It's Dadvengers Podcast Episode 8 - Ashley John-Baptiste. This week's guest is a BBC journalist, an ambassador for the Royal Television Society's RTS bursaries, a graduate of Cambridge University and a new dad!
Ashley talks about being brought up in the UK Care system - between foster care and a children's home, his childhood wasn't conventional. He talks about the adversities he faced, and the lasting impact they have had. Although Ashley didn't meet his father until recently, he still had positive role models, and talks openly about the influence they had on him. This inspirational story helps shed light onto the reality of growing up in care and how you can never escape the shadow of an absent father. But that said it also shows it is possible to learn from those experiences and become a good father.
Ashley is loving being a new dad and doting on his daughter. Plus he had us laughing when describing his reaction to his partner going into labour! Another unmissable chat!
Huge thanks to Ashley for joining us, and becoming the latest member of the Dadvengers Community!
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Episode Time Stamps
1:21 – Having a baby in lockdown under strict restrictions for partners in hospital, “We didn’t know the deal of what I could do as a dad”
4:39 – “I put on one sock…” Ashley on how he reacted to the news his wife was going into labour.
7:18 – Preparing for fatherhood and labour.
9:06 – Ashley on growing up in foster care – “I had a void in terms of family…”
14:12 – “I will never forget the moment of being called a mistake” – the brutal moments that shaped Ashley, and the remaining vulnerability from his upbringing.
18:56 – Ashley’s relationship with his partner Joanna and her family.
22:36 - "I love it, but its been hard" Ashley talks about the challenges of being a new parent.
25:13 - The importance of being, and having positive mentors and role models while in care.
29:55 - "In communities we need mentors..." Ashley on talking to children in care and being a positive role model.
32:18 - Ashley's advice to new dads.
34:17 - Music, athletics and creativity - the things that Ashley liked as a child, and whether that is being passed onto his daughter.
36:56 - Dad superpower.
