Brandon Miller is an expert in Strengths-Based Organizational Development, who has helped businesses such as Bank of America and Tesla implement leadership and company culture programs. 

He is also a father of 7, who has co-authored two books about Strengths-Based Parenting.

Brandon believes there are skills we learn as fathers that can help make us better managers and leaders in the workplace. 

In this interview, Brandon shares his story and explains some of the key lessons he has learned along the way. 

What you will learn

• The story behind Brandon’s business, 34 Strong 
• How organisations can apply strengths-based principles
• The three categories of time
  • Grind time
  • Greatness
  • Genius
• Brandon’s fatherhood journey, with 7 kids and 4 grandchildren. 
• How to manage work-life balance at different stages in your career
• Three ways managers (and parents) can be perceived by staff (and kids)
  • Advocate 
  • Adversary
  • Ambivalent  
• Leadership skills we learn as dads, that can also be applied in the workplace
• Why he and his wife decided to write a book about parenting
• What is Strengths-Based Parenting 
• What are some of the strengths we can look for in our kids
• The difference between core and growth strengths
• Unique strengths Brandon identified in his children 
• About Brandon’s organisation: ‘incredible parents’

More information
Show notes and links to the resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/56 

Will McMahon is an Australian comedian and radio personality. He co-hosts the KISS Network’s national drive time show ‘Woody and Will’ with his best-mate Woody Whitelaw.

On-air it’s mostly shits and giggles, as Will’s job is to entertain and make people laugh. But in his personal life, he continues to live with regular bouts of depression.

Depression is a mental illness that affects 1 in 7 people. And typically men are not very good at talking about it. 

This is something Will is trying to change.

Will understands how hard it is for men to let their friends and family know they are struggling, but he also believes it’s the most important thing you can do to help yourself. 

In this interview, Will shares his personal story of living with depression and explains why it’s so important to talk about it.

What you’ll learn

• The Catch-22 of depression – where the best thing you can do is to speak to someone, but it’s also the hardest thing to do
• Why he created the ‘share my mood’ app
• Some lessons from Roman Kemp’s documentary ‘Our silent Emergency’
• Two ways for society to tackle depression
  • Intervention
  • Prevention
• Tips to help guys talk to their mates about depression
  • Shoulder to shoulder activities
  • ‘The 2-okay rule’
• Things Will does to help maintain his mental health
  • Exercise
  • Meditation
  • Diet and lifestyle
• How the symptoms of depression show up in Will
• The power of vulnerability – why telling your friends about your depression is the best thing you can do to help yourself. 
• Resources men can use if they need to get help

More information
Links to resources mentioned in this interview, as well as further information about the guest, can be found at https://thedadtrain.com/55

Need help?
If this topic triggers anything and you need to speak to someone, please call LifeLine on 13 11 14 (in Australia) or an equivalent helpline in your local country. 

Jamie Keeling is a father to seven children in a blended family (yes, he needs a bigger TV). 

He is also a successful entrepreneur, business coach and former world champion in the sport of Taekwando, who once dropped out of college to tour Europe as a long-haired wannabe rockstar. 

So, as you can see, he’s had a diverse life. And he’s learned a few things along the way.

In this interview, Jamie talks about the challenges of raising a blended family and shares his thoughts on what’s really important in life. 

If you are offended by either strong language or strong opinions, then this is not the episode for you  

But if you want to hear someone tell it how it is and share their “no B.S.” philosophies on life, then Jamie is your kind of guy. 

What you’ll learn

• How Jamie ended up with 7 kids
• How being a stepdad is different from having your own kids
• Some hard-to-hear home truths about raising a blended family
• The number one challenge to be aware of
• The three really important questions dads need to ask themselves
• Mistakes he’s made along the way
• The work Jamie does with startup businesses
• How he grew his TickTock account to 30,000 followers in six months

More information
Links to resources mentioned in this episode are available at https://thedadtrain.com/46

This is the third and final episode in a mini-series about life lessons. 

There are lessons to be learned from any experience. And in this episode, Scott shares some of the valuable life lessons he learned from running his first marathon. 

These lessons included:

• A goal without a plan is just a wish
• Small steps will get you there faster
• Taking a rest will improve your performance

These lessons come from an article published on The Dad Train blog. To read the full article including the other 9 life lessons learned, please visit https://thedadtrain.com/45

To listen to the previous episodes in this series, please visit:

• Ep. 43 - Life Lessons From Farming, with Kane Brisco
• Ep. 44 - Life Lessons From Gaming, with Eric Siu

For more information about The Dad Train

please visit: https://thedadtrain.com

Or follow us on social @thedadtrain

Eric Siu is a successful entrepreneur who has founded multiple businesses and worked with leading technology companies such as Amazon, Airbnb, Salesforce and Uber. 

In his youth, Eric was not academically or socially successful, but he was a serious high-level eSports and poker player. 

He ultimately found how to convert his focus and success in gaming into a very successful career in marketing. 

In this interview, Eric shares some of the key concepts he learned from gaming that can be applied to other areas of life. 

What you’ll learn

• Why online gaming appeals to so many young men
• How Eric got into gaming from a young age
• Which online games Eric was involved with 
• The three things you want in life – Contribution, Health and Connection
• How eSports is now one of the top 3 sports in many countries 
• How parents can balance the benefits and risks of gaming
• What he wishes his parents would have done differently to connect with a teenager who likes gaming
• A few key concepts that Eric learned from gaming, such as:
  • The wealth ladder 
  • Thievery 
  • The Newbie Mindset
• How to apply some of these lessons to fatherhood
• What is Eric working on at the moment?
• All about his new book: Leveling Up – How to Master the Game of Life

More Information
Show notes and links to all the resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/44

Life on a farm can be tough, but it also teaches you some valuable lessons about awareness, acceptance and resilience. 

These are all things that can be applied to other areas of life, including your role as a father. 

Today’s guest is Kane Brisco, a dairy farmer from Taranaki in New Zealand, who has founded a business called Farmfit, to help support the mental wellbeing of his local community. 

In the interview, Kane gives a first-hand account of life on a farm and shares some valuable lessons it has taught him. 

Farming, fatherhood and philosophy – this interview covers them all. 

What you’ll learn

• Where the hell is Taranaki?
• A day in the life of a dairy farmer
• Kane’s family life with a wife and three young kids
• The story behind Farmfit – ‘no gym, no worries’
• Why so many farmers suffer from mental health problems
• The importance of community and connections for mental health
• Tools that Kane uses to manage his mental health
• Why he takes cold water trough baths in the middle of winter
• Life lessons he has learned from the farm
• Some of his most popular social videos

More information
Show notes and links to resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/43 

Compared to previous generations, today’s children have more homework, more adult-led activities and less free time to just play. 

