May 21, 2023 • 32 mins
Larry Emdur.... COME ON DOWNNNNNN!
Matty J and Ash have developed a full blown dad-crush post Larry Emdur chat. The man has it all - loving relationship with his wife, successful career and two fully grown offspring who treat him like a best mate. He also doesn't look a day over 40.
We talk about how he juggled a new-born whilst hosting one of the biggest game shows in Australian TV history, what his tattoos (which are dedicated to his family) really mean, the difference in parenting to a son versus a daughter, and the one thing he wished he was better at as a dad.
Big thanks to Larry for being so generous with his time.. Have we mentioned how much we love Larry?
Follow @twodotingdads on Instagram here. Or slide into our DM's with any Doting Dads you'd like us to interview.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Welcome to three doting Dads.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I am Maddie Jay, I'm Ash, I'm Larry with a
sock on my mic.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
This is a podcast all about parenting. It's the good,
the bad, relatable and if you've come for any type
of advice, I'm going to be stop you right now.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Although today might be different.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
And we have Larry, and we've been pitching learn from
Larry all week.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Each other, like do you know what learn from Larry?
That'd be great.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
People have been going to be so confused. Ye, if
you're coming for advice, sit down, attention, no distractions. But Larry,
I'm going to pash your ego right now for a second.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
If I may, he's usually pashing mind, let me tighten
up my sock.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Look, when we think about dad who are successful, you
are at the top of that list. You've got a
beautiful wife that you were still madly in love with
as far as I'm concerned, see on social Instagram. Never lie, never, never, exactly.
You've got a very successful career right now, and more important,
when you say.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Right now always, it'll never end, it will never end.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And more importantly, you've got two beautiful children who not
only are very successful, but it seems like you're still
best friends with them. Yeah, what is the secret?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Tell us everything?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
You know what?
Speaker 2 (01:39):
I don't know? And I get asked that a lot too,
And I feel very blessed and very lucky. I think
most dads would say that about their kids. But I
don't know. I've just written a book recently where I
tried to work that out and I couldn't work it out.
It was nothing you always want. You want to be
a great dad, you want to be a great parent,
you want to be a role model, you want to
be helpful for the kids. But there's nothing that I did.
(02:00):
I didn't set off down a path of being I
want to.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Be great mate, going to be perfect, and it's just,
you know, it's just.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Worked out that one. I feel very lucky because I
know that's not everyone's story. I know that, but I
feel very lucky now that I'm best mates with my
son and best I was with my daughter yesterday and
they're older and they, you know, they've got every reason
to not want to.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Hang out with the Yeah, because your kids are similar
age to me. Really right, I'm thirty two.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
I've had a sec to me.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Apparently that's young, but your son's thirty.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Twenty nine, twenty nine, how would you do it?
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Twenty four?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Okay, so your son's really close to my age, and
it's kind of like you're coming out the back end
of what we're just really embarking on.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, yeah, you've cross the finish line on that about
pretty much had to go into like a grandparenthood at
some stage in the next probably five to.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Ten years, right, And like for us, we've both got
a four year old, two year old really embarking on
that entry level. Yeah, sucked in, dad, Yeah, I was
going to invite you over to change and happy.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Let's start right back at the very beginning, right before
you have kids. You're expecting kids. Sylvie is pregnant, and
I'm going to talk about this almost like it's in
like the Dark Ages, which I know it's not, but
back then it was very different from where we're at
right now. It's almost you know, I think back to
when Laura was pregnant and we had too much information
(03:19):
is every other website was podcast there was we were inundated,
And I'm going to blame that for the fact that
I didn't read any book or I went to one
birthday class. But what was it like for you when
you were expecting kids and how did you prepare?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well, we had no electricity, so it was like you
had to light candles and no Netflix. There was no television.
Look at they were very different times. We didn't have
the resources. I think you're exactly right, the answers to
all your questions on Siri now and on the phone
and oh and there wasn't that there. But you know,
we had a great It wasn't that long ago, but
we had great support system, my mum and Sylvie's mum
(03:53):
and we lived actually in an apartment in Bondi on
the top floor. It was one hundred stairs and Sylvie
was seventh. Sylvie was seven months pregnant and broke a leg.
Oh so that was breaking leg running away from me.
I think no, no, she fell over, fell over, broke
a leg. There's different traumas and different challenges right at
every different stage. But everything we needed to know was there.
(04:16):
Did I go to the classes maybe once or twice,
but I was working very very hard hosting the prices, right,
I don't have time to go and sit in the
bean bag and watch those videos which I should have.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, said, I went to two of them.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
There were eight hours long on a Saturday, the worst
two saturdays of my life. I'll never get that back.
And I don't think I learned anything well that I
can remember. And like, yeah, like Matt was saying, there's
a very big technological difference between like when I was
born we could talk about because of similar age first
our kids now where we just.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Literally did a whole episode the other day on how YouTube.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Is the best parent because they, yeah, they pretty much
look after my kids. If I'm just like, here's my phone, kid,
It's like back then, I don't know. I always it
rattles me how you did it and how much pay
you would have had to have Back then?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Was it something that came easily?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
It was okay, you know, it wasn't about Joie was
actually sick when he was born. He had his sort
of an underdeveloped valve, and so it was indigestion, but
major indigestion every time he laid back even a little bit.
So he for the first probably better part of a
year of his life, he never slept for more than
forty or fifteen minutes. Yea. So it was full on
(05:26):
and I was traveling I was in Melbourne every second
week for four days at a time doing Prices Right.
So poor Sylvie here brokenly with a child who was
not sleeping at all, and so I'd come home from
Melbourne after four or five days and find this wreck,
you know, not in Sylvie, but just in the situation. Yeah,
it was horrible and I felt really bad. I'd open
the door, she hadn't slept for four days, should throw
(05:47):
gipe me go? It's yours, It's yours now. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Interesting the challenge in that from a relationship perspective of course,
and a parenting perspective, but you know, like all things
in that situational, most things in that situation, it turned
out okay.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
I think at that time too, you kind of like, well,
we'st We've got to get on with that because there's
not much we can do with the situation.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
But also the pressure as well, like the Price is
Right was just huge. It was one of the biggest
shows in the history of TV in Australia. And what
were you at the time when you were hosting it,
late twenties.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah, I was late twenties. I mean, it was nothing
compared to what Sylvia was going through at home.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
But it was fun.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
I was going to work to hang on last No, no, no, no, no,
I don't hear this. Probably she will probably hear it.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
No.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I was going to work in playing games and from
you know, a mother, a new mother's perspective, who wasn't
sleeping sitting at home. I'm in Melbourne. I'm surrounded by
girls in bikinis and launcher, you know, like you know,
like it was, it was.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
It was interesting, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I felt for Sylvia during that time. It was difficult
to go like that with no sleep and be stressed
and all the anxiety around that, and then see how
you sort of down there playing games and having fun.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Did you watch the show while you were down there?
Speaker 1 (06:58):
And I don't.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Like she says no, but I feel like she's hidden
cameras around this place. She's Polish, so I think I
like to keep an eye on.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
So when it came to the prices, right when you
were given that contract, how did that conversation happen with Sylvie?
Was it always a case of I finally been given
what I've always wanted. I'm going to take this, questions asked?
Or was there ever a case of maybe not doing
the prices right.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
No, No, there was never that because my life was TV.
