The tantrum whisperer

The anatomy of a dad joke

Deciding to be one and done

The human subscription of embryos

Navigating only child stereotypes

The Guardian on compassionate parenting

The joy and pain of kids craft

The true financial cost of parenting

Explaining separate houses to kids

Growing up with two dads

Time magazine on questions dads want

Explaining death through a pet fish

The Finding Nemo parenting dilemma

When a child throws a public tantrum, the most effective response might just be lying down next to them on the floor and whispering softly that everyone is looking at them. It is a bold strategy that leaves a lasting impression, even if it instils a lifetime of crippling insecurity.

Marcus and Rob tackle the complex realities of modern fatherhood, starting with the deeply personal choice to be a 'one and done' family. Rob opens up about the expensive and emotionally taxing surrogacy process that brought his daughter Billy into the world, and the annual subscription-like decision of whether to keep leftover embryos in storage. Marcus reflects on the financial and emotional bandwidth required to raise his daughter Sabrina, noting that dedicating 99 percent of his time to one child feels like the least selfish thing a parent can do.

The conversation shifts to the inevitable and heavy questions children eventually ask. From explaining why parents live in different houses to navigating the reality of growing up with two dads, the hosts explore how they plan to tackle these complex truths. They also confront the daunting task of explaining death to a toddler, sharing stories of one-eyed pet fish and beloved family dogs shuffling off the mortal coil, all while debating the fine line between protecting their kids and being completely honest.

Chapters

00:00 The tantrum whisperer
01:09 The anatomy of a dad joke
04:12 Deciding to be one and done
04:48 The human subscription of embryos
06:21 Navigating only child stereotypes
08:46 The Guardian on compassionate parenting
11:09 The joy and pain of kids craft
14:50 The true financial cost of parenting
19:46 Explaining separate houses to kids
21:04 Growing up with two dads
23:02 Time magazine on questions dads want
26:49 Explaining death through a pet fish
30:08 The Finding Nemo parenting dilemma

References

‘One and done’ parents are some of the most thoughtful and compassionate I have met, the Guardian, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, 31 March 2023
9 Questions Dads Wish Their Kids Would Ask Them, TIME, Angela Haupt, 18 June 2026

Mentioned in this episode

Play-Doh: playdohstore.com
Lego: lego.com
Moana: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moana_(2016_film)
Disney on Ice: disneyonice.com
Finding Nemo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finding_Nemo

Read more on Man of Many

Why We're Launching 'Daddies', A New Podcast About Modern Fatherhood
The 'Co-Worker' Trap: An Expert Guide to Rebuilding Intimacy After Kids
INTERVIEW: Anthony Minichiello on Fatherhood, the Roosters and Life in Lockdown
10 Best Dad Blogs for New Parents
Louis Theroux's 'Manosphere' Doco Is Compulsory Viewing for Dads Everywhere
100+ Best Dad Jokes, Ranked by Cringe/Pun Level

What to listen to next

Becoming a Grandpa at the Age of 37 | Matty Acton
Gay Dad, Single Dad

Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play.

Find us

Instagram: @daddiespodcastau
TikTok: @daddiespodcastau
Facebook: @daddiespodcastau
Threads: @daddiespodcastau
X: @daddiespodau
Watch the full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@manofmany
Listen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711
Find us on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S
Everything else: manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies

Credits
Hosts: Rob Stott and Marcus Hurley
Producer: Amelia Navascues
Videographer: Jordan Yankov
A Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.

