In defense of fatherhood
5/1/202638 min
Everyone says having kids changes your life. That’s true. But it’s not the whole story. Sean talks with author Derek Thompson about fatherhood, how raising kids can shock you, and why parenting feels not so much “hard” as “nonstop.” They explore the weird psychology of loving something more than yourself, the loss of control over your own time, and the bittersweet realization that every moment with your child is already slipping away. Also: why two kids is not just twice the work, and why you might still want to get on the ride anyway. Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling) Guest: Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at thegrayarea@vox.com or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show. And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube. New episodes drop every Monday and Friday. Listen to The Gray Area ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
[gentle music] What to Make of a Life is the new book from Jim Collins, bestselling author of Good to Great. Based on 10 years of research, What to Make of a Life offers transformative teachings on what it takes to navigate your way through periods of fog, make it past life's inevitable cliffs, and keep the inner fire burning bright, long, and late. Step into frame with What to Make of a Life, the instant New York Times bestseller by Jim Collins. Available from HarperEdge wherever books are sold.
Speaker 10:29
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Sean Illing· Host1:11
[upbeat music] Derek Thompson, welcome to the show.
Derek Thompson· Guest1:25
Hey, great to be here.
Sean Illing· Host1:26
Derek was a longtime staff writer at The Atlantic,