It's all I'd ever done. I couldn't do anything else,
you know, she said, you want to go away and
get a job closer to home as a surveyor or
an engineer as well. There's nothing else in my life
that I've ever done or I could do, So there's
never a question of that. But it's just I had
to take the show because it was a huge show.
As you said, it was an enormous opportunity, and for
(07:49):
me to have a career in television or and entertainment
and to say no to that opportunity would have made
no sense at all. And it was a good thing.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
It was good.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
That money was good. It gave us good lifestyle. I
have some nice house, It gave us all the good things.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Have you a real platform too, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
It's set us up for life basically. But at the time,
you know, all of that whittles itself down to screaming
sick kid at home, you know. But I couldn't leave
the prices, right. I don't think she would have wanted
me to not work. I don't think she would have
wanted to be sitting around the house. Yeah, but yeah,
there was never.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
A take care of two kids then, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
But there was never a question of you know, that
was the culmination of everything I'd done for years and
years and years before.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
And how long did you do prices right before? Because
your kids are what five years apart?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Yeah? So I did price for I think four or
five years in the first block. Then I had a
break for a while, and then went back and did
it for another three or four years, then had a
break for ten years, went back and did it for
another year or so. It's been on and off, So
people think it's been on for twenty I've been on
for twenty years because that run repeats like i'd finished.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
Rare looks really young. What's his secret? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Those double breasted suits? Are they still live? So there
was this sort of perception that I was doing it
for ever and ever and ever, which was fine by
me as well. I mean, I'm very happy to be
that none as that guy.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
When you look back at those first few years being
very very difficult, was it always on the cards to
have too or did you guys come out of no no.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
In fact, no, no, no, no, no, no, Sylvie was
a flight a's in it and we were traveling all
over the place very cheaply or for free, and we
were love it, having this great lifestyle, right, and then
we decided, that's so bloody selfish. And we got to
a point where I think all our friends who had
had kids were having other kids, and we thought, of course,
you know, we've got to try try for another one,
(09:37):
another one. And we got a perfect little you know,
perfect little daughter.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
And did you find when you decided to have a
second child and you did have your second child, what
was your work life and family life then like different
to the first child?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
You think?
Speaker 2 (09:51):
So? I think we were probably better set up, like
we were in a comfortable so when Jie was born,
we were in an apartment on the top floor with
no lift.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
You know this seven hundred.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
And before we'll work or coals would delivered to your doors, right,
so I away. So we've got the baby and the
shopping and this and.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
The you think, you know, there's that thing where it's
like you got to carry every grocery bag the one
tree like that we lack seven hundred steps to take sixteen.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
You leave one bag down there next time it's the frozen.
So I think the next time we had a house,
we were more comfortable financially, We're in a better place
career wise, I was in a better place. And I
think all those things play into, you know, a comfortable,
I don't want to say happier house, but just a
more settled house.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah, cool, do you think?
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Yeah? And we we spoke about this the other day
as well, that you sort of subconsciously with your second
child remember things and how to do things, and all
of a sudden, you're way better than than you were
with your first trouble without even really thinking about it.
And I think, like, we set out to have two
on stage, then we had one, and I'm like, I'm
not doing that again. And then I had a second,
(11:07):
but so thankful had the second because I had a
girl second as well, and it was like, well, she's
my favorite.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Yeah right, you know, it's just like but it's also
down to.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
That I'm much more patient and much more calm. Why
It's like I definitely don't get upset with her as
much as I would have with my son, because the
first one, you're just you're learning how to do it
as you go.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yeah. Yeah, So after the first one where you said
I'm never doing that again. Was it because it was
just so hard for you?
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Yeah, it was, yeah, so hard, But it was sort
of like our story is sort of similar with Oscar
had silent reflux and forty minutes around the clocks and
really took a toll of my wife, which was the
hardest thing to watch that happen, and I think I
was just traumatized from that. I've never really spoken a
whole heap about it with Matt and Keish, but it
(11:54):
was sort of like, yeah, watching a shell of a
person that was my wife because of how hard that
time was, made me think I can't do that again.
Not for me, but I can't watch this happen again.
To her, she was adamant, she wanted the second one,
and then so obviously so glad that we did in
the end.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Also my thing for yourself, Larry, one of the hardest
things I'm assuming it was hard is the fact that
you're a new family. You know your wife is doing
her very best, but there's also that added pressure of
the fact that you know this notoriety right now is building.
You're becoming such a familiar face. How did you guys juggle.
That was it something that you guys found quite difficult?
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Well, I mean there was nothing that we ever had
to really focus on. Like I think Sylvia came into
my life where I'd been hosting TV for a while,
so we're getting a bit of that anyway, So it
was all right too, you know, and we lived at
Bondai and we walk up.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
And down in the front of WHO magazine.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Yeah, I know your situation. You know that happens in
a short space of time, right, you go bang and
all of a sudden, you're famous guy. But for me
back then, it was this slow crawl up and then
you get you're kind of you're kind of getting used
to it. Social media wasn't around, so it was really
just that face to face walking along Bondi Beach and
people saying nice things to you.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
But how did the kids react when they're a little
bit older and you know, if you guys would go
out because I remember seeing you when I was younger
at Perisher and I remember thinking to myself, holy shit,
it's Larry, And you know, I was like, do I
go up, do I say anything? But obviously so many
people will come up to you and speak to you
your kids, like.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Dag, what is going on?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Sometimes sometimes it's okay and then sometimes it's less okay.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
When is it not okay?
Speaker 2 (13:39):
If you're having sort of a private ish moment, it's
not okay.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
You know, like if you're trying to put the kid
in the back of the car and there's kicking a.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Screen, there's that they're sitting down at a nice restaurant
with Sylvie. That might not be okay. But now with
social media, everyone just wants you all the time, you know,
it wants a bit of that.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
All of the time.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
There's no boundaries now, I find then you get the
strange people come out hiding their phone, going you know,
like trying to sneak just say hi. It's a very
strange world.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
I think like a lot of people can't pick up
on like you were saying, like you know, a personal moment.
A lot of people can't pick up on that personal
moment that you're having with your family to wait to
go okay, well there now they're walking back down you know,
Bondo Beach. Maybe now I can say hi, Larry, Yeah, yeah,
I loved you on the prizes right, are you still
doing it?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Or come on down.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
So I was sitting yesterday in a coffee shop in
Crown Street in Sydney with my daughter and was a
lovely day. We chose to sit outside. We only had
she had time for a coffee on a work break,
and we sat there and three four people stopped and
said start. I mean I should have sat on the street,
you know, for that I wanted that time with her.
It's funny because one person stops, and then if someone
stopping and take yourself, you know, and then the next
(14:51):
person goes, oh's what's happening over?
Speaker 3 (14:54):
It starts this.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Thing I created a So maybe you know, I should
have gone sit with tea for twenty minutes half an hour.
Maybe we don't sit on the street on a nice day.
And most people are nice because the shows I've been
involved in Price is Right and Chase the Morning Show,
they're nice show so they're not a villain. So people
are just saying nice things. A guy the other day
(15:16):
walk past and goes, oh, you're a pisser, Carl, and
I'm like, okay, you.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
A compliment.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
I'm Eddie, I'm not I'm coffee.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Did you ever have to have the conversation with your
kids and you know it's out.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Yeah, there's been things.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Yes, I'm a fucking big deal.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
Maddy's just gearing up because he's going to have to
have that.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
It's a thing. No, you know, it's been part of
their lives forever too, and it's okay, Like it's not bad,
and it's it's got me a place and a car,
and it's got you right here and here I am, here,
I am so you know, we live with it and
it's nice. An old TV executive one said to me,
if you're on TV and people aren't wreckinging you, that's
(16:00):
when you've got a problem, not when they are recognize
you when they aren't. So okay, that's good.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
When you think back now all of those years being
a dad, what do you think is the hardest part.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Stumped him? Got him?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
No, I think I think it's in yourself. I think
it's in yourself thinking am I doing this right?
