Wrapping up season one

A blended Father's Day breakfast

The transition to mint toothpaste

Bringing a newborn home

What nobody tells you about babies

Experiencing love at first sight

Overrated and underrated baby gear

Nesting for non birthing parents

Balancing fatherhood with a career

The impact of kids on friendships

Defending the podcast name

Lessons learned from their own fathers

Takeaways from season one guests

Advice for expecting parents

Being a memory for your children

A tiny human enveloped in a massive car seat is a universal image of early parenthood. Bringing a baby home from the hospital marks the abrupt end of professional medical support and the sudden beginning of figuring it out on the fly, whether that means explaining the concept of gravity to a newborn or taking a three day old to a Canadian Pride parade.

Wrapping up the first season of Daddies, hosts Rob and Marcus turn the microphones on themselves to answer listener questions. The pair reflect on their distinct journeys into fatherhood, from the emotional culmination of a years long surrogacy process to the slow, steady growth of a profound parental bond. They also tackle the practical realities of raising kids, debating the merits of baby heart rate monitors, the messy truth about reusable nappies, and the absolute necessity of baby wipes.

Beyond the gear, the hosts explore how becoming fathers has reshaped their careers, friendships, and relationships with their own dads. Sharing vulnerable moments and terrible dad jokes, they look back on the lessons learned from their guests over the past ten episodes and offer a poignant reminder that parents are ultimately building memories for a future they will never see.

Chapters

00:25 Wrapping up season one
01:23 A blended Father's Day breakfast
05:58 The transition to mint toothpaste
09:05 Bringing a newborn home
15:24 What nobody tells you about babies
18:41 Experiencing love at first sight
21:52 Overrated and underrated baby gear
28:00 Nesting for non birthing parents
30:02 Balancing fatherhood with a career
34:40 The impact of kids on friendships
38:06 Defending the podcast name
38:52 Lessons learned from their own fathers
42:15 Takeaways from season one guests
44:56 Advice for expecting parents
49:19 Being a memory for your children

What to listen to next

The Purple Wiggle | Big Strong John (John Pearce)
It Takes A Village

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.

A tiny human enveloped in a massive car seat is a universal image of early parenthood. Bringing a baby home from the hospital marks the abrupt end of professional medical support and the sudden beginning of figuring it out on the fly, whether that means explaining the concept of gravity to a newborn or taking a three day old to a Canadian Pride parade.
Wrapping up the first season of Daddies, hosts Rob and Marcus turn the microphones on themselves to answer listener questions. The pair reflect on their distinct journeys into fatherhood, from the emotional culmination of a years long surrogacy process to the slow, steady growth of a profound parental bond. They also tackle the practical realities of raising kids, debating the merits of baby heart rate monitors, the messy truth about reusable nappies, and the absolute necessity of baby wipes.
Beyond the gear, the hosts explore how becoming fathers has reshaped their careers, friendships, and relationships with their own dads. Sharing vulnerable moments and terrible dad jokes, they look back on the lessons learned from their guests over the past ten episodes and offer a poignant reminder that parents are ultimately building memories for a future they will never see.
Chapters
00:25 Wrapping up season one 01:23 A blended Father's Day breakfast 05:58 The transition to mint toothpaste 09:05 Bringing a newborn home 15:24 What nobody tells you about babies 18:41 Experiencing love at first sight 21:52 Overrated and underrated baby gear 28:00 Nesting for non birthing parents 30:02 Balancing fatherhood with a career 34:40 The impact of kids on friendships 38:06 Defending the podcast name 38:52 Lessons learned from their own fathers 42:15 Takeaways from season one guests 44:56 Advice for expecting parents 49:19 Being a memory for your children
What to listen to next
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/purple-wiggle-big-strong-john">The Purple Wiggle | Big Strong John (John Pearce)</a> <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/it-takes-a-village">It Takes A Village</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.

Hosts Rob and Marcus wrap up the first season of Daddies by answering listener questions, reflecting on their own fatherhood journeys, and sharing the lessons they have learned along the way.

The Daddies Q&A: Season Finale Special

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/49db3bda-4b54-4a69-a7b9-b39a00977424/clips/87237d55-004c-4f84-869e-b4f80063d48a/transcript

Welcome to Daddies

Introducing John Pearce

Meeting The Wiggles in real life

Who is John's favourite Wiggle?

Maintaining high energy on stage

The great arm wrestling match

Touring the US and Canada with a toddler

Preparing for fatherhood

The pressure of being Big Strong John

The worst parenting poo stories

When your child recognises you on TV

Closing dad jokes

John Pearce, best known as Big Strong John from The Wiggles, reveals the hilarious and humbling reality of parenting a toddler while touring the world. From finding moments of peace in hotel room showers to dealing with explosive nappies, the children's entertainer proves that no amount of stage experience prepares you for fatherhood.

Rob and Marcus sit down with John to discuss his accidental path to joining The Wiggles, how he balances his high energy persona with the exhaustion of raising his son Henry, and the unique challenges of touring with his family. The hosts also share their own chaotic parenting stories, including a particularly unforgettable travel cot incident in far north Queensland.

The conversation explores how becoming a dad has actually changed John's approach to performing, the camaraderie among the parents at Hot Potato Studios, and the surreal experience of having your own child recognise you on television. Plus, a completely rigged arm wrestling match and some brutal dad jokes.

Chapters

00:19 Welcome to Daddies
01:08 Introducing John Pearce
02:18 Meeting The Wiggles in real life
04:43 Who is John's favourite Wiggle?
07:31 Maintaining high energy on stage
08:46 The great arm wrestling match
10:31 Touring the US and Canada with a toddler
12:51 Preparing for fatherhood
14:06 Shifting priorities after having a baby
16:45 The pressure of being Big Strong John
19:04 Having fun in the background of recordings
21:48 The worst parenting poo stories
25:24 How fatherhood made John a better Wiggle
27:46 Transitioning out of pull ups
29:46 When your child recognises you on TV
31:26 Closing dad jokes

Our guest

John Pearce is an entertainer and former member of Justice Crew who now performs as Big Strong John in The Wiggles. He is a father to a 20 month old boy named Henry.

TikTok: @johnadamopearce
The Wiggles: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiggles
Justice Crew: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_Crew
Hot Potato Studios: wiggles.fandom.com/wiki/Hot_Potato_Studios

What to listen to next

It Takes A Village
Dads vs The Manosphere | Marc Fennell

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.

