Startup Dad Adam Fishman

Ethan Austin is the founder of OutsideVC, where he invests in founders building a more equitable and just financial system. He was the Chief Strategy Officer of Gig Wag, Managing Director of Techstars Denver, and was co-founder and president of GiveForward which was acquired by GoFundMe. He’s a loving husband and the father of three kids. In today's conversation we discussed:
* The time he picked up his oldest kid from school in a taco costume
* His life with a newborn
* Teaching kids values
* Modeling behaviors with your kids
* Finding fun in the mundane
* How partners can take turns supporting one another
* Why every parent is just winging it most of the time
* Three important parenting frameworks he’s developed
—
Where to find Ethan Austin
* Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintech-investor/
* Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/ethanaustin

Where to find Adam Fishman
* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/
—
In this episode, we cover:
[1:24] Welcome
[1:40] Professional background
[2:27] Childhood
[3:35] Parent’s career/losing father at a young age
[6:06] Family now
[7:52] What kind of values do you live by/teach your kids?
[10:28] How do you model adventure for your kids
[14:13] Tell me about your wife’s career - how do you compartmentalize?
[16:00] Decision to start a family
[18:16] Parental leave
[20:13] Experience of third child vs. others
[23:29] Finding the fun in mundane
[27:16] Surprising things about being a dad
[29:20] Advice to ignore?
[31:28] Advice for younger Ethan
[33:27] Frameworks
[35:51] Partners taking turns supporting each other
[37:52] Where partners don’t align
[39:21] kids relationship to technology
[42:10] Recharge batteries
[43:38] Getting kids to hike
[45:55] Follow along
[46:20] Rapid fire
[53:52] Thank you
—
Show references:
Techstars: https://www.techstars.com/
GiveForward: https://www.giveforward.com/
Outside VC: https://outside-vc.com/
Boy Scouts: https://www.scouting.org/
NoseFrida: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/F6682FCC-F1F9-44FE-9D89-173058B06AEF
The Happy Sleeper: The Science-Backed Guide to Helping Your Baby Get a Good Night's Sleep-Newborn to School Age by Heather Turgeon MFT: https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Sleeper-Science-Backed-Helping-Sleep-Newborn/dp/0399166025
Paw Patrol:https://www.pawpatrol.com/
Scarface:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086250/
—
For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com 
Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com

Lane Shackleton is the Chief Product Officer of Coda, where he has worked for over 8 years. Prior to that he had a 9+ year career at Google and Youtube as a product manager and leader. He’s a loving husband and the father of three kids. In today's conversation we discussed:
* How to motivate and teach lessons to your kids through “quests”
* Lowering the pressure on high-stakes parenting
* Two actions that can solve most of the challenges you’ll experience with your kids
* The difference in feeling overwhelmed between a parent and a professional
* Why parenting overwhelm can be so much harder to work through
* Leveraging technology as a builder vs. a passive consumer
* Balancing being a startup executive with coaching a baseball team full of 9 year olds — and which one is harder
—
Where to find Lane Shackleton
* Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laneshackleton/
* Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/lshackleton
Where to find Adam Fishman
* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/
—
In this episode, we cover
[1:53] Welcome
[2:23] Wine & software
[4:57] Quests with your kids
[10:30] Childhood
[11:45] How did your son get into baseball?
[13:54] Family now
[15:24] Decision to start a family?
[16:18] Earliest memory of becoming a dad
[18:00] Feeling of overwhelm
[20:58] Most surprising thing about becoming a dad
[24:47] Not everything is high stakes
[28:59] Solving problems with kids
[32:35] Favorite book to read to kids
[33:58] Frameworks
[36:46] Has parenting changed your management style?
[40:17] Where do Lane and his partner not align
[41:39] Kid’s relationship to tech
[45:28] What did you give up to become a dad?
[47:07] How do you recharge your batteries?
[49:10] Startup hustle culture
[52:08] Rapid fire
[58:18] Thank you
—
Show references:
Bruce Bolt batting gloves:https://brucebolt.us/
Napa: https://www.cityofnapa.org/
Coda: https://coda.io/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/
Google: google.com
Atlanta, GA: https://www.atlantaga.gov/
 CPMC: https://www.sutterhealth.org/cpmc
Field of Dreams:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097351/
Llama Llama: https://llamallamabook.com/books/
You Can Play Sports Board book by Nicole Stoltenberg: https://www.amazon.com/Play-Sports-Nicole-Todd-Stoltenberg/dp/0578878224
Lorax: https://www.amazon.com/Lorax-Classic-Seuss-Dr/dp/0394823370
Luca: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12801262/
Stripe: https://stripe.com/
Sound Machine: https://www.amazon.com/Magicteam-Machine-Looping-Soothing-Function/dp/B07RWRJ4XW/ref=zg_bs_g_18746767011_d_sccl_1/143-4646178-9363038?psc=1
Cascade Falls: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/cascade-falls
Cocomelon: https://cocomelon.com/
—
For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com 
Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com

