Startup Dad

Jamie Lee is the Founder of JME Labs, a consulting business supporting startups and small businesses. Her husband, Jeff Okita, is the VP of Product at Tilt, a leave management platform. Together, they’re raising their 14-month-old daughter while managing demanding careers and a shared vision of parenting. We talked about:Building a strong support system: How Jamie and Jeff rely on an extended team of experts, family, and tools to make daily life manageable.Creating structure through rituals and check-ins: The methods they use to stay coordinated, including weekly planning and monthly reviews.Designing life around core values: Why they prioritize individual and shared time to stay connected to who they were before becoming parents.Traveling with a baby across continents: What 15 flights and two international trips have taught them about adaptability and preparation.Reevaluating the role of work: How becoming parents led both of them to rethink what success and fulfillment mean in their careers.Connection as a two-way street: Jeff’s take on bonding as a non-birthing parent and the moments that helped him feel truly needed.Challenging traditional roles in parenting: The decisions they’ve made to balance the mental, physical, and emotional load of raising a child.Preparing for an AI-powered future: Their early thoughts on how to raise a child in a world shaped by fast-moving technology.Where to find Jamie LeeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamieannlee/ JME Labs: https://www.jamiealee.com/ Where to find Jeff OkitaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffokita/ Tilt: https://hellotilt.com/ Where to find Adam FishmanFishmanAF 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 Jamie and Jeff(02:20) What is the “extended team” in their household(04:35) Emergency childcare plans and calendar blow-ups(05:08) The four C’s of parenting: Coordination, Communication, Compromise, Creativity(06:06) Running, nursing, errands, and multitasking hacks(07:27) Rituals for communication and monthly check-ins(08:38) Me, Me, and We Nights(11:09) Where their parenting systems came from(13:33) Hiring a postpartum doula and learning on the fly(14:22) 15 flights with a baby and international travel strategies(17:39) Potato, plant, and puppy phases of babyhood(20:14) Blowouts on the road and travel horror stories(24:34) Not losing yourself post-baby(28:59) Rethinking the role of work after having a child(34:07) Building connection with your baby and rejecting the parenting default(54:57) Lightning Round: parenting quirks, pre-baby routines, and toddler travel winsResources from this episode:ChatGPT.comDie With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins: https://bndl.co/3XlKH6eBlank Check: https://imdb.to/3Vjc3T5Planet Earth: https://imdb.to/3XlYoTo—Want to sponsor this podcast? Email podcast@fishmana.comFor Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

David Apple is the Founder of Shark Tooth Biotech, a company focused on developing treatments for CMT 1A, a rare genetic disease affecting his oldest son. Previously an executive at Typeform, Notion, and Zingtree, David stepped away from startup life to become his son’s full-time advocate. He’s also a father of two, a board member of the CMTA, and a first-time children’s book author. We talked about:Leaving tech to prioritize advocacy: Why David chose to walk away from a successful career to support his son through a difficult diagnostic journey.Facing resistance in the medical system: What it took to push past early dismissals from doctors and finally get answers through genetic testing.Shifting expectations of fatherhood: How caring for a child with CMT changed David’s perception of strength, patience, and what it means to be a parent.Building a purpose-led biotech company: What inspired David to launch Shark Tooth and how he’s working to fill a critical research gap for CMT 1A.Protecting presence over legacy: Why David believes being present with his kids outweighs any long-term pursuit of recognition or success.Frameworks for family and marriage: From structured “me time” to clear communication tools, David shares the systems that help him stay grounded.Where to find David AppleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appledavid/ X: https://x.com/davidcappleShark Tooth Biotech: https://www.sharktooth.bio/ Where to find Adam FishmanFishmanAF 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 David Apple(03:58) Leaving a CRO role to advocate full-time(06:13) Getting real answers through genetic testing(11:20) Misconceptions about being a stay-at-home parent(14:27) How CMT shaped Ari’s creative side(16:39) Using AI tools and finding support(22:50) Why CMT research remains underfunded today(27:12) Creating Shark Tooth Biotech with real purpose(32:14) Advocacy matters more than expert opinions(39:55) Letting go of legacy, focusing now(44:04) Turning life’s obstacles into personal growth(46:35) Lightning roundShow references:CMT 1A: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/1245/charcot-marie-tooth-disease-type-1aTypeform: https://www.typeform.com/Notion: https://www.notion.com/Zing Tree: https://zingtree.com/UCSF: https://www.ucsf.edu/Stanford: https://www.stanford.edu/https://chatgpt.com/CMTA: https://www.cmtausa.org/Animal Yoga by Flowerpot Press, Brian Fitzgerald (Illustrator): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/animal-yoga-flowerpot-press/1143842943Cystic Fibrosis: https://www.cff.org/https://www.tiktok.com/en/Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Neil deGrasse Tyson:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2395695/Paul Campillo: https://paulcampillo.com/Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CNOIQ2Momcozy Convertible Double Stroller: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJXX76MNMarine Layer: https://www.marinelayer.com/Coco Melon: https://www.cocomelon.com/Bluey: https://www.bluey.tv/Les Visiteurs: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108500/Reach an audience at the intersection of startups and parenting - For sponsorship inquiries email podcast@fishmana.com.Support the show -  For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

