the blowback on this news just be thankful that we even have the Scouts for our children to take part in. My years in scouting were some of the most fulfilling days of my life. I made lifelong friends, learned how far I could push my self at a young age and felt proud of who I was and what I had accomplished. Why would I not want that for my two daughters too?
-Shawn from Relevant Dad
Eagle Scout Troop 94 Maine
We don't mourn in America anymore, but we should.
We don't mourn in America anymore, we just don't. When people say this is a time for mourning I don't even know what they are talking about honestly. Maybe, if we had the time to, things might end up different the next time. Yeah, probably not. One burst of mass death leads into the next with such fervor here in America that we swell with outrage for a moment and then change the channel on the tv, in our minds, in our hearts because surely "that won't happen here." Won't it though? Maybe not at scale but gun violence in America is far more than mass shootings. They are just sexy that's all. That is why they take up so much real estate in our psyche. The deeper and far more insidious scourge is the hourly homicides and suicides that take place all over our communities. They hardly get a mention on the 5 o'clock news let alone make it to the ears of the rest of America. For every 100,000 Americans, statistics show that3.85 of them will be killed, or kill themselves with a firearm in a given year. That number is absolutely sickening. Outside of the areas of the world ravaged by drug wars and conflict America leads the pack in this stat. Something to be proud of? Nobody would say so, but when you shrug that number off and refresh Instagram instead you are in some way complicit. And look, I sit here sussing this out guilty as charged. It's something that seems like an annoyance to think about because what can I possibly do from this desk to change a damn thing? The truth is probably not much. Not much by myself but, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead said that. So then Marge, where do we begin?
Everytown is a group of Americans who work together to end gun violence and build safer communities. Sure the bad guys have the NRA as a lobbyist but Everytown has mothers and fathers of children who have been murdered or taken their own lives and I want to be on their side. I want to have their backs when the legislation is written to help end this scourge.
When an organization's goal is simply to half gun deaths in America in half by 2025 you have to support that. We can do so much more to save our children's lives. It's our duty as parents. In turn, it's our duty as children to save our parents lives.
Suicidepreventionlifeline.org –
This organization is perhaps the one that we can all relate to the most. Mass shootings and homicides are a drop in the bucket compared to the 21,000 suicides by firearm in America each year. Statistically, you know someone or someone who knows someone who has or will commit suicide by firearm and that number we have the power to change the most. Please visit the participate section of the website and learn some way you can help. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/participate/
We don't mourn in America much anymore. The energy that it takes to do it over and over again is too much for us to take, so we move on and ignore that reality punching us in the face over and over. It's time to take back that emotion. It's time to feel the pain we wrought, it's time to bath in it and then it's time use that devastation to create a positive change. You CAN do something about gun deaths in America. By yourself, in a group, in your community, in your America. Start mourning the people we have lost right now. read more…
Everything Sucks!
Oh man, this mainline of nostalgia will surely be a hit for all of us older millennials. Are you excited for this new Netflix series?
Wake Me Up When They Invent a Babysitter Pod
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, we're about to begin our descent into Sydney. Please fasten your seatbelts and place your trays in the upright position. Local time is 8:42pm and a humid 27 degrees. Our flight crew wishes you a Happy New Year, and we hope you fly with us again in 2025."
Screeech. You've landed. Time to relax those butt cheeks.
It was only this morning you booked this flight, and now you're on the other side of the planet. Amazing. You're nervous but excited to visit Australia for the first time. One week to explore the city and five weeks on a new design project. When that project match showed up in your feed you claimed it in two seconds. You've already earned 24,000 $design in the peerism economy.
Ping. "Need a room?".
You hadn't booked any accommodation yet. "Yes please", you respond.
"Just out the front, number 420".
You giggle, then follow the augmented directions leading to a sleek driverless hotel room. It's about the size of a mini bus but without the seats, steering wheel and engine. A giant transparent panel stretching the length and height of the vehicle greets you on approach. The panel opens and you step inside.
Inside is everything you'd expected. On the left, a couch seat that folds into a queen-sized bed with the push of a button. To the right, a small kitchenette with electric stove, running water, sink, microwave and bar fridge. Behind that is the detachable bathroom module with toilet, shower and wash basin.
"Hi there, welcome home. Hungry?"
"I could go some pad thai and a beer thanks", you respond.
"That'll be here in 6 minutes. Want a quick tour of the city?"
"Nah early one tonight. Let's checkout Bondi beach tomorrow", you say.
Your room begins driving itself towards Bondi and a live map displays on one of the side panels. You sit back and relax with some Netflix on the other side panel. Exactly 6 minutes later, a drone lands on the roof and lowers your order through a compartment in the ceiling. If you need to order any package you simply ask the room and a drone arrives; it even does laundry!
Okay, this seems reallly cool but honestly just let me know when they invent the daycare pod and the babysitter pod. That is the future we deserve! Right parents? Babysitter at the touch of a button, Netflix on the way to a date night and then late night drone pizzas! Hip, hip horray to 2025!
h/t: https://hackernoon.com/driverless-hotel-rooms-the-end-of-uber-airbnb-and-human-landlords-e39f92cf16e1
Is This Kid A Genius?
Look, not saying that having a piss drawer is for everyone but this kid might be onto something. Having to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night is a pain in the butt right? What if you could just pull down your Spidey jjs and piss into a drawer then just flop back into bed. I mean, if it were me maybe a liner of some sort… but this is a good start kid! You are going places, and those places are hidden compartments of pee pee.
mum has just found a draw full off piss that my 3 year old brother has been pissing in and he blamed the dog HAHA!!! pic.twitter.com/9F0VSDywoa
— phoebe bartlett (@phoebebartlett_) October 24, 2017
"Help me! I don't want to be here!"
We don't often step into the fray of politics here at Relevant Dad, it's not really our place. We do however from time to time feel the need to reflect on current events and speak up on behalf of our children and our future. There is a whole lot to unpackage about the shooting at Alexandria VA directed at House Republicans, their staffers, and colleagues. Motives, responses, plans going forward etc, but we cannot help but look back at the last decade or more of shootings here in America and just grow sicker and sicker. Day after day, week after week these events keep happening. The collective damage these shootings have on us and our kids are unknown in full but we know it cannot be healthy. The incremental tapping on our psyches will one day punch through into something horrifying that we will not come back from without the help of each other. Below is a video that was taken at the scene of the shooting, watching it is truly terrifying. A little over 25 shots are heard coming from the deranged man's SKS assault rifle. Now, if you can pretend that you are cowering in your first or second or
Day after day, week after week these events keep happening. The collective damage these shootings have on us and our kids are unknown in full but we know it cannot be healthy. The incremental tapping on our psyches will one day punch through into something horrifying that we will not come back from without the help of each other. Below is a video that was taken at the scene of the shooting, watching it is truly terrifying. A little over 25 shots are heard coming from the deranged man's SKS assault rifle. Now, if you can… pretend that you are cowering in your first or second or
Now, if you can… pretend that you are cowering in your first or second or third-grade classroom and you endure hearing that sound 154 times in the span of 4-5 minutes but indoors, surrounded by your friend's screams and cries. Then the terrifying silence that follows. Imagine that for a second and then tell us that nothing should be done to get stronger background checks in a place. Tell us after imagining that horror those six-year-olds ensured that you don't think stricter laws are needed in this country where gun violence is now met with a shrug of the shoulders by the very leaders we elect to protect us.
Harrowing video captures moment of shooting during this morning's GOP baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. https://t.co/1Rg7ZQBvZ7 pic.twitter.com/LuVG3mC9o0
— ABC News (@ABC) June 14, 2017
Huddled in the back corner of the classroom bathroom a first-grade girl heard a classmate who was surrounded by his dead friends proclaim "Help me! I don't want to be here!" to which the man with mental issues and a M4 Bushmaster responded, "Well, you're here." Then the gunshots started up again.
We don't have to be here anymore. Please visit https://everytown.org/.
May The 4th Star Wars Playlist
Jam out with your family today. Here is a Spotify playlist of all the Star Wars hits. So break out the Christmas paper tubes and battle for the future of the galaxy. Also, to the wives out there reading this, the whole Leia bikini (nsfw-ish?) thing tonight would be kinda hot…cough hint-hint cough.
Instagram Envy – thismainehouse
Wes, Sarah, Elle & Hartley Day – Just two Maine kids, a baby + a Dog, giving an old house some 💙 A House to Home ~1729 Cape Renovation
How awesome was the transformation of this house? Check it out here.
Culture Checklist: October 28, 2016
Want to hear eight great Beatles-esque songs in only ten minutes? We've got you covered. And what's more relaxing than a new Werner Herzog documentary about volcano exploration to ease you into a lazy weekend? We've also got a great piece by Andrew Sullivan about information addiction (guilty), an easy fall recipe to knock out, and if you're gonna drink a pumpkin beer to get in the Halloween spirit, you could do a lot worse than this one. You've gotta…
Hear this: Tony Molina – Confront the Truth
on Spotify.
Watch this: Into the Inferno
on Netflix.
Read this: I Used to Be a Human Being
via New York Magazine.
Eat this: Creamy Autumn Pumpkin Pasta
via Yummly.
Drink this: Warlock (10% ABV)
Culture Checklist: October 21, 2016
It's been 17 years since this band's last album which means any of our millennial readers who dabbled in emo at it's peak will want to take a trip down Nostalgia Lane today. There's also great new music that you should check out from Leonard Cohen & Agnes Obel this week, too. Speaking of long-awaited, our favorite near-future sci fi series returns with six new episodes today. We've also got a longread you should dig into this weekend about one man's plan to stop Silicon Valley from addicting us to our phones, a breakfast recipe from a world famous chef, and a good fall beer to check out (we've been digging a lot of saisons lately). You've gotta…
Hear this: American Football (LP2)
on Spotify.
Watch this: Black Mirror Season 3
On Netflix.
Read this: The Binge Breaker
via The Atlantic.
Eat this: Chef Eric Ripert's Go-To Crepe Recipe
via Eater.
Drink this: Fall Saison (6.3% ABV)
by Blackberry Farm.
Culture Checklist: October 14, 2016
Listen…it, it's been a week huh? There really isn't much to say about it that has not been said yet. So, take the weekend. Relax, listen to the new Kings of Leon album on your coffee run Saturday morning, watch a pretty funny new show (Mascots) Saturday night, do some heavy reading on your favorite dark poet, eat some fall themed chili and open that bottle of wine. It is time for some #SelfCare right? Also, don't turn on CNN, just don't. It's not worth it anymore.
Hear this: Kings of Leon – Walls
via Spotify.
Watch this: Mascots
via Netflix.
Read this: Leonard Cohen Makes It Darker
via The New Yorker.
Eat this: Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili
via Bite Me More.
Drink this: 2015 Château Cambon Beajolais, France
Culture Checklist: October 7, 2016
This indie singer songwriter recorded an album in less than 48 hours and you can hear it a week before it comes out. Forget Sunday Night football, Hills and Donny face off once again, this time town hall style (shout out to Mashable for the Trillary Photoshop pictured above). When was the last time you picked up a book? You can't go wrong with any on this shortlist. Tis the season for delicious autumn foods, including this recipe for the world's best soup. Oh, and Patagonia (yes, the one you're wearing right now), started brewing beer. So, yeah. You've gotta…
Hear this: Conor Oberst – Ruminations
via NPR First Listen.
Watch this: The 2nd Presidential Debate
live Sunday night at 9pm EST.
Read this: Anything on the 2016 National Book Award shortlist
via Vox.
Eat this: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
via Thrive.
Drink this: Long Root Ale (5.5% ABV)
Culture Checklist: September 30, 2016
There's one album that you need to hear this week, even if you probably won't end up liking it the first time through. It's a grower. Lot's of love for the new Luke Cage series on Netflix, but since we're still suckers for the true crime genre, we'll be checking out this new documentary instead. Also, love him or hate him, you need to read this Obama interview. Since it's finally starting to feel like fall, why not try to make your own cider donuts? And last but not least, a fall beer that has nothing to do with pumpkin. You've gotta…
Hear this: Bon Iver – 22, A Million
on Spotify.
Watch this: Amanda Knox
on Netflix.
Read this: Barack Obama and Doris Kearns Goodwin: The Ultimate Exit Interview
via Vanity Fair.
Eat this: Apple Cider Doughnuts
via NY Times Cooking.
Drink this: Tesla Hop Charged Lager (7.1% ABV)
by Sixpoint Brewery.
