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When should you talk to your kids about porn, sex, sexting, social media, and everything they can access online?

And how do you have those conversations without embarrassing them, shaming them, or accidentally introducing them to something they weren't even thinking about yet?

In Episode 59 of The Dad Compass Podcast, Dmitry and Patrick tackle one of the most uncomfortable parts of parenting: having real conversations with your kids about pornography, sex, smartphones, Snapchat, sexting, peer pressure, and growing up in a world where almost anything is one search away.

We get into the question of whether parents should get ahead of these conversations or wait until their child is ready, how age and maturity change the approach, and why simply telling kids “don’t do it” may not actually prepare them for what they’ll encounter.

We also talk about something even bigger:

Do you want your kid to call you when they screw up?

Because the way we respond to the uncomfortable conversations today may determine whether they come to us during the really difficult moments later.

Both of us grew up without fathers, which makes this conversation especially important to what The Dad Compass is about: figuring out how to give our kids guidance we didn’t always have ourselves. patrick-dmitry

In this episode we discuss:

• When parents should start talking about pornography
• How porn can affect expectations around sex and relationships
• Curiosity vs. compulsive behavior
• Talking to boys and girls about sex
• Kids getting smartphones too young
• Parental controls and internet access
• Sexting and permanent digital footprints
• Snapchat and social media
• Online predators
• Peer pressure
• Letting kids solve problems themselves
• Building the kind of relationship where your child actually calls you for help

The biggest takeaway isn't that parents need all the answers.

It's that avoiding difficult conversations doesn't make those situations disappear.

Our kids are going to get information somewhere.

We'd rather they know they can come to us.

👇 Parents — we want to hear from you:

What age should you start talking to kids about porn and sex?

Should parents check their teenager's phone?

And what's the parenting conversation nobody prepared you to have?

Leave it in the comments. It might become a future episode.

Subscribe to The Dad Compass Podcast for honest conversations about fatherhood, parenting, marriage, divorce, mental health, raising teenagers, and becoming the dads our kids need.

⚠️ This episode contains explicit language and mature discussions intended for parents.

Chapter Markers

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 59
01:04 – Kids, Porn & Early Exposure
02:34 – Should Parents Check Their Kid's Phone?
05:21 – Does Porn Change How Boys See Women?
09:30 – Curiosity vs. Compulsion
11:42 – How Do You Talk About Porn Without Shame?
14:38 – Do You Have the Conversation Before They’re Ready?
18:35 – How Should Parents Talk About Sex?
22:12 – What Age Should “The Talk” Start?
24:47 – Phones, Parental Controls & Protecting Kids Online
26:16 – Why Daughters May Need These Conversations Earlier
28:41 – Can Talking About It Create More Curiosity?
30:55 – Sexting & The Digital Footprint That Never Goes Away
32:03 – Peer Pressure Isn’t Just About Drugs
33:11 – Snapchat, Teenagers & Trust
37:10 – Are Our Kids More Mature Than We Were?
39:38 – When Your Kid Calls You During a Crisis
44:44 – Should Kids Have to Figure Things Out Themselves?
48:21 – Growing Up Without Fathers
50:43 – Are Kids Missing Real-World Life Experience?
53:34 – Somehow We Completely Derail 😂
55:17 – The Question of the Week
1:00:34 – The New Direction of The Dad Compass
1:02:14 – Help Us Choose the Next Conversation

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When did you first realize you weren’t 22 anymore?

In this episode of The Dad Compass Podcast, Dmitry and Patrick talk about getting older, struggling with weight and health, trying to stay active, and how fatherhood completely changes the reason you want to take care of yourself.

The conversation gets into the realities of being a dad: feeling guilty for taking time to work out, trying to model healthy habits for your kids, dealing with phones and social media, balancing work and family, and realizing just how quickly your children grow up.

