Brand New Father Podcast

110 Super Dad Syndrome Jul 08, 2017

In this episode I share my own struggle with trying to be a good dad and a husband… sometime to a fault and trying to make it perfect.

In the end I’ll also leave you with my 3 takeaways how to combat that super dad syndrome.

Tune in!

Resources:

* New Dad FB group: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

* “Keep your sanity as a new dad” video course: BrandNewFather.com/sanity

109 Shawn Stevenson on Sleep and New Parenthood Jun 23, 2017

Shawn Stevenson is the host of The Model Health Show podcast, which is #1 Health podcast on iTunes and also a a bestselling author of “Sleep Smarter”

I can’t think of a better person to talk to about new parents and sleep strategies and habits!

Here's some of the topics we're getting into:

Importance of self-care as a parent
How sleep or sleeplessness affects our hormone balance and overall health
The myth of everyone needing 7-8 hours of sleep a night (spoiler: it’s not all about the quantity, but also the quality of sleep)
What are sleep cycles and the 4 stages of sleep
Why having a drink before hitting the hay may be counter-productive
Risks of chronic sleep deprivation
“Paying back” the sleep debt vs lifestyle strategies to avoid the sleep debt in the first place
Using melatonin supplements
Napping

Resources: - Shawn's The Model Health Show podcast: - Shawn's "Sleep Smarter" book

- Video course "Keep your sanity as a new dad" - New Dad FB group

108 Happy Fathers Day and my lessons from past 6 weeks Jun 16, 2017

Happy Fathers Day!

I'm not much of a holiday guy - I don't care about Christmas nor my birthdays, but made an exception this Fathers Day to ponder about the lessons learnt this past 6 weeks of being a dad of 2.

Biggest takeaway - take time! For yourself, for your baby and for your partner!

Tune in!

107 Mike McCarthy on elevating your fatherhood experience with Miracle Mornings Jun 08, 2017

Today’s guest Mike McCarthy is a family man and a dad of 2, an avid student of both leadership and personal development. He’s also a serial entrepreneur and co-founder and CEO of the GoBundance Adventure Masterminding Group, co-author of the Miracle Morning for Parents and Families, co-creator of GratefulParent.com, and the Regional Owner for the Keller Williams.

Although he’s successful in his professional ventures, one of his top priorities is spending time and traveling with his wife, their son and daughter. He also enjoys kayaking, climbing mountains and hiking..

I wanted to bring him on to share his insights on:

why and how not to forget about living your own life despite of being a dad
how to bring out the best in yourself to be the best dad and the partner
the importance of rituals, specifically morning rituals since the way we approach our mornings sets the tone for the rest of our day.
and much more!

Tune in!

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Resources:

- Adventure mastermind group: GoBundance.com

- GratefulParent.com

- “Keep your sanity as a new dad” video course (50% off): BrandNewFather.com/sanity

- Private FB group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

106 Baby #2 and the challenges & lessons learnt from first few weeks May 26, 2017

As promised in previous episode, in this episode I’ll share our story from the end of our second pregnancy and impressions from first few weeks of being dad of 2.

We thought we had a solid plan for transitioning from having one toddler to becoming a family of four. However, unexpectedly threw a curve ball, as it often times does.

Tune in to listen to our birth story and the challenges and lessons learnt from first 2-3 weeks with our baby boy.

Resources:

* New Dad FB group: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

* “Keep your sanity as a new dad” video course: BrandNewFather.com/sanity

* Shownotes for this episode: BrandNewFather.com/Baby-2

105 Parijat Deshpande on stress, pregnancy and early parenthood May 17, 2017

Parijat Deshpande is the leading high-risk pregnancy expert who educates and guides women (and couples) on how to manage their stress, anxiety and overall wellness so they can have healthier pregnancies, decrease their risk of preterm birth and give their baby a healthy start to life.

I wanted to bring her on mainly because most new dads and moms alike could use some tips and tactics how to reduce stress during pregnancy and early parenthood.

Tune in!

Here’s what we’ll get into in today’s show:

Parijat’s personal story with high-risk pregnancy
What is considered a high-risk pregnancy (it’s broader spectrum than you may think)
How can dad support his partner throughout pregnancy
What kind of support soon-to-be or new mom needs
Stress and the effect it has on expecting mom’s health
Actionable things dads can do to relieve new mom’s stress

Resources:

Parijat’s website: ParijatDeshpande.com“Keep your sanity as a new dad” video course: BrandNewFather.com/sanityPrivate FB group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

104 Jackie Bledsoe on the importance of dating the new mom Mar 17, 2017

Jackie Bledsoe is a husband, a dad of 3, an author of “7 Rings of Marriage”, a speaker and regularly holds workshops for couples who want to have more connection and intimacy in their relationship.

So, today’s show is all about relationships and about dating your partner – the new mom.

Tune in! — NB! Join the private FB group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

103 Andrew Tiu - 6 days away from becoming a dad Mar 10, 2017

Andrew Tiu is an expecting dad (at the time of this recording; became a dad 6 days after), a videographer and vlogger.

In 2016 Andrew and his wife left their jobs and started a business. Not too soon after that they learned they were expecting their first baby.

As you can imagine, they’ve experienced lots of ups and downs. And that’s why I wanted to bring Andrew on the show to share his expectations, dreams, pressures and fears about his looming fatherhood experience.

We’re also planning to do a follow-up show in few months to see how the expectations matched the reality.

In this episode, Andrew and I are getting into:

His expectations for becoming a father
His vlog and recording his fatherhood experience
Parental leave
The pressures and fears of looming parenthood
Dealing with stress
Work-life balance
Choosing your baby gear and baby related gadgets
Embracing the unknown

So tune in!

— NB! Join the private FB group for new dads!

102 Dr. Dan Singley on paternal PPD and how to tackle it Feb 20, 2017

Dr. Daniel Singley is a dad of two boys, a husband and clinical psychiatrist specializing in men’s perinatal mental health.

So, he knows what he’s talking about. In today’s show we once again talk about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, but this time focus on men and dads.

The stats say that 1 out of 10 dads experience paternal post partum depression, but then again dads are not best in reaching out for help. So, this number may be even higher.

Whether you are struggling as a dad or not, don’t skip this show – it has tons of golden nuggets for all dads to help them take care of their own needs so they can show up for their new family.

Here are some of the topics we’ll get into in today’s show:

Why becoming dads is more stressful today vs decades ago.
Contributing risk factors of paternal PPD
Symptoms and signs of male “masked depression” (also how paternal PPD symptoms are different from maternal one)
Importance of self-care for new dads
Minimizing the risk of experiencing post partum depression
Importance of having “deep relationships” – romantic and social
One single habit for new parents that can save their relationship
What to do if you think you may experience paternal PPD
So tune in!

Shownotes at: bnfpodcast.com/102 -- Be sure to join our closed FB group for new dads at: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

101 Dr Shosh and how to avoid or minimize the effects of maternal PPD Feb 06, 2017

In this episode I get to chat with Dr. Shoshana Bennett – a pioneer in the field of maternal post-partum depression (PPD) and other perinatal mood disorders in the US.

We’ll be talking about the PPD, prevention and the importance of having a well thought-out wellness plan in place to minimize the risk of PPD. We’ll also cover what’s dads’ role in overcoming the disease.

