The American Masculinity Podcast is hosted by Timothy Wienecke — licensed psychotherapist, Air Force veteran, and award-winning men's advocate. Real conversations about masculinity, mental health, trauma, fatherhood, leadership, and growth. Each episode offers expert insight and practical tools to help men show up differently — as partners, fathers, friends, and leaders. No yelling. No clichés. Just grounded, thoughtful masculinity for a changing world.

Episode Summary

Most dads today are expected to show up, at every appointment, in the delivery room, and through the hard months after the baby comes home. But no one really tells them how. And the research is now making something clear: what a father does during pregnancy doesn't just matter emotionally. It affects his child's biology. His health, his habits, and his presence are all part of the equation. The system has started to include him. It just hasn't figured out how to support him.

In this episode, host Timothy sits down with Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, a board-certified OB-GYN and author of The Birth Book: An OB-GYN's Guide to Demystifying Labor and Delivery. Jennifer has been in the delivery room for thousands of births. She has seen what it looks like when a dad shows up, and what it costs when he doesn't. Together, they talk through what it really means to be present as a father, not just physically, but in a way that actually helps.

This conversation covers a lot of ground. It looks at the science behind how fathers shape pregnancy outcomes, what goes on inside the delivery room that no checklist prepares you for, and why the months after birth are often when men are most at risk, while being the least supported. Most men are not underprepared because they don't care. They are underprepared because no one pointed them toward what works.

You'll hear us break down:

How dads affect pregnancy: A father's health, habits, and emotional presence shape his child's biology in real ways, not as background noise, but as a key part of development.
Being there vs. being useful: Showing up and asking questions matters more than knowing every stage of labor. You don't need to pass a test. You need to be engaged.
Your role in the delivery room: How to support your partner without taking over, and why learning to advocate for her is more powerful than trying to fix everything yourself.
Having people outside your relationship: Men need other dads and close friends to talk to. If your partner is your only outlet, the pregnancy will stretch that thin fast.
Postpartum depression in men: Between 10 and 25 percent of new fathers go through postpartum depression or anxiety. It usually peaks at three to six months, right when everyone else has moved on and stopped asking how you're doing.
Building a community: Isolation is one of the biggest risks for new parents. A men's group, a fantasy league, a standing hangout, it doesn't need to be formal. It just needs to be real.
Parenting your way: There is not one right way to raise a child. Your kid needs your version of parenting, not just a corrected copy of how your partner does it.

This episode is not about being a perfect dad. It is about knowing that your presence matters, finding the people who will support you, and showing up for your family in a way that is actually built to last.

Guest Information

Works at the bedside as an OB hospitalist, shift after shift. She brings hands-on clinical experience from thousands of births across a wide range of situations and outcomes.
Author of The Birth Book: An OB-GYN's Guide to Demystifying Labor and Delivery. Gives expecting parents a clear, honest breakdown of what to expect before, during, and after birth.
Host of the Let's Talk About Birth podcast. A 10-episode series created to go alongside her book, covering topics like labor, delivery, and the experience of dads and partners in the birthing process.
Runs one of the largest evidence-based women's health platforms in the country. She translates complex medical information into practical guidance that real families can use.
Bridges clinical medicine, patient education, and public health to help parents feel informed and supported during one of the biggest transitions of their lives.
Focus areas include labor and delivery, paternal involvement in pregnancy, postpartum mental health, birth trauma prevention, and building community support systems for new parents.

Note: Dr. Jennifer Lincoln appears in this interview in a personal and professional capacity. The views expressed are her own and do not represent any licensing boards, professional associations, or organizations with whom she may be affiliated.

We fact-checked these claims, spanning paternal biology, childhood trauma, birth psychology, and postpartum mental health, against peer-reviewed research, clinical guidelines, and population data. Below are the most important confirmations and clarifications:

1. Paternal Behaviour During Pregnancy Affects Fetal Biology

What was said:

"The Lancet published research showing his (father’s) behavior during pregnancy is writing itself directly into that child's biology. Not just his background noise, but as a primary developmental variable." (Tim)

“ The Lancet just published that study saying that for some pregnancy outcomes, the father's influence is stronger than the mothers.” (Tim)

Status: Substantially true, with clarification on timing and mechanism.

Detail:

Both statements refer to the same 2026 study published in The Lancet by Huang, Godfrey, and colleagues at the University of Hawai'i Mānoa and the University of Southampton. The study found that paternal health behaviors, including weight, substance use, age, and adverse childhood experiences, significantly influence pregnancy and child outcomes, and that for certain outcomes, the father's influence meets or exceeds the mother's. The biological mechanism is epigenetic: paternal lifestyle alters sperm DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small non-coding RNAs, which are carried into the embryo at fertilization and shape fetal gene expression. One clarification worth noting: the primary direct biological pathway operates preconceptionally through sperm quality, not solely during the pregnancy window. Paternal behavior during pregnancy still matters, but largely through indirect pathways, especially by influencing the maternal stress environment, a well-established driver of fetal programming.