We also talk about the pressure to be the “perfect dad,” why your actions matter more than the advice you give your kids, and the moments that remind you that you may be doing a better job than you think. One of the biggest themes of the episode is simple: your kids are watching what you do, not just listening to what you say.

Along the way, things go completely off the rails with gym soreness, cereal, old-school music, video games, getting older, questionable childhood decisions, and the kind of conversations only two dads can somehow turn into a 50-minute podcast.

If you’re a father trying to balance parenting, health, marriage, work, personal growth, and staying present with your kids, this episode is for you.

Like, subscribe, and comment:
When did YOU first realize you were getting old?

Compass On.

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**Your Kids Won’t Be Kids Forever | The Dad Compass**

One day, the noise in your house gets quieter.

The kids who constantly need you grow up. They graduate. They get jobs. They move out. And suddenly, all those ordinary moments you thought would always be there become memories.

In this episode of **The Dad Compass Podcast**, Dmitry and Patrick have an honest conversation about **fatherhood, parenting, kids growing up, and what happens when your children begin leaving home**.

Patrick talks about watching his older kids move into adulthood and how dramatically it changes the dynamic of the family. Dmitry looks ahead at his oldest son approaching adulthood and the strange combination of being proud of the person your child is becoming while knowing you're going to miss having them around every day.

We also talk about how parenting changes as **we** get older.

The way you parent your first child isn't necessarily the way you parent your third. You learn. You make mistakes. You become more patient. And eventually you realize that sometimes we spend so much time preparing our kids to become adults that we forget to appreciate them while they're still kids.

This episode isn't about being a perfect parent.

It's about **being present**.

Because your kids won't be kids forever.

We also somehow manage to talk about a 25-hour family road trip, moving houses, hot air balloons in New Mexico, terrible podcast decisions, parenting teenagers, adult children, and all the usual chaos that comes with being dads.

If you're a **dad, mom, stepdad, parent of teenagers, or a parent watching your kids grow up**, this conversation is for you.

👇 **JOIN THE CONVERSATION**

How has your relationship with your kids changed as they've gotten older?

And if your children have already moved out, what's something you wish you had appreciated more while they were still living at home?

Drop your story in the comments. We want The Dad Compass to be a place where parents can talk about the parts of **fatherhood and parenting** that don't always get talked about.

👍 Like the episode
💬 Leave us a comment
🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations about fatherhood, parenting, marriage, family, personal growth, and raising kids.

**The Dad Compass Podcast** is two dads having honest conversations about fatherhood, parenting struggles, raising children, relationships, mistakes, growth, and figuring life out one week at a time.

#TheDadCompass #Fatherhood #Parenting #DadPodcast #ParentingPodcast #KidsGrowingUp #ParentingTeenagers #Dads #Family #EmptyNest #FatherhoodPodcast #ParentingAdvice

00:00 Welcome Back to The Dad Compass
02:40 Dmitry’s First Real Vacation
04:10 Surviving a 25-Hour Family Road Trip
07:20 Patrick’s New Mexico Hot Air Balloon Adventure
13:40 Tinkertown Museum & Visiting the Kids
17:45 Moving Houses With Kids
23:40 Patrick Helps His Daughter Move Out
26:50 When the House Suddenly Gets Quiet
31:15 Advice for Parents When Kids Move Out
34:10 Watching Your Kids Become Adults
37:50 Preparing a Teenager for Independence
40:50 Will Your Kids Surprise You After They Move Out?
44:30 Teaching Kids Responsibility & Independence
47:15 Trusting the Process as a Parent
50:30 Your Kids Won’t Be Kids Forever
52:20 How Parenting Changes With Each Child
55:10 Parenting Differently as You Get Older
58:30 Sibling Relationships & Growing Up Together
1:01:40 What Our Parenting Teaches Our Kids
1:04:00 What The Dad Compass Is Really About
1:08:00 If Your Kid Switched Bodies With You
1:10:00 Weight Loss, Beer & Dad Life
1:12:30 Final Thoughts: Appreciate Your Kids While They’re Young

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How does a parent look at their own child suffering and do nothing?

