How to Stop Throwing Milk at Your Kids with Will Mooney
Dadville with Dave Barnes and Jon McLaughlinShow Notes
In this episode of Dadville, we sat down with counselor and family friend Will Mooney to talk about what it actually takes to show up well for our kids. We dive deep into the core truth that "more is caught than taught"—our children mirror our emotional health far more than our verbal lectures. Will opens up about his journey into counseling, helping us unpack shadow selves, old personal baggage, and inevitable parenting ruptures (including an infamous milk-throwing incident!).
From overanalyzing innocent spouse questions about water bottles to surviving school drop-off lines, we discuss why doing internal self-work is the ultimate parenting strategy. We explore how vulnerability and honest repair model resilience, why we don't need to act like unfazed cowboys, and why no parent should navigate this journey alone. Join us for a funny, deeply honest, and practical conversation about turning daily chaos into meaningful growth and fatherhood connection.
Thanks to our Sponsors!
Boll & Branch - Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at http://bollandbranch.com/dadville Exclusions apply.
Quince - Go to http://quince.com/dadville 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!
SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow.
The Subtext Podcast: Search for The Subtext wherever you get your podcasts.
Hey Polo: Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/dadville or use code DADVILLE and get 70% off your first year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from Dadville with Dave Barnes and Jon McLaughlin
Dave Barnes and Jon McLaughlin team up with Joey and Chris from the Brave and Big podcast for a special crossover episode! The guys kick off with a hilarious round of "Dadville or Slipknot" before tackling the viral golf post that had offended golfers flooding their comments.
In this episode of Dadville, Dave Barnes and Jon McLaughlin welcome back close friend and musical powerhouse Justin Rosolino. The guys kick off with behind-the-scenes audio chaos and memories of meeting in Muncie, Indiana—where Justin initially mistook Jon McLaughlin for a jazz-fusion guitar icon.
Danny Wuerffel's résumé reads like a movie that would be too perfect to believe. He won four straight SEC titles at Florida, a national championship, and the 1996 Heisman Trophy. He's in the College Football Hall of Fame, and there's a road named after him. In this episode of Dadville, Dave and Jon ask what it's like to live that and then decide what comes next.
Welcome back to Dadville! In this episode, we’re balancing a little benevolent self-promotion with essential dad business. First up, we share our upcoming Christmas tour dates—from Jon’s live debut in Hoover, Alabama to Dave’s return to the Schermerhorn in Nashville.
This week, we sit down with our good friend Robert Cunningham—pastor, writer, speaker, and founder of Christ for Kentucky. We kick things off with a crucial parenting debate: can YouTube piano tutorials replace traditional music lessons? Then, Robert gets honest about making a massive career pivot away from a comfortable pastorship with four kids and zero financial safety net to launch his own ministry. We also dig into his incredible work erasing $250 million in medical debt for Kentucky families, why future generations might judge our smartphone habits like lead paint, and how we can approach complex cultural debates around faith and identity with disarming humility. It’s a funny, honest, and thought-provoking conversation on raising boys, trusting God, and navigating major life transitions. Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join us in Dadville!