dadpoduk's podcast

In this episode (sponsored by Aviva), I speak to Andrew Cunningham. Andrew is a dad of four who works for Aviva. HIs youngest child was born last year and he took six, paid months off work to be with his family following the birth.

All Aviva employees in the UK are entitled to six months paid leave following the arrival of a child. Andrew explains how this benefited him and his family. 

Read more about Aviva's parental leave here and do visit my blog, Dadbloguk, to read more about the Aviva approach to parental leave. 

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan Rutstein was a full-time working dad of two. His job involved regular international travel and he was away from home a night or two a week.

When Coronavirus came to town, he found himself out of a job. His wife, meanwhile, had just landed a role that meant she could support the family. 

Here's Dan's story and how he has adjusted to pandemic life. Oh, and do check out Dan's podcast, United States of Dramerica. 

This is the first of two episodes exploring what it's like to be a stay at home dad. On this occasion, I speak to father of four Simon Kettlewell, stay at home dad (SAHD). Simon is also the author  of the superb SAHD drama Eternity Leave. 

Simon has been the main carer of his kids for over 20 years. We talk about what that was like for him, the challenges and dramas and whether he thinks it is easier for men to take on this role in the 21st century. We also talk at length about Eternity Leave, which is based on his experiences of looking after the kids. 

This is a great episode, Simon had a lot to say (see also this write up of Eternity Leave on my blog).

Matthew Wright is a well-known journalist and broadcaster. He and his wife have Amelia have an amazing daughter called Cassady. Becoming parents, however, involved a long, challenging IVF journey and I felt honoured that Matthew was happy to share it with me. 

As we chatted, we also discussed Matthew's mental health. Shortly before becoming a dad, Matthew was diagnosed with PTSD and he admits he at first struggled with the transition to fatherhood. 

This interview was a rollercoaster ride. There was a lot of laughter, but there were also tears (. . . and as we're both fans of Hawkwind, we had a chat about them at the end as well!).

Mark Williams has just had a film made about his life and what a life it is. He had his first panic attack as his son was being born. He went on to have a breakdown and was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. These experiences spurred Mark on to become a prolific mental health campaigner. 

We talk about the many mental health issues affecting dads: The lack of support, the lack of mental health screening, the damage caused by 'man up' culture and where men can get help. 

We also discuss Daddy Blues, the film that will shortly be released about Mark's mental health journey. This bio-pic will be released on Amazon Prime. 

I could listen to Mark talking all day. He's a very prolific mental health campaigner and knows this subject incredibly well. 

Dan White is an incredibly passionate and well-known disability and inclusion campaigner. Dan's teenage daughter, Emily, lives with a few different disabilities and needs constant care.

In this episode of DadPodUK, Dan tells me how the family fits Emily's care into the daily routine. He explains how isolated the family is and how little formal support they receive, issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a graphic demonstration of the challenges Dan's family faces, his wife had just had surgery on her back following a very painful injury she received 16 months previously, an injury caused by having to lift lift and carry Emily. 

Dan, who is also the creator of the Department of Ability comics, is very candid about the impact these stresses and strains on his mental health. He talks of a mental health "crisis" among caregivers and families like his own. 

Even so, Dan talks with humour and has amazing things to say about being a dad. Prepare to have you preconceptions challenged! 

So much to say about this episode! It's a 'must listen' for anyone with an interest in gender equality.

Gary Barker is co-founder of the charity Promundo, which promotes gender equality. He is also co-founder of Men Care, a charity that encourages men to be caregivers. Added to this, Gary is one of the lead authors of the bi-annual State of the World's Fathers report. . . and he was a stay at home dad and main carer for his daughter when she was young. 

I'd intended this episode to focus on Gary's experiences as a stay at home dad. While we do talk about this and swap experiences, he said a huge amount about equalities issues and father's and men's role in making the world a better, more just place. 

"One of the myths is that women are broody and men aren't bothered."

So says Dr Robin Hadley, a man who always wanted kids...but has accepted he will never be a father. 

This is the only podcast interview I have conducted with a man without children. I wanted to explore what it is like being a childless man in a world that pretty much expects you to procreate. Robin spoke movingly and candidly about his circumstances about the insensitive remarks he and others have tolerated and how he deals with sensitive times of year such as Christmas and Father's Day. 

This is a very touching and moving interview with someone who has a very personal story to tell. It's also an area of academic study for Robin so he talks about it in both a personal and professional capacity.

What is the experience of being a black father in the UK? What challenges do black dads face? What concerns do they have for their children? 

I speak to Elliott Rae about his experiences. As one of the founders of the Music, Fatherhood, Football website, Elliott is a high-profile dad. He's also a diversity expert and has been recognised as such by the United Nations. 

Our conversation takes in everything from concerns he has for his child's future to the challenges of black people living in rural areas.

Phil Norris is a British guy who lives and works in Zurich, Switzerland. Early in 2020, his wife discovered she was pregnant with the couple's second child. Almost the entire pregnancy, not to mention the birth in September, took place  during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Phil and I talk about the pressures and challenges of being an expectant dad (...and mum) in lockdown conditions. It's had an impact on who the family can mix with, his work life and their newborn, Frederick, is still to be introduced to many friends and relatives.