Daddies by Man of Many

A tiny human enveloped in a massive car seat is a universal image of early parenthood. Bringing a baby home from the hospital marks the abrupt end of professional medical support and the sudden beginning of figuring it out on the fly, whether that means explaining the concept of gravity to a newborn or taking a three day old to a Canadian Pride parade. Wrapping up the first season of Daddies, hosts Rob and Marcus turn the microphones on themselves to answer listener questions. The pair reflect on their distinct journeys into fatherhood, from the emotional culmination of a years long surrogacy process to the slow, steady growth of a profound parental bond. They also tackle the practical realities of raising kids, debating the merits of baby heart rate monitors, the messy truth about reusable nappies, and the absolute necessity of baby wipes. Beyond the gear, the hosts explore how becoming fathers has reshaped their careers, friendships, and relationships with their own dads. Sharing vulnerable moments and terrible dad jokes, they look back on the lessons learned from their guests over the past ten episodes and offer a poignant reminder that parents are ultimately building memories for a future they will never see. Chapters 00:25 Wrapping up season one01:23 A blended Father's Day breakfast05:58 The transition to mint toothpaste09:05 Bringing a newborn home15:24 What nobody tells you about babies18:41 Experiencing love at first sight21:52 Overrated and underrated baby gear28:00 Nesting for non birthing parents30:02 Balancing fatherhood with a career34:40 The impact of kids on friendships38:06 Defending the podcast name38:52 Lessons learned from their own fathers42:15 Takeaways from season one guests44:56 Advice for expecting parents49:19 Being a memory for your children What to listen to next The Purple Wiggle | Big Strong John (John Pearce)It Takes A Village Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play. Find us Instagram: @daddiespodcastauTikTok: @daddiespodcastauFacebook: @daddiespodcastauThreads: @daddiespodcastauX: @daddiespodauWatch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmanyListen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46SEverything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies CreditsHosts: Rob Stott and Marcus HurleyProducer: Amelia NavascuesVideographer: Jordan YankovA Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.Join the newsletter.: https://manofmany.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Pearce, best known as Big Strong John from The Wiggles, reveals the hilarious and humbling reality of parenting a toddler while touring the world. From finding moments of peace in hotel room showers to dealing with explosive nappies, the children's entertainer proves that no amount of stage experience prepares you for fatherhood. Rob and Marcus sit down with John to discuss his accidental path to joining The Wiggles, how he balances his high energy persona with the exhaustion of raising his son Henry, and the unique challenges of touring with his family. The hosts also share their own chaotic parenting stories, including a particularly unforgettable travel cot incident in far north Queensland. The conversation explores how becoming a dad has actually changed John's approach to performing, the camaraderie among the parents at Hot Potato Studios, and the surreal experience of having your own child recognise you on television. Plus, a completely rigged arm wrestling match and some brutal dad jokes. Chapters 00:19 Welcome to Daddies01:08 Introducing John Pearce02:18 Meeting The Wiggles in real life04:43 Who is John's favourite Wiggle?07:31 Maintaining high energy on stage08:46 The great arm wrestling match10:31 Touring the US and Canada with a toddler12:51 Preparing for fatherhood14:06 Shifting priorities after having a baby16:45 The pressure of being Big Strong John19:04 Having fun in the background of recordings21:48 The worst parenting poo stories25:24 How fatherhood made John a better Wiggle27:46 Transitioning out of pull ups29:46 When your child recognises you on TV31:26 Closing dad jokes Our guest John Pearce is an entertainer and former member of Justice Crew who now performs as Big Strong John in The Wiggles. He is a father to a 20 month old boy named Henry. TikTok: @johnadamopearceThe Wiggles: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_WigglesJustice Crew: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_CrewHot Potato Studios: wiggles.fandom.com/wiki/Hot_Potato_Studios What to listen to next It Takes A VillageDads vs The Manosphere | Marc Fennell Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play. Find us Instagram: @daddiespodcastauTikTok: @daddiespodcastauFacebook: @daddiespodcastauThreads: @daddiespodcastauX: @daddiespodauWatch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmanyListen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46SEverything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies CreditsHosts: Rob Stott and Marcus HurleyProducer: Amelia NavascuesVideographer: Jordan YankovA Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.Join the newsletter.: https://manofmany.