David Haddad is a health-tech founder and product manager turned creator. He's now on a mission to teach Dads how to cook with his new company Mister Branzino and the Meal Machine operating system. He runs a newsletter and the Dad Cook Crew community. He's a loving husband and the father of 1 son. In today's conversation we discussed:
* How David developed his passion for cooking
* Why Dads often let this important skill go by the wayside
* The PPSCE system for building a weekly meal plan
* Maximizing meals with minimal time
* How to get more Dads comfortable in the kitchen and building confidence
* Sample meal plans that you can get started with right away
—
Where to find David Haddad
* Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhhaddad/ 
* Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/haddadda
* The Meal Machine OS: https://misterbranzino.gumroad.com/l/mealmachine

Where to find Adam Fishman
* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/
—
In this episode, we cover
[1:44] Welcome
[1:55] Mr. Branzino mission
[4:10] Ethnicity
[7:20] Met partner/tell about son
[8:13] Epic meal for partner
[9:43] Decision to start a family
[10:17] Weaponized incompetence
[16:43] Most surprising thing about becoming a dad
[17:58] Best practice for modeling behavior
[19:13] Advice to past David
[25:09] Approach to food w/son
[30:32] What Mr. Branzino meals does son love?
[34:24] What makes dads uncomfortable in the kitchen?
[37:13] System to teach a dad how to cook
[42:13] PPSCE
[44:30] Mr. Branzino meal plan
[49:29] Where should dads get inspiration?
[54:00] Disastrous recipe 
[55:43] Follow along
[56:51] Rapid fire round
[59:52] Thank you
—
Show references:
Mister Branzino Recipe Swipe File: https://www.pinterest.com/misterbranzino/recipe-swipe-file/
Mrs. Doubtfire:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107614/
Dumb & Dumber: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109686/
Chef John/ Food Wishes:https://foodwishes.blogspot.com/
Ny Times Cooking: https://cooking.nytimes.com/
Blue Apron Cooking: Blueapron.com/cookbook
Thich Nhat Hanh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nh%E1%BA%A5t_H%E1%BA%A1nh
Counter stool: https://www.amazon.com/Guidecraft-Classic-Kitchen-Helper-Stool/dp/B00C18NV8C
Instacart: https://www.instacart.com/
Amazon Fresh: https://www.amazon.com/fmc/storefront?almBrandId=QW1hem9uIEZyZXNo
Ted Lasso: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Lasso
Coffee Meets Bagel: https://coffeemeetsbagel.com/
Top Chef: https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef
In n Out: https://www.in-n-out.com/menu
Chick Fil A: https://www.chick-fil-a.com/
Barack Obama: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/barack-obama/
Dr. Brazelton’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/T.-Berry-Brazelton/author/B001I9TV4S
Neli deGrasse Tyson: https://neildegrassetyson.com/
Solid Starts: https://solidstarts.com/
Coco: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2380307/
Cocomelon: https://cocomelon.com/
Mental & Emotional Load Articles:
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210518-the-hidden-load-how-thinking-of-everything-holds-mums-back
https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/parents/mental-load
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mom-mental-load_l_63f7a67ee4b0616708e04d9a
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/relationships/a23469721/emotional-labour-mental-load/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evidence-based-living/202111/women-carry-most-the-mental-load-running-household
—
For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com 
Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at
http://www.armaziproductions.com/


