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'I didn't even like to say my own name'

Rob Kenney is now Youtube's master of 'dadvice'. But his own dad wasn't there when Rob needed him most and what happened between them is something Rob struggled with for years.

When Rob Kenney's dad walked out on him and left him to fend for himself, he wasn't even old enough to shave. So Rob had to figure out for himself all those life skills he might have expected his dad to teach him - like how to change a car tyre, use a razor, tie his own tie. Practical things that he now passes on to millions of people through his very low-tech, very personal videos on the Youtube channel, Dad How do I? Rob has tapped into a vast seam of fatherless people, looking for someone to help them with everyday life.

Should you wish to know how to be a Viking, the man to ask is Jeppe Garly from Denmark. He is a big fan of Vikings - those Nordic seafarers who had their heyday a thousand years ago, leading raids on Britain and other European countries and earning a reputation as fearsome warriors. But they had a softer side too, apparently, and this what Jeppe teaches his students: traditional crafts and culture. He spoke to Outlook in 2015.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producers: Hetal Bapodra and Radek Boschetty

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo description: Rob Kenney in a blue jacket and baseball cap sits on the steps of a house and looks straight at the camera, smiling. Credit: Allison Fann)

Release date:

41 minutes

On radio

Monday 11:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Monday 11:06GMT
  • Monday 17:06GMT
  • Monday 21:06GMT
  • Tuesday 02:06GMT

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Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

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