We hear from Dad La Soul Interview
Dan, tell us, what is
event that runs monthly on a Thursday
DLS is a revolutionary,
the country to laugh, talk openly, access
that uses arts, tech,
experts free of charge, watch stand-up
Dad La Soul?
night. It brings together Dads from all over
grassroots movement
professional wellness and mental health
and music to battle the social isolation or
comedians and take part in challenges.
for-purpose social enterprise six years ago.
We also produce an online magazine,
We run a network of dad/child only
audio documentary series. All of these
everything from stand-up comedy and
our stories in the way we want.
disco, beach cleaning raves that sit nicely
Can you tell us about your journey and
loneliness in Dads that I set up as a profit
playdates across Sussex, producing
rap workshops in old folks homes to silent
a new merchandise range and an
are made for Dads, by Dads that tell
alongside Lego, soft-play and crafting.
inspiration behind starting Dad La Soul?
The idea is that Dads need something
the last twenty odd years in digital/PR. I
honestly and let off steam with their
in 2015 ended up as a senior analyst for
From a career perspective, I’d spent
of their own to make friends, talk
started in the music industry, and back
kids in a safe space.
an international media agency.
During the lockdown, we launched the
On paper, it was great, big-name
“Dad La Soul Sessions”, a Dads-only
92 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
clients, decent salary and funky offices
– but it was utterly soul-destroying. I’d sold out everything I believed in for a step on the greasy corporate
ladder because that is what men were supposed to do.
At the time, I was also struggling with my father passing away. I did the
typical male thing and buried my head in work rather than deal with it, to the point where not coping with the loss, the stress of commuting, doing a job that I hated made me really ill, both physically and mentally.
I realised that I was leaving to go
to work before my son got up and
got home to see him go to bed if I
was lucky. Even then, I wasn’t fully
present; my phone and emails were
my priority because that was my role,
the provider, as I saw it. Being ill gave me a massive wake-up call.