In this conversation, Alex Medick, the Director of Marketing at TensorWave and a dedicated single dad, shares his insights on balancing startup life with parenting two kids. He discusses how he navigated communicating with his children during his separation and the unexpected fulfillment fatherhood has brought him. Alex emphasizes giving parents grace during tough times and fondly recalls the chaotic moments that create lasting memories. He also reflects on the value of old-school parenting and creating structure for kids in today’s world.

Jordan Gal, CEO of Rosie and a five-time founder, shares insights from his upbringing in an immigrant entrepreneur household and how it informs his parenting. He discusses teaching kids about money without pressure and maintaining a family-first mindset in the startup world. Jordan emphasizes the importance of emotional management and healthy conflict in marriage. He also reflects on how their nomadic lifestyle reshaped family values, while nudging his children towards ownership and financial literacy in relatable ways.

Sol Kennedyi is the founder of BestInterest which helps co-parents navigate the messiness of that complex relationship. He is a serial founder who has built and sold multiple companies and has been the head of product at Dropcam, a PM at Google and an angel investor in companies like Coinbase, Gitlab and Instacart. In addition to being a serial entrepreneur he’s also a single, half-time dad of two kids and a co-parent. We discussed:* Navigating divorce and co-parenting* Important lessons he’s learned from his co-parenting role* The adversarial system that exists in family court and treats parents like criminals* The emotional rollercoaster of half-time parenting as a single Dad* His experience taking an extended time off to be a full-time Dad when his daughter was young* Mistakes he’s made as a parent that have helped him grow into the Dad he is today.* How your kids help you heal your own relationship with your parents* The importance of patience and slowness when raising kidsWhere to find Sal Kennedy* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solkennedy/* BestInterest App: bestinterestapp.com* Sol’s Podcast: https://podcast.coparentingbeyondconflict.com/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:[1:55] Welcome[2:11] Professional background[3:53] Kids & divorce[6:17] Co-parenting[10:34] Advice for those going though this/co- parenting[13:26] Being a half-time dad[17:35] Strategies for setting boundaries with kids[20:33] Decision to be a full-time dad and then back into work-force[25:49] Does his own family use Best Interest?[26:07] Most surprising things you’ve discovered as a dad?[29:04] how having kids helped heal his relationship with his own parents[32:08] Advice to younger Sol[34:10] Transition from 1 to 2 kids[36:48] Frameworks for parenting[40:22] Kid’s relationship with tech[44:48] Mistake as a dad[49:05] Follow along[49:59] Lightning round[1:00:07] Thank you—Show references:Coinbase: https://www.coinbase.com/GitLab: https://about.gitlab.com/Instacart: https://www.instacart.com/Bug catcher: https://www.amazon.com/toys-Battat-Bungalow-Insect-Catching/dp/B01M0V474YBaby sock monitor (Owlet): https://owletcare.com/products/owlet-dream-sockPixar: https://www.pixar.com/Star Wars: https://www.starwars.com/Mini Cooper: https://www.miniusa.com/—For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.comProduction support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron athttp://www.armaziproductions.com/

