Are We Bad Dads?: Recent Episodes
Dave Atkins, Mateo Boyd, & Aaron Sharp
The Are We Bad Dads? podcast is where three regular guys talk about their favorite popular history books. We are Aaron, (author, IT Director, and father of four), Dave (high school US history teacher and father of four), and Mateo, (graphic designer and father of two). We’ll consider how we match up to some of the greatest men in history, laugh at each others’ expense, and try to answer that nagging question, “Are We Bad Dads?”
The dads are back for Season 3 and they are ready to delve into the story of the 1960s. In this first episodeof Season 3 the dads assess what they know about the ‘60s, what they think they know about the ‘60s, and what they hope to learn over the course of Season 3’s twenty(It remains to be seen if this number is optimistic) episodes.
Want More?
Look, we’re busy dads who barely have time to do a podcast, but for Season 3 we’re endeavoring to sendout regular emails with even more great content for listeners with a head for history or a heart for fatherhood. Sign up for our weekly (another optimistic idea, but who knows, maybe we will pull it off) emails at https://mail.baddadpod.com/subscribe If our kids take it easy on us (doubtful, but hope springs eternal at the beginning of a new season) we are also going to be posting clips for all of our episodes to our YouTube channel. Occasionally we may even post some stuff to Instagram .
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com. We'd love your thoughts, and we'd be delighted an answer any questions you have on an episode in Season 3.
On August 13 the dads will be back for an all new, bigger,better Season 3 of the Are We Bad Dads podcast with twenty episodes that tell the story of the 1960s.
This is where we've been, and where we're going.
In this episode the dads take on A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell.
Here are answers to some questions you may have before listening to this episode:
- Did all three dads read this book? No.
- Why didn’t Dave read the book? Because he read a book, just the wrong one.
- Does Dave not reading the book come up a lot in this episode? Yes.
- Do Aaron or Mateo regret pointing out so frequently that Dave didn’t read the right book? No.
- Were there any technical issues recording this episode? More than you will ever know.
- Does this episode reference exploding horse dung? Definitely.
- Did any of the dads read the right book? Yes, Aaron and Mateo.
- Will this episode be worth my time? Absolutely.
- Is this episode kid appropriate? We think so, but maybe listen to it yourself first just to make sure. It definitely doesn’t have the sensitive topics of a book like Fever in the Heartland.
- Should I rate or review this podcast on iTunes? Yes, a thousand times yes.
Want More?
Look, we’re busy dads who barely have time to do a podcast, much less crank out social media content, but we do occasionally post some stuff. You can follow us on Instagram or check out our YouTube channel. We're also on Threads if that even is still a thing in two weeks.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
In this episode the dads take on The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.
Here are answers to some questions you may have before listening to this episode:
- Are any of the dads rowers? No.
- Do any of the dads even own a boat? No.
- Does one of the dads think he’d like to be a rower? Yes.
- Have any of the dads ever been an Olympian? No.
- Is Avery Brundage the arch nemesis of the Are We Bad Dads? Podcast? It sure seems like that’s the case.
- Are the dads obsessed with the 1936 Olympics? Probably.
- Have any of the dads seen the movie? Yes, Aaron and Mateo.
- Did any of the dads buy a rowing machine after reading this book? Yes.
- Will this episode be worth my time? Absolutely.
- Is this episode kid appropriate? We think so, but maybe listen to it yourself first just to make sure. It definitely doesn’t have the sensitive topics of a book like Fever in the Heartland.
- Should I rate or review this podcast on iTunes? Yes, a thousand times yes.
Want More?
Look, we’re busy dads who barely have time to do a podcast, much less crank out social media content, but we do occasionally post some stuff. You can follow us on Instagram or check out our YouTube channel. We're also on Threads if that even is still a thing in two weeks.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
In this episode the dads take on A Square Meal: A Culinary History of the Great Depression by Jane Ziegelman and Andrew Coe.
Start the episode because the dads are funny, and generally a delight to listen to, but finish the episode for the enlightening conversations about liver loaf, creamed spaghetti with carrots, and prune pudding.
