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...

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...

*** 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...

This week Nigel is joined by the music producer, musician and father, Olugbenga Adelekan.  As a musician, Olugbenga does a lot of travelling. Despite this he was ready for parenthood but when his son Ravi was diagnosed with a brain tumour at age 7, his parenting journey took a turn. The tumour was removed but that surgery has left Ravi with lasting symptoms. Olugbenga as any parent would, found this time hard. Listen as we find out exactly how he has coped. We're also joined by a special...

Josh Connolly is making waves in the mental health world. He is one of the UK's most influential mental health advocates and has spoken in the House of Commons, to help shape mental health policy, but life didn’t start there. Josh grew up in a household with an alcoholic parent, which had a massive impact on his life. He remembers a lot of feelings of fear and shame and by the time he was 12 Josh was using alcohol. Cut to 24 and Josh was a dad to four children and separated from their mum....

Rickie is a TV and radio presenter, currently hosting a daytime show on BBC Radio 1. He also co-hosts his own podcast and most importantly – is a dad!  As a young man Rickie always knew he wanted to be a dad one day, and he became a one to Lola at 32. However, in the back of his mind he knew this relationship wasn’t working out. He soon became a single parent and had to navigate co-parenting with a young baby. This wasn’t always easy but as you will hear he found a way to make it...

***Trigger Warning*** – In this episode we discuss topics that may be triggering for some listeners, namely Babies in Intensive care and baby loss. If you are affected by any of the subjects in this episode you can find support here. Iwan Thomas is an Olympic athlete, TV presenter, commentator, Celebrity Masterchef and a dad! Iwan was a whirlwind of a child and his strict, military dad encouraged him to focus on sport - which turned out brilliantly! After spending many years focussed on sport...

Aaron Dale is an author and the social media content creator behind @raisingboys_2men. A single father raising his two sons, he has helped thousands of parents to think about putting their children first in co-parenting situations.  In this episode, Aaron talks about growing up surrounded by strong female role models, having an absent father, and how this experience showed him how not to be a dad! Although he doesn’t live with his children full time, Aaron is a hands on dad to his two sons,...

***Trigger Warning*** – In this episode we discuss topics that may be triggering for some listeners, namely miscarriage. If you are affected by any of the subjects in this episode you can find support here. Ortis Deley is a radio DJ, actor and tv presenter, best known as the host of the Gadget Show But his most important job is as a dad to two young children! In this episode, Ortis tells us about waiting until he was 43 to become a dad. He wanted to feel ready for parenthood – but becoming a...

Dadvengers Podcast Episode 31 - Rory Crawford Rory Crawford is a CBeebies presenter, a marine conservationist, and also a nature enthusiast. But most of all he is a loving father of 2 children. Rory is doing it all! In this episode we hear how Rory grew up in a family with both his parents, and some brilliant strong male role models around him, and he shares how they shaped him into the man, and father, he is today!  He also talks all about the ridiculous paternity leave system in the UK, why...

Dadvengers Podcast Episode 30 - Russell Kane This week's guest is one of the UK's top comedians, host of the brilliant podcast Man Baggage, plus he’s written an insightful and hilarious book about growing up with a dad like his. Russell Kane grew up with the ultimate alpha male dad who believed in working hard until you die which meant he missed out on some of the joy in life. Russell was completely different to his dad, which lead to quite the childhood. He learned from a young age that...

Dadvengers Podcast Episode 29 - Abdul Bangura. ***Trigger Warning*** – This episode contains topics that may be triggering for some listeners. Namely birth trauma, grief, and custody battles. This week’s guest has built two successful businesses in his lifetime, is a proud single dad, and is here to share his parenting experience with us!  Abdul always wanted to be a dad when the time was right. But when it happened at 29 he wasn’t ready. But with support from his dad, he stepped up and was...

Dadvengers podcast episode 28 - Liv Thorne aka Livsalone. The guest in this episode is an inspirational mum. Having always wanted to be a parent, she didn’t have one ingredient she needed to make that happen - someone to be the dad. Liv had been joking about using a sperm donor since her 20's. Then at 38, she stopped joking added "sperm to pram" online and started her journey. Liv's open with her son, and everyone else, about Herb's dad being a donor. She doesn't shy away from conversations...

Dadvengers Podcast Episode 27 - Joe Wicks Today's guest is a household name, who shot into the limelight when he started PE with Joe during the Covid pandemic. He is also a best selling author, has had over 1 million views online, and has received an MBE! But his favourite job is being a dad. During filming of his recent documentary Joe discovered he was using his phone and social media to excess and at times found it took over his life. It also negatively impacted Joe's parenting and he...