John Pearce, best known as Big Strong John from The Wiggles, reveals the hilarious and humbling reality of parenting a toddler while touring the world. From finding moments of peace in hotel room showers to dealing with explosive nappies, the children's entertainer proves that no amount of stage experience prepares you for fatherhood.
Rob and Marcus sit down with John to discuss his accidental path to joining The Wiggles, how he balances his high energy persona with the exhaustion of raising his son Henry, and the unique challenges of touring with his family. The hosts also share their own chaotic parenting stories, including a particularly unforgettable travel cot incident in far north Queensland.
The conversation explores how becoming a dad has actually changed John's approach to performing, the camaraderie among the parents at Hot Potato Studios, and the surreal experience of having your own child recognise you on television. Plus, a completely rigged arm wrestling match and some brutal dad jokes.
Chapters
00:19 Welcome to Daddies 01:08 Introducing John Pearce 02:18 Meeting The Wiggles in real life 04:43 Who is John's favourite Wiggle? 07:31 Maintaining high energy on stage 08:46 The great arm wrestling match 10:31 Touring the US and Canada with a toddler 12:51 Preparing for fatherhood 14:06 Shifting priorities after having a baby 16:45 The pressure of being Big Strong John 19:04 Having fun in the background of recordings 21:48 The worst parenting poo stories 25:24 How fatherhood made John a better Wiggle 27:46 Transitioning out of pull ups 29:46 When your child recognises you on TV 31:26 Closing dad jokes
Our guest
John Pearce is an entertainer and former member of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_Crew">Justice Crew</a> who now performs as Big Strong John in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiggles">The Wiggles</a>. He is a father to a 20 month old boy named Henry.
TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@johnadamopearce">@johnadamopearce</a> The Wiggles: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiggles">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiggles</a> Justice Crew: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_Crew">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_Crew</a> Hot Potato Studios: <a href="https://wiggles.fandom.com/wiki/Hot_Potato_Studios">wiggles.fandom.com/wiki/Hot_Potato_Studios</a>
What to listen to next
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/it-takes-a-village">It Takes A Village</a> <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/marc-fennell-manosphere">Dads vs The Manosphere | Marc Fennell</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.

The Wiggles' John Pearce shares the chaotic reality of touring with a toddler and how becoming a father has completely changed his approach to performing.

The Purple Wiggle | Big Strong John (John Pearce)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/49db3bda-4b54-4a69-a7b9-b39a00977424/clips/8147f147-4b39-4595-9e16-b4f10043748a/transcript

The privilege of solo parenting

Assumptions about dads in public

Shifting perceptions of fatherhood

Accepting help as a single parent

Winning family portrait competitions

Holding the fort while your partner travels

Surviving weekends without afternoon naps

Auditioning for a musical theatre role

Does it really take a village?

When your babysitters become grey nomads

Defining the modern parenting village

Building a community takes intention

An international network of surrogates

What is missing from your village?

Closing out with a dad joke

When a father takes his child out in public, he isn't babysitting and he certainly isn't giving his wife the day off. He is simply being a parent. Yet the persistent, well-meaning comments from strangers suggest society still has a long way to go in understanding modern fatherhood.

Marcus and Rob unpack the realities of solo parenting, from the exhaustion of long weekends without backup to the sudden disappearance of the afternoon nap. Rob shares his experience holding the fort while his husband took a much-needed retreat to Bali, highlighting the relentless nature of parenting without a moment to hit the gym or unwind. Meanwhile, Marcus navigates the logistics of scheduling family portraits and musical theatre auditions around his 50/50 custody arrangement.

The conversation then turns to the age-old proverb that it takes a village to raise a child. With families spread across the globe, grandparents embracing the grey nomad lifestyle and the traditional community structures of the past evolving, the hosts explore what a modern village actually looks like. From overseas surrogates to the cool dads at daycare, they reflect on the intentional effort required to build a support network today.

Chapters

00:00 The privilege of solo parenting
01:21 Assumptions about dads in public
03:03 Shifting perceptions of fatherhood
04:02 Accepting help as a single parent
05:46 Winning family portrait competitions
08:49 Holding the fort while your partner travels
10:04 Surviving weekends without afternoon naps
12:14 Auditioning for a musical theatre role
13:26 Does it really take a village?
16:26 When your babysitters become grey nomads
18:12 Defining the modern parenting village
20:25 Building a community takes intention
21:41 An international network of surrogates
22:55 What is missing from your village?
24:32 Closing out with a dad joke

What to listen to next

Dads vs The Manosphere | Marc Fennell
Surviving Dad Burnout

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 father takes his child out in public, he isn't babysitting and he certainly isn't giving his wife the day off. He is simply being a parent. Yet the persistent, well-meaning comments from strangers suggest society still has a long way to go in understanding modern fatherhood.
Marcus and Rob unpack the realities of solo parenting, from the exhaustion of long weekends without backup to the sudden disappearance of the afternoon nap. Rob shares his experience holding the fort while his husband took a much-needed retreat to Bali, highlighting the relentless nature of parenting without a moment to hit the gym or unwind. Meanwhile, Marcus navigates the logistics of scheduling family portraits and musical theatre auditions around his 50/50 custody arrangement.
The conversation then turns to the age-old proverb that it takes a village to raise a child. With families spread across the globe, grandparents embracing the grey nomad lifestyle and the traditional community structures of the past evolving, the hosts explore what a modern village actually looks like. From overseas surrogates to the cool dads at daycare, they reflect on the intentional effort required to build a support network today.
Chapters
00:00 The privilege of solo parenting 01:21 Assumptions about dads in public 03:03 Shifting perceptions of fatherhood 04:02 Accepting help as a single parent 05:46 Winning family portrait competitions 08:49 Holding the fort while your partner travels 10:04 Surviving weekends without afternoon naps 12:14 Auditioning for a musical theatre role 13:26 Does it really take a village? 16:26 When your babysitters become grey nomads 18:12 Defining the modern parenting village 20:25 Building a community takes intention 21:41 An international network of surrogates 22:55 What is missing from your village? 24:32 Closing out with a dad joke
What to listen to next
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/marc-fennell-manosphere">Dads vs The Manosphere | Marc Fennell</a> <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/surviving-dad-burnout">Surviving Dad Burnout</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.

Marcus and Rob unpack the realities of solo parenting and the shifting perceptions of fathers in public. They also explore the age-old proverb that it takes a village to raise a child, asking what a modern support network actually looks like.

It Takes A Village

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/49db3bda-4b54-4a69-a7b9-b39a00977424/clips/90e0e6c2-4b61-4da4-85a5-b4e9018aad3c/transcript

Hacking Roblox and stealing money

Introducing Marc Fennell

The tragic dismemberment of Baba the rabbit

Safe crackers and iPad lockbox loopholes

Parenting with screens and boundaries

State of Man and defining the manosphere

From Minecraft to Joe Rogan in 20 minutes

The burner phone algorithm experiment

Navigating the internet with your kids

What fathers can do to guide their kids

High schoolers and the obsession with weights

What women actually want in a man

Body image and unattainable perfectionism

Emotional regulation and talking it out

What makes a good man

Impasta noodles and terrible dad jokes

A simple parenting hack to keep kids entertained with Minecraft and Pokémon videos on the living room TV can take a dark turn in just twenty minutes. Left to its own devices, the YouTube autoplay algorithm can seamlessly pivot from innocent gaming streams to Joe Rogan lecturing on weak men, plunging young viewers into the depths of the manosphere without a single click.

