De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan - De-Influencing Matt and Abby Howard

Episode Date: February 28, 2024

We’re backkk and we brought some friends, This week we’re shaking the dust off our interviewing skills and going deeper with TikTokTok stars and hosts of the Unplanned Podcast, Matt and Abby Howard. From two college kids serving up slices with overnight TikTok fame we’re going getting the story behind the couple that met in 8th grade, got married in college and became two of the internet's largest creators. From dealing with the haters, work/life balance, their future dreams to how they got their start, if they use their acting chops to spice up their marriage and EVERYTHING in between, we’re De-Influencing the Howards. This is our first interview in a while so we’d love to hear your feedback. Let us know in the comments of this podcast or on our socials @deinfluencedpodcast. AND if you want to go give our friends Matt and Abby (maybe not Abby 😉) a follow heres a list of their socials: Instagram - @unplanned_podcast @_matt_howard_ @abbyelizabethoward TikTok - @unplanned_podcast @matt_and_abby @_matt_howard_ De-Influencers we love y’all so much and we LOVE when you give us a review and rating on Spotify, OR better yet if you subscribe to our podcast ANDDDD interact with our socials or share our clips with family and friends. We had the best time De-Influencing the Howards and we hope y’all have as much fun listening as we did recording! XOXO see you next week!

And welcome back to your favorite podcast. D-influenced. So we're not having headphones on. Guys, we have a special guest. They are actually downstairs. They flew in from across the country. And I did so good this morning for this interview because typically I have a whole cup of coffee

and I drank, I chugged two bottles of water to make sure that I would not be anxious for this interview because I was so excited. Yeah. I woke up at 5 a.m. I couldn't sleep. Yeah. Jordan is not on my level. No, I am.

No, did I not wake up at 5 a.m.? You did. Well, you blamed me for waking up, but it's okay. You did get up and you, like, you, when you get out of bed, it's like you're a dinosaur all a sudden. You're a T-Rex. I know. I've been like having these like weird nightmares and it like makes me, like, have you

heard me wake up and be like, yes, of lots. Yeah, I know. And I'll be like, oh, no. You just need a good cuddle. I know, I need a good cuddle sush. Anyway, we're getting a job track here. So they're actually, like, we might have to stop recording because we can hear them up the stairs. But we have Matt and Abby Howard from Arizona here for the podcast today. Guys, these are huge TikTokers. They have 5.3 million followers on TikTok, 6 million subscribers on YouTube, and they host the unplanned podcast. They have

two babies and two under two just like we did. And on their podcast, they talk about, you know, having an unplanned second, which is so funny because we also didn't plan our second. So like, we get each other. I know. Are we about to be best friends? It could be possible. Matt has also been kind of like exploring his music career, which we're going to go into. And, but you guys know, what we like to do here on our podcast is we like to de-imluence ourselves. So we are going to try to de-imluence Matt Nabi. Kind of take it, you know. A layer deeper than you've never seen before.

Yeah, like what's really going on behind the screen? Because we know. We know all the nuances. We know that when you film that real. Yeah, we know how long it takes. Maybe there's a fight or, you know, who wears the pants in the social media, business world in the relationship or whatever it is. And so hopefully we're going to be able to dive deeper and really get to know them.

Um, come in. So. Was I taller than you expected? Was Jordan? Wait, I didn't notice. Wait, how, how tall are you? 5.11. You're taller than I thought.

Okay. Oh, really? What are you? Like 6.1? I'm 62, yeah. 6 2? Okay, that's tall. Let me ask you, was he more buff than you thought he was going to be?

Thank you guys. I honestly have been working on that. Like, whoa. I was like, well, if Matt's going to be shirtless on the internet, I have to be shirtless on the internet. Hey, we're cutting for you, Matt. coming for you. You're really inspiring the whole Dallas Instagram husband crew

down here. I'm trying, man. What's funny is I used to always be shirtless on the internet and now recently, like I have a shirt on for most of the videos. Yeah. Yeah, what happened to you? You've changed. I never had a shirt. Why? Why would you? I know. That's why I literally just my, I wake up and put on swim trunks and I wore that all the way.

That's amazing. That's awesome. I'm jealous, honestly. Yeah, that was actually one of Jordan's biggest questions. He was like, yeah, what's your body fat person? Dude, I'm trying. Dude, I'm trying so I was I'll be totally transparent on this project I was 17 or 18 okay you were more than that I know I was I was I was I did thing you know it was I was 21.9 when I when I did the really yes because y'all used to do cross yeah y'all are big crossfitters long time ago that doesn't feel like that long ago but I guess it was two babies

hey same I get it like that test was a couple months ago because I like got a new gym membership and they ran the test something. Yeah. Oh, crap. It says I'm going to die at 75. It says my body's fat percentage is 21.9. I'm like, I've got to get my life together. So did you go through like a cut? Not really. I've been trying to implement healthier life decisions with like less fast food. Yeah. More more working out at the gym. See, for mine, it took so much discipline. Like I'm in it now. It's really hard. He's in all these Reddit community threads where he's like literally. Reddits like my thing right now. Yeah. There's there's. I know. I hate it. There's actually like a really good side of Reddit though.

Like there's like lean bodybuilding, natural bodybuilding. Like there's like all the. I'm like anonymous like typing. I'm like guys, here's my problem. Tell them about the group where they send in a picture and they're like, guess my body fat percentage. Oh yeah. It's great. So it's really hard to know what your actual body fat percentage is.

It's like more visual. So there's a Reddit community called guess my body fat. And these dudes will just take selfies. Well, I come out and I like... Selfies of themselves and post them on his thread and everyone's like, oh, dude, you're like 13 to 14. And it's actually really helpful. But they don't put their face in there, but I come out. I'm like, hey, what you're looking at?

And he's like, no, it's a reddit thread. I promise. He's taking like weird naked photos to post you. No, but I will say... I'm like, babe, take a picture of me. Yeah. I will say he's, you've like had a lot of progress. It's ever since you got that treadmill.

Yeah, I'm telling you, he inspired me. Yeah. Yeah. My inspiration. Matt? He looks great, but he doesn't really do me. much. I've been working out at least three times a week, I will say, recently.

So, there you go. Yeah. Did you feel like when you had kids, it, like, made you, like, kick your butt into gear? That's how I thought is. I was like, oh, my gosh, I have to be a protector after I have kids. You know, I think I realized that's like, wow, I mean, there's so many dads out there and I used to have this idea of I need to be this macho, like, crazy, jacked, you know, scary man.

And I'm like, oh, there's a lot of dads that aren't that way. I actually just like chilled out on the workout. I've been like, okay, I don't want to die at 75. We have fun to the gym. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. Sorry, we got a.

