FAFO Parenting, Period Parties, & Old School Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler, sitcom jingles, and barbecue ribs aren’t the only things on Neil and Ali’s minds this week. In this jam-packed solo episode of World’s Greatest Dad, the guys dive into the wild Reddit story of a father who shut down his wife’s “period party” for their daughter and what it says about respecting kids’ boundaries. They tackle the Wall Street Journal’s piece on “FAFO” parenting (aka f** around and find out*) and weigh it against gentle-parenting wisdom: when do consequences become retaliation? Listener letters spark more laughs and lessons: a teen crusading against Monopoly and smartphones, and a dad who secretly fed his son food from a banned Thai restaurant. Along the way, they trade their personal memories of Happy Gilmore, Full House, and other ‘90s TV classics, plus a detour through Fuddruckers, dog-parent culture, and the eternal debate over dicks dot com. Ali shares his new obsession with “hot-and-fast” Texas barbecue ribs, proving dad life is as much about the grill as it is about guidance. But despite the many detours, the conversation always circles back to the real work of fatherhood: balancing empathy, limits, and our own nostalgia for simpler times. If you’ve ever wondered how to set boundaries without crushing your kid’s spirit...or just need a laugh about the absurdity of modern parenting, this one’s for you. Equal parts wisdom, comedy, and cultural time travel, it’s proof that dads can care deeply and still joke about everything. Grab a plate of ribs and settle in: this episode is peak dad, from start to finish.