Dad Space Podcast - for Dads by Dads

Movember offers dads a chance to focus on men's health, and that work can start with one small habit. You do not need to overhaul your life in November. Pick one thing you can do today that makes tomorrow better.

Dads often put pressure on themselves to do everything at full speed. Big goals sound impressive, but they can also create promises that become difficult to keep.

Small habits give you something you can actually repeat.

Take a walk. Choose a healthier meal. Go to bed earlier. Spend a little time doing something that makes you feel better. You do not need to turn the moment into a social media post or make it Instagram worthy.

Do it for yourself.

Sleep matters. Movement matters. Your daily choices matter.

The challenge for November involves choosing one small, measurable habit and starting today. Keep the goal realistic enough that you can maintain it throughout the month.

You do not need another promise hanging over your head. You need one action you can take.

Dad Space wants dads to remember that taking care of yourself supports the people who depend on you. You matter. Your family needs you around, healthy and present.

Think about the one habit you could introduce today. Keep it simple. Then do it.

That small decision can become the foundation for something bigger over time.

Stop trying to make every day extraordinary. Choose one small habit that improves your day, start today, and keep going. Taking care of yourself gives you more to give to the people who love you.

The challenge starts now. Go do that small thing.

https://movember.com/

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Episode 285 - One Conversation Can Change a Life - Check In On Somebody Today - Movember Daily Dad Episodes

Movember creates an opportunity to talk about men’s mental health and physical health, but sometimes the most meaningful action starts with a single phone call. There may be someone in your contacts you have not spoken with for a long time. A friend. A fellow dad. Someone who once played an important role in your life.

Life can pull people in different directions. Work, family, marriage, children, and everyday responsibilities can slowly create distance between people who once talked regularly. Eventually, neither person reaches out.

Think about that person now.

You probably already know who it is.

This Movember, make reconnecting your priority for one day. Open your contacts. Find their name. Call them. If they do not answer, leave a voice message or send a text.

You do not need to solve the past. You do not need to explain everything that happened. You simply need to make contact.

One conversation can reopen a relationship that has been sitting dormant for years. Hearing that person's voice could remind both of you why the friendship mattered in the first place.

That connection matters. You need people in your life, and sometimes those people need you more than you realize.

Make the call today.

Dad Space also invites listeners to share what happened after they pushed the button and reached out. A simple action could become the first step toward rebuilding a bridge.

Movember gives men a reason to talk about health, and connection plays a powerful role in that conversation. Think of someone you have lost touch with. Call them today. Send the text. Leave the message.

Someone is waiting to hear from you.

Your homework is simple: check in on somebody today.

https://movember.com/

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Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Movember gives men a visible way to start conversations about men’s health. The moustache grabs attention, but the real purpose reaches much further. Dad Space begins its daily November journey with a simple invitation: get involved, grow your Mo, and use it to talk about men’s mental and physical health.

The traditional Movember challenge starts with a clean shave on November 1. From there, the moustache grows throughout the month. Every stage creates an opportunity for someone to ask, “What’s going on with your moustache?” That question opens the door to explain Movember and talk about why men’s health deserves more attention.

The moustache becomes a symbol. It tells the people around you that you care about healthier men and a healthier world.

Movember offers more ways to participate than simply growing facial hair. Participants can create a Movember profile, set a fundraising goal, share their motivation, and invite others to support the cause. Donations help fund work connected to men’s health, while conversations can encourage men to pay attention to their own physical and mental wellbeing.

Dad Space encourages dads to make the moustache mean something. Wear it proudly. Explain why you are growing it. Start the conversation.

Dad Space will release a short episode every day throughout November. Each message will keep Movember and men’s health in the conversation while giving dads another reason to pause, listen, and connect.

Movember gives us a chance to act. It reminds us that our families need us, our friends need us, and our presence matters.

Growing a moustache can start the conversation, but the conversation needs to lead somewhere. Use Movember to raise awareness, support men's health, encourage other men to talk, and take action.

It starts with a shave. Then let your Mo do the talking.

https://movember.com/

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Dave shares an update from Dad Space and previews a major November challenge built around men’s health, encouragement, and daily connection. After a flood damaged the lower half of the Campbell home in August, the podcast studio has been out of action. Repairs and renovations are moving forward, and Dave expects to return to guest interviews soon from a rebuilt Dad Space studio.

Until then, Dave records from the kitchen table, a situation his wife has made clear cannot last forever. He invites dads with a meaningful story, a book, or simply a family journey that could help another father to reach out through dadspace.ca. You do not need something to sell to be a guest. Dad Space exists to give fathers a place to be heard.

