2 Dads, 1 Mind

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and the guys at 2 Dads, 1 Mind decided to bring a friend along to talk about Thanksgiving memories and traditions. Caleb Boone joins in on the discussion about Thanksgiving and shares a funny story of one of his most memorable Thanksgiving moments while living in Nigeria for a few years as a kid. How does this year look with the ongoing pandemic? What are their plans and are they that different? One thing the three seem to agree on is that, as the years have gone by, so have the bigger family get togethers. Is this a cultural or societal change over the past ten to twenty years? One thing is certain, life is short so getting together with family is important, but so is everyone's safety during these crazy days. This episode wouldn't be complete with a few good laughs and it was a joy to talk with Mr. Caleb Boone.

Have you wondered how it is that you're supposed to balance your work and family life? Well, maybe it's not supposed to be a balance at all. Brandon and Jordan, at 2 Dads, 1 Mind, talk with guest, Elijah Stiner about finding your rhythm in family and business. Elijah is the owner of Fence OKC https://fenceokc.com and Oklahoma Lumber https://www.oklahomalumber.com. Elijah talks with the guys about how he has been able to start up a couple successful businesses while trying his best to make sure he has quality time with his family. Sacrifices are needed to be made at times, especially when pouring yourself into creating a business. There's an ebb and flow with the amount of time it requires. Elijah shares some insight on this topic and shares how he views it more like a rhythm, rather than a balance. After hearing a message from his pastor about finding your rhythm, he thought it made really good sense. It's almost impossible to really balance the two, so maybe it's not really meant to be a balance but something that changes almost with the seasons. Some seasons require more focus at work and other seasons require more dedicated quality time at home. It may look different for all of us, but one thing the three guys agree on is family is more important. After all, that work is to provide for your family. So, if you're always working and never there for your family is it really worth it?

The guys at 2 Dads, 1 Mind dial it back a bit for this episode in anticipation for the launching of the new Xbox Series X/S consoles on November 10, 2020. There are a lot of dads out there who play games, whether on PC or console, and Brandon and Jordan are a couple dads who enjoy console gaming specifically on the Xbox. They decided to bring in a local expert, if you will, Josh Hutton. Josh has run a podcast entitled, What's in Da Box, for about two years before they took a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. His podcast show focuses on all that is Xbox. The three guys talk about the new Xbox and why they are excited about playing on the latest generation. One thing they haven't been excited about, however, is the confusing naming convention Xbox has used and they hope this improves after this upcoming generation of consoles. So, a question you may be asking yourself as a listener is why is 2 Dads, 1 Mind taking time to talk about a new gaming console? Quite simply, dads have hobbies. One of the hobbies Brandon and Jordan share just so happens to be gaming. After a day's work and spending time with family, they enjoy hopping online to play a game and chat with others. For them, it's also about getting time to relax and blow off steam while chatting with friends. If you enjoy gaming it's okay. However, just like with anything don't let it consume you or become something that hinders your most important relationships.

Wes Henson, youth pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville, TX, joins 2 Dads, 1 Mind to talk about the importance of leadership. In this episode, Wes focuses primarily on nurturing leadership within his student ministry. He discusses his idea of the three questions leaders ask. He even has a blog titled, Three Question Leadership and it can be found at https://threequestionleadership.com. Do you find yourself asking these questions? If so, you might be more of a leader than you thought. Jordan reflects on how these three questions helped him realize the leader within himself. Brandon shares a story from his days as a former youth pastor and affirms the importance of leadership at those younger ages. Leadership isn't just a business term and most likely there's some place in our lives where we can find an opportunity to grow as a leader.  

