Welcome back, dads! The "Ry Guy" is back from the Bahamas, and the whole crew is finally back together for an early-morning recording session. In this episode, we’re unpacking the "Dad Essentials Kit"—not the clichéd white New Balance sneakers or cargo shorts, but the real tools, habits, and mindsets that define us as fathers right now.

We also introduce two brand-new segments that might just become your favorites: "Dads in the Wild" (where we cold-call a dad live on the show!) and a hilarious (and slightly embarrassing) round of Dad Wins & Losses involving Taco Bell mishaps and midnight diaper disasters.

In this episode, we cover:

• ​🌴 Bahamas Debrief: Ryan shares stories from "Pig Island" and surviving a family vacation with zero undershirts.
• ​🌮 Dad Loss of the Week: Michael’s Taco Bell fail that proves "fine" never actually means fine.
• ​📞 Dads in the Wild: We make our first-ever live cold call to a listener (shoutout Collin Wrede!) to hear a real-time win and loss from the trenches of fatherhood.
• ​🎒 The Dad Essentials:

◦Ryan: The "Dad Pack," Ricoh camera, One-on-one trips and connecting with a daughter who is basically his "female version”.

◦Nick: "Tickle Time," sports balls of any kind, and fart songs on the aux.

◦Noah: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on repeat, a 9mm under the seat, and the lifeline that is the diaper bag (plus... mango jerky?!).

◦Mikel: Disco Ball, D&D Bedtime Stories, Video Game Controller, Dumb Phone

Whether you're packing a diaper bag or just trying to survive the middle school years, this episode is about identifying the unique tools you need to be the best dad you can be.

Weekly Challenge: Identify your own "Dad Essentials." What are the 3-4 things (objects, habits, or mindsets) that you cannot parent without? Share them with us or just take stock of what keeps you going.

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