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
And constantly challenging so like what is right? Yeah, that's right?
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Is that thought process one that's just reoccurring every single year?
Or like, you know, are you now at the point
where you're like, do you know what I've done? A
good job?
Speaker 2 (16:35):
I can tell you both happily, it just goes from
one chapter to the next. So Tea is now engaged,
so it's totally consumed with the wedding. It eyes on
well on his career path. So we're talking about that
all the time. We've got our family dinner tonight, which
I love, and it's all about hearing from them, but
hearing them articulate things and face their challenges and get
better at things. That's you know, that's a beautiful thing
(16:57):
as well. But they're going through they have issues as
well all the time still, But luckily and with Sylvia
and I feel very grateful for this. They still come
to us for that, They lean on us. We're still
a close family.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
And do you have a family dinner every week?
Speaker 4 (17:09):
No?
Speaker 2 (17:09):
No, no, this is the first one about a year.
But no, we do when we can. We actually, we
actually do when we can. I saw Tea yesterday. I'll
walk or train with Jai a couple of times a week.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
So we're close.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
What's the secret to having that closeness? I always think,
is it just the case of you know, the fact
that the door is always open. You know, I would
if they came to me with a problem, I would
never get.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
We know what happens when your doors are open.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
I'm going to say that I think it was easier
to form these sorts of relationships before phones and laptops, tablets.
But you know when you see these families every night
at a restaurant, even down at the beach, and dad's
on the phone and Mum's on the phone and there,
(17:53):
So we didn't have that. You know, Jo and I
go for surf tea and I'd go for drive and
she loves antique shop, so we do this stuff and
we're not on the phones. So I think these relationships
were formed in a different time. But you see the
families now where everyone's on a different device doing different things.
There's no conversation, there's no engagement, there's no interaction. I'm like,
(18:15):
how are you going to get from there to wanting
to go and spend an hour or two with your
kids just having a chat. And Jai and I can
do that any day the week, will go for like
an hour long walk or whatever and just talk the
whole time. And Tira and I will do the same,
go for a drive or go for coffee and without devices.
So I think it was you know, the seeds were
(18:35):
planted at a different time.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
For that, I think thinking back to my relationship with
my dad during the same time, and like we didn't
have that technology for most of it, so we used
to serve every day.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
We used to do that, like that was our thing.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
And then I think as we both got older and
technology came into it, we are actually.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
More distant than we ever have been.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
And I have an older sister myself, and they have
a different relationship. But I've got one boy and one
girl as you do, Yeah, both very much into their
early adulthood. Do you feel you raise them any differently?
Do you think there is obvious things?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
But yeah, I think I did, And I haven't really
thought about this much, but just hearing yourself, I think
I did, and I think inherently you do. A different
relationships is your favorite? Next question, We're both my favorite,
but for completely different reasons.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
You know.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
It's and this is the thing that they both have
these enormous strength and fantastic personalities, but they're completely different obviously.
So Ji, our relationship was you know, surfing and walking
on the beach together and doing all the fun that
sort of fun stuff. And then Tia and I had
a completely different relationship where she's very really really smart,
(19:44):
very very philosophical, you know, very philosophical, reads lots and stuff.
So our conversations are completely different. And she's a great debater,
so I'm really loath to get into a heavy conversation
with her because she'll smack me down.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
How was that with disciplining?
Speaker 2 (19:59):
So classic classic family Sylvie very good at disciplining. Not sorry,
Sylvie tough, tough on her as her upbringing she was,
She's Polish and she was brought up in Poland, and
I think parenting changes greatly around the world, and the
way she was brought up was very, very different to
the way I was brought up. And I was brought
up in this sort of happy, kind of carefree, surfy
(20:22):
family and whenever there was any sort of friction, which.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Yeah, you left school at fifteen, Yeah at sixteen, right, yeah,
And were your parents like, yeah, that's fine.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Well back in the day, that was kind of fine too,
like because you go off and do an apprenticeship, So
it wasn't what it is today. It was like, you
can leave school at sixteen if you've got an apprenticeship,
which I didn't have. I was going to be a
garbo because it was the best surfing shift. Yeah, for sure,
I made the garbo. We started four o'clock, finished at
eight thirty and go surfing all day. I'm like Ian
to be a Garbo. So the situation with Jay was
(20:54):
very different to the one with Tea, and from when
it's your daughter involved, you move into this really protect
you kind of standover hover is everything okay? Are you okay?
Are your friends okay? You know, it's a very different
relationship to that.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Yeah, that really early on with my daughter.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
I think I definitely parent her differently. I'm very aware
of it, mainly because yet you put this protective front on,
but I don't have that same protective front with Oscar
like my elder.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
It's more he'll be right.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, you're sending him out to work, and is that
even for Yeah? Yeah, fact what everyone always says to
me with Marley and Laura as well, like oh, when
she starts dating, that's going to be tough, And I
kind of laugh it off because for me that just
feels like an absolute lifetime away. Is that a really
tough time in their life? Yes?
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Oh great, No, it's not a tough time in their life.
It's a tough time in the parents live. I think
because you want them to be safe and you want
them to be happy and.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
All makes sensible decisions. You probably didn't make sensible decisions.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
That's right, that's right. And of course when I was
talking to the kids about school because I was kicked
out of school when I was sixteen, Like, I'm like,
go to school and focus on your working like dad,
practice what you free? Yeah, back in the stupid corner, dad,
But yeah, the dating thing for Tea and she did
knowledge this now that I was Yeah, I was normal
(22:18):
dad in that situation. And goodness, it wasn't. I mean,
social media was around, it was early, it's not what
it is now. So I think that's a whole new ball.
It's scary.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
It scares the shit out of me. And make he's
only one and a half. Imagine one's going to be
like when she's it'll finish.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
By then it'll be my fat Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Yeah, bad.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
You mentioned she's engaged.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Now.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Is it on par with looking at when she first
started dating versus when her boyfriend is coming to you
to ask to marry her? Is one easy than the other.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Easier because we knew him at this point, right, So
he knew him and we loved him. We love him,
and he's fantastic and how he treats her and how
he adds to her life equally, they do it equally,
but you can see as a couple of fantastic that's
as opposed to meeting some kid from school. He goes,
how's this going to work out? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, but
he Roell is a lovely, lovely guy. And to see
(23:12):
them in a relationship, you go, okay, that's meant you know,
they're balanced, they're beautiful together. So that was different. And
when he you know, he asked me downstairs here we're
standing outside, did you know what was coming? We've been
out for dinner and we were walking them downstairs and
(23:32):
we were just getting something other garage. So Rose said
to you just to go up to the carr and dad.
Your dad gets to me, and then he asked me.
It's funny because all of my life I had all
these questions for the guy that would ask me this,
like what are your internships with them? Show me your
bank balance, what sort of cardio drive?
Speaker 1 (23:48):
What happened did you?
