The Dudela Podcast | First Time Dad Help and Fatherhood Real Talk

What happens when two tiny humans arrive early and your whole world becomes monitors, milk schedules, and a love you did not know your heart could hold In this episode we sit down with Viv to tell the real story of our first year with twins. From high risk appointments and a calm C section at thirty four weeks to those first hours in the NICU, we share the choices we faced and the grace that met us. We talk about split emotions when one baby is calm and the other needs everything right now, the bottle station that takes over the kitchen, and the simple habits that helped us keep joy at the center. This conversation is warm, honest, and unfiltered. It is the field guide we wished we had on day one and the pep talk we still need on the tired days. 🍼 Here is what we cover • MoDi twin monitoring and what doctors are watching for • Cerclage basics and why frequent checks brought peace • A calm C section plan at thirty four weeks and what to expect day of • NICU day one choices donor milk, formula, room setup for two • Split emotions with two babies and how to give yourself grace • Postpartum anxiety, repair, and the daily ways dads can support • Sleep and feeding setups that save sanity with two at once • Evidence of life as a family motto that beats perfectionism • Building a village when family is far and which small asks work • Twin gear that actually helps from double pillows to dual cameras • First trips and travel tips that keep it simple and fun 🎯 If you have ever searched how to survive the first year with twins twin pregnancy MoDi and TTTS explained NICU twins what to expect twin sleep schedule and feeding routine how to support my wife after a C section postpartum anxiety help for couples twin gear checklist for newborns how to bond with two babies first time dad twin tips Christian parenting podcast for new dads This episode is for you. 🫶 Join the Spit Up Society A space for dads who are showing up, learning, and doing their best every day thedudelaco.com/join 📱 Follow along Instagram at the_dudela_official

Money talk that does not make you want to hide. John and Michael unpack the first financial moves that help a young family breathe. Start a 529 and let compounding do the heavy lifting, learn why Colorado offers a match and how fifteen a month per child gets the ball rolling, and see how friends and grandparents can contribute with a simple link. Hear how a whole life policy for each child can build cash value for their future down payment or other needs, and why a larger term life policy for dad can eliminate debt and carry the family through a hard season. We compare credit cards to a home equity line, talk through simple budgeting habits, and share holiday ideas that favor experiences and future savings over more plastic stuff. The theme is clear. Start small and stay consistent. Your future self will thank you. In this episode • What a 529 is and why tax free growth matters • Colorado match basics and a starter plan at fifteen a month per child • How friends and grandparents can give directly to the account • Whole life for kids and how cash value can fund real life goals • Term life targets for dad that cover debts, mortgage, and one year of salary • Using a home equity line to wipe out high interest cards • A simple weekly budget rhythm in a shared Google Sheet • Holiday gifts that fund the future instead of filling closets • Permission to start tiny and build as income grows Quick takeaways • Pick one action and start today • Automate transfers so you never miss • Revisit coverage and limits once a year • Share the load with your partner and set a monthly money date • Experiences beat stuff almost every time Resources mentioned • Colorado CollegeInvest site for 529 setup • Vanguard plan option inside CollegeInvest • Start a simple shareable, Google Sheets budget with categories for groceries, gas, baby items, and goals • Your local bank or credit union for a home equity line inquiry This Episode is for you if you've ever searched: new dad, fatherhood, family finance, 529 plan, college savings, whole life, term life, budget, debt payoff, HELOC, baby budget, holiday ideas for families, faith and fatherhood

