Once and Future Parent

The first month of parenthood is a crash course in bodily fluids, sleep deprivation, and existential wonder. Matthew checks in three weeks after bringing baby home, while Mandy navigates teenage driving, and Pete reflects on his adult child saving a life. The conversation spans burping cloths, feeding anxieties, and the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam—repairing the world one person at a time.

In this episode, we discuss:
  • What happens when every piece of fabric becomes an emergency burping cloth?
  • How do you know when your baby is actually hungry versus just comforted by feeding?
  • Why does teaching a teenager to drive feel like an emotional milestone for parents?
  • Can you really mess up your baby in the first few weeks, or is anxiety your brain's default setting?
  • What credit can parents take when their adult children do extraordinary things?
  • When will teenagers naturally start keeping their rooms clean, and why?

What is Once and Future Parent?

Three parents. Three generations. One endlessly humbling journey.

Welcome to Once and Future Parent, where the parenting timeline gets the roundtable it deserves. Join hosts Matthew Fox (brand new parent), Mandy Kaplan (mom to a high-schooler), and Pete Wright (father of mostly-launched grown kids) as they gather to compare notes from three different stages of family life.

From the sleepless nights of preparing for a newborn, through the chaos of early adolescence, to the bittersweet art of letting go, each episode tackles the lessons, laughs, and late-night Googling that come with parenting at any age. Expect a mix of heartfelt honesty, media-fueled nostalgia, and just enough intergenerational snark to keep it relatable.

We’ll talk about everything from screen-time philosophies and failed movie nights, to the last bedtime story and the awkward magic of being parented by your own kid. Whether you’re building a nursery or texting your college student emojis you don’t fully understand, you’ll find real talk, hard-won wisdom, and a reminder that none of us are in this alone.