Dad Without Borders

In this final Dad Diaries episode of Season 3, Blue is winding down for Christmas and gearing up for a precious visit from his eldest son, who has lived in the UK for almost eight years. From his little trailer studio in the Canadian winter, he talks about why he is pausing the podcast, where his energy is going next, and how he keeps showing up as a dad from afar. In this episode, Blue talks abou...

In this episode, I unpack what it is like to be labelled a dad who “lost custody” after years of giving everything to my son. I walk through my work story, how my flexible career and time with him were framed as a weakness in court, and why that judgement left such a deep feeling of shame. From there, I talk about the choice to stop feeding resentment, to step away from online drama, and to focus...

In this episode, I open up about a period when I lost my final appeal, my son had already relocated overseas, my partner was heavily pregnant, and I simply could not travel. With the help of attachment focussed social worker Catherine Williams, I built a plan to stay in my son’s daily life through predictable calls, creative rituals, and a neutral story that explained the court decisions without b...

In this episode, I open up about the emotional and practical realities of long-distance fatherhood and co-parenting after separation. I share lessons from Halloween traditions and holiday rituals, the challenges of discipline with a sensitive three-year-old, and how those lessons carry over into parenting my twelve-year-old who lives overseas. With insight from a top UK family lawyer on the Hague...

In this episode, I open up about the emotional and practical realities of long-distance fatherhood and how to nurture a balanced bond between parents after separation. With insights from counsellor Catherine Williams and research on the Kelly & Johnston Continuum, I discuss healthy attachment, the difference between affinity and alienation, and why a child’s best outcome depends on both parents be...

In this episode, I open up about the emotional and practical work of supporting a young child through high anxiety — and what it means to stay grounded as a parent when your child’s fear takes over. With thanks and insight from psychologist Sean Larsen , hypnotherapist Catherine Williams , and family counsellor Erica Spink , I explore how “bottom-up” fear works in a child’s nervous system, why sto...

This episode explores the emotional terrain of letting go and showing up . I reflect on the early days of co-parenting — the handovers, the tension, and the quiet rituals that helped my son feel safe — and how those lessons continue to shape the way I parent today. From the big goodbyes of long-distance fatherhood to the daily drop-offs at daycare, I’ve learned that transitions are where connectio...

In this Dad Diary, I reflect on the dual challenges of fatherhood across distance and at home. Saying goodbye to my eldest son after a summer visit — complete with a broken arm and his first solo flight — pushed me to hold space for his sadness while staying steady. At the same time, helping my three-year-old navigate daycare transitions has reminded me that even small daily goodbyes ask for prese...

In This Episode: Blue's podcast journey from 2020 pandemic start to present How a brutal custody battle became a gift for better parenting The inspiration behind returning after a 2-year break Season 3 announcement: Dad Diaries format launching September 2025 Upcoming Season 3 Topics: Handling anxiety in young children Navigating germ phobia Raising a highly sensitive child Managing distance paren...

David Stegman's offerings include: The Courageous Way - Business and Mindset coaching  https://www.thecourageousway.com/ The Rad Dad Collective https://www.raddadcollective.org/

In this episode of Staying Connected: Fatherhood After Separation, we dive deep into the challenges and opportunities fathers face in maintaining a strong bond with their children after divorce, separation, or limited parenting time. No matter your circumstances, you can build a powerful connection with your child. So, whether you have limited time, live far away, or are adjusting to co-parenting,...

In this episode, I open up about navigating fear, fatherhood, and maintaining a deep connection with my son despite the challenges of an international blended family. After my first wife was granted full custody and relocated overseas with our child, I had to redefine my role as a father - challenging the traditional archetype of being a provider and protector when my child was an ocean away. I sh...

This is part 2 of a conversation with fellow dad Jasper as we build support for each other through our friendship. Topics we touch on: Staying engaged with your child's school timetable activities and teachers Advocating for therapy for the kids Honesty and openness with our kids Being a safe and trusted space for your kid The importance of being present Meditating with kids Importance of nature f...

Navigating Fatherhood with Heart and Grit In this raw and honest episode, your host Blue sits down with Jasper, a local dad and close friend, for a deep dive into the realities of modern fatherhood. This episode marks the first part of an ongoing conversation about the ups and downs of being a dedicated and present father. Together, they explore the challenges that many dads face, from dealing wit...

In this episode, I aim to reintroduce myself as the host and a father who has embarked on a tumultuous journey through separation and divorce from the mother of my first child. Throughout this turbulent period, I encountered immense challenges within the court system, grappled with a sense of isolation and lack of support within the community, and felt unfairly represented in society as a father....

This is a chance to share some recent "wins" as a long-distance parent and offer some hot tips to anyone that might need some advice in navigating long-distance relationships with their kids. It is not easy to be away from your kids, even for a week. I have to deal with many months separated from my oldest son who lives in the UK, and making him feel like a part of my family here in Canada is not...

This week I share my recent experience with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) - dealing with the trauma of a child custody trial - as an effective way to deal with any residue impact on the mind and body. It was a really interesting and productive experience for me and I want to encourage other Dads to consider seeking therapy in some form if they have not already done so. As pa...

A great conversation about how to show up as a parent with the author of Parenting for a Peaceful Home. Drew Tupper is an Author, life coach, husband, and father of two. He has dedicated his life to seeking truth and creating purpose. He practices these intentions by examining and analyzing questions such as: Why are we here? How should we live? What matters? And how can we BE so that our lives ar...

I was in a counselling session yesterday with Catherine Williams, a registered social worker. A friend of the show and someone who has been a great source of inspiration and support over the years. One of the topics that was discussed was the fact that it is important that kids don't feel responsible for their parent's emotions. This had me reflecting on some of the situation I have been in as a p...

Resources : The article Emily wrote that mentioned a fake Snapchat account:  https://emilycherkin.medium.com/im-43-i-made-a-fake-snapchat-account-pretending-to-be-a-15-year-old-3c7e7a7e1786 Everyschool.org is where you can find the EdTech Triangle My YouTube channel with Tech-Intentional Tips videos:  YouTube Brief Bio: Emily Cherkin, MA Ed, is The Screentime Consultant , an internationally recogn...

We have a new baby boy! Dad Without Borders is back after a summer break enjoying family time as we transition into life with a new baby and juggling the needs of three sons aged 0, 3 and 9. I have lots more to say about this, but in this episode I focus on sharing my experience of welcoming our baby boy into the world.

So the baby is now several days over due. We are waiting patiently for labour to start. We are all feeling calm but are we ready? I am sharing some post labour thoughts as we get ready for the big event. Is it time to head to the hospital? Will the mid wife make it on time? Is it time to leave the home and head to the hospital. We are an hour drive from the hospital and the mid wife is even furthe...

This episode starts with a brief update as today is the due date of our baby boy (my third son). I then get into conversation with Eric Taylor aka The Breastfeeding Father, an ex military man who is now studying clinical psychology with a focus on children and adolescents. Eric is based in Canada with his wife and baby, but it also has a young daughter living in the USA. Covid has been incredibly...

This is a great conversation with Curt Storring from Dad. Work. We share the struggles of becoming a father. The episode starts with some personal updates, including the fact that we are about to have a baby (boy number 3!) and gearing up for that reality. In this episode we learn about Curt who lives in an authentic way as a father after a difficult transition to parenting left him feeling "overw...

A conversation with Nathan, founder of Dads Advocate. There are a couple of personal parenting thoughts at the start of this podcast. First, I encourage all parents to take their young children to their local skatepark. This may well be the main theme of a future episode. There are so many reasons to visit your local skatepark with your young children. Second, I receive a heart warming message fro...