The Dad Manual
The Dad Manual is a fatherhood podcast hosted by Tony Cooper, featuring honest conversations with dads about the real, unfiltered journey of parenthood.
Tony Cooper · Andy Milad
Show overview
The Dad Manual launched in 2025 and has put out 35 episodes, alongside 1 trailer or bonus episode in the time since. That works out to roughly 25 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 43 min and 51 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Kids & Family show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 6 days ago, with 29 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2026, with 29 episodes published. Published by Andy Milad.
From the publisher
The Dad Manual is a fatherhood podcast hosted by Tony Cooper, featuring honest conversations with dads about the real, unfiltered journey of parenthood. This parenting podcast for dads explores everything from the excitement of being a first time dad to navigating the teenage years. As one of the best podcasts for expecting dads and experienced fathers alike, we dive deep into what it actually means to be a modern dad—the struggles, the growth, the mistakes, and the moments that change you forever. Whether you're looking for a new dad podcast or seasoned parenting wisdom, this family podcast delivers the honest guidance you won't find in books.
Latest Episodes
View all 35 episodesEp 34: 18 Summers Is All You Get With George Rivera
Ep 33: The Forever Folder — Recording Voice Notes For Your Kids
Ep 32: Why Depth Beats Width in Raising Confident Kids
Ep 31: Perfectionism Made Him Great. Will It Break Him As A Dad?
Ep 30: Michael Prince On Community, Chaos, And Raising Three Kids
Ep 29: Raising British Kids Across an Ocean, With Alton Byrd
Ep 28: How Getting Sober Made Jay Vincent the Father He Never Had
Ep 27: Put on Your Mask First — Nick DeMarinis on Being the Dad You Want to Be
Ep 26: One Dad's Honest Take on Anger, Divorce, and Showing Up
Ep 25: Neutral Is Not Apathy: The Mindset That Makes Stepparenting Work
Ep 24: The Dad Who Chose to Break a Family Legacy of Alcoholism Forever
Ep 23: Before the Birth: A Surgeon Prepares to Become a Father
1. From Lemonade Stands to MBA: A Father's Guide to Raising Lions
Ep 21: What Boarding School Taught Me About Being a Better Father
Episode 20: How a Tough Childhood Built a Better Dad with Daniel Ramsey
Ep 19: Girl Dad Wisdom: Building Trust, Traditions, and Unbreakable Bonds
Ep 18: Breaking the Pattern - How One Dad Rewired His Approach to Raising Kids
Ep 17: Find Your Tribe: A Girl Dad's Guide to Fatherhood and Evolving
Ep 16: What Your Kids Learn When You're Not Looking
Ep 15Ep 15: From Classroom to Fatherhood: How Teaching Made Mike a Better Dad
What if the best thing you can do for your kids is get out of their way?Tony sits down with Mike Mendelson — a former high school teacher, devoted co-parent, and self-described "great dad" — for a wide-ranging conversation about raising capable, independent kids. Mike shares how teaching shaped his parenting philosophy, why the word "yet" is a game-changer, and what it really looks like to co-parent with purpose. From a near-miss mountain adventure to gut-punch moments with his son, Mike opens up about the wins, the mistakes, and the mindset shifts that have made him a better father.Key Takeaways:The "growth mindset" (Carol Dweck's work) is one of the most powerful frameworks a dad can bring home from the classroomThe word "yet" reframes limitation as a temporary state — and it changes everything for kidsCo-parenting well requires treating the other parent as a business partner with a shared mission: the kids' wellbeingHaving solo parenting time creates a kind of focused "full-on dad mode" that's hard to replicate otherwiseA less risk-tolerant partner provides real safety value — autonomy in parenting has a trade-off"Parenting for independence" — modeled by Mike's own father — is about asking "how will you do this when I'm not here?"Wait time is a tactical, teachable skill: ask a question, be silent, and let the kid find the answerBreaking generational patterns starts with noticing the unconscious ones — like pushing a child past what's age-appropriateConfidence in your own way of dadding matters — no one else dads exactly like youIf you enjoyed The Dad Manual, leave us a rating on your podcast app! If you loved it, share this episode with a Dad! Send your questions to [email protected] with Tony Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonycooper/(00:00) - – Intro & cold open (01:08) - – Mike introduces himself as a dad and teacher (03:06) - – The word "can't" is banned — why mindset starts at home (05:15) - – Mike's family: co-parenting, cadence, and consistency (07:17) - – Co-parenting as a business partnership (08:13) - – The upside of solo parenting time — full focus, full autonomy (11:51) - – The risk trade-off: when no co-pilot is a double-edged sword (12:00) - – The mountain story: a near-miss and the lessons it left (15:01) - – Mistakes that change you as a parent (17:08) - – Mike's childhood: parents, New York roots, and a dad who built the internet (20:02) - – "Parenting for independence" — hands behind the back, figure it out (22:04) - – Helping vs. unlocking: how to give the smallest hint that opens the door (23:48) - – The always-on world and why presence is harder now than ever (25:10) - – Breaking generational patterns: catching yourself pushing too hard (29:31) - – Bringing play into fathering — kids learn through play (29:46) - – Gut-punch moment: "I didn't have as big a brain then, Dad" (31:00) - – The three cycles of childhood and what each phase needs from dad (35:38) - – Holding a stance as a dad without being locked in (36:06) - – Closing advice: wait time, trust your instincts, you've got this