Fossil Daddy shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Fossil, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
Yes. I stood up for a trans follower of mine who was being harassed online, and I publicly defended both them and the broader trans community. That decision cost me a few hundred followers across Twitter and Instagram, and I became a target of harassment from TERFs, conservatives, and the “LGB without the T” crowd. It was unpleasant, but I don’t regret it. I’d rather lose followers than stay silent while people are being dehumanized. My platform is built on compassion, visibility and standing up for what’s right matters more to me than keeping the approval of people who thrive on hate.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m “Fossil Daddy”! A relatively well known paleontological father figure on the internet. I’m best known for my obsession with fossils, Pokemon, The Legend of Zelda, and cartoons/animation. I think what sets me apart is that I don’t try to hide all the nerdy things that I find inspiration for, and I encourage people to embrace what inspired them!
For me, it was exploring caves/dungeons throughout Hyrule that got me wanting to go outside. And also I had (and still have) a penchant for collecting critters like bugs, frogs, snakes, salamanders, etc, so Pokemon really speaks to my inner researcher.
Currently I’m working on a few projects, though DOGE cuts made that rather difficult and I had to step away from social media over the summer to refocus my energy. I’m also making YouTube videos where I talk about cartoons I like, and also occasionally make fun of really bad conservative or Christian media that borders on the line of propaganda… It’s fun! You can obviously find me there as Fossil Daddy.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I grew up extremely Catholic. I always found it odd that the church would prace love and acceptance, while also disavowing entire groups of people. I found it odd that the adults around me would say the most backwards, hateful, racist and homophobic diatribe. I think it all came together when the Matthew Shepherd case made waves, and certain adults around me (whom I will it name and are thankfully dead now) laughed and cheered about it. This was probably my first outburst that some may have labeled an SJW moment once upon a time. I cussed these people out and pointed out their hypocrisy. I then became the black sheep in the family, which I came to accept and kind of appreciate to an extent. From there on, I became much more socially conscious about the types of people I allow to be around me.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
That I’m not that special! And neither are you! We are human! We are all going to rise and fall to some certain extent! It’s what you do with that failure afterwards that matters the most.
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. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
That blood relations are really not that deep. That is something I still struggle with, but why be around people who make you unhappy all the time?
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would probably halt all social media activity and spend as much time with my chosen family as I possibly could. I’d also volunteer more than I do now to leave a lasting impression and impact with whatever time I had left. Real human connection will always matter more to me than a fleeting social media presence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Ko-fi.com/fossildaddy
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Fossildaddy
- Twitter: Twitter com/Fossildaddy
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Fossildaddy
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/@fosceldaddy
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
