The Scientist Who Scans Fathers' Brains: Parenthood Shrinks Your Brain, And Drops Testosterone 25%!

What actually happens to your brain, and how fast or slow do you age when you become a parent? Dr. Darby Saxbe reveals the surprising science of the "parental brain" and how fatherhood physically reshapes a man's mind, why dads lose grey matter, what really happens to testosterone, and why the "dad bod" might be nature's design.

Dr. Darby Saxbe is a professor of psychology and a leading researcher on the neuroscience of parenthood. She is the founder and director of the NEST (Neuroendocrinology of Social Ties) Lab at the University of Southern California, where her pioneering work studies how the transition to parenthood changes the brains, hormones and relationships of both mothers and fathers. Her research has reshaped how scientists understand fatherhood, men's mental health, and what it really takes to raise a child.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:02:13 Role Of Fathers In Parenting
• 00:06:10 What Happens To The Brain When You Become A Father?
• 00:09:09 Why Testosterone Drops When Men Become Fathers
• 00:11:22 Should Men Be Worried About Lower Testosterone?
• 00:15:39 What Fatherhood Can Change In A Man’s Personality
• 00:19:00 The Upsides And Downsides Of Parenting
• 00:21:30 What Happens When We Make Parents Fight?
• 00:23:48 Why The Birth Experience Can Shape Your Relationship
• 00:27:25 Are People Waiting For The Perfect Time To Have Kids?
• 00:30:44 Why Fewer People May Be Choosing Parenthood
• 00:35:12 Ads
• 00:37:34 Do Parents Actually Have Healthier Brains?
• 00:45:02 What Does Daycare Really Mean For Children?
• 00:47:17 Why Mothers Become The Default Parent
• 00:49:10 Maternal Gatekeeping And Weaponized Incompetence
• 00:52:04 What Really Happens To Relationships After A Baby
• 00:54:27 Why Fathers Can Experience Postpartum Depression
• 00:56:45 Can Your Personality Predict Whether You’ll Divorce?
• 01:00:51 Why Women’s Ovulation May Be Harder To Detect
• 01:03:06 How Can You Increase Your Chances Of Conceiving?
• 01:04:03 What Every New Father Needs To Know
• 01:04:51 Ads
• 01:05:51 How Should Parents Divide Baby Care?
• 01:07:54 What Couples Should Do Before Having Kids
• 01:13:26 How To Protect Your Relationship After Having Children
• 01:15:24 Is The Dad Bod More Attractive?
• 01:18:36 What Does Your Childhood Teach You About Parenting?
• 01:20:30 How Divorce Can Affect Children
• 01:20:47 Are Humans Really Meant To Be Monogamous?
• 01:22:09 What Are The Biggest Concerns About Modern Parenthood?
• 01:23:54 What Systemic Change Could Transform Parenting?

She explains:
◼ Why a father's brain physically shrinks when you become a dad
◼ Why testosterone drops in new fathers
◼ Why the "dad bod" may signal a more attentive hands-on father
◼ Why men experience postpartum depression
◼ Why raising a child was never meant to be done by two people alone

Follow Dr. Darby Saxbe:
X: https://x.com/darbysaxbe
NEST Lab: https://www.nestlab.ca
Her research: https://dornsife.usc.edu/nestlab/

Her book ‘Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives: https://a.co/d/03Qhspxt
Join her US based ‘Daddy Stroller Social Club’: https://daddystrollersocialclub.com

The Diary Of A CEO:
◼ Join DOAC circle here - https://doaccircle.com/
◼ Shop The Diary Of A CEO collection: https://thediary.com/collections/shop
◼ Get email updates - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/5IB1H6E
◼ Follow Steven - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/AGU9QP4

Sponsors:
Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett
Linkedin Talent Solutions - http://linkedin.com/DOAC
Pipedrive - https://pipedrive.com/CEO