Dad Space Podcast - for Dads by Dads

Episode 283 - Dad Space Updates, Movember, Daily Episodes in NovemberDad Space Updates, Movember, and Daily November EpisodesDave shares an update from Dad Space and previews a major November challenge built around men’s health, encouragement, and daily connection. After a flood damaged the lower half of the Campbell home in August, the podcast studio has been out of action. Repairs and renovations are moving forward, and Dave expects to return to guest interviews soon from a rebuilt Dad Space studio.Until then, Dave records from the kitchen table, a situation his wife has made clear cannot last forever. He invites dads with a meaningful story, a book, or simply a family journey that could help another father to reach out through dadspace.ca. You do not need something to sell to be a guest. Dad Space exists to give fathers a place to be heard.Movember Takes Center StageNovember brings Movember, the annual campaign focused on men’s mental health and physical health. Dave encourages listeners to grow a moustache, raise funds, start conversations, and invite friends to join the movement. The campaign also invites people to move, host an event, or make a donation.Dave plays a humorous Movember advertisement featuring Nick Offerman, known for his role as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation. Beyond the laughs, the message carries real weight. When men are supported and well, families and communities benefit. When men struggle without support, the impact reaches far beyond the individual.Visit Movember.com to sign up, donate, or learn how to take part. Dave will share links in the show notes and use Dad Space throughout November to keep the conversation going.Daily Episodes for 30 DaysDad Space will publish a short daily episode every day in November as part of National Podcast Post Month. These will be brief, voicemail-style messages designed to offer one thought, reflection, or word of encouragement without demanding a large time commitment.Dave will also publish daily episodes for The How To Podcast Series at howtopodcast.ca and Living The Next Chapter at livingthenextchapter.com. That means 90 episodes across three shows during November, alongside his other podcast work.The goal is simple. Show up every day, build a stronger connection with listeners, and support Movember at the same time. If you miss an episode, it will remain available whenever you are ready to listen.Stay Connected With Dad SpaceFollow or subscribe to Dad Space on your preferred platform, including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio. New episodes will arrive automatically on your device. Spotify listeners can leave comments on episodes, and Dave welcomes the conversation.You can also support the show through Buy Me a Coffee, especially with the extra early mornings and late nights ahead. More importantly, Dave invites dads to reach out for a virtual coffee and talk about fatherhood, life, and the things that matter.November is a chance to show up for yourself and the men around you. Grow a moustache, join Movember, listen to a daily Dad Space message, and remember that looking after your health helps your family and community too.https://movember.com/___https://dadspace.caLeave Dave a voice message here! Tell me where you are listening from!?https://www.speakpipe.com/HelloDavemusic provided by Blue Dot SessionsSong: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 282 - The Rocks in the River - Fatherhood, Obstacles, and GrowthThe Rocks in the RiverFatherhood often feels noisy because life keeps meeting resistance. Dave uses the image of a river to explore the obstacles dads face, from sleepless nights and money worries to self-doubt, stress, and the pressure to provide for a family. The sound of a river comes from water pushing against stones. Those stones redirect the current, create movement, and give the river its voice. In the same way, the challenges of being a dad can shape patience, resilience, compassion, and character.Why Obstacles MatterEvery dad carries rocks in his river. Some are small, such as a disrupted schedule, a difficult bedtime, or a missed opportunity. Others feel much heavier, including financial pressure, relationship strain, grief, fear, health concerns, and the sense that you are not doing enough.Dave reminds dads that a difficult season does not mean failure. A dad facing stress, exhaustion, worry, or uncertainty can still be moving forward. He can still learn, adapt, and find a way through. The noise in your life may be uncomfortable, but it can also signal growth and change.Water Is Stronger Than RockDave lives near Niagara Falls, where moving water gradually wears away rock. Water finds a path where none existed. It moves around barriers, carves through stone, and changes the landscape over time.That image offers encouragement for fathers. Obstacles may slow you down, but they do not have to stop you. Small steps, honest conversations, new habits, apologies, and requests for help can all become ways to navigate around the rocks in your path.You Do Not Have to Carry It AloneFatherhood should not be a solo journey. Dave encourages dads to build community, talk openly with other fathers, and seek support when the weight becomes too much. Naming what is causing stress, anger, or worry reduces its power and creates room for a response.Reaching out may look like calling a friend, joining a conversation with other dads, speaking with a partner, or getting help from a professional. Connection matters. Having people along the banks of your river can help you stay on course.The rocks in your river do not mean you are failing as a dad. They are part of the current that shapes your character, deepens your compassion, and pushes you toward growth. Keep moving, let the river change, and let the sounds remind you that change can lead somewhere good.