108- Mister Matt Storytime

In this episode, host Jay interviews Matt, the host of Mr. Matt's Storytime, a podcast for kids. Matt shares how he started creating stories for his son, Bubba, and how it evolved into a podcast. They discuss the impact of the stories on Matt's children and the joy of seeing his son's creativity flourish. They also talk about the challenges and joys of parenting, including the age gap between their children and the importance of being life partners. They emphasize the importance of self-care and the need to balance gender norms and eliminate toxic masculinity. Finally, they discuss the anxiety that comes with fatherhood and the importance of focusing on the present moment. The conversation explores the topic of anxiety in children, discussing its causes and impact. It emphasizes the importance of raising kind children and the role of parental modeling in shaping their behavior. The conversation also provides insights into managing anxiety and the significance of picking battles. Additionally, it delves into the roots and values that shape individuals, as well as grounding techniques to cope with stress. The conversation concludes with information on where to find more of Matt's work.

Takeaways

Creating stories for children can have a positive impact on their development and foster a love for reading.
Being a parent involves navigating different challenges and joys, and it's important to adapt and learn as your children grow.
Balancing gender norms and eliminating toxic masculinity is crucial in raising children who are free to express themselves and be who they truly are.
Self-care is essential for parents to be able to provide the love and support their children need.
Anxiety is a common experience in fatherhood, and it's important to focus on the present moment and provide tools for your children to navigate their own journeys.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
05:09 Creating Bubba Stories
09:58 The Impact of Bubba Stories on Matt's Children
12:01 Age Gap Between Children
13:47 Transition from No Kids to One Kid
14:25 Transition from One Kid to Two Kids
18:14 Shared Responsibility in the Household
21:26 The Importance of Being Life Partners
25:34 The Importance of Self-Care
28:39 Balancing Gender Norms and Eliminating Toxic Masculinity
32:44 Anxiety in Fatherhood
48:48 Anxiety in Children
51:11 External Factors Affecting Children's Anxiety
52:09 The Importance of Raising Kind Children
53:36 The Impact of Parental Modeling on Children
54:35 Managing Anxiety and Picking Your Battles
58:04 Roots and Values
59:03 Grounding Techniques
01:01:12 Every Day is an Opportunity
01:02:34 Where to Find More of Matt