ChetCast: Recent Episodes
Chet Collins
A short-form podcast about my life as a stay-at-home dad, starring my four kids. My goal for this microcast is to capture the sounds of my children’s cute voices, talk about our adventures, and introduce them to the joys of podcasting and storytelling. Fair warning: there’s lots of dead air.
A very rowdy podcast with Lucy and Veronica reviewing Christmas and previewing their plans for 2025.
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It’s the first day of VBS for the three big kids. They were an explosion of excitement at pick-up. We sit down to find out what they did today.
We had a clear view of the total solar eclipse this afternoon. The kids share their observations throughout the experience.
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I catch up with White Belt Benedict to find out what he’s been up to at Taekwondo and the big event tonight.
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With 8 days until Christmas, it’s time to get our Christmas Cookies decorated and ready for shipping. 🎄
In a ChetCast exclusive, up-and-coming film director Benedict sits down for a rare interview to share his creative process, inspirations, and film recommendations.
It’s the first day of summer! The kids share their goals for the season, and how they’ll spend their extra daylight.
We’ve had a busy few months! I gathered the kids during a power outage to see what they’ve been up to.
We’re back to school in the new year. The kids stop by to share some of their recent school work.
The house is finally clean, so I catch up with Felicity and Benedict who are working on a few of their favorite presents.
We took the kids on a surprise trip to NASA. They join me on this beautiful fall morning to discuss what they learned.
I catch up with the kids now that they’re back from vacation and discuss their first golf lessons. 🏌🏻♂️
ChetCast goes international! The kids took their first trip abroad today and they stop by before bedtime to tell you all about it.
High atop Mackinac Island, eating lunch in the historic Fort Mackinac, I chat with Benedict about his day so far, and his plans for the future of the Fort.
The road-trip starts tomorrow, so I asked the kids about what they’re going to do while on vacation.
We’ve been slow to put out podcasts while on summer vacation, so we catch up with the kids to see what they’re up to.
I interview their kids to gather some information about their mother. Hard to judge the accuracy of the data.
We’ve had a visitor twice in the last two weeks. I talk to the kids to get their impressions.
Lucy is back at the controls of Flight Simulator.
Asked right after we finished recording, “Okay, now how do I fly to Grandma Faye’s house?”
Benedict just celebrated his next Sacrament! I pull him aside to find out how things went.
We’re done with lessons and practice, and back at the cottage in front of the fire before dinner. I check in on the students to see how their afternoon went.
We’re back at the cottage after a morning of skiing. I check in with the kids on how lessons and practice went, along with a few special guests.
Benedict is studying more than just math, history, and art. I catch up with him during his section of Robotics - Independent Study.
Benedict is almost ready for his next Sacrament, so we sit down to talk about it. And Felicity joins us to talk about her newest friend.
Brew a fresh espresso, put on your beret, and join Benedict in the quiet air of nap time to hear his latest poem, along with the plot of the chapter book he’s currently reading. Virtual snaps can be sent via the regular channels.
What better way to kick of 2022 and Season 5 of ChetCast than with Episode 222? The kids have big plans for the new year.
Christmas Eve is well underway. Our big project this morning was building gingerbread houses.
For the first time, maybe ever, Benedict opened his LEGO Research Lab to his sisters. After half an hour of building together, they’ve arrived downstairs to share their inventions.
My voice is trying to come back, but that didn’t stop us from talking about our favorite ornaments.
We’re home and everyone is healthy again. Just in time to bake and decorate some Christmas Cookies!
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The cousins got ahead of us, but Lucy still has lots to share about our visit to the zoo.
I finally caught up with the kids to talk about Halloween, but things got a bit out of hand.
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We’re done with school for the week, so I caught up with the kids working on creative play. Benedict has a poem to share.
We went on an adventure to check out a new coffeeshop in town and enjoyed some delicious pastries! The kids also finished their first week of school and share what they learned.
While at Lake Michigan, Lucy started to describe a house that she owns. I sat down to get some more details.
Lucy just came in off the Lake and chatted about going out on the water. Also, a special shoutout for Gramma!
