Ep 21. Matt Schneider: Pioneering Stay-at-Home Dad
"I hear more guys that are jealous of the time I get to spend with my kids than those who are judging me."
-- Matt Schneider
Matt Schneider is a stay-at-home dad and Wharton alumnus who founded City Dads Group, a diverse community of more than 8,000 fathers in 26 cities across the United States who are supporting each other and redefining what it means to be a dad in the 21st century. It’s the largest organized community of fathers in the United States. Matt works with reporters, commercial brands, and entertainment companies to encourage more accurate and positive portrayals of fathers and fatherhood in media and advertising. He also hosts the Modern Dads Podcast.
In this episode, Matt shares his experience as a stay-at-home dad and tells the story of founding City Dads Group. Even though male caregivers are becoming increasingly common and accepted throughout America, Matt found it difficult to find a male peer group to talk about parenting, and that’s what led to his creating City Dads Group. Matt and Stew explore important topics related to successful male caregiving, including how to clarify expectations with your spouse about domestic responsibilities. In the second half of the conversation, listeners share their inspiring experiences as stay-at-home dads. Bonus: Here’s a transcript from the vault of a conversation with Matt from early 2014, one of the first shows on Wharton and SiriusXM’s Work and Life.
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Show Notes (times when new topics start)
3:43: Founding City Dads Group. Matt founded City Dads Group nine years ago with the help of Lance Somerfield. He is a stay-at-home father who has two kids.
30:24: Edgar’s story. A radio show listener describes what it’s been like for him as an African American stay-at-home dad.
37:57: Negotiating parental responsibilities. Stew and Matt discuss how couples have to continually talk about how they’re allocating parental responsibilities. Matt emphasizes the importance of agreeing on performance standards, such as the operational definition of a “clean” room.
42:31: Kelly’s story. Another listener shares compelling advice to fathers based on his experience as a stay-at-home dad.