Jameel Mayers and August Black open with a tribute to Dolly Parton and the legacy she built through generosity, literacy advocacy, and actually putting her values into practice.

Then the bad examples begin.

The hosts break down the viral Crumbl bakery incident that raised some serious food-safety questions, before turning to a Wisconsin father cited after running onto a youth football field and tripping a 9-year-old headed toward the end zone.

Next comes the Laura Owens case involving false pregnancy and paternity claims, fabricated evidence, and the damage an elaborate deception can cause. That leads into a larger conversation about scams, charisma, social media credibility, and why “proof” deserves a second look when money is involved.

Jameel and August also get into the neighbor altercation involving Reacher star Alan Ritchson, debating provocation, self-defense, restraint, and the difference between being peaceful and being harmless.

Then there’s romance and investment fraud involving fake San Francisco 49ers connections—and a reminder that scammers don’t always look like scammers.

Finally, August puts himself on the Certified Bad Example list after losing his temper at a farmer’s market while carrying his child on his shoulders. The story becomes a conversation about anger, apologizing, accountability, and why kids should sometimes see what happens after a parent gets it wrong.

Episode 16 covers:

• The Dolly Parton legacy

• The viral Crumbl bakery incident

• A dad tripping a 9-year-old during youth football

• False pregnancy and paternity fraud

• Alan Ritchson’s neighbor altercation

• Romance and investment scams

• August’s farmer’s market blowup

• Parenting, anger, apologies, and accountability

“You’re not better than me, but we’re not the same.”

“If you’re holding on to anger and someone bumps into you, anger spills out.”

Certified Bad Example is hosted by Jameel Mayers and August Black.

Jameel Mayers and August Black are back with another round of Certified Bad Examples pulled from the social media zeitgeist.

First up: Oreo Gate. A kindergarten parent reportedly asks other families to stop sending Oreos to school because her daughter isn’t allowed to have them. Is that a reasonable request, or is learning to deal with disappointment part of growing up?

Then things get much more serious. Jameel and August discuss a Baton Rouge mother arrested after allegedly whipping her sons for breaking into someone else’s home, and why punishment and accountability aren’t necessarily the same thing.

They also get into the backlash over a Target Halloween costume criticized for resembling racist blackface and minstrel imagery, including questions about representation, DEI, and how something like this makes it all the way to the shelf.

Finally, they discuss a disturbing case involving a Kentucky mother accused of forcing her 14-year-old daughter to drink alcohol as punishment after catching her drinking.

Through all four stories, one question keeps coming back: are we actually teaching kids how to make better decisions, or are adults sometimes making things worse in the name of parenting?

Plus: kindergarten, doom scrolling, cursive handwriting, raising Black children with an awareness of the world around them, and why every kid needs to know there’s an adult they can call when they screw up.

Have your own Certified Bad Example? Send it our way.

Follow and subscribe to Fathernetics wherever you listen to podcasts.

The conversation starts with the strange world of prison romance and influencer Ash Trevino, who became known online for relationships with incarcerated men. Jameel, August, and Jason debate what drives someone toward relationships where freedom, access, money, and attention are so unevenly distributed.

From there, the conversation turns darker with a viral beach assault, raising questions about bystanders, accountability, and what people are willing to watch, record, or excuse when violence happens in public.

The group also gets into “robbery dating,” relationships where attraction and money become dangerously intertwined, and whether wealth or appearance causes people to ignore warning signs they would normally recognize immediately.

Then the episode moves into parenting, punishment, and boundaries, including the disturbing case of a Kentucky mother accused of forcing her 14-year-old daughter to consume alcohol as punishment after discovering she had been drinking. The story sparks a larger debate about discipline, humiliation, proportional consequences, and the point where trying to “teach a lesson” becomes harmful behavior itself.

Throughout the episode, Jason brings his perspective as an actor and storyteller to a conversation built around one of Certified Bad Example’s favorite questions: when somebody makes a terrible decision, what were they actually trying to accomplish?

Jason Caceres is an actor whose credits span television, film, and theater, including Criminal Minds, Hacks, Insatiable, Pam & Tommy, Kidding, Magic City, American Animal, and Ted Bundy.

