Five hours of sleep, too much caffeine, a never-ending to-do list, and a baby who won't go back to sleep.

Welcome to another episode of Dads in Real Life. ☕

Today, Travis and Robert are running on caffeine and dad energy. Between the heat, family responsibilities, and a serious lack of sleep, Travis is realizing that something needs to change.

He starts by sharing his experience with the Brick, a physical device designed to help limit distracting apps and social media.

After noticing that he reaches for his phone more often when he's tired or stressed, Travis decided to try something different. He shares the data from his first week using the Brick, why he chose it over other apps, and whether it's actually helping him break the habit of doomscrolling.

Robert shares why he uses the Brick too, along with an unexpected benefit he's discovered.

Then the conversation turns to something every parent wishes they had more of:

SLEEP. 😴

Travis has been averaging just five hours a night, so he asks Robert about his sleep habits and tracking.

They discuss:

• 📱 Why stress and exhaustion make bad habits harder to break

• 🧱 Using the Brick to manage social media and distractions

• 💤 The difference between consistent sleep and an unpredictable sleep schedule

• ⏰ How alarms and routines can help manage mornings

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The reality of trying to prioritize sleep while raising kids

And just when things seem to be getting productive, Travis introduces something he calls:

THE BAD LUCK TRAIN. 🚂

You know those days when one thing goes wrong, then another, and suddenly everything seems to be falling apart?

Travis shares a recent ride on the Bad Luck Train, while Robert adds a story involving a rushed afternoon and a diaper. Because nothing says parenting quite like being in a hurry when your kid has other plans.

The episode wraps up with a familiar dad-life moment: a crying baby, a missing pacifier, another interrupted night of sleep, and a little dad cuddling to save the day.

Sometimes being a dad isn't about having the perfect routine or getting everything right.

It's about finding better ways to manage the chaos, recognizing when something needs to change, and showing up for your family—even when you're running on five hours of sleep.

Question for our listeners: Have you ever been on the Bad Luck Train? Share your best story in the comments!

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Shout-outs:

Music produced by Trevor Gregory Follow @savten from @look.cypher