The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby cover art

The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby

The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby

By: Matt & Abby | Daylight Media
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“Unplanned” dives into genuine conversations surrounding relationships & family. The show is hosted by high school sweethearts Matt and Abby Howard, who live in Phoenix, AZ with their two boys.© Matt & Abby LLC Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Going blind, losing our surrogate, & retiring my service dog

    Going blind, losing our surrogate, & retiring my service dog
    Jun 3 2026
    This episode is sponsored by: Unreal Snacks, Square, Good Wipes, and Cash App Unreal Snacks: Visit https://unrealsnacks.com/unplanned o get $4 off a bag of Unreal—terms and conditions apply. Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/unplanned ! #squarepod Good Wipes: Head to https://goodwipes.com/UNPLANNED to learn how to snag a free pack of goodwipes! Cash App: Download Cash App at https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/kssum24w and use code FAMILY10 at signup to earn $10 when you send $5 to a friend within 14 days. Terms apply. Today on Unplanned, we sit down with Matthew and Paul — an interabled married couple loved by millions for their honest conversations around disability, identity, and life online. Paul opens up about being diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease that will eventually leave him completely blind, while Matthew shares his experience growing up in a strict religious cult and the journey that led him to finally leave. We also talk about internet trolls, misconceptions about blindness, their dream of becoming parents, retiring a guide dog, and how they’ve built a life centered around creativity, advocacy, and finding joy in the face of adversity. Matthew & Paul's IG: @matthewandpaul Paul's Children's Books IG: @paulcastlestudio Find Paul's books here: https://paulcastlestudio.com/ Find Matthew's music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/31WEJvJ77B3sv45clvu889/discography/all Guide dog resource mentioned in this episode: https://www.guidedogs.com/ Follow The Unplanned Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/unplanned__podcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@unplanned_podcast Listen to the pod on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ToDA4ufQuWuEgMq07zN6t https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unplanned-podcast/id1669604504 Follow Matt & Abby: Abby's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/abbyelizabethoward/ Matt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_matt_howard_/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@matt_and_abby Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mattandabb YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@MattandAbby Chapters: 01:02 - Traveling with a guide dog 07:15 - Retinitis Pigmentosa 11:15 - How we met 15:09 - Breaking up 17:35 - Growing up in the IBLP 30:00 - Escaping the IBLP 33:30 - Dealing with the internet trolls 42:40 - Family planning 46:00 - Coping with grief 53:00 - Getting married 01:00:00 - Retiring our service dog 01:11:30 - Running a marathon as a blind person 01:13:00 - Applying for a new guide dog 01:20:00 - When my guide dog saved my life 01:30:00 - Authoring children's books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 43 mins
  • Love is Blind, Baby #2 & Postpartum Depression w/ Zack & Bliss

    Love is Blind, Baby #2 & Postpartum Depression w/ Zack & Bliss
    May 27 2026
    Today's episode is sponsored by Kiwi Co, ASPCA Pet Insurance, Rocket Money, and Zoc Doc. Kiwi Co: Build the best summer ever with KiwiCo—get $10 off your Summer Adventure Series at https://kiwico.com/SUMMER with promo code UNPLANNED. ASPCA Pet Insurance: Explore coverage at https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/UNPLANNED. Rocket Money: Let Rocket Money help you find and cancel unwanted subscriptions, monitor your spending, and lower your bills—join at https://RocketMoney.com/UNPLANNEDZoc Doc: Stop putting off those doctor appointments—go to https://zocdoc.com/UNPLANNED to find and instantly book a doctor you love today. Today on Unplanned, we sit down with everyone’s favorite Love Is Blind redemption story — Zack Goytowski and Bliss Poureetezadi. They open up about second chances, getting married in secret, life after reality TV, growing their family, and what really happened after the pods. We also talk postpartum depression, internet backlash, Zack’s difficult childhood, and how all of it shaped the marriage and family they’re building today. Bliss' IG: @blisspoureetezadi Zack's IG: @zackgoytowski Follow The Unplanned Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/unplanned__podcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@unplanned_podcast Listen to the pod on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ToDA4ufQuWuEgMq07zN6t https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unplanned-podcast/id1669604504 Follow Matt & Abby: Abby's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/abbyelizabethoward/ Matt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_matt_howard_/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@matt_and_abby Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mattandabb YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@MattandAbby Chapters: 01:00 - Love is Blind casting process + How we met 10:00 - Singing in the pods 15:23 - Redemption arc 22:26 - Ad break 24:50 - Love is Blind Divorces 30:13 - Childhood trauma 39:56 - Ad Break 44:49 - First birth story 48:47 - Postpartum Depression 52:41 - Having a boy! 55:39 - Ad Break 01:00:07 - Authenticity online 01:08:43 - Questions from audience 01:11:44 - Ad Break Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 47 mins
  • My mom: Getting married young, Hawaii, and Parenting Now vs. Then

    My mom: Getting married young, Hawaii, and Parenting Now vs. Then
    May 20 2026
    This episode is sponsored by Better Help, Ladder, Wayfair, & Kindred Bravely Better Help: Find support and get 10% off therapy at https://betterhelp.com/UNPLANNEDPODCAST . #ad Ladder: If you have an iPhone, go to https://ladder.fit/UNPLANNED to take a quick quiz and get a free 7-day trial with no credit card required, plus $10 off your first month if you join. Wayfair: Get prepped for patio season for way less at https://wayfair.com Kindred Bravely: Get 20% off your first order at https://KindredBravely.com/UNPLANNED On this episode of Unplanned, Matt & Abby sit down with Abby’s mom, Lori, for one of their most honest family conversations yet. They finally unpack why the family was so against them getting married young, why the move to Hawaii caused so much tension, what Abby was really like growing up, and the parenting debates they still disagree on today. Check out Lori's Travel Book! : https://www.amazon.com/Lets-Travel-Hawaii-Guide-Kids/dp/B0GX7BFTGJ/ Follow her insta: @whatasmartcookiepublishing Follow The Unplanned Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/unplanned__podcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@unplanned_podcast Listen to the pod on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ToDA4ufQuWuEgMq07zN6t https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unplanned-podcast/id1669604504 Follow Matt & Abby: Abby's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/abbyelizabethoward/ Matt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_matt_howard_/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@matt_and_abby Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mattandabb YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@MattandAbby Chapters: 02:10 - Dad's camera phobia 03:45 - Abby's childhood 10:45 - Matt and Abby meet cute 13:13 - Ad Break 16:37 - Mom is an author! 22:50 - Getting married in college 29:09 - Ad Break 32:54 - Asking for Abby's hand in marriage 38:35 - Social Media career 40:42 - Moving to Hawaii 48:57 - Being a teacher and a mom 50:13 - Ad Break 01:06:30 - Living in Arizona 01:08:16 - Questions from our audience 1:15:40 - Ad break #unplannedpodcast #mattandabby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 36 mins
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I love this podcast so much it is so uplifting and joyful and makes me feel better about myself. Thank you so much Matt and Abby xx

BEST POCAST EVER!!

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This podcast is one of the best I started seeing them on Snapchat then found out about the unplanned podcast . They do talk a bit too fast though but it can be slowed down - love you guys x

Amazing !!!

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