In this episode:

• Jason Caceres joins Jameel Mayers and August Black

• The internet fascination with prison romances

• Ash Trevino and relationships with incarcerated men

• Attention, loneliness, money, and power imbalances in relationships

• A disturbing viral beach assault and the role of bystanders

• Why people sometimes record violence instead of intervening

• “Robbery dating” and relationships built around access to wealth

• Whether money and attractiveness cause people to overlook obvious red flags

• Parenting consequences versus punishment

• The Kentucky mother accused of forcing her teenage daughter to drink alcohol

• When teaching a child a lesson crosses a line

• Public humiliation, control, and accountability

• Why intention does not erase consequences

• The bad examples that somehow convince themselves they’re doing the right thing

Certified Bad Example is hosted by Jameel Mayers and August Black, breaking down real stories, questionable decisions, internet chaos, and the people who give the rest of us a perfect example of what not to do.

Subscribe, follow, and join the conversation. New episodes of Certified Bad Example are available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube.

In Episode 13 of Certified Bad Example, Jameel Mayers and co-host August Black get into three stories where the answer is anything but simple, from teachers facing consequences for what happens outside the classroom, to a mother leaving her four-year-old home alone overnight, to what can happen when someone decides to intervene in a dangerous situation.

Jameel also talks about balancing his director role in software, family life, and the podcast, plus an unexpected opportunity to write about fatherhood for Rolling Stone.

In this episode:

A Missouri teacher resigns after students and parents discover her OnlyFans account, raising questions about teachers, adult content, privacy, social media, and whether legal off-hours work should affect someone’s career.

A Utah art teacher is fired after distributing postcards featuring classical artwork with nudity. Jameel and August debate the difference between nudity and sexual content, parental expectations, school policies, and whether administrators sometimes punish teachers simply to make controversy disappear.

A Georgia mother is arrested after allegedly leaving her four-year-old child home alone overnight while she went drinking. The conversation turns to child endangerment, parental responsibility, alcohol, emergency preparedness, and why independence for children looks very different depending on age and culture.

August shares the story of stopping to help an injured bicyclist, only to have a bystander falsely accuse him of causing the accident. Jameel explains why being a good Samaritan can carry another layer of risk for a Black man when witnesses, assumptions, and law enforcement enter the situation.

The episode closes with a disturbing Ohio case involving a father who murdered a man after discovering evidence involving the sexual abuse of his 11-year-old daughter, opening a difficult conversation about parental rage, vigilantism, justice, and consequences.

Timestamps

00:00 Back-to-school banter and podcasting setup

02:53 Jameel’s day job and balancing podcasting

04:31 Rolling Stone reaches out about fatherhood writing

05:23 The weird world of OnlyFans

09:08 Missouri teacher resigns after OnlyFans discovery

10:42 Should legal off-hours work cost a teacher their job?

14:14 Teachers, students, privacy, and social media

19:49 Utah art teacher fired over classical nudity

21:21 Nudity versus sex in art and culture

24:38 Why the distinction between nudity and sex matters

27:21 When schools fire employees to quiet controversy

33:02 Georgia mother charged after leaving four-year-old alone overnight

36:53 Why four-year-olds cannot safely handle emergencies alone

39:38 Children, independence, and cultural differences in Japan

42:50 August’s good Samaritan story and a false accusation

Certified Bad Example is hosted by Jameel Mayers with co-host August Black, breaking down parenting, pop culture, public behavior, accountability, and the bad decisions that make the rest of us ask: What were they thinking?

Subscribe for new episodes and join the conversation in the comments.

#CertifiedBadExample #ParentingPodcast #OnlyFansTeacher #TeacherControversy #Parenting #ChildEndangerment #GoodSamaritan #SchoolControversy #OnlyFans #ParentingNews #PopCulturePodcast #JameelMayers #AugustBlack

In Episode 12 of Certified Bad Example, Jameel Mayers and co-host August Black break down the bad decisions, public consequences, parenting debates, and uncomfortable gray areas behind some of the internet’s biggest conversations.

