Episodes

Pandas are adorable, beloved, and — according to this episode — possibly terrible at survival. In this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Mike and Darin argue about why pandas struggle so much as a species, how they became cultural icons despite constant failure, and why questioning pandas online f…

What starts as a normal restaurant visit turns into a story so upsetting it permanently changed one man’s dining habits. In this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Darin explains a restaurant experience that went spectacularly wrong, while Mike admits to showering in the middle of the night and apo…

Some people enjoy soup. Others build their entire personality around it. In this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome, Mike and Darin take a deep dive into soup culture and the strange intensity of people who take their love of soup way too seriously. What starts as a light discussion about food pr…

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 …

Childhood sci-fi memories collide with adult logic in this nostalgia-fueled episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin revisit old science fiction concepts, including Sleestaks and asteroid threats, and quickly realize that what once felt terrifying or impressive doesn’t always hold up under…

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 …

Unexpected car trouble sends Mike and Darin into a familiar adult spiral in this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. What starts as a practical discussion about breakdowns and towing quickly turns into a larger conversation about responsibility, exhaustion, and the mental gymnastics people perform w…

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 …

Questionable creative decisions, pop-culture logic gaps, and the frustration of “how did this get approved?” drive this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin latch onto the idea of a story that can best be described as Tarzan, but with robots, using it as a jumping-off point to talk abo…

Fame, reputation, and uncomfortable reality collide in this story-driven episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin share personal experiences and observations involving Pete Rose, using them as a springboard to talk about gambling scandals, sports legends, and what happens when larger-than-…

A strange place name, an offhand joke, and a curiosity spiral send Mike and Darin down one of their most linguistically unhinged conversations yet. In this episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome, the guys discover the town of Goochland, Virginia — and immediately become unable to let the word, its meani…

Pop culture debates, parenting chaos, and everyday frustrations collide in this wide-ranging episode of Irritable Dad Syndrome. Mike and Darin start with a completely unhinged opening and quickly slide into discussions about movie adaptations, celebrity performances, and why people get irrationally…

A strange phone call involving Tony Danza sends Mike and Darin down a familiar Irritable Dad Syndrome path: confusion, overthinking, and wildly unnecessary analysis. What starts as a simple story quickly turns into a discussion about celebrity encounters, everyday absurdities, and how normal life m…