2 Dads 1 Car

“How can I practice self-awareness, and use that self-awareness to explore how I’m teaching my kids to grow up as men in our world? I feel like that is modern fatherhood.” -Jesse Robbins

Hello friends! Thanks so much for tuning into this episode of 2 Dads 1 Car! This episode was recorded in Seattle, where our guest today is Jesse Robbins, a good friend of mine who currently runs a Krav Maga school in Seattle and is the very proud father of two young boys.

Today’s episode focuses on Jesse’s journey in fatherhood and self-discovery while going through a turbulent divorce. Touching on the pertinent role of masculinity and emotional vulnerability in his healing journey, Jesse contextualizes his path towards self-acceptance and resilience through his expressions of love for his children, and his unwavering sense of responsibility as a father. This episode ends with a powerful message on loneliness as an epidemic, the crucial need for community and connection for fathers, and Jesse’s personal experiences of support from his friends and rebirth through empowering others.

Thank you all so much for joining us on this episode of 2 Dads 1 Car, and big shout-out to Jesse for sharing his time and story with us. Please visit our website on 2dads1car.com for the latest updates, and feel free to leave a comment below to keep the conversation going! I hope you love this episode!

Credits:

Podcast Guest: Jesse Robbins

Podcast Host; Steven Ngo

Podcast Producer: Baron Hsueh

“In this world, there is so much chaos, so much in-fighting, so many different things happening, but when we work and approach our days from a place of love and kindness, when I’m interacting with my daughter from a place of love, it just changes everything” -Steven Ngo

Hello friends! Thank you for tuning into 2 Dads 1 Car. Just to change the pace a little bit, this episode’s special guest is: me! Since my daughter’s third birthday has just passed, I wanted to take this time to thoughtfully reflect on the lessons I’ve learned, experiences I’ve internalized, and memories I’m looking back on during these last three years as a father.

In this episode, I revisit a few of the most important insights I gained from my conversations with previous podcast guests, including the ways in which I have engaged with the relationship between discomfort and growth as a father, the importance of time management when dealing with the unexpected curveballs of life, and the conscious navigation of energy in a social interaction, especially with your children. This episode concludes with a few words on the increasing role of technology in our children’s lives, the importance of remaining spiritually aligned with our parental roles, and how we as parents can strive to become better people.

I would like to extend a sincere thank you for every guest who has taken the time to be on my podcast and share their life experiences and stories with me. It is truly during these moments when I am reminded of the purpose of this podcast, which is to create a safe and open community to share the untold truths and unique experiences of fatherhood. Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of 2 Dads 1 Car. Please check out our website at 2dads1car.com. I hope you enjoy this episode!

Credits:

Podcast Host: Steven Ngo

Podcast Producer: Baron Hsueh

“You gotta be the friend, the teacher, the coach, the mentor. You have to be all these different things because that’s what a modern dad should be.” -Ron Lo

Hi friends! Thank you for joining us on this new episode of 2 Dads 1 Car! Our special guest today is a very good friend of mine, Ron Lo, who happened to be in town from Calgary and has been a long-time inspiration and mentor of mine as the father to two young boys, a thriving legal professional, and family man.

In this conversation, Ron and I dissect the concept of fatherhood by exploring the array of identities that are encompassed within a modern definition of what it means to be a parent. While discussing our parental identities as providers, mentors, and leaders of our children, Ron and I also explore the importance of maintaining our relationship with our children by remaining cognizant of these distinct responsibilities and how sympathetic reactions can support our children’s journey to understanding themselves. Offering a psychological perspective on the conversation, Ron also describes the importance of fostering intimacy with your partner, and consciously finding the time to be present even while working on the monumental task of raising children.

Thank you all for your continued support of 2 Dads 1 Car! Please check out our website at 2dads1car.com, and I hope you love this episode!

Credits:

Podcast Guest: Ron Lo

Podcast Host: Steven Ngo

Podcast Producer: Baron Hsueh

“Making sure that you do what little you can to make sure you hold onto the parts of you that are not just being a father, I think that’s going to be super important.” -Alex Su

Hello friends! Thanks so much for joining us on this episode of 2 Dads 1 Car (the very first recorded outside of Vancouver!). Our special guest today is Alex Su, a thought leader in the community, familiar face for those who are on the legal side of TikTok, and dedicated father to a young daughter and son.

In our conversation, Alex and I delve into the challenges we’ve faced when trying to balance parenthood with our careers. As he recounts his vibrant career in the legal industry, Alex shares valuable insights and stories about the different ways in which life as a father has diverted and inspired his work in unexpected and exciting ways. To conclude this episode, Alex and I extend our discussion of networking as a community-building tool towards fatherhood, and contemplate some unique ideas on what it would be like to build a community of dads to share each others’ experiences and insights into parenting.

Thank you for tuning into 2 Dads 1 Car! Please visit our website at 2dads1car.com for the latest updates, and feel free to leave a comment on Spotify to keep the discussion going! I hope you enjoy this episode!

Credits:

Podcast Guest: Alex Su

Podcast Host: Steven Ngo

Podcast Producer: Baron Hsueh

“Have I fully grieved, compensated, and dealt with this? No, absolutely not. But part of dealing with it is not forgetting; remembering, and sharing with the boys.” -James Chang

Hello friends! Thank you for tuning in to this new episode of 2 Dads 1 Car. Our special guest today is James Chang, a great friend of mine from the Bay Area who is a thriving leader of his community, bona fide family man, and the father to two young, curious, and energetic boys.