Yeah, we got off. Welcome. Okay, guys, this is the first time that we are meeting Matt and Abby ever. It feels like we've met y'all, but we haven't. So this is very exciting. So what we're going to do on our podcast, what we like to do is first we want to get to know y'all because this is the first time that we're meeting. And then we like to, what we usually do is we like de-influing.

ourselves. So we kind of just take it a step deeper, I guess. The story behind the story. The story behind the story. Yeah. And so yeah, at first I guess we kind of did like an intro and introduced like what you guys do. You have like over five million followers on TikTok, six million on YouTube, like huge. And you all have blown up in the past like I think four years, right? So how did y'all like get into this world? Because it's, it's been a world when it seems like. Yeah, I mean, to be honest, we're both theater kids. We met to a theater. And we were pursuing careers on Broadway and like hoping to like make it in that world.

But then we went to college together. We made it into the same acting program at Missouri State University. And then we quickly realized, you know, we want to prioritize our marriage over, you know, all this stuff. So we got married while we were in college. So we like quit the program, went to regular degree paths. and then we were like, wait, we can, I could like have, use this like social media thing as a creative outlet to like maybe, you know, make some side money in addition to my finance job. Okay, cool.

So then we just started a YouTube channel and it didn't work for a while. No one watched her videos for like a year, but eventually we took off with doing TikTok dances on TikTok. Oh, it's TikTok dancing. It happened. COVID, right? We tried the TikTok dancing too. It didn't work out for us.

No, we had a couple that popped off. What was your, like, favorite when you guys wanted to do the Broadway track? What was, like, the dream Broadway show that you wanted to be in? I feel like it didn't even really get that far, honestly. Like, I have, I don't know, what about you? Yeah. I can't sing. So I was like, Broadway's not going to be the route for me.

Like, whatever straight acting it would be. There's, like, non-singing shows on Broadway, too. There's just, like, straight plays. Yeah. I mean, for a while, for me, like, when I was a kid, I really wanted to be in newsies. So I started taking a lot more dance classes because I wanted to be a good enough dancer to be in newsies

because the dancers are freaking amazing. Yeah, they're doing. I love that show. They're doing like quadruple plus pirouettes. Wow. Fuettes nonstop. We don't know what a foet is and it sounds intense. I still can't do a foet.

What is that? What's a foet? Can you try it? Dude, it's really, it's like a ballet room. That's why we left this space here. If you ever see those people who do this, like their leg goes out and they're just spinning, boom, boom, boom. Oh, yeah.

Like just doing this. Yeah. That's a fete. Wow. Yeah, I saw my first Broadway show probably two years ago, had no idea I was going to love it so much. It's incredible. Yes.

Like, I love going. Every time we go to New York now, I'm like, we have to go see a Broadway show. Yeah, he loves it. Yeah. So that's crazy. So you all met, was it at school? Or was it? We actually met in eighth grade.

Wait, in eighth grade? Yeah, we met at a theater in St. Louis. It's like a regional theater. Okay. And we were both just like ensemble. kids because I was like lived two hours away and so my mom would my mom would literally get a hotel for like three weeks if I got cast in a show and like she was a teacher so she had summers off. Yeah.

And would like stay in a hotel with me. My dad, my brother would come up on the weekends to visit us. Anyway, so I like lived two hours from Matt and we met at this theater and then it was a summer theater. So then a few years later we started dating after that. Okay. And then you got married at 20, no 22. Okay. I was engaged at 19.

Yeah, that's so crazy. I heard about that. And you guys were in college when you got married, right? So sophomores or junior year? It was a, okay, engaged summer after freshman year. So yeah, married summer after sophomore. Did you guys have a community in college of other people that were married around y'all? Because, I mean, we went to a big university, and I didn't know anyone married in college.

And so was it kind of like you guys on your own, or were there other couples that you knew that were also married? No, we didn't. At least through our school, we did not know anybody that was married. Did you? Did we? No. But once we did get married, then we started meeting people really good. Like all of our friends became married couples then.

But they weren't like from school because we went to a state school. There wasn't like big school or small school? Yes, Missouri State. Okay. It's kind of big. Like 20,000 thousand. Yeah. And so when you guys got married on, sorry, I'm just so curious about this.

When you guys got married on campus, did you kind of stay in the normal college scene just as a married couple, like not lived in dorms probably, but like lived close to campus and we're kind of still going to classes together. You were just, it was all the same college experience but married. Yes. Interesting. It definitely did like, you know, it's not the same as like living with your roommates. Like that year that I like, I lived in the dorms one year and then I year at, no, we got, we were married junior year and senior year. Yeah, we were married to both of years. Yeah. So then sophomore year, I like lived in a girl with a house with a bunch of my girlfriends and like, it's not the same as that. Yeah. But I would say change things a lot though. We,

definitely once you get married, you just, especially because we weren't in those houses with all of our friends. Right. Then, and it wasn't their fault and it wasn't our fault. It was just different life stages. And so they would be doing hangouts that were like unplanned and then we wouldn't be there because we're over in our apartment, you know, married. Yeah. And COVID also happened halfway through junior year. That's right. Wow. So you were a junior when during COVID. So do you mind if I asked like why you guys decided? get married so early? Did your parents get married young?

No, actually. Really? Abby's parents did kind of, they got married right out of college, but. I don't know, guys. We were so weird. Like, we only dated each other, and, like, as soon as we started dating, we're like, we're going to get married. You just knew.

Yeah, we just, like, knew. And so. I think it's sweet, by the way. I don't think it's weird. I'm sure a lot of people are like, oh, my gosh, I don't understand. I think it's, like, very wholesome and sweet. Yeah. Yeah, I think it's just, we had, like, our views on marriage were aligned, and our views on

like, I don't know. We were so, like, yeah, it was always, we always were talking about marriage from like the beginning of, of dating. And, yeah, like, I mean, I said we had never dated other people. We didn't live. I'd have been on date to other people, but I'd have never even been on a day with another woman. We literally, that's the first girl ever asked out. We literally only kissed each other.

Like, all these things. We, yeah. It's so. I think it's really sweet because I feel like a lot of people feel pressure to go through this, like, formula of life and like, okay, four years in college. And then you live in, like, you don't really. have to do that. In fact, I feel like I was always encouraged, like, you know, live your life and then, like, wait to have kids because once you have kids, your life is going to change.

Like, it was like a bad thing. And I'm like, I was actually just thinking about this last night. I was like, I really hope my kids don't feel that way because, like, I feel like my life started when I had kids. Like, I'm so much, like, it's so much better now, like more fruitful now than it was before. But it's just like, so I think it's cool that you kind of just do your own thing. It was awesome. Like, and I also don't look back. Like, when I say 19 and Gidge, I'm like, ooh, that sounds crazy, but like at the time, I didn't feel like I felt ready and I felt mature and I don't feel like I'm even that different now than I was then. So, and it was so fun, you guys. Like, we're best friends hanging out. Yeah, we had no money. So we just like, I shouldn't say

no money. We had savings, but like we couldn't spend it because we had like, our income was like $12,000. Yeah. We're like, wow, we made $12,000 for the year. Combined. At a pizza restaurant together. It was just so fun. Like, they were the best of days. Like, we just hung out in our tiny one-bedroom apartment. It was fun.

