Reviews

Rate Show

I thought I’d hate it. Didn’t.
I didn’t think this podcast premise was necessary. I was wrong. I enjoy it, even look forward to it, and I haven’t even seen all the movies. Weird zoom out... I got the audible of “Jaws” and WOW 70’s time warp. Thanks, Sarah, for reminding me the book is always better (and that’s fine).

Have you been fathered? Call 1-800-WHY-DADS
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with having a dad, you may be entitled to financial compensation, in the form of this wonderful podcast. Alex Steed and Sarah Marshall, two of the most delightful humans you'll ever find, analyze films through a dad lens. What does Kevin Costner teach his son about violence in The War? Why is Gene Wilder's Dr. Fronkensteen a better father than his ancestor, Dr. Frankenstein? Why was the dad in Dirty Dancing so disappointed when Baby got drilled by a member of the proletariat? Find the answers to these questions, a lot of laughs, and a new perspective on some of your favorite films in this absolute joy of a podcast.

Great Show
A wonderful podcast whatever relationship you have with your father!

Fantastic even if you have a great dad!
The brilliant hosts Sarah and Alex take us on such a lovely journey every week, exploring fatherhood and masculinity via the beloved films of our collective childhood & adolescence. The conversations are funny, touching, and get deep into the heart of what it means to be or have a dad. I hope they keep doing this podcast forever!

Empathetic and Fun
Why Are Dads is a deeply empathetic and unflinching look into the face of all of our dads through the lense of pop-culture and specifically movies. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve gone “oh my gosh that’s so true!” No matter what your relationship is with your father-figure is like, there’s something here for you.

I like my dad and this podcast
I think it’s really fascinating the way they see father themes where I haven’t. They see depth where I couldn’t imagine it and it’s super interesting.

Is this therapy?
When I first listened to Why Are Dads? I actually cried. I didn’t realize how badly I needed to hear other people talk about the challenges of having a difficult family. The vulnerability and empathy shown by both the hosts through their anecdotes and film analysis has helped me to feel a little more at home in the world. The beauty of the show is that each new guest brings their own unique experience of family life. You get to hear about mob dads and Vietnam dads and old dads and good dads and all the dads in between. Listening to this podcast reminds me of taking english with the cool teacher in high school who would let you talk about Lindsay Lohan and The Scarlet Letter interchangeably. I love this show so much. It’s been getting me through the tough days of this pandemic and I can’t recommend it enough.

A great movie podcast about dads
Alex and Sarah are great hosts to this movie podcast about discussing films through the lens of our relationships to our dads. They are hilarious and poignant! Love the custom musical cues every episode, too.

Human relations through Pop Culture.
This podcast is fun and thoughtful. My dad died in 2005, and I had a wonderful relationship with him, but there's plenty here that helps me understand him better. It's one if this Librarains favorite podcasts.

Be the Daddy you want to see in world and listen now!
If you haven’t listened to Why are Dads yet do yourself a favor and do it now (and if you have no intention of listening, do everyone else a favor and don’t leave a “review” saying you can’t relate because you allegedly have a good relationship with your dad). Sarah and Alex are intelligent, thoughtful, and sincere in their intentions to examine the phenomenon of dads through a pop culture lens. I was slightly dubious at first because I’m not a “movie person” (I’d never even heard of looping or ADR before) but the magic of the show is in the discussion and the insights Sarah and Alex and their delightful guests have when talking about the movie of the week. Their ability and willingness to examine both social and personal issues, with the goal of being able to better understand themselves and the world, are interesting and deeply relatable, even if you haven’t seen the specific movie in question (like me and all my fellow chickens who still haven’t watched A Nightmare on Elm Street). However the best part is the generous and inclusive humor that pervades every episode, so that even when going into the heaviest topics you’re still left with a sense of perspective and hope, and who doesn’t need more of that? Plus the music, created by the show’s producer Carolyn Kendrick, is stunning and will leave you humming happily to yourself for weeks after. Science (and Sarah and Alex) may never be able to answer the question “Why are Dads?” but YOU can answer the question of if you’ll find a new favorite way to spend an enjoyable hour each week. Be the Daddy you want to see in world and listen now! PS The Top Gun episode is the BEST (and will remind even the most sedate of us of our love of fast things)

Empathetic, funny, and absolutely necessary
Why Are Dads? is the show I didn’t know I needed. Even as someone with a great relationship with their father, I leave every week feeling warm and fuzzy and filled with nostalgia...and a bigger heart than when I came.

Recommend!
I love everything Sarah Marshall does, and this is a lovely new iteration of her “mulling media with friends”-shtick. I will admit that I often like the episodes with just her and Alex Steed better than the guest episodes, but that really might be just a factor of the show still being in its first few dozen episodes and there not yet being a rhythm or formula for introducing a third voice into discussions. Regardless, this is an all round great listen for thinking through the emotional intricacies of family! I don’t even have a father, but I know plenty of dysfunctional dudes and dysfunctional relatives. Its also fun to watch the movies they’ve discussed the day after an episode drops.

Why Are Dads Wednesdays
Absolutely one of my favorites!

Relatable Show Against All Odds
Despite no episodes that discuss dads in terms that specifically relate my own relationship with my father, this show is still enjoyable. I’m able to get enjoy the show, laugh with the hosts and guests, and still find meaningful insights to paternal relationships even though it’s not literally about me. Snark aside, I love Sarah and Alex for creating this and sharing it with all of us. Even in the more difficult moments, they remain light, friendly, and accessible in a way that doesn’t always come with this level of insight.

A warm, insightful, wonderfully engaging show!
Whatever your relationship with your father/father-figures, you will delight in this excellent podcast, which explores fatherhood and masculinity through depictions of fathers and father figures in film. Alex and Sarah are both so smart and compassionate, and it’s a real joy to spend time listening to them think through the thorniness and beauty of paternal relationships. And Caroline Kendrick’s music is sublime!

Love this show!
I love You’re Wrong About so of course I had to listen to Sarah’s new podcast. Sarah and Alex are so funny together and I love any new movie podcast.

I can’t quite describe why I find this podcast so soothing...
... and yet I do! Something about looking at family structure, the role of fathers in particular, through a pop culture or cinematic lens just really works—the hosts are good humored and insightful and even in the weeks where I haven’t seen the film, I feel like there’s insight and warm camaraderie to be had. Give it a try!

Fantastic music and love Sarah Marshall
Love this podcast and I swear I’m only slightly (completely and totally) obsessed with Sarah Marshall. Now that I’m caught up on You’re Wrong About, I’m hope there are many more episodes of both podcasts coming!

Best way to consume media
I feel like I joined a movie club with the two funniest people in class.

If the 1931 Frankenstein blew them away . . .
wait till they see Bride of! BTW, Karloff was English. I’m only getting picky because I like your fresh approach to film.

Why ARE Dads?
Came over from YWA and I’m so glad I did. Love all your insight into parental psychology. Can you do Neverending Story sometime? Side note: The TWA-Dads-MPhase trifecta is my life support right now

Perfect pod!
I just love these people! They’re smart, kind and empathetic. It’s wonderful to listen to two people who care for and respect one another in the way they do. Definitely same for You’re Wrong About. The way they treat each other inspires me to be kinder to myself. I thank you!

Keep ‘Em Coming!
This is such a fun podcast!

Every episode is interesting
I’ve listening to 4 episodes so far and love them all. Some of the movies I’ve never even seen fully just bits and pieces but I can still completely understand the explanations about the dads in the movies. One movie I think would be a good dad movie to unpack in Varsity Blues. So many dumb dad moments in that movie. Love this podcast!

Plz do Bicentennial Man!! Robin Williams + Sam Neill
I will listen to whatever Sarah Marshall will speak on 🖤💎🖤

Look forward to listening every week
I love this podcast and get super excited when I see a new upload. Love hearing about the different movie dads and the discussions every week. It makes my work at home mornings more enjoyable!! Couldn’t recommend this podcast more.

Helpfully Funny and Smart
Two smart and funny people talking about the depictions of dads in our media. A lot of fun and it’s been very helpful with putting my own dad in perspective.

Highly recommend
I don’t think I can overstate how much I enjoy this podcast. It reminds me of fun discussions with your favorite professor using pop-culture movies as a springboard. There’s a lot of talk about our favorite pop-culture movie characters, psych, with humor sprinkled throughout. What more do you need?!

Magical
How could their first episode about the campiest film of all time make me boohoo like a baby? I can’t comprehend it, but I did, and it can. We all have issues with Dads. Exploring those issues thru the lens of these iconic, quirky, or dramatic movies really works. Thank you for making a show that is strangely calming, funny and insightful. Unexpectedly magical!

Unique & thoughtful
Full of relatable nostalgia & excellent cultural commentary. Charming