First Time Dads

Brace yourself, people… we have some big news.Steve - one half of our First Time Dads duo - is moving to New York!What this means for the podcast is still… well, it's unclear. However, when you listen to this (borderline emotional) chat between Steve and Rich, bear in mind that this MIGHT be the last ever episode of our little podcast.The guys chat here as they always do. So, you get a lot of Steve explaining the complexities of moving your kids abroad, a lot of Rich bellowing unnecessarily and a lot of wistful chat about fatherhood.If you want more of this in the future - and you don't want this to be the end of First Time Dads - then let us know! You can find Steve on Twitter here, Rich's Twitter here, or you can email us on firsttimedads@trinitymirror.comHit us up with questions, complaints, queries or just general rants about parenthood. You've listened to plenty of ours, so it's about time we heard yours. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Everyone has a nightmare getting their kids to do as their told. EVERYONE. That's why we can guarantee every single one of you has, at some point, been desperate for any easy-to-implement strategy that can get your children to behave a little less monstrously. Enter Tom Phelan PhD, the clinical psychologist and author behind the 1-2-3 Magic technique. After our former guest Emily Oster raved about Tom's work and told us how she had used it to great effective on her own kids, we got the man himself on for a trans-Atlantic chat, to explain just how this magic works. You're welcome, folks. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

This chat with Konnie Huq is… well, it's… it's a rollercoaster.You know Konnie. She presented Blue Peter for a decade. She's hosted loads of different TV shows. She's married to Black Mirror creator/genius Charlie Brooker (she co-wrote one particularly brilliant episode). She is mother to two boys. And she has now written a children's book, called Cookie and the Most Annoying Boy in the World.As with most guests, Steve and Rich sat down to talk to her about various aspects of parenting - but the conversation very quickly turned into a chat about, well… EVERYTHING. Have a listen and you'll soon see what we mean. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Parents today are inundated with information and expert advice, often contradictory and invariably overwhelming. This results in anxiety, insecurity and stressed parenting that inevitably drives wedges between parents and children instead of the much-needed connection. Jennifer Day is a Parent Coach and Counsellor with more than twenty-five years of experience and she tells Rich and Steve how to reconnect with their innate wisdom and to trust their own parenting intuition. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

What's the correct etiquette when another child pushes in front of yours on the slide at the playground or takes their bucket and spade in the sandpit?We've all been there. A weekend morning, kids driving you mad and you need to get out the house. Cue trip to the local playground. Next thing you know your nearest and dearest is at the top of the slide and there is an angry looking “big boy” pushing him out of the way.Do you intervene and tell the stranger he should wait his turn or do you let junior fight his own battles?Steve and Rich discuss how to play it as a parent in the playground without causing an upset. Typically the conversation starts to wander but this episode is a great listen. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

