1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: This episode is brought to you by Woolworths Delivery Unlimited. 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 2: Acknowledge that it will be a bit rocky. You know 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 2: you might not fall on your feet first. Go give 4 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 2: yourself a bit of a break, don't be too hard 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 2: on yourself. And it's okay to look back and think, 6 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 2: oh God, I shouldn't have left, and but don't stay 7 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 2: in that space for too long. Own what you're doing 8 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: and look forward. I think that's something that we try 9 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 2: and still as read. The only thing we can control 10 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,279 Speaker 2: right now is how I'm feeling right now. 11 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Seas the Yay Podcast. Busy and happy 12 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: are not the same thing. We too rarely question what 13 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: makes the heart seeing. We work, then we rest, but 14 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: rarely we play and often don't realize there's more than 15 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: one way. So this is a platform to hear and 16 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: explore the stories of those who found lives. They adore, 17 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 1: the good, bad and ugly. The best and worst days 18 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 1: will bear all the facets of seizing your yay. I'm 19 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: Sarah Davidson or a spoonful of Sarah, a lawyer turned fu 20 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: entrepreneur who's wapped the suits and heels to co found 21 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: matcha maiden and matcha milk bar. The YA is a 22 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: series of conversations on finding a life you love and 23 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: exploring the self doubt, challenge, joy and fulfillment along the way. Well, 24 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: I can't believe we've reached our last guest interview for 25 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: the year. My gosh. We've had some touch and go 26 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 1: moments in twenty twenty one, in and out of lockdown 27 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: and therefore in and out of motivation, with rapidly changing 28 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 1: schedules to juggle and everything in between. But we made it, 29 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: and I'm so proud of the YA We've created in 30 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: our third year together. I can't say enough how grateful 31 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: I am for you, lovely yighborhood. I know I say 32 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: it all the time, Oh my gosh, I bang on 33 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: about it all the time, but you have genuinely kept 34 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: me saying this year and given me so many reasons 35 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: to smile with our healthcare worker care pack sendouts, our 36 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: Q and A episodes two mini series which was a 37 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: brand new idea, and just the lovely messages that you 38 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: guys take the time to send through each week about 39 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: particular episodes and how they impact your life. It just 40 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: makes my world so full of YEA. Even in the 41 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: midst of a pandemic. I will be taking a proper 42 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: break over the festive season for quite a few weeks 43 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: this time, just really need to refill the cup. But 44 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: as usual, we'll be re releasing some favorites in case 45 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 1: you missed any and we'll be back early next year 46 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,959 Speaker 1: with Ange of course as well, joining us vias of 47 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 1: our lives to bring you bigger and better Yay next year. 48 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: For today, I couldn't think of a more perfect guest 49 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: or should I say guests to finish off the year 50 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: on a high than the two amazing humans that you're 51 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: about to hear from. And this episode is all the 52 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: more special because despite a massing and enormous community with 53 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: whom they share so much of their lives on social media, 54 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: this is the first time ever that they've shared their 55 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: story on a podcast and I'm still pinching myself that 56 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 1: they said yes, of course, I'm talking about the real 57 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: dads of Melbourne aka Jared and Michael, Doug and Tierney, 58 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: who give the beloved sitcom Modern Family such a good 59 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: run for its money, sharing their beautiful life as parents 60 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: to son Reid, who was born via a surrogate and 61 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: now as foster parents to baby Junior. They probably need 62 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: no introduction to most of you, stealing hearts all over 63 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,679 Speaker 1: the nation and beyond for their hilariously down to worth 64 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: recounting of the ups and downs of family life. If 65 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: you haven't heard about them yet, you are in for 66 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: an absolute treat. And even if you do know them, 67 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: given that this is their first podcast ever, this is 68 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: the real Dads as you've never heard them before, covering 69 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: everything from coming out, meeting and falling in love at Quantus, 70 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: the process of surrogacy, and teaching your kids to embrace 71 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: their uniqueness. We're very lucky to share an incredible manager. 72 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: Shout out to Genevieve at day Management, who we absolutely 73 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: adore and I live around the corner from the Dads. 74 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: But there is so much in this one that I 75 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: hadn't heard before. I usually give away more teasers of 76 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: what's to come in the intro, but my words just 77 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: can't do their wit, honesty, love and genuineness, justice. There's laughter, tears, 78 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: and every other emotion in between in this one. I'll 79 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: let Jared and Michael tell you their story themselves, and 80 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: if you're not as in love with them as I am, 81 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 1: by the end, I'd be surprised. Jared and Michael aka 82 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: Real Dad's Welcome to the show. 83 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 3: Thanks so much, Sarah, thanks so much for having us. 84 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: I'm so excited to have you guys here today. I 85 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 1: always love chatting with you, but particularly as this is 86 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,119 Speaker 1: your very first podcast ever. It feels like a real 87 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: honor to be able to share your story for the 88 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: first time in this format. And it's been such a 89 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: long time since we saw each other in person. 90 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 2: Well, I saw you up the street, but we couldn't 91 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 2: go in the back of your car taking a photo of. 92 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 1: As soon as I heard my name, I was like, 93 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: oh my god, it's happened. I've made it onto influences 94 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: in the wild and Nick trying to get a nice 95 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: candid photo of us in the boot of the car 96 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: as if we were actually like, we chose the most 97 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: obscure side streets so we wouldn't see any other humans 98 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: next in it. 99 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 3: Hums. 100 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, but you had Junior with you, guys. I think 101 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: it was one of your first walks and it was 102 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 1: just so beautiful. 103 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 3: That was pretty amazing. 104 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, how special. And I cannot wait to 105 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: dive into this brand new addition to your family. But 106 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: also the whole journey of how you formed your wonderful family. 107 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 1: And I love that you guys think you're really boring 108 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: and uninteresting, but we all hold onto every single detail 109 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: of your life so thrilled to dive into it today. 110 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: But before we jump into that, I love to start 111 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 1: by breaking the eyes with what you guys think is 112 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: the most down to earth thing about you, even though 113 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: sometimes it seems like a jarring question or it seems 114 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: really straightforward. I think if people see only you guys 115 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: on social media, knowing that you have such a big following, 116 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: and it also often seems like you've got such clear 117 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: direction around, you know what you want out of life, 118 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: what your priorities are, how you know your family values. 119 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: And I think we all forget that all of us 120 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: have totally normal things, doubts and worries and like quirky 121 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: habits that we have. So what's something really normal about 122 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 1: you guys in between all the all the social gloss. 123 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, as you say, I think we only share, like 124 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 3: anybody on social media, highlights of your life or you know, 125 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 3: things you're passionate about. So I think we're pretty transparent 126 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 3: and we share down to earth. Yeah, spects of our life. 127 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 3: I'm sitting Michael from the top up, I'm in a 128 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 3: share from the bottom. 129 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: Down, I'm in track pants, same babe. 130 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 3: That pretty much represents who we are, you know. 131 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think what you touched on before about is 132 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 2: just being pretty boring. I think we're average guys, you know, 133 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 2: doing doing life. Yeah. Yeah, we're obviously very proud dads. 134 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 2: And that's the most important part of her life is 135 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 2: read so hopefully creating a safe and secure mind socurre 136 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 2: in moment for him and you know, watching him grow 137 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 2: and learn and be able to navigate this tricky world. 138 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I think you guys do that so well with 139 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 1: such grace and also such honesty. You kind of it's 140 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 1: not like you're telling this story retrospectively. You've actually really 141 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: brought a lot of your followers along the ride from 142 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: the very beginning and navigating all the different chapters, and 143 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: you know that you share a lot of that along 144 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: the way. And I think you've become really really big 145 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: role models for so many people who have families that 146 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: look a little bit different to what you know, the 147 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: conventional or traditional family structure looks like, and are really 148 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: helping others embrace and own that, which is so beautiful. 149 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: I have so much admiration for you both. 150 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 2: Thank you, Thank you. Yeah, difference is something that I 151 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 2: think should be celebrated, something that we're really proud of 152 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 2: to be, you know, challenging that social norm. 153 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 1: I suppose, yeah, And I think you do it so well. 154 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: And I think the more that people can see, like, 155 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: I think one of the big problems with representation in 156 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: any area is that people often look at the landscape 157 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: and can't see themselves, or they can't see their family, 158 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: or they can't see their situation represented anywhere because either 159 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: people don't share it or haven't felt comfortable, or it's 160 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: stigmatized or whatever. But I love how you guys are 161 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: just putting your modern family out there and sharing all 162 00:07:58,080 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: the parts of it that make it hard and far 163 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: and easy and beautiful. And yeah, I think the real 164 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: dads is it's replaced modern family as a channel for 165 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: me to watch and I kind of just want you 166 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: guys to be like my dad's also. 167 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 3: After all these years is our username. It's something that 168 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 3: Michael wants to keep it. He's happy to keep it 169 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 3: because he actually just doesn't care what the name of it. 170 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 3: It makes me cringe, Like the Real Dad a lot 171 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 3: of new you know, if you get a new follow. 172 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 2: Or something like Real Dads. 173 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 3: You know, used to sound like a couple of wan 174 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 3: because it was a stupid spin off of a TV 175 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 3: series before it even was an Australian TV series. It 176 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 3: was just The Real Housewives of OC or something that 177 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 3: I used to watch and it was just a username. 178 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 3: Whereas we did laughed having a bit of a life. 179 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 3: We didn't think it'd be that popular. 180 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: It's so popular. It turns out you've got like an 181 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: entire tribe of people following you. I also love how 182 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 1: it's Real Dads and like we expect that it's a 183 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: shared account, you'll hear both voices, but really it's just 184 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: Jared and Michael like vaguely tolerating and like sometimes being 185 00:08:58,160 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: in the background. 186 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,079 Speaker 3: I mean, it's both of us to contribute to it. 187 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 3: It's you know, like I'm like, can I share that? 188 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,959 Speaker 3: Mark's like, fuck, no, you cannot share that, so therefore 189 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 3: it doesn't chair. But he also edits a lot of 190 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 3: the scripts. I don't ever ever share anything, not one 191 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 3: images on there that you've not looked at and gone, okay, 192 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:19,719 Speaker 3: you're representing our family, you can do that. So there 193 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 3: is definitely the creative. 194 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 2: I'm definitely the witty one with a wicked sense of humor. 195 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: Oh, I think both of you are. I mean we 196 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: just before we started recording, we're talking about the great 197 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: circle carpet gage that's been happening in your family of late. 198 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: There was a. 199 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 2: I stepped over that rug for two weeks trying to 200 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 2: lay it at the bottom of the stairs. 201 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 3: It was like laid out on the ground thing. Heavens 202 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 3: we haven't had any visitors because like it was a trip. 203 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: Oh wait, I mean I was looking at it, thinking 204 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: that's a disaster. I mean, read has Dad's classes in 205 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 1: the house, Like, but I love how Michael just like 206 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: stepped right over it, like no, I will cut it later. 207 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: I think it ended up in a bed at one point. 208 00:09:58,080 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. 209 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 3: I was like, well, tried to get it in his car, 210 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 3: Like I was down in the garage heaving that bloody 211 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 3: thing into the car, and then I couldn't get the 212 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 3: door closed. 213 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 2: I'm like, no, this is no, this is just not 214 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 2: what I should be doing with it. 215 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 3: So I bought it back upstairs and then I moved 216 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 3: to a couple more locations, and yes, ended up in 217 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 3: the bed Michael. 