Dave and Matt are joined by the Broadway legend Fred Berman. Fred is a dad, broadway actor, audiobook narrator, basement drummer, and podcaster. He is currently in his 14th year playing Timon on Broadway in Disney's The Lion King.  We did a deep dive into broadway, the best blackouts, The Lion King, Hamilton, and Dear Evan Hansen. We cover acting in general and most importantly, how to properly fart on stage.  You can find out more information about Fred here: https://www.fredberman.net/ and follow him on Instagram @thefredberman. Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the Whatever logo.

Dave and Matt are joined by the world famous Corey Jackson. Corey is a dad, non-profit fundraising expert, and the person behind the curtain of all of the best pranks Matt has ever been part of. He and Matt have known each other since grade school, were college roommates, and were basically common-law married until they both actually got married.  We had a great fun talking with Corey about college shenanigans, his background working for non-profit organizations, and how to successfully work with your wife. Someone, AGAIN, we got another random pop-in from a totally uninvited guest.  You can find out more information about the company Corey works at, with his wife, here: https://www.sarahjconsulting.com/ Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the Whatever logo.

Dave and Matt are joined by JP Sarro. JP is a dad, actor, and podcaster. If you were around in the 80s, you're going to want to tune in to hear us round-robin our top mall stores from that decade. If you had Orange Julius, Strawberries, or Lechmere on your bingo card, you'd win. If you had CVS, you'd be Dave. We had a really fun time chatting with JP about nostalgia, acting, and his wrestling podcast (with average runtimes of 5-7 hours per episode) called Lapsed Fan.  JP's website, in all its glory, including fun facts can be found here: https://jpsarro.com/ Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the Whatever logo.

Dave and Matt are joined by Bryan Cogman. Bryan is a dad, producer, and writer. We're pretty sure you've never heard of one of the shows he's written for and produced on but it was a fairly unknown little production called "Game of Thrones"...or something like that. Bryan, Dave, and Matt discussed the infamous "Starbucks Cup" situation from GoT (#spoiler - not a Starbucks Cup), how he got the gig to begin with, working around the world and balancing the most important job as part of his family. Bryan can be found on Instagram (@cogman_bryan). Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the Whatever logo.

Dave and Matt are joined, finally, by Nicholas Calhoun. Nick is a girl dad, actor, writer, and entrepreneur. Nick is also the person who designed the Whatever (and DadPod before it) logo. We had a great conversation about acting, confidence, parenting, goals for the new year (or not having goals), comedy sensitivity, and more. If you want more information about Nick, check out his website: https://nickcalhoun.com/ Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun, yes the same person, for the Whatever logo.

Dave and Matt are joined by the incredible Cassie Brown. Cassie is a fitness professional who does personal training and wellness coaching for individuals and corporations. She has her own fitness app and her website is bstrongbwell.com. We had a great conversation about health, wellness, using social media, and how even though she's from Maine, she's gotten "weather-soft" now that she lives in Southern California. She even gives us her advice on where to start if you you are starting on a fitness journey and want to do just 1 thing.  Cassie can be found on Instagram @cassiebstrong. She can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CassieBStrong/ Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are also on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the Whatever logo.

Dave and Matt welcome the incredible Ryan Montbleau to the pod. Ryan and Matt grew up together in the great city of Peabody, Massachusetts. Ryan is a singer, songwriter, and an all-around incredible musician. His latest album, "Wood, Fire, Water, and Air" is not only great music but also does a fantastic job of using an Oxford comma in its name.  Matt and Dave talk with Ryan about his musical journey, some of the great venues he's played at, life on the road, putting down roots, how to make social media work, and how he's thus far not taken advantage of the wide-open opportunity to become America's #1 Bris Band. We even got a very special surprise drop-in from a previous pod guest.  You can find out more about Ryan at his website: ryanmontbleau.com  Information about his upcoming tour dates, all his music, merchandise, and more can be found there.  Ryan can be found on Instagram @ryanmontbleau. Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are also on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the Whatever logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Anna Shagalov to the pod.  Anna, a mother of a two, joins Dave and Matt for a conversation that spans the multi-verse of topics including how the real estate business works, the psychology of real estate, doors with no locks, whatever Taco Friday is, and more. Information about Anna can be found here: https://www.bhsusa.com/real-estate-agent/anna-shagalov Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the Whatever logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Dr. Shai Fuxman to the pod.  Shai, a father of a two (1 son and 1 daughter), has his masters and doctorate degrees in Education, is a political (both local and national) junky, and speaks 3 languages. We had a great discussion about being a parent and educator during the pandemic, how he thinks Matt should get 8 masters degrees in the time it took him to get 1 doctorate, and [trigger warning] not being a great flyer. We even played an outrageous game of Two Truths and a Lie. Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the Whatever logo.

