In this episode, Cavan sits down with Andrew Dreosto, a good friend , fellow Master's in Counselling Psychology Student and a fellow dad. We dive deep into a discussion around parenting and, the experience of becoming a new dad including:

• Adapting to the dramatic change in lifestyle after having a child
• The myth of the perfect parent and the societal pressure to be a "good dad" 
• The importance of talking openly about challenging aspects of parenting
• Coping with sleep loss, partner support and other challenges faced when becoming a new dad
• Tools used by both dads to take care of themselves and improve mental health

In the very first RF Toolbox episode features the most effective technique I know for reducing stress, becoming less anxious, improving mood, and optimizing brain function: Heart Rate Variability Breathing.

Episode Includes:

·         The why: a breakdown of the many established benefits of this little-known breathing technique that has far reaching impacts on our emotional and mental wellbeing

·         The how: your host takes you through a brief practice of this skill and teaches how to do it. Try it out and feel the difference for yourself…

HRV Youtube Videos:

·         https://youtu.be/TyRoAw9Otyw

·         https://youtu.be/ZAxD-dVDe0Y

 Website with free pacer gifs for practice:

·          https://www.theresilientfather.com/toolbox

Links to Scientific Articles:

·         https://www.heartmathbenelux.com/doc/Thayer%20meta%20analysis%20heart%20rate%20variability%20pfc%20NBR%2012.pdf

·         https://psyarxiv.com/7g5q8/download?format=pdf

·         https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.624254/full

·         https://www.aimspress.com/article/10.3934/biophy.2021001

Hey Dad, being a father is hard and as a fellow parent, I want to help make it better. Welcome to the first episode of The Resilient Father podcast. Your host Cavan Edwards introduces himself and shares the inspiration for this show and his philosophy of resilience.

Episode includes:

·         An introduction to your host Cavan Edwards and the inspiration for starting The Resilient Father 

·         What the show is about and the types of episodes you can expect including: deep dives into topics of parenting, practical tools for mental health self-care and interviews

·         The underlying philosophy of resilience and how the principles can apply to parenting

·         Stress and the importance of activating the relaxation response to counteract the intense burdens of life and, help better regulate energy and mood to show up for our families. 

Check out:

Theresilientfather.com 

theresilientfather (Instagram)

The Resilient Father (Facebook)

Youtube Channel: Find detailed explainers of RF Toolbox skills discussed in the podcast