Episode 269 - Dr. Christopher Choukalas - Even the Darkest Night - journey through paternal depression—an often undiagnosed condition that affects millions of new fathers

This episode features Dr. Christopher Choukalas, an anesthesiologist and critical care physician, sharing a deeply personal and professional perspective on fatherhood, mental health, and the often unspoken reality of paternal postpartum depression.

Drawing fro...

Episode 268 - Dad Rules - Rest, Recovery, and Real Life - Teaching Kids to Listen to Their Bodies

In this episode of Dad Space, Dave introduces the first installment of a new series called Dad Rules, exploring practical household guidelines that help families thrive rather than simply control behavior. The focus is on rest, recovery, and teaching children how to listen to their bodies in a world that often pushes everyone to keep go...

Episode 267 - Not All Dads Are Broken - Healthy Dads, Help a Dad That is Struggling and Share Your Strength

Opening question: “Are men okay?” → Reality: many aren’t, but some are just better at hiding it.

Pushback on narrative: Not every man is secretly broken, despite what social media suggests.

Cultural exaggeration: Online messaging often paints all men as emotionally unstable or on the edge.

Balanced truth: Some m...

Episode 266 - Navigating the Empty Nest with David Campbell Guesting on the Great Dad Podcast

In this special Shared Mic Series episode of Dad Space, host Dave Campbell shares a conversation from his appearance on the GreatDad.com podcast with host Paul. The discussion centers on a topic that many fathers eventually face but few are prepared for: navigating the transition to an empty nest.

Dave reflects on his own experience as a fat...

Episode 265 - Celebrating Father's Day - Dad, Embrace Your Day, You Have Earned This

This Father’s Day episode of Dad Space is both a celebration and a reflection, marking four years of conversations dedicated to supporting dads around the world. Dave opens with gratitude, recognizing the growth of the podcast and the global community that has formed around a shared goal: becoming better fathers through connection, encourageme...

Episode 264 - The Dad's Library - What Every Library Can Teach Us About Fatherhood

In this Father’s Day month episode of Dad Space, Dave explores a simple but powerful idea: what if the rules of a library could guide how we show up as dads? Drawing from the quiet structure and shared expectations of a public library, he builds a thoughtful framework for fatherhood rooted in presence, respect, and growth.

Libraries are calm, wel...

Episode 263 - When a Dad Runs on Fumes - where life stops feeling manageable and starts feeling like survival

When a Dad Runs on Fumes

There comes a point for a lot of fathers where life stops feeling manageable and starts feeling like survival.

You wake up tired. You go to work tired. You come home mentally checked out. The bills keep coming, the expectations never seem to slow down, and somewhere along the way you stop reco...

Episode 262 - Jon Gustin - The Tired Dad - Learning from Your Kids, Strength for Weary Dads and Content Legacy

Helping dads navigate parenthood with perseverance, vulnerability, and self-compassion. He speaks openly about mental health, sobriety, and the need to include fathers in the parenting conversation. His message to all parents is clear, keep showing up.

This episode of Dad Space features author and podcaster Jon Gustin, joini...

Episode 261 - Navigating the Teen Years - Connection Over Control. A Guide For Caring Dads

In this episode of Dad Space, Dave brings a grounded and personal perspective to one of the most challenging transitions in fatherhood: the teenage years. With humor and honesty, he reminds listeners that no dad is fully prepared for what happens when a child turns thirteen. While every father has experienced being a teenager, parenting one is...

Episode 260 - Beyond, How Was Your Day - Boosting Family Communication for Dads

In this episode of Dad Space, Dave opens with his signature humour and reflection on fatherhood before diving into a deeply relatable moment many dads experience: the routine question, “How was your day?” and the all-too-common one-word response, “Fine.” From there, he explores why these surface-level exchanges often fail to creat...

Episode 259 - Achieving Work-Life Balance - A Dad's Blueprint for Presence, Not Perfection

In this episode of Dad Space, the conversation opens in a light, relatable way before shifting into a deeply personal reflection on what it really means to balance work and family life as a dad. The host shares stories from his early years of fatherhood, including long commutes, extended work hours, and the emotional reality of being physicall...

Episode 258 - What Makes a Good Dad Today - Redefining Fatherhood in the Modern Age

In this episode of Dad Space, the conversation centers on a powerful and timely question: what actually makes a good dad today. Rather than offering a rigid definition, the episode challenges listeners to reflect on their own understanding of fatherhood and how that definition has evolved over time.

The discussion highlights a clear shift away from th...

Episode 257 - Dad's Guide to Tech - Balancing Screen Time and Real Connection

Today on Dad Space, Dave is focused on the growing tension between technology and meaningful family connection. Technology is no longer optional in our lives. It shapes how we communicate, relax, and even how we relate to one another. While it brings convenience and opportunity, it also quietly pulls families into separate corners, replacing shared experie...

Episode 256 - Getting in The Mud With Others - Caring and Knowing When To Fix It and When To Listen

In this episode of Dad Space, the conversation centers on a powerful but often overlooked skill in fatherhood: knowing when to step in and fix, and when to simply sit and listen. It’s a lesson that shows up everywhere in a dad’s life, from friendships with other men to relationships at home with a partner and kids.

At the h...

Episode 255 - Collecting Penguins, Noticing the Good That Our Kids Do and Not Just the Bad - Rethinking our Kids Scorecard

Instead of focusing mostly on mistakes, frustration, and correction, this episode encourages fathers to notice, name, and celebrate the good things their kids do every day.

In this episode, Dave shares a powerful story heard on another podcast about a father who began collecting penguins as a visual reminder to n...

Episode 254 - What Passion Really Means, Redefining Passion for Family, Partner, and Purpose

Rediscovering Passion as a Dad

As dads, we wear many hats — provider, partner, leader, teacher. But somewhere between school lunches, late nights, and chasing deadlines, our sense of passion can fade into the background. February, with its focus on love and connection, is a good time to ask: What does passion mean for me now &m...

Episode 253 - March DadNess - Building A Championship Culture – Playing the Long Game

In this March Dadness finale, the conversation closes the five part series with a focus on building a championship culture at home and playing the long game as a dad. Using the language of sports as a frame, the episode argues that the real legacy is not the trophy or the scoreboard, but the character, confidence, and resilience our children ...

Episode 252 - March DadNess - Making Halftime Adjustments – Navigating Mistakes and Reset Moments

In this March DadNess episode, Dave invites dads into the locker room of everyday fatherhood to talk about making halftime adjustments when life and parenting don’t go as planned. He opens with a simple but powerful moment: finding his granddaughter’s teddy bear tucked into his bed, a quiet reminder that kids are alway...

Episode 251 - March DadNess - The Coach and the Player – Knowing When to Lead and When to Step Back

Host Dave welcomes listeners to the third installment of March DadNess, flipping March Madness into a celebration of fatherhood lessons drawn from the sports playbook. From his home in Canada where snow lingers but spring beckons, he dives into the evolving dance every dad does with his kids: knowing when to lead like a head coa...