Michael Perry is a serial founder and entrepreneur. He is currently the founder and CEO of Maple, an all-in-one app that helps parents get and stay organized. Prior to Maple he founded Live For Fame, Giving and Kit which he led for 6 years before selling to Shopify and then continuing with them for another four years. He was early in the leveraging AI to transform marketing for small businesses. Michael is also a husband and the father of two children. In our conversation today we discussed:* Remote work as a founder and parent* His thoughts on Amazon’s return-to-work policies* The feelings that arose for him when becoming a father* Advice he’d give his younger self* Decision-making frameworks to make the best use of his time* What it means to leverage FOMO to be present and purposeful* How having kids changed him as a founder and a manager* The relationship he wants his kids to have with technology—Where to find Michael Perry* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlperry/* X: https://twitter.com/michaelperry* Maple: https://growmaple.com/Where to find Adam Fishman* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/—In this episode, we cover:[1:43] Welcome Michael[2:33] Professional background[13:51] Maple[23:01] How he met partner and their decision to have kids[28:29] IVF journey[32:57] Earliest memory of becoming a dad[36:53] FOMO[40:37] Amazon’s return to office policy[46:51] Frameworks[51:17] Area where you and partner don’t align?[55:07] Kids' relationship to technology?[1:02:06] Where to follow along with Michael’s journey[1:03:18] Lightning round[1:08:32] Thank you—Show references:Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/Shopify: https://www.shopify.com/Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/?ref=lgoBigCommerce: https://www.bigcommerce.com/Madison, Maine: https://www.madisonmaine.com/Santa Barbara, CA: https://santabarbaraca.com/IVF: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/in-vitro-fertilization/about/pac-20384716Snoo: https://www.amazon.com/SNOO-Smart-Sleeper-Happiest-Baby/dp/B0716KN18ZFrozen: https://frozen.disney.com/Spiderman and his Amazing Friends: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083481/Star Wars: https://www.starwars.com/—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

Sean Ellis, an author and founder, shares his wisdom on balancing parenting with a successful career. He discusses maintaining strong relationships with his daughters through their teenage years and into adulthood. Highlighting his philosophy of taking action over waiting for convenience, he touches on navigating challenges like autoimmune disorders and depression. Sean also explores the balance between allowing kids independence and knowing when to step in. His insights from coaching youth soccer reveal parallels in leadership and parenting, making for an enlightening conversation.

Dan Doty is the founder of Fatherhood Unlocked – a company that is helping Dads win at work, build deeper family connections and thrive in relationships. He’s also a writer, wilderness guide and has been an inner city high school teacher. Through his work Dan is at the forefront of the global men’s movement to help Dads be better at all aspects of life. His most recent project, Fatherhood Ready, is a course and community that helps prepare men for fatherhood. He’s also a husband and the father of three kids! In our conversation today we discussed:* The exciting and historical changes in the role of fatherhood* Why the role of fatherhood is changing* The differences between how we were raised by our fathers and how they were raised by theirs* The transition into fatherhood as a rite of passage* Parenting in the time of great technical and societal change* All about Fatherhood Ready and what it means to prepare for fatherhood—Where to find Dan Doty* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-doty-18a50719/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodunlocked/* Fatherhood Unlocked: https://www.fatherhoodunlocked.com/Where to find Adam Fishman* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/—In this episode, we cover:[1:48] Welcome[2:10] Dan’s Professional background[4:24] Most surprising aspect of your work?[6;38] Childhood and destiny[9:58] Balancing of bonding & wilderness[12:03] Dan’s life now[14:20] Their decision to start a family[20:24] What is driving this historical change?[23:08] Dan’s wife as a spiritual guide and intuitive[25:14] Sense of “fit”[26:52] Earliest memory of becoming a dad[29:09] Differences in emotion from kid to kid[30:29] Rite of passage into fatherhood[35:37] Advice  to younger Dan[37:48] Advice to ignore?[38:37] Fav book to read to kids?[40:34] Frameworks[43:46] Area where you and partner don’t align?[44:26] Role of fatherhood in this time?[48:16] What’d he give up to be a father?[50:25] How does he recharge his batteries?[52:00] Mistake as a father?[54:04] How does he recover when losing his temper?[57:07] Where to find Dan[58:53] Lightning round[1:01:11] Thank you—Show references:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodunlocked/Fatherhood Unlocked: https://www.fatherhoodunlocked.com/Fatherhood Ready: https://www.fatherhoodready.com/Meat Eater: https://www.netflix.com/title/80126646Evryman: https://evryman.com/RIchard Reeves: https://richardvreeves.com/REI: https://www.rei.com/Match.com: match.comAnthony Bourdain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Bourdain0.0 Productions: https://zeropointzero.com/Will To Change by Bell Hooks: https://bellhooksbooks.com/product/the-will-to-change/Jason Mraz: https://jasonmraz.com/Martha’s Vineyard: https://www.mvy.com/Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.htmlMoana: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3521164/Princess Bride: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_the%2520princess%2520brideMaine: https://www.maine.gov/portal/index.html—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