Tune in!

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Shownotes at: bnfpodcast.com/101

Join the private FB group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

100 Ryan Michler on taking ownership and responsibility of your life Jan 30, 2017

In this episode I get to chat with Ryan Michler of the Order of Man podcast. Ryan is an Iraqi Combat veteran, a husband and a father of 4 young kids (ages 8, 6, 3 and 9 months old). He also runs a podcast and online business which helps men become better men.

We’ll be talking about what it means to be a man and a father and taking ownership and responsibility of your new role and your family.

Tune in!

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Shownotes at: bnfpodcast.com/100

Join the private FB group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

099 Josiah Novak and being a fit dad Jan 16, 2017

In this episode I get to chat with Josiah Novak – a dad to their 2 young boys (ages 2 years and 7 months), a fitness and health expert and the founder of www.TheTrueTransformation.com

We’ll be talking about the challenges new dads face when becoming parents and why and how to still take care of our health in times when our resources are limited. -- Shownotes at: bnfpodcast.com/099

Join the private FB group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

098 Matt Thornton on fatherhood and being fully in present with kids Dec 12, 2016

Matt is a dad of four with fifth one on the way.

He’s the founder of SBG (Straight Blast Gym) – one of the best MMA-style gyms in the world with 50+ locations around the world. He has trained many world-class fighters and coaches.

When he first became a dad he was still in his early twenties and chasing his career goals. He wasn’t as available for his family as he wished he had been.

Now, almost two decades later he’s made a conscious decision to give his best to be fully present when he’s with his two younger ones.

Matt has a unique insights from his own fatherhood experience and his research. He’s been working on a book about violence and has found fatherlessness to be one of the main cause of violence in USA.

So, we’ll get into many interesting topics like:

Matt’s 2 tips for new dads.

The connection between crime rates and youngsters not having a male role model in their lives.

Work-life balance and spending quality time with kids.

Importance of creating boundaries in your life.

Tune in!

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NB! Join the private FB group for new dads!

-- P.S. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it with a fellow soon-to-be or a new dad. That’s the best compliment you can give me and the show!

097 Paul Gilbride and work-life integration Dec 05, 2016

In this episode I get to chat with Paul Gilbride. Paul is a Certified Professional Coach and helps parents with being their best in todays’ society where we’re constantly fed the urgency to “have it all”.

We we’ll be talking about what’s wrong with this attitude and what’s the difference between “work-life balance” and “work-life integration”, how not to get lost in your daily hustle and much more…

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Shownotes at: bnfpodcast.com/097

Join the private FB group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

096 Jason MacKenzie and the power of vulnerability Nov 25, 2016

Today’s guest is Jason MacKenzie.

He's a dad of 2 and an author of The Book of Open - How Cultivating Vulnerability Makes You a Stronger, Wiser and More Courageous Father.

Among other topics, in today’s episode, we’ll get into how being authentic and vulnerable can help us all have better relationships and elevate our lives in general.

If you happen to miss anything during the show, head on to bnfpodcast.com/096 for the shownotes.

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Join the private FB group for new dads!

095 Anthony Trucks on work-life balance and relationships Nov 18, 2016

Anthony is a dad of 3. He's a former Oregon Ducks football player and a former NFL player, he started and ran a 6-figure gym and now is international speaker and a coach.

As if all these things wouldn't be outstanding on their own, what makes his story even more inspirational is his background and "origin story". Anthony was given to foster care when he was 3. He bounced around between different families for more than a decade and often times was abused before he was finally adopted at the age of 14.

Tune in to hear the rest of the story and the lessons learned!

In addition to that, in today’s show, we’ll get into:

Importance of our actions match our words when we're balancing work and personal life.
Importance to set boundaries in your life to enjoy family life.
Why relationships aren't about 50/50 balance, but more of a 100% commitment from both parties.
Importance of communication and the ability to receive feedback when it comes to close relationships.
In order to experience fulfillment in any area of your life we need to get intentional (vs coasting on auto-pilot).

Anthony and his story are truly inspirational no matter your own situation. So tune in!

-- NB! Join the private FB group for new dads!

094 Three ways you can step up as a better leader and a dad Nov 15, 2016

Now that the elections in US are over, there’s so much fear, hate and panic that’s constantly sold on us. There’s just so much complaining and too little action.

We, men and dads, still need get back to work – to provide for our families and to become better selves and show up as men, partners, dads and leaders of our families and of our communities.

Instead, of complaining, we need to take action and in this episode I’ll share 3 simple steps we all can take to regain control in this crazy situation or environment.

Tune in!

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If you haven’t yet, join our private FB group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

093 3 tips on how not to burn out as a new dad (w/ Larry Hagner) Nov 11, 2016

Today I share 3 tips on how not to burn out as a new dad.

This is a segment of my webinar with Larry Hagner of the Good Dad Project where we talked about taking care of yourself and investing in yourself as a new dad. Investing time, effort, energy and sometimes money so we could show up as better men, better dads and partners.

Tune in!

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Join our private Facebook Group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

092 Three tips to keep your cool when you're triggered Nov 07, 2016

Let’s talk about the triggers that cause us to lose our patience or our temper and three ideas that have worked for me to combat that.

I’ve said it before, and it is still true, at least in my case – parenting is an ultimate test of emotional resilience.

Crying babies, little conflicts between spouses, diaper blowouts at most inconvenient times, sleep issues, etc. - it’s not always easy to remain cool, calm and collected.

Then again, I’ve learned that when we lose our tempers, in reality it’s rarely about the given moment. Often times it’s just the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

The real culprits are more likely our overall stress-levels, or the feelings that you don’t get enough credit or the chronic sleeplessness that cause us to operate at sub-optimal levels…

It’s completely normal to feel out of control at times – hey, welcome to parenthood. But it’s not OK to act out of anger or frustration. That undermines our relationships and the connection we have with our closest ones.

Just try to be as conscious as you can about the triggers that often times get you, take care of your own physical and mental well-being, so you wouldn’t burn out and take care of your close relationships. And you should be able to keep your cool most of the time.

Tune in!

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If you haven’t yet, join our private FB group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

091 Kevin Michael Geary: Defining your parenting style and principles Nov 04, 2016

Kevin is a dad to two young girls, so he’s in the trenches of parenthood every single day.

He’s also a founder of RevolutionaryParent.com and he has over 15 years of teaching experience with all ages from the days he was martial arts instructor in Atlanta metro area.

Tune in!

In today’s show, we’ll get into:

Healthy parent-child relationship
Forming the relationship with the baby:
- starts with your attitude and mindset towards the baby
- talk to your baby
- have respect for the baby (with bunch of real-life examples)
Forming you parenting style and having a set of principles
Kevin’s Authentic Parenting 5 pillars
Tips for dealing with impatience

Connect with Kevin:

Website: (revolutionaryparent.com/)

FB group: (facebook.com/groups/rebootyourkids/)

-- NB! Join the private FB group for new dads!

-- Shownotes at: bnfpodcast.com/091

-- P.S. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it with a fellow soon-to-be or a new dad. That’s the best compliment you can give me and the show!

090 How to deal with "the lack of time" issue as new parents Nov 01, 2016

In today’s show I talk about something that a lot of dads new and more seasoned wrestle with… and that’s time… or not having enough of it.

