The Good Enough Dad with Maggie Dent
Kids & Family
About
Aiming to be a GOOD dad is important. But you know what? Being a good ENOUGH Dad is how you ace it. The Good Enough Dad is hosted by Maggie Dent – parenting author, educator, and champion of boys and men. Chatting to committed, funny and loving dads about their wins and fails – Maggie offers awesome tips and insights into all the ways dads can feel good enough at this parenting gig. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
- 2025's Australian Father of the Year — Dr Arne Rubinstein (re-release)
This episode re-releases a conversation between Maggie Dent and Dr Arne Rubinstein, the 2025 Australian Father of the Year. Dr Rubinstein, CEO of The Rites of Passage Institute, shares insights from his decades of work with fathers and son…
- Trent Dalton - Rewriting a fractured childhood through beauty, love and hope
Trent Dalton, a celebrated journalist and author, shares how he transformed experiences of childhood hardship, including substance abuse and domestic violence, into his bestselling novel 'Boy Swallows Universe.' He emphasizes finding beaut…
- Sean Abbott - Managing fatherhood when your career takes you overseas
Australian cricketer Sean Abbott, who plays for Australia's national team and has achieved significant success in his career, shares how he manages fatherhood with his wife and two young children while being away from home for extended per…
- Tim Curtis - What surviving a battle zone can teach you about fatherhood
Former SAS member Tim Curtis discusses fatherhood and resilience, drawing on his experiences serving in conflict zones like Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, and Iraq, even while his children were very young.
- Shaun McManus - The importance of learning from your mistakes
Shaun McManus, a former Fremantle Dockers player and current radio host, shares his insights on parenting, including openly discussing his mistakes and the valuable lessons learned from them. He mentions the Kai-Fella foundation.
- Glenn Hall & Ace Buchan - How surfing can build strong family bonds
Professional surfers Adrian “Ace” Buchan and Glenn Hall share their experiences with fatherhood, drawing parallels between surfing and parenting. They discuss resilience, presence, and the ongoing lessons the ocean provides as they raise t…
- Billy Garvey - When being an expert doesn’t give you all the answers
Dr. Billy Garvey, a pediatric specialist and author, discusses the complexities of parenting, acknowledging that his professional expertise doesn't automatically translate to perfect parenting skills.
- Brendan Hodges - Managing fatherhood when you’re a FIFO worker
Brendan Hodges, a Fly-in Fly-out worker, shares his experiences managing fatherhood and family life while spending significant time away from home in remote locations.
- Jamie Durie - Building a family home with solid foundations
Jamie Durie, known for landscaping and environmental advocacy, shares insights on building a family home and navigating parenting with children of different ages. Maggie Dent provides advice on fostering parental attachment.
- Cameron Daddo - Keep it simple, put your family first
Cameron Daddo shares insights from his diverse career and parenting journey, highlighting lessons learned as his children grew up and crucial advice received from his father.
- Guy Sebastian - Finding common ground for connection
Guy Sebastian, winner of Australian Idol and judge on The Voice, shares his experiences as a father of two boys. He discusses how parenting became a priority and his efforts to connect with his sons.
- Josh Cunningham- Surprised by fatherhood in his 40s
Musician Josh Cunningham shares his unexpected journey into fatherhood in his 40s, becoming a "bonus dad" to two girls. Despite past beliefs about not being destined to be a father, he found a soul connection and has embraced family life,…
- Larry Emdur - Nice guys finish last, or do they?
Larry Emdur reflects on his long and successful television career, including numerous popular shows and Logie awards. He shares how navigating the media landscape provided valuable lessons for himself and his children.
- The Good Enough Dad with Maggie Dent - Season 2
Maggie Dent hosts Season 2 of The Good Enough Dad podcast, featuring interviews with diverse fathers including Guy Sebastian and Cameron Daddo, emphasizing that children need
- Bruce Robinson – Fatherhood has changed, but there’s still a way to go
Maggie Dent interviews Dr. Bruce Robinson, founder of The Fathering Project, in the final episode of Season One. They discuss the changing landscape of fatherhood and valuable lessons learned that have impacted fathers nationwide.
- Chadden Hunter – New dads can grieve the loss of their old life
Chadden Hunter, a former wildlife director who travelled extensively, shares his experience of transitioning to fatherhood when his wife became pregnant with their second child. He discusses leaving his adventurous career, returning to Aus…
- Graham Long - Finding solace for grief in the most unlikely place
Graham Long, former pastor at Sydney's Wayside Chapel, discusses finding solace and the power of love during his darkest moments after his son's unexpected death at 30. He was reminded of love's strength by a struggling individual at the c…
- Jeremy Hutchings – How kids can learn true grit
Jeremy Hutchings discusses how lessons learned on a farm, including resilience and grit, have influenced his parenting. He shares these insights on The Good Enough Dad podcast with host Maggie Dent.
- Arne Rubinstein – Stepping up as a man means putting your kids first
Arne Rubinstein shares his personal experience of prioritizing his children after a family separation, discussing what it means to 'step up' as a man. He is the founder and CEO of Rites of Passage.
- Sam Drummond – Why kids need agency
Sam Drummond discusses with Maggie Dent the importance of childhood agency, explaining how his mother's focus on his say in their future, even during financially difficult times, profoundly impacted him and his parenting today.
- Richard Harris – Why risk is the secret to raising resilient kids
Dr. Richard Harris, famous for the Thai cave rescue, shares profound lessons learned from the experience and his insights on raising resilient children with Maggie Dent. He emphasizes the role of risk in building resilience.