Marc Fennell joins Rob and Marcus to unpack his new ABC documentary series, State of Man, which explores the inescapable and increasingly toxic online ecosystem targeting young men. Marc shares the terrifying results of a burner phone experiment that tracked how quickly social media algorithms serve up racist AI slop and misogynistic content to teenage boys looking for harmless fitness and dating advice.

The dads also swap stories from the trenches of modern parenting. Rob recounts the traumatic dismemberment of his daughter's beloved stuffed rabbit, while Marc reveals his son's impressive but infuriating ability to crack the family's device lockbox and hack into Roblox. The conversation turns to the impossible task of policing screen time when parents are equally hooked, and how fathers can model healthy masculinity in a world obsessed with unattainable perfectionism.

Chapters

00:00 Hacking Roblox and stealing money
00:51 Introducing Marc Fennell
03:54 The tragic dismemberment of Baba the rabbit
08:16 Safe crackers and iPad lockbox loopholes
12:06 Parenting with screens and boundaries
17:13 State of Man and defining the manosphere
18:54 From Minecraft to Joe Rogan in 20 minutes
20:23 The burner phone algorithm experiment
24:22 Navigating the internet with your kids
30:58 What fathers can do to guide their kids
33:28 High schoolers and the obsession with weights
36:03 What women actually want in a man
41:47 Body image and unattainable perfectionism
44:39 Emotional regulation and talking it out
51:14 What makes a good man
53:15 Impasta noodles and terrible dad jokes

Our guest

Marc Fennell is a television and radio presenter who explores the online ecosystem of male influencers in his documentary series.

What to listen to next

Surviving Dad Burnout
From Gold Medalist to Dad | Ellia Green

Support: If anything in this episode brought something up for you, help is available. Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. PANDA, for expecting and new parents, 1300 726 306. In an emergency call 000.

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.

A simple parenting hack to keep kids entertained with Minecraft and Pok&eacute;mon videos on the living room TV can take a dark turn in just twenty minutes. Left to its own devices, the YouTube autoplay algorithm can seamlessly pivot from innocent gaming streams to Joe Rogan lecturing on weak men, plunging young viewers into the depths of the manosphere without a single click.
Marc Fennell joins Rob and Marcus to unpack his new ABC documentary series, State of Man, which explores the inescapable and increasingly toxic online ecosystem targeting young men. Marc shares the terrifying results of a burner phone experiment that tracked how quickly social media algorithms serve up racist AI slop and misogynistic content to teenage boys looking for harmless fitness and dating advice.
The dads also swap stories from the trenches of modern parenting. Rob recounts the traumatic dismemberment of his daughter's beloved stuffed rabbit, while Marc reveals his son's impressive but infuriating ability to crack the family's device lockbox and hack into Roblox. The conversation turns to the impossible task of policing screen time when parents are equally hooked, and how fathers can model healthy masculinity in a world obsessed with unattainable perfectionism.
Chapters
00:00 Hacking Roblox and stealing money 00:51 Introducing Marc Fennell 03:54 The tragic dismemberment of Baba the rabbit 08:16 Safe crackers and iPad lockbox loopholes 12:06 Parenting with screens and boundaries 17:13 State of Man and defining the manosphere 18:54 From Minecraft to Joe Rogan in 20 minutes 20:23 The burner phone algorithm experiment 24:22 Navigating the internet with your kids 30:58 What fathers can do to guide their kids 33:28 High schoolers and the obsession with weights 36:03 What women actually want in a man 41:47 Body image and unattainable perfectionism 44:39 Emotional regulation and talking it out 51:14 What makes a good man 53:15 Impasta noodles and terrible dad jokes
Our guest
Marc Fennell is a television and radio presenter who explores the online ecosystem of male influencers in his documentary series.
What to listen to next
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/surviving-dad-burnout">Surviving Dad Burnout</a> <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/from-gold-medalist-to-dad-ellia-green">From Gold Medalist to Dad | Ellia Green</a>
Support: If anything in this episode brought something up for you, help is available. Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. PANDA, for expecting and new parents, 1300 726 306. In an emergency call 000.
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.

Marc Fennell joins the podcast to discuss his ABC documentary State of Man, the toxic algorithms of the manosphere, and the impossible task of policing kids' screen time.

Dads vs The Manosphere | Marc Fennell

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/49db3bda-4b54-4a69-a7b9-b39a00977424/clips/a82750ae-87c8-49eb-acf9-b4e3005c06cf/transcript

A brief moment of panic

A month of back to back illnesses

The daycare immune system build up

Preparing for a holiday to Greece

The guilt of travelling without your kid

Exhaustion after a weekend of parenting

Is work a holiday from being a parent

The robotic routine of evening chores

Becoming the stereotypical single dad

Teaching kids about financial responsibility

Setting up a bank account for the future

The irrational fear of a silent child

What happens if a single parent dies in bed

Every parent eventually creeps into their child's bedroom to check they are still breathing, but few are met with a toddler faking their own demise. A routine check on a motionless child turns into a minor heart attack, only for the little one to reveal a giant grin, knowing exactly how to mess with a tired father.

Rob and Marcus dive into the exhausting reality of back to back daycare illnesses, with Rob surviving a brutal month of flu, gastro and mystery rashes. The conversation shifts to the elusive concept of work life balance, exploring whether heading to the office is actually a break from parenting or just another demanding shift. Rob reflects on a rare three month stint of unemployment that offered a glimpse of true balance, while Marcus admits to slipping into a robotic routine during precious evening hours with his daughter.

The realities of single fatherhood take centre stage as Marcus prepares for a holiday to Greece, battling the guilt of leaving his daughter behind. He confesses to falling into the trap of buying affection, dropping eye watering amounts at the toy store to overcompensate. Meanwhile, Rob shares the secret to his household's financial survival with a monthly budget date night, prompting a discussion on how to teach kids about money, the legacy of school banking programmes and the unexpected windfall of helping a stranger change a tyre.

