Meet The Team

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Elliott Rae

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role in MFF: Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Location: Watford

Father of: a beautiful six year-old girl

Favourite album: currently Wizkid’s Made In Lagos – a classic!

Football team: the mighty QPR #ComeOnYouRrrrsssss!

Hobbies and interests: music, football and fatherhood (ironically). Apart from that I’m partial to a Netflix binge session and a glass of red wine.

Why you started the MFF team: the first few months of fatherhood were a whirlwind for me. I needed a space to express myself. At the time I didn’t know that so many other dads felt the same way but now I still have to pinch myself when I think about what MFF has become, the community we have grown, the content we have created and the amazing people I’ve been lucky enough to work with.

Biggest pet peeve: selfishness and an unwillingness to try and understand, and empathize, with other people’s lives and experiences

Highlight of the last 12 months: our book being published and the amazing support it’s received!

Read more about me, my experiences of PTSD and my career here.

Twitter: @MFFonline_ and @iamelliottrae

Instagram: @MFFonline_ and @iamelliottrae

Ian Doel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role in MFF: Contributor

Location: Southsea

Occupation: Print Recruitment Owner

Father of: Late Teens, boy and girl

Favourite album: Hot Fuss, the Killers. Could have named 10 mood depending

Football team: Tottenham

Hobbies and interests: Anything sporty, taking part. Running, cycling, SUP, Travel, currently converting a van to a camper

Why you joined the MFF team: Help others, share and grow

Biggest pet peeve: Middle lane drivers

Highlight of the last 12 months: My son reaching 18

Twitter: @Iandoel1

Instagram: @Iandoel

Read Ian’s MFF article’s here.


ALaw

Role in MFF: Contributor

Location: London

Occupation: Teacher

Father of: 1 son

Favourite album: hard to narrow it down but today, I’m going with Terri Walker, Untitled

Football team: QPR as my local team growing up but I’m admittedly a casual fan

Hobbies and interests: writing, training, boxing, cooking, travel (not as often as I’d like now that I’m a dad) and politics

Why you joined the MFF team: to contribute to honest conversations about fatherhood that help to redefine the perception and role of the modern dad

Biggest pet peeve: poor hygiene and poor manners, there’s no excuse for either

Highlight of the last 12 months: the extent my son’s vocabulary has developed from single words to full sentences and having conversations

Twitter: @iamarionlaw 

Instagram: @iamarionlaw

Read ALaw’s MFF article’s here.

James Cooke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role in MFF: Contributor

Location: Kent

Occupation: Writer and editor

Father of: Toby and Myles

Favourite album: depends on the mood – Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park still ranks high though

Football team: New York Giants… and Crystal Palace

Hobbies and interests: Reading, writing, running and pro wrestling

Why you joined the MFF team: To join the community and spread the good word of fatherhood

Biggest pet peeve: People walking slowly in front of me

Highlight of the last 12 months: becoming a dad for a second time

Twitter: @thejamescooke

Instagram: @thejamescooke

Read James’ MFF article’s here.


Alec Grant

Role in MFF: Contributor

Location: Buckinghamshire

Occupation: Technology startup CTO & Consultant/Mentor

Father of: 2 boys aged 10 & 7

Favourite album: Erykah Badu – Baduizm

Football team: Aston Villa (if I was forced to choose, as I’m more into rugby)

Hobbies and interests: Sport, music, travel & food

Why you joined the MFF team: Share the fatherhood journey with others

Biggest pet peeve: Incorrect spelling or use of grammar in documents and emails even though we have spelling & grammar checkers!!

Highlight of the last 12 months: Level of personal growth

Twitter: @narratives4men

Instagram: @narratives4men

Read Alec’s MFF article’s here.


Ana Swartz

Role in MFF: Editor & Contributor

Location: Germany

Occupation: Founder of www.thehealerhiphop.com

Father of: one 17 year old son

Favourite album: Erykah Badu, Baduizm

Football team: my son and his friends

Hobbies and interests: singing, travel and food

Why you joined the MFF team: I interviewed Elliott on my podcast after I read his article about how he’s a black, married, educated and involved father and how he doesn’t exist in the media. I want to help change that.

