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Artwork for Paternal

Paternal

Nick Firchau
Fatherhood
Mental Health
Masculinity
Parenting
Uber
Anxiety
Drug Addiction
Emotional Health
Resilience
Divorce
Gig Economy
Grief
Vulnerability
Adolescence
Jason Reynolds
Twenty-Four Seconds From Now
Community Support
Emotional Intelligence
Norse Fires
Pediatric Epilepsy

Paternal is a show about the brotherhood of fatherhood. Created and hosted by Nick Firchau, a longtime journalist and podcast producer, Paternal offers candid and in-depth conversations with great men who are quietly forging new paths in fatherhood. Listen as our diverse and thoughtful guests – a world-renowned soccer star in San Diego, a Oglala Sioux elder in South Dakota, a New York Knicks barbe... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes137Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureKids & Family

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Artwork for Paternal

Latest Episodes

When Jordan Ritter Conn was a teenager growing up in an Evangelical Christian family, he met with a half dozen male friends every Saturday night for Bible Study. The sessions were a free-for-all for owning up to masturbation or admitting your insecur... more

Brooklyn-based psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Daniel Smith has a motto: Feel everything, don't look away. But how exactly are men supposed to confront some of the most challenging emotions in their lives, especially when societ... more

Tom Junod spent more than two decades as one the most celebrated writers in the men's magazine game, winning two National Magazine Awards and penning unforgettable articles about everything from 9/11 to Mister Rogers. Dubbed by Esquire as the man who... more

John Elway. Joe Namath. Johnny Unitas. Peyton Manning. Look into the backstory of just about any star quarterback you've ever heard of, and you'll find either an overbearing father, or an absent one.

In honor of the Super Bowl and the men who play... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jordan Ritter Conn
Senior staff writer at The Ringer; author of American Men
The Ringer; author of American Men
Episode: #142 Jordan Ritter Conn: Why Do Men Feel So Alone?
Daniel Smith
Psychotherapist and author
Brooklyn-based psychotherapist; author of Hard Feelings
Episode: #141 Daniel Smith: The Episode that Might Make You a Better Father
Tom Junod
Journalist and author; memoirist of In The Days Of My Youth, I Was Told What It Means To Be A Man
Esquire (former), ESPN (senior writer)
Episode: #140 Tom Junod: All My Father's Secrets
Seth Wickersham
Author, journalist, father, and former high school quarterback.
ESPN
Episode: #139 Seth Wickersham: The Fathers Behind the NFL's Best Quarterbacks
Julian Brave Noisecat
Writer and filmmaker, member of the Chichescan First Nation
Sugarcane
Episode: #138 Julian Brave Noisecat: Ghost Stories, Coyote Dads, and The Survival Story of "Baby X"
Robert Gallery
Former NFL offensive lineman and mental health advocate
Athletes for Care
Episode: #137 Robert Gallery: Football, Rage, and Recovery
Aymann Ismail
Journalist, staff writer at Slate, and author of the memoir, Becoming Baba
Slate
Episode: #136 Aymann Ismail: Three Generations of Men in the Mosque
Jayson Greene
Author known for his memoir on grief and his debut novel exploring technology and loss
Episode: #134 Jayson Greene: Can Artificial Intelligence Help Us Cope With Grief?
Augustine Sedgewick
Author and historian, living in Brooklyn, history professor at the City University of New York.
City University of New York
Episode: #133 Augustine Sedgewick: A History of Fatherhood, From Thomas Jefferson to Bob Dylan

Host

Nick Firchau
Host and producer of Paternal

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 148 ratings
  • Great fatherhood and manhood podcast!!

    Topics and interviews make you realize how me as a father affect my children’s’ life. And how my dad affected mine. Thank you Nick!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Giogar1106
    United States3 months ago
  • Highly Relatable

    This has really sunk its hooks into me. Informative, fun, and real. Dads - and sons - should tune in.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MattA1114
    United States9 months ago
  • Best podcast for men (and women?)

    I love this podcast. Nick is such a great interviewer with a GREAT voice, he has really interesting guests, and the production quality is so so good. Definitely worth subscribing!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    yoadrian
    United States10 months ago
  • Do not need to be a parent or dad for listen

    Interesting topics and perspectives, diverse guests, and stories that can be shared to all. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mocheemunch
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Podcast

    Very interesting topics, do not need to be a dad/male to learn from the interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    0h_susannah
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host's interviewing makes complex topics feel accessible and thoughtful.
Listeners praise honest conversations about fatherhood and masculinity.
The show is consistently described as moving, reflective, and well-crafted.
Production quality and guest variety stand out for this intimate format.
Episodes resonate beyond dads, offering insights for anyone exploring relationships and growth.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#142 Jordan Ritter Conn: Why Do Men Feel So Alone?
Q: What were your impressions of breaking in with these four guys, and what about the idea that men don't want to talk about difficult things?
I found that men do want to talk and share; they just need to feel invited and welcomed. The conversations become more meaningful when there is a direct invitation to be vulnerable and when the group provides a safe space.
#139 Seth Wickersham: The Fathers Behind the NFL's Best Quarterbacks
Q: How do you think the Mannings have handled Arch Manning, sort of the next generation?
Cooper was able to let Arch run his own race, guide him where he could, but they also made Arch own his own decisions.
#139 Seth Wickersham: The Fathers Behind the NFL's Best Quarterbacks
Q: What did the lack of a father figure do to Warren Moon?
It built everything that he became, and also it was a ghost that he couldn't run from, and it eventually kind of threatened his career and all that he had built.
#138 Julian Brave Noisecat: Ghost Stories, Coyote Dads, and The Survival Story of "Baby X"
Q: How are you guys doing now?
We are best friends and hang out all the time now. I'm really grateful that we've reconciled before it was his time.
#137 Robert Gallery: Football, Rage, and Recovery
Q: What was your relationship to anger at that point in your life?
Robert reflects that he was often unaware of his escalating anger and the impact it had on his family.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Paternal

What is Paternal about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thought-provoking show focused on the nuances of modern fatherhood and masculinity, featuring candid conversations with notable men from journalism, sports, film, and advocacy. Episodes frequently explore how personal histories, cultural expectations, and professional lives shape fatherhood, identity, and relationships with family. Unique strengths include deeply honest storytelling, high production quality, and a willingness to tackle tough topics like anger, burnout, and trauma through the lens of fatherhood. For potential listeners, expect reflective, emotionally intelligent discussions that mix memoir, science, and practical parenting insights, with a strong emphasis on personal growth and accountability.

Where can I find podcast stats for Paternal?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Paternal. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Paternal and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Paternal get?

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What are the audience demographics for Paternal?

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How many subscribers and views does Paternal have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Paternal has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Paternal?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Paternal:

1. Plain English with Derek Thompson
2. For Heaven's Sake
3. The Daily
4. Prof G Markets
5. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

How many episodes of Paternal are there?

Paternal launched 9 years ago and published 137 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Paternal?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Paternal?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Paternal from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Paternal?

Recent guests on Paternal include:

1. Jordan Ritter Conn
2. Daniel Smith
3. Tom Junod
4. Seth Wickersham
5. Julian Brave Noisecat
6. Robert Gallery
7. Aymann Ismail
8. Jayson Greene

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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