November brings Movember, the annual campaign focused on men’s mental health and physical health. Dave encourages listeners to grow a moustache, raise funds, start conversations, and invite friends to join the movement. The campaign also invites people to move, host an event, or make a donation.

Dave plays a humorous Movember advertisement featuring Nick Offerman, known for his role as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation. Beyond the laughs, the message carries real weight. When men are supported and well, families and communities benefit. When men struggle without support, the impact reaches far beyond the individual.

Visit Movember.com to sign up, donate, or learn how to take part. Dave will share links in the show notes and use Dad Space throughout November to keep the conversation going.

Dad Space will publish a short daily episode every day in November as part of National Podcast Post Month. These will be brief, voicemail-style messages designed to offer one thought, reflection, or word of encouragement without demanding a large time commitment.

Dave will also publish daily episodes for The How To Podcast Series at howtopodcast.ca and Living The Next Chapter at livingthenextchapter.com. That means 90 episodes across three shows during November, alongside his other podcast work.

The goal is simple. Show up every day, build a stronger connection with listeners, and support Movember at the same time. If you miss an episode, it will remain available whenever you are ready to listen.

Follow or subscribe to Dad Space on your preferred platform, including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio. New episodes will arrive automatically on your device. Spotify listeners can leave comments on episodes, and Dave welcomes the conversation.

You can also support the show through Buy Me a Coffee, especially with the extra early mornings and late nights ahead. More importantly, Dave invites dads to reach out for a virtual coffee and talk about fatherhood, life, and the things that matter.

November is a chance to show up for yourself and the men around you. Grow a moustache, join Movember, listen to a daily Dad Space message, and remember that looking after your health helps your family and community too.

https://movember.com/

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https://dadspace.ca

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music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Fatherhood often feels noisy because life keeps meeting resistance. Dave uses the image of a river to explore the obstacles dads face, from sleepless nights and money worries to self-doubt, stress, and the pressure to provide for a family. The sound of a river comes from water pushing against stones. Those stones redirect the current, create movement, and give the river its voice. In the same way, the challenges of being a dad can shape patience, resilience, compassion, and character.

Every dad carries rocks in his river. Some are small, such as a disrupted schedule, a difficult bedtime, or a missed opportunity. Others feel much heavier, including financial pressure, relationship strain, grief, fear, health concerns, and the sense that you are not doing enough.

Dave reminds dads that a difficult season does not mean failure. A dad facing stress, exhaustion, worry, or uncertainty can still be moving forward. He can still learn, adapt, and find a way through. The noise in your life may be uncomfortable, but it can also signal growth and change.

Dave lives near Niagara Falls, where moving water gradually wears away rock. Water finds a path where none existed. It moves around barriers, carves through stone, and changes the landscape over time.

That image offers encouragement for fathers. Obstacles may slow you down, but they do not have to stop you. Small steps, honest conversations, new habits, apologies, and requests for help can all become ways to navigate around the rocks in your path.

Fatherhood should not be a solo journey. Dave encourages dads to build community, talk openly with other fathers, and seek support when the weight becomes too much. Naming what is causing stress, anger, or worry reduces its power and creates room for a response.

Reaching out may look like calling a friend, joining a conversation with other dads, speaking with a partner, or getting help from a professional. Connection matters. Having people along the banks of your river can help you stay on course.

The rocks in your river do not mean you are failing as a dad. They are part of the current that shapes your character, deepens your compassion, and pushes you toward growth. Keep moving, let the river change, and let the sounds remind you that change can lead somewhere good.

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Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 281 - How To Handle Death, Grief and Loss with Your Kids and Build Resilience During Grief

Dave records a somber episode after the loss of Burton, the family dog of 15 years. The conversation explores the deep bond between families and pets, the physical weight of grief, and how dads can guide children through the death of an animal they love. This episode honors Burton and offers support for any parent facing pet loss, grief, and difficult conversations about death.

Burton, a Jack Russell and Beagle mix, had been part of the Campbell household for 15 years. He became ill suddenly, and the family had to take him to the veterinarian, where he passed away.

Dave reflects on the small routines that made Burton part of daily life. His nails clicked across the kitchen floor, he stopped for water beside Dave’s recording space, and he settled into the pallet-wood bed Dave built for him. Those sounds now carry a new meaning in older episodes.

Dave describes grief as a physical experience. A lump in the throat, heaviness, and sudden waves of memory can arrive without warning, even while working or trying to stay focused.

For listeners who believe losing a pet is easy to move past, Dave is direct: this episode may not be for you. For people who understand the real connection between a family and an animal, the loss can feel profound.

Dave encourages parents to consider having a pet because caring for an animal teaches responsibility, connection, discipline, and compassion. His family has chosen adoption whenever possible, and pets have been part of his children’s lives from the beginning.

