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New Dad Gaming | The Podcast for Gaming Dads Since 2015
Just because you became a dad doesn't mean it's game over.
New Dad Gaming is the longest-running podcast for dads who game. Hosted by Trevor Alexander and Jeff Smalley since 2015, NDG is where gaming meets fatherhood — real talk about finding game time, playing with your kids, navigating screen time, and keeping your favorite hobby alive through the chaos of raising a family.
Every week we cover the games worth your limited time, co-op picks for playing with kids, hardware that fits a dad budget, and the hilarious reality of gaming while parenting. Whether you're sneaking in 30 minutes after bedtime or building a Minecraft world with your 8-year-old, this show is for you.
380+ episodes. Two dads. One rule: Game Over is not an option.
New Dad Gaming | The Podcast for Gaming Dads Since 2015
Just because you became a dad doesn't mean it's game over.
New Dad Gaming is the longest-running podcast for dads who game. Hosted by Trevor Alexander and Jeff Smalley since 2015, NDG is where gaming meets fatherhood — real talk about finding game time, playing with your kids, navigating screen time, and keeping your favorite hobby alive through the chaos of raising a family.
Every week we cover the games worth your limited time, co-op picks for playing with kids, hardware that fits a dad budget, and the hilarious reality of gaming while parenting. Whether you're sneaking in 30 minutes after bedtime or building a Minecraft world with your 8-year-old, this show is for you.
380+ episodes. Two dads. One rule: Game Over is not an option.
Episodes

Monday Aug 04, 2025
Monday Aug 04, 2025
Dogs, digital gardens, and dopamine loops—oh my!
In this jam-packed episode of New Dad Gaming, Trevor and Jeff dive into:
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🐶 Puppy problems and the very real debate: Do we get a dog or keep our freedom?
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🍺 Dad beers of the week, including Party Dad IPA and an Irish red ale from Smithwick’s.
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🌱 The Roblox takeover: Why Grow a Garden has kids (and potentially parents) addicted and how it's become one of the biggest gaming phenomena of 2025.
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🎮 Skibidi Toilet Defense—yes, that’s a thing—and how it’s slowly draining Trevor’s will to live.
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💰 Outer Worlds 2 Pricing Debacle: When $99 CAD for a game is just too much, dads unite!
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🎉 Jeff’s real-life celebrity moment at a fair, plus a shoutout to Anchor Valley Designs for awesome video game woodcut merch.
🔧 From managing your kids’ screen time to managing your beer inventory, this episode has it all. It’s funny, reflective, and packed with insights for modern gamer dads.
💬 Got a Roblox horror story? A beer recommendation? A dad win to share? Hit us up at:
www.newdadgaming.com
🔔 Subscribe & leave a review if this episode made you smile or helped you feel less alone in the dad gaming grind.
📝 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

Monday Jul 28, 2025
Monday Jul 28, 2025
Summer vibes, card battles, and dad dilemmas collide!
In this episode of New Dad Gaming, Trevor and Jeff pour a couple of beverages (from microbreweries and grocery store seltzers), reflect on their infamous “No New Games” challenge, and dive deep into the growing obsession with trading card games — specifically the One Piece TCG that's taking teens (and wallets) by storm.
📦 Topics Covered:
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💸 Tears of the Planet TCG and how much it made on day one
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🍺 Craft beer & seltzer shoutouts: La Barbarie’s Raptor Meggafruit + Happy Dad
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🎮 Jeff’s “No New Games” challenge... technically still alive?
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🃏 One Piece card game tournaments and the return of real-world teen communities
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📱 Mobile phone addiction in kids and screen time realities
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👨👧👦 Dad life, parenting wins, and balancing fun in the sun
If you're a gaming dad (or know one), this is your home.
🔔 Subscribe & leave a review if this episode made you smile or helped you feel less alone in the dad gaming grind.
📝 Share your beer picks or challenge us at: https://newdadgaming.com
Subscribe to the Podcast!
🎧 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/
#NewDadGaming #GamingDadLife #DadGamers #OnePieceTCG #CraftBeerDads #DeathStranding2 #ParentingPodcast #MobileGamingKids #FatherhoodAndGaming #GamingPodcast #SummerBeers #HardSeltzerSeason #RetroGamingDads #PodcastForDads

Monday Jul 21, 2025
D&D and Dads and Drones | New Dad Gaming Ep. 365
Monday Jul 21, 2025
Monday Jul 21, 2025
To dungeons, to dragons, one family does tread,
While another dad decides to the sky he will head.
This week both dads drop back into VR,
And Death Stranding was beaten, via hoof bike and car.
#GamingDad #ParentingAndGaming #DeathStranding #Quest3 #FatherhoodPodcast #NewDadGaming #DadPoems #CraftBeer #GamingBacklog #PlayStation #MetaQuest #DadLife