Culture Checklist: September 23, 2016
It's another solid music week with new releases from Devendra Banhart, How to Dress Well, Warpaint, & LVL UP out today but our hands-down fav is the new album from Rostam of Vampire Weekend and Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen. In TV, Transparent returns with season 3 today but our recommendation is for the highly acclaimed new show on FX from Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino aka that guy from Community. It's 4 episodes deep already and currently the "it" show of the moment. Want to read something this weekend? How about a piece asking "How Much Do Parents Matter?" Yes, please. Instead of giving you a suggestion for something to cook this weekend, we think you should spend $5 on an individually packaged single chip that's so spicy the company is betting you can only eat one. What a time to be alive. You'll need a good beer to wash it down, too. You've gotta…
Hear this: Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam: I Had A Dream That You Were Mine
on Spotify.
Watch this: Atlanta
on FX (airs Tuesdays at 10pm).
Read this: How Much Do Parents Matter?
via The Atlantic.
Eat this: Paqui Carolina Reaper Madness Chip
from Paqui.
Drink this: Hop Hop and Away (4.6% ABV)
by Aeronaut Brewing.
Culture Checklist: September 16, 2016
You probably think of The Beatles as a studio band, right? This new doc by Ron Howard will have you thinking otherwise. A new op-ed asks a question you've probably wrestled with yourself as you come to terms with being an adult. There's also some new country rock that will set the mood for fall. Fall. Sigh. Where did summer go? Speaking of summer, did you miss out on the biggest food trend of the summer? Catch up this weekend with the easiest Poke Bowl recipe we could find. And since the weather is starting to feel a little more like fall, here's a hard cider brand you should know. You've gotta…
Hear this: Dawes – We're All Gonna Die
on Spotify.
Watch this: The Beatles: Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years
premieres on Hulu 9/17.
Read this: Can You Have a Good Life if You Don't Have a Good Job?
via The New York Times.
Eat this: Tuna Poke Bowl
via POPSUGAR.
Drink this: Rojo (5.4% ABV) / Wunderkind (6% ABV) / The Americain (5.2% ABV)
Culture Checklist: September 9, 2016
After a light summer of good music options we got a lot to choose from this week. Notable releases include M.I.A's latest LP (at the very least check out "Freedun" – our jam right now), the long-awaited return of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, a collection of acoustic recordings from Jack White, the major label debut from The Head and the Heart, and new releases from indie rock stalwarts Local Natives & Okkervil River. But if you only have time to check out one new album this weekend, make it the one listed below (that album art tho). Tig Notaro's new dark comedy series launched on Amazon Prime today and it's definitely something you'll want to add to the queue since you'll obviously be watching football all weekend. Speaking of football, skip the traditional nachos and try out this new recipe to start the season off on the right culinary foot. And beer? Yes, beer. We're still in denial that summer has unofficially ended so we're still drinking gose – and you should be too. Lastly, we all want our children to excel in life so read this article about a 45-year study of smarty-pants kids and try to pick up a couple pointers along the way. You've gotta…
Hear this: Wilco – Schmilco
on Spotify.
Watch this: One Mississippi Season 1
on Amazon Video.
Read this: How to Raise a Genius: Lessons from a 45-Year Study of Supersmart Children
via Scientific American.
Eat this: Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
via Damn Delicious.
Drink this: Gose Gone Wild (4.3% ABV)
Culture Checklist: September 2, 2016
Our favorite rap duo is back with a new track for Gears of War 4, four more episodes of exquisite food porn are here (all featuring the best French chefs), a recap of the election according to children, some bomb street food even you can make at home, and beer that will, ahem, take your breath away. You've gotta…
Hear this: Run the Jewels – "Panther Like a Panther (I'm The Sh*t)"
via Pitchfork.
Watch this: Chef's Table: France
premieres today on Netflix (so does Season 2 of Narcos BTW).
Read this: The 2016 Presidential Election, According to 8-Year-Olds
via New York Magazine.
Eat this: Korean Rice Cakes with Red Chile Sauce
via NYTimes Cooking.
Drink this: Maverick & Gose (4.4% ABV)
Culture Checklist: August 26, 2016
Wu-Tang Clan & Interpol both earned a soft spot in our hearts during our musical coming of age so we're pretty stoked to check out the long-awaited collaboration between the RZA and Paul Banks that dropped today (you don't really need to hear the much-hyped return of Britney Spears anyways). Speaking of long-awaited, the limited series finale of the most hyped and talked about show of the summer wraps up on Sunday so don't miss it. Also, make sure you carve out some time this weekend to read about a restaurant in upstate New York that is booked for reservations until 2025 (and we're guessing after the popularity of this piece, it's now even later than that). Reading about such gastronomic extravegence will probably inspire you to try your hand at something new in the kitchen so we found an easy recipe sure to hit all the pleasure centers of your belly. And we know it's not quite dark beer drinking weather yet but The Beer Connoisseur just rated this one a 96 and we're already salivating for it. You've gotta…
Hear this: Banks & Steelz – Anything But Words
via Spotify.
Watch this: The Night Of
Finale airs Sunday 8/28 at 9:00 EST on HBO.
Read this: The Most Exclusive Restaurant in America
via The New Yorker.
Eat this: Kimchi Omelet With Sriracha Syrup
via NY Times Cooking.
Drink this: Vanilla Bean Stout (10.8% ABV)
Oh, you thought we forgot? We figure everyone in America already knew this but maybe you're a new dad and have your hands full with other things – that's really your only excuse. So ICYMI, Frank Ocean dropped another instant classic last week and if you should probably check it out before it's old news.
Culture Checklist: August 19, 2016
When the editor-in-chief says you have to listen to an album you oblige, of course. Boy are we glad we did this week, Michael Kiwanuka's new album Love & Hate sounds like it's from decades ago and given much of it's message that is not necessarily a good thing. Never the less you need to give it a spin this weekend. Amazon also pushed out a few more of those awesome Pilots you can vote on. Take an hour and check out Jean-Claude Van Johnson and let us know what you think! If you enjoy dark secrets, who doesn't, check out the tale of an island off the coast of Maine while you swing in your hammock this weekend. In NYC August is street fair season and you can't escape the smell and allure of street corn. If you can't make it to NYC worry not you can make it at home too. Has 2016's election season made you need a beer? Yeah, us too. No matter what side you relate to Half Moon's Alection IPA has your brew. You've gotta…
Hear This: Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate
via Spotify
Watch this: The New Amazon Pilots, including "Jean-Claude Van Johnson"
Read this: The Dark Secrets of This Now-Empty Island in Maine
via Atlas Obscura
Eat this: Mexican Street Corn
via Serious Eats
Drink this: Alection IPA's
From Half Moon Brewing
Culture Checklist: August 12, 2016
We picked a lot of stuff outside the norm for you this weekend. First, listen to a visual list of every #1 song since 1958 (trust us, that sentence makes sense). And we know we focus a lot on beer and the occasional cocktail around here but we still love a good wine which is why we're checking out this new Hulu docu-series starring Matthew Goode and Matthew Rhys. If you read this article you will never look at bounce house the same ever again. And to eat and drink? The two biggest announcements that made waves this week that you really need to incorporate into your imaginary healthy diet. You've gotta…
Hear This: Every Top 5 Song From 1958 – 2016
via Polygraph.
Watch this: The Wine Show
on Hulu (premieres 8/13).
Read this: Bouncy houses are actually bubbles of dangerous, megahot air
via Ars Technica.
Eat this: RXBAR ($26)
Drink this: Soylent Coffiest ($39)
Culture Checklist: August 5, 2016
We are officially in the dog days of summer kids. It's hot here on the east coast and we found an amazing watermelon mojito you need to perfect this august. While the Olympics are in full swing we doubt you will watch much else but if you do check out the much-anticipated doc on HBO, Hitchcock/Truffaut, two of the greats squaring off, it should be fascinating. On your lazy Sunday morning take a listen to the godmother of post-punk who helped shape a movement in its hour of conception. It's amazing. Also, about those killer hangovers you have been getting since, oh, 27ish…yeah, there is an explanation. If only there was a cure. You've Gotta…
Hear this: Vivien Goldman Resolutionary (Songs 1978-1982)
Via Spotify
Watch this: Hitchcock/Truffaut (8/8)
via HBO
Read this: Why Your Hangovers Just Keep Getting Worse With Age
Via New York Magazine.
Eat this: Roasted Artichoke with Anchovies & Aioli
Via House & Garden
Drink this: Watermelon Mojito
Via Bite Me More
On Being A Father: Viggo Mortensen
"To be the perfect parent is impossible…to know that by taking the risk of trying hard you are going to make mistakes. And then the most important thing is hopefully realizing that and doing something about it and making adjustments you know? Being a good dad is not a static thing." Viggo Mortensen on Here's The Thing WNYC
Culture Checklist: July 29, 2016
Last weekend was the Newport Folk Festival which we've told you before is the best music festival to bring your whole family to. But assuming you missed it (as we did this year) you can still enjoy some of this year's memorable sets thanks to NPR Music. Our biased personal favorite set, however, was Ryan Adams performing bluegrass versions of his long list of fan favs as well as Slayer and Black Sabbath covers for good measure. So damn good. There's also a new Netflix original series debuting today that's getting a lot of buzz. Think of it as a real life docuseries in the same vein as Friday Night Lights. Do you want to be a better parent? Just read this article and you will be!* We've also got a delicious recipe that you can easily knock out this weekend and if you're glad to put the past two weeks of political conventions behind you then try to get your hands on this new small bath limited release from Stone. At 12.7% ABV you're sure to forget some of the ridiculousness that occurred (drink responsibly – you've got kids now). You've gotta…
Hear this: Ryan Adams & the Infamous Stringdusters Live at Newport Folk Festival
via NPR Music.
Watch this: Last Chance U
on Netflix.
Read this: Five things that can make you a better parent right now
via the Washington Post.
Eat this: Dark Roast Coffee Pork Sliders
via Tailgate Traditions.
Drink this: Bastard's Midnight Brunch (12.7% ABV) American Strong Ale (w/ Coffee, Maple Syrup, Barrel Aged Bourbon)
by Arrogant Brewing.
*If only it was that easy.
Culture Checklist: July 22, 2016
While it feels like the only thing that happened this week was the RNC, it wasn't and we're here with your weekly reminder of things you might have missed. For example, Wilco's back with a great new song you from their forthcoming 10th studio album that you need to hear. Also, Netflix is now streaming one of the most talked about psychological thrillers in years so get the kids to bed early tonight. And while you escape the heat and hide out indoors this weekend, read up on why you lose friends in your 30's then cheer yourself up with a beer and a watermelon granita (i.e. a no-recipe dessert even YOU can make). You've gotta…
Hear this: "If I Ever Was a Child" by Wilco
via Spotify.
Watch this: The Invitation
on Netflix.
Read this: Why 30 is the decade friends disappear — and what to do about it
via Vox.
Eat this: The Easiest Frozen Dessert You Can Make Without a Recipe
via Epicurious.
Drink this: Gose with the Flow (4.6% ABV)
by Tin Roof.
Culture Checklist: July 15, 2016
Fully aware of all the terrible things in the news the last couple weeks, we're going to continue the approach of last week's Culture Checklist by acknowledging that important things going on in the world that you should be paying attention to, but you're an adult and don't need Relevant Dad to tell you how to digest the news. Instead we'll once again be focusing on some of the good stuff to come out what's new in culture this past week and hopefully help you find something to enjoy this weekend. First, there are certain artists that, regardless of your taste in music, you should pay attention to whenever they drop new songs. Since it's kind of a soft weekend for new music anyway we thought we'd include this new earworm from M.I.A. Then follow that up with a new Netflix original series of escapism that dropped today and prepare to stay up late binge-watching after the kids are in bed. Also, we know you've secretly been waiting for someone to explain this week's phenomenon-of-the-moment, Pokemon Go, to you. So, yeah. We've got you covered there. Also, we've got a great recipe for a killer sandwich and some new bottled nitro cold brew coffee (to help you stay awake for the aforementioned binge-watching). You've gotta…
Hear this: M.I.A. – Go Off
via Spotify.
Watch this: Stranger Things
on Netflix.
Read this: Pokémon Go, explained in fewer than 400 words
via Vox.com.
Eat this: Charred Caprese Sandwich
via Epicurious.
Drink this: Califia Nitro Cold Brew
by Califia Farms.
Culture Checklist: July 8, 2016
Culture. "The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively."
I was up way too late here on the East Coast watching the horror play out in the streets of Dallas. This was after staring at my screen all day on Thursday reading about the horrible killings in St. Paul and Baton Rouge as well as the bombings in Baghdad and what were the other things? I can't remember, which is a problem. When horrific news events begin to stack up one upon another with such aggressive frequency they begin to not mean anything. Yet, they always mean everything in the moment. For 24 hours at least until something just as sinister takes their place in our minds.