He also shares how past pets shaped his sons. Duke, a German Shepherd, became a safe space for his youngest son. Burton’s death now brings another layer of loss for his adult children, who knew him for much of their lives.

A pet’s death may be a child’s first encounter with death. Dave urges dads to be honest, validate emotions, and avoid telling children to hide their feelings or simply move on.

He recommends clear language. Say that a pet died, rather than using phrases such as “went to sleep.” Children need to understand that death is real and permanent, even when the conversation is painful.

Sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, and even relief can all be normal responses. Dave reminds parents not to expect every child to grieve in the same way or on the same timeline.

Kids may want to cry, sit alone, talk constantly, laugh, look at photos, or share memories. Parents can make room for each response without judgment.

Dave encourages families to create rituals that honor a pet. His children keep the ashes of past pets near the family piano, alongside photos and names. These small memorials help the family remember that love continues after death.

Drawing, storytelling, planting something, creating art, or holding a simple goodbye ceremony can give children a healthy way to express loss.

For children ages three to six, keep explanations simple and concrete. Reassure them that the death was not their fault. For ages seven to 12, invite questions and discuss family beliefs around death. Teenagers may need more space to lead their own remembrance and process intense emotions.

If grief disrupts sleep, school, friendships, or daily life for more than a month, consider professional support.

Be honest, stay present, and grieve together. When dads show children that feelings matter and love does not end with death, they help their kids build emotional resilience.

To Burton, thank you for 15 years of friendship. Dave hopes wherever you are, there are plenty of squirrels.

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Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 280 - The Power of An Apology - 3 Things An Apology Will Do For Others and For You

An apology can change the direction of a relationship. For dads, saying “I’m sorry” may feel difficult because it requires honesty, responsibility, and the willingness to face the damage caused by words or actions. Yet someone comes to mind when you think about an apology you still owe. You already know who it is.

A sincere apology acknowledges that harm occurred. It shows the other person that their feelings matter and that you accept responsibility for your part in the situation.

Dave reflects on moments when he acted immaturely toward his children, allowed hurt to control his response, and caused damage within relationships he valued deeply. Those moments cannot disappear, but an apology can begin the work of restoring trust and dignity. It gives both people a place to start again.

Unspoken hurt grows over time. Avoiding the issue allows anger and resentment to settle into the relationship, while a genuine apology can lower defensiveness and create room for a calmer conversation.

Apologizing does not erase what happened. It shows that you recognize the impact of your actions and want to address the problem instead of pretending it never occurred. That honesty can bring peace and interrupt the cycle of blame.

An apology creates a path toward reconnection. Once both people feel heard and respected, they can discuss what went wrong, establish clearer boundaries, and consider how they might handle similar situations differently in the future.

Dave encourages dads to think about the relationships that have grown distant because of an unresolved hurt. A missed call, a broken connection, or an awkward silence may point toward the apology that still needs to happen. Making that effort takes courage. It can also free you from guilt and give the relationship a chance to heal.

Think about the person who immediately comes to mind when you hear that someone needs to apologize. Then take responsibility and make the first move. A thoughtful apology may not return the relationship to its former state, but it can open the door to trust, peace, and reconnection.

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Episode 279 - Celebrating 33 Years of Marriage - 3 Free Things That You Can Do With Your Partner to Celebrate Your Anniversary

Dave marks his 33rd wedding anniversary on October 2 and shares three free, meaningful ways couples can celebrate their anniversary without spending money. He reflects on his own journey from a nervous groom to a husband of three decades, then offers practical ideas that prioritize thoughtfulness, memory, and presence over expensive gestures.

Dave admits he often loses track of dates because he works night shifts, and he has missed moments he wished he had honored. He encourages listeners to be intentional, plan ahead, and protect these milestones so they do not slip by unnoticed. He frames anniversaries as chances to remember the hard seasons and the joyful ones, and to strengthen the bond that has carried a couple through years of life together.

The first idea is simple yet powerful. Sit with a pen and paper and write a sincere one page letter to your partner. Reflect on the past year or the span since your last anniversary. Name what it meant to you. Share your hopes, your dreams, and the ways you want to show up better in the relationship. Then read the letters aloud to each other or exchange them and read in silence. Dave recalls leaving handwritten notes on his wife’s car and mailing letters back in 1993, and he says the act of writing unlocked feelings that casual words often miss. This creates a keepsake and deepens connection without costing anything.

