What if fatherhood starts before the baby?

In this in-person episode of The New School Dad, Matt Bank sits down with Zach Shipley — married, 29, no kids yet — to talk about preparing for fatherhood before pregnancy, birth, and sleepless nights. They dive into building a strong marriage first, leading at home without being a burden, reducing your wife’s mental load, and learning to handle conflict like a team.

Zach opens up about growing up with divorced parents, how that shaped his view of marriage, and why intentional preparation matters more than “figuring it out later.” This is a conversation for men who want to become great dads on purpose — not by accident.

If you’re married, thinking about kids, or want to lead your family better starting now, this one’s for you.

Zac ...