On Lone Fatherhood and Equality with Michael Ray

On Lone Fatherhood and Equality with Michael Ray

Author: Danusia Malina-Derben May 31, 2025 Duration: 14:59

What does real equality look like when you're parenting solo? In this moving conversation, Danusia interviews Michael Ray, a father who's raising his daughter on his own after her mother stepped away from their lives. What might sound like a tough beginning becomes a powerful dialogue on parenting, presence, and the messy realities of gendered expectations.

Michael shares what it means to parent with depth and integrity—how he built his work life around his daughter's needs, and why respect for her mother remains non-negotiable. We talk about how men are still applauded for showing up as parents, while women are expected to carry the full load with little recognition. We also get into why equality initiatives often fail, because they don't come with a redistribution of domestic labour.

This conversation isn't only about lone parenting. It's about the emotional labour of raising children well, the cultural rewiring men need to do, and how raising a daughter changed Michael's entire outlook on power, gender, and responsibility. If you think you've heard every take on fatherhood, think again.

Discover more from us:

• Join the Parents Who Think community on  Substack

• Follow us on Instagram

Connect with Danusia

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

• Advertising Inquiries here

Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram

 


Danusia Malina-Derben hosts Parents Who Think, a podcast built on the premise that thoughtful disagreement is more valuable than easy consensus. As an entrepreneur, author, and mother of ten, she facilitates candid conversations that deliberately challenge the comfortable assumptions and unspoken rules of modern parenthood. Each episode features intelligent parents from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, engaging in no-holds-barred debates on crucial dilemmas. The discussions are raw and unfiltered, offering listeners a range of perspectives that often exist outside mainstream parenting narratives. This isn't about finding a single right answer but about illuminating the complex, often hard realities of raising children. Whether your own views are conventional or more marginalized, this podcast provides a rare space for genuine intellectual friction. You'll hear nuanced arguments that prioritize thinking over dogma, inviting you to examine your own choices more deeply. The goal is clarity, not comfort, making it an essential listen for anyone who believes parenting deserves more than a recycled script. Tune in for conversations that interrupt the status quo, acknowledging that agreement is not the point-rigorous, compassionate thought is.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Parents Who Think
Podcast Episodes
#161: GRAY: Letting Yourself Be You - Anne Kreamer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:48
Can GRAY be more powerful than we imagine? I'm joined by recovering television executive, author, and serial entrepreneur: Anne Kreamer to explore the power of gray (and other things too). From hair dye to empowerment; t…
COME: Tips On Choosing Sex Toys - Sarah Forbes - SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:06
There's no room for taboos on this show. Join Sarah Forbes, sexual culturalist, and I as we explore the wonderful realm of SEX TOYS. From their humble beginnings centuries ago (really!), to the famous Rabbit and into the…
#160: STRENGTH: Creating Success From It All - Dr Shoshana Garfield [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:19
How do we not let past trauma define us? Join me, as Dr. Shoshana Garfield shares how to convert pain (anything uncomfortable and more) in our goosebump inducing, life-changing conversation. As she says we are each dealt…
#159: PLONK: Living A Sober Life - Clare Pooley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:09
Is sobriety boring? I'm joined by Claire Pooley, author of The Sober Diaries, as we dive into the realities of getting sober. Claire was a secret drinker, but soon 'wine o'clock' started to get out of hand. Now she share…
#158: LAID: Claiming Your Sexual Self - Steph D [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:12
It's safe to say this is a NSFW podcast! Grab a set of headphones and buckle up. This week I'm joined by Steph D a commercial lawyer and sex positive blogger known as The Wicked Jade. Steph blogs about sex, lingerie and…
#157: KIND:  Finding Time To Nourish Yourself - Zoe Blaskey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:15
This ep is all about being KIND to ourselves. Zoe Blaskey, founder of Motherkind joins me for a conversation all about wellness and nourishment. 2021's been a full on year for everyone, but *especially* for parents juggl…
#156: GOD: When Faith + Business Work Together - Joy Foster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:07
What keeps us going through dark times? I'm joined by Joy Foster to discuss her relationship with faith and GOD. We all have faith, whether that's in GOD, people, ourselves, or something completely different. We explore…

«1...678910