I’m Guy Raz, Host of NPR, and I’m a Parent.
Guy Raz is the creator and host of three NPR podcasts – two for adults ( How I Built This and TED Radio Hour ) and one for children ( Wow in the World ). In our family car, we’ve been a little obsessed with Wow in World ever since the show enlightened us about two-headed space worms, brain freeze, and food science. Once he checks the satisfaction of his child on two listeners, who will tell him all directly: on his two sons. That’s how his parents have it.
Name: Guy Raz Location: Washington DC. Job: Creator and host of How I Built This , TED Radio Hour and Wow in the World. Family: wife and two sons (9 and 7).
Tell us a little about your family and your career. Was life mostly according to plan or were there any surprises?
I am always amazed at people who plan and plan well. I feel like every day is like climbing a boulder uphill. We didn’t plan anything. And not because we are irresponsible … it’s just that this life, especially with children, seems to be a series of unpredictable events that you kind of guess along the way.
Tell us about your morning routine. What are your best tricks to get out the door?
We wake up at 5:30 am. My wife does yoga. I drink a tall glass of water, check my email, and do something. At 6:30 am I start making breakfast for the boys and collect school lunches for them. My wife takes the bus at 6:25 am to the city center. By seven I get the boys out of bed. They eat slowly, so breakfast takes at least 30 minutes. By 7:45 am we are in the car and heading to school. I got back to my table by 8:30. The best trick (which is difficult!) Is to prepare as much as possible the night before. Grind the coffee and put it in the coffee maker. Make sure the dishes are in the dishwasher. Make as much breakfast and school lunch as possible the next day. Make sure boys check their backpacks three times before bed, and make sure they put their backpacks – PACKED – at their front door at night.
How much outside help do you get as a parent? Who or what cannot you live without?
We have a part-time nanny who helps pick up from school and looks after the boys while we are at work. She is an incredible person who also helps us prepare dinner (chopping sweet potatoes, onions, etc.). I cook everything at home at home, so things like chopped vegetables in the fridge ready to roast or a clean kitchen are a huge help (and a time saver!).
What gadgets, apps, charts, or tools do you rely on?
We’re generally low tech and reluctant to buy a family iPad this year. We only allow boys to spend time in front of the screen on Friday and Saturday nights. In terms of other life-enhancing things: Vitamix (essential for making cocktails, soups, homemade almond milk, etc.), our Spotify family account (this prevented the boy from tearing each other apart), TripIt (my wife can always see my travel schedule and I can see it), and a simple dry-erase calendar on the refrigerator with colored markers so everyone can see where we will be and when.
Has becoming a parent changed the way you work?
1000%. I have no choice but to be as efficient as possible, to squeeze in as much work as possible, to give me as much time as possible to spend with my children.
Do you involve your children in work?
At Wow in the World, I use my kids as a private group for listeners to see if jokes or ideas work.
How do you like your evening routine?
Boys can now shower on their own. By 18 o’clock they take a shower and, as a rule, are already in jam. I usually start my dinner around 6:30 pm. This is usually chicken curry or roast. We try to have dinner together by seven, although sometimes my wife is still at work and eats quickly when she gets home. Time to go to bed at 8 pm. We read to the boys. Refuel them. And then by 8:30 it will go out. Since my wife and I get up early, we usually leave by 10 pm.
How do you unpack?
Long runs.
What are you most proud of as a parent?
I watch my children become more and more independent people.
What moment are you least proud of?
When I get to the boiling point, and raise my voice to them.
What do you want your child to learn from your example?
Find a life partner who makes you better.
What are your favorite funny / weird / special family rituals?
Not strange, but we are baseball fanatics. We have to get to the game as soon as the gate opens (usually two hours before the game) to watch the warm-up and get the Shake Shack burger. We always bring a large bag of sunflower seeds and never leave our seats for three hours.
Has anyone ever given you parenting advice that you really liked?
You have one task: to raise kind and independent adults.
What’s the hardest part about being a parent?
Fear (“Are they safe?” “Can I provide them?”). I did not experience this fear until I became a parent.
What’s your favorite part of the day?
The moment I walk through the door after a long day at work, I hear the little feet running down the stairs screaming “Daddy!”
The only thing I would like to say to other parents who are pursuing a career:
It’s just a job, unless you’re Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, or Gandhi. It is unlikely that the work you do is ever more important than the little moments you have with your family.