New mums and dads are bombarded with advice and tips on how to parent from the moment of conception. But does the advice on everything from breastfeeding to screen time limits stand up to scientific scrutiny? Emily Oster aims to make life a little easier by arming dads, and mums, with the data behind the advice to help them make better parenting decisions.Speaking to Steve and Rich from the USA, where she is an economist at Brown University, Emily reveals there is often no evidence for doing anything other than what feels natural.   For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Bit dramatic, right? Sadly, according to the research Matt Farquharson has done, we now have indisputable proof that having kids will ensure your relationship will be properly, irredeemably f***ed. Matt - better known as Papa Pukka, the husband of Mother Pukka - joins Stave and Rich to explain how he built this (largely depressing) case for his new book and explains the differences between how men and women experience the joys of that marriage and parenthood. He also outlines the campaign he and wife are fighting to make sure flexible working is more widely available to dads across Britain. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Do you know what to do if you child starts choking? Do you think you know the best way to deal with a screaming kid who's just been sting by a bee?Chances are you probably THINK you do - but you might be wrong. For this episode, Steve and Rich invited Jenni Dunman, the founder of Daisy First Aid (who offer fun, fear-free classes to parents and carers), to come into the studio for a chat about to handle loads of common First Aid situations for kids. And as Rich quickly found out, the potentially life-saving advice isn't always what you would assume… For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Alun Wyn Jones is a rugby legend. As Wales captain and HUGE second row forward (he's 6ft 5ins), a big part of the Grand Slam winner's job is physically overpowering other huge men. So, as father to two little girls, how does he switch from that tough guy persona to the big cuddly daddy he is at home? In this exclusive chat, Alun explains to Rich and Steve why making that switch isn't as difficult as it sounds - and outlines how being a dad can actually help you lead a dressing room of international rugby players… For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We're back! Steve and Rich discuss their respective summers and come to the joint conclusion (just about) that it's only going to get more difficult as winter approaches. The guys also let you in on what's to come in this season of First Time Dads, with a whole host of interviews with celebrities and experts already in the bag. Enjoy!    For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Steve and Rich are having a little time off for the summer, but before they do here's a quick episode to tease some of the amazing guests lined up for the next season of the podcast. See you in September! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Here on First Time Dads, we like talking to a) qualified experts who understand the science of parenting and b) new dads who often feel so clueless they want to scream. Dr Oscar Duke is both - which is why Rich and Steve were delighted to have him on the podcast. A GP and broadcaster you might have seen on telly, Oscar also recently became a father for the first time. In his new book 'How To Be A Dad', he combines his medical expertise with his fumbling attempts at parenthood, to answer loads of questions all dads ask themselves at some point. Prepare to find out why the cervix of a woman in labour is just like a bottle of wine… For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Zoe Clark Coates and her husband Andy have personally faced the loss of five babies. Out of their experiences came a charity to offer support to thousands of grieving parents and relatives around the world each week. Zoe’s book The Baby Loss Guide provides a supportive and practical guide to walk people through their darkest days of suffering and gives them hope for the future. She joined Rich and Steve talk through the many questions those who encounter loss ask themselves and others. And to offer tips to prospective parents faced with heartbreaking events. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Ever worried about what your kid is watching on TV? Ever felt anxious about what harm you might be doing to your little one by letting them stare at the telly for any length of time? You are not alone. That's why we thought we'd talk to the people actually making the shows your child watches, to find out what they do to make sure they are not warping little minds. Nigel Clarke is a CBeebies presenter who has been working as a children’s TV presenter for more than 15 years - and he now hosts The Baby Club, a show for REALLY little ones on the channel. Nigel very kindly joined Steve and Rich for a First Time Dads grilling. Suffice to say, he had some very interesting revelations for the guys… For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Potty training is a massive step for any kid - and for a stressed out dad, it can often feel like a step too far.The good news is that, if you do it in the right way, getting your kid out of nappies doesn't have to be quite as hectic as you might think. Steve (who has done it) and Rich (who is about to) asked Amanda Jenner, the UK's leading potty training expert, to explain the easiest way to potty train a child.And Amanda - who regularly goes on TV to talk about all things wees and poos and has a new book 'Potty Training Magic' out now - was not short of tips… For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We're always being told that it's easier for dads to combine working and parenting these days. But is that actually the case?Apparently not.Han Son from Daddilife.com - a former guest and friend of the show - returns to the podcast to tell Steve and Rich about some disturbing new research into the realities of fathers' working lives.If you've ever felt so stressed out about how your work impacts on your family time that you've considered switching jobs, this episode will quickly show that you are far from alone… For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Steve and Rich are joined by Esther Wojcicki, one of America’s leading parenting experts - and you can see why. Esther has raised three incredibly successful children (one of whom is the CEO of YouTube), so the guys see if she’s got any secrets to share. Spoiler: she does... For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Hosts Steve and Rich dial up former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion long jumper Greg Rutherford to chat about his biggest challenge yet - being a dad.They talk all things fatherhood, including his aim to not be one of *those* pushy sports day parents, why playing in a sandpit at the park is a nightmare when you're a famous long jumper... and why being an Olympic champ doesn't mean your body can cope with dadding! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Becoming a first time dad is a life changing experience, but what's it like bringing home a new baby into your existing family? Rich has just become a dad for the second time to little Freddie. He'd been worried about the experience but when Steve called him up he had surprising news to reassure all second time dads to be.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's very common to struggle with anxiety, feelings of isolation and mental health issues after having children. But talking to other parents and listening to others share their experiences has helped Steve and Rich.In this episode, Annie Belasco from the PANDAS Foundation offers some tips about how to cope when the nursery walls close in, following research by Little Freddie baby food brand revealing that 73% of parents admit struggling with mental health after becoming a parent for the first time. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Rich and Steve spend the first episode of their second series finding out if Rich is ready for his second child, who is due to arrive any day now. The short answer: he really, really isn't. The slightly longer answer: there is no real way any dad can EVER be ready for the madness of dealing with two… and accepting that fact is half the battle For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's been a while, but our dad duo are coming back for more episodes, and better sound and a brand new jingle! We know it's not always been great, but during our break we have only gone and got ourselves an actual studio!Where have we been? In this quick update episode, we will fill you in on our parenting news, chat shared parental leave and have a slight panic attack when we thought we'd forgot to press record.And Steve's son Jackson makes his debut on the podcast in the jingle!Tap that subscribe button wherever you get your podcasts to get notified when new episodes go live. Enjoy! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Steve and Rich celebrate reaching episode number 50 by looking back at the best bits of First Time Dads so far. The guys also explain why, with Steve heading off on shared parental leave, this will be the last episode for a while.But fear not, devoted listeners - First Time Dads will be back soon... For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Anyone who thinks it's just the parents who raise a child these days is kidding themselves. For the vast majority of new parents, having a collection of willing grandmas and grandads on hand for advice/babysitting is not just helpful - it's essential.However, that poses its own challenges. Where and how should grandparents get involved in the actual parenting of a child?Sir Michael Morpurgo - the 75 year-old grandfather and renowned children's author who wrote War Horse - joins Steve and Rich to see if they can figure out the answer to that notoriously tricky question.They also discuss just how dramatically the idea of fatherhood has changed since Sir Michael raised his own children and the remarkable lessons Sir Michael has learned from his autistic grandson, the inspiration behind his new book Flamingo Boy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Like many people, Alex Gregory has three kids. Unlike most of them, he also has two Olympic gold medals.Alex was a rower for 17 years and won his golds at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Now aged 34, he has put down his oar and picked up a pen, to write 'Dadventures' - a book explaining why he thinks being outdoors with your kids is the best thing a dad can do.Alex joins Steve and Rich to explain how becoming a dad made him a better sportsman - and tell them how you don't need to spend loads of money or time making great memories with your children when you're outdoors. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Did previous generations of dads question their parenting skills quite as much as we do? Did fathers in years gone by wonder about the lessons they're teaching their children in the way we do?In short, do we make our lives WAY more difficult than they need to be?Author Owen Booth - writer of the brilliant new book What We're Teaching Our Sons - joins Steve and Rich to talk about the unique challenges of being a dad in the 21st century. The guys chat about how you find the balance between trying to be a better man and being, well, just a bloke. They even end up asking if the lack of a world war in our lifetime might have something to do with our generation's different approach to parenting… For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Steve and Rich are joined by John Bond, children's book author and illustrator, for a chat about the sacrifices we make as fathers… and why we're happy to make them.John - whose first book Mini Rabbit: Not Lost is out now - talks about how starting a family saw him go from half of a young hip couple living in a city, to a family man out in the sticks.And Steve and Rich can definitely relate… For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

