

What a Hell of a Way to Dad
What a Hell of a Way to Dad
Francis and Nate bring you weekly dad chats, plotting the growth of their daughters and themselves. Episodes are interspersed with interviews with various authors and journalists. The hosts are both veterans, so also expect a lot of meandering stories
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 13, 2026 • 5min
Twin Peaks: Into the mind of Agent Cooper -Preview-
This month Jack takes Francis watch Episodes two and three of season one. We are diving into the mind of Agent Cooper as Francis begins to regret the decision to watch this show all the way through. I'm sure it only get more normal from here. This is a preview episode. You can get this and many more back episodes on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/posts/155517135

Apr 10, 2026 • 47min
DadChat: Tooth Fairy
This week Francis and Nate talk about losing baby teeth, childhood injuries, and the joy of wearing sweatpants If you like this and want more, consider giving to the Patreon. Five dollars a month gets you bonus episodes every month, and entry into our monthly giveaway. https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie Check out the store, and sign up for our twice a month email updates https://whatahellofawaytodad.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hellofawaytodad/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hellofawaytodad/

Apr 7, 2026 • 5min
The Neverending Story -Preview-
This week Francis and Nate break down the 1984 classic kids movie The Neverending story. We follow Bastion as he plays hooky to read a book in the attic of his school, transporting him to a magical land full of Rock monsters, depression swamps and sphinxes with huge cans. This is a bonus episode. You can get this and ten years of back log bonus content here for just $5 a month - https://www.patreon.com/posts/neverending-155001147

Apr 2, 2026 • 48min
DadChat: Thrift Store cookout
This week Francis and Jack hit up the thrift store to expand our cooking options, brag about shopping efficiency, and go to the No Kings protests. If you like this and want more, consider giving to the Patreon. Five dollars a month gets you bonus episodes every month, and entry into our monthly giveaway. https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie Check out the store, and sign up for our twice a month email updates https://whatahellofawaytodad.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hellofawaytodad/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hellofawaytodad/

Mar 26, 2026 • 1h 1min
The Highlands Burn with Joe Kassabian
Friend of the show and Lions Led by Donkeys host Joe Kassabian talks to Francis about his latest book The Highlands Burn. Joe is diving into Gunpowder Fantasy as he tells the story of Sayat and the Foundling Brigade. This book has revolvers that shoot sorcery, descriptions of how much it sucks to live through a siege, and the time honored favorite: corrupt military police. Preorder today The Highlands Burn If you're in London, get tickets to the May 29th Live show here: Lions Led by Donkeys Live in London If you're not in London, you can still get tickets and watch the live stream: Lions Led by Donkeys Live Stream If you like this and want more, consider giving to the Patreon. Five dollars a month gets you bonus episodes every month, and entry into our monthly giveaway. https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie Check out the store, and sign up for our twice a month email updates https://whatahellofawaytodad.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hellofawaytodad/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hellofawaytodad/

Mar 19, 2026 • 1h 7min
DadChat: Twin Peaks pilot episode
This week, and for many weeks in the future, Jack joins Francis to watch through Twin Peaks. Why is it different from every other millennial podcasters who have already done this? Because Francis knows nothing about it, and Jack is a rabid fan of the series. For this episode we talk about our relationships with David Lynch movies, and dig into the opening episode of the series that inspired everything that came after. Future episodes will be available at the 3$ level of the Patreon. And I promise we're gonna do it all, through the weird and the bad. If you like this and want more, consider giving to the Patreon. Five dollars a month gets you bonus episodes every month, and entry into our monthly giveaway. https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie Check out the store, and sign up for our twice a month email updates https://whatahellofawaytodad.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hellofawaytodad/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hellofawaytodad/

Mar 12, 2026 • 56min
DadChat: Airport hangout
This week Francis and Nate stuff insulation into their walls as the mercury fluctuates, childhood peer pressure, our mustard collections, and waxing nostalgic about hanging out at the airport. If you like this and want more, consider giving to the Patreon. Five dollars a month gets you bonus episodes every month, and entry into our monthly giveaway. https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie Check out the store, and sign up for our twice a month email updates https://whatahellofawaytodad.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hellofawaytodad/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hellofawaytodad/ Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/whatahellofawaytodad.com

Mar 9, 2026 • 4min
Clerks (1994): We're not even supposed to be here today! -Preview-
This week to better understand the GenX mind, Francis and Nate watch Kevin Smith's directorial debut Clerks. A movie about nothing and everything at the same time. Does it hold up? Is it as good as you remember when you were 17 and watching for the first time? Find out at the $5 and up tier today! This is a preview of our monthly bonus episode. For full access sign up at the $5 and up level here - https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hellofawaytodad/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hellofawaytodad/ Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/whatahellofawaytodad.com

Mar 6, 2026 • 1h 1min
WifeChat: Culturally Catholic
This week Francis is joined by his wife to discuss our favorite trinket based religion. Both raised in the St. Louis Catholic Church, we talk about the perversion of the religion by converts, the loss of yet another third space, and how to tell if you're at a good Fish Fry. If you like this and want more, consider giving to the Patreon. Five dollars a month gets you bonus episodes every month, and entry into our monthly giveaway. https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie Check out the store, and sign up for our twice a month email updates https://whatahellofawaytodad.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hellofawaytodad/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hellofawaytodad/ Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/whatahellofawaytodad.com

Mar 3, 2026 • 3min
Seven Brides for Seven Kidnappers -Preview-
This is a preview of our bonus episode. To hear the full episode, sign up today at https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie This week Eric Peacock from SoundTracker joins Francis one again to take in some Musical Theater. From the Golden Age of Musicals, we watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). Seven mountain man brothers need wives and when courtin' fails they resort to kidnappin'. Filmed in beautiful cinemascope and filled with acrobatic dance fights (and quite a few brawls), this movie manages to be fun and entertaining seventy years later, if just slightly problematic. Keep up with Eric and the return of SoundTracker here - https://x.com/Soundtracker_ Follow Eric here - https://x.com/uwebollocks