In this episode of The Dad Compass Podcast, Dmitry and Patrick discuss some of the most disturbing cases involving parents accused or convicted of horrific child neglect, abuse, and murder.

From a 7-year-old boy who died weighing 255 pounds, to Ruby Franke and the abuse of her children, Lori Vallow Daybell's extreme religious beliefs, the parents of the Oxford High School shooter, children tragically left in hot cars, and a 2-year-old who died from starvation while living with his own parents—these stories raise one terrifying question:

How does a parent get to this point?

We also discuss parental responsibility, recognizing warning signs in children, bullying, when parents should step in, discipline versus abuse, and whether society does enough to protect vulnerable children.

As fathers, some of these stories are nearly impossible for us to comprehend.

⚠️ This episode discusses child abuse, child neglect, murder, starvation, and other disturbing subjects. Viewer discretion is advised.

What do you think?

Are there warning signs people ignore?

When should family members, schools, neighbors, or the government intervene?

And are the punishments for severe child abuse strong enough?

Drop your thoughts and cases you think we should discuss in the comments.

👇 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & JOIN THE CONVERSATION

The Dad Compass is a podcast about fatherhood, parenting, marriage, mental health, personal growth, and navigating life as a dad.

🧭 COMPASS ON.

Chapters

00:00 The Most Horrifying Parenting Stories We've Ever Read
00:37 7-Year-Old Dies Weighing 255 Pounds
03:41 They Called a Veterinarian Before Helping Their Son?
07:33 What Happened to Casper O'Brien?
08:19 The Horrifying Conditions Inside the Home
10:53 Ruby Franke and the 8 Passengers Abuse Case
12:38 A 12-Year-Old Escapes and Begs for Food
14:05 When "Discipline" Becomes Child Abuse
15:31 Do Abused Children Know Their Life Isn't Normal?
17:17 The Therapist Connected to Ruby Franke
18:18 The Letecia Stauch Case
21:27 Should Parents Be Responsible for Their Child's Crimes?
22:25 The Oxford High School Shooter's Parents
24:24 What Would You Do If Your Child Became a Killer?
25:50 Bullying, School Violence and Warning Signs
27:22 When Should a Parent Step In?
30:59 Why Kids Join In on Bullying
32:03 Father Allegedly Forgets His Toddler in a Hot Car
33:45 Can You Really Forget Your Child Is in the Back Seat?
36:36 Should Negligent Parents Ever Have Children Again?
36:45 Lori Vallow Daybell and the Murder of Her Children
39:20 Religious Extremism and the "Zombie" Beliefs
42:52 The Streamer Connected to a Child Starvation Case
45:20 She Had Already Lost Parental Rights to Another Child
46:25 Other Children Were Living Inside the Home
48:48 Are Child Abuse Punishments Strong Enough?
50:43 Dad Life, Summer Heat and Neglect Jokes
51:58 Fireworks, Cherry Creek and Buc-ee's
54:12 Wawa vs Sheetz vs Buc-ee's
54:47 The Dumbest Things We've Done With Fireworks
58:37 Final Thoughts and Compass On


#TheDadCompass #ParentingPodcast #Fatherhood #TrueCrime #ChildNeglect #ChildAbuseAwareness #DadPodcast #Parents #Parenting #RubyFranke #LoriVallow #FatherhoodPodcast

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Father’s Day starts with jokes, gifts, steak, grills, and the chaos of being a dad — but this episode turns into something deeper.

On this Father’s Day edition of The Dad Compass Podcast, Dmitry and Patrick talk about what Father’s Day actually means, the pressure dads carry, raising teenagers into adulthood, helping kids understand responsibility, and the health wake-up calls men often ignore until they become serious.