Speaker 2 (23:49):
And I cried, you know, it just straight away wow,
like a blubbering mess straight away, and it was it
was a beautiful moment because you know when you see
daughter that happy, and you know, and they've been they've
lived in Bali for a year, so the relationship had
been well and truly tested, and it was a beautiful moment.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Yeah, and he's going, is that a yes, she's picking
this guy. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
But that that was very very special.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
And now we look forward to the next thing whatever,
you know, maybe that's grand children, you know whatever. We
got the wedding and then that, so it just goes
from one. The parenting thing just goes from one chapter
to the next.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Har ending.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
But is google now? Hey Siri, how will I be
a good granddad?
Speaker 1 (24:37):
How do you feel about being your granddad? Is that
something you're really excited for?
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Well, yeah, I don't want to preempt any not that
I don't think that's happening anytime soon, but I feel
like I'm too young to be a grandad. But I
also feel like i'd be a really cool granddad thell
come around, we'll play prices right games.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
But also you're a granddad with tats as well.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Yeah, we wanted to ask you about your tats, so
you've got matching tat with Ji.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Yes, so, and these are little things, you know, They're
just funny little things that over your life you pick
up and you run with. And we were at a
rowing carnival for Joe, he was a rollerback at school.
We were walking along the pathway along the river. There
was another race going and there was a team coming
forth and their coach was riding next to them on
(25:22):
the path next to us, yelling out over the megaphone,
come on boys, if not now when? And then then
they pulled up and they won the race. So j
and I just adopted this if not now when thing.
That's what we would always say to each other, whether
we're out surfing, or whether he's going for a job interview,
whether I'm going for a job interview, or any time.
So we went and got matching tattoos. If not now when?
Speaker 4 (25:42):
That's amazing, yeah, and it's very special to us.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
And then when tears like not for me? So Tea
was always like, what tattoo are going to get for me?
What are you going to get for me? I'm like, well,
we don't have any of those sayings. So we came
up with her star sign that goes over eyes tattoo.
So it's the waves of Aquarius going over the if
not now when? So I've got both my kids on
my heart. Yeah, shut Have you.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
Got your kids taed on you yet?
Speaker 1 (26:11):
I've got I've got one of them. I've got Marley
May's birthday which is just on my triceap and I
had every intention to get Lola's birthday, but been very busy.
I haven't done it yet. Yeah, but you gave Macy
prime spot.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
On prime spot that Yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
And then Oscar got my my arm. But he always
like he always like points him out which one's me.
I'm like, that's sorry, mate, you're down here.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
We can do your other one. Now we can do
a prison tat now if you do that. He's got
a sewing kid. I've got some innk we could.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
I didn't expect to be getting tattoos and.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Here we are.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
But then you've also got the love heart with the
three hours.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Yes, yes, yes, I've got so love heart he with
the three arrows.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
When did you get that?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Well? I had the heart for a while and then
I've got the three arrows a year or so ago
in Bali, and then on this arm, I've got like
a decorative S for Sylvie and then a sort of
a T and a J inside that, so they're all over.
They're all over.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
There's no escape.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Cool granddad with all the tas, you're going to get
all your grandkids on you.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
They might have heaps of kids and you're just covered in.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Well, I've got to start back in the gym because
Sylvie's saying they looked all right, but now they're just
all getting inside.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Old Man's let her change.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
When you look back at your years as a parent,
maybe there's no answer to this question. It's going to
be very self critical. Do you ever think I really
wish I was better at this? Is there one part
of parenting where you think I wish I had done something? Lots?
Speaker 2 (27:36):
I mean, you know lots. I wish I was smarter
so I could have helped at school. It's funny that
I was. I was a dumbo at school and I
couldn't read all write, I couldn't add up. So the
kids out groomy in the smarts very quickly. You know,
they were coming to me with with homework at twelve
years old that I couldn't answer you. So I wish
I was smarter for them. I wish I had more
(27:56):
intellectual input in what they were doing. But I think
I've been around a lot and I'm happy for that.
My work has been you know, it's either on or off.
But even with the morning show now for sixteen years,
i've been home for the school pickup. It's not an
early start, it's not the sunrise start. So I'm around
a lot. And then there's been periods of three months
six months where I've been unemployed, so I've been present. Yeah,
(28:21):
Sylvie would argue if I contributed anything during those days,
but I was here, you know what I was here.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
I was here and I was very much part of
their being present for sure.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Yeah, I think so I got made to travel the
world all the time, and you know they'll see their
kids every second Wednesday and before I get on another
flight or other mates who go to work at six
in the morning, come home at eight at night. Uggould
have the dinner and a beer and go to bed.
Got nothing left, I.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
Think, So it was changed so much of that too. Yeah,
for me, I had Oscar and COVID was before COVID,
and then COVID here and all of a sudden I
was home every day and spent so much time with
him in that that I think we, you know, bonded
so much over that. And now because the world is
different because of all that, I'm at home most of
the time working and you know, Macy's there one day
(29:05):
or because there another day, and it's like my dad
would have left to go to work, come home, have dinner,
and it would be I'd be in bed, you know.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
So it's definitely changed so much. That's why he's being president.
It's huge.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Yeah, So by hook or by crook, I mean some
of that presence was because I'd been asked and I
didn't have a job, but it was good time at home.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
I don't regret that that time, and I think that's
I was lucky like that. If I could do anything again,
I wish I was smarter.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
That's a good answer.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
I could have helped, you know, I could have helped
with that stuff. But I think the life lessons of
the street smarts or the even being the fun dad,
I think is as its place.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
Yeah, absolutely sure, good answer. Like I mean, I left
school too when I was fifteen sixteen, and I can
tell already that my kids will out grow my smarts
very quickly, and that's you know, I'll be proud of that.
But yeah, you've been able to provide street smarts and
other things that maybe that really smart book Dad couldn't
have provided.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Maybe well, you know, we'd get to a point where
Silvie go, can you help Joe with his homework? And
I'm like, no, but I can order the pizza like that,
I'll hunt and gather. Yeah, can't we get a cheator?
Speaker 1 (30:13):
The issue about interviewing Larry as our first guest is
that the bar has been set very hard to bloody high.
Whoever comes in next, we'll be like, it's just not
quite as good as Larry.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Were going to put a spread on?
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Yeah, can we also? Can we just say Hash messaged
you on on social media and we weren't quite sure
if you were going.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
To reply, just a stab in the dark.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
We should be honest, shot our shot and we didn't
think you were going to invite us to your place
because we said, he can we come to your apartment?
You've invited us in.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Two strangers into your house and we know each other.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
This is the most beautiful spread also, so I just
want to say thank you so.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
Much, thank you so much for having us and like,
we wanted to learn from Larry today and I've learned
so much.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
We'll hope the next house that you go to is
the house of a real dickhead and sad.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
I'm just going to come back for Larry. What else
can we love to day?
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yeah? Yeah, for sure, so yeah, thank.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
You so much for having absolute pleasure guys.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
And your book Happy Is Larry is still out now?
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Still out now?
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Where can I pick it up?
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Probably in a two dollar clearance bin?
Speaker 4 (31:21):
I imagine, na is that the sign copy or the unsigned?
