Episodes

  • 14. Five smart money moves every Dad should make - Super Moves

    14. Five smart money moves every Dad should make - Super Moves
    Oct 25 2026

    Being a good Dad isn't just about showing up for your kids today. It's also about making sure your family is financially secure tomorrow. But between mortgages, bills and the everyday costs of raising a family, planning for the future can easily fall to the bottom of the list.

    That's where Super Moves comes in. A practical tool that breaks down five simple steps Dads can take to make the most of their superannuation, build long-term wealth and protect their family's financial future.

    Helping us put these moves into action is Corey Wastle, a father of three and founder and CEO of Verse Wealth. With more than a decade of experience in financial advice, Corey is also a nationally recognised industry leader, having been named Executive of the Year for Financial Advice and Wealth Management Professional of the Year in 2025.

    Disclaimer: This conversation includes general financial information and general financial advice only. It doesn't take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs, and may not be appropriate for you. Before making any decisions about your superannuation, investments or insurance, consider your own circumstances and seek advice from a qualified financial adviser where appropriate.

    In this episode, Corey shares:

    • Why taking control of your finances today can give your family more choices in the future.
    • Understanding what you've got in super and the differences between industry, retail and self-managed funds.
    • How compounding can dramatically grow your wealth over time.
    • Why it's never too late to start investing in your future.
    • Making additional super contributions without putting your family under financial stress.
    • How choosing the right super investment option can make a huge difference to your retirement savings.
    • Why staying calm during market downturns is so important.
    • Protecting your family's financial future through insurance and binding death benefit nominations.
    • Three simple actions dads can take to improve their super in just 15 minutes.


    KEY QUOTES

    "When you're investing, The biggest asset you have isn't your intelligence. Far from it. It's time."

    "We can only start where we are now. So starting today is better than starting tomorrow and it's much better than starting in a year."

    "You can look at your balance. but you should be more concerned and more focused on what's the trajectory of my balance as opposed to what it is right now."


    MORE ABOUT COREY

    • Verse Wealth website: https://www.versewealth.com.au
    • Corey's LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/coreywastle
    • Verse Wealth financial coaching: https://www.versewealth.com.au/service/coaching


    GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE

    • Follow on Instagram: @dad_toolbox
    • Find out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox


    Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    45 mins
  • 13. How to respond to your kids when the answer if neither ‘yes’ nor ‘no’ - Power of Sure

    13. How to respond to your kids when the answer if neither ‘yes’ nor ‘no’ - Power of Sure
    Oct 18 2026

    What if one simple word could help you stop solving every problem for your kids, while teaching them to become more independent?

    The Power of Sure is a simple parenting tool that takes the pressure off Dads to have an immediate answer to every request. By replacing a yes or no with “sure”, parents can encourage their kids to take responsibility, solve problems and become more comfortable with uncertainty.

    To share this, we are joined by Associate Professor Gabriel Dabscheck, a paediatric neurologist in Melbourne Australia. Gaby is a father to three, happily married to an amazing woman, and a very amateur basketball coach. He shares how he uses this approach with his own children, why it can help build resilience and independence, and the situations where kids need clear answers and boundaries instead.

    In this episode, Gaby shares:

    • Why “sure” can be more useful than yes or no.
    • How uncertainty can help kids build independence.
    • The power of putting the responsibility back on your kids
    • When uncertainty can become overwhelming.
    • The process of moving from fixing problems to coaching your kids.
    • Why kids need to learn that the world doesn't revolve around them.
    • When to use “sure” and when kids need clear answers and boundaries.
    • How “sure” can take some pressure off parents.


    KEY QUOTES

    "Sure means in the correct circumstances, “yeah, it can happen."

    "Your time is valuable as well. The world doesn't revolve around them. Theirs is not the only reality."

    "It kind of motivates them to create a circumstance by which what they want to happen will happen."


    MORE ABOUT GABY

    • Connect with him on LinkedIn


    POWER OF SURE RESOURCES

    Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic.


    GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE

    • Follow on Instagram: @dad_toolbox
    • Find out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox


    Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    28 mins
  • 12. A better way to deal with your kids when they give up - Ask A Better Question

    12. A better way to deal with your kids when they give up - Ask A Better Question
    Oct 11 2026

    As Dads, when we see our teens or kids struggling, our first instinct is often to jump in and fix things. We want to help, share what we've learned and save them from making mistakes. But what if our attempts to help are actually getting in the way?

