Meet The Podcaster: The Good Enough Dad with Maggie Dent
This month, our ‘Meet the Podcaster’ series continues with the wise Maggie Dent - host of weekly podcast The Good Enough Dad. Affectionately known as the ‘Queen of Common Sense,’ Maggie is one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts.
The Good Enough Dad celebrates the wins and fails of committed, funny and loving dads, enriched by Maggie’s thoughtful insights and practical advice for fathers. The second season launches on 29 April and features interviews with Larry Emdur, Guy Sebastian, Cameron Daddo and more.
We sat down with Maggie to bust some common myths about fatherhood, share our best ‘dad jokes’ and hear Maggie’s take on the hit Netflix show Adolescence.
Interview with The Good Enough Dad with Maggie Dent
Acast: Tell us about The Good Enough Dad. Why did you decide to launch a podcast for fathers specifically?
Maggie: I have worked with dads for 20 years and have seen more and more showing up, wanting to be better dads and wanting to be valued as part of ‘team parent’. I really wanted to support that shift and podcasts are a great way to talk to men.
Acast: What are some of the biggest misconceptions about fatherhood that you challenge in the show?
Maggie: There’s a myth that dads can't be the secure attachment person to their child like mums, but that’s just not true. Also, dads don’t have to be tough, like their own dads were, and that’s really changing as we see from the vulnerability of dads opening up in the show.
Acast: There are so many societal pressures for parents these days and the title of your podcast suggests that dads don’t have to be perfect. What does that mean in practice?
Maggie: We’ve known since research done in the 1950s that some failure from parents is actually a good thing for kids. Good news, since perfection as a parent is impossible. Basically, being ‘good enough’ is beneficial to raising healthy, happy kids.
Acast: What can listeners expect from the upcoming season? Were there any surprising or particularly moving moments you had while recording the show?
Maggie: We hear from a diverse range of dads – from the entertainment and music world to a doctor, FIFO dad and war veteran. I feel moved in every episode because there’s just something so reassuring for all dads and mums when they hear other parents, especially well-known dads, own their muck ups and fears.
Acast: So many of your guests share stories that are warm, funny and loving, which is incredibly refreshing when there can be so much judgement and pressure around parenting. What’s been your favourite laugh-out-loud moment from recording the podcast so far?
Maggie: Guy Sebastian's muck-up moment from this forthcoming season is a ripper. But I still lose it when I think about ‘How to Dad’ Jordan Watson’s story in Season 1 about he and his siblings getting chased by a one-nut sheep. Priceless!
Acast: The Netflix drama Adolescence is one of the most talked-about series on TV right now and has sparked debate around incel culture, the ‘manosphere’ and our children's use of social media. Have you watched the show? What do you think of its depiction of teenage boys?
Maggie: I have and it spoke to why I was such a vocal advocate for banning social media under 16. However, it depicts a very uncommon version of a 13-year-old boy. Many boys see dark stuff and, when tethered by safe grown-ups, don't adopt radical beliefs or violent behaviour. BUT we need to have more curious, empathetic conversations that respect boys and girls… the more awkward conversations the better, as all teens still need rails on the bridge to adulthood.
Acast: How do you think technology and social media has changed parenting over the course of your career? How can parents talk about internet safety with their children?
Maggie: There's so much information, it is hard to know what’s evidence based. There is more judgement and a perception of parenting as a competition. Often our kids are more savvy than us in the digital space, so parents need to inform themselves. The ABC TV show I was recently part of, The Role of a Lifetime, explores that well.
Acast: What do you find are the other most common challenges and concerns facing parents today?
Maggie: The things we’ve just covered but also the busyness of modern life, and our smart phones really disconnect us by compromising our real-time connection with each other.
Acast: If you were Prime Minister for a day, what changes would you implement to keep our children happy, safe and healthy?
Maggie: I would change the age for starting big school/formalised learning back to the year kids turn 6 (not 5 or 4 as it is now), and give kids more time to play in nature with some risk.
Acast: And finally, what’s one simple, actionable piece of advice you’d give to a dad who’s struggling or feels like he’s not doing enough?
Maggie: Ask your kids how you can be a better dad. They may surprise you!
Acast: And finally, a quick-fire round for fans to get to know you better.
Which is harder: toddlers or teens? Depends... probably teens because they’re like toddlers on steroids
One word to describe modern dads? Caring (and confused)
Dream podcast guest? Chris Hemsworth
Best ‘dad joke’? Any dad joke is great...I love those long-winded shaggy dog ones
Career highlight? Seeing my self-published book Mothering our Boys become a bestseller
Favourite movie? The Lion King
This month, our ‘Meet the Podcaster’ series continues with the wise Maggie Dent - host of weekly podcast The Good Enough Dad. Affectionately known as the ‘Queen of Common Sense,’ Maggie is one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts.