From funny dad stories and Father’s Day facts to real conversations about blood work, cholesterol, testosterone, weight loss, parenting mistakes, and wanting to be around for your kids and future grandkids — this episode is a reminder that fatherhood is more than one day of appreciation.

It’s about showing up, getting better, and doing the hard work even when nobody sees it.

In this episode we talk about:

Father’s Day expectations and dad gifts
Why dads pretend they don’t care but actually do
Raising teens and preparing kids for adulthood
Communication, chores, jobs, and responsibility
Health scares, blood work, cholesterol, and getting older
Why dads need to take care of themselves
What we would do if money was no object
The legacy fathers leave behind

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, stepdads, grandfathers, father figures, and moms doing both jobs.

Compass on.

00:00 Father’s Day Edition Begins
00:24 Father’s Day Facts, History & Traditions
02:15 Father’s Day Gifts, Dad Humor & The Giant Clock
04:10 Why Every Random Holiday Exists Now
04:49 What Father’s Day Actually Means to Dads
07:03 Father’s Day Plans, Kids, Steak & Sushi
08:15 Steakhouse Talk, Texas Roadhouse & Dad Food
10:37 Father’s Day Spending: Dads vs Moms
12:12 Grills, Smokers & Father’s Day Gifts Gone Wrong
14:23 Funny Father’s Day Truths Every Dad Understands
15:42 Growing Up Without a Father & TV Dads
17:37 The Myth of the Perfect Parent
19:19 Raising Teenagers Into Adulthood
20:23 Responsibility, EMT Training & Real-Life Consequences
22:38 How Do You Prepare Kids for Adult Life?
23:34 Teen Communication, Last-Minute Plans & Boundaries
25:28 Chores, Consistency & Teaching Responsibility
28:42 When Kids Don’t Follow Through
32:05 Teen Money Lessons, Toll Roads & Dad Problems
36:23 Speeding Tickets, Police & Learning the Hard Way
41:40 Blood Work, Cancer Scares & Dad Health
43:38 Weight Loss, Drinking Less & Getting Older
46:10 Why Dads Need to Get Blood Work Done
48:12 High Protein, High Fiber & Building a Healthier Dad Life
50:09 Quitting Energy Drinks & Starting Clean
51:25 Healthy Meals, Greek Yogurt Sauce & Small Changes
55:04 Cholesterol, Steak, Sushi & Dad Diet Anxiety
58:30 Get Checked, Dad: Health, Family & Grandkids
1:00:03 If Money Was No Object
1:00:34 Travel, Purpose & Working Because You Want To
1:01:13 Spending More Time With Your Kids
1:02:26 Raising Kids Without Spoiling Them
1:03:44 Legacy, Helping Others & What Really Matters
1:05:26 Final Father’s Day Message

#FathersDay #Fatherhood #DadPodcast #TheDadCompass #ParentingPodcast #DadLife #MensHealth #RaisingKids #FatherhoodJourney #ModernFatherhood

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In this episode of The Dad Compass Podcast, Patrick and Dmitry talk through the emotional reality of watching your kids grow up, graduate, start driving, face friendship drama, and become more independent.

Graduation is supposed to be a celebration, but for many parents it also brings a strange kind of sadness. We talk about the feeling of mourning the younger version of your kids, watching them step into adulthood, and realizing that life is moving faster than you expected.

This episode also dives into parenting teenagers, teaching a teen to drive for the first time, handling fear and confidence behind the wheel, summer break with kids at home, daughter friendship drama, phone boundaries, peer pressure, and the challenge of helping your kids become strong without controlling every part of their life.

We also talk about raising kids who make good choices when no one is watching, what it means to be proud of your children, and how fatherhood changes as your kids need you differently.

This one is for dads, moms, stepdads, blended families, and anyone trying to navigate the emotional chaos of parenting kids who are growing up way too fast.