The kids worked on some drawings this afternoon and are ready to feature them in a show.
Veronica is babbling and laughing all over the place, so it’s time to catch it all with a microphone.
It’s a rainy Friday afternoon, so we got out some LEGO sets and gave Felicity her first turn building her very own.
Benedict launched model rockets for the first time at Troops of St. George this morning. He shares his experience.
Benedict takes a break from his Saturday afternoon to read you a story, “Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.”
We’re about to go play outside, but first Benedict and Felicity want to talk about some games that we played this morning.
Welcome to Season 4! I head outside on a Sunday afternoon to talk to the big kids about our new backyard.
Merry Christmas, folks! We moved this month and are finally settled in our new home. We close out Season 3 of ChetCast and reflect on Christmas.
Benedict, Felicity, and I went for a walk to the park. We made a new friend along the way.
We’re back! Settling into our new routine, I wander into the playroom to learn some disturbing news.
We’re home from Mass, but it’s not quite time for lunch. So I pulled out the microphone, sat down with Lucy, and hit record.
Veronica will be here before we know it! I catch up with the kids to see how they’re getting ready.
It’s the 4th of July! I talk to the kids a few minutes before lunch about what they’re up to.
During Sunday afternoon quiet time, I visit Benedict in his lab to discuss his latest LEGO invention.
The children are joined by a few of their friends, at least one of which is in a real bind!
All three kids were very excited to talk about summer and our trip to the zoo yesterday!
On a rainy Saturday morning, I check in with Benedict and see how the school year went.
Felicity is pretty chatty, and Benedict doesn’t feel like talking about the end of his school year.
We’re celebrating the second anniversary of the ChetCast microcast! Benedict and Felicity are asked about their favorite part of recording podcasts.
Just back from errands and before starting dinner, I decided to record an episode. Lucy stole the show.
Benedict shares his favorite experiences from our camping trip and the girls wish to podcast forever.
In a departure from our normal recording, all three kids wanted to talk and they each had plenty to share.
Benedict & I snuck away on a sleepy Sunday afternoon to discuss a few of his favorite things.
We’re back! After a trip, recovery, and a week of sickness, I catch back up with the kids to see what they’re up to.
It’s Friday morning, and if you were looking to increase your knowledge about sharks, you’ve found the right podcast!
We’re back from Benedict’s swimming lesson, with Felicity scheduled to start next week. I talk to him about how things went.
As I wrapped up breakfast, Benedict called me into the playroom to record this episode.
The laundry is running and the folding is done, for now. I took a break from my Cleaning Day chores to see what the kids are playing with.
Benedict and Felicity worked all morning to build a fort for themselves in the office. I sat down to ask them about it.
The kids are playing in the playroom and Lucy really wants to join in on the podcasting.
The girls are napping, so I caught up with Benedict at the activity table to see what he was up to.
The Labor Day weekend is getting ready to kick off. I talk to the kids about their plans for the weekend.
Storms are on their way to our house. Don’t worry though! We’ve just finished construction on our castle.
It’s Monday morning. I catch up with all of the kids in the playroom to see what they did this weekend.
I catch up with Benedict during his third day of Kindergarten. He shares so of the things he’s learning and we play a reading game.
Tomorrow is the big day! I sat down with Benedict to capture his thoughts before he begins his education in the morning.
It’s a slow start to our day. I pulled out the microphone at the breakfast table and the kids decided they wanted to sing for you.
Benedict has a new action figure arriving today and I talk to him about his new jobs. Felicity is an elephant and I have no idea what she has to say.
We forgot to podcast with Gramma and Grampi! I catch up with the kids about all of the fun adventures they had with their grandparents last week.
I catch up with Benedict about our Moon Day festivities and chat with the kids about our playtime outside yesterday.
I travel to a local art museum and speak with the curator/artist about their collection.
Everyone’s in a good mood, in spite of some troubling events happening at home. Plus, we celebrate a special day for Benedict!
We’ve had a busy day disrupting the plot of escaping HQ agents. I caught up with the kids before dinner to go over the day’s events.