218 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 2: He has to go to bed sometimes. 219 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: Basically, Jared had a car, but he wanted to cut 220 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: into a circle. Michael had to cut it into a circle. 221 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: It was a big disaster. It didn't get cut into 222 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: a circle. And then when it did get cut into 223 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: the circle, it was laid out like only the cutouts 224 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: from around the circle were cut out and put into 225 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: the room, which I also think is beautiful. So you 226 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 1: say that Jared is the joker in the relationship, Michael, 227 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: but I don't believe that. 228 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's true. 229 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 2: It was pretty funny Jared. It amusing, but I thought 230 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 2: it was absolutely hysterical. 231 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh. Well, the very first section of this show, 232 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: as you guys probably already know, is Your Way TA 233 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 1: or Your Pathya, which is pretty much tracing back all 234 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: the chapters of your life before the one. Like you mentioned, 235 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: you know, you have a lot of people who have 236 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,719 Speaker 1: started following you recently and walk into your life and 237 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: presents as if you know. I think we just forget 238 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: that everyone has been through a lot of angst and 239 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: a lot of diversions and not knowing what your purpose 240 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: or your goals in life. Are along the way, and 241 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: I love tracing back through them to show that just 242 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: life is not linear. Finding your joy and finding your 243 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: partner in yea is also not linear, and taking the 244 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: right time, you know, to become the person you are 245 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: is never a kind of an overnight success. So can 246 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: you guys take us back to your younger selves, what 247 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: you were like as kids? And this can be like 248 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: pre each other as well, because I think sometimes when 249 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: you get known as a couple again, like people can 250 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: conflate your identities, but also forget that you were different 251 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: people before you met and then that you have this 252 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: beautiful love story as well. So yeah, let's go back 253 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: to childhood first and go through what you were like 254 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: as kids, what you loved, what you thought you'd be. 255 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 2: Yeah. Sure. 256 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 3: I was born in Mildura. 257 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 2: Oh Miltura, Yeah yeah, country boy. My mum is still 258 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 2: there with most of my family. I have one that 259 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 2: lives here in Melbourne. Growing up as a kid, there 260 00:11:57,600 --> 00:11:58,719 Speaker 2: was a lot of fun, you know, a lot of 261 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 2: open space and the weather really good times. My dad 262 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 2: was really sick. He had cancer when I was really little, 263 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 2: so I think my childhood went from being an innocent 264 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 2: little boy to stepping up and being a sense of 265 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 2: strength of my mum who wasn't coping very well with 266 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 2: dad's illness. Mum and Dad spent a lot of time 267 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 2: in Melbourne, and my brother and I stayed with my grandparents, 268 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 2: our grandparents there. 269 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 3: So yeah, I think I. 270 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 2: Just learned to step up and feel just the need 271 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 2: to sort of make people feel okay, and that was 272 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 2: sort of my job, which is really interesting now that 273 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:38,959 Speaker 2: I look back, as the way I parent read or 274 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 2: the way that I am with people is just sort 275 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 2: of reliable, and I really link that back to them 276 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 2: that when I yeah, I was really young, so it's extraordinary. 277 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 2: Part of our fostering program, we had to write our 278 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 2: life story and that's something that was so cathartic. Not 279 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 2: many people get the opportunity to sit down and you know, 280 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 2: take the time to do that. It was a really 281 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 2: incredible lesson for myself to look back as to you know, 282 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,719 Speaker 2: why I am the person that I am now. I mean, 283 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 2: if everyone would do it, it's the most incredible exercise, 284 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 2: but we just don't have a lot of time to 285 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 2: do that sort of stuff. It was was amazing anyway, 286 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 2: I digress there. Yeah, as a kid, I was just 287 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 2: very sort of happy and outgoing. And yeah, I obviously 288 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 2: didn't come out till much later, but I knew always 289 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: I was different. I knew I just didn't fit the mold. 290 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 2: But I could never understand why I'd never metiga person 291 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 2: at all, and that obviously wasn't on my radar at all. 292 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 2: But it wasn't un till my twenties and I sort 293 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 2: of worked out how I, you know, fitted in and I 294 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 2: suppose discovered my own identity and truth. 295 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 1: Wow, isn't it so interesting? This is why I love 296 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 1: this section so much, which you know, at the start, 297 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people are like, oh, we're 298 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: going back so far into the past. But it's quite 299 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 1: often that you'll see people connecting the dots as they're 300 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 1: reflecting on their story, and sometimes for the first time 301 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: they're going, ah, I didn't know that that was, you know, 302 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: planting a seed for twenty years later, or I didn't 303 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,439 Speaker 1: realize that that the genesis of this big revelation when 304 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: I was forty, you know, started back when I was six. 305 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 1: And it's sort of beautiful to let people see that 306 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: their life is really just a big jigsaw puzzle. And 307 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: for other people who are often, I think, come to 308 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: this show feeling confused about their direction, or lost about 309 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: their identity, or on the cusp of a big change, 310 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: just to hear that really no one has ever really 311 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: had it figured out. Very few people wake up and go, 312 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: I know my sexuality, I know my passions, I know 313 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: my joys, I know my dislikes, and this is my life. 314 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: Like it just doesn't happen that way, So. 315 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 2: I don't know that way. That's so true. 316 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 3: Absolutely. Yeah. 317 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: I love that that came up so early for you, 318 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: that the first time you ever sat down to write 319 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: your history was such a cathartic kind of moment for you. 320 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, and what was for the whole family really 321 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 3: because we also you know, sat with read and explained 322 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 3: to him after we reflected on everything and we sort 323 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 3: of told him our full life stories as well. 324 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 2: He's at an. 325 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 3: Age now which he's living those years that we lived, 326 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 3: and it was really really powerful. 327 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, as I mentioned, it was a really really powerful exercise. 328 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 3: And as far as myself, I grew up in Tazzy, 329 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 3: you know, in a time before social media, in a 330 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 3: time before computer games. Really all some families had computi games. 331 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 2: We didn't have them. 332 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 3: I've got an older brother who's five years older than 333 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 3: I am, and I've got a sister who's eight years younger. Yeah, 334 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 3: Mum remarried when I was little and they had my sister, 335 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 3: so that's why the big age gap. My father lives 336 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 3: in the Sunshine Coast. He remarried and had three children 337 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 3: to the six of us in total. I lived out 338 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 3: of just out of Hope Art. We lived on four acres, 339 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 3: so our house was sort of in the middle of 340 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 3: those four acres, and I played on my BMX bike. 341 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 3: I built cubby houses. I was laughing at me for 342 00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 3: some strangeries. 343 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 2: And there's a lot about my stories of you you know, 344 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 2: like lighting fires and yeah, I used to steal a 345 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 2: mum's cigarette lighter and go a light of bush and 346 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 2: then things would get out a little bit out of 347 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 2: hand and I'd have to, you know, like write it. 348 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 3: In a little bit of hometell Mum, you know why 349 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 3: am my clothes burnt? Or why I smell like smoke? 350 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 3: I haven't been smoking down there. I've been like, you know, 351 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 3: seting fire. 352 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: You know, just extreme. That's fine, exactly. That sounds like 353 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: such a typical tazzy upbringing. You guys know, Nick's from Devinpoort, 354 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: same things, Like my childhood was how did I survive? 355 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 2: Like wild exactly? 356 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 3: Now I'm like, oh my godness, we're so precious, you know, 357 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 3: I keep doing anything like really like even he's mad 358 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 3: about rollerskating at the moment, and he's probably doesn't need 359 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 3: as much protective whereas he does, but he leaves here 360 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 3: like looking I know, like. 361 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 2: He's if he could rollerskate in one of those sumo suits, 362 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 2: we would then keep you wearing it, you know, give 363 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 2: a minute. 364 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 3: We petrified he's going to break a leg or yeah 365 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 3: where yeah, yeah, see in the afternoon, if I go 366 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 3: on my bike without a helmet, you know, oh my god. 367 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't think we knew what helmets were back then, 368 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 1: although I mean I'm glad we've come a long way 369 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 1: and child's safety and so like, were you, you know, 370 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: quite outdoorsy? What did you think that would translate to? 371 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 1: Because I always think it's really interesting to go back 372 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: to what you thought you'd be as well, because at 373 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: some point in all of our childhoods, we go from 374 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: the intersection between what you're good at and what you 375 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 1: love and that's your future and then suddenly you let 376 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 1: like social expectation and financial stability and all these other 377 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 1: weird concepts start to dictate your decisions. So when did 378 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: you start to think about, like what you wanted to become? 379 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, look at my my, My part of that story 380 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 3: is very boring. I still don't know what I want 381 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 3: to be when I grow up. I have no idea 382 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 3: what I want to be. I'm just living my life 383 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 3: right now. And you know, of course, so much comes 384 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 3: into it. Like you just said, you know, you're worry about, 385 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 3: you know, stability, and you know where you're going to 386 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 3: be and will you make it to retirement and what 387 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:00,360 Speaker 3: your retirement. 388 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 2: It looks like. 389 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 3: And it's only recently, you know, we've been together now 390 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,159 Speaker 3: over twenty years. It's only recently the last couple of 391 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 3: years that we've gone hold on, we need to think 392 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 3: about like our retirement. We've always been very sensible with 393 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 3: money and always you know, tried really hard to you know, 394 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 3: have stability in that area for sure, But it's like 395 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 3: what's retirement looked like? You know, your income stream stops, 396 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 3: but your lifestyle doesn't, you know, you know, even the 397 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 3: mean it's changed in the last two years. But like 398 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 3: I don't think we'll travel. That's why we decided to 399 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,159 Speaker 3: buy a house out of town, because we're like, that 400 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 3: will be what our retirement now looks like. It was 401 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 3: totally different to what our retirement looked like two years ago. 402 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 2: So absolutely, I think that you're looking at retirements just 403 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 2: just a word. I'm fifty next year, which means that 404 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 2: stop it. 405 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 1: I know, my God, tell me about your skincare immediately 406 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 1: that's the Apple Market's like, it's it's the filter. 407 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 3: I know. 408 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 2: And thinking that that word is now something that's only 409 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 2: ten years away, so we really do have to think 410 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 2: about that and plan for it, which where. 411 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 3: We've done, we've got someone in charge of that. Now 412 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 3: it's all very grown up. 413 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 2: It is so grown up. 414 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: I actually have this like dawning horrible realization that I'm 415 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 1: never going to wake up one day and feel grown up, 416 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: Like it's just going to be decayed after decade, still going. 417 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: There are some more adultier adults like that. I asked 418 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: what to do about stuff. 419 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 3: I see them, like, you know, people come up on 420 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 3: the news and their title come over and I'm like, 421 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 3: oh my god, okay, young I look Michael, You're like, oh, 422 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 3: that's because we're actually old. 423 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 2: Now. 424 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 1: Mine is when I see like a twenty nine year 425 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:41,159 Speaker 1: old with a baby and I'm like, oh, it's a 426 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: teenage mum, so sweet and like innocent. Oh my god, 427 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: there must be really tough for you. And then I'm like, 428 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: that's the normal age when people actually voluntarily have children 429 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: do that. And it's so cool that you guys have 430 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 1: been together for twenty years because again I also think 431 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,440 Speaker 1: you know you're mentioning that your priorities have been shifting. 