Supporting your own father with bipolar and drinking from an early age (ft Matt Tyler)

The Dadversity Podcast

[00:00:00] – Introduction

• Nathan introduces the episode, welcoming guest Matt Tyler and playfully addressing their football rivalry.

[00:01:15] – Matt’s Background

• Matt discusses growing up in Birmingham, England, and reflects on his happy early childhood years, with family trips and local adventures.

[00:03:15] – Chaotic Teenage Years and Bipolar Disorder

• Matt describes his father’s bipolar disorder and its impact on his teenage years. He explains how this affected his family’s dynamics, community reputation, and led him to develop coping mechanisms, including heavy drinking.

[00:06:45] – Challenges and Shame

• Matt and Nathan discuss the social pressures and sense of shame that came from growing up in a household affected by mental health issues.

[00:10:30] – Finding Escapes in Drinking

• Matt details how his drinking escalated as he tried to cope with family and personal challenges. He reflects on the party culture and pressures of his teenage years.

[00:14:45] – Breaking the Cycle and Becoming a Holiday Rep

• Feeling the need to change his life’s direction, Matt took a job as a holiday rep in Greece, seeing it as an opportunity to escape his routine and environment.

[00:18:00] – Meeting Emily on a Cruise Ship

• Matt shares the story of meeting his wife, Emily, while working on a cruise ship, which marked a turning point in his life and helped him realise the need for deeper relationships.

[00:24:15] – Life Changes and Fatherhood

• Matt discusses how fatherhood has reshaped his priorities, describing the deep love and commitment he feels for his two daughters.

[00:26:00] – Challenges with Family Connections

• He reflects on the difficulties of involving his father in his daughters’ lives due to his father’s current health and living situation.

[00:27:30] – Parenting Reflections

• Matt talks about the challenges and growth he’s experienced as a dad, noting how his past drives him to ensure his daughters always feel loved.

[00:31:00] – Finding Peace and Building a Toolbox

• Matt emphasises the importance of developing healthy coping mechanisms (or a “toolbox”) for handling life’s stresses, sharing that running and self-reflection have been instrumental for him.

[00:33:00] – Quick fire Round

• Nathan and Matt wrap up with quick fire questions, where Matt describes fatherhood in one word (“rollercoaster”) and reveals his hidden talent and childhood dream job.

[00:35:15] – Outro and Dadversity Community Update

• Nathan invites listeners to join the Dadversity community, where dads can access free coaching and support for tackling life’s challenges.