So I really want to, like, juxtapose, like, that side of y'all's life with when the internet blew up. But first, like, were you guys, so you're from Quincy? Yeah, Quincy, Illinois. Okay. I don't know where that is in relation to, uh, do you know, like, Kankakee or Moni? Yes. Do you know that? Okay.

So that's where my dad's from. So very small town of Illinois. And so I don't know. know Quincy, is that a small town? So Quincy is small, but the thing is that Kinkakee in that area is like close to, at least semi close to like a bigger city. Yeah. Yeah. In the middle. So are you from a small town? Is Quincy like the same size of Kinky Kee? Okay, so not a small town. I don't know actually. It might be honestly a little bit bigger. Okay. But it's just surrounded by like. Yeah, because Jordan took me to Chicago, which was Kankakee key. And I was like, babe, this is not

Chicago. Like, there's, like two hours. Two hours. And like, A lot of homework is like two hours too. Yeah, it's probably similar. So that's kind of the depiction I have of where you grew up and then you guys go to school. You get married young. So, you know, I feel like for the most part, y'all are very normal, right? And then COVID hits and then TikTok blows up. So you go through this like massive transition of being now in the public spotlight.

Was that something that you guys were expecting to happen? Or did it come out of nowhere? And did you feel prepared when it did happen? We're in Missouri. like yeah it was very abnormal we were living in it was funny i also mentioned this earlier too we when we were like shopping for apartments we found this one it was like so nice and like a brand new apartment we like wow we should live here and then we realized we couldn't because it was

low income and we're like wait a second we are we are low income nice so then we were able to live there because like we did make it was amazing it was great but it was funny because like we were making tic-toks and then once we've made moved out of that apartment. Someone, like, on TikTok, was posting in the apartment, like, I'm in Matt Navi's apartment. That's awesome. That is actually incredible. Kind of freaked us out.

But anyways, we're making TikToks in that apartment. And I think what really set us up was, like, you know, you hear the harder you work, the luckier you get. I really feel like the year that I was hoping to just, like, do this. Really, my only goal was to just make a couple bucks on ad sense. on YouTube. It'd be so cool that by me being created and making videos, I did that my whole life. As a kid, I always made videos all the time. I love making videos. It's like, it'd be so sick. If I could make some money doing this, it'd be the freaking coolest thing ever.

So like the day, you know, after about a year on YouTube, when I did make five cents, I was freaking out. Yeah. Five cents. Let's go. We're going to be millionaires. So yeah, no, like it wasn't an expectation at all. And really, I was like, well, in fact, I was kind of pushing back. I'm like, Matt, you got to stop. making these videos and do your homework. She was like, you gotta get back to the pizza. You gotta make pizzas, Matt. We gotta live.

I was taking manning jobs and he was like, Abby, I just wish that like, yeah, a little bit more time. We could make some videos. And I'm like, Matt,

I gotta make some money. Yeah. I was like, stop. Hey, but good on you, you had a vision. No,

everyone was like quit, dude. Yeah. Stop. Yeah. Even, okay, my parents are like so supportive, but even sometimes my mom was like,

do you really need to be spending all this time on the YouTube thing? Yeah. This finance. internship and you know so I I don't know I just didn't I didn't I really wanted it I really wanted to be able to have this side hustle of some sort and get to be creative so it was the perfect time to do it yeah you have nothing that you you don't have kids you don't have anything to take care of like I mean I totally get that I see a lot of similarities

and parallels between these two and us too because I was probably the one I'm like because I lived in a low income apartment too so my first year on YouTube I made about 15,000. But like, I was like, oh my gosh. Like, I'm killing it. And Danny was the one making YouTube videos out of her Kyo dorm room and the other sororities were like mocking her and making fun of her doing it. And so it takes a lot of grit for YouTube to push through. It was painful. And like, it's painful. Yeah, it hurt. And even my parents, they were like, because I was going to school to be a physical therapist. And so I was like biology, kinesiology. And my parents for, and my brother was a, he was a musician on YouTube. And then,

I was making like, I don't even know what I was doing on YouTube. It was all over the place. And my parents are like, really? Like after all of these like classes and this degree, this is what you're going to do? And same thing. I started my sophomore year, didn't want to graduate, but decided, okay, like, I'm just going to like, just, you know, sneak by just so I have the degree. But decided I was going to be a YouTuber and lived in low income for two years after that.

But hey, I got free products, so I was happy. That's awesome. Let me say this, though. here's why it worked is because after a year of like trying and failing and trying and failing on YouTube, then when our TikToks went viral, I knew then I was like, ah, I can take everything I've learned from failing on YouTube and apply it to TikTok. And if we would have just started on TikTok and be like, oh, sick, we had a video that like blew up. I would have had no idea what to do. It's so true.

I would have no idea what the strategy was or how to like, you know, market ourselves or whatever. I literally would have no clue. So it really, that, that struggling. period really set us up for success. Are you guys familiar with the Enneagram? The personality test? I don't know which one I am. I think I rigged it because I wanted to be a seven. You probably are, I could see you being a seven. Seven's the best ones. What did you get, though? If you wanted to be a seven,

do you remember what you got? I got seven. Seven. Oh, okay, so you rigged it. You got what you want. You're supposed to take the test to help you, but like you're really supposed to identify with whatever one you like. Like whatever you feel like you resonate with. The test's like health, but it's not everything. No, I think you are a seven. Yeah. I mean, you seem like. Like you just like, you're here for the adventure.

Matt gives three vibes. Yeah, he gives three vibes. What is the three? Achiever. Oh, really? I'm a three. I feel like, yeah. Yeah.

So in that time when Matt was like wanting to push through and keep going with this, what was the moment that you as a couple, because y'all are one now, we're like, hey, I, this is the moment like, I'm going to go in with you. I think it was senior year of college. So this was 2021. COVID, it was, it was, peak COVID, right? This is 2020.

I was like about to sign up to student teach for a semester. And so at that point I would be, I mean, it's full time. You're teaching all day, Monday through Friday. And there was going to be, and then you're still doing your course work at the, like, afterwards. There was going to be no time. Yeah. And so I'm like, man, Matt's like, drop out of college.

And I'm like, I don't know if I should. Like, it's my last semester. And then I called my counselor, which you were not, you were leaving the decision up to me. But I also at this point was like, I don't know if teaching's right for me because I had substitute talk for two years. And I was like, I don't know if I can do this. Anyway, so there's a bunch of things going on at the time. But I call my counselor and I'm like, what can we do?

Like, I don't really feel like student teaching, but I can't switch my degree now, like all these things. And he's like, well, no one's ever really done this before. But you can graduate with an elementary education degree. not your teaching certificate. Got it. And so he's like, you could really just, this was October. He's like, you could graduate in December if you wanted.

And I was like, well, okay, done. I'll do that. Wow. So I kind of have like a pointless college degree in a way. Same. You know what, don't we all? Not that. I was fine.

I graduated. I dropped out. Am I the only college drop out in the room? You might be. But you have the most to show for it. We're all still proud of you. Thank you so much. But in that moment I was like, okay, well, I guess we're going to give this a shot, whatever that means.