432 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 1: It's so interesting in relationships like Nick and I are 433 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: nearly twelve years, which is quite a long time given 434 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: like that I'm only thirty two. But in relationships, I 435 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 1: love that you have to go through like lots of 436 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,440 Speaker 1: chapters together, and you've been through lots of those together. 437 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 1: But I'd love to go right back to the very 438 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: beginning when you both first came out, because only if 439 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,360 Speaker 1: you're comfortable talking about it, of course, but I think 440 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,160 Speaker 1: both of you coming from like smaller towns or smaller 441 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 1: areas where and particularly before social media, where you might 442 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,640 Speaker 1: often not have even had the language or the skills 443 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,880 Speaker 1: to even identify what you were feeling, let alone actually 444 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,640 Speaker 1: then do something about it. Come out to your families, 445 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 1: to your friends, but then also you know, leading you 446 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: to find each other. How did that all unravel for 447 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: both of you? 448 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 3: Well, I think our stories were probably very different in 449 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 3: that respect. I didn't come out to my family until 450 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 3: I was in a state of relationship with Michael. We've 451 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 3: been together for a few months. They knew him as 452 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 3: just a friend, or I thought they knew him was 453 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 3: just a friend. But you know, they all knew your 454 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:08,399 Speaker 3: mum's no mom, no best you know mums like I 455 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 3: always knew and didn't didn't bother her at all, which 456 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 3: it shouldn't, you know. And we were actually like we're 457 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 3: talking about obviously coming on to your podcast. I'm like, 458 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 3: if that questions asked, wouldn't it be amazing? One day 459 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 3: we understand why it is asked now, especially in our generation, 460 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 3: but one day that's not a question like it's when 461 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:28,959 Speaker 3: did you come out? 462 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 2: It's like, well, when did you not come out? 463 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 3: You know? 464 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 1: I think there are actually people I've had someone on 465 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: the podcast who was like, I never came out. I 466 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 1: never came out. I never needed to make an announcement. 467 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: I just was how I am. 468 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, yeah, that was that's amazing. 469 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 3: That's it. That's what we hope, and we hope, you know, 470 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:50,120 Speaker 3: in Read's generation and his children that it's just that's 471 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 3: just not a question anymore. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah. 472 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,440 Speaker 2: Me, My story is a bit different. As I mentioned before, 473 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,119 Speaker 2: growing up in a small country town with you and 474 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:05,200 Speaker 2: met a gay person. Never could I identify with homosexuality. 475 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 2: And it wasn't until I became a flight attendant, which is, 476 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 2: you know, the quintessential gay role. 477 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 1: Okay, I'm glad you said that, not me. Okay, good, 478 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: we're allowed to acknowledge it. 479 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 3: I don't know. 480 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 2: And I came to Melbourne for my training and I 481 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 2: met gay people when I'm like, wow, this is amazing, 482 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,439 Speaker 2: Like I finally sort of have found my people. So 483 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 2: it was interesting. 484 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:31,199 Speaker 3: You know. 485 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 2: I didn't come out for another couple of years after that, 486 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 2: whilst I sort of you know, navigated my journey, but 487 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 2: coming out to mum and Dad was something that I 488 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 2: did first. I just if you're being really honest with 489 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 2: yourself that you know, they don't really know you unless 490 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 2: they've got your whole story, you know. I told my 491 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 2: brother first and asked him to come with me to 492 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 2: a family meeting with Mum and Dad, we'd never had 493 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 2: a family meeting in our lives, Like, what's this about? 494 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: I was going to say, what do you mean for 495 00:22:58,760 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: that's a regular thing? 496 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 2: Mom thought I was there to tell her that my 497 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 2: housemate was pregnant to you. 498 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,719 Speaker 3: So that was confusing and awkward. 499 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: But look, the gender reveal balloon was no longer appropriate. 500 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 2: But look, yeah, my brother was really supportive. Mum cried 501 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 2: just for the reasons. I don't think she could understand 502 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 2: what that future look like for her son. Dad was amazing. 503 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 2: Dad was He said something like, it was quite funny. 504 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 2: We can't do anything about that now. But what he 505 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 2: meant by that was the next day he caught me 506 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 2: up again and is like, what I meant by that, Well, 507 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 2: that doesn't it doesn't matter, it never has that. We 508 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 2: don't need to do anything about that. 509 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, not like it's too late for me to fix that. 510 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 1: Not what he meant. 511 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 2: What he meant, but he didn't have the ability to 512 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 2: articulate how he was feeling. But it was also very 513 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 2: strange because my brother, who had battled a long time 514 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 2: of drug use and depression and went down that road 515 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 2: really really young as a young teenager, was all the 516 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 2: result of him being abused as a child unbeknownst to anyone. 517 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 2: So on one hand, you know, my brother had, you know, 518 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:16,160 Speaker 2: these experiences with a pedophile, and it was really important 519 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 2: that I share my feelings with with him first, you know, 520 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:23,199 Speaker 2: just I don't know, I was just so confusing to 521 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 2: separate that that, you know, predator unwanted advances to someone 522 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,360 Speaker 2: who is attracted to men. So you know, I had 523 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 2: how does this work in my head? How does he feel? 524 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 2: What's mum and dad's take on all of this? So 525 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 2: it was quite quite the journey. But my brother, God 526 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 2: love him, and my late brother's passed away. 527 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 3: He was the most. 528 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 2: Amazing, amazing man and with you know, his open heart 529 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 2: explained you know, his feelings and his love for me, 530 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:54,120 Speaker 2: and but you know I needed his love and blessing 531 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 2: and we went through that together. 532 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:58,360 Speaker 3: And you know the rest of my. 533 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,919 Speaker 2: Family they've found out. And yeah, I've never been treated 534 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 2: any any differently, nor should anyone, And yeah, I think 535 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 2: it's something until the same sex marriage was pasted, didn't 536 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 2: understand the impact of being able to be married or 537 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 2: having that choice, So. 538 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,200 Speaker 3: It wasn't something really, I don't think even our relationship 539 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 3: earlier that We always said we wanted to have a 540 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 3: child like that was very spoken on very early, but 541 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 3: marriage was never because I think it was we weren't allowed. 542 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:31,120 Speaker 3: It was not an option for us, so we're okay. 543 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 3: It was just like it's the times that we live in. 544 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:34,640 Speaker 2: I don't I know think. 545 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:37,119 Speaker 3: I think it's like anything in our relationship and anything 546 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 3: in our lives personally, we don't really want anything that's unachievable, 547 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:44,960 Speaker 3: like we need to know it's there to grab. 548 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 2: It sort of thing, whereas we just don't know. It 549 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 2: didn't allow ourselves. 550 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 3: We never went we're not allowed to get. 551 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,320 Speaker 1: Married, or like it was just you just didn't even 552 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:54,200 Speaker 1: think about it. 553 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 2: Oh, didn't register. 554 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think that's why it's one of those 555 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: things where you do hope that in future generations, and 556 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 1: I think we are moving the conversation along at a 557 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: rapid pace in this last sort of five to ten years. 558 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: It is something you hope that in the future, gay 559 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: couples or non binary people don't actually have to come 560 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:16,399 Speaker 1: out and they don't have to answer these questions. But 561 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,199 Speaker 1: I think now the reason why I do ask is 562 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,399 Speaker 1: because you're providing in these answers so much reassurance for 563 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: people who might live in small country towns now or 564 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: who might be up against religious or socio cultural reasons 565 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:33,040 Speaker 1: why their family perhaps aren't as progressed in the conversation. 566 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 1: And I think also because some coming out stories are 567 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,160 Speaker 1: very positive for some people, it costs them a lot. 568 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,639 Speaker 1: But it's weighing up the cost of well, do you 569 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: want to live your life as you are and maybe 570 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 1: lose a few people along the way, or just face 571 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,439 Speaker 1: some challenge and some pain in that process, or do 572 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 1: you want to keep hiding it at the expense of 573 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: living your life and finding your partner and then being 574 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:57,320 Speaker 1: able to get married you know, when the law finally 575 00:26:57,359 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 1: caught up along a long time later. But the way 576 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 1: that you guys do talk about your you know, coming 577 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 1: out times and also the things you've navigated as a 578 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,199 Speaker 1: couple as well, it helps other people so much not 579 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:10,719 Speaker 1: feel alone in that experience. 580 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I think the reason why I came out 581 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 3: was I was starting to have to sort of lie, 582 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:21,199 Speaker 3: and that's just a massive thing. You know, like a 583 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 3: parent or a friend even would say, oh, you know, 584 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 3: who's Michael or where are you going? You know, why 585 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 3: are you going to see Michael? Again or whatever. 586 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: Why are you guys naked in the shower. 587 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 3: If you're having to start lying lying to cover up 588 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:45,160 Speaker 3: what is something that is love? Then it was time 589 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 3: I had to tell someone. So I did mine in 590 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 3: the form of writing my mother a letter and I 591 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 3: left it on the kitchen bench. That afternoon, she drove 592 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:56,640 Speaker 3: me to the airport because I was moving to Melbourne 593 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:57,160 Speaker 3: to live. 594 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:58,440 Speaker 2: With Michael. 595 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:02,360 Speaker 1: With your mate from Footy. 596 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 3: Exactly so. And then and at the bottom of the letter, 597 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:08,720 Speaker 3: it's like a three page letter. I wish I had 598 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 3: actually kept a copy of that letter, just so that 599 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:14,119 Speaker 3: I can reflect on it now, you know, all these 600 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 3: years later as to would have written the same thing, 601 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 3: And how did I justify it? 602 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 2: Because I don't actually remember, because it would have been. 603 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 3: You know, I would have been quite numb writing, you know, 604 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 3: most of it, because I'm like, oh my god, my mother. 605 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:27,359 Speaker 2: You know, I wasn't explicit in it. Let me just 606 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 2: I am telling her what. 607 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:35,919 Speaker 1: I was just, you know, Mum, sometimes there are two bees. 608 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 3: I think I made a reference in me that I'm 609 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 3: not going to be wearing PVC, just to clarify that. 610 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 3: And I wish I wish I had a copy of 611 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 3: that letter. 612 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 1: Oh my god, that'd be amazing. 613 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 3: And the very last sentence was like, and please don't 614 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 3: ring me in discuss this light. 615 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 1: In the past. 616 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 2: Let's all move on. 617 00:28:57,040 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 3: And however you want to move on, you know, we 618 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 3: never speak of it again. And then of course I 619 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 3: get to Melbourne and get off the plane, turn my 620 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 3: phone on. It was ringing, like I was ringing as 621 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 3: I was holding it on button, and Mum's name was there. 622 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 3: I was like, Michael was there. What I hadn't told 623 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 3: Michael that I'd written them the letter? You know, we 624 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 3: spoke about it. We'd only been dating three months when 625 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 3: I moved state for him and he got a train. 626 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 2: And Mum was like, I got your letter. 627 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 3: And I was just like sweating, and I'm like yeah, 628 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 3: and she's like it's fine, you know, like I. 629 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 2: Knew, so. 630 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 1: No surprise base exactly. 631 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 3: Exactly as Michael said, parents, I think, you know, they's 632 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 3: you know, amazing supportive parents, Like we were very fortunate 633 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 3: to both have struggle what to say, you know, because 634 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 3: they also don't know what's right or wrong to say 635 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 3: to you, you know, like your dad, his intentions were amazing. 636 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 3: But some people would read that and go, oh, you 637 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 3: know here hear that and go, what do you mean 638 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:00,959 Speaker 3: you you just you know, you're hay with it, like 639 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 3: it's yeah, it's not an it, it's just yeah, so yeah. 640 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 1: I think also what's really interesting is because when you 641 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 1: both did come out, it was a very different generation generally, 642 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:16,880 Speaker 1: and it's you know, the kind of homosexual couples have 643 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 1: come a long way in society as being normalized and 644 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 1: spoken about a lot more. There's marriage. You know, a 645 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 1: lot of us have a married couple in our friendship groups. 