Music, Milestones, and Mindfulness | Nick Hexum of 311 on Raising Creative, Empathetic Girls

Not everyone instinctively knows when they’ve reached the point in life where they’re ready for kids. For Nick Hexum, the self-proclaimed “dad” of his band 311, that moment came when he realized his wild days were behind him and he was ready to step into family life as a husband and father. Nearly two decades later, he’s a proud dad of three daughters, ages 5 to 16. We caught up with him for a rare in-person conversation during a tour stop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Nick opens up about the challenges and rewards of raising kids while touring, the jaw-dropping story of delivering his own daughter during a home birth, how fatherhood reshaped his songwriting, and the powerful influence his own upbringing has had on the way he parents today. Episode 130 of Modern Dadhood finds the guys recording in person, outside, over a frosty fall beverage. The guys chat briefly about finding positivity in a world that can feel particularly dark at present, and why the autumn has a certain exciting energy. They catch up with Nick Hexum, lead singer and songwriter for 311, before a gig promoting his 3 new americana/bluegrass EPs (compiled on a full length album called Phases of Hope and Hollow). Nick candidly shares stories about his family and his career as a touring musician, reflecting on how becoming a dad has impacted his work and put his life into perspective. Topics include: •  Touring as a musician dad: balancing life on the road with being present for important family milestones. •  How becoming a father transformed Nick's creative process, songwriting inspiration, and outlook on life. •  Nick's incredible (and dramatic) story of delivering his daughter at home •  The evolving relationship between Nick’s children and music, including their early involvement in creating songs and videos. •  The influence of Nick’s own upbringing, especially his positive relationship with his father, on his parenting style. •  Navigating social media, privacy, and the shifting dynamics as his kids grow into their teen years. •  Maintaining a positive worldview amid challenging news cycles, and fostering open, vulnerable communication with his kids. •  And more! LINKS Nick Hexum (website) Nick Hexum (Instagram) Nick Hexum (TikTok) 311 (official) Caspar Babypants Spencer Albee Modern Dadhood (website) AdamFlaherty.tv Stuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music) MD (Instagram) MD (Facebook) MD (YouTube) MD (TikTok) #moderndadhood #fatherhood #parenthood #parenting #parentingpodcast #dadding #dadpodcast