Culture. "The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement…." Walking to the office this morning I knew that I needed to create this week's culture checklist and I spent a lot of time thinking about the culture that we all live in today. On one hand Donald Trump, email servers, violent shootings, terrorism and pop up reminders of grim news greeting us constantly on our phones turning those black mirrors into instant stressors. On the other hand, incredibly moving music, beautiful prose, people perfecting their crafts and sharing their success willfully with the world to consume and adore. These bits of culture are the better parts of us, the most of us, the real us. When the tension is palpable (manufactured or not) it's hard to see the beauty around us. But we have to try. We here at Relevant Dad wholeheartedly believe that our American culture is still beautiful. So now more than ever – You've gotta…
Hear this: NPR Music's Top Songs of 2016 So Far.
Via Spotify
Watch this: The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Via PBS (not available in all regions) Buy: Amazon
Read this: America by Claude McKay
Via Poets.org
Eat this: Pop's Pastrami
Via Harry & Ida's New York City
Drink this: Puff (Limited Release)
Via Sixpoint Brewery
-RD Shawn
Culture Checklist: July 1, 2016
Happy 4th of July weekend everyone. Summer has officially hit and we could not be happier. We are all taking a few days off next week but we have a great #CultureChecklist for you today. Remember that chillingly awesome piano and organ piece for the first 10 minutes of the GOT finale? It's now up on Spotify and you can chill out to it all weekend, just don't pull a Tommen okay? We also want you to rent one of the most important documentaries out there this weekend. "Daddy Don't Go is a tough but tender journey that illuminates the everyday struggles of disadvantaged fathers." It is a must watch no matter what your family situation is. We lost a giant earlier in the week. The Ringer has a great piece on how legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt transcended her sport and shook the world. Of course for the holiday weekend, we leave you with an easy to make angel food cake and strawberry recipe and a beer that is peak 2016 Trump era American. You've gotta…
Hear this: Light of the Seven by Ramin Djawadi
Via Spotify
Watch this: Daddy Don't Go
Via Vimeo
Read this: Pat Summitt Transcended Women's Sports
Via The Ringer
Eat this: Strawberries On A Cloud
Via CDK
Drink this: #Merica!
Culture Checklist: June 24, 2016
As we Brexit the crazy week that has given us non stop news every day let us take a moment to reflect on some of the finer things you can partake in this weekend. The Avett Brothers just released their new studio album True Sadness and critics are raving about it so far. Netflix has a charming Paul Rudd movie that you and your significant other can dive into once the kids have crashed. We also want to suggest that you take a moment to read Charles Pierce's This Whole Thing Is About the Right to Be Heard, which is a fantastic piece on the house democrat's sit-in and gun violence in general. We also have a salad from Cup of Jo that is perfect for the summer and a beer that is an ode to Brexit 2K16. You've gotta…
Hear this: The Avett Brothers – True Sadness
Via Spotify
Watch this: The Fundamentals of Caring
Via Netflix
Read this: This Whole Thing Is About the Right to Be Heard
Via Esquire
Eat this: Halloumi, Peach and Cherry Salad
Via Cup Of Jo
Drink this: Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter
Culture Checklist: June 17, 2016
With Father's Day this Sunday chances are you won't have much time to yourself this weekend. In case you do, here are a few suggestions. Ever want to watch a movie written entirely by a AI software? Now you can! RHCP dropped a new album today and even though it's textbook "dad rock", admit it – you want to ignore it but your 14 year old self still wants to check it out. Feeling low? This checklist of simple things might actually lead to a happier life. We don't exactly have a recipe for you this week. Instead, here's a list of the best 50 restaurants in the world. If you're in the NYC area, you're in luck. Otherwise you might have to catalog the rest for future visits abroad. And since we're gonna be hanging with pops by the grill this weekend, we have a no-frills lager a little classier than the swill he's used to drinking (but not so fancy he'll start insulting you). You've gotta…
Hear this: The Getaway – Red Hot Chili Peppers
via Spotify.
Watch this: Sunspring | A Sci-Fi Short Film Starring Thomas Middleditch
Read this: Want to Be Happier? Science Says Do These 11 Things Every Single Day
via Inc.
Eat this: Here's the 2016 'World's 50 Best Restaurants' List
via Grub Street.
Drink this: House Beer Lager (4.8% ABV)
via House Brewing Inc.
P.S. Don't forget Any Given Wednesday with Bill Simmons premieres Wednesday, June 22nd on HBO.
Happy Father's Day, guys. Have a great weekend. Enjoy that family time.
Rocking Fatherhood With Chris Kornelis
When we heard that writer Chris Kornelis was putting out a book called Rocking Fatherhood: The Dad-To-Be's Guide to Staying Cool we knew we were going to love it. Then add the forward from one of our childhood heroes Duff McKagen and we were more than sold. The book is a must have for any new or expecting dad (or mom), so much so that we caught up with Chris last week and picked his dad brain on a few different things.
One of the big takeaways from Rocking Fatherhood for us is your mantra about doing what is best for your family. That is a pretty unique stance in the modern parenting world where media sites (ourselves included) urge new parents to take this advice or buy this miracle product. Was that mindset easy for you and your family to come to or did it take time?
From the beginning, I think we were pretty level-headed about it. But, as time went on and we started looking under the hood at the recommendations, it became clear that the best thing for the baby is what's best for the family, and that we should feel good about living the life that we think is best for all of us.
Recommendations often leave very little room for nuance. But when you talk to experts in these fields, they're usually much more measured and reasonable. The vast majority of them told me, generally, the most important thing is that the family's happy and that the baby's loved and taken care of.
What is harder, getting a rock star to sit down long enough for a substantive interview or getting a toddler to sit down for dinner?
That's a good question, but, in my experience, neither is very hard. Rock stars are usually more than happy to talk about themselves. And my kids, like their dad, rarely skip a meal. You see what I did there? I'm trying to not say "good eater." I've been a good eater my whole life, but at some point, people stopped congratulating my mom.
Father's Day is coming up, what does your perfect Father's Day look like?
As long as I'm with my family, I'm good. But, perfect? All of us – my two brothers and their families – meet up at my parents' house at 10 a.m. for brunch, which involves bacon, cheese, eggs and leftovers. Then at noon my younger brother, Simon, brings out some Tomahawk Rib Eyes. Then we all hang out, play outside and talk about wool for a couple hours and snack on Chinese Barbecue from Kau Kau – a joint in Seattle that's my son's favorite (OK, our favorite). Around 4, we break into the brisket and a little red wine. Once the kids are in bed, we start watching the Godfather and I fall asleep before Marlon Brando has a heart attack. That's best case scenario. The reality is I'm out before the end of the wedding. read more…
Culture Checklist: June 10, 2016
We don't want to hype this up too much, but this might be our best Culture Checklist yet. We've got a podcast episode that will resonate with dads everywhere, the premiere of an eight-hour 30 For 30 documentary garnering universal acclaim, a short piece of fiction featured in The New Yorker this week that, again, will resonate with any dads reading this, a meal you can cook for your family that will impress the hell out of your spouse, and a beer that you're going to love (if you can get your hands on it). You've gotta…
Hear this: Episode 89: Family Snapshot
Watch this: O.J.: Made in America
Episode 1 premieres on ABC this Saturday 6/11 at 9pm EST before moving to ESPN for the remaining 4 episodes.
Read this: "Fable" by Charles Yu
via The New Yorker.
Eat this: Chicken & Cauliflower Bowls with Cilantro Lime Sauce
via The Simple Foodie.
Drink this: Space Juice Double-IPA (8.7% ABV)
On Being A Father: Justin Timberlake
"It's incredibly hard, the hardest job in the world and I've never been more thankful and grateful to my own mother. Oh, my gosh I'm going to call her right after this actually and just thank her. What you have to do for your kid – it's an amazing responsibility and the biggest joy ever."
-Justin Timberlake on The Z100 Morning Show on being a father.
Following Us Is Super Easy
Millennial parents have to hustle to keep up with everything firing off in their busy lives. Don't worry about adding us into your time management equation, all our content can come right to you. We're sorta on demand in that way. Whatever social media platform is your jam we occupy it too. So click, follow and don't forget to tell your mom and dad friends about Relevant Dad, we love hearing from new parents. Don't forget to click on the image above for our favorite page.
Facebook – Twitter – Pinterest – Instagram – Youtube – RSS – Medium – Tumblr – Beme
We are also on Snapchat now because @garyvee told us we needed to be:
Lastly, you can always reach us at firstname.lastname@example.com we love hearing from you.
Culture Checklist: June 3, 2016
Sixteen years ago, The Avalanches released an album that is arguably one of the best records of our lifetime. This week they released their first new music since then, and it doesn't disappoint. Six new binge-worthy episodes of one of our favorite shows just became available today, too. But when you're not busy playing with the kids this weekend (or binge-watching Netflix), try to squeeze in some time to read this great story, upgrade your fried eggs and make yourself a Michelada. You've gotta…
Hear this: The Avalanches – Frankie Sinatra
on Spotify.
Watch this: Peaky Blinders Season 3
on Netflix.
Read this: Dad's raw, beautiful post about wife trying to get pregnant delivers every single emotion.
via someecards.com.
Eat this: A Genius Way to Upgrade Your Fried Eggs
via Slate.
Drink this: 'Gansett Michelada
via Narragansett Beer Co.
Men Want to Spend More Time at Home – Even if it Means Taking a Pay Cut
Shireen Kanji, University of Leicester
We're all familiar with what sociologists call "the traditional family": a straight, married couple, with a male breadwinner who works long hours to support his family, while the woman stays home, takes care of the domestic work, and rears the children. Feminists have long campaigned against the factors which ensure that this the only option – for both men and women. Now, it appears that male breadwinners aren't too happy with it either.
New research has shown that male breadwinners in high-status jobs, such as managerial roles, are more likely to want to cut back their working hours than other men: even if it involves a drop in their salary.
All work and no play
Here, we use the term "male breadwinners" to describe men who earn the majority of a straight couple's income. We were unable to include same sex couples in our analysis, because limitations in the data restricted our ability to do so.
Using data on about 4,000 men from 12 western European countries, we found that male breadwinners work longer hours than single men, men who are equal earners and men whose female partner is the breadwinner. Of course, this is partly because male breadwinners have a partner who can take care of most of the domestic work, which enables them to stay at work later or start earlier. read more…
Culture Checklist: May 27, 2016
This Memorial Day Weekend, rock out to new punk music, drool over food porn, figure out your teenager, up your burger game, and crush some cans. You've gotta…
Hear this: PUP – The Dream Is Over
on Spotify.
Watch this: Chef's Table, Season 2, Part 1
on Netflix.
Read this: Who are these kids? Inside the race to decipher today's teens, who will transform society as we know it
via The Washington Post.
Eat this: Power Burger
via NYT Cooking.
Drink this: Booming Rollers IPA (6.8% ABV)
Bonus: The Strokes surprised us with not one, not two, but three new songs yesterday. The whole EP, Future Present Past is streaming now at Spotify.
What I Want For Father's Day: 24 Hours to Act Like We Are 24 Again
Yeah, I mean that new album is really cool so is the bottle of scotch you got me but do you know what I really want for Father's Day this year? I want you my darling for 24 uninterrupted hours to myself. Let's start after work on Friday okay? Send the kids to your parents and let's pretend we are 24 again.
Meet me for happy hour at that charming dive bar that we frequented just after college. You know the one with the free wings and sticky floors with the amazing smell of youth and wasted afternoons? Then let's go downtown to the club and see who is playing. I just want to feel your body against mine as you scream woo-hoo and wave your one hand in the air as you spill some of your drink on my jeans with the other. When the crowd thins out let's find a late night taco truck and scarf down some carnitas and al pastor. I will be sure to tell them to hold the cilantro. See, I remember.
Then let's stumble around downtown and people watch through all of the windows at all of the young lovers who will be where we are in 10 years. There is a park bench on the way back to the car where we once sat eating ice cream and talking about the names of our future kids, let's sit there for awhile as you rest your head on my shoulder trying not to fall asleep. When we get back home let's stow all of the rubber ducks and squeeze into the bath together with big glasses of wine and just soak in the night alone. Let's get drunk like we used to when it was just me and you on a random Friday. We can put on the Bright Eyes album we fell in love to and pretend we're back in our first apartment. You remember the one right, with the dripping sink and the upstairs neighbors who stomped around all night? Then, then bed.
I don't care when you wake up just stay in bed with me until at least 9. Stop thinking about the laundry, the full dishwasher and resist the urge to be productive. Just lay here. Just snooze for awhile. Then we can hop in the shower together for as long as we can stand it when we then fall back into bed where we can spend as long as we want being thankful that we are so familiar with each other's bodies. Some things do get better with time.
