Dadville with Dave Barnes and Jon McLaughlin

Latest Episodes:

Matt Wertz: The Perfect Amount of Children Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

Wertz is back! Longtime friend Matt Wertz details the daily chaos of his "punk rock" family of four, including managing the mental load and surviving on essential baby tech like the Snoo and the revolutionary swivel car seat. But the true trauma centers on his $300 green hoodie that was ruined by an oil stain. We also reflect on the benefits of late-life fatherhood, having gotten the "hustling" out of the way, and recall the wild, early touring days of playing for sorority chapter meetings to promote Austin shows. Plus, Matt shares details on his exciting new custom songwriting venture, Song Portraits.

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Kringles, Orchestras, and Core Memories Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the vortex of Jon and Dave, where the fellas discuss the profound struggles of the middle-aged musician—a job akin to being a 60-year-old accountant desperately trying to invent a new Greek number! They dive into the logistics of hosting a terrifying 100-kid Halloween rager that thankfully "backed down" from a midnight curfew to 11 PM.

Hear about the genuine fear of losing a child in a "nanosecond" at College Gameday, and the proud father who risked his life on a step ladder to hang up black lights. Find out if the plan to sell sweatshirts to the seventh-grade crowd was a "quick shipment" success. Plus, one host finally achieves the ultimate parenting victory: sleeping an unbelievable 11 hours and 50 minutes, a feat not accomplished since infancy. Finally, we tackle the burning regional question: Do you call it Thanksgiving, or The Thanksgiving? Hint: we don't know either.

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Glen Henry: Winning Arguments in the Car (Alone) Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

We welcome back visionary storyteller Glenn Henry (Belief in Fatherhood) as he discusses his new book, Father Yourself First (dropping November 4th). Glenn gets real about the hard work of parenting, moving past the romanticized YouTube version. He shares the personal crisis that fueled the book, including throwing a tantrum in the office mirror and the dilemma of his inner child being jealous of the parent he became.

Hear how Glenn had to reconcile with his wife, even taking a CNA job (resulting in a very memorable story) to prove his willingness to work. We also unpack the unexpected Stanley Cup experience that led him from hating hockey to being "all in".

Visit Glen: https://www.youtube.com/@BeleafInFatherhood/videos

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Andrew East: Squeezing the Genetic Sponge Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

The fellas sat down with former NFL long snapper, Vanderbilt grad, PhD candidate, and full-time force of nature, Andrew East. Dave kicks things off by recounting his extremely awkward cornhole tournament experience, a moment of social anxiety where he suddenly found himself in a new "gauntlet" of gigantic, ripped athletes.
Andrew then dives deep into the absurdity of competing on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test alongside his Olympic gold medalist wife, Shawn Johnson. He reveals the terror of backing out of shrinking tunnels and the grueling 15-hour interrogation where they were put in stress positions while listening to "pigs getting slaughtered."
Andrew shares why the zero-to-one jump was the hardest identity shift, leading him and Shawn to intensive counseling after having their third child. Plus, hear Andrew's "free-range parenting" philosophy and why elite athletes often adopt a "relaxed posture" toward sports. It’s a rollercoaster ride from awkward cornhole to the torture chamber!

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Peter Enns: "Dad, Snakes can't talk." Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Peter Enns joins the fellas for a candid discussion on faith, complexity, and institutional conflict. Enns recounts the "very scary" reality of losing his academic boundaries after teaching at Westminster Theological Seminary for 14 years, following the controversy surrounding his book, Inspiration and Incarnation. He delves into the core issue: the historical evidence showing the Bible is written by real people during real cultures. Enns shares his deeply personal journey through doubt, realizing he valued integrity and authenticity above all else.

He advocates for embracing the Bible’s multivocality—the way scripture "speaks with multiple voices" on the same topic. Ultimately, he argues, Christianity is about "faithing God," or simply trusting the divine presence. Discover why Enns believes the church must accept mystery and embrace the need for a third millennium theology.

