ROUNDTABLE: Cracking the Modern Dad Code with Dr Golly
Join host Davina Smith, Paediatrician Dr Golly, and Clinical Psychologist at the Gidget Foundation Matt Aquilina as they unpack the pressure men feel to be the “fixer,” how fatherhood can stir up old wounds, and why many dads feel emotionally sidelined just when they’re needed most. But they also go deeper, into the part of parenting no one talks about at the baby shower: how intimacy between partners often shifts after birth. Gidget Foundation Australia has created a series of books called ‘Bunny Books’ to reach out to those that may be suffering. Available through booktopia here. Need support? Head to the Gidget Foundation Australia website for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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28:46
When Fatherhood Unearths Old Wounds: Frank’s Story
For Frank, becoming a dad wasn’t just life-changing, it was life-defining. But instead of joy, early fatherhood brought his past crashing to the surface. In this raw and revealing episode, Frank shares how buried trauma and the fear of vulnerability led him down a path of addiction, and how hitting rock bottom forced him to make the most difficult choice of his life: keep running or fight for his sons. Hosted by Davina Smith, this powerful conversation peels back the layers of what it means to be a father carrying unspoken pain, and how healing often starts with speaking up. Gidget Foundation Australia has created a series of books called ‘Bunny Books’ to reach out to those that may be suffering. Available through booktopia here. Need support? Head to the Gidget Foundation Australia website for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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36:00
ROUNDTABLE: How trauma shows up in parenthood – and what helps
What happens when parenthood triggers your deepest wounds? In this vulnerable and vital roundtable conversation, host Davina Smith unpacks the complex journey of becoming a parent as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. With guests Tara Hunter from FullStop Australia, alongside Gidget Psychologist Dr Martina Zangger, they explore the invisible triggers of parenthood, breaking generational cycles, and moving from fear to empowerment. For perinatal mental health support, Head to the Gidget Foundation Australia website for more information. ‘Gidget Foundation Australia’ has created a series of books called ‘Bunny Books’ to reach out to those that may be suffering. Available through booktopia here. 1800 FULL STOPFree, 24/7, trauma-specialist counselling is available for anyone in Australia impacted by sexual, domestic and family violence. Call 1800 FULL STOP (1800 385 578) or webchat at fullstop.org.au NSW Sexual Violence Helpline Free, 24/7 trauma-specialist counselling is available for anyone in NSW impacted by sexual violence. Call 1800 424 017 or webchat at fullstop.org.au Note: all Full Stop Australia's services are available for victim-survivors, their loved ones and support networks, frontline workers and people receiving disclosures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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22:55
Breaking the Cycle: How Dusk Liney Rewrote Motherhood After Childhood Trauma
Dusk Liney grew up thinking she needed to be ‘fixed’ before she could become a mother. A survivor of childhood sexual assault, she tells Davina how she carried the weight of shame, silence and fractured trust. She shares the painful paradox of parenting with trauma, the moment she realised motherhood wasn’t about perfection, and the radical act of letting love take over. Follow Dusk on Instagram here, or you can find Dusk on her website here. Gidget Foundation Australia has created a series of books called ‘Bunny Books’ to reach out to those that may be suffering. Available through booktopia here. Need support? Head to the Gidget Foundation Australia website for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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50:43
ROUNDTABLE: Parenting with a disability – unlearning assumptions
In this powerful roundtable conversation, host Davina Smith sits down with the CEO & Director of Disability Maternity Care, and Gidget Psychologist Dr Erin Seeto to unpack the challenges of parenting when the world isn’t built for you. Together, they explore the daily adaptations no one warns you about, how to navigate healthcare systems that underestimate parents with a disability, breaking stereotypes, and the joy of raising kids who see ability differently. Learn more about Disability Maternity care on their website here. Need support? The team at Gidget Foundation Australia has your back. Head to their website here for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join news presenter Davina Smith in a podcast that tells the silent truth of Perinatal Depression and Anxiety (PNDA) loudly, in raw and honest accounts from some of the one in five mothers and one and ten fathers living with it. Paired with expert insights from psychologists and counsellors in the field, this podcast, made in partnership with Gidget Foundation Australia, explores the realities of parenthood, breaks down stigma surrounding perinatal mental health, and gives you the tools on how and when to seek support.
Australia