At this point of the morning, we can stumble out into the Saturday and grab brunch without skipping on the Bellinis. Eggs Benedict, frites, frittata, and plenty of coffee. Is there anything better than 5-course breakfasts? On our way home let's pick up Starbucks to go and crash on the couch spending the next few hours clearing off the DVR. We still have episodes from last Fall to watch and frankly that is embarrassing for everyone. I'd say let's grab steak and cheese subs from our favorite deli but the thought of getting up and driving is horrid. So let's order cheap Chinese and not be stingy about it. I expect the bill to be over $35 like it was when we used egg rolls to soak up the cheap beer. read more…
Culture Checklist: May 20, 2016
The debut studio album (even though it's his 13th full-length album) from indie rock's Next Big Thing is out today, Metacritic says this new comedy series is the best Netflix Original of the year, Jonathan Franzen goes to Antarctica, an easy taco recipe that has our mouths watering, and the beer to trick you into thinking it's already summer. You've gotta…
Hear this: Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial
on Spotify.
Watch this: Lady Dynamite Season 1
on Netflix.
Read this: The End of The End of The World
via The New Yorker.
Eat this: Sizzling Pork Tacos
via NYT Cooking.
Drink this: Mandarina Tart Farmhouse Ale (4.3% ABV)
by Almanac Beer Co.
Culture Checklist: May 13th 2016
Don't you feel like setting off on an adventure? Maybe it's the gloomy weather outside of Relevant Dad HQ today but we have the itch to escape. That might be caused by the super nostalgic 90's-esq dreamy new album, Tired of Tomorrow by the Philly band Nothing. This will seriously bring you back to sitting in your room with those big foam headphones on just forgetting everything for awhile. We also hope you carve out some time to watch fellow dad Casey Neistat's daily vlogs. This guy is living out a dream and is taking us along for the ride. When you get a free second you should also read why you and your toddler need to hit the road together. End your Sunday with some Italian Pork Chops and a smooth coffee inspired beer from Modern Times and you have a great weekend ahead. You've gotta…
Hear this: Nothing – Tired of Tomorrow
Watch this: Casey Neistat's Vlogs…from the beginning.
on Youtube
Read this: Why Every Father Should Bring His Toddler Out For A Mini Adventure
Eat this: Italian Pork Chops
Drink this: Mega Black House
What Moms Really Want for Mother's Day
Hint: It's not flowers.
It's no surprise that "winter holidays" account for the largest U.S. spending of the year. But did you know that Mother's Day comes in second, with families spending, on average, nearly $200 on their beloved moms?
I have two things to say on the subject: First, I'm pretty sure the handmade picture frame I get from my son every year costs nowhere close to that. Second, what if the gift that moms really want this year costs nothing at all?
I know what you're thinking, "Oh, how sweet, they just want time with their families!" Nope, wrong again: we actually want to be alone.
Don't get me wrong, I hope my three- and five-year-olds climb into bed with me at dawn (as long as they don't wake me up). Later, we can cuddle and watch cartoons while I sip coffee and my husband makes pancakes. After breakfast, we'll head off on a hike with my in-laws; the kids will hold my hands and hunt for endangered blue butterflies. Marlowe will give me the card she's been furtively coloring and I can finally open the mystery gift that Teddy's been working so hard on at school. (I hope it's a picture frame).
Finally, it's time for my husband to give me his gift. Hold the flowers and chocolate and heart shaped necklace, babe — I just want time.
As a working mom, time to myself is not something I have much of. My friends who are full-time moms have even less. Any spare time I do have is plagued with guilt and to-dos. "I should pick up the kids early today." "I have got to get that email out." "We have no food in the house." "I still haven't signed Teddy up for gymnastics, RSVP'd for that party, or bought my sister a birthday present." "That load of laundry has been in the dryer since Wednesday." "What am I going to make for dinner tonight?" "The house looks like a bomb went off." "Have I really not exercised at all this week?" "I wonder what's new on Instagram?" read more…
Culture Checklist: May 6, 2016
The latest surprise album you need to hear, the French House of Cards, an article for those still wrapping their head around Trump becoming the GOP's presumptive nominee, something light & healthy to eat this weekend, and a beer for the start of pool season. You've gotta…
Hear this: James Blake – The Colour in Anything
via Spotify.
Watch this: Marseille Season 1
on Netflix.
Read this: The political scientist who saw Trump's rise coming
via Vox.
Eat this: Healthy Turkey & Cucumber Lettuce Wrap
via Just a Pinch.
Drink this: Poolside Ale (5% ABV)
By Bells.
Culture Checklist: April 27, 2016
We're going to assume you're sick of hearing about Beyonce's "Lemonade" as much as we are. Instead, roll the windows down and blast this indie rock album that sounds like the start of summer, watch President Obama's last trip to the Nerd Prom, read a Princeton professor's list of life failures, eat the world's best breakfast sandwich, and, in case of emergency, drink beer. You've gotta…
Hear this: Rogue Wave – Delusions of Grand Fur
on Spotify.
Watch this: The 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner
on C-SPAN (or livestream here) Saturday 4/30 at 6pm EST.
Read this: Johannes Haushofer's CV of Failures
via Vox.
Eat this: The Best Breakfast Sandwich
via Framed Cooks.
Drink this: Emergency Drinking Beer Pils-style Session Ale (4% ABV)
Earth Day Like a Boss
You've got solar panels on the roof, you drive an electric car, your family composts, and even if none of those three statements are true, they are things you would like to aspire to, right? Kind of? Aw, come on – let's try not to leave behind a charred hellscape for our children's children, can we? Regardless of where you fall on the "green" spectrum, we rounded up some relevant content for you to consume on this Earth Day. For starters, browse this list of links to 11 apps, products, and websites from Netted while you're procrastinating at the office throughout the day. When you get home, help the family prepare one of these ten meat-free meal ideas from POPSUGAR. Then after the kids are in bed, check out the most recent episode of HBO's VICE, "The Future of Energy" and go to bed with a sense of optimism that maybe we'll collectively get our act together. One thing's for sure – you're not going to save the world today, but maybe through a little bit of exploration you'll find something new to live a little healthier and do some good for our planet in the process.
Culture Checklist: April 22, 2016
Country/Americana/Whatever-it's-just-good music, a huge weekend of HBO premieres, why emojis signal the coming of the apocalypse, healthy food that looks good and tastes great, and coffee. Sweet, sweet cold-pressed bottled coffee. You've gotta…
Hear this: Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor's Guide to Earth
on Spotify.
Watch this: Game of Thrones season 6 & Silicon Valley season 3 Premieres
Sunday night 4/24 on HBO.
Read this: If Emoji Are the Future of Communication Then We're Screwed
via New York Magazine.
Eat this: Green Smoothie Bowls
via Yummly.
Drink this: Pure Black Cold-Pressed Bottled Coffee
from La Colombe.
Lessons from Obama: America's Dad
If you take a look through the photostream from The White House on Flickr you quickly see a pattern emerge. President Obama is America's dad and he has had a blast while in office goofing off with some pretty adorable kids. What lessons can we learn from him?
1. Hold your kids up high and help them stay there.
2. Teach them history no matter how painful it may be.
Culture Checklist: April 8, 2016
He blew us away with his cover of Sufjan Stevens' "Blue Bucket of Gold" and he's just released a debut LP that doesn't disappoint. When we're not watching The Masters this weekend, we'll be squeezing in new episodes of one of our favorite shows from 2015 while we guzzle canned moonshine and Italian food. You've gotta…
Hear this: Gallant – Ology
on Spotify.
Watch this: Catastrophe – Season 2
on Amazon Video.
Read this: When Are You Really An Adult?
via The Atlantic.
Eat this: Asiago Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Spinach
via Yummly.
Drink this: Canned Moonshine
by Stillhouse.
Culture Checklist: April 1, 2016
Wow, you guys. What a week it's been. Let's wind it down in style shall we? You've gotta…
Hear this: Charlie Puth – Nine Track Mind
Watch this: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
Read this: Donald Trump's Foreign Policy Agenda
Eat this: Arby's
Drink this: Natural Light
New App Alert – Return-A-Kid (Beta)
Sometimes things just don't work out when you bring your kid home from the hospital. Listen, kid. Your mother and I tried to conceive for four years- and we couldn't have been more excited when you were born- but this just isn't working out. We get it, and so did a couple of entrepreneurial guys from Brooklyn when they found a vaguely written loophole in the Affordable Care Act stating that:"
"Sec. 0401. Establishment of parenthood may be reversed and placed back upon the hospital or medical center of the juveniles origin at any point in the first 6570 days of a minors life. Participants can file form 0401-17 with their local HHS office for return instructions."
Because of that loophole in the law, Return-A-Kid was born. As of right now the beta pilot program which is accessible in only available in select cities (New York, San Francisco, LA, New Orleans, Atlanta & Chicago) but the company plans to roll out nationwide by the first day of Q3 2017.
So how does it work? You download the Return-A-Kid app from the iTunes or Android store and submit your address. This will tell you if you are a candidate to return your child to the hospital. If you are, you will be prompted for your confirmation number that you received when you submitted your 0401-16 form. Return-A-Kid will mail you a packaging kit that includes a comfortable crate (be sure to choose the correct size for your kid), padding and snack pack for your child. You then simply choose from an available pickup time and "viola!" you're back to peace and quiet again. If you're too busy to be bothered by the return process, a premium VIP service is also available where a certified Return-A-Kid Technician will come to your house and handle the return process for you. There are also several add-on amenities for the transit crate if the shipment back to the hospital is longer than 24 hours. This just proves that yes, there really is an app for everything. Available here or on the buy link below.
Culture Checklist: March 25, 2016
One of rock and rolls most legendary artists teamed up with Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme to release a fantastic new album (and possibly his last), Pee-Wee returned to the small screen and it's time to turn your kids onto the entetainment you grew up on, Twitter turned a robot into a racist, oh, and it's Easter weekend so figure out what to cook and drink something with high alcohol content to get you through it. You've gotta…
Hear this: Post Pop Depression – Iggy Pop
on Spotify (dive deeper with this excellent interview with NPR's All Songs Considered and hear Iggy and Josh breakdown "American Valhalla" on Song Exploder).
Watch this: Pee Wee's Big Holiday
on Netflix.
Read this: How Twitter Taught a Robot to Hate
via Vox.
Eat this: Ham or Lamb?
via Dad Cooks Dinner.
Drink this: Boskeun (10% ABV)
by De Dolle.
Thinking of Making A Baby? Get A Puppy First.
Editorial Note: A version of this post also appers on Elite Daily.
Our dog turned 9 years old today, a far cry from the puppy he used to be. These days, he lays around putting up with the constant squeals of adoration from a 16-month-old toddler who just loves him to death. And he loves her. In his advancing years, he's found a friend who will feed him from the table, snuggle with him, share (sometimes unwillingly) toys, and above all, keep him active. It struck me as I was changing the second dirty diaper of the morning that having a baby is exactly like having a puppy. Actually, thanks to insurance the whole bringing home a baby deal was cheaper than the adopting a dog deal. Thanks Obama! So, for you younger Millennials who are not sure about that whole 'having a baby' thing…get a puppy first. It's exactly the same.
Here's how:
- From the moment you bring that new bundle of joy into your home, it needs non-stop attention.
- It pees everywhere.
- It poops a lot and you have to clean it up.
- 1,2,3 maybe even 4 times a night you will be awoken because it needs to eat, or play, or cry or poop. Did I mention poop?
- No, really. You actually have to wipe sh*t from the floor… if you haven't stepped in it first.
- Random people will stop by your house to see the cute new addition to your family.
- Everything you Google will start with "Is it okay if my ____ ate…"
- Your budget will take a serious hit, for like the rest of your life.
- They want to be held. All. The. Time.
- If you put them down they will just knock over your glass of water. Okay, your glass of wine, they will knock over your glass of wine.
- You and your wife will become great at making deals. "I cleaned up their mess last night, so now it's your turn." "Yes, but, I need to make them breakfast so you have to clean them up." "Right."
- You spend a lot of energy trying to get them to crap in the appropriate place.
- When you take their stuffie away it's literally the end of the world.
- At some point, you give in and they will sleep in bed with you. Then, you will never get them out.
- You can entertain them for hours by showing them videos of animals on YouTube.
- They will cry when their toy rolls under the couch, and then once you retrieve it they will do it again because now it's a fun game. Don't create fun games. That is a parenting rule.
- If Mom says "no" they sneak off to Dad. He always says "yes". Until mom tells him to say "no"…then, then he says "no".