646 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: I think now that that's where the non binary conversation 647 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 1: is sitting, and it's important for people to remember that, 648 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: like in the beginning of anything that starts to become 649 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: more socially discussed, there is a lot of and not 650 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 1: even malicious, but there's a lot of questions from people 651 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 1: around how do they act And it's an out of 652 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 1: care for you as well, like not offending you or 653 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:46,480 Speaker 1: not asking the wrong questions or I think one of 654 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 1: the things that comes up quite a lot is when 655 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 1: you first come out, people are like, oh, but we 656 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:52,720 Speaker 1: were mates. Are you attracted to me now? As if 657 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:55,680 Speaker 1: like every human is also I'm like, girls and guys 658 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 1: can be friends and not like sleeping together. So why 659 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 1: is it suddenly like you guys are hitting on you 660 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 1: know what I mean. But I think if there's no 661 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,600 Speaker 1: malicious intention. You know, even Danny was saying the other day, 662 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 1: like people, you know, they even mess up their own pronouns. Now, 663 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: you know, let's say He's like, as long as everyone's 664 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 1: trying to learn, And I think you guys have probably 665 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: seen people maybe be a bit awkward at the beginning 666 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 1: and not know what to do, but slowly, slowly you've 667 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 1: helped normalize it as well for a lot of people 668 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:23,680 Speaker 1: in your community. 669 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's y. 670 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:28,440 Speaker 3: I try and educacate myself, like looking at pages like Danny's, 671 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 3: and I don't want to get it wrong, you know, 672 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 3: I don't want to get you know, you're in fear, 673 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:34,760 Speaker 3: and now I understand what people would be would have 674 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 3: been like for us, you know, like talking about our 675 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 3: relationship earlier on that they. 676 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 2: Were in fear of offending us. 677 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 3: Like I'm not offended by any word you know that 678 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 3: anyone accidentally uses if it's coming from you know, a 679 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:51,000 Speaker 3: good place for their intentions to offend or hurt someone. 680 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 3: But yeah, it's back then too, they didn't have social media. 681 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 3: People like to be able to go, oh, I'll reference 682 00:31:57,920 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 3: back to them. They've got a good explanation of what 683 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,520 Speaker 3: a pronoun is or yeah, I was totally you. 684 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 2: Know, an old man. 685 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 3: You know, I do not understand this, and now I 686 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:08,880 Speaker 3: totally get it. 687 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 2: You know I get it. 688 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:11,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, andper important. 689 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:15,719 Speaker 1: So well, going back to gay time, which anyone who 690 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 1: is listening who doesn't know, I think I've spoken about 691 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:19,520 Speaker 1: this with a couple of people before, but all of 692 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 1: my gay friends have this, like let's move in, get 693 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 1: married and have babies in like an eleven and a 694 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 1: half month period very quickly. I don't know what it is. 695 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 1: Is it efficiency? I don't know what it is. I 696 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:33,280 Speaker 1: absolutely love it, though, like it's it's it's not even 697 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:37,320 Speaker 1: a stereotype. It's just like a universal experience. So you 698 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: guys obviously moved in together really quickly. Tell us your 699 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 1: love story. How did you meet? I heard it was 700 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 1: in Tazzi when you were both working at quantas well. 701 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 3: I wasn't actually working in quantas it was something I'd 702 00:32:47,400 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 3: always wanted to do. Michael had already been there. He 703 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:53,960 Speaker 3: started work in Mildura with Quantas got transferred to Lonceston 704 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 3: in Tazzy. He was down in Hobart. I just moved 705 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 3: back from Sydney. I've been living in and I'd moved 706 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:04,560 Speaker 3: back to Hobart and I knew he was a flight attendant. 707 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:06,040 Speaker 3: I met him out and I knew he was a 708 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 3: flight attendant. I was like, that's something I've always wanted 709 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:10,040 Speaker 3: to do. It's a bit gay, but. 710 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:14,160 Speaker 2: I really wanted to be on Like it's. 711 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:15,880 Speaker 1: A self fulfilling prophecy. 712 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, asked him a lot of questions about that. That's 713 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,800 Speaker 3: where a conversation I think sort of struck up. And 714 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:23,960 Speaker 3: then he's like, oh, give me a number. I'll send you, 715 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 3: you know, some information of people I know in recruitment 716 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 3: and the process. You know, it's a pretty full on 717 00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 3: process to be a flight attendant. You know, you go 718 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 3: through several interview stages and what they're looking for, and 719 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 3: you know, maybe get a bit of hospitality experience. Because 720 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 3: at that time I hadn't. I'd worked in supermarket and 721 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 3: you know, I was a lot younger, so what else. 722 00:33:46,160 --> 00:33:48,360 Speaker 2: Financial services and so forth? But I hadn't. 723 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:50,000 Speaker 1: Were you on the plane at this conversation? 724 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 2: No? No, No, this was in this is Danvin Hobert. 725 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 1: No, that would have been so cute, and you're like, hey, 726 00:33:57,640 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 1: he just like slipped in number on a serviette under A. 727 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:04,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. 728 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:06,720 Speaker 3: So then yeah, so we just struck up a friendship, 729 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 3: I think very early on, and you know, at every 730 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:11,919 Speaker 3: sort of opportunity Michael to come down to Hobart it's 731 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 3: like two and a half hours or two hour drive, 732 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 3: or I'd go up. 733 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:16,040 Speaker 2: To Lone System on days off. 734 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 3: So yeah, it sort of progressed from there, but it 735 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 3: progressed very fast in intense if Michael, look, I would 736 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 3: never never move a state for somebody in such a 737 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:27,960 Speaker 3: short period of time, but A it felt right, and 738 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:30,480 Speaker 3: B Michael had no choice. He'd got a transfer to 739 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 3: what he'd always wanted, which was mainline Quantas. So that was, 740 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 3: you know, moving to Melbourne. That's what that looked like 741 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:37,560 Speaker 3: for him. And we sort of knew that when I 742 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 3: met him, because one day I'll hopefully live in Melbourne 743 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:43,040 Speaker 3: and were working for in the larger aircraft. I just thought, well, 744 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:45,440 Speaker 3: fuck it, why not, like I've got nothing to lose, 745 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:47,839 Speaker 3: just pack my things that way and come back home 746 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:48,960 Speaker 3: you know, the other way. 747 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 2: And come back home against But I think what you 748 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 2: said a moment ago, it just felt right. You know, 749 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:56,040 Speaker 2: people talk about that that love at first sight, and 750 00:34:56,080 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 2: I'm not sure if it was love at first sight, 751 00:34:58,239 --> 00:34:59,840 Speaker 2: but it just felt right, you know, like it was 752 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:04,879 Speaker 2: comfortable and connections that was you know, yeah, just very 753 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:06,400 Speaker 2: very safe. 754 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:08,799 Speaker 3: You know, we both sort of wanted the same thing, 755 00:35:09,120 --> 00:35:11,640 Speaker 3: you know, like in the conversations that we had. We 756 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 3: were from different but similar backgrounds like our families, but 757 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:17,080 Speaker 3: you know, very similar. 758 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:21,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, just you know, honest people, working class, work hard, 759 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:24,439 Speaker 2: you know, treat people well. Just just both had that 760 00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:28,600 Speaker 2: that those common values and goals and our interests at 761 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:31,080 Speaker 2: the time or still is you know, like in cars. 762 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:34,560 Speaker 3: We both like vehicles, and. 763 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:41,560 Speaker 1: We both like transports and audio. I also heard that 764 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:43,879 Speaker 1: you even spoke about having kids on your first day, 765 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:44,800 Speaker 1: like really early. 766 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, it wasn't more of a like you know, like 767 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:51,040 Speaker 3: with each other right now. It was just more about 768 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:52,839 Speaker 3: you know, where do you see yourself, you know, as 769 00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:55,439 Speaker 3: a as a gay man? Back then when I don't 770 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:57,400 Speaker 3: think we would have even said to each other as 771 00:35:57,440 --> 00:35:57,879 Speaker 3: a gay man. 772 00:35:57,840 --> 00:35:58,480 Speaker 2: Because we wouldn't. 773 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:01,279 Speaker 3: I don't know, you didn't even talk about it, you know, 774 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:03,440 Speaker 3: like it's such a different. 775 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 2: Time that it was more in the context of I've 776 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 2: always wanted one to be a dad, yeah, you know, 777 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:13,759 Speaker 2: and meeting Jared was like, wow, oh you wanted that 778 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:16,600 Speaker 2: as well, Like, you know, that's something I didn't know 779 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:19,960 Speaker 2: I could feel anymore because obviously I'm gay. 780 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:22,840 Speaker 3: But that's okay to feel that you want to be 781 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 3: a parent, you know, you want that yearning that you know, 782 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:28,120 Speaker 3: people say that, you know, women have a lot of 783 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:31,160 Speaker 3: sort of feelings that they not feel not complete until 784 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:34,160 Speaker 3: they have a tilble. Some men maybe maybe it's that 785 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:37,120 Speaker 3: we feel that way sometimes too. But it wasn't that 786 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:39,400 Speaker 3: we were going, oh, we're going to have a baby, 787 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 3: or let's try and do this. 788 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:42,480 Speaker 2: It was more like, oh, you have that feeling too. 789 00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:44,640 Speaker 2: I have that feeling. Yeah, you know. It wasn't one 790 00:36:44,719 --> 00:36:47,320 Speaker 2: day you know, maybe this this, this will be possible 791 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:49,760 Speaker 2: for us, you know in some way, shape or form. 792 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 2: Probably back then it was more maybe not that's true, 793 00:36:53,719 --> 00:36:57,040 Speaker 2: but we had a lot to explore and learn and 794 00:36:57,080 --> 00:36:58,160 Speaker 2: we're on the same page with it. 795 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:02,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, before we continue, you all know, I like to 796 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:06,520 Speaker 1: jam pack my schedule and overdo it sometimes, so anything 797 00:37:06,560 --> 00:37:10,000 Speaker 1: that saves time, energy, or adds convenience to our daily 798 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:13,120 Speaker 1: life is a huge da in my books. That makes 799 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:15,759 Speaker 1: me so grateful toliver in a time where things like 800 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:19,520 Speaker 1: wool Words Delivery Unlimited exist, and the subscription has just 801 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:23,680 Speaker 1: undergone some very exciting improvements so we subscribers can reap 802 00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:27,920 Speaker 1: more benefits than ever. Delivery Unlimited is the amazing Warworth 803 00:37:27,960 --> 00:37:31,160 Speaker 1: service that gives you unlimited deliveries with a month to 804 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:34,719 Speaker 1: month or annual subscription, and now you can shop more 805 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:39,000 Speaker 1: often with a lower subscription fee and collect additional everyday 806 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:43,040 Speaker 1: rewards points for even more savings. Customers will continue to 807 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:46,600 Speaker 1: have access to ten dollars delivery now for deliveries under 808 00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: two hours, but now the minimum spend for free same 809 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:53,520 Speaker 1: day or next day delivery has been halved to fifty dollars. 810 00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:57,320 Speaker 1: Subscription fees have been slashed, and you get two times 811 00:37:57,360 --> 00:38:01,319 Speaker 1: the everyday rewards points on every online shop. For as 812 00:38:01,360 --> 00:38:04,879 Speaker 1: little as fifteen dollars a month, you can enjoy unlimited 813 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:08,520 Speaker 1: deliveries and the n ATA of draining grocery troops will 814 00:38:08,560 --> 00:38:11,479 Speaker 1: be knocked over forever. I'll pop the link in show 815 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:17,360 Speaker 1: notes now, well, I'm so so excited to jump into 816 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:20,440 Speaker 1: the process of nine years later finally welcoming your beautiful 817 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:22,560 Speaker 1: sun read into the world, because again I think it's 818 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:25,920 Speaker 1: something a lot of couples don't see as possible or workable. 819 00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:28,719 Speaker 1: And also, you guys have really shown that you can 820 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:31,520 Speaker 1: have a beautiful family life and a beautiful community around you, 821 00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:34,200 Speaker 1: and that read doesn't suffer for any kind of discrimination 822 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:36,960 Speaker 1: or you know, missing out. I think that's really really 823 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:40,320 Speaker 1: beautiful and powerful. But first, I have one gay question 824 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:42,480 Speaker 1: for you guys. I have another one later, but one 825 00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:45,279 Speaker 1: is have you ever been off on your gata and 826 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:47,360 Speaker 1: accidentally hit on a straight man? Because I'm like, is 827 00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:50,239 Speaker 1: there a code? Like how do you guys know? Do 828 00:38:50,280 --> 00:38:53,359 Speaker 1: you ever get it wrong? Or is your gaita just on? 829 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:56,759 Speaker 3: No, Look, I don't think i've ever no, no, no, no, 830 00:38:57,040 --> 00:38:57,919 Speaker 3: I've never got it wrong. 831 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:01,480 Speaker 2: Of course you get you know, girlfriend ringing. You're going like, 832 00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:02,799 Speaker 2: did you see him at the time? 833 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:05,319 Speaker 3: Do you think he's going Like, I don't have that 834 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:07,680 Speaker 3: type of I'm like, I have no idea. Like I 835 00:39:07,719 --> 00:39:09,840 Speaker 3: didn't even know I was when I was young. You know, 836 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:12,279 Speaker 3: I had so I didn't know I was. You know, 837 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:15,000 Speaker 3: Oh my god, you had girlfriends? Did you boy friends? 838 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:15,319 Speaker 2: Yeah? 839 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:18,520 Speaker 3: I had girlfriends before Michael didn't have girlfriends. I had girlfriends. 840 00:39:18,760 --> 00:39:22,640 Speaker 3: I was actually engaged to be married. Oh my god, 841 00:39:22,680 --> 00:39:23,440 Speaker 3: and you. 842 00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:30,719 Speaker 1: Know kids already you have children? No wait, was it Nick, 843 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:32,120 Speaker 1: because that's also possible. 844 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:36,680 Speaker 2: No good? 845 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:39,319 Speaker 3: You know young, I moved out at home when I 846 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:43,680 Speaker 3: was seventeen, you know, like, which now is mind blowing 847 00:39:43,719 --> 00:39:45,920 Speaker 3: for you know, the thought of Read moving out of 848 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:48,719 Speaker 3: home at seventeen, like I probably still won't let him 849 00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:50,080 Speaker 3: cross a busy road and it's a. 850 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:55,960 Speaker 1: Dream, you know, without a suit engage. 