TV Presenter and father of two children, Nigel Clarke (The Baby Club, The Toddler Club - CBeebies) talks to well-known dads and special guests about their journey through parenthood, and no subject is off the table. Listen to the highs, the lows, the successes, the oh-so-funny fails, the mental struggle and the physical exhaustion from a dad’s point of view. We live in a time when more dads want to be involved in their children’s development but feel it is difficult to find guidance and support. Dadvengers is here to change that, and though it's focused on dads, it’s a podcast for parents one and all. Mums love listening to our podcast. So dads, mums, grandparents, friends and family grab a cuppa and let’s talk parenting.
Simon Thomas is a well known TV presenter, and broadcaster, best known for hosting Soccer Saturday on Sky. He is also a father who went through a tragic loss and became a solo parent to his son, Ethan. After navigating grief together, Simon found love again and has added a daughter to his family.
After growing up in a stable home with a father who was strict but fair, Simon has fond memories of his childhood. Although his dad was never an emotional man, he was more able to show his emotions as he got older and would express his pride in Simon.
After becoming a dad at 36, Simon was loving parenthood with his wife Gemma. Sadly she became suddenly unwell and died just days after being diagnosed with cancer. Simon was thrown into navigating grief with his son but luckily, he found support that helped them through.
Since then Simon has gone onto find love again with his wife Derrina. They have a beautiful baby girl who was born 8 weeks premature, After her dramatic entrance, their daughter Talitha has gone from strength to strength and is a healthy bundle of joy!
Simon is a truly inspirational father and we're so thankful to him for joining us 💙
Time Codes
2:54 - "When we all look back on our childhood there is rose tinted spectacles but without that, mine was great!" - Simon on his childhood.
4:40 - "My dad was strict, not overly strict… my biggest telling off was when I dropped the F-bomb!" - Simon's dad was firm, but fair!
6:10 - "He was more open about how he felt about me" - How Simon's relationship changed with his dad as he got older.
13:55 – "I couldn’t wait… I always wanted to be a dad," - Becoming a dad.
17:36 - "That moment between getting rid of the dirty nappy and putting the new one in place is key!" - Remembering how to care for a baby after 13 years!
22:52 - "I got home at 7, by 7:20 Derrina called and said they have to deliver the baby today." - Simon's daughter was born 8 weeks early.
31:08 - "They were saying it was going to be 5-6 weeks." - Coming home without their baby.
34:45 - "He is so lovely with her... at the moment she just stares at him!" - Ethan and Talitha's relationship.
36:41 - "Three days after diagnosis… I was told she had hours left… Everything changed." - Simon talks about losing his first wife, Gemma.
45:34 - "The hardest conversation I ever had to have… I had this sick feeling of how do I do this." - How Simon felt having to tell Ethan about his mum
49:33 - “He said what happens now… he was trying to figure out what life will look like. I didn’t know” - Navigating grief with a child.
55:44 - "Being able to cry is really important for how he navigates… I want him to know it is OK to cry, you’re not weak." - Why sharing his emotions with his son is so important to Simon.
01:04:30 - "Without it I don’t know what the last few years would have looked like” - Simon his his faith helping him through his loss.
01:09:38 - Simon's Dad Superpower.
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7 Dec 2023
Dadvengers #39 - David Lammy
David Lammy is a father of 3, member of parliament and a champion for dad’s rights in the family. He grew up in London and represents the ward of Tottenham as a labour MP. He is also the Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Developmental Affairs.
David’s father was a charming, friendly guy but was hiding a problem with alcohol and could be unpredictable in his moods. He left the family when David was around 11 years old which has had a huge impact on his life.
After becoming a dad in his early 30’s, David realised there was a lack of support for fathers; particularly young parents. This has shaped his political career and he campaigns for an overhaul in the paternity system in the UK.
David also tells us about getting into therapy, the amazing support he gets from his psychotherapist, and raising children with modern problems and worries, such as knife crime.