Benedict built a puppet while Felicity & I ran an errand. The kids tell you all about it.
Felicity’s new car seat arrived today, so I caught up with her to get her thoughts on this milestone.
Another day, another trip to the Planetarium. The kids share what we learned about today.
The kids had a lot of creative play time today… and I’ve got some serious parenting to do.
We went to the planetarium this morning and there was a small surprise after the movie.
In what may be our final episode, Felicity reports the impending attack of volcanoes on our house. Also, Felicity draws you a picture!
I catch up with Felicity to chat about how she participated in our family work day yesterday.
Our morning broadcast, featuring a rare appearance by Lucy, was interrupted by our first sighting of a hummingbird of the season!
It’s the one year anniversary of ChetCast! I caught up with all three kids at the breakfast table to talk about a year of podcasting and their playdough creations.
It’s cleaning day. I took a break from my chores to go on a train ride with three very chatty little ones.
We’re back at home, the kids are with me, and in honor of April Fools, we have some jokes for the folks!
I headed down to check out Grant Park, but it was closed for event preparations. So I took a stroll in Millennium Park seeing the parts that I missed this morning.
I spent the afternoon in the hotel reading. It was nice, but not as satisfying as when I read to relax.
Recording from inside the Michigan Avenue Apple Store, I recap my morning so far and reflect on the differences of recording a solo podcast versus one with the kids.
Broadcasting from the plaza outside of the Michigan Avenue Apple Store, I recap my morning adventures.
The kids are on vacation and I’m in Chicago with Alison. I talk about what we did this afternoon and preview the next couple of days.
We’re on the road today from Michigan. The kids want to show off their new piano playing skills. Enjoy Benedict and Felicity in concert!
On a gloomy morning, I check in with the kids who are gleefully playing together in the playroom.
Cleaning day is in full swing. I take a break and catch up with the kids who are working on various morning activities.
During morning playtime, the kids warned me of a coming storm. While they took shelter, I recorded a microcast.
While playing in the sandbox out back, both Benedict and Felicity requested that we record a podcast. It was a bit windy, so I hope the wind guard on the microphone preserved the audio for you.
We’re enjoying a wonderful Valentine’s Day! The kids take a break from playtime to chat about their valentines.
I’m very busy this morning with all of my end of month administrative tasks, but I’m not the only busy one under this roof. The three kids take a break to share what they’re building and playing with today.
The kids join me at the end of lunch to talk about their latest favorite show on PBS Kids. Plus, a special visit from Lucy!
We were sick last week, but we’re feeling better now! Felicity has a little treat for our listeners in today’s episode.
We have some very special visitors on their way to our house. I sat down with Felicity to get her thoughts.
I just got home from running errands to find the kids at the kitchen table decorating Christmas cookies. We talk about their designs and our ride last night on The Polar Express.
We’re finishing up breakfast and getting ready to head to the local planetarium for a kids show.
The kids found some treats in their shoes this morning and have found the perfect song to enjoy while dancing.
Benedict and Felicity had much to say as I struggled to keep the conversation on topic. The Christmas decorations are up and ready for us to enjoy!
It’s a slow start on Thanksgiving morning. I catch up with the family as we start our celebrations.
I catch up with Benedict in the play room before the girls wake up to talk about all of his latest LEGO inventions.
Benedict requested a podcast this morning, so we sat down at the breakfast table and hit record. He shared a random fact and Felicity is now a puppy. This episode can best be summed up by Felicity’s off-mic review once we wrapped, “That’s a great ChetCast!”
I catch up with Benedict early this morning to chat about his birthday and plans for the day.
Felicity joins me on the mic to talk about her Halloween experience and a new critter friend. She’s quite chatty.
We’re starting our day, getting ready to go to the Science Museum. Benedict and Felicity catch us up.
A very chatty Benedict brings special guest Baby Black Nose to the podcast this morning. We talk about the arrival of Fall, his very first LEGO set, some strong storms, and his plans for his Halloween pumpkin carving design.
