Dad Starts Now
Dad Starts Now is a podcast from Healthy Male that helps men become and be the best dads they can be. Season one focuses on preconception health for men, explaining what it is, why it matters, and what it involves, with insights from Australian male reproductive health experts. Season two explores the diverse and often unspoken experiences of men on the path to fatherhood, including infertility, IVF, pregnancy complications, parental leave, perinatal mental health, and early parenting. Through real stories and expert advice, it offers practical guidance and perspective for men at every stage of the journey.
Episodes
What dads need to know about labour and birth, with midwife Monique Maitland
In this mini-episode, clinical midwife specialist, childbirth educator and founder of The Middee Society, Monique Maitland, answers your questions about preparing for birth as a dad — from understanding the stages of labour to knowing how to advocate for your partner when things get intense.Many dads assume birth is something they just “show up” for, but feeling supported by a partner or support t
Zac Perez on the best advice for first-time dads
In this episode, we chat with Zac Perez, who you might know by his moniker ‘non-practising genius’ on social media, where he’s racked up hundreds of thousands of followers, and millions more views on his inspiring but relatable content. We cover his globally viral “Wednesday Waffle” movement and keeping up connections with mates, plus what preparing for fatherhood involved for him and how he’s fin
Why parental leave for dads matters so much with Georgie Dent, CEO of The Parenthood
In this mini-episode, we’ll get into the life-changing benefits of dads taking parental leave. Georgie Dent, CEO at The Parenthood — an organisation advocating for better parental leave, child care and flexible work — answers your questions about how paid parental leave works in Australia, the common misconceptions men have about it and why it's so critical for dads and their families.Key tak
Tom Docking on the support new dads are missing and why he started Dads Group
In this episode, we chat with Tom Docking, founder and CEO of Dads Group — an organisation reshaping how Australia supports new and expectant fathers. Tom shares his experience discovering first-hand the gaps there are for men during the perinatal period and why community connection is one of the most powerful protective factors for dads’ mental health.Key takeawaysTom's partner Kate fell pre
What men need to know about miscarriage, grief and supporting their partner
In this mini-episode, Sam Payne — the CEO and co-founder of the Pink Elephants Support Network — answers listener questions about early pregnancy loss — what men (and couples) need to understand about miscarriage and how to support their partner and themselves.Key takeaways:Pink Elephants exists because early pregnancy loss is deeply isolating, and lack of support in the first trimester can compou
Lachlan Stuart on the isolation of infertility and feeling ready for fatherhood
In this episode, we chat with Lachlan Stuart, an endurance athlete (who’s run 58 marathons in 58 days) and a high-performance coach (who helps men build mental resilience). Lachlan and his wife, Amy Sheppard, just welcomed their first child, Frederick, after years of navigating unexplained infertility. In the weeks before their baby's arrival, we spoke to Lachlan about finding out they were p
IVF and men: what actually happens, what to expect and how to help
Lucy Lines is an IVF scientist, fertility educator and patient advocate with more than 20 years’ experience, and in this mini episode, she unpacks what assisted reproductive technology (ART) means for men who are trying to conceive. From IVF and ICSI to what men can expect during testing and treatment. We also talk about how male fertility can affect success rates, the emotional and physical impac
Matt Zukowski on navigating infertility, masculinity and first dates
In this episode, we chat with Matthew Zukowski — host of the Where’s Your Head At? podcast and I'm a Celebrity... contestant — about finding out he was infertile in his early 20s, long before fatherhood was front of mind. Matt opens up about the shock of being told he had no sperm count, finding out he had undescended testes as a child and the complicated emotions that surfaced around the dia
Semen analysis explained: What to expect, what it measures and why it matters
A semen analysis is one of the first steps in understanding male fertility — but for most men, it's also one of the most awkward. In this episode, embryologist and Scientific Director at Monash IVF Group, Dr Ryan Rose, takes the mystery out of the process, walking through exactly what happens during a semen analysis, what the results actually measure and what they mean for your fertility.Dr R
Hugo Toovey on his 'miracle baby' after surviving two cancers
In this episode, we chat with Hugo Toovey, a two-time cancer survivor and founder of 25 Stay Alive — a charity that helps young adults take charge of their health through prevention, early detection and action. He speaks about the emotional experience of trying to conceive for a year and comparing it to friends who fell pregnant quickly, what it was like when their "miracle baby" Teddy c
What no one tells men about preparing for fatherhood, with Jason Seeman