The episode starts with August returning from his first solo vacation in five years, complete with Portland coffee rankings and a debate over espresso, Starbucks, and coffee culture. Then the conversation moves quickly into the viral Coldplay kiss cam scandal, where a CEO and colleague were caught in an intimate moment that exploded across social media.

Jameel and August debate whether cheating and personal misconduct should automatically affect someone’s career. Is infidelity a private failure, or does it become a workplace issue when company leadership, coworkers, HR policies, or power dynamics are involved? They also examine how viral shaming can turn a few seconds of video into millions of opinions and potentially permanent reputational damage.

Next, they discuss the estate of Chadwick Boseman, the beloved Black Panther star who reportedly died without a will. The conversation focuses on the division of his estate, the role of his widow and parents, and questions raised by his brother about control and transparency. Jameel and August examine a larger question many families eventually face: does being related to someone automatically mean you are entitled to part of their estate?

The episode then turns to one of its most serious topics: AI-generated nude images of students and minors.

As artificial intelligence and deepfake technology become easier to access, schools are confronting cases where students create realistic sexualized images of classmates without their consent. Jameel and August discuss AI-generated pornography, deepfake nude images, consent, cyberbullying, student safety, emotional trauma, and the evolving legal consequences surrounding synthetic sexual images involving real minors.

Their argument is simple: technology does not erase the harm. A fake image can still create very real humiliation, fear, harassment, and reputational damage.

Finally, they tackle a viral parenting debate after a mother declares that her children will never be required to do homework.

August reflects on experiencing three-to-four-hour homework nights growing up, while Jameel argues that homework should never become punishment but that parents also should not completely remove expectations simply because their children dislike the work. The discussion expands into discipline, resilience, parental involvement, academic responsibility, pushing children through discomfort, and knowing when helping becomes micromanaging.

The episode closes with a powerful lesson about success, growth, and accepting that sometimes, not everyone can come with you.

Key Topics

Coldplay kiss cam scandal and viral CEO controversy

Cheating, infidelity, workplace ethics, and professional consequences

Social media shaming and viral public scandals

Corporate leadership, HR policies, and workplace power dynamics

Chadwick Boseman’s estate and dying without a will

Celebrity estate disputes and inheritance rights

Family expectations after death

AI-generated nude images and deepfake pornography

AI sexual images involving students and minors

Consent, cyberbullying, school safety, and online harassment

Legal questions surrounding AI-generated explicit images

Parenting in the age of artificial intelligence

Homework debates and modern parenting

Discipline versus punishment

Academic responsibility and parental involvement

Helping children build resilience through discomfort

Success, personal growth, and leaving people behind

Timestamps

00:00 Rusty start, Siri interrupts, and the show gets rolling

00:36 August’s first vacation in five years and Portland coffee rankings

02:30 What Certified Bad Example does with social media stories and bad behavior

03:58 Coldplay kiss cam scandal and public fallout

05:06 Should cheating affect someone’s professional life?

07:27 Mind your business versus company policy and power dynamics

09:19 Viral shaming and the speed of public consequences

12:13 Black Panther recast reaction and audience backlash

14:31 Chadwick Boseman estate dispute and the lack of a will

17:17 Who should control an estate after death?

23:42 AI-generated nude images in schools and the new legal nightmare

25:31 Real images, synthetic manipulation, and where the law may apply

28:22 Creating, receiving, and forwarding harmful AI content

33:43 Intent versus impact and why technology does not erase harm

37:29 Supporting a community versus using a community for visibility

41:17 The viral mom who refuses to make her kids do homework

43:11 Jameel’s view: homework should exist, but not become punishment

45:18 August’s experience with three-to-four-hour homework nights

47:18 Jameel’s approach to staying involved without micromanaging assignments

49:31 Push kids through discomfort so they can grow

51:59 A coach’s lesson on the fear of success and leaving people behind

55:17 Wrap-up and where to follow Certified Bad Example

Hosted by Jameel Mayers with co-host August Black.

The conversation explores how trust is built with children, why consistency matters, and what parents can learn from everyday situations that become lifelong lessons. Along the way, they tackle controversial headlines, celebrity culture, and the responsibilities that come with influence.

