The Dadversity Podcast

Former British lightweight champion Scotty Cardle spent most of his life preparing for fights - the discipline, the training camps, the walkouts, the pressure, the lights.

But when the final bell rang on his boxing career, a very different fight began.

In this episode of Dadversity, Scotty opens up about life after boxing, the depression that followed retirement, becoming a dad during lockdown, supporting his wife through postnatal depression, selling the family home, travelling with his daughter, separation, co-parenting, and the lessons he hopes his daughter Darcy carries with her.

This is not just a conversation about boxing.

It is a conversation about identity, regret, love, fatherhood, and what happens when the life you planned starts to change. 

00:00 — What is harder: boxing or fatherhood?
Scotty compares the hidden work behind fight night with the unseen work of being a dad.

01:38 — Boxing teaches control. Fatherhood takes it away.
Scotty reflects on frustration, patience and why parenting is nothing like a one-man sport.

03:28 — Growing up in Blackpool and finding boxing
How Scotty’s dad first took him to the boxing gym and why the sport captured him.

04:39 — Losing his first fight
Scotty remembers his first defeat and why love for boxing kept him going.

07:32 — The final walkout: “One More Time”
Why Scotty walked out to Daft Punk before the Ricky Burns fight and felt it could be his last dance.

11:27 — Life after boxing
The transition from elite professional fighter to life after retirement.

12:07 — The dark hole after retirement
Scotty opens up about depression, isolation and losing his sense of self after boxing.

13:35 — The doctor’s diagnosis
Why Scotty feared the damage may have been physical - and the moment he realised he was depressed.

17:00 — Becoming a dad in lockdown
Darcy’s birth, no support, FaceTime midwives and first-time fatherhood during the pandemic.

17:40 — Postnatal depression and supporting his wife
Scotty talks about his wife’s postnatal depression and how difficult that period became.

18:40 — The walks that built a bond
How walking miles with Darcy helped create their father-daughter connection.

19:27 — Selling the family home
The emotional weight of leaving the house he bought as British champion.

22:10 — Travelling through Asia as a family
World-schooling, memories, freedom and the tension that followed.

23:30 — Separation and regret
Scotty reflects on what he would have done differently to keep his family together.

25:00 — “I was a yes man”
The cost of saying yes to things he did not truly agree with.

27:00 — The fear of divorce
Why did separation become the most challenging chapter of his life?

28:30 — Disneyland with Darcy
A beautiful father-daughter moment after separation.

29:50 — Learning to co-parent
Scotty talks about missing Darcy, wanting more time and reaching a 50/50 arrangement.

31:20 — What he wants Darcy to know
Why Scotty tells his daughter he still loves her mum — and why that matters.

Martyn becomes his wife’s independence while protecting his daughters’ childhood and fighting for families living with MND.

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Clips: @dadversitylessons

Welcome to The Dadversity Podcast! In this thought-provoking episode, coach Tom Palmer dives into the powerful topic: “People-Pleasing Isn’t Love – It’s Manipulation.” Tom unpacks the hidden dynamics of people-pleasing, exploring how this behavior can sabotage relationships and personal growth. This episode offers actionable insights for breaking free from this cycle and building healthier, more authentic connections.

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Show Notes

[00:00] Introduction to the Episode

An overview of the topic and why people-pleasing can often be misunderstood.

[03:00] What Is People-Pleasing?

Tom defines people-pleasing and discusses how it differs from genuine care and love.

[08:15] The Manipulative Side of People-Pleasing

Unveiling the unconscious motives behind people-pleasing and how it can manipulate relationships.

[12:30] Personal Stories and Examples

Tom shares relatable scenarios where people-pleasing takes hold and the consequences it creates.

[18:00] Breaking the Cycle

Strategies for recognizing and overcoming the habit of people-pleasing.

[22:45] Building Healthy Relationships

How to replace people-pleasing with authentic communication and self-respect.

[27:00] Final Thoughts

Tom summarises the key takeaways and leaves listeners with a powerful message about self-awareness and personal growth.

People-pleasing isn't love - it's manipulation by Tom Palmer 
This lesson goes live inside the Dadversity community on Friday 29th November.

Scott McCulloch is the Dad who built a company from £0 - £7m in revenue. We talk about that process, what sparked sobriety after turning 40 and training to take on endurance events around the world.

Show Notes

[00:00] Introduction to Scott McCulloch

Nathan introduces Scott and reflects on connecting through LinkedIn.

[02:00] Scott’s Current Endeavors

Scott discusses his current freelance work in digital marketing and as a non-executive director, leveraging his experience scaling businesses.

[03:45] Growing Up and Entrepreneurial Roots

Scott reflects on his upbringing, his father’s entrepreneurial spirit, and his early ventures to make extra income.

[06:15] Working with Karris: Challenges and Success

Scott talks about balancing business and family life, sharing insights into the dynamics of working with his wife.

[12:00] Turning Ideas into Action

Scott explains how he and Karris transformed a casual conversation into a thriving business, combining their complementary skills.

[15:00] Navigating Business Challenges

Scott shares pivotal moments in growing a business, including securing investments and making tough decisions during challenging times.

