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
Where to find Adam Fishman
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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