851 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:56,720 Speaker 2: Which's hats and stopped to slow down. 852 00:39:56,560 --> 00:40:01,399 Speaker 1: Signs, which is a you know, bubbles socker like bubble socker, 853 00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:03,400 Speaker 1: I speak tubble meet you just like push Read to 854 00:40:03,440 --> 00:40:04,040 Speaker 1: school in one. 855 00:40:03,960 --> 00:40:08,520 Speaker 3: Of those those it's when he starts taking himself to 856 00:40:08,560 --> 00:40:09,200 Speaker 3: school to wear it. 857 00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:10,200 Speaker 2: Oh my god. 858 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:14,640 Speaker 1: Okay, So from two thousand and one, fell in love, 859 00:40:14,920 --> 00:40:17,800 Speaker 1: moved in together very quickly after, but it took nine 860 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:22,160 Speaker 1: years until twenty ten when your live changed forever. And 861 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:25,600 Speaker 1: I think, not unlike adoption, if you don't have someone 862 00:40:25,719 --> 00:40:29,600 Speaker 1: in your network or even extended network, who's been involved 863 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:32,960 Speaker 1: in surrogacy, I don't think many people know the logistics 864 00:40:33,040 --> 00:40:35,680 Speaker 1: or know much about it. So as much as you're comfortable, 865 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:37,640 Speaker 1: would you guys be happy to share a little bit 866 00:40:37,640 --> 00:40:40,120 Speaker 1: about how you found I mean, I think you guys 867 00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:43,200 Speaker 1: found out about it yourselves only through watching a TV show. 868 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:46,640 Speaker 1: So how did you actually start the process. How long 869 00:40:46,680 --> 00:40:49,520 Speaker 1: did it take for anyone else who's interested in it? 870 00:40:49,600 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 1: You know, what are sort of the steps in that 871 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:53,239 Speaker 1: landscape that led you to read? 872 00:40:53,640 --> 00:40:56,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, you're correct in saying that it was a 873 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:00,000 Speaker 3: documentary on television that we saw of a same set 874 00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:03,239 Speaker 3: couple and their journey that they had filmed in a 875 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:07,560 Speaker 3: documentary style of going to America, you know, meeting surrogate's 876 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:11,800 Speaker 3: agencies and right through to them actually holding their baby. 877 00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:16,440 Speaker 3: And that was before you know, Instagram and all those things. 878 00:41:16,480 --> 00:41:18,759 Speaker 3: So it was on the television Facebook I think it 879 00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:21,359 Speaker 3: just started, or there was MySpace or one of those things. 880 00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:25,640 Speaker 1: THOMSN Messenger. 881 00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:27,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right, that's exactly right. 882 00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:31,359 Speaker 3: So we investigated these guys that did it and tried 883 00:41:31,360 --> 00:41:33,040 Speaker 3: to get in touch with them, and we did so 884 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:35,479 Speaker 3: we were living in Perth at the time. We reached 885 00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:36,880 Speaker 3: out to them and they said, yeah, come over, come 886 00:41:36,880 --> 00:41:38,480 Speaker 3: over to our house. They lived in Sukilita. We went 887 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:42,560 Speaker 3: to the house and we saw firsthand, like a family 888 00:41:42,719 --> 00:41:45,239 Speaker 3: you know that was you know, I don't ever, like 889 00:41:45,440 --> 00:41:47,920 Speaker 3: use the word normal, but just like an average family, 890 00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:51,640 Speaker 3: you know, two loving parents and a child and living, 891 00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:55,080 Speaker 3: you know, living their life. So they sort of, you know, 892 00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:58,719 Speaker 3: gave us the encouragement, I think, like seeing it that 893 00:41:58,840 --> 00:42:02,680 Speaker 3: it's achievable. So we just investigated what countries did it. 894 00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:05,840 Speaker 3: It was very, very expensive in America at the time 895 00:42:06,040 --> 00:42:09,239 Speaker 3: to do it, so we just started saving. We bought 896 00:42:09,239 --> 00:42:10,160 Speaker 3: investment properties. 897 00:42:10,239 --> 00:42:13,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, we had purchased an investment for a few years earlier, 898 00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 2: so we had that sort of capital behind us to think, okay, 899 00:42:17,560 --> 00:42:19,880 Speaker 2: if we if we you know, really serious about this, 900 00:42:19,920 --> 00:42:24,040 Speaker 2: we'll sell that and raise the funds that are needed. 901 00:42:24,239 --> 00:42:27,920 Speaker 2: You know, unfortunately, with surrogacy, not unfortunately, it is a 902 00:42:27,960 --> 00:42:30,759 Speaker 2: commercial transaction at the end of the day that there 903 00:42:30,800 --> 00:42:33,120 Speaker 2: is money changing hands, so you've got to feel comfortable 904 00:42:33,120 --> 00:42:36,640 Speaker 2: with that. We did explore adoption, and you know, it 905 00:42:36,680 --> 00:42:41,840 Speaker 2: was just roadblock after roadblock. That's an incredibly arduous process. Yeah, 906 00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:44,560 Speaker 2: but you know that really helped us also understand that 907 00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:49,319 Speaker 2: it's not about skin color, race, religion, you know, it's 908 00:42:49,400 --> 00:42:53,680 Speaker 2: just having a healthy child. So once we discovered that 909 00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:57,759 Speaker 2: India was a country that was an option for it 910 00:42:57,760 --> 00:43:00,640 Speaker 2: was an option. Yeah, so as far as being to 911 00:43:00,840 --> 00:43:03,200 Speaker 2: afford the process. You know, it was not two hundred 912 00:43:03,239 --> 00:43:05,600 Speaker 2: thousand dollars as it wasn't in America. It was sort 913 00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:08,160 Speaker 2: of half that class. So it was something that we 914 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:10,920 Speaker 2: were like, okay, this is this is something we can investigate. 915 00:43:11,239 --> 00:43:14,400 Speaker 2: But we then spent the next a few years investigating 916 00:43:14,480 --> 00:43:17,200 Speaker 2: agencies in India. We just wanted to ensure that the 917 00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:21,560 Speaker 2: agencies that we, you know, would finally sign up. 918 00:43:21,480 --> 00:43:24,840 Speaker 3: With were legitimate and they look after. 919 00:43:24,800 --> 00:43:28,960 Speaker 2: You know, yeah, yeah that's right, not not taking advantage 920 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:33,120 Speaker 2: of people or you know, their their situation. So it's 921 00:43:33,160 --> 00:43:36,840 Speaker 2: something that you know, we spoke to dozens of agencies 922 00:43:36,840 --> 00:43:38,719 Speaker 2: and you just get that vibe as this is just 923 00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:41,239 Speaker 2: all about money and that that's not it for us. 924 00:43:41,280 --> 00:43:43,799 Speaker 2: That's got to be more than that. So sorry. India 925 00:43:43,920 --> 00:43:47,319 Speaker 2: is the company that we built a rapport with for 926 00:43:47,440 --> 00:43:49,880 Speaker 2: about six months. I spoke to them just about every 927 00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:51,919 Speaker 2: day with a question what about this, and what about 928 00:43:51,960 --> 00:43:53,719 Speaker 2: this and what happened? This happens and what do you 929 00:43:53,760 --> 00:43:56,200 Speaker 2: do about this? And they were amazing and they're still 930 00:43:56,239 --> 00:43:58,840 Speaker 2: great friends and friends. We spoke to them like this week, 931 00:43:59,080 --> 00:44:02,440 Speaker 2: you know, incredible. The doctors there, it's run by two 932 00:44:02,520 --> 00:44:06,160 Speaker 2: doctors and just you know, we're loads of integrity and 933 00:44:06,360 --> 00:44:09,239 Speaker 2: wanting the best for the you know, intended parents and 934 00:44:09,640 --> 00:44:13,200 Speaker 2: their surrogate and everyone involved is you know, just treated 935 00:44:13,320 --> 00:44:16,960 Speaker 2: really beautifully. So yeah, but meeting these guys in Melbourne 936 00:44:16,960 --> 00:44:20,680 Speaker 2: was just very tangible, thinking wow, this, this, this can happen, this, 937 00:44:20,680 --> 00:44:22,439 Speaker 2: this is achievable. 938 00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:24,600 Speaker 3: And then you go through all those doubts going like, oh, 939 00:44:24,680 --> 00:44:26,319 Speaker 3: but when they go to school, are they going to 940 00:44:26,320 --> 00:44:28,919 Speaker 3: get bullied for having me and Michael as their dad? 941 00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:33,799 Speaker 3: And those were our bigger burning questions, like, you know, 942 00:44:33,840 --> 00:44:35,839 Speaker 3: we really want to bring a child into this earth, 943 00:44:35,920 --> 00:44:38,200 Speaker 3: but we also don't want to give it a bad life, 944 00:44:38,239 --> 00:44:41,120 Speaker 3: you know, like or challenges that are out of our control. 945 00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:45,000 Speaker 3: So we did have a lot of fears around that, 946 00:44:45,640 --> 00:44:48,319 Speaker 3: and ten years later, the least of our worries. So 947 00:44:48,360 --> 00:44:50,440 Speaker 3: they always say, you know, things that you worry about 948 00:44:50,520 --> 00:44:53,080 Speaker 3: are the things that you really don't worry about once 949 00:44:53,160 --> 00:44:54,319 Speaker 3: you know things happen. 950 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:58,080 Speaker 2: So yeah, no, we haven't had one sort of amount 951 00:44:58,080 --> 00:45:02,839 Speaker 2: of discrimination or you know, dropping read off at kindergarten 952 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:05,200 Speaker 2: and all his little kinder friends think it was the 953 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:06,759 Speaker 2: coolest thing in the world. He had two dads because 954 00:45:06,800 --> 00:45:07,960 Speaker 2: Dad's more fun than mum was. 955 00:45:08,280 --> 00:45:14,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, Oh my god, that's so sweet, sweet, so lovely. 956 00:45:14,640 --> 00:45:18,080 Speaker 2: It's incredible to think that, you know, reads little kinder 957 00:45:18,080 --> 00:45:21,840 Speaker 2: buddies and school buddies, having gone to school with a 958 00:45:21,880 --> 00:45:24,240 Speaker 2: family with you know, same sex parents. 959 00:45:23,760 --> 00:45:26,920 Speaker 3: It's no biggie. You're still like and even now and 960 00:45:26,960 --> 00:45:30,080 Speaker 3: you still get questions like, especially now, we've got a 961 00:45:30,120 --> 00:45:31,680 Speaker 3: little baby in a praym and we're going to a 962 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:34,160 Speaker 3: supermarket and I'll give him mom a break, or I'm 963 00:45:34,200 --> 00:45:35,640 Speaker 3: having arrest, you know, or. 964 00:45:35,680 --> 00:45:36,840 Speaker 2: Oh, you're a good dad, you know. 965 00:45:37,800 --> 00:45:41,560 Speaker 3: And you sort of choose your audience as to whether 966 00:45:41,600 --> 00:45:44,080 Speaker 3: you choose you want to educate them or And that's 967 00:45:44,120 --> 00:45:46,920 Speaker 3: just personally. I know a lot of people that have 968 00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:49,400 Speaker 3: spoken to especially online, they're like, you know, this happened 969 00:45:49,440 --> 00:45:51,160 Speaker 3: to me today. So I went off at them, and 970 00:45:51,200 --> 00:45:53,919 Speaker 3: I'm like, that's your lot. It's just not my lot. 971 00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:54,239 Speaker 2: You know. 972 00:45:55,000 --> 00:45:59,040 Speaker 3: It's an older gentleman, you know, and he's in the 973 00:45:59,120 --> 00:46:01,920 Speaker 3: kindness of his heart, he's saying, giving mama break. I 974 00:46:02,040 --> 00:46:04,160 Speaker 3: can just smile and walk away, you know, like I 975 00:46:04,320 --> 00:46:06,719 Speaker 3: just you know, smile and acknowledge that he's spoken and 976 00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:10,920 Speaker 3: walk away, you know. Whereas it's someone that's I feel 977 00:46:11,600 --> 00:46:12,480 Speaker 3: needs to know. 978 00:46:12,800 --> 00:46:13,919 Speaker 2: You know, I will go, oh. 979 00:46:13,840 --> 00:46:16,000 Speaker 3: He's actually got two dads? Or where he with this 980 00:46:16,040 --> 00:46:18,040 Speaker 3: particular child that we've got the moment where. 981 00:46:18,080 --> 00:46:25,080 Speaker 1: Where the real dad's have not. You guys are the 982 00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:30,120 Speaker 1: least likely to ever use that sentience ever. But I 983 00:46:30,120 --> 00:46:32,239 Speaker 1: think that's a good point as well. I think in 984 00:46:32,320 --> 00:46:37,920 Speaker 1: anything where difference or uniqueness draws questions or curiosity is 985 00:46:37,960 --> 00:46:40,040 Speaker 1: to just really distinguish between the ones that come from 986 00:46:40,040 --> 00:46:42,839 Speaker 1: a good place and out of genuine interest and like 987 00:46:42,920 --> 00:46:45,239 Speaker 1: wanting to understand better, or people who are doing it 988 00:46:45,280 --> 00:46:47,160 Speaker 1: out of a place of maliciousness. And you can't fight 989 00:46:47,200 --> 00:46:49,520 Speaker 1: every battle, like you'll just be so bloody exhausted. So 990 00:46:49,560 --> 00:46:52,120 Speaker 1: I love that idea of like some people, it's not 991 00:46:52,120 --> 00:46:54,640 Speaker 1: coming from a bad place. I've got limited hours of 992 00:46:54,640 --> 00:46:56,080 Speaker 1: the day. I just got to leave that one. You 993 00:46:56,120 --> 00:46:58,279 Speaker 1: don't have to educate every single person that comes on 994 00:46:58,280 --> 00:46:59,319 Speaker 1: your doorstep, like. 995 00:46:59,520 --> 00:47:02,680 Speaker 3: I think that's who we are too, especially having a 996 00:47:02,719 --> 00:47:03,800 Speaker 3: social media account. 997 00:47:04,080 --> 00:47:05,640 Speaker 2: I'm not here to educate anyone. 998 00:47:06,040 --> 00:47:06,200 Speaker 3: Like. 999 00:47:06,520 --> 00:47:07,480 Speaker 2: We pick our battles. 1000 00:47:07,520 --> 00:47:10,719 Speaker 3: You know, we're showing what our life is and you 1001 00:47:10,960 --> 00:47:12,799 Speaker 3: translate that to how you want to. 1002 00:47:12,960 --> 00:47:14,440 Speaker 2: That's fine, That's totally up to you. 1003 00:47:14,560 --> 00:47:16,239 Speaker 1: Did you get to be there when Reid was born? 1004 00:47:16,280 --> 00:47:17,320 Speaker 1: I think it goes to his going. 1005 00:47:17,280 --> 00:47:21,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, we were actually outside the operating theater he 1006 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:24,400 Speaker 2: was born, and he was in our arms when he 1007 00:47:24,520 --> 00:47:25,520 Speaker 2: was two minutes old. 1008 00:47:25,840 --> 00:47:27,920 Speaker 3: Still even that, like even when you said we were 1009 00:47:27,960 --> 00:47:30,600 Speaker 3: standing outside, I still can hear, like we were standing 1010 00:47:30,640 --> 00:47:35,680 Speaker 3: outside this door and the birthing suite and they're all cesareans, 1011 00:47:35,840 --> 00:47:38,160 Speaker 3: So it's scheduled, you know what time it's going to be. 1012 00:47:38,200 --> 00:47:40,000 Speaker 2: It's going to be on this day, and read was 1013 00:47:40,400 --> 00:47:42,680 Speaker 2: early because they were a bit unsure about sort of 1014 00:47:43,000 --> 00:47:45,360 Speaker 2: health concerns. Whilst he was still inside. 1015 00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:48,600 Speaker 3: Were standing outside that door and had like as a 1016 00:47:48,760 --> 00:47:51,799 Speaker 3: school swinging door, and because we were allowed actually in there, 1017 00:47:51,800 --> 00:47:53,600 Speaker 3: we could see like curtains around, like you could see 1018 00:47:53,640 --> 00:47:56,279 Speaker 3: through the little glass the curtains around. We're like, that's 1019 00:47:56,280 --> 00:47:58,880 Speaker 3: where our surrogut is in there. But the squeak of 1020 00:47:58,920 --> 00:48:00,799 Speaker 3: the door, like when you said that, instantly, I just 1021 00:48:00,840 --> 00:48:04,400 Speaker 3: remember that sound like I'm sweating. And they're looking at 1022 00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:06,680 Speaker 3: each other with this like anxious eyes because you're just 1023 00:48:06,840 --> 00:48:10,479 Speaker 3: also like any parent on that at that date, you're 1024 00:48:10,600 --> 00:48:13,520 Speaker 3: overwhelmed with emotion that you know this is actually happening. 1025 00:48:13,520 --> 00:48:15,279 Speaker 3: But you're like, I hope he's safe. I hope he's 1026 00:48:15,320 --> 00:48:16,880 Speaker 3: healthier or he We didn't know if it was a 1027 00:48:16,920 --> 00:48:17,719 Speaker 3: he orshit at the time. 1028 00:48:17,800 --> 00:48:19,480 Speaker 1: Oh, you didn't know. 1029 00:48:20,120 --> 00:48:23,120 Speaker 2: You're not to know in India. Yeah, I mean more 1030 00:48:23,160 --> 00:48:27,040 Speaker 2: of a cultural reason for India that you're not you 1031 00:48:27,040 --> 00:48:29,239 Speaker 2: don't know the sex of the child, which is good 1032 00:48:29,280 --> 00:48:30,040 Speaker 2: for a couple of control. 1033 00:48:30,080 --> 00:48:32,480 Speaker 3: For it's really good to have something that's out of. 1034 00:48:32,480 --> 00:48:35,840 Speaker 2: Out control the general reveal businesses in India though. 1035 00:48:37,200 --> 00:48:39,560 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, oh my god. I mean your mum had 1036 00:48:39,600 --> 00:48:44,080 Speaker 1: the balloon years ago ready to go, so oh my gosh, 1037 00:48:44,080 --> 00:48:46,000 Speaker 1: so you had him straight away, and then how. 1038 00:48:46,080 --> 00:48:48,440 Speaker 3: They had the baby to you know, you have a 1039 00:48:48,480 --> 00:48:50,560 Speaker 3: few moments and then they take the baby way to 1040 00:48:50,600 --> 00:48:54,040 Speaker 3: do some testing obviously to make sure there's no health concerns. 1041 00:48:54,200 --> 00:48:58,400 Speaker 3: You're given just basically a large hospital room with we 1042 00:48:58,480 --> 00:49:01,160 Speaker 3: had it with two beds, will bring the baby up shortly, 1043 00:49:01,440 --> 00:49:03,839 Speaker 3: and that's where we stayed for three days with our 1044 00:49:03,840 --> 00:49:04,320 Speaker 3: new baby. 1045 00:49:04,360 --> 00:49:07,600 Speaker 2: So they it was the most surreal experience. You know, 1046 00:49:07,640 --> 00:49:10,040 Speaker 2: there's I will live him in your little little crib 1047 00:49:10,080 --> 00:49:11,399 Speaker 2: and they're like, you know, what what do you want 1048 00:49:11,400 --> 00:49:12,840 Speaker 2: to how can we help you out. We're like, no, 1049 00:49:13,160 --> 00:49:15,040 Speaker 2: we're good, We're fine, and. 1050 00:49:15,000 --> 00:49:18,160 Speaker 3: The like change and that like we're good. You know. 1051 00:49:18,280 --> 00:49:20,920 Speaker 2: So those those first three days where we were just 1052 00:49:21,719 --> 00:49:24,759 Speaker 2: with him and each other twenty four to seven, like 1053 00:49:24,840 --> 00:49:28,920 Speaker 2: it was so special just without also you know, being 1054 00:49:28,920 --> 00:49:30,920 Speaker 2: away obviously, you know, being away from your loved ones 1055 00:49:30,960 --> 00:49:33,239 Speaker 2: and family and friends and being able to introduce him, 1056 00:49:33,560 --> 00:49:35,759 Speaker 2: but it also was such an amazing time just to 1057 00:49:35,760 --> 00:49:41,600 Speaker 2: connect and without any interruption, no pressure about seeing. 1058 00:49:42,040 --> 00:49:44,640 Speaker 3: Anybody or you know, it was Yeah, we stayed in 1059 00:49:44,680 --> 00:49:47,160 Speaker 3: our vajamas in a you know, in a room with him, 1060 00:49:47,719 --> 00:49:58,839 Speaker 3: and I took so many photos and. 1061 00:49:54,880 --> 00:49:56,040 Speaker 2: Oh, look at him, look at him. 1062 00:49:56,040 --> 00:49:57,879 Speaker 3: Oh he's doing this, he's doing that, he's doing nothing. 1063 00:49:57,960 --> 00:49:58,880 Speaker 1: Yeah he was blinking. 1064 00:49:59,000 --> 00:50:00,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly what miracle. 1065 00:50:02,080 --> 00:50:04,920 Speaker 1: Oh he's so gifted. Should we put him in an 1066 00:50:04,920 --> 00:50:11,920 Speaker 1: accelerated baby? But read is actually gifted though, Like what 1067 00:50:12,040 --> 00:50:15,640 Speaker 1: a talented little human. He started his own business. Like 1068 00:50:16,040 --> 00:50:18,440 Speaker 1: if there was ever a concern, and I can totally 1069 00:50:18,480 --> 00:50:20,480 Speaker 1: understand why it would have been a fear that he 1070 00:50:20,520 --> 00:50:23,400 Speaker 1: would end up being subject to discrimination or challenge or 1071 00:50:23,440 --> 00:50:25,560 Speaker 1: just difference in school, but I feel like he's one 1072 00:50:25,560 --> 00:50:28,120 Speaker 1: of the most well adjusted children I have ever met, like, 1073 00:50:28,560 --> 00:50:32,200 Speaker 1: started his own kindness business in Lockdown, does his own 1074 00:50:32,320 --> 00:50:36,120 Speaker 1: art project like a little legend blows me away, a 1075 00:50:37,280 --> 00:50:37,960 Speaker 1: lot of crafts. 1076 00:50:38,520 --> 00:50:42,200 Speaker 2: He's very creative, that's for sure. I think you mentioned 1077 00:50:42,480 --> 00:50:46,360 Speaker 2: before just about not being discriminated against and being very reassured. 1078 00:50:46,360 --> 00:50:49,080 Speaker 2: He's just very safe in he's I was not safe, 1079 00:50:49,239 --> 00:50:51,480 Speaker 2: very comfortable in his own compkin. 1080 00:50:51,680 --> 00:50:53,800 Speaker 3: When Read was born. There's never any secrets. 