Carson Daly, the longtime Today co-host, has opened up about a parenting challenge that many might not expect: communicating with his 13-year-old daughter, Etta.

Appearing on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle on Monday, May 18, Daly admitted that while Etta is “doing great,” their in-person conversations are rare. “Do you speak 13-year-old? ‘Cause I don’t,” he joked, drawing laughter from the audience.

The host explained that connecting with teenagers often means meeting them where they are — and for Daly, that’s not face-to-face. “Six months ago, I tried Snapchat,” he revealed. “I’ve literally communicated with my daughter more via Snapchat than I have in real life.”

When asked if it actually worked, Daly smiled, “I can say, ‘Are you okay?’ and throw in a silly emoji. She’ll write back ‘LOL,’ and all these little things fly across the screen. As silly as it sounds, I’m connected a little bit.”

Daly, 52, and his wife Siri Daly are parents to four children: Jackson, 17; Etta, 13; London, 11; and Goldie, 6. He often shares insights about family life on Today, blending humor with candid honesty.

The conversation also turned to his “dating dealbreakers” for his kids. Inspired by Kylie Kelce’s podcast remark about avoiding Dallas Cowboys fans, Daly admitted his one hesitation might be a vegan partner. “Is that bad to say? Am I gonna get canceled for that?” he laughed, referencing a producer’s reaction off-camera.

He explained, “Food is a really important part of our family. If someone brought home a date who’s super picky — like, ‘I don’t eat anything — fish from the sea, cows that go moo’ — that would be tough. Like, I’ve got a Traeger [smoker], bro!”

Even amidst the unique challenges of raising teens and tweens, Daly’s blend of humor and honesty makes his parenting approach both relatable and heartwarming — reminding parents everywhere that sometimes, connecting is less about words and more about meeting your kids in their world.