We were lucky to catch up with Fossil Daddy recently and have shared our conversation below.
Fossil, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
My confidence wasn’t always as strong as it is today. If you look back on my Instagram from just five years ago, you’d mostly find photos of fossils. Back then, I didn’t see myself as someone who could be in front of the camera. At that time, my audience was more conservative, reflecting the general demographic of the rockhounding community. Things changed when I received a subtly homophobic comment from a follower, who apparently didn’t realize that I’m queer.
That incident prompted me to post my first “educational thirst trap,” a post that combined my love for paleontology with a bold expression of my true self. The reaction was intense: I faced a barrage of anti-queer comments and lost about a third of my followers, dropping from 3,000 to 2,000. Instead of seeing this as a setback, I viewed it as an opportunity to refine my audience, filtering out those who didn’t align with my values. This shift led to an influx of followers who genuinely appreciated what I was doing.
Buoyed by this support, I ventured onto TikTok, creating short-form content in a similar vein. My presence there initially skyrocketed, helping me reach a broader audience, even though I’ve mostly moved on from TikTok now. The positive response truly helped me find my groove—it was like Stella getting her groove back, except I was just discovering mine for the first time.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a full-time fossil hunter and adventurer, but it wasn’t always this way. I started in academia, teaching and conducting research, but I never felt truly connected to that world. Most of my students were just ticking off credits, and the research, while interesting, didn’t feel personal.
Everything changed when I stumbled into a large online audience that shares my passion for fossils. Now, I pour my energy into being the queer role model in natural sciences that I wish I had growing up. I create content for Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and I’m fortunate to have incredible supporters on Patreon who enjoy my exclusive materials.
On my website, I offer a unique way for people to join in my adventures: they can sponsor a fossil hunt. In return, I send them a fossil that I’ve found, corresponding to their contribution level. This has become my main source of income and honestly, it’s a dream come true—getting paid to do what I love on my own terms.
Recently, I’ve ventured into another passion of mine by starting a YouTube channel focused on animation. It’s a new journey I’m thrilled to explore! Before I switched to the sciences, I was actively studying to become an animator.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back on my journey, three things really stood out as essential: the ability to entertain, educate, and a deep knowledge of my field. For anyone on a similar path, remember how important it is to keep your audience engaged. If they aren’t entertained, they won’t connect with what you’re saying and will quickly tune out. I’ve noticed that my most memorable teachers were the ones who could break away from the norm and teach in their own unique, engaging ways.
Also, it’s crucial to present information in a way that sticks. I’ve realized that many people don’t know the basics of geology, so I start there. I try to explain complex geological processes in simple terms that anyone can understand. To do this effectively, you really need to know your stuff inside and out.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
One book that has profoundly influenced me is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. I first read it in the first grade, and it was the first book I ever read from start to finish. All these years later, it still resonates with me.
The story taught me invaluable lessons about independence and the power of support during tough times. It showed me that even when I feel alone, like I’m trapped in my own thoughts or caught by a metaphorical Wicked Witch who’s ironically afraid of the dark, I can always count on the wisdom, love, and courage of my loved ones to help me through the darkness. The book also taught me that sometimes, the solution to a big problem might be simpler than it seems—like how a bucket of water can wash away a formidable obstacle. Looking back, even my biggest challenges often seem less daunting once I’ve faced them.
Contact Info:
- Website: Fossildaddy.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/fossildaddy
- Facebook: facebook.com/fossildaddy
- Twitter: x.com/fossildaddy
- Youtube: youtube.com/@fosceldaddy
- Other: Patreon.com/fossildaddy
Image Credits
I have the rights to each of these photos. they’re just selfies.
