What are dad's interested in?

[Podcastadvice]

Partner and his best mate have just started a podcast. The first episode has gone down really well and they're doing well on listens and social media, it's a bit of a hit!

It's basically a 'for dads, aimed at dads' podcast, for fathers-to-be and those who are already parents. I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant and a lot of it is my other half discussing his fears, the unknowns of parenting etc as he feels like he doesn't have a clue - while his best mate has kids already and is giving advice, anecdotes, discussing his experiences. It's very funny and full of 'banter' as you'd expect.

For a bit of market research, I'm just wondering if you know - or would be willing to ask partners - what kind of things expectant fathers want to hear about? Childbirth? Breastfeeding? Bottle feeding? Sex? What to expect?

They're happy to discuss pretty much anything but are just trying to get some episodes planned out with topics for discussion.

Thank you

And Mumsnet is the best place to ask this because..?

And do dads all like the same things anyway?

And are the interests of dads very different to those of men who aren't dads?

Football

@GreyCarpet

Where else would you suggest we ask? There are not many dad platforms out there. Lots of people on Mumsnet have partners and maybe their partners have, like mine, expressed their anxieties around becoming a parent that maybe the mother isn't able to help with, where other dads would. It's meant to be a place for positivity, discussion and to bond with other dads.

And no of course all dad's don't like the same things, that's not what I was asking. But while mums get endless support around feeding babies, mum and baby groups, specialised yoga and gym classes, lot of dads are thrown into fatherhood not having a clue, then have to go back to work when the baby is two weeks old. They miss a lot and are unaware of a lot and I think lots of dads nowadays don't want to be like that and want to be more 'in the know' and have better relationships with their children. Part of this is maybe having a better understanding of pregnancy, birth and then everything going forward.

Loads of celebrities have 'mummy' podcasts aimed at other mums - Stacey Solomon, Giovanna Fletcher etc - so what's so wrong with having a podcast aimed at dads?

AskUK, AskReddit?

You could ask the same question on Pistonheads. It’s a car-based forum where members also talk about all manner of other stuff. Mumsnet for blokes, basically.

Probably not forums aimed primarily at women. Although in my experience they're definitely interested in women doing the thinking for them so I guess you're on the right track.

For dads, aimed at dads… researched by women?

Why all the pissy responses?! I assume we all know some fathers so we can probably make a vague guess at to what they're into. Some people just love to pick a fight.

I think if you're talking to men with pregnant partners, an episode on what might happen during the birth is good. Then what it's like coming home with a baby (ie terrifying).
Some sort of insight into what their partner will go through hormonally. Red flags for PND to watch out for.

How fun kids are! How a baby who will only sleep on you at 3am can feel like the most special thing in the world. Have a look at the mothering podcasts and flip them around.

Singletrackworld chat forum is another 'Mumsnet for men' forum, but it's not as good as Mumsnet, because you're not allowed to swear. Look at the types of things they talk about.

If you're looking for men who are mostly lefty, educated types who are actually interested in their DC, that's where a lot of them hang out.

Why’s everyone being so nasty? If you put that energy into answering OPs question rather than having a go at her we’d probably get somewhere

I suppose its because a man and his friend have decided to start a podcast for men and yet the research for content appears to he a woman asking women what they think dads want.

How about the men do their own emotional labour?

I can't quite believe that two women wanting to set up a support forum for women would do the research by sending their husbands down the pub and asking the men what they thought their wives would he interested in...

Why have they started a podcast without knowing what they’re going to talk about? did they not think past the first episode? Also- couldn’t they ask the men they know what they want to hear?

You’re all so mean!

@MrsRobbieHart

Why have they started a podcast without knowing what they’re going to talk about? did they not think past the first episode? Also- couldn’t they ask the men they know what they want to hear?

No. They thought they'd leave that to the li'l ladies and get on with the important tasking of patting themselves in the back about their great new podcast

@illuyankas

AskUK, AskReddit?

I second reddit - mostly men and you'll get lots of insightful answers there. Also bear in mind that men may not want to tell their deepest fears/anxieties regarding parenting.. because thwy want to seem strong and masculine.

@GhostRyder

You’re all so mean!

you're literally telling women to be nicer because we've questioned why some men are being lazy

No. They thought they'd leave that to the li'l ladies and get on with the important tasking of patting themselves in the back about their great new podcast wink

Yes it must fall under the wifework category. Why wouldn’t it? It’s obviously a woman’s job to source content for her husband and his mate’s hobby. And it’s obviously all the other women’s jobs to provide that content. For the menz.

I’m going to write a book for women. But I need to ask my dad what women want to read about.

Also OP there are many FB groups etc for new dads as well!
It really does smack of laziness to have you doing the research etc for your husband when there are so many ways to connect with the relevant audience. Plus it would be marketing for the podcast.

Sorry OP… I know it’s a bit stinging but it does come across a bit like a mum running around trying to get her kids homework done while he watches TV. Why doesn’t your DH ask the listeners to email in with areas they’d like to discuss?

Good grief there are some bitter people on here.

Well said @IncludeWomenInThePrequel and @GhostRyder

What sort of age group are they aiming at? I find loads of these things are aimed at parents of babies and toddlers - lots of easy jokes and funny stories about changing nappies or toddlers repeating swears - and there's not much for parents of older kids. I'll tell you what's hard for dads and that's parenting teens. There is so much to unpack there and it's hard to find decent podcast material.

I’m pregnant and although my DH already has a child, he still has some nervousness. He doesn’t listen to podcasts but would love to recommend something like this to him. Thank your DP for doing something like this.

@GreyCarpet you haven’t questioned why men are lazy you’ve just assumed!

@SingingSands

What sort of age group are they aiming at? I find loads of these things are aimed at parents of babies and toddlers - lots of easy jokes and funny stories about changing nappies or toddlers repeating swears - and there's not much for parents of older kids. I'll tell you what's hard for dads and that's parenting teens. There is so much to unpack there and it's hard to find decent podcast material.

There’s loads on the internet for parents of older kids and it’s not parental sex specific. The baby (and to a certain extent) toddler ones are for obvious reasons.