Dadvengers Podcast Episode 20 – Matt Edmondson
It’s Dadvengers Podcast Episode 20 – Matt Edmondson. This week’s guest is the brilliant Radio 1 DJ, TV presenter, and father of one (soon to be 2!), Matt Edmondson!
Matt chats to us about being a daddy to his daughter Ivy! We talk all about the ups, and downs, of parenthood. From preparing for the birth of his first child, and how unprepared he and his wife are for the impending birth of his second!
Matt also tells us about his childhood. He grew up with an alcoholic father who was suffering with undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder. His father sadly took his own life when Matt was 20. We also discussed how important therapy was to help him deal with this. He also shares his own diagnosis of Cyclothymia. A mental health disorder that Matt describes as a relative of Bipolar Disorder.
Hearing from Matt about how he took control of his own mental health is a story everyone should hear. Understanding how important therapy was for him, despite being sceptical about it, is a testament to the importance of seeking help.
We are so thankful to Matt for joining us for this brilliant chat. Welcome aboard Matt – our newest member of the Dadvengers crew!
Use the player above to listen to Dadvengers Podcast Episode 10
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Episode Time Stamps
2:54 – “It’s been a bit weird having her go to school…” – Matt tells us about his daughter staring school.
4:10 – Matt’s journey to parenthood; how he didn’t have the “epiphany” moment that some parents describe. And how the joy of parenthood kicked in as his daughter became more interactive!
9:25 – “For me, it was more the sense of… ‘Argh I’m a dad; that label… did that age me?!” – Matt on how he adjusted to being a dad, and a friends pregnancy story that keeps him up at night!
13:07 – “She is due in January… this time, we haven’t done anything!” – Matt on the impending birth of his second child.
15:35 – Matt delves into his own childhood and upbringing… “Rules weren’t really a thing!… It was very freeing.”
18:55 – “My dad was an alcoholic… he had bipolar… he sadly took his own life when I was 20” – Matt’s relationship with his dad growing up..
26:37 – Matt shares the fears he had before becoming a parent, the impact of the structure children bring, and the ways his relationship with his own dad shaped him as a parent.
30:39 – “There is a sadness, but there is also a sort of hatred… I was filled with an anger towards him” – Matt talks about the impact of losing his father to suicide.
33:00 – Matt opens up about his own mental health journey, and being diagnosed with Cyclothymia – a relative to bipolar disorder. – “Just the knowledge that there was a thing I had was so relieving”
37:02 – “I didn’t want to open up that box of trauma, but it is so worth opening” – Matt on accessing therapy.
46:32 – How Matt is a great playmate for his daughter Ivy – and how they designed a family board game together over lockdown.
54:54 – How Matt is getting into music production, and has produced an album over lockdown!
1:01:48 Parenting Superpower!
Also on Dadvengers…
If you enjoyed this episode of the Dadvengers Podcast don’t forget to check out some of the others. We have dads from all sorts of backgrounds and industries talking about their journey’s through fatherhood. And more are being added all the time.
Whether you are male, female, and parent or a parenting professional there’s lots to be learned by listening to men tell their stories. We also have a comments box below if you’d like to leave your thoughts.
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If you want to hear more Dadvengers Podcast episodes the easiest way is to subscribe via your usual podcast provider. In addition you can always check back here on the website where all episodes are listed on the Podcast page.
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