Brandon and Jordan talk with James Reza, a teacher and kid’s worship music creator. James shares his passion and the story behind how it began and why he continues to do it. He also shares his journey into becoming a teacher. This episode wouldn’t be complete without a funny story so listen now! Check out James’ music at https://heyjamesmusic.com

Life can be hard on us at times and pastors aren't exempt from bad days either. On today's episode Brandon and Jordan talk with Pastor Matt Wheeler of Oak Hills Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, about leading your family through challenges. Pastor Matt gives us a look into the life of a pastor, especially focusing what it's like to pastor while trying to lead his family well. He shares his struggles and heart breaks while also giving sound advice on seeking help from God and a counselor. He shows us as men that it is okay to seek a counseling relationship and be vulnerable and transparent. We are all human and make mistakes, or just need someone to help us make better plans and goals for our lives.  Pastor Matt explains how dominating at work, but not thriving at home is, in the end, failing. We need to give our bests as dads, employees, or even pastors. Our families are our next most important relationship after God. It is vital to get poured into and not feel like you are only pouring out to others. Matt shares how starting his day in God's word is key in having a good day and making sure he is centered on what matters the most. -- If you would like to check out Pastor Matt Wheeler's church online, or in person, visit Oak Hills Church: https://www.ohcedmond.com/

Brandon and Jason reminisce about their mom and talk through the hardships of losing their mom on October 15th 2005 due to a battle with cancer. They share some of the difficulties and the hard timing of her death, but also reflect on some of the positive that can come from such a tragedy. Jordan helps to remind us that it's not ever easy and when losing someone even a smell can remind of us and bring us both painful and happy memories of those who have passed. In this emotional, but real, episode we are reminded to not take the family we have for granted. We have to push forward to be the best we can be and help others who may need a shoulder to lean on..

You've got a friend in me. Just how important are good friendships? Brandon and Jordan discuss the importance and value of having good friends. It's hard work maintaining multiple friendships and Brandon thinks you really only have the energy for 2-3 close friends. Jordan discusses an tiered view of different level of friendships. Some friends come in seasons and some are life-long friends. Another important the guys talk about is how their children our developing friends and what that looks like now as compared to a little later in life. Are their friends dragging them down or pulling them up. Some difficult conversations may need to be had when it comes to friends who only take. If you have a valuable friendship with someone make sure to let them know how appreciative you are of that relationship. Life is short, so make sure the friends you have are good friends. 

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. During this pandemic this summer hasn't quite felt the same. Brandon and Jordan discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly about this summer. There were some good things like spending more time with the family. However, it's hard to not notice and reflect on some major bummers like missed birthday parties and the annual beach trip for the summer. There was still some fun had with being able to do some camping, swimming and other sorts of activities. What did you like or dislike about this summer. Do you feel Labor Day marks the end of summer? Also, is not wearing white after Labor Day still a thing?

What routines do you have with your family? Routines seem to help especially with kids. Brandon and Jordan discuss some of their weekly routines and share personal stories and insight about how their different families do things. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you split up some of the routines? What about giving your kids weekly chores? Routines are great and all, but don't forget to have a little fun and break out of the structure to keep things interesting. 

How do we raise kids to be confident and competent adults? There are many parenting strategies out there and no parent is without fault. What things do you do as a parent or role model in a child's life to encourage them and give them confidence? These are just a couple questions the guys at 2 Dads, 1 Mind share some insight on. It's difficult to not be a helicopter parent that hovers and wants to protect our our children, or show the the right way the first time. However, it's so important we let our kids fail sometimes to teach them to learn from mistakes and be confident even when something is challenging.  As adults we have to show kids we have obstacles to overcome and find a healthy balance of being a commander and a coach in different phases. From birth to 7 years old many studies show and suggest what they learn during this time can and will last them their lifetime. What are you teaching your kids? Love and protect your kids, but also give them room to grow and explore doing things that may challenge them.

This is a follow-up episode to episode 14: Pandemic: The Back to School Edition. Brandon and Jordan explore a little with the overall question of how much of what is currently going on is going to stick. Do you think there are things that have changed for good with the global pandemic and Covid-19? How badly has this hurt the movie industry, or entertainment in general? What about masks? Now it seems there may be specific masks that are deemed ineffective. Is this really feasible for Americans to go out to buy these specific masks, or is this just going to make us fed up? The last question the dads consider is how has this affected the church? Are you physically attending church or watching, or listening, online? Or, has the craziness of this pandemic caused you to just kind of slip away, at least for a season? We need to consider how much we allow the fear of this pandemic to control us. There is a lot of negativity surrounding this topic, but surely we can find some good to come out of all of it. For you dads out there, keep being strong and loving your families. Be the rock your family needs and let's show the world what a good father looks like.

