Episodes

  • Ep 38 - The "Yule Log" of DJ-ing
    May 30 2025

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    Welcome to The Cool Dad Shirt Podcast, where suburban dad life, music nostalgia, and questionable logic collide.

    Rich and Mike are in top form, spinning yarns about everything from hypnotic DJ dads to lawnmowers that refuse to die (“It’s like they’re running on spite and old gas.").

    Ever stumbled upon a cable music channel featuring a middle-aged man in a black shirt, headphones, and sunglasses, pretending to DJ while sipping wine? Rich has, and he can’t get enough of “DJ Papa Wanti”—the Yule Log of yacht rock. Is he really mixing tracks, or is this just the Truman Show for background music lovers? We may never know, but we’re here for it.

    Meanwhile, Rich’s lawnmower is a legend. Despite years of neglect and prayers for its demise, it starts up like a champ—on old gas, no less. Clearly, the ‘90s were the golden age of lawn equipment.

    But the real drama unfolds in the kitchen. Mike’s pet peeve? Light wash items (like baking sheets) ending up under heavy wash items (like plates covered in tomato sauce and salad bowls with ranch dressing). Suddenly, a simple wipe-down turns into a full-blown cleaning ordeal. And don’t get us started on grocery lists that send you zigzagging through the store like a contestant on Supermarket Sweep.

    Other highlights:

    • Old-timey sayings: “Get them on the horn!” and “Bob’s your uncle”—because why say it simply when you can say it like your grandpa?
    • Kevin O’Leary out of context: Seeing him jam on guitar in dad jeans is as jarring as running into your math teacher at the grocery store.
    • New washer and dryer excitement: Mike’s latest appliance delivery is so thrilling, he wouldn’t even notice if the TV got stolen.

    Tune in for laughs, life hacks, and a healthy dose of dad energy. Whether you’re into yacht rock, lawn care, or the eternal struggle of the kitchen sink, this episode has something for every cool dad (and mom!) out there.

    #CoolDadShirtPodcast, #funnypodcast, #dadhumor, #yachtrock, #DJPapaWanti, #lawnmowerstories, #petpeeves, #DavidSpade, #KevinOLeary, #TaylorSwift, #SharkTank, #oldsayings, #dadlife, #parentingpodcast, #laundryday

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    28 mins
  • Ep 37 - We Invent the "Fluffuccino"
    Apr 15 2025

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    In this episode of the Cool Dad Shirt Podcast, Rich and Mike bounce through a whirlwind of hilarious and thought-provoking topics—ranging from sugar-fueled nightmares and accidental identity theft to the mystery of Uranus’. They tackle fluff sandwich ingredients, Irish vs.Italian goodbyes, and whether a hole through the Earth would be a gentle fall or instant doom. Plus, they get nostalgic over FM radio hits, share tech upgrades, and explore the high-pressure politics of watching TikTok's your spouse sends. It’s unscripted, unexpected, and unapologetically entertaining.

    Topics Covered:

    • Nightmare Fuel: How late-night desserts and HBO’s White Lotus collided into an identity-theft dream Mike can’t unsee.
    • Uranus vs. "Yourness": A very serious (kind of) debate about the pronunciation of the seventh planet and space revisionist history.
    • Gravity & Freefall Theories: Would you bounce at Earth’s core or die instantly? A surprisingly deep dive.
    • Fluff Ingredients Exposed: A shocking four-ingredient list that starts with sugar and ends with sugar. Kind of.
    • Irish vs. Italian Goodbyes: Quick exits vs. long family sendoffs—where do you fall?
    • Rush's “Spirit of Radio”: Why FM radio hits different and how that song still rocks.
    • New iPhones & Tech Anxiety: Rich and Mike compare new phone purchases and the panic of syncing in-store.
    • Honking Regret: Do we need an “I’m sorry” horn? Yes. Yes, we do.
    • Couples & TikToks: Navigating the treacherous world of when to watch your partner’s social videos.
    • Knife Sharpening Confessions: Steel vs. stone—are you doing it right?

