Episodes
March 24, 2026
IDS #301 Leonardo Dicaprio's Mustache
Leonardo DiCaprio has a mustache—and somehow… it works. In Episode 301 of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Mike and Darin try to make sense of this disturbing development while diving into Oscars commentary, movie reviews, and the modern theater experience. Darin delivers a hilarious (and brutal) breakdown of the Netflix movie Becky, a film so bad it becomes unintentionally entertaining . Meanwhile, the guys debate whether Hollywood has completely lost touch with audiences—especially when it comes to ov...
March 17, 2026
IDS #300 - Juggling and Jiggling (w/ Chris Michel and Jason Durbin)
Episode 300! In This Episode Celebrating Episode 300 of Irritable Dad Syndrome with Jason Durbin and Chris Michel.Iced Tea Debate ResultsHow Do You Make a Grilled Cheese SandwichJuggling and JigglingDarin Rescued The U2 Propaganda Issue from War Torn ChicagoThe PedwayDarin Called Darlin'Florida Man Abducted By Dolphins Building an Underwater CityRaising GirlsThe Matrix and HeatChris Thought Mike Was a CelebrityAlexa Getting Sassy AgainListen to Irritable Dad Syndrome New episodes every Tuesda...
March 10, 2026
IDS #299 - The Solid Gold Water Heater
Episode 299 of Irritable Dad Syndrome finds Mike and Darin celebrating the end of the 200-episode era while sharing stories about seeing Nine Inch Nails live, revisiting classic comedy movies, and dealing with one of the most shocking plumbing quotes imaginable. After attending a powerful Nine Inch Nails concert in Columbus, the dads debate the lasting impact of Trent Reznor’s music, the legendary Johnny Cash cover of “Hurt,” and the strange experience of hearing songs live that you never appre...
March 3, 2026
IDS #298 - The Spiffy Nibbler
Episode 298 of Irritable Dad Syndrome is a special “barn burner” collection of deleted stories, outtakes, and previously recorded segments packed with classic dad humor, pop culture nostalgia, and completely unnecessary tangents. This week includes a rant about The Weather Channel overhyping storms, an orange-juice-obsessed Mini Cooper driver, orchestral debates about the Star Wars Imperial March, a Walmart Vision Center spiral, Darren’s anxiety dream about sketching Johnny Bench, comfort movie confessions, shaving logistics, Favstar-era Twitter joke notebooks, and the unforgettable phrase “Hank the Sesame Street Bigot.” It’s chaotic, nostalgic, absurd — and peak Irritable Dad Syndrome.
Feb. 24, 2026
IDS #297 - Iced Tea and Cottage Cheese
In Episode 297 of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Mike and Darin debate the grammatical difference between “Did you get an iced tea?” and “Did you get your iced tea?”—and somehow turn it into a full-blown family controversy. Along the way, they address an accidental on-air F-bomb, Spotify chaos, gym memory lapses, YouTube’s surprise EP drop, Alexa’s attitude problem, and a frozen cottage cheese “Reese’s Cup” recipe that may or may not taste like opossum. Comedy, confusion, Cincinnati chaos—and a Patreon poll to settle the iced tea debate once and for all.
Feb. 17, 2026
IDS #296 - Stop Walking in the Turkey Juice!
In Episode 296 of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Mike and Darin dive into Super Bowl debates, halftime show controversies, and cartoon nostalgia — before a dead chest freezer turns their basement into a turkey-scented crime scene. From Voltron apologies to movie recommendations (Mercy, Solo Mio, The Revenant), everything is normal… until multiple thawing turkeys unleash chaos, leaking “turkey juice” and triggering an emergency cleanup mission. Pop culture, dad life, and one unforgettable household disaster collide in this hilariously gross episode.
Feb. 10, 2026
IDS #295 - Eating Banana Puddin' With a Horny Rhinoceros
In Episode 295 of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Mike and Darin (two Midwest dads) share hilarious dad life stories about parenting, marriage, grocery store chaos, and movie debates that spiral beautifully out of control. This week includes a retooling announcement for Patreon, a 26-year winter coat battle, a quest to find banana pudding cream pies at Kroger, rare vinyl discoveries, and classic arguments over Tarantino films and 80s nostalgia. It’s everyday dad humor, pop culture commentary, and relatable life stories — exactly what you expect from Irritable Dad Syndrome.
Feb. 3, 2026
IDS #294 - Find the Sausage
A snowstorm, a sausage crisis, and dads reliving movie history with their kids — this one has everything. In Episode 294, the dads tackle a very serious issue: why does everyone panic-buy eggs and sausage every time snow is forecast? After surviving a Midwest snowstorm that turned grocery stores into wastelands of empty shelves, they rant about food hoarders, missing Bob Evans sausage, and the emotional journey of building a breakfast casserole with Italian sausage (spoiler: life-changing). From there, the episode spirals beautifully into: • The joy of watching classic movies like The Matrix and The Fugitive with your kids for the first time • The pure nostalgia of Airplane, Naked Gun, and other laugh-until-you-can’t-breathe comedies • TikTok rabbit holes featuring wood-turning “dad hobbies,” fake epoxy floor videos, and bizarre trends • Walmart small talk that turns existential • The psychology of neighbor food gift one-upmanship (chili vs. pumpkin bread escalation war) Plus:…
Jan. 27, 2026
IDS #293 - Why Is This Giraffe All Wet?
Mike and Darin defend meteorologists from snow forecast complainers, demand national tater tot rights, rage at recipe websites, and question why Avatar keeps remaking the same movie. Also: Florida storms, wet giraffes, and fast-food order chaos.
