Why "Gentle Parenting" is out, "Sturdy Leadership" is in, and how to stop your parents from getting scammed by AI.This week, the parenting pendulum is swinging back.We look at the mom who went viral for raising her kids like it’s 1985—no Xbox, no shoes, and definitely no guilt about serving carrots for dinner. Plus, why Dr. Becky Kennedy says it’s time to stop being "gentle" and start being a "sturdy pilot" when our kids hit turbulence.It’s a heavy week for news, too. We discuss the reality for families with trans kids right now, and the heartbreaking vigil in Sault Ste. Marie for fathers fighting to see their children.Finally, we talk about the other people we take care of: our parents. The world shrinks as you get older, and loneliness is a killer. We look at:AI Companions: Why robot friends like ElliQ aren't as dystopian as they sound.Mental Health: How Total Life is getting seniors into therapy without the stigma.The Grandparent Scam: AI voice cloning is terrifyingly good. We explain how it works and the one "safe word" trick that stops it cold.Tech Support: Why you should stop fixing their printer and send them to a "Today at Apple" session instead.Links & Resources:Total Life - Therapy for SeniorsToday at Apple SessionsNewsweek: The Mom Parenting Like It's 1985SooToday: Equal Parenting VigilFind more at SocialDad.ca
Today we’re saying the quiet parent thoughts out loud. 🙃From “Dads aren’t babysitters” to “your kid doesn’t need a perfect childhood, they need a soft place to fall apart,” we’re running through a whole slate of spicy-but-kind hot takes about modern parenting.In this episode, we chat about:Why “back in my day…” advice doesn’t always work for kids growing up with iPads and group chatsThe difference between gentle parenting and zero boundariesToddler meltdowns, public judgment, and what our reactions are teaching our kidsScreens as survival tools vs screens as babysittersRed flags in kids’ products and “smart” toysThe pressure to be a “content creator” parent while staying sane and keeping your kids’ privacy intactIf you’ve ever reheated the same coffee three times and questioned everything you’re doing as a parent, you’re in the right place.
When the feed gets weaponized, who cleans up the mess? This episode digs into coordinated harassment, doxxing, and AI deepfakes that silence women — with facts, hard feelings, and practical ways you can help. Key takeaways:Deepfakes and AI “nudify” tech are lowering barriers to image-based abuse; the volume of complaints is large and takedowns are slow. Even prominent women get targeted — the Phica scandal in Italy shows how doctored sexual images are used to humiliate and politically attack women. Platforms have policies but enforcement at scale often fails; regulation (e.g., the UK Online Safety Act) and targeted laws are part of the solution. Children and teens are already being harmed by AI-enabled bullying — schools and parents need updated policies and education. You can help: document abuse, use reporting channels, support victim-service orgs, pressure platforms and lawmakers, and don’t amplify harmful content.
Instagram just rolled out a major safety update for teen accounts, and it's one every parent should know about. In this episode, we break down what the new PG-13 content filter means, how it works, and why Meta says it's the most significant change since Teen Accounts launched. From filtered content to stricter parental controls and new AI age detection, we explore what this update actually does—and what it doesn’t. Whether your teen’s already on Instagram or you’re debating when to let them join, this conversation will help you feel more informed, more prepared, and maybe even a little more hopeful about navigating social media as a parent.
