Parenting Out Loud with Elliott Rae

Written By Falah Ahmad

In this episode of Why Care?, Nadia sits down with Elliott Rae, founder of Music Football Fatherhood, creator of the Parenting Out Loud movement and one of the UK’s leading voices on fatherhood, modern masculinity and men’s mental health. Elliott reflects on his decade of work shifting workplace culture for dads, from challenging stigma around flexible working to building systems that support equal parenting.

Grounded in personal experience, including the trauma and transformation of early parenthood, Elliott explains why encouraging dads to speak up about their caregiving responsibilities is essential for gender equality, societal wellbeing and children’s development. His story blends purpose, vulnerability and activism, revealing how changing the way men parent can change the foundations of work and family life everywhere.


Key Takeaways

  • Equal parenting is a system shift that reduces the motherhood penalty.

  • Stigma, silence and old ideas of masculinity still block dads at work.

  • Culture change requires leaders to understand the ‘why’ behind caring.

  • Father involvement improves wellbeing for men, women and children.

  • Proactive organisational messaging dramatically increases leave uptake.

Highlights

  • The origin of Music Football Fatherhood and the rise of dad spaces.

  • The impact of COVID on bonding, parenting norms and flexible work.

  • How stigma and presenteeism still show up in UK organisations.

  • Why leaders must examine their own beliefs around masculinity and care.

  • The behavioural science behind Parenting Out Loud and culture change.

  • Elliott’s personal NICU story and the purpose it ignited in his work.

  • The mental health crisis facing new fathers and how to address it.

  • The Working Dads Summit and what is coming in 2026.

Links

Falah Ahmad
Next

Fixing The Foundations with Kat Parsons