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a father takes his child out in public, he isn't babysitting and he certainly isn't giving his wife the day off. He is simply being a parent. Yet the persistent, well-meaning comments from strangers suggest society still has a long way to go in understanding modern fatherhood. Marcus and Rob unpack the realities of solo parenting, from the exhaustion of long weekends without backup to the sudden disappearance of the afternoon nap. Rob shares his experience holding the fort while his husband took a much-needed retreat to Bali, highlighting the relentless nature of parenting without a moment to hit the gym or unwind. Meanwhile, Marcus navigates the logistics of scheduling family portraits and musical theatre auditions around his 50/50 custody arrangement. The conversation then turns to the age-old proverb that it takes a village to raise a child. With families spread across the globe, grandparents embracing the grey nomad lifestyle and the traditional community structures of the past evolving, the hosts explore what a modern village actually looks like. From overseas surrogates to the cool dads at daycare, they reflect on the intentional effort required to build a support network today. Chapters 00:00 The privilege of solo parenting01:21 Assumptions about dads in public03:03 Shifting perceptions of fatherhood04:02 Accepting help as a single parent05:46 Winning family portrait competitions08:49 Holding the fort while your partner travels10:04 Surviving weekends without afternoon naps12:14 Auditioning for a musical theatre role13:26 Does it really take a village?16:26 When your babysitters become grey nomads18:12 Defining the modern parenting village20:25 Building a community takes intention21:41 An international network of surrogates22:55 What is missing from your village?24:32 Closing out with a dad joke What to listen to next Dads vs The Manosphere | Marc FennellSurviving Dad Burnout Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play. Find us Instagram: @daddiespodcastauTikTok: @daddiespodcastauFacebook: @daddiespodcastauThreads: @daddiespodcastauX: @daddiespodauWatch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmanyListen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46SEverything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies CreditsHosts: Rob Stott and Marcus HurleyProducer: Amelia NavascuesVideographer: Jordan YankovA Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.Join the newsletter.: https://manofmany.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A simple parenting hack to keep kids entertained with Minecraft and Pokémon videos on the living room TV can take a dark turn in just twenty minutes. Left to its own devices, the YouTube autoplay algorithm can seamlessly pivot from innocent gaming streams to Joe Rogan lecturing on weak men, plunging young viewers into the depths of the manosphere without a single click. Marc Fennell joins Rob and Marcus to unpack his new ABC documentary series, State of Man, which explores the inescapable and increasingly toxic online ecosystem targeting young men. Marc shares the terrifying results of a burner phone experiment that tracked how quickly social media algorithms serve up racist AI slop and misogynistic content to teenage boys looking for harmless fitness and dating advice. The dads also swap stories from the trenches of modern parenting. Rob recounts the traumatic dismemberment of his daughter's beloved stuffed rabbit, while Marc reveals his son's impressive but infuriating ability to crack the family's device lockbox and hack into Roblox. The conversation turns to the impossible task of policing screen time when parents are equally hooked, and how fathers can model healthy masculinity in a world obsessed with unattainable perfectionism. Chapters 00:00 Hacking Roblox and stealing money00:51 Introducing Marc Fennell03:54 The tragic dismemberment of Baba the rabbit08:16 Safe crackers and iPad lockbox loopholes12:06 Parenting with screens and boundaries17:13 State of Man and defining the manosphere18:54 From Minecraft to Joe Rogan in 20 minutes20:23 The burner phone algorithm experiment24:22 Navigating the internet with your kids30:58 What fathers can do to guide their kids33:28 High schoolers and the obsession with weights36:03 What women actually want in a man41:47 Body image and unattainable perfectionism44:39 Emotional regulation and talking it out51:14 What makes a good man53:15 Impasta noodles and terrible dad jokes Our guest Marc Fennell is a television and radio presenter who explores the online ecosystem of male influencers in his documentary series. What to listen to next Surviving Dad BurnoutFrom Gold Medalist to Dad | Ellia Green Support: If anything in this episode brought something up for you, help is available. Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. PANDA, for expecting and new parents, 1300 726 306. In an emergency call 000. Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play. Find us Instagram: @daddiespodcastauTikTok: @daddiespodcastauFacebook: @daddiespodcastauThreads: @daddiespodcastauX: @daddiespodauWatch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmanyListen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46SEverything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies CreditsHosts: Rob Stott and Marcus HurleyProducer: Amelia NavascuesVideographer: Jordan YankovA Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.Join the newsletter.: https://manofmany.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every parent eventually creeps into their child's bedroom to check they are still breathing, but few are met with a toddler faking their own demise. A routine check on a motionless child turns into a minor heart attack, only for the little one to reveal a giant grin, knowing exactly how to mess with a tired father. Rob and Marcus dive into the exhausting reality of back to back daycare illnesses, with Rob surviving a brutal month of flu, gastro and mystery rashes. The conversation shifts to the elusive concept of work life balance, exploring whether heading to the office is actually a break from parenting or just another demanding shift. Rob reflects on a rare three month stint of unemployment that offered a glimpse of true balance, while Marcus admits to slipping into a robotic routine during precious evening hours with his daughter. The realities of single fatherhood take centre stage as Marcus prepares for a holiday to Greece, battling the guilt of leaving his daughter behind. He confesses to falling into the trap of buying affection, dropping eye watering amounts at the toy store to overcompensate. Meanwhile, Rob shares the secret to his household's financial survival with a monthly budget date night, prompting a discussion on how to teach kids about money, the legacy of school banking programmes and the unexpected windfall of helping a stranger change a tyre. Chapters 00:00 A brief moment of panic00:51 A month of back to back illnesses02:13 The daycare immune system build up04:09 Preparing for a holiday to Greece05:43 The guilt of travelling without your kid06:43 Dropping the ball on family time07:55 Exhaustion after a weekend of parenting08:53 Is work a holiday from being a parent10:43 The robotic routine of evening chores11:54 Becoming the stereotypical single dad13:31 The monthly budget date night15:37 Teaching kids about financial responsibility17:34 Setting up a bank account for the future18:49 The irrational fear of a silent child20:06 What happens if a single parent dies in bed21:19 Waiting for the third breath Mentioned in this episode Bluey: bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000vbrk/blueyMollymook: smh.com.au/traveller/topic/mollymook-crlLego: lego.certifiedstore.co.ilMoney, Money, Money: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money,_Money,_MoneyMamma Mia!: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamma_Mia!_(Film)Kmart: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kmart_Australia What to listen to next From Gold Medalist to Dad | Ellia GreenOne and Done Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play. Find us Instagram: @daddiespodcastauTikTok: @daddiespodcastauFacebook: @daddiespodcastauThreads: @daddiespodcastauX: @daddiespodauWatch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmanyListen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46SEverything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies CreditsHosts: Rob Stott and Marcus HurleyProducer: Amelia NavascuesVideographer: Jordan YankovA Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.Join the newsletter.: https://manofmany.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retiring from elite sport, transitioning and welcoming a newborn baby are three of life's most monumental shifts. Ellia Green tackled all of them in the space of three months. Facing a wave of global media attention, the Olympic gold medallist found clarity and courage in the simple act of holding his new daughter, realising he never wanted her to think he was too scared to tell the world he was her daddy. Rob and Marcus sit down with Ellia to hear about his journey from dreaming of being Australia's fastest sprinter to winning gold with the Australian rugby sevens team, and ultimately finding his greatest role yet as a father. Ellia shares how the muscle memory of the rugby pitch surprisingly translated to holding a newborn and changing nappies, and reflects on the unique, beautiful bond he shares with his daughter. The dads also swap stories about the harsh realities of taking kids to highly anticipated events. From Marcus dropping eye watering amounts on theatre tickets only to leave fifteen minutes in, to Ellia's encounter with a terrifying eight foot Elmo in Philadelphia, it seems no amount of planning can predict what a toddler will actually enjoy. Throw in a butchered dad joke and a stiff pour of whiskey, and it is just another day of navigating life on the other side of kids. Chapters 00:00 The rugby ball