Rewriting the Rules | Shannon Carpenter on Owning Stay-At-Home Fatherhood
About this episode
Shannon Carpenter discusses his journey as a stay-at-home dad and challenges stereotypes surrounding fatherhood.
There are countless reasons why a parent might choose to step away from their career to stay home and raise their kids—financial considerations, personal values, or simply wanting to be more present during those formative years. But even in 2026, most people still assume it’ll be Mom who makes that move. Enter Shannon Carpenter: a stay-at-home dad of three who traded investigating elder abuse for state agencies for full-time parenting almost 20 years ago, and has never looked back. Shannon is the author of The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad (Penguin Random House), a humorous, heartfelt guide for dads navigating the world of primary caregiving. He opens up about fighting isolation, bucking stereotypes, and how he has redefined success and identity in his life. Listen to the end for Kisses & Disses!
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