Carla Naumburg, PhD is a clinical social worker and the best-selling author of five parenting books. These include her international bestseller, How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids (Workman, 2019), as well as You Are Not a Sh*tty Parent; Ready, Set, Breath and Parenting in the Present Moment.. Her latest, which is recently published and the topic of this podcast is How to Stop Freaking Out, the (completely swear-free) middle-grade adaptation of How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids. She’s also a wife (making her second appearance on the pod) and the mother of two kids. In our conversation today we discussed:* Everything about her newest book and the philosophy behind it* How she first got into writing* What it takes to research and write a book* The inspiration behind How to Stop Freaking Out* The five different types of freakouts* Why kids freak out* How to model and teach emotional regulation in our kids* An extensive discussion on kids, smart phones and social mediaListen now on Apple, Spotify, Overcast and YouTube.—Where to find Carla Naumburg* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlanaumburg/* Carla's Website: https://www.carlanaumburg.com/* Carla's Books: https://www.carlanaumburg.com/books/Where to find Adam Fishman* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/—In this episode, we cover:[1:43] Welcome[2:54] How did she start writing?[5:15] Carla’s Childhood[6:43] Her newest book[8:13] Inspiration for How To Stop Freaking Out[10:26] The Process for writing a book[12:42] How a metaphor from her last book didn’t translate to this one[14:58] Teaching middle schoolers[20:29] The types of freakouts[25:44] Why do kids freak out?[30:18] Modeling/teaching emotional regulation[36:04] How do parents navigate freakouts/how do we shrink our buttons?[43:52] Smart phones/social media and kids[50:42] Waiting on phones plan[55:39] The book[56:17] Lightning round—Show references:Carla and Josh on Startup Dad - youtube.com/watch?v=YiaE6ZmaOIQHow to Stop Losing Your Sh*t with Your Kids: A Practical Guide to Becoming a Calmer, Happier Parent: https://www.amazon.com/How-Stop-Losing-Your-Kids/dp/1523505427You Are Not a Sh*tty Parent: How to Practice Self-Compassion and Give Yourself a Break: https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Not-Parent-Self-Compassion/dp/1523517115Ready, Set, Breathe: Practicing Mindfulness with Your Children for Fewer Meltdowns and a More Peaceful Family: https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Set-Breathe-Practicing-Mindfulness/dp/1626252904/Parenting in the Present Moment: How to Stay Focused on What Really Matters: https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Present-Moment-Focused-Matters/dp/1937006832/How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic: https://www.amazon.com/How-Stop-Freaking-Out-Ultimate/dp/1523518243/Sweet Valley High: https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Valley-High-138-book-series/dp/B08LGKQMDMMount Everest: https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-EverestOprah: https://www.oprah.com/index.htmlThe Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036Taylor Swift: https://www.taylorswift.com/Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/First Phone: A Child's Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette by Catherine Pearlman PhD LCSW: https://www.amazon.com/First-Phone-Digital-Responsibility-Etiquette/dp/0593538331Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World by Devorah Heitner: https://www.amazon.com/Screenwise-Helping-Thrive-Survive-Digital/dp/1629561452/Caillou: https://en.caillou.com/Bluey: https://www.bluey.tv/MacGyver: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088559/My Fair Lady: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058385/The Breakfast Club: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088847/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1Dirty Dancing: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092890/—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