Nikunj Kothari is a former investor with Khosla Ventures and a product and growth leader from companies like Opendoor, Shyp, and LinkedIn. He’s now out on his own advising, investing and spending time as a husband and a father of two, including a brand new son! We discussed:* The false dichotomy between ambition and parenting and the support structures needed to achieve it* The work it takes to prioritize your partner after the arrival of a new baby* How execution as a Dad is only part of the problem set* Big mistakes he’s made as a Dad* How the relationship with his own parents changed since becoming a father* Top tips for international flights with young kidsWhere to find Nikunj Kothari* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikunjk/* X: https://x.com/nikunj* Website: https://www.nikunjk.com/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:[2:00] Welcome[2:17] What Nikunj is up to these days[3:08] Four generations in the home/dad feedback[3:58] Childhood[5:25] Family now[8:33] Decision to start a family[10:35] Ambition and parent dichotomy[13:22] Would you rewind the clock?[17:33] Who needs help in the newborn stage[21:36] Paying attention to invisible labor[23:45] Mistakes as a dad/prioritize making time for partner[26:39] Funny story of his daughter sleeping through the night[30:07] Traveling with young children[34:26] Relationship to own parents in fatherhood[38:20] How parenting changed from kid to kid[40:28] Go-to activity[41:46] Aligning with partner[45;05] Kid’s relationship with tech[49:34] Favorite books to read to kids[50:44] Follow along[51:37] Lightning round[58:03] Thank you—Show references:Khosla Ventures: https://www.khoslaventures.com/Opendoor: https://www.opendoor.com/SIDS: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20352800Children’s Creativity Museum: https://creativity.org/Ms. Rachel: https://www.youtube.com/@msrachelCoco Melon: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbCmjCuTUZos6Inko4u57UQSpring is here (Bear and Mole Series) by Will Hillenbrand: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spring-is-here-will-hillenbrand/1103442878Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit: https://www.magicsleepsuit.com/Home Alone: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099785/Home Alone: 2: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104431/Dunston Checks In: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116151/Moana: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3521164/Kal Ho Naa Ho:Blow up flight bed: https://www.flyawaydesigns.com/products/flyaway-kids-bed—For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.comProduction support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron athttp://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

Brian Holt, a seasoned product manager at Neon with a background in tech giants like Microsoft and Netflix, shares his parenting wisdom as a father of two. He discusses the unique challenges of preparing for a second child and the overwhelming sea of conflicting parenting advice. Holt emphasizes the importance of being a 'whole person' to enhance parental roles and reflects on the joys of nomadic living with toddlers. He hilariously praises the Snoo and magnetic snap baby clothes, while navigating the highs and lows of modern parenting with laughter and insight.

Robert Wolfe is the co-founder of Zeck a company designed to make managing board meetings easier for everyone. He’s also founded and sold both Crowdrise (to GoFundMe) and Moosejaw Mountaineering (to Wal-Mart). He’s a husband and the father of 2 sons. We discussed:* The journey from founding Moosejaw to today* Founding multiple companies with a celebrity and your brother* Raising a family while building those companies* The modern-day process for helping your kids apply to college* How kids can find the right college fit* Stories about building his companies and raising his families* What the heck a “fighting room” is used for and why you need one* How to work really hard without taking yourself too seriouslyWhere to find Robert Wolfe* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-w-0abaaa273/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:[1:57] Welcome[2:41] Zeck[4:16] The “Fighting room”[5:48] Moosejaw[11:24] Ed Norton co-founder[14:55] Childhood/relationship with brother[16:22] Met wife[17:58] Kids[18:47] Decision to start a family[19:38] Carving out time to be at his kid’s events[20:53] University of Michigan[22:34] College admission process[26:51] Advice to younger Robert[28:03] Advice to ignore[29:44] Empty nester[30:36] Kid’s relationship to tech/social media[34:01] Advice to kids/entrepreneurship[33:52] Follow along[36:28] Lightning round—Show references:Dazed and Confused: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106677/Zeck: zeck.appGoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/University of Michigan: https://umich.edu/Edward Norton: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001570/North Face: https://www.thenorthface.com/en-usPatagonia: https://www.patagonia.com/home/Keego Harbor, Michigan: https://www.keegoharbor.org/Fight Club: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/Shauna Robertson: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0732024/Apatow Productions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apatow_ProductionsJudd Apatow: https://www.juddapatow.com/Elf: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/40 Year Old Virgin: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405422/Anchorman: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357413/Seth Rogan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0736622/Jonah Hill: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1706767/Steve Carell: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0136797/Will Ferrell: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002071/Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/UNICEF: https://www.unicefusa.org/American Cancer Society: https://donate.cancer.org/Michigan State: https://msu.edu/Panda Express: https://www.pandaexpress.com/James Earl Jones: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000469/Be Mighty: https://bemighty.com/Nvidia: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/Jaws: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073195/Avatar: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/Star Wars: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/Monsters INC: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0198781/Godfather: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/Tyus Edney (UCLA guard): https://uclabruins.com/honors/hall-of-fame/tyus-edney/107_For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.comProduction support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron athttp://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