Monday Jul 14, 2025
Monday Jul 14, 2025
This week on New Dad Gaming, Trevor shares his new dad gaming cubby setup, complete with a Switch Lite gifted by his nephews and an ingenious use of the Quest 3 as a giant PS4 screen. Jeff returns to Death Stranding to prep for its sequel, and the dads compare small cozy games vs. massive open-world grinds.
Also discussed:
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A beautiful dad poem about painted nails and princess parties
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Dad Beers of Summer featuring Zywiec and Trouble in the Fields
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Why NHL 2017 might still be the best hockey game
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The challenge of teen kids forgetting to eat
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Plans for a future Christmas game swap
👨👧👦 Thoughtful dad reflections. 🎮 Deep gaming chats. 🍺 Craft beer recs.
💬 Topics Covered:
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Nintendo Switch Lite review from a dad’s perspective
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Using the Quest 3 for console gaming
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Revisiting Death Stranding before the sequel
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The reality of parenting teens and prepping for future independence
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Celebrating dads who host princess parties without fear
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EA NHL franchise nostalgia vs. monetization trends
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Upcoming gaming plans & backlog bets
#GamingDad #ParentingAndGaming #SwitchLite #DeathStranding #Quest3 #NHL2017 #FatherhoodPodcast #NewDadGaming #DadPoems #CraftBeer #ZywiecBeer #TroubleInTheFields #EA #GamingBacklog #PlayStation #MetaQuest #DadLife

Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
DLC Bribes, Switch Repairs & Magic Cards | New Dad Gaming Ep. 363
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
What happens when exams meet DLC drops? This week on New Dad Gaming, Trevor and Jeff discuss using video games as parenting bribes—and whether it’s genius or dangerous.
Jeff negotiates with his teen over a Hunter: Call of the Wild DLC, while Trevor deals with non-activated V-Bucks chaos after a birthday gone slightly wrong. We also revisit Jeff’s miraculously repaired Switch, uncover a save file survival guide, and share Father’s Day gaming gifts—including Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering cards and a motorcycle jack!
🧠 Thoughtful moments. 🎮 Geeky parenting. 💥 Classic chaos.
💬 Topics Covered:
- Using games & DLCs to motivate kids during exam season
- What to do if Fortnite V-Bucks don’t activate
- PSA: Always include the receipt with game currency gifts
- Nintendo Switch blue screen repair + save file survival tips
- Father’s Day recap: Magic cards, game wishlist debates & real dad appreciation
- The right way to gift digital currency as a parent (without blowing up your weekend)
Subscribe to the Podcast!
🎧 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/
#GamingDad #ParentingAndGaming #NintendoSwitch #SwitchRepair #DLCBribes #MagicTheGathering #FortniteVBucks #FatherhoodPodcast #NewDadGaming #FinalFantasy #ExamMotivation #HunterCallOfTheWild #NintendoSwitchTips #GamingPodcast #MagicTheGatheringFinalFantasy #ParentingFails

Monday Jun 09, 2025
Switch 2 Temptation & Console Tragedies | New Dad Gaming Ep. 362
Monday Jun 09, 2025
Monday Jun 09, 2025
A surprise Switch 2 drop, a blue screen of death, and Father’s Day gift loopholes - this episode has it all.
Trevor barely escapes the clutches of buying a brand-new Switch 2… but just barely. Meanwhile, Jeff’s aging Switch kicks the bucket in spectacular fashion, sparking a desperate race against time to recover lost Pokémon and Zelda saves. With Father's Day around the corner, could a little gaming “gift” be the loophole that lets these dads break their no-new-games vow?
The dads dive into:
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The real-world temptation of walking into a store and seeing Switch 2 on the shelf
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An unexpected $800 price tag (!!!)
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First impressions from a dad who actually got one
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The harsh reality of old hardware failing at the worst time
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How to (maybe) get away with buying a game… if your kids want to play it with you 😇
If you're a dad balancing budget, backlogs, and the burning need for 120 FPS Fortnite, this one’s for you.
Subscribe to the Podcast!
🎧 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

Sunday Jun 01, 2025
Night Rain Temptations & Switch 2 FOMO | New Dad Gaming Ep. 361
Sunday Jun 01, 2025
Sunday Jun 01, 2025
This week, Trevor and Jeff face their greatest challenge yet: resisting the urge to break their no-new-games vow. With the Elden Ring Nightreign expansion stealing the spotlight and rumors of a Nintendo Switch 2 release buzzing, the temptation is real.
Meanwhile, one dad's teen dives headfirst into Dungeons & Dragons, sparking memories and hopes of future family campaigns. Plus: Elden Ring co-op fails, Fortnite struggles on old hardware, and the eternal dad debate - do you cave when that shiny new console is calling your name from behind the GameStop counter?
👨👧👦 This podcast is for all gaming dads trying to balance family, fatherhood, and frame rates.
🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes where we explore the joys and challenges of being a dad who games.
💬 Topics Covered:
Elden Ring: Nightreign – worth it for dads?
Nintendo Switch 2 – will we or won’t we?
D&D family nights and teen game clubs
Gaming dad guilt vs. gamer joy
#GamingDad #EldenRing #NightRain #Switch2 #NintendoSwitch2 #DadGaming #ParentingAndGaming #DnD #FamilyGaming #NewDadGaming #FortniteOnSwitch #EldenRingDLC #SteamDeckVsSwitch #DungeonsAndDragons #GamingPodcast #FatherhoodPodcast