1081 00:50:53,840 --> 00:50:57,400 Speaker 2: There have never been a secret about how he was born. 1082 00:50:57,760 --> 00:51:01,000 Speaker 2: He has a photo of Arch and it by his bed. 1083 00:51:01,640 --> 00:51:06,919 Speaker 2: It's the journey has always been very transparent. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 1084 00:51:07,200 --> 00:51:09,200 Speaker 2: he's an egg Downer. And I think I had that 1085 00:51:09,280 --> 00:51:11,399 Speaker 2: conversation with you as well, Sarah, like. 1086 00:51:11,480 --> 00:51:14,160 Speaker 3: Your you know, your your background, where you you know 1087 00:51:14,200 --> 00:51:16,880 Speaker 3: how you became. If it's no secret, it's not like 1088 00:51:17,320 --> 00:51:19,480 Speaker 3: something that needs to be a discussion now because some 1089 00:51:19,480 --> 00:51:21,359 Speaker 3: people like when did you tell him? And I'm like, well, 1090 00:51:21,719 --> 00:51:23,799 Speaker 3: you always always knew, and now we're talked to him 1091 00:51:23,800 --> 00:51:26,799 Speaker 3: about that, you know, going, do you remember when I 1092 00:51:26,840 --> 00:51:27,440 Speaker 3: told you he's. 1093 00:51:27,800 --> 00:51:30,120 Speaker 2: No Well, which is true because I did. We didn't 1094 00:51:30,120 --> 00:51:30,440 Speaker 2: tell him. 1095 00:51:30,480 --> 00:51:33,560 Speaker 3: It's just always had been quite open about. 1096 00:51:32,920 --> 00:51:33,880 Speaker 2: Everything, you know. 1097 00:51:33,960 --> 00:51:35,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, that was my next question for you guys, was like, 1098 00:51:36,120 --> 00:51:37,640 Speaker 1: the question I get all the time is when did 1099 00:51:37,640 --> 00:51:40,600 Speaker 1: you find out? But I think firstly, everyone in cross 1100 00:51:40,600 --> 00:51:43,560 Speaker 1: cultural situations like this, it's kind of obvious that, like, 1101 00:51:44,160 --> 00:51:46,800 Speaker 1: your child is Indian and you guys are Caucasian. I'm 1102 00:51:47,040 --> 00:51:49,200 Speaker 1: like fully blown Asian. My parents were Caucasian. It's not 1103 00:51:49,280 --> 00:51:51,440 Speaker 1: a situation where you can hide it till you're eighteen. 1104 00:51:54,040 --> 00:51:57,720 Speaker 1: But I think that is something that's transferable to all parents, 1105 00:51:57,920 --> 00:52:02,359 Speaker 1: is that children are really with information, and the more 1106 00:52:02,400 --> 00:52:04,359 Speaker 1: that you make it not a big deal, the less 1107 00:52:04,360 --> 00:52:06,560 Speaker 1: a big deal it becomes. It's never been a complex 1108 00:52:06,560 --> 00:52:09,359 Speaker 1: for me. It's never been weird because I knew about 1109 00:52:09,400 --> 00:52:11,479 Speaker 1: adoption before I knew about what it meant. It wasn't 1110 00:52:11,520 --> 00:52:13,560 Speaker 1: like find out about it, then get told and then 1111 00:52:13,640 --> 00:52:17,040 Speaker 1: go my identity. It's just part of your story. And 1112 00:52:17,120 --> 00:52:18,920 Speaker 1: I love that you guys have been so open with 1113 00:52:19,000 --> 00:52:21,600 Speaker 1: Read because he just seems to not be hung up 1114 00:52:21,640 --> 00:52:24,200 Speaker 1: on it because of that, because it was never a secret. 1115 00:52:24,320 --> 00:52:26,239 Speaker 2: I think it's just yeah, it was always going to 1116 00:52:26,480 --> 00:52:29,400 Speaker 2: like we're always like that, yeah, And we're really proud 1117 00:52:29,440 --> 00:52:32,759 Speaker 2: of how you know, the journey of sorry, So we're 1118 00:52:32,760 --> 00:52:34,680 Speaker 2: really proud of India as a country. 1119 00:52:34,719 --> 00:52:37,200 Speaker 3: For allowing us to be parents. 1120 00:52:36,880 --> 00:52:39,040 Speaker 2: To be parents. Yeah, like we owe them, you know, 1121 00:52:39,200 --> 00:52:42,319 Speaker 2: a lot. It's it's a real privilege. So you know, 1122 00:52:42,320 --> 00:52:46,240 Speaker 2: we'd love his skin color. We love his big deep 1123 00:52:46,320 --> 00:52:47,479 Speaker 2: brown eyes, you know, like. 1124 00:52:47,560 --> 00:52:48,719 Speaker 1: His eyes are beautiful. 1125 00:52:48,880 --> 00:52:52,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, super proud of him. And yeah, he's a really 1126 00:52:52,680 --> 00:52:53,040 Speaker 2: good kid. 1127 00:52:53,080 --> 00:52:55,279 Speaker 1: He's such a good kind of obsessed with him. He's 1128 00:52:55,360 --> 00:52:57,480 Speaker 1: just got such a bright future ahead. Oh my god, 1129 00:52:57,480 --> 00:53:02,279 Speaker 1: those tap dancers. Something that I also think is really 1130 00:53:02,280 --> 00:53:04,920 Speaker 1: interesting about you guys is that often people think in 1131 00:53:05,000 --> 00:53:07,640 Speaker 1: the journey of parenthood, you know, mums changed their careers 1132 00:53:07,680 --> 00:53:10,080 Speaker 1: and mums become stay at home mums or mums you know, 1133 00:53:10,200 --> 00:53:13,200 Speaker 1: sacrifice blah blah blah. But you guys both also had 1134 00:53:13,239 --> 00:53:15,880 Speaker 1: really big identity changes around that, like Jared becoming a 1135 00:53:15,880 --> 00:53:19,280 Speaker 1: stay at home dad, Michael shifting into a totally different 1136 00:53:19,320 --> 00:53:22,600 Speaker 1: sector to be at home more. Like those big kind 1137 00:53:22,640 --> 00:53:25,480 Speaker 1: of career or lifestyle pivots are also a really big 1138 00:53:25,520 --> 00:53:28,000 Speaker 1: theme of over the past eighteen months to two years. 1139 00:53:28,400 --> 00:53:30,680 Speaker 1: Do you guys have any words for people listening on 1140 00:53:30,840 --> 00:53:33,960 Speaker 1: rebuilding your identity when like your titles change or your 1141 00:53:33,960 --> 00:53:35,920 Speaker 1: place kind of in the world changes. 1142 00:53:35,800 --> 00:53:40,319 Speaker 2: You haven't rebuilt my identity understoodn't know what I'm going 1143 00:53:40,360 --> 00:53:41,000 Speaker 2: to be to grow up. 1144 00:53:41,040 --> 00:53:43,799 Speaker 3: But nice to add to this because I think you 1145 00:53:43,880 --> 00:53:45,120 Speaker 3: went through Yeah. 1146 00:53:45,239 --> 00:53:48,400 Speaker 2: Look, I was at that quantas for eighteen years and 1147 00:53:48,440 --> 00:53:51,200 Speaker 2: you wanted to be home more. I was away fifty 1148 00:53:51,239 --> 00:53:55,680 Speaker 2: percent of every month, and you know, you only watched 1149 00:53:55,719 --> 00:53:57,920 Speaker 2: your child grow up once. And I felt that I 1150 00:53:58,000 --> 00:54:02,160 Speaker 2: was not there enough and I needed to be. You know, 1151 00:54:02,200 --> 00:54:05,799 Speaker 2: making that decision to leave was tricky. It came at 1152 00:54:05,800 --> 00:54:09,920 Speaker 2: a time where quantuss offering redundancies, so it was a 1153 00:54:09,960 --> 00:54:13,080 Speaker 2: bit of an incentive to take the money and go 1154 00:54:13,160 --> 00:54:14,440 Speaker 2: and try something new, and we. 1155 00:54:14,440 --> 00:54:16,680 Speaker 3: Both took it at the same time. The redundancies came 1156 00:54:16,760 --> 00:54:19,160 Speaker 3: up and we're like, I'd been there ten years, mark 1157 00:54:19,239 --> 00:54:22,000 Speaker 3: or at eighteen, and we were like, oh, and I 1158 00:54:22,040 --> 00:54:24,600 Speaker 3: was because I was off stay home Dad, Like, because 1159 00:54:24,640 --> 00:54:25,200 Speaker 3: I got leave. 1160 00:54:25,320 --> 00:54:27,279 Speaker 1: You guys got twelve weeks of potentially leave. 1161 00:54:27,280 --> 00:54:32,360 Speaker 3: I've got no, I got two years. The policy change 1162 00:54:32,360 --> 00:54:34,840 Speaker 3: whilst we were at quantisance, you know, us as the 1163 00:54:34,880 --> 00:54:38,920 Speaker 3: same sex couple that were in the same job, they 1164 00:54:38,920 --> 00:54:41,200 Speaker 3: had to look at their policies and procedures and they 1165 00:54:41,200 --> 00:54:44,440 Speaker 3: had to make changes to go well, oh on to end, 1166 00:54:44,560 --> 00:54:47,000 Speaker 3: you know, there's a potnity and maternity. 1167 00:54:46,640 --> 00:54:48,520 Speaker 2: Leave, like we need to make this more there. 1168 00:54:48,640 --> 00:54:51,960 Speaker 3: So they were very a very fair employer and honored 1169 00:54:52,160 --> 00:54:54,680 Speaker 3: me two years off, securing my job that I could 1170 00:54:54,760 --> 00:54:58,080 Speaker 3: go back to. But in the shortly after that time, 1171 00:54:58,120 --> 00:55:00,799 Speaker 3: I did go back for a little bit in part time. 1172 00:55:01,120 --> 00:55:04,000 Speaker 3: But again it was really hard juggling. You know, we 1173 00:55:04,040 --> 00:55:06,920 Speaker 3: had a new baby and we were raising that child. 1174 00:55:07,160 --> 00:55:09,960 Speaker 3: We weren't, you know, wanting a nanny or we weren't 1175 00:55:10,000 --> 00:55:13,040 Speaker 3: wanting childcare anything, because this is it's just what we 1176 00:55:13,080 --> 00:55:15,840 Speaker 3: wanted to do. We had to make that call and go, Okay, 1177 00:55:16,160 --> 00:55:17,000 Speaker 3: what's going to happen. 1178 00:55:17,080 --> 00:55:19,600 Speaker 2: And we don't have family in Melbourne as mentioned, you know, 1179 00:55:19,880 --> 00:55:23,240 Speaker 2: Jared's in Tazzi and Sunstraine coast of mine in Mildura, 1180 00:55:23,400 --> 00:55:26,920 Speaker 2: so it is us and but you know, it's our 1181 00:55:27,000 --> 00:55:30,840 Speaker 2: job to raise this little human. So I took the 1182 00:55:30,840 --> 00:55:35,800 Speaker 2: opportunity to leave and I got into the finance sector, 1183 00:55:36,080 --> 00:55:39,200 Speaker 2: into mortgages, and it was just horrendous. 1184 00:55:40,160 --> 00:55:42,440 Speaker 3: The year and a half that I worked in that. 1185 00:55:43,040 --> 00:55:46,000 Speaker 2: Oh my god, I felt sick every morning. 1186 00:55:46,200 --> 00:55:50,080 Speaker 3: I was worrying, like Michael's way too worried about people's 1187 00:55:50,080 --> 00:55:55,920 Speaker 3: financial situations because we're always so conservative. He would never 1188 00:55:55,920 --> 00:55:58,359 Speaker 3: give me specific details, but he would come home going 1189 00:55:58,400 --> 00:56:01,480 Speaker 3: like some people are just you know, like you know, 1190 00:56:01,480 --> 00:56:02,960 Speaker 3: they're going to afford that more. You know, they're get 1191 00:56:02,960 --> 00:56:05,080 Speaker 3: themselves into that big house that they want. But I 1192 00:56:05,120 --> 00:56:07,160 Speaker 3: think I could lose their job tomorrow and like where 1193 00:56:07,160 --> 00:56:08,839 Speaker 3: does that you know, they wouldn't get that money back 1194 00:56:08,840 --> 00:56:09,960 Speaker 3: on that house or whatever it might be. 1195 00:56:10,000 --> 00:56:12,359 Speaker 2: I'm like, I was your job to wait. I think 1196 00:56:12,360 --> 00:56:14,000 Speaker 2: I was just so naive to think that, you know, 1197 00:56:14,200 --> 00:56:17,400 Speaker 2: home loans. I thought it was like, you know, selling 1198 00:56:17,440 --> 00:56:20,879 Speaker 2: the dream of you know, home ownership, and not at all, 1199 00:56:20,920 --> 00:56:22,920 Speaker 2: It's just sales and commission. 1200 00:56:23,320 --> 00:56:25,400 Speaker 1: So, oh my god, this is little Michael coming out 1201 00:56:25,440 --> 00:56:27,640 Speaker 1: the like nurturer Michael, I. 1202 00:56:27,680 --> 00:56:31,120 Speaker 2: Know, and I just this was not a natural, not 1203 00:56:31,280 --> 00:56:34,640 Speaker 2: natural fit. But I had taken a new job. I 1204 00:56:34,680 --> 00:56:37,840 Speaker 2: had quit a left quarter, so I couldn't go back, 1205 00:56:38,400 --> 00:56:40,319 Speaker 2: and that was that was not an option. And I 1206 00:56:40,360 --> 00:56:44,800 Speaker 2: just felt the pressure of you know, providing for my family. 1207 00:56:44,920 --> 00:56:46,759 Speaker 2: Now that you know, it was my decision to leave. 1208 00:56:46,800 --> 00:56:48,640 Speaker 2: Now I've got to suck it up and just you know. 1209 00:56:48,719 --> 00:56:49,320 Speaker 3: Go to work. 1210 00:56:49,640 --> 00:56:54,640 Speaker 2: But with Jared's support, and I suppose I'm wavering, you know, 1211 00:56:54,760 --> 00:56:57,840 Speaker 2: commitment of supporting me and my decision to leave that 1212 00:56:57,920 --> 00:56:59,719 Speaker 2: industry because it was just not. 1213 00:57:01,120 --> 00:57:02,759 Speaker 3: I mean, it's right for some people. It's not that 1214 00:57:02,840 --> 00:57:04,560 Speaker 3: it was a bad job, but just for Michael, I'm like, 1215 00:57:04,600 --> 00:57:06,480 Speaker 3: you can't tay awake at night, you can't feel sick 1216 00:57:06,520 --> 00:57:10,160 Speaker 3: going to work over someone else's mortgage. This is ridiculous. 1217 00:57:12,000 --> 00:57:15,239 Speaker 1: It's not, it's just it's that quote that I always say, 1218 00:57:15,280 --> 00:57:17,320 Speaker 1: if it costs your piece, it's too expensive. So it 1219 00:57:17,320 --> 00:57:20,160 Speaker 1: doesn't matter what else. Absolutely, yeah, like it could tick 1220 00:57:20,200 --> 00:57:22,840 Speaker 1: so many other boxes, but if it's making you desperately unhappy, 1221 00:57:23,360 --> 00:57:24,160 Speaker 1: life is too sure. 1222 00:57:24,200 --> 00:57:28,000 Speaker 2: Absolutely, But yeah, anyway, So, yeah, I suppose from leaving 1223 00:57:28,320 --> 00:57:31,560 Speaker 2: leaving Quantas to you know, getting a nine to five job, 1224 00:57:31,680 --> 00:57:34,360 Speaker 2: which was something that, yeah, I did really struggle with. 1225 00:57:34,480 --> 00:57:36,440 Speaker 2: It's taken me a little while to find the path 1226 00:57:36,560 --> 00:57:40,000 Speaker 2: of something that I look forward to, you know, going 1227 00:57:40,040 --> 00:57:40,439 Speaker 2: to work. 1228 00:57:40,480 --> 00:57:41,480 Speaker 3: I enjoy it. 1229 00:57:41,720 --> 00:57:46,840 Speaker 2: But I did spend too much time regretting the decision 1230 00:57:46,880 --> 00:57:49,600 Speaker 2: to lead Quantus. I think you used to go through 1231 00:57:49,640 --> 00:57:52,480 Speaker 2: that low patch of like, holy crap, what have I. 1232 00:57:52,480 --> 00:57:55,400 Speaker 3: Do and remembering all those amazing times you had, Like Quanus, 1233 00:57:55,400 --> 00:57:57,360 Speaker 3: we're in a different chapter of our lives when we 1234 00:57:57,440 --> 00:58:02,720 Speaker 3: worked for Quantas, you know, like just kids, you know, 1235 00:58:02,840 --> 00:58:06,400 Speaker 3: like you go, we'd be in Singapore. I bought most 1236 00:58:06,600 --> 00:58:09,040 Speaker 3: everything we own nearly came from Singapore. You know, I'd 1237 00:58:09,040 --> 00:58:10,400 Speaker 3: bring it back. I'd spend most of the time in 1238 00:58:10,560 --> 00:58:12,760 Speaker 3: the shopping or partying or you know, we did that 1239 00:58:12,800 --> 00:58:13,280 Speaker 3: for years. 1240 00:58:13,280 --> 00:58:15,200 Speaker 2: So part of the benefits there you get a free 1241 00:58:15,240 --> 00:58:17,400 Speaker 2: flight every month, so you just go to. 1242 00:58:18,320 --> 00:58:22,600 Speaker 3: Anywhere you want, just for lunch, Sydney really just for lunch. 1243 00:58:22,840 --> 00:58:27,560 Speaker 3: You know, very different, different lists, So it's hard when 1244 00:58:27,600 --> 00:58:30,560 Speaker 3: you change. I think when you change roles or you're pivoting, 1245 00:58:30,960 --> 00:58:33,680 Speaker 3: is to also remember the whole old picture, not just 1246 00:58:33,760 --> 00:58:36,360 Speaker 3: those moments and going, oh I wish I still had. 1247 00:58:36,200 --> 00:58:37,320 Speaker 1: That I missed that good time. 1248 00:58:38,320 --> 00:58:39,680 Speaker 3: It's not going to be that now. It's a different 1249 00:58:39,680 --> 00:58:43,480 Speaker 3: time of our lives now and more rewarding things that 1250 00:58:43,520 --> 00:58:45,280 Speaker 3: you've got to focus on right now. 1251 00:58:45,720 --> 00:58:50,320 Speaker 2: But our pivoting, I think, like go, like that's you know, 1252 00:58:50,360 --> 00:58:53,920 Speaker 2: believe in yourself and for sure, you know, take that step. 1253 00:58:54,240 --> 00:58:56,840 Speaker 2: Acknowledge that it will be a bit rocky. You know 1254 00:58:56,960 --> 00:58:59,560 Speaker 2: you might not fall on your feet first. Go you 1255 00:58:59,800 --> 00:59:01,880 Speaker 2: give yourself a bit of a break. Don't be too 1256 00:59:02,440 --> 00:59:05,840 Speaker 2: hard on yourself, and it's okay to look back and think, 1257 00:59:05,880 --> 00:59:09,120 Speaker 2: oh God, I shouldn't have left, but don't stay in 1258 00:59:09,120 --> 00:59:11,880 Speaker 2: that space for too long. You know, just own what 1259 00:59:11,920 --> 00:59:13,680 Speaker 2: you're doing and look forward. 1260 00:59:13,880 --> 00:59:16,320 Speaker 1: That's such great advice. And I also think that you know, 1261 00:59:16,400 --> 00:59:19,840 Speaker 1: the days of like finding a forever job over like, 1262 00:59:20,160 --> 00:59:22,400 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, you were in a different chapter when 1263 00:59:22,440 --> 00:59:24,320 Speaker 1: you were at Quantus and that worked for you, guys, 1264 00:59:24,320 --> 00:59:26,960 Speaker 1: But now you have, you know, two kids in the house, 1265 00:59:27,000 --> 00:59:29,200 Speaker 1: and your priorities change. And one of the things I'd 1266 00:59:29,240 --> 00:59:32,720 Speaker 1: try and really normalize here is like the mini pivot 1267 00:59:32,720 --> 00:59:36,000 Speaker 1: every few years, like your career and lifestyle and house 1268 00:59:36,080 --> 00:59:38,560 Speaker 1: and day structure. As you're a different person every year, 1269 00:59:38,960 --> 00:59:42,080 Speaker 1: it's okay if everything around you tweaks accordingly, Like no 1270 00:59:42,120 --> 00:59:44,800 Speaker 1: one's meant to have one job for their whole life 1271 00:59:44,920 --> 00:59:47,120 Speaker 1: or one life structure for their whole life. If you're 1272 00:59:47,120 --> 00:59:50,080 Speaker 1: trying on different things for side every two years, that's 1273 00:59:50,120 --> 00:59:53,480 Speaker 1: pretty normal in this day and age. What brings you 1274 00:59:53,640 --> 00:59:55,720 Speaker 1: joy or makes you your best self is not meant 1275 00:59:55,720 --> 00:59:57,440 Speaker 1: to look the same from you to hear. So that's 1276 00:59:57,720 --> 01:00:00,160 Speaker 1: such good advice to just be okay, Like, don't be 1277 01:00:00,240 --> 01:00:02,280 Speaker 1: hard on yourself if you don't make it to long 1278 01:00:02,320 --> 01:00:03,919 Speaker 1: service leave like who does now? 1279 01:00:04,120 --> 01:00:05,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly right. 1280 01:00:07,360 --> 01:00:10,480 Speaker 1: So then, in the reverse pattern to gay time, you 1281 01:00:10,520 --> 01:00:13,760 Speaker 1: work together for seventeen years before you guys got engaged 1282 01:00:13,800 --> 01:00:17,800 Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen. Another gay question, how do you know 1283 01:00:17,880 --> 01:00:20,400 Speaker 1: who is going to be the proposer? Like are you 1284 01:00:20,560 --> 01:00:21,720 Speaker 1: rushing to do it first? 1285 01:00:21,800 --> 01:00:24,640 Speaker 2: Like how does that? Michael certainly was not rushing. 1286 01:00:24,640 --> 01:00:26,680 Speaker 3: There was going to be there, just wouldn't it wouldn't 1287 01:00:26,720 --> 01:00:29,240 Speaker 3: be you know, Like I was like, oh, you know, 1288 01:00:29,440 --> 01:00:31,520 Speaker 3: I think I think I'm going I started to sort 1289 01:00:31,520 --> 01:00:33,160 Speaker 3: of whispering it to a couple of friends. 1290 01:00:33,160 --> 01:00:35,880 Speaker 2: I'm like, you know, I think I might ask him 1291 01:00:36,000 --> 01:00:37,840 Speaker 2: and we'll have a party. 1292 01:00:37,920 --> 01:00:40,520 Speaker 3: Like it's just a moment about the party, celebration getting 1293 01:00:40,560 --> 01:00:43,040 Speaker 3: everyone together. As daunting as that is too, because a 1294 01:00:43,080 --> 01:00:46,080 Speaker 3: wedding for anyone, not just SKay couples, but like that's 1295 01:00:46,080 --> 01:00:48,440 Speaker 3: when you put all your friends together, all your families 1296 01:00:48,440 --> 01:00:51,800 Speaker 3: and you know, you know, my parents had remarried, so 1297 01:00:51,840 --> 01:00:54,360 Speaker 3: there was two lots of families coming, so you know, 1298 01:00:54,560 --> 01:00:56,800 Speaker 3: all that run through my mind as I was like 1299 01:00:57,160 --> 01:00:59,080 Speaker 3: do I really ask them or do we just carry. 1300 01:00:58,800 --> 01:01:02,439 Speaker 2: On as you know as thing? But yeah, the urge 1301 01:01:02,440 --> 01:01:05,280 Speaker 2: for a big party certainly was more overwhelming, and I'm like, oh, 1302 01:01:05,320 --> 01:01:06,320 Speaker 2: fuck it, I'm going to do it. 1303 01:01:06,720 --> 01:01:09,160 Speaker 3: There's no way, like neither it's are overly romantic. I 1304 01:01:09,160 --> 01:01:11,280 Speaker 3: would say, we're thoughtful, but we're not romantic. So I 1305 01:01:11,280 --> 01:01:15,040 Speaker 3: don't think it's something that I thought you would ever do. 1306 01:01:15,440 --> 01:01:17,400 Speaker 3: I don't think, you know, if I'm honest, I would. 1307 01:01:19,320 --> 01:01:22,080 Speaker 2: With the status quo of you know, we're together, that 1308 01:01:22,120 --> 01:01:24,000 Speaker 2: we're a family. 1309 01:01:23,760 --> 01:01:24,600 Speaker 3: With you know, we don't. 1310 01:01:24,720 --> 01:01:28,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, but it was the best thing in recopect. Now 1311 01:01:29,160 --> 01:01:32,000 Speaker 2: it is the best thing. But you know, I wouldn't 1312 01:01:32,000 --> 01:01:33,600 Speaker 2: have popped the question, Oh. 1313 01:01:33,440 --> 01:01:35,760 Speaker 1: Wow, so that's good then, and so you knew it 1314 01:01:35,800 --> 01:01:37,320 Speaker 1: wasn't like, oh my god, who's going to do it? 1315 01:01:37,320 --> 01:01:38,640 Speaker 1: When so awkward? 1316 01:01:40,000 --> 01:01:42,640 Speaker 3: I think if Michael had asked, it would have been 1317 01:01:42,680 --> 01:01:44,480 Speaker 3: in the sense of do you want to, Oh, we. 1318 01:01:44,480 --> 01:01:50,120 Speaker 1: Should probably just do that. 1319 01:01:50,560 --> 01:01:52,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, oh my god, I love it. 1320 01:01:52,640 --> 01:01:55,640 Speaker 1: And so same sex marriage became legal in twenty seventeen, right, 1321 01:01:55,680 --> 01:01:58,560 Speaker 1: so you had a year to plan it, and then 1322 01:01:58,600 --> 01:02:01,440 Speaker 1: it was with balloons with pictures everywhere. 1323 01:02:01,480 --> 01:02:02,560 Speaker 2: I think, yeah, that's right. 1324 01:02:03,120 --> 01:02:04,560 Speaker 1: The albums that you printed. 1325 01:02:04,280 --> 01:02:06,160 Speaker 2: Out from the albums that I've got to hear in 1326 01:02:06,240 --> 01:02:07,280 Speaker 2: the kitchen Covens. 