- They will become overconfident in their couch climbing abilities and end up in a heap under the coffee table crying.
- Thunderstorms are the devil.
- After a minute or an hour, maybe a day, you won't be able to imagine life without them. Love for them is unconditional. Even if they break all your stuff, poop on the floor, eat everything you own, scare you to death, keep you awake for hours at night, won't listen, demand unlimited attention and effort and drive you f*cking crazy. You love them so damn much.
If you can handle raising a puppy into a dog then sure go ahead and have that baby. Soon they will become a toddler and that kid and your dog will become best friends. What's better than a house full of love?
Culture Checklist: March 18, 2016
Ease into the weekend with some great new indie rock from the former Smith Westerns frontman, a 2nd season of superhero escapism, an inspirational read, and nurse your St. Paddy's Day hangover with some Irish soda bread and canned cold brew coffee. You've gotta…
Hear this: Cullen Omori – New Misery
on Spotify.
Watch this: Daredevil Season 2
on Netflix.
Read this: Tell Me What You Did Today, And I'll Tell You Who You Are
via Medium.
Eat this: Real Irish Soda Bread
via Serious Eats.
Drink this: Blue Bottle Coffee Cold Brew
at Whole Foods.
You're Too Old for SXSW Anyway
As you were changing diapers and getting breakfast on the table this morning, young and carefree artists around the country were packing their suitcases and catching a flight or loading gear into a van en route to Austin, TX. We went a couple years ago and while it truly was an experience of a lifetime, the extremely late nights, copious amounts of Lone Star, and painful high-pitched ringing in our ears that prevented us from actually falling asleep as the sun was coming up left us boarding the plane home with one thought on our mind: When did I get so OLD? On the surface, it's easy to get swept up in a melancholy lust for a responsibility-free life but, damnit, you're a dad now and you've got shit to do. For those of us who cannot attend but still want in on the party, there's an app for that. Specifically, if you're a cord cutter, you can now download this free app on Roku which allows you to watch livestreams of concerts March 16-19. Sure, it's not exactly Rainey Street at 2am but for now, the comfort of our sofa with a good beer in hand is a pretty good deal until we get the opportunity to go back again (and we will).
Disney Dads – Worst to First
In most of the Disney movies we millennials grew up with, Disney Dads were shoved into inconsequential parts of the "B storyline" while only a few rose to the occasion of being a productive parent. If we made you some flash cards, how many dads could you name. Be honest. 4-5 at most. "Oh, oh, yeah…um that's…he's the guy from that movie…umm, The Princess & The Frog, right?" would not count as a solid answer. Here they are, by name, non-comprehensive from worst to first in order of relevant dadness.
14. The Sultan – Aladdin Hands down the worst dad represented in the Disney universe, right? From the awe-shucks bumbling idiot routine to trying to marry off his teenage daughter into an arranged marriage this guy really isn't doing dads any favors. He is the establishment and Jasmine can do better, you know what we mean?
13. Chief Powhatan – Pocahontas We have a huge uptick in quality of dad between 14 & 13 here. Powhatan isn't that bad, right? Aside from being a bit too much like The Sultan and trying to marry off his daughter to a bad match, he has most of his kid's best interests at heart. Points off for trying to kill off John Smith, though. Take a breath daddy! Can't you see she loves him?
12. The King of Arendelle – Frozen The #1 reason your kids are screaming the lyrics to "Let It Go" over and over is that The King was a bit of a jerk to Elsa. The trolls make it pretty clear what to do but the King must have been too busy refreshing his Twitter feed to pay any attention. So his plan is to shut her off from the rest of the kingdom and tell her to bury her emotions? No chill, man. No chill. read more…
Culture Checklist: March 11, 2016
A collection of lost recordings and covers (including Bob Dylan, The Smiths, Sly & The Family Stone, and Led Zeppelin) from a voice gone too soon, a new sketch comedy series consisting of eight 30-minute episodes that are actually worth your time, a story about science confirming what you already knew after you cried reading The Dreaming Tree to your children, a great recipe for adult-style grilled cheese, and, in honor of Bernie's surprise win in Michigan, a "slightly sour and forward-thinking ale." You've gotta…
Hear this: Jeff Buckley – You and I
on Spotify.
Watch this: Netflix Presents: The Characters
on Netflix.
Read this: Being a good parent will physiologically destroy you, new research confirms
via Quartz.
Eat this: Grilled Mozzarella Sandwiches With Mortadella, Pesto, and Artichokes
via Serious Eats.
Drink this: Bernie Weisse Tart German Wheat Ale (3.2% ABV)
To The Mother of My Daughter on International Women's Day,
The #LikeAGirl campaign started up a few weeks after we found out that we were having a daughter. At the time, I remember thinking well into the future when our little girl would be in middle school and high school wondering what she would be like and what challenges she would face in this largely man driven world. I had never given it much thought, the issues, the challenges and the abuse that she might face in her life but when I did realize it, it turned a pit in my stomach. I then thought about everything that you have faced and everything that you are dealing with today. All those little and big things that you just swallow and never talk about. My reality shattered a little bit more. This world has not been easy for women. That is something I have learned more and more about since becoming the father to a girl and a husband to you. Some prime real estate in my brain has been spent thinking about how we are going to combat the injustices she will face in the coming years. How do we even begin? Now that it's International Women's Day and Women's History Month is upon us it's really easy to find an article, video or podcast about powerful and influential women that we can turn our daughter onto as inspirations. She will need more than just this month because questions still remain for her. Will she grow up in a world with a woman as President? Will she see a clear mix of gender in the corporate world, or on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley? Who will she read about at the library with great wonder about and try to emulate?
My true hope is that it's you she continues to mimic. Because right now it sure is. Every morning when she wakes up she screams your name, "Mommy" she yells because you are her shining star. She is your shadow, following you from room to room, watching you with earnest intent picking up on everything that you do. For that, we are lucky because you are a strong, powerful woman. You inspire her creativity, you teach her what it is to be a modern woman, you guide her so gracefully, you give her adventure and a lust for life. You show her that a woman can have a successful career, she can manage to work 9-5 and then play with her, cook dinner, clean and then work some more. You teach her that it's okay to cry, it's okay to laugh it's okay to want more, to want better and to rise above. Every day that she watches you live your life #LikeAGirl it stacks the odds in her favor to become an amazing woman herself. Seeing you being a strong multifaceted woman is almost the most important thing our daughter can witness in her young life. The only thing that is maybe more important is how I treat you.
For as much as our girl is emulating you, she is just as often watching me. Watching how the men in her life treat the women in her life. She is studying how we talk to you, how we comfort you, she is absorbing all of our mannerisms and actions around you. She is a living witness to all of the emotions we share, the conversations we have, the things we do to and for each other. All of these moments will tell her in the future what is and what isn't acceptable when it comes to the way the men in her life interact with her. As time unfolds and our daughter grows I hope that I am doing as good a job at being a good influence on her life as you are each and every day.
So thank you, mother of our daughter, for living life #LikeAGirl and raising a pretty great one at that.
Culture Checklist: March 4, 2016
Surprise, surprise. The king of hip hop just dropped an unexpected album on the world last night. Also, your favorite political drama returns for a fourth season to binge-watch after the kids are in bed. In honor of Leonardo DiCaprio's Academy Award win last Sunday (and since we could all use a palate cleanser after the political events of the past week) check out this short piece about Leo's "Wolf Pack." Also, stuff your face and wash it down with these two indulgences because, let's face it. You've earned it this week. You've gotta…
Hear this: Kendrick Lamar – untitled unmastered.
on Spotify.
Watch this: House of Cards Season 4
on Netflix.
Read this: Inside Leonardo DiCaprio's 'Wolf Pack': The Pussy Posse Is Back and Bolder Than Ever
via The Daily Beast.
Eat this: Cinnamon Sugar Cheesecake Bars
via Buzzfeed.
Drink this: La Colombe Draft Latte
by La Colombe.
Culture Checklist: February 26, 2016
Remember that scene in High Fidelity when they play that Beta Band track and everyone in the record shop starts bobbing their heads? Well, the new solo album from one-half of the Beta Band has some more head-bob jams (and mellow jams) for 2016. Also, we can pretty much guarantee that the new Full House spin-off/revival is destined to be a dumpster fire of TV entertainment – and that's exactly why you should watch (and question how you ever stomached the original as a kid). There was also a great op-ed this week about diversity in children's books that you should read. Finally, you should give your wife a break this weekend and cook the world's simplest breakfast for the family then celebrate by washing it down with an American Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels. You've gotta…
Hear this: Steve Mason – Meet the Humans
on Spotify.
Watch this: Fuller House
on Netflix.
Read this: How Two "Slavery With a Smile" Controversies Are Changing the Conversation About Diverse Children's Books
via Flavorwire.
Eat this: Potato Hash With a Fried Egg
via NY Times.
Drink this: Sunday Morning Stout (11.3% ABV)
by Weyerbacher.
A Conversation with Songwriter and Father, Walter Martin
When Walter Martin released We're All Yong Together back in 2014, we found out just how good kid's music could be. The former multi-instrumentalist of The Walkmen had changed musical directions and was finding success in unexpected places. Now Martin is back with a follow-up geared towards adults, Arts & Leisure, and it's no sophomore slump – in fact, it's our favorite record of the year so far. Martin took some time to chat with us about the new album, raising kids, growing up, and whether it's harder to travel with children or musicians.
Culture Checklist: February 19, 2016
A debut from a New Zealand singer-songwriter that straddles folk, country, soul, bluegrass and the blues, a great cocktail to go with it, a new binge-watchable series on Netflix from Judd Apatow, an exploration of something we've always wondered about, and ice cream (because if your family is anything like ours, everyone wants ice cream on the coldest day of the year). You've gotta…
Hear this: Marlon Williams – Marlon Williams
on Spotify.
Watch this: Love
on Netflix.
Read this: Why Teenage Girls Roll Their Eyes
via The New York Times.
Eat this: Cookie Monster Ice Cream
via Our Family of Seven.
Drink this: Country Life Cocktail
via Brottle.
Culture Checklist VALENTINE'S DAY EDITION: February 12, 2016
So… some of this stuff is V-Day related, and other stuff not so much. For example, the long awaited Kayne West follow-up to Yeezus just dropped and the new HBO series from Martin Scorsese & Mick Jagger debuts on Sunday. Neither of these are appropriate for your Valentine's Day with your significant other. Seriously. On the other hand, read this heartbreaking essay, make this stay-at-home dinner, or savor one (or some) of these cocktails and don't forget to tell your wife you love her. You've gotta…
Hear this: Kanye West – The Life of Pablo
on Tidal.
Watch this: Vinyl
on HBO.
Read this: The Friend: Love Is Not a Big Enough Word
via Esquire.
Eat this: A Valentine's Day Dinner You Can Make at Home
via New York Times.
Drink this: The 10 Best Cocktails for Valentine's Day
via The Telegraph.
Culture Checklist: February 5, 2016
Louis C.K. surprises fans with a new webseries, a double LP of new indie shoegaze music from Brooklyn, a good read for new dads, and stuff to eat and drink while you're watching the Super Bowl this Sunday. You've gotta…
Hear this: DIIV – Is The Is Are
on Spotify.
Watch this: Horace and Pete
on LouisCK.net ($5 to download and worth every penny).
Read this: What Little Babies See That You No Longer Can
via Scientific American.
Eat this: The 11 Most Sought-After Super Bowl Recipes, According To Google
via Huffington Post.
Drink this: Patty's Chile Beer (4.2% ABV)
from Wynkoop Brewing Company.
Culture Checklist – January 29th, 2016
It's been a wild week online. Between the Republican debate, Kanye vs Wiz, the football playoffs, Barbie and Lego getting hip to the times and Rihanna dropping her new album there has been too much to keep up with. That is why we sift through the muck and find some gems guys. This week a promising new podcast dropped on Gimlet Media, Sampler picks the best moments from all those podcasts that you just haven't gotten time to listen to yet. It's witty, fun and saves you valuable time. We also have been obsessing about the new BBC America show London Spy, it's really, really, good. If you follow us you heard the news already that Mattel has updated Barbie's body with a plethora of new shapes and sizes. Time Magazine has a great read on the iconic doll got it's much needed update. PSA – Madi Gras is a little over a week away so you better get cracking on baking up that King Cake brother. If you have never had one before tryit out, you are in for a treat. Wash it down with the official beer of the party Abita Madi Gras Bock. You've gotta…
Hear this: Sampler – (Gimlet Media)
Watch this: London Spy – (BBC America)
Read this: Barbie's Got A New Body – (Time)
Eat this: King Cake – (Southern Living)
Drink this: Abita Madi Gras Bock – (Abita Beer)
P.S. Last time someone here at Relevant Dad found the baby in the king cake they had a real baby 10 months later. Careful fellas!