baby hold01:04 Introducing Ellia Green03:08 Chasing the 100 metre sprint dream04:29 Leaving the cinema at half time05:57 A terrifying eight foot Elmo07:42 Scary parades at Movie World09:12 The shared experience of being a dad10:26 Growing up adopted from Fiji12:57 Transitioning and becoming a father16:11 Navigating mental health and retirement19:58 Applying elite sports skills to parenting21:33 Breaking the baby news to the team22:48 Reconnecting with the rugby sevens family27:34 Living in the moment with your kids29:51 Finding a community of trans dads32:15 Butchering the lactose intolerant cow joke Our guest Ellia Green is an Olympic gold medallist who played for the Australian rugby sevens. Born in Fiji and adopted by a Polish and English family, he transitioned and is now a proud father to his five-year-old daughter. Read more on Man of Many Why We're Launching 'Daddies', A New Podcast About Modern FatherhoodINTERVIEW: Anthony Minichiello on Fatherhood, the Roosters and Life in Lockdown10 Best Dad Blogs for New ParentsTesla Balance Bike Has No Motor, No Battery, and Runs on Toddler PowerOzlo Sleepbuds: The Father's Day Sleep Upgrade Dad Will Actually UseHow to Fix Australian Rugby What to listen to next One and DoneBecoming a Grandpa at the Age of 37 | Matty Acton Support: If anything in this episode brought something up for you, help is available. Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. PANDA, for expecting and new parents, 1300 726 306. In an emergency call 000. Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play. Find us Instagram: @daddiespodcastauTikTok: @daddiespodcastauFacebook: @daddiespodcastauThreads: @daddiespodcastauX: @daddiespodauWatch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmanyListen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46SEverything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies CreditsHosts: Rob Stott and Marcus HurleyProducer: Amelia NavascuesVideographer: Jordan YankovA Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.Join the newsletter.: https://manofmany.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a child throws a public tantrum, the most effective response might just be lying down next to them on the floor and whispering softly that everyone is looking at them. It is a bold strategy that leaves a lasting impression, even if it instils a lifetime of crippling insecurity. Marcus and Rob tackle the complex realities of modern fatherhood, starting with the deeply personal choice to be a 'one and done' family. Rob opens up about the expensive and emotionally taxing surrogacy process that brought his daughter Billy into the world, and the annual subscription-like decision of whether to keep leftover embryos in storage. Marcus reflects on the financial and emotional bandwidth required to raise his daughter Sabrina, noting that dedicating 99 percent of his time to one child feels like the least selfish thing a parent can do. The conversation shifts to the inevitable and heavy questions children eventually ask. From explaining why parents live in different houses to navigating the reality of growing up with two dads, the hosts explore how they plan to tackle these complex truths. They also confront the daunting task of explaining death to a toddler, sharing stories of one-eyed pet fish and beloved family dogs shuffling off the mortal coil, all while debating the fine line between protecting their kids and being completely honest. Chapters 00:00 The tantrum whisperer01:09 The anatomy of a dad joke04:12 Deciding to be one and done04:48 The human subscription of embryos06:21 Navigating only child stereotypes08:46 The Guardian on compassionate parenting11:09 The joy and pain of kids craft14:50 The true financial cost of parenting19:46 Explaining separate houses to kids21:04 Growing up with two dads23:02 Time magazine on questions dads want26:49 Explaining death through a pet fish30:08 The Finding Nemo parenting dilemma References ‘One and done’ parents are some of the most thoughtful and compassionate I have met, the Guardian, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, 31 March 20239 Questions Dads Wish Their Kids Would Ask Them, TIME, Angela Haupt, 18 June 2026 Mentioned in this episode Play-Doh: playdohstore.comLego: lego.comMoana: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moana_(2016_film)Disney on Ice: disneyonice.comFinding Nemo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finding_Nemo Read more on Man of Many Why We're Launching 'Daddies', A New Podcast About Modern FatherhoodThe 'Co-Worker' Trap: An Expert Guide to Rebuilding Intimacy After KidsINTERVIEW: Anthony Minichiello on Fatherhood, the Roosters and Life in Lockdown10 Best Dad Blogs for New ParentsLouis Theroux's 'Manosphere' Doco Is Compulsory Viewing for Dads Everywhere100+ Best Dad Jokes, Ranked by Cringe/Pun Level What to listen to next Becoming a Grandpa at the Age of 37 | Matty ActonGay Dad, Single Dad Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play. Find us Instagram: @daddiespodcastauTikTok: @daddiespodcastauFacebook: @daddiespodcastauThreads: @daddiespodcastauX: @daddiespodauWatch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmanyListen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46SEverything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies CreditsHosts: Rob Stott and Marcus HurleyProducer: Amelia NavascuesVideographer: Jordan YankovA Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.This episode includes AI-generated content.Join the newsletter.: https://manofmany.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 50 cent piece, a kid jumping on a bed, and an 18 year old who had been left alone with someone else's son for the very first time. Matty got the coin out. Then the boy looked up at him with tears in his eyes and said: let's not tell mummy. Matty Acton is one third of Stav, Abby & Matt on B105 Brisbane breakfast. He met his now wife when he was 18 and she was 22, with a three year old son. His original position was that he did not want a serious relationship with someone who had a child. He has now spent his entire adult life as a parent. That three year old is 24. He married at 20 and he is a father, which makes Matty a grandfather at 37. He talks about what that did to the way he sees himself, why he loves telling people about it, and the stigma that still lands on anyone who has children young. He also has a 12 year old son and a nine year old daughter, so the house now runs two sets of rules: one for his kids, and effectively none for his granddaughter. In between are the parts nobody puts on Instagram. A major crash out in front of his son's mate on a Sunday morning, over what time the bikes had to be home. Moving a kid to a new school every two years for a radio career, and the one move they decided not to make. Finding out your son is proposing while you are in line for your fourth bottle at a food and wine festival. And what he says he has actually learned across three kids and every one of his adult years, which is smaller and better than any of it: they just want to know that when they put their head on the pillow, someone is there who loves them. Plus the dad joke round, which Rob and Marcus handle badly. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: a 50 cent piece and a secret00:45 Welcome, and a guest who is a granddaddy02:15 Pop, Papa or Bob: what the grandkids call you03:09 A major crash out in front of his mate05:15 Three kids, 24, 12 and nine, all different06:21 What every kid actually wants08:31 He was 18, she was 22, her son was three11:52 Meeting the kid: friend first, dad later13:31 The night he babysat alone for the first time15:29 Was that the moment you became a dad?17:03 Moving house every two years for radio20:22 The phone call: he is proposing at 2023:15 Advice they don't want, and listening instead24:30 A grandfather at 37, and the stigma of it26:21 Granddaughter rules versus kid rules28:14 The dad joke round Our guest Matty Acton co-hosts Stav, Abby & Matt, the breakfast show on B105 Brisbane, alongside Stav Davidson and Abby Coleman. He became a stepdad at 18, has three children, and became a grandfather at 37. Instagram: @mattyactonTikTok: @mattyactonX: @mattyactonFacebook: @MattyActonListen to Stav, Abby & Matt on B105 Brisbane: listnr.com/stations/b105 Read more on Man of Many Why We're Launching 'Daddies', A New Podcast About Modern Fatherhood100+ Best Dad Jokes, Ranked by Cringe/Pun LevelWe Asked Aussie Men How Life Is Going. This Is What You Told Us10 Best Dad Blogs for New ParentsThe 2025 'Adolescent Man Box' ReportPaging Doctor Dad: Real Fathers, Real Stories, Real Advice What to listen to next Gay Dad, Single DadHow Your Brain Changes When You Become A Dad Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play. Find us Instagram: @daddiespodcastauTikTok: @daddiespodcastauFacebook: @daddiespodcastauThreads: @daddiespodcastauX: @daddiespodauWatch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmanyListen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46SEverything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies CreditsHosts: Rob Stott and Marcus HurleyProducer: Amelia NavascuesVideographer: Jordan YankovA Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.Join the newsletter.: https://manofmany.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob and Marcus have worked together for years and had never really told each other how they became dads. This is the episode where they do. Rob Stott is raising a daughter, Billie, with his husband. She was born via surrogacy in Canada during COVID, which meant the first time they met their surrogate in person was when they flew over for the birth. He explains why Australian law pushed them overseas, why it is the surrogate who chooses the parents rather than the other way round, what altruistic surrogacy actually means, and why Billie now has half siblings around the world and a girl in Melbourne born from the same womb. Marcus Hurley was married for five years, has a daughter he calls Beano, and instigated the separation. He describes how long it took before he could say the words "single