Source:

Huang, J. Y., Low, F. M., Kee, M. Z., Hopper, L. N., Sum, K. K., Chung, G. S. K., ... & Godfrey, K. M. (2026). More equitable preconception health: paternal life course opportunities for better pregnancy, child, and family outcomes. The Lancet.

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00148-0

Fleming, T. P., Watkins, A. J., Velazquez, M. A., Mathers, J. C., Prentice, A. M., Stephenson, J., ... & Godfrey, K. M. (2018). Origins of lifetime health around the time of conception: causes and consequences. The Lancet, 391(10132), 1842-1852.

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30312-X

Why it matters for men:

The science gives men a clear, evidence-based reason to take their own health and behavior seriously, not just as emotional support, but as direct biological contributors to their child's development, both before and throughout pregnancy.

2. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Affect DNA Expression

What was said:

"The adverse childhood experiences or ACEs, basically these things that happen to you as a child, it affects your genetic, your DNA expression." (Jennifer)

Status: True.

Detail:

This is accurate and well-stated. ACEs, things like childhood abuse, neglect, or growing up in a troubled household — are well-documented to change how genes are expressed, meaning which genes get switched on or off. This is called epigenetics. The DNA sequence itself stays the same, but the way it is read and acted upon changes. Research confirms that these epigenetic changes affect how the body manages stress, inflammation, and mental health, and can persist well into adulthood.

Source:

Danese, A., & McEwen, B. S. (2012). Adverse childhood experiences, allostasis, allostatic load, and age-related disease. Physiology & behavior, 106(1), 29-39.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.08.019

Shonkoff, J. P., Garner, A. S., Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care, and Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Siegel, B. S., Dobbins, M. I., Earls, M. F., ... & Wood, D. L. (2012). The lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress. Pediatrics, 129(1), e232-e246.

https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-2663

Why it matters for men:

A man's childhood doesn't just shape who he is, it can shape his child's biology before that child is even born. That's a powerful reason to take healing seriously, not just for yourself, but for the next generation.

3. Pregnancy as a Teachable Moment for Health Behavior Change

What was said:

"When someone's pregnant, that's like the best time that they'll be most motivated to quit smoking, or quit drinking or exercise more." (Jennifer)

Status: True.

Detail:

This is well-supported by public health research. Pregnancy is widely recognized in the literature as a "teachable moment", a life event that naturally increases a person's motivation to adopt healthier behaviors because the stakes feel immediate and personal. Studies consistently show that pregnant individuals are significantly more likely to quit smoking, reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption, and improve their diet and physical activity levels compared to non-pregnant periods in their lives. The motivation is driven by both the protective instinct toward the baby and increased engagement with the healthcare system during prenatal visits. Research has also extended this finding to partners, expectant fathers show similar spikes in health motivation during a partner's pregnancy, making the prenatal period a valuable window for behavioral change in both parents, not just the one who is pregnant.

Source:

Phelan, S. (2010). Pregnancy: a “teachable moment” for weight control and obesity prevention. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 202(2), 135-e1.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2009.06.008

Flemming, K., Graham, H., Heirs, M., Fox, D., & Sowden, A. (2013). Smoking in pregnancy: a systematic review of qualitative research of women who commence pregnancy as smokers. Journal of advanced nursing, 69(5), 1023-1036.

https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12066

Why it matters for men:

Pregnancy is not just a health event for the mother, it is one of the most powerful windows for behavior change in both parents. Men who understand this can use the pregnancy period intentionally, making improvements to their own health that benefit not just the baby but themselves long after the delivery room door closes.

4. Birth Trauma: Prevalence and the Role of Loss of Control

What was said:

" We know that one in three. And some studies, one in two people who have babies report their births as traumatic, not medically, like psychologically traumatic. And one of the number one contributing factors is, um, not knowing, not knowing or not feeling out of control." (Jennifer)

Status: True.

Detail:

Both figures cited are accurate representations of where the research sits. Studies consistently show that roughly one in three women describe their childbirth experience as psychologically traumatic. And broader self-report surveys that include subclinical distress and anxiety alongside full trauma push that figure closer to one in two. The speaker presented both numbers honestly, acknowledging that the higher figure comes from certain studies rather than stating it as a settled consensus. Around 4–6% of those who experience birth as traumatic go on to develop clinical PTSD. On the contributing factors, the research is equally clear: feeling uninformed, excluded from decision-making, and out of control during labor are among the strongest and most consistently cited psychological risk factors for birth trauma. Women who felt unheard or unprepared report significantly higher rates of traumatic birth experiences, independent of whether any medical complication occurred.

Source:

Greenfield, M., Jomeen, J., & Glover, L. (2016). What is traumatic birth? A concept analysis and literature review. British Journal of Midwifery, 24(4), 254-267.

https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2016.24.4.254

Alcorn, K. L., O'Donovan, A., Patrick, J. C., Creedy, D., & Devilly, G. J. (2010). A prospective longitudinal study of the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from childbirth events. Psychological medicine, 40(11), 1849-1859.