In this episode:

• Parenting strategies that build independence while maintaining trust
• Why consistency matters more than perfection
• Cruise ship parenting, video monitors, and where parents should draw the line
• The debate over jackets, cold weather, and letting kids learn through experience
• Street safety, strollers, bicycles, and teaching children awareness
• The lasting impact of racist online comments and public behavior
• Free speech versus accountability in today’s world
• Whether public figures should face career consequences for harmful actions
• Louis C.K., comeback culture, and what genuine contrition really looks like
• Why actions speak louder than apology tours
• The importance of consequences in shaping better people, both children and adults

Timestamps

00:00 Screen sharing, camera habits, and season one energy

02:53 Welcome back to Certified Bad Example

03:21 Back-to-school routines and working from home with kids

06:57 Racist online comments and the fallout

08:04 Should public figures lose work over hateful behavior?

09:23 Hiring, social media, and hidden histories

10:44 Should celebrities take public stances?

12:43 Free speech, harm, and personal accountability

15:10 Why consequences matter

16:29 The Man in the High Castle and reflections on race and power

19:12 Louis C.K., accountability, and comeback culture

21:48 What real contrition looks like

25:24 Accountability for abuse and harassment

29:36 Cruise ship parenting and video monitors

32:51 Comparing home monitoring to cruise ship monitoring

36:55 Parenting backlash over jackets and cold weather

40:07 Letting kids learn through experience

43:33 Street safety, strollers, and defensive driving

46:48 Teaching kids to hold hands near traffic

47:23 A father-son bike milestone and the “hey daddy” phase

50:40 Closing thoughts, kids grow up fast

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, like, and share with someone who appreciates honest conversations about parenting, culture, and the real-life consequences that shape families.

From celebrity family dynamics to social media, public perception, and everyday parenting challenges, the conversation explores how children learn far more from what adults do than what they say.

In this episode:

• The parenting lessons behind Matthew Knowles’ family story
• Brandon Marshall’s journey, accountability, and personal growth
• Why success doesn’t excuse poor decisions
• How family reputation can affect children for years
• Social media’s role in shaping public perception
• Healthy discipline versus harmful punishment
• Building resilience without damaging trust
• Why parents must model the behavior they expect from their children
• The importance of boundaries, responsibility, and consistency at home
• Finding teachable moments in today’s biggest headlines

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome back to Certified Bad Example

02:15 Matthew Knowles, family dynamics, and difficult parenting conversations

08:10 The impact of adult decisions on children and family relationships

14:22 Brandon Marshall’s story and lessons in accountability

20:35 Social media, reputation, and public perception

27:18 Discipline, boundaries, and raising resilient kids

34:41 Why children learn more from actions than words

41:56 Parenting through mistakes and rebuilding trust

48:20 Final thoughts on accountability, growth, and leading by example

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, like, and share with someone who appreciates honest conversations about parenting, culture, and the life lessons hidden inside today’s biggest stories.

In this episode:

Why some school board meetings have become public spectacles—and what children learn from watching adults behave badly.

The importance of disagreeing respectfully, especially when kids are paying attention.

How LGBTQ+ representation in television can create empathy and normalize diverse families.

Why Korean dramas continue to surprise audiences with thoughtful storytelling and powerful anti-bullying messages.

A recommendation for Teach You a Lesson and why it stands out among today’s international dramas.

The connection between nutrition, body image, and raising healthy kids without shame or extremes.

What longevity hotspots around the world can teach us about family meals, movement, and community.

Why a simple family walk may be one of the most underrated parenting tools available.

Timestamps

00:00 – The TV shows we’re currently obsessed with

00:12 – School board meetings or reality television?

00:39 – What kids learn when adults lose control in public

01:07 – Modeling respectful disagreement for the next generation

01:53 – LGBTQ+ representation on screen and why visibility matters

02:52 – Teach You a Lesson: a Korean drama worth watching

04:10 – Bullying stories that challenge traditional narratives

05:45 – Diet culture, healthy habits, and raising confident kids

07:32 – What the world’s longest-living communities have in common

09:01 – Why family walks are about much more than exercise

10:18 – Final thoughts and this week’s Certified Bad Example takeaway

Whether it’s a chaotic public meeting, a binge-worthy drama, or a simple evening walk, every adult is modeling something. The question is whether we’re giving kids an example worth following.

