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 ...
Nov 08, 2019•34 min
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 himse...
Oct 30, 2019•32 min
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...
Oct 23, 2019•1 hr
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 regard...
Oct 16, 2019•37 min
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 ju...
Oct 09, 2019•27 min
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 any...
Oct 04, 2019•32 min
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...
Sep 25, 2019•44 min
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 ...
Sep 18, 2019•30 min
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 internatio...
Sep 11, 2019•28 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 05, 2019•23 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 15, 2019•6 min
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...
Jul 31, 2019•37 min
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 of...
Jul 24, 2019•35 min
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 ...
Jul 17, 2019•39 min
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...
Jul 10, 2019•33 min
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 ar...
Jul 03, 2019•24 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2019•34 min
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/pri...
Jun 18, 2019•37 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 12, 2019•24 min
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 t...
Jun 04, 2019•30 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 29, 2019•30 min
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 subscr...
May 27, 2019•6 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 31, 2018•17 min
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...
Dec 17, 2018•43 min
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 ...
Nov 29, 2018•42 min
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 ...
Nov 16, 2018•36 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
Nov 05, 2018•39 min
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 ...
Oct 24, 2018•41 min
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 experi...
Oct 17, 2018•48 min
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 ne...
Oct 12, 2018•30 min