053 - Preparing for Fatherhood with Ryan Pope

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A few years ago I received a phone call that would change my life forever.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nardia was away in Sydney presenting a workshop. I was at home on the Gold Coast with a friend planning for a huge event we were putting on for men. My focus was deep in planning and ideation.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The phone rang, I saw Nards’ name on the screen and almost didn’t answer because I was so in deep focus mode.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I answered thinking something must be up seeing as she didn’t just message a little update after her workshop ended.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She spoke two words: “I’m pregnant”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Well, fuck me if that didn’t pull me out of focus mode immediately!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At that moment things came up and shifted in me - a process of change and evolution started.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not only was facing fatherhood but the birth, and before that, all the preparation leading into the day our child came into the world.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I’m fortunate to have spent time on my own awareness, in growth, and have good people and men around me, so I was able to prepare myself for these moments and experiences and shifts.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But most men don’t have this, we don’t have support - truly - for becoming a father, for the actual birth experience and supporting our partner, and for the lead up to that day.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Well, now we do.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On today’s podcast, I am speaking to a friend of mine Ryan Pope, whose partner, Amber Hawken from Episode ) recently gave birth to their son.</span></p> <h3><strong>In this episode:</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ryan has since gone on to create a