    The good news is that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is stop giving answers and start asking better questions.

    Psychologist, psychotherapist, parenting educator and author of Parenting for a Peaceful World and Heart-to-Heart Parenting, Robin Grille, shares a simple but powerful tool called Ask a Better Question, designed to help Dads move away from being Mr Fix It and towards raising confident, independent kids who feel heard, supported and capable of figuring things out for themselves.

    In this episode, Robin shares:

    • Why jumping in to fix our teens and kids' problems can do more harm than good.
    • How asking better questions helps teens and kids build confidence and independence.
    • What makes a good question and why curiosity matters
    • How to approach tricky conversations about gaming, school and motivation.
    • When asking questions isn't the right approach.
    • Why kids don't need a perfect Dad, just one who's willing to learn.


    KEY QUOTES

    "And wouldn't you say that a good coach is somebody that says less but observes more and asks more?"

    "Our children don't need the perfect dad. Our children need a learning dad."

    "Don't teach, ask a question. Makes a huge difference."


    MORE ABOUT ROBIN

    • Find out more about Robin on his website
    • Or follow him on Instagram. and Facebook


    ASK A BETTER QUESTION RESOURCES

    • Robin’s Parenting Books: https://www.robingrille.com/publications/books/
    • Robin’s Parenting Articles: https://www.robingrille.com/publications/articles/
    • Robin’s Parenting Videos: https://www.robingrille.com/videos/
    • Robin’s Parenting Courses & Workshops: https://www.robingrille.com/seminars/
    • Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic.


    GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE

    • Follow on Instagram: @dad_toolbox
    • Find out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox


    Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    34 mins
  • 11. What to do before you react - Resilient Reframe

    11. What to do before you react - Resilient Reframe
    Oct 4 2026

    Most Dads have had that moment where they’ve reacted to their kids, walked away and thought, “I didn’t handle that well.” The hard part is finding a way to interrupt that reaction while it’s actually happening.

    The Resilient Reframe is a simple tool designed to create some space between what’s happening around you and how you respond, helping you step out of the emotion of the moment and make a more considered choice.

    Teaching us the tool is Rob Marston, a mental fitness advocate, Certified Resilience Coach, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and Resilience First Aid Instructor who works with individuals, workplaces and communities to build greater resilience and mental fitness. He’s also deeply involved in men’s mental health, including founding the Inner West chapter of When No One Is Watching.


    In this episode, Rob shares:

    • Why taking five before reacting can completely change what happens next.
    • How to recognise the situations and triggers that bring out a version of yourself you don’t want your kids to see.
    • How to use the Resilient Reframe to step out of the emotion of the moment and choose a response that better reflects the dad you want to be.
    • Why perspective can help you decide what actually matters and which battles aren’t worth fighting.
    • How practising the Resilient Reframe can help you become a more stable, present parent when things get chaotic.


    KEY QUOTES

    “This is the first time I’ve been a parent. Like, I’ve been a kid before, but I’ve never been a parent before, and I’m doing the best I can with what I’ve got.”

    “You need to know you’re not doing well in order to be able to access doing better.”

    “I think it’s really about trying to give people a bit of a distance between stimulus and response.”


    MORE ABOUT ROB

    • Connect with Rob on LinkedIn


    GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE

    • Join our community of Dads on Facebook
    • Follow on Instagram: @dad_toolbox
    • Follow on Youtube
    • Sign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and support
    • Find out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox


    SUPPORTING RESEARCH

    Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic.


    Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    33 mins
  • 10. A simple tool for raising resilient kids - Stress Your Kids Out

    10. A simple tool for raising resilient kids - Stress Your Kids Out
    Sep 27 2026
    We all want to protect our kids from struggle, disappointment and stress. But what if constantly stepping in to make life easier is actually getting in the way of something they need?Today’s tool is “Stress Your Kids Out” and is about deliberately giving our kids small, manageable doses of stress, challenge and adversity so they have the opportunity to adapt, problem-solve and build resilience.Teaching us how to use it is Tim Curtis, author of Building Resilient Kids and co-author of the bestseller The Resilience Shield. Tim spent much of his professional life exploring: what makes some people better able to cope, adapt and grow when life gets difficult? A former SAS officer, Tim draws on 16 years of military service, an MBA, decades of leadership and resilience work, and, importantly, his own experience as a father. He is here to show us our job is not to remove every stressor, failure or disappointment from our children's lives, but to help them develop the skills and confidence to navigate them.In this episode, Tim shares:Why resilience isn’t about avoiding stress, but learning how to respond to it.Why letting our kids experience stress and adversity is essential for their well being and development.The difference between harmful stress and the moderate stress our kids can actually benefit from.How to know when to step in and support our kids, and when to stand back and let them struggle a bit.Why fixing every problem for our kids can rob them of the chance to find their own solution.Simple ways to “dose the discomfort” through everyday things like ordering at restaurants, carrying school bags, chores and losing games.The questions we can ask instead of immediately jumping in with advice.How Rose, Bud, Thorn can help kids reflect on their day and work through the things they’re struggling with.Why praising effort rather than results can help our kids develop a growth mindset.The importance of letting our kids experience the consequences of their choices.Why building resilience is less about big parenting interventions and more about consistently getting the basics right.How the way we respond to our own stress teaches our kids how to respond to theirs.KEY QUOTES“Stress in itself is not inherently harmful. But managing stress, teaching our kids to embrace a little bit of discomfort, is incredibly useful.”“Dealing with discomfort makes us better at dealing with discomfort.”“The role of the lifeguard isn't to prevent the swimming, it's to prevent the drowning.”MORE ABOUT TIM CURTISFind out more about Tim including his podcasts, books and work, at https://linktr.ee/resilienceshieldSTRESS YOUR KIDS OUT RESOURCESBuy a signed copy of Tim’s book: Building Resilient KidsCheck out the Building Resilient Kids podcastFind more resilience tools at The Resilient ShieldGET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINEJoin our community of Dads on FacebookFollow on Instagram: @dad_toolboxFollow on YoutubeSign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and supportFind out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolboxSUPPORTING RESEARCHDownload a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic.Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    40 mins
  • 9. Why a meltdown is healthy and how to handle them - Loving Limits

    9. Why a meltdown is healthy and how to handle them - Loving Limits
    Sep 20 2026
    What do you do when your child is completely losing it? You can feel yourself getting frustrated and every instinct is telling you to either give in or put your foot down…There’s another option: holding a firm boundary while still giving your child space to feel everything they’re feeling.This is a process called Loving Limits and for this episode we are joined by Jason Seeman to help guide us on the process.Jason is a father of two, fatherhood guide, educator and founder of Raising Fathers. Raising Fathers supports new fathers through parenting education courses, as well as running rites of passage experiences, 1:1 mentoring, and community events for Dads. Loving Limits has fundamentally changed the way Jason parents his own kids, offering a practical way to stay connected through the messy moments, without giving in to every demand.In this episode, Jason shares:What to actually say and do when your child is melting down, dysregulated or refusing to cooperate.Why being emotionally attuned doesn’t mean becoming permissive or giving up boundaries.How Loving Limits creates a firm “no” to challenging behaviour while saying “yes” to the feelings underneath.Why crying, raging and other big emotions don’t necessarily need to be stopped or fixed.How to recognise when our own fight-or-flight response is kicking in and then regulate ourselves before reacting.Why trying to reason with a child in the middle of big emotions usually doesn’t work.How to set limits when you genuinely don’t have time to sit with your child’s feelings.What Loving Limits can look like in public, when other people may be watching or judging.How to validate anger while still physically preventing a child from hurting someone.What can happen when kids grow up seeing emotional attunement modelled at home.KEY QUOTES“Kids need to feel felt. It doesn’t matter what the gender is. They need to feel felt and held by both parents.”“The places where they push your buttons the most are the things that you still haven’t fully sat with and made peace with in yourself.”“How you parent your kids is how you parent yourself.”MORE ABOUT JASONFind out more via Jason’s website.Or follow him on InstagramNew Dads check out his Expecting Dads CourseLOVING LIMITS RESOURCESDownload the free Loving Limits GuideLearn more about Aware Parenting from Aletha Solter PhD and Marion Rose PhDGET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINEJoin our community of Dads on FacebookFollow on Instagram: @dad_toolboxFollow on YoutubeSign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and supportFind out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox SUPPORTING RESEARCHDownload a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic.Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    37 mins
  • 8. How single Dads can setup a home where kids thrive - Home Game

    8. How single Dads can setup a home where kids thrive - Home Game
    Sep 13 2026

    When life is already busy, a little friction at home can quickly add up. For single dad Matt Harbour, creating a home where his kids feel safe, settled and loved is something he approaches with intention. His “Home Game” framework starts with a simple question: what do you want it to feel like for your kids to be at Dad’s place?