Your Son Needs The New Barbie Line Too
Mattel has reintroduced their Barbie brand in a new collection of the iconic dolls with a twist of reality that has been missing for years. The new line of Barbie has dolls of all shapes, sizes, colors and backgrounds. So basically, hooray, Barbie is finally real. At long last Barbie can be representative to what little girls see in their moms and sisters, aunts, teachers, cousins and friends every day. A beautiful mix of women of all shapes and sizes. Reading the early reactions online, it seems pretty clear that people are happy that Barbie is no longer cut to unattainable proportions and a scourge to our body image conscious young girls. We at Relevant Dad need to applaud Mattel for updating their classic line of dolls to reflect the women in our life for another reason beyond our daughter's fragile expectations. Our sons. We have all read the studies, seen the pieces on tv and heard the stories on the radio on how our youth are exposed to more and more oversexualized material than ever before. As a parent it's hard to not worry about how this harms the growing minds of our kids. At least now our sons can play with Barbie dolls that will be indicative of the real women they will encounter later on in life. They won't always look for or expect the "perfect" Barbie archetype but thanks to the new Barbie they will already know that real women all look different. They will know that women come many beautiful shapes and colors. They will know that women are coaches, teachers, scientists, doctors, veterinarians and astronauts. Your sons, at some point in time will play with Barbies just like we all did when we were kids. Now they dolls they play with won't be fake. So, bravo to that.
Culture Checklist: January 21, 2016
If you live on the East Coast like we do all you have heard about for 72 hours has been this blizzard that is coming. You may have missed a few gems but fear not we culled them from the steady content stream that is the internet these days. To listen to we have a beautiful two song album from Alohaha that will make you want to down a Mai Tai and weep. Did you catch Billions pilot on Showtime? If not fire up the Apple TV after the kids have gone to bed and devour it. We're hooked already and you will be too. Then you can finally read The Big Short and get even more mad about the financial crisis. In honor of our friends and lovers down in thick of the blizzard to eat we have a Chesapeake Chowder that is perfect for snowy weekends. Then and finally, to drink we suggest Grimm's Super Spruce the perfect beer for after shoveling out and salting your driveway. Cheers to snow in the pines. You've gotta…
Hear this: Alohaha – Alohaha (Spotify)
Watch this: Billions – Showtime
Read this: The Big Short – Michael Lewis
Eat this: Chesapeake Chowder – (Shrimp, Crabmeat, Potatoes and Cream)
Drink this: Grimm Super Spruce – Grimm Artisanal Ales
Culture Checklist: January 8, 2016
Bowie returns with a new album, a new documentary about Allen Iverson, a baby-making switch installed in your scrotum, a healthy-ish dish for those with "eat better" New Years resolutions, and a coffee-flavored Belgian quad from Scotland that's off the charts. You've gotta…
Hear this: David Bowie – ★
on Spotify.
Watch this: Iverson Documentary
on Showtime.
Read this: Goodbye Vasectomy, Hello Sperm Switch
via Inquisitr.
Eat this: Quinoa and Rice Bowl With Kale, Kimchi and Egg
via NYTimes.
Drink this: ABSTRAKT AB:16 Belgian Quad (10.6% ABV)
by Brew Dog.
No, Your Pregnant Wife Does Not Need a Vaginal MP3 Player
Your wife is pregnant. You want to do everything right, make sure she and the baby have everything they could possibly need. You remember seeing something in a movie once where a pregnant woman put headphones on her belly. You have no idea what that actually does for the baby, something about making the kid smarter or something, but you're going to do it too because it seems like something you should do. So you put headphones on your pregnant wife's belly. You play Mozart because you think you heard someone say something once about Mozart making babies smarter or something. You pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
This act is completely naive and uninformed, but you know what? It's totally acceptable. You may not have all the facts but your intentions are pure and you can now focus your energy on more important things to worry about like, well, everything else there is to worry about.
This is where this story should end but, no. Someone somewhere thought it necessary to take this logical act of putting headphones on a belly an illogical step further and said, "Hey, you know what? This Mozart isn't loud enough for my baby. Louder Mozart makes even smarter babies. Don't mind me, honey. Let me put this earbud in your vagina. The baby can hear the music better that way." Ok, we're obviously exaggerating a little here for dramatic effect but, come on. We've hit a point where civilization has provided us with a speaker your wife can insert into her vagina and we're calling bullshit.
The Spanish company Institut Marquez is the group responsible for the Babypod, which is basically a giant earbud you plug into your smartphone and insert into the vagina. But let's be honest, they seem credible! They have 90 years experience and, according to Metro, they've been testing Babypod on hundreds of women! And the results appear to show that babies opened their mouths and stuck out their tongues (insert KISS joke here) which didn't happen during tests with regular headphones and apparently that's a kinda big deal! So, yeah, maybe there's some science to this but that's not the point. The fact of the matter really is, do we need this?
The answer is no, of course. The true science behind the effects of Babypod won't be proven for years and our money is riding on the kid who studies harder for the SATs than the one whose mom used a Babypod while they were in the womb. That is, of course, if intelligence is really what Institut Marquez is selling here (we're not even sure). If not, then what are they selling? Listen, your baby is not bored in the womb. They're not concerned with getting cultured. They're not going to pop out requesting Cat Stevens while the doctor is taking vitals. Honestly, we're not convinced this whole thing isn't just a ruse anyway. Clickbait from the internet gods. Some elaborate scheme meant to spark a conversation about society's addiction to progressive technology. Or maybe just an April fools joke four months early. I mean, the line dead-center on their webpage sounds like it was written by The Onion: "Look at the expression on its face when it gets music from its mother's vagina."
As a site that focuses on finding products that lead to meaningful experiences for families, and a site that certainly doesn't shy away from smart-this and connected-that tech products, we just find it kind of insulting. Humanity never asked for this. Women have been giving birth without music piped into their vaginas for thousands of years and, fingers crossed, they will for thousands more.
8 Entrepreneurial Skills to Teach Your Child
Whether you've resolved to start your own company this year or if you already run your own business, you'll find there are a lot of parallels in building a company and raising a family. Any entrepreneur can tell you countless life lessons they've learned along the way. Check out this great infographic for eight entrepreneurial skills that will help your children foster "creativity, self-confidence, positive thinking, and motivation, so that they could form the next generation of geniuses and leaders."
Culture Checklist: December 31, 2015
Well, friends. We made it. 2015 is in the books and that has us feeling, well, kinda old. So, for the most part, we'll skip the whole New Years Resolution and Auld Lang Syne song and dance and feed you some distractions instead. Like a new collection of Sam Cooke covers, Jerry Seinfeld shooting the shit with the Commander in Chief, a good read to frame your thinking heading into 2016 (we said we wouldn't skip this completely), a good cookie recipe to tackle with the kids, and a beer with your name at it (and the reason you need to work out more next year). You've gotta…
Hear this: The-Dream IAMSAM
on Soundcloud.
Watch this: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Season 7 Premiere featuring President Obama
on Crackle.
Read this: How To Consciously Evolve in 2016 (& the rest of your life)
on Medium.
Eat this: The Best Gingersnap Cookies
via Serious Eats.
Drink this: Fatso Imperial Stout (9.3% ABV)
The Best of The Best of 2015 Lists
We did this last year and since FiveThirtyEight is back with another aggregated Best Of "Best Of" List, we thought we'd do it again. Basically they rounded up all the year end lists by the top print and online publications for movies, TV shows, books, and music and generated a master list ranking the top movies, TV shows, books, & albums that appeared on the most year-end "Best Of" lists. You can check out the whole list here or let us provide the Cliff Notes (as if the image above wasn't enough of a spoiler alert): Carol was the best movie, Master Of None & Fargo tied for the best TV shows, Ta-Nehisi Coates's "Between the World and Me" was the best book, and Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp A Butterfly" was the best album of the year. If you haven't heard of any of these, you're either a new parent or pretty out of touch. If you fall into the latter category, we can help. Just follow our weekly Culture Checklists to help you stay culturally relevant in 2016.
Culture Checklist CHRISTMAS EDITION: December 24, 2015
Before we dive into this special Christmas edition of our Culture Checklist, we have a public service announcement: The Beatles' music catalog is now available to stream for the first time so spend some time over the holidays enjoying the Fab Four with your family. Virtually all streaming services from Spotify to Apple Music to Amazon Prime Music (and others) now have the discography available.
Aside from that fantastic news, and since it is Christmas tomorrow and all, we've also got our new favorite Christmas album you probably haven't heard yet, the debut of the Black Mirror Christmas special on Netflix, a great read about "what a failed doomsday prophecy taught psychologists about the nature of belief," a super-easy Christmas morning recipe for the kids, and a beautiful new brew from the UK to try and get you hands on. You've gotta…
Hear this: Like A Gift From God or Whatever by Chris Farren
on Spotify.
Watch this: Black Mirror, "White Christmas" Special
on Netflix (available Christmas Day).
Read this: The Christmas the Aliens Didn't Come
via The Atlantic.
Eat this: Santa Pancakes
via Meet the Dubiens.
Drink this: Naughty & Nice Limited Edition Chocolate Stout (7.5% ABV)
by Vocation Brewery.
Culture Checklist: December 18, 2015
Some dark hip hop to close out the year with, a true-crime saga now ready for binge-viewing on Netflix, a devistating letter from Scott Weiland's ex-wife on behalf of his two children, a gluttonous breakfast recipe, and a beer that literally has your name on it. You've gotta…
Hear this: King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude by Pusha T
via Spotify.
Watch this: Making a Murderer Season 1
on Netflix.
Read this: Scott Weiland's Family: 'Don't Glorify This Tragedy'
via Rolling Stone.
Eat this: Sweet potato & sprout hash with poached eggs
via BBC Good Food.
Drink this: Rhinegeist Dad Hoppy Holiday Ale (6% ABV)
by Rhinegeist.
Culture Checklist: December 11, 2015
One of our favorite shows and one of our favorite podcasts both returned with season 2 premieres this week. We've also got a good read for those who need to accept being second best. You can then "eat your feelings" after reading it with this gluttenous breakfast recipe and wash it down with some hard cider. You've gotta…
Hear this: Season 2 Premiere of Serial
Watch this: Transparent Season 2
on Amazon Video.
Read this: I'll Never Be My Wife's Equal by Hanif Abdurraqib
via Medium.
Eat this: Scrambled Emu Eggs Benedict
via Munchies.
Drink this: Downeast Cider Winter Blend (6.5% ABV)
by Downeast Cider.
Culture Checklist: December 4, 2015
Good culture this week. This mixtape is essentially a 36-minute remix of Drake's "Hotline Bling" but, oh how it works! Also, a Bill Murray Christmas special directed by Sophia Coppola, hilarious comments on this parent's FB post, "kookies" to leave out for Foodie Santa on Christmas Eve, and a limited craft beer to drool over until you can find it. You've gotta…
Hear this: But You Caint Use My Phone – Erykah Badu
on Spotify.
Watch this: A Very Murray Christmas
on Netflix.
Read this: The comments section below a child's drawing of Santa
on Facebook.
Eat this: Momofuku Milk Bar "Kookies"
via momofuku milk bar.
Drink this: Twenty Five Imperial Vanilla Porter Aged in Rum Barrels (9.8% ABV)
via Breckenridge Brewery.
Culture Checklist (Thanksgiving Edition): November 25, 2015
Considering we've never been able to figure out what constitutes "good Thanksgiving music" we're going to go really left-field and recommend some new world music from Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood's collaboration with an Israeli/Indian composer (you can check out the trailer for the Paul Thomas Anderson directed documentary of this project here, too). If that's not your thing, maybe you'd enjoy binge-watching Marvel's new dark and gritty superhero drama that's getting rave reviews. Of course, the long holiday weekend seems like a good time to catch up on some reading. Amazon has a FREE Kindle edition collection of 14 short stories and essays from The 2015 Best American series. We've also got the best morning-after Thanksgiving leftover recipe and a new brew from Brooklyn to search for. You've gotta…
Hear this: Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood and the Rajasthan Express — Junun
on Spotify.
Watch this: Jessica Jones
on Netflix.
Read this: The Best American Series: 14 Short Stories & Essays
via Amazon (free).
Eat this: Thanksgiving Leftovers Toast
via Gear Patrol.
Drink this: C.R.E.A.M. Cream Ale Brewed with Coffee (7.2% ABV)
by Sixpoint.