And so we don't know at that point if we really had enough to make a decision like that, but we did. Yeah, you just hadn't matched dreams and his confidence. There you go. And you just were like, hey, peace out. I'm done with college. I'm going all in on this. Well, I think it was really more of a decision of, okay, this, I feel like this is a once in a life time opportunity. I never thought this would ever happen to me in a million years.

And so I would kick myself the rest of my life if I'd like focus too much on school right now and let this pass by, let this window of opportunity pass by. So I thought, okay, if I drop out, I can always go back. College is always there. Yep. I need to fully give everything I have to this.

To this. And that's what I did. That's so cool. So you all started working together. You were finally bought in. How was that transition of, starting to make videos together, probably trying to get on a schedule. Were there any challenges there, like working together?

Oh, yeah. You still have challenges. We've been in this a while. You can be honest. We know. Yeah, we know. I think what's funny is we used to work at a pizza restaurant together, and it was so much fun. And we said if one day we could work together and, like, own our own business, it would

be the dream. Yeah. And so it was cool because we were, like, living the dream of, like, getting to work together and be together. But I think what we realized, we were talking about this the other day, at the pizza restaurant, we had a boss that was over both of us. Like, you weren't telling each other what to do. When you own a business with your spouse, then like you have oversight of them and then they have oversight of you. And so then you're like telling each other what to do.

And that's where it's weird. Yeah. If there's someone above both of you, you're in it together. You're like, oh, screw the boss, dude. I hate that guy. He did this stupid thing today. But if you're both the boss, then you can't really drive about your coworkers and you come home. It's so funny. I was telling Danny

before you guys got here last night, I was the reason, Danny had a Bible study and I had not a Bible study, but it's a variant Bible study. It's a Instagram Husbands Guild, Secret Society. All the guys... You made this up. You could have come. All of the guys, like, in our industry,

because it's not just working with your spouse, there's layers to it, right? It's like, you're working with your spouse, but it's also marriage, and it's also parenting, and then you got all these opinions about your life, and so it's very nuanced and weird industry. And so, So we all like get together and like share tricks of the trade. And it's like, yeah, like she wants to do things like this.

Because everyone has different personalities. Like I would say, you know, we have had to learn exactly what you're saying. Like, who's the boss? Like when do I step back and let, let Danny lead? When do I lead? When does she want me to step in? It's very odd. When y'all are thinking of content, is there like a main leader?

Like a creative leader, like who is that? It's Matt. I need to join the Instagram husband. Yeah. Because I feel like this. It's gender neutral. You're invited. Everyone's welcome.

I think that's the Instagram life. But not Instagram. Yeah. And that definitely is I really kind of take a backseat in a lot of ways. What's funny is like I got burnt out of like posting on TikTok so much. So like I just haven't been posting on TikTok. And I think we put out like maybe like three TikToks the past two months or something. I don't mean this in an ungrateful way.

But I can delete everything. I'm just. Really? I feel that. Really? I mean, because we are in the space. Like, we feel that. Jordan said the same thing, like, like, two weeks ago.

And I'm like, it's still, like, replays in my head. I'm like, oh, never. I was like, let's just delete all this. Like, let's take control back. Like, this is our life. Okay, so do you, like, anything that you post, like, who's coming up with those ideas if it's, like, on your personal stuff? Oh, me, mostly.

Okay. I haven't posted in a while. But, well, on my personal stuff, yeah, it's just me. Or I will, like, talk with my friend. Like, what have I? I'm mostly, like, what have I? I'm mostly, like, We'll recycle ideas.

Like, it's easy for me to tell a story while I do on makeup. It's easy for me to show what I eat in the day. It's easy for me to show, like, it's hard because, like, now we're stepping away from, like, showing our lives as much because it's just so many reasons. And so then now I'm like, man, what do I? Yeah. I don't know. Yeah.

Like, I don't write her scripts for her. Yeah. She doesn't make it video. I'm not like in the background. She's like, Annie, three, two. One, girl. No, you can tell that whenever something is scripted or not. But if there's like a cool trend or something, then sometimes like someone on my team

will be like, oh, you should do this. And I'm like, okay, and then I'll put like my own spin on it or something. But it's not like Jordan's like, okay, five, six, seven, a concealer. Like, you know. I think that's the difference between us as a couple and them as a couple is like, I think that you really are the creatively. And I'm kind of like, all right, yeah, let's do this. Yeah, I'm more of the, you know.

In some instances, like there's certain things that we've done that I was very passionate about and wanted to be more of a. Yeah. You know, leader in. So I'm guessing you don't like consume a lot of content either. I'd like to say that, but sometimes I just get to scroll in. Yeah.

Yeah, not a ton. Do you have favorite people you like to follow? She listens to your podcast. I listen to your podcast. I love podcasts. I'm like, what I know? I love your guys this podcast. I love a lot of true crime podcast.

Me too. I've just been in my book era. I'm trying to get out of the social media era, but it's so hard. it's I want to get to you in a second because I really do want to acknowledge like knowing that and her saying that that's what I felt is that you were a lot in the leadership role and that probably means you're doing a lot of the editing, a lot of the ideation, you know, and also what's I think cool about you is like you run y'all stuff and then also your stuff. So the output that you're doing, I want to get to that in a second. But I would be curious from you like because you feel this way.

So does that mean that there was something about being on social media that didn't meet your expectation that's making you want to retreat a little bit? It was never really my passion or dream to be good. Got it. Yeah. Like it was like, oh, this is Matt's thing. He's really creative and like really talented at this. And then this could be a really fun thing that we do together. Like we got to spend, we've spent so much time neither that we would not have obviously.

Yeah. We had so much freedom too. Like we randomly moved to Hawaii for a year. Right. And so, like, that was all, like, I hate to say it. I, like, love all the side benefits of it. Like, and now I get to be with my kids, like, all the time. And we have, like, our freedom.

And so, like, and I don't know, we get to focus on our family a lot because of it. And I know you're not going to disappear from social media. So I don't think anyone should hear that. But, like, you know, now that you've kind of dipped your toe in that water, what would a dream life look like for you in particular? Like, is it being a stay-at-home mom? Is it like, you know, taking a step back from the internet? Is it, you know?

See, I don't know because I always feel like it's easy to be like, oh, it would be so much better if this happened or if this happened. I think that honestly, what would be best for me is to have like, and we're getting there. I feel like we're really pretty much there is like balance. Like a little bit of work, a lot of time with my kids. Because I told him out of the car yesterday, I was like, I just wanted to stay at home, honestly.

I'm just, that's what I want to do. But then I'm like, I do feel like purpose in what we're doing online. And like, I enjoy that in the connections we've made, like the community we've built. So I would never want to just like, even though I'm saying like I would be totally fine to delete it all. But I would never like I do feel like I get energy and motivation from that too. So yeah. Yeah.

