WAIM 157: Matt Palka

Matt Palka seems to have already crammed more than one lifetime of experience into his 49 years on the planet. Growing up in rural Northwest Ohio, Palka was the youngest child of a pair of historical reenactors and small business owners. Matt’s youth was filled with myriad hours in the great outdoors. He and his siblings were often left alone for long stretches of time as youngsters, free to explore the wilds around them. By the time Matt was in late elementary school, his family began running a fudge shop which quickly became the center of family life. It was assumed by his family that Matt would take over the business, but he felt another, more creative calling.

After a post-college theater internship failed to materialize, Palka found himself without any momentum or much of a plan. When a friend phoned to suggest that he come visit her in Tahoe, Matt replied his car would never make it over the Rockies. The friend joked that he made the journey on a bike. Palka responded to that joke with a “why not” attitude, and so began a grand adventure. Matt has chronicled that massive cycling journey in his new book and audiobook, Moment In The Sun. The audiobook version of Palka’s adventure is fully sound-designed and includes an album of original songs that accompany the story.

Unwilling to rest on his laurels, Palka has already begun work on a second immersive audiobook, this time chronicling his life as a clubhouse manager for the Toledo Mudhens. During our chat, Matt shared some stories of life in the dugout and the journeyman catcher that supported Palka’s dream at a time when he felt rather invisible. We also dove deeply into the lessons that can only be learned on the open road, and the idea of making the world your own laboratory.

Let’s get into it.

Cheers,

Matty C

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End Credits

Thanks so much to Matt for joining me. You can find out all about him and his work at https://www.mattpalka.com/

The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.

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