Episodes

  • Season 02: Episode 03 - Jason Hales

    Season 02: Episode 03 - Jason Hales
    Nov 26 2025

    Jason Hales is a creator, a photographer, a husband, a father, and one of the most intentional people I know. In this episode, we talk about the long arc of becoming who you want to be - from leaving corporate sales, to building a family-run creative studio with his wife Natalie, to raising daughters with grit, independence, and imagination.Jason opens up about the early days of discovering photography, the whirlwind of wedding work that launched his career, the adventure years of taking any kind of photography job he could get, and the creative studio he’s built out of his home alongside his wife, Natalie. We also talk about the power of photos in shaping memory, navigating screens and boundaries, and a vasectomy story that’ll leave you without words.


    I walked away from this conversation encouraged and grateful. Jason’s life is a reminder that being a great dad isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence, intentionality, and choosing (again and again) to build a life around the people you love.


    As always, chapter markers and relevant links can be found below.


    👉 Subscribe to join the conversation, hear new episodes, and explore more stories from Dad’s World and Calico Sonder.


    🔗 Links:


    Jason’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hales_photo

    Hales Photo: https://www.hales.photo Wild Dingo Studios

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilddingostudios

    Wild Dingo Studios: https://www.wilddingostudios.com

    Dad’s World Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadsworldpodcast

    Calico Sonder: https://www.calicosonder.com


    📖 Chapter Markers:


    00:00 Intro

    01:34 Welcome

    02:05 Elevator pitch

    03:14 The power of a name

    04:10 From corporate sales to creative life

    05:06 The power of a spouse

    06:36 Creative spark

    09:23 The engagement shoot

    11:09 Meeting Natalie: a love story

    13:57 Fitness, aging, and refusing to be “the old dad”

    15:21 Running a business from home as a family

    16:37 Parenting in the early years & remembering through photos

    19:19 Pulleys, dinosaurs, and nurturing curiosity

    20:50 Social growth & the landline idea

    22:22 The Vasectomy Story

    25:19 Raising strong, independent girls

    28:00 What do you want your kids to know about you?

    29:30 Closing Thoughts + outro
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    31 mins
  • Season 02, Ep. 02 - Brett Boudreaux

    Season 02, Ep. 02 - Brett Boudreaux
    Oct 9 2025
    Brett Boudreaux is a lifelong homie, a devoted father, and a decorated firefighter with a heart of gold. We grew up together in the 90s, back when life was all about baseball, Blockbuster Video, and dreaming big. This episode feels like stepping back into those golden years.In this conversation, Brett opens up about his unconventional upbringing and how it's shaped into the father he is today. Born to a mother who had just turned 16 and raised largely by his grandparents, Brett and I dive down the rabbit hole to revisit our childhood, discussing everything from chasing adventure in the woods to scoring front-row seats at the 2002 Royal Rumble. Through it all, we reflect the reality of raising kids, navigating exhaustion, and finding purpose in this chapter of our life.Brett's story is one about resilience, reflection, and what it really means to grow into fatherhood, all while keeping that 90s spark alive for the next generation.I walked away from this one feeling grounded, grateful, and nostalgic in all the best ways. I think you will too.👉 Subscribe to join the conversation, hear new episodes, and explore the wild, messy, meaningful journey of being a dad in today’s world!🔗 Links:Brett's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdro87Calico Sonder Website: https://www.calicosonder.comCalico Sonder Links: https://www.linktr.ee/calicosonder📖 Chapter Markers:00:00 – Intro01:10 – Growing up with young grandparents 05:11 – Baseball and the Pinto Braves09:13 – Growing up without a dad 10:01 – 90s Nostalgia11:37 – Discovering wrestling 12:14 – 2002 Royal Rumble 18:15 – Getting spooked20:17 – The Shack23:30 – Spend-the-nights 25:04 – Unconventional Friendships27:13 – Meeting Kolayna30:37 – Becoming a firefighter 36:07 – Life in Atlanta Fire Dept. 37:35 – Joining Cobb County Fire 38:37 – Marriage and early challenges 41:42 – Becoming a dad 43:07 – Learning patience47:10 – Seeing yourself in your kids 50:50 – Passing down the 90s 52:50 – Coaching Little League 55:36 – Facing fears of fatherhood 58:04 – Flaws1:00:32 – "That's a sign that they're happy."1:03:17 – Balancing parent life with a stressful job1:05:30 – The Squad1:09:51 – Watching them grow up1:12:20 – Caring for your toys1:14:46 – Closing Reflections
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Season 02, Ep. 01 - Gary Carrier