I think honestly we're in a really good place where I can do a little bit of this and then a whole lot of being with my kids. So that's kind of my dream honestly. This might be a question for both of y'all. But you talked about your purpose online. Like what do you feel like what drives y'all? or what do you feel like your purpose online is? I think it's just the people. Like, I wouldn't have said that at the beginning

because we didn't have people watching this. Matt had, like, Matt has, like, you had some people. Someone gave that five cents of that. Yeah. It was a phone. Yeah. It was a lot of that.

Yeah. It was really sweet. But, yeah, every time I've met someone in person that has, like, watch our stuff, I'm like, wait, we're, like, we have so much in common. And, like, especially, Especially the things that I like, I wasn't hesitant about sharing.

I'm like, oh man, someone's watching this and I'm over their shoulder. I'm going to run away. And it was like this stuff like postpartum where I was like sobbing on the internet. I'm like, that is a little cringy and hard to watch around other people. But then whenever I've had conversations with people in person, they're like, when you were talking about this, like I felt the exact same way. And I didn't think that like other people were struggling like that. Like I'm like, wow, I didn't even realize they could have that, like that effect on other people.

But then it just really encouraged me. And I was like, man, this is what it's all about. Yeah, I love that. I think, and for me, I would say I just, I'm a creative. I love creating things. When I was a kid, I would put on shows every, every holiday. When I was five, I'd be like, okay, cousins, let's put on a show for the whole family. Okay, you're going to play.

You're going to be this person. You're going to be. Yeah, baby Jesus story. Oh, my gosh. So, growing up, like, growing up our church would put on this, like, play to show, like, the passion of the Christ. and, you know, the death and resurrection, all that. And so I thought, man, I want to put on that show, too. And so I got, you know, of course, all of my cousins, my brother involved and everything.

And my brother was the Roman soldier and I was Jesus on the cross. Yeah, that was Jesus. Oh, my brother didn't play his role right. He, like, I was five and he was, maybe I was four. I don't know. We were really young. And he started, like, wandering off. And so what happened is Jesus came off the cross and bit the Roman.

I'm in Soldier on the bus. In our production. Is this on video? No, it's not. Oh, that's good. You should unarchive that one. Yeah, we're just having like a great, you know, this right after the Easter egg hunt happens.

Beautiful. Yeah, beautiful. No, but anyway, so I've just always loved to create. And so for me, it's just, it's so much fun to build things and to, and to watch people, like, see people enjoy them. And I think it's so much fun to entertain. But also, what's really important to me, too, is just, like, doing good in our world and giving back.

And so, like, we've been trying to come up. with ideas on how we can both make these entertaining videos and podcasts and everything, but do good at the same time. And one small way we did that last year was we did the podcast where we interviewed child cancer survivors that had gone through the St. Jude program because we were at this St. Jude event, raising money for St. Jude. And we did a fundraiser on our podcast for St. Jude. And so, yeah, that was really cool.

And I'm just hoping we can continue to do more of that with our platforms because it's just it makes it meaningful and it makes it so much more fun when you're when you're doing good while yeah i feel that too because it can be really exhausting like i don't know if you ever feel this way but sometimes i'm like i'm so sick of hearing my voice or like looking at myself you know and Jordan and i will be editing something just like replays and so i think that it's really easy to burn out and whenever you have things like that where you're like giving back or meeting people or just like being vulnerable and having like real conversations or meetups like i'm like oh my gosh this is so worth it but when you're just on your phone like posting it's it can feel

very draining. Are you a one-man show? Like, do you have editors that help you? Yes. So we do have, we have an editor for our podcast and then we've kind of taken a set. Like with YouTube, we, you know, had some issues with editors and things there. And so right now I'm trying to like build up a creative team, honestly, because I have realized that there's only so much I can do. I was going to say you've got to be nearing burnout if you haven't hit it already. And I've put in like my heart and soul into the podcast and we've been, I'm super thankful for it. Like we've, you know, top chart certain months and like hit some crazy milestones,

but I've realized, man, if I don't build up more of a team with this, it's just not sustainable. And I, you know, there's also so many. He's like, Abby's not pulling her way. That's what I realized too. In the beginning, in the beginning it was Abby and I together. But this isn't Abby's, this is an Abby's dream. So like, I have been doing it all on my own. And so I, I've just, yeah, realized more and more.

Okay, I'm only one person. and I need to be able to, you know, outsource certain things. Can I ask you this? So I've noticed, again, that you guys have the Matt and Abbey brand, we'll call it. I know it's you guys as individuals, but people know it as that. And then you have Matt that I feel like you're pioneering with the music and everything. Is it hard for you knowing that this is like your dream and your passion and like you being on a little bit different of a page?

Not that you hate it. You appreciate the community. but like has that been hard to kind of pull the mothership of the brand, which is Matt and Abby in a direction? Like how does that conflict with the marriage and like life? Because if we were in that situation, I would totally get it. Like,

and honestly, I've been on Abby's side where it's like, Danny's like, I love this. Like I've nurtured this audience over 12 years and sometimes I'm like, yeah, but I like, I don't know if I want this,

you know, anymore. And so that's hard because it's a family decision. So can you speak to that and like what, what that's looks like? Totally. I think the funniest thing about Abby is because she doesn't care about social media. That makes her the most like. That makes you sound so bad. No, but that makes you're the most likable person because every influencer wants more followers, more this, more this. And Abby literally doesn't care. She's actually

told me she's like, I don't want to get more followers. Abby's over here like I want I want to lose followers. You're like guys, can I please unfollow me? No, I get. To be fair, I get what he's saying. Like I think that that is the draw. that you, and I mean this in the most kind way, like, you're normal. Like, and I think that that's what the internet is thirsty for is like not this contrived influencer world, but like, who are the normal people out there that are showing me a real depiction of their life? 100%. And Abby is so real online too. And so, yeah, back to what you were saying. Anyway, it's like she's, she's really, really good at this job because she doesn't care. Yeah. Because she doesn't care. But there's got to be days where it's

you're like, hey, we committed this brand deal, or we committed to this real, or we're like, I want to film. Like, Matt, me, I'm in overdrive. I'm feeling inspired. I just drank a cup of coffee. Like, let's go. And you're like, hey, I really want to finish this chapter in my book.

And there's got to be a push and pull there, right? You know, not really. Not really. Because I feel like maybe in the past, yes. But now it's kind of like, we really do like work things totally separate. Completely separate. Yeah.

And except for obviously filming. Right. And so, um, what do you mean work things separate? Like with our podcast, Abby will just like literally, like, I plan it all out. I'm like, we're doing this, whatever. And then she'll just like show, show up, which is what she wants to do. Yeah. Yeah.

And I have like my specific like short list of things that I do. Abby, that's what I do now too. Yeah. You guys are great. You guys are talented. I'm just like, I'm like, okay, what do the team say? What do you know me to do? I'm here.

A little puppets. Yeah. It's great. But I tell Abby all the time. I'm like, like I'm serious. if you wanted to be a stay at home. He never is pushing me to do anything. If you want to be a stay at home mom today, quit at all. Yeah.