Kyle Lacy is the Chief Marketing Officer of Jellyfish—a platform that helps developers make data-backed decisions on resource investments. Across two decades he has built companies like Lessonly, Openview, Salesforce and ExactTarget. He’s also a husband and the father of two kids. In our conversation today we discussed:* Managing work, life and parenting appropriately* Handling stress across the different facets of your life* Dispelling the myth about separation of ‘church and state’ between family and work* Learning how to put your kids before yourself* The role of nature vs. nurture in parenting* The most important invention ever - the pee pee teepee* How most parenting advice is complete crap—Where to find Kyle Lacy* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy* X: https://x.com/kyleplacyWhere to find Adam Fishman* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/—In this episode, we cover:[1:33] Welcome[2:10] Kyle’s Professional background[4:26] What life was like growing up[6:12] Siblings[6:24] Do your siblings have give you parenting advice?[6:53] His family now and how he met his wife?[9:06] Are his kids back to school?[10:59] Decision to start a family[12:34] Work/life balance[15:27] Support network[17:23] Separation of “church and state”[19:58] Earliest memory after becoming a father?[22:43] Dads and emotions[24:11] Putting kids before yourself[26:37] Surprising aspect of fatherhood[28:18] Advice for younger Kyle?[29:55] Advice to ignore?[31:29] Fav book to read to kids[32:14] Nature vs. Nurture[33:27] Parenting frameworks[35:29] How Kyle’s parenting style evolved[38:02] Did parenting change you as a manager?[40:53] When do he and his partner not align[44:02] Kid’s relationship to tech[47:42] Mistake as a father?[48:33] Follow along[50:11] Rapid fire—Show references:Jellyfish:https://jellyfish.co/ExactTarget (now Salesforce): https://www.salesforce.com/Lessonly (now Seismic): https://seismic.com/lessonly/OpenView: https://openviewpartners.com/Sam Richard LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-crowell-richard/Sam Richar Twitter: @SamCRichardSpokane, Washington: https://www.visittheusa.com/destination/spokaneIndianapolis, Indiana: https://www.visittheusa.com/destination/indianapolisAnderson University: https://andersonuniversity.edu/Twitter Marketing for Dummies: https://www.amazon.com/Twitter-Marketing-Dummies-Kyle-Lacy/dp/0470930578Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourselfby Erik Deckers & Kyle Lacy: https://www.amazon.com/Branding-Yourself-Social-Reinvent-Biz-Tech/dp/0789749726CodeSweep (now HCL Software): https://www.hcl-software.com/appscan/products/appscan-codesweepFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Orange Theory: https://www.orangetheory.com/en-usGreenlight: https://greenlight.com/Linda Flanagan Episode: youtube.com/watch?v=YLqEX8lZeFIPee pee tee pee: https://www.amazon.com/Peepee-Teepee-Sprinkling-WeeWee-Cellophane/dp/B000NM3DFYWhat to Expect When You’re Expecting: https://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-When-Youre-Expecting/dp/0761187480Boston, MA: https://www.boston.gov/Calvin & Hobbes: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Calvin-Hobbes-Bill-Watterson/dp/1449433251Dogman: https://pilkey.com/series/dog-manGemstone Dragons: https://www.samanthamclark.com/gemstone-dragons/Diary of a Wimpy Kid: https://wimpykid.com/Big Nate: https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Popularity-Nothing-Possibly-Strikes/dp/0062968610Crocs: https://www.crocs.com/Jibbitz: https://www.crocs.com/c/jibbitzJosh & Carla’s Episode: youtube.com/watch?v=YiaE6ZmaOIQNew Balance white shoes: https://www.newbalance.com/men/shoes/all-shoes/Nike: https://www.nike.com/Bush’s beans: https://www.bushbeans.com/en_US/The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/B0C9N2L56X/Apple Vision pro: https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/Tesla: https://www.tesla.com/iPad: https://www.apple.com/ipad/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Diaper Genie: https://diapergenie.com/Colts: https://www.colts.com/Corvette: https://www.chevrolet.com/upcoming-vehicles/2025-corvette-zr1Pink Fong: https://www.pinkfong.com/en/Baby Shark: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNVE4szbMrOZk9IheX8vHbQHome Alone: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099785/Gettysburg: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107007/—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