This is a brilliant chat with an inspirational father and we’re so grateful to David for joining us 💙
Time Codes
1:42 – “He was a charming, friendly kind of guy... but he had a problem with alcohol" - David on his complicated relationship with his father.
5:51 - "He disappeared in my first year at secondary school...It was a big struggle for me" - The impact of David's father leaving the family.
12:55 - "I was fortunate, I had wonderful God Fathers… these were great, great guys." - The positive male role models who stepped up to support David.
15:22 - "I am now the father of three children, two older boys who are birth children and one adopted daughter." - David tells us about becoming a father.
21:12 - "There is a window where it is painful and you can get quite low and quite depressed!" - The challenges of parenthood - particularly the sleep deprivation!
24:24 - "There are moments when you don’t want to add to the burden, and there are things around masculinity and fatherhood that you feel you want to share with another guy" - Why having good support from other fathers is so important.
29:26 - "We just haven’t got the situation for fathers we should have... proper, paid, transferrable parental leave that extends for up to a year." - What David thinks paternity leave in the UK should look like.
36:37 - "I’ve got a psychotherapist because I can afford one… it is incredibly helpful" - David on accessing therapy and how helpful it is for him.
43:20 - "We tend to watch films… That is the way we can have a conversation about the challenges of race." - How David relates and talks to his children about race.
49:08 - David's Dad Superpower
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30 Nov 2023
Dadvengers #38 Ian Russell
*** Trigger Warning - In this episode we discuss topics that may be triggering for some listeners, namely suicide and child loss. If you're affected by any of the topics in this episode you can find support here***
Ian Russell is a producer and director in television, working on TV dramas, royal weddings and some of the biggest sporting events in the world. He is also an inspirational father and campaigner for online safety.
After growing up in an idyllic childhood, with a close family and a strong, present father, Ian always wanted to be a dad.
He went on to have three daughters and describes fatherhood as the biggest job in the world, that comes without a manual! Ian loves being a dad and was recreating the idyllic life he'd experienced for his own family, until tragedy struck.
Ian's daughter Molly sadly took her own life at just 14 years of age, after struggling with seeing extremely graphic unregulated content on social media. Ian and his family fought to have a full inquest into Molly's death that has led to campaigns around online safety and regulations for all users. But, especially those most vulnerable - our children. They've also started a charity to support young people struggling with online content and worked with legislators to introduce the UK's first online safety bill.
Ian is an inspirational father and his strength in sharing Molly's story is awe-inspiring. We are so grateful to Ian for joining us 💙
Time Codes
2:08 - "Life was amazing for us... but at the time you think it is just normal!" - Ian shares his brilliant childhood on the Sussex Downs.
4:30 - "There was a lovely, caring but also letting you stand on your own two feet attitude" - Ian's relationship with his dad.
7:18 - "It is the biggest job in the world and you don't get a manual to find out how to do it!" - Ian on becoming a father.
13:48 - "There was a part of my life that existed before Molly’s death and the part after" - Ian shares the impact of the loss of his daughter, Molly.
17:40 - "She was one of the most caring people I had ever known" - Ian tells us about Molly.
19:48 - "I had no doubt really quickly that social media helped kill Molly" - How Ian discovered the impact social media had on Molly.
32:10 - "If you discover something that is dangerous you try to do something about it." - Why Ian is channelling his loss into making changes around social media.
36:40 - "We’re a tiny charity but we have a big voice which is heard by many" - Ian on the Molly Rose Foundation and the crucial work they're doing.
40:45 - "An expert consultant psychiatrist… he said I can’t imagine what it would have done to a 14 year old" - How the images Molly saw impacted professionals at her inquest.
45:33 - "Some of the content Molly saw over 5 years ago is still available… they haven’t removed it" - Social media still hasn't learnt from what happened to Molly.
47:13 - "Molly wrote… "I need you to live long, stay strong, I will see you in a little while when you’re old and gray"… it helps you find a way to keep going." - Molly's message to Ian keeps him finding a way forward.
53:10 – Ian’s dad superpower.
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