In this episode:

• The influencer adoption controversy and the ethics of monetizing children online.
• Why “rehoming” adopted children sparked outrage around the world.
• How parents can protect their kids while still sharing family life on social media.
• The surprising number of dads who refuse to change diapers—and what that says about modern parenting.
• France’s laws protecting child influencers and why other countries are paying attention.
• Turning playground bullying into teachable moments instead of lifelong scars.
• Whether social media fame is ever worth sacrificing a child’s privacy.

Timestamps

00:00 – Parenting meets the internet

00:48 – When family content crosses the line

02:15 – The adoption controversy everyone was talking about

04:10 – Kids deserve privacy—even online

05:41 – Dads, diapers, and outdated expectations

07:18 – France’s child influencer protections explained

08:55 – Handling bullying the right way

10:32 – Raising kids in a world built around social media

12:04 – Final thoughts and this week’s Certified Bad Example takeaway

Parenting has never been easy, but social media has raised the stakes. This episode explores how today’s viral moments can become tomorrow’s parenting lessons—and why protecting kids should always come before chasing views.

In this episode:

• Celebrating Pride Month and discussing whether Pride events are family-friendly.
• How social media fame can impact children’s mental health and development.
• The rise of Baby Gronk and the risks of parents building brands around their children.
• Why some parents chase internet fame through their kids—and the lasting consequences.
• The story of a father who sued his gay son over conversion therapy costs, and the court’s response.
• Target’s Pride merchandise controversy and how families can navigate public disagreements respectfully.
• Why teachers should encourage thoughtful conversations without shaming students for their perspectives.

Timestamps

00:00 – Pride Month, Father’s Day, and family conversations

01:42 – Baby Gronk and the business of childhood fame

03:56 – When parents become their kids’ biggest risk

06:15 – The conversion therapy lawsuit that shocked the internet

08:34 – Target, Pride merchandise, and consumer choices

10:26 – Social media, privacy, and protecting children

12:01 – Classroom conversations and respecting different viewpoints

13:22 – Final thoughts and this week’s Certified Bad Example takeaway

Growing up in the spotlight isn’t just a celebrity problem anymore. This episode looks at how parents, schools, companies, and social media all influence the examples kids see every day—and why those examples matter.

In this episode:

• Kim Kardashian vs Kanye West—public co-parenting chaos
• The pitfalls of posting personal problems online
• Brad Pitt’s estranged daughter and the fallout from family secrets
• Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, and the Danny Masterson controversy
• Graduation drama and the importance of showing up for the right reasons
• Navigating family reunions, boundary setting, and social media mistakes
• The importance of mental health, medication, and humility in public crises

Resources & Links:

• Kim Kardashian by Amazon
• Kanye West Twitter
• Brad Pitt Official Site
• Danny Masterson Court Case Details

From parents throwing iPads out windows to public punishments on TikTok, this episode dives into the chaos of modern parenting and asks the hard questions. Where is the line between discipline and humiliation? Are forced apologies actually teaching kids anything? And how much influence should social media have inside the home?

We also unpack the lasting impact of control, shame, and public parenting mistakes while exploring healthier ways to teach responsibility without crossing into toxic behavior.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Britney Spears conservatorship explained
• Parenting gone wrong stories
• Gentle parenting debate
• Social media parenting trends
• Public punishment and child humiliation
• Teaching kids accountability
• Modern parenting challenges
• Toxic parenting behaviors
• Discipline versus abuse
• Parenting in the digital age

#parenting #britneyspears #gentleparenting #modernparenting #familydrama

Spoiler alert: It’s messy, hilarious, and totally relatable.

In this episode:

• The epic saga of a youth basketball game gone rogue with parents losing their minds
• Viral Zoom calls where moms call their kids “sociopaths” live on air
• A teacher’s bad day that turned into a national scandal, calling a student a Nazi supporter
• How over-monitoring, helicopter parenting, and quick judgments can backfire massively
• Practical tips on raising independent, confident kids in a tech-obsessed world
• The power of positive affirmations and self-love to survive the madness

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to the parenting circus: stories that will make you laugh and cringe

00:27 - Why we all want to sound like we're in a room alone (minus the dog)

01:05 - Summer's almost here—parents rejoice or dread? You decide!