I’ve been a dad for 21 months by now, I’ve blogged about fatherhood for almost 2 years and I’ve been a podcaster (if that’s a word) about 10 months by now; I’ve also been quite active in several FB groups for new dads and just recently hosted couple of webinars for new dads as well.

And there are couple of topics that keep coming up over and over again with new dads and one of them is time and the lack of time once you become a parent.

And that’s what we’ll get into in today’s episode. Also, stick around until the end to get 2 tips how to deal with this issue.

-- If you haven’t yet, join our private FB group for new dads: BrandNewFather.com/Facebook

-- other resources mentioned: episode 089 with Jorgen Matsi

089 Jorgen Matsi and taking care of yourself and your relationship Oct 19, 2016

Jorgen is a dad of 2 little girls (ages 3 and 1 year old). He’s also a psychologist and former lecturer in sports psychology. He runs a local MMA gym and has fought on amateur and on pro level.

If this isn’t enough – on top of all of this, he’s a stay-at-home dad to their 2 girls.

In today’s show we’ll talk about Jorgen’s own personal experience and get some professional advice as well.

Some of the topics we’ll get into:

The joys and struggles of staying home and being the primary care-giver (including what the working parent may not see)
How becoming a parent takes away a lot of your “me time” and “couples time”
Being open with your partner when it comes to our emotions and expectation
Taking time for your partner on regular basis. E.g. 15 minutes every night
Being aware of your own state and the state of your various resources (physical, emotional, mental)
Becoming a parenting team and the sense that you’re in this together
Having a mutual agreement and a way to deal with conflict and challenging situations
Identifying the key habits in your lifestyle that bring you great returns

This is truly value packed episode, so tune right in!

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Shownotes at: bnfpodcast.com/089

*** Learn more about upcoming webinar for new dads: bnfpodcast.com/webinar

088 Scott Beebe & Creating a Family Vision Oct 07, 2016

Scott is a dad to Brian is a dad to 3 kids and he’s also a founder of CreateAFamilyVision.com. He’s been married to his wife, Ashley, for 18 years – so he has some experience ;)

In today’s show, we’ll get into:

The one thing he wishes he’d done less of when he was younger dad.
The one thing he wished he’d more of.
How we, parents, magnify our kids’ habits.
The family vision story:
- What it is?
- Why it’s worth to create it – aka what’s in it for you?
- Best time start working on your family vision and the second best time ;)
- How to create one? Best questions to start with.

This is truly value packed episode, so tune right in!

Resources mentioned:

The Business on Purpose Podcast

Connect with Scott

Website (CreateAFamilyVision.com)

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Learn more about upcoming webinar for new dads:

BrandNewFather.com/webinar

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Shownotes at bnfpodcast.com/088

087 Chatting with Brian "The Birth Guy" Salmon Sep 09, 2016

Brian is a dad to 2 girls and he is no stranger to this world of babies and parenting. Among many roles, he’s a doula, lactation expert and birth mentor.

Professionally, Brian has worked with 19’000+ expectant families, and currently teaches the popular Dad’s childbirth class “Rocking Dads”, he’s a co-host of Rocking Dads Revolution Podcast and a big advocate of dads being involved from early on!

Today’s episode is packed with lot of energy (mostly from Brian’s part :)), and a lot of actionable advice for expecting dads and new dads alike.

Some of the topics we’ll get into:

Brian’s story – how he became a birth assistant.
Tips for labor
Dads’ roles in the “fourth trimester”, including top notch advice for first few weeks!
Importance of forming the family’s “corporate culture” already before the baby comes along.
Importance of dads getting involved early on.
Importance of reaching out for help (if in need).
How new generation of dads is stepping up much more than the dads of previous generations.
Common fears dads have about birth and early fatherhood.
The transformation he sees in dads after going through his class.

To sum it up – if you’re still expecting or you have a small bundle of joy who recently joined your family – this episode is a must-listen!

P.S. In the end you’ll hear Brian making a bold promise ;)

Tune in!

To connect with Brian check out the shownotes at:

BrandNewFather.com/087

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Don't forget to check out the New Dad Course, that's coming up and join the waiting list:

www.bnfcourse.com

086 Gabriel from New Dads Place Aug 26, 2016

Gabriel Sanders is a dad of 2 young girls, he’s also a recordist for film and television, a yoga instructor, a personal trainer, an artist, a writer and a photographer and on top of all of this he’s the founder of New Dads Place on Facebook and the author of 101 New Dad Tips.

Today, we got into:

Their daughters’ birth stories
Why he created the private Facebook group for new dads and what it’s about
Most common concerns he sees new dads having
How the expectations for dads have changed over time
Importance of being an informed dad and a partner

Connect with Gabriel:

New Dads Place Facebook group

New Dads Place Facebook page

Gabriel’s book 101 New Dad Tips

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Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/086

Info about New Dad online program and the webinars/workshops: bnfcourse.com

085 I honestly didn't expect this to be so challenging Aug 20, 2016

In this week’s episode I’m sharing two of my biggest challenges as a man, partner and dad.

Checkout the shownotes at: brandnewfather.com/085

Learn more about the online program for new dads at:

bnfcourse.com

084 Interview with Anthony Hayes Aug 12, 2016

Anthony Hayes is a dad to a little 2½ year old daughter.

Anthony shares his fatherhood story and his battle with clinical depression that he’s been fighting for the past decade. His story is inspiring because often times it’s hard to put things in your life perspective. We tend to take a lot of things granted that we shouldn’t. And Anthony brings a lot of mindfulness to the show.

Among all the other topics, in today’s episode we’ll get into:

Writing and journaling as a therapeutic experience. It’s a too. To sort out your own emotions (especially when having a rough time).
Importance of taking time for your family and making memories vs just being there.
Creating a “daddy-time” routines to bond with your baby.
Importance of connecting with other dads and creating this supporting community around you.
His fight with clinical depression and his tips on how to keep excessive stress at bay.

Connect with Anthony

Website (memyselfandiradio.com)

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New Dads’ Course:

www.BrandNewFather.com/course (live from Sunday, Aug 14th)

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Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/084

083 Interview with Maria Brooks from Lamaze International Jul 29, 2016

Maria is a mom, a Certified Registered Nurse on a busy Labor & Delivery floor as well as a Free-Standing Birth Center, and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) and a President of Lamaze International.

Lamaze education and practices are based on the best, most current medical evidence available. Their goal is to provide expectant parents with the support and information needed to have the best pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting.

In today’s chat with Maria, we’re getting into:

Lamaze’s 6 core principles for preparing for childbirth.
Dads’ roles in early childhood.
Importance of self-care for both parents.
Why a lot of dads feel insecure around their newborns and how moms can help them.
How to manage the changing dynamics in close relationship with new mom.
Tips on how to deal with conflicts (they will come up, trust me).
Taking care of new mom.

Tune in to today’s episode!

Connect with Maria and Lamaze International:

Website (Lamaze.org)

Professional website (lamazeinternational.org)

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Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/083

082 Interview with Ron Geer - facing challenges as a parent Jul 22, 2016

Ron is a father of three amazing kids and husband to an amazing woman, Kristy. When they adopted their little girl they soon discovered that she has special needs. It took him time to own his new reality, but eventually he did.

