Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Matt DiGennaro of Old Fourth Ward

Matt DiGennaro shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Matt, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: When have you felt most loved—and did you believe you deserved it?
Often times I get so wrapped up in work that I forget my true value. But when I’m around friends and family, sharing free time and laughs together, I’m reminded of what love feels like and how much more important that is compared to the every day grind of your career. Seeking validation at work can consume a person, but what everyone really deserves is the welcome embrace of loved ones outside of the office.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Matt and I produce a long-running podcast called “Beach Bungalow LIVE!” (the artist formerly known as LIVE! From the Beach Bungalow”) which streams on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Jokingly referred to as “the longest running podcast you’ve never heard of,” the show is a passion project for me and my best friend, Pat. The show has released an episode every Friday since August of 2019, never missing a week. Listeners have described the podcast as irreverent, improvisational, silly, satirical, and nonsensical. Throughout our six year run, we have grown very little in listenership and exposure (boo!), but we continue to grow creatively and personally (yay!). We started the show in our late twenties, and since then have married and, in Pat’s case, had two children. As we learn from our life experiences, our voices have evolved and our perspectives have changed. Ultimately, the goal of the show is to bring people a dollop of joy, and to stay close as friends while our lives send us on different trajectories. In addition to the show, I am a full-time Production Accountant in film and television, working both domestically and internationally for major studio productions. In my spare time, I am also working on a third poetry collection, having previously self-published two earlier works.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Growing up, I always thought I was going to be Hollywood’s next great writer/director. I was running around with a camera from a very young age, engaging my elementary school friends in skits and reenactments of my favorite shows and movies. As I started to build my career in the film industry as an accountant, I was told by people “your dreams probably won’t come true, but hey, at least you’ll be a small part of someone else’s dream.” That perspective never sat well with me, and it’s been a constant struggle to push back against that defeatist mentality. Hall of Fame NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe says dreams are gifts you give to yourself, and so I approach my work producing “Beach Bungalow LIVE!” and writing my poetry with elation and intent, and I consider my career in film/TV as a continued pursuit of my own dream…nobody else’s.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
When we first started the podcast in 2019, our measurements of success were far different then they are now. We had to reframe our idea of success from monetary gain to personal fulfillment. By showing up every week and pursuing our creative endeavors, we have already notched an important win for ourselves.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
No, the characters portrayed on the show for both myself and my co-host (affectionately called the Bungalow Boiz), are exaggerated, stupider caricatures of the true self. While elements of truth present themselves in the pod, we heighten our energy and lean into our lesser angels to entertain the listeners.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I would always give everything my best, even if no one ever praised me. Ultimately, I still have to look at myself in the mirror and be proud of what I put out in the world on any given day. The praise is great, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t thrive on the validation of others. But even at the times when the praise isn’t there, or when nobody is watching, it’s important to give 100% and be proud of your output. The only person you ever have to answer to is yourself.

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