The Good Enough Dad celebrates the wins and fails of committed, funny and loving dads, enriched by Maggie’s thoughtful insights and practical advice for fathers. The second season launches on 29 April and features interviews with Larry Emdur, Guy Sebastian, Cameron Daddo and more.
We sat down with Maggie to bust some common myths about fatherhood, share our best ‘dad jokes’ and hear Maggie’s take on the hit Netflix show Adolescence.
Interview with The Good Enough Dad with Maggie Dent
Acast: Tell us about The Good Enough Dad. Why did you decide to launch a podcast for fathers specifically?
Maggie: I have worked with dads for 20 years and have seen more and more showing up, wanting to be better dads and wanting to be valued as part of ‘team parent’. I really wanted to support that shift and podcasts are a great way to talk to men.
Acast: What are some of the biggest misconceptions about fatherhood that you challenge in the show?
Maggie: There’s a myth that dads can't be the secure attachment person to their child like mums, but that’s just not true. Also, dads don’t have to be tough, like their own dads were, and that’s really changing as we see from the vulnerability of dads opening up in the show.
Acast: There are so many societal pressures for parents these days and the title of your podcast suggests that dads don’t have to be perfect. What does that mean in practice?
Maggie: We’ve known since research done in the 1950s that some failure from parents is actually a good thing for kids. Good news, since perfection as a parent is impossible. Basically, being ‘good enough’ is beneficial to raising healthy, happy kids.
Acast: What can listeners expect from the upcoming season? Were there any surprising or particularly moving moments you had while recording the show?
Maggie: We hear from a diverse range of dads – from the entertainment and music world to a doctor, FIFO dad and war veteran. I feel moved in every episode because there’s just something so reassuring for all dads and mums when they hear other parents, especially well-known dads, own their muck ups and fears.
Acast: So many of your guests share stories that are warm, funny and loving, which is incredibly refreshing when there can be so much judgement and pressure around parenting. What’s been your favourite laugh-out-loud moment from recording the podcast so far?
Maggie: Guy Sebastian's muck-up moment from this forthcoming season is a ripper. But I still lose it when I think about ‘How to Dad’ Jordan Watson’s story in Season 1 about he and his siblings getting chased by a one-nut sheep. Priceless!
Acast: The Netflix drama Adolescence is one of the most talked-about series on TV right now and has sparked debate around incel culture, the ‘manosphere’ and our children's use of social media. Have you watched the show? What do you think of its depiction of teenage boys?
Maggie: I have and it spoke to why I was such a vocal advocate for banning social media under 16. However, it depicts a very uncommon version of a 13-year-old boy. Many boys see dark stuff and, when tethered by safe grown-ups, don't adopt radical beliefs or violent behaviour. BUT we need to have more curious, empathetic conversations that respect boys and girls… the more awkward conversations the better, as all teens still need rails on the bridge to adulthood.
Acast: How do you think technology and social media has changed parenting over the course of your career? How can parents talk about internet safety with their children?
Maggie: There's so much information, it is hard to know what’s evidence based. There is more judgement and a perception of parenting as a competition. Often our kids are more savvy than us in the digital space, so parents need to inform themselves. The ABC TV show I was recently part of, The Role of a Lifetime, explores that well.
Acast: What do you find are the other most common challenges and concerns facing parents today?
Maggie: The things we’ve just covered but also the busyness of modern life, and our smart phones really disconnect us by compromising our real-time connection with each other.
Acast: If you were Prime Minister for a day, what changes would you implement to keep our children happy, safe and healthy?
Maggie: I would change the age for starting big school/formalised learning back to the year kids turn 6 (not 5 or 4 as it is now), and give kids more time to play in nature with some risk.
Acast: And finally, what’s one simple, actionable piece of advice you’d give to a dad who’s struggling or feels like he’s not doing enough?
Maggie: Ask your kids how you can be a better dad. They may surprise you!
Acast: And finally, a quick-fire round for fans to get to know you better.
Which is harder: toddlers or teens? Depends... probably teens because they’re like toddlers on steroids
One word to describe modern dads? Caring (and confused)
Dream podcast guest? Chris Hemsworth
Best ‘dad joke’? Any dad joke is great...I love those long-winded shaggy dog ones
Career highlight? Seeing my self-published book Mothering our Boys become a bestseller
Favourite movie? The Lion King