He believes that some of life's greatest accomplishments can only be achieved from pushing through obstacles and barriers.

It's life's challenging moments that shape our character and define who we are; a lesson he learned from adopting their little girl.

Ron emphasizes the importance of planning and states that without a plan, we spend our lives drifting from one comfort to the next, avoiding the very obstacles that can grow us into our full potential.

In addition to that we talked about:

How his life changed when he first became a dad.
Their family’s adoption story.
Lessons he learned from his experience and from his little girl.
How to deal with challenges and challenging times in parenthood.
Changes in his priorities from money/career to relationships in his life.

Ron’s story is very inspirational to all dads – new and more seasoned fathers alike!

So, tune in!

Connect with Ron: Email (rlgeerjr@gmail.com) -- Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/082

081 Interview w/ Jim Harshaw: finding success in fatherhood Jul 15, 2016

Jim is a dad to 4 kids ranging from almost 3 years old to 10 years old.

He was a Division I All-American wrestler in college, won 3 ACC Championships for the University of Virginia and was an Olympic hopeful and trained at the Olympic Training Centre. So, he’s learned a lot of life lessons on wrestling mat.

He believes that failure is not a bad thing at all. In fact he teaches his own kids about failure (check his TEDx talk below). Jim’s also the host of the Wrestling with Success podcast where he relates the powerful lessons of failure and setback and empowers his audience to overcome their own struggles and achieve success despite inevitable failures.

In today’s episode we’ll get into:

Jim’s own fatherhood journey
Reverse engineering his athletic success and using the same principles to elevate his whole life (incl. fatherhood experience)
Importance of having a peer group of other dads (mastermind group) in order to become a better parent oneself.
Importance of “productive pause” – taking time off for oneself to reflect.
Jim’s goals for this summer to improve his relationship with his wife.
My impromptu promise for my own relationship.

So, today’s show is packed with actionable advice and insights!

Tune in!

Connect with Jim:

Website (JimHarshawJr.com)

Twitter (@jimharshaw)

Facebook (/JimHarshawJr)

Instagram (@JimHarshawJr)

Jim’s TEDx talk: Why I teach my kids to fail

To access Jim’s free gift/offer, head on to:

Jimharshawjr.com/dads

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Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/081

080 Interview with Tom Schwab Jul 08, 2016

Tom Schwab is a proud father of 4 ranging from 16 to 28 years old. He’s also a fairly new grand-dad. He brings on an awesome mix of his own experience mixed with insights that he sees now in his son-in-law.

Among many other topics, here’s some of my favorite ones that we get into in today’s show:

The mistake he made as a new dad and how the same thing plays out with his son-in-law
Importance of setting boundaries with extended family and grandparents.
His biggest fear before becoming a new dad – not being enough. And how to overcome it.
Importance of having a sense of humor and surrounding yourself with other awesome/involved dads.
Challenges of being away (deployed) for long stretches of time and how to overcome these.
Setting priorities – there are certain things you can ONLY do in certain stages of life. Being a new dad and involved is one of them.

Tune in and enjoy the show!

Connect with Tom:

LinkedIn (/in/thomasmschwab)

Facebook (/ThomasSchwab)

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Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/080

JOIN BRAND NEW FATHER SUPPORT GROUP on Facebook

079 Interview with Phil Carson: Stress management Jul 04, 2016

Dr. Phil Carson has been married for 30 years and has 5 happy and healthy children.

Dr. Phil is a pharmacist and president of Carson Natural Health. He thinks outside the box of traditional medicine and committed to leading people to finding the root cause of their health problems and not just treating the symptoms. He’s also passionate about encouraging and teaching people how to live more balanced, healthier and vibrant lives. Among many other topics, he talks a lot about stress and its effects on our body and soul, so today we’ll focus mostly on that:

signs of excessive stress as new parents,
potential lifestyle changes to deal with that stress better,
one hidden contributor to post-partum depression that usually isn’t talked about much.

Whether you struggle with new parenthood and stress quite a bit or not, today’s episode also provides tips on how to keep that stress at bay.

Tune in!

Connect with Dr. Phil Carson:

Website (carsonnatural.com/)

To access Dr. Phil’s gift (coming soon), head on to:

www.carsonnatural.com/BrandNewDad

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Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/079

078 Interview with Dave Chesson Jun 24, 2016

Dave is dad to 3 kids ranging from 2 to 16 year old.

He’s an active duty military guy for US Navy. And he missed out on a lot of the early years with the first child and he realized that military life is quite tough to fit in with the family. One thing lead to another and September 1st 2016 is a day he retires from service and becomes full-time online entrepreneur and a dad.

In addition to his personal journey we’ll go deep into:

Redefining what success means to you and how they did this as a family.
Getting on the same page with your partner.
Importance of rules and boundaries to protect family time from work and vice versa. (At the same time not being overly rigid with these rules.)
His “key” to staying connected with your partner when becoming parents.

Tune in!

Connect with Dave: Website (Kindlepreneur.com)

JOIN BRAND NEW FATHER SUPPORT GROUP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bnfsupport/

Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/078

077 Interview with Aaron Walker Jun 17, 2016

Aaron is a a dad to 2 grown daughters and a grand-dad to 5 grandkids.

He’s a true family man and also a successful business man.

He’s been in mastermind group with Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller and other successful Nashvillians for almost 2 decades. Because of his own success, Aaron encourages everyone to gather an accountability group around them to excel in business and in life.

He also runs personal accountability groups and mentors other men to lead significant and successful lives.

In addition to the importance of accountability groups, we’re talking about:

His story of finding financial success but still becoming depressed.
Reviewing one’s priorities and not taking family for granted.
Having success and significance – being successful, but not at the expense of one’s family life.
Setting boundaries in one’s life to be more in present and connected with the family.

Tune in to today’s episode!

Connect with Aaron:

Website (ViewFromTheTop.com)

Twitter (@VFTCoach)

To access Aaron’s gift, head on to:

www.ViewFromTheTop.com/NewFather

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Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/077

076 Interview with Eric Davis, former Navy Seal sniper instructor Jun 10, 2016

Eric Davis is a dad of 4, ranging from 9 to 23 years old.

Eric’s a former Navy SEAL sniper instructor and an author of “Raising Men - What we learned in SEAL training and taught to our sons”

He has taken the proven performance principles leveraged by elite units and repurposed them for entrepreneurs, business leaders and parents since 2008. He’s a founder of ericdavis215.com – an online resource focused on delivering the situational awareness, transparency and knowledge people require to live a good life and lead others to do the same.

In addition to lessons from Navy SEAL program, we’re talking about:

How no one’s born a dad. Importance of personal development, being in training and becoming a better self so we could lead other do the same.
How most of us know exactly what to do, but get stuck on the “how to”.
Instead of chasing a life balance, why we should just identify what matters most, assess and prioritize and put these in our daily schedules.
Common flaws in today’s idea of masculinity.

What I love most about today’s episode is that Eric takes his job as a parent as seriously as he took his job as a Navy SEAL. It’s something we should all do – be more conscious in our decisions and actions as men and as dads.

Tune in!

Shownotes for this episode: BrandNewFather.com/076

Connect with Eric:

Website (EricDavis215.com)

Facebook (/ericcharlesdavis215/)

Twitter (@EricDavis215)

075 Interview with Matt Schneider of the CityDadsGroup.com Jun 03, 2016

Matt is a dad to 2 boys and he’s been a stay-home-dad for about 10 years.