Have you heard about the new troll doll? A lot of people have been up in arms about it and its sexual nature. How do you feel about toys, movies and culture teaching sexuality? Do you think it's a big deal or not? The guys at 2 Dads, 1 Mind sure aren't a fan and prefer that be taught in the home by responsible parents. How do we filter, or draw the line, with cartoons or movies? There are so many hidden agendas sometimes that are just not appropriate for kids. In lighter news, it's Shark Week! Brandon looks forward to Shark Week each year. His family might go a little overboard with the frightening cookies, but it's all in fun. The dads salute Barry Dean this week for his special wheel chair invention.

It's August, which means for most it's back to school season. However, this school year won't look like what students and teachers are use to seeing. With the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the nation, 2 Dads, 1 Mind get prepared for what it might look like for their families to go back to school. Brandon and Jordan share their thoughts on what is to be expected in their particular school districts and also share some concerns with how difficult it might be. Masks, face shields, and social distancing will be a normal part of going back to in class scenarios. Also, what will lunch and recess look like? Is it strange that some teachers might look more like a medical professional than an educator? Will you be sending your student to school in the classroom or do you have the option of going virtual? Homeschooling may even be an option on the table as we all consider what's best for our families. Regardless, the guys at 2 Dads, 1 Mind want to stay positive and remember that our kids will pick up on any of the fear we may have about going back to school. So, choosing to stay positive and do our best as we navigate this strange school season is a must. We hope this isn't the new normal, but keeping each other safe is important. -- Join in on the discussion: 2D1M Discussion group on Facebook  ** If you enjoy the podcast please leave us a rating or a review!

We have completed 12 episodes so far and thought we here at 2 Dads, 1 Mind would share our podcasting journey so far. Neither of us truly knew what was before us as we embarked on this adventure. However, we are loving every minute... Well, maybe not some of the tedious things that come along with it. If you are interested in starting a podcast, this episode might give you a little heads up and guidance on what to expect. You must be passionate about whatever topic you choose for your podcast and we think we are pretty passionate about being dads. Out of that 2 Dads, 1 Mind was born! We are just some average dads that want to help put a spotlight on the fact that there are some great dads out there. Every week we try telling a corny dad joke and we make sure to create a thoughtful salute to a dad, or dads. There are a few technical details we give you to help out deciding if you have what it takes to podcast. There are so many ways to do it that there's really no excuse not to start if you have a great topic you're passionate about. There's bound to be someone out there that thinks your topic is worth a listen. It's not all fun and games though. Having a good quality episode and plan doesn't just happen. Hours and hours are spent just for a 30-40 minute episode to edit and mix, if you are a do-it-yourself'er. Hopefully, the effort is worth it and we hope to encourage you to give it a shot! -- Send us some feedback about this episode at: feedback@2dads1mind.com

Everyone has at least one pet peeve, right? Brandon and Jordan share some pet peeves they have dealing with traffic and personal habits that absolutely annoy them. Do you know the rules of the road and despise when people simply can't follow them? Or, what about smacking when eating food?  The dads share a story about their experience at Taco Casa when they get their "Super Nachos" in a not-so-super way. How would you go about the nacho debacle? The guys would love to know, so send them an email to feedback@2dads1mind.com or send them a message on their Facebook page: 2 Dads, 1 Mind. They are also on Instagram: @2dads1mind ***Special Note: You may notice a new song being introduced in the episode. Brandon and Jordan would also like some feedback on how you like the song that a good friend, Ryan Johnson, created for them. They may experiment with some different jingles for the podcast so let them know what you think. The "Salute to Dads" goes out to Terry Crews this week. Listen in on why 2 Dads, 1 Mind dedicate their salute to Mr. Crews.