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com

Matt Wensing is the founder and CEO of Summit, a no-code platform for building tools and workflow automation. For nearly 20 years he has been a founder and CEO--starting with a company called Riskpulse which became Everstream Analytics and was acquired in January 2020. He is a loving husband and the father of four teenagers! In today's conversation we discussed:
* Getting married and having kids in your early 20's
* How little you know when you're that young
* How amazing it is to be a young Dad with children now in their teens
* How to eliminate the excess from your life if you want to prioritize work and family
* A points allocation metaphor for prioritizing what's important
* Helping teens navigate a tech-first world
* The growing awareness of the impacts of social media on teenage girls
* How losing one of your parents unlocks new truths in your life
—
Where to find Matt Wensing
* Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wensing/
* Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/mattwensing

Where to find Adam Fishman
* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/
—
In this episode, we cover
[1:44] Welcome
[1:57] Summit
[3:36] Childhood
[5:19] Siblings?
[6:50] Where did you meet your partner?
[8:08] How old were you when you had your first kid?
[9:10] Decision to get married?
[11:27] Decision to start a family?
[12:58] Reflections on being a young dad
[19:03] Early 20’s parent emotions
[23:16] Advice to others
[26:56] Points allocation
[29:41] Advice to ignore
[36:52] Has being a parent made you a better CEO?
[43:33] Where you and partner don’t align?
[50:52] Teenagers relationship w/tech
[1:01:01] Losing a parent
[1:07:10] Follow along
[1:08:00] Rapid Fire
[1:16:43] Thank you
—
Show references:
Summit: https://usesummit.com/
The Matrix: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958
Toyota Sienna: https://www.toyota.com/sienna/
Jurassic Park: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107290/
Led Zeppelin: https://ledzeppelin.com/
SoundGarden:https://www.soundgardenworld.com/
Pearl Jam: https://pearljam.com/
Stone Temple Pilots:https://stonetemplepilots.com/
Whistler:https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/
Sleepless in Seattle: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108160/
Ergo:https://ergobaby.com/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=kindle
Madden 2004:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL_2004
Jokic - NBA:https://www.nba.com/player/203999/nikola-jokic
Master and Commander:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311113/
Goonies:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089218/
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036
Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/en/
How To Train Your Dragon: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892769/

—
For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com 
Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com

Linus Ekenstam is a designer and serial entrepreneur who has founded and sold several companies. He has also been a design leader at Typeform, Bamboo Blockchain and Flodesk. He's currently building an AI-powered children's story generator at BedtimeStory.ai and a platform to track and improve mental health called Sensive. He is a partner and the father of two daughters. In today's conversation we discussed:
* What it means to be an "AI Gardener"
* Struggles with male infertility
* Time and relativity
* How to navigate the daily grind with two working parents and a 4 and 2 year old
* A visit from his youngest daughter while recording
* How he thinks technology will transform his daughter's lives
* Optimism for the future with AI as a useful tool
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Overcast and YouTube.
—
Where to find Linus Ekenstam
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linusekenstam/
Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/LinusEkenstam
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LinusEkenstam
Newsletter: insidemyhead.ai