When a child throws a public tantrum, the most effective response might just be lying down next to them on the floor and whispering softly that everyone is looking at them. It is a bold strategy that leaves a lasting impression, even if it instils a lifetime of crippling insecurity.
Marcus and Rob tackle the complex realities of modern fatherhood, starting with the deeply personal choice to be a 'one and done' family. Rob opens up about the expensive and emotionally taxing surrogacy process that brought his daughter Billy into the world, and the annual subscription-like decision of whether to keep leftover embryos in storage. Marcus reflects on the financial and emotional bandwidth required to raise his daughter Sabrina, noting that dedicating 99 percent of his time to one child feels like the least selfish thing a parent can do.
The conversation shifts to the inevitable and heavy questions children eventually ask. From explaining why parents live in different houses to navigating the reality of growing up with two dads, the hosts explore how they plan to tackle these complex truths. They also confront the daunting task of explaining death to a toddler, sharing stories of one-eyed pet fish and beloved family dogs shuffling off the mortal coil, all while debating the fine line between protecting their kids and being completely honest.
Chapters
00:00 The tantrum whisperer 01:09 The anatomy of a dad joke 04:12 Deciding to be one and done 04:48 The human subscription of embryos 06:21 Navigating only child stereotypes 08:46 The Guardian on compassionate parenting 11:09 The joy and pain of kids craft 14:50 The true financial cost of parenting 19:46 Explaining separate houses to kids 21:04 Growing up with two dads 23:02 Time magazine on questions dads want 26:49 Explaining death through a pet fish 30:08 The Finding Nemo parenting dilemma
References
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/31/one-and-done-parents-child">&lsquo;One and done&rsquo; parents are some of the most thoughtful and compassionate I have met</a>, the Guardian, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, 31 March 2023 <a href="https://time.com/article/2026/06/18/questions-to-ask-dad-father/">9 Questions Dads Wish Their Kids Would Ask Them</a>, TIME, Angela Haupt, 18 June 2026
Mentioned in this episode
Play-Doh: <a href="https://playdohstore.com/">playdohstore.com</a> Lego: <a href="https://www.lego.com/">lego.com</a> Moana: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moana_(2016_film)">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moana_(2016_film)</a> Disney on Ice: <a href="https://www.disneyonice.com/">disneyonice.com</a> Finding Nemo: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finding_Nemo">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finding_Nemo</a>
Read more on Man of Many
<a href="https://manofmany.com/culture/daddies-podcast-launch">Why We're Launching 'Daddies', A New Podcast About Modern Fatherhood</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/culture/advice/how-to-keep-the-spark-alive-after-kids">The 'Co-Worker' Trap: An Expert Guide to Rebuilding Intimacy After Kids</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/culture/interview-anthony-minichiello-on-fatherhood-the-roosters-and-life-in-lockdown">INTERVIEW: Anthony Minichiello on Fatherhood, the Roosters and Life in Lockdown</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/culture/advice/best-dad-blogs">10 Best Dad Blogs for New Parents</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/culture/louis-theroux-inside-the-manosphere">Louis Theroux's 'Manosphere' Doco Is Compulsory Viewing for Dads Everywhere</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/entertainment/best-dad-jokes">100+ Best Dad Jokes, Ranked by Cringe/Pun Level</a>
What to listen to next
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/becoming-a-grandpa-at-37-matty-acton">Becoming a Grandpa at the Age of 37 | Matty Acton</a> <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/gay-day-single-dad">Gay Dad, Single Dad</a>
Enjoying Daddies? Follow the show in your podcast app so every new episode lands automatically, and leave a rating and a review. It is the difference between someone scrolling past and pressing play.
Find us
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/daddiespodcastau/">@daddiespodcastau</a> TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@daddiespodcastau">@daddiespodcastau</a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daddiespodcastau">@daddiespodcastau</a> Threads: <a href="https://www.threads.com/@daddiespodcastau">@daddiespodcastau</a> X: <a href="https://x.com/daddiespodau">@daddiespodau</a> Watch the full episodes on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@manofmany">youtube.com/@manofmany</a> Listen on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/daddies-by-man-of-many/id6804513711">podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711</a> Find us on Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S">open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S</a> Everything else: <a href="https://manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies">manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies</a>
Credits Hosts: <a href="https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/">Rob Stott</a> and Marcus Hurley Producer: Amelia Navascues Videographer: Jordan Yankov A Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.

Two dads. Two completely different paths to fatherhood. And all the stuff nobody warns you about. Daddies is a new podcast from Man of Many, hosted by Rob Stott, Editor-in-Chief of Man of Many, raising a daughter with his husband via surrogacy, and Marcus Hurley, a single dad navigating co-parenting. This isn't a tips-and-tricks parenting show. Nobody here is going to tell you how to raise your kids. Each episode takes a piece of modern life; fitness, friendships, work, money, identity, guilt, and asks what actually happens to it once a kid is in the picture. Daddies launches Sunday 6 September.