    Episode Extras:

    • Mike’s theory that Neil deGrasse Tyson might be responsible for changing "Uranus"
    • A lovable PSA on the delightful (and tasty) varieties of sugar inside fluff jars
    • An actual call for a physicist guest to help settle the gravity debate


    #CoolDadShirt #DadPodcast #DadLife #WhiteLotus #FLUFF #Fluffuccino #Uranus #Gravity #IrishGoodbyes #CouplesTikTok

    Where to Find Us:

    Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in

    Follow us on Instagram: [@cool_dad_shirt]

    Send us your favorite Irish or Italian goodbye stories!

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    34 mins
  • #36 - Zippers and Nuts
    Mar 31 2025

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    In this episode, the dads are back with another candid, laugh-out-loud session—venting about Outlook’s grammar policing of their “haha’s”, overpriced airport peanuts, and the mysterious behavior of zippers in aging jeans. Along the way, they thread in observations about digital communication tone, AI grammar failings, and the unexpected evolution of sardines into charcuterie board superstars. You'll hear real-life takes from the trenches of office humor, work travel, and dad-life details. It's all part of staying relatable, real, and slightly ridiculous in the digital age.

    Highlights & Topics Covered:

    • Outlook Can’t Handle Laughter: Why does Microsoft insist on correcting “haha”? A mini-rant on AI grammar tools gone rogue.
    • The $12 Peanut Crisis: Inflation hits hard at the airport snack aisle—one dad's bewildering encounter with a massive (and pricey) bag of peanuts.
    • Photoshopping the Team to Mars: Taking control of the company team photo—with a side trip to the Red Planet.
    • Profanity-Free Zones: A refreshing observation from the Idaho office—what happens when no one curses at work anymore?
    • Amnesia, Quicksand & 70s TV Fears: A nostalgic dive into childhood anxieties that may or may not still linger.
    • The Zipper Scare: A recurring fly-down mystery turns out to be a case of faulty denim—not early-onset forgetfulness.
    • Shopping Cart Psychology: Why there are never enough small carts—and how that might be very intentional.
    • Pickle Emergencies: A mid-day call from Dad... about pickles. Crisis averted.
    • The Sardine Renaissance: From pantry staple to upscale party feature—why canned fish is suddenly hip.
    • Astronaut Recovery Protocols: After space, what next? A quick look at what happens once the crew lands back on Earth.

    Dad Quote of the Week:
    "I wasn’t gonna get 2 crumb cakes and a dozen frosted donuts, but now that I’ve got a cart the size of a Toyota…"

    #CoolDadShirt #DadPodcast #DadLife #Peanuts #Amnesia #Quicksand #ShoppingCarts #AstronautRecovery


    Where to Find Us:

    Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in

    Follow us on Instagram: [@cool_dad_shirt]

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    26 mins
  • #35 - 23rd Ain't That Bad
    Mar 10 2025

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    Rich spoils the ending of Close Encounters and now Mike is shipping his love across the country. We discuss if LinkedIn is "stating the obvious" in their business model, and is 23rd place really that bad as a maybe-famous comedian? We celebrate people getting famous on social media, the joy of a plow on the front of a pickup truck, and try to appreciate the magnitude of prom dress shopping...

    #Spielberg #PromSeason #LinkedIn #RecklessPlowing #BluDeTiger #Being23rd #TerryFator#PinkFloyd

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    26 mins
  • #34 - The Dangers of Driving in Platform Shoes
    Feb 7 2025

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    Season 3 kicks off with more dad wisdom than you can handle!

    Episode Highlights

    In this triumphant return for Season 3 (aka "The Monochromatic Years"), our favorite dad duo tackles the burning questions that keep middle-aged men up at night: Are slippers outdoor shoes now? Why have hot air balloons disappeared? And what exactly happened to Nestle Quik's iconic metal lid?

    Cold Plunge Chronicles

    One host braves the frigid waters of self-improvement with a DIY cold plunge experiment. The verdict? "You feel like a million bucks" after surviving the initial shock. Just make sure someone's hovering over the 911 button while your body temperature plummets!

