Startup Dad Adam Fishman
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- Kids & Family
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Adam Fishman (author of a top business newsletter on Substack with thousands of subscribers) interviews executives, entrepreneurs, and company leaders in technology companies who are also fathers. They discuss the tough aspects of work, parenting, family, the mistakes made and lessons learned along the way.
startupdadpod.substack.com
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Does Parenting Have To Be So High Stakes? | Lane Shackleton (father of 3, CPO at Coda)
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
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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/
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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
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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/
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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 -
Teaching Dads How To Cook | David Haddad (father of 1, founder of Mr. Branzino)
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
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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/
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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
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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
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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 -
Having Your First Kid At 22 And A Portfolio Management Approach To Parenting | Matt Wensing (father of 4, founder/CEO Summit)
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
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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/
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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
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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 -
Male Fertility and the Fleeting Nature of Time | Linus Ekenstam (father of 2, co-founder Sensive)
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.
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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/
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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
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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 -
Work-life Balance Is Overrated | Siqi Chen (father of 2, co-founder/CEO Runway)
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.
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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/
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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
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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 -
Taking Paternity Leave As A Founder | Luke Millar (father of 5, SVP Product & Eng at Medium)
Luke Millar is the SVP of product and engineering at Medium, where you can discover stories, thinking and expertise from writers on just about any topic. He joined there after the company he co-founded was acquired by them in 2021. He has been a technology leader at Shift, Twitter and Microsoft. He is a husband and the father of five kids. In today's conversation we discussed:
* How to structure and take paternity leave as a startup founder
* Building individual relationships with each of your kids when you have so many of them
* How he handled the transition to working from home with a full household
* His wife's recent and ongoing battle with cancer
* How cancer has become a big part of their parenting lives and the support systems they've needed to navigate it
* Mistakes he's made as a Dad
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Overcast and YouTube.
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Where to find Luke Millar
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luketmillar/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ltm
- Medium: https://medium.com/@ltm
Where to find Adam Fishman
- FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/
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In this episode, we cover
[1:37] Welcome[2:52] A “typical” day with 5 kids[4:42] Luke's Childhood[5:29] All about Luke's wife[8:30] Building a pro-parent company[11:07] Insane flexibility[12:11] Paternity leave[16:59] Building relationships within a large family[20:14] Systems for working at home[23:42] Awkward work at home moment?[26:26] Advice for younger Luke[28:24] Ridiculous piece of advice to ignore[31:04] How has his parenting style evolved?[33:06] How do you go out in public with a large family?[35:44] How do you and your partner align?[38:47] Getting on the same page[40:04] His wife’s battle with cancer[46:17] Recharging your batteries[49:26] A mistake he made as a father[51:42] Where to follow along with Luke[52:58] Rapid fire[1:00:16] Thank you
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Show references:
iPod Touch: https://support.apple.com/ipod-touch
Inside Out: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673/
Encanto: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2953050/
Lost: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411008/
Third Eye Blind: https://www.thirdeyeblind.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
Customer Reviews
Not a startup dad but love the show!
Even though I’m not a startup dad, I love that this show provides so many concrete insights and tips for ambitious parents (or future parents). As host, Adam provides the perfect blend of humor, empathy, and business savvy.
Meaningful conversations
Adam is entertaining, of course. Even better, he's a natural interviewer who's able to set the context for some real, meaningful conversations that make this podcast something I keep coming back to. I've recommended it to people who aren't dads, and dads who aren't in startups. Keep it coming, Adam!
I look forward to these great conversations!
I’m a bit bias in that I’m a long time product person and a fairly new dad (I have a 2 and 4 year old), but this podcast feels like it is just for me. I resonate with so many things covered on each episode. Adam’s style is also refreshing and he has away to ask the perfect questions at the right time in the coversations.