‘Dungeons and Daddies’ Isn’t a Naughty D&D Podcast (Mostly)
Hop into your closest minivan, we’re driving across the Forgotten Realms with the suburban dads turned adventurers in Dungeons and Daddies.
There are a lot of actual-play D&D podcasts out there, but which is right for you? Well, if you’re looking for a story of four suburban dads from our world flung into the forgotten realms on a quest to rescue their lost sons, Dungeons and Daddies may be the show for you. Are they disasters? You know it. Do they have any idea what they’re doing at first? No, absolutely not, why would they? But will it make you cry? You know it will!
Dungeons and Daddies
Dungeons and Daddies is a D&D actual-play comedy podcast. If you’re not familiar with other actual-play style games and shows, this just means that it’s a series that features a bunch of people playing tabletop RPGs into a microphone for fun. If you’re a fan of the tabletop RPG medium, great storytelling, and improv, APs are awesome to jump into. And in my opinion, Dungeons and Daddies stands out in the crowd.
Despite the name, the cast is quick to let you know that it’s (usually) not a BDMS podcast—though there’s at least one episode that toes the line a little for comedic purposes. Instead, it’s a story about four dads who’s sons are teleported to the Forgotten Realms during a soccer tournament trip. The dads and their 2013 Honda Odyssey embark on a quest to save their children, unlocking all sorts of D&D based powers and abilities along the way. Episodes are known for having introductions where player’s reveal one new fact about their characters and unique musical recaps every single time.
“Measure once, cut twice”
– Freddie Wong; Dungeons and Daddies
Since their premiere in January 2019, Dungeons and Daddies has become one of the most popular and beloved actual play podcasts out there. The team wrapped up season one after 68 episodes in October 2021.
READ MORE: Dimension 20: Say Hi to Your Intrepid Heroes
Seasons Two and Three
While season one follows four suburban dads, season two went in a slightly different direction. Now the adventurers are the grandchildren of the season one dads twenty fives years later. In a post apocalyptic version of San Dimas, CA, the teens have to find their own fathers (yes, the sons from the previous season) who have once again disappeared with little explanation.
Season two ran from January 2022 through March 2024 with a total of 53 episodes. it’s been followed up by season three which just started in May of this year and won’t be taking place in the same story as or involving the same characters from arcs one and two. Instead it uses a the Call of Cthulhu system as normal four suburban people uncover and fight the unspeakable horrors of Peachyville.
The Cast
The main cast of Dungeons and Daddies consists of…
Anthony Burch as the Game Master for seasons one and two and Francis Farnsworth in season three
Freddie Wong as Glenn Close (no relation) in season one Taylor Swift (also no relation) in season two, and Tony Collette in season three.
Matt Arnold as Darryl Wilson, Lincoln “Link” Wilson and Kelsey Grammar (no relation).
Will Campos as Henry Oak and Normal “Norm” Oak in seasons one and two and the GM in season three.
Beth May as Ron Stampler, Theresa “Scary” Marlowe, and Trudy Trout.
But there have also been some very memorable guest stars and characters over the years.
Ashley Burch played Dennis Anderson in season one
Jenna Stoeber played Ratticus Finch in season one.
Jimmy Wong played Jodie Foster (no relation) in seasons one and two.
And Elyse Willems played Erica Drippins in season two.
Wait A Minute… Where Do I Know Those Names From?
Anthony Burch was lead writer on Borderlands 2, Rocketjump and League of Legends.
Freddie Wong is a filmmaker, internet personality, podcaster, and competitive gamer. He’s well known for Video Game High School and Rocket Jump where he acted as co-creator, co-director, writer, and producer. But you may also know him from Dimension 20: Mentopolis where he played Dan Fucks, Anime Crimes Division where he wad director and co-creator, and voicing Tim Wizard on the web series of Bee and Puppycat.
Ashley Burch is a prolific voice actor who you may have heard in Fallout 4 as Tina De Luca, the Borderlands series as Tiny Tina, and the Horizon series as Aloy as well as Critical Role (podcast and animation) Adventure Time, Stephen Universe, Sasha in Attack on Titan, Cass and Cicada on Bee and Puppycat. Ashley and Anthony Burch are siblings and have a series of sketch comedy shorts vidoes on Youtube called Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin’?
Jimmy Wong is an actor and musician who had roles in 2020’s Mulan and 2021’s Wish Dragon.
Elyse Willems is an internet personality who has been involved in many Funhaus / Rooster Teeth productions including Red vs. Blue, and Camp Camp.
Who Sings the Dungeons and Daddies Theme Songs?
Season one’s theme sone is Alright and season two has theme song On My Way. Both are by Maxton Waller and both are fantastic.
Is Dungeons and Daddies Popular?
Yes! I’d consider it one of those gems that you have to know if you’re in the hobby. Somebody who hasn’t touched a D&D book and only knows Critical Role as an animated series may not even know that Dungeons and Daddies exists. But for people in the D&D and actual-play fandom and community, they absolutely are.
As of September 2024 they were in the top 100 podcasts by listeners on Spotify, and their Patreon had over 40,000 supporters. In 2019 Dungeons and Daddies won the AudioVerse Award for “New Improvised Production” and Anthony Burch won for “Player Direction of a New Production.”
Are There Any Side Stories or Stand-Alone Episodes in Dungeons and Daddies?
Yes!
At the Mountains of Dadness was a three episode prequel minicampaign featuring the grandparents of the season-one main-characters. It uses the Call of Cthulhu system.
Gungans and Daddies: All That Jizz is a three episode Star Wars adventure using the Edge of the Empire system.
Fetch Quest is a three episode D&D adventure where everyone plays a dog or a cat.
Sons and Sonsability is a three episode Recengy Era story about the Mothman sisters. It uses a homebrew system that uses a big of D&D, a bit of Marrying Mr. Darcy, and a bit of The Good Society.
Dad Then There Were None is a three episode homebrew murder mystery.
Happy adventuring!