Where to find Adam Fishman
- FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/
—
In this episode, we cover
[1:47] Welcome
[2:15] What do you do here?
[3:08] AI Gardener
[4:40] Childhood
[6:18] Fav US kid’s show
[7:32] Difference between his and his kid’s childhood
[10:44] kids/partner
[11:38] Pull to move back to Sweden during COVID
[13:07] Male infertility
[23:38] Advice
[25:52] Earliest memory of being a dad
[27:44] Manage daily grind/work/family
[30:25] What did you do w/kids before preschool?
[31:51] Most surprising thing about becoming a dad?
[36:17] Time & relativity
[42:24] Where do you and your partner not align?
[45:25] AI change kid’s relationship to tech/what are you working on?
[50:11] How do you recharge your batteries?
[51:37] What is a mistake you made as a dad?
[53:39] Follow along
[55:30] Rapid fire round
[58:33] Thank you
—
Show references:
Linus’ Tweet on Male Fertility: https://x.com/linusekenstam/status/1696424299773485380?s=46&t=_JjHRNFJidzXB5axbw2gmQ
Star Wars: https://www.starwars.com/
Encanto:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2953050/
Baby Bjorn:https://www.babybjorn.com/
TMNT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles
Power Rangers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Rangers
TypeForm: https://www.typeform.com/
Bamboo BlockChain: https://www.bamboonetworks.com/
Flodesk: https://flodesk.com/
Bedtime Story: bedtimestory.ai
Sensive: https://www.sensive.co/
Ikigai: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai
—
For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com 
Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at
http://www.armaziproductions.com/


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com

Siqi Chen is co-founder and CEO of Runway, the finance platform you don't hate. He was also the president, chief product officer and CEO of Sandbox VR, the VP of Growth at Postmates and he sold his first company to Zynga in 2010. He is an angel investor who has invested in companies like Touch of Modern, Amplitude, Italic, and Clubhouse. He is a husband and the father of two daughters. In today's conversation we discussed:
* His life moving back-and-forth to China as a kid
* The realities and myth of work-life balance
* Sharing the load with your spouse
* How his parenting and leadership has evolved over time
* How to exercise with your kids and incorporate them into your day
* Teaching kids how to use technology as a tool for leverage
* A fascinating story of how his daughter uses ChatGPT
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Overcast and YouTube.
—
Where to find Siqi Chen
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siqic/
Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/blader
Runway: https://runway.com/

Where to find Adam Fishman
- FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/
—
In this episode, we cover
[1:34] Welcome
[2:27] Work/life balance[6:49] His childhood[10:52] All about his kids[11:30] How did you meet your wife?[13:37] Decision to start a family[15:33] Load balancing parenting[18:50] Earliest memory of being a dad[21:04] Most surprising thing about becoming a dad[23:13] Giving younger self advice[25:52] Advice to ignore[27:45] Favorite book to read to his kids[29:10] Frameworks[32:35] Any parenting evolutions?[35:11] Kids’ dynamic[35:42] Where do you and your partner not align?[37:47] Kid’s relationship with tech[40:45] Most interesting way kids used ChatGPT[43:11] What did you give up to be a dad?[45:30] How do you recharge your batteries?[46:10] What is a mistake you made as a dad?[49:16] Rapid fire round[53:31] Thank you
—
Show references:
The Matrix: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/
Transformers: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418279/
Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu/
Talktastic: https://talktastic.com/
Amazing Panda Adventure: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112342/
Stanford: https://www.stanford.edu/
Bye Bye Baby: https://buybuybaby.com/
Dalian, China: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalian
Peter Thiell, Thiel Scholarship: https://thielfellowship.org/
Unity: https://unity.com/
Gundam: https://en.gundam.info/
Postmates: https://postmates.com/
Sandbox VR: https://sandboxvr.com/
ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/
"Blub Blub Fish" Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pout-Pout-Fish-Deborah-Diesen/dp/0374360979
Work-life Balance is Overrated: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/siqic_work-life-balance-is-overrated-implicitly-activity-7161735570757550081-8Yd4
Second Time Founders Podcast reference: www.youtube.com/watch?v=257w17EkYn4&t=1s
—
For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com 
Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at
http://www.armaziproductions.com/


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com