Chapters

00:00 A brief moment of panic
00:51 A month of back to back illnesses
02:13 The daycare immune system build up
04:09 Preparing for a holiday to Greece
05:43 The guilt of travelling without your kid
06:43 Dropping the ball on family time
07:55 Exhaustion after a weekend of parenting
08:53 Is work a holiday from being a parent
10:43 The robotic routine of evening chores
11:54 Becoming the stereotypical single dad
13:31 The monthly budget date night
15:37 Teaching kids about financial responsibility
17:34 Setting up a bank account for the future
18:49 The irrational fear of a silent child
20:06 What happens if a single parent dies in bed
21:19 Waiting for the third breath

Mentioned in this episode

Bluey: bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000vbrk/bluey
Mollymook: smh.com.au/traveller/topic/mollymook-crl
Lego: lego.certifiedstore.co.il
Money, Money, Money: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money,_Money,_Money
Mamma Mia!: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamma_Mia!_(Film)
Kmart: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kmart_Australia

What to listen to next

From Gold Medalist to Dad | Ellia Green
One and Done

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.

Every parent eventually creeps into their child's bedroom to check they are still breathing, but few are met with a toddler faking their own demise. A routine check on a motionless child turns into a minor heart attack, only for the little one to reveal a giant grin, knowing exactly how to mess with a tired father.
Rob and Marcus dive into the exhausting reality of back to back daycare illnesses, with Rob surviving a brutal month of flu, gastro and mystery rashes. The conversation shifts to the elusive concept of work life balance, exploring whether heading to the office is actually a break from parenting or just another demanding shift. Rob reflects on a rare three month stint of unemployment that offered a glimpse of true balance, while Marcus admits to slipping into a robotic routine during precious evening hours with his daughter.
The realities of single fatherhood take centre stage as Marcus prepares for a holiday to Greece, battling the guilt of leaving his daughter behind. He confesses to falling into the trap of buying affection, dropping eye watering amounts at the toy store to overcompensate. Meanwhile, Rob shares the secret to his household's financial survival with a monthly budget date night, prompting a discussion on how to teach kids about money, the legacy of school banking programmes and the unexpected windfall of helping a stranger change a tyre.
Chapters
00:00 A brief moment of panic 00:51 A month of back to back illnesses 02:13 The daycare immune system build up 04:09 Preparing for a holiday to Greece 05:43 The guilt of travelling without your kid 06:43 Dropping the ball on family time 07:55 Exhaustion after a weekend of parenting 08:53 Is work a holiday from being a parent 10:43 The robotic routine of evening chores 11:54 Becoming the stereotypical single dad 13:31 The monthly budget date night 15:37 Teaching kids about financial responsibility 17:34 Setting up a bank account for the future 18:49 The irrational fear of a silent child 20:06 What happens if a single parent dies in bed 21:19 Waiting for the third breath
Mentioned in this episode
Bluey: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000vbrk/bluey">bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000vbrk/bluey</a> Mollymook: <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/topic/mollymook-crl">smh.com.au/traveller/topic/mollymook-crl</a> Lego: <a href="https://lego.certifiedstore.co.il/?srsltid=AU7gw4WWLdEqMc5jrMMhQCDrnJFcM906HjSrBH_7yImhD53OulE_bh45">lego.certifiedstore.co.il</a> Money, Money, Money: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money,_Money,_Money">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money,_Money,_Money</a> Mamma Mia!: <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamma_Mia!_(Film)">de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamma_Mia!_(Film)</a> Kmart: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kmart_Australia">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kmart_Australia</a>
What to listen to next
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/from-gold-medalist-to-dad-ellia-green">From Gold Medalist to Dad | Ellia Green</a> <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/one-and-done">One and Done</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.

Rob and Marcus tackle the relentless cycle of daycare illnesses, the myth of work life balance and the financial guilt of modern fatherhood. They also share their darkest irrational fears, including the universal panic of checking if a sleeping child is still breathing.

Surviving Dad Burnout

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/49db3bda-4b54-4a69-a7b9-b39a00977424/clips/1c5959af-dc69-4d09-b946-b4dc0061c0f0/transcript

Transferring rugby skills to fatherhood

Welcome to the podcast

Ellia Green introduces himself

From junior sprinter to Olympic gold medalist

Wasting money on kids at the movies

A terrifying encounter with a giant Elmo

Why parades at Movie World are a bad idea

The overarching bond of just being dads

Navigating the real dad question

Transitioning and the journey to fatherhood

Managing mental health during life changes

Building an unexpected family community

A rare rugby sevens reunion

Learning patience and living in the moment

Finding community with other trans dads

The lactose intolerant cow dad joke

Retiring from elite sport, transitioning and welcoming a newborn baby are three of life's most monumental shifts. Ellia Green tackled all of them in the space of three months. Facing a wave of global media attention, the Olympic gold medallist found clarity and courage in the simple act of holding his new daughter, realising he never wanted her to think he was too scared to tell the world he was her daddy.

Rob and Marcus sit down with Ellia to hear about his journey from dreaming of being Australia's fastest sprinter to winning gold with the Australian rugby sevens team, and ultimately finding his greatest role yet as a father. Ellia shares how the muscle memory of the rugby pitch surprisingly translated to holding a newborn and changing nappies, and reflects on the unique, beautiful bond he shares with his daughter.

The dads also swap stories about the harsh realities of taking kids to highly anticipated events. From Marcus dropping eye watering amounts on theatre tickets only to leave fifteen minutes in, to Ellia's encounter with a terrifying eight foot Elmo in Philadelphia, it seems no amount of planning can predict what a toddler will actually enjoy. Throw in a butchered dad joke and a stiff pour of whiskey, and it is just another day of navigating life on the other side of kids.

Chapters

00:00 The rugby ball baby hold
01:04 Introducing Ellia Green
03:08 Chasing the 100 metre sprint dream
04:29 Leaving the cinema at half time
05:57 A terrifying eight foot Elmo
07:42 Scary parades at Movie World
09:12 The shared experience of being a dad
10:26 Growing up adopted from Fiji
12:57 Transitioning and becoming a father
16:11 Navigating mental health and retirement
19:58 Applying elite sports skills to parenting
21:33 Breaking the baby news to the team
22:48 Reconnecting with the rugby sevens family
27:34 Living in the moment with your kids
29:51 Finding a community of trans dads
32:15 Butchering the lactose intolerant cow joke

Our guest

Ellia Green is an Olympic gold medallist who played for the Australian rugby sevens. Born in Fiji and adopted by a Polish and English family, he transitioned and is now a proud father to his five-year-old daughter.

Read more on Man of Many

Why We're Launching 'Daddies', A New Podcast About Modern Fatherhood
INTERVIEW: Anthony Minichiello on Fatherhood, the Roosters and Life in Lockdown
10 Best Dad Blogs for New Parents
Tesla Balance Bike Has No Motor, No Battery, and Runs on Toddler Power
Ozlo Sleepbuds: The Father's Day Sleep Upgrade Dad Will Actually Use
How to Fix Australian Rugby

What to listen to next

One and Done
Becoming a Grandpa at the Age of 37 | Matty Acton

Support: If anything in this episode brought something up for you, help is available. Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. PANDA, for expecting and new parents, 1300 726 306. In an emergency call 000.