According to psychologist Dr Peter Gray, this is a worrying trend that is having a negative impact on society. 

Dr Gray’s research shows that free-play is an important part of child development. It’s where they learn things like courage, creativity and social skills. 

In this interview, Dr Gray explains why it’s important for parents to step back and let their kids play, even (and sometimes especially) if it involves risk.

What you’ll learn

• Why Dr Gray decided to specialise in free-play
• His research into The Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts, where the children design their own curriculum
• What are the key features in the Sudbury education philosophy?
  • Mixing kids of all ages together
  • Staff are voted in by the students
  • All decisions need to be approved by a committee of students and staff
• About Dr, Gray’s book: Free to learn
• How child-led play helps children develop important life skills
• What are the negative impacts of too much adult-led education and play
• Internal versus external locus of control 

More information
Show notes and links to resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/42

“The warrior archetype is a strong, powerful, masculine archetype. He’s a great archetype for just getting shit done!”

Archetypes are universal, inborn personality traits that have been referenced throughout human history.

They were introduced to the field of psychology by Carl Jung, who identified twelve major archetypes, but also believed there was an infinite number of potential archetypes that could exist. 

An example of a masculine archetype is ‘The Warrior’ archetype, which is particularly useful when you need to take action.

In this interview, Nic Tovey explains why the warrior archetype is so powerful and how you can access your inner warrior. 

What you’ll learn

• About Nic’s new book: The (Re)Volutionary Man
• The Pillar of Potency – 4 step model:
  • Presence
  • Power
  • Passion
  • Purpose
• What are archetypes?
• What is the Warrior Archetype and how do we embrace it?
• Joseph Campbell’s formula for the hero's journey
• What are some masculine and feminine archetypes that we can all tap in to
• Why we need polarity in our relationships

More information
Show notes and links to references used in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/41

About Nic Tovey
Nic is a Relationship, Intimacy and Sexuality Coach, who wants to help people experience a rich, joyful and authentic experience of life through their relationships, their love life and their life’s work. He can be found at NicTovey.com 

Nic was previously on The Dad Train Podcast in episode 22 talking about Conflict and Intimacy In Relationships. 

Did you know that at least 1 in 10 dads experience depression or anxiety related to the arrival of a new baby? 

It’s a condition known as PPND – Paternal Post Natal Depression and it’s much more common than most people realise. Unfortunately, many men suffer in silence and never seek help. 

Howard Todd-Collins  is a psychotherapist who helps men deal with the emotional changes that occur when they become fathers. 

In this interview, he explains why so many dads experience PPND, what it looks like and how to deal with it. 

What you’ll learn

• Why Howard started specialising in Men’s mental health issues
• The Active Fathers Group – a men’s group that Howard founded for new dads 
• Why men neglect their mental health once they become fathers
• How your relationship with your dad can impact your fatherhood style
• How men experience hormonal changes during pregnancy and beyond
• What is Paternal Post Natal Depression (PPND)
• How common is PPND
• What are the symptoms and when do they appear
• What to do if you think you are experiencing PPND
• How to be more emotionally present with your kids

More Information
Show notes and links to all the resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/40

Hugh van Cuylenburg is the founder of The Resilience Project, an organisation that provides mental health and wellbeing programs to schools, businesses and individuals. 

In this interview, Hugh explains how the key concepts of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (G.E.M.) can be applied to fatherhood and why being a parent is a great test of your resilience. 

Hugh also shares stories about his family, his relationship with his dad and what’s on the horizon for the Resilience Project. 

This is a fascinating chat with an inspirational person, who is also a passionate father of two young children. 

For any parents out there, I hope you enjoy this discussion as much as I did.

What you’ll learn 

• How dad’s become part of a brotherhood
• The challenges of managing a 'threeanger'
• How being a father has tested his resilience. 
• How being a father has changed Hugh’s relationship with his dad
• Hugh’s dad’s story – immigrating from Sri-Lanka to Australia by boat
• How men can either follow in their dad’s footsteps or choose to take a different route
• Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness – the three key tools for resilience  
• How Hugh practices gratitude with his 3-year-old son each night
• The results of the Resilience Project’s schools program 
• The Imperfects Podcast with Ryan Shelton 
• What’s on the horizon for The Resilience Project 
• Hugh’s next book – a sneak preview into what it might be about

More information
Show notes and links to the resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/39 

At the age of 18, Richard Maloney was recruited to play AFL for the St. Kilda Football Club. 

Unfortunately, he wasn’t mentally equipped to handle the pressure of being an elite sportsman and his AFL career was cut short.

However, this set Rich on a journey of personal development to understand how the human psyche worked and reprogram himself to be more resilient. 

In this interview, Rich shares his story of personal discovery and explains the system he has developed that can help reprogram your subconscious mind and change your trajectory in life.

What you’ll learn

• Richard’s background including his behavioural problems at school, his AFL experience and his journey to find himself
• His undiagnosed ADHD and how it helps him be creative
• His work with elite athletes 
• The system he developed to help sports teams win premierships 
• About the two companies he has founded – Engage and Grow and Quality Mind
• Blokes United – a Facebook Group for dads with over 20,000 members
• How our subconscious is programmed during our first 7 years of life
• How to reprogramme your subconscious mind
• How to manage aggression and frustration 
• The importance of men talking with other men
• The law of attraction
• The link between the mind and the body – how Rich learned to predict injuries in elite sportspeople
• About his latest book: Stress-Free

More information
Show notes and links to resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/38 

Dr Warren Farrell is a political scientist, activist and author of seven books including ‘The Boy Crisis: Why Our Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It”

In this interview, we discuss some of the societal issues that are negatively impacting boys and contributing to what Dr Farrell calls The Boy Crisis. 

We also explore the important role that fathers play in the raising of children and why it’s so crucial for dads to be actively involved.

What you’ll learn

• Dr Farrell’s work on the National Organisation for Women (NOW)
• How he became known as the world’s leading male feminist 
• The research that caused him to switch his focus
• The myth of male privilege – how the feminist movement got it wrong
• What is the boy crisis? 
• How boys have fallen behind girls academically 
• How suicide affects boys and men so profoundly 
• How dad deprivation affects boys in negative ways
• The seven areas where dad style parenting is different from mum style parenting
• The developmental benefits of roughhousing 
• The importance of family dinner nights and how to structure them
• How to discuss controversial topics at family dinner nights and why boys love it. 
• The benefits to dads who get more involved
• In the event of divorce – the four must do’s

More information
Show notes and links to resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/37 

Craig Kessler is COO of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and entertainment companies. He’s also a father of three young boys. 

