Two Doting Dads is a podcast series that follows the parenting escapades of two good mates, Matty J and Ash Wicks. Like all good modern relationships, they met on Instagram and instantly bonded over the fact that they were both sleep-deprived Dads doing their best to dote over their two children. Th
This week, the guys are feeling unhinged and it all starts with a pet graveyard in Nan’s backyard. Matt is still recovering from one of the most stressful airport experiences of his life for a holiday which somehow also delivered his biggest fanboy moment… with a Doter. Meanwhile, Ash is loading his house with smart bulbs so he can automate the absolute shit out of everything and let the kids put on a killer concert. Priorities. Plus, the guys discuss the prospect of a male contraceptive pill and why we all need to check our breasts this month. And Vic is giving one lucky Doter…
Vic’s away, so naturally the boys have immediately reverted to children. They’re talking snacks, childhood favourites and the finer details of losing their virginity… because that's what happens when they're left unsupervised. Ash also gets a surprisingly wholesome moment when someone he used to coach reaches out to tell him the impact he had on his life. Who knew Ash was capable of inspiring anyone? But there’s a job to do, and it’s Doter Dilemma Day. This week: should teenagers be allowed to use the parents’ room in shopping centres? How do you help a…
We’re all a little short on sleep this week, which might explain why we can’t keep a straight face from the second we turn the mics on. Or it could be because Louis joins the boys with a joke that could put them out of a job one day. In this ep - Ash reveals Macy’s disturbing new doll game before sharing his very specific foreskin cleaning schedule. While Matt shares stories from his family cruise, where he questions whether bringing Nanna meant an extra pair of hands… or another child. There’s also a moth plague, peace lilies and a whole lotta laughs that'll…
Jai Arrow has fought plenty of battles on the footy field but now he's facing the biggest fight of his life - against MND. The NRL superstar joins us this week for an incredibly honest and moving conversation about his diagnosis and the decision to retire from the game to focus on fighting the disease. With his wife Berina and daughter Ayla by his side in the studio, Jai opens up about the realities of living with MND - the things that have surprised him most, how it’s changed life as a dad and a husband and why his family are his reason to keep fighting every day. It’s raw,…
Buckle up, because you’re in for a wild ride with this one. The guys are loosey-goosey after a whirlwind trip south for the Choreplay calendar shoot - they get so loud in fact that the pod almost gets shut down by noise complaints from the neighbours. Perhaps they got a little too into character on the shoot because they've come back with sex on the brain! Ash has invested in an intimacy pillow, while Matt is still trying to get his head around his intimacy challenge with Laura. Meanwhile, Matt has done something to one of his girls that he seriously regrets but on the plus side,…
This week the guys are flying solo without Vic, which means only one thing - another loose episode. The guys ask parents the one thing they’d love more of and without getting too political they think the solution is coffee. Meanwhile Ash has some breaking news from Latvia & Matt has a hack for fixing his faulty freezer But they're here to solve come more Doter Dilemmas and this week they tackle the tough topic of unfair dismissal when it comes to paid parental leave. Remember, you can sign the petition here to help lobby the government for more paid parental leave. Plus the guys tackle…
This week Ash has brought a brand new slang term to the pod and naturally, it’s all about the word penis. Now we just need to see if anyone else is actually willing to use it. Ash also shares a few of the things that have helped him stay off the booze before turning his attention to the far more pressing issues of Oscar’s new haircut and how a seven-year-old somehow has enough money to pay for the family’s streaming services. Over in Bondi, Matt's forking out big bucks for toys Poppy keeps grabbing, while simultaneously threatening to declare war on his street over the…
This week we sit down with the man behind Choc’s Chats , Jake Cullen, who you might recognise from social media for his funny videos, which are suspiciously similar to Ash’s. So naturally, the guys have a lot to talk about. Choc and Ash actually have a very similar meet-cute to Matt and Ash… although there’s one fairly significant difference: they’ve pashed. On a work trip. So prepare for some jealousy. Mostly from Matt. But beneath the pashing and petty rivalry, Choc opens up about becoming a dad to 18-month-old Bobby, including one of the hardest decisions he…
This week Ash is back from what he can only describe as the most disastrous holiday he’s ever been on. But there was one silver lining - he and April had their fastest date ever… you genuinely won’t believe how fast. Naturally, this leads the guys into an unexpected obsession with fajitas. Meanwhile, Matt is coming to terms with the fact his little girl is growing up and has already outgrown something he never expected. Plus, the guys have discovered a teacher’s error - could this be the first time a teacher has ever got something wrong? And we know the guys…
The guys have had a busy week. One minute they’re in Canberra lobbying politicians for more paid parental leave for dads, the next they’re accepting Father of the Year awards. Standard. Then it's straight into the important Doter Dilemmas because it’s Housekeeping Day. They address playground etiquette and the age-old question: when is it actually acceptable to go up the slide? Plus, is it OK to say no to the kids when you’ve got absolutely nothing left in the tank? From Parliament House to the playground… just another week in the life of Two Doting Dads. If…
