What is "Dad Brain"? with Darby Saxbe | ReThinking

What happens to the brain when men become fathers? Clinical psychologist and neuroscientist Darby Saxbe studies how investing in caregiving changes the brains and bodies of men.. Darby and Adam examine the surprising similarities between dad and mom brains and the different mechanisms that activate them. They also discuss the effects of having a daughter on men’s empathy and generosity, the hormonal mechanism behind “dad bods,” and the case for workplaces to grant parental leave to men as well as women. Follow our podcast! ReThinking with Adam Grant: https://link.mgln.ai/kdYcyx The TED Podcasts is a collection of podcasts for the curious. The TED Podcasts videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (https://www.ted.com/about/our-organiz...). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com.

Darby SaxbeguestAdam Granthost

Jun 18, 202637mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: June 18, 2026
Duration: 37m
Channel: Re:Thinking with Adam Grant
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

What happens to the brain when men become fathers? Clinical psychologist and neuroscientist Darby Saxbe studies how investing in caregiving changes the brains and bodies of men.. Darby and Adam examine the surprising similarities between dad and mom brains and the different mechanisms that activate them. They also discuss the effects of having a daughter on men’s empathy and generosity, the hormonal mechanism behind “dad bods,” and the case for workplaces to grant parental leave to men as well as women. Follow our podcast! ReThinking with Adam Grant: https://link.mgln.ai/kdYcyx The TED Podcasts is a collection of podcasts for the curious. The TED Podcasts videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (https://www.ted.com/about/our-organiz...). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com.

SPEAKERS

Darby Saxbe
guest
Psychologist and researcher who studies the neuroscience, hormones, and behavior of parenthood (including fatherhood and “dad brain”).
Adam Grant
host
Organizational psychologist and host of the Re:Thinking podcast.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, featuring Darby Saxbe and Adam Grant, What is "Dad Brain"? with Darby Saxbe | ReThinking explores how engaged fathering reshapes men’s brains, bodies, and family life “Dad brain” is framed as an adaptive, experience-driven neuroplasticity process that can enhance caregiving capacity rather than diminish cognitive ability.

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