Embracing Fatherhood and Career Changes with Tony Berardo

Get ready for an honest, inspiring conversation about embracing the chaos, finding joy in the passage of time, and creating meaningful legacies as dads.

In this episode, you will be able to:

1. Learn how Tony Berardo moved from a traditional corporate career into building his own business centered around marketing, social media, and podcasting—plus his advice on how dads can do the same.
2. Understand the emotional and financial realities of IVF and fertility challenges and how they shape fatherhood and relationships.
3. Discover practical strategies for maintaining work-life balance, developing side hustles, and how dads can leverage their professional skills for entrepreneurship while being present for their families.
4. Get insights on protecting your family’s privacy in the age of social media and AI and smart ways to approach kids’ online presence.
5. Embrace vulnerability and community as a modern dad—plus the meaning behind the “Human Dad” brand and why sharing struggles matters.

As the host of Great Dad Talks, I’m always on the hunt for stories that reflect our evolving journey as dads—and this week’s episode, featuring Tony Berardo, hit home on so many levels. Tony’s story is a compelling mix of career reinvention, perseverance through the challenges of IVF, and the raw realities of fatherhood in the digital age.

Escaping the Corporate Merry-Go-Round

I was immediately intrigued by Tony’s unconventional path. While many of us flirt with the idea of leaving corporate life for more family time, Tony actually did it—choosing to focus on social media, podcasting, and launching his own business before becoming a dad.

As Tony shared, “I was stuck on the teat for man my whole life…after the pandemic happened, like a lot of people, I was affected and one of the companies that I worked for ended up laying me off because of budget cuts. Turns out a couple months later the whole company went bankrupt.”

But what stood out was his self-awareness and willingness to leap: “I made the tough decision where I’m like, let’s go forward, let’s try to make money the best way we can work for ourselves. We could both be stay at home.”

IVF: The Hard Road to Fatherhood

The road to parenthood wasn’t simple for Tony and his wife. Tony bravely opened up about their three-year journey with IUI and IVF, sharing both financial and emotional stressors: “We spent in three years a quarter million dollars. So during that time we spent so much money and the next thing you know, I’m laid off.”

What struck me was Tony’s honesty about the impact on his relationship. He admitted, “The 10 years I’ve been with my wife, we were the closest to like not being happy. You know what I mean?”—a sentiment that will resonate with any couple facing fertility challenges.

Building a Dad-Centric Brand

After navigating IVF and celebrating the birth of his daughter, Tony poured his energy into building a brand and community for dads. His apparel company, Human Dad, is all about authenticity rather than falling back on the goofy “#1 Dad” stereotypes.

Tony explained: “I wanted to create an apparel brand that was a little bit more relatable…our thing is community first, apparel second, and just kind of creating a community of dads that embrace the chaos, embrace the flaws, because we all have them.”

Social Media: The Double-Edged Sword

As someone who works in digital spaces, Tony is acutely aware of the privacy issues and challenges for parents today. When I asked him how he approaches sharing his child online, he did not hesitate:

“I’m against it for sure. I mean, you know, unfortunately we’re living in a day and age to where it’s…my wife, her account is private, mine’s not, mine’s public. Usually when I do share things and my daughter is in it, it’s usually the back of her head, side of her face…But I’m also torn because I know social media and I know if you were, if we were to have a conversation 20 years ago about like Facebook using our data, you’d be like, no, Tony, there’s no way a company would do that.”

His advice was clear: post thoughtfully and protect your children’s privacy as much as possible.

Advice for New Dads & Those Facing IVF

I closed the episode by asking Tony what advice he has for new dads or those facing IVF. His response was both practical and heartfelt.

Tony’s Key Advice:

• Enjoy the passage of time: “The purpose of life is to enjoy the passage of time…It’s not about being perfect. It’s just about showing up, be there in the moment.”
• Be present: “Don’t whip out your phone, don’t talk to a friend. Be there with your kids.”
• Don’t miss milestones: “I am proud to say I have not been away from her not one day in two years. And I’ve never missed a milestone.”
• Work through struggle: “Usually through struggle comes success. And I think that’s what happened. I think through the struggle of trying to be a dad, you know, allowed me to successfully be a father.”

Final Reflections

Tony’s story is a powerful reminder that modern fatherhood isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence, vulnerability, and carving your own path even when it’s hard. Whether you’re weighing a career change, supporting a partner through IVF, or just trying to show up more fully for your kids, Tony’s example offers inspiration.

I’m grateful for these ongoing conversations about what it means to be a “great dad” right now. If you’re interested in finding more resources or connecting with parent communities, visit greatdad.com for free courses and coaching.

Until next time, remember: a strong family starts with you.