1327 01:02:07,520 --> 01:02:11,000 Speaker 3: Yes, I just went through because all our albums are 1328 01:02:11,000 --> 01:02:13,440 Speaker 3: everything's in order. So I just went through, turning pages 1329 01:02:13,480 --> 01:02:14,600 Speaker 3: till I got to the next year, and I just 1330 01:02:14,600 --> 01:02:16,560 Speaker 3: pulled one photo out from that and then I just 1331 01:02:16,600 --> 01:02:19,120 Speaker 3: had them all laminated and attached to balloons. And a 1332 01:02:19,200 --> 01:02:21,640 Speaker 3: friend offered their house. I was like, where can I 1333 01:02:21,680 --> 01:02:23,160 Speaker 3: do it. I'll do it here, like I was going 1334 01:02:23,200 --> 01:02:25,160 Speaker 3: to do it here or I don't think we're at 1335 01:02:25,160 --> 01:02:27,520 Speaker 3: this house, but I was like, no, he'll see it 1336 01:02:27,640 --> 01:02:30,959 Speaker 3: or he'll get wind of it happening. So yeah, girlfriend said, 1337 01:02:30,960 --> 01:02:32,600 Speaker 3: just do it at my house. I've got, you know, 1338 01:02:32,680 --> 01:02:35,520 Speaker 3: a room which I can empty out, and so I 1339 01:02:35,520 --> 01:02:39,000 Speaker 3: did and we were on our way home from dinner. Yeah, 1340 01:02:39,000 --> 01:02:41,600 Speaker 3: we went to a restaurant that we love because it 1341 01:02:41,640 --> 01:02:44,240 Speaker 3: was our anniversary and I said, oh, I've got to 1342 01:02:44,440 --> 01:02:46,560 Speaker 3: go around and they text you. Yeah. 1343 01:02:47,160 --> 01:02:50,320 Speaker 2: I'm so valible. Like honestly, if someone says, you know 1344 01:02:50,400 --> 01:02:51,960 Speaker 2: we're doing this, or you have to do this, or 1345 01:02:51,960 --> 01:02:55,560 Speaker 2: I'm going here, I just believe everything and everyone. You know, 1346 01:02:55,640 --> 01:02:58,000 Speaker 2: Jaron had some apointments leading up to this. You know, 1347 01:02:58,000 --> 01:02:59,640 Speaker 2: I've got to go and help with this selection of 1348 01:03:00,160 --> 01:03:02,400 Speaker 2: you know, interior design that this person is doing, and 1349 01:03:02,440 --> 01:03:03,920 Speaker 2: I'm like, oh, yeah, no worries. 1350 01:03:03,720 --> 01:03:09,800 Speaker 3: Or that was me designing our rings, you know, like. 1351 01:03:09,720 --> 01:03:11,960 Speaker 2: I've got no clue. So but yeah, they had had 1352 01:03:12,000 --> 01:03:15,360 Speaker 2: a pretense that I had to get Jared there because 1353 01:03:15,360 --> 01:03:16,800 Speaker 2: I were going to surprise him. 1354 01:03:17,120 --> 01:03:21,439 Speaker 3: But oh my god, double surprise thing. I even can't 1355 01:03:21,480 --> 01:03:22,080 Speaker 3: understand it now. 1356 01:03:22,280 --> 01:03:25,640 Speaker 2: I was just like, yeah, you were. 1357 01:03:25,720 --> 01:03:29,120 Speaker 1: You were probably like, oh my god, we're surprised exactly. 1358 01:03:29,120 --> 01:03:31,560 Speaker 3: And I'm texting in the car and he's texting them 1359 01:03:31,600 --> 01:03:34,400 Speaker 3: at the same time a bit different reasons, thinking. 1360 01:03:34,160 --> 01:03:35,040 Speaker 2: We're getting each other. 1361 01:03:35,800 --> 01:03:38,320 Speaker 3: And then we walked into Mars like like to me, 1362 01:03:38,360 --> 01:03:42,680 Speaker 3: and I'm like it's no surprise. I'm like, okay, we're here, 1363 01:03:42,960 --> 01:03:45,360 Speaker 3: and I'm like, come into this room and we opened 1364 01:03:45,360 --> 01:03:46,960 Speaker 3: these double doors and that's where the balloons and my 1365 01:03:47,040 --> 01:03:48,920 Speaker 3: mom was like like, oh my god. 1366 01:03:49,960 --> 01:03:51,920 Speaker 2: The very first thought that went through my mind though, 1367 01:03:52,040 --> 01:03:53,520 Speaker 2: was like, God, this is a bit over the top 1368 01:03:53,560 --> 01:03:59,200 Speaker 2: for our friends giving us an anniversary present. Yeah, I've 1369 01:03:59,200 --> 01:04:01,120 Speaker 2: done that for us to spen. 1370 01:04:02,920 --> 01:04:04,200 Speaker 1: They love us so much. 1371 01:04:05,840 --> 01:04:08,640 Speaker 2: And then I realized that it was. 1372 01:04:08,640 --> 01:04:12,840 Speaker 1: Jared and your wedding was just absolutely spectacular. I mean, 1373 01:04:12,840 --> 01:04:14,880 Speaker 1: I think we got married like not that far away 1374 01:04:14,920 --> 01:04:16,640 Speaker 1: from each other, or I had used a lot of 1375 01:04:16,640 --> 01:04:19,680 Speaker 1: your pictures ass Bo, like your page was just in 1376 01:04:19,720 --> 01:04:23,000 Speaker 1: interest for me, apart from the suits, which obviously I 1377 01:04:23,040 --> 01:04:24,760 Speaker 1: did not wear a suit on my wedding day, but 1378 01:04:25,880 --> 01:04:29,880 Speaker 1: but your changes halfway through and then read sparkly suits. 1379 01:04:30,120 --> 01:04:31,480 Speaker 2: We did a small wedding. 1380 01:04:31,480 --> 01:04:34,560 Speaker 3: We had about a hundred guests, but we just wanted 1381 01:04:34,560 --> 01:04:39,280 Speaker 3: it intimate, that fun and you know our secure people, 1382 01:04:39,360 --> 01:04:41,680 Speaker 3: you know, like our close friends, that we could just 1383 01:04:41,760 --> 01:04:45,080 Speaker 3: be ourselves and have be wild and. 1384 01:04:44,840 --> 01:04:47,360 Speaker 2: It was really it was a great. Yeah, the wedding 1385 01:04:47,440 --> 01:04:51,000 Speaker 2: day was was spectacular, just you know, getting ready with 1386 01:04:51,040 --> 01:04:52,800 Speaker 2: the with the bridal party and we had all life 1387 01:04:52,800 --> 01:04:55,920 Speaker 2: photos down pre wedding so we could be party longer 1388 01:04:56,040 --> 01:05:00,640 Speaker 2: once we arrived there. We're not going anywhere to everyone 1389 01:05:00,640 --> 01:05:03,000 Speaker 2: else goes home, and we mentioned that in my speech 1390 01:05:03,040 --> 01:05:05,120 Speaker 2: as well as like we're not doing the farewell at 1391 01:05:05,120 --> 01:05:07,240 Speaker 2: eleven o'clock and wave goodbye to you all, you know, 1392 01:05:07,320 --> 01:05:09,720 Speaker 2: like we're always going to be we'll laughing. 1393 01:05:10,520 --> 01:05:11,240 Speaker 3: That was great. 1394 01:05:11,400 --> 01:05:14,720 Speaker 2: It was a great celebration. The ceremony itself was really beautiful. 1395 01:05:14,920 --> 01:05:20,160 Speaker 2: Hearing Jared's bows was really special. But the having as 1396 01:05:20,240 --> 01:05:22,320 Speaker 2: Jared mentioned the nearest and dearest in the room with 1397 01:05:22,400 --> 01:05:27,280 Speaker 2: us who had played such a part of our lives 1398 01:05:27,840 --> 01:05:31,160 Speaker 2: in Melbourne, and yeah, and followed us from you know, 1399 01:05:31,440 --> 01:05:34,720 Speaker 2: two guys to know our family with beautiful reads. 1400 01:05:34,760 --> 01:05:35,560 Speaker 3: So it was. 1401 01:05:35,560 --> 01:05:38,480 Speaker 2: Really a celebration for them as well to thank them 1402 01:05:38,640 --> 01:05:42,640 Speaker 2: for you know, what they've given to us. So, yeah, 1403 01:05:42,640 --> 01:05:44,440 Speaker 2: it was it was unreal. It was the best night 1404 01:05:44,480 --> 01:05:45,400 Speaker 2: of our lives. 1405 01:05:45,680 --> 01:05:48,440 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh. It looked so beautiful and that radiated 1406 01:05:48,480 --> 01:05:50,400 Speaker 1: out that there was no like you weren't in neither 1407 01:05:50,440 --> 01:05:53,680 Speaker 1: of your bride dialers. It was just looked so much fun, 1408 01:05:54,040 --> 01:05:56,280 Speaker 1: like you were having the time of your lives. And 1409 01:05:56,320 --> 01:06:00,760 Speaker 1: now you tell us about June. 1410 01:06:01,840 --> 01:06:04,720 Speaker 3: And as you know, we're being foster parent and we 1411 01:06:04,840 --> 01:06:07,200 Speaker 3: were credited about a year and a half ago and 1412 01:06:07,520 --> 01:06:10,439 Speaker 3: through that process you're I don't know whether the word 1413 01:06:10,440 --> 01:06:14,600 Speaker 3: profiled is the right word, but it's you know, what 1414 01:06:14,640 --> 01:06:17,400 Speaker 3: we said all along is we don't whatever we do, 1415 01:06:17,640 --> 01:06:20,320 Speaker 3: any decisions we make, regardless of fostering or not, we 1416 01:06:20,360 --> 01:06:22,560 Speaker 3: don't want to impact on Reed's childhood. We want him 1417 01:06:22,600 --> 01:06:26,120 Speaker 3: to have the childhood he deserves. So when we were profiled, 1418 01:06:26,160 --> 01:06:29,440 Speaker 3: if you will, through fostering they've sort of said, yeah, 1419 01:06:29,720 --> 01:06:32,880 Speaker 3: best choice of our best placements for you would be 1420 01:06:32,880 --> 01:06:35,400 Speaker 3: between the ages of zero and maybe two and a 1421 01:06:35,440 --> 01:06:38,480 Speaker 3: half three years old, just that it would fit into 1422 01:06:38,480 --> 01:06:40,080 Speaker 3: your family. So that's why I think it took a 1423 01:06:40,120 --> 01:06:43,880 Speaker 3: lot longer to get any placements. And Little Junior came 1424 01:06:43,920 --> 01:06:47,000 Speaker 3: with like it was an hour's notice, and then it 1425 01:06:47,040 --> 01:06:50,439 Speaker 3: was half an hour's notice, like we'll be a house 1426 01:06:50,480 --> 01:06:52,920 Speaker 3: in thirty minutes. And I've got this photo which I'll 1427 01:06:52,960 --> 01:06:57,280 Speaker 3: share with you offline, of Reid's face in the car 1428 01:06:57,400 --> 01:07:01,480 Speaker 3: on speakerphone when he said, like when the focal came 1429 01:07:01,480 --> 01:07:03,840 Speaker 3: through and they said, we're sending a baby to your house. 1430 01:07:03,920 --> 01:07:07,120 Speaker 3: Like it's making memmost thinking about now, but it's something 1431 01:07:07,160 --> 01:07:10,600 Speaker 3: that he, you know, wanted so so much. Yeah, and 1432 01:07:10,640 --> 01:07:13,240 Speaker 3: I just because I take a photo of sucking everything, I. 1433 01:07:13,240 --> 01:07:14,960 Speaker 1: Know, I love it. You're you, and I are just 1434 01:07:15,000 --> 01:07:17,120 Speaker 1: like it's amazing. 1435 01:07:17,200 --> 01:07:17,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. 1436 01:07:17,400 --> 01:07:19,560 Speaker 3: We pulled overside the car and they're talking and I 1437 01:07:20,000 --> 01:07:21,800 Speaker 3: could hear it building and Read was trying to be 1438 01:07:21,840 --> 01:07:24,840 Speaker 3: quite act like he wasn't there, and I was just like, 1439 01:07:25,360 --> 01:07:26,920 Speaker 3: I have my phone in my hand, and I just 1440 01:07:27,040 --> 01:07:29,280 Speaker 3: I've got to capture this moment for ourselves. So that 1441 01:07:29,320 --> 01:07:31,760 Speaker 3: will never I'll never shed it online, but just that 1442 01:07:32,000 --> 01:07:36,280 Speaker 3: it's an incredible moment for him and he understands what 1443 01:07:36,280 --> 01:07:38,120 Speaker 3: we're doing, like he understands. 1444 01:07:37,680 --> 01:07:38,120 Speaker 2: What it is. 1445 01:07:38,160 --> 01:07:41,040 Speaker 3: It's not that he's lonely and says, you know, I 1446 01:07:41,120 --> 01:07:43,960 Speaker 3: just I've got to have this. He was. He's just like, 1447 01:07:43,960 --> 01:07:46,720 Speaker 3: we're helping a family. We're helped, we're doing something good 1448 01:07:48,400 --> 01:07:50,680 Speaker 3: and doing all the training that you do with fostering. 1449 01:07:51,400 --> 01:07:55,120 Speaker 3: It makes you very aware that you're doing this for them, 1450 01:07:55,240 --> 01:07:58,920 Speaker 3: for the child, not for yourself or for you know, 1451 01:07:59,000 --> 01:07:59,680 Speaker 3: I mean part of it. 1452 01:08:00,080 --> 01:08:03,680 Speaker 2: See you feel good, But at the end of the 1453 01:08:03,680 --> 01:08:08,520 Speaker 2: game is reunification and that's that's what That's what we're 1454 01:08:08,640 --> 01:08:10,680 Speaker 2: always going to aim for. They hope for that. 1455 01:08:10,840 --> 01:08:14,040 Speaker 3: You know, the system works, and the system looks after 1456 01:08:14,080 --> 01:08:16,519 Speaker 3: the child and its best interest is where it needs 1457 01:08:16,520 --> 01:08:18,400 Speaker 3: to be, and if that's with us for eighteen years, 1458 01:08:18,640 --> 01:08:21,639 Speaker 3: then that's fine. But if it's not, we can't you say, 1459 01:08:21,960 --> 01:08:23,680 Speaker 3: you know that. One of the biggest questions that we've 1460 01:08:23,680 --> 01:08:25,640 Speaker 3: had online is like, oh, how on earth could you 1461 01:08:25,680 --> 01:08:27,640 Speaker 3: give him up? You know, like us give it up 1462 01:08:27,640 --> 01:08:30,000 Speaker 3: at the end. Well, that's the plan, you. 1463 01:08:29,960 --> 01:08:38,799 Speaker 2: Know, is that you have been there for for you know, mums, 1464 01:08:38,880 --> 01:08:42,160 Speaker 2: dad's babies, to help them work through the measures they 1465 01:08:42,240 --> 01:08:45,639 Speaker 2: have to before they can be their own little family again. 1466 01:08:45,720 --> 01:08:49,200 Speaker 1: And you guys are giving little Junior so much love, 1467 01:08:49,400 --> 01:08:54,200 Speaker 1: like watching Read looking after it is just so beautiful. 1468 01:08:54,320 --> 01:08:57,400 Speaker 1: The way he's like taken on this like brotherly nurturing role. 1469 01:08:57,400 --> 01:09:00,599 Speaker 1: I think something that shines through so much much about 1470 01:09:00,600 --> 01:09:02,400 Speaker 1: the way that you've parented and the way that you've 1471 01:09:02,400 --> 01:09:04,920 Speaker 1: instilled kindness and your values into Read, and then the 1472 01:09:04,920 --> 01:09:07,719 Speaker 1: way he applies it in his life is and also 1473 01:09:07,760 --> 01:09:11,600 Speaker 1: the way you guys have such a beautiful balance between like, 1474 01:09:11,760 --> 01:09:13,719 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, you take a lot of photos of things, 1475 01:09:13,760 --> 01:09:16,240 Speaker 1: but a lot of it gets chosen specifically not to 1476 01:09:16,280 --> 01:09:18,640 Speaker 1: go on your account, Like you share a lot, but 1477 01:09:18,680 --> 01:09:20,599 Speaker 1: you also don't share a lot and keep a lot 1478 01:09:20,600 --> 01:09:22,720 Speaker 1: of moments private to yourself. And then Read gets a 1479 01:09:22,760 --> 01:09:24,479 Speaker 1: lot of airtime. But then there are certain things that 1480 01:09:24,520 --> 01:09:27,320 Speaker 1: he he also likes to keep private. And I think 1481 01:09:27,520 --> 01:09:29,840 Speaker 1: you guys have just navigated it so well. 1482 01:09:29,960 --> 01:09:31,680 Speaker 3: There is a lot you know, and people say, oh, 1483 01:09:31,720 --> 01:09:34,439 Speaker 3: you share your lives or yeah, you share everything online 1484 01:09:34,479 --> 01:09:36,559 Speaker 3: and well I don't. As you know, an instant story 1485 01:09:36,640 --> 01:09:40,120 Speaker 3: is fifteen seconds and yeah, maybe four hours. So there's 1486 01:09:40,120 --> 01:09:41,920 Speaker 3: a hell of a lot that doesn't go online, and 1487 01:09:42,400 --> 01:09:44,439 Speaker 3: you know, a lot of it is approved or not 1488 01:09:44,479 --> 01:09:47,519 Speaker 3: approved by Read. And you know, he nine times out 1489 01:09:47,520 --> 01:09:49,599 Speaker 3: of ten because he's born and bred, you know, into 1490 01:09:49,600 --> 01:09:52,439 Speaker 3: a family that has shared our lives for so long, 1491 01:09:53,080 --> 01:09:55,599 Speaker 3: and that stands. And he'll give me a disclaimer going, 1492 01:09:56,320 --> 01:09:58,559 Speaker 3: do not tell anyone. I don't share this, you know, 1493 01:09:58,640 --> 01:10:02,120 Speaker 3: because he might be making crafting and he's not happy 1494 01:10:02,120 --> 01:10:04,280 Speaker 3: with it, or he just wants a moment that you know. 1495 01:10:04,320 --> 01:10:07,320 Speaker 3: So he's totally in charge of what content we do 1496 01:10:07,400 --> 01:10:08,360 Speaker 3: share and don't share. 1497 01:10:08,439 --> 01:10:09,839 Speaker 2: And yeah, oh. 1498 01:10:09,720 --> 01:10:11,960 Speaker 1: That's so beautiful, and it seems like it's a family 1499 01:10:12,000 --> 01:10:14,719 Speaker 1: decision as well, like no one's sort of uncomfortable with anything. 1500 01:10:15,200 --> 01:10:18,120 Speaker 1: Did you guys consider having another child yourself? 1501 01:10:18,360 --> 01:10:23,599 Speaker 3: Absolutely? It wasn't until probably I think two years after 1502 01:10:23,800 --> 01:10:26,400 Speaker 3: we had Read is about the time that I noticed 1503 01:10:26,800 --> 01:10:28,519 Speaker 3: all our other friends seemed to have their second child. 1504 01:10:28,560 --> 01:10:29,800 Speaker 3: They seem to have a two year old, and then 1505 01:10:29,800 --> 01:10:31,800 Speaker 3: they have an impact. 1506 01:10:31,600 --> 01:10:34,520 Speaker 1: And it wasn't really it's a cycle cycle. 1507 01:10:34,200 --> 01:10:37,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, but it wasn't really something back then that I think. 1508 01:10:37,080 --> 01:10:40,559 Speaker 3: I think we were just so grateful, so happy, and. 1509 01:10:41,360 --> 01:10:44,080 Speaker 2: We were really privileged to be parents. You know, Read's 1510 01:10:44,080 --> 01:10:47,000 Speaker 2: pregnancy was troubled. I think there were shoes and. 1511 01:10:47,040 --> 01:10:50,280 Speaker 3: We had discouraged before him, so we had the heartbreak 1512 01:10:50,360 --> 01:10:53,240 Speaker 3: that you know, and Read was a frozen embryo, so 1513 01:10:54,280 --> 01:10:57,840 Speaker 3: we sort of experienced not what other people go through, 1514 01:10:57,880 --> 01:11:00,400 Speaker 3: because to carry a child is incredible, like and you 1515 01:11:00,960 --> 01:11:03,640 Speaker 3: lose a child like that, but some sense of you know, 1516 01:11:03,720 --> 01:11:05,599 Speaker 3: like it's out of our control, you. 1517 01:11:05,560 --> 01:11:08,320 Speaker 2: Know, like, yeah, we were already blessed that. When Red 1518 01:11:08,360 --> 01:11:11,160 Speaker 2: was born, the doctors expected him to go into like 1519 01:11:11,200 --> 01:11:14,360 Speaker 2: a high dependency unit because his kidneys weren't developing and 1520 01:11:14,400 --> 01:11:17,040 Speaker 2: he was born a month prem and they were sort 1521 01:11:17,080 --> 01:11:19,960 Speaker 2: of thinking that I have to intervene, and that didn't happen. 1522 01:11:19,960 --> 01:11:21,880 Speaker 2: He was born, He was in our arms in two minutes. 1523 01:11:21,960 --> 01:11:24,519 Speaker 2: He was healthy, one hundred percent. Everything that they were 1524 01:11:24,520 --> 01:11:29,240 Speaker 2: worried about didn't come to fruition. So we were so blessed. 1525 01:11:29,240 --> 01:11:34,720 Speaker 2: But that rollercoaster of those emotions, you know, throughout the 1526 01:11:34,760 --> 01:11:37,640 Speaker 2: pregnancy were still very strong. So we were just very 1527 01:11:37,640 --> 01:11:40,759 Speaker 2: grateful for a healthy child. We didn't think we could 1528 01:11:41,160 --> 01:11:42,679 Speaker 2: risk that again, you know, like it was like blood, 1529 01:11:42,720 --> 01:11:47,120 Speaker 2: hell loves. We're so blessed, you know, enjoy our family. 1530 01:11:47,600 --> 01:11:48,400 Speaker 3: We're very lucky. 1531 01:11:48,840 --> 01:11:53,000 Speaker 2: So it wasn't until just five years ago. Yeah, yeah, 1532 01:11:53,080 --> 01:11:54,840 Speaker 2: that you sort of start to. 1533 01:11:54,800 --> 01:11:57,920 Speaker 3: Think, oh, I'm getting older, like in that whole you know, 1534 01:11:58,240 --> 01:12:00,360 Speaker 3: you put pressure on yourself going, oh I think old 1535 01:12:00,400 --> 01:12:03,000 Speaker 3: now to maybe look in look into doing this. And 1536 01:12:03,040 --> 01:12:06,200 Speaker 3: then we did start looking into it, and again very 1537 01:12:06,280 --> 01:12:08,760 Speaker 3: very difficult, very difficult legally to. 1538 01:12:08,720 --> 01:12:11,559 Speaker 2: Do it, and have since changed their laws and the 1539 01:12:11,600 --> 01:12:16,360 Speaker 2: same sex surrogacy is not an option anymore, so that's 1540 01:12:16,400 --> 01:12:20,360 Speaker 2: off the table. And that's when we were at an 1541 01:12:20,400 --> 01:12:23,599 Speaker 2: Australia Day luncheon and somebody looked at us and came 1542 01:12:23,680 --> 01:12:26,679 Speaker 2: up and started chatting, and she assumed that Reid was adopted, 1543 01:12:27,040 --> 01:12:29,080 Speaker 2: and we just got chatting about that and said, oh, 1544 01:12:29,200 --> 01:12:33,360 Speaker 2: my girlfriend has a beautiful charity. They're just starting their 1545 01:12:33,360 --> 01:12:36,559 Speaker 2: own fostering. And we looked at each other and thought, okay, 1546 01:12:36,680 --> 01:12:39,080 Speaker 2: this is it. Yeah, went down the training and the 1547 01:12:39,080 --> 01:12:43,639 Speaker 2: accreditation for fostering, but yeah, it's still in our minds. Yeah, 1548 01:12:43,800 --> 01:12:49,280 Speaker 2: it's certainly stronger than ever now. Yes that it's not 1549 01:12:49,400 --> 01:12:49,840 Speaker 2: off the time. 1550 01:12:49,880 --> 01:12:52,160 Speaker 3: We wish it was easier, you know, we wish it 1551 01:12:52,240 --> 01:12:55,360 Speaker 3: was even international. Sorry, so if we go to America like, 1552 01:12:55,560 --> 01:12:57,600 Speaker 3: look at the last two years, like the thought of 1553 01:12:57,680 --> 01:13:00,360 Speaker 3: being stuck somewhere, or like how does that all work? 1554 01:13:00,400 --> 01:13:02,719 Speaker 3: That just adds so much more complexity to it happening. 1555 01:13:03,320 --> 01:13:07,640 Speaker 3: So for now, we will just be happy with what 1556 01:13:07,680 --> 01:13:08,559 Speaker 3: we've got, Honey. 1557 01:13:08,680 --> 01:13:11,080 Speaker 1: Well, I think something else that's really resonating for me 1558 01:13:11,120 --> 01:13:12,960 Speaker 1: over this whole chat is that there are so many 1559 01:13:13,040 --> 01:13:16,800 Speaker 1: milestones in your life, like read and then marriage and 1560 01:13:16,840 --> 01:13:20,400 Speaker 1: then Junior that you didn't even know you were aiming 1561 01:13:20,439 --> 01:13:25,360 Speaker 1: for until they stumbled into your life somehow, absolutely, And 1562 01:13:25,360 --> 01:13:28,160 Speaker 1: I think that's so beautiful because it's left you both 1563 01:13:28,200 --> 01:13:31,439 Speaker 1: with It seems like this trust that let's just enjoy 1564 01:13:31,520 --> 01:13:34,080 Speaker 1: now because like we don't know what's going to happen 1565 01:13:34,120 --> 01:13:36,320 Speaker 1: next year or in ten years. And I think in 1566 01:13:36,520 --> 01:13:39,080 Speaker 1: a time like this where the uncertainty, life is always uncertain, 1567 01:13:39,120 --> 01:13:42,599 Speaker 1: but the uncertainty is so intense right now hearing you 1568 01:13:42,600 --> 01:13:45,519 Speaker 1: guys just trust that the next chapter might be something 1569 01:13:45,560 --> 01:13:48,599 Speaker 1: you don't even know exists. Yet it's so reassuring. It's 1570 01:13:48,640 --> 01:13:49,559 Speaker 1: such a lovely message. 