01:44 - Why Rhode Island is the best-kept secret for summer fun

03:30 - Insects and kids: the weird obsession with bugs, from fascination to terror

05:19 - Virginia youth basketball meltdown: parents crossing the line

07:12 - What would you do? Parent reactions to a parent charging onto the court

08:36 - Protecting your kid vs. over-investing in their sports performance

09:12 - Defusing sideline chaos: how emotional intelligence can save the day

10:47 - Race and reactions: how race influences parental and teacher judgments

11:07 - The importance of not touching other kids’ children (and other boundaries)

11:58 - The dangers of parents slinging insults on Zoom—privacy and dignity matter

14:07 - The mental health ripple effect of labeling kids as "Nazi supporters"

15:04 - How teachers’ biased labels can damage a child's self-esteem for life

16:23 - The fallout: disciplinary actions, class exclusion, and the importance of fairness

18:10 - Over-monitoring in the digital age: helicopter parenting or necessary oversight?

20:09 - Trusting independence: teaching kids to handle mistakes and build resilience

22:20 - The power of positive self-talk: affirmations for parents and kids

25:42 - Your voice as a child's narrator: shaping lifelong self-esteem

26:38 - Tech and parenting: bans, bans, and more bans—are they really effective?

28:16 - Creating space for independence—why kids need to learn to do things alone

30:23 - Establishing boundaries: why instant responses and surprise visits may harm your child

33:24 - The importance of respecting teenage opinions (even when they want a new haircut)

36:12 - Problem-solving without helicoptering: building confidence and creativity

38:32 - When school goes wrong: teaching children resilience amid scandal

40:01 - The dangerous line between curiosity and harmful labels—why language matters

45:39 - The impact of labeling kids as “future dictators”—lesson learned?

48:53 - How teachers, parents, and peers can unintentionally do more harm than good

52:07 - Affirmations for self-love and resilience: getting through the chaos

55:31 - Wrapping up: taking a moment to breathe, reflect, and plan your own parenting masterpiece

In this episode:

The wild, inflated tale of Balloon Boy, and what social media fame can drive parents to do. Parental priorities and the art of detaching with dignity, based on a Reddit parent's confessions. The infamous college admissions scandal: bribery, fake athletic profiles, and the steep price of privilege. Parenting styles contrasted: Tiger Mother vs. Free Range Freestyle, and the importance of balance. The emotional toll of parenthood and how to navigate moments of regret or frustration. The significance of creating authentic connections with kids through shared passions. How modern challenges like social media, smartphones, and societal pressures influence child development

Timestamps:

00:00 - The Balloon Hoax: A Viral Sensation’s Origin Story

02:52 - The Risks of Social Media Clout-Driven Parenting

05:33 - Physics of a Balloon Flight: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction

09:38 - Parenting Boundaries: When Detachment Becomes Necessary

11:50 - Reddit Confessions: When Parents Regret Parenthood

14:12 - Parent-Child Relationships: Boundaries and Self-Discovery

25:12 - The College Bribery Scandal: A System in Trouble

27:22 - Merit vs. Money: The High Cost of Admissions Fraud

33:28 - The Complexities of Parent-Child Dynamics in Academic Success

36:46 - Parenting Styles and the Power of Balance

44:15 - Recognizing Red Flags in Troubled Kids and Societal Impact

48:43 - Mental Health, Morality, and the Art of Parenting with Purpose

55:45 - The High-Pressure World of Tiger Parenting

59:01 - Supporting Kids’ Passions Without Living Vicariously

62:11 - The Value of Frustration and Learning Through Failure

66:59 - Tailoring Education to Your Child’s Unique Strengths

69:39 - Celebrating Parenthood’s Small Wins: The Power of Daily Positivity

Parenting, like cooking, requires a pinch of patience, a dash of passion, and a whole lot of balance. When in doubt, remember, it's not about perfection, but authentic connection and respect for the chaos in every kid and parent alike. Now go forth and parent with swagger!

