The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby

Today's episode is sponsored by Shopify, Pocket Pivot, Little Spoon, and Upwork. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.com/unplanned Pocket Pivot: Text UNPLANNED to 64000 to get a free pocket pivot and 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of any size Copper Head hose; message and data rates may apply, see terms for details. Little Spoon: Go to https://littlespoon.com/unplanned30 and enter code UNPLANNED30 for 30% off your first order of real, nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for kids at every stage. Upwork: Visit https://upwork.com to post your job for free and connect with top talent ready to help your business grow. In this episode Matt and Abby get honest about what this rainbow baby pregnancy has actually felt like: the joy, the grief, and the complicated space where both live at the same time. They open up about the fear leading up to that 17-week appointment and what it has meant to finally let themselves feel hopeful again. Follow The Unplanned Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/unplanned__podcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@unplanned_podcast Listen to the pod on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ToDA4ufQuWuEgMq07zN6t https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unplanned-podcast/id1669604504 Follow Matt & Abby: Abby's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/abbyelizabethoward/ Matt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_matt_howard_/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@matt_and_abby Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mattandabb YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@MattandAbbyHoward #unplannedpodcast #mattandabby Chapters: 00:47 - Why we waited to share 05:15 - Finding out we're pregnant 15:28 - Bleeding scare and coping 22:50 - Ad Break 26:31 - Finding out the gender 29:07 - Telling our family 38:36 - Reaching the 17 week mark 45:35 - Gender reveal party 49:11 - Ad Break 52:02 - Pelvic Rest 59:52 - Telling our boys 01:02:09 - Feeling the baby kick 01:09:21 - Talking about baby #4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They debate polarized conversations about masculinity and how boys might internalize criticism. They unpack differences between harm-driven anger and social-media overcorrection. They discuss teaching emotional intelligence, empathy, gentleness, protectiveness, and service as updated masculine traits. They explore practical parenting mantras, consequences, and modeling therapy and critical thinking.

Whitney Kamel, a practical mom who helped execute an aggressive debt- and home-payoff plan, and George Kamel, a personal finance coach and author who paid off debt and hit millionaire status early, discuss cutting up credit cards, paying off a mortgage fast, renting versus buying, spotting hidden debt in relationships, parenting money lessons, and extreme lifestyle tradeoffs to reach financial freedom.

They talk about approaching a meaningful due date and how they carry the memory of their daughter, Emerson Nicole. They discuss grieving publicly and how keepsakes, art, and community support have helped. They also recap a marriage conference’s communication and budgeting takeaways, and share family moments like carnival fun and kids’ activities.

Meet Teresa, Matt’s mom — candid storyteller about parenting and family life — and John, Matt’s dad — teller of long, honest anecdotes about marriage. They play a family “Never Have I Ever” game and spill stories on sexting, social stalking, diary snooping, parenting fails, marriage boundaries, and generational surprises. Quick, funny, and full of awkward family confessions.

