What does real equality look like when you're parenting solo? In this moving conversation, Danusia interviews Michael Ray, a father who’s raising his daughter on his own after her mother stepped away from their lives. What might sound like a tough beginning becomes a powerful dialogue on parenting, presence, and the messy realities of gendered expectations.

Michael shares what it means to parent with depth and integrity—how he built his work life around his daughter’s needs, and why respect for her mother remains non-negotiable. We talk about how men are still applauded for showing up as parents, while women are expected to carry the full load with little recognition. We also get into why equality initiatives often fail, because they don’t come with a redistribution of domestic labour.

This conversation isn’t only about lone parenting. It’s about the emotional labour of raising children well, the cultural rewiring men need to do, and how raising a daughter changed Michael’s entire outlook on power, gender, and responsibility. If you think you’ve heard every take on fatherhood, think again.

Discover more from us:

• Join PWT community on Substack

• Follow us on Instagram

• Connect with Danusia

• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

• Advertising Inquiries here

Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram