Startup Dad

Latest Episodes:

Serial Founder and Dad of 2: How to Balance it All Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

Robert Wolfe is the co-founder of Zeck a company designed to make managing board meetings easier for everyone. He’s also founded and sold both Crowdrise (to GoFundMe) and Moosejaw Mountaineering (to Wal-Mart). He’s a husband and the father of 2 sons. We discussed:

* The journey from founding Moosejaw to today

* Founding multiple companies with a celebrity and your brother

* Raising a family while building those companies

* The modern-day process for helping your kids apply to college

* How kids can find the right college fit

* Stories about building his companies and raising his families

* What the heck a “fighting room” is used for and why you need one

* How to work really hard without taking yourself too seriously

Where to find Robert Wolfe

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-w-0abaaa273/

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:

[1:57] Welcome

[2:41] Zeck

[4:16] The “Fighting room”

[5:48] Moosejaw

[11:24] Ed Norton co-founder

[14:55] Childhood/relationship with brother

[16:22] Met wife

[17:58] Kids

[18:47] Decision to start a family

[19:38] Carving out time to be at his kid’s events

[20:53] University of Michigan

[22:34] College admission process

[26:51] Advice to younger Robert

[28:03] Advice to ignore

[29:44] Empty nester

[30:36] Kid’s relationship to tech/social media

[34:01] Advice to kids/entrepreneurship

[33:52] Follow along

[36:28] Lightning round

—

Show references:

Dazed and Confused: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106677/

Zeck: zeck.app

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/

Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/

University of Michigan: https://umich.edu/

Edward Norton: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001570/

North Face: https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us

Patagonia: https://www.patagonia.com/home/

Keego Harbor, Michigan: https://www.keegoharbor.org/

Fight Club: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/

Shauna Robertson: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0732024/

Apatow Productions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apatow_Productions

Judd Apatow: https://www.juddapatow.com/

Elf: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/

40 Year Old Virgin: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405422/

Anchorman: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357413/

Seth Rogan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0736622/

Jonah Hill: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1706767/

Steve Carell: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0136797/

Will Ferrell: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002071/

Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/

UNICEF: https://www.unicefusa.org/

American Cancer Society: https://donate.cancer.org/

Michigan State: https://msu.edu/

Panda Express: https://www.pandaexpress.com/

James Earl Jones: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000469/

Be Mighty: https://bemighty.com/

Nvidia: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/

Jaws: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073195/

Avatar: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/

Star Wars: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/

Monsters INC: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0198781/

Godfather: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/

Tyus Edney (UCLA guard): https://uclabruins.com/honors/hall-of-fame/tyus-edney/107

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

What Every Parent Gets Wrong about Summercamp | Greg Laughlin Dad of 2 Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

Greg Laughlin is the founder of Campwing, a product designed to take the headache out of summer camp planning. Parents use detailed filters to search through every summer camp in their area in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. Prior to Campwing, Greg was the co-founder of Statwing, a statistical analysis product he sold to Qualtrics that became their Stats IQ product. He’s also a husband and the father of 2 daughters. We discussed:

* Why equitable access to summer activities are so important

* The pain of summer camp planning and why it’s broken for parents and kids

* The biggest problems for parents in finding and evaluating camps

* The number one piece of advice he'd share with younger Greg: get your health in order

* The surprising importance of temperament in children

* How you learn about yourself by raising kids

* A fun word game that as a bonding ritual

* His #1 framework for parenting - if they can do it themselves, they should

* The two ways he recharges his batteries as a Dad

Where to find Greg Laughlin

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greglaughlin/

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:

[2:05] Welcome

[2:26] Greg’s professional background

[5:11] What is with “wing” in all his startup names

[6:07] His attempt to buy a fourth tier English soccer team

[8:33] Why he feels like he’s won the lottery

[10:31] His Mom’s thoughts on buying the soccer team

[11:06] Greg’s Family now

[13:44] Conversation with his wife around becoming a stay-at-home parent

[16:42] CampWing and what’s broken about summer camp

[29:19] Advice to parents on camp

[33:51] Surprising things he’s learned as a dad

[38:53] Advice to younger Greg

[45:35] Puzzle game vs. books

[49:58] Parenting frameworks

[51:42] Partnership

[54:02] Kid’s relationship with tech

[58:49] What is something you gave up to be a dad?

[1:00:22] Recharge batteries with golf and piano

[1:02:32] Mistakes as a Dad

[1:04:34] Startup hustle culture

[1:09:22] Lightning round

—

Show references:

CampWing: https://campwing.com/

Qualtrics: https://www.qualtrics.com/

Center for Effective Philanthropy: https://cep.org/

Rochdale Soccer Club: https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/Ted Lasso: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/

Arrested Development: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/

Radiohead: https://www.radiohead.com/

Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/

Emily Oster: https://economics.brown.edu/people/emily-oster

Winnie: https://winnie.com/

Sara & Eric Mauskopf’s Episode:

The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children

by Alison Gopnik: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gardener-and-the-carpenter-alison-gopnik/1122824922

I Am a Bunny by Ole Risom, Richard Scarry (Illustrator): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-a-bunny-ole-risom/1100058404

Detective Beans: and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/detective-beans-li-chen/1144786389

Jonathan Haidt: https://jonathanhaidt.com/

Black Mirror: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085059/

Miracle blanket: https://miraclebabyusa.com/

Disneyland: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/

Paw Patrol: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3121722/

My Neighbor Totoro: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096283/

Nutella: https://www.nutella.com/

Monty Python and the Holy Grail: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071853/

27 Dresses: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988595/

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

Sending Your Kids Off To College with Jeffrey T. Fritz from Microsoft | Dad of 2 Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Jeff Fritz is principal program manager at Microsoft where he leads production for one oftheir largest developer events. He’s also active in the developer community as a live-coding Twitch streamer, Youtuber, and podcast host. He’s a lifelong developer who got his start working on the family’s Commodore 64. In addition to his work as program manager and developer he’s a husband and the father of two daughters. We discussed:

* Making the most of your time with your kids when they’re young

* Preparing your kids and yourself for the big changes that come with high school and college

* What it’s like when your kids leave the house for the first time

* The modern day college admissions process

* Helping your kids establish good decision-making frameworks from a young age

* Supporting your kids extracurricular activities unconditionally

* Creating trust through consistent support

—

Where to find Jeff Fritz

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreytfritz/

* Twitch: https://twitch.tv/csharpfritz

* Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfvJirlbRTN-bU9sMWMb_ZQ

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:

[1:49] Welcome

[2:34] Professional background

[6:18] Live streaming

[7:55] AI tooling in his work

[12:33] Childhood

[15:20] “Seasonal” empty-nester

[17:47] Daughters thoughts on dad being on Twitch

[21:18] Empty-nester deep dive

[25:39] Advice for parents approaching empty nesting

[29:40] College admissions process

[34:43] Align with college-age kids/family

[39:53] Kids making adult decisions

[42:23] Kid’s interest in tech

[45:12] Kids wanting to be in tech

[50:21] Follow Jeff

[51:28] Lightning round

[1:01:20] Thank you

—

Show references:

Jeff’s Website: https://jeffreyfritz.com/

Source Code on Github: https://github.com/csharpfritz

Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/

Commodore 64: https://www.commodore.ca/commodore-products/commodore-64-the-best-selling-computer-in-history/

Copilot: https://copilot.microsoft.com/chats/X7EeM9ig1Wv9k9ayG9KZM

Visual Studio: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/

Penn State: https://www.psu.edu/

Eagles: https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/

TwitchCon: https://www.twitchcon.com/

LSU: https://www.lsu.edu/

Kansas State: https://www.k-state.edu/

West Virginia University: https://www.wvu.edu/

Yale: https://www.yale.edu/

Harvard: https://www.harvard.edu/

UCLA: https://www.ucla.edu/

USC: https://usc.edu/

University of Miami: https://welcome.miami.edu/

Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade: https://www.macys.com/s/parade/

Fortnite: https://www.fortnite.com/?lang=en-US

Rocky: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075148/

Princess Diaries: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247638/

University of Michigan: https://umich.edu/

—

For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.

For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.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

I Lost My Job With Twins on the Way with Aaron Francis Co-Founder of Try Hard Studios | Dad of 4 Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

Aaron Francis is the co-founder of Try Hard Studios, a company he started with Steve Tenuto that makes amazing videos for developers and teaches companies how to do it too. He started Try Hard Studios after being laid off from PlanetScale… while on paternity leave with his second set of twins (!). Prior to that he was a data analyst and a developer. He started his career as an an accountant at a Big 4 accounting firm. In addition to his work at Try Hard Studios he’s also a husband and the father of two sets of twins. We discussed:

* Navigating a loss of one of their triplets during the first pregnancy

* Life with two sets of twins

* How he and his wife managed after he was laid off on paternity leave

* The challenges of starting a business with newborns

* How to stay present with all the pings from an extremely online life

* Parenting each of his four kids differently

* Finding ways to focus on only what matters at this stage of life

* Hilarious and fascinating stories: falling asleep in a chair at the gym, building a non-traditional office space, and celebrating a birthday with a solo-staycation.

Where to find Aaron Francis

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarondfrancis/

* Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarondfrancis

* Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarondfrancis

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:

[2:08] Welcome

[3:01] Laid off while having second set of twins

[6:33] Decision to start a business

[11:34] Conversation with wife about business idea

[12:49] Family now

[14:17] Used to be an accountant

[15:48 Decision to start a family

[23:46] Starting a business w/ newborns

[25:59] Staying present when you have an online presence

[29:33] Advice to younger Aaron

[33:23] Rollercoaster day

[34:48] Parenting style w/ each kid

[36:49] Frameworks

[38:00] Where you don’t align with partner

[42:31] Funny stories

[51:29] Kid’s relationship to tech

[56:15] Follow along

[57:01] Lightning round

[1:09:15] Thank you

—

Show references:

Aaron’s website: aaronfrancis.com

TryHard Studios: https://tryhardstudios.com/

Screencasting: screencasting.com

Texas A & M: https://www.tamu.edu/index.html

Ernst & Young: https://www.ey.co

Severance: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11280740/

Factorio: https://www.factorio.com/

The Joulel: https://www.thejouledallas.com/offers/book-direct

Calvin and Hobbes: https://calvinandhobbes.webflow.io/

Sicario: Day of the Soldado: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5052474/

Luddites: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite

Pee Pee Tee Pee: https://www.amazon.com/Peepee-Teepee-Sprinkling-WeeWee-Cellophane/dp/B000NM3DFY

Kyle Lacy’s Episode:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbBdVw-ncyQ

How to Be a Pirate by Isaac Fitzgerald: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-be-a-pirate-isaac-fitzgerald/1130769165

Richard Scarry: https://www.richardscarry.com/

Vuori jogger pants: https://vuoriclothing.com/

Taking Cara Babies: https://takingcarababies.com/meet-cara

Burl Ives Rudolph: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21616734/

The Sandlot: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108037/

Honda Odyssey: https://automobiles.honda.com/odyssey

Car Mom: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheCarMom

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

Educating Kids in the Age of A.I. with Jeremy Howard | Dad of 1 Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

Jeremy Howard is a leader in the data science and AI communities. Along with his partner, Dr. Rachel Thomas, he is the co-founder of Fast.ai - a research lab studying how to make deep learning more accessible and widely applicable and the founder of AI R&D lab Answer.ai. He is a professor at the University of Queensland in Australia, a digital fellow at Stanford, founded Fastmail and sold it to Opera Software, was the president and chief scientist of Kaggle, the founder and CEO of Enlitic and has been chief scientist at multiple AI companies. Jeremy has been doing intense work in the field of AI and Machine Learning since before it was fashionable. He’s also a husband and the father of one daughter. We discussed:

* Founding a company with your significant other

* How science led him to believe he’d like having kids

* A deep-dive into the evolving patterns of education

* Homeschooling and maintaining social connections in a remote environment

* The modular learning strategy

* Navigating screentime when most learning happens on a screen

* Talking to kids about interactions with AI and what’s happening behind the scenes

Where to find Jeremy Howard

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardjeremy/

* Twitter: https://x.com/jeremyphoward

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:

[2:41] Welcome

[3:04] Professional background

[4:07] AI for the average person

[6:08] Childhood

[12:54] Family now

[15:31] Co-founding with your partner

[17:28] Decision to start a family

[19:53] Earliest memory after becoming a dad

[21:50] Homeschooling

[33:48] Homeschooling & socialization

[36:43] Screen time

[43:18] Advice for younger Jeremy

[49:10] Where you and partner don’t align

[52:09] AI & parenting

[56:07] Guardrails around educational AI

[58:28] Follow along

[59:10] Lightning round

[1:06:16] Thank you

—

Show references:

Fast.ai: https://www.fast.ai/

Fast ai Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/xnpeRdg

Answer.AI: https://answerai.pro/

Fastmail: https://www.fastmail.com/

Enlitic: https://enlitic.com/

Kaggle: https://www.kaggle.com/

Center for Applied Data Ethics: https://www.usfca.edu/data-institute/centers-initiatives/caide

Teach Your Monster: https://www.teachyourmonster.org/

Homer: https://learnwithhomer.com/

Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/

MathTango: https://www.originatorkids.com/mathtango/

Modulo: https://www.modulo.app/

Prodigy: https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/

Mindustry: https://mindustrygame.github.io/

Factorio: https://www.factorio.com/

Polybridge: https://www.gamepix.com/play/poly-bridge

Synthesis: https://www.synthesis.com/tutor

p5. Js: https://p5js.org/

Python: https://www.python.org/

Minecraft: https://www.minecraft.net/en-us

Strider bike: https://www.striderbikes.com/

Natural Resources (Parenting shop in the Mission, SF): https://www.naturalresources-sf.com/pages/our-space

Moana: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3521164/

Moana 2: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13622970/

Frozen: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/

Frozen 2: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4520988/

The Matrix: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse Series #1) by Dennis E. Taylor: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/we-are-legion-dennis-e-taylor/1125058888

The Martian by Andy Weir: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-martian-andy-weir/1114993828

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/project-hail-mary-andy-weir/1137456421

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

Many Chat CEO, Mike Yan on Fatherhood, Parenting, and Unhappy Achiever Paradox Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

Mike Yan is the co-founder and CEO of Manychat, a chat automation tool for social platforms with over 250 employees, 1 million customers and growing 2x year over year. With his team, Mike has built the fastest growing platform on Whatsapp and the largest on Instagram. He’s also a husband and a new dad. We discussed:

* How he thought he was going to become a magician rather than a founder

* Starting a family as the founder of a fast-growing, 250+ person company

* How he prepared himself, his team and his board for paternity leave

* Advice he’d give to founders who are considering starting a family

* How becoming a Dad has changed him as a CEO

* Navigating the disruption of changes in childcare

* Sleep training

* The paradox of the Unhappy Achiever

* Supporting your partner

Where to find Mike Yan

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedyan/

* Telegram: @MikeYan

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:

[01:46] Introduction

[02:15] ManyChat Background and Growth

[05:05] Mike's Early Life and Path to Entrepreneurship

[12:32] Decision to Start a Family

[14:49] Sleep Challenges and Sleep Training

[19:47] Taking Paternity Leave as CEO

[22:56] What He'd Tell His Pre-Dad Self

[25:26] The "Unhappy Achiever" Philosophy

[32:57] Navigating Childcare Transitions

[39:38] Thoughts on Kids and Technology

[46:07] Connecting with Mike Yan

[47:12] Lightning Round

—

Show references:

Mike Yan LI:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedyan/

Email Address: mike@mikeyan.com

Telegram: @mikeyan

ManyChat: https://manychat.com/

Rubik’s cube: https://www.rubiks.com/

Counter Strike: https://www.counter-strike.net/

World of Warcraft :https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/

Lilo and Stitch: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275847/

The Matrix: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/

The Truman Show: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120382/

Existence: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2402107/

The Game: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119174/

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

3 Secret Pillars of Raising Teenagers with Eric Colbert | Dad of 9 Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Eric Colbert, Jay Chandrasekhar and Eli Szasz are the co-founders of VouchVault, a new platform that helps you get trusted recommendations for products and services you need. Eric and Eli have worked together for years at creative agency, Spark6. Jay is a comedian, writer and actor best known for his movies Super Troopers and Beerfest. Collectively they’re the dads of 9 different kids along with being loving and supportive husbands (or so they told me). We discussed:

* How they all met and decided to start VouchVault

* How their new company helps busy parents

* Getting into trouble as young kids

* Raising teenagers and Eric’s “three pillars” of success

* How their relationships have changed as their kids have gotten older

* Advice they’d give the younger versions of themselves

* A raging debate on minivans

Where to find Eric Colbert, Jay Chandrasekhar and Eli Szasz

Eric

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-colbert-9900a65/

Jay

* X: https://x.com/jaychandrasekha

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaychandrasekhar/

Eli

* https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahszasz/

Website: www.vouchvault.com

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:

[2:09] Welcome

[2:49] How did you meet & decide to partner

[4:14] Mission of VouchVault

[9:26] Worst experience of a review

[13:08] What were you like as kids?