Greg Laughlin is the founder of Campwing, a product designed to take the headache out of summer camp planning. Parents use detailed filters to search through every summer camp in their area in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. Prior to Campwing, Greg was the co-founder of Statwing, a statistical analysis product he sold to Qualtrics that became their Stats IQ product. He’s also a husband and the father of 2 daughters. We discussed:* Why equitable access to summer activities are so important* The pain of summer camp planning and why it’s broken for parents and kids* The biggest problems for parents in finding and evaluating camps* The number one piece of advice he'd share with younger Greg: get your health in order* The surprising importance of temperament in children* How you learn about yourself by raising kids* A fun word game that as a bonding ritual* His #1 framework for parenting - if they can do it themselves, they should* The two ways he recharges his batteries as a DadWhere to find Greg Laughlin* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greglaughlin/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:[2:05] Welcome[2:26] Greg’s professional background[5:11] What is with “wing” in all his startup names[6:07] His attempt to buy a fourth tier English soccer team[8:33] Why he feels like he’s won the lottery[10:31] His Mom’s thoughts on buying the soccer team[11:06] Greg’s Family now[13:44] Conversation with his wife around becoming a stay-at-home parent[16:42] CampWing and what’s broken about summer camp[29:19] Advice to parents on camp[33:51] Surprising things he’s learned as a dad[38:53] Advice to younger Greg[45:35] Puzzle game vs. books[49:58] Parenting frameworks[51:42] Partnership[54:02] Kid’s relationship with tech[58:49] What is something you gave up to be a dad?[1:00:22] Recharge batteries with golf and piano[1:02:32] Mistakes as a Dad[1:04:34] Startup hustle culture[1:09:22] Lightning round—Show references:CampWing: https://campwing.com/Qualtrics: https://www.qualtrics.com/Center for Effective Philanthropy: https://cep.org/Rochdale Soccer Club: https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/Ted Lasso: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/Arrested Development: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/Radiohead: https://www.radiohead.com/Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/Emily Oster: https://economics.brown.edu/people/emily-osterWinnie: https://winnie.com/Sara & Eric Mauskopf’s Episode:The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Childrenby Alison Gopnik: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gardener-and-the-carpenter-alison-gopnik/1122824922I Am a Bunny by Ole Risom, Richard Scarry (Illustrator): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-a-bunny-ole-risom/1100058404Detective Beans: and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/detective-beans-li-chen/1144786389Jonathan Haidt: https://jonathanhaidt.com/Black Mirror: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085059/Miracle blanket: https://miraclebabyusa.com/Disneyland: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/Paw Patrol: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3121722/My Neighbor Totoro: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096283/Nutella: https://www.nutella.com/Monty Python and the Holy Grail: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071853/27 Dresses: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988595/_For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.comProduction support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron athttp://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

Jeff Fritz is principal program manager at Microsoft where he leads production for one oftheir largest developer events. He’s also active in the developer community as a live-coding Twitch streamer, Youtuber, and podcast host. He’s a lifelong developer who got his start working on the family’s Commodore 64. In addition to his work as program manager and developer he’s a husband and the father of two daughters. We discussed:* Making the most of your time with your kids when they’re young* Preparing your kids and yourself for the big changes that come with high school and college* What it’s like when your kids leave the house for the first time* The modern day college admissions process* Helping your kids establish good decision-making frameworks from a young age* Supporting your kids extracurricular activities unconditionally* Creating trust through consistent support—Where to find Jeff Fritz* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreytfritz/* Twitch: https://twitch.tv/csharpfritz* Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfvJirlbRTN-bU9sMWMb_ZQWhere 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:[1:49] Welcome[2:34] Professional background[6:18] Live streaming[7:55] AI tooling in his work[12:33] Childhood[15:20] “Seasonal” empty-nester[17:47] Daughters thoughts on dad being on Twitch[21:18] Empty-nester deep dive[25:39] Advice for parents approaching empty nesting[29:40] College admissions process[34:43] Align with college-age kids/family[39:53] Kids making adult decisions[42:23] Kid’s interest in tech[45:12] Kids wanting to be in tech[50:21] Follow Jeff[51:28] Lightning round[1:01:20] Thank you—Show references:Jeff’s Website: https://jeffreyfritz.com/Source Code on Github: https://github.com/csharpfritzMicrosoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Commodore 64: https://www.commodore.ca/commodore-products/commodore-64-the-best-selling-computer-in-history/Copilot: https://copilot.microsoft.com/chats/X7EeM9ig1Wv9k9ayG9KZMVisual Studio: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/Penn State: https://www.psu.edu/Eagles: https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/TwitchCon: https://www.twitchcon.com/LSU: https://www.lsu.edu/Kansas State: https://www.k-state.edu/West Virginia University: https://www.wvu.edu/Yale: https://www.yale.edu/Harvard: https://www.harvard.edu/UCLA: https://www.ucla.edu/USC: https://usc.edu/University of Miami: https://welcome.miami.edu/Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade: https://www.macys.com/s/parade/Fortnite: https://www.fortnite.com/?lang=en-USRocky: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075148/Princess Diaries: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247638/University of Michigan: https://umich.edu/—For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.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