1571 01:13:49,560 --> 01:13:51,639 Speaker 2: I think there's something that we try and still as read. 1572 01:13:51,640 --> 01:13:53,720 Speaker 2: The only thing we can control right now is how 1573 01:13:53,760 --> 01:13:56,479 Speaker 2: I'm feeling right now, you know, so it's. 1574 01:13:56,720 --> 01:13:58,639 Speaker 3: That's coming up more and more now at his age 1575 01:13:58,680 --> 01:14:02,480 Speaker 3: of eleven, him worrying about out you know the scenarios 1576 01:14:02,680 --> 01:14:04,679 Speaker 3: you know like this, and we're like at the moment, 1577 01:14:04,760 --> 01:14:06,920 Speaker 3: you're in this one. So you know, like whatever that 1578 01:14:07,000 --> 01:14:10,479 Speaker 3: may be, in whatever he's only got yellow wool. You know. 1579 01:14:15,280 --> 01:14:17,519 Speaker 2: You're in this situation now, don't worry about getting made 1580 01:14:17,520 --> 01:14:17,880 Speaker 2: by wool. 1581 01:14:19,320 --> 01:14:24,360 Speaker 1: Just chill, just chill. Well, the last couple of questions 1582 01:14:24,400 --> 01:14:26,599 Speaker 1: for you guys are more around the idea of play, 1583 01:14:26,760 --> 01:14:29,080 Speaker 1: which is like, again, like so much of what people 1584 01:14:29,160 --> 01:14:30,880 Speaker 1: probably ask you about I want to talk about is 1585 01:14:30,880 --> 01:14:35,040 Speaker 1: like really serious messaging about inclusion and family and you know, 1586 01:14:35,200 --> 01:14:37,519 Speaker 1: self acceptance and all that kind of stuff. But in 1587 01:14:37,640 --> 01:14:40,839 Speaker 1: between all of that, how do you guys just play? 1588 01:14:41,280 --> 01:14:43,640 Speaker 1: And for Michael, like outside of work, is there a 1589 01:14:43,680 --> 01:14:46,120 Speaker 1: way that you just like switch off from kind of 1590 01:14:46,160 --> 01:14:49,880 Speaker 1: productive like let's achieve things you and just forget what 1591 01:14:49,920 --> 01:14:51,639 Speaker 1: time it is? Like what do you guys do for fun? 1592 01:14:51,920 --> 01:14:54,920 Speaker 2: Rugs? 1593 01:14:57,080 --> 01:15:02,439 Speaker 1: And that's not a you For me, I. 1594 01:15:02,680 --> 01:15:06,680 Speaker 2: Think something that we really enjoy together is walking. We 1595 01:15:07,640 --> 01:15:09,800 Speaker 2: going for a stroll, taking the dogs for a walk, 1596 01:15:09,880 --> 01:15:11,160 Speaker 2: taking in a junior in the pram. 1597 01:15:11,360 --> 01:15:13,880 Speaker 3: Now where we do the most, talking the most because 1598 01:15:13,920 --> 01:15:16,519 Speaker 3: you're constantly like concentrating on each other, put in. 1599 01:15:16,439 --> 01:15:18,439 Speaker 2: The fine away and just you know, going for an 1600 01:15:18,439 --> 01:15:21,960 Speaker 2: hour's walk is something that we really both enjoy. It's 1601 01:15:21,960 --> 01:15:24,880 Speaker 2: really it's really good for us. Cooking is something that 1602 01:15:24,960 --> 01:15:29,840 Speaker 2: I get inspired with and then I'll be gangbusters for 1603 01:15:29,880 --> 01:15:31,760 Speaker 2: a few weeks, and then I won't want to touch 1604 01:15:31,800 --> 01:15:33,000 Speaker 2: up pot again for another few. 1605 01:15:34,439 --> 01:15:36,160 Speaker 1: It's like hard and fast, hard and fast. 1606 01:15:36,479 --> 01:15:41,320 Speaker 3: Absolutely renovating that's a fun thing. We we love doing them. 1607 01:15:41,360 --> 01:15:43,439 Speaker 3: We've done a few houses ourselves. 1608 01:15:43,560 --> 01:15:46,040 Speaker 2: Because I'm a builder by trade. I left school. My 1609 01:15:46,080 --> 01:15:48,800 Speaker 2: first job was an apprentice carpenter, so. 1610 01:15:49,200 --> 01:15:51,960 Speaker 1: Oh my god, you're chippy earlier. 1611 01:15:52,560 --> 01:15:55,519 Speaker 2: So I've spent eight years in the building industry. So 1612 01:15:56,840 --> 01:15:59,960 Speaker 2: when we buy property, we try to do a lot 1613 01:16:00,080 --> 01:16:03,400 Speaker 2: of work ourselves. So that's something that Jared's got a 1614 01:16:03,439 --> 01:16:08,120 Speaker 2: really great eye for design and detail and expensive things 1615 01:16:08,680 --> 01:16:12,679 Speaker 2: to make it look rain in the budget on a budget. 1616 01:16:13,800 --> 01:16:15,559 Speaker 1: I love that you guys are doing some of your 1617 01:16:15,600 --> 01:16:18,360 Speaker 1: reno's in down on the Peninsula, and I think you 1618 01:16:18,479 --> 01:16:20,920 Speaker 1: posted the other day how annoying it is that you're 1619 01:16:20,960 --> 01:16:23,120 Speaker 1: missing all the hot trads like you keep getting videos 1620 01:16:23,160 --> 01:16:24,920 Speaker 1: of them, but you can't actually be there to purb 1621 01:16:24,960 --> 01:16:25,519 Speaker 1: on them all day. 1622 01:16:25,920 --> 01:16:29,280 Speaker 3: And then I'm like, oh, the actual trades that are there, 1623 01:16:29,320 --> 01:16:31,240 Speaker 3: Like they know about social media. 1624 01:16:31,280 --> 01:16:32,479 Speaker 2: I'm like, oh, maybe they saw that. 1625 01:16:33,080 --> 01:16:34,559 Speaker 1: Yeah, they probably did. 1626 01:16:35,880 --> 01:16:38,400 Speaker 3: Hopefully they've all finished by the time it's lockdowns over 1627 01:16:38,479 --> 01:16:40,599 Speaker 3: and I don't actually meet them ever. 1628 01:16:40,680 --> 01:16:43,800 Speaker 1: Have to make them so awkward, so lovely the. 1629 01:16:43,760 --> 01:16:46,479 Speaker 2: Others a few of them are. Then I heard they laughed. 1630 01:16:47,040 --> 01:16:50,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, Oh my god, I love that so much. Second 1631 01:16:50,200 --> 01:16:52,880 Speaker 1: last question, which I think you should answer for each 1632 01:16:52,880 --> 01:16:55,639 Speaker 1: other to just like dish the tea, what are three 1633 01:16:55,680 --> 01:16:58,520 Speaker 1: interesting things about you that don't normally come up in conversation. 1634 01:16:58,640 --> 01:17:00,439 Speaker 1: Which is easy for you because this is your first 1635 01:17:00,439 --> 01:17:03,360 Speaker 1: podcast conversation, so it can be anything don't. 1636 01:17:03,160 --> 01:17:05,439 Speaker 3: Come up in conversation three things about you. 1637 01:17:06,080 --> 01:17:08,200 Speaker 1: Or just like the people like. The way I describe 1638 01:17:08,200 --> 01:17:10,439 Speaker 1: it is, what would your partner know about you just 1639 01:17:10,479 --> 01:17:12,719 Speaker 1: from living with you, or anyone who like had stayed 1640 01:17:12,720 --> 01:17:14,960 Speaker 1: at your house would know about you that your other 1641 01:17:15,040 --> 01:17:17,720 Speaker 1: friends wouldn't, Like quirky little things that you do, like 1642 01:17:17,760 --> 01:17:21,040 Speaker 1: sing in the shower, or like the sleep eating that 1643 01:17:21,080 --> 01:17:22,920 Speaker 1: I told you about that I do like only people 1644 01:17:22,920 --> 01:17:25,080 Speaker 1: who have stayed somewhere with me know that I do 1645 01:17:25,120 --> 01:17:27,320 Speaker 1: that because there are always packets of food around my head. 1646 01:17:29,000 --> 01:17:32,720 Speaker 3: Oh god, I really should have That's yeah, this is 1647 01:17:33,120 --> 01:17:39,640 Speaker 3: focused on I actually do share so much of like Michael, 1648 01:17:39,920 --> 01:17:43,519 Speaker 3: you know, like quirks that there's not a lot that 1649 01:17:43,560 --> 01:17:44,679 Speaker 3: people wouldn't know about. 1650 01:17:44,720 --> 01:17:46,640 Speaker 1: The do you have party tricks? Like it is the 1651 01:17:46,840 --> 01:17:51,120 Speaker 1: like do you juggle? Or are there like weird boring? 1652 01:17:51,360 --> 01:17:56,839 Speaker 1: You're not boring, you guys, you are so not okay, 1653 01:17:56,840 --> 01:17:59,360 Speaker 1: Oh okay, maybe okay. The first one can be like 1654 01:17:59,680 --> 01:18:03,000 Speaker 1: who is the most so who is the most fashionable? 1655 01:18:03,000 --> 01:18:03,439 Speaker 1: Between you? 1656 01:18:03,880 --> 01:18:07,519 Speaker 3: That's again neither of us. That's definitely definitely Jared. 1657 01:18:07,720 --> 01:18:11,880 Speaker 2: Jared would like I'll put oh yeah to big whole 1658 01:18:11,920 --> 01:18:15,200 Speaker 2: faith in Jared going shopping for me, no problems at all. 1659 01:18:15,240 --> 01:18:19,000 Speaker 2: He can go buy me shoes, pants, shirts, whatever like 1660 01:18:19,080 --> 01:18:21,280 Speaker 2: that would be fine. I would wear that, no problems 1661 01:18:21,280 --> 01:18:23,920 Speaker 2: at all. But I don't think I've ever once bought 1662 01:18:23,960 --> 01:18:26,439 Speaker 2: something for him that hasn't gone back. 1663 01:18:28,680 --> 01:18:33,679 Speaker 1: Always have the gift receipts, even. 1664 01:18:33,520 --> 01:18:34,400 Speaker 3: When he had bag. 1665 01:18:34,479 --> 01:18:36,200 Speaker 2: I'm like, have you got the receipt because you haven't. 1666 01:18:36,760 --> 01:18:39,880 Speaker 3: Oh my god. Sometimes I say you want a seat 1667 01:18:39,880 --> 01:18:41,240 Speaker 3: and you say no, and then I have to go 1668 01:18:41,360 --> 01:18:44,200 Speaker 3: back and do the whole bloody pantomime for them as 1669 01:18:44,240 --> 01:18:46,320 Speaker 3: to why I've got this item and I'm bringing it back. 1670 01:18:47,040 --> 01:18:47,759 Speaker 3: Oh my god. 1671 01:18:49,800 --> 01:18:51,360 Speaker 1: But do you go share a wardrobe? Like, do you 1672 01:18:51,360 --> 01:18:53,200 Speaker 1: ever share a wardrobe? Do you cross over? Do you 1673 01:18:53,240 --> 01:18:54,240 Speaker 1: steal each other's clothes or. 1674 01:18:56,760 --> 01:18:57,200 Speaker 2: Wade a bit? 1675 01:18:57,280 --> 01:19:00,840 Speaker 3: So sometimes we do fit into each other cloth, sometimes not. 1676 01:19:00,920 --> 01:19:03,040 Speaker 3: But when every time we get dressed, it's sort of 1677 01:19:03,040 --> 01:19:04,880 Speaker 3: like i'd stand at the bottom of the stairs and 1678 01:19:04,920 --> 01:19:06,760 Speaker 3: Michael has to come and show me what he's wearing, 1679 01:19:06,760 --> 01:19:09,160 Speaker 3: because we can't wear the same thing, you know, like 1680 01:19:09,200 --> 01:19:13,479 Speaker 3: the same the same shirt. Because I'll buy like a 1681 01:19:13,840 --> 01:19:16,759 Speaker 3: pair of trousers and I buy it like four pairs 1682 01:19:16,840 --> 01:19:18,000 Speaker 3: all because they fit well. 1683 01:19:18,280 --> 01:19:19,160 Speaker 2: And your shirt. 1684 01:19:19,200 --> 01:19:20,760 Speaker 3: So if there's a shirt I like, I'm like, I'm 1685 01:19:20,840 --> 01:19:22,160 Speaker 3: come home and I wear it for a couple of days, 1686 01:19:22,160 --> 01:19:23,240 Speaker 3: and then I go and buy two more of them 1687 01:19:23,280 --> 01:19:25,280 Speaker 3: because I'm like, when this one wears out, I'll have that. 1688 01:19:25,840 --> 01:19:28,640 Speaker 3: Sometimes our wardrobe is very much like three of the 1689 01:19:28,680 --> 01:19:31,760 Speaker 3: same things. And then it's whilst he's working away it's 1690 01:19:31,760 --> 01:19:33,479 Speaker 3: been good and like take whatever you want, wear whatever 1691 01:19:33,560 --> 01:19:34,120 Speaker 3: you want. 1692 01:19:34,320 --> 01:19:34,840 Speaker 2: In my home. 1693 01:19:34,920 --> 01:19:36,639 Speaker 3: It's like we're standing at the top of the stairs 1694 01:19:36,680 --> 01:19:38,120 Speaker 3: going that. 1695 01:19:39,080 --> 01:19:41,519 Speaker 1: You know, so there's sections right like you do. There's 1696 01:19:41,520 --> 01:19:47,679 Speaker 1: not just a wardrobe. You have your own. That doesn't 1697 01:19:47,680 --> 01:19:48,519 Speaker 1: surprise me at all. 1698 01:19:48,560 --> 01:19:51,000 Speaker 2: A lot of a lot of ging. 1699 01:19:56,520 --> 01:19:59,200 Speaker 1: What about if you're on a desert island. What are 1700 01:19:59,240 --> 01:20:01,720 Speaker 1: the three things you would have have to take? Each other? 1701 01:20:01,840 --> 01:20:04,240 Speaker 1: Answer for each other, like, couldn't live without it. 1702 01:20:04,240 --> 01:20:07,719 Speaker 3: Couldn't live without Michael, couldn't live without a bottle of pinot. 1703 01:20:08,160 --> 01:20:09,400 Speaker 1: Oh, yes, nice. 1704 01:20:10,000 --> 01:20:12,839 Speaker 3: I don't think Jared could live without the Internet. 1705 01:20:13,400 --> 01:20:16,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, he'd take the Internet. 1706 01:20:17,960 --> 01:20:20,080 Speaker 2: But if there was no reception on that desert island, 1707 01:20:20,680 --> 01:20:22,400 Speaker 2: he would go ape ship Like if there was a 1708 01:20:22,439 --> 01:20:25,760 Speaker 2: technical no what what Spotify? Yeah, if there was no 1709 01:20:25,920 --> 01:20:29,360 Speaker 2: music like no, yeah, yeah, yeah, three things. Yeah, So 1710 01:20:29,439 --> 01:20:31,599 Speaker 2: Jared would have to take the whole of the Internet. 1711 01:20:32,320 --> 01:20:35,720 Speaker 2: He would have to take music. You would have to 1712 01:20:35,720 --> 01:20:37,479 Speaker 2: have that at your fingertips. 1713 01:20:38,200 --> 01:20:41,240 Speaker 1: The entire Spotify. Also, that's kind of inside the Internet. 1714 01:20:41,360 --> 01:20:42,960 Speaker 3: That's true. That's true. 1715 01:20:43,240 --> 01:20:45,519 Speaker 1: I love how your son has like not figured into 1716 01:20:45,520 --> 01:20:46,160 Speaker 1: this conversation. 1717 01:20:47,720 --> 01:20:57,639 Speaker 3: Yea, the Internet, you, Michael would be his revolting biscuit pillow. 1718 01:20:57,760 --> 01:21:01,280 Speaker 3: Even like we take down to the beach house, he 1719 01:21:01,360 --> 01:21:06,719 Speaker 3: has to take this disgusting. LaTeX's also latex pill latex pillow, 1720 01:21:06,960 --> 01:21:09,960 Speaker 3: but it's like way for thin. I'm like, it's like 1721 01:21:09,960 --> 01:21:10,920 Speaker 3: having the Oh my. 1722 01:21:10,840 --> 01:21:14,000 Speaker 1: God, that's why you call it biscuits. Literally, I thought 1723 01:21:14,040 --> 01:21:15,920 Speaker 1: you were like a Scotch finger. 1724 01:21:19,760 --> 01:21:26,400 Speaker 3: Revolting so many like players over just to hide its grossness. 1725 01:21:26,400 --> 01:21:28,680 Speaker 3: His pello and I can't sleep without a I'm like, 1726 01:21:28,720 --> 01:21:30,800 Speaker 3: you lay on it. It's like having no pellow. 1727 01:21:30,479 --> 01:21:34,640 Speaker 2: So just try now, Oh no. 1728 01:21:33,320 --> 01:21:35,240 Speaker 1: No, we can't do that. I like, see, these are 1729 01:21:35,240 --> 01:21:37,080 Speaker 1: the things that I love, those weird cloks, like the 1730 01:21:37,120 --> 01:21:37,840 Speaker 1: biscuit pillow. 1731 01:21:38,360 --> 01:21:39,000 Speaker 2: It's annoying. 1732 01:21:39,040 --> 01:21:40,599 Speaker 3: And because when we're going down and we go down 1733 01:21:40,640 --> 01:21:42,680 Speaker 3: in separate cars, I don't get the biscuit. It's like 1734 01:21:42,720 --> 01:21:43,439 Speaker 3: you got my biscuit. 1735 01:21:43,600 --> 01:21:49,280 Speaker 1: Like And also then when you want to like have 1736 01:21:49,360 --> 01:21:51,439 Speaker 1: your photo in the background of like content or something 1737 01:21:51,520 --> 01:21:53,280 Speaker 1: like your bed in the background, and then you've got 1738 01:21:53,320 --> 01:21:56,759 Speaker 1: like one bit fluffy pillow and then this fairal biscuit. 1739 01:21:56,880 --> 01:21:58,880 Speaker 1: Yeah get it. I totally get it. That's just a 1740 01:21:58,880 --> 01:21:59,760 Speaker 1: far buzz kill. 1741 01:22:00,120 --> 01:22:01,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a turner buzz girl. 1742 01:22:02,439 --> 01:22:04,280 Speaker 1: You have pet peeves of each other, and you can't 1743 01:22:04,320 --> 01:22:05,639 Speaker 1: use biscuits because you already used it. 1744 01:22:05,960 --> 01:22:10,920 Speaker 3: Michael's just falls asleep all the time, like seriously, at 1745 01:22:10,960 --> 01:22:15,280 Speaker 3: any any opportunity and a little bit of quietness. 1746 01:22:14,800 --> 01:22:16,480 Speaker 1: And it's just all of the times. 1747 01:22:17,040 --> 01:22:19,200 Speaker 3: Like that's why the run took so long to be 1748 01:22:19,240 --> 01:22:22,000 Speaker 3: cut is because there was just knuck a lipsy Like seriously, 1749 01:22:23,160 --> 01:22:27,000 Speaker 3: I'm like, you're sleeping whiles sleeping, you can't possibly. 1750 01:22:26,960 --> 01:22:28,599 Speaker 2: If there was a quiet bit of time, you know, 1751 01:22:29,280 --> 01:22:32,880 Speaker 2: perhaps reas doing homeschooling, Junior's having a nap. I'll take 1752 01:22:32,920 --> 01:22:35,639 Speaker 2: the moment to reset, have a bit of a nap, 1753 01:22:35,680 --> 01:22:38,040 Speaker 2: you know, even if it's five ten minutes. Jared will 1754 01:22:38,040 --> 01:22:40,800 Speaker 2: take that five to ten minutes to clean something. So 1755 01:22:41,800 --> 01:22:44,439 Speaker 2: going on, he's the one he'll be like, oh my gosh, 1756 01:22:44,520 --> 01:22:48,440 Speaker 2: that that window. Let me clean the window, which is 1757 01:22:48,479 --> 01:22:49,960 Speaker 2: something I'm very grateful for. 1758 01:22:49,960 --> 01:22:51,120 Speaker 3: We've got a very clean house. 1759 01:22:53,160 --> 01:22:57,880 Speaker 2: I'm very and tidy. Jared's very pedantic when. 1760 01:22:57,760 --> 01:23:00,720 Speaker 1: It comes to your procrastic clean services. 1761 01:23:00,920 --> 01:23:03,280 Speaker 3: Yeah. I've loosened up in the last two years with life. 1762 01:23:04,680 --> 01:23:07,120 Speaker 2: Had no visitors, so you know, yeah, I'm sure the 1763 01:23:07,160 --> 01:23:08,880 Speaker 2: cushions aren't up right upstairs. 1764 01:23:09,640 --> 01:23:16,240 Speaker 1: That's because of the fucking biscuit babe. That's very last question, 1765 01:23:16,479 --> 01:23:17,839 Speaker 1: what is your favorite quote. 1766 01:23:18,080 --> 01:23:21,080 Speaker 3: Look this like I love I love a good quote. 1767 01:23:21,080 --> 01:23:23,519 Speaker 3: I love other people's quotes more than you know, our 1768 01:23:23,680 --> 01:23:25,840 Speaker 3: repetitive one. But the one we seed to go back 1769 01:23:25,880 --> 01:23:29,200 Speaker 3: to a lot is people's opinions none of your business, 1770 01:23:29,520 --> 01:23:31,200 Speaker 3: nor should you make them yours. 1771 01:23:31,320 --> 01:23:34,280 Speaker 1: I love that one so much and so important now 1772 01:23:34,280 --> 01:23:37,519 Speaker 1: that I feel like the scale of opinion expression has 1773 01:23:37,560 --> 01:23:40,920 Speaker 1: gone up exponentially in the last couple of us, Like 1774 01:23:40,960 --> 01:23:44,360 Speaker 1: it's just opinion central. So I think that's such a good. 1775 01:23:45,680 --> 01:23:48,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I respect everyone's got an opinion, whether 1776 01:23:48,720 --> 01:23:50,960 Speaker 3: that be about the current environment that we're living in, 1777 01:23:51,200 --> 01:23:53,559 Speaker 3: but it's none of my business. 1778 01:23:54,720 --> 01:23:57,280 Speaker 1: Well, guys, thank you so much for this. I cannot 1779 01:23:57,280 --> 01:23:59,120 Speaker 1: believe how long I've chewed your ear off. This is 1780 01:23:59,120 --> 01:24:00,840 Speaker 1: like double the length of a normal episode. But you 1781 01:24:00,840 --> 01:24:05,960 Speaker 1: were just so amazing, so kind and generous, and I 1782 01:24:06,000 --> 01:24:07,519 Speaker 1: love you guys, even more than I did before. 1783 01:24:07,560 --> 01:24:11,320 Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Thanks so much, and we'll see 1784 01:24:11,360 --> 01:24:12,000 Speaker 3: you at the park. 1785 01:24:12,360 --> 01:24:13,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. 1786 01:24:13,960 --> 01:24:16,479 Speaker 1: I really think this is one of my favorite episodes ever, 1787 01:24:16,800 --> 01:24:19,280 Speaker 1: partly because of how exciting it is to sit down 1788 01:24:19,280 --> 01:24:21,759 Speaker 1: with someone who's never told their story this way before. 1789 01:24:21,800 --> 01:24:24,599 Speaker 1: It was such a privilege. They were both so nervous, 1790 01:24:24,600 --> 01:24:27,320 Speaker 1: but they did so well. I often say after these 1791 01:24:27,360 --> 01:24:29,320 Speaker 1: episodes that I just want to spend more time with 1792 01:24:29,400 --> 01:24:32,000 Speaker 1: our guest and be around their energy and just absorb 1793 01:24:32,080 --> 01:24:34,400 Speaker 1: all their wisdom. And the Dads are just like that. 1794 01:24:34,800 --> 01:24:36,599 Speaker 1: If you follow them already you'll know what I mean. 1795 01:24:36,720 --> 01:24:38,280 Speaker 1: In fact, if you didn't follow them already, but you 1796 01:24:38,320 --> 01:24:40,479 Speaker 1: listen to this episode, I'm sure you'll know what I mean. 1797 01:24:40,880 --> 01:24:43,720 Speaker 1: They're just so funny and self deprecating and you'll want 1798 01:24:43,760 --> 01:24:46,439 Speaker 1: to be their best friend. But they're also really on 1799 01:24:46,479 --> 01:24:49,000 Speaker 1: a serious note, flying the flag for the non traditional 1800 01:24:49,000 --> 01:24:53,240 Speaker 1: family structure and reminding how love really does conquer all. 1801 01:24:53,880 --> 01:24:56,080 Speaker 1: If you don't already, do yourself as a favor and 1802 01:24:56,120 --> 01:24:58,320 Speaker 1: please go and follow Real Dads of Melbourne. The link 1803 01:24:58,360 --> 01:25:00,320 Speaker 1: to their Instagram and spelling and all the unders scores 1804 01:25:00,360 --> 01:25:03,120 Speaker 1: is in the show notes. And if you enjoyed listening along, 1805 01:25:03,200 --> 01:25:05,759 Speaker 1: give them an early Christmas prosy and share the episode 1806 01:25:05,760 --> 01:25:08,840 Speaker 1: and any of your thoughts or takeaways, tagging them and us, 1807 01:25:09,200 --> 01:25:11,760 Speaker 1: Especially given that it's their first time, I would love 1808 01:25:11,840 --> 01:25:14,360 Speaker 1: to show them how much impact this episode has made, 1809 01:25:14,520 --> 01:25:17,640 Speaker 1: particularly given that the dad's only found out about surrogacy 1810 01:25:17,720 --> 01:25:20,439 Speaker 1: through a TV show and a conversation there, and perhaps 1811 01:25:20,520 --> 01:25:22,880 Speaker 1: this conversation can be that for some of the other 1812 01:25:22,920 --> 01:25:26,479 Speaker 1: families listening. So if you did have any takeaways, find 1813 01:25:26,479 --> 01:25:28,840 Speaker 1: out anything new, or have anything to share, please do 1814 01:25:29,000 --> 01:25:30,880 Speaker 1: let them know and share it because it means so 1815 01:25:30,960 --> 01:25:33,280 Speaker 1: much to our guests, and I just I love them 1816 01:25:33,280 --> 01:25:35,240 Speaker 1: so much and I want them to know that them 1817 01:25:35,320 --> 01:25:37,799 Speaker 1: get doing their very first podcast really did make a difference. 1818 01:25:38,360 --> 01:25:40,400 Speaker 1: We may squeeze in one more quick yeays of our 1819 01:25:40,400 --> 01:25:43,040 Speaker 1: lives with Ange before Chrissy, but if things go pear 1820 01:25:43,080 --> 01:25:45,280 Speaker 1: shaped as they seem to be already going with this 1821 01:25:45,520 --> 01:25:48,880 Speaker 1: he who must not be named Omicron, I hope you 1822 01:25:48,880 --> 01:25:51,200 Speaker 1: guys are all okay. So if I don't see you 1823 01:25:51,280 --> 01:25:53,160 Speaker 1: before then or speak to you before, then have the 1824 01:25:53,200 --> 01:25:56,479 Speaker 1: most aazing first of season and New Year, no matter 1825 01:25:56,520 --> 01:25:59,880 Speaker 1: how or what you're celebrating, Stay safe and hold your 1826 01:26:00,040 --> 01:26:02,880 Speaker 1: loved ones very tight, and I'll see you next year. 1827 01:26:02,920 --> 01:26:04,880 Speaker 1: And if we do squeeze in another episode, this was 1828 01:26:04,920 --> 01:26:07,599 Speaker 1: a really awkward preemptive good bites, like when you say 1829 01:26:07,600 --> 01:26:09,559 Speaker 1: goodbye to your friend and then you both walk in 1830 01:26:09,600 --> 01:26:11,720 Speaker 1: the same direction, which happens all the time, that would 1831 01:26:11,720 --> 01:26:13,800 Speaker 1: be very awkward. But yes, I hope you guys are 1832 01:26:13,800 --> 01:26:15,760 Speaker 1: having a wonderful week no matter what happens, and are 1833 01:26:15,760 --> 01:26:16,640 Speaker 1: seizing your yea