How Other Dads Dad with Hamish Blake

One of Hamish’s oldest and dearest friends finally sits down on the HODD couch for a well overdue chat. Wippa and Hame talk all the time, but not often about the deep stuff that drives them to be better dads. In a conversation that is equal parts serious and silly, Hame and Wip discuss the formative impact of Wip’s own dad, dealing with big questions children unexpectedly ask, how Wip tries to show his kids that nothing is impossible, and why setting out to build a birdhouse that ultimately becomes home to a rare rat is still a massive win for the family. Oh, and they laugh a lot. At times because Wip has told a funny story, but more often because he has told an entirely inappropriate story with explicit language to match. Apologies in advance. We should have known better. You can of course catch Wippa with Fitzy and Kate Ritchie on NOVA FM. And you can learn more about the good work Wip is doing with 36 Months HERE. Last episode for the season comes out next week and luckily for us Dr Billy is back with some actual expertise… so get the pens ready. — And big thanks to HERTZ who are our exclusive sponsor in season 3.  And just like us, Hertz are all about making memories and having adventures.  So if you need a great car to complete your next family getaway, head to hertz.com.au/hodd for a great discount. Terms and conditions do apply.  See the website for details on these, as some exclusions do apply.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy is responsible for igniting a love of reading in millions of kids. It’s a complex alchemy, but bum jokes have played a large part in it. From The Day My Bum Went Psycho to the hugely popular Treehouse series (which he created with longtime collaborator Terry Denton and which was edited by his wife Jill), Andy has written wild, boundless and very funny adventures that have drawn many kids into the beautiful escapism of books who otherwise may have missed out. With more than 30 books to his name (and as an ex-school teacher), Andy has become an expert in delving into young minds, and knowing what is going to excite, amaze and keep them turning the page. So we were very excited to chat to Andy and see what he might have gleaned from his unique vantage point as a kids author, and of course from his own dadding journey.   Andy is extremely humble, but passes on some wonderful wisdom and also shares perhaps one of the best ideas we’ve heard for the gathering and preserving family lore. The Family Book. It’s near the end of the chat, so listen out for it! Andy is a big believer in creating space for kids to be who they are, not who we want them to be (a familiar refrain we hear from our learned guests dad) and tries to practise a simple ethos through it all.  Loving What Is - because that’s what’s happening!  Great words to live by, for sure. Massive thanks to Andy - we loved this chat.  You can find out lots more about Andy HERE and find his new book, The Land of Lost Things HERE. — And if you love family adventures, hit the road and take one!  But before you do, get in touch with our best friends and the exclusive sponsor of How Other Dads Dad… HERTZ.  Visit hertz.com.au/hodd to access an exclusive 25% off the base day rate for your next car hire.  T&Cs and exclusions apply. Not all Hertz Locations offer this special discount rate.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An awesome outdoorsy special, with inspirational outdoor specialist, Rick Petersen. Rick featured in Season 2 of Alone Australia, and quickly became a fan fave (especially for Hame), with his unwavering positivity in the face of huge adversity and very little food! Beyond trying to stay alive on Alone, using his skills as an ex-soldier and expedition leader in the NT, Rick currently runs weekend camps for people looking to reconnect with the outdoors, including a special focus on dads and sons. As you’ll find out, the deeper purpose beyond learning to build shelters and start a fire is Rick’s passion to bring people together and foster powerful intergenerational connections, and Rick is a master at this.   We were lucky enough to experience this with Rick! He invited us up to QLD (or maybe we invited ourselves?) and we took the kids out bush for a few days, and it was just magic. His love and deep knowledge of nature, his calmness, his equanimity… It was amazing to witness the effect on our kids.  But we also eventually remembered we were there to record an episode, and wow… are we glad we did. Rick is so full of quiet, thoughtful wisdom, often hard earned and we just know so many people are going to get a lot from this chat. Rick, with amazing courage, also reflected on his childhood and revealed that tragically it involved him being the victim of child sexual abuse, so just a heads up that does come up in this episode. (support services listed below) Rick’s openness and kindness is just so inspiring. The way he’s made his life about giving back to the community, the beautiful relationship he has with his wife and two sons… it was a real privilege to spend time with him, and we reckon you’ll feel the same way after listening to this. Sincere thanks to Rick. What a legend. And if you’re interested in joining Rick for a weekend like this, go to rickjpetersen.com - We literally can’t recommend it enough. PS - You can find heaps of awesome Rick TikTok content HERE and follow him on Insta HERE. PPS - if you wanna see just how full on the cliffs were on Tasman island where Rick spent the first few years of his life… Have a look HERE.  Crazy! —— SUPPORT SERVICES Information relating to child safety and protection may bring up strong feelings for some people. Remember, you are not alone. If you need assistance or support, contact details for dedicated support services are below. You can get support for you or anyone you know that has been affected by child sexual abuse at Bravehearts.org.au or Free Call 1800 272 831 - an organisation dedicated to the prevention and treatment of Child Sexual abuse that also offers counciling and education.  You can also go to www.childsafety.gov.au/get-support to see a wide range of support services. If you or a child are in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). Information on reporting child safety concerns can be found on the Child Safety Make a report page. And Life Line is available 24 hours a day on 13 11 14 ----------------- Big thanks to HERTZ for helping make this special outdoorsy episode happen.  We used a couple of top-notch, brand new HERTZ 4WD’s to lug all our gear and kids into the bush to camp with Rick, and of course the service was amazing, the kid’s car seats were pre-fitted, the cars were sparkling clean (not by the end!) and the pick-up and drop-off experience was a breeze. HERTZ - It’s car rental made extra special. Head to hertz.com.au/hodd to access an exclusive 25% off the base day rate for your next adventure.  T&Cs and exclusions apply. Not all Hertz Locations offer this special discount rate.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a long time host of Play School, Luke’s probably spent more time entertaining kids than any of us ever will! But beyond that, he’s an amazingly accomplished actor… from getting his start on the kids show Lift Off! back in the early 90s, to being a regular on the awesome Redfern Now and more recently in the big budget adaption of The Artful Dodger on Disney+, not to mention a tonne of amazing theatre over the years. Luke is super generous and frank in this chat, talking openly about what it was like to have a kid really young, the powerful role his mum played in his life, and also talking honestly about his new blended family, the amazing joy that has brought him and his two sons and the deep love he has for his step-daughters... but also some of the unique challenges they have all had to navigate.   As you’ll hear, Luke brings such positivity and fun to his parenting, but it’s also obvious he understands that tenacity and sacrifice is a big part of it too… We get the feeling Luke leaves it all on the field when it comes to dadding. It was beautiful to hear him talk with such passion, and we are sure you’ll agree. PS - we recorded this episode a while ago, and Luke has since tied the knot and made his blended family official!  Huge congrats to Luke!!   Luke is in a bunch of stuff at the moment, including The Artful Dodger on Disney + and you’ll soon find him in the upcoming season 2 of SCRUBLANDS on Stan (and of course on Play School) Thanks as always to you guys for listening - you can get in touch at howotherdadsdad.com — And big thanks to HERTZ who are back as our exclusive sponsor in season 3.  And just like us, Hertz are all about making memories and having adventures.  So if you need a great car to complete your next family getaway, head to hertz.com.au/hodd for a great discount. Terms and conditions do apply.  See the website for details on these, as some exclusions do apply.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.