What should I actually be focusing on right now? That was the question a dad to be emailed us this week, and if you have ever been in that waiting season, excited and overwhelmed, wondering what really matters before the baby comes, this one is for you. In this episode of The Dudela Podcast, John and Michael share a real, two part answer shaped by their first year as dads. From nesting chaos and diaper debates to emotional connection and personal growth, this conversation is funny, honest, and packed with practical takeaways. You will hear stories about the reality of helping during nesting mode, what it means to show up for your partner when you cannot fix everything, and how defining the kind of dad you want to be changes everything once your baby arrives. This is equal parts reflection and field guide, real talk for new and expecting dads trying to prepare for a role no one can truly prepare you for. Here’s what we unpack: • Why focus on your partner is the single best advice for every dad to be • What nesting actually looks like and why you will be cleaning the top of the fridge • How to support your partner emotionally instead of just doing things • The two pronged approach being there for her and building your own foundation • How to define the kind of dad you want to become before you are in it • The dad types, smoker dad, CrossFit dad, hobbyist dad, chill dad, and what they reveal about us • How your strengths and flaws both get amplified in fatherhood • Why the fear of losing yourself is not the end of the story • The truth about what life really looks like one year later If you have ever searched: how to prepare for fatherhood dad advice before baby how to support my pregnant wife what to expect as a new dad real talk for Christian dads nesting for dads pregnancy advice for husbands dad prep checklist how to define your parenting style Christian parenting podcast This episode is for you. 🧡 Resources Mentioned: • Taking Cara Babies Course (Affiliate Link) • The Happiest Baby on the Block • The Expectant Father • Join the Spit Up Society Discord

What do you do when you realize you're trying to lead a family without ever having been shown how? Where do you go when you want to be a strong husband and father, but you're running on empty? In this episode of The Dudela Podcast, we sit down with Matt Thomas — father of four, leadership coach, and founder of Marrow — to talk about the life-changing power of mentorship, male friendship, and intentional community. Matt opens up about what happens when dads isolate, why we are not built to go it alone, and how real growth often starts in the places we’re most tempted to hide. This conversation is part storytelling, part challenge, and all heart. From young fatherhood and failed plans to mountain retreats and hard-won wisdom, Matt offers a vision of fatherhood that is full of strength, surrender, and support. Here’s what we unpack: • Why fatherhood cannot be done alone • The difference between transparency and vulnerability • How mentorship rewires your view of manhood and leadership • What happens when men stop pretending and start practicing • Preparing your kids for the real world without fear • Raising kids with intention in a phone-saturated culture • How to recover from moments of failure as a dad • Why emotional presence is just as critical as financial provision • The danger of manufactured risk vs the need for real risk • How community helps you hold the line when everything feels hard • What happens at a Marrow retreat and why every dad needs it • The slow, deep work of becoming the man your family needs If you’ve ever searched: how to be a better dad fatherhood mentorship Christian dad podcast male friendship after 30 raising kids without phones dad support group vulnerability in marriage real talk for Christian dads faith based parenting podcast how to find community as a dad parenting with conviction dad burnout recovery emotional regulation for men stay at home dad advice how to lead your home spiritually best podcasts for new dads Christian masculinity redefined how to build legacy as a father intentional fatherhood This episode is for you. 📱 Follow Matt Thomas and Learn More About Marrow - linkedin.com/in/matthomasco 🫶 Join the Spit Up Society Discord A space for real dads who are trying to show up with presence and purpose 👉 thedudelaco.com/join

What happens when a routine-driven fitness guy becomes a new dad and suddenly the schedule gets thrown out the window? In this episode we sit down with Ryan George: husband, dad to an 11-month-old, and the voice behind a growing fitness and fatherhood presence online. Known for his passion for routines, workouts, and goal setting, Ryan opens up about how becoming a dad forced him to pivot, communicate better with his wife, and give himself grace. We talk about routines, marriage, fitness, grace, and how to still pursue goals when life looks nothing like it used to. This conversation is real, practical, and encouraging for any dad navigating the early years. Here’s what we cover:
• Why the first three months of fatherhood can feel like a funk
• How Ryan and his wife align their fitness goals and schedules
• What it looks like to build an environment at home for success
• The role of grace when workouts, meals, and routines fall apart
• Communication habits that keep a marriage steady in the chaos
• The value of goal setting for fitness, family, and business
• How to celebrate wins and not get buried by setbacks
• Why being a present dad is more important than a perfect routine If you’ve ever searched:
new dad routine podcast
fitness for new dads
dad life and workout balance
grace in early fatherhood
marriage communication with kids
goal setting as a parent
how to stay consistent as a dad
new dad funk first 3 months
Christian fatherhood and fitness
practical dad podcast This episode is for you. 📱 Follow Ryan George
Instagram: @Ryan_Jos3ph
Instagram: @MariaaGeorge (his wife) 🫶 Join the Spit Up Society Discord
A space for dads who are showing up, learning, and doing their best every day
👉 thedudelaco.com/join