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Startup Dad

Startup Dad

By: Adam Fishman
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 Adam Fishman (author of a top business newsletter on Substack with 11K+ subscribers) interviews executives, entrepreneurs, and company leaders in technology companies who are also fathers. They discuss the tough aspects of work, parenting, family, the mistakes made and lessons learned along the way. All episodes at www.startupdadpod.com.Adam Fishman Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • Finding Peace in the Dopamine Desert | Dr. Emilio Galán (Dad of 2, Founder turned Stay-At-Home-Dad)

    Finding Peace in the Dopamine Desert | Dr. Emilio Galán (Dad of 2, Founder turned Stay-At-Home-Dad)
    Jan 29 2026
    Dr. Emilio Galán is a former medical student, entrepreneur, and now a full-time stay-at-home dad. He took a drastic turn in his career, moving from building a successful AI-driven company to focusing on family life after stepping away from the startup world. Dr. Galán shares how he navigated autoimmune health challenges, the difficult decision to leave his medical career behind, and the challenges of being a stay-at-home parent to his young children. We discussed:The pivot from entrepreneurship to fatherhood: Dr. Emilio Galán’s decision to leave his startup career behind and become a stay-at-home dad after stepping away from his company.Balancing health challenges with career demands: How Dr. Galán manages four autoimmune conditions and the toll his previous career took on his body.Building a family-first life: The struggles and rewards of becoming a full-time parent to two young children and how this shift allowed him to reconnect with his family.The philosophy of “Wipe the Butt”: Dr. Galán explains his approach to parenting, teaching responsibility, and maintaining boundaries while staying emotionally available to his kids.Finding contentment in the "dopamine desert": How Dr. Galán adjusted to life without the constant hustle of the startup world and learned to find joy in small, everyday moments.Self-care as a priority: How Dr. Galán incorporates practices like flexibility exercises and the Happy Body method to manage his physical and mental well-being while raising his kids.Where to find Dr. Emilio GalánLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliogalan/ X: https://x.com/emilio_galanWhere to find Adam FishmanFishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Welcome Dr. Emilio Galán, former co-founder of Robin Healthcare, now a stay at home dad(03:03) Early life and aspirations of becoming a doctor(06:12) The struggles and realities of medical school(09:04) Founding Robin: the start of his entrepreneurial journey(12:51) Transitioning from startup life to stay-at-home dad(17:26) Finding balance: self-care, family, and health(21:16) Navigating parenthood, resentment, and expectations(31:51) Advice for founders who are parents(37:43) The long-awaited family project: creating meaningful work(38:49) Understanding emotions, needs, and communication(39:34) Creative expression and setting requests in parenting(42:21) Celebrating personal growth and change as a dad(43:55) Contrarian take: why shyness doesn’t exist(47:08) Contrarian take: the “Wipe the Butt” philosophy(50:51) The taco episode: a parenting breakdown moment(58:21) Lightning round: parenting insights and funny dad momentsResources From This Episode:The Happy Body Method: https://thehappybody.com/the-happy-body-program/ Jordan Peterson: https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/Gabor Maté: https://drgabormate.com/Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: https://www.selfleadership.org/Nonviolent Communication: https://www.cnvc.org/Alexa: https://alexa.amazon.com/Google Home: https://store.google.com/us/product/google_home Land Before Time (Fil): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100507/Jumanji (1995) (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113497/Dead Poets Society (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/Patch Adams (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129290/Frida Baby (Butt Frida): https://www.fridababy.com/products/windi-the-wind-reliever Frida Baby (Nose Frida): https://www.fridababy.com/products/nosefrida-the-snot-sucker —Support Startup DadFor sponsorship inquiries, email: podcast@fishmana.com.For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Homeschooling My Kids Across 21 Countries | Michael Goodbody (Dad of 2, Robinhood)

    Homeschooling My Kids Across 21 Countries | Michael Goodbody (Dad of 2, Robinhood)
    Jan 22 2026
    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 GoodbodyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoodbody/ Twitter: https://x.com/mcgunomeWhere to find Adam FishmanFishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 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 skillsResources 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/ —Support Startup DadFor sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Founding A Company As A Single Dad | Andrew Song (Dad of 2, Make Sunsets)

    Founding A Company As A Single Dad | Andrew Song (Dad of 2, Make Sunsets)
    Jan 15 2026
    Andrew Song is the co-founder of Make Sunsets, a climate startup working to slow global warming by deploying reflective aerosols in the stratosphere. A longtime startup operator, Andrew has spent his career taking contrarian paths, from early work in AI to now building one of the most debated climate interventions in the world. At Make Sunsets, he focuses on translating complex science into practical action, raising capital through unconventional channels, and pushing forward a mission-driven company designed to buy humanity time as temperatures rise.But Andrew’s most demanding role is being a full-time single dad to his two young sons. After gaining sole custody due to their mother’s struggles with bipolar disorder, Andrew has learned to navigate parenting, entrepreneurship, and mental health advocacy all at once. Living in the Bay Area near extended family, he relies on community, resilience, and regimented prioritization to raise his boys while building a startup on hard mode. We discussed: Why climate change became personal: How Andrew’s motivation to cool the planet is rooted in building a safer future for his kids.Building a startup on hard mode: What it’s like to raise venture capital, run a climate company, and be a full-time single dad at the same time.Navigating mental health and custody: Andrew’s experience gaining sole custody of his sons and why normalizing conversations around mental illness matters.Creating a village of support: How living near family and leaning on community makes single parenting and entrepreneurship possible.Choosing purpose over comfort: Why Andrew believes it’s possible to live modestly in the Bay Area while prioritizing meaningful work.Raising resilient, curious kids: From RV road trips to using AI as a learning tool, how Andrew encourages independence, curiosity, and grit at home.Where to find Andrew SongLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajsong/ Twitter: https://x.com/ASong408Where to find Adam FishmanFishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introducing Andrew Song, co-founder at Make Sunsets(02:25) What Make Sunsets does and why Andrew started the company(04:05) How reflective aerosols work to cool the planet(07:01) Funding climate tech through individual “climate dads”(09:04) From AI to climate intervention: Andrew’s unconventional career path(10:49) Almost becoming a Catholic priest and choosing fatherhood instead(13:27) Gaining sole custody and navigating parenting amid mental illness(17:36) Explaining a parent’s absence to young children with honesty(19:28) The isolation of being a single-dad-founder and seeking community(20:47) Building a startup while raising two kids alone(23:24) Living modestly in the Bay Area on a startup salary(30:06) Relying on family support and rebuilding the “village”(35:55) Traveling the West Coast in an RV with toddlers(45:37) Lightning round: Legos, road trips, AI, and minivansResources From This Episode:Make Sunsets: https://www.makesunsets.com/Termination Shock - Neal Stephenson: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57094295-termination-shockTerraform Industries: https://www.terraformindustries.com/Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/Sora: https://openai.com/soraAlva Learning App (Educational app used by Andrew’s kids): https://www.alvalearning.com/Scale AI: https://scale.com/Monarch Money (Personal finance app Andrew references): https://www.monarchmoney.com/World Book Encyclopedia: https://www.worldbook.com/Doom: https://doom.com/Pinocchio: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1488589/Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/Joshua Tree National Park: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htmiPad: https://www.apple.com/ipad/—Support Startup DadFor sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com
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    53 mins
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