___https://dadspace.caLeave Dave a voice message here! Tell me where you are listening from!?https://www.speakpipe.com/HelloDavemusic provided by Blue Dot SessionsSong: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 281 - How To Handle Death, Grief and Loss with Your Kids and Build Resilience During GriefDadSpace: Losing a Pet and Helping Your Kids Through GriefDave records a somber episode after the loss of Burton, the family dog of 15 years. The conversation explores the deep bond between families and pets, the physical weight of grief, and how dads can guide children through the death of an animal they love. This episode honors Burton and offers support for any parent facing pet loss, grief, and difficult conversations about death.A Family Says GoodbyeBurton, a Jack Russell and Beagle mix, had been part of the Campbell household for 15 years. He became ill suddenly, and the family had to take him to the veterinarian, where he passed away.Dave reflects on the small routines that made Burton part of daily life. His nails clicked across the kitchen floor, he stopped for water beside Dave’s recording space, and he settled into the pallet-wood bed Dave built for him. Those sounds now carry a new meaning in older episodes.What Grief Feels LikeDave describes grief as a physical experience. A lump in the throat, heaviness, and sudden waves of memory can arrive without warning, even while working or trying to stay focused.For listeners who believe losing a pet is easy to move past, Dave is direct: this episode may not be for you. For people who understand the real connection between a family and an animal, the loss can feel profound.Pets Teach KidsDave encourages parents to consider having a pet because caring for an animal teaches responsibility, connection, discipline, and compassion. His family has chosen adoption whenever possible, and pets have been part of his children’s lives from the beginning.He also shares how past pets shaped his sons. Duke, a German Shepherd, became a safe space for his youngest son. Burton’s death now brings another layer of loss for his adult children, who knew him for much of their lives.Talking Honestly About DeathA pet’s death may be a child’s first encounter with death. Dave urges dads to be honest, validate emotions, and avoid telling children to hide their feelings or simply move on.He recommends clear language. Say that a pet died, rather than using phrases such as “went to sleep.” Children need to understand that death is real and permanent, even when the conversation is painful.Every Child Grieves DifferentlySadness, anger, guilt, confusion, and even relief can all be normal responses. Dave reminds parents not to expect every child to grieve in the same way or on the same timeline.Kids may want to cry, sit alone, talk constantly, laugh, look at photos, or share memories. Parents can make room for each response without judgment.Create Ways to RememberDave encourages families to create rituals that honor a pet. His children keep the ashes of past pets near the family piano, alongside photos and names. These small memorials help the family remember that love continues after death.Drawing, storytelling, planting something, creating art, or holding a simple goodbye ceremony can give children a healthy way to express loss.Support at Every AgeFor children ages three to six, keep explanations simple and concrete. Reassure them that the death was not their fault. For ages seven to 12, invite questions and discuss family beliefs around death. Teenagers may need more space to lead their own remembrance and process intense emotions.If grief disrupts sleep, school, friendships, or daily life for more than a month, consider professional support.Be honest, stay present, and grieve together. When dads show children that feelings matter and love does not end with death, they help their kids build emotional resilience.To Burton, thank you for 15 years of friendship. Dave hopes wherever you are, there are plenty of squirrels.