Farter Figures Podcast

The last episode of 2017 for Farter Figures is finally here!  I know it's come a little late - but it's now online for all of you to enjoy! In this episode I have a very special guest live in the studio with me - my very own dad! We talk about roles reversed when dads get older. Australia's population is ageing so is it the kids who have the parenthood responsibility for their ageing parents? We chat to my dad's dad and Ronda Held who is the CEO of the Council of the Ageing Victoria.  I also interview wordsmith and co-host of Letters and Numbers David Astle about all the interesting linguistics behind the words dad and father! On the last episode of the year we also wrap up the best of the best dad jokes, dad fashion and daddisms.  Enjoy and stay tuned for what's next!

The very first politician on Farter Figures stepped into the SYN Nation studio for this episode. Senator Sam Dastyari tells his story of migrating from Iran, fatherhood and juggling being a politician and a dad.  One in four Australians are born overseas and we have a rich indigenous culture to be recognised, respected and celebrated. The two dads on this show are Sam Dastyari and Mark Mayo. Sam is from Iran and Mark is an indigenous father living in Darwin.  It's a great episode discussing different backgrounds, identity and understanding where you come from.  Listen to different culture dads and you won't miss the usual dad news, dad facts, dad music, dad jokes, dad sayings and dad fashion. 

What a wonderful episode this is! Farter Figures challenges some of societies perceptions that same-sex couples aren't capable parents. I speak to two gay dads. One is young, single and a foster parent to three sisters. The other comes from Portland in America whose transgender partner recently given birth to a baby boy. Two different stories of gay parenting, but both are captivating and inspirational for all parents. I also chat to Sally Goldner a former LBGTIQ Australian person of the year and head of Transgender Victoria. Our fourth guest on this massive episode is Dr Deborah Dempsey from Swinburne University. She has been researching same-sex parenting families for 12 years.  This episode discusses LBGTIQ parenting and how society needs to accept everyone as equal, no matter how different we are.  Parenting is parenting. Love is Love. 

Farter Figures hits double figures! It was a different topic for the milestone episode, as the show looks at men deciding not to be dads! I speak to two child free men who share their very different reasons and thoughts about the decision. I also discuss society's responses to child free men with Dr Bronwyn Harman from Edith Cowan University. Althoug childless households will be the norm in Australian society soon, becoming a dad and having kids is still conisidered the normal thing to do. Do we just need to accept everyone is different? Have a listen and decide for yourself.  

It was Farter Figures 3rd show in a week! Don't worry - there is three guests on this episode so you won't get too sick of me!  The theme was adopting dads. Our three guests are fascinating and they all have very different stories surrounding adoption. I talk to Pip who adopted two girls from Ethiopia and then had a daughter of his own. I speak on the phone with Leigh Matthews about her work trying to help the unnecassary institutioliasation of kids and the new phenonomen of 'orphan tourism'. Finally, Claire Halliday comes into the studio to talk about her book 'Things my Father Taught Me' and her fascinating story about being adopted during Australias adoption boom. Claire sticked around till the end and let me tell her some bad jokes for dad joke of week! Enjoy adopting dads and all the usual segments! 

You can't do a show all about dads without a Father's Day Special. Have a listen to a more relaxed extended episode of Farter Figures. Sunday the 3rd was Father's Day in Australia and I jumped on the SYN airwaves to bring you this episode. No theme, no guests, but a lot of fun.  There is father's day history, dadvertising, father facts and all our usual segments.  Have a listen.

Do you know what couvade syndrome is? Have you ever heard of a sympathy pregnancy? Basically, men can get similar symptons to their pregnant partner such as morning sickness, food cravings, weight gain and in severe cases labour pains! This weeks episode of Farter Figures looks at dads to be. I chat with two dads - one is expecting his first kid in a few months and the other reflects on how he felt about becoming a dad and what changed the second time round. I also learn all about couvade syndrome with Dr. Irene Lichtwark.  Finally, I interview Dr Luke Martin from Beyond Blue about two campaigns he helped create that offer support and advice for dads to be. We also discuss the reality of post-natal depression and why it is still taboo for men.  All that and heaps more on a jam packed episode of Farter Figures. Plenty of laughs, information and dad stuff. Enjoy.

On this episode of Farter Figures we discover stay at home dads. They are still uncommon in Australia but I speak to three dads about their duties remaining home to look after their children. We talk about the challenges, isolation, stigma, and good times that come with being a stay at home dad. I also chat to a Jennifer Baxter, a senior research fellow at the Australian Institute of Family Studies about her research into the low numbers of Stay at home dads in Australia. It’s a really eye-opening episode with no shortage of laughs, dad content and all the usual segments that make Farter Figures special. 

As promised - here is the full interview with dad Paul from last weeks show about addicted dads. It's hard to fit everything into an hour, so I thought i'd upload this as a bit of bonus content while you wait for the next installment of Farter Figures. This is Paul's story about his battles with alcholism, becoming sober and being a father. He doesn't hold back and it's a fascinating chat. Enjoy and thanks Paul! 

This show is all about celebrating one half of the globe responsible for creating us. Basically, Farter Figures will be delving into the wonderful world of dads. There are over 5 million fathers in Australia and more than 100 million worldwide. There are so many different types including old dads, young dads, stay at home dads, single dads, sperm donor dads, sugar daddies and some families even have two! So if you like dad jokes, dad news and dad fashion join me Wednesday nights on SYN Nation from 7.30pm as I explore a different dad-centric theme each week on Farter Figures.

Farter Figures is back for another exciting episode - addicted dads! It's a very emotional theme. It includes chats with two dads who have suffered from drug and alcohol dependencies. We talk about how it controlled their lives, effected their ability to be good dads and what they are doing to turn their parenting around! I also interview Dr Stefan Gruenert the CEO of Odyssesy House Victoria and Michael Thorn the CEO of The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education. It's action packed and highlights a different type of dads.  Just like each week, there is no shortage of dad news, farther facts, dad jokes, dad fashion and daddisms! Get stuck in and enjoy! 

Over 90% of Australian dads with young children are employed. So why not talk about working dads? Episode 4 of Farter Figures is all about dads who work and especially those dads who spend lots of time away for work. There is a recrod four guests on the show! Two dads who work in the media, a pilots son, and a representitive from the great fathering project organisation.  There is lots of great dad content so get listening! 

Farter Figures is online for another week! If you missed the live show on Wednesday night, you can now enjoy the podcast. It’s all about step dads! Just like your dads coin jar, its full to the brim, with all things dad. The episode includes interviews with a psychologist, step dad and step kid. I learnt a heap about the difficult job that is step parenting and I’m sure you will to. Don’t forget there’s dad news, dadvertising, dad jokes, dad facts, dad fashion and daddisms. Dig in!

On the second week of Farter Figures it's another topical issue focusing on dads in sport. How involved should dads be in their kids sport? I discuss different approaches fathers have to their kids sport, reflect on some negative cases and highlight some positive dad influences. I chat with two do dads who were on AFL lists about their parenting and speak to Jenny Preist, the co-chair of the Play by the Rules organisation. As always, there is dads in the news, dadvertising, dad jokes, dad fashion and daddisms. Enjoy!  

It's the first episode of Farter Figures! This weeks theme is IVF - I speak to a dad who used IVF to have kids after a vasectomy and have a fascinating chat with Carlin, who’s parents used IVF and a sperm donor to conceive him! There was still time for some dad jokes, dad fashion and a lot of dad discussion. Happy listening!