He’s also a co-founder of City Dads Group, a dynamic and diverse community of nearly 6,000 fathers in 23 cities across the United States. Matt works with reporters, brands, and entertainment outlets to encourage more accurate and positive portrayals of fathers and fatherhood in media and advertising.

He also hosts the Modern Dads Podcast, a bi-weekly show featuring authors, journalists, and top parenting experts.

In today’s episode we’re talking about:

His journey to becoming and being a dad he wants to be.
How becoming a dad was a bigger life change for him than getting married.
What’s it like to be a stay-home-dad.
Tips on how to stay connected with your partner during the first year of parenting.
City Dads Groups and the importance of having a peer group of other dads.
Changing roles of today’s dads.
New Dad Boot Camps that help and encourage dads to get involved early on.

Tune in! --

Check out CityDadsGroup.com to see if there’s a group near you.

And listen to the Modern Dads Podcast.

Shownotes: www.BrandNewFather.com/075

074 Book review: "Tears and Tantrums" - How do you deal with them? May 30, 2016

In this episode I share couple of takeaways from the book: “Tears and Tantrums – What to Do When Babies and Children Cry” (by Alehta Jauch Solter.

It makes a case for crying and throwing tantrums is completely normal part of childhood and us as parents should accept it and learn how to deal with it properly.

Apparently, crying serves as a vitally important stress-release mechanism and by letting infants release tension we’re actually helping them.

Tune in for the benefits of following that concept and some actionable tips on what to do when you’re dealing with a crying baby.

Show-notes page (for all the links and cliff notes) at: BrandNewFather.com/074.

Rate and review the show on iTunes

073 Interview with Charlie "The Spaniard" Brenneman May 27, 2016

Charlie is a dad to a 2½ year old little girl and they’re expecting another special delivery in the end of this summer.

Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman is a professional mixed martial arts fighter in UFC, a speaker, a mentor and an author.

In 2011, he was ranked as high as #7 in the world, and in 2015, he published his autobiography, Driven: My Unlikely Journey from Classroom to Cage.

In today’s episode we’re talking about:

What it’s like to be a dad to a little girl when having this “tough guy” image.
Strategies he’s used to balance pro fighter career and the role of a husband and a dad.
Ideas to remain close with the partner in the turbulent times.
Accepting the reality when it gets overwhelming.

Tune in!

--

Connect with Charlie:

For more information on his programs and to subscribe to his blog, check out www.charlie-brenneman.com.

Check it out! It’s awesome :)

P.S. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it with a fellow soon-to-be or a new dad. That’s the best compliment you can give me and the show!

Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/073

072 Common source of conflict for us as new parents May 23, 2016

Although I believe that our relationship is as fulfilling as it has ever been… I’d be lying if said that it’s perfect or heavenly bliss all the time.

In fact we still struggle with our communication at times, we still miss each other’s points and at times it seems that we’re listening but we don’t hear the other person. And when that happens, we end up hurt, we take it personally and we try our best to put it behind us, but every now and then it takes a lot of effort.

Tune in to get my thoughts on our common conflicts sources and couple of tips I’ve learned from them.

Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/072

Rate and review the show on iTunes

071 Interview with Mike Granek of TopDaddies.com May 20, 2016

Mike Granek is a dad to 3 kids – 8 and 5 year olds and to a 1 year old baby.

He’s also a successful entrepreneur and an award winning event producer with two decades of experience in the special events and entertainment industries as well as in business.

After owning his own businesses, working a stressful corporate job and being laid off, Mike decided to shift focus to spend more time with his family and learn to be the best dad he can be.

Among other topics in today’s episode Mike and I are talking about:

Dealing with serious sleeplessness and navigating everyday life when sleep deprived.
Accepting the reality when things don’t go as planned,
and communicating with partner and using teamwork during tough times.
The importance of social support for (new) parents.
Putting your life in perspective as parents.

You can hear Mike’s positive attitude throughout the whole interview when he talks about the unexpected challenges they have faced as parents. This is a true lesson of importance of having a sense of humor when faced with adversity!

Tune in!

Connect with Mike at www.TopDaddies.com

Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/071

Rate and review the show at bnfpodcast.com

070 Emotional Bank Account concept and parenthood May 16, 2016

The Emotional Bank Account concept was first introduced by Stephen Covey in the book “7 Habits of highly effective people”. Basically it’s a metaphor used to describe the amount of trust that’s built up in a relationship. It’s the feeling of safety that you have with another human being.

It means that we maintain a personal “emotional” bank account with anyone with whom we have a relationship with - our coworkers, friends or family. And just as with any bank account, we can make deposits and withdrawals with our actions and intentions. The currency just happens to be trust, fondness and confidence in the other person.

Tune in to listen how this concept applies to new parents and why it’s especially crucial in this transition to parenthood!

Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/070

Rate and review the show on iTunes

069 Interview with Larry Hagner from the Good Dad Project May 13, 2016

Larry Hagner is a dad to 4 young boys – 10, 8, and 3 years old & a 3 months old baby.

In today’s episode we’re talking about:

Larry’s own childhood and how this influenced his own fatherhood experience. Also, how having toxic father figure in your life can be as devastating as having no dad at all.
Common belief or expectation of dads that we should automatically know how to be a good dad and how this unrealistic expectation can lead to desperation.
Larry’s biggest challenges as a dad (patience, work-life balance and setting boundaries) and how he’s dealt with them.
How our inner dialogue/self-talk affects our life (including our parenting).

Tune in!

--

Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/069

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Connect with Larry:

Website: www.gooddadproject.com

Twitter (@GoodDadProjct)

Facebook (/TheGoodDadProject/)

Instagram (@good_dad_project)

Resources:

Larry’s New Book: "The Dad’s Edge"

Check out a free chapter from: THE DAD’S EDGE on UNLIMITED PATIENCE

068 Finding your role in parenting May 09, 2016

Being a dad, and an involved one, is a wonderful opportunity – I love to be available and be part of our little one’s giggles and even tears. But it’s not always easy to find where you fit in.

When it comes to parenting, most things don’t come naturally to men. We have to work for it and it’s not always easy. Trying to figure out your own parenting style is challenging enough let alone becoming an effective parenting team with your partner.

Tune it to hear my experience and tips!

Rate and review the show on iTunes

067 Interview w/ Brendan Hufford from HustleHeart.co May 06, 2016

Brendan is a dad to 2 young boys – 3 years and 3 months old. He’s also a full-time teacher and runs couple of side businesses.

He’s most passionate about his family and teaching other dads to build side businesses to get a bit more leverage in their life, whether that means just more money for their family or eventual freedom from their job to spend more time with their kids.

In today’s episode we’re talking about:

finding time and also learning about using the time that we already have wisely,
the importance of communication in (co-)parenting,
investing time to learn about being a dad. Treating it as the most important role in your life like it should be.
His biggest fear as a dad
And many other topics…

Tune in!