[20:30] Reflections on Market Trends

Scott examines broader trends in consumer behavior, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and hopes for the future of sustainable living.

[24:00] Post-Business Life: Sobriety and Fitness

Scott recounts his decision to quit drinking, take on Ironman challenges, and prioritize his health and family.

[31:00] Thoughts on Sobriety and Happiness

Scott reflects on his drinking habits, the societal shift towards sobriety, and the balance between appreciating alcohol and recognizing its downsides.

[36:00] Parenting in a Digital Age

Scott discusses raising children in a world dominated by social media and maintaining a healthy perspective on modern challenges.

[38:00] Quickfire Questions

Scott answers fun, rapid-fire questions, from his worst DIY fail to the best place he’s traveled.

[40:00] Closing Thoughts

Nathan thanks Scott for sharing his story and reflects on the inspiring lessons for dads balancing career, family, and personal growth.

[00:00:00] – Introduction

• Nathan introduces the episode, welcoming guest Matt Tyler and playfully addressing their football rivalry.

[00:01:15] – Matt’s Background

• Matt discusses growing up in Birmingham, England, and reflects on his happy early childhood years, with family trips and local adventures.

[00:03:15] – Chaotic Teenage Years and Bipolar Disorder

• Matt describes his father’s bipolar disorder and its impact on his teenage years. He explains how this affected his family’s dynamics, community reputation, and led him to develop coping mechanisms, including heavy drinking.

[00:06:45] – Challenges and Shame

• Matt and Nathan discuss the social pressures and sense of shame that came from growing up in a household affected by mental health issues.

[00:10:30] – Finding Escapes in Drinking

• Matt details how his drinking escalated as he tried to cope with family and personal challenges. He reflects on the party culture and pressures of his teenage years.

[00:14:45] – Breaking the Cycle and Becoming a Holiday Rep

• Feeling the need to change his life’s direction, Matt took a job as a holiday rep in Greece, seeing it as an opportunity to escape his routine and environment.

[00:18:00] – Meeting Emily on a Cruise Ship

• Matt shares the story of meeting his wife, Emily, while working on a cruise ship, which marked a turning point in his life and helped him realise the need for deeper relationships.

[00:24:15] – Life Changes and Fatherhood

• Matt discusses how fatherhood has reshaped his priorities, describing the deep love and commitment he feels for his two daughters.

[00:26:00] – Challenges with Family Connections

• He reflects on the difficulties of involving his father in his daughters’ lives due to his father’s current health and living situation.

[00:27:30] – Parenting Reflections

• Matt talks about the challenges and growth he’s experienced as a dad, noting how his past drives him to ensure his daughters always feel loved.

[00:31:00] – Finding Peace and Building a Toolbox

• Matt emphasises the importance of developing healthy coping mechanisms (or a “toolbox”) for handling life’s stresses, sharing that running and self-reflection have been instrumental for him.

[00:33:00] – Quick fire Round

• Nathan and Matt wrap up with quick fire questions, where Matt describes fatherhood in one word (“rollercoaster”) and reveals his hidden talent and childhood dream job.

[00:35:15] – Outro and Dadversity Community Update

• Nathan invites listeners to join the Dadversity community, where dads can access free coaching and support for tackling life’s challenges.

We go beyond the headlines to uncover the real story of Clark Carlisle. 

Who is Clarke? What drives a footballer, so adored to feel like he had to drink to forget. 

Clarke shares his experiences with suicide attempts. 

Covert and blatant racism. 

We discussed his incredible dad, a footballer, shaped by a broken system in the seventies and eighties. 

And finally Clark reflects on his experiences of fatherhood. He promotes the idea of not forcing a neurotypical world on his incredible neurodiverse daughter.

This is a story of Clark Carlisle.

Steve Cardwell is creating the most productive dads on the planet with his Peak Week model. There are four key parts:

1. Daily Gold Standards

The absolute essential things in your life that happen every day.

Examples: sleep, gym, school drop offs, lunch etc.

2. High & Low Leverage Tasks

High leverage = the things that move you forward as a person in life, in business or as a parent.

Low leverage = the small things that need to be done to make sure they don't become a problem.

3. Task Log

Creating massive lists of jobs that can't be done applies huge mental pressure.

Storing them in a specific doc which can be tackled in line with the rest of your weekly tasks makes much more sense.

4. Play Time

Going for a beer with your mates to watch the football? Get it in the calendar. Communication can make or break relationships.

Building your Peak Week isn't just about saving 10 hours a week and having an organised calendar.

It's about progress for you and your family with the things that matter.

Scott Mair is one of the most sought after coaches in the UK. His knowledge on all things dad life finds himself delivering talks with some of the biggest brands.

On this episode, he discusses 'the emotional rollercoaster' of becoming a new dad: anxiety, pressure, joy, reality check.

He also provides really practical ways to solve some of the challenges that you're facing as a first-time dad.

Laura Allen helps dads to build their career with intention.

You might be working your way through a corporate career and feeling emotionally withdrawn from the 40+ hours every week.

Laura will walk through the triggers that you need to look out for, and explain why it's never too late to make a change! You'll also receive the full framework on how to redesign the career of your dreams.