Speaker 1 (31:27):
It's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you guys, Thank you
so much. If you're listening right now and you thought, hey,
I quite enjoyed that episode and for the first time,
I've got some advice that I can actually use my
own situation. We would love it if you gave us
a review five stars, maybe a few comments on Apple
Podcasts and give us a follow, and as well, if
you would like us to interview any other doting dads
in the country please, we would love to hear your
(31:48):
suggestions and we'll do our best to come to their
apartment and get them to put on a cheese board.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
For Thank you for listening. Appreciate it and Larry, thank.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
You so much for welcoming us in your house and
pleasure guys putting on a spread.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
Love It. Two Doting Dads podcast acknowledges the traditional custodians
of country throughout Australia and the connections to land, sea
and community.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
We pay our respects to their elders past and present
and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torrestrate Islander
peoples today. This episode was recorded on Gadagal Land
Welcome to three doting Dads.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I am Maddie Jay, I'm Ash, I'm Larry with a
sock on my mic.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
This is a podcast all about parenting. It's the good,
the bad, relatable and if you've come for any type
of advice, I'm going to be stop you right now.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Although today might be different.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
And we have Larry, and we've been pitching learn from
Larry all week.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Each other, like do you know what learn from Larry?
That'd be great.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
People have been going to be so confused. Ye, if
you're coming for advice, sit down, attention, no distractions. But Larry,
I'm going to pash your ego right now for a second.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
If I may, he's usually pashing mind, let me tighten
up my sock.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Look, when we think about dad who are successful, you
are at the top of that list. You've got a
beautiful wife that you were still madly in love with
as far as I'm concerned, see on social Instagram. Never lie, never, never, exactly.
You've got a very successful career right now, and more important,
when you say.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Right now always, it'll never end, it will never end.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And more importantly, you've got two beautiful children who not
only are very successful, but it seems like you're still
best friends with them. Yeah, what is the secret?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Tell us everything?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
You know what?
Speaker 2 (01:39):
I don't know? And I get asked that a lot too,
And I feel very blessed and very lucky. I think
most dads would say that about their kids. But I
don't know. I've just written a book recently where I
tried to work that out and I couldn't work it out.
It was nothing you always want. You want to be
a great dad, you want to be a great parent,
you want to be a role model, you want to
be helpful for the kids. But there's nothing that I did.
(02:00):
I didn't set off down a path of being I
want to.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Be great mate, going to be perfect, and it's just,
you know, it's just.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Worked out that one. I feel very lucky because I
know that's not everyone's story. I know that, but I
feel very lucky now that I'm best mates with my
son and best I was with my daughter yesterday and
they're older and they, you know, they've got every reason
to not want to.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Hang out with the Yeah, because your kids are similar
age to me. Really right, I'm thirty two.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
I've had a sec to me.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Apparently that's young, but your son's thirty.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Twenty nine, twenty nine, how would you do it?
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Twenty four?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Okay, so your son's really close to my age, and
it's kind of like you're coming out the back end
of what we're just really embarking on.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, yeah, you've cross the finish line on that about
pretty much had to go into like a grandparenthood at
some stage in the next probably five to.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Ten years, right, And like for us, we've both got
a four year old, two year old really embarking on
that entry level. Yeah, sucked in, dad, Yeah, I was
going to invite you over to change and happy.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Let's start right back at the very beginning, right before
you have kids. You're expecting kids. Sylvie is pregnant, and
I'm going to talk about this almost like it's in
like the Dark Ages, which I know it's not, but
back then it was very different from where we're at
right now. It's almost you know, I think back to
when Laura was pregnant and we had too much information
(03:19):
is every other website was podcast there was we were inundated,
And I'm going to blame that for the fact that
I didn't read any book or I went to one
birthday class. But what was it like for you when
you were expecting kids and how did you prepare?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well, we had no electricity, so it was like you
had to light candles and no Netflix. There was no television.
Look at they were very different times. We didn't have
the resources. I think you're exactly right, the answers to
all your questions on Siri now and on the phone
and oh and there wasn't that there. But you know,
we had a great It wasn't that long ago, but
we had great support system, my mum and Sylvie's mum
(03:53):
and we lived actually in an apartment in Bondi on
the top floor. It was one hundred stairs and Sylvie
was seventh. Sylvie was seven months pregnant and broke a leg.
Oh so that was breaking leg running away from me.
I think no, no, she fell over, fell over, broke
a leg. There's different traumas and different challenges right at
every different stage. But everything we needed to know was there.
(04:16):
Did I go to the classes maybe once or twice,
but I was working very very hard hosting the prices, right,
I don't have time to go and sit in the
bean bag and watch those videos which I should have.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, said, I went to two of them.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
There were eight hours long on a Saturday, the worst
two saturdays of my life. I'll never get that back.
And I don't think I learned anything well that I
can remember. And like, yeah, like Matt was saying, there's
a very big technological difference between like when I was
born we could talk about because of similar age first
our kids now where we just.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Literally did a whole episode the other day on how YouTube.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Is the best parent because they, yeah, they pretty much
look after my kids. If I'm just like, here's my phone, kid,
It's like back then, I don't know. I always it
rattles me how you did it and how much pay
you would have had to have Back then?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Was it something that came easily?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
It was okay, you know, it wasn't about Joie was
actually sick when he was born. He had his sort
of an underdeveloped valve, and so it was indigestion, but
major indigestion every time he laid back even a little bit.
So he for the first probably better part of a
year of his life, he never slept for more than
forty or fifteen minutes. Yea. So it was full on
(05:26):
and I was traveling I was in Melbourne every second
week for four days at a time doing Prices Right.
So poor Sylvie here brokenly with a child who was
not sleeping at all, and so I'd come home from
Melbourne after four or five days and find this wreck,
you know, not in Sylvie, but just in the situation. Yeah,
it was horrible and I felt really bad. I'd open
the door, she hadn't slept for four days, should throw
(05:47):
gipe me go? It's yours, It's yours now. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Interesting the challenge in that from a relationship perspective of course,
and a parenting perspective, but you know, like all things
in that situational, most things in that situation, it turned
out okay.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
I think at that time too, you kind of like, well,
we'st We've got to get on with that because there's
not much we can do with the situation.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
But also the pressure as well, like the Price is
Right was just huge. It was one of the biggest
shows in the history of TV in Australia. And what
were you at the time when you were hosting it,
late twenties.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah, I was late twenties. I mean, it was nothing
compared to what Sylvia was going through at home.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
But it was fun.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
I was going to work to hang on last No, no, no, no, no,
I don't hear this. Probably she will probably hear it.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
No.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I was going to work in playing games and from
you know, a mother, a new mother's perspective, who wasn't
sleeping sitting at home. I'm in Melbourne. I'm surrounded by
girls in bikinis and launcher, you know, like you know,
like it was, it was.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
It was interesting, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I felt for Sylvia during that time. It was difficult
to go like that with no sleep and be stressed
and all the anxiety around that, and then see how
you sort of down there playing games and having fun.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Did you watch the show while you were down there?
Speaker 1 (06:58):
And I don't.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Like she says no, but I feel like she's hidden
cameras around this place. She's Polish, so I think I
like to keep an eye on.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
So when it came to the prices, right when you
were given that contract, how did that conversation happen with Sylvie?
Was it always a case of I finally been given
what I've always wanted. I'm going to take this, questions asked?
Or was there ever a case of maybe not doing
the prices right.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
No, No, there was never that because my life was TV.
It's all I'd ever done. I couldn't do anything else,
you know, she said, you want to go away and
get a job closer to home as a surveyor or
an engineer as well. There's nothing else in my life
that I've ever done or I could do, So there's
never a question of that. But it's just I had
to take the show because it was a huge show.