- Scott Stuart – How accepting discomfort led to my greatest joy as a dad
Children's book author Scott Stuart shares how writing "My Shadow is Pink" for his son, which celebrates his son's love of dresses, led him to confront and overcome his own hang-ups about gender identity, ultimately finding joy in greater…
- Michael Ray – Becoming a dad stopped me sleep-walking through life
Michael Ray became a solo dad to his daughter Charlie at 50, finding fatherhood a wake-up call. Now navigating Charlie's tween years, he focuses on discussing puberty and ensuring his daughter feels supported.
- Matt Formston – Shaping behaviour is key to raising successful kids
Matt Formston, who lost most of his vision at age five but became a professional athlete and coach, shares insights with Maggie Dent on how he is teaching his children to excel in behaviour to ensure their future success.
- Brad Kearns – Why dads need to put down their phones
Brad Kearns discusses his approach to fatherhood with Maggie Dent, detailing his transition to greater competence and the essential values he imparts to his family. He emphasizes the importance for dads to be present and engaged.
- Joe Williams – After five kids I’ve finally learnt what it means to be a dad
Joe Williams, a former professional NRL player and boxer, shares his experiences with Maggie Dent on the rewarding yet challenging role of being a dad, detailing his path to becoming an aware and present father.
- Adam Liaw – The importance of self-awareness in being a ‘good enough’ dad
Adam Liaw joins Maggie Dent on The Good Enough Dad to discuss his childhood, his career path, and the lessons he has learned about fatherhood. They explore how his experiences have shaped his approach to being a 'good enough' dad.
- Mitch Tambo – Just let go and be present
Mitch Tambo shares his experiences and lessons learned about becoming a parent, detailing his journey into fatherhood with his partner's three daughters and the birth of his own daughter, Pheonix.
- Osher Gunsberg – Mental illness is not a barrier to good parenting
Osher Gunsberg shares his journey of parenting while managing mental health conditions like social anxiety, OCD, and psychosis. He speaks with Maggie Dent about falling in love, the joys of raising children, and his experiences.
- Barry Du Bois- Why every day is a blessing
Barry Du Bois, known for his TV appearances, shares with Maggie Dent how he views every day as a blessing despite life's adversities and discusses his approach to raising resilient children.
- The Good Enough Dad’s Guide to Re-entering the Rat Race
Maggie Dent provides practical advice for The Good Enough Dad's Guide to Re-entering the Rat Race, offering tips to help families adjust as parents return to work and children go back to school or day care.
- The Good Enough Dad’s Guide to Surviving the Holidays
In this episode, Maggie Dent offers parents strategies to thrive through the holidays with their kids, aiming to create meaningful memories and manage the festive period.
- The Good Enough Dad’s Guide to New Year’s Resolutions
Maggie Dent shares ideas for New Year's resolutions to help dads succeed in 2024. The episode focuses on setting achievable goals for the new year.
- The Good Enough Dad’s Guide to Christmas Day
Maggie Dent offers advice on navigating Christmas Day with children in this episode of The Good Enough Dad. She provides tips to help manage the potential challenges of the holiday.
- Tristan MacManus – Make your kids feel 10 feet tall
Tristan MacManus, a TV host and former Dancing with The Stars judge, shares his personal feelings of inadequacy and his strategies for instilling confidence in his children. He discusses his experiences with miscarriage and his approach to…
- Matt Okine – Co-parenting is a whole new ball game
Matt Okine shares his experiences with co-parenting and fatherhood, explaining how his ideas about balancing creative work with his daughter have evolved. He discusses the challenges of being a dad and how relationships change after having…
- Sean Szeps – A non-traditional approach to fatherhood
Sean Szeps shares his journey into fatherhood via surrogacy with his husband, navigating non-traditional roles and discussing parenting challenges, including a memorable travel incident involving cough medicine. He is the author of 'Not Li…
- David Campbell – Your past does not determine the dad you will be
David Campbell shares his childhood experience of discovering Jimmy Barnes was his father, a revelation that initially caused chaos. He discusses how this period and his evolving relationship with Jimmy influenced the father he is today.
- Stephen Page – Being raised by women made me a great dad
Stephen Page became a father in 1993 and has led Bangarra Dance Company for 30 years. He discusses his current work on a children's production with his son, Hunter Lochard-Page, and how his upbringing by women shaped his approach to father…
- Jordan Watson – How to Dad NZ on why we need to say “no” more
Jordan Watson, known as How to Dad NZ, joins Maggie Dent to discuss his evolving parenting philosophy, emphasizing the need to say 'no' more often. They also touch on their shared country backgrounds and current parenting challenges.
- Ben Hannant – Why head counts are important with big families
Ben Hannant, a former professional rugby league footballer, shares his experiences as a father of eight with Maggie Dent. They discuss the magic of large families and Hannant's belief in grit, hard work, and traditional values.
- John Butler – Self regulation is my greatest parenting challenge
John Butler shares with Maggie Dent how a family trauma from 1958, involving his grandfather's death, has influenced his own parenting. He also recounts his experiences touring with his children.
- Gus Worland – "Chill brother”: The words that made me a better dad
Gus Worland discusses his journey to becoming a better dad, influenced by his brother's advice, and shares his thoughts on his desired legacy.
- Hamish Blake – We're all basically winging it
Hamish Blake, winner of Father of the Year 2023 and host of 'How Other Dads Dad', shares with Maggie Dent that he is 'winging it' and makes mistakes daily in fatherhood. They discuss parenting strategies and the essential advice for dads.
- The Good Enough Dad with Maggie Dent- Launches October 11
Maggie Dent hosts The Good Enough Dad, a podcast featuring conversations with dads about their parenting experiences. The show aims to provide tips and insights for fathers, emphasizing the 'good enough' approach to parenting. New episodes…