NBC Insider Exclusive

Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more!

Sign Up For Free to View
NBC Insider TODAY

Al Roker, Carson Daly, Craig Melvin, & Willie Geist Got Real Talking Fatherhood

The TODAY co-Hosts had a really candid discussion about being dads in the modern world ahead of Father's Day. 

By Chris Phelan
Craig Melvin Compares 'TODAY' Crew To NASCAR
Video thumbnail
Now Playing
6:22
Highlight
Craig Melvin Compares 'TODAY' Crew To NASCAR
Video thumbnail
1:36
Highlight
Kelly Clarkson Gets Anne Hathaway 'Since U Been Gone' Redemption vs. John Legend
Video thumbnail
23:30
Highlight
Kelly Clarkson Celebrates SNL50: Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Bowen Yang, More
Video thumbnail
2:23
Highlight
Kelly Clarkson Meets Viral 'AGT' Singing Heart Telegram
Video thumbnail
3:35
Highlight
'Hold On Me' By MARIAH. ft. Raheem DeVaughn | Kelly Clarkson Show
Video thumbnail
6:09
Highlight
The Travel Mom Surprises Lucky Audience Members With Valentine's Day Vacations!
Video thumbnail
10:37
Highlight
Altadena Family Who Lost Home In Los Angeles Fires Gets Help Starting Over | Part 1
Video thumbnail
10:48
Highlight
'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy' Cast Share Valentine's Day Fails
Video thumbnail
2:40
Highlight
'Your Love' By The Outfield | Kelly Clarkson Kellyoke Cover
Video thumbnail
1:48
Highlight
Renée Zellweger & Leo Woodall Reveal Their Cartoon Crushes For Valentine's Day
Video thumbnail
0:52
Highlight
Kelly Clarkson Surprises Audience With Tickets To Vegas Residency!
Video thumbnail
3:23
Highlight
Kelly Clarkson Is Amazed By Hand Carved Books For Visually Impaired Kids
Video thumbnail
3:37
Highlight
Naomi Watts & Kelly Clarkson Get Honest About Friend Edits & People Pleasing | Kelly Extra
Video thumbnail
7:53
Highlight
Kelly Clarkson Meets Figure Skaters Behind Disney+ Series 'Harlem Ice'
Video thumbnail
6:02
Highlight
Danny Ramirez Talks 'Captain America' & Latino Representation In The MCU
Video thumbnail
12:00
Highlight
Christina Ricci Explains Tarot Readings & Teases 'Yellowjackets' Season 3
Video thumbnail
2:38
Highlight
'Another Love' By Tom Odell | Kelly Clarkson Kellyoke Cover
Video thumbnail
2:00
Highlight
Christina Ricci Has Beef With Ghost In Abandoned Insane Asylum

In honor of Father's Day, the dads of TODAY came together in a local Brooklyn restaurant to make a few pizzas, hang out, and, most importantly,  break down stereotypes about American fatherhood.

How to Watch

Watch TODAY weekdays at 7AM ET on NBC.

Al Roker, Carson Daly, Craig Melvin, and Willie Geist had quite the bonding session ahead of Father's Day. The TODAY cameras were rolling as the four men engaged in an emotional and candid chat about being dads in today's society — in between bites of pasta and pizza, of course. The conversation, aired during the June 14 episode of TODAY and can be seen in its entirety below:

Al Roker, Carson Daly, Craig Melvin, & Willie Geist talk dad life in 2024

Willie Geist Craig Melvin Carson Daly Al Roker talk over pizza at lucalis

One of the most prominent themes of the day was breaking down misconceptions about modern masculinity as a father. Daly — who has openly discussed his anxiety journey throughout his career — shared his goals as a father with four kids, and his comments resonated with the rest of his colleagues.

"It's OK to ask for help," Daly explained. "Cycles can be broken. These are the larger lessons of life that I love teaching as a father."

Geist has been a mainstay of NBC for nearly 20 years, and even the longtime TODAY correspondent revealed that his own feelings about being a dad conflict with being vulnerable as a human being.

"I think there's something old school about being a dad," said Geist, the father of two. "You want to, in their eyes, be the hero. And showing that kind of vulnerability, maybe you feel like that puts a little bit of a dent in that. But I think it's so important to do it and reveal that life is not all perfect. Things come up along the way. You are vulnerable."

The concept of breaking cycles came up often throughout the chat — the four men consistently brought up the differences between them and their fathers, with assurances that they try to parent their kids differently. For Melvin, his admission of being emotional in front of his children was a breath of fresh air.

RELATED: Here's Why Carson Daly and Wife Siri Pinter Sleep in Separate Beds

"They probably see me cry as much as they see my wife cry," he admitted. "And we're teaching them that it's OK."

One of the chat's most poignant (and fun) moments came when America's weatherman confessed his struggles over the past 18 months with feeling vulnerable in front of his kids. Roker underwent emergency surgery less than two years ago that was considered life-threatening.

RELATED: Carson Daly and His Wife Have the Most Beautiful Family Life — and Blake Shelton's Part of it

"You know, that was the hardest thing for me in the last year and a half: letting them see that I'm not invincible," Roker revealed. "Because that's how, kind of, our dads were."

Daly comforted the TODAY veteran like only he could — with a well-timed joke.

"You are invincible, by the way," he said. "It turned out you were right."

Sponsored Stories
Recommended by Zergnet