If you haven't already watched There She Goes, the BBC's new comedy-drama, then you REALLY need to get yourself on iPlayer asap.The show tells the story of a couple doing their best to raise their disabled 12 year-old daughter, who has a chromosomal disorder which leaves her unable to talk and with severe learning difficulties. It is a brilliant, hilarious and frighteningly recognisable portrayal of family life - which is largely thanks to the show being the real-life story of the man who wrote it, Shaun Pye.In this episode of the podcast, Shaun joins Rich and Steve to talk about the shortage of realistic on-screen dads, explains how he and his wife have learned to cope with their child's disability and offers some fantastic advice to all fathers and fathers-to-be. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

For any expectant parent, stillbirth is as devastating as it gets. Losing a child more than 24 weeks into a pregnancy means the mother often has to go through the heartbreaking experience of giving birth to their child knowing that they have already died.And yet… how much do you ACTUALLY know about stillbirth and the horrors these unfortunate parents have to go through? Like Rich and Steve, probably not a lot.That is why Bruce Wagstaff and Niall Cassidy - two men who have been through the experience - agreed with their partners to appear in new Channel 4 documentary 'Child Of Mine', a harrowing look at the realities of stillbirth (Thursday 18th October at 10pm).In this episode of the podcast, Bruce and Niall sit down with Rich and Steve to tell their stories, reveal how they coped with their loss and explain why dads need to talk about this taboo tragedy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Parenting is a stressful business - but does it need to be as stressful as we often make it?The short answer is no, it REALLY doesn't.In this episode, Steve and Rich talk to James Breakwell, the man behind the phenomenally successful Twitter account @XplodingUnicorn. James now has more then ONE MILLION followers keeping tabs on his posts about being a dad to four young girls in Indianapolis, USA.And it's James' extremely 'laid back' approach to parenting which has made him so popular that his new book, Bare Minimum Parenting: The Ultimate Guide to Not Quite Ruining Your Child, is set to be a huge hit. Take a listen to the Skype chat the guys had with James and you will soon see that a) you don't need to worry so much about your parenting b) all dads are essentially narcissists and c) lazy parents rock. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Only new mums get post natal depression, right? Wrong.Not long after the birth of his first child in 2004, Mark Williams was having suicidal thoughts. While his wife was suffering with severe post-natal depression, Mark was also in the midst of a similar mental health crisis… which had all stemmed from becoming a parent.Now a men's mental health activist and author of new book Daddy Blues, Mark joins Steve and Rich to tell his story, reveal how quite normal dad questions and issues can spiral into post-natal depression and ponder why we as men still struggle to discuss our mental health. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