Biggest pet peeve: when I answer questions with hip hop lyrics and the other person doesn’t understand!

Highlight of the last 12 months: staying in Lisbon for 3 weeks

Twitter: @thehealerhiphop

Instagram: @thehealerhiphop

Read Ana’s MFF article’s here.



Cal-I J. Muirhead

Role in MFF: Contributor

Location: London

Occupation: Creative Artist/Qualified teacher

Father of: Two beautiful children

Favourite album: Aijuswanaseing – Musiq Soulchild

Football team: Arsenal

Hobbies and interests: Piano, guitar, writing, reading, HIIT

Why you joined the MFF team: To make a positive contribution towards the conversation around parenthood especially for prospective, young fathers.

Biggest pet peeve: Rudeness

Highlight of the last 12 months: Receiving Arts Council funding to develop my creative practice

Twitter: @jonel1

Instagram: @caljonel

Read Cal-I’s MFF article’s here.

Toby Hazlewood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role in MFF: Contributing writer specialising in topics related to parenting and co-parenting after divorce and life in a blended family

Location: Manchester, England

Occupation: IT Project Manager by day, Writer by night

Father of: Two daughters (20 and 16) from my first marriage, and two bonus kids (a son, 14 and daughter, 11) who came along with my second wife

Favourite album: Appetite for Destruction by Guns N’ Roses, Jimi Hendrix Live at Berkeley

Football team: Controversially, I’m not a fan of any particular team (or football generally) – but I’m a fan of sports generally.

Hobbies and interests: Aside from spending time spent with my family and writing, I also love to read fiction and non-fiction, hiking in the hills and working out at the gym regularly as well as road cycling.

Why you joined the MFF team: I’m excited to be able to reach a new audience to broaden awareness of co-parenting and ways for parents and kids alike to live a happier and more fulfilled life after divorce or separation of the family unit.

Biggest pet peeve: How to encourage my kids that there’s life beyond the screens of their phones while trying to use mine judiciously too!

Highlight of the last 12 months: Being invited to write an article for the Daily Telegraph on Birds Nest Co-parenting After Divorce, which led to an interview in the Daily Mail and then a radio interview on RTE Radio in Dublin on the same topic. I’m excited by the growing public interest in co-parenting and in finding better ways to parent our kids after divorce.

Twitter: @TobyHazlewood

Read Toby’s MFF article’s here.


Dan Dwamena

Role in MFF: Football Writer

Location: Lambeth

Occupation: Radio Presenter, Podcaster and Writer

Favourite album: 2Pac (Makaveli) – The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory

Football team: Liverpool til I die!

Hobbies and interests: Football, Basketball, Music, playing Pool to name a few

Why you joined the MFF team: El said if I do not join, then there will be consequences! No, really I saw the vision from early, there was a gap in the market that needed to be filled.

Biggest pet peeve: People who do not have manners. Manners do not cost anything

Highlight of the last 12 months: Liverpool winning their 6th European Cup

Twitter: @DubulDee

Instagram: @DubulDee


Dumi Nkomo / NkomoKaptures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role in MFF: Head of Video content

Location: London

Occupation: Videographer

Favourite album: at the moment it’s J Hus’ ‘Big Conspiracy’ but it changes every week!

Football team: Manchester United

Hobbies and interests: watching and playing boxing and football. Photography and Videography.

Why you joined the MFF team: to support the open discussions between fathers

Biggest pet peeve: when I travel to Tescos and they have no white chocolate cookies in stock!!!! (I’m not an addict)

Highlight of the last 12 months: managing to get my media business running

Twitter: @nkomokaptures

Instagram: @nkomokaptures

Watch Dumi’s creative MFF work here.

Sam Draper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role in MFF: Contributor

Location: London

Occupation: Stay-at-home Dad, part-time Teacher and facilitator, founder of The London Bookman

Father of: one girl and one boy, both under 4

Favourite album: Pearl Jam – Ten

Football team: Liverpool FC

Hobbies and interests: reading, cooking, rugby, football, playing guitar, reading, and did I mention books (I like books!)

Why you joined the MFF team: to share my experience of Shared Parental Leave and stay-at-home Dadness, and to learn from everyone else’s varying approach to the same wonderful challenge – parenting.