During our conversation, James and I explore our common experience of family loss as fathers. While bonding over our journeys through grief and mourning, our discussion shifts towards the difficult question of how to address the topic of loss with our children as it inevitably occurs throughout our lives. As we contemplate the critical balance between treating death with compassion and honesty, James and I reflect on the beautiful, devastating, and inspiring ways in which our lost loved ones live on through the stories, memories, and lives we share with our children.

Thank you for joining us on this particularly meaningful episode of 2 Dads 1 Car; I appreciate you for joining us on this journey. Please check out our new website at 2dads1car.com, and I hope you enjoy this episode!

Credits:

Podcast Guest: James Chang

Podcast Host: Steven Ngo

Podcast Producer: Baron Hsueh

“I feel like I’m entering into the ‘funnest’ period so far. The teaching, doing activities with them, and learning: what are the necessary skills to figure out this world?” - Eric Wong

Hello friends! Thank you for listening to our newest episode of 2 Dads 1 Car. Our very special guest today is Eric Wong, a new friend of mine who is actively involved in the Vancouver community, has two young daughters (a certified girl-dad!), and had recently moved back to Vancouver after a few years living and working in the Bay Area.

Eric offers unique insights into the logistics, expectations, and surprises of raising children in two similar yet very different environments. As we discuss the distinct cultures around parenthood in North America, Eric and I reflect on the pressures of achievement and prestige that were prevalent in our childhoods, as well as how that impacts us as role models for our children. Concluding on the topic of leadership, Eric and I talk about the importance of recognizing success as a diversity of experiences, and our role as parents to nurture and guide our children as they embark on understanding what it means to live a successful life.

Thank you all so much for tuning in to this episode of 2 Dads 1 Car! Please check us out at our new website at 2dads1car.com. I hope you enjoy this episode!

Credits:

Podcast Guest: Eric Wong

Podcast Host: Steven Ngo

Podcast Producer: Baron Hsueh

“When you’re in any sort of commitment, there is sacrifice, but you’re not sacrificing your goals, dreams, or vision, you’re just merging them with someone else’s” -Daniel To

Hello friends! Thanks for tuning in to this new episode of 2 Dads 1 Car. I’m thrilled to introduce you to Daniel To: community leader, educator, father to two brilliant children, and personal mentor of mine for many, many years.

In this conversation, Daniel and I candidly discuss the challenges that occur in relationships upon having children, and the importance of remaining engaged and committed to our families on a spiritual level. As we acknowledge the unique experiences, backgrounds, and beliefs of all families, Daniel and I contemplate a few essential features of a successful parent and partner, including sacrifice, intent, and trust.

As the District Principal of the Surrey School District, Daniel also runs “Surrey Schools Mental Health and Wellness”, a YouTube channel which advocates for open discourse on mental health and wellness from the perspective of educators. Please check out the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@surreyschoolsmentalhealtha8107

Thank you so much for joining us today on this episode of 2 Dads 1 Car! Please check out our new website at 2dads1car.com. I hope you love this episode!

Credits:

Podcast Guest: Daniel To

Podcast Host: Steven Ngo

Podcast Producer: Baron Hsueh

“Be grateful when special things happen, as opposed to expecting them by default” - Premier David Eby

Hello friends!

Welcome to another episode of 2 Dads 1 Car. In this very special episode, we speak to David Eby, father to a young boy and girl (and one more coming soon!) and the Premier of British Columbia.

In our conversation, Premier Eby and I discuss a range of topics including how to nurture independence within our children, how our upbringings have influenced our parenting skills, and advice on how to navigate technology and social media as parents. Drawing on personal experiences, Premier Eby also gives insights on how to address experiences of privilege with young children, and the importance of time management in balancing a busy career with a growing family.

Thank you so much for joining us today on this episode of 2 Dads 1 Car! Please visit our new website at 2dads1car.com, and we hope you enjoy this episode!

Credits:

Podcast Guest: BC Premier David Eby

Podcast Host: Steven Ngo

Podcast Producer: Baron Hsueh

“Life is not always going to say ‘yes’ to you, and the earlier you realize that, the better” - Mike Wong

Hello friends! Welcome to another episode of 2 Dads 1 Car. In this episode, I’ll be introducing you to my friend (and physiotherapist!) Mike Wong, who is a father to two young boys with their own distinct, yet extraordinary personalities.

During our conversation, Mike and I explore the idea of exposing our children to adversity to build resilience and understanding from a young age. In doing so, we ask ourselves how to balance a desire to give our children a better upbringing than our own, while giving them opportunities to learn how to deal with life when things don’t go according to plan.

Thank you so much for joining us today on this episode of 2 Dads 1 Car! Check out our new website at 2dads1car.com

Credits:

Podcast Guest: Mike Wong

Podcast Host: Steven Ngo

Podcast Producer: Baron Hsueh

“So everything that, when it comes down to it, is an experiment. You have to figure out what works for you.”- Al Wong

Hello friends! Welcome to another episode of 2 Dads 1 Car. In this episode I’ll be introducing you to our guest Al Wong, he’s a father of two children five and three years old and runs his practice in accounting. 

In this episode, Al shares his experiences being a first-generation parent with the difficulties of decision paralysis, navigating different parent parenting philosophies between his partner and grandparents, and finding a balance between work life, family life, and long-term goals. 

I hope you all enjoy this episode and check out our new website at 2dads1car.com 

Credits:

Podcast Guest: Al Wong

Podcast Host: Steven Ngo

Podcast Editor: En-Li Su