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291709992224

Why it matters for men:

If up to one in three partners experiences birth as psychologically traumatic, and loss of control is a primary driver, then an informed and present father is not a nice-to-have, he is a genuine protective factor. Knowing what is happening, asking questions, and advocating for his partner directly reduces one of the most cited contributors to birth trauma.

5. Paternal Postpartum Depression: Prevalence and Peak Timing

What was said:

"10 to 25% of guys experience some kind of postpartum depression or anxiety when they're new fathers. By the time that peaks, we usually see it around that three to six months mark after the babies come home." (Tim)

Status: True.

Detail:

Both claims are accurate and well-supported by the research. Studies consistently estimate that 8–25% of new fathers experience postpartum depression or anxiety, with the range reflecting differences in screening tools, timing of assessment, and whether anxiety is included alongside depression. The three to six month peak timing is also directly supported in the literature, paternal postpartum depression tends to emerge later than the maternal equivalent, which typically peaks in the first few weeks after birth. The delayed onset in fathers is thought to reflect the gradual accumulation of sleep deprivation, identity shifts, relationship strain, and financial pressure rather than the immediate hormonal changes that can trigger maternal postpartum depression. This later window is clinically important because it falls outside the period when most families are still in active contact with healthcare providers, meaning it is frequently missed entirely. Fathers are also far less likely to be screened, self-identify, or seek help, making real-world prevalence potentially higher than reported figures suggest.

Source:

Paulson, J. F., & Bazemore, S. D. (2010). Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: a meta-analysis. Jama, 303(19), 1961-1969.

https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.605

Scarff, J. R. (2019). Postpartum depression in men. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 16(5-6), 11.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6659987/

Why it matters for men:

The 10–25% range means paternal postpartum depression is not rare, it affects a significant portion of new fathers and yet remains almost entirely off the clinical radar. The three to six month mark is precisely when most families stop receiving regular clinical support, yet it is when fathers are most at risk. Knowing this window exists gives men, their partners, and their support networks a concrete heads-up to stay attentive during a period that might otherwise feel like it should be getting easier.

6. Denver as a Transitory City with an Average Stay of About 10 Years

What was said:

"Denver's a really transitory town. The average length of stay for people moving here is about 10 years." (Tim)

Status: Partially accurate with important clarification.

Detail:

The characterization of Denver as relatively transitory is supported by data on homeownership tenure and population mobility. In the late 2010s, metro Denver’s median homeownership tenure was approximately 8.7–9.3 years, shorter than the national average and among the lowest for major U.S. metros, reflecting higher residential mobility, especially among younger professionals and recent in-migrants. This aligns roughly with the “about 10 years” figure when considering broader residency patterns (home tenure is a close but imperfect proxy for total time in the city, as intra-metro moves occur). Recent data (post-2020) show tenure lengthening due to high housing costs and lower turnover, reaching historic highs for the region. However, there is no empirical evidence that an average length of stay of ~10 years has held “since its founding” (1858–1859).

Source:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research. (2023). Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado.

Moon, C. (2025, July 15). How long do homeowners stay in their homes? ValuePenguin. https://www.valuepenguin.com/how-long-homeowners-stay-in-their-homes

Svaldi, A., & Svaldi, A. (2019, November 12). Compared to the rest of the nation, Denver homeowners aren’t typical. They’re more like tumbleweeds. The Denver Post. https://www.denverpost.com/2019/11/12/denver-metro-homeowners-housing-market/

Why it matters for men:

This nuance underscores the speaker’s broader point about the challenges of building long-term community and support networks in Denver (especially for new parents), which remains valid even if the exact “10 years since founding” figure is anecdotal rather than statistical. It highlights the need for proactive community-building rather than assuming natural stability.

Full Citations / Further Reading

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291709992224

Danese, A., & McEwen, B. S. (2012). Adverse childhood experiences, allostasis, allostatic load, and age-related disease. Physiology & behavior, 106(1), 29-39.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.08.019

Greenfield, M., Jomeen, J., & Glover, L. (2016). What is traumatic birth? A concept analysis and literature review. British Journal of Midwifery, 24(4), 254-267.

https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2016.24.4.254

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00148-0

https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12066

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30312-X

Moon, C. (2025, July 15). How long do homeowners stay in their homes? ValuePenguin. https://www.valuepenguin.com/how-long-homeowners-stay-in-their-homes

Paulson, J. F., & Bazemore, S. D. (2010). Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: a meta-analysis. Jama, 303(19), 1961-1969.

https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.605

Phelan, S. (2010). Pregnancy: a “teachable moment” for weight control and obesity prevention. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 202(2), 135-e1.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2009.06.008

Scarff, J. R. (2019). Postpartum depression in men. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 16(5-6), 11.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6659987/

https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-2663

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research. (2023). Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado.

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