On this VERY special episode, Dave and Matt discuss our name-change from "DadPod" to "Whatever."  DadPod started as a podcast BY 2 dads with interesting guests to talk about parenting, careers, health, and more. Understanding that the name might have been confusing for some who think that the topic was ONLY dad-related, and that the topic of conversation typically ends up being "whatever" the guests want to talk about, Dave and Matt thought a re-branding was in order. Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the Whatever logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Sara Isaacson to the pod.  Sara is a long-time friend of Dave's, a mom of a 16-month-old baby girl, and a Hollywood Casting Director at the top of her game. She has been the casting director for shows like "Chicago Fire", "Chicago Med", and the upcoming Amazon series, "On Call." We had a great conversation about being a new mom, dealing with teething, eating, going out in public with a baby, and even a bit about the casting industry.  You can find Sara on Instagram at @SaraIsaacsonCasting. Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the DadPod logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Kevin D'Ambrosio to the pod.  Kevin is a long-time friend of Matt's starting way back in the 4th grade. We talk about his career as an actor and motivational speaker, growing up with a disability, how awesome his family is, shared theater experiences, and more.  You can find out more about Kevin, including information about 2 of the short films he's in, including Super Inspired, at https://www.kevindambrosio.com/ Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the DadPod logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Patrick "Frank" Gallo to the pod. Patrick has 1 son. Patrick claims he doesn't like to be recorded but that didn't stop him from not only barging in to say hello and also playing an incredible (almost unbelievable piano solo. Patrick is an actor, most recently seen in the Paramount+ mini-series, The Offer, where he played Mario Puzzo, author of The Godfather. Patrick has also appeared in The Irishman, The Deuce, and Boardwalk Empire (among many other credits). We had a great chat about how our kids achieve success without too much interference from their parents, the process of making The Offer, and more.  Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the DadPod logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Diana Rice to the pod. Diana has 2 daughters, is a registered dietician, and the owner of Tiny Seed Family Nutrition (https://tinyseednutrition.com/). Diana teaches us all about the Anti-Diet framework and methodology and how to be healthy while working to break the cultural norms around what the "ideal" body looks like. It's a great and fun conversation and we think, just like we did, you'll learn some really interesting things. Other places to learn more about Diana and her work: Substack: The Messy Intersection, https://dianarice.substack.com/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/antidietkids Follow Diana on Instagram: @anti.diet.kids Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are ALSO on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the DadPod logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Alex Sherman to the pod. Alex has 3 sons and is a media reporter for CNBC. Even though he's from the Boston area, Alex is a lifelong 49ers fan. Dave, Matt, and Alex talk about Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, his career, cell phones for kids, and his most recent article about Bob Iger, Bob Chapek, and leadership at Disney Alex can be found on X at @sherman4949 and regularly on CNBC. Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are ALSO on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the DadPod logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Liz Berman to the pod. Liz has a son (18) and a daughter (16). She runs her own business, The Sleepy Baker, and bakes the very best desserts so you should try them. Liz, Dave, and Matt chatted about what it was like to send her son to college, the baking industry and how she wants to rumble with both Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines, why Matt thinks nobody wants to eat vegetables for dessert (Carrot Cake, he's talking to you), and more.  Liz can be found on Instagram at @sleepy_baker. Her website is http://thesleepybaker.com. Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are ALSO on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the DadPod logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Bobby Shanes to the pod. Bobby is a single dad who lives with his son and daughter in Los Angeles. He is a real estate agent and a financial advisor. Bobby, Dave, and Matt discuss screen time, learning what crushes are, and eating cereal before bed.  For more information about Bobby's business, Home Advisor LA, check out his website: https://www.homeadvisorla.com/ Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the DadPod logo.

Dave and Matt welcome John Frank Levey to the pod. John has 2 kids, both grown and out of the house and is one of the most prolific Casting Directors in Hollywood. He has yet to cast Matt in anything. We discuss the casting process, discovering actors who would become mega-stars, how he's grown in his career, and more. John Frank Levey is a four-time Emmy Award-winning casting director. He has cast such iconic television shows as China Beach, ER, The West Wing and Shameless, as well as dozens of other television series, miniseries, TV movies, digital series, video games and feature films. Levey is also a five-time winner of the Casting Society of America’s Artios Award and the recipient of its prestigious Hoyt Bowers Award, given for excellence in casting and outstanding contributions to the casting profession. Right for the Role is his first book. Click here for more information and to purchase "Right for the Role: Breakdowns, Breakups, and Breakthroughs"  You can also find more information about John at his website: https://www.johnfranklevey.com/ Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are ALSO on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the DadPod logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Sara Haines (Mom, Co-Host of The View, and Host of ABC's The Chase) to the pod. We talk about her path to television hosting, how her kids feel about her celebrity (spoiler alert: they don't care), and how her athletic prowess far surpasses Matt's - which Matt finds very insulting. We spend a lot of time laughing about a lot of things. At least Matt didn't get dropped by Spider-Man on a live, and very national, television broadcast. You know what they say: "better to be dropped by Spider-Man than to never have been dropped at all."  PS Dave was once in a Cheez-It commercial also promoting the movie Spider-Man 2. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JfENsNbc6c   Sara is on Instagram at @sarahaines   Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are ALSO on Instagram so...   Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the DadPod logo.

Dave and Matt welcome Graham Sibley to the pod. Graham is a dad with twin sons who are 4. He is also an actor and while he has a long list of credits to his name, recently he had the opportunity to play Abraham Lincoln in a History Channel mini-series of the same name. Graham, Dave, and Matt chatted about a variety of topics including the process of getting cast as Abraham Lincoln, raising twins through COVID, and quite a bit more.  Graham can be found on Instagram at @sibleyface. You can also find out more information about a workshop he's running in NYC in November of 2023 at Graham's website: https://www.grahamsibley.com/workshop Dave (@dshalansky) and Matt (@realmattbrand) are ALSO on Instagram. Thanks to Nice Guy Eddie (Dave, Robbie, and Chris) for the use of "That's Us" and to Nicholas Calhoun for the DadPod logo.