Will Compton talks new ‘For The Dads’ podcast, lessons from ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’

While Will Compton played college football at Nebraska and then played in the NFL for nine seasons from 2013-2021, he’s arguably become more famous behind a microphone than he was wearing pads. Compton teamed with former teammate Taylor Lewan to start Bussin’ With The Boys in 2019 while still playing, and that podcast has since had a meteoric rise, including earning that duo a giant three-year deal earlier this year to leave Barstool Sports for FanDuel. And now, Compton is taking on another podcasting project with For The Dads:

That new podcast is officially launching June 11. As per a release, it will see Compton and co-host Sherman Stewart Jr. (Bussin’ With The Boys‘ producer) “diving into the beautifully chaotic world of modern fatherhood,” discussing everything from sleep deprivation to playdate politics to relationship dynamics both amongst themselves and with guests. Here’s a promo they dropped last week:

Ahead of the For The Dads launch, Compton spoke to Awful Announcing via e-mail on this new podcast, what he’s learned from Bussin’ With The Boys, and what he and Lewan took away from their time at Barstool. To start with, Compton said podcasting was challenging for him at first, especially while it was another thing to balance against the tremendous amount of work involved in being an active NFL player.

“It was a grind, honestly—but also a lot of fun. I kind of hated that I was creating a new priority that felt like it was competing with a career I’d always loved and worked for. There were times I felt like I was letting down that 10-year-old kid who just wanted to be a football player. I also knew I could be pouring more into football if I wasn’t splitting focus on the podcast.”

Compton said he was confident the podcast could work even early on, though. He said that showed up in the time he did commit to it, especially in the offseason or on off-days.

“I believed in it from the jump, even if I was terrified about how it would be received. I was figuring it out as I went. During the season, football always came first. But whenever we had an off day or it was the offseason, I was all-in on the pod.”

And Compton said launching this while he was still playing perhaps helped Bussin‘ break through, especially in an era where active athletes’ podcasts were less common. However, it did present challenges to juggle the podcast and his playing career.

“I think being an active player actually helped bring a different perspective and a level of authenticity. But balancing both wasn’t easy, especially early on, when we were recording in the back of a bus with no clue what we were doing, trying to fit it all around football.”

He said a takeaway there for him was that it was worth getting a project going even when conditions weren’t fully ideal, though.

“Looking back, it taught me a lot about betting on yourself and just starting, even if it’s not perfect.”

Retirement from the NFL definitely got Compton closer to what he wants to accomplish as a podcaster, though. He said that gave him the time and focus to really prioritize this new career.

“I’ve been able to go all-in. Before, I was trying to balance football and podcasting, and now I’m able to focus on the bigger vision and not just the podcast itself: growing a brand, building something that lasts, and being a better leader now that we have employees. It’s gone from being a side project to being a real part of who I am and what I want to create.”

And Compton said his Bussin’ experience has taught him a lot of valuable podcasting lessons overall, especially around connecting with an audience.

“Bussin’ taught me how to get behind a mic and be myself. People connect most with authenticity—where there’s no script or filter, just showing up and being yourself. I’ve also learned how important consistency and community are. When people feel like they’re part of something, they get in the trenches with you.”

Compton said he’s also gained many important lessons from the years he spent at Barstool.

“We learned a SHIT TON during our time with Barstool, and I’m grateful for that chapter and everyone that we got to work with. They gave us a platform to help launch us where we are today—but now we get to take all that experience and apply it to grow something bigger. We aren’t just building a show anymore – we are building a brand. We want to add shows, talent, and great people in-house to grow a real business.”

But he said the shift to FanDuel is working out great so far, especially in the level of control it provides for him and Lewan.

“It’s definitely different—but in a good way. There’s more ownership now, and more freedom to shape things the way we want without having to ask permission.”

For Compton, a key part of what’s helped Bussin‘ become that kind of show that can launch a business is the authenticity, honesty, and perspective he and Lewan bring to it. And he said it’s important for them to keep that in mind even though they’re no longer playing.

“The goal will always be to bring the locker room to life through our content and authenticity, whatever that ends up looking like. It’s about giving people a platform to share their stories and make an impact with our audience.”

He said that approach focused on authenticity, audience, and community will be crucial to Bussin‘s future, regardless of what else happens with the show.

“I’m not always sure what the next step will be, but I know the heart of it stays the same: be ourselves, give people a place to not take life so seriously, and enjoy the moment along the way. Whether it’s more shows, more creators, or different ways to reach people—it’s all about growing something that stays true to who we are.”

That community that’s sprung up around Bussin‘ has been a key part of its success. And Compton said he’s looking to build that same kind of community with For The Dads, particularly for fathers who may not have a lot of places to go for these kinds of discussions.

“With this new podcast, I want to bring that same energy and create a space that feels real, relatable, and a little raw, especially for guys who don’t always feel like there’s a place for them to talk about this stuff,” he said. “Parenting can feel really isolating at times. There’s pressures of work, staying steady, to be strong for everyone, to be supportive, and keeping it all together, because parenthood has this expectation of perfection when people talk about it publicly.”

That focus on publicly presenting perfection is an interesting note, and one that’s often shown up in podcasting due to the medium providing the ability to release a highly-edited product. And some in the space have certainly taken that further, emphasizing only ideal moments even on social media. Compton said he thinks discussions of lows and challenges can mean a lot, though, with that tying back to the lack of filter he discussed earlier.

“To me, it’s helpful when others talk about the struggles, questions we all might have, and the moments where we are just trying to figure it out on the fly. I think there’s value in this space where it’s not all about having the answers, but showing up, being real, and embracing the process.”

Compton said he was motivated to create For The Dads from consuming parenting content himself, and noticing an apparent void for this kind of show.

“I like creating things in spaces where I’m already a consumer. I’ve really been gravitating toward dad content and everything around parenthood recently. Whether I’m scrolling social media, listening to podcasts, or looking for a book, I find myself wanting to hear from other dads.

“I find that those things help me feel more prepared—like I’m not the only one going through it. That interest kind of sparked the idea: if I’m already looking for this stuff, maybe other guys are too. So why not create something that adds to the conversation?”

And Compton said he’s optimistic this new show will connect with a wide community of dads.

“It’s a show for the dads who are in it, about to be in it, or just trying to figure it out along the way.”