Social Commentary Episodes

Underwear, coconuts, and the invisible rules no one agrees on—Mike and Darin tackle the confusing expectations of adult life. This episode is a masterclass in questioning things everyone else just accepts.

Candy flavor wars, grocery store rage, and everyday annoyances that only dads can turn into a full comedy episode.

Vacation corrections, theme park lines, sunscreen struggles, and the truth behind a dad-exaggerated story.

Universal Studios rides, Disney park chaos, and a theme park line story you will never forget.

The Devo eye story continues, a new “Irritable Dad” judgment segment launches, and everyday annoyances officially go on trial.

Two Devo concerts, one swollen eye, goat yoga, and an official apology tour to Mark Mothersbaugh.

Mike and Darin tackle public behavior, movie theater etiquette, and the small social moments that make everyday life quietly uncomfortable and extremely funny.

Episode 251 of Irritable Dad Syndrome turns a routine eye doctor visit into a full emotional spiral, launches multiple “Kroger Story of the Week” submissions, and somehow detours into ocean terror, parasailing disasters, and alligator survival strategies. Darin recounts getting his eyes dilated,…

Episode 250 of Irritable Dad Syndrome is a milestone celebration that quickly becomes what IDS does best: chaos, nostalgia, gross stories, heartfelt friendship talk, and a fake hot dog sponsor. Mike and Darin mark a quarter-thousand episodes with special guests Dave Lay and patron-turned-guest J…

In Episode 249 of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Mike deals with storm damage after part of his house literally flies off, navigates wildly different contractor quotes, and debates whether “cheap” is ever the right choice when it comes to your roof. Meanwhile, Darin attends a concert alone and meets Sc…

Episode 243 of Irritable Dad Syndrome finds Mike and Darin doing what they do best: spiraling from helpful Valentine’s Day advice into dog drama, zombie TV rants, accidental home renovation awkwardness, sourdough addiction, donut confessions, and a truly unnecessary (but very on-brand) deep dive in…

An innocent baked good becomes deeply uncomfortable in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin explore how quickly harmless visual details can trigger unintended associations, turning a normal moment into something you can’t unsee — or stop thinking about. What begins as a casual …

Regional stereotypes, communication styles, and cultural misunderstandings collide in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin explore the contrast between “nice” and “sassy” approaches to conversation, using exaggerated regional personalities as a way to unpack how tone, politeness, …

A single mental image sends Mike and Darin into an uncomfortable but hilarious spiral in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. The idea of polar bears at a funeral becomes a metaphor for moments that are wildly out of place — emotionally, socially, or situationally — and impossible to ignore once…

Smart technology promises convenience, but Mike and Darin explore what happens when it delivers confusion instead. In this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome, a strange interaction with a voice assistant sparks a broader conversation about talking to technology, accidental commands, and the creeping…

An innocent observation takes a very uncomfortable turn in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin wrestle with how certain words, images, and descriptions instantly derail a conversation once your brain makes an unintended connection — even when nothing inappropriate was intended. …

Small, harmless decisions have a way of multiplying, and Mike and Darin explore that reality in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. What begins with conversations about pancakes and gerbils quickly turns into a broader look at how everyday life fills up with routines, responsibilities, and obli…

Holiday traditions don’t always age well, and Mike and Darin lean into that reality in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. A questionable Christmas song lyric sparks a broader conversation about festive music, uncomfortable innuendo, and why certain “classic” holiday staples feel a lot differen…

A missing belt sparks suspicion, frustration, and a surprisingly deep spiral in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin explore how a small, easily explainable inconvenience can instantly turn into a full-blown mystery once your brain decides something doesn’t add up. What begins …

Sci-fi logic, space travel assumptions, and everyday practicality collide in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin dig into a deceptively simple question — where’s the food? — and use it to unravel the way movies, TV shows, and stories conveniently ignore basic human needs once cha…

A routine shopping trip takes an uncomfortable turn in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome as Mike and Darin unpack how a poorly worded comment can instantly derail an otherwise normal errand. What begins as a simple trip to Walmart quickly becomes a conversation about public embarrassment, acci…

Few things spark stronger opinions than food noises, and Mike and Darin lean all the way into that reality in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. What starts as a debate over slurping versus burping quickly becomes a broader conversation about manners, personal tolerance levels, and why everyon…

Why do people keep revisiting the same arguments long after they’ve stopped being productive? In this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Mike and Darin dive into the human tendency to beat a dead horse — repeating stories, rehashing debates, and clinging to opinions that everyone has already heard …

A routine travel experience turns unexpectedly strange in this observational episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin stumble onto a public display featuring banjos and dinosaurs and immediately fall into a familiar line of questioning: who decided this was a good idea, and why are we all …