Dad Stories: a multi-generational podcast about childhood and growing-up Eden and Tom Knutilla

This episode continues the discussion about events that led us to becoming an Adult or, more accurately, becoming more like an adult. From when we were in our twenties going into the thirties, we both experienced a lot of growth based on being exposed to ‘adult life’. In this episode, we discuss topics centered around family situations such as partners, marriage and babies. We take a look at some of our more enlightening experiences as well as some sad and somewhat tragic experiences that come with married life and the culture of married life, buying a house, seeking parents' permissions for marriage, the why, when, and what of having a baby including risks of pregnancy, and when does a baby go from being an ‘it’ to being your child. These topics are raised from the point of personal experience and not one that covers every aspect of every topic. While this episode does contain some more serious topics it follows the spirit of openness, compassion and, in some cases, curiosity. Hope you enjoy!
Email us at DadStoriesPodcast@Gmail.com
Visit our website at DadStoriesPodcast.com
Download our podcast from where ever you get your favorite podcasts
Music written and performed by Bobby Knutilla

Eden turns thirty! Recently Eden celebrated their 30th birthday. In light of that momentous event, we thought we would discuss events that led us to becoming an Adult or, more accurately, becoming more like an adult. From the twenties into the thirties, we both experienced a lot of growth based on being exposed to ‘adult life’. This will be a two-part series. In this first episode, we discuss topics centered around work and society. Our second episode will focus on family situations. We take a look at some of our more enlightening experiences as well as some sad and somewhat tragic experiences based on situations such as addressing work conflict, developing the ability to be flexible as well as when home situations affect the working world. While this episode does contain some more serious topics it follows the spirit of openness, compassion and, in some cases, curiosity. Hope you enjoy!
Email us at DadStoriesPodcast@Gmail.com
Visit our website at DadStoriesPodcast.com
Download our podcast from wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Music performed by Tom Knutilla

This is the fifth and last episode on our elementary school years. With this episode, we share memories about starting school academically behind, coping with overcrowded schools and the changes that caused, senseless vandalism and other shenanigans, working for lunch money, being on safety patrol , spelling bees and school assemblies as well as other topics. Lastly, we talk about become aware of some of the social upheavals that were happening. We do a short recap of how the content of our topics changed during this series as is appropriate but were pretty thrilled to see the obviousness of our youthful development.  As usual, all topics are covered with humility, personal experience and tenderness.   We have also continued to use Eden’s Kantele music at the start and end of our episode. It is fun to see how their music continues to change and grow. It is as beautiful as it is unique. Hope you enjoy!
Email us at DadStoriesPodcast@Gmail.com
Visit our website at DadStoriesPodcast.com
Download our podcast from where ever you get your favorite podcasts
Kantele Music written and performed by Eden Knutilla

This is the fourth episode on our elementary school years. With this episode, we share memories about our first memories of experiencing the natural world as well as realizing diversity in the classroom. We also discuss our special school pressures when it came to dealing with math especially math competitions and the pros and cons of counting with your fingers! We also talk about childhood role models.  An unusual topic covered is our memories around childhood illnesses including unexpected consequences of taking medicine. Lastly, but not least, we talk about Eden getting their first dog in the fourth grade and where that fit into Eden’s emerging awareness of the world.  As usual, topics are covered with humility, personal experience and tenderness.   Hope you enjoy!
Email us at DadStoriesPodcast@Gmail.com
Visit our website at DadStoriesPodcast.com
Download our podcast from where ever you get your favorite podcasts
Music written and performed by Eden Knutilla

This is our third episode on our elementary school years. Unsurprising but just like our first episode, on First Grade, we covered several areas that were not part of the script! The review of our report card revealed to us that we were both under a more focused attention on books we were reading’. It was interesting giving how topical books and schools are in the US right now. Nevertheless and  as you might expect, Eden was a far more accomplished reader than her ‘Old Man’. We also uncovered our memories of our first experiences with standardized testing which were the same but different at the same time. We do get back on script to discuss our introduction to Social Studies and specifically learning about the United State’s 50 states and the impact that had on our future selves. Lastly, we spend time discussing traumatic events that occurred in the Third Grade that would be the start of our experiencing significant emotional and physical pain and how to deal with it.   As usual, topics are covered with humility, personal experience and tenderness.   Hope you enjoy!
Email us at DadStoriesPodcast@Gmail.com
Visit our website at DadStoriesPodcast.com
Download our podcast from where ever you get your favorite podcasts
Music written and performed by Tom Knutilla

This is our second episode on our elementary school years. To keep us honest, we invited Mom back to join us for this episode.  Just like our first episode, on First Grade, we covered several areas that were not part of the script! The review of our report card would suggest that we both had school in the second grade figured out. Our report cards indicated very little about little Tommy and Eden. However, that conclusion soon is modified as we dive into our first tastes or creative writing, dealing with bullies, working through school solutions to overcrowded classrooms, explore how corporations work to get their products in front of kids, among other topics that seem more adult related than something that a second grader would have to confront. The good news is that we also experienced some wonderful and unique things like our favorite teacher and split classrooms and all of the benefits that come from those experiences! As usual, topics are covered with humility, personal experience and tenderness.   Hope you enjoy!
Email us at DadStoriesPodcast@Gmail.com
Visit our website at DadStoriesPodcast.com
Download our podcast from where ever you get your favorite podcasts.
Music written and performed by Eden Knutilla on a Kantele, a Finnish five string lyre, which Eden is learning how to pla y.