Topics covered:
Graduation grief, kids growing up, parenting teens, teen driving anxiety, daughter friendship drama, girl drama, summer parenting, phone boundaries for kids, peer pressure, fatherhood, blended families, raising teenagers, letting go as a parent, work-life balance, and family growth.

Subscribe to The Dad Compass Podcast for real conversations about fatherhood, parenting, marriage, family, discipline, mental health, and raising kids in today’s world.

00:00 Welcome Back to The Dad Compass Podcast
00:08 Summer Parenting, Graduation Season & Kids Growing Up
01:41 Older Kids Coming Home, Leaving Again & Family Transitions
04:02 Emotional Graduation Moments as a Dad
05:08 Mourning the Younger Version of Your Kids
06:56 Parenting Adult Kids, Rent, Responsibility & Independence
09:07 Teaching Young Adults Budgeting After Graduation
11:05 Alternative School Graduation & Demonstration of Readiness
12:05 Wilderness Trips, Life Skills & Real-World Learning
14:14 Graduation Support Meetings, Family & Mentorship
15:28 Walking Through a Child’s High School Journey
16:45 Raising a Good Man: Teen Mentorship & Kindness
18:01 Seeing Your Kids Become Better Versions of You
21:45 Teen Mental Health, Friendship & Being There for Others
24:30 Teaching Younger Students & Learning Humility
26:03 Friendship, Peer Pressure & Wanting to Fit In
27:43 Teen Vaping, Weed, Peer Pressure & Making Good Choices
30:43 Little Parenting Moments That Add Up Over Time
34:36 Are Kids Making Better Choices Than We Did?
36:43 Teen Gets His Driving Permit for the First Time
38:15 Teen Driving Anxiety, Fear & Building Confidence
41:00 Teaching a Teen Driver Without Losing Your Mind
43:50 Dad Tips for Teaching Teenagers How to Drive
46:50 Giving Driving Feedback Without Creating Panic
48:20 Confidence, Stress & Learning Under Pressure
52:30 Almost Missing a Stop Sign: First Driving Lesson Reality
55:08 Learning to Reverse, Park & Understand the Vehicle
56:20 Best Advice for a Teen’s First Driving Lesson
57:20 Daughter Drama, Phones, Crushes & Friendship Issues
58:20 Phone Boundaries, Texting Rules & Parenting Kids Online
59:30 Girl Drama, Friendship Pain & Self-Worth
1:00:35 Helping Your Daughter Handle Friendship Drama
1:02:05 Talking to Kids Without Crushing Their Confidence
1:03:20 Summer Break, Work From Home Parenting & Family Chaos
1:04:08 Kids Home for Summer While Parents Still Work
1:04:59 Giving a 10-Year-Old a Phone: Rules and Reality
1:05:22 Kids, Curiosity, Phone Safety & Digital Boundaries
1:07:36 Fatherhood Unscripted: This Whole Episode Was Real Life
1:07:52 Question of the Week: What Belief Changed in 10 Years?
1:08:07 Becoming a Dad Without Having a Father Figure
1:10:12 Work-Life Balance, Family & What Really Matters
1:11:33 Marriage, Partnership & Not Carrying It All Alone
1:13:54 Like, Subscribe, Comment & Closing Thoughts

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Some dads are raising their kids without a blueprint.

In this episode of The Dad Compass Podcast, Dmitry and Patrick talk about what it feels like to become a father when no one really taught you how to be one. From absent fathers and broken examples to raising sons, raising daughters, losing your temper, accountability, discipline, emotional shutdown, and the fear of repeating the past — this conversation gets real.

We talk about the pressure dads carry, the mistakes we make, the moments we wish we handled better, and the responsibility of trying to become the kind of father our kids actually need.

This episode is for the dads who are trying to break generational cycles, build better relationships with their kids, and lead their families even when they feel like they’re figuring it out as they go.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re winging fatherhood, struggling with discipline, trying to repair a relationship with your child, or wondering if you’re doing enough as a dad — this one is for you.