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.

Retiring from elite sport, transitioning and welcoming a newborn baby are three of life's most monumental shifts. Ellia Green tackled all of them in the space of three months. Facing a wave of global media attention, the Olympic gold medallist found clarity and courage in the simple act of holding his new daughter, realising he never wanted her to think he was too scared to tell the world he was her daddy.
Rob and Marcus sit down with Ellia to hear about his journey from dreaming of being Australia's fastest sprinter to winning gold with the Australian rugby sevens team, and ultimately finding his greatest role yet as a father. Ellia shares how the muscle memory of the rugby pitch surprisingly translated to holding a newborn and changing nappies, and reflects on the unique, beautiful bond he shares with his daughter.
The dads also swap stories about the harsh realities of taking kids to highly anticipated events. From Marcus dropping eye watering amounts on theatre tickets only to leave fifteen minutes in, to Ellia's encounter with a terrifying eight foot Elmo in Philadelphia, it seems no amount of planning can predict what a toddler will actually enjoy. Throw in a butchered dad joke and a stiff pour of whiskey, and it is just another day of navigating life on the other side of kids.
Chapters
00:00 The rugby ball baby hold 01:04 Introducing Ellia Green 03:08 Chasing the 100 metre sprint dream 04:29 Leaving the cinema at half time 05:57 A terrifying eight foot Elmo 07:42 Scary parades at Movie World 09:12 The shared experience of being a dad 10:26 Growing up adopted from Fiji 12:57 Transitioning and becoming a father 16:11 Navigating mental health and retirement 19:58 Applying elite sports skills to parenting 21:33 Breaking the baby news to the team 22:48 Reconnecting with the rugby sevens family 27:34 Living in the moment with your kids 29:51 Finding a community of trans dads 32:15 Butchering the lactose intolerant cow joke
Our guest
Ellia Green is an Olympic gold medallist who played for the Australian rugby sevens. Born in Fiji and adopted by a Polish and English family, he transitioned and is now a proud father to his five-year-old daughter.
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/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/auto/cars/tesla-balance-bike-for-kids">Tesla Balance Bike Has No Motor, No Battery, and Runs on Toddler Power</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/tech/ozlo-sleepbuds-fathers-day">Ozlo Sleepbuds: The Father's Day Sleep Upgrade Dad Will Actually Use</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/entertainment/sport/how-to-fix-australian-rugby">How to Fix Australian Rugby</a>
What to listen to next
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/one-and-done">One and Done</a> <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>
Support: If anything in this episode brought something up for you, help is available. Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. PANDA, for expecting and new parents, 1300 726 306. In an emergency call 000.
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.

Olympic gold medalist Ilya Green joins Marcus and Rob to discuss his journey into fatherhood, transitioning in the public eye, and the unexpected parallels between elite rugby and raising a toddler.

From Gold Medalist to Dad | Ellia Green

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/49db3bda-4b54-4a69-a7b9-b39a00977424/clips/4871432b-97b2-4c4c-8227-b4d5002b87ed/transcript

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.

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

Cold open: a 50 cent piece and a secret

Welcome, and a guest who is a granddaddy

Pop, Papa or Bob: what the grandkids call you

A major crash out in front of his mate

Three kids, 24, 12 and nine, all different

What every kid actually wants

He was 18, she was 22, her son was three

Meeting the kid: friend first, dad later

The night he babysat alone for the first time

Was that the moment you became a dad?

Moving house every two years for radio

The phone call: he is proposing at 20

Advice they don't want, and listening instead

A grandfather at 37, and the stigma of it

Granddaughter rules versus kid rules

The dad joke round

A 50 cent piece, a kid jumping on a bed, and an 18 year old who had been left alone with someone else's son for the very first time. Matty got the coin out. Then the boy looked up at him with tears in his eyes and said: let's not tell mummy.

Matty Acton is one third of Stav, Abby & Matt on B105 Brisbane breakfast. He met his now wife when he was 18 and she was 22, with a three year old son. His original position was that he did not want a serious relationship with someone who had a child. He has now spent his entire adult life as a parent.

That three year old is 24. He married at 20 and he is a father, which makes Matty a grandfather at 37. He talks about what that did to the way he sees himself, why he loves telling people about it, and the stigma that still lands on anyone who has children young. He also has a 12 year old son and a nine year old daughter, so the house now runs two sets of rules: one for his kids, and effectively none for his granddaughter.

In between are the parts nobody puts on Instagram. A major crash out in front of his son's mate on a Sunday morning, over what time the bikes had to be home. Moving a kid to a new school every two years for a radio career, and the one move they decided not to make. Finding out your son is proposing while you are in line for your fourth bottle at a food and wine festival. And what he says he has actually learned across three kids and every one of his adult years, which is smaller and better than any of it: they just want to know that when they put their head on the pillow, someone is there who loves them.

Plus the dad joke round, which Rob and Marcus handle badly.

Chapters

00:00 Cold open: a 50 cent piece and a secret
00:45 Welcome, and a guest who is a granddaddy
02:15 Pop, Papa or Bob: what the grandkids call you
03:09 A major crash out in front of his mate
05:15 Three kids, 24, 12 and nine, all different
06:21 What every kid actually wants
08:31 He was 18, she was 22, her son was three
11:52 Meeting the kid: friend first, dad later
13:31 The night he babysat alone for the first time
15:29 Was that the moment you became a dad?
17:03 Moving house every two years for radio
20:22 The phone call: he is proposing at 20
23:15 Advice they don't want, and listening instead
24:30 A grandfather at 37, and the stigma of it
26:21 Granddaughter rules versus kid rules
28:14 The dad joke round

Our guest

Matty Acton co-hosts Stav, Abby & Matt, the breakfast show on B105 Brisbane, alongside Stav Davidson and Abby Coleman. He became a stepdad at 18, has three children, and became a grandfather at 37.

Instagram: @mattyacton
TikTok: @mattyacton
X: @mattyacton
Facebook: @MattyActon
Listen to Stav, Abby & Matt on B105 Brisbane: listnr.com/stations/b105

Read more on Man of Many

Why We're Launching 'Daddies', A New Podcast About Modern Fatherhood
100+ Best Dad Jokes, Ranked by Cringe/Pun Level
We Asked Aussie Men How Life Is Going. This Is What You Told Us
10 Best Dad Blogs for New Parents
The 2025 'Adolescent Man Box' Report
Paging Doctor Dad: Real Fathers, Real Stories, Real Advice

What to listen to next

Gay Dad, Single Dad
How Your Brain Changes When You Become A 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.