Jason Seeman is an educator, dad of two, and he's the founder of Raising Fathers — an organisation that helps through the identity-shaking transition into fatherhood. In this mini-episode of Dad Starts Now, Jason answers listener questions about this often-overlooked journey from man to father, covering everything from parenting when you didn't have a solid role model to how to best show
Psychologist Dr Zac Seidler on how to become the dad you want to be
In this episode, we chat with Dr Zac Seidler, the global director of research at Movember and part of the team at Orygen – a youth mental health organisation. He’s a clinical psychologist and researcher who has dedicated his career to understanding manhood and men’s mental health. And, he’s just welcomed his first son, Arty. We recorded this episode in the weeks before his baby’s birth, covering t
10 things all men should do before trying for a baby, with Dr Tim Moss
If starting a family is on your 2026 to-do list, there are a bunch of things you can do right now to improve your chances of conceiving, support your partner’s pregnancy and benefit the health of your kids. In this mini-episode of Dad Starts Now, host Dr Tim Moss breaks down the 10 practical, evidence-based steps all men should take before trying for a baby. From understanding how conception actua
Veteran Joel Sardi on becoming a dad of two when you have quadriplegia
In this episode of Dad Starts Now, we’re joined by Joel Sardi, a military veteran and dad of two who became a father after sustaining a spinal cord injury that left him with quadriplegia. Joel talks candidly about life before and after his injury, how his identity shifted and what it really means to show up as a dad when the physical side of parenting looks different. He shares how he and his part
We're expecting... season 2 of Dad Starts Now
Dad Starts Now — a podcast from Healthy Male, helping men become — and be — the best dad possible. The responsibility of fatherhood starts well before the birth of your baby, with big decisions, plenty of uncertainty and sometimes a lot that goes unspoken.In season two of Dad Starts Now — hosted by Dr Tim Moss — we discuss what it really means to prepare for fatherhood in honest conversations with
Your most common questions about men's preconception health, answered
In the final episode of this season of Dad Starts Now, Associate Professor Tim Moss joins our host Nick West again to tackle your most common questions about men’s preconception health. They cover everything from whether you can tell if you're infertile, how age and certain drugs affect fertility, to the impact of steroids on starting a family.Timestamps01:15 Signs of male infertility07:30 Th
Your health, your baby’s health: Explaining epigenetics
In this episode of Dad Starts Now, host Nick West unpacks how a man's health before conception can influence his future kids with Professor Patrick Western. He's a researcher at the Centre for Endocrinology and Reproductive Health at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Molecular and Translational Science at Monash University. Professor Western breaks down epigeneti
Experiencing male infertility: What happens when pregnancy doesn’t come easily
In this episode of Dad Starts Now, host Nick West speaks with fertility counsellor Narelle Dickinson and former AFL player Reece Conca to unpack what happens when pregnancy doesn’t come easily. Reece shares his personal story of being diagnosed with male infertility and the emotional rollercoaster he and his partner faced on their path to parenthood. Narelle offers expert advice on navigating the
Investigating male infertility: Causes, symptoms and common conditions
In this episode of Dad Starts Now, host Nick West speaks with two of Australia’s leading male fertility specialists — Professor Rob McLachlan and Associate Professor Darren Katz — to unpack the process of investigating infertility. From low sperm counts and varicoceles to genetic conditions like Klinefelter syndrome, they explain some of the medical reasons behind male infertility, what symptoms t
What is preconception health for men and why does it matter so much?
In the first episode of Dad Starts Now, host Nick West chats with Associate Professor Tim Moss — a biomedical research scientist and Health Content Manager at Healthy Male — to unpack what preconception health means for men, why it matters and what to do about it. They explore how a man’s health before trying for a baby can impact his fertility, his partner's pregnancy outcomes and even the l
Sperm health and male fertility: The lifestyle habits that help and hurt
In this episode of Dad Starts Now, host Nick West is joined by endocrinologist, andrologist and fertility specialist, Dr Sarah Catford, to unpack the everyday habits that can make or break your sperm health. From diet and alcohol to chemical exposure and exercise, they explore how lifestyle choices impact male fertility and what men can do to boost their chances of starting a family. If you’ve eve
Welcome to Dad Starts Now
Dad Starts Now is a podcast to help men take charge of their health before trying for a baby and make the changes necessary to be the best dad possible — a process that starts earlier than you might think. From lifestyle choices that affect your sperm quality to navigating infertility, we’re having honest chats with leading experts and blokes who’ve been there. Whether fatherhood is just around th
