Dad-ability

A manifesto is defined as a declaration of one’s beliefs, opinions, motives, and intentions. It is simply a way for a company or person to write and declare what is important to them. I decided to write a personal manifesto in the form of a ‘Letter to Leo’ that serves also as a note to self and commitment to how I want to show up as a dad for him

On todays episode I share my struggle and experiences with social anxiety. Why do we struggle with social anxiety as dads of disability? Why is it so commonly experienced? What can we do to break the cycle of avoidance and make confronting our social encounters easier?

Just because someone carries it well, doesn’t mean it’s not heavy. There is a lot of heavy lifting going on by dads in juggling all of life’s demands everyday. On this episode I talk about what makes it so heavy for dads of children with disabilities, and then share some practical ways to lighten the load we are carrying through talking it out, finding the good and reframing failure.

On part 2 of my chat with single dad Mav, we get stuck into his thoughts on the value of happiness, he reveals his personal mission statement for navigating challenging times and the importance of modelling as a parent when things go wrong.

We have an incredible double header episode with my friend and dad Mav Peri. Other than being a good human Mav is a single dad to 2 boys with disabilities and yes I know what you’re thinking? How does he do it? Mav and I chat about the answer to that question, his unique story and growth journey through personal reflection, how he learned to harness negative emotions and build his vulnerability mu...

If we can embrace the imperfection of our disabled kids then why can’t we do it for ourselves? Your self worth is not predicated on pleasing others, achievement or being perfect. In this episode I talk about the need to embrace being imperfect as a dad and why it’s important to stop caring about other peoples opinions and perfect expectations and just focus on the only thing you can control being...

On todays episode I discuss the important topic for all disability parents in how to keep and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with your partner. Im no expert or relationship therapist but I wanted to share a valuable DBT skill called GIVE that I have learned that will 100% help improve your ability to validate other people feel and ultimately improve the effectiveness of your commun...

What’s it like to see your profoundly deaf child hear for the first time? I have a heart to heart with Josh Byrne about the life changing moment his daughter got ‘switched on’ and could hear her mum and dads voice. We chat about celebrating milestones, and actively participating in the hearing world. Josh also opens up about why his decision to not share in the early days of diagnosis helped him,...

On this episode I tackle the topic of everyday resilience, and share some practical ways to improve your positivity and mental health through the power of gratitude, empathy and mindfulness. Special thanks and credit to The Resilience Project by Hugh Van Cuylenberg

Here are some highlights from the episodes so far mashed up in a motivational mixtape to remind you that you can do this! To all the dads out there, we see you, you are not alone and you’re more capable than you think. Keep believing in yourself, and never underestimate your Dad-ability

We are all human and don't always get it right and can always find ways to be better, but you cant hang onto your mistakes you need to learn to let them go! I share my insights and tips on how to stop beating yourself up and reduce rumination by staying in the present and working on what is 'helpful' and 'effective' so we are forward focused. Everyone has a 'to do' list and by the end of the episo...

On this episode we flip the script as Steve (a friend and fellow dad) interviews me on my journey so far as a dad of disability in dealing with acceptance, and in adjusting to how life would be different.

One of the hardest things to do in raising a child with a disability is to take care of yourself. On this episode I share my thoughts on the importance of communication, and how to balance getting your needs met as a parent.

To share or not to share? Where are the boundaries? For many this is a tough decision. People can’t help support you if they don’t know what you are going through. On this episode I offer up my perspective on why sharing can be so beneficial

What does success look like as a dad to children with a disability? I chat with Jarrad McCaskie who opens up about how he manages raising 3 kids under 7 with ASD, the impact this has had on his career and what success looks like for him now as a professional, a dad and a husband.

Adopting a high performance mentality may work in business and sport, but not when it comes to being a dad of a child with a disability. I share a breakthrough strategy that has changed my approach and ability to manage meltdowns

Autism diagnosis is a challenging, and emotional journey. In this heartfelt chat with Jon Pickersgill, dad to 9 yr old Max, he shares his experiences about the diagnosis of his sons autism, coming to terms with Max having a disability and how to get the support you need to deal with it

I chat with Russ Anderton, dad to 15 yr old Kaed, about his experiences getting comfortable to open up, learning how to be vulnerable and on tackling guilt

I talk about the the power of mindfulness, how to not take it personally and share a CBT skill used to challenge unhelpful thinking patterns

I share my own personal experience and battles with mental health in navigating the challenges of being a dad to my autistic son