Also, if you need a good receipt for meat and turnip pie, here is one from the book.
Cook 1 quart diced turnips tender in 1 quart boiled salted water. Thicken with flour mixed with cold water. Add one pint cut-up canned meat, and pour into a shallow pan or baking dish. Cover with dough and bake in a hot oven. For this dough sift 1 quart of flour with 1½ teaspoons salt and 2 tablespoons baking powder. Work in 4 tablespoons of fat. Add enough liquid (water, or fresh milk or dried or evaporated milk made up with water) about 1½ cups to make a soft dough. Roll out and pat the dough about ¾ inch thick. Cover the pie with the sheet of dough or cut it into biscuits and place them close together over the top of the meat-and-turnip mixture.
Want More?
Look, we’re busy dads who barely have time to do a podcast, much less crank out social media content, but we do occasionally post some stuff. You can follow us on Instagram or check out our YouTube channel. We're also on Threads if that even is still a thing in two weeks.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
In this episode the dads take on A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan.
A Fever in the Heartland is about a dark episode in a dark time of American history. All three of the dads believe that reading books like this is necessary to understanding history, but before you listen to this episode know that the book contains detailed accounts of violent racism, sexual assault, and a number of other things that the dads are quite comfortable calling evil and wicked.
Our usual light-hearted banter still exists in places, but at some point the wickedness of the KKK is inescapable, even if you try talking about it in Kermit the Frog’s voice.
Want More?
Look, we’re busy dads who barely have time to do a podcast, much less crank out social media content, but we do occasionally post some stuff. You can follow us on Instagram or check out our YouTube channel. We're also on Threads if that even is still a thing in two weeks.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
In this episode Aaron, Dave, & Mateo discuss Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Hurricane's Eye: The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown.
You are probably tuning in to this episode in the hopes that Mateo, who recorded this episode in France, would be conduct some genuine man-on-the-street interviews with French citizens for their opinions about the French role in the American War for Independence. If that's you it's time to let you in on a little secret - life is frequently disappointing. We happen to think the episode is every bit as brilliant as George Washington's military career, but alas, there are no interviews. Hopefully, you can forgive us, enjoy the episode, and place the blame exclusively on Mateo.
Books Mentioned
Along with In the Hurricane's Eye in this episode the dads reference the following books:
- Our First Civil War: Patriots and Loyalists in the American Revolution by H.W. Brands
- Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
Want More?
Look, we’re busy dads who barely have time to do a podcast, much less crank out social media content, but we do occasionally post some stuff. But you can follow us on Instagram or check out our YouTube channel. We're also on Threads if that even is a thing in two weeks.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to us at dads@baddadpod.com
In this special episode, with Mateo out of pocket in France, Dave and Aaron are joined by three special guests, two of the Atkins brood and one Sharpnado.
In this episode two Atkins boys tag-team and tell us about The House That Jane Built: A Story About Jane Addams, written by Tanya Lee Stone and illustrated by Kathryn Brown.
Also in this episode the ten-year-old cowgirl talks about The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein.
Additional Books Mentioned
Who Was Theodore Roosevelt? by Michael Burgan and illustrated by Jerry Hoare.
Want More?
Look, we’re busy dads who barely have time to do a podcast, much less crank out social media content, but we do occasionally post some stuff. But you can follow us on Instagram or check out our YouTube channel. We're also on Threads if that even is a thing in two weeks.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
In this episode the dads go off-script and instead of discussing their favorite history books they lean heavy into fatherhood and discuss how their family handles extracurricular activities.
About a third of the way through this episode one of the dads had to sign off to deal with a 💩situation, leaving the number of dads left at two. But those two refused to let this episode circle the drain. They worked everything out and by the end this episode is flush with insight on fathering.
Books Mentioned:
Since this episode is a departure from the usual conversation for the Bad Dads there aren’t as many books mentioned, but The Entitlement Trap: How to Rescue Your Child with a New Family System of Choosing, Earning, and Ownership by Richard and Linda Eyre does get a mention.
Want More?
