All Episodes

June 10, 2025 51 mins

Full video of this episode is available on Youtube @Alexindadland

You can follow the podcast on Instagram and TikTok @beahappierparent

Join The Dad Shift Campaign: dadshift.org.uk

Summary

In this conversation, Alex Lloyd Hunter discusses the evolving role of fathers in modern society, emphasizing the need for better paternity leave policies in the UK. He highlights the challenges faced by new fathers, the impact of societal expectations on parenting, and the importance of emotional connection in fatherhood. The discussion also touches on the political landscape surrounding parental leave reform and personal experiences of fatherhood, illustrating the need for systemic change to support fathers and promote gender equality in parenting.

 

Takeaways

Paternity leave in the UK is inadequate, with only two weeks offered. Many fathers feel unprepared to return to work after such a short leave. Cultural expectations often define men primarily by their jobs, not their roles as fathers. The current paternity leave system contributes to gender inequality in the workplace. Longer and better-paid paternity leave leads to more involved fathers. Societal pressures discourage men from taking paternity leave. The emotional bond between fathers and children is crucial for family dynamics. Political advocacy is necessary to reform paternity leave policies. Personal stories highlight the diverse experiences of fatherhood. A supportive environment is essential for fathers to engage fully in parenting.

Chapters

00:00 The Dad Shift: A Call for Change 07:38 Cultural Barriers to Paternity Leave 13:26 The Flaws in the Current Paternity Leave System 19:33 Public Support and Future Goals 29:05 Launching Support Programs for Parental Leave 33:37 Experiences of the Dadshift Team 41:11 Creating Equal Parenting Opportunities 47:10 Navigating Domestic Conflicts: The Messy Debate

Keywords

fatherhood, paternity leave, gender equality, parenting, family dynamics, societal expectations, emotional connection, political advocacy, parental leave reform, modern masculinity

 

Mark as Played
Transcript

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.