The second idea is to revisit a place that holds story. For Dave, that spot is the pier at Port Dalhousie on Lake Ontario, where he proposed. He suggests walking that same ground again, or returning to where you first met, got engaged, or shared a turning point. If you cannot travel to that exact location, still carve out time to talk through those memories together. He notes that partners often remember details differently, and those conversations spark laughter, tenderness, and renewed appreciation. A coffee along the way is optional. The core value is the shared journey back to your beginning.

The third idea is an at home celebration night. Transform your living space into something romantic and focused on the two of you. Play your favorite music or movie. Prepare a meal that carries meaning, perhaps a dish tied to a memory you both love. Let food, music, and film serve as connective tissue that draws out new stories and old joys. Dave stresses that you do not need an extravagant restaurant, expensive champagne, or a grand trip. The most meaningful moments come from undivided time and deliberate attention to the person who has stood with you through illness, financial stress, and life’s toughest trials.

Anniversaries thrive on intention, not expense. Choose one of these free practices, put it on your calendar now, and let it rekindle joy in your relationship. Your family will feel the ripple effect when you honor the person who has walked with you through three decades of life.

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music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 278 - At Your Next Parent Teacher Meeting - Ask These 7 Questions and Get A Better Understanding of Your Kid

Parent teacher night offers a rare chance to see your child’s world through their teacher’s eyes. Most parents ask generic questions about grades or behavior. This episode gives you seven specific questions that reveal how your child learns, connects, and handles challenges. Use these questions to build a stronger partnership with your teacher and support your child more effectively at home.

Teachers spend hours observing your child in social and academic settings. They notice patterns you cannot see from home. These seven questions tap into that frontline knowledge. Each question targets a different aspect of your child’s school experience. The answers help you understand your child’s friendships, stress responses, daily rhythms, and willingness to help others. You also learn how to support both your child and their teacher more effectively.

Start by asking who your child likes to sit with. Teachers see which kids naturally pair up during class, recess, and group projects. Get specific names so you can talk about those friendships at home.

Next, ask what your child does when work gets too hard. Do they ask for help, shut down, or act out? This reveals how they handle obstacles and where they might need extra support.

Find out who your child goes to when upset. This shows you how they process stress and whether they have trusted adults or peers they turn to in tough moments.

Ask when your child is most settled during the day. Kids have natural energy rhythms. Knowing their peak focus times helps you schedule homework, conversations, or activities at home when they are most receptive.

Learn what your child does when they get something wrong. Do they shrug it off, argue, hide their work, or spiral? Their response to mistakes shapes their learning mindset.

Ask if the teacher has seen your child help someone else. Teachers notice kindness and collaboration. This question often unlocks a positive story you have not heard before.

End by asking what you can do at home to help your child and support the teacher. Write the answer down in front of them. This simple act shows you value their input and builds trust.

Parent teacher night is not just about grades. It is about understanding your child as a whole person. These seven questions give you a clearer picture of their social world, emotional responses, and learning habits. Use the answers to tailor your support at home and strengthen your partnership with their teacher.

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music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 277 - The Need for More Spaces Dedicated to Men and Boys, Teenage Suicide and a Parent's Regrets with Paul Darling

In this episode, the guest shares a deeply personal reflection on fatherhood, family, grief, and the lessons he has carried through a military life and a long season of loss. Speaking from the Cumberland Plateau in East Tennessee, he talks about raising three adult children across different places and seasons of service, and how constant moving shaped his family while also making it hard to build lasting roots.

At the center of the conversation is the death of his youngest son, which he describes as the event that changed his family forever. He opens up about the pain, the guilt, and the questions that still remain, especially around whether a different environment, more support, or stronger peer connections might have changed the outcome. He also reflects on the warning signs of suicide, the limits of what parents can see, and the lasting impact tragedy has on a marriage and the rest of the family.

The episode also explores broader ideas about boys, men, discipline, responsibility, and the value of all male spaces, sports, scouting, and other environments where young people can be challenged and learn resilience. He argues that boys need opportunities to fail, grow, and earn confidence through effort rather than praise alone, and he connects that belief to his own regrets about where he feels he fell short as a father.

Throughout the discussion, he returns to themes of stoicism, truth telling, gratitude, and the danger of teaching envy, anger, and empty comparison instead of thankfulness and perseverance. He also speaks about marriage, faith, family, and the belief that real happiness is found in commitment, responsibility, and working through hardship rather than escaping it.

This episode is a candid and emotional reminder that children need both love and challenge, and that helping boys grow into healthy men means teaching them how to face difficulty, accept truth, and keep going when life gets hard.

Paul's book:

https://www.amazon.com/Taliban-Safari-One-Surkhagan-Valley-ebook/dp/B07QW32VZ5?ref_=ast_author_mpb

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https://dadspace.ca

Leave Dave a voice message here! Tell me where you are listening from!?

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music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270