Biggest pet peeve: arrogance with ignorance

Highlight of the last 12 months:

Twitter: @alondonbookman

Instagram: @thelondonbookman

Read Sam’s MFF article’s here.


James Roach

Role in MFF: Contributor

Location: Watford

Occupation: Content Manager

Father of: 1

Favourite album: E1999 Eternal – Bone Thugs n Harmony

Football team: Arsenal

Hobbies and interests: Muay thai kickboxing, making music, video games, movies

Why you joined the MFF team: I saw an article from Elliot which really spoke to me as a new father and I made contact as it looked like a movement I wanted to be a part of

Biggest pet peeve: People not saying thanks when you open a door for them

Highlight of the last 12 months: Moving to a new home and being able to give my son a bedroom I would have dreamed of as a child

Twitter: @MIDLOmusic

Instagram: @midlo_music

Read James’ MFF article’s here.


Peter Kawalek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role in MFF: Contributor

Location: Derbyshire

Occupation: Professor

Father of: Cait & Natassia

Favourite album: Blinking Lights & Other Revelations by the Eels

Football team: Galway United!

Hobbies and interests: Cycling (bad), travel, books, serious stuff

Why you joined the MFF team: Being a father is the biggest thing

Biggest pet peeve: Gotta tidy up this nation, make it like Denmark

Highlight of the last 12 months: Happy with the humble stuff … cafes, walks, picking up the girls from the railway station

Twitter: @kawalek

Read Peter’s MFF article’s here.


Jermaine Smith / The Smith Family

Role in MFF: Contributor

Location: South East

Occupation: Senior Tutor, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Father of: A Daughter and a Son

Favourite Songs: this is a difficult one so I’ll list a couple. Talib Kweli ‘Never Been in Love’, Marvin Gaye ‘Sexual Healing’, Luther Vandross ‘If this World Were Mine’, Playa ‘Cheers 2 U’, Common ‘The Light’.

Football team: this is a sticky one at the moment – it’s been downhill since the invincibles

Hobbies and interests: Athletics, gym, rum and fashion, cooking / BBQ and spending time with family and friends

Why you joined the MFF team: I’ve know Elliott since University, he asked me to get involved with MFF to share my experience and skills from working with children and families to support people to bring around change in their life

Biggest pet peeve: People not washing their hands when they go to the toilet

Instagram: @The_Jerms _Family_ Guy

Read Jermaine’s MFF article’s here.


Machel Hewitt

Role in MFF: Contributor

Location: South London

Occupation: Teacher/Sports Journalist/Podcaster

Father of: 1 daughter

Favourite album: Fugees – The Score

Football team: Bromley

Hobbies and interests: Football & Cricket (writing/presenting)

Biggest pet peeve: Right-wing media

Highlight of the last 12 months: Watching my daughter grow up

Twitter: @mashstpaddy 

Instagram: @mashstpaddy 

Read Machel’s MFF article’s here.



Matt Brown

Role in MFF: Social Media Manager

Location: Essex

Occupation: Relationship Manager, Finance

Father of: Avery

Football team: Manchester United

Hobbies and interests: video editing, designing, music, football, computer games and technology

Why you joined the MFF team: to support other dads who would like support and not to feel alone in the highs and lows of fatherhood

Biggest pet peeve: rude people

Highlight of the last 12 months: the birth of my child

Twitter: @mbcre8tion

Instagram: @mbcre8tion


Philip Robinson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role in MFF: contributor to topics on literature, music and life

Location: Manchester

Occupation: Technology Architect

Father of: a daughter and son

Favourite album: Snarky Puppy’s ‘Sylva’

Football team: Manchester City (maybe)

Hobbies and interests: music composition, storytelling and running

Why you joined the MFF team: to contribute and engage in progressive discussions around parenting, that would help broaden the narrow perceptions of fatherhood. Very keen to discuss the role of children’s literature and technology in education.

Biggest pet peeve: inconsideration

Highlight of the last 12 months: presenting my book “Nia and the Kingdoms of Celebration” on Radio Manchester’s “Bad Parents Club” and contributing to Dad book

Twitter: @phildmusic

Instagram: @kingdomsofcelebration

Read Philip’s MFF article’s here.