Sunday May 25, 2025
Temptation Denied, Goat Madness, and Magic The Gathering Costs
Sunday May 25, 2025
Sunday May 25, 2025
After a brief break (no disasters—just dad life), Trevor and Jeff are back to talk about holding strong in their no new games challenge—sort of. Jeff’s been tearing up the zombie roads in Days Gone, teaching his kids how to shop smart with Goat Simulator 3, and even… dabbling in Magic: The Gathering for the first time ever (blame the Final Fantasy crossover). Trevor manages to resist Oblivion Remastered and the eternal temptation of Days Gone, but it’s clear the struggle is real.
Also in this episode:
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🐐 Kids go wild with Goat Simulator 3
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🧙 Jeff discovers the overwhelming complexity (and cost!) of Magic: The Gathering
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🏍 Days Gone proves a surprisingly deep and satisfying zombie sandbox
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👶 Why it really does get easier as a dad—potty training, car seats, and nap schedules, be gone
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🎮 The dads reflect on milestone wins and encourage new parents in the thick of it
Gaming Dad Hall of Fame Picks (Family-Friendly Hits):
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✅ Boomerang Fu
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✅ Goat Simulator 3
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💬 (More suggestions welcome! Let us know what makes your list.)
Links & Subscribe:
🔗 Website: https://newdadgaming.com
🎧 Spotify: New Dad Gaming on Spotify
🎧 Apple Podcasts: New Dad Gaming on Apple

Saturday Apr 26, 2025
Saturday Apr 26, 2025
This week on New Dad Gaming, Trevor and Jeff hold a special session of Dad Court to determine if their backlog challenge has been broken—or if there’s still hope for their gaming honor. Spoiler: Jeff may have withheld some crucial evidence…
Jeff confesses to a near-miss after buying (and refunding) Elite Dangerous over a cockpit color mod—but later drops the bomb that he bought the Oblivion Remaster. Can the court forgive a purchase that feels so right? Trevor also stands trial for getting dangerously close to a Switch 2 pre-order while helping his brother secure one during the pre-order madness. Temptation is real, gaming dads.
Also in this episode:
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Minecraft movie thoughts (like a fun, chaotic SNL skit)
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The fear of Minecraft theater chaos and TikTok popcorn wars
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Why Oblivion Remaster has restored faith in Bethesda (for now)
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Why sticking to your backlog is so hard when the glow-ups look this good
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The looming reality of $100 Switch 2 games
Subscribe to the Podcast!
🎧 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/
Tags:
#NewDadGaming #GamingDads #DadCourt #MinecraftMovie #Switch2 #OblivionRemaster #BacklogChallenge #GamingBacklog #NoNewGamesChallenge #ParentingAndGaming #ElderScrolls #MinecraftPopcornChaos

Friday Apr 18, 2025
Friday Apr 18, 2025
This week on New Dad Gaming, Jeff and Trevor trade parenting war stories as they navigate teenage moods, missed school projects, and the absolute chaos of Minecraft movie culture. From last-minute movie plans to self-imposed consequences, the dads explore how to discipline with empathy—and hold the line when games are on the line.
Jeff recounts how a missed project turned into a teachable moment (and a canceled Minecraft movie trip), while Trevor pulls back game time after surprise bad grades. Both dads are impressed by how their kids accepted the consequences—grumpy but mature—and reflect on how modern parenting is shifting away from the old-school punishment roulette.
But the surprises don’t end there. Jeff battles venue limbo while planning a private Minecraft movie birthday party—dodging popcorn-throwing trends and last-minute confirmations from a theater that seemingly doesn’t want his money. Meanwhile, Trevor gets played by his own son, who turns a casual Nerf hangout into a full-blown surprise birthday party with seven wild kids, Nerf darts, pizza, and loot bags.
Also in this episode:
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The viral Minecraft movie theater chaos (what is a Chicken Jockey?)
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Old-school punishment vs. parenting with logic
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Jason Momoa as a “nerd”? Bold move, kid.
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Birthday party expectations vs. reality
Subscribe to the Podcast!
🎧 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/
Tags:
#NewDadGaming #ParentingFails #MinecraftMovie #ChickenJockey #GamingDads #ModernParenting #BirthdaySurprises #DadPodcast #GamingAndParenting #MinecraftChaos #NerfBattle #NoGamesNoFun #NewDadLife