After realising he had a lot to learn about parenting, Craig reached out to his network and asked them to write him a letter on “how to be a good dad”. 

After receiving responses from a wide range of dads, including athletes, TV personalities, businessmen and civic leaders, Craig compiled the advice into a book, which became known as ‘The Dad Advice Project’

In this interview, Craig discusses some of the common themes he discovered and shares a few stories that had the biggest impact on his life as a dad. 

What you’ll learn

• About Craig’s career as COO of TopGolf
• His fatherhood story and what he has learned along the way
• What inspired him to launch ‘The Dad Advice Project’
• Some of the well-known names who contributed stories
• The three common pieces of parenting advice he learned from interviewing over 40 dads for the book
• Two parenting ideas that really stood out for Craig
• How other dads can get involved with The Dad Advice Project

More Information
Show notes and links to references mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/54

If you have pre-school aged kids, you’ve probably come across the concept of Montessori education. But if you are like me, you may not understand exactly what it involves. 

In this interview, with Simone Davies from The Montessori Notebook, we take a deep dive into the Montessori Method to understand how it can be applied in an educational context, but also how you can use the same principles at home to help develop creative, independent and resilient children. 

What You’ll Learn

• Who was Dr Maria Montessori?
• The history of the Montessori Method
• What age groups does Montessori apply to? 
• The current resurgence of the Montessori Curriculum
• Some of the cultural difference in parenting in the Netherlands
• How to apply Montessori methods at home
• The SHOW technique for teaching toddlers 
• How is The Montessori Method different from Reggio Emilia and Rudolf Steiner? 
• Resources available on The Montessori Notebook website
• Simone’s new book “The Montessori Baby” 
• Three other books that Simone recommends

More information
Show notes and links to the references mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/36 

Chris Anstey is a two times Olympian and former professional basketballer who played in the NBL, NBA and Europe. 

In this interview, Chris shares his experiences of living abroad with a young family, returning home, surviving two relationship breakdowns, learning how to co-parent his three kids and being happy as a single dad. 

What You’ll Learn

• How Chris almost became a professional tennis player
• His career as a professional basketballer in the NBL, NBA, Russian and Spanish leagues
• The challenges of living alone in Russia
• Becoming a father at 25
• Handling separation and custody issues
• Being a single dad and the importance of looking after yourself
• Chris’s advice for other single dads
• How tall people are subjected to bullying and how he teaches his kids to handle it
• The new book he is working on
• Some of the mentors who have influenced Chris along the way

More information
Show notes and links to resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/35 

Did you know that many countries now offer shared parental leave, meaning it is available for both mums and dads? 

And the average amount of paid parental leave in OECD countries is 55 weeks?

Compare this to Australia where it’s 18 weeks, for mothers only, and you can see how we are trailing the rest of the world.

In this interview, Emma Walsh, from Parents at Work, explains why shared parental leave is so important and the positive impact it can have on families, kids and dads.

What you’ll learn 

• The story behind ‘Parents at Work’
• Australia’s history of paid parental leave
• What parental leave options are available for dads
• Why some organisations are now offering shared leave
• Which Australian organisations are leading the way
• Examples from Nordic countries with family-friendly cultures
• The positive impact of men taking parental leave

More information
Show notes and resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/34 

One of the biggest challenges facing all new parents is the lack of sleep.

Particularly during the first few months, it can put a big strain on a relationship. And it’s not unusual for dads to feel a bit useless.

But as today’s guest explains, there are plenty of things dads can do to help get a baby to sleep.

Emma Purdue is the founder of Baby Sleep Consultant, who have helped thousands of parents with their baby sleep challenges. In this interview, she shares some of her best tips for how to get a baby to sleep. 

What you’ll learn

• Why sleep deprivation is such a big issue for new parents
• How long do newborn babies typically sleep for?
• How long before a baby can sleep through the night?
• How to survive the first few months with a newborn. 
• How a lack of sleep can trigger postnatal depression (PND)
• What factors help babies sleep through the night
• How to spot your baby’s ‘tired signals’
• How dads can help settle a newborn baby
• The 5-Ss to trigger the calming reflex
• What is the four-month regression?
• The three types of stress, including ‘positive stress’ 
• Emma’s top tips for How to Get a baby to sleep
• When and how to get help from a professional sleep consultant

More information
Show notes and resources are available at https://thedadtrain.com/33 

Did you know that men on average will die six years younger than women? 

And there is no justifiable reason for this. Most of the causes of premature death are things that could easily be prevented if men learn to take better care of themselves. 

The Movember Foundation is on a mission to tackle three of the biggest issues facing men’s health, which are: suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. 

In this interview, Liam Cavanagh from Movember explains how these issues are affecting men, what we can do to prevent them and how to get on board the Movember movement. 

What you’ll learn

• Liam and Scott’s experience at The Men of Moreland program
• The ALEAC Model for healthy conversation
• Liam’s new role as the coach of the Coburg Women’s Football Club
• The story of how Movember started in 2003 at a pub in Richmond
• The three big causes that Movember supports
  • Mental health and Suicide Prevention 
  • Prostate cancer
  • Testicular cancer
• This year’s “Know thy nuts” campaign
• “The most important mo you’ll ever grow”
• The four ways to get involved with Movember

More information
Show notes and resources are available at https://thedadtrain.com/32 

There are many benefits of mindfulness and meditation, but there are also many ways they can be practised. 

Experimenting with different techniques can be a good way to discover what works best for you. 

Chibs Okereke is a mindfulness and meditation teacher, who discovered his calling after suffering a good old fashioned nervous breakdown. This set him out on a mission to learn techniques that could help him improve his mental health and create a more balanced emotional state. 

What you’ll learn

• Chib’s background – from successful multimillion-dollar CEO to Mindfulness Coach
• The nervous breakdown that changed his life
• How mindfulness helped him recover
• What is the difference between mindfulness and meditation?
• Different styles of meditation such as Vedic transcendental meditation (TM) and mindfulness-based meditation
• How to teach your children mindfulness and meditation
• Technologies that can assist meditation such as the Muse Headband
• How to get started with a meditation practice.

More information
Show notes and links to references from this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/31 

Today I chat with AFL legend, Paul Salmon (a.k.a. The Big Fish), who played 324 games with Essendon and Hawthorn. 

His football achievements include 561 goals, two premierships, three All Australians and selection in the Hawthorn Team Of The Century and the Australian Football Hall of Fame. 

He is also a successful entrepreneur, businessman, husband and father of three, who is about to become a grandfather. 

