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Educating Your Kids In A Technology-First World | Jeremy Howard (Dad of 1, Fast.ai, Fastmail, Kaggle)

Mar 20, 2025

Guest

Jeremy Howard

Jeremy Howard, a thought leader in AI and co-founder of Fast.ai, shares insights on parenting in a technology-driven world. He discusses the balance between traditional education and innovative homeschooling, emphasizing social interactions even in remote learning. Jeremy also reflects on his journey as a father, exploring how his background in science influenced his parenting philosophy. The importance of discussing AI and screen time with kids is highlighted, showcasing a modern approach to child-rearing that adapts to ongoing technological changes.

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insights

INSIGHT

Evolution Drives Parental Joy

Evolution biologically programs parents to derive immense joy from their children.
This biological drive explains why having and caring for a child is deeply pleasurable.

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ANECDOTE

From School Hater to Analytical Specialist

Jeremy hated school but loved discovering and using spreadsheets and databases as a teen.
He was self-taught and became an analytical specialist at McKinsey at 18, blending curiosity and entrepreneurship.

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ANECDOTE

Family Life and Relocation

Jeremy and his wife Rachel co-founded Fast.ai and homeschool their daughter Claire in Australia.
They moved from the US due to discomfort with the environment post-pandemic.

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Navigating AI, Family, and Entrepreneurial Journeys

02:41 • 14min

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The Evolution of Parenthood: Embracing Family Life

17:09 • 2min

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Reflecting on Fatherhood and Early Memories

19:29 • 2min

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Navigating Homeschooling in a Tech-Driven World

21:25 • 22min

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Innovative Fatherhood: Insights and Experiences

43:09 • 15min

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The Parenting Lightning Round

In 'Project Hail Mary', Ryland Grace, a high school science teacher, awakens on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there or his mission. He soon discovers that he is the sole survivor of a desperate mission to save Earth from a microorganism called the Astrophage, which is threatening to cause a new ice age. As Ryland regains his memories, he encounters an alien named Rocky, and together they work to solve the scientific mystery and save their respective home planets. The story blends science, humor, and heart, exploring themes of survival, discovery, and unlikely friendships.

The Martian

Andy Weir

R.C. Bray

The Martian tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney, who is presumed dead and left stranded on Mars after a fierce storm. With limited supplies, Watney must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Meanwhile, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring 'the Martian' home, while Watney faces numerous challenges in his quest for survival. The novel is praised for its blend of science, humor, and suspense.

We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

Dennis E. Taylor

In this novel, Bob Johansson sells his software company and signs up for cryogenic preservation. After his death, his mind is uploaded into a space probe 117 years later. Bob and his clones embark on a mission to explore the galaxy, encounter various alien species, and navigate the complexities of artificial intelligence, space colonization, and the remnants of human society after a global catastrophe. The book delves into themes such as politics, religion, and philosophy, maintaining a lighthearted and humorous tone despite its deep scientific and philosophical explorations.

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

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