As you said, it was an enormous opportunity, and for
(07:49):
me to have a career in television or and entertainment
and to say no to that opportunity would have made
no sense at all. And it was a good thing.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
It was good.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
That money was good. It gave us good lifestyle. I
have some nice house, It gave us all the good things.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Have you a real platform too, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
It's set us up for life basically. But at the time,
you know, all of that whittles itself down to screaming
sick kid at home, you know. But I couldn't leave
the prices, right. I don't think she would have wanted
me to not work. I don't think she would have
wanted to be sitting around the house. Yeah, but yeah,
there was never.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
A take care of two kids then, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
But there was never a question of you know, that
was the culmination of everything I'd done for years and
years and years before.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
And how long did you do prices right before? Because
your kids are what five years apart?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Yeah? So I did price for I think four or
five years in the first block. Then I had a
break for a while, and then went back and did
it for another three or four years, then had a
break for ten years, went back and did it for
another year or so. It's been on and off, So
people think it's been on for twenty I've been on
for twenty years because that run repeats like i'd finished.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
Rare looks really young. What's his secret? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Those double breasted suits? Are they still live? So there
was this sort of perception that I was doing it
for ever and ever and ever, which was fine by
me as well. I mean, I'm very happy to be
that none as that guy.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
When you look back at those first few years being
very very difficult, was it always on the cards to
have too or did you guys come out of no no.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
In fact, no, no, no, no, no, no, Sylvie was
a flight a's in it and we were traveling all
over the place very cheaply or for free, and we
were love it, having this great lifestyle, right, and then
we decided, that's so bloody selfish. And we got to
a point where I think all our friends who had
had kids were having other kids, and we thought, of course,
you know, we've got to try try for another one,
(09:37):
another one. And we got a perfect little you know,
perfect little daughter.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
And did you find when you decided to have a
second child and you did have your second child, what
was your work life and family life then like different
to the first child?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
You think?
Speaker 2 (09:51):
So? I think we were probably better set up, like
we were in a comfortable so when Jie was born,
we were in an apartment on the top floor with
no lift.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
You know this seven hundred.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
And before we'll work or coals would delivered to your doors, right,
so I away. So we've got the baby and the
shopping and this and.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
The you think, you know, there's that thing where it's
like you got to carry every grocery bag the one
tree like that we lack seven hundred steps to take sixteen.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
You leave one bag down there next time it's the frozen.
So I think the next time we had a house,
we were more comfortable financially, We're in a better place
career wise, I was in a better place. And I
think all those things play into, you know, a comfortable,
I don't want to say happier house, but just a
more settled house.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah, cool, do you think?
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Yeah? And we we spoke about this the other day
as well, that you sort of subconsciously with your second
child remember things and how to do things, and all
of a sudden, you're way better than than you were
with your first trouble without even really thinking about it.
And I think, like, we set out to have two
on stage, then we had one, and I'm like, I'm
not doing that again. And then I had a second,
(11:07):
but so thankful had the second because I had a
girl second as well, and it was like, well, she's
my favorite.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Yeah right, you know, it's just like but it's also
down to.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
That I'm much more patient and much more calm. Why
It's like I definitely don't get upset with her as
much as I would have with my son, because the
first one, you're just you're learning how to do it
as you go.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yeah. Yeah, So after the first one where you said
I'm never doing that again. Was it because it was
just so hard for you?
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Yeah, it was, yeah, so hard, But it was sort
of like our story is sort of similar with Oscar
had silent reflux and forty minutes around the clocks and
really took a toll of my wife, which was the
hardest thing to watch that happen, and I think I
was just traumatized from that. I've never really spoken a
whole heap about it with Matt and Keish, but it
(11:54):
was sort of like, yeah, watching a shell of a
person that was my wife because of how hard that
time was, made me think I can't do that again.
Not for me, but I can't watch this happen again.
To her, she was adamant, she wanted the second one,
and then so obviously so glad that we did in
the end.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Also my thing for yourself, Larry, one of the hardest
things I'm assuming it was hard is the fact that
you're a new family. You know your wife is doing
her very best, but there's also that added pressure of
the fact that you know this notoriety right now is building.
You're becoming such a familiar face. How did you guys juggle.
That was it something that you guys found quite difficult?
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Well, I mean there was nothing that we ever had
to really focus on. Like I think Sylvia came into
my life where I'd been hosting TV for a while,
so we're getting a bit of that anyway, So it
was all right too, you know, and we lived at
Bondai and we walk up.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
And down in the front of WHO magazine.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Yeah, I know your situation. You know that happens in
a short space of time, right, you go bang and
all of a sudden, you're famous guy. But for me
back then, it was this slow crawl up and then
you get you're kind of you're kind of getting used
to it. Social media wasn't around, so it was really
just that face to face walking along Bondi Beach and
people saying nice things to you.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
But how did the kids react when they're a little
bit older and you know, if you guys would go
out because I remember seeing you when I was younger
at Perisher and I remember thinking to myself, holy shit,
it's Larry, And you know, I was like, do I
go up, do I say anything? But obviously so many
people will come up to you and speak to you
your kids, like.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Dag, what is going on?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Sometimes sometimes it's okay and then sometimes it's less okay.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
When is it not okay?
Speaker 2 (13:39):
If you're having sort of a private ish moment, it's
not okay.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
You know, like if you're trying to put the kid
in the back of the car and there's kicking a.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Screen, there's that they're sitting down at a nice restaurant
with Sylvie. That might not be okay. But now with
social media, everyone just wants you all the time, you know,
it wants a bit of that.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
All of the time.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
There's no boundaries now, I find then you get the
strange people come out hiding their phone, going you know,
like trying to sneak just say hi. It's a very
strange world.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
I think like a lot of people can't pick up
on like you were saying, like you know, a personal moment.
A lot of people can't pick up on that personal
moment that you're having with your family to wait to
go okay, well there now they're walking back down you know,
Bondo Beach. Maybe now I can say hi, Larry, Yeah, yeah,
I loved you on the prizes right, are you still
doing it?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Or come on down.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
So I was sitting yesterday in a coffee shop in
Crown Street in Sydney with my daughter and was a
lovely day. We chose to sit outside. We only had
she had time for a coffee on a work break,
and we sat there and three four people stopped and
said start. I mean I should have sat on the street,
you know, for that I wanted that time with her.
It's funny because one person stops, and then if someone
stopping and take yourself, you know, and then the next
(14:51):
person goes, oh's what's happening over?
Speaker 3 (14:54):
It starts this.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Thing I created a So maybe you know, I should
have gone sit with tea for twenty minutes half an hour.
Maybe we don't sit on the street on a nice day.
And most people are nice because the shows I've been
involved in Price is Right and Chase the Morning Show,
they're nice show so they're not a villain. So people
are just saying nice things. A guy the other day
(15:16):
walk past and goes, oh, you're a pisser, Carl, and
I'm like, okay, you.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
A compliment.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
I'm Eddie, I'm not I'm coffee.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Did you ever have to have the conversation with your
kids and you know it's out.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Yeah, there's been things.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Yes, I'm a fucking big deal.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
Maddy's just gearing up because he's going to have to
have that.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
It's a thing. No, you know, it's been part of
their lives forever too, and it's okay, Like it's not bad,
and it's it's got me a place and a car,
and it's got you right here and here I am, here,
I am so you know, we live with it and
it's nice. An old TV executive one said to me,
if you're on TV and people aren't wreckinging you, that's
(16:00):
when you've got a problem, not when they are recognize
you when they aren't. So okay, that's good.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
When you think back now all of those years being
a dad, what do you think is the hardest part.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Stumped him? Got him?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
No, I think I think it's in yourself. I think
it's in yourself thinking am I doing this right?