In this episode:

• The disaster behind Fyre Festival and social media hype
• The controversial Valenciaga campaign and child-like shock factors
• How airline mishaps, from a passenger removal to viral videos, teach us about chaos and accountability
• The insanity of influencer scams, kids' spending debates, and fashion on steroids
• Plus, Ethan’s travel tales, and how to navigate a world that’s always watching

Timestamps:

00:00 - Puerto Vallarta, the gay mecca and guacamole heaven

00:44 - Introducing the parental lens on social chaos and kid fails

1:18 - Ethan Levy’s jet-set life and flying every two weeks

4:17 - Impact of global turmoil on private aviation business

7:36 - The $25 million Fyre Festival disaster & lessons in oversell

8:02 - The social media influence on real-life scams

10:00 - The Netflix documentaries that exposed social media hype

12:26 - How influencer marketing turned into a mirage of legitimacy

13:32 - The importance of knowing your business before rushing in

14:44 - The viral #FryIsland and influencer pitfalls in travel scams

19:44 - The grim reality of “luxury” on a fake island

22:38 - The risky trend of carnivore diets for babies & the importance of research

28:16 - The dangers of going back to old diets, learned the hard way

34:30 - The viral video of a passenger violently removed from a United flight

39:02 - How airlines handle incidents and passenger rights

42:37 - The mega-spend kid at Sephora & the voyeuristic judgment online

45:26 - Teaching kids the value of money and social media’s role in entitlement

49:57 - Justin Bieber’s crash into fame & the parenting mishaps

56:01 - The Valenciaga child campaign: fashion or child abuse?

63:14 - Making kids feel seen via small compliments in public

66:14 - The fine line between social awareness and creepiness in kid interactions

67:19 - Ethan’s final thoughts on respecting personal boundaries and social cues

Note:

Remember folks, whether you're online or in real life, think before you click, post, or pull a stunt. You never know which viral disaster might be next!

In this episode:

• How parents handle risky social media pics and the importance of context
• The fine line between pranks and trauma — spoiler alert, don't traumatize your kids for views
• Managing kids' screen addiction, tantrums, and restaurant decorum
• The real-life lessons from viral head-shaving and meltdown moments

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Introduction and the podcast premise
• 02:25 - The importance of exposing kids to the bad to teach better
• 07:14 - The shocking story of a dad shaving his girl’s head live
• 13:01 - The impact of social media on kids' self-esteem
• 14:19 - Parents crossing lines in risky pranks
• 24:28 - The meltdown over losing an iPad and the power of patience
• 34:30 - Restaurant tantrums and teaching restaurant behavior
• 40:54 - The chaos of public parenting and the importance of patience

Co-Hosts: August Black and Jameel Mayers

Remember, folks: no perfect parents—only perfectly imperfect ones, learning as they go. Thanks for tuning in to Certified Bad Examples. Now go kiss some heads, put down the screens, and embrace the chaos!

Every “bad example” becomes a conversation, and every conversation becomes a choice: what would you do instead?

Episode One sets the tone. You’ll hear exactly what this show is about, how it works, and why it exists. August and Jameel bring perspective, parenting experience, and sassy opinions. From personal missteps to social dynamics, cultural moments, and everything in between, the goal is simple: call it out, break it down, and leave better than we found it.

This isn’t just about parenting. It’s about behavior. Decision-making. Accountability. Growth. The kind that happens when you’re willing to look at something messy and say, yeah…we’re not doing that. Whether you’re a parent, partner, friend, or just someone navigating life, this show is built to make you think, react, and maybe even laugh at the chaos of it all.

Season One kicks off June 1st, 2026, with weekly episodes across all major platforms.

Watch and subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CertifiedBadExamplePodcast

Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/certifiedbadexample

Search terms: Certified Bad Example Podcast, August Black, Jameel Mayers, parenting podcast, LGBTQ dads podcast, real-life stories podcast, opinion podcast, modern fatherhood, social commentary podcast, relationship dynamics, behavioral accountability, podcast launching June 2026