6 Dads on Instagram That Make Default Parents Feel Seen

There are definitely moments when I feel like Instagram gets me. I’ll see a cookie decorating video, giggling baby reel or underwater shark POV shot pop up while I’m scrolling in the wee hours of the night and take refuge in the terrifying comfort of the almighty algorithm’s ever-present embrace.

So when a friend sent me a far-too-relatable viral post from @drbradysmith about men and dentist appointments, Big Brother Al (short of algorithm) did its thing and filled my feed with similar content: men elevating conversations around the unnecessarily bloated plight of the default parent. Since then I’ve found myself nodding along to more than a few of these reels that have popped up on my feeds unsolicited.

While it’s true a quick influencer reel is no substitute for open conversations between partners or time spent in counseling, they can still resonate. That’s why I’m sharing some Instagram dads worth following (keeping in mind their content is heavily skewed to cis/hetero relationship dynamics). So if you find yourself nodding along too, maybe slip a clip from one of these guys into your partner’s DMs to start (or continue) a conversation.

@jimmy_on_relationships

After cheating on his wife, husband and father Jimmy Knowles started asking tough questions about healthy relationships and what they look like. Now he’s sharing what he’s learned with his more than 7.4 million followers across social platforms. Knowles breaks down relationship struggles into simple questions and provides straight-talk answers that don’t pull any punches. His videos encourage viewers to think, reflect and take ownership in a lighthearted, often amusing way.

You can also find him on YouTube and TikTok.

@kiergaines

Unlike Knowles, Kier Gaines is a licensed therapist. He’s also a father of two whose thoughts on relationships and parenting have earned him close to 2 million followers across multiple social media platforms. Gaines’ casual style (he often films reels while cleaning up in his kitchen) is a big part of his appeal, and his ideas on being an equal partner in a marriage are easy to follow and inspiring too.

You can also find him on Facebook and TikTok.

@alessandro_frosali

Globetrotting men’s coach Alessandro Frosali has garnered close to 1 million followers over multiple social media channels. His clips challenge traditional narratives surrounding what it takes to be a helpful and supportive partner, what he refers to as “boy behavior,” and encourages men to “step up.” And he does it all with a unique style I can confidently say is summed up succinctly in the title of his podcast: STFUAL (I’ll leave you to Google what that means).

You can also find him on YouTube and TikTok.

@lovethetillerys

Latroy Tillery is one-half of this social media channel with close to 1 million followers; his wife Nicole is the other. Together they parent five kids and create content that blends parenting tips, marriage insights and brand partnership reels. Sandwiched in between you’ll find Latroy’s helpful perspectives centered around being a present father and husband. 

You can also find him on YouTube and TikTok.

@zachmentalloadcoach

Tune in to this channel to watch Zach Watson explain the invisible labor load with clear insight centered around personal examples, and sometimes even pie charts. His feed is filled with self-reflection and bite-size bits of wisdom that encourage emotional literacy and fluency — two of his big talking points (being a former man-child is another). His followers number around 1 million.

You can also find him on YouTube.

@everything.husband

Carlos Sueldo, the man behind this channel, has been married for seven years and is the father of two. While not all of his content is about his marriage, when it is, you can count on it being honest and real, and probably involve him washing more than a few dishes. As a rising influencer in this space, he has around 200K followers.

You can also find him on Facebook.