A 50 cent piece, a kid jumping on a bed, and an 18 year old who had been left alone with someone else's son for the very first time. Matty got the coin out. Then the boy looked up at him with tears in his eyes and said: let's not tell mummy.
Matty Acton is one third of Stav, Abby &amp; Matt on B105 Brisbane breakfast. He met his now wife when he was 18 and she was 22, with a three year old son. His original position was that he did not want a serious relationship with someone who had a child. He has now spent his entire adult life as a parent.
That three year old is 24. He married at 20 and he is a father, which makes Matty a grandfather at 37. He talks about what that did to the way he sees himself, why he loves telling people about it, and the stigma that still lands on anyone who has children young. He also has a 12 year old son and a nine year old daughter, so the house now runs two sets of rules: one for his kids, and effectively none for his granddaughter.
In between are the parts nobody puts on Instagram. A major crash out in front of his son's mate on a Sunday morning, over what time the bikes had to be home. Moving a kid to a new school every two years for a radio career, and the one move they decided not to make. Finding out your son is proposing while you are in line for your fourth bottle at a food and wine festival. And what he says he has actually learned across three kids and every one of his adult years, which is smaller and better than any of it: they just want to know that when they put their head on the pillow, someone is there who loves them.
Plus the dad joke round, which Rob and Marcus handle badly.
Chapters
00:00 Cold open: a 50 cent piece and a secret 00:45 Welcome, and a guest who is a granddaddy 02:15 Pop, Papa or Bob: what the grandkids call you 03:09 A major crash out in front of his mate 05:15 Three kids, 24, 12 and nine, all different 06:21 What every kid actually wants 08:31 He was 18, she was 22, her son was three 11:52 Meeting the kid: friend first, dad later 13:31 The night he babysat alone for the first time 15:29 Was that the moment you became a dad? 17:03 Moving house every two years for radio 20:22 The phone call: he is proposing at 20 23:15 Advice they don't want, and listening instead 24:30 A grandfather at 37, and the stigma of it 26:21 Granddaughter rules versus kid rules 28:14 The dad joke round
Our guest
Matty Acton co-hosts&nbsp;<a href="https://listnr.com/stations/b105" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://listnr.com/stations/b105&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2MfS4wJvphqau6VUr4v68U">Stav, Abby &amp; Matt</a>, the breakfast show on B105 Brisbane, alongside Stav Davidson and Abby Coleman. He became a stepdad at 18, has three children, and became a grandfather at 37.
Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mattyacton/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/mattyacton/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0IQTwEGR-Ru55gypzatycu">@mattyacton</a> TikTok:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mattyacton" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tiktok.com/@mattyacton&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1rKOUyKanrs57Ad6a59v7K">@mattyacton</a> X:&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/mattyacton" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://x.com/mattyacton&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2CDakHbudkkX8cy6z4fI1J">@mattyacton</a> Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MattyActon/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/MattyActon/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Xvx_qvAlEn0uBz15j1x2i">@MattyActon</a> Listen to Stav, Abby &amp; Matt on B105 Brisbane:&nbsp;<a href="https://listnr.com/stations/b105" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://listnr.com/stations/b105&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2MfS4wJvphqau6VUr4v68U">listnr.com/stations/b105</a>
Read more on Man of Many
<a href="https://manofmany.com/culture/daddies-podcast-launch" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/culture/daddies-podcast-launch&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17TPFMk-hKL2bnJcT2gyGG">Why We're Launching 'Daddies', A New Podcast About Modern Fatherhood</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/entertainment/best-dad-jokes" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/entertainment/best-dad-jokes&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1f__cNbllR0gg64vsn9UVn">100+ Best Dad Jokes, Ranked by Cringe/Pun Level</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/culture/man-of-many-male-confidence-index" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/culture/man-of-many-male-confidence-index&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3vsFg714X8aJ8JkBYoAGMx">We Asked Aussie Men How Life Is Going. This Is What You Told Us</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/culture/advice/best-dad-blogs" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/culture/advice/best-dad-blogs&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw23qfDCBRJMs-aLz0a2DTMD">10 Best Dad Blogs for New Parents</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/culture/advice/adolescent-man-box-report" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/culture/advice/adolescent-man-box-report&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3joTWLp92rMBK7sQ1QP1Qf">The 2025 'Adolescent Man Box' Report</a> <a href="https://manofmany.com/culture/fitness/childrens-panadol" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/culture/fitness/childrens-panadol&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2wGeKOCeCdO5Nwx8rttpoY">Paging Doctor Dad: Real Fathers, Real Stories, Real Advice</a>
What to listen to next
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/gay-day-single-dad" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/gay-day-single-dad&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1IsX8QSFSxe7vG4AT6SI6p">Gay Dad, Single Dad</a> <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/how-your-brain-changes-when-you-become-a-dad" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/how-your-brain-changes-when-you-become-a-dad&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2mEAZ4hDlu5PPU4eRQ81h4">How Your Brain Changes When You Become A 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:&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=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3nvNqGxBAeycizubli_8e1">@daddiespodcastau</a> TikTok:&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=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1jqF4ueMC4eGWiPhAynbzn">@daddiespodcastau</a> Facebook:&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=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0xCquKYHwFhGnMK1AkRgEs">@daddiespodcastau</a> Threads:&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=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3wTOAMmUjDnkEzj3i6ZVqV">@daddiespodcastau</a> X:&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/daddiespodau" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://x.com/daddiespodau&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2bm9pF8wuxWfnyac9Lc0r3">@daddiespodau</a> Watch the full episodes on YouTube:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@manofmany" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/@manofmany&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pojI1FSZnYqte_p16uqjA">youtube.com/@manofmany</a> Listen on Apple Podcasts:&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/daddies-by-man-of-many/id6804513711" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/daddies-by-man-of-many/id6804513711&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0DzG6rfyANptIqnEBnOJSc">podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711</a> Find us on Spotify:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ToDfEVI4kCeNGdsJzb9fX">open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S</a> Everything else:&nbsp;<a href="https://manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3TXRTuak3VCQBXJxGAvnzp">manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies</a>
Credits Hosts:&nbsp;<a href="https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789631880303000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0SfP1NJ4rVyuldiJBmZ2-L">Rob Stott</a>&nbsp;and Marcus Hurley Producer: Amelia Navascues Videographer: Jordan Yankov A Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.

Radio host Matty Acton became a stepdad at 18 and a grandfather at 37. He joins Rob and Marcus to talk about raising a kid who was not his, moving house every two years for the job, and why having children young is not the ending people assume it is.