Dad Hack: How to Survive Your Family's Thanksgiving Arguments
We posted this in the lead up to Thanksgiving last year and, honestly, we'll keep posting it as long as Vox keeps publishing it. It helps to know what you're talking about when getting into arguments over politics and society with loved ones. This year's round-up includes primers for six topics including vaccines, Donald Trump, Syria & ISIS, Benghazi, Black Lives Matter, and Bernie Sanders so you're a little more prepared to debate with facts since opinions are like assholes – everybody has one and most of them stink. Check it out here.
Culture Checklist: November 20, 2015
This twenty-seven year old singer just dropped one of the best pop albums of the year (and, no, we're not talking about Adele), a new series you need to watch if you ever wondered what life might be like if the Nazis won WWII, an incredibly entertaining article about "Europe's most virile man," a bunch of new recipes compiled by NYT's Sam Sifton you should check out in case you still have no idea what to make for Thanksgiving, and an easy drink recipe for a crisp autumn weekend. You've gotta…
Hear this: Grimes – Art Angels
on Spotify.
Watch this: The Man in the High Castle
on Amazon Prime Instant Video.
Read this: How to Have 106 Babies (and Counting)
via GQ.
Eat this: New Recipes for Thanksgiving
via New York Times.
Drink this: Mulled Red Wine Sangria
via Food Network.
Culture Checklist: November 13, 2015
Lots of good stuff to watch, hear, and read this week, but we've hand-picked some favorites for you. Over seven hours of new Bob Dylan outtakes from '65-'66 (i.e. "Peak" Dylan) are now available on 6 discs for your listening pleasure. Spotify has a 15-track version available highlighting all the gems and it's a real treat to hear all the classics with completely different arrangements. Aziz Ansari also launched a new series that everyone (including us) has been gushing over this week. With only 10 twenty-something-minute episodes in the series, it's a show even the busiest moms and dads can binge on after the kids are in bed. We've also got a must-read article that's kind of a follow-up to last week's Culture Checklist recommended read, some damn good tacos and some damn good limited release beer. It's gonna be a good weekend. You've gotta…
Hear this: Bob Dylan – The Bootleg Series, Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965-1966
on Spotify.
Watch this: Master of None
on Netflix.
Read this: People's Deepest, Darkest Google Searches Are Being Used Against Them
via The Atlantic.
Eat this: Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas
via Gimme Some Oven.
Drink this: Backwoods Bastard Limited Release Ale Aged in Oak Bourbon Barrels (11.6% ABV)
BONUS: Looking for a movie to watch this weekend? Ex Machina, our favorite movie of the past year, is available to stream for free on Amazon Prime Instant Video starting tomorrow 11/14.
Culture Checklist: November 5, 2015
This week we've got a hip-hop collaboration you need to hear, an article you should probably read if you've ever wondered what the trade off is for all the amazing technology we have in our pocket, a how-to-make guide for one of the best things you'll ever eat, and a drink suitable for cartoon royalty. Today also marks the launch of Amazon Pilot Season (where 12 new pilots are opened to the public and we get to vote on which we want to see greenlighted for full seasons). There are six primetime shows and six kids programs so there's plenty for the whole family to check out this weekend. You've gotta…
Hear this: Talib Kweli & 9th Wonder – Indie 500
Out tomorrow 11/6 but you can stream it early at Soundcloud.
Watch this: The New Batch of Amazon Pilots
via AmazonPrime Instant Video.
Read this: If You're Not Paranoid, You're Crazy
via The Atlantic.
Eat this: Momofuku Pork Buns
via Rainy Day Gal.
Drink this: The Flaming Homer
via Punch Drunk.
Culture Checklist HALLOWEEN EDITION: October 29, 2015
You guys, Halloween is here. Are you ready? Forget about ghost stories and creepy costumes, is there anything more scary than your kids hopped up on sugar and up past their bedtime on the weekend we also set the clocks back? Is the Parenting Trifecta of Terror, honestly. Here's some stuff to help you get into the holiday spirit. We've got five old Halloween records ripped to YouTube that you can stream while greeting trick-or-treaters at the door, a quick little Halloween spoof video you can probably relate to, a great read about what it feels like when other people dress like you for Halloween, some vegan chili that get's an A+ for Halloween presentation, and three cocktail ideas to enjoy after the kids are (finally) in bed. You've gotta…
Hear this: Spooky Vinyl – Halloween Records for Kids
via Modern Vinyl (includes links to stream on YouTube).
Watch this: Millennial Horror Story
on YouTube.
Read this: What It's Like to Become a Halloween Costume
via Vanity Fair.
Eat this: Super-Scary Spicy Vegan Chili
via One Green Planet.
Drink this: Halloween Cocktails – 3 Drinks to Celebrate the Holiday
BONUS – View From the Overlook: Crafting The Shining (30-min documentary on Vimeo).
Culture Checklist: October 22, 2015
This week we've got the catchiest/not-afraid-of-pop album we've heard in ages, a short-form doc produced by the Michael J. Fox Foundation that has nothing to do with "Back to the Future Day", an article for those who haven't realized that working more doesn't equal working smart, a recipe for Relevant Dad staff comfort food, and the cheap seasonal beer we're enjoying at the moment. You've gotta…
Hear this: BØRNS – Dopamine
on Spotify.
Watch this: Faces of Parkinson's
on YouTube.
Read this: Nobody Cares How Hard You Work
via 99u.
Eat this: Traditional Beef Pho
via Serious Eats.
Drink this: Allie's Donuts Double Chocolate Porter (5.5% ABV)
by Narragansett.
Culture Checklist: October 15, 2015
Fall feels like it's in full swing now and we've got the soundtrack for it, an oscar contender to watch on a cold autumn night, required reading for anyone with a child and an iPad (i.e. all of us), a great dip for Football Sunday, and an old standby porter we never grow tired of. You've gotta…
Hear this: Majical Cloudz – Are You Alone?
Out tomorrow, October 16th. Preorder the colored vinyl from Matador Records.
Watch this: Beasts of No Nation
Premieres tomorrow on Netflix.
Read this: The iPad and your kid—digital daycare, empowering educator, or something bad?
via Ars Technica.
Eat this: Very Green Avocado-Tahini Dip
via Tasting Table.
Drink this: King Titus American Porter (7.5% ABV)
The Relevant Dad Guide to Collecting Vinyl
We live in an on-demand world. As soon as my daughter learned how to talk, she started requesting music she wanted to listen to or TV shows/movies she wanted to watch that instant. What was scary about this was that I could actually deliver – her wish was my command! Thanks to Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and countless others it's nearly impossible to not be able to find something the instant you want it. On the one hand, this is great and fulfills our generation's insatiable need for instant gratification. But as a self-proclaimed music snob, this also scares the pants off me. Never will my child understand the heartache of a scratched record, the woe of a cassette tape eaten by a boom box, or even the tragedy of a scuffed CD. Will our kids really grow up in a world without liner art and lyric inserts? This realization led me down a path of soft rebellion against the modern age as I set out to slow things down a little. From now on if my daughters wanted to hear something they'd have to pick it off the shelf and (with dad's help) drop the needle. read more…
Culture Checklist: October 8, 2015
We've got an eclectic round-up for you this week: the latest hip-hop song you need on your running mix, an immersive theatrical experience for couples in NYC, an incredibly written Missed Connections post on Craigslist, the wold's easiest recipe even cooking-inept dads can handle, and a "stiff take on a whiskey sour." You've gotta…
Hear this: Run The Jewels' New Single "Rubble Kings Theme (Dynamite)"
via Diffuser.
Watch this: Sleep No More
via Punchdrunk.
Read this: This Might Be the First Craigslist Ad to Win a Pulitzer
via Wired.
Eat this: Almond Crusted Chicken Tenders
via Red Sky Food.
Drink this: Baltimore Bang
via Saveur.
6 Common Mistakes Parents Should Avoid Making When Searching for a Preschool
Presented by Noodle. Noodle is an education website helping parents and students make better decisions about learning.
Looking to find the right preschool for your child? Starting the preschool search can be a challenging task for parents. How do you choose which one will be the best fit for your whole family? And where will your child be happiest? To help parents answer these questions when choosing a preschool, we've put together a list of common mistakes parents make and how to avoid them.
1. Don't trust the word on the street.
Talking to your friends, family, and neighbors is a good place to start on your preschool search, but take their opinions with a grain of salt. Your sister may love her daughter's preschool — and maybe your niece is having a great experience — but that doesn't make it the perfect fit for your unique needs.
In the end, trust your gut and go with the school that works best for your child and your family.
2. Don't fall for a strict academic curriculum.
It's important to research the academic standards of your preschool of choice. You want to make sure the teachers are experienced and well-qualified. Find out the state requirements for teachers and the facility you're looking into. Every state has its own preschool regulations. To learn how preschool works in your state, check out this guide.
Look for programs that engage and balance the development of social skills, imaginative play, math concepts, storytelling, physical activity, and more. Overall, you're looking for a well-rounded preschool program to offer a solid foundation for your child to learn to read, write, and do math.
3. Understand the school's disciplinary philosophies.
How do teachers respond to a child's difficult behavior? How do teachers say "no"? Knowing what disciplinary techniques are being used will help parents identify the ways in which teachers interact with your child. It's important that parents spend time observing the classroom before school starts. Here are a few things to look for:
● Do teachers use time-out?
● How do the teachers respond to a crying child?
● How do the teachers respond if a child hits or bites?
4. Don't allow your child to make the final decision alone.
"Daddy, I want this!" Yes, we've all been here. While it may be tempting to give in to your soon-to-be preschooler, parents know best — and they need to make an educated decision. Give your child the opportunity to spend the day at a preschool and take the time to listen to how she spent her time. After the visit, examine both the school and your child's feedback to decide whether this preschool is right for you.
5. Know what your family needs.
Where is the school located? If an emergency happens, who will be closest to get your child? Can you afford the preschool? Answering these questions as a family will help guide your preschool search. If it doesn't meet your family's needs, you may regret your decision down the line.
6. Know what's expected of you as a parent.
Many preschools expect parents to participate in fundraising and volunteering to help support the preschool. Parents should find out what is expected of them, both financially and in terms of time. Preschools often host co-ops on scheduled days that require parents to volunteer in the classroom. Many preschools also have an open-door policy — offer parents the chance to visit whenever it's convenient for them.
Culture Checklist: October 1, 2015
In case you missed it, this week everyone has been talking about Hamilton, the new hip-hop musical period piece based on the biography of Alexander Hamilton (seriously). Somehow, this bizarro concept actually works. In fact, creator and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda, just won a MacArthur Genius grant for it. Before you check out the soundtrack below, you should read this and listen to this in addition to checking out HBO's mini-documentary capturing Obama's visit to a federal prison, read why it's OK to let your kids make a mess (kind of), enjoy a great autumn sweet, and our favorite beer of the moment. You've gotta…
Hear this: Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
via Spotify.
Watch this: Vice Special Report: Fixing the System
via YouTube.
Read this: The Value of a Mess
via Slate.
Eat this: Homemade Butterfinger Bark
via Cookies and Cups.
Drink this: Roadsmary's Baby Pumpkin Ale Aged in Rum Barrels (6.8% ABV)
Culture Checklist: September 24, 2015
To celebrate the start of fall we have some new indie rock tunes, a reminder to set your DVRs for the much-anticipated premiere of the new Daily Show, an article that explains that you really don't know your kids at all, and, one of the best things about fall: pumpkin stuff. Give us all the pumpkin stuff. You've gotta…
Hear this: Youth Lagoon – Savage Hills Ballroom
Out tomorrow 9/25 (stream it now at NPR Music).
Watch this: The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Premieres Monday, 9/28 at 11:00 pm EST on Comedy Central.
Read this: Parents Just Don't Understand
via Psychology Today.
Eat this: Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good
via Epicurious.
Drink this: Pumpking Imperial Ale (8.6% ABV)
Culture Checklist BONUS: Ryan Adams Covers Taylor Swift's Entire '1989' Album
We listen to a lot of Ryan Adams over here at Relevant Dad. And while his Pax Am 7" series has been a lot of fun to follow since last year's excellent self-titled LP (which also happened to be one of our favorites of the year), all recent artistic achievements are at least temporarily overshadowed by the fact that he's covered the entirety of Taylor Swift's mega-hit album "1989". Let us all collectively lose our shit. Since your wife and kids probably know the words to all the songs already, we thought we'd break from our Thursday afternoon Culture Checklist tradition to give you this, our first ever, Culture Checklist BONUS so that you're "in the know." It all started back in early August when Ryan Adams was posting teases of Taylor Swift covers on Instagram. The guy spends virtually every day in a recording studio when he's not touring so some people thought he was just having fun until Swift was tipped off on Twitter, Adams confirmed it, and Swift, rather adorably, geeked out. He's done this sort of thing before (it's been confirmed that he also recorded The Strokes' Is This It before scrapping it completely) so we're just really happy we get to hear it this time. It's available to download on Amazon & iTunes and streaming on Spotify & Apple Music right now while a 2xLP is supposed to be released sometime down the road. Admit it, dad. Deep down you were hoping that someday someone would make it acceptable for you to sing along to Taylor Swift songs.
