The Fathering Project Podcast

After 16 seasons and 260 games with the Melbourne Football Club, former AFL player Tom McDonald is stepping into a new chapter — life after footy. But football has only ever been one part of Tom’s story. He’s also a dad to four children, navigating the challenges of balancing elite sport with family life and learning what it means to be present through every stage. In this episode, host Dr James Brown and Dads Group Manager Rodney Eade chat with Tom about identity, retirement and navigating h...

In this episode, we’re joined by Kirra Pendergast, Co-author of Digital Freedom and Founder of Safe on Social, to explore how parents can help children navigate technology with confidence. We talk about a young person's first smartphone, online privacy, algorithms, AI, digital safety and setting healthy boundaries without constantly monitoring or policing kids’ devices. Kirra shares practical advice for helping children develop the critical thinking and skills they need to make safer, smarter...

What does it really mean to be present as a dad? In this episode of The Fathering Project Podcast, we’re joined by Mitesh Khatri, author of Fight or Father, to explore how stress, overwhelm and emotional triggers can shape the way fathers show up at home. We discuss practical ways to recognise when you’re running low, respond instead of react, and repair after the parenting moments we all wish we’d handled differently. This is a compassionate conversation about choosing connection over perfec...

How do we help our kids stay safe without making them fearful of the world? In this episode, Dr James Brown speaks with former police officer, child safety expert and online safety specialist Kristi McVee about the practical things parents can do to help protect their children – both online and offline. Drawing on 10 years as a specialist child interviewer and Detective Senior Constable, Kristi shares what parents need to know about body safety, consent, boundaries, grooming and the risks chi...

Fresh from being named 2026 Australian Father of the Year, Matt “Matty J” Johnson joins Dr James Brown for a raw, funny and honest chat about life as a dad of three. Matt opens up about the highs and challenges of fatherhood, the memories he hopes his daughters will carry with them, what they’ve taught him, and the kind of role model he wants to be. He also reflects on Two Doting Dads, the community he’s built with co-host Ash Wicks, and why creating space for dads to talk honestly about pare...