In this interview, we discuss football, business, marriage, fatherhood and his son’s struggles with mental health, which has been the inspiration for Paul’s latest business venture.

What you’ll learn

• The early days, being recruited to Essendon at 15
• Why his knee injury was one of the best things that happened to him
• Which is the more difficult task – ruckman or full-forward?
• Paul’s business ventures including gyms, travel, hospitality and tech companies
• Lessons he learned from football that apply to fatherhood
• His son’s battle with mental illness and how they got through it as a family
• His new venture to create a mood monitoring technology to track mental health

More information
Show notes for this episode are available at https://thedadtrain.com/30 

Helicopter parents hover above their children, trying to protect them from getting hurt. 

And according to today's guest, it’s a worldwide trend that is contributing to increased anxiety amongst children. 

Lenore Skenazy, President of LetGrow.org, believes kids are more capable than we think. If we step back and give them more freedom, they will step up and work things out for themselves. 

In this interview, Lenore explains the cultural pressures that are causing helicopter parenting and provides some amusing examples of extreme helicopter parents she has encountered. 

Whilst there’s a fun element to this interview, it highlights an important issue. In order to develop resilient children, we need to give them space to be children and stop over-protecting them.  And dads have an important role to play in this process. 

What you’ll learn

• How Lenore earned the title of “America’s Worst Mom”
• Why she let her son take the New York subway alone when he was 9 years old
• What is Helicopter Parenting (also known as snow-ploughing or curling)
• What are the causes of helicopter parenting
• How helicopter parenting is contributing to child anxiety
• Some extreme examples of helicopter parents, including:
  • The mum who still spoon-fed her 10-year-old son
  • The boy who was only allowed to ride his skateboard on the grass\
• Why she founded the Free-Range Kids Movement
• Some of the programs offered by the Let Grow Foundation

More information
Show notes and links to resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/29

Kamal Sarma spent seven years training as a monk in India, before returning to Australia to embark on a successful corporate career. 

He has held executive positions at companies including McKinsey and AMP, as well as founding two venture capitalist businesses in the IT and biotech industries. 

As a young parent, he endured a difficult experience with the death of his first daughter when she was 3 days old. This caused Kamal to re-examine his life and look for his true calling. 

In this interview, Kamal shares some of the lessons he learned as a monk and how they’ve helped him in his career and his role as a father. He also talks about finding his calling and how it has helped motivate him to do more community work supporting the causes he believes in.

What you’ll learn

• Why Kamal’s parents sent him to a monastery in India
• What did he learn from his monastic experience?
• Why he and his son launched a not-for-profit: CaptivateTheFuture.com
• Kamal’s work with the RUOK foundation
• How the death of his first daughter caused him to reevaluate his life
• The one thing he’d do differently as a dad if he had his time again
• The importance of one-to-one time with each kid

More Information
Show notes and links to resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/28

Today’s kids have more stuff, are faced with more choices and have less spare time than any previous generation. For many kids (and parents) it can all feel a bit overwhelming. 

Meanwhile, we have record rates of ADHD, ODD and various other behavioural disorders. 

Kim John Payne from Simplicity Parenting believes that many of these behavioural issues are caused by our hectic lifestyles, which are causing children to feel stressed and anxious.   

In this interview, Kim explains the philosophy and research behind the Simplicity Parenting movement and provides practical ideas on how to simplify your life for the benefit of your kids.

What you'll learn

• Kim’s background working with troubled teens
• How he noticed similarities between PTSD symptoms of war veterans and behavioural issues in kids
• The common issues faced by kids all across the world
• Disorders he has treated including ADHD, ODD, OCD
• How to simplify your lifestyle to help your kids
• Why Steve Jobs didn’t let his kids use devices at home
• Why marketers refer to parents as ‘Purchasing Friction’

More information
Show notes and resources referenced in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/27 

The culture of fatherhood is undergoing a transformation. Dads today spend three times as many hours with their kids as they did in the 1960s. And traditional gender roles are being reinvented in incredible ways. 

Whilst this puts greater demands on fathers, it also presents a golden opportunity for dads to redefine the concept of a modern dad. 

Jeremy Macvean is co-founder of The-Father-Hood, an online business that offers support, advice and inspiration for dads.

As a single father of three girls, Jeremy understands some of the unique challenges and opportunities of the modern dad. 

In this interview, he shares the story behind The-Father-Hood, discusses some key issues faced by dads and explains why the workplace is an important environment to harness the changing culture of fatherhood. 

What you’ll learn

• The story behind the-father-hood.com 
• How the culture of fatherhood has changed in one generation
• How Australia compares to the rest of the world
• How organisations can help support the changing landscape for fathers
• Reasons why men don’t take advantage of parental leave options
• Which topics are dads engaging with
• Jeremy’s experience raising three girls 
• The importance of self-care for dads
• How to manage separation and divorce as a father
• How Matt Damon and Chris Hemsworth inspired The Father Hood book.

More information

Show notes and  links to the resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/53

Let's have a look at the 80/20 Rule (also known as the Pareto Principle) and discuss how this concept can be applied to our role as men, husbands and fathers. 

In this solo episode, I share a few examples of the 80/20 Principle in practice, including:

• 80/20 Self-Care
• 80/20 Relationship-Care
• 80/20 Parenting

Resources referenced in this show:

• Read the full article at https://thedadtrain.com/26
• Download the free eBook: 7-Steps To Be A Better Man, Partner and Dad
• Take the 'love languages quiz' here

FIRE is a worldwide community of like-minded people, who share ideas and strategies on how to reach financial independence and retire early. 

Generally, this involves a combination of aggressive saving (up to 70% of their income), investing in shares or property, and cutting their cost of living. 

By doing this, they aim to quit their jobs, remove themselves from the rat race and live off investment income for the rest of their lives. 

Today’s Guest is Dave from Strong Money Australia, who retired at the age of 28 and now lives in Perth with his partner and their dog. 

In this interview, Dave shares his story and explains how the FIRE philosophy has helped him adopt a simpler lifestyle, save money and retire early.

What you’ll learn

• How Dave reached Financial Independence in less than 10 years
• The lifestyle philosophy behind the FIRE movement
• How much you need to save to retire early
• Saving More or Earning More – what’s the quickest way to retire early?
• Shares versus Property – what’s the best strategy?
• How he and his partner live off $45,000 a year
• Dave’s top tips for living frugally
• Why he started blogging and podcasting

More information
Show notes and resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrainlcom/25

Whether to send your kids to a private school is a big decision. And if you want to have that option, it’s probably something you need to plan for as early as possible. 

