Michael Ray

Who Knew? explores global issues around parenting past & present & how we must change our ideologies instead of conforming to a status quo I talk through my own experiences as a solo dad and how I have had to constantly challenge old values & stereotypes that are limiting us all

Book Review: Who Knew! by Michael Ray Michael Ray’s Who Knew! is one of those rare books that reminds you just how endlessly fascinating the world can be. Packed with surprising insights, curious facts, and moments that make you pause and smile, it turns learning into a genuine pleasure. The title itself feels like a promise and page after page, Ray delivers on it. What makes Who Knew! particularly enjoyable is its sense of curiosity. Ray writes with the enthusiasm of someone who truly delights in discovery, and that enthusiasm is infectious. Each section invites the reader to look again at things they thought they understood, revealing unexpected details and clever connections. It’s the sort of book that makes you say, quite literally, “Who knew?” more than once. The writing style is clear, approachable, and refreshingly unpretentious. Ray manages to make complex or obscure ideas feel accessible without ever talking down to the reader. Instead, the tone feels like a knowledgeable friend sharing fascinating snippets over coffee, engaging, relaxed, and quietly witty. Another strength of the book is its pace. The structure makes it perfect for dipping in and out of; you can read a few pages at a time or settle in for longer stretches. Either way, you walk away having learned something new, and often something delightfully unexpected. In a world where so much information feels overwhelming or heavy, Who Knew! stands out as a celebration of curiosity. It reminds us that learning doesn’t have to be formal or difficult, it can simply be fun. For readers who enjoy trivia, surprising facts, or the simple joy of discovering something new, Michael Ray has created a thoroughly enjoyable and uplifting read. Who Knew! is informative, entertaining, and charmingly curious, exactly the sort of book that rekindles a love of learning. @MichaelJRay4 #BookReview

@MatryoshkaTips Thanks so much for the great review Penelope. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. 🙏😊

@MatryoshkaTips @RichardvReeves 💯 outdated gender expectations are hurting everyone. Chromosomes don't determine caregiving and nurturing any more than leadership and ambition.

@MichaelJRay4 @RichardvReeves No problem, we're fighting the same battles, just from opposing ends. I'm single and female, you're male and a parent.

Looking back I missed a big opportunity to get out of changing diapers on the plane. “I’m really sorry honey, but the sign says only women are allowed to do it, maybe it’s a liability thing?”

@MatryoshkaTips @RichardvReeves Thanks Penelope. 🙏😊 As a sole father to my daughter it's ridiculous the barriers I've had to confront to simply be able to PARENT her.

@MichaelJRay4 @RichardvReeves Well done for speaking up Michael. Women welcome men in a dres in to the Ladies, but refuse male parents in a parents room? Madness!

Every time headlines like these roll past, I end up doing the same thing: scanning for even one example of a single father. Nothing. Not a mention. This is despite the fact that 1 in 5 single parent households in Australia are led by fathers... linkedin.com/posts/michael-…

@MarkCCrowley @psychologytoday 👏👏👏👏👏👏

My first ever article for @PsychologyToday has already been read nearly 15,000 times -- it relates the premise of my new book, The Power of Employee #WellBeing. #HR #SHRM #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Management #Engagement #CSuite buff.ly/8OF3bJU

@RichardvReeves @LeahLibresco @RichardvReeves fatherhood is different, not less. And that difference needs to be respected and supported, not measured against motherhood as the template for parenting.

"Fatherhood is a load-bearing wall in a healthy society. The idea of depending on Dad is not outdated. It never will be." My response to @LeahLibresco fairerdisputations.org/men-protect-vu…

Michael Ray: ‘Huge White Space’ For Brands To Speak To Modern Australian Fathers bandt.com.au/michael-ray-hu… via @B&T

@DanWuori Love your work Dan. Could Dad jokes be a contributing factor in kid's improved literacy and language skills with an involved, engaged and present dad?

If you’ve ever had a toddler, you can probably guess where this conversation is “headed!” 😀 Young children are famous for their literal thinking - which is largely a function of their emergent language learning. Put simply, as we learn words, it takes time and exposure to understand that many have multiple meanings. Our language is, likewise, chock full of expressions and metaphors the meaning of which can be quite different from what their literal interpretation might entail. So when you ask a toddler to “face the table,” don’t be surprised when you get a result that looks something like this. So great! This adorably compliant little one was posted to IG by melwire.

@MarkCCrowley 👏👏💪💪👏👏

Excited to learn that Porchlight Books (not my publisher!) has just named "The Power Of Employee Well-Being" one of the “Best New #Business Books” for 2025! #Leadership #HR #SHRM #FutureOfWork #Education #WellBeing #Work

@RichardvReeves @fhill_official Richard here in Australia the fastest growing family demographic is single father households, estimated to increase 40-65% by the 2041 census.

“People are realizing that fatherhood has to survive gender equality.” Me to @fhill_official for her piece on Single Dads by Choice theatlantic.com/family/archive…

Need help calming your baby to sleep? This dad knows an important secret: skin to skin contact. Watch what happens when he snuggles up with his little one, bringing their faces into direct contact. Baby’s eyes close, a sense of calm overtakes him, and in just seconds it appears he drifts off to sleep. Skin to skin contact has a number of benefits, not least of which is the release of oxytocin, sometimes known as the “love” or “cuddle hormone.” While this video may be an unusually speedy example - truly, it’s like dad flips a light switch - skin to skin contact is well documented in its calming benefits, especially with newborns. In most delivery rooms, skin to skin contact is part of the standard birthing process in the minutes and hours immediately after birth - when the unclothed baby is placed directly on mom and/or dad’s bare chest. It helps to promote bonding, regulate breathing, and creates warmth and a feeling of security. The skin to skin practice known as “kangaroo care” has also been shown to produce strong positive effects in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), producing better movements, improved sleep and earlier hospital discharges for premature babies. Next time your baby needs comfort - or that last little nudge to help them to sleep- try getting a little closer. You might be surprised by the result. 🎥 via the tinytreasure05 on IG

If we don’t respect fathers, we won’t support them — and if we don’t support them, they can’t show up. At ballet rehearsals, school morning teas, costume fittings — I’ve been the only dad more times than I can count. Not there to “help” or because mu... linkedin.com/posts/michael-…

I’ve got to admit something. Lately, I’ve been struggling as a parent. When I became a first-time father at 50, the warnings came thick and fast from all the usual suspects. Sleepless nights. Career sacrifices. Loss of freedom. And then when I becam... linkedin.com/posts/michael-…

The MAPP Study addresses a glaring under-representation of men in cohort studies that investigate mental health and well-being and how they affect and are affected by family life. Read the MAPP study cohort profile now published in @BMJ_Open bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e…

What She’s Taught Me I’ve been the only dad in the room more times than I can count. At ballet rehearsals, school morning teas, costume fittings, and parent craft days. Sometimes treated like a hero for simply turning up, other times met with the qui... linkedin.com/posts/michael-…

Thanks so much for the opportunity to add my voice to the conversation Leah Morris.🙏😊 "We’ve spent decades fighting for better representation of women and that matters. But when it comes to dads, we’re still telling the same joke. They’re either hope... linkedin.com/posts/michael-…

They told me I wasn’t made for this. Culture, #advertising, old blokes at the pub, even my own mother pushed the same outdated bulls**t. That dads are the backup. That mums are the real deal. That we might have a crack, but we’ll never quite measure... linkedin.com/posts/michael-…