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The Road to Kaeluma - Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jesusfilm.org/kaeluma-dadville⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen, learn more, or access discussion guides and other bonus content!

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Dave and Jon: When to Push Your Kids Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

They demanded it, so here we are: satisfying the masses with a conversation featuring just Jon and Dave. But even a simple chat can’t escape the daily grind. The fellas dive deep into the brutal reality of music promotion and Jon explains the existential crisis behind his deadpan viral video where he unwraps his own albums as gifts, and why his new album, Scenarios, required the discipline to only include songs he truly loves.

They also discuss youth club sports, debating the provocative idea that these leagues are a business. If parents are the customers, do they have the right to refuse tournaments or quit the team if the product isn’t delivered? Plus, Jon reflects on how competitive swimming and classical piano instilled the essential "acceptance of daily grind," even when all he wanted to do was quit.

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Lee Dixon: "I Won't Even Say Their Name." Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

We finally did it! After five years of plotting, leveraging, and extreme Arsenal giddiness, we landed an absolute legend. Yes, Jon is honoring Dave’s obsession (who wore a full Arsenal kit, naturally), as we have the legendary Lee Dixon joining Dadville!

We dive deep into his legendary career, which started with his humble beginnings as a tiny striker whose permanent shift to right back only happened because a teammate got the flu. Lee shares gold on the "geography teacher" Arsène Wenger, the manager’s strategic "stretch war," and the hilarious confrontation with an angry Manchester United window cleaner during a team walk.

Dixon explains why he refuses to ever use the nickname of his rival and recalls the emotional final games, including the moment Tony Adams finally gave him an unforgettable compliment. He reveals the career-long anxiety of waiting to be "found out" and the utter terror of that Monday morning after Wenger delivered the final, perfect line: "Lee, it is time". This episode is five years in the making—and worth every minute!

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The Road to Kaeluma - Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jesusfilm.org/kaeluma-dadville⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen, learn more, or access discussion guides and other bonus content!

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Pure Athlete: Why Dads Cuss Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the ultimate therapy session for dads trapped in the youth sports mess! We’re coming in scorching with Pure Athlete co-founders Britt Lee and Brad Williams, who bring their hard-earned wisdom (and admissions of doing a lot of things wrong) to the table. We tackle the agonizing questions facing parents in the thick of it. Why are we compromising our spiritual commitments—like skipping church—for the sake of tournaments?
Britt and Brad share gut-punch moments and discuss why parents are prone to living vicariously through their children to heal our wounds. We debate the rise of early specialization and the parental dilemma of hearing your kid say, "We’re not done yet!" when they want to quit. Get ready to find your unbelievably clarifying goal as we prioritize relationship and mental health over the next trophy. Tune in and try not to be the guy crying in his car.

Check out Pure Athlete: https://www.pureathlete.com/

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The Road to Kaeluma - Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jesusfilm.org/kaeluma-dadville⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen, learn more, or access discussion guides and other bonus content!

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Matt Nathanson: Looks Like a Child, Punches Like and Adult Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

This week we have Matt Nathanson joining the fellas for a chat that dives into MySpace nostalgia, discussions about Hugh Grant-level hair, and the general 'churn' of parenting – sometimes involving mooning your daughter from the garage. The banter is sharp, the compliments are lavish (especially about Matt's violently attractive looks), and the self-deprecating humor flows freely. It's a laugh-out-loud, informal gabfest where even the worst onstage moments become gold!

Visit Matt: https://mattnathanson.com/

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The Road to Kaeluma - Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jesusfilm.org/kaeluma-dadville⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen, learn more, or access discussion guides and other bonus content!

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Dave and Jon: Rock Star Dreams & Home Improvement Nightmares Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to a "Classic D&J" episode as the fellas reunite after what feels like ages. They cover the latest twist in Dave's long-shot quest of getting his album into the hands of a Beatle and the comical challenge of penning a compelling note to a music icon. They also go deep on their shared home improvement struggles, mundane DIY victories, and the neverending search for approval artists face everyday.

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