In this interview, Michael Chew from Orange Wealth explains the typical cost of private school education in Sydney and Melbourne. He also provides estimates of what it is likely to cost in the future.

As you would guess, it’s a pretty scary figure. And for most families, paying those fees out of your disposable income is going to be difficult or impossible. 

Michael outlines three strategies that can be used to help finance your kids’ education and explains how you can reduce expenses elsewhere to help lighten the load.

What you’ll learn

• The typical range of private school fees in Australia
• What are some of the other related costs you need to consider
• How do people pay these fees (e.g. savings, income, family support)
• What are some investment strategies you can use to fund a private education
• Smart ways to reduce your cost of living
• Some common financial challenges Michael helps clients with
• And, a bonus – Michael’s whisky recommendations

More information

Show notes and related resources are available at https://thedadtrain.com/24 

Ben Ford is a seasoned marathon runner, personal trainer and fitness enthusiast who after becoming a dad, struggled to find the time and motivation to maintain his health and fitness. 

Realising this was a common problem for many other dads, he set up a blog called superfitdad.com.au which aims to help time-poor dads get the biggest bang for their buck with their fitness and health. 

In this interview, Ben shares a few of his favourite hacks that can help improve your health and fitness in the shortest time possible. 

What you’ll learn

• Ben’s own struggles with maintaining fitness once he became a dad
• The various fitness protocols Ben has explored including F45, Zuu, Tabata, Bootcamps and HIIT workouts
• 3 hacks to help with your fitness
• 3 hacks to help with your diet
• 1 hack for your overall wellbeing
• How to set up a home gym for under $100
• The apps and resources Ben recommends

More information
Links to the resources Ben mentioned in this interview along with detailed show notes are available at https://thedadtrain.com/23 

Nic Tovey is a Relationship Coach who helps individuals and couples improve intimacy, sexuality and emotional connection in their relationships. 

Nic believes that conflict is an important part of intimacy but something that most couples struggle with. In this interview, he explains why and provides tools and strategies that can help you deal with conflict in healthier ways. 

What you’ll learn

• What does a relationship coach do?
• Some common issues Nic helps his clients with
• The fundamental skills that we need in intimate relationships
• Why conflict is important in relationships
• How to do conflict the right way
• Why men are not very good with emotions 
• How to teach your children about emotions
• Nic's story of self-discovery and evolution
• The coaching programs Nick offers for couples and individuals

More information

Show notes and related resources available at https://thedadtrain.com/22 

Jesse Simpson had a rough start in life and a different upbringing to most of us. 

At the age of 4, he and his brother were removed from their family due to neglect and abuse by their biological parents and grandparents. 

They were then moved to a foster home and taken in by an amazing couple who provided them with a second chance in life. 

Jesse is now about to turn 21 and studying biomedicine at Melbourne University. He still lives with his foster parents, along with his biological brother and 4 foster siblings.

In this interview, Jess tells his story of growing up in a foster home and shares a very powerful lesson that he learned from his foster dad. 

Jesse's story shows that everyone can teach us something and that we learn lessons from both the positive and negative role models in our lives. 

What you’ll learn

• Jesse’s childhood experience of abuse and neglect
• How he took on a protector role for his younger sibling 
• What it was like moving to a foster home
• The incredible influence his foster parents have had on his life
• The most valuable lesson his foster dad ever taught him
• The important role and responsibility of a father figure
• How young people talk about mental health these days
• Jesse’s thoughts on the Foster Care System
• Jesse’s work as an ambassador for The Homestretch Campaign

More information

Show notes available at https://thedadtrain.com/21 

Today I share a list of 20 habits that I believe can help make you a better man, a better partner and a better dad. 

I’m not suggesting you should immediately adopt all of these habits, it’s up to you to pick and choose the ones that suit you best. 

Some you may already be doing and others may not be right for you. But hopefully, there are few ideas on the list that you want to try for yourself. 

These 20 habits are research-backed ways to improve your health, your mindset and your time management, so you can lead a happier and more productive life. 

More information

This episode is based on an article I wrote for The Dad Train blog.  

You can find the article, along with links to supporting research at: https://thedadtrain.com/20 

Sex is an important part of a healthy relationship but can also be a source of frustration for some couples. 

As today’s guest points out, it’s a topic that need not be taboo.

By opening the lines of communication and listening more deeply to our partner’s needs, we can achieve a more fulfilling and rewarding sex life. 

Nick Perry is a holistic lifestyle coach, who guides clients on the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of living authentic lives. 

In this interview, he explains how these concepts can be applied to relationships and sex. 

What you’ll learn

• Nick’s background as a professional surfer
• What led him to the field of holistic lifestyle coaching
• Why so many couples have unsatisfactory sex lives
• How relationships have a polarity of feminine and masculine energy
• How we can start to define sex more broadly 
• What we can learn from Tantric Philosophy
• How to connect with your partner in a way that will turn her on
• How you can make yourself sexier
• The importance of fun and play in your sex life
• The importance of communication and listening skills
• Why men are such bad listeners 
• What is “Men’s Work” and how you can get involved

More information
Show notes and links to resources mentioned in this episode are available at https://thedadtrain.com/19

Are you trying to raise a bilingual child? Or would like your kids to learn a second language, even if you don’t speak one yourself?

Whatever your objective and whatever the scenario, there are strategies you can use to improve your chances of success. 

Adam Beck is the founder of Bilingual Monkeys and has written a book called ‘Maximize Your Child’s Bilingual Ability’. 

In this interview, Adam tells us about his own experience raising bilingual children, some of the strategies he has learned along the way and how you can apply these ideas to help your kids develop their language abilities from a young age.

What you’ll learn

• Why Adam moved to Hiroshima, Japan
• How he has raised his two bilingual children
• The two key ingredients for raising bilingual children: exposure and need. 
• The number one challenge – when your kids only want to speak one language. 
• The different family scenarios and relative odds of success 
• What to do if you don’t speak a second language but want your kids to learn one
• Some other surprising benefits of helping your kids to learn a second language

More information
Show notes and resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/18 

Hadleigh Fischer is the founder of Resilience Agenda and is on a mission to change the way we think about Mental Health.

In this interview, we explore the next five tools in the Mental Fitness Toolkit, which are:

• Optimism
• Mindfulness
• Gratitude
• Reframing
• Perspective

These are skills that can be practised and developed to help build your resilience and proactively manage your mental health.

Hadleigh explains how they work, some of the research behind them and also how they can be implemented into your daily life so they become habits and rituals.

If you haven't heard part one yet, it won't be a problem. You can catch up afterwards.

More information:

Part one of this interview was published as episode 16

The show notes and links to all the resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/17 

Have you ever found yourself thinking – ‘I wish I understood what women want’? 