You probably remember Tim Vincent as the guy who presented Blue Peter back in the 1990s.What you might NOT know about Tim Vincent is that a) he is now a famous host of big TV shows in America like Access Hollywood, b) he regularly interviews the world's biggest stars and c)… he is about to become a dad for the first time.At the age of 45.And he's having twins.And he and his partner have been together for less than a year.Yikes.Given all that, Steve and Rich invited Tim onto the podcast to discuss life as an expectant dad and how he is jumping headfirst into fatherhood. The guys talk about what Tim is learning from NCT classes (and what he isn't), the insane amount of baby kit he has bought so far, the differences between expectant fathers in the UK and the US and the dad tips he has received from Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg and James Corden.As you do… For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Why is that when kids see a dad character in the media, he is invariably an incompetent buffoon?Steve and Rich are joined by James Millar - author of new book 'Dads Don't Babysit' - to discuss why most dads don't feel fairly represented by the fathers they see on TV… with Peppa Pig's daddy being among the worst offenders.The guys also discuss the pressures that mean many fathers who want to be more involved with raising their kids often cannot do so, and what we can all do to ensure dads of the future can spend more time being parents. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Fear not, regular listeners - Steve and Rich have not abandoned you. The guys have both been away for a few weeks, doing that thing which is simultaneously beautifully relaxing and massively stressful: going on holiday with your young children.Now back in the studio, they compare notes on their respective trips to France. The discussion includes a whole load of tips for dads about to embark on holidays with toddlers/babies, some suggestions of what NOT to do… and sees the guys stumble upon what might be the secret to a dad's perfect family break. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

How would you cope if simply going to work meant you didn't get to see your kids for seven months? While we would all rather be with our families than be at work (well, most of the time), for men in certain jobs, paying the bills means being away from home for huge lengths of time. In this episode, Steve and Rich talk to Mike Fyans, a petty officer in the Royal Navy, about exactly that. When his eldest son was still a baby, Mike went to sea - meaning he didn't see his infant son for SEVEN MONTHS. Mike explains how this different sort of family life works, and why - when it comes to doing the right thing for his family - he believes it's all for the best. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Ever watched your kid playing by themselves and thought, 'I should be a good dad and join in'?Steve and Rich have - but it turns out you would often be doing more for your child by leaving them to play alone.In this episode, the guys are joined by Dr William Stixrud and Ned Johnson, two American parenting experts who have co-written a new book called The Thriving Child.In the book, Bill and Ned explain why today's kids are now the most anxious generation of children ever, and reveal how their hands-off parenting techniques - which give a child freedom to learn and discover the world independently - can help a child feel less stressed out in the long term. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The acclaimed author and father of two chats to Steve and Rich about the stresses and strains of the modern world and how that makes parenting tougher than ever.Matt - who talks about his own struggles with anxiety in his new book, Notes On A Nervous Planet - discusses how our reliance on technology and the internet can cause parental anxiety. He also reveals why his two children are homeschooled and explains the many misconceptions people have about homeschooling. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's stressful, exhausting and mind-bendingly surreal… but it's also one of the most amazing, important experiences you will ever have.So, why is it that until just a few decades ago, it was widely accepted that most men would NOT be at the birth of their child?Steve and Rich share their (very different) experiences of watching their kids being born and remind themselves - and hopefully a few of you - why being there to welcome your kid into the world is something no man should miss. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The creator of Charlie & Lola and current Children's Laureate explains how you can give the best gift to your kid: imagination.Steve and Rich pop into Lauren Child's kitchen to discuss the importance of stimulating your little one's creativity, the difficulty of writing children's books in the modern publishing world and what dads can do to set an imaginative example to their offspring. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Every dad knows his life changes dramatically when he becomes a father. But did you know your body undergoes a series of irreversible physical changes when your baby is born?Dr Anna Machin - an evolutionary anthropologist at Oxford University - has spent 10 years working with new dads to gain a unique scientific insight into what it is to be a father in the modern world. Her new book 'The Life Of Dad', the result of that decade of research, shows how it's not just new mums who undergo physiological changes. Dads are also built to be parents.Dr Machin joins Steve and Rich to reveal why their bodies have recently gone through their biggest change since puberty! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Is your child turning into a dictator? Are you struggling to cope with your little one's bad behaviour without losing your marbles?Join the club.Steve and Rich are joined by the Government's former child behaviour czar Charlie Taylor - author of Divas and Dictators: The Secrets To Having A Much Better Behaved Child - to figure out the best way of handling a naughty or angry kid… and discover what makes children behave poorly in the first place. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Journalist and father of two Stu Heritage joins Rich and Steve to discuss the age old question: are we all destined to turn into our dads? And does that mean we will end up raising our children in the same way they raised us?The guys chat about how the very concept of being a father has changed for this current generation of dads, while realising the key lessons they learned from their own fathers. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy