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Emotional intelligence, navigating race and fatherhood in the UK | Ben Williams (father of 2, advisor at PLGeek.com)

Startup Dad

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This chapter explores the contrasting attitudes towards therapy in the UK and the US, along with the stigma surrounding men's mental health. It also features an interview with Ben Williams, a father of two, discussing his experiences as a dad and the impact of racism on his upbringing.

Ben Wiliams is a product and engineering executive and was most recently the VP Product at Snyk; an $8B developer tools company. He is currently a Product and Growth advisor and owner of PLGeek.com as well as The Product Led Geek Newsletter. Ben is a husband and father of two kids and my first international interview (he hails from the UK).

In this episode we discuss:

The importance of therapy in a successful career and marriage and how it's stigmatized in the UK

His early exposures to racism and his upbringing in a mixed race family in the UK

Meeting your wife on a dating app

The challenges and joys of being a Dad

Growing up in a strict household

How a career never prepares you for the rollercoaster of fatherhood

Sacrifices you make to be more present

How life is different for parents in the UK than the States

Building a robust support network

Hilarious stories about "birthing class."

Rapid Fire - UK edition

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Where to find Ben Williams

- Twitter (aka X): https://twitter.com/semanticben

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/semanticben/

- Product Led Geek Newsletter: https://www.plg.news/

Where to find Adam Fishman

- Newsletter: https://www.fishmanafnewsletter.com

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

- Twitter (aka X): https://twitter.com/fishmanaf

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

- Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fishmanaf

—

In this episode, we cover:

[2:06] Welcome

[2:47] Professional background

[4:55] Career prepped for parenting?

[5:17] Childhood family environment/racism

[10:06] Partner/kids

[13:15] Earliest memory of being a dad?

[14:20] UK prep for baby

[18:06] Making sacrifices

[22:26] Risk awareness

[23:17] UK/USA parenting/mental health

[26:23] Emotional intelligence

[29:29] How do kids get along?

[31:28] Support structures

[33:36] Parenting frameworks

[36:32] Partner disagreement

[39:31] Mistake as a father?

[40:46] Comfort zone in parenting

[41:15] Work/home balance

[47:22] Talking to kids about racism

[49:20] Rapid fire round

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Show references:

The University of Manchester

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

National Childbirth Trust (NCT)

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ)

Fresh Food Feeder

Playmobile Large Princess Castle

Sinclair ZX Spectrum

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Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/

Episode art designed by Matt Sutherland at https://www.mspnw.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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