If so, then this week’s guest could provide the answer. 

Shana James has a masters in psychology and over 20 years of experience working with men to help them find love, rekindle the spark and bring intimacy back into their relationships.

Her clients call her ‘the secret weapon’ because she helps men translate women’s needs and understand their attraction and motivations.

In this powerful interview, Shana shares some insightful and counter-intuitive tips that can help men find the love and intimacy they seek, whatever stage of their relationship they are at. 

What you’ll learn

• Common issues that Shana helps her male clients with
• Some powerful skills that will help you in the workplace and in the bedroom
• How to tap into what your body is telling you
• How men can be more vulnerable without appearing weak
• How to master your attention and focus
• How to reignite the spark and bring intimacy back into a relationship 
• What is Nice Guy Syndrome?
• How to communicate your desires without complaining
• How men can reinvent themselves after divorce 
• What inspired Shana’s Ted X Talk about male vulnerability

More information
Show notes and links to all the resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/52 

Resilience helps you adapt and recover when faced with challenges, stress and adversity. It’s an important skill to have and fortunately, it is something that can be proactively developed.

Hadleigh Fischer is the founder of Resilience Agenda and is on a mission to change the way we think about mental health. 

Often, people wait until they have a problem or a diagnosis, before taking an active interest in their mental health. However, Resilience Agenda encourages us to take a more proactive and preventative approach. They want us to think about mental health in the same way we think about physical health.

They have created a Mental Fitness Toolkit, which includes ten research-backed strategies for building your resilience.

In Part One of this two-part interview, we cover the first five tools in the toolkit and discuss how you can apply these concepts in your life.

They are considered the 5 Pillars of Wellbeing and include:

1. Movement
2. Nutrition
3. Sleep
4. Connection
5. Mindset

More information

Show notes and links to all the resources mentioned in this episode are available at https://thedadtrain.com/16 

Part two of this interview will be published in episode 17, coming soon!

Joe Newman is the author of Raising Lions and he specialises in helping parents manage strong-willed children.

These are the kids who are often labelled as ‘problem children’. But Joe calls them Lions and he can identify with them because he was one of them.

Growing up with ADHD in the 1970s, he was lead to believe there was something wrong with him. But after leaving school, he learned to embrace his personality and has dedicated his life to helping children who are just like him.

He works with parents, teachers and therapists to help children overcome behaviour problems without undermining their confidence and individuality.

In this interview, Joe explains the Raising Lions Method and describes how it can be applied to everyday parenting challenges such as managing tantrums, setting boundaries, administering time-outs and teaching delayed gratification.

What you'll learn

• Joe’s childhood experience having ADHD in the 1970s
• How he started working with difficult kids in schools and summer camps 
• How cultural change has influenced parenting styles
• Why so many kids are diagnosed with ADHD and other ‘behavioural disorders’
• How to spot a lion
• What is “the raising lions” method?
• How to do time-outs the right way
• How to deal with tantrums
• How to develop confident, independent kids who also understand boundaries

More information
Full show notes with references are available at https://thedadtrain.com/15 

Glen ‘Doc’ Murdoch is a successful entrepreneur, coach and author of multiple books. He has trained, mentored and coached thousands of people around the world and inspires many with his enthusiasm and positivity. However, it hasn’t always been this way. 

After experiencing abuse as a child, Glen struggled with mental health problems including anorexia, bulimia and depression for over thirty years. 

He eventually managed to turn things around using techniques he learned from NLP and other personal development training.

In this interview, Glen gives us a raw and honest account of his thirty-year battle with bulimia and explains the exact three tactics he used to defeat it.

He also provides some insightful thoughts on parenting and the importance of having a balanced approach to fatherhood. 

This is an inspiring story with some powerful lessons to be learned.

What you'll learn:

• Glen’s abuse as a child
• How he found peace with his dad on his father’s deathbed
• His battles with homelessness, depression and multiple suicide attempts
• A 30-year struggle with anorexia and bulimia
• The important role the Cricket Club has played in Glen’s life
• Studying Sports Psychology and learning about NLP
• The 3 tools that allowed Glen to turn his life around in a matter of weeks.
• The 3 distinct roles of a dad: coach, mentor and teacher
• Why many dads struggle with “daddy guilt”
• The importance of having a passion and balance in your life as a dad.

More information
Show notes and related resources are available at https://thedadtrain.com/14 

Strength-Based Parenting is a style of parenting where you deliberately focus your attention on harnessing your kids’ strengths before you start trying to fix their faults or weaknesses. 

This may sound simple, but humans have a negativity bias, which means we are programmed to notice negative things first. Learning to focus on strengths, therefore, takes practice and skill. 

Dr Lea Waters is a world-leading expert in this field, which is a branch of Positive Psychology and she has published a book called The Strength Switch.

In this interview, she explains how to spot strengths in your kids, the different types of strengths to look out for and how focussing on strengths can also help address weaknesses. 

This episode is full of practical research-based ideas to help build resilient, confident and successful kids.

What you'll learn

• What is Positive Psychology
• How Lea overcome depression, an eating disorder and PTSD
• Why she moved into the field of Strength-Based Parenting
• The two reasons we are programmed to focus on our kids’ faults
• Three techniques to help identify and focus on strengths. 
• Different types of strengths to look out for 
• How to apply Strength-Based Parenting to kids on the spectrum or with ADHD
• Why focusing on strengths actually makes it easier to work on weaknesses
• How to deliver constructive criticism to our kids (3-step approach) 
• The role of fatherhood in Strength-Based Parenting

More information

Show notes and resources referenced in this episode are available at https://thedadtrain.com/13

Do you struggle with anger issues? If so, you are not alone. Many dads share this problem. But as psychologist Nick Wignall explains, anger is not the real issue and the concept of anger management is a bad idea.

Anger, like other emotions, is not something you can control. So trying to manage anger doesn’t work. 

A better strategy is to accept the emotion, validate it and try to manage how you react to it. It’s a subtle difference, but a very important one. 

In this interview, we discuss why dads often get overwhelmed with anger and react in negative ways such as yelling, becoming physically aggressive or ruminating and having negative thoughts. 

Nick provides some practical advice on how to deal with anger more effectively and how to teach your kids to deal with their anger.

This interview is a must-listen for anyone who struggles with anger or has children who are learning to deal with anger. 

