Startup Dad 100th Episode Special: Brother vs Brother on Dad Life | Daniel Fishman (Dad of 1, Redwood Trust)
Dan Fishman is a husband, a lawyer, and a relatively new parent. He’s also Adam’s brother, and the very special guest for the 100th episode of Startup Dad. By day, Dan is Associate General Counsel at Redwood Trust, but at home, he’s going through fatherhood for the first time by navigating toddler teething, sleep deprivation, and the occasional lemon tree massacre. He’s still figuring out what kind of dad he actually wants to be.
In this episode, Dan reflects on the surprises of new parenthood, what he’s borrowing from how he was raised, and why he’s still not sure he identifies as “Dad.”
- Letting go of the old identity: Why Dan doesn’t fully relate to the label “dad” just yet, how parenting has shifted his priorities and time management, and what it means to enjoy the ride without “going full Dad.”
- Channeling childhood joy: From chasing his daughter around the house with their Scottish terriers to dance parties with the Beatles, Dan shares how he’s making space for silliness and spontaneity.
- Fugue states and yard work: How a COVID brain fog, a teething baby, and a pair of pruning shears led to the total annihilation of the family lemon tree, and why Dan and Sophie now laugh about it.
- Simple frameworks for staying sane: Why Dan leans on intuitive parenting, presence over perfection, and the rule of “don’t compare workloads” to keep his household and partnership healthy.
- A love letter for the future: Dan shares a message for his daughter to hear when she’s 21, with the lessons he hopes to pass down, including a serious warning about law school and a reminder that her dad will always be her biggest fan.
Where to find Daniel Fishman
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-f-45731916
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:
(00:00) Introducing Daniel Fishman
(02:08) Parenting reflections and surprises
(04:27) The work-life balance of Dan and “Work Dan”
(05:51) Fatherhood changes and early memories
(11:11) Parenting advice and decisions
(20:48) Favorite books and music for kids
(24:46) Parenting frameworks and challenges
(28:45) The Lemon tree incident
(29:22) Household strife and COVID fugue state
(30:22) Parenting frameworks and humor
(32:32) Anna's relationship with technology
(33:52) Anna's first birthday and future skills
(36:15) Dad jokes and future messages
(38:51) Lightning Round: Parenting Products and Hacks
Show references:
Redwood Trust: https://www.redwoodtrust.com/
Sega Genesis: https://asia.sega.com/genesismini/
Severance: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11280740/
Scottish Terrier: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/scottish-terrier/
Bruce Springsteen: https://brucespringsteen.net/
The Beatles: https://www.thebeatles.com/
Grateful Dead: https://www.dead.net/
Stern Grove Festival: https://www.sterngrove.org/
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass: https://hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/
Golden Gate Park: https://sfrecpark.org/770/Golden-Gate-Park
Thom York: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom_Yorke
Radiohead: https://www.radiohead.com/
Jon Klassen The Hat Trilogy Series: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/G6I/the-hat-trilogy/
Julia Donaldson: https://www.juliadonaldson.co.uk/
Nose Frida: https://frida.com/
Training a Tiger: A Father's Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life by Earl Woods: https://www.amazon.com/Training-Tiger-Fathers-Raising-Winner/dp/0062701789
The Elephant and the Bad Baby: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1095518.The_Elephant_and_the_Bad_Baby
Baby Shusher: https://babyshusher.com/
Puffs: https://www.gerber.com/shop-by-product/snacks
Terminator 2: Judgement Day: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103064/
Ratatouille: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382932/
Minecraft: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3566834/
The Simpsons: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096697/
Neverending Story: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088323/
Larry David: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0202970/
—
For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com