Dads Group Podcast

When Elly Taylor became a new mum—and a relationship counsellor—she was shocked by how much parenthood rocked her relationship. That experience launched her on a journey to help couples around the world strengthen their bond before, during, and after becoming parents.In this powerful online conversation, Elly, internationally recognised relationship and parenthood expert and author of Becoming Us, shares the real challenges couples face during the transition to parenthood—and how to navigate them together.Whether you're expecting a baby, already parenting, or simply wanting to build a stronger family foundation, this session will equip you with insights, tools, and encouragement to help your relationship thrive through one of life’s biggest changes.Let's make sure no parent feels left out or left behind.

This week we have the pleasure of chatting with Dads Group leader Alex Dugdale about his journey into fatherhood. Alex shares about the routine he and his wife have implemented into their parenting, and how they have seen the benefits play out in their family culture. Practical and impactful, we hope this episode will encourage and inspire you!

This week we have the pleasure of chatting with Dads Group leader Raj Pillay about his journey into fatherhood. Raj shares about the valuable lessons he learned along the way, offering insights that we believe will resonate with all parents. Join us for an honest and inspiring conversation on the joys, challenges, and growth that come with being a dad, and practical tips that might just help you tackle the same challenges! #DadLife #FatherhoodJourney #ParentingPodcast #DadsGroupPodcast #DadWisdom

Join us as we delve into vital conversations with Dr. Michael Herd, a renowned psychologist and trainer at Triple P. We're shining a light on perinatal mental health, aiming to break the stigma and spread awareness. If you or someone you know is seeking additional support, don't hesitate to visit the 'Get Support' tab on our website, dadsgroup.org, or reach out to Helpline. Tune in for an enlightening chat that's not just informative but also a beacon of hope and understanding in the world of fatherhood!

In todays interview we get the opportunity to chat with Dads Group leader Andrew Marmont, who is a part of the Dads of East Malvern group in Melbourne.  Andrew is an influential business coach and mentor, and there have been many dads that  have been built up and supported through Andrew’s involvement with dads group. Today Andrew shares with us how he navigates the ups and downs that come with fatherhood. I hope this chat builds you up at the way it did for me.

Today on the podcast we are joined by the one and only Steve Willis, who you may also know as "Commando Steve.” He is a well-known Australian fitness trainer, television personality, author and former commando in the Australian Special Forces. Steve is an incredible motivational coach in leadership, fitness, and personal development and were honoured to have him share his wisdom on the podcast this week. Steve touches on the damage that comparison can do to your parenting journey, and shares encouragement that we are not trapped in old parenting habits or patterns from our parents, but that we can change and learn as parents as we grow into our roles. We hope your are encouraged by this chat with commando Steve.

For as far as we've come as a society in framing fatherhood more positively, there's still bias and "norms" against dads. Michael Ray experienced this first hand. A single dad to his daughter, Charlie, he wasn't permitted to go back stage at his daughter's ballet recitals - even when every other child had a parent (i.e. mother) present. Michael's determination to be backstage and support his daughter spawned a bigger fight to enable dads to be primary caregivers. Michael's passion is explosive, as he leads the charge for dads to break the mould and challenge stigmas to become hands-on parents.  “When society talks about fatherhood in the same glowing terms as motherhood, inertia will be broken. When men are recognised and admired for their nurturing and raising of the next generation instead of their income, position, or power, a paradigm will finally shift.” ~ Michael Ray

There isn't a handbook for parenting - but that doesn't mean hundreds of experts, authors, researchers and mummy-bloggers haven't attempted to write the handbook. So, when you find out your pregnant (or when you wait until after the birth and try to catch up then), and you're standing in the bookstore or scrolling through Amazon, you quickly add "parenting book???" to the list of things overwhelming you! Which is why we do the podcast, and why we seek out incredible interviewees, like this week's guest Maggie Dent. While she openly admits to writing some of the aforementioned parenting books, she also knows how to cut through the guff and get to the heart of the conversation. In this episode we learn about a man's journey through various life stages and the many differences between boys and girls.

When you have a baby, you begin hearing about all the different things that could go wrong with bub's health. You start hearing about all sorts of doctors, therapists and specialists - it can be intimidating. Here's the good news: all of those people working in all those different roles are there for you and your family, to work alongside you for the best outcomes for your child. Take Carly and Pippa for example, our latest guests and the specialists behind the Brisbane Feeding Clinic. They've brought their skillsets in speech pathology and occupational therapy to help families through fussy eating and problem feeding. As you hear in this episode, their service is just that - a service. In the same way you'd go to a mechanic for their automotive expertise; you'd book in with Pippa and Carly for their extensive knowledge and experience in the mechanics of eating.

Something we've pointed out a few times on the Dads Group podcast is that you don't have to be a dud-dad to access a parenting program. The importance of such programs were the focus of our latest episode featuring Dr Matt Sanders. Matt is the mind behind Triple P - the Positive Parenting Program - which evolved out of research he commenced in 1978. Fast forward 45 years and Triple P has spread to over 30 countries, backed by more than 740 Australian and international trials, studies and published papers. It works. And the reason it works, as Matt explained in our interview, is that parenting isn't linear. As fathers, we'll be challenged to adapt to changes and shifts within our kids and families, and having more tools under our belt will help us give our best.