Becoming a Grandpa at the Age of 37 | Matty Acton

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/49db3bda-4b54-4a69-a7b9-b39a00977424/clips/e63b8da0-2be3-4061-9618-b4c7007c53d4/transcript

The turkey baster question

Meet Rob and Marcus

Two dads, one daughter, Canada

Meeting your surrogate, at the birth

"She chose us": how matching works

The woman who carried Billie

Half siblings, and the same womb

What altruistic surrogacy means

Five years married, then divorce

How long it takes to say "single dad"

The bipolar week, guilt inside relief

Nearly 1 in 3 kids are not traditional

Two dads, no gender roles

Dad, Pop, Papa and Bop

The stepdad, and two daddies

The cup and the paternity test

Dating, and being "custody aligned"

Your ex is engaged, over FaceTime

Rob and Marcus have worked together for years and had never really told each other how they became dads. This is the episode where they do.

Rob Stott is raising a daughter, Billie, with his husband. She was born via surrogacy in Canada during COVID, which meant the first time they met their surrogate in person was when they flew over for the birth. He explains why Australian law pushed them overseas, why it is the surrogate who chooses the parents rather than the other way round, what altruistic surrogacy actually means, and why Billie now has half siblings around the world and a girl in Melbourne born from the same womb.

Marcus Hurley was married for five years, has a daughter he calls Beano, and instigated the separation. He describes how long it took before he could say the words "single dad", the fifty-fifty week he calls his bipolar life, the guilt that arrives folded into the relief of a night off, and the moment his daughter drew the family and wrote "daddy" twice.

Between them they land on the thing nobody says out loud. Nearly one in three Australian children are not growing up in a conventional family household, and both these men did.

Then the community questions, which are as blunt as you would expect. Did the two of you just do your business in a cup? What if the surrogate wants to keep the baby? And what happens to dating when you are only free every second week.

Chapters
00:00 Cold open: the turkey baster question
00:08 Meet Rob and Marcus
01:04 Rob's story: two dads, one daughter, Canada
02:38 Meeting your surrogate for the first time
04:06 "She chose us": how the matching works
04:48 The woman who carried Billie
05:55 Half siblings, and the girl from the same womb
07:14 What altruistic surrogacy actually means
08:10 Marcus's story: five years, then divorce
09:14 How long it takes to say "single dad"
10:49 The bipolar week, and guilt inside relief
14:06 Nearly 1 in 3 kids are not "traditional"
16:30 Two dads, no gender roles, splitting nights
17:47 Dad, Pop, Papa and Bop
19:07 The stepdad, and the drawing with two daddies
21:30 Community questions: the cup, the paternity test
26:27 Dating, and being "custody aligned"
32:33 Your ex is engaged, and you find out on FaceTime

References
Nearly one in three children growing up in non-conventional family households, UNSW Sydney, 20 August 2024, reporting the Uniting Families Report from UNSW's Social Policy Research Centre and Uniting NSW.ACT

What to listen to next
How Your Brain Changes When You Become A Dad

Support: If anything in this episode brought something up for you, help is available. Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. PANDA, for expecting and new parents, 1300 726 306. In an emergency call 000.

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.

Rob and Marcus have worked together for years and had never really told each other how they became dads. This is the episode where they do.
<a href="https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2P1WrGbti_akQ32VwqS5Vp">Rob Stott</a>&nbsp;is raising a daughter, Billie, with his husband. She was born via surrogacy in Canada during COVID, which meant the first time they met their surrogate in person was when they flew over for the birth. He explains why Australian law pushed them overseas, why it is the surrogate who chooses the parents rather than the other way round, what altruistic surrogacy actually means, and why Billie now has half siblings around the world and a girl in Melbourne born from the same womb.
Marcus Hurley was married for five years, has a daughter he calls Beano, and instigated the separation. He describes how long it took before he could say the words "single dad", the fifty-fifty week he calls his bipolar life, the guilt that arrives folded into the relief of a night off, and the moment his daughter drew the family and wrote "daddy" twice.
Between them they land on the thing nobody says out loud. Nearly one in three Australian children are not growing up in a conventional family household, and both these men did.
Then the community questions, which are as blunt as you would expect. Did the two of you just do your business in a cup? What if the surrogate wants to keep the baby? And what happens to dating when you are only free every second week.
Chapters 00:00 Cold open: the turkey baster question 00:08 Meet Rob and Marcus 01:04 Rob's story: two dads, one daughter, Canada 02:38 Meeting your surrogate for the first time 04:06 "She chose us": how the matching works 04:48 The woman who carried Billie 05:55 Half siblings, and the girl from the same womb 07:14 What altruistic surrogacy actually means 08:10 Marcus's story: five years, then divorce 09:14 How long it takes to say "single dad" 10:49 The bipolar week, and guilt inside relief 14:06 Nearly 1 in 3 kids are not "traditional" 16:30 Two dads, no gender roles, splitting nights 17:47 Dad, Pop, Papa and Bop 19:07 The stepdad, and the drawing with two daddies 21:30 Community questions: the cup, the paternity test 26:27 Dating, and being "custody aligned" 32:33 Your ex is engaged, and you find out on FaceTime
References <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/08/nearly-one-in-three-children-growing-up-in-non-conventional-family-households" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/08/nearly-one-in-three-children-growing-up-in-non-conventional-family-households&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1cJJ64fwRHGdqcThf1P7Kc">Nearly one in three children growing up in non-conventional family households</a>, UNSW Sydney, 20 August 2024, reporting the Uniting Families Report from UNSW's Social Policy Research Centre and Uniting NSW.ACT
What to listen to next <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/how-your-brain-changes-when-you-become-a-dad" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://omny.fm/shows/daddies/how-your-brain-changes-when-you-become-a-dad&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3RPXsGrdALfdX83oU2Uq-2">How Your Brain Changes When You Become A Dad</a>
Support: If anything in this episode brought something up for you, help is available. Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. PANDA, for expecting and new parents, 1300 726 306. In an emergency call 000.
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.
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<li>Listen on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/daddies-by-man-of-many/id6804513711" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/daddies-by-man-of-many/id6804513711&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ev-PjRIVxqYmcR8KQzdmZ">podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711</a></li>
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<li>Everything else: <a href="https://manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3YLo1iCQUPwNKvh5Y9cc__">manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies</a></li>
</ul>
Credits Hosts:&nbsp;<a href="https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2P1WrGbti_akQ32VwqS5Vp">Rob Stott</a>&nbsp;and Marcus Hurley Producer: Amelia Navascues Videographer: Jordan Yankov A Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.

Rob Stott and Marcus Hurley tell each other their stories properly for the first time: surrogacy in Canada during COVID, a marriage that ended after five years, and what a fifty-fifty co-parenting week actually feels like.