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
And constantly challenging so like what is right? Yeah, that's right?
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Is that thought process one that's just reoccurring every single year?
Or like, you know, are you now at the point
where you're like, do you know what I've done? A
good job?
Speaker 2 (16:35):
I can tell you both happily, it just goes from
one chapter to the next. So Tea is now engaged,
so it's totally consumed with the wedding. It eyes on
well on his career path. So we're talking about that
all the time. We've got our family dinner tonight, which
I love, and it's all about hearing from them, but
hearing them articulate things and face their challenges and get
better at things. That's you know, that's a beautiful thing
(16:57):
as well. But they're going through they have issues as
well all the time still, But luckily and with Sylvia
and I feel very grateful for this. They still come
to us for that, They lean on us. We're still
a close family.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
And do you have a family dinner every week?
Speaker 4 (17:09):
No?
Speaker 2 (17:09):
No, no, this is the first one about a year.
But no, we do when we can. We actually, we
actually do when we can. I saw Tea yesterday. I'll
walk or train with Jai a couple of times a week.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
So we're close.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
What's the secret to having that closeness? I always think,
is it just the case of you know, the fact
that the door is always open. You know, I would
if they came to me with a problem, I would
never get.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
We know what happens when your doors are open.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
I'm going to say that I think it was easier
to form these sorts of relationships before phones and laptops, tablets.
But you know when you see these families every night
at a restaurant, even down at the beach, and dad's
on the phone and Mum's on the phone and there,
(17:53):
So we didn't have that. You know, Jo and I
go for surf tea and I'd go for drive and
she loves antique shop, so we do this stuff and
we're not on the phones. So I think these relationships
were formed in a different time. But you see the
families now where everyone's on a different device doing different things.
There's no conversation, there's no engagement, there's no interaction. I'm like,
(18:15):
how are you going to get from there to wanting
to go and spend an hour or two with your
kids just having a chat. And Jai and I can
do that any day the week, will go for like
an hour long walk or whatever and just talk the
whole time. And Tira and I will do the same,
go for a drive or go for coffee and without devices.
So I think it was you know, the seeds were
(18:35):
planted at a different time.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
For that, I think thinking back to my relationship with
my dad during the same time, and like we didn't
have that technology for most of it, so we used
to serve every day.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
We used to do that, like that was our thing.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
And then I think as we both got older and
technology came into it, we are actually.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
More distant than we ever have been.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
And I have an older sister myself, and they have
a different relationship. But I've got one boy and one
girl as you do, Yeah, both very much into their
early adulthood. Do you feel you raise them any differently?
Do you think there is obvious things?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
But yeah, I think I did, And I haven't really
thought about this much, but just hearing yourself, I think
I did, and I think inherently you do. A different
relationships is your favorite? Next question, We're both my favorite,
but for completely different reasons.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
You know.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
It's and this is the thing that they both have
these enormous strength and fantastic personalities, but they're completely different obviously.
So Ji, our relationship was you know, surfing and walking
on the beach together and doing all the fun that
sort of fun stuff. And then Tia and I had
a completely different relationship where she's very really really smart,
(19:44):
very very philosophical, you know, very philosophical, reads lots and stuff.
So our conversations are completely different. And she's a great debater,
so I'm really loath to get into a heavy conversation
with her because she'll smack me down.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
How was that with disciplining?
Speaker 2 (19:59):
So classic classic family Sylvie very good at disciplining. Not sorry,
Sylvie tough, tough on her as her upbringing she was,
She's Polish and she was brought up in Poland, and
I think parenting changes greatly around the world, and the
way she was brought up was very, very different to
the way I was brought up. And I was brought
up in this sort of happy, kind of carefree, surfy
(20:22):
family and whenever there was any sort of friction, which.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Yeah, you left school at fifteen, Yeah at sixteen, right, yeah,
And were your parents like, yeah, that's fine.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Well back in the day, that was kind of fine too,
like because you go off and do an apprenticeship, So
it wasn't what it is today. It was like, you
can leave school at sixteen if you've got an apprenticeship,
which I didn't have. I was going to be a
garbo because it was the best surfing shift. Yeah, for sure,
I made the garbo. We started four o'clock, finished at
eight thirty and go surfing all day. I'm like Ian
to be a Garbo. So the situation with Jay was
(20:54):
very different to the one with Tea, and from when
it's your daughter involved, you move into this really protect
you kind of standover hover is everything okay? Are you okay?
Are your friends okay? You know, it's a very different
relationship to that.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Yeah, that really early on with my daughter.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
I think I definitely parent her differently. I'm very aware
of it, mainly because yet you put this protective front on,
but I don't have that same protective front with Oscar
like my elder.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
It's more he'll be right.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, you're sending him out to work, and is that
even for Yeah? Yeah, fact what everyone always says to
me with Marley and Laura as well, like oh, when
she starts dating, that's going to be tough, And I
kind of laugh it off because for me that just
feels like an absolute lifetime away. Is that a really
tough time in their life? Yes?
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Oh great, No, it's not a tough time in their life.
It's a tough time in the parents live. I think
because you want them to be safe and you want
them to be happy and.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
All makes sensible decisions. You probably didn't make sensible decisions.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
That's right, that's right. And of course when I was
talking to the kids about school because I was kicked
out of school when I was sixteen, Like, I'm like,
go to school and focus on your working like dad,
practice what you free? Yeah, back in the stupid corner, dad,
But yeah, the dating thing for Tea and she did
knowledge this now that I was Yeah, I was normal
(22:18):
dad in that situation. And goodness, it wasn't. I mean,
social media was around, it was early, it's not what
it is now. So I think that's a whole new ball.
It's scary.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
It scares the shit out of me. And make he's
only one and a half. Imagine one's going to be
like when she's it'll finish.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
By then it'll be my fat Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Yeah, bad.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
You mentioned she's engaged.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Now.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Is it on par with looking at when she first
started dating versus when her boyfriend is coming to you
to ask to marry her? Is one easy than the other.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Easier because we knew him at this point, right, So
he knew him and we loved him. We love him,
and he's fantastic and how he treats her and how
he adds to her life equally, they do it equally,
but you can see as a couple of fantastic that's
as opposed to meeting some kid from school. He goes,
how's this going to work out? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, but
he Roell is a lovely, lovely guy. And to see
(23:12):
them in a relationship, you go, okay, that's meant you know,
they're balanced, they're beautiful together. So that was different. And
when he you know, he asked me downstairs here we're
standing outside, did you know what was coming? We've been
out for dinner and we were walking them downstairs and
(23:32):
we were just getting something other garage. So Rose said
to you just to go up to the carr and dad.
Your dad gets to me, and then he asked me.
It's funny because all of my life I had all
these questions for the guy that would ask me this,
like what are your internships with them? Show me your
bank balance, what sort of cardio drive?
Speaker 1 (23:48):
What happened did you?
Speaker 2 (23:49):
And I cried, you know, it just straight away wow,
like a blubbering mess straight away, and it was it
was a beautiful moment because you know when you see
daughter that happy, and you know, and they've been they've
lived in Bali for a year, so the relationship had
been well and truly tested, and it was a beautiful moment.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Yeah, and he's going, is that a yes, she's picking
this guy. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
But that that was very very special.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
And now we look forward to the next thing whatever,
you know, maybe that's grand children, you know whatever. We
got the wedding and then that, so it just goes
from one. The parenting thing just goes from one chapter
to the next.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Har ending.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
But is google now? Hey Siri, how will I be
a good granddad?
