S2EP69-Matt Newnham-From Marketing to Moonwalks: Matt's Journey to Children's Books

About this episode

Matt Newnham discusses his transition from marketing to writing children's books, emphasizing the importance of fun in storytelling and hands-on learning.

Matt Newnham, the author of the whimsical Space Ranger Fred series, joins us for a delightful chat that’s packed with stories, insights, and a sprinkle of humor. We dig into Matt's journey from the marketing world to the vibrant realm of children's literature, where he found his passion for creating stories that entertain while stealthily educating young minds. You’ll learn about his philosophy that storytelling should primarily be about fun, with a little learning snuck in like a stealthy ninja. He shares how his personal bumps in the road led him to discover his knack for writing and how a simple story about a space ranger took off (pun intended!) and morphed into a beloved series. We also dive into the magical world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning and how Matt seamlessly weaves these concepts into his adventures with Fred. It’s not all about equations and formulas; it’s about sparking curiosity and making learning feel like an epic quest. Matt's enthusiasm is contagious as he discusses the importance of hands-on learning and experiential education, emphasizing that kids should feel empowered to explore, make mistakes, and learn from them in a…

People in this episode

Hosts: Kristina Heagh-Avritt, Herb Heagh-Avritt

Guest: Matt Newnham

Topics covered

• children's literature
• storytelling
• STEM education
• hands-on learning
• parenting advice

Keywords

• children's books
• storytelling
• education
• STEM
• parenting
• creativity
• experiential learning

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: STEM

Books & works: Space Ranger Fred

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