Navigating Parenthood and Work Life Balance

Casey Handmer is the founder of Terraform Industries, a company that is turning CO2 into natural gas through solar electricity. He's an astrophysicist with a PhD from Caltech who has worked on frontier technologies at NASA and Hyperloop. He's also a husband and the father of three kids. Including a newborn! In today's conversation we discussed:

* Productivity and priorities

* How to make it work without a support structure

* How to work on having optimism be the default so you can build a better future

* How he and his wife (also an astrophysicist and engineering leader) manage a busy household and three under the age of five

* The importance of long-term projects, both professionally and personally

* The worst parenting advice he's ever given and received

* His kids and their relationship with technology

Listen or watch Startup Dad on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and Overcast.

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Where to find Casey Handmer

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-handmer-60183262/

Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/CJHandmer

Casey's Blog: https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/

Casey and Christine's Podcast

Where to find Adam Fishman

Newsletter: startupdadpod.substack.com

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:

[1:46] Welcome

[2:01] Caesy’s Professional background

[7:04] Casey’s wife & kids

[10:28] How did you meet your wife?

[14:26] Support structures (or not having any!)

[17:21] Getting joy vs. minimizing work

[20:51] Most surprising thing about being a dad

[24:13] Worst parenting advice Casey has ever given and received

[30:37] Optimism as a default

[36:00] Where do you not align with your wife?

[38:46] Kids relationship to technology

[42:19] How to follow along with Casey’s journey

[43:21] Rapid fire round

[53:39] Thank you

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Show references:

Snoo: https://www.amazon.com/SNOO-Smart-Sleeper-Happiest-Baby/dp/B0716KN18Z

Terraform Industries: https://terraformindustries.com/

NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/

Hyperloop: https://www.hyperlooptt.com/

CalTech: https://www.caltech.edu/

JPL: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/

Kip Thorne: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kip_Thorne

Planet: https://www.planet.com/

LARP: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_action_role-playing_game

Rubik's cube: https://rubiks.com/en-US/

Lego: https://www.lego.com/en-us

Kid-safe knives: https://www.amazon.com/Tovla-Knives-3-Piece-Nylon-Baking/dp/B0711QYPJD/

Tesla Model Y: https://www.tesla.com/modely

Tesla Cybertruck: https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck

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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