Unlearning How to Parent with Matt Davis

07/05/22 • 27 min

This week I am talking to Matt Davis, Co-Founder of Red Brick Road and Patron at ambitious for autism. But more importantly, for this interview, Matt is also the father of 14-year-old Isaac who was diagnosed with autism aged three. Matt talks to Sara about rebuilding his expectations and assumptions about being a parent.

As Isaac grows and as their family has grown Matt describes his parenting experience as one of unlearning, as fluid learning curve, always being redefined in part due to the fluid nature of autism itself. This fluidity has also altered how Matt approaches other aspects of his life and work, as his mind has become more attuned to challenging his own assumptions about things.

Matt also shares how his experiences with Isaac have helped him to shape the culture of inclusion at the business he co-founded including the hiring of a team member who is also autistic.

If you would like to read more of Matt and Isaac's story then please explore his blog. To learn more about autism please visit Ambitious About Autism and to donate to research into autism visit Autistica.

To read more stories from inspiring rebuilders then the book is available here.

Matt also shares how his experiences with Isaac have helped him to shape the culture of inclusion at the business he co-founded including the hiring of a team member who is also autistic.

To read more stories from inspiring rebuilders then the book is available here.

Previous Episode

Making the Change You Never Thought Possible with Jamie Klingler

You will not want to miss this episode! Jamie Klingler, Writer and Activist for women's safety shares her story of making a change she had given up on, and in doing so finding a new calling. Alcohol and food dependancies were helping Jamie numb the pain of grief, but keeping her stuck in destructive patterns. In the first UK lockdown in 2020 she realised that something had to change. Jamie shares with Sara, how she managed to start and sustain a change and this gave her the resolve and energy to fight for a cause she cared for, after the murder of Sarah Everard

As co-founder of Reclaim These Streets, she was part of the group that successfully sued the Metropolitan Police for breaching her human rights after they banned a vigil for Sarah Everard. She was named ninth in PR Week UK's list of top communicators in 2021. Her writing can be seen in Vogue, the Guardian, Grazia and many more outlets. Her recent TEDx talk is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtycbSeGp2I and she writes regularly at jamieklingler.substack.com

You can read more about Jamie's incredible story here and here.

She also mentions the book The Surprising Joy of Being Sober which you can order here.

If you fancy hearing more stories like Jamie's and to explore the learnings among our rebuilders then you can order The Rebuilders book here.