The Dad Compass Podcast is about real fatherhood, honest conversations, parenting, marriage, discipline, mental health, personal growth, and dads supporting dads.

Drop a comment:
What’s one thing you wish someone taught you before becoming a dad?

Subscribe for more real conversations about fatherhood, parenting, discipline, marriage, growth, and what it means to show up as a dad.

#Fatherhood #DadPodcast #Parenting #TheDadCompass #BreakingGenerationalCycles

00:00 Fathers Raising Kids Without a Blueprint
00:43 Did We Fake It Until We Made It?
01:50 Becoming the Dad You Wish You Had
03:23 Borrowing Lessons From Father Figures
06:03 Why Raising Daughters Feels Different
09:04 The Stages Where Dads Need Guidance
11:13 Can You Fix the Relationship Now?
12:16 When Your Kid Says, “I Can’t Do Anything Right”
13:31 Extreme Ownership in Parenting
14:41 Teaching Before Correcting
16:49 Kids, Responsibility, and Homework Battles
19:00 Chores, Gigs, and Teaching Ownership
21:03 Building Your Own Blueprint as a Father
22:53 What Does “Absent Dad” Really Mean?
23:36 Being Physically Present But Emotionally Absent
25:56 Showing Up Even When You’re Burnt Out
26:29 The McDonald’s Story and Dad Guilt
30:34 Not Having a Father Doesn’t Disqualify You
32:21 The Conversation Dmitry Wishes He Could Have
34:21 Accountability Is Not Soft Parenting
35:03 The Hidden Weight Dads Carry
36:30 Anger, Pressure, Fear, and Exhaustion
38:18 Being Honest With Your Kids
42:07 If Your Life Had a Narrator
43:32 Dark Humor, Murder Tapes, and Dad Banter
47:55 Like, Subscribe, and Send Us Your Questions

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In this episode of The Dad Compass Podcast, we talk about what it really feels like to raise kids when you never had a clear blueprint for fatherhood.

Some dads grew up without a strong father figure. Some had examples they don’t want to repeat. Some are learning in real time how to lead, discipline, connect, apologize, and show up for their kids while still carrying stress, anger, pressure, exhaustion, and fear.

We get into fatherhood without a map, raising sons and daughters, accountability, chores, emotional honesty, absent dads, breaking generational patterns, and why not having a perfect example does not disqualify you from becoming a strong father.

This one is for the dads trying to become better while still figuring it out.

Topics we cover:
Fatherhood without a blueprint
Dads who grew up without fathers
Breaking generational cycles
Raising kids with accountability
Being present instead of just being physically there
Anger, burnout, and pressure as a dad
How to lead your kids by example
Why communication with your kids matters
Building a better fatherhood community

Subscribe to The Dad Compass Podcast for honest conversations about fatherhood, parenting, marriage, discipline, growth, and becoming the kind of dad your kids can count on.

Chapters
0:00 Fatherhood without a blueprint
0:43 Did we fake it as new dads?
1:50 Stepping into fatherhood without answers
3:23 Father figures and borrowed examples
6:03 Raising daughters and fear of losing connection
9:04 Why dads need guidance at every stage
11:32 When your kid feels like they can’t do anything right
13:31 Extreme ownership at home
15:32 Chores, expectations, and letting kids choose
16:49 Teaching responsibility without blame
19:00 Turning chores into “gigs”
21:03 Building your own fatherhood blueprint
22:53 Are dads present but still absent?
25:56 Showing up when you’re tired and burned out
26:58 The dad guilt fast food story
30:34 Not having a father does not disqualify you
32:21 The conversation some sons never get to have
34:21 Accountability is not soft parenting
35:03 The hidden weight dads carry
38:18 Being honest with your kids when life is heavy
42:07 Weird question: who narrates your life?
43:32 Murder Tapes tangent
48:04 Building a community for dads