In this special ADHD Awareness Month episode of SocialDad, host James opens up about being diagnosed with ADHD at 42 and how it completely changed his life as a dad. Joined by co-host Sam, the two explore how ADHD really looks in adults, why so many people go undiagnosed, and how new research and tools—like the online platform FasTreat—are making diagnosis and treatment easier than ever.They dive into global ADHD trends, from Canada’s rise in school diagnoses to Finland’s movement-based classrooms, and talk honestly about parenting, mental health, and learning to embrace your brain’s quirks.It’s funny, heartfelt, and refreshingly real—a must-listen for dads, parents, and anyone trying to make sense of their own busy mind.ADHD Awareness Month, ADHD in dads, adult ADHD, ADHD diagnosis, FasTreat, parenting and ADHD, ADHD in education, ADHD Canada, ADHD treatment online, fatherhood podcast, SocialDad
The SocialDad Podcast is back! After a well-earned break, I’m back behind the mic with a fresh season full of good news, real parenting talk, and cozy fall vibes.In this comeback episode, I’m sharing a few uplifting stories from around the world (including one about a very good therapy dog), some easy autumn crafts that don’t cost a fortune, and simple comfort-food recipes that’ll make your kitchen smell amazing. We’ll also talk about new tech updates parents should actually know about—like Apple’s latest screen-time feature and AI tools showing up in schools.Grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and let’s kick off the new season of The SocialDad Podcast together.#Parenting #DadLife #GoodN
According to The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, and LGBTQ youth who felt high social support from their family reported attempting suicide at less than half the rate of those who felt low or moderate social support, proving that educational resources and support do make a difference. “Research shows that LGBQ+ youth suffer more than heterosexual youth from depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns,” said Conrad. “This correlates directly to a high suicide rate. Resources for LGBTQ+ must be vigilant and accessible in order to foster well-being.” Find Kollyn and Publicly Private here: https://www.publiclyprivate.org/ https://www.instagram.com/pblclyprvt/
On today's show, Michelle Dittmer, President and Co-Founder of the Canadian Gap Year Association talks about the structure and benefits of a gap year for students needing a little growth or new opportunity between high school and college.
Are you and/or your kids a bit of a mess on school mornings? That's ok. Today we go through a few quick and easy tips I've learned to help kids and parents on hectic mornings.
Content lives forever, what we hear isn't always true, and how algorithms can keep us from getting new opinions. Social media and an online world keeps changing and we need to be able to help our kids navigate it safely and that starts with education.
In this episode, we meet Myles, a Therapist at Alli.io and discuss a few helpful tips about how to listen, when to offer advice and when to hold it, and how/why/when to get therapy.
Author and parent Alison McGregor joins to share the power of storytelling and why raising mischievous kids is important. Little Antoinette is on an adventure of a lifetime to Africa. Lions and elephants are jolly to see but where could all the giraffes be? Will she see her favourite animal, the giraffe, or are they make-believe? A totally true tale as she makes her way to her new home in Tanzania. Find the 'Antoinette and the...' series here: Amazon
On this episode Michael Kwan (Twitter, Instagram, blog) joins to talk about the amount of screentime and if there's more to it than that. We also start planning for 5 Dads Go Wild: An Inconvenient Trip
In this episode, James talks to Janelle Chalouhi and Natalie Dumond, Co-Founders of Venusverse, the first Canadian female-founded, female-focused educational program, incubator and NFT collection. Our goal is to close the gender gap by removing the barriers to entry for women in NFTs, cryptocurrency and Web3
In this episode, I spoke to John Baker, CEO of D2L who recently did a study into how parents are feeling about school openings and the education of their kids throughout and beyond the whole pandemic. We talked about the ripple effects of the education gap, and what happens to the kids without access to the tools they need.
James interviews Ben and Nikki, who worked together after their divorce to become stronger than ever. From weeknight dinners and homework sessions with their son to Christmas card photos and vacations, Nikki DeBartolo and Benjamin Heldfond have created a tight-knit, enviable family. They work and play well together, from the smallest daily tasks to the biggest life events—and it only took a divorce to get them there. Though their marriage has been over for nearly a decade, they still share a happy life with each other and their son Asher, along with their new amazing spouses and children. Buy the Our Happy Divorce book from Amazon.ca and follow them on Instagram. Don't forget my book 'DadLife: a bunch of tips that may or may not be useful to new dads' and follow @JamesRCS on Instagram and Twitter
David Stanley is a writer, Dad-blogger, and Father from Michigan. I asked him some pretty deep questions. Find him on Twitter @DStan58 -- My new book: 'DADLIFE: a bunch of tips that may or may not be useful to new dads' is available on Amazon right now https://amzn.to/3ETkr9N
No guests on this one, but I went live on TikTok. Was it worth it? Not really, but I had a few random comments to keep me going.
Rowena, Programming Manager for UNICEF Canada talks about the evolution of the Halloween Orange Box and this year's campaign. Want to donate? Here's our donation page.
As British Columbia swelters in 40.c (104.f) temperatures, Casey Palmer and Stacey Robinsmith join a very late-night call to chat travel, parenting techniques, dealing with tantrums, and sweatbands. Guests: Casey Palmer - CaseyPalmer.com / @CaseyPalmer Stacey Robinsmith - ADadInTheBurbs.com / @adadintheburbs Host: James R.C. Smith - SocialDad.ca / @JamesRCS