PODCASTS

 Fighting against all odds the ultimate fight for his life and fighting the system to be re-united with his daughter Charlie.  Michael Ray's life story starts with a non incidental vehicle accident and where a physical check up after the accident in the local hospital discovered life threatening medical conditions.  Unfortunately, at this time he was also abruptly separated from his daughter.  In this honest and raw interview Michael explains why life doesn't consist of material and physical possessions instead that life is to be lived and enjoyed in ways that most of us disregard and take for granted.  Michael, thank you for being my guest on "Life the Battlefield". 

SOLO DAD Finds HOPE AFTER cancer and relationship breakdown! 

As MENS Health Week comes to an end, I want to introduce you to an extraordinary man who has had to battle against the odds not only in the physical realm but also for his mental and emotional health.  

Not only as a human being, but also as a solo dad.  Here he shares with me on Stories of HOPE Worldwide about his battle and the 360 his life took as he went from bodybuilding and working as a professional bodyguard to music stars to taking his little girl to ballet and braiding her hair.

How do men experience gender bias? How can we support women by giving Dads a fairer go? This episode is a fantastic interview with gender equality advocate Michael Ray. Michael is a solo Dad, writer, public speaker, blogger, Master of Ceremonies and advocate for equality and change. Michael found himself an unexpected solo Dad when his daughter was just a baby. We hear his perspective on the bias he faces every day and how he thinks that getting it right for Dads is a win for all.

 In this week's Dad Mindset podcast episode, solo dad, writer and public speaker, Michael Ray, tells some great stories about how he became an overnight ambassador for parental gender equality. He also gives some inspiring perspective around the trade offs we make as a parent and how to raise critical thinkers. 

 The inspirational Michael Ray joins me on The Parent Equation podcast today. He shares how he gained '𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀' and went on a journey from stereotypical Aussie bloke to solo dad and gender equality campaigner, blogger, speaker and author.

He's a genuine and lovely Aussie bloke, and his daughter Charlie couldn't ask for a better role model! 

 What is the blueprint that men should be following and modelling today? And ultimately, how much has the role of fathers truly advanced over the past half-century? I asked that to Michael Ray. We talked:"

What is the narrative of 'fatherhood' today?
We have gender neutral policies, but what about our practices?
Are domestic activities gender-specific?Redesigning the family unit
How do we ensure better allyship for mums and dads? 

"In this episode gender equality champion, author and public speaker Michael Ray talks about his heartfelt journey from quintessential Aussie bloke to solo dad.

Michael shares his mission to eradicate parent and carer stereotyping, so that working dads and mums alike can better integrate their careers with family life, and also his advice to help employers create family-friendly workplace cultures."

Around 14 per cent of Australian families have a sole parent. Some parents planned it that way, while others never imagined they'd cope without a co-parent until they had to.

Maggie chats with a solo mum with three children and a solo dad with one daughter, about their unexpected journeys to sole parenthood, their tips for survival and what they wish everyone else understood about raising kids alone.

 It was great to have the opportunity to chat with Bree Gorman about some of the outdated gender stereotypes that are still stubbornly holding us all back.
 

 In the first episode of Season 2  we are joined by Michael Ray - equality advocate and solo dad from Australia

In a wide ranging chat we cover everything from the Ashes to a very Australian corona virus outbreak via how a disagreement over which parents were allowed backstage at a 4 year old's ballet show propelled Michael into the national spotlight and the journey to becoming an equality advocate.

Michael talks about gaining "clarity from crisis" and how it's the "moments between the moments" that really matter. 

In this episode I chat with solo dad Michael Ray, who shares a glimpse into his life as a single dad with his little girl. Michael took the time to chat to me all the way over in Melbourne Australia!

At 51, Michael Ray was thrust into life as a solo parent. He regularly campaigns for equality and change after an incident (which created quite the media frenzy,) left his daughter and him really upset. The experience opened his eyes to outdated gender expectations and led him to become a vocal advocate for equality and change.  

Michael’s passion to parenting and advice to dads is incredibly inspiring and made me really think about how although we have come such a long way when it comes to equality, we still have so far to go.

 Solo Dad, Michael Ray, discusses adjusting to single parenting, the challenges this raises being a male, what needs to change to better support parents to be equal in raising their kids and how special that father & daughter relationship is.  

 This week’s guest is Michael Ray, a man who gained clarity through adversity that many would crumble under, that his primary role in life as a single Dad is to be an example and leader for his 8 year old daughter Charlie, but not in the way you might expect. Michael has what could be described as a colourful resume. A former boxer, bodybuilder, nightclub bouncer, AFL fitness coach and now, an ascending speaking, writing and media career. 

Do SOLE fathers have it harder? I’m joined by Michael Ray, Public Speaker, Blogger, Writer – who’s all about calling time on outdated gender stereotypes holding fathers back. We explore life as a solo parent, moving on from being Jack-the-Lad to empowering daughters.

 Michael speaks about his personal journey raising his daughter and the profound impact being a solo dad has had on his outlook. 

 In this interview hosted by Julie Hawkins LLB (hons) , founder of SMBN with Michael Ray aka Charlie's Dad, we talk about Single Parenting, Flexible Working, Gender Equality, Parenting Equality, and all things human!  Michael is a personal trainer Single Dad, and he has a history in Security for some very famous rock stars! 

 Breadwinner and nurturer no longer being two separate and distinct role for men and women The importance of trauma to help us realise we need to prioritise our kids Protecting your kids’ self-esteem The new to reduced as working dad workload, enabled by being our own boss  Time blocking for your kids Think about how you want to be remembered Charlie’s day 

 Michael Ray speaks about his insight from his personal journey raising his daughter and the profound impact being a solo dad has had on his outlook. Michael addresses the gender and societal roles that are no longer applicable and the negative impacts on organisations, business, and personal outcomes 

Being a single parent is hard, but it can be joyful too.  Legendary single Dad, champion father we discuss both with single dad Michael Ray.

For the last 6 years, Michael has been bringing up his daughter on his own. Oh, and did I mention that Michael was 51 when this happened and is an ex- bouncer, bodybuilder and Personal Trainer? Michael delves into what it was like raising his daughter, fighting stereotypes and also turning into a campaigner and reformer after being banned from his daughters ballet school. 

 Michael Ray became a dad for the first time at forty-nine. At fifty-one, the bloke who had worked most of his adult life as a Stripper, Bouncer and Trainer became a full-time single parent, raising his two-year-old daughter Charlie on his own. To say he was under-prepared, ill-equipped and overwhelmed, would be something of an understatement 

 Michael speaks candidly about his journey into fatherhood and the fun and adventures that he and his daughter are having. He also talks about the outdated gender bias that has become glaring obvious to him since becoming a solo dad to his daughter which is completely pervasive throughout our society and how he has used these experiences to contribute to the debate and hopefully champion change.