The Good Enough Dad with Maggie Dent

Having been both a professional NRL player and boxer Joe Williams has had some tough gigs in life, but none have been as hard or as rewarding as being a dad. Joe talks to Maggie about the winding path that has brought him to the place he’s most proud of – being an aware and present dad.  LINKS : Joe Williams on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joewilliams_tew/ and website The Enemy Within https...

Although most Australians would love to get a home-cooked meal from former Master Chef winner Adam Liaw, his three kids prefer his wife Asami’s cooking. From growing up quickly at the age of 14 to the unexpected turn his life took with Master Chef Australia Adam chats to Maggie about what has shaped him as a man and as a dad, and some of the biggest lessons he’s learnt about being a ‘good enough’...

When Mitch Tambo appeared on Australia’s Got Talent he blew the audience away with his rendition of You’re the Voice in Gamilaraay language. But while Mitch was kicking goals on stage, his confidence did not extend to becoming a parent. Mitch was in love with a woman with three daughters he wasn’t sure he would be good enough. Fast forward to today and Mitch shares all he has learnt from becoming...

Osher Gunsberg has worked in radio, podcasting and TV. He’s helped love along its way on  The Bachelor and dialled up the fun on The Masked Singer. But with all his success Osher has had to contend with social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and psychosis. Osher talks to Maggie about falling in love, the joy of raising children and how he managed to do it all while navigating his mental hea...

Barry Du Bois is best known for his role as the carpenter who transforms pokey bathrooms into delightful boudoirs on Channel 10’s The Living Room. He’s loved for his easy-going ocker attitude, but his life has been full of adversity. Barry talks to Maggie about how he has come to view every day as a blessing, and some very surprising thoughts on how he’s raising his kids to be resilient.  LINKS: B...

Heading back to work, while  kids head back to school or day care can involve a fair bit of adjustment. Maggie gives some practical tips on how you can help the whole family ease back into the rat race of life.  LINKS Read Maggie’s article on transitions https://bit.ly/47N8JvY   or watch  this video https://bit.ly/3MXXTLn on separation anxiety. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

When you’re a kid the Christmas holidays feel like they stretch on forever. When you’re the parent of that kid it can feel the same, but for different reasons. In this episode, Maggie outlines how you can thrive through the holidays with your kids, making memories to last a lifetime.  LINKS Read Maggie’s article on finding calm amidst holiday chaos https://bit.ly/46Aho3S   and on making memories t...

New Year’s Eve is just around the corner, and Maggie has some suggestions on goals that might be helpful for nailing it as a dad in 2024.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re well and truly in the silly season, but never fear, Maggie is here to help us through! In this episode Maggie gives us her top tips on how to manage the roller coaster that can be Christmas day with kids. LINKS Read Maggie’s articles on having a good enough Christmas https://bit.ly/3MS5RFZ   or a thrifty christmas https://bit.ly/47rEr1J or and watch her video on turning the volume down on Ch...

Although Tristan MacManus is a TV Host and former Dancing with The Stars Judge he still struggles with feeling he’s “not enough”. Because of this the Irish dancing star tries to fill his children with confidence every day. In this conversation with Maggie Tristan talks about the miscarriages he and wife Tahnya went through, and how he makes his kids feel 10 feet tall.  See omnystudio.com/listener...

Before he became a dad, Matt Okine thought that he could make music while hanging with his kid. Now his daughter is four Matt has changed his ideas a little. While the actor, author, comedian and podcast host still creates all kinds of things, he knows that when he’s with Sofia, he’s just focussed on her. That is, except this one time … Matt talks to Maggie about some of his slip ups and the chall...

The path to fatherhood was not straight forward for Sean and his husband Josh, but it was something they both wanted, badly. After their twins were born through surrogacy the journey really began. With no traditional roles to fall into, the two dads had to find their own way through the fathering process. Sean chats to Maggie about how they found what worked for them, and why his biggest parenting...

Until he was 10 years old David believed his grandmother was his mother, and his mother was his sister. The unsettling revelation that Cold Chisel’s front man – Jimmy Barnes – was his dad threw David into a world of chaos and confusion. David shares with Maggie how he and Jimmy became close, and how those confusing years helped make him the dad he is today.  The podcast that David talks about in t...

In 1993 Stephen Page became a dad in the most spectacular of ways. He says it was like something he and his partner had choreographed. Fast forward to today and after 30 years as the artistic director at Bangarra Dance Company Stephen is working on a children’s production with the son that was born that night - Hunter Lochard-Page. Stephen talks about the incredible kinship of family made and fami...

His posts may be hilarious but Jordan Watson – best known as How to Dad NZ – has some serious thoughts on parenting. After he shot to internet stardom with his first video (How to Hold a Baby) his three girls have grown and with time Jordan has learnt more about parenting - like why we all need to say “no” more. Maggie and Jordan bond over their shared country upbringing and what he finds most cha...

Ben Hannant had a kid nearly every year of his professional NRL career. He retired in 2016 with six children (now he has eight!!). Ben is a dad who believes in grit, hard work and the value of family. He also may have lost a child on the way to MacDonalds. Don’t worry, the child was found! Ben and Maggie chat about the magic of big families and why Ben’s “old school” attitude works for them.   Ben...

Musician John Butler says the “genetic psyche” of his family shattered the moment his grandfather died in a bush fire in 1958. John talks to Maggie about how the trauma from that event filtered through generations of his family and shows up in his own parenting. He also shares what it was like touring with his kids for the first decade of family life.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

There was a time when Gus Worland considered himself an “old school dad”. Strict, tough and with high expectations of what his kids would achieve. But some great advice from his brother made Gus relax and, he says, become a better dad. Gus talks to Maggie about the powerful influence of one father-figure in his life and what he wants his legacy to be – to his kids and to the world.  Gus Worland is...

Hamish Blake has his own podcast on how to dad PLUS he won Father of The Year 2023, so he must have this fatherhood thing down pat right? Wrong! According to Hamish – he's stuffing up daily. Maggie and Hamish chat about why playing for groans is more fun than playing for laughs and the number one thing he thinks all dads need to remember in order to get this dadding gig right.  Hamish’s podcast :...

Aiming to be a GOOD dad is important. But you know what? Being a good ENOUGH Dad is how you ace it.  The Good Enough Dad is hosted by Maggie Dent - parenting educator, author, and champion of boys and men.  Chatting to committed, funny and loving dads about their wins and fails –  Maggie offers awesome tips and insights into all the ways dads can feel good enough at this parenting gig.   Like, fol...