dad", the fifty-fifty week he calls his bipolar life, the guilt that arrives folded into the relief of a night off, and the moment his daughter drew the family and wrote "daddy" twice. Between them they land on the thing nobody says out loud. Nearly one in three Australian children are not growing up in a conventional family household, and both these men did. Then the community questions, which are as blunt as you would expect. Did the two of you just do your business in a cup? What if the surrogate wants to keep the baby? And what happens to dating when you are only free every second week. Chapters00:00 Cold open: the turkey baster question00:08 Meet Rob and Marcus01:04 Rob's story: two dads, one daughter, Canada02:38 Meeting your surrogate for the first time04:06 "She chose us": how the matching works04:48 The woman who carried Billie05:55 Half siblings, and the girl from the same womb07:14 What altruistic surrogacy actually means08:10 Marcus's story: five years, then divorce09:14 How long it takes to say "single dad"10:49 The bipolar week, and guilt inside relief14:06 Nearly 1 in 3 kids are not "traditional"16:30 Two dads, no gender roles, splitting nights17:47 Dad, Pop, Papa and Bop19:07 The stepdad, and the drawing with two daddies21:30 Community questions: the cup, the paternity test26:27 Dating, and being "custody aligned"32:33 Your ex is engaged, and you find out on FaceTime ReferencesNearly one in three children growing up in non-conventional family households, UNSW Sydney, 20 August 2024, reporting the Uniting Families Report from UNSW's Social Policy Research Centre and Uniting NSW.ACT What to listen to nextHow Your Brain Changes When You Become A Dad Support: If anything in this episode brought something up for you, help is available. Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. PANDA, for expecting and new parents, 1300 726 306. In an emergency call 000. Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play. Find us Instagram: @daddiespodcastau TikTok: @daddiespodcastau Facebook: @daddiespodcastau Threads: @daddiespodcastau X: @daddiespodau Watch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmany Listen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711 Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S Everything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies CreditsHosts: Rob Stott and Marcus HurleyProducer: Amelia NavascuesVideographer: Jordan YankovA Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.Join the newsletter.: https://manofmany.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob swore at a driver in Newtown. Then he heard a small voice repeat it, word for word, from the back seat. That is roughly where this show begins. In the first episode of Daddies, Rob Stott and Marcus Hurley take a BBC piece on "dad brain" and test it against their own experience. The research says fatherhood physically rewires you: testosterone drops, and drops further in dads doing more of the caring. Oxytocin rises, especially through play and physical contact. Rob's daughter Billie was born via surrogacy in Canada during COVID, which meant meeting their surrogate over Zoom and watching every scan from the other side of the world. He then took eighteen months off work as the primary carer. The research says gay dads doing primary care show the same brain activation as mothers, and Rob has thoughts on whether that matches what he actually felt, and when. Marcus co-parents on a fifty-fifty split and describes the weekly switch between being a dad and being a single man, the morning his ex-wife held an engagement ring up to the camera while he was camping, and the mate who asked him how it made him feel. Plus the change nobody warns you about, which is not the nappies. It is your friendships. Chapters 00:00 The word Billie wouldn't stop saying 00:12 Meet Rob and Marcus 01:12 TMI: Rob swears, Billie repeats it 04:39 How a 50/50 fortnight actually works 05:16 An engagement ring over FaceTime 06:45 Meeting your daughter's stepdad 08:04 Change: the BBC 'Dad Brain' article 09:20 Testosterone drops, oxytocin spikes 10:54 Surrogacy in Canada, over Zoom 11:48 Gay dads and 18 months of primary care 13:13 The change nobody warns you about 15:56 What do you miss from before? 18:24 What did you just say? 20:23 The secret candle ReferencesDad brains: How fatherhood rewires the male mind, BBC Future, 18 April 2026 Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play. Find us Instagram: @daddiespodcastau TikTok: @daddiespodcastau Facebook: @daddiespodcastau Threads: @daddiespodcastau X: @daddiespodau Watch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmany Listen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711 Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S Everything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies CreditsHosts: Rob Stott and Marcus HurleyProducer: Amelia NavascuesVideographer: Jordan YankovA Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.Join the newsletter.: https://manofmany.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.