Speaker 1 (24:37):
How do you feel about being your granddad? Is that
something you're really excited for?
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Well, yeah, I don't want to preempt any not that
I don't think that's happening anytime soon, but I feel
like I'm too young to be a grandad. But I
also feel like i'd be a really cool granddad thell
come around, we'll play prices right games.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
But also you're a granddad with tats as well.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Yeah, we wanted to ask you about your tats, so
you've got matching tat with Ji.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Yes, so, and these are little things, you know, They're
just funny little things that over your life you pick
up and you run with. And we were at a
rowing carnival for Joe, he was a rollerback at school.
We were walking along the pathway along the river. There
was another race going and there was a team coming
forth and their coach was riding next to them on
(25:22):
the path next to us, yelling out over the megaphone,
come on boys, if not now when? And then then
they pulled up and they won the race. So j
and I just adopted this if not now when thing.
That's what we would always say to each other, whether
we're out surfing, or whether he's going for a job interview,
whether I'm going for a job interview, or any time.
So we went and got matching tattoos. If not now when?
Speaker 4 (25:42):
That's amazing, yeah, and it's very special to us.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
And then when tears like not for me? So Tea
was always like, what tattoo are going to get for me?
What are you going to get for me? I'm like, well,
we don't have any of those sayings. So we came
up with her star sign that goes over eyes tattoo.
So it's the waves of Aquarius going over the if
not now when? So I've got both my kids on
my heart. Yeah, shut Have you.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
Got your kids taed on you yet?
Speaker 1 (26:11):
I've got I've got one of them. I've got Marley
May's birthday which is just on my triceap and I
had every intention to get Lola's birthday, but been very busy.
I haven't done it yet. Yeah, but you gave Macy
prime spot.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
On prime spot that Yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
And then Oscar got my my arm. But he always
like he always like points him out which one's me.
I'm like, that's sorry, mate, you're down here.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
We can do your other one. Now we can do
a prison tat now if you do that. He's got
a sewing kid. I've got some innk we could.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
I didn't expect to be getting tattoos and.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Here we are.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
But then you've also got the love heart with the
three hours.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Yes, yes, yes, I've got so love heart he with
the three arrows.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
When did you get that?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Well? I had the heart for a while and then
I've got the three arrows a year or so ago
in Bali, and then on this arm, I've got like
a decorative S for Sylvie and then a sort of
a T and a J inside that, so they're all over.
They're all over.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
There's no escape.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Cool granddad with all the tas, you're going to get
all your grandkids on you.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
They might have heaps of kids and you're just covered in.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Well, I've got to start back in the gym because
Sylvie's saying they looked all right, but now they're just
all getting inside.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Old Man's let her change.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
When you look back at your years as a parent,
maybe there's no answer to this question. It's going to
be very self critical. Do you ever think I really
wish I was better at this? Is there one part
of parenting where you think I wish I had done something? Lots?
Speaker 2 (27:36):
I mean, you know lots. I wish I was smarter
so I could have helped at school. It's funny that
I was. I was a dumbo at school and I
couldn't read all write, I couldn't add up. So the
kids out groomy in the smarts very quickly. You know,
they were coming to me with with homework at twelve
years old that I couldn't answer you. So I wish
I was smarter for them. I wish I had more
(27:56):
intellectual input in what they were doing. But I think
I've been around a lot and I'm happy for that.
My work has been you know, it's either on or off.
But even with the morning show now for sixteen years,
i've been home for the school pickup. It's not an
early start, it's not the sunrise start. So I'm around
a lot. And then there's been periods of three months
six months where I've been unemployed, so I've been present. Yeah,
(28:21):
Sylvie would argue if I contributed anything during those days,
but I was here, you know what I was here.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
I was here and I was very much part of
their being present for sure.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Yeah, I think so I got made to travel the
world all the time, and you know they'll see their
kids every second Wednesday and before I get on another
flight or other mates who go to work at six
in the morning, come home at eight at night. Uggould
have the dinner and a beer and go to bed.
Got nothing left, I.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
Think, So it was changed so much of that too. Yeah,
for me, I had Oscar and COVID was before COVID,
and then COVID here and all of a sudden I
was home every day and spent so much time with
him in that that I think we, you know, bonded
so much over that. And now because the world is
different because of all that, I'm at home most of
the time working and you know, Macy's there one day
(29:05):
or because there another day, and it's like my dad
would have left to go to work, come home, have dinner,
and it would be I'd be in bed, you know.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
So it's definitely changed so much. That's why he's being president.
It's huge.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Yeah, So by hook or by crook, I mean some
of that presence was because I'd been asked and I
didn't have a job, but it was good time at home.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
I don't regret that that time, and I think that's
I was lucky like that. If I could do anything again,
I wish I was smarter.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
That's a good answer.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
I could have helped, you know, I could have helped
with that stuff. But I think the life lessons of
the street smarts or the even being the fun dad,
I think is as its place.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
Yeah, absolutely sure, good answer. Like I mean, I left
school too when I was fifteen sixteen, and I can
tell already that my kids will out grow my smarts
very quickly, and that's you know, I'll be proud of that.
But yeah, you've been able to provide street smarts and
other things that maybe that really smart book Dad couldn't
have provided.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Maybe well, you know, we'd get to a point where
Silvie go, can you help Joe with his homework? And
I'm like, no, but I can order the pizza like that,
I'll hunt and gather. Yeah, can't we get a cheator?
Speaker 1 (30:13):
The issue about interviewing Larry as our first guest is
that the bar has been set very hard to bloody high.
Whoever comes in next, we'll be like, it's just not
quite as good as Larry.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Were going to put a spread on?
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Yeah, can we also? Can we just say Hash messaged
you on on social media and we weren't quite sure
if you were going.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
To reply, just a stab in the dark.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
We should be honest, shot our shot and we didn't
think you were going to invite us to your place
because we said, he can we come to your apartment?
You've invited us in.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Two strangers into your house and we know each other.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
This is the most beautiful spread also, so I just
want to say thank you so.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
Much, thank you so much for having us and like,
we wanted to learn from Larry today and I've learned
so much.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
We'll hope the next house that you go to is
the house of a real dickhead and sad.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
I'm just going to come back for Larry. What else
can we love to day?
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yeah? Yeah, for sure, so yeah, thank.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
You so much for having absolute pleasure guys.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
And your book Happy Is Larry is still out now?
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Still out now?
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Where can I pick it up?
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Probably in a two dollar clearance bin?
Speaker 4 (31:21):
I imagine, na is that the sign copy or the unsigned?
Speaker 1 (31:27):
It's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you guys, Thank you
so much. If you're listening right now and you thought, hey,
I quite enjoyed that episode and for the first time,
I've got some advice that I can actually use my
own situation. We would love it if you gave us
a review five stars, maybe a few comments on Apple
Podcasts and give us a follow, and as well, if
you would like us to interview any other doting dads
in the country please, we would love to hear your
(31:48):
suggestions and we'll do our best to come to their
apartment and get them to put on a cheese board.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
For Thank you for listening. Appreciate it and Larry, thank.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
You so much for welcoming us in your house and
pleasure guys putting on a spread.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
Love It. Two Doting Dads podcast acknowledges the traditional custodians
of country throughout Australia and the connections to land, sea
and community.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
We pay our respects to their elders past and present
and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torrestrate Islander
peoples today. This episode was recorded on Gadagal Land
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