    Season 02, Ep. 01 - Gary Carrier
    Sep 9 2025
    Gary Carrier is a global soul. He’s an entrepreneur, a self-proclaimed vagabond, and a certified rad dad to his daughter, Sofia. In this episode of Dad’s World, we dive into Gary’s one-of-a-kind love of world culture, his background as a competitive speed skater in the mid-90s, and how his curiosity for philosophy and the hero’s journey continue to shape his life as a business owner and a father.I walked away from this conversation deeply encouraged and inspired, and I think you will too.👉 Subscribe to join the conversation, hear new episodes, and explore the wild, messy, meaningful journey of being a dad in today’s world!🔗 Links:Gary’s Company: https://www.theplataforma.com Gary’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garioca Calico Sonder Website: https://www.calicosonder.comCalico Sonder Links: https://www.linktr.ee/calicosonder
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Dad's World - Season 02 Trailer

    Dad's World - Season 02 Trailer
    Sep 8 2025
    Dad’s World Season 02 is here! 🎉 👨🏻Join host Nathan Bach, storyteller and founder of Calico Sonder, as he sits down with dads from every corner of life to talk about what it really means to be a father today.From childhood memories to building businesses, from raising kids to growing families, every conversation is honest, real, unique and full of insight. This season dives into the heart of modern fatherhood and explores how dads balance the challenges of parenting, career, and creativity in the age of our most important role.Whether you’re a dad yourself, about to become one, or just curious about how fatherhood is evolving in this generation, you’ll find stories here that will make you feel seen, inspired, and connected. New episodes every month, starting September 2025!👉 Subscribe to join the conversation, hear new episodes, and explore the wild, messy, meaningful journey of being a dad in today’s world!🔗 Links:Dad's World Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadsworldpodcast Dad's World TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dadsworldpodcast Calico Sonder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calicosonderNathan Bach Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbachCalico Sonder Website: https://www.calicosonder.com
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    2 mins
  • Season 01, Ep. 03 - Andrew Averso

    Season 01, Ep. 03 - Andrew Averso
    May 28 2024
    Andrew Averso is a multi-disciplined creative powerhouse and certified rad dad to Emma, age 5 and Jack, age 2. In this episode, we discuss Andrew’s days running around in rock bands, working odd jobs in the creative space throughout his twenties, and how his penchant for standing out translates in the age of fatherhood. As a single dad woth two young kids, Andrew's perspective is wildly valuable, and I had countless takeaways from our conversation. I hope you do, too!
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Season 01, Ep. 02 - J. Howard Bach

    Season 01, Ep. 02 - J. Howard Bach
    Apr 4 2024
    J. Howard Bach goes by many names - Julius, Jake, J. How, Jumpin' Julius, Papa J. He’s been quite a mythical creature amongst my universe, with a spark that attracts many and an unmatched ability to tell stories. He also happens to be my Dad. In this episode, J. How and I discuss a handful of stories from his youth, including the house fire that nearly took the life of his grandmother in 1962. We also touch on life as a grandfather and how he sees the world as a member of the Boomer generation. We didn’t even scratch the surface of what makes this man and his story so special, and I hope we can share many more conversations like this in future episodes. At any rate, I relished this time together and even learned a few new things in the process. I hope you enjoy this talk with Pop!
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    40 mins
  • Season 01, Ep. 01 - Ben Owen

    Season 01, Ep. 01 - Ben Owen
    Feb 29 2024

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    48 mins