Connect with Brendan:

Snapchat (Brendan Hufford)

Twitter (@BrendanHufford)

Facebook group (/groups/HustleHeart/)

Website (HustleHeart.co)

Shownotes at BrandNewFather.com/067

066 Dad's bucket list May 02, 2016

Dad’s bucket list is a list of things I want to experience with my family and with my baby-girl before she leaves home. So it’s not really a bucket list in its truest form, but let’s not make things overly complicated :)

Six thousand and six hundred and thirty one days – that’s how many days I have before our daughter’s supposed to graduate high school. That may seem like an eternity and may not instill any sense of urgency. Then again, in a month it’s already down to 6500s and in a year and a half already 5999.

It’s scary to see the hundreds and thousands change… and that’s what makes me appreciate the time I have with her, because it is limited and who knows how long until my time here is up.

Bucket list or not, I want to encourage you too to be more actively involved in your kids’ lives.

Tune in to listen to what’s on my “Dad’s bucket list”!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

iPhone app “Countdown Star”

iPhone app “Countdown!!”

065 Interview w/ James Tew, a dad to 4 young daughters Apr 29, 2016

James Tew is an Australian dad to 4 young girls ranging from almost 8 months to 9 years old. He served over 7 years in the Australian Navy while also being a husband and a new dad. Recently he secured a scholarship to go to University. So, in addition to studying, he’s now also a stay-at-home dad.

In today’s episode, we’re talking a lot about his emotions and fears prior to him having his first girl. We’ll also talk about how he has managed being away from his family for months at a time when he’s been deployed and how he has transitioned from being in the Navy and deployed a lot to being basically stay-at-home dad.

Connect with James: Twitter (@james_tew) Facebook (/thesocialentrepreneurblog/) Email: hello@jamestew.me

064 Creating your family mission statement Apr 25, 2016

Loving, supportive families don’t just happen. They take a lot of intentionality and one way to approach that is to come up with your family mission statement.

It’s a written statement of what you want your family life to be and the values by which you’ll live your family life. It lays out your family’s purpose, priorities, values, goals and standards.

Then again, having something written on paper doesn’t automatically guarantee more fulfilling family life either…

Tune it to the episode to hear about our process and the current draft of our family’s mission statement!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

Franklin Covey Mission Statement Builder

063 Interview w/ Aaron Gouveia, a dad to 7mo, 2yo & 8yo boys Apr 22, 2016

Aaron is a father of three boys ranging from 7 months to 8 years old, and creator of www.daddyfiles.com, a website devoted to involved fatherhood since 2008.

His work has appeared in TIME, Huffington Post, Parents magazine, and American Baby and he has been featured on HuffPost Live, BBC NewsHour, CBC Radio, the Washington Post, and the Michael Smerconish Radio Program.

I wanted to bring him on because he’s passionate about things he’s involved in – whether it’s his family and fatherhood or Boston sports teams and training for semi-marathons.

Connect with Aaron:

www.DaddyFiles.com Twitter (@daddyfiles) Facebook (/daddyfiles) Instagram (@daddyfiles)

062 Daddy guilt and how to deal with it Apr 18, 2016

We’re talking about work-life balance – more specifically about dad guilt! Yes, we dads, finally made it! We finally have equality – moms have been feeling guilty for decades for leaving to work too soon and putting the kids to day-care or not being “good enough parents” and now we have made it as well. We, dads, have the dad guilt!

It is a common struggle that is rarely talked about. Dads feel guilty today because it’s hard to decide on priorities.

Tune in to hear my experience and my 7 ways to get rid of the stress and guilt and loosen a bit up.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

061 Interview w/ Joshua Harris, a first-time dad to a 2 mo baby-girl Apr 15, 2016

Welcome Joshua Harris, a fellow new dad from England. He's a dad to a 2 month old baby girl and he’s very much into being an involved dad. He's also very open about sharing his struggles and joys on his YouTube channel. You have to check it out - the link is below!

Tune in to learn about his biggest fears and joys so far!

Joshua’s links:

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/thefoodhe

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedadhe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDadhe/

NB: Check out his “Modern version of the dad dance”

060 When unexpected things happen Apr 11, 2016

Unexpected things are bound to come up if you’re a new dad. So, it’s not really an IF, it’s most definitely a WHEN – we cannot control our spouses or our babies, diapers blow out and babies cry.

Tune in for my tips on how to deal with unexpected events like this.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

059 Clashing parenting styles Apr 08, 2016

Many couples have different ideas of how to raise children and are often surprised at how strongly they feel about the matter.

And to be clear – having differing parenting styles can be a good thing, as long as styles aren't too far apart. As long as parents come together as a united front, it's healthy. But sometimes this may be tough to achieve.

So, today we’re talking about situations where this may become an issue and how to go about getting on the same page.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

058 Different parenting styles Apr 06, 2016

We’re talking about different parenting styles… and don’t worry I’m not going to overwhelm you with unsolicited advice on how you should lead your family. You probably get more than you need of that.

I’m just going to give you an overview of the different philosophies and why you should care about knowing little bit about them.

It’s important to learn little bit about these parenting styles, because if we don’t, we usually refer to the style we were brought up with, or the complete opposite of it, if we have bad memories from our own childhood. And child psychology has evolved quite a bit last 2-3 decades.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

057 Managing new-parent-stress before it manages you Apr 04, 2016

Experiencing some stress is completely normal part of being a new parent. Stress is our body’s natural response to change.

However, stress is meant to be temporary. However, you probably know as well as I do, that in modern world it’s not always the case. And that’s when it becomes problematic.

Tune in for 7 simple to combat stress when transitioning to fatherhood.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

056 New dad's PPD Apr 01, 2016

Depression does not discriminate and it can affect anybody – including new dads. So, today we’re talking about Paternal Post-Partum Depression (PPD).

We’re talking about what PPD is and what signs to look out for and especially in which ways it shows up differently than moms’ depression, and in the end I’m going go over with the risk factors and also what to do about it.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

You can find the assessment worksheet at:

bnfpodcast.com/ppd

Check it out! Awareness is the first step to right direction!

055 New mom's PPD Mar 30, 2016

My wife, MJ, developed showed some symptoms of post-partum depression (PPD) through year one. Although she wasn’t diagnosed with PPD, it was still very tough on us.

Today, I will be covering what PPD is and what signs to look out for, the risk factors and how to help your partner through it.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

054 8 Ways to show intimacy without having sex Mar 28, 2016

Becoming parents was a little overwhelming experience for us – we didn’t have a chance to have enough time for ourselves as a couple, for example in the form of date-nights. And our sex-life was very sporadic throughout the first year with our baby. So, we learned to stay intimate without having sex.

Tune in for 8 different ways to nurture your relationship.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

053 Sex and new parenthood Mar 25, 2016

Today – we’re talking about postpartum sex.

It is very juicy topic and very tough to talk about, especially for guys… or is it just me?

The reason why this is so important topic to talk about… and why I’m willing to share some of my own story is that sex is such a BIG part of romantic relationships.

Tune in to hear my take on it!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

052 New mom hormones - will she ever return? Mar 23, 2016

Today I want to shed some light on what happens with women during pregnancy and after childbirth (as far as the hormones go).

A lot of the pregnancy books advise to be patient with new mommy and give time for her hormones to settle, so she can “return to herself”. However, I don’t think she’ll “come back”.

Tune in to hear my take on it!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

Link to Shawn Stevenson’s “Sleep Smarter”:

bnfpodcast.com/sleepsmarter

051 My expectations of fatherhood before and after the baby Mar 21, 2016

Today I’ll explore the difference between my expectations of fatherhood before our baby’s grand debut and what the reality is after year one.

