The Career Dad Show

Darren was an avid gym-goer who worked a busy job in The City. He thought he was pretty fit until he started training for a Triathlon, and realised he couldn’t swim a pool-length without getting out of breath. 

9 months later - and 28 kilos lighter - Darren’s a different man. He’s now left his corporate job and runs Fitter, Healthier Dad - with a goal to impact 1 million dads.

Darren shares his journey with weightless, getting fitter, and how he’s transformed his life to now be training for the World Ironman Championships. Oh, there’s a little spoiler in this podcast, too.

Contents

• 1m 28s: Losing 28 kgs in 9 months
• 8m 45s: Weightloss: Should we care about the scales?
• 11m 52s: The problem with The Western diet
• 20m 04s: Just change one thing
• 22m 31s: The benefit of exercise for mental health
• 25m 28s: Creating Fitter, Healthier Dad
• 28m 09s: The information is what the information is
• 30m 17s: Common barriers to making change
• 32m 17s: Training for an Ironman
• 34m 12s: My kids’ attitudes to exercise (and screen time)
• 36m 34s: Running two businesses at the same time
• 38m 08s: How to find out more about Fitter, Healthier Dad

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This week I speak with Jonathan Bullard, who left his corporate role to pursue a career in sports broadcasting.

He’s travelled the world living his passion, which can mean working back-to-back 22 hour days. Although, it also gives him the flexibility to be the primary care giver to his 5 year old daughter Lucy.

Jonathan also shares with me his ‘Secret Sauce’ - let’s dive into the episode

Contents

• 0m 49s: Leaving the corporate world for freelance
• 7m 00s: Taking redundancy with a 9 month old baby
• 14m 50s: Passionate about sports broadcasting (and ice hockey)
• 22m 35s: What’s your ‘secret sauce’?
• 29m 07s: Moulding your work around family time

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This week I speak with Graeme Easton, who… is busy.

He’s a professional stadium announcer; a podcast host; he started a B2B podcast business… oh, then there’s his ‘proper job’ as a teacher. Throw in 3 kids, including twins, and quite frankly I’m impressed Graeme found time to record with me.

We talk about how he juggles wearing so many hats, what it was like announcing for the olympics, and quite frankly THE BEST parenting advice I think there’s ever been on this podcast. Let’s dive in.

Contents

• 2m 16s: Wearing a number of hats
• 6m 30s: Announcing the Olympics
• 7m 55s: The B2B Podcast business
• 11m 58s: Teaching: The ‘proper’ job
• 19m 28s: Dadding with twins
• 25m 22s: Plans for the future 
• 31m 13s: Teaching during Covid

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This week I speak with Maximillian Naza: Googler; Digital Agency Owner; Stand-up comedian; and… not a parent.

We talk about parenting, as Maximillian prepares for the future, the importance of being open to change, and how Maximillian dealt with the loss of his parents indirectly.

He’s a fascinating guy - so let’s not waste any time and dive right in to the episode.

Contents

• 0m 33s: Parental theory as a non-parent
• 5m 43s: Attitudes towards risk
• 12m 57s: This isn’t what I signed up for
• 25m 22s: Stand-up comedy: because working at Google and having a side-gig isn’t enough
• 35m 30s: Shutting down emotionally when I lost my parents
• 38m 13s: As a non-parent, what do you *think* is the best parental advice?

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This week I’m joined by Harvey Reid (no relation), who’s the Head of Premier Events at Barclays.

Harvey talks about how he got into the job of ‘making people happy’, and how for him there was never a choice between kids or career. He wanted both.

We also talk about Harvey’s role in co-chairing the Black Professional Forum, and what it means to be a black father in 2020. Let’s dive in to the episode.

Contents

• 0m 55s: My job didn’t exist 5 years ago
• 14m 45s: Kids first, or career first… why not both?
• 18m 52s: Co-charing the Black Professional Forum 
• 27m 17s: Black fatherhood and stigmatism
• 31m 33s: Having the conversation about race with our kids

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This week I speak with James Vale, who is the VP of payment security at Barclaycard.

Flexibility is super important to James - I mean, he brought it up during the interview process. It means James can do his job, be an active father, and also support his wife’s career in investment banking.

So how has lockdown impacted James’ family life? Let’s find out, with Flexibility - The Great Equaliser.

Contents

• 0m 40s: Geekishly passionate about payment security
• 3m 10s: What did flexibility look like before lockdown?
• 10m 06s: Flexibility: The Great Equaliser
• 18m 32s: The enjoyment of work
• 29m 44s: A guys’ club conversation

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This week I’m joined by Naianna Robertsson, a neuroscientist who specialises in meditation. We talk about the hard science vs the fad of meditation, how to become ‘in the moment’, and the secret to forming successful habits.

Contents

• 1m 34s: A neuroscientist’s approach to meditation
• 6m 29s: Different types of meditation
• 11m 52s: How do you become ‘in the moment’?
• 15m 55s: Mantra meditation
• 29m 16s: Building a business, being a mum
• 33m 05s: Forming successful habits 

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Today I’m joined by Paul Trudel-Payne, who left his job at Microsoft to become a full time realtor and interior designer.

Paul talks about growing up in the US as a bi-racial gay man, as well as going through the adoption process with his husband. He shares his story of heartache, anxieties, and how he dreads the conversation with his African-American son about what it means to be a minority in America.

So without further ado, let’s meet Paul.

Contents

• 2m 16s: Loving the idea of home
• 5m 18s: Flipping homes and diversified incomes
• 11m 29s: Going through the adoption process as a gay man
• 20m 49s: Raising a minority child in America
• 27m 07s: What if the baby had a defect?
• 33m 32s: The whole 1 kid 2 kid thing

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When Scott was 19, his father went to prison. This forced Scott to take stock of who he was, and who he wanted to be.

In this episode, Scott and I talk about his life as a successful business owner, award-winning network marketer, coach, author, podcaster, speaker… and father. And crucially, we talk about how he wouldn’t change any of the adversity he’s been through as it’s made him who he is today.

Contents

• 1m 12: Becoming the man of the house at 19
• 5m 27s: Achieving through adversity
• 11m 13s: The art of connecting with another human being
• 20m 40s: We need to talk about legacy 
• 30m 55s: Balancing business with fatherhood
• 35m 07s: Parental guilt in lockdown

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This week I’m joined by Jamie Butler, who after 20 years in the legal profession decided to set up his own coaching business.

He started his business in February, and by March we were in lockdown. We talk about that, obviously, but we also cover imposter syndrome, how to reflect on our careers, and what it means to be a present, active father.

I hope you enjoy

Contents

• 2m 37s: Starting a business during a pandemic
• 9m 10s: From lawyer to coach
• 12m 41s: Imposter Syndrome
• 15m 50s: Reflecting on careers in lockdown
• 26m 45s: How destructive is impatience?
• 30m 33s: Being a present, active father 
• 34m 48s: Advice for new parents

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