The Fathering Project Podcast

What does it really mean to be present as a dad?
In this episode of The Fathering Project Podcast, we’re joined by Mitesh Khatri, author of Fight or Father, to explore how stress, overwhelm and emotional triggers can shape the way fathers show up at home. We discuss practical ways to recognise when you’re running low, respond instead of react, and repair after the parenting moments we all wish we’d handled differently.
This is a compassionate conversation about choosing connection over perfection— and why those everyday moments of emotional presence can have a lasting impact on a child’s life.
In this episode:
The hidden pressures facing modern fathers
Understanding the emotions beneath anger
Mitesh’s practical CALM framework
How to repair and reconnect with your child
Why emotional presence matters for lifelong wellbeing

How do we help our kids stay safe without making them fearful of the world?
In this episode, Dr James Brown speaks with former police officer, child safety expert and online safety specialist Kristi McVee about the practical things parents can do to help protect their children – both online and offline.
Drawing on 10 years as a specialist child interviewer and Detective Senior Constable, Kristi shares what parents need to know about body safety, consent, boundaries, grooming and the risks children can encounter online.
They also explore why child safety isn't about having one big conversation. It’s about building trust, keeping communication open and making sure our kids know they can always come to us when something doesn’t feel right.
In this episode:
Starting age-appropriate conversations about body safety and consent
Understanding grooming behaviours and warning signs
Navigating online safety and digital risks
Creating a relationship where children feel safe to speak up
Why parents don’t need to have all the perfect words
A practical and important conversation for parents and carers about helping children feel safe, confident and supported.

Fresh from being named 2026 Australian Father of the Year, Matt “Matty J” Johnson joins Dr James Brown for a raw, funny and honest chat about life as a dad of three.
Matt opens up about the highs and challenges of fatherhood, the memories he hopes his daughters will carry with them, what they’ve taught him, and the kind of role model he wants to be.
He also reflects on Two Doting Dads, the community he’s built with co-host Ash Wicks, and why creating space for dads to talk honestly about parenting — including the messy and difficult parts — matters.
A warm and relatable conversation about modern fatherhood, showing up and accepting that none of us gets it right all the time.

What actually happens when you become a dad — and realise you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing?
To kick off Season 3 of The Fathering Project Podcast, Dr James Brown sits down with screenwriter, author and first-time dad Zachary Perez for an honest conversation about the early days of fatherhood: the identity shift, the expectations, the uncertainty, the funny moments and the things no one really prepares you for.
Zachary is the author of Becoming Dad, a candid account of his first 100 days as a father, written in real time as he navigated life with a new baby.
Together, James and Zachary unpack the gap between the dad you imagine you’ll be and the reality once your baby arrives — and why figuring it out as you go might actually be the point.
They talk about:
How becoming a dad can change your sense of identity
Expectations vs reality in those first few months
The pressure dads can feel to know what they’re doing
Friendship, loneliness and finding your tribe as a new dad
Asking for help — and why dads need support too
Taking what you learnt from your own upbringing while deciding what you want to do differently
Why being a good dad isn’t about having all the answers
Whether you’re expecting your first child, deep in the newborn haze or a few years down the track, this episode is a reminder that there’s no perfect way to become a dad.
You learn. You adapt. You keep showing up.
Listen to Season 3 of The Fathering Project Podcast.

How do fathers help guide boys into adulthood in today’s complex world? CEO of The Fathering Project Káti Gapaillard speaks with Dr Arne Rubinstein, Founder and CEO of the Rites of Passage Institute, and Australian Father of the Year 2025 about why boys need connected fathers, clear boundaries, and meaningful rites of passage to grow into strong, grounded men.