Like, seriously, it's not worth it. Like, making more money is not worth, you know, being with your kids or, like, doing something. I don't know. I just, like, there's so much more to life than fame and money and all these materialistic things that are so stupid when it's like, you can't put a price on, like, yesterday just getting to read books with my son. You cannot put a price on that. Right. And you can't put a price on getting to make my six-month-old laugh yesterday when we were just, like, giggling at each other. You can't put a price on that.

And so, like, I tell her all the time, yeah, if you wanted to quit at all, 100% go for it. Because this is what I love to do. So if you don't want to do this, like seriously. He always says, he's not, like, pushing me to do this. Yeah. And it's, like, really cool because Matt is, like, all in with whatever he does. So when he's doing his work stuff, he's, like, all in. but then when he's like dad mode he's all in.

Yeah. And so we're actually finding a really good balance. Knock on web because we have been off balance so much of this journey, but it's been really like. And I think the balance now is like me just being kind of hands off and like him being like building out a team. Yeah. Yeah.

What avenue of creative are you guys like or I guess, yeah, you guys both most excited about right now. Is it the podcast? Is it the music career? Is it? I think, yeah. two things for me. I mean, what would you say? I'm excited about your music. Thank you so. Really? That's so sweet. That is sweet. That is really sweet. It's great. It's you're killing it.

Thank you. No. I mean, like I, I mean, definitely the podcast has been really cool because I never would have thought the podcast would have done as well as it has. So that's been really, really fun. And I'm just hoping to keep growing that and probably build out more of a team because right now the team is really small. It's me and our editor and that's it. Wow. And our assistant, Addie, who will help with guest outreach and stuff. But yeah, like, I think just making sure that's more of a sustainable business where we have a team because I think, yeah, I've realized I can only do so much on my own. But no, the music, I mean, I've always sang ever since I was a kid and always been involved with the arts. And so getting to release music has just been so much fun.

And it's a lot harder than I thought it'd be. It's like a lot. It's pretty challenging, too, when you go from, like, vlogging your life and like a big, like, being a thing. family man and with your kids and your wife and all of a sudden you're like now i'm making pop music like what the freaks going on yeah yeah pivots are hard for the internet when they put you in a box they don't really like for you to get out of the box don't you just love getting out of the box i yes but it's also it hurts when people say really mean things oh yeah yeah i've been there too it definitely it definitely hurts i kind of feel like you know when instagram pivoted from photos to doing reals and everyone was pissed yeah freaking out

i kind of feel like that's what's going on to my instagram right now oh gosh Why are you making all these music videos? Stop. Oh, my gosh. That's when you know that you're doing something right. Yeah. So I don't know. I mean, I just, I enjoy it.

So I'm going to keep doing it. And I actually, I literally, the song I just recorded in Nashville two days ago, it's literally called on follow me. I was like so sick of it. I'm like, if you don't like me, just to follow me. Like, it's really that easy. Like, we don't have to be, we don't have to be friends. Yeah.

It was just kind of like a fun idea, a little spin on some of the stuff I was going through. That might be my anthem of 2024. I can't wait to hear it. I know I already like it. Did, which platform have you guys found is a little bit more savage? Like we, we feel like we're not like that active on TikTok.

I mean, I think there's a following there. We're starting to post more there. But it seems like that's a pretty savage place. Our Instagram is so like, it's so PG and we go to TikTok and I'm like, oh, like, and I'll be scrolling the feed. And then a video about me pops up.

And I'm like, I don't want to see this. And it's like, they're brutal. Have you guys found that though? blowing up on TikTok first and now having a follow on, following on YouTube and Instagram, like, is TikTok the most savage? You know what I really? What I really think it is, it's whatever platform is picking up your videos where you don't have, like, the most community in that?

Yes, that makes sense. Actually, yeah, because for a while, their YouTube shorts was, really? We've seen that. No way, YouTube shorts. Oh, I couldn't even imagine the things on there. Wait, maybe it's actually bad for it. for us too, but I don't ever read those comments. Yeah, we don't read anything.

Yeah. Are you guys like posting ghosts? Is that y'all's strategy? Just post and don't read anything? Pretty much. Like comments. Now I started to go read the comments on Matt's music videos when I heard something and I went to be in the comments.

Good for you. People love that. Nothing like, nothing very bad. I just told them to eat cheeks. Wait, I want to know what is your strategy? What's both of y'all's strategy for dealing with mean, comments are hate? I'm like, you guys just

Yeah, it's pretty bizarre. Like sometimes you're just like, I'm just gonna reply this one person. Never. I actually never have engaged with it because I'm like, there's so many more people that are like being kind or even just like thinking kind things but just not commenting it because they're normal. Yeah. And I'm like, why would I choose to give my energy to that person that doesn't care about me than the people that actually do?

But I did tell some people in Mads comments eat cheek. So I guess I should take that back. The funniest thing is like, because I think, correct me from, I think I saw this. Like you released a lot of those music. it clips it once, right? So it was like all, it was like, boom, here's it, here it all is. But then you did the, the Zach Efron remake, but that was like, if you know, you know, that was like to kind of stab back at them to be like, I don't care, I'm going to lean into the hate.

So with all the music stuff, I'll be honest, I literally got that from you guys. So Abby was telling me how you were saying on your, on your podcast, how you should lean into whatever the internet is saying. Yeah. So it was, I think Abby said there was some sort of makeup brand that had the spiral. controversy where spiders were yes oh yeah being drawn in the makeup and and then you had had he told me that you would say because she gives me updates on your podcast yeah yeah yeah yeah he's like basically Danny's strategy for marketing was oh lean into the spider thing

and come out like a spider man dude I was like wait I need to lean in the Troy Bolton thing like like people were saying that was your info no god honestly that means the world because I was going to ask you about this I was like I think because I was trying to get into the mind I don't know you and so I was like I want to get in Matt's mind I was like I was like I want to get in Matt's mind I was I think that what he knows is that he's getting blown up in these comments and he's leaning into it, which is the most genius thing he can do. But I wanted it to confirm that you were playing the clickbait strategy. And the fact that we gave you the info means the world.

I love it. Because what I saw it, it spoke to my soul. And I was like, I love this. I just love it. I loved it. And I'm trying like, and it's so, it's so news. I'm just figuring it out. I'm literally just, every video is really like a test.

I'm like, does this work? Do people like this is funny? I don't know. Yeah. But it's really just, I view it as a test. And so. like with the shirtless video that I posted of like me it was that skit like I was like playing a bro and then like me talking about my new song that one you know there's there's an artist on

TikTok who puts out these like really really funny skits and it proposes songs and so I had made a few of those in the past and one of them on YouTube shorts blew up and people were like oh my gosh this skit is so funny like it really made me laugh and I was like oh I should make another one of those so that's why I made that recent skit yeah the um the only feedback I would have because I think that like Danny's right like I think the music is like on point. I think that the what people are like like commenting about is like they don't know if you're getting out of your box or not. So just like they'll figure it out. They'll get they'll figure it out soon enough. But do you know like I've always forget his name, Huddy or a little Huddie? No, no,

not Little Huddie. He's a Christian artist now and he does music videos. Forrest Frank. Yes. Forst Frank is killing it and I think the style of what you are doing right where it's just like clips of your song and then who's that new guy that you love oh benson boon Benson boon is blowing up right now dude I love his video I love his videos butt tap on the phone screen yeah yeah and I don't know if they're shooting it with DSLR I know you shot it with DSLR my whole thing with yours is like if you could just like up the production value just a little bit okay like make it feel a little bit more like yeah good music video yes I think that people will stop

coming after you being like, is he serious or not? Like, it's almost like right now you're so, it's, it's like you would be wearing this in the videos. And like you got a videographer and I know you're shooting it with DSLR. But if you just like made it just more like a music video, I feel like people would be like, okay, this guy's dope. Okay. So you're saying you want to manage him.