They say you can’t really be ready for becoming a dad… we’ll see if it was true in my case as well.

Tune in and check out I’ve learned from year one so far.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

050 New dad sympathy weight gain Mar 18, 2016

Today I will share one of the struggles, that’s been nagging me for more than a year by now and to my surprise is quite common.

And that’s the weight gain that a lot of dads experience when expecting their special delivery and even after that.

So, I will share my own experience and then some reasons why this happens and finally finish up with some tips on how to keep these stubborn extra pounds and kilos at bay.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

049 Breastfeeding from dad’s perspective Mar 16, 2016

Today I’m talking about very personal topic and one that usually dads don’t talk about – breastfeeding. Which, I understand, is also very controversial topic. But still, I’ll share my own journey of being a sometimes confused, but eventually a proud “breastfeeding dad”, I’ll also touch on public breastfeeding and some tips on how to support your partner.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

048 Why read to your baby Mar 14, 2016

Today I’m talking about reading to your baby. In ep. 14 (published on Jan 27th), I talked about reading to your unborn baby and I personally was actually way better and more consistent back then. So, today we’re talking about reading to your little Sprout after the birth.

I will share some of the things that I’ve been struggling with and still do and then some research stuff as well. Basically, why read, what to read, when and how to read to your little Sponge.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

047 Ten date-night ideas for expecting and new parents Mar 11, 2016

Today I will share with you 10 date-night ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

First, I’ll share 5 ideas that you can put in action in your home. This way you don’t have to worry about the babysitters and can just wait until the little one has gone to bed.

And I’ll finish up with 5 inexpensive date-night ideas out-side the home as well.

To download your 14 simple date-night ideas head on to:

bnfpodcast.com/dating

Tune in!

046 Why take time for date-nights Mar 09, 2016

Today, I’m going to continue on the date-night topic that we started on Monday.

If your everyday life is so busy that you don’t have the time or the energy for “the special night” then today’s episode is for you.I’ll share some of my own experience and then some ideas why date nights are so important, but also some other ideas how to get the same benefits without planning some major romantic events.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

045 Our first date-nights in year 1 Mar 07, 2016

Today we’re talking about dating your spouse. Or to be exact me dating MJ.

This was one thing I and MJ actually talked a lot about before becoming parents. We didn’t want to become just room-mates after the baby joined our family.

While these were our intentions, it wasn’t quite as easy as we had expected.

Tune in to hear about the reality of our dating-life after the baby.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

044 Time (or the lack of it) and new parenthood Mar 04, 2016

As always, on Fridays I'll share one of my own struggle points on my fatherhood journey.

And today we're talking about time and how your sense of it might change or already has changed when you become or became a dad. I'll share some of my own experiences and other new dads' insights and we're going to finish up with couple of actionable tips.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

043 Fatherhood hormones Mar 03, 2016

My priorities started to change already before our little girl made her grand debut. And to my surprise my priorities weren’t the only things that changed – I’d say I also got more emotional and I gained about 25 pounds during my wife’s pregnancy and have kept every single one of them to this day.

Apparently becoming a dad messes up even dad’s hormonal balance.

Tune in to hear my story and what researchers have discovered about new dad hormones.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

042 Buying a baby-carrier and carrying my baby Mar 02, 2016

It’s time for another episode of the Wednesday Wins, where I get to share one of my parenting wins, or something that I feel I have done well on my fatherhood journey. As tough as it may seem at times, it’s important for every dad to celebrate our small wins.

Today I will share one of the best purchases from year one – the baby carrier.

Tune in to hear my experience with the carrier and why it’s good to carry your baby.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

041 How to create a stronger bond with your baby Mar 01, 2016

Today I’m talking about different ways how to bond with your little champion.

Tune in to hear 6 ways to forge that strong connection.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

040 Baby's developmental benchmarks & my emotions Feb 29, 2016

It’s time for another episodes of the firsts, where I share some of my first time experiences on my fatherhood journey.

Our little girl turned 1 year old just recently, and so far whenever I feel I’ve got this fatherhood thing figured out… something new emerges and I feel like I’m brand new father all over again.

Today I will talk about her hitting some milestones throughout the first year and my own reactions to them.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

039 Sleep and new parenthood Feb 28, 2016

Today I’ll talk about my own experience with new parents’ sleep and sleep-deprivation.

In my experience, it is way underestimated or understated effect of parenthood.

And sleep deprivation is serious stuff – it affects all areas of your life.

Tune in to hear my story and couple of things I would do differently next time.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

Check out Shawn Stevenson's "Sleep Smarter"

038 Two takeaways from the Dad2.0 summit Feb 27, 2016

Week ago I attended Dad2.0 summit in Washington DC. The summit was all about fatherhood and about spreading the message of being involved with your kids.

Tune in to hear my 2 takeaways from the conference.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

037 How excessive comparison undermines your parenting Feb 26, 2016

Today I want to talk about comparison and how it’s easy to fall for it as new parents.

In its purest form, comparing ourselves to others gives us context and motivates us to improve and thrive.

However, as parents, we have almost endless number of ways we can compare ourselves with others. And at times it may become unhealthy.

Tune in to listen to the 6 ways I compared our life with others and what I learned from it.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

036 Walking – my stress-relief strategy Feb 25, 2016

Being a new parent is tough… not all the time, but overall.

And today I’ll share one thing that has helped me out a lot – going for walks! Sometimes we head out as a family, sometimes I hit the streets alone.

Tune in to hear why you should try it out too.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

035 My wife burned out and that's what I did about it Feb 17, 2016

Today I get to share one of my early wins from the first month.

Although we were rookie parents and had to learn everything, the first weeks with the baby were quite awesome.

Fast-forward couple of weeks – I woke up one day and I saw MJ's exhausted face – she was tired and frustrated, and expressed her state very vividly and I didn’t have a clue what had caused her frustration.

Tune in to hear what had happened and what did I do about it.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

034 Talking to your progeny Feb 16, 2016

Before becoming a dad, I was looking at new parents like they were crazy when they talked to their little dumplings.

It all sounded little too weird how they changed their pitch when talking to their little progeny and how they spoke in short sentences and explained every single move they took.

And here I am now, a proud daddy to a one year old little stinker, and I do all of these things and then some…

Tune in to hear my experience with talking to the baby. I’ll also share the benefits of it and I’ll leave you with some actionable tips as well.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

033 First time I made my baby cry Feb 15, 2016

Like many new dads, I felt a strong need to be the protector of my family. I unrealistically wanted to keep all harm away from my baby-girl.

So you can imagine my emotions when I made my baby cry for the first time.

Tune in to listen to the rest of the story and what I learned from it.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

032 Dads, don’t compete with moms’ role as a parent Feb 14, 2016

Today we’re talking about if dads actually are secondary parents?!

Although dads in general have still a long way to go in becoming equal parents, last couple of decades we’ve made a lot of progress.

I was very excited about being a dad… and still am. I also got an illusion that I can be everything and anything that my baby’s mom, MJ, is to her.

But I discovered that I can’t.

Tune in to listen to the story!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

031 Best parenting advice for new dads Feb 13, 2016

Today I’ll share one of the best parenting advice that I’ve got so far.

