Matt Higgins

And everybody these days has to have like a hard luck story. Unfortunately, we've all been like, you can't be born on third base. I'm like, what's so wrong with third base? I would like to be born on third base. Everyone's got a story. Yes.

And everybody these days has to have like a hard luck story. Unfortunately, we've all been like, you can't be born on third base. I'm like, what's so wrong with third base? I would like to be born on third base. Everyone's got a story. Yes.

It's funny that you said beautiful story. And in my mind, I don't know if I feel like it's beautiful, but I guess it telegraphs how I grew up. So we were always struggling. Holidays were always a source of pain, to be honest, and melancholy because my mother wanted to turn it into something, right? Like something to look forward to.

It's funny that you said beautiful story. And in my mind, I don't know if I feel like it's beautiful, but I guess it telegraphs how I grew up. So we were always struggling. Holidays were always a source of pain, to be honest, and melancholy because my mother wanted to turn it into something, right? Like something to look forward to.

And some holidays, it meant we don't have a turkey or we don't have... And so the Catholic Church... even though we were terrible Catholics, would always come. And I always remember this, the knock on the door and the father and me, like a little boy, you feel like you're going to go to like the God police or something.

And some holidays, it meant we don't have a turkey or we don't have... And so the Catholic Church... even though we were terrible Catholics, would always come. And I always remember this, the knock on the door and the father and me, like a little boy, you feel like you're going to go to like the God police or something.

Because I remember I was standing behind my mom's dress and peering through the door and just always seeing this warm, nonjudgmental face that would just deliver a box of food and how much relief that would bring my mother, who was also a bad Catholic. And so throughout my life, and I've had the pleasure, fast forward, this is a crazy story, but I've had two private audiences with the Pope

Because I remember I was standing behind my mom's dress and peering through the door and just always seeing this warm, nonjudgmental face that would just deliver a box of food and how much relief that would bring my mother, who was also a bad Catholic. And so throughout my life, and I've had the pleasure, fast forward, this is a crazy story, but I've had two private audiences with the Pope

And part of the reason I got involved was not because of doctrine, but because the Catholic Church has the longest supply lines. And as a little boy, I was on the receiving end of that supply line of people who just dedicated their life to doing good things for people. So yeah, those are my holidays.

And part of the reason I got involved was not because of doctrine, but because the Catholic Church has the longest supply lines. And as a little boy, I was on the receiving end of that supply line of people who just dedicated their life to doing good things for people. So yeah, those are my holidays.

But a reason why I say I don't know if it's a joyful story, because it was a story of shame, mostly, growing up. We would take a bus. I didn't understand why we would do this, but we would take a bus over an hour away to actually, it was a Black Baptist church, and they would be so kind to me. I also have fond memories of... Baptist churches.

But a reason why I say I don't know if it's a joyful story, because it was a story of shame, mostly, growing up. We would take a bus. I didn't understand why we would do this, but we would take a bus over an hour away to actually, it was a Black Baptist church, and they would be so kind to me. I also have fond memories of... Baptist churches.

And we would collect a box of food and take the bus back. And as I got older, I could think like, was there no church closer to home? And my mother obviously was trying to hide, you know, best she could, you know, the situation we're in. So that's why I struggled. Like, is that a good story? Is that a sad story? But that was my upbringing.

And we would collect a box of food and take the bus back. And as I got older, I could think like, was there no church closer to home? And my mother obviously was trying to hide, you know, best she could, you know, the situation we're in. So that's why I struggled. Like, is that a good story? Is that a sad story? But that was my upbringing.

Yeah. And I really tell this because I don't want people to be like, oh, you're the kid who made good. You know, you ran with the gang. I was like, no, that's actually not what I was. I was the sad, depressed kid who was parentified at an early age. A lot of people listening to this may know somebody who's a caregiver and not prepared, nor do they want to be in that situation. That was me.

Yeah. And I really tell this because I don't want people to be like, oh, you're the kid who made good. You know, you ran with the gang. I was like, no, that's actually not what I was. I was the sad, depressed kid who was parentified at an early age. A lot of people listening to this may know somebody who's a caregiver and not prepared, nor do they want to be in that situation. That was me.

I also felt like there was a destiny about my life. And I also felt let down by society. Family members, they moved on. And when someone steps up to take responsibility, everyone else is like, good, you deal with mom unable to take care of herself. So that's my reality. And it's complicated.

I also felt like there was a destiny about my life. And I also felt let down by society. Family members, they moved on. And when someone steps up to take responsibility, everyone else is like, good, you deal with mom unable to take care of herself. So that's my reality. And it's complicated.

I think it's so funny, I think about this too, because I always want to keep myself honest. It doesn't do anybody any good if I put myself out there as being the oracle, you know, knowing things so young. Honestly, it was the feeling of being disenfranchised and disenchantment.

I think it's so funny, I think about this too, because I always want to keep myself honest. It doesn't do anybody any good if I put myself out there as being the oracle, you know, knowing things so young. Honestly, it was the feeling of being disenfranchised and disenchantment.