___https://dadspace.caLeave Dave a voice message here! Tell me where you are listening from!?https://www.speakpipe.com/HelloDavemusic provided by Blue Dot SessionsSong: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 280 - The Power of An Apology - 3 Things An Apology Will Do For Others and For YouThe Power of an ApologyAn apology can change the direction of a relationship. For dads, saying “I’m sorry” may feel difficult because it requires honesty, responsibility, and the willingness to face the damage caused by words or actions. Yet someone comes to mind when you think about an apology you still owe. You already know who it is.Restoring Trust and DignityA sincere apology acknowledges that harm occurred. It shows the other person that their feelings matter and that you accept responsibility for your part in the situation.Dave reflects on moments when he acted immaturely toward his children, allowed hurt to control his response, and caused damage within relationships he valued deeply. Those moments cannot disappear, but an apology can begin the work of restoring trust and dignity. It gives both people a place to start again.Reducing Conflict and ResentmentUnspoken hurt grows over time. Avoiding the issue allows anger and resentment to settle into the relationship, while a genuine apology can lower defensiveness and create room for a calmer conversation.Apologizing does not erase what happened. It shows that you recognize the impact of your actions and want to address the problem instead of pretending it never occurred. That honesty can bring peace and interrupt the cycle of blame.Rebuilding the RelationshipAn apology creates a path toward reconnection. Once both people feel heard and respected, they can discuss what went wrong, establish clearer boundaries, and consider how they might handle similar situations differently in the future.Dave encourages dads to think about the relationships that have grown distant because of an unresolved hurt. A missed call, a broken connection, or an awkward silence may point toward the apology that still needs to happen. Making that effort takes courage. It can also free you from guilt and give the relationship a chance to heal.Think about the person who immediately comes to mind when you hear that someone needs to apologize. Then take responsibility and make the first move. A thoughtful apology may not return the relationship to its former state, but it can open the door to trust, peace, and reconnection.___https://dadspace.caLeave Dave a voice message here! Tell me where you are listening from!?https://www.speakpipe.com/HelloDavemusic provided by Blue Dot SessionsSong: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 279 - Celebrating 33 Years of Marriage - 3 Free Things That You Can Do With Your Partner to Celebrate Your AnniversaryCelebrating 33 Years of MarriageDave marks his 33rd wedding anniversary on October 2 and shares three free, meaningful ways couples can celebrate their anniversary without spending money. He reflects on his own journey from a nervous groom to a husband of three decades, then offers practical ideas that prioritize thoughtfulness, memory, and presence over expensive gestures.Why anniversaries matterDave admits he often loses track of dates because he works night shifts, and he has missed moments he wished he had honored. He encourages listeners to be intentional, plan ahead, and protect these milestones so they do not slip by unnoticed. He frames anniversaries as chances to remember the hard seasons and the joyful ones, and to strengthen the bond that has carried a couple through years of life together.Write a one page letter to your partnerThe first idea is simple yet powerful. Sit with a pen and paper and write a sincere one page letter to your partner. Reflect on the past year or the span since your last anniversary. Name what it meant to you. Share your hopes, your dreams, and the ways you want to show up better in the relationship. Then read the letters aloud to each other or exchange them and read in silence. Dave recalls leaving handwritten notes on his wife’s car and mailing letters back in 1993, and he says the act of writing unlocked feelings that casual words often miss. This creates a keepsake and deepens connection without costing anything.Take a memory walk to a meaningful placeThe second idea is to revisit a place that holds story. For Dave, that spot is the pier at Port Dalhousie on Lake Ontario, where he proposed. He suggests walking that same ground again, or returning to where you first met, got engaged, or shared a turning point. If you cannot travel to that exact location, still carve out time to talk through those memories together. He notes that partners often remember details differently, and those conversations spark laughter, tenderness, and renewed appreciation. A coffee along the way is optional. The core value is the shared journey back to your beginning.Host an at home celebration nightThe third idea is an at home celebration night. Transform your living space into something romantic and focused on the two of you. Play your favorite music or movie. Prepare a meal that carries meaning, perhaps a dish tied to a memory you both love. Let food, music, and film serve as connective tissue that draws out new stories and old joys. Dave stresses that you do not need an extravagant restaurant, expensive champagne, or a grand trip. The most meaningful moments come from undivided time and deliberate attention to the person who has stood with you through illness, financial stress, and life’s toughest trials.Anniversaries thrive on intention, not expense. Choose one of these free practices, put it on your calendar now, and let it rekindle joy in your relationship. Your family will feel the ripple effect when you honor the person who has walked with you through three decades of life.___https://dadspace.caLeave Dave a voice message here! Tell me where you are listening from!?https://www.speakpipe.com/HelloDavemusic provided by Blue Dot SessionsSong: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270