    Plumbing Adventures

    From Shark Bite fittings ("slide into place" is literally the entire instruction manual) to water valves that refuse to shut off, our hosts confirm what we've all suspected: home ownership is just watching water destroy things in slow motion.

    Slipper Outrage

    The cultural phenomenon of wearing slippers in public gets a thorough dad-analysis. Once you've worn them to the gas station, they're officially contaminated outdoor shoes. Where has society's standards gone? Remember when men wore wool pants and wing tips to load 50lb bags of rice?

    The Nestle Quik Nostalgia Hour

    Remember that heavy-duty cardboard container with the metal lid? Our hosts reminisce about the physics experiment that was launching the lid with a strategically placed spoon—plus the dangerous quest for that last bit of chocolate powder using the sharpest knife in the drawer.

    YouTube Wormholes

    From drumming challenges to film analysis, discover what keeps our hosts glued to their screens when they should be fixing that leaky faucet instead.

    Quotable Dad Moments

    • "Once you wear the slippers outside, they're no longer a slipper. It's an outdoor shoe."
    • "As you know, by design, the longer you leave a TV on, the louder the volume gets."
    • "The remaining little bit of Nestle Quik in that old-fashioned container is the same exact thing as dropping your guitar pick in your acoustic guitar."

    Music Corner

    • Ozzy Osbourne's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction gets the dad seal of approval
    • Creed had their highest-grossing year in 2024 (who saw that coming?)
    • The definitive list of greatest male rock vocalists (Steve Perry tops the chart!)

    Dad Problems of the Week

    • Getting your wife tea while managing internet connectivity issues
    • The PTSD from being the "orange slice parent" at soccer games
    • The five minutes of peace before your car's "change oil" light ruins everything

    New episodes every week! Don't forget to share with the other cool dads (or dad-adjacent humans) in your life.

    #CoolDadShirt #DadPodcast #Season3 #ColdPlunge #NesquikMemories #DIYPlumbing #DadLife #HomeRepair #90sNostalgia #NewDarren #Ozzy #Slippers #NestleQuik #Tarantino #FruitLoops #SharkBites #HotAirBalloons #Sasquash #FuzzyNavel


    Where to Find Us:

    Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in

    Follow us on Instagram: [@cool_dad_shirt]

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    43 mins
  • #33 - I Can Probably Finish the Latte Before We're Engulfed in Flames...
    Jan 3 2025

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    We talk about why dads want to lock the fridge and manually override the thermostat. Do old movies stand the test of time? 2024 was a great year for shed management. Like us, you probably have a picture of a daughter in an oversized sombrero. How close to death will you get while waiting for your latte? Oh yeah, and what's with the drones?

    #Dads #Sheds #Spielberg #Sombrero #DontTouchTheThermostat #CloseTheFridge #Drones #LatteRisk #UAP #UFO

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    28 mins
  • #32 - We Finally Break Our Silence...
    Nov 26 2024

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    We discuss why John Daly is amazing, and how Uber drivers know "all the good stuff." Are eBikes cool, or are kids lazy? Do you get the sense your aging parents are testing your love for them? Do your kids completely torpedo your nightly wind-down with startling statements just before bedtime? Has MSG been debunked? Lots of questions in this episode... but we're certain that cursive is dead.

    #JohnDaly #ArnoldPalmer #eBikes #CursiveWriting #HardRockHotel #MSG


    Support the show!
    Instagram: @cool_dad_shirt
    Buzzsprout: Cool Dad Shirt

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    39 mins
  • #31 - That’s Not Road Hypnosis
    Oct 14 2024

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    We discuss Embarrassing Kid Moments, the Fantastic Conspiracy Theories on Coast-To-Coast, News Anchor Crushes, Magic, and more....

    #Train #PatMonahan #NationalDaughterDay #CoastToCoast #Aliens #Bigfoot #NewsAnchorCrush #DigitalBusinessCards #WhatAreAllTheseiPhonesDoingInTheGarbage #QuinoaAndGreenTea #CardMagicByJason #JasonLadanye #Magic #ChrisJansing

    Support the show!
    Instagram: @cool_dad_shirt
    Buzzsprout: Cool Dad Shirt

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    24 mins
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