Congratulations on the new podcast! Can you talk about what sort of topics you're likely to discuss on the first episode?
Daddies is a podcast about life on the other side of kids. It’s hosted by myself and my colleague, Marcus – two dads to daughters aged 4 and 5. Episode 1 will be dropping on Father’s Day, September 6, and we’ll be rolling out 10 episodes for season 1.
Parenting is a universal experience in many ways, but Marcus and I are bringing our own perspectives to the show. I’m a gay dad, and Marcus co-parents with his ex-wife, so episode 1 will be all about our journeys as dads. How we came to be dads in the first place, what we’ve learned over the last few years, and what our hopes are for the future.
When is the best time of the day for you to be pitched on a story? And how do you prefer to be pitched eg: in person, email, on social media?
The news cycle moves so quickly these days that there really isn’t a ‘best’ time any more. I always like to be pitched via email, and I really love pitches to contain as much information and useful assets as possible.
A story isn’t just words on a page any more – it’s an instagram carousel, a vertical video, a podcast segment and so much more – so we’re always on the lookout for high quality images and video to wrap into our coverage across all of our platforms.
And in a world of AI, we really place a premium on getting our hands on the products and experiences we cover. We need to go where AI can’t, and that means actually testing things for ourselves so that our audience can trust that when we’re making a recommendation or writing a review, it’s because we’re real humans, who really do know what we’re talking about, because we’ve done it.
The Male Confidence Index is fascinating. How do you think fatherhood has changed that makes it different compared to earlier generations?The Male Confidence Index was such an interesting piece of research when we released it earlier this year, and we’re not done with it. We’ll be conducting another round of research soon so that we can continue to track how Australian men are faring over time.
Two things really stood out to me: One is that as men age and mature, we don’t necessarily feel more confident in ourselves. The world is getting more complicated, as are our lives. We’ve got mortgages and kids and responsibilities, and that can be a lot to handle.
The other thing that stood out to me was the different parenting styles across the generations, especially when it comes to communication and showing vulnerability. Younger dads, especially millennials, are much more open about their feelings, and that creates a much stronger bond between parents and kids (and partners).
Those two insights combined are really the genesis of Daddies. We want Man of Many to be a publisher that helps Aussie men bridge that confidence gap, and invest in themselves and the people around them. I think we can play a really vital role in helping to guide Aussie men through those moments.
During your career, you seem to thrive in a digital space. When pitching to a digital outlet, what are things people need to remember?Yes, I’m definitely a digital native. The main thing to keep in mind is that we’ll be telling our stories across multiple platforms. A story is just an idea, and sometimes that idea will be words on a page, but it could also be a YouTube video, a podcast segment and an instagram carousel.
Strong ideas with a clear point of view and a deep understanding of the audience will always win the day. But it’s up to us how we tell those stories so that we can reach our audience where they are.
Is there anything else you need people to understand about the podcast?Daddies is a podcast for parents, but it’s not just about parenting – it’s about life as a parent. I don’t want this to be a show just for dads. Mums, wives and partners can listen too. I’m really hopeful that people will come away from the show with a greater understanding of life and the shared experiences of being a modern parent.
So many of our experiences as parents are universal, but so often people don’t talk about the hardships or the difficult topics. Daddies will hopefully break down some of those barriers, and we’re going to have plenty of fun and a few dad jokes along the way too.
We have a bunch of great guests lined up for season 1, and planning is already underway for season 2.
And finally, do Aussie dads really want new socks for Father's Day?
Yes, absolutely. And undies. Is there any better feeling than slipping into a brand new pair of socks?