[16:59] Ages of children

[22:19] Teenage years/ pillars

[29:17] How has your relationship with your kids changed as they got older?

[33:25] Jay’s movies

[37:44] Earliest memory of becoming a dad

[40:49] Doing things differently the second time around

[42:35] Kid’s relationship to tech

[49:37] Partnership

[55:12] Follow along

[56:27] Lightning round

[1:10:28] Thank you

—

Show references:

VouchVault: https://www.vouchvault.com/

Spark6: https://www.spark6.com/

Broken Lizard: https://brokenlizard.com/

Super Troopers 1: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247745/

Super Troopers 2: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0859635/

Beer Fest: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486551/

Community: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1439629/

Arrested Development: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/

New Girl: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1826940/

Shantaram: A Novel by Gregory David Roberts: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shantaram-gregory-david-roberts/1100338449

Blackbirds: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3818366/

Walk the Line: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358273/

MacGruber: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470023/

Citizen Kane: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033467/

Generation Kill: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995832/

Fast Times at Ridgemont High: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083929/

University of Utah: https://www.utah.edu/Colgate: https://www.colgate.edu/

University of Michigan: https://umich.edu/

St. Andrews: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/

Tim Urban: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-urban-56927430/

American Pie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163651/

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo: https://www.netflix.com/title/80209379

Wefunder: https://wefunder.com/

Magnetiles: https://www.magnatiles.com/products/

CocoMelon: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12427840/

Baby Einstein: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9808494/

Dora The Explorer: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235917/

Spongebob Squarepants: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206512/

Toy Story: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114709/

Moana: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3521164/

ACDC Highway to Hell: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_to_Hell_(song)

Star Wars: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/

Back To The Future: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/

First Blood: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083944/

Terminator 2: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103064/

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

Tidy Up Your Life | Tyler Moore (Dad of 3, TidyDad, Elementary School Teacher) Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

Tyler Moore aka TidyDad is a school teacher turned internet sensation and best-selling author. Pushed to the brink of a breakdown after the birth of his second daughter, Tyler went on to tidy up his mind, his life and his household. In the process he built a massive following as Tidy Dad and recently published a USA Today best-selling book called Tidy Up Your Life. He has been featured on Good Morning America, The Washington Post, NYTimes, NYPost, Better Homes & Gardens, Apartment Therapy and the HGTV Podcast (among many others). In addition to his role as Tidy Dad he still teaches elementary school in New York City and lives in a 5 room, 750 square foot apartment with his wife and three daughters. We discussed:

* Tyler’s journey from mental breakdown to best-selling author

* How to tidy up your mind then your space

* The one-area-a-weekday cleaning method

* Involving your kids in the tidying process

* What “Just Enough” means

* The first step in de-cluttering

* The concept of Surthrival

* Many of the tidying frameworks discussed in his new book

Where to find Tyler Moore

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tidydad/

* Website: https://thetidydad.com/

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:

[2:19] Welcome

[2:52] Inspiration for Tidy Dad

[5:43] Intro to book story

[8:54] Family

[10:55] Decision to start a family

[14:07] Tidy Dad order of operations

[16:30] General advice from “Tidy Up Your Life.”

[18:26] Working through “just enough.”

[22:55] What comes after, “just enough.”

[24:44] One area a day cleaning routine

[29:26] First step to decluttering

[32:27] How do you involve kids in tidying

[38:10] Most challenging aspect to being tidy as a dad

[40:48] Advice to younger Tyler

[42:50] Advice to ignore

[46:18] Kid’s relationship to tech

[50:16] Surthrival

[52:30] Most rewarding feedback

[54:41] Future of Tidy Dad

[58:17] Follow along

[59:23] Lightning Round

[1:05:57] Thank you

—

Show references:

Tidy Dad: https://thetidydad.com/

Tidy Up Your Life: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tidy-up-your-life-tyler-moore/1145899800

Folex Cleaner: https://folexcompany.com/

Despicable Me: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323594/

Sister Act: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105417/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

Lindt: https://www.lindtusa.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

Four Companies And Three Kids | Pouyan Salehi (Dad of 3, co-founder Scratchpad, PersistIQ, Lera Labs, StackMob) Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