    Because a calm, connected home isn’t about having everything perfect. It’s about creating an environment where your kids can relax, feel like Dad’s got things handled, and know that they belong.

    Matt Harbour is a single dad of three who has worked in divorce coaching, particularly supporting men navigating separation and the transition to single fatherhood.


    In this episode, Matt shares:



    • How to create a home where your kids feel safe, settled and like Dad has things handled.
    • Reducing the everyday friction that gets in the way of being present with your kids.
    • Setting up your home so kids can find what they need and become more independent.
    • Using routines and rituals to create familiarity, connection and stability.
    • Protecting your kids from adult conflict and stress inside the home.
    • Where to start when you’re setting up a new home as a single Dad.
    • Keeping things simple and affordable when organisation doesn’t come naturally.
    • Creating spaces around what your kids actually need as they grow.
    • Maintaining connection with your kids when they’re staying with their other parent.



    KEY QUOTES


    “So if I wasn't on top of things and organized, it'd create friction, and the more friction I found I had in trying to run the home, the less presence I had with the kids.”


    “I feel like being a dad, I'm the lighthouse, right? I'm the lighthouse on the rock, and no matter what comes from outside, whatever waves and weather crashes over the lighthouse, I'm still standing there looking out for them all the time.”


    “I think just keep it simple and start with what's best for the kids and what's best for my wellbeing.”



    MORE ABOUT MATT




    • Connect with Matt on LinkedIn



    HOME GAME RESOURCE


    Download the free Home Game Checklist



    GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE




    • Join our community of Dads on Facebook
    • Follow on Instagram: @dad_toolbox
    • Follow on Youtube
    • Sign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and support
    • Find out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox



    SUPPORTING RESEARCH


    Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic.



    Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    35 mins
  • 7. How to get kids to cooperate with less yelling and threats - Force vs Power

    7. How to get kids to cooperate with less yelling and threats - Force vs Power
    Sep 6 2026

    Sometimes the fastest way to get your kids to do what you want creates a much bigger mess afterwards.


    Yelling, threatening or simply overpowering a situation can work in the moment, but Jake Casella argues there’s often a better option: using ‘power’ instead of ‘force’.


    Through his own very imperfect parenting moments, Jake explores how dads can stay in control without always needing to take control, and why understanding what your child actually needs can make cooperation a whole lot easier.


    Jake is a friend, father, qualified psychotherapist, social worker, educator, and kids resilience coach with 10 years experience in casework, coaching and educating children, including two years developing and delivering school-based resilience programs.


    In this episode, Jake shares:


    • The difference between using power and force with your kids, and why both can have a place in parenting.
    • Why using too much force leads to having to repair the relationship afterwards.
    • The times when force can actually be appropriate.
    • The reason why yelling, threats and other forceful reactions can become our automatic response.
    • How considering your child’s unmet needs can help you respond with more empathy.
    • Simple ways to use power that work for both you and your child.
    • Why giving kids some control and autonomy can make them much more willing to cooperate.
    • How to reflect and repair when you do lose your cool.



    KEY QUOTES


    “When you use too much force, things break.”


    “When you are trying to use power, you need to think about the exact scenario going on right now and what leverage do you have.”


    “The minute that I reflect on those needs, I feel compassion and empathy.”



    MORE ABOUT JAKE


    • Follow Jake on Instagram
    • Or get in touch via his email: jake@coachingpsychotherapy.com



    GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE


    • Join our community of Dads on Facebook.
    • Follow on Instagram: @Dad_toolbox
    • Follow on Youtube.
    • Sign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and support.
    • Find out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox



    SUPPORTING RESEARCH


    Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic.



    Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    36 mins