Culture Checklist: September 17, 2015
We've got an interesting round-up for you this week. Ever wonder what Radiohead would sound like reworked as soul/R&B? Is your family ready for the return of The Muppets? Have you noticed how portrayals of sex on screen have evolved over the years? Looking for something a little more exciting to eat and drink this weekend? We've got you covered. You've gotta…
Hear this: Roman GianArthur – OK Lady
stream or download it for free via Soundcloud.
Watch this: The Muppets
Series premiere next Tuesday, 9/22 at 8:00 pm EST on ABC.
Read this: How TV Sex Got Real
via Time.
Eat this: Heirloom Tomato Pie
via Tasting Table.
Drink this: Cold-Brew Italian Coffee Bottled Cocktail
via Brottle.
Culture Checklist: September 10, 2015
It was a pretty big week! Assuming you watched Colbert's "Late Show" debut and have already seen the latest viral video making the rounds, allow us to suggest some new indie rock/world music tunes, remind you that tonight kicks off the NFL season, recommend a must-read article written by the husband of Anne-Marie Slaughter (author of the now-classic "Why Women Still Can't Have It All" piece), offer up a DIY condiment for your epic burgers, hotdogs, and pretty much everything else, and tip our hats to the makers of the most unique beer we've seen in awhile. You've gotta…
Hear this: Beirut – No No No
on Spotify.
Watch this: NFL Kickoff (Patriots vs. Steelers)
8:30 EST tonight on NBC.
Read this: Why I Put My Wife's Career First
via The Atlantic.
Eat this: Homemade Bacon Marmalade
via Tasting Table.
Drink this: HefeWheaties American Pale Wheat Ale (4.7% ABV)
via Fulton Brewery.
DAD RANT: Favorite Parenting Instagrams (other than ours of course)
Instagram is a tool Relevant Dads use more and more to escape into other people's lives, if but for only an instant. There are tons of funny, weird, disturbing handles out there, but two are just so outrageously funny, we felt like sharing.
@averageparentproblems – It's like giving your child his/her first slice of lemon sans prefacing the sourness. Hilarious 100% of the time.
@assholeparents – Pardon the dirty word in the handle, but like them, we feel it is healthy to step outside of the box every once and a while.
Enjoy #fathering
Culture Checklist: September 3, 2015
An album of covers that will ease you into the autumn season, required reading if you're still using baby monitors, French comfort food, and wine in a can that's actually good (for real)… there's a lot to like this week. However, we want to bring a little more attention to what to watch this weekend than we usually do. Assuming you aren't already going to be watching the US Open all weekend, we're recommending binge-watching a series you probably missed when it was released earlier this year. It's the 2nd highest rated new comedy of the year according to Metacritic with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes alone and there are only 6 half-hour episodes so you can easily knock out the season after the kids are in bed. It will bring back memories of the stressful and confusing times you experienced when your partner was pregnant and we seriously can't recommend it enough. Come for the sex humor, stay for the heart. You've gotta…
Watch this: Catastrophe Season 1
Hear this: Yo La Tengo "Stuff Like That There"
on Spotify.
Read this: "9 baby monitors wide open to hacks that expose users' most private moments"
via Ars Technica.
Eat this: Provençal Vegetable Tian (a.k.a. That Dish From the Ratatouille Movie)
via Serious Eats.
Drink this: Underwood Wine in a Can
from Union Wine Co.
The Boy On The Beach #RefugeeCrisis
As the sun rose on a Turkish beach this morning, the body of a young Syrian boy lay lifeless in the surf, waves pushing on his corpse. His tiny arms laid softly at his side and his face pressed down in the sand is reminiscent of any child in a crib, sleeping. It's the position of his body that is most haunting for me. Every night I sneak into my child's room to check on them sleeping and they are more often than not in that very same position. I sneak in to check on their welfare. Is the room too hot? Is the room too cold? What can I do to make things a little better for my child?
What I find the most heartbreaking about this photo is that somewhere a father just like me set off from a beach in Syria in the black night on a vessel not fit to be called a boat, holding tightly onto this boy in hopes of finding a better life for him. The boy is thought to be one of 11 refugees who died when two boats full of fleeing Syrians sank. This is a crisis for Europe and there is not going to be an easy answer, but pictures like this should make it obvious to the world that something needs to be done now. But what? By who? I don't have any answers. Only the privilege to live in relative safety where my main concern for my child consists solely of are they sleeping soundly enough tonight?
Writing this, I keep clicking back to the photo taken by Peter Bouckaert and reading his words. "Just pause 4 moment & imagine this was your child, drowned trying 2 flee #Syria war 4 safety of #EU." I can't help but think that. The photo is this lifeless child, while graphic, is necessary for the world to see. This is not the only child to drown on this desperate attempt to leave Syria. Children all over the world are suffering in unimaginable ways that we don't often think about enough.
We spend our days in this office debating toys, and gift ideas for our wifes. Dads stuck in train stations in Budapest with their children in tow worry about far greater. A better life, safety for their children is all they want. They are relevant dads dealing with problems we generally acknowledged for 2 minutes on the nightly news. So what can I do? For now I can write this. I can acknowledge that this crisis is real. I can keep this little boy and all of the other children who have died fleeing war in my thoughts. I can donate to Save The Children and promise to volunteer my time to them. For now, I can ask for you to do the same. Donate to the Syrian Children's Relief Fund.
Turkish media has since identified the boy as 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi. His 5-year-old brother also died on the same boat. The photo is here. Warning: It is graphic.
Culture Checklist: August 27, 2015
As summer comes to a close we've got a new album from indie rock royalty, the latest from the artist of our generation, an age-old myth debunked, an LA street food classic, and a refreshing and healthy (alcohol-free) drink that everyone's talking about. You've gotta…
Hear this: Beach House Depression Cherry
via Spotify.
Watch this: The trailer for Banksy's Dismaland theme park
via YouTube.
Read this: No, You Do Not Have to Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day
via The New York Times.
Eat this: Danger Dogs
via The 99 Cent Chef.
Drink this: Maple Water
via Happy Tree.
The Relevant Dad Guide To Fantasy Football & Dirty Diapers
As we publish this it's just a few short weeks until the start of the NFL season. The only things you can count on as locks this season are that Eddie Lacy's amount of touches will equal your dirty diaper touches. Being a Relevant Dad and being in a fantasy football league are both full-time jobs that both require a lot of intricate attention and a lot of love. So how does one really find the time to handle both of these things during the season? We have some tips for you:
1. Draft Pro Quo – Unless your significant other is a fellow fantasy football player, chances are they will not love the idea of you being MIA for a few hours during your draft while they navigate the bedtime routine solo. Mitigate the draft time loss with your family by simultaneously planning a date night for you and your spouse and some extra play time with your kiddos.
2. Family League – Chances are you are in a few leagues already so what is one more, right? If your children are old enough, creating a family league is a great way to share one of your passions with them. David Gonos has some great suggestions for involving your kids broken down to different age ranges here.
3. Setting The Table > Setting Your Lineup – Family time should always come first on Sundays. So when it's time to make a pile of pancakes for the family you need to trust that your RB3 will still be a game-time decision after the syrup runs out. Even Adam Schefter takes break once and awhile. We suggest making a routine of times you check and set your lineup. Saturdays are your best friend and Sundays around 12:45 are even better. Get things set once the kids are in bed Saturday night and do your last minute tweaks before the 1pm games kickoff.
4. Red Zone is Your BFF – There is zero chance you can lay on the couch eating a steak and cheese and drinking 5 beers with your buddies this year. That fantasy left the stadium when you saw that second line on the pregnancy test. However, there are plenty of ways to catch as much of the action as possible and still play hide and seek with your kids. Red Zone was probably the brainchild of a mom or dad. It's probably the perfect parenting hack for football lovers. You can have the best of both worlds without having to neglect one of the other. Pro Tip: Hide and seek match + iPad + closet + Red Zone = #winning.
5. Listen To The Pros – Find a fantasy advice site and trust it. We love 4for4 as a good go-to site for rankings, breaking news on players, and advice. We asked John Paulsen for some ranking advice and for some advice on being a dad and playing fantasy football. We are keeping the ranking advice to ourselves (no mercy) but here are his thoughts going into the season.
"Being a father to a young child is a time-consuming and rewarding job and one could say the same thing about managing a fantasy team. In order to balance fatherhood and fantasyhood, I recommend new dads scale back their fantasy obligations once the baby arrives. Keep your most important league and get rid of the rest. The other option is to only play daily fantasy. There is less in-season management, and you won't have to worry about injuries or waivers. Being a parent gets easier as time goes on. At some point, your child can be left in a room and you can be fairly confident that they won't find a way to kill themselves. Once you pass this important milestone, your free time will increase steadily. A second league can be added, or maybe you can play both season-long and daily. Finally, around age 6 or 7, your child may express interest in fantasy football. This is a great way to learn about math and reasoning, and to spend quality time with dad. Maybe you co-own a team. Or maybe you start a league with the neighborhood kids, so everyone can own their own team. Before you know it, they'll go off to college and you can play in as many leagues as your better half will allow. Don't spend their childhood scouring the waiver wire, it's just not worth it. Play in one league to keep yourself sane, but stop there." You can find John on twitter at @4for4_John and you can hear him on The Most Accurate Podcast on Stitcher.
6. Have Fun – If you watch FX's The League you know that you want to be more Taco and less Ruxin. Just have fun, dad. These are the best years of your life. Enjoy your family and enjoy your football.
Culture Checklist: August 20, 2015
Got some good stuff for you this week. We've got the debut album announcement from a super producer turned artist to watch (and personal favorite), the premiere of a new HBO miniseries (the only series dads have enough time to watch) from the creator of The Wire, a new book of short stories (the only books dads have enough time to read) being called one of the best collections of all time, a delicious indulgence from the creator of the "Cronut," and a cream ale with coffee & vanilla too good to pass up. You gotta…
Hear this: Debut track from BOOTS upcoming LP, Aquaria
via YouTube.
Watch this: Show Me a Hero
on HBO.
Read this: A Manual for Cleaning Women: Selected Stories by Lucia Berlin
via Amazon.
Eat this: Cookie Shots by Dominique Ansel
via Pop Sugar.
Drink this: Calm Before The Storm Cream Ale (5.5% ABV)
Culture Checklist: August 13, 2015
This week we have a live set from the singer-songwriter of the moment, a movie trailer that will have you counting down the days 'til Christmas, a story that will make you want to up your game on your kid's next birthday party, the best way to celebrate #NationalSmoresWeek, and a recipe for Brazil's national cocktail (can you believe the summer Olympics in Rio are only a year away?). You gotta…
Hear this: Jason Isbell's full set from the Newport Folk Festival
via NPR Music.
Watch this: Teaser trailer for Quentin Tarantino's latest, The Hateful Eight
via YouTube.
Read this: Mom Throws Dream Party for Personal Injury Lawyer-Obsessed Toddler
via WSJ.
Eat this: S'mores Pancakes
via Fake Ginger.
Drink this: Caipirinha
via Esquire.
I Just Took a Two-Week Family Vacation and Lived To Tell the Tale
Our latest contribution to The Toy Insider's Parent Advisory Board blog is up. Ever wonder what it'd be like to take a two-week vacation with your family? Would it be exhausting or would you actually have fun? Well, we did and lived to tell the tale. Check it out here.
Culture Checklist: August 6, 2015
Another week, another Culture Checklist to help you stay relevant. This week brings us the long-awaited Dr. Dre follow up 16-years in the making (P.S. Detox is never gonna happen), the return of the funniest show on TV that you probably aren't watching, an article about the effects Disney and Nickelodeon are having on our children, a gluttonous off-menu Shake Shack burger, and a new dry-hopped session lager to taste this weekend. You've gotta…
Hear this: Dr. Dre – Compton
Exclusively via Apple Music (stream it for free tonight at 9pm EST until midnight before the official release tomorrow, Fri 8/7).
Watch this: Review – Season 2
via Comedy Central (new episodes Thursdays at 10pm EST).
Read this: What Tween TV Teaches Kids
via The Atlantic.
Eat this: Secret Menu Peanut Butter & Bacon ShackBurger
via Hack the Menu.
Drink this: Yacht Dry-Hopped Session Lager (4.2% ABV)