"Women Are Furious About This Research." - Darby Saxbe

Dr Darby Saxbe is a clinical psychologist, professor at USC, and author. Do dads get postpartum depression? Mothers face enormous physical and emotional changes after childbirth, but fathers can struggle too, often in silence. So what happens to men when they become dads, why does it affect some so deeply, and how can they adapt to a new life that nature has thrust upon them? Expect to learn what actually happens to dads after moms give birth, the physiological changes that happen to dads after birth, which behaviors create the effect known as “dad brain”, the biggest upsides and downsides of fatherhood for men, why postpartum depression in fathers goes unrecognized, the worst advice dads get, and much more… - Modern Wisdom Merch available this Friday at https://www.mwmerch.com/ Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period from Shopify at https://shopify.com/modernwisdom Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at ⁠https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom⁠ Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠⁠https://chatgpt.com - 0:19 What is Dad Brain? 2:18 How Fatherhood Has Changed Over Time 8:18 What Happens to Men During Pregnancy? 12:57 Should Fathers Be in the Delivery Room? 13:47 Are Sympathetic Pregnancies Real? 15:17 What Couples Should Focus on During Pregnancy 17:56 The Real Cause of Dad Brain 24:18 The Top Behaviours That Trigger Dad Brain 31:31 Biology or Choice: What Makes a “Hands-On” Dad? 33:48 The Truth Behind the Deadbeat Dad Narrative 36:44 Can Fathers Bond at Any Age? 38:50 How Fatherhood Changes Male Hormones 46:44 Why Becoming a Father Is the Ultimate Masculine Role 50:25 Does Dad Brain Get Worse With More Kids? 53:19 How Daughters Change Fathers 1:00:48 Does Housework Ruin Cortisol Recovery? 1:03:43 Do Dads Experience Postpartum Depression? 1:15:29 Why Postpartum Depression Happens in Women 1:18:55 How to Support a Partner Through Postpartum Depression 1:31:09 The Worst Advice New Dads Hear - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

Chris WilliamsonhostDr. Darby Saxbeguest

Jul 27, 20261h 34mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: July 27, 2026
Duration: 1h 34m
Channel: Modern Wisdom
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Dr Darby Saxbe is a clinical psychologist, professor at USC, and author. Do dads get postpartum depression? Mothers face enormous physical and emotional changes after childbirth, but fathers can struggle too, often in silence. So what happens to men when they become dads, why does it affect some so deeply, and how can they adapt to a new life that nature has thrust upon them? Expect to learn what actually happens to dads after moms give birth, the physiological changes that happen to dads after birth, which behaviors create the effect known as “dad brain”, the biggest upsides and downsides of fatherhood for men, why postpartum depression in fathers goes unrecognized, the worst advice dads get, and much more… - Modern Wisdom Merch available this Friday at https://www.mwmerch.com/ Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period from Shopify at https://shopify.com/modernwisdom Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at ⁠https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom⁠ Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠⁠https://chatgpt.com - 0:19 What is Dad Brain? 2:18 How Fatherhood Has Changed Over Time 8:18 What Happens to Men During Pregnancy? 12:57 Should Fathers Be in the Delivery Room? 13:47 Are Sympathetic Pregnancies Real? 15:17 What Couples Should Focus on During Pregnancy 17:56 The Real Cause of Dad Brain 24:18 The Top Behaviours That Trigger Dad Brain 31:31 Biology or Choice: What Makes a “Hands-On” Dad? 33:48 The Truth Behind the Deadbeat Dad Narrative 36:44 Can Fathers Bond at Any Age? 38:50 How Fatherhood Changes Male Hormones 46:44 Why Becoming a Father Is the Ultimate Masculine Role 50:25 Does Dad Brain Get Worse With More Kids? 53:19 How Daughters Change Fathers 1:00:48 Does Housework Ruin Cortisol Recovery? 1:03:43 Do Dads Experience Postpartum Depression? 1:15:29 Why Postpartum Depression Happens in Women 1:18:55 How to Support a Partner Through Postpartum Depression 1:31:09 The Worst Advice New Dads Hear - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

SPEAKERS

Chris Williamson
host
Host of the Modern Wisdom podcast.
Dr. Darby Saxbe
guest
Psychologist and researcher focused on the neuroscience and mental health of parenthood (perinatal and family wellbeing).

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Modern Wisdom, featuring Chris Williamson and Dr. Darby Saxbe, "Women Are Furious About This Research." - Darby Saxbe explores how fatherhood reshapes dads’ brains, hormones, relationships, and mental health New fathers show measurable brain remodeling (about ~1% gray matter reduction), and the magnitude is strongly tied to hands-on caregiving time and early bonding motivation rather than fatherhood status alone.

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