I know, that if you’re a new parent already, you probably feel that you have all the parenting advice you need and maybe even have advice overdose by now.

But still check it out – It’s a little different than most parenting advice.

Tune in to listen to the story!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

030 Social life vs new baby Feb 12, 2016

Today I’m talking about something that many soon-to-be dads and new dads worry about. Including yours truly – how their new role affects their friendships and social life.

Having a baby is definitely a life-changing experience, but it’s not the end of the life as you know it. However, it can take a while to figure out how to fit baby and social life together.

Tune in to listen to my experience from the first year of fatherhood!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

029 Soothing a crying baby Feb 11, 2016

Eventually all babies stop crying and fall asleep, but the process can be very challenging.

Tune in for today’s episode to learn about 9 different ways you can soothe your little cry-baby!

And if you want to have something to print out to have around when your baby loses it, go to bnfpodcast.com/crying and download you copy.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

028 Why I quit my job to stay home Feb 10, 2016

I had always prided myself on my independence, providing for my family, and most of all not depending on anyone else but myself.

I was working hard for success, power, fame, tropical getaways, even for my abs that I don’t have any more thanks to the stubborn sympathy weight. I did all of this to feel good about myself.

But now, I just want to be with my family.

Tune in to listen to the rest of the story!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

027 Why babies cry/ Troubleshooting your crying baby Feb 09, 2016

When the baby is brand new and so are you in your new role, it’s very easy to feel helpless, especially with crying babies.

However, it’s just part of the deal and even if you don’t know the right things to do, it’s still better that you attend to your little Toodles than just ignoring her.

Here’s a list of 8 reasons why your baby may cry and what to do about them. Tune in!

If you’re more visual person, head on to bnfpodcast.com/crying where you can download the troubleshooting infographic for crying babies.

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026 First night-watch with the new baby Feb 08, 2016

Our little one was 9 days old at the time. Since MJ needed to get a full-night sleep so bad, I offered to stay a night in the living room with the baby.

That night-watch boosted my confidence a lot. The fact that I was with her on my own and I was able to do everything for her was awesome. It was definitely a learning experience and one that I’m proud I had guts to take on.

Tune in to listen to the rest of the story!

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025 House chores and the division of labor at home Feb 07, 2016

Even if before having kids, you found it easy to maintain a neat house and to keep the disagreements on the topic at bay. It’s different with the little one.

BabyCenter surveyed more than 12,000 readers and it revealed that almost 2/3 of couples with children at home argue over cleaning.

Tune in to listen to ideas how to share the labor at home and how to be more effective with your chores.

And if you want to get the PDF template with the list of chores with the newborn, go to bnfpodcast.com/chores to download your copy.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

024 How our relationship changed after the baby Feb 06, 2016

Along with shopping baby items and prepping the nursery, expectant and new parents may need to consider adding another task for their to-do list… and that’s working on their relationship.

And here’s why – numerous studies have shown that a couples' satisfaction with their relationship takes a nose dive after the first child is born.

One thing we could do is just being aware of the pitfalls and having realistic expectations.

Tune in to listen to the three ways how my relationship changed after childbirth.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

023 Expecting help the first weeks with the baby, but not getting much Feb 05, 2016

I planned to stay home for the first 4 weeks, so we figured it’s all good. With two of us we could handle pretty much anything.

The reality was something different!

I personally hate to complain. I believe, that anything that doesn’t kill, I can handle. And we did handle and manage the first weeks and the first month, and even the first year. But I cannot say that we thrived… the first month was a constant uphill grind.

Tune in, to listen what I would do differently second time around!

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022 Rant about push presents Feb 04, 2016

Today’s episode is quite different from all the other ones…

No offense to anyone, but… a PUSH PRESENT, I mean, common!?

Isn’t your newborn child good enough gift that you have to demand other stuff as well.

Don’t get me wrong, I totally get it if a dad feels like giving the mom something thoughtful - that’s fine.

But to go out and specifically demand a certain high-end item? That’s just wrong!

And it's not really a present if you demand it like a spoiled 2 year old.

Tune in!

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021 Why you should take a paternity leave Feb 03, 2016

I believe that there’s more to manhood than bringing home a paycheck. My advice to new fathers is to get as much time off, as possible and make the most of it!

Studies show that the happiest households are those with dads who spend time with kids and do chores. Taking time off is crucial for the whole family!

Here’s 5 reasons from my own experience

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

020 Dad the gatekeeper Feb 02, 2016

The first few/months after the birth of your little progeny, it’s important for new dads to get on the same page with the brand new mommy and stand up for her.

Just be there to support her and protect the new mom and the baby and their well-being.

This episode I share my own story as "the gatekeeper".

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

019 First time with new responsibilities Feb 01, 2016

I get it – it’s tough to find time to balance your roles as parent, partner, and if you’re working dad, a bread-winner. You suddenly have a lot more to do and a lot less time to do it.

I also understand, that new babies seem so tiny and fragile that some dads would rather take a back seat and let their spouse handle everything in the beginning. But the only way to become confident at these basics, is to dive in right away.

To simplify your life I’ll give you 5 of basic skills that I believe every new dad should either master or at least become decent in.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

018 Finding humor in pregnancy and in early fatherhood Jan 31, 2016

Although pregnancy and early parenthood can be stressful times, there’s plenty of humor in it as well.

Learn to laugh together with your partner at situations that unite the two of you!

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

017 Ten tips how to survive new mom Jan 30, 2016

Dealing with a new mom can be tricky.

These are my 10 tips on how to baby-proof your relationship in the beginning of parenthood.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

016 My struggles with being a nurturing dad and with my masculinity Jan 29, 2016

Being a nurturing dad and a “real man” had many differences in my mind before becoming a dad and in early fatherhood. This caused some conflict in me, since I wanted to be involved dad.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

015 Six ways how my wife's pregnancy changed my life Jan 28, 2016

It’s not surprise that your spouse’s pregnancy changes your life as well. Here are 6 things that were most notable changes for me.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

014 Reading to your unborn baby Jan 27, 2016

I read quite a bit for our little Cutie-pie when she was still in the womb.

In this episode I discuss if it’s worth it and some of the reasons may surprise you.

Tune in!

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

013 Today is our girl's first birthday Jan 26, 2016

It’s our Cupcake’s first birthday. What a ride it has been so far! Today I share my opinion on kids’ first birthday parties.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

012 My first week of fatherhood Jan 25, 2016

It’s Monday and every Monday from now on I will share my “first times” as a dad. And there are a lot of first time experiences on this journey!

Today, I’m sharing 3 stories from our first week with the baby.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

011 Parenting doesn't get any easier with time Jan 24, 2016

“Things will get easier. Things will get better. Just wait til they turn… x years old.”

Typical way of other parents comforting you if you were to share about your rough patch in parenting.

Non-sense. It really doesn’t get any easier.

Most of the struggles with a small infant are in fact temporary. However whenever you feel that “you’ve got this” life throws you a new curveball and you find yourself lost once again.

It just gets different! With each new phase comes up a new mountain to climb. And every parent takes these hurtles differently, we all have different individual strengths.

Then again, every struggle is an opportunity for growth. So take on the highs and lows in hope that you’ll come out stronger on the other side.

Rate and review the podcast here: bnfpodcast.com

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