What you’ll learn

• Why anger management is a myth
• Why so many dads feel overwhelmed by anger
• How we respond to anger in negative ways such as verbal aggression
• Why releasing your anger and ‘letting it out’ is a bad strategy
• How to accept your anger and manage your aggression
• How to break the cycle of ruminating 
• How to help your kids deal with anger in a positive way
• The 2 habits every dad should practise with their kids
• Why men are less likely to seek therapy compared to women
• Different types of therapy and how to choose the right one for you

More information
Show notes and references for this episode are available at https://thedadtrain.com/12

The Dad Train Feeling Wheel - a tool for improving emotional literacy, is available for download from https://thedadtrain.com/feelingwheel 

When you first become a dad, it can be a very challenging time. Something which can help a lot is to be able to talk with other dads who are going through the same thing.

Whilst local mother’s groups provide a support network for new mums, traditionally there has not been the same system in place for dads.

One group that is working to change this situation, is an organisation called Dads Group.

In this interview, I chat with Tom Docking and Adam Tardiff from Dads Group. We talk about why the organisation was set up, how it has grown over the past five years and how new dads can get involved with a local Dads Group. 

We also discuss some of the mental health benefits that can come from getting men to connect and have a conversation about fatherhood. 

What you'll learn

• Why Tom originally stated Dads Group
• How the organisation has evolved
• The Dads Group partnership with Movember
• How Dads Group has adopted to COVID-19 by moving their meetups online
• How they are working with local councils 
• What are some of the secondary benefits to society
• How Dads Groups can help support men’s mental health
• The annual “Man with  Pram” Father's Day Event
• How to get involved with a local Dads Group or set up a new one in your area
• What are the plans for Dads Group going forward

More information

Show notes and links to resources referenced in this episode can be found at https://thedadtrain.com/11

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a valuable skill for dads and is also something we can teach our children. In this episode, Scott shares five practical ideas to help you and your kids develop emotional intelligence.

What you'll learn

• What is EQ and how is it different from IQ?
• Why is Emotional Intelligence important?
• 5 ways to develop your own Emotional Intelligence
• 5 ways to teach your kids Emotional intelligence

More information
A video replay of this presentation, as well as a blog post with links to all the resources quoted in this episode, are available at https://thedadtrain.com/10 

Leroy has been helping dads regain their fitness and confidence for over a decade. The Fit Dad Lifestyle supports a worldwide community of dads who are on a mission to be good role models and leaders for their children. 

In this interview, Leroy shares his story of working in the military before moving to the fitness industry where he founded two group fitness businesses. He then became a dad and discovered his calling to help other dads live fitter and healthier lives. 

Leroy gives some great insights on how men can use fitness to rebuild their confidence. 

What you'll learn

• Why he founded The Fit Dad Lifestyle
• Their mission to help fathers regain their fitness and confidence
• Common reasons dads neglect their fitness
• What’s included in The Fit Dad Lifestyle App:
• How to set up a home gym for about $100
• Leroy’s daily fitness routine
• Recent changes in the business direction
• Launching - Fit Dad Fuel. 
• A big announcement regarding The Fit Dad Lifestyle app - it’s now free!

More information:

Show notes and further information can be found at https://thedadtrain.com/9 

The birth of your child is an amazing experience, but it can also be scary. It’s common for dads to feel a bit useless. That’s where Brian Salmon “The Birth Guy” can help. He teaches dads how to be better birth partners via his Rocking Dads Course and he has written a book called The Birth Guy’s Go-To Guide For New Dads.

Brian says the secret is to start well before you get to the birth room. Get to know your partner, show her compassion and get actively involved in the pregnancy. By being more engaged from the beginning, you will show your partner that you’ve got her back. And research shows that the more involved a dad is in the pregnancy, the more engaged they will be as a parent.

In this interview, Brian provides his top three tips for first-time dads, explains why mums can get a little crazy during the pregnancy (hint: it’s an evolutionary thing) and how men can show their partner compassion and get surprising benefits with what he calls his ‘Pregnancy Panty Droppers (PPDs)’.

He also gives advice on how to support your partner during labour, breastfeeding and beyond so you can build strong emotional ties with your partner and the baby.

What you’ll learn

• How to be a good birth partner - the secret is to start before you get to the birth room
• Why women get so crazy when they are pregnant - apparently it’s a survival skill :-) 
• How to make that transformation from dude to dad
• Tactics Brian uses with his clients to help them prepare for childbirth
• How Brian supports both dads and mums through childbirth in his role as a doula
• Brian’s top tips for first-time dads. 
• Why C-sections should never be viewed as a failure
• The importance of Oxytocin in the birth process
• Why there is so much pressure on mums to deliver a baby in a certain way
• Tips for dads to help mum while she is breastfeeding
• And Brian’s famous “Pregnancy Panty Droppers” (PPDs) :-) 

More information
Show notes and further resources are available at https://thedadtrain.com/8 

If you are looking for an easy way to lose weight, without losing muscle, then Intermittent Fasting could be the answer. 

What started as a trend amongst bodybuilders, has since become mainstream and is now used by many everyday dads as their preferred weight-loss or weight-maintenance strategy. 

The concept is simple. Instead of having to follow a strict diet and count your calories each day, you simply refrain from eating for set periods during the week. 

Brad Pilon is recognised as a leader in this area. He has done a lot of scientific research into Intermittent Fasting and wrote the original book on the topic, called Eat, Stop, Eat. 

Brad is a dad himself and understands the real-life challenges of dieting. In this interview, he shares his own experience of Intermittent Fasting and offers practical guidance on how and why it can be an easy and effective option for busy dads who want to shed a bit of weight. 

What you'll learn

• Brad’s first interest in Body Building 
• His 6 years doing R&D for a Canadian supplement company
• His graduate degree into no-nutrition (fasting) 
• How your metabolism is affected by what you eat and when
• How the body burns fat (not muscle) during fasting
• Other benefits of fasting outside of weight loss and muscle building
• Different ways of doing Intermittent Fasting
• How Brad manages his own weight using Intermittent Fasting
• Why IF makes sense for busy dads like Brad

More information

Show notes and resources for this episode are available at https://thedadtrain.com/7 

Matis Miller is a licensed clinical social worker and certified cognitive-behavioural therapist. 

He specialises in treating children with emotional regulation issues such as ADHD, ODD and DMDD. He also helps parents learn how to manage their expectations and acceptance.

In this interview, Matis shares strategies from his new book: The Uncontrollable Child

As a father of six and a therapist with over 15 years of experience, Matis has plenty of experience working with strong-willed children from all walks of life. 

Whether your child has a diagnosis or is simply displaying normal developmental behaviour, we could all use some extra parenting skills to help manage the situation. And that’s exactly what this interview provides. 