Two dads. Two completely different paths to fatherhood. And all the stuff nobody warns you about. Daddies is a new podcast from Man of Many, hosted by Rob Stott, Editor-in-Chief of Man of Many, raising a daughter with his husband via surrogacy, and Marcus Hurley, a single dad navigating co-parenting. This isn't a tips-and-tricks parenting show. Nobody here is going to tell you how to raise your kids. Each episode takes a piece of modern life; fitness, friendships, work, money, identity, guilt, and asks what actually happens to it once a kid is in the picture. Daddies launches Sunday 6 September.

Daddies by Man of Many 

Two dads. Two completely different paths to fatherhood. And all the stuff nobody warns you about.

Daddies is a podcast from Man of Many, hosted by Rob Stott, Editor-in-Chief of Man of Many, raising a daughter with his husband via surrogacy, and Marcus Hurley, a single dad navigating co-parenting. This isn't a tips-and-tricks parenting show. Nobody here is going to tell you how to raise your kids. Each episode takes a piece of modern life; fitness, friendships, work, money, identity, guilt, and asks what actually happens to it once a kid is in the picture.

Honest, funny and unfiltered conversations about modern fatherhood from Man of Many, Australia's largest men's lifestyle site. For new dads, single dads, step dads, dads-to-be, and anyone raising kids alongside one.

New episodes every Thursday.

Follow Daddies in your podcast app so you never miss an episode, and leave a rating and a review to help other dads find the show.

Find us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Threads at @daddiespodcastau, and on X at @daddiespodau. More from Man of Many at manofmany.com

Two dads. Two completely different paths to fatherhood. And all the stuff nobody warns you about.
Daddies is a podcast from Man of Many, hosted by Rob Stott, Editor-in-Chief of Man of Many, raising a daughter with his husband via surrogacy, and Marcus Hurley, a single dad navigating co-parenting. This isn't a tips-and-tricks parenting show. Nobody here is going to tell you how to raise your kids. Each episode takes a piece of modern life; fitness, friendships, work, money, identity, guilt, and asks what actually happens to it once a kid is in the picture.
Honest, funny and unfiltered conversations about modern fatherhood from Man of Many, Australia's largest men's lifestyle site. For new dads, single dads, step dads, dads-to-be, and anyone raising kids alongside one.
New episodes every Thursday.
Follow Daddies in your podcast app so you never miss an episode, and leave a rating and a review to help other dads find the show.
Find us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/daddiespodcastau/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/daddiespodcastau/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1788586437487000&amp;usg=AOvVaw26i2HBVQ__Dpg9T9bNuoXS">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@daddiespodcastau" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tiktok.com/@daddiespodcastau&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1788586437487000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3qAzY0Tp4u9YrNS1Y1Y9Df">TikTok</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/daddiespodcastau" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/daddiespodcastau&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1788586437487000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2NuxK5i2P_B0T8BYeTXMln">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.threads.com/@daddiespodcastau" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.threads.com/@daddiespodcastau&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1788586437487000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_I4YEtylRuDMaDgXLkEVY">Threads</a>&nbsp;at @daddiespodcastau, and on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/daddiespodau" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://x.com/daddiespodau&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1788586437487000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2et7P4am6n9wQyvMPLKt0n">X</a>&nbsp;at @daddiespodau. More from Man of Many at&nbsp;<a href="https://manofmany.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1788586437487000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ILcGoiw7xods2JR2m2Qo7">manofmany.com</a>

Daddies by Man of Many

Marcus and Rob explore the realities of being 'one and done' parents, the financial costs of raising kids, and how to handle the heavy questions children inevitably ask about family structures and death.

One and Done

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/49db3bda-4b54-4a69-a7b9-b39a00977424/clips/abd99a62-3c95-4d1c-aacf-b4ce005dae9b/transcript