No, I don't want to manage him. I want you to succeed. We want you to win. But I think you're so close to what Benson Boone and Forrest Frank are doing. Yeah. That's good. They nailed it. Matt, I love, I love, I love, I love Feud.

feedback and that's what's kind of funny between us because Abby hates feedback, but I love it. So I'll show her video. I'm like, like, rip this apart. Let me how I can make it better. Yeah. It's like it's amazing. It's like, it's amazing. It's like, it's like down, hole in the pants, Matt. But like, when you do these music videos, we need to see a different version aesthetically. Like maybe even like a style your clothes different or like be like this is artist Matt. So get a stylist. Oh, okay, I like that. Yeah, we need a vibe. I didn't hear a rag on you. I didn't want to rag on you. I didn't want to rag. I bet so much of it I feel like was the clothes because I was like,

is he trying to be a TikToker or like is he trying to actually be an artist? No, that's good. Because these artists are always so hip. I'm like, who is this Forrest Frank guy? Does he dress himself because he looks so cool? We might need some earrings and piercing. But maybe I could try to. You got to find someone who's cool for you.

Yes. Yes. That's it. That's cool. That's cool. That's great advice, babe. Yeah, I've been watching. Thank you.

So do you write your own songs, too? I do. So I don't write them all my own, though. So I write with a co-writer. Sure. And that's been super helpful because I, yeah, I definitely could not do this all on my own. Yeah. And then who produces everything?

Also, yes. I don't produce on my own, so then I work with a producer as well. Yeah. That's awesome. In Nashville? Yeah, because at first I thought I was like, crap, I have to freaking learn how to produce. No, it's kind of like people. That's what my brother does.

Yeah, we got to introduce you to Landon. I literally, when I was like researching you guys a little bit, bit. One of his videos pops up and I was like, no way. Your brother makes music. Yeah, but he's been doing this for like 15 years. He started on YouTube in like 2009, like so early on, but he was doing covers of really popular songs on YouTube, like acoustic versions. And his channel popped up because he did a, y'all probably don't even know, it's Hayzonde chocolate rain. It's like, y'all probably were babies whenever. Yeah, they weren't alive. Anyway, but John Mayer did a cover of this song and everyone thought that my brother's cover of it was john mayor because he had like a hat

on so this video popped off and landon i don't even know if you know this my brother's first youtube channel was called tezonde fan like that was my that's crazy so that popped off then uh landin introduced me to the youtube space and so anyway he's been doing music ever since but he mainly does like covers and post them on spotify so he gets like millions of streams because people are searching for Justin Bieber well his song is like number two and then they click it so let me try that too That is really cool

He's smart we'll introduce you to him He's very good Yeah it's inspiring It's also I've realized like the music thing It's way harder than I ever thought it would be Yeah but I love the challenge And I don't know I just I just It's kind of cool because it's like the child

If like little me knew that I had Over 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify right now I'd be crapping my pants Yeah I feel so thankful for that and it's been fun Yeah And you have a supportive queen who loves your music period. Sometimes supportive.

You have the main girl in your music video. Sometimes I'm like, dude, knock it all. But it's way less nice way. Well, okay, so you guys have two kids. Y'all had 2002, so do we. But all's were closer together. Yeah, way closer. Yeah, walk me through parenting

and also being on social media at the same time. I know that those two things can be challenging. We've gone through the ringers, you know, sharing postpartum, sharing our journey, having both of our babies. Moms online are vicious. I don't know if you know that. I'm sure. Wait, really? Yeah.

You would think they're the most important. But yeah, I'm just curious, like, what that transition has been like. I, um, this is such a big question because it's like what we discussed, like, probably daily. Yeah. But now I think what makes me most comfortable is just like keeping that off the internet for us because like we have so many friends that share their kids or share like things like that. And then there's literally, I love them, I support them. They can do whatever. And I don't think they're bad parents.

They're excellent parents. But for us, I'm like, man, if people can say such hateful things about me, if I was sitting there and reading a comment and it was about one of my kids, that would literally rip my heart out and make me. like so angry like and so I'm like the best way to do that is just they can't see them they can't they don't know what's going on and having that separation has been like really gives me the most peace as a parent I feel like when did you guys start that rule we yeah so we're gonna six months old yeah and we just decided you know what we're gonna we're gonna just like go back to just it being us and I think it's been it's been good like I love how when I'm like with my kids and playing with my kids, I don't feel any need to like take a video or vlog or anything.

And I can just be fully present as a father and not be thinking about having to do my job. And so that's been really freeing. And I really, really like that. And also, like, we don't really get feedback about our parenting because of that. Because of that. Yeah. So it's been about a year, you said, that kids have been off your content. Yeah.

It wasn't like a hard and fast thing. It was just scaling back. Yeah. And I don't think, and it's not like, I don't think I'm opposed to showing them, like, to never showing them. I think it's more of just, we wanted to figure out what, like, how to approach this. Okay, so, Abby, we were texting about, or before you got here, you said, you were looking for a place to stay, hotel nearby. You said, we're not picky. You didn't care.

So what do you like? to splurge on. That's a good question. She didn't book the hotel you suggested because it was too expensive. Even the cheaper one. I was like, what is it going to say? So you, where are you saying? It was like nearby. It's just shout it up. The be bemen. You'll be gone. You'll be gone by the time of stairs. It was amazing. The lady was so nice. She gave me free M&M's last night. That's so great. And gave Matt a free kind bar. Oh yeah. She watched her video. She was so nice. But listen, you guys said, shout it to Beth and the Beeman. We love you. We're not working at the pizza joint anymore.

What do you guys like to splurge on? Like what do you are like, get excited about? Travel. We travel. Yeah. But even then, it's not like we're like. We eat out every day. Yeah.

Yeah. Good food. Abby's very frugal though. Like yesterday I was like, Abby, get a coffee at the, she's like, I'm not gonna get the coffee on the plane. I'm like, Abby, like, just get a coffee. Like, you can, it's okay. We can afford a coffee. She didn't want to spend $5 on a coffee.

It's the principal. We appreciate that. And that's something that like is ingrained in you that will probably never leave. Yeah. Which is great. Did you have a lot of siblings? No, a younger brother who did not care at all. Like, we'd always joke and go to restaurants.

