Writing, Whittling, and Wandering Through Nerdiness with Author and Storyteller Matt Eicheldinger

In this episode, Morgan interviews award-winning and bestselling storyteller Matt Eicheldinger. Transitioning from a teaching profession to a full-time author, Matt opens up about embracing his creative side, the significant changes it brought into his life, and his aspirations to give back to the community through storytelling. Matt discusses his love for storytelling, gaming, and even whittling wood! Don’t forget to check out the first book in The Matt Sprouts Series…Matt Sprouts and The Curse of The Ten Broken Toes! 00:18 Introducing Matt Eicheldinger 01:30 The Matt Sprouts Series 02:30 Diving into Matt’s Nerdy Identity: From Ninja Turtles to Whittling Wood 05:48 Exploring the Depths of Creativity 10:25 Exploring the Depths of Nerdy Interests: Video Games, Comics, and More 12:53 The Underrated and Random Nerdy Sides of Matt 15:13 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Publishing and Going Viral 16:36 The Art of Storytelling: Connecting Through Creativity and Comedy 20:40 Navigating the World of Social Media 31:09 The Unpredictable Path of a Teacher Turned Author 34:08 The Power of Crowdfunding and Community Support 37:03 The Breakthrough: Securing an Agent and a Book Deal 39:12 Reflections on Teaching, Writing, and Personal Growth 43:38 The Creative Process and Embracing New Beginnings 46:46 Building a Community: The Importance of Support and Mentorship 53:13 Reflections on Storytelling and Personal Growth 57:23 The Surprising Journey of Becoming an Author 01:00:25 Embracing Nerdiness: Finding Community and Learning from Others 01:03:08 Final Thoughts and Geeky Recommendations Order Matt Sprouts and The Curse of The Ten Broken Toes: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books a Million / Bookshop / Target Check out Matt’s Website: ⁠https://matteicheldinger.com/ Follow Matt on Social Media!  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matteicheldinger/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matteicheldinger Follow That Nerd Thing at:⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod⁠ ⁠Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod⁠ ⁠YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠ Email: [email protected] Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!