
Homeschooling My Kids Across 21 Countries | Michael Goodbody (Dad of 2, Robinhood)
Startup Dad
Disagreements at Home: Sleep vs Structure
Michael and Nadine differ on strict sleep schedules; he values flexibility while she enforces structure for rest.
Michael Goodbody is the former Global Head of Marketing & Communications at Robinhood, CMO at Dave, and VP Marketing at Credit Karma. A year ago, he resigned from his executive job at Robinhood to homeschool his children while traveling to 21 countries in just nine months.
Michael, a British expat married to a German partner, shares what it was like stepping away from a demanding executive career to prioritize global experiences with his family and a deep connection with his kids. We discussed:
- Ditching routine for the unknown: What drove Michael and his wife to finally say yes to a long-held dream of traveling the world with their kids.
- Homeschooling while abroad: How they navigated state regulations, picked a suitable curriculum, and stayed on track academically from Tanzania to China.
- Teaching math in paradise: Michael shares what it was like to turn a beach in French Polynesia into a classroom and how he helped his daughter jump two grade levels in math.
- Genetic testing and pregnancy stress: The emotional rollercoaster of discovering a rare genetic match mid-pregnancy and what they learned from it.
- Redefining success: Why Michael believes happiness matters more than grades or accolades, and how he’s shaping his parenting philosophy around presence over pressure.
- Parenting far from family: The pros and cons of raising kids without extended family nearby and why Michael and his wife chose to stay in the US.
Where to find Michael Goodbody
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoodbody/
- Twitter: https://x.com/mcgunome
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:
(00:00) Introducing Michael Goodbody, former Global Head of Marketing & Communications at Robinhood
(01:06) Leaving a top exec job to homeschool and travel
(02:36) Quitting Robinhood and chasing a dream
(05:04) Homeschooling logistics across 21 countries
(07:35) How they planned financially for a year off
(09:46) Learning through travel: science, history, and volcanoes
(22:50) Safari in Tanzania and chasing pandas in China
(26:28) What it’s like coming home after the journey
(29:28) A genetic testing scare during pregnancy
(33:50) Why fatherhood surprised Michael in a good way
(36:42) What he’d tell his pre-dad self
(40:05) Two principles that guide Michael’s parenting
(44:31) A/B testing parenting styles with two kids
(47:57) Redefining success for your kids
(52:02) Using AI to win parenting arguments
(58:20) Lightning round: parenting quirks, travel hacks, and dad skills
Resources From This Episode:
Robinhood: https://robinhood.com/
Generation Genius: https://www.generationgenius.com/
Waldorf Education: https://www.waldorfeducation.org/
Alexa: https://alexa.amazon.com/
Curious Kid (Podcast): https://www.curiouskidpodcast.com/
Greeking Out (Podcast): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/greeking-out
Million Bazillion (Podcast): https://www.marketplace.org/shows/million-bazillion
Crystal Palace F.C.: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/
Short Circuit (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091949/
Raiders of the Lost Ark (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082971/
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