What you’ll learn

• What are some of the common diagnoses, such as:
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
  • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
• How to differentiate a behavioural disorder from normal development behaviour
• What environmental issues are contributing to increased rates of behaviour disorders
• How to harness a ‘behavioural disorder’ and turn it into a superpower
• What percentage of children have ADHD
• Is ADHD more common in boys or girls
• What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Top tips for managing an emotionally sensitive child

More information
Show  notes and links to the resources mentioned in this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/51

There’s no secret to happiness, but there is a science. That’s what today’s guest is here to tell us. Dr Melissa Weinberg is a Psychologist who specialises in ‘Subjective wellbeing’ and has done a lot of research into what makes people happy.

In this interview, Dr Mel explains the two different types of happiness and why we all have a base level of happiness that remains relatively consistent over time. She also explains how happiness can be measured and shares some interesting research from Australia and around the world into different country's levels of subjective wellbeing. 

You’ll learn about the seven domains that contribute to happiness and some useful buffers we can use to help improve our happiness. We also look at some research into parents, which shows that men with children are statistically happier than men without children - good news for all the dads out there. 

And…... find out how many children you should have if you want to maximise your level of happiness (statistically speaking of course :-) 

This is a fun episode with lots of interesting facts you can pull out at your next dinner party. I hope you enjoy it. 

What you will learn

• The two types of happiness
• Are people born happy? 
• Setpoint theory and homeostasis theory 
• What happens if we are too happy?
• How Do we measure happiness
• The 7 domains that contribute to our happiness:
• The world happiness report (produced by the UN)
• Which countries do well and why? 
• How to improve your happiness
• Research into the wellbeing of parents - does being a dad make you happier?
• How many children you should have to maximise your happiness. 

More info

Show notes, links to all the research mentioned in this episode, as well as book recommendations from Dr Mel Weinberg are available at https://thedadtrain.com/6 

“No matter how strong you are on the outside, you can’t do it alone”. This is Heath Black’s message to anyone suffering from Mental Illness. And he should know. As an AFL player, he reached his physical peak and lived a life many people dream of. But on the inside, he was crumbling. And eventually, it all came tumbling down in a public fall from grace. 

In this raw and honest interview, Heath shares his story of mental illness and how it almost drove him to the edge. He gives a first-hand account of being drafted as a professional footballer at the age of 17 and having money and stardom thrust upon him. He tells of his early struggles with anxiety and how his onfield career peaked just as his off-field life was falling to pieces. He then turned to alcohol as a way to numb the pain and developed an addiction to this and other destructive behaviours. This lead to a series of misdemeanours, including violence and drinking charges. Heath narrowly avoided prison and was ordered to undertake rehabilitation. 

Today, he still struggles with mental health issues which include ADHD, Bipolar, OCD and Social Anxiety Disorder. But through a combination of medication and lifestyle changes, Heath has pulled his life back together and now works as a Mental Health Advocate where he uses his story and profile to educate other people about Mental Health. 

Heath is also a Stay At Home Dad taking care of four children including one on the autism spectrum. And as you will hear, Heath uses his own experience to help teach his kids about emotions and mental health. 

Openly discussing mental health is an important way to break the stigma and encourage more people to seek help when needed. 

I’m grateful that Heath is willing to share his personal story and offer real-life advice to others in a similar situation. 

For anyone who has suffered from mental illness or knows someone who has, then this interview will help you realise that you are not alone and it is possible to seek help and come out the other side.

What you'll learn

• Heath’s early life and spending wild weekends with his dad
• Being drafted as a professional footballer at age 17
• Moving to Fremantle and his fear of flying
• Playing at St.Kilda with Robert Harvey, Nathan Burke and a young Nick Riewoldt 
• How his first marriage fell apart and ended in divorce
• His addiction to binge drinking and other destructive behaviours
• His public misdemeanours, losing his job and narrowly avoiding jail
• His mental health diagnosis
• Some of the medications and other therapies he uses to manage his condition
• His current life as a Stay At Home Dad with four kids including one on the autism spectrum
• How he encourages his family to discuss emotions
• His current work as a Mental Health Advocate
• Changes in attitudes over the last 10 years 
• Heath Black’s advice for anyone experiencing Mental Health Problems

More  information
Show notes and further resources related to this interview are available at https://thedadtrain.com/5 

Why do some people obsess about sleep and others seem to neglect it? 

Sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, just like nutrition and exercise. But as Sleep Physician David Cunnington explains, we need to be flexible in our approach to sleep.

As dads, I’m sure we all have times where we struggle to get enough quality sleep. But this interview will help give you some sleep strategies to set you up for success.

What you will learn

• Why is sleep important?
• What are the risks of not getting enough sleep?
• How much sleep do we need?
• How to manage a sleep debt 
• Why power naps are a good strategy to improve your performance
• How human sleep patterns have changed over time
• Why the 8-hour work, play and sleep cycle is a social construct - it’s not biological  
• Different chronotypes and understanding our natural biological clocks 
• How smart businesses are managing staff with different chronotypes 
• How to manage jetlag
• Common Sleep disorders that David deals with at his clinic
• Strategies for parents to be flexible with sleep when kids arrive

More info:
Show notes and resources available at https://thedadtrain.com/4

Research by John Gottman discovered four behaviours that were statistically linked to divorce. We discuss how to identify and manage these behaviours in your relationship. 

They have been labelled “The Four Horseman Of The Apocalypse”, which are Criticism, Defensiveness, Stonewalling and Contempt. And if these behaviours are present in a relationship, over time it has been shown to predict that divorce is likely. 

Now, don’t panic yet. Almost all relationships display some of these behaviours at different times. But if more than one of them is present on a regular basis, then it’s probably something you need to address. 

On today’s episode with couples counsellor Zach Brittle, we discuss ways to identify them, label them and manage them in your relationship. 

We also talk about strategies for date nights and nurturing your relationships once kids arrive. And to top it off, Zach shares a couple of very bad dad jokes!

What you'll learn

• How Zach stumbled into couples therapy and discovered it was his passion
• Zach’s training with John Gottman at the Gottman Institute
• John Gottman’s research in the Love Lab in Seattle
• The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse and how these 4 behaviours will kill your relationships if you don’t learn to  identify them and deal with them
• Why two-thirds of the problems in a relationship will never be solved
• How to focus on solvable problems and learn to live with unsolvable problems. 
• Why so many relationships have problems following the arrival of kids
• Strategies for keeping your relationship healthy
• How the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown could impact relationships
• The importance of having a ‘common enemy’ in a relationship
• Zach’s latest book – Marriage Therapy Journal
• And…. some of Zach’s latest dad jokes!

More info
Show notes and related resources are available at https://thedadtrain.com/3