The kids demanded a podcast, and then refused to participate. So, I bring you up to speed on our latest projects and adventures.
We’re getting ready to head out on a few errands, but first Benedict wanted us to record a podcast.
The weekend is winding down and this children aren’t too interested in podcasting. So I welcome a special guest!
Benedict and Felicity had some very important visitors over the Labor Day weekend. They share a few of their adventures and drop some knowledge about outer space.
Benedict and Felicity were very excited to record this milestone episode! Benedict brings us up to speed on his robots and trains while Felicity checks out a cookbook.
As we finish our vacation recap, I talk to the kids about the fun we had on Lake Michigan. Felicity sends a shoutout to a special listener.
Benedict and Felicity had their dental check-ups this morning. They both did a great job! This was our first time at this particular dental practice, so I took a few minutes to chat with them about the unique experience.
We just got back from the grocery store where we picked up some Michigan blueberries for our Sunday breakfast. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to talk to the kids about when we went blueberry picking last week on our trip.
There were lots of folks at the beach for the kids to play with. I talk to Benedict and Felicity about some of the fun things they did together.
We’re back from our trip to Lake Michigan! I apologize for forgetting to bring my microphone and then join Benedict and Felicity at the breakfast table to talk about our experiences on the open road.
With our trip to the beach around the corner, the kids and I spend a few minutes chatting about what we should pack.
The heatwave is coming to an end, but still persists this morning. I took the kids out for a walk to the playground before the temperature got too crazy.
Happy Sunday, folks! After a bit of a break, we’re back. Just home from Mass, Benedict and Felicity join me to discuss recent events while our breakfast bakes in the oven.
Our very special visitors have just left and we’re working on cleaning our house. We took a quick break to let Benedict bring you up to speed on his life.
After our time in San Antonio, we all got sick! Now, weeks later, we’re all feeling better. Although, my co-host Felicity didn’t feel like podcasting today.
We’re visiting San Antonio, Texas and bringing you updates from our trip. The kids are not in a great mood.
In the first installment of what will be a long-running series, Felicity sits down with me to read Eric Carle’s classic work, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?”
We’re celebrating today, and Benedict asked if we could do a podcast to tell all of the folks about Felicity’s birthday. So here you go!
Benedict updates us on his big craft project for the day, and talks about the animals that he saw at the Zoo yesterday.
I sit down at the breakfast table with Benedict and Felicity before getting ready for Mass. Felicity has a lot to say, as well as a few jokes to share.
We’ve upgraded! Our new microphone arrived today, so we took a few minutes to try it out. The kids were mostly interested in watching a movie.
Felicity requested that we record a podcast this morning and was enthusiastically joined by Benedict. So, we decided to talk about trains. Sorta.
We’re enjoying a slow start to our day with some playtime. The kids asked to record a podcast, so we did! Felicity is quite chatty and Benedict updates us on his life.
Alison is back to work. We catch up with Benedict to get his review of his trip, try to keep Felicity off of her computer, and listen to Lucy’s delightful noises.
Today is a very special day! We made the trip to the train museum to meet Thomas. We took pictures with Sir Topham Hatt, played trains, watched a movie, and ended our adventure with a 3 mile ride on Thomas the Tank Engine!
We’re out a fishing derby this morning! Benedict reports on seeing a dancing cow and shares his best fishing advice.
We made it safely to Gramma and Grandpi’s. After some quiet time in the house, I came outside to find Benedict playing with bubbles.
Benedict and I made it to the airport! Our flight is delayed, so we found a quiet corner to chat about our travel today.
We’re getting all packed for our big trip tomorrow. We took a break from cleaning and packing to record Felicity saying funny things.
It’s a beautiful morning and the children and I decided to go outside and play in our sandbox. Felicity makes her first appearance on the podcast, but she’s a little bit shy when it comes to the microphone.
I started my first podcast back in 2007 as a single college student. I’m excited to be podcasting again, this time, with the help of my three children.
ChetCast will follow my life as stay-at-home dad and the adventures that I share with my kids. In the inaugural episode, I introduce myself and welcome my son, Benedict, to the show.