Dadvengers Podcast Episode 26 - Krept This week's guest is a massive name in the UK hip-hop scene, host of the BBC show The Rap Game UK, star of the BBC documentary "This Is England", and creator of a baby skincare range! Krept became a dad just two years ago, and Nala is the center of his world! He makes life work around her. She has taught him that he can put family and relationships first and still be successful. He and Nala's mum separated, and they co-parent Nala. His main philosophy...

Dadvengers Podcast Episode 25 - Troy Deeney This week’s guest is the straight talking Troy. He's a footballer, dad of 4 and an activist changing how black history is taught in school. Troy witnessed domestic abuse as a child, and that shaped him as he grew into an adult and became a parent. Troy never thought he would need therapy, but after getting into trouble with the police he realised he needed to talk about, and deal with, his past traumas. He tells us how therapy has helped him be a...

Dadvengers Podcast Episode 24 - Ben Anderson (@thediaryofadad) **TRIGGER WARNING*** This week’s episode talks about subjects that may be triggering to some listeners. Namely, premature birth and baby loss. If you are affected by any of the subjects in this episode you can find support here. This week's guest is a businessman, a huge name in the online parenting world, and a brilliant hands on dad who shares family life on his Instagram TheDiaryOfADad. One huge part of his parenting life that...

Dadvengers Podcast Episode 23 - Alex Winters This week we have the brilliant Alex Winters joining us to talk all about his parenting journey. Alex has been an actor in theatre, Panto and TV, as well as a TV presenter on Cbeebies. He is a dad of three (we won't mention him getting the youngest's age wrong 🤫) and in this episode we delve into his parenting journey! Alex talks to us about having three very different kids, at very different ages - and how he manages parenting them. Alex also...

It's Dadvengers Podcast Episode 22 - Simon Hooper, AKA Father of Daughters. This weeks guests describes himself as outnumbered by girls - and as a dad of 4 daughters, we believe him! Simon is also an influencer, a fundraiser, and a mental health advocate - he's smashing it all! We chat all about Simon's great relationship with his own dad, his mental health and how he uses Instagram as an outlet when he needs to chat, and how he parents 4 very different children! We also delve into Simon's...

We are back and kicking off season three with the brilliant Patrick Hutchinson. Patrick is a father of four, grandfather of four and fitness enthusiast. He is most well-known as an equal rights activist, and the image of him carrying and anti-Black Lives Matter protestor to safety during the protests in 2020, arguably made him one of the most recognised activists on the planet. We chat about how his parenting has changed over the years, the impact growing up without a dad had on him, and of...

It's the final episode of Season 2, and in this episode we chat with the brilliant Matt Edmondson. A well known Radio 1 Dj, Matt is a father of one, with baby number two on the way! We delve into Matt's parenting journey, and how this was something he wasn't sure he wanted for a long time. Matt also talks about his upbringing, the difficulties in his relationship with his father, and we hear the sad story of how his father's Bipolar condition lead to him taking his own life. As you can...

Dadvengers Podcast Episode 19 - Elliott Rae. This weeks' guest is the founder of Music Football Fatherhood. He's an advocate for getting dads talking, plus he's an author, and dad to a young daughter. Elliot talks about growing up in London with his parents who had emigrated from the Caribbean. We hear how his how his dad was a strict parent, but he was also fair and supportive! And he also opened up about the difficult birth of his daughter and first few months of her life. See...

It's Dadvengers Podcast Episode 18 - Anna Williamson and Alex Di Pasquale. This week we talk to podcaster, TV-presenter, therapist and Nigel's friend, Anna Williamson and her better half Alex Di Pasquale. Anna and Alex tell us all about their relationships, childhoods, and the different experiences of having both their children. With their first born, Anna had a traumatic birth and experienced ill-mental health during the pregnancy and after the birth. Then with baby number two, Alex found...

Trigger Warning - This weeks episode covers topics such as suicide attempts, child loss and child abuse. Listener discretion is advised. If you are affected by any of the topics in this podcast please visit www.Dadvengers.com/getting-help to find support services.  It’s Dadvengers podcast episode 17 - Gary Anderson. This weeks guest is a father, mental health advocate, counsellor and survivor. Gary has led an incredible life that has been impacted by abuse, mental health issues, and baby...