{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Hot Topics Ep. 7 - Politics & Parenting: What to Discuss with Kids","description":"In this candid episode of Hot Topics, hosts J. Fotsch and Will Cox speak with Missouri State Representative Alex Riley and government consultant Ryan DeBouf about the challenge of navigating politics as parents. Both guests bring not only their professional insights but also their personal experience as dads\u2014Alex with a growing young family and Ryan with children spanning from elementary to adulthood. The discussion emphasizes the importance of age-appropriate conversations, modeling respectful discourse and cultivating political understanding at home. The guests share how to introduce basic concepts like government roles and civil disagreement early on and why it\u2019s vital for parents to lead these conversations before others do. They also discuss how their careers shaped their parenting, the impact of blended families and the tension between public service and private life. Whether it\u2019s navigating school communications or handling political threats, both fathers reinforce that being present, engaged and full of grace makes all the difference. Episode Highlights [04:55] \u2013 \u201cI think it\u2019s critically important for us as dads to be talking to our kids about those issues\u2026 if we\u2019re not, somebody else is going to fill that void.\u201d [06:35] \u2013 \u201cI started having those conversations with my kids when they were three and four years old.\u201d [08:51] \u2013 \u201cYou have to do it because they\u2019re going to hear it first\u2014and here\u2019s why we believe what we believe.\u201d [12:00] \u2013 \u201cYou're better off being able to sit back as a parent, as a dad, and wait for them to come to you for the advice as opposed to forcing it onto them.\u201d [23:29] \u2013 \u201cWhen you are home, be present at home\u2026 they know when you\u2019re not really listening.\u201d [42:48] \u2013 \u201cThe most important thing\u2026 is to be present\u2014in any way, shape or form that you can.\u201d Resources\ud83d\udce9 Sign up for the Good Dads Newsletter and never miss a podcast! \ud83c\udf10 Learn more at gooddads.com \ud83d\udce7 Questions or comments? Reach out to Good Dads at info@gooddads.com ","author_name":"Good Dads Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/www.gooddads.com\/","html":"