Jan. 20, 2026
IDS #292 - The Seven-Fingered Granny
A bizarre story sparks an episode full of strange encounters, uncomfortable memories, and the kind of storytelling that only works when you commit fully. Expect unexpected turns, strong opinions, and classic Irritable Dad Syndrome escalation.
Jan. 13, 2026
IDS #291 - Chicken Worth Lickin'
Mike and Darin defend the legacy of Hills Department Store and why modern nostalgia keeps missing the point. A Midwest-flavored conversation about memory, shared experiences, and why certain places mean more than they probably should.
Jan. 6, 2026
IDS #290 - Smell My Finger
The first episode of the new year starts strong with food disasters, questionable cooking techniques, and a surprisingly thoughtful discussion about whether rehearsing the podcast would ruin it. Add in movie talk, parenting moments, and accidental philosophy for a classic IDS reset.
Dec. 30, 2025
IDS #289 - How Do You Smoke a Beer?
Closing out the year, Mike and Darin explore smoked beers, nostalgia, pop culture, parenting realities, and the strange joy of end-of-year chaos. From craft beer confusion to Norm Macdonald tangents, it’s a loose, funny episode that perfectly captures the IDS vibe.
Dec. 23, 2025
IDS #288 - Eat Your Christmas Butter!
The holidays kick off with unforgettable Christmas stories, questionable traditions, wrapping-paper controversy, malfunctioning decorations, and the most unsettling breakfast table moment in show history. A warm, chaotic holiday episode filled with family memories and festive regret.
Dec. 16, 2025
IDS #287 - Frank's Deer Urine Black Friday Sale
A roadside sign advertising deer urine sparks a deep dive into small-town oddities, road trips, and businesses that somehow survive on pure mystery. The conversation branches into customer service stories, pop culture, travel mishaps, and one fake sponsor that feels disturbingly real.
Dec. 9, 2025
IDS #286 - I'm Not Afraid of Bacon
Thanksgiving fallout continues as Mike and Darin debate food loyalties, holiday travel, Black Friday chaos, and the deeply unsettling concept of someone who simply hates bacon. Along the way, there are road-trip stories, pop-culture tangents, and more food opinions than anyone asked for.
Dec. 2, 2025
IDS #285 - A Piece of Toilet Paper and a Dream
After realizing they forgot to wish listeners a Happy Thanksgiving, Mike and Darin attempt to fix it by completely misunderstanding the holiday. Expect wildly inaccurate history, Thanksgiving movies, appliance disasters, and the kind of domestic chaos that only happens right before recording.
Nov. 25, 2025
IDS #284 - The Adventures of Crickett and Tabbs
Mike and Darin are left unsupervised, unprepared, and immediately dangerous. This episode spirals through movie opinions, retail chaos, losing a car, and the accidental creation of “Cricket and Tabbs,” a concept that absolutely did not need to exist. A classic free-form IDS conversation with zero guardrails.
Nov. 18, 2025
IDS #283 - Moose Are Sneaky
Moose look calm, slow, and harmless — which is exactly what makes them terrifying. In this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Mike and Darin discuss why moose are far more unpredictable and dangerous than most people realize. The conversation blends animal behavior, personal observations, and comedy logic into a discussion that makes listeners rethink outdoor safety while laughing the entire time. From sudden aggression to false assumptions about wildlife, the episode explores why judging animals by appearance is a terrible idea. As always, the goal isn’t education — it’s entertainment fueled by confident opinions, exaggerated conclusions, and the unsettling realization that nature does not care how relaxed something looks.
Nov. 11, 2025
IDS #282 - No Offense To Anyone That Has a Squeezing Disorder
Why do people squeeze toothpaste from the middle? Why does this bother others so deeply? In this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Mike and Darin explore everyday habits that somehow become non-negotiable personal beliefs. The discussion focuses on squeezing, handling food incorrectly, and the strange confidence people have in doing things the wrong way. What should be minor annoyances turn into passionate arguments about behavior, logic, and refusing to change even when the solution is obvious. This episode is a perfect example of observational comedy at its pettiest — turning mundane human behavior into an unnecessary but highly entertaining debate.
Nov. 4, 2025
IDS #281 - This Plane Is Hard Broke
A canceled flight, a “hard broke” airplane, and ten unexpected hours at the airport kick off this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin break down airline chaos, people-watching during travel delays, and why using all the engines feels like a reasonable expectation. Along the way, the conversation drifts into forgotten concert tickets, giving (or not giving) friends advice, and a deep dive into Johnny Carson’s legacy after a visit to the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
Oct. 28, 2025
IDS #280 - Grillin' With Jesus
Mike and Darin dive into cooking confidence, grill mythology, and the unearned swagger that comes with dad hobbies. It’s food talk, faith jokes, and comedy served medium-rare.
Oct. 21, 2025
IDS #279 - It's a Long Story - The Best of Year 5
New to Irritable Dad Syndrome? Start here. This Best of Volume 5 episode pulls together some of the funniest, dumbest, and most memorable moments from an outstanding year of the show. Mike and Darin revisit classic arguments, workplace disasters, parenting mistakes, pop-culture rants, and everyday frustrations that perfectly capture what Irritable Dad Syndrome is all about. If you’ve never listened before, this episode is the fastest way to understand why people keep coming back.
Oct. 14, 2025
IDS #278 - Pounding the Monster
Recording schedules, energy drinks, and the realities of aging collide as Mike and Darin discuss exhaustion, productivity myths, and why dads rely on caffeine just to function.