Kevin Hanaford is an engineering leader at popular chat application, Discord where he oversees security, safety, privacy and platform teams. His career has included companies like Microsoft, PayPal, Amazon, Salesforce, and autonomous vehicle company, Cruise. In addition to his roles at some of the most significant technology companies of the last two decades he’s also a husband and the father of two kids. In our conversation today we discussed:* How his Dad started the local ISP in his home town* How the world of internet safety and trust has shaped his perspective on parenting* Frameworks and principles that he and his wife hold dearly for their family* The relationship he wants his daughters to have with technology* Balancing the demanding, 24/7 job of security with a commitment to his family* His earliest and most surprising memories of becoming a Dad* How he explains to his kids what Dad does for work—Where to find Kevin Hanaford* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinhanaford/* Kevin’s Website: https://kevinhanaford.com/Where to find Adam Fishman* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/—In this episode, we cover:[1:34] Welcome[1:47] How we got connected (thank you Behzod!)[2:37] Kevin’s professional background[4:48] His Dad starts an ISP[6:57] Life now[9:58] Partner’s work[11:09] Decision to start a family[13:57] Earliest memory of becoming a dad[16:44] Most surprising thing since becoming a dad[18:16] Advice for younger Kevin[20:34] Advice to ignore[23:07] Frameworks[28:53] Where do you and your partner not align?[32:38] Kid’s relationship with technology[40:21] Managing job and family[44:28] Explaining to kids what you do for work[45:24] Mistake you have made as a dad[47:51] What is one thing you gave up to be a dad?[51:04] Follow along[52:02] Rapid fire—Show references:Discord:https://discord.com/Microsoft:https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/us/homeAmazon: amazon.comSalesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/Cruise: https://www.getcruise.com/Moonfall Inc: https://moonfallink.com/Sour Patch Kids: https://www.amazon.com/Sour-Patch-Kids-Chewy-Candy/dp/B003EMOPMKInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/Inside Out 2: https://movies.disney.com/inside-out-2TikTok: tiktok.comHalo: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/haloDr. Pepper:https://www.drpepper.com/s/Mtn. Dew: https://www.pepsicopartners.com/pepsico/en/USD/PEPSICO-BRANDS/MTN-DEW%C2%AE/c/brand_mtnDewTopo Chico: https://www.coca-cola.com/us/en/brands/topo-chicoXbox Live: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/liveDestiny: https://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Standard-PlayStation-4/dp/B00BGA9Y3WStardew Valley: https://www.stardewvalley.net/Insulated coffee mugs: https://www.amazon.com/YETI-Stackable-Insulated-Stainless-MagSlider/dp/B0CCJYXC4MNew Balance: https://www.newbalance.com/Vans: https://www.vans.com/en-usBritney Spears: https://britneyspears.com/Oops I Did It Again: youtu.be/CduA0TULnow?si=4MEX39dbqu9C2uOETina Turner: https://www.thetinaturner.com/Taylor Swift: https://www.taylorswift.com/Coco Melon: https://www.netflix.com/title/81273085Star Wars Trilogy: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls052192052/—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

Martin Pannier, a French entrepreneur and founder of Primo, shares his journey of balancing startup life and new fatherhood. He discusses raising a daughter in a multicultural family and the challenges that come with it. Martin stresses the importance of avoiding the over-optimization of parenting and highlights the need to maintain relationships outside the family. He reflects on surprising moments from becoming a dad and the emotional rollercoaster of managing both work and parenthood, all while keeping it light-hearted and relatable.

Linda Flanagan, a freelance journalist, former coach, and author of 'Take Back The Game', discusses the troubling trends in youth sports today. She shares insights on the growing obsession with performance fueled by money and high stakes, and the impact of NIL on young athletes. Flanagan emphasizes the importance of joy in sports, advocating for a multi-sport approach and community-driven initiatives. She also reflects on parenting dynamics, urging parents to support their children's interests without succumbing to competitiveness.

Rob Schutz, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Ro, shares insights on balancing fatherhood with his impressive career. He discusses the importance of modeling kindness and respect for his kids, reflecting on emotional challenges in early parenting. With humor, Rob reveals surprising lessons learned and highlights the need for adaptable parenting strategies. He also contrasts his desires for his children's relationship with technology, emphasizing the proactive management of social media exposure. Get ready for relatable anecdotes and thoughtful reflections!

In this conversation, Adam Nash, a Silicon Valley executive, investor, and dad of four, shares insights on raising financially literate kids and navigating family finances. He dives into the importance of teaching kids about philanthropy and charitable giving. Adam discusses the challenges of starting a company as a parent while balancing career ambitions with family life. He emphasizes open communication about money within families and reflects on the unique strengths parents can bring to both home and work. It's a mix of practical advice and relatable parenting humor!