Gay Dad, Single Dad

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/49db3bda-4b54-4a69-a7b9-b39a00977424/clips/5e5bb90c-72e5-49d0-9c71-b4c000274f11/transcript

 The word Billie wouldn't stop saying

TMI: Rob swears, Billie repeats it

How a 50/50 fortnight actually works

An engagement ring over FaceTime

 Meeting your daughter's stepdad

 Change: the BBC 'Dad Brain' article

 Testosterone drops, oxytocin spikes

 Surrogacy in Canada, over Zoom

 Gay dads and 18 months of primary care

 The change nobody warns you about

 What do you miss from before?

 What did you just say?

 The secret candle

Rob swore at a driver in Newtown. Then he heard a small voice repeat it, word for word, from the back seat. That is roughly where this show begins.

In the first episode of Daddies, Rob Stott and Marcus Hurley take a BBC piece on "dad brain" and test it against their own experience. The research says fatherhood physically rewires you: testosterone drops, and drops further in dads doing more of the caring. Oxytocin rises, especially through play and physical contact.

Rob's daughter Billie was born via surrogacy in Canada during COVID, which meant meeting their surrogate over Zoom and watching every scan from the other side of the world. He then took eighteen months off work as the primary carer. The research says gay dads doing primary care show the same brain activation as mothers, and Rob has thoughts on whether that matches what he actually felt, and when.

Marcus co-parents on a fifty-fifty split and describes the weekly switch between being a dad and being a single man, the morning his ex-wife held an engagement ring up to the camera while he was camping, and the mate who asked him how it made him feel.

Plus the change nobody warns you about, which is not the nappies. It is your friendships.

Chapters
00:00 The word Billie wouldn't stop saying
00:12 Meet Rob and Marcus
01:12 TMI: Rob swears, Billie repeats it
04:39 How a 50/50 fortnight actually works
05:16 An engagement ring over FaceTime
06:45 Meeting your daughter's stepdad
08:04 Change: the BBC 'Dad Brain' article
09:20 Testosterone drops, oxytocin spikes
10:54 Surrogacy in Canada, over Zoom
11:48 Gay dads and 18 months of primary care
13:13 The change nobody warns you about
15:56 What do you miss from before?
18:24 What did you just say?
20:23 The secret candle

References
Dad brains: How fatherhood rewires the male mind, BBC Future, 18 April 2026

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.

Rob swore at a driver in Newtown. Then he heard a small voice repeat it, word for word, from the back seat. That is roughly where this show begins.
In the first episode of Daddies,&nbsp;<a href="https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1788589020016000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3t5TBqxG4ilIrElfzWIzak">Rob Stott</a>&nbsp;and Marcus Hurley take a BBC piece on "dad brain" and test it against their own experience. The research says fatherhood physically rewires you: testosterone drops, and drops further in dads doing more of the caring. Oxytocin rises, especially through play and physical contact.
Rob's daughter Billie was born via surrogacy in Canada during COVID, which meant meeting their surrogate over Zoom and watching every scan from the other side of the world. He then took eighteen months off work as the primary carer. The research says gay dads doing primary care show the same brain activation as mothers, and Rob has thoughts on whether that matches what he actually felt, and when.
Marcus co-parents on a fifty-fifty split and describes the weekly switch between being a dad and being a single man, the morning his ex-wife held an engagement ring up to the camera while he was camping, and the mate who asked him how it made him feel.
Plus the change nobody warns you about, which is not the nappies. It is your friendships.
Chapters
<ul>
<li>00:00 The word Billie wouldn't stop saying</li>
<li>00:12 Meet Rob and Marcus</li>
<li>01:12 TMI: Rob swears, Billie repeats it</li>
<li>04:39 How a 50/50 fortnight actually works</li>
<li>05:16 An engagement ring over FaceTime</li>
<li>06:45 Meeting your daughter's stepdad</li>
<li>08:04 Change: the BBC 'Dad Brain' article</li>
<li>09:20 Testosterone drops, oxytocin spikes</li>
<li>10:54 Surrogacy in Canada, over Zoom</li>
<li>11:48 Gay dads and 18 months of primary care</li>
<li>13:13 The change nobody warns you about</li>
<li>15:56 What do you miss from before?</li>
<li>18:24 What did you just say?</li>
<li>20:23 The secret candle</li>
</ul>
References <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260417-fatherhood-how-the-male-brain-and-body-prepare-for-childcare" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260417-fatherhood-how-the-male-brain-and-body-prepare-for-childcare&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1788589020016000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0bvY3qGI8PQVDFfr-7Bsy-">Dad brains: How fatherhood rewires the male mind</a>, BBC Future, 18 April 2026
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
<ul>
<li>Instagram:&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=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1tEK_pQINAackVOJvia_3C">@daddiespodcastau</a></li>
<li>TikTok: <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=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0eGQJkG4y3NHmQnOaNFlbJ">@daddiespodcastau</a></li>
<li>Facebook: <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=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw21FrtG1yyGCtzZUlaobk0B">@daddiespodcastau</a></li>
<li>Threads: <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=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3cvAVCdE7IgcT0ycJMvpFa">@daddiespodcastau</a></li>
<li>X: <a href="https://x.com/daddiespodau" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://x.com/daddiespodau&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0fLUJZyLbRPPqdimYrFtTy">@daddiespodau</a></li>
<li>Watch the full episodes on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@manofmany" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/@manofmany&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1tSlz1aF24PQj4XFLIdyqA">youtube.com/@manofmany</a></li>
<li>Listen on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/daddies-by-man-of-many/id6804513711" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/daddies-by-man-of-many/id6804513711&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ev-PjRIVxqYmcR8KQzdmZ">podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6804513711</a></li>
<li>Find us on Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3TBwhPsMLNT5PWnSczpZdb">open.spotify.com/show/4JqZSIBvqU33N5LGJ3b46S</a></li>
<li>Everything else: <a href="https://manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3YLo1iCQUPwNKvh5Y9cc__">manofmany.com/podcasts/daddies</a></li>
</ul>
Credits Hosts:&nbsp;<a href="https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://manofmany.com/author/robstott/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789032645052000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2P1WrGbti_akQ32VwqS5Vp">Rob Stott</a>&nbsp;and Marcus Hurley Producer: Amelia Navascues Videographer: Jordan Yankov A Man of Many production. New episodes every Thursday.

Rob Stott and Marcus Hurley take a BBC report on how fatherhood physically rewires the male brain, and test it against surrogacy in Canada, eighteen months as a primary carer, and a fifty-fifty co-parenting split.

How Your Brain Changes When You Become A Dad

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/49db3bda-4b54-4a69-a7b9-b39a00977424/clips/3931a23a-e1f7-4bdd-8086-b4ba016e9860/transcript

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

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