Paternology (FATHERHOOD) with Darby Saxbe

Paternology (FATHERHOOD) with Darby Saxbe

From Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

June 10, 2026 · 1h 21m · Episode 512

About this episode

Alie Ward discusses fatherhood and its impact on masculinity with expert Darby Saxbe.

DADS. What makes a good one? What if you had a bad one? And how can fatherhood turn the tides on toxic masculinity? Also: diapers. The brilliant USC research psychologist, fatherhood expert, and thus Paternologist Dr. Darby Saxbe covers everything from prehistoric family systems to social media expectations as we chat about male hormones during and after pregnancy, division of labor, dad bods, gorillas, TV dads, seahorses, trans dads, oxytocin, gender reveals, and how it truly takes a community to raise a kid. Her brand new book is “Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How it Shapes Men's Lives,” and it’s great reading for anyone who was the result of a sperm and egg. Including frogs.

People in this episode

Host: Alie Ward

Guest: Darby Saxbe

Topics covered

  • fatherhood
  • toxic masculinity
  • male hormones
  • division of labor
  • community raising children

Keywords

  • fatherhood
  • toxic masculinity
  • dad bods
  • oxytocin
  • gender reveals

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How it Shapes Men's Lives

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