This might just be one of our most emotional episodes yet. We’ve heard Ash’s sobriety story - the pain, the struggles and the voices in his head but today we hear from the person who was there through all of it: April. From their binge-drinking teenage years, through their 20's and into parenthood, to Ash making the life-changing decision to give alcohol up in his 30's, April has had a front-row seat. She opens up about what she did, what she didn’t do and what she’s learned about supporting someone through addiction without losing themselves in the process.…
Our favourite parenting expert Gen Muir is back, and the guys waste absolutely no time using her as their own personal parenting hotline. The Oracle has also somehow found the time to write a whole new book, this one about boundaries, so naturally she kicks off by setting a few with the guys. This ep is packed with genuinely brilliant advice: the one question every parent should ask themselves before setting a boundary, why modern parenting feels so bloody confusing and what to do when your kids push back. Basically, Gen is back to make us all feel slightly more capable of parenting our…
The guys are back and they’ve fallen straight into silly mode this week. It starts with a roly-poly show from Macy-Moo, before Ash gets into a crazy water fight with a magpie threatening his mental health walks. Matt has a hack for tired parents trying to keep their future plans in sight while stuck on the parenting hamster wheel, while also realising Poppy has entered the hardest parenting season yet. His angel baby is on the move. Plus, with Father’s Day approaching, the guys get some very revealing messages from their kids about what they’re really like as dads. And, of…
This week, the guys are recovering from Book Week - the annual tradition of parents spending far too much time and money making costumes their children will wear once before deciding they hate them. Who has the time when there are more parenting dilemmas to deal with?! This week the boys attempt to answer (but not give advice) on: Is it OK to ask another parent not to swear? How do you tell a friend you don’t want your kids playing with their constantly sick kids? Should you buy a present for siblings to avoid birthday disappointment? Plus, the guys weigh in on Oreo-gate and discuss…
This week Ash opens up about something he’s NEVER told anyone and it all stems from this week’s breaking news about testicular pain. It’s got to be heard to be believed! Meanwhile, Matt is getting an early start on the spring clean, trying to offload furniture he’s shocked no one wants to buy… or even take for free. He’s also in the trenches helping the girls with their homework, putting their public-speaking skills to the test. Plus Ash has a hack to give your glow-in-the-dark ooshies a glow-up and something Oscar does in his sleep makes him think he…
This week the guys sit down with the baby whisperer himself, Dr Golly, Baby Bunting 's newest ambassador. Dr Golly has spent the last 20 years as a paediatrician, but he said it was becoming a dad himself that gave him his biggest lessons in the job because he realised just how hard babies can and how much they can shake up the entire family dynamic. So, for the past decade, he’s gone deep on baby sleep and helping families work out what to do when nobody’s sleeping. This is a must-listen for any parent who’s ever stood over a sick kid at 2am wondering, “Do we need…
This week, April leaves town and Ash quickly discovers how much she's holding the family operation together after the kids come dangerously close to burning the house down. The guys admit they both use a questionable tactic to get the kids on side - in fact it could even be a parenting hack to use whenever things get desperate. Meanwhile, Matt's battling parent guilt after his day alone with Poppy somehow turned into a struggle just to leave the house. Plus, the guys declare war on ice packs. When did they become the cure for every minor inconvenience? And more of your brilliant parenting…
We know the guys say they don’t give advice… but that hasn’t stopped them from giving plenty of it in this episode. It’s Doter Dilemma Monday and the questions are coming in hot - what to do when strangers try to touch your baby, how to navigate friendships when your the first to become a parent and whether babies have any business being in Business Class. Three dilemmas. Several questionable opinions. Absolutely no qualifications. Enjoy! You can grab a copy of Ash's new book The Secret Ingredient here .…
This week we’re celebrating Ash’s birthday... with a gorilla-gram, because why not? Matt has become a godfather and now he’s finally got the son he’s always wanted. Naturally, he plans to shower the kid in gifts and a car is apparently not off the table. Ash has been solo parenting while April is away and he’s discovered a genius trick to get the kids out the door. Naturally, it’s already backfired and of course screens are to blame. It’s Open Education Week, which means yet another school event for parents to squeeze into the mental load and Matt…
This week the guys get schooled by author, actor, comedian, teacher and now new dad Ben Knight and for once, it’s not their kids doing the teaching. Ben reveals what teachers really mean when they write those cryptic little comments on our kids’ report cards, and shares the one thing we should actually look for if we want to know whether we’re doing a decent job as parents. He also gives the guys a fascinating insight into what school is really like from the teacher’s perspective, although becoming a dad himself has given Ben a very different view of his students.…
This week the dads are handing kids' sport a straight red card after both finding themselves trapped in sporting situations they'd rather have escaped. Matt spent hours stuck in a chaotic queue for a dance concert while Ash accidentally became Oscar's fill-in soccer coach. What started as helping out somehow turned into inspiring the team... and now he's terrified they'll ask him to do it again. The guys also unpack why more 18-year-olds are getting vasectomies (which, frankly, isn't great news for parenting podcasts). Plus, Ash books himself in for some long-overdue health checks and has an…
