Kids ice hockey is the hardest youth sport to break into. Here's what every hockey parent needs to know before puck drop.

On this episode of Dad Livin', Doug and Mike Deutman — a youth hockey coach and referee for the Meramec Sharks — break down everything a first-time hockey parent needs to know about getting a kid into ice hockey: the gear, the cost, the ice time, and why they still think hockey is the greatest youth sport ever built.

What we cover:
🏒 Why kids ice hockey demands more than any other youth sport — skating, stick skill, finesse, and toughness combined (yes, we get into the PK Subban take that started this whole conversation)
⛸️ The #1 rule for new youth hockey parents: skating skills come before stick skills, every time
😤 The frustration curve every hockey family goes through — and the exact moment it "clicks" (real stories about our own kids, Gus and Shane)
🏒 Why putting a stick in your kid's hands too early can backfire, and what to do in the garage instead
⏰ Is 10, 11, or 12 too late to start playing hockey? (Spoiler: no — and we explain why)
🥅 Our own first hockey memories — skating lessons with grandma, early morning drives to Herculaneum, and what those car rides actually taught us about connecting with our kids
🏆 Growing up on street hockey in St. Louis, mailing away for Mario Lemieux and Eric Lindros autographs, and what it was like watching the Stanley Cup come through town
🚀 Why a young Mario Lemieux or Eric Lindros wouldn't stand a chance against Connor McDavid today — and what that says about how far youth training has come
⚽ Why we still tell our kids to play other sports, even though we think hockey is the best one out there

0:00 The Dad Living Philosophy
0:30 Varsity Squad Takes the Mic
2:04 The Ice Hockey Deep Dive
3:39 From D1 Dreams to Officiating
7:05 Why Hockey Reigns Supreme
10:53 Childhood Memories and Cul-de-sac Dreams
20:10 Guiding Your Child Through the Rink
27:39 Breaking Down the Cost of Play

If you're a parent thinking about signing your kid up for youth hockey — or you're already in it and wondering if it's worth the 6am practices — this episode is for you.

Drop a comment: What's your kid's sport, and what's the one thing you wish someone told you before you started?

🔔 Subscribe to Dad Livin' for honest conversations about fatherhood, youth sports, and figuring it all out.

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Summer dad guilt hits hard when work is busy, kids are home, and you feel like you’re missing the moments that matter — that’s what today’s Coffee Talk is all about.

Welcome back to Dad Livin’, coming to you from an early Saturday morning coffee session in St. Louis, no garage beers this time, just coffee and real talk.

In this episode we dig into:

• The reality of summer dad guilt and working dad schedules — from “Dad, I miss you” phone calls to kids saying “I just want you” while you’re trying to work from home.
• How we’re juggling late movie nights, summer camps, pool days and Brenner (breakfast for dinner) while trying not to feel like we’re failing as dads.
• What we actually let the kids watch: Indiana Jones, Superman, Marvel, Lord of the Rings, and the awkward parenting moments when PG-13 trailers go way too far.
• Why routines and workouts fall apart in the summer — ballpark food, frozen custard runs, and kids calling out our dad bods — plus how we’re trying to reset without the shame spiral.onlinemediamasters
• The small wins that make the chaos worth it: Jordan Walker’s Home Run Derby run, FIFA World Cup family watch parties, golf camp progress, and Sandlot-style baseball pool parties.

If you’re a dad working full-time, wrestling with dad guilt, and trying to stay present in the middle of summer schedules, this Coffee Talk episode will feel way too familiar.

Drop a comment:- What’s the most dad thing you did this week?- What’s one kid quote that absolutely wrecked you?

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Visit us online at www.dadlivin.com for all episodes and fun content!

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As dads get busier, friendships shrink. We dig into why male friendship over 35 is so hard — and what you can do about it.

In this episode of the Dad Livin' Podcast, recorded live at a Memorial Day garage party, the crew gets real about what happens to male friendships once kids, work, and life take over. Stats say the average dad has just four close friends — and only one in ten stays close to them. We break down why that happens and how to fight back.

What we cover:

🍺 Why dad friendships naturally shrink after kids arrive

📱 The text-and-forget problem (you know who you are)

📊 Stats: Dads in the 90s had 6+ close friends — what changed?

🔵 How work culture, club sports, and social media are closing your circle

🤝 The "glue friend" — why every group needs one

🏡 How to find your people if you've lost touch (neighbors, leagues, old friends)

💬 Mel Robbins' "Let Them" and why it changes how you handle drifting friendships

👮 Why one of our guys — a cop — chose NOT to only hang out with fellow cops

🎉 Memorial Day vibes + real talk from guys who've stayed tight for 20+ years

Whether you're a dad who's feeling the loneliness creep in, or you've got a tight circle and want to keep it that way — this episode is for you.

🔔 Subscribe to Dad Livin' for honest conversations about fatherhood, friendship, and figuring it all out.

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Drop a comment: How do YOU stay connected with your friends as a busy dad?

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