Look, we’re busy dads who barely have time to do a podcast, much less crank out social media content, but we do occasionally post some stuff. But you can follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/arewebaddads and check out our YouTube channel at youtube.com/@baddadpod.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
After a brief hiatus to give the dads more time to navigate some stressful waters Dave, Mateo, & Aaron are back to discuss Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Join us for a wide-ranging conversation that touches on baseball, the civil rights movement, good writing, theology, history, and of course fatherhood.
Once again we consider whether or not Mateo is soft, deal with a little bit of Dave hate (largely overstated by Aaron), and are left to ponder whether or not Aaron is recording in a cave.
Books Mentioned in this podcast:
- Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin (obviously)
- Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin
- The Fifties by David Halberstam
Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/arewebaddads and check out our YouTube channel at youtube.com/@baddadpod.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
For this month’s special Black History Month episode of the Are We Bad Dads? Podcast Jonathan Jordan of The Games Odyssey Podcast joins the dads to talk about Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics in the dad’s review of Jeremy Schaap’s book Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler's Olympics.
This podcast has it all. The Second World War looming in the distance, racial strife, science going bad, Louis Zamperini, friendships across enemy lines, cow pastures, parents performing operations on their children, and even the Hindenburg!
Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/arewebaddads and check out our YouTube channel at youtube.com/@baddadpod.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
Links to items of note mentioned in this episode:
David Epstein's Ted Talk where he compares Jesse Owens and Usain Bolt
The Documentary Olympic Price, American Prejudice
Hopefully by the time you read this Dave will have finished the book.
With Mateo out dealing with sick kids Aaron and Dave man the Bad Dad ramparts and somehow manage to get in an entire episode about Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough.
Why was Teddy Roosevelt afraid of church?
Was Teddy Roosevelt really Batman?
Who was the duct tape that held the Roosevelt family together?
And who wins the first ever Bad Dads dirty diaper award?
You'll only find the answers to these, and other fascinating questions, on this episode of the Are We Bad Dads? podcast.
Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/arewebaddads and check out our YouTube channel at youtube.com/@baddadpod.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
In this episode we learn that Mateo is passionate about this book, that Dave is passionate about women's suffrage, and that Aaron is most definitely an only child.
Dave would also like it to be a matter of public record that he does believe that the moon landing is a historical fact, no matter what lies Aaron says about him.
Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/arewebaddads and check out our YouTube channel at youtube.com/@baddadpod.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
There have been no shortage of hot takes on Amazons Lord of the Rings series, The Rings of Power. At the beginning of the episode Mateo asked Aaron and Dave for their thoughts on the series so we thought we'd turn it into a podcast short.
It's worth listening to the episode just to hear us trying to say Silmarillion.
Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/arewebaddads/and check out our YouTube channel at youtube.com/@baddadpod.
Got a question or comment for the dads? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com
Who is on your history author Mount Rushmore? The dads tackle this question, and broaden their definition of "history author" along the way.
In this episode the dads discuss Adam Makos’s book, Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice. If you intend to watch the movie be forewarned, the dads loved this book, and there will be spoilers aplenty.
Join Dave, Mateo, and Aaron as they dissect Stephen Ambrose's book Comrades: Brothers, Fathers, Heroes, Sons, Pals. Topics in this episode include: fatherhood, siblings, George Armstrong Custer, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, Richard Nixon, Dwight D. Eisenhower, George S. Patton, Band of Brothers (which Mateo still hasn't read), the Second World War, and what our polarized society can learn from WW2 veterans.
Got a question or comment? Send it to dads@baddadpod.com.
In this episode the dads discuss Daniel Boone, Colonial America, and the state of Hucky-Tucky in Matthew Pearl’s book The Taking of Jemima Boone: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap That Shaped America.
Note: To maintain consistency with the book we are discussing in the podcast we followed Pearl's methodology with regard to the use of the term "Indian." To quote Pearl with regard to this issue, "The term 'American Indians' or 'Indians' is chosen instead of 'Native Americans' in the text, following the latest standards in the United States articulated by institutions including the National Museum of the American Indian."