This week the guys are going against everything they've ever promised, diving headfirst into your parenting dilemmas... with a sprinkle of advice for the Doters. 💥 Does moving away from your best mate mean the friendship is destined for the group chat graveyard? 🚸 What age should kids be allowed to walk to school on their own? 🍺 And how on earth do you tell your partner it's time to ease up on the booze... without it backfiring? As always, Ash has some seriously good advice that every couple could take something from. Plus, Matt shares a worrying update after Buster is rushed in for…
This week, Ash is up in arms over a betrayal of the highest order after walking in on his wife in... let's just say, a compromising position. Meanwhile, Matt faces the ultimate dilemma: spend the evening watching a war documentary with his mum or having sex with Laura. You won't believe who wins. Ash opens up about why he's changing the way he reacts to sport in front of Oscar, while Matt has an emotional conversation with his girls about heaven that might just leave you reaching for the tissues. Plus, the best parenting lies we've heard in a long time... you'll want to write them down.…
School's back, which means the guys are already feeling defeated by the daily lunchbox battle so they've called in the expert – qualified nutritionist Jules from The Bable (The Baby Food Bible) – to show them not only how to pack a healthy lunchbox the kids will actually eat but how to feed children confidently from babies right through to the school years. With Matt navigating solids with Poppy, Jules shares everything any new parent needs to know about breastfeeding, introducing solids, baby-led weaning, fussy eaters, family meals and some genuinely game-changing lunchbox hacks…
Ash has survived the school holidays… barely. With the entire household struck down sick for eight days, he became the designated nurse: cooking, cleaning, and running the ship solo. Matt's back from said Bali with tales of parent-child massages, the cruellest security camera prank ever played on a seven-year-old, and Ash shares the sacred flannel wash system for dodging Bali belly, Matt and Ash also take aim at this year's report cards. Apparently every kid in New South Wales is just "satisfactory". Ash unveils his masterstroke of parenting: the family Uno ladder, a whiteboard…
Matt's back from Bali and he's got beef... with the nonnas of this country, who apparently think it's fine to kiss children they've never met in airport elevators. Ash also unveiled the greatest travel hack of all time: April's buffet tackle box, a Kmart special that's fed the family for an entire holiday. Matt and Ash also weigh in on the great plane seat debate, why the red-eye flight home is a rookie error, and whether telling your kids the screens are "broken" counts as good parenting (it does). Plus, a Par-Rant about car park vultures circling mid-nappy-change, whether you're a good…
Matt's on the brink after a house full of nits and a swimming lesson that never happened. He's also discovered that entertaining a baby is a lot harder than it looks after realising he has no idea how to play with Poppy. Despite being sick, Ash has loaded up on vitamins and is ready to vent, starting with the ever-growing list of foods Oscar has decided he's scared of. Plus, the annoying things kids do that are actually signs you're nailing parenting, and the parenting faux pas Matt says you'll regret if you don't avoid it. If you need a shoulder to cry on: Two Doting Dads Facebook Group:…
Confession: we thought we knew how periods worked. We absolutely did not. This week we're getting a proper education from Jackie from The Nourished Cycle. She schools us on every stage of the menstrual cycle including why we really need to know when the luteal phase is, why PMS isn't as simple as we've been led to believe and how we can better prepare our daughters for when that first period arrives. There were plenty of genuine mind-blown moments in this one and whether you're raising daughters, living with a woman or just wondering how you've made it this far without knowing any of this,…
Ash is sick, in denial that school holidays have started and has a newfound respect for every woman who's ever had an epidural after seeing the size of that needle. Meanwhile, Matt's just landed from the Gold Coast and is already off to Bali (must be nice), but not before spiralling over the family plane seating plan. The guys tackle the screen time debate, why parents might be getting pocket money all wrong, the canteen gossip that's draining your wallet, and why a dad settling a baby in public gets a standing ovation while mums don't even get eye contact. If you need a shoulder to cry on:…
Ash's sick, so naturally the episode goes completely off the rails. This week we're discussing the deeply concerning music our kids know all the words to, whether there's an acceptable playlist for sex (and just how much mood lighting is too much), plus a Doter Hack from a listener who's found a genius way to get the kids out the door in the morning. Then we tackle the debate that's got parents arguing online: should a dad have used the women's toilets to help his young daughters? It's a bit of a mixed bag this week... but so is parenting. If you need a shoulder to cry on: Two Doting Dads…
About Two Doting Dads with Matty J & Ash
Two Doting Dads is a podcast series that follows the parenting escapades of two good mates, Matty J and Ash Wicks. Like all good modern relationships, they met on Instagram and instantly bonded over the fact that they were both sleep-deprived Dads doing their best to dote over their two children. Th
Two Doting Dads with Matty J & Ash is a English kids & family podcast from Matty J & Ash. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
