Round 13: Becoming a Father ft Scotty Cardle
Former British lightweight champion Scotty Cardle spent most of his life preparing for fights - the discipline, the training camps, the walkouts, the pressure, the lights.
But when the final bell rang on his boxing career, a very different fight began.
In this episode of Dadversity, Scotty opens up about life after boxing, the depression that followed retirement, becoming a dad during lockdown, supporting his wife through postnatal depression, selling the family home, travelling with his daughter, separation, co-parenting, and the lessons he hopes his daughter Darcy carries with her.
This is not just a conversation about boxing.
It is a conversation about identity, regret, love, fatherhood, and what happens when the life you planned starts to change.
00:00 — What is harder: boxing or fatherhood?
Scotty compares the hidden work behind fight night with the unseen work of being a dad.
01:38 — Boxing teaches control. Fatherhood takes it away.
Scotty reflects on frustration, patience and why parenting is nothing like a one-man sport.
Scotty reflects on frustration, patience and why parenting is nothing like a one-man sport.
03:28 — Growing up in Blackpool and finding boxing
How Scotty’s dad first took him to the boxing gym and why the sport captured him.
How Scotty’s dad first took him to the boxing gym and why the sport captured him.
04:39 — Losing his first fight
Scotty remembers his first defeat and why love for boxing kept him going.
Scotty remembers his first defeat and why love for boxing kept him going.
07:32 — The final walkout: “One More Time”
Why Scotty walked out to Daft Punk before the Ricky Burns fight and felt it could be his last dance.
Why Scotty walked out to Daft Punk before the Ricky Burns fight and felt it could be his last dance.
11:27 — Life after boxing
The transition from elite professional fighter to life after retirement.
The transition from elite professional fighter to life after retirement.
12:07 — The dark hole after retirement
Scotty opens up about depression, isolation and losing his sense of self after boxing.
Scotty opens up about depression, isolation and losing his sense of self after boxing.
13:35 — The doctor’s diagnosis
Why Scotty feared the damage may have been physical - and the moment he realised he was depressed.
Why Scotty feared the damage may have been physical - and the moment he realised he was depressed.
17:00 — Becoming a dad in lockdown
Darcy’s birth, no support, FaceTime midwives and first-time fatherhood during the pandemic.
Darcy’s birth, no support, FaceTime midwives and first-time fatherhood during the pandemic.
17:40 — Postnatal depression and supporting his wife
Scotty talks about his wife’s postnatal depression and how difficult that period became.
Scotty talks about his wife’s postnatal depression and how difficult that period became.
18:40 — The walks that built a bond
How walking miles with Darcy helped create their father-daughter connection.
How walking miles with Darcy helped create their father-daughter connection.
19:27 — Selling the family home
The emotional weight of leaving the house he bought as British champion.
The emotional weight of leaving the house he bought as British champion.
22:10 — Travelling through Asia as a family
World-schooling, memories, freedom and the tension that followed.
World-schooling, memories, freedom and the tension that followed.
23:30 — Separation and regret
Scotty reflects on what he would have done differently to keep his family together.
Scotty reflects on what he would have done differently to keep his family together.
25:00 — “I was a yes man”
The cost of saying yes to things he did not truly agree with.
The cost of saying yes to things he did not truly agree with.
27:00 — The fear of divorce
Why did separation become the most challenging chapter of his life?
Why did separation become the most challenging chapter of his life?
28:30 — Disneyland with Darcy
A beautiful father-daughter moment after separation.
A beautiful father-daughter moment after separation.
29:50 — Learning to co-parent
Scotty talks about missing Darcy, wanting more time and reaching a 50/50 arrangement.
Scotty talks about missing Darcy, wanting more time and reaching a 50/50 arrangement.
31:20 — What he wants Darcy to know
Why Scotty tells his daughter he still loves her mum — and why that matters.
Why Scotty tells his daughter he still loves her mum — and why that matters.