Pouyan Salehi is the co-founder and CEO of Scratchpad—a company trying to take the busy work out of sales. He has founded three other companies, including PersistIQ (acquired by Wishpond) and Stackmob (acquired by PayPal). In addition to being a serial founder and entrepreneur he is also a husband and a Dad to three kids. We discussed:

* Coming to America from Iran and restarting his life with his parents

* Why there’s no perfect time to start a family

* How each kid is different and requires different parenting strategies

* Advice he’d give his younger self about how to relax

* Appreciating the new way your life comes together after kids

* Moving across the country to be closer to family

Where to find Pouyan Salehi

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pouyansalehi/

* Twitter: https://x.com/psalehi

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:

[1:49] Welcome

[2:13] Pouyan’s professional background

[3:51] Scratchpad

[4:47] His childhood

[9:34] How did you meet your wife/tell about your kids

[10:44] Desire to start a family vs. focusing on careers

[13:09] Earliest memory of becoming a dad

[15:13] Emotions that arose when becoming a dad

[16:20] Parenting three kids

[17:38] Parenting a teenager

[19:08] Advice for younger Pouyan

[21:06] Advice to ignore

[22:24] Move to Minnesota

[24:25] Parenting Frameworks

[26:26] How has parenting evolved kid-to-kid

[27:50] Has being a parent helped him lead teams & vice versa

[29:40] Aligning with partner

[32:14] Kid’s relationship with tech

[33:52] AI & kids

[36:19] What’d he give up to be a dad?

[37:18] How does he recharge his batteries

[38:18] Mistake made as a dad?

[39:54] Where to find Pouyan

[41:07] Lightning round

[48:43] Thank you

—

Show references:

Scratchpad: https://www.scratchpad.com/

Wishpond: https://www.wishpond.com/

Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/us/home

Dominos: https://www.dominos.com/en/

Tod Francis episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwFYEpFSi3A

Apple: https://www.apple.com/

Ferris Bueller's Day Off: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091042/

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

Fighting For Better Paternity Leave | Alex Lloyd Hunter (Dad of 1, The Dad Shift) Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

Alex Lloyd Hunter is co-founder of The Dad Shift—a group of men, dads and co-parents campaigning for better paternity leave in the UK. He has been a founder, a non-profit leader, and an organizer for the Labour Party. In addition to being an advocate for better paternity leave policies he’s also a husband and the father of a young son. We discussed:

* Just how bad paternity leave is in the UK

* What The Dad Shift is trying to achieve

* The biggest obstacles to better paternity leave policies

* How we can define men less by their professional lives and more by their participation at home

* How Alex’s views on fatherhood and parenting were shaped by his own father and the birth of his son

* How he proactively adjusted his career to better prepare for his son’s arrival

Where to find Alex Lloyd Hunter

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlloydhunter/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadshiftuk

* The Dad Shift: https://dadshift.org.uk/

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:

[1:56] Welcome

[2:09] The Dad Shift

[3:43] Redefining what it means to be a man and a dad

[7:10] The guerilla marketing Dad Shift launch

[9:39] How his son shaped his views on fatherhood

[12:05] Career arc/changes before fatherhood

[13:45] Conversations with wife to establish a shared view

[16:11] Paternity leave in the UK

[19:04] Goals of The Dad Shift

[20:52] Obstacles to paternity leave improvements

[24:25] New generation regressing

[26:56] Role of fathers

[29:01] Response to The Dad Shift

[32:09] Surprising parts of being a dad

[34:00] Advice for younger Alex

[35:38] Advice to ignore

[37:06] Favorite book to read to his son

[38:03] Mistakes as a dad

[39:44] How to support The Dad Shift

[41:12] Lightning round

[49:17] Thank you

—

Show references:

Brene Brown:https://brenebrown.com/

Laurence Olivier: https://www.biography.com/actors/laurence-olivier

Andrew Tate: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64125045

Maisy books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/MSY/maisy/

Sleepyhead: https://mysleepyhead.com/mattresses

Clip bag: https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Universal-Stroller-Organizer/dp/B0CR3BY2D2

BBC Alpha Blocks, Number Blocks, Colour Blocks & Wonder Blocks: https://www.learningblocks.tv/

The Snowman: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084701/

Aled Jones “Walking In The Air”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=engSQve1CKU

Peppa Pig: https://www.peppapig.com/en-us/

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

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