ESA note from Elizaveta — Podcasts are the one medium a new dad actually has time for — hands full, eyes on the baby, ears free. We picked for substance over hype, and flagged which lane each one is really in. Why trust us.
The best podcasts for new dads split into three lanes: the day-to-day craft of fatherhood, your relationship after the baby, and men's mental health. Quick picks — The Dad Edge for being a father day to day, Esther Perel's Where Should We Begin? for what's happening between you and your partner, and Man Enough for the feelings men don't usually say out loud. Below, six worth your limited ear-time, sorted by what each is really for.
Here's the thing about new fatherhood: your hands are always full, but your ears are free. Night feeds, stroller loops, the 3 a.m. rock-back-to-sleep — it's the one stretch of life practically built for listening.
The trick is knowing which show fits which moment. A parenting how-to is useless at 2 a.m. when what you actually need is to feel less alone.
So here are six, grouped by the job they do.
For the day-to-day of being a dad
The Dad Edge — Larry Hagner
The reliable all-rounder. Larry Hagner interviews experts and everyday fathers on the actual work of being a dad and a husband — connection, discipline, marriage, showing up. A good default subscription for the first year. Listen.
Front Row Dads — Jon Vroman
For the dad wrestling with work-versus-family. Jon Vroman's show is aimed at "family men with businesses" — how to be ambitious without missing the years that matter. Strong on boundaries and priorities, light on fluff. Pairs well with our take on the isolation new dads don't expect. Listen.
For the two of you
Where Should We Begin? — Esther Perel
The one to reach for when the strain is between you and your partner, not the baby. You listen in on real (anonymous) couples' therapy sessions with legendary therapist Esther Perel — raw, revealing, and quietly instructive about your own patterns. It's the audio companion to what we write about reconnecting after a baby. Listen.
Good Inside with Dr. Becky — Dr. Becky Kennedy
Clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy on parenting that's warm and firm at once. It's mostly about the kids, but her "sturdy leadership" ideas quietly improve how you and your partner operate as a team. Easy to listen to together and actually discuss. Listen.
For your own head
Man Enough — Justin Baldoni, Liz Plank & Jamey Heath
For the feelings new fatherhood stirs up that men rarely voice. The hosts pull apart masculinity, vulnerability and men's emotional lives without lecturing. Useful when you notice the flatness or the anger and don't have words for it yet. Listen.
The Art of Manliness — Brett McKay
The wide-ranging one. Brett McKay interviews authors and experts across fatherhood, relationships, habits and resilience — a steady stream of "huh, useful" episodes you can pick from à la carte. Good when you want ideas, not a niche. Listen.
The short version, side by side
| Podcast | Host | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The Dad Edge | Larry Hagner | Everyday fatherhood + marriage |
| Front Row Dads | Jon Vroman | Work-vs-family, boundaries |
| Where Should We Begin? | Esther Perel | Your relationship, up close |
| Good Inside | Dr. Becky Kennedy | Parenting as a team |
| Man Enough | Baldoni, Plank & Heath | Men's emotional health |
| The Art of Manliness | Brett McKay | Broad, à-la-carte ideas |
Don't subscribe to all six. Pick one for fatherhood, one for the two of you, and one for your own head — then let the moment choose the episode. A stroller walk with the right twenty minutes in your ears beats another doom-scroll, and it gives you something real to hand your partner: "listen to this, it's us."
Just remember what a podcast can't do: it talks to you, not about you two specifically. It's company and perspective, not a read on your actual week — which is a different kind of help entirely.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best podcast for a new dad?
There isn't one best podcast — it depends on what you need. For the day-to-day craft of fatherhood, The Dad Edge with Larry Hagner is the most consistent starting point. For your relationship after the baby, Esther Perel's Where Should We Begin? is unmatched. For the feelings men rarely say out loud, Man Enough. Pick by the lane you need this week.
Are there podcasts about the relationship after having a baby?
Yes. Esther Perel's Where Should We Begin? lets you listen in on real couples' therapy sessions, and it's especially clarifying when the strain is between you and your partner rather than about the baby. The Dad Edge also regularly covers marriage and connection, not just parenting logistics.
Which podcast is best for men's mental health as a new dad?
Man Enough, hosted by Justin Baldoni with Liz Plank and Jamey Heath, digs into masculinity and men's emotional lives in a way that's directly useful when new fatherhood stirs things up. The Dad Edge and The Art of Manliness also touch on men's wellbeing regularly.
Are these podcasts only for parenting, or relationships too?
Both. Good Inside with Dr. Becky and The Dad Edge lean toward parenting; Where Should We Begin? is about relationships; The Art of Manliness ranges across fatherhood, relationships and men's habits. The point of a good list is to have one in each lane so you can match the episode to the day.
When can a new dad even listen to podcasts?
The newborn phase is full of hidden listening time: night feeds, stroller walks, the commute, doing dishes, rocking the baby back down at 3 a.m. Twenty minutes of a good episode during a walk can do more for your head than another scroll — and it's easy to share one with your partner afterward.
Keep readingLonely as a new dad? Why it happens and what helps · How to reconnect with your wife after a baby · How relationships actually work after a baby
Editor-in-Chief at Regular. Writes the analytical, culture-and-research pieces on what the first year does to a couple — and what quietly helps.
About Regular — the relationship app for new dads, built by a small team of parents who needed it themselves. Small, science-backed moves with your partner, not big talks.