2020 has been off to a rough start for just about everyone. Unless you live in a bunker with no outside access it would be near impossible to not have heard of all the health and political issues going on. In this episode, Brandon shares how his year started off. Specifically, January 18, 2020 was an evening Brandon and his family will never forget. Now that Brandon has hit the 6 month milestone after this event he wanted to share his near death experience and open up about all the emotions that come flooding in after such an event. Even though our kids may think so, we dads are not invincible. This was a major wake up call for Brandon and he hopes his story will encourage us all to live the healthiest lives we can and be thankful for each day we have. --- Have feedback about this episode or the podcast in general? Send us an email at: feedback@2dads1mind.com or leave a comment on our Facebook page's discussion group: 2D1M Discussion.

What type of trip do you prefer? Jordan and Brandon discuss the good parts of taking a camping trip to a lake or sunbathing at the beach. It may not be a fair choice to make since both can be very different. Some prefer the freshwater and some prefer the waves. Brandon takes a moment to vent about puppy training troubles before getting to the real meat of this week's episode. Let us know over at our Facebook discussion group: 2D1M Discussion or email us at feedback@2dads1mind.com and let us know which body of water or trip you prefer!

Brandon and Jordan's family went on a combined family camping trip for summer vacation. Brandon celebrated his 8th wedding anniversary and his 36th birthday too. But, let's not forget Father's day was tucked in there too. The guys at 2 Dads, 1 Mind talk a little camping and Jordan takes a few minutes to spotlight his amazing dad. Brandon shares some stories and a different perspective of growing up without having much of a good father figure. Being a dad means learning something new every single day. It may be challenging, but it's also a blessing and a lot of fun sometimes. -- Have feedback on this episode? Send us an email at feedback@2dads1mind.com Don't forget to join our Facebook page: 2 Dads, 1 Mind.

Interested in how Brandon and Jordan found and married their significant others? Well, like it or not, you're about to find out! They discuss their different stories from how they met the mothers of their children and the dating process to eventually the big proposal. Brandon shares the salute to a dad of the week and this one goes out to Mr. Bing Mendoza and his family. - - Do you have feedback for this episode? If so, send us an email at feedback@2dads1mind.com or join our Facebook page @2dads1mind and discussion group 2D1M Discussion. You can even leave us a voice message on Anchor https://anchor.fm/2dads1mind

Brandon just can't get the show started and words escape him. He is human after all, or is he? Jordan shares a story about a little girl who very much desires to capture the attention of a lizard quite literally. What are your favorite music genres? The guys at 2 Dads, 1 Mind share their favorite music genres and give a few examples for each favorite genre. Jordan also pronounces Rihanna's name correctly which seems to baffle most. Their genres range from 90s music to rock and country. Brandon recalls his first cassette tape and his first CD. He wishes he could go back in time and pick and undo the embarrassing choice he made for his first CD.  What was your first CD? Let us know at feedback@2dads1mind.com. Make sure to like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/2dads1mind and join our discussion group: 2D1M Discussion

This episode the guys at 2 Dads, 1 Mind talk about current events. Including the SpaceX launch, the selling of Some Good News to CBS, and recent protests sparked by the death of George Floyd. Of course, the guys have some funny stories mixed in and Brandon’s son shares a joke. Last, but not least, the guys salute Rob Kennety.

On this episode the guys look back at what it was like being a kid without all the technology and social media we have now. What's it like having kids in today's tech focused world? What are there fears and concerns with all this technology? 

Brandon and Jordan join up in person to talk about the adventures of travelling with kids. The good, the bad, and the ugly parts included. Jordan recalls his first trip to the barber to get his beard trimmed and the awkward moments of trying talk to the barber without words. Also, who knew there were so many ways to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Last, but certainly not least, the guys salute all those who served our country in this Memorial Day special episode and reminisce on Memorial Day memories.

Brandon and Jordan at 2 Dads, 1 Mind share their top three favorite comedy movies, talk quarantine birthdays, and Brandon gets distracted by something unusual.

We celebrate our mothers, mother in laws, and the mothers of our children in this Mother's Day special episode.

Brandon and Jordan introduce themselves and share their reasons for creating this podcast. What's it mean to be a dad? What is forting?