He would get like a rack of ribs. I'd be like, like, yeah, yeah. That's so funny. Yeah, no, I definitely splurge on things, but not like high, what do I get? Splurge. Yeah, travel, probably. Travel.

Ever bought a luxury brand. Either of either of I. We're not into the luxury stuff. You thrift. That's fun. Yeah. Actually, my whole office is. Really?

That's amazing. That's so cool. That's cool. Thank you. Threat up. Not sponsored. I just keep thrown out the sponsor. Yeah.

Yeah. Probably definitely travel. Travel, yeah. And fun experiences. Yeah. Cool. It's been super fun getting to know you guys. We're going to leave you with two very funny questions that Danny left me with.

Uh-oh. Oh, I know. In the middle. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Oh, man. This one's hard.

Giving. Given your theater background. Oh, gosh. Have you ever role played to spice things up in your married sex life? And my characters. You guys really sent it. I love that question. We just have to feed the audience.

We're going to have to cut this out of the episode. There was one. No. Okay, so we'll take it as a guest. No, actually, no. No. I would be down. He's like, he's like writing it down.

He's like so smart. He's like, I've learned a lot on this podcast. Four Christmases. I love the opening of that movie. It's so. funny. So good. That movie's so slept on.

That's a great Christmas movie. I'm dying laughing. She doesn't think it's that funny. I'm like, this is the funniest Christmas movie. Yeah, it's such a bro movie. No, I think Matt would definitely be down though. So Abby would not be down. I mean, we'll see what happens.

You guys have fun of that. I'm just laugh. I'm saying what the heck is. Okay, second, yeah, second one's worse. So, we don't care. It's not that bad. Abby. Danny asked you to be a part of a giveaway and you said no

and she wants to know no is there beef she said period just curious I had to ask you all the podcast I had to force her to be here she didn't really yeah I figured let me explain I don't one more fault and done honestly

that was my guess I was like I think she's so sweet I don't think she wants to grow up. It's a lot of work, to be honest, these things. Matt, will you need my giveaway? Yes, I'll be a movie. It's like all the mommy bloggers and like musician Matt. And now he's like got like eyeliner on and he's like, I'm musician Matt. Dude, should I start wearing eye.

Yes, it's the eyeliner and the earrings. Wait, what's the, what if I would back at like the early 2000s? The emo. The emo. Yeah. What's the scene kids? The scene. Straightening your hair.

The straightening your hair. The screen. We could straighten it. Who is your, this is not a funny question. I'm actually just curious. Who's your muse when it comes to music? Who are you looking to emulate that you're like. Yeah.

No, that's really, really good. So many influences. There's so, so many. I would say early on, it was definitely Ben Rector and Jake, Jake Scott. And then now it's been more like, I got really into listening to Vault Boy, his music just like got recommended on my Spotify.

And I love his sounds. So some of my newer songs are more in that like very modern, pop, kind of electronic feel. Is that just musical influences? What I mean is like, who is like a performer and a vibe that you're like, that's the kind of musical influence I'm looking to be. Like Justin Bieber, it's like, oh, that makes sense. I understand what you mean.

So good. Really good question. Actually, Abby mentioned, she's like, you need to go to more concert so you can like learn what these people are doing. So if I ever do a show one day, I could understand that. But, yeah, I mean, mainly I don't know who I would draw from. for like a show because I've I've never done that but for content. Definitely two really big influences that I've had are Nick D and then Connor Price are two

really big and independent artists on TikTok. They've been super successful and really genuine nice guys. Actually, I've like messed, like I've chatted with Nick D over DMs before. But just it's really, it's really cool that they are independent. They're not signed by a label and they are killing it and making income, making music from like their bedroom basically. That's cool. I think it's really inspiring.

That's so cool. Okay, one last question for you. Can I just say something really quick? Yeah. I'm really flattered that you considered me for the giveaway. Oh my gosh. She's like, she's ruminating.

We're totally kidding. I thought for a full 24 hours. I was like, no, I know. I don't think you want more followers. No, and I'm not going to lie. They are like a ton of work. You have to be like in the mindset of like really wanting it.

That's the most wholesome no. Yeah. Yeah. No, it did not. So you, the one thing I've heard from you is you actually still would love to pursue being an actress. Fair? Like if it came up. Like if it came up. Okay.

What is the one movie that's come out that you were like, that was the role I should have been in? That's good. Oh gosh. See, I can't even put myself in that right now. I'm lacking confidence as an actress. She's so good. She's such good actress. What on what base?

Because I'm like, I haven't done this in so long. Okay. Matt's going to be your. confidence, what do you think her role that she missed out on that was like she was perfect for that role? Oh, frick. See, I don't even know. I just know that she should be an actress because she's so talented. What movies have we seen? She's a man. Oh, honestly, that's great. Like, yeah, that's, that's, that's a great role, right? I could try that. Would you make out with another dude? Yeah, I was asked myself, would I kiss another guy? What do you think? Should I?

I think about this question a lot too, and Danny doesn't even want to be an actress. And I was like, I would be so offended. I don't know if I could do it. I would be so jealous. Would you be okay with that? It would be uncomfortable. I don't know. I don't know.

It depends on what type of, like, if we're talking about like a full on sex scene, no. No. If we're talking about like just a kiss, like one kiss, yeah,

I wouldn't care. Like if you're playing a mom and you're like, love you, whatever, that's not a big deal. Because then you have like Brad and Angelina

who fell in love on Mr. Mrs. Smith. Yeah. And they both had other love interests, but that's, it was very spicy in that movie. I'm so loyal that there's, I know.

Not that you shouldn't be careful with that stuff, but like there's just no way I could kiss him on a movie set. That's how I feel. I would be like laughing in my head. I'd be like, oh, it was so funny. I can't believe this. Like, yeah. Yeah, Matt wouldn't have to worry about that.

Yeah, I would have to think of a lighthearted role. I can't even picture myself doing like a dramatic one yet. Yeah. Rom-coms. Maybe like a, like a millennial Reese Witherspoon or if y'all are Ginzy, I don't know. Yeah. But like, like you're kind of like

Reese Witherspin vibes. See, I don't see myself as like the main. I see myself as like the corky friend. No, see you're not giving yourself enough credit. Yeah.

Like you're the main. She's the main. You're the main. That's why you're the main is because you don't think you're the main. Okay, well, I'm getting in acting classes first.

We look forward to seeing you you performing at Madison Square Garden one day and you performing on the big screen. That'd be crazy. Y'all, this has been awesome. Okay, tell everyone where they can follow you. Follow our podcast.

Podcast. Unplanned podcast. Everyone go follow Abby on her personal Instagram. Go show her some love. Go show her some love. She doesn't want to come, just buckle up because sometimes I forget to post. I know I wrote a song called Unfollow Me, but please go follow me. Follow that at Matt underscore Howard.

He's like, if you want to know how I really feel, please listen to my song, still not enough. And YouTube. We post again someday. We're the most active on our podcast, though. Yeah. Okay, good to know. That's awesome. We'll put all the links in the notes.

Okay, thank you guys for being here. We love y'all. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, we'll talk to you later. Bye.