This week, Brock and Boston Mikesell join Matt & Abby for an honest conversation about growing up viral, getting married young, and navigating life as twin brothers in the public eye. Brock shares what it was like marrying his high school sweetheart Kesley after a short engagement and how marriage shifts the twin dynamic. We also play a hilariously Mormon coded game of Agree to Disagree. This episode is sponsored by Better Help, Shopify, and Cash App. BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/unplannedpodcast #ad Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/unplanned. Little Spoon: Give them meals + snacks that are actually right for where kids are developmentally—balanced, intentional and made to support real growth. Go to littlespoon.com/UNPLANNED30 and enter code UNPLANNED30 for 30% off your first order. Cash App: Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/kssum24w #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Chapters: 00:00 - Brock Boston & Kesley 05:30 - Mormon Missions 14:33 - What do people get wrong about Mormons? 18:34 - Mormon 101 25:35 - Kesley and Brock meet cute 28:22 - Growing up on Youtube 34:30 - Young marriage 39:09 - Our unplanned moment 51:57 - Surviving a plane crash changed our lives 1:00:50 - Buying a house at 17 1:03:02 - Boston's Mission 1:15:46 - Agree to Disagree Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt & Abby answer your real relationship dilemmas, no filters. From cheating and performance anxiety, nothing is off the table. Honest advice, awkward questions, and conversations most couples avoid. This episode is sponsored by Hiya, Nutrafol, Audible & Square. Hiya: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to https://hiyahealth.com/UNPLANNED Nutrafol: Get $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping at https://nutrafol.com with promo code UNPLANNEDPOD. Audible: Listen to Jay Shetty's new Audible Original series Messy Love: Difficult Conversations for Deeper Connection—go to https://Audible.com/MessyLove to start listening today. Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/unplanned ! #squarepod Chapters: 00:00 - Answering your dilemmas 04:58 - My friend cheated on her fiancé 08:13 - My significant other is struggling with confidence 11:57 - My partner is always on their phone 16:36 - My spouses farts smell so bad 19:33 - My husband is experiencing performance anxiety 21:55 - Date night suggestions 25:48 - My husband won't move from our home state 27:40 - My husband's love language is not physical touch 30:17 - What will actually change when we get married? 31:28 - Should we wait for baby number 2? 35:45 - My mother in law smokes 39:19 - I'm never in the moooooood... 41:34 - How do we agree on when to get married? 44:25 - Should we postpone the wedding? 46:03 - The only thing that bothers me in our marriage 49:22 - How do we have more fun trying to get pregnant 53:38 - What are you thoughts about people getting back together 56:13 - How did you deal with waiting for marriage 58:18 - Advice for postpartum depression? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt & Abby respond to the assumptions people make about their marriage, money, parenting, and life online. From sex, swearing, and social media, nothing is off the table. It’s honest, self-aware, and way more nuanced than the internet thinks. This episode is sponsored by LMNT & Huel. LMNT: Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/unplanned Find your favorite LMNT flavor, or share with a friend. Huel: Grab Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code unplanned15 at https://huel.com/unplanned15 New Customers Only. Chapters: 00:00 - Addressing your assumptions about us 04:37 - You guys didn't actually wait for marriage 05:45 - You never cuss on the podcast 07:14 - Matt loves Abby way more than she loves him 08:29 - Y’all have sex every day 08:59 - You guys poop with the door open 09:39 - You guys are mad rich, like billionaires 13:03 - Abby makes Matt get pedicures 13:49 - Sponsor: LMNT 15:25 - Abby reads books and Matt reads Reels 17:06 - Abby always gets what she wants 17:46 - Abby secretly runs marathons 18:24 - Matt is the fun parent and Abby is the disciplinarian 19:30 - Matt has more social bandwidth 20:35 - You guys overthink 22:36 - Matt struggles with comparison 22:58 - Abby has to keep Matt in line 23:52 - Matt would thrive in a normal 9-5 25:27 - You actually hate doing social media 25:47 - You don't always agree with how much you share 27:35 - Matt reads comments way longer than Abby 27:58 - You've changed opinions just to avoid getting backlash 29:04 - Sponsor: Huel 32:14 - Matt thinks Abby could run the entire business 33:07 - Since getting more public backlash you are more cautious 33:53 - Being in the spotlight all the time is overwhelming 34:36 - Being good examples leaves less room to be fully yourselves 37:00 - You have a lot of help 38:46 - You miss life before kids 41:40 - You regret getting married so young 43:24 - Abby gets hit on and it messes with Matt 44:32 - You judge people who choose not to have kids 45:33 - Abby's parents still live with you 46:41 - You guys are superstitious 47:24 - Abby saves money and Matt likes to spend 50:46 - You don't drink alcohol 51:22 - Abby is a great singer 53:09 - You like it when fans say hi 54:31 - You don't like alone time 55:19 - You guys are soul mates from previous lives 55:51 - This podcast is going to end 58:19 - Y’all have sex every day (the return) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Manson, bestselling author and thinker on modern self-help, responsibility, meaning, and relationships. He talks blunt truth-telling, why the provocative book title mattered, the dangers of toxic positivity, marriage as a “long conversation,” loneliness and how friendships form, dating apps versus chemistry, and facing death with Buddhist perspective.

Matt & Abby have an honest, thoughtful conversation about divorce, what the data actually says, and the seasons of marriage that tend to be the hardest. They talk through common reasons marriages struggle, indicators that often get ignored, and why they still believe in marriage, before closing with an Agree to Disagree segment and questions from listeners. This episode was sponsored by Rocket Money, OLIPOP & Shopify. Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster—join at https://RocketMoney.com/unplanned Get a free can of OLIPOP when you buy any 2 cans in store—just visit https://drinkolipop.com/unplanned Sign up for your $1/month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/unplanned with promo code unplanned. Chapters: 00:00 - A messy conversation about divorce 01:39 - Getting married before 25 12:53 - sponsor: Rocket Money 14:18 - Most difficult periods of marriage 25:42 - sponsor: Olipop 28:52 - Largest indicators of divorce 30:34 - Most common reasons for divorce 33:28 - Jobs and divorce rates 40:40 - Benefits of marriage 42:58 - sponsor: Shopify 44:40 - Agree to Disagree 57:44 - Q&A Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices