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 kids

Where 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/B01M0V474Y

Baby sock monitor (Owlet): https://owletcare.com/products/owlet-dream-sock

Pixar: 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.com

Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at

http://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 kids

Where 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-20352800

Children’s Creativity Museum: https://creativity.org/

Ms. Rachel: https://www.youtube.com/@msrachel

Coco Melon: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbCmjCuTUZos6Inko4u57UQ

Spring is here (Bear and Mole Series) by Will Hillenbrand: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spring-is-here-will-hillenbrand/1103442878

Baby 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.com

Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at

http://www.armaziproductions.com/

Brian Holt is Staff Product Manager at Neon and has been a VP of Product and product leader at companies like SQLite Cloud, Snowflake, Stripe and Microsoft. He was also an engineer at both Netflix and Reddit where he was one of the earliest employees. He’s a husband and the father of one son and brand new daughter. We discussed:

* Preparing for the arrival of your 2nd kid

* The importance of being a “whole person” and why that makes you a better parent and partner

* Living a nomadic lifestyle with a toddler and the importance of routine

* The overwhelming amount of conflicting parenting advice

* The “third person” support system

* His deep and unending love for the Snoo

* The magic of magnetic snap baby clothes

—

Where to find Brian Holt

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btholt/

* X: https://x.com/holtbt

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

[2:41] Brian’s Professional background

[3:42] Childhood

[7:08] Family now

[8:05] Advice to those choosing travel or having children

[9:42] Preparing older children for new siblings

[15:07] Nomadic living

[20:52] Most surprising things as a dad

[22:49] Advice to younger Brian and what to ignore

[26:55] Balance

[30:49] Anything Brian gave up to have kids

[33:05] Favorite book to read to his son

[34:12] Partnership

[37:05] Kid’s relationship with tech

[41:40] Mistake as a dad

[42:51] Repressed memories

[45:12] Recharge batteries

[49:20] Follow along

[49:59] Lightning round

[1:02:45] Thank you

—

Show references:

Neon: https://neon.tech/

SQLite Cloud: https://sqlitecloud.io/

Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/en/

Stripe: https://stripe.com/

Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/

Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/?rdt=54182

Snoo: https://www.happiestbaby.com/products/snoo-smart-bassinet

Magnetic Me: https://magneticme.com/

Helena, Montana: https://www.helenamt.gov/Home

Salt Lake City, Utah: https://www.visitsaltlake.com/

Disneyland: https://disneyland.disney.go.com

Home Alone: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099785/

Ikon Pass: https://www.ikonpass.com/

Kit Fisto: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Kit_FistoStar Wars Phantom Menace: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120915/

ChatGPT: chatgpt.com

ABCs of Star Wars: https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-ABC-Scholastic/dp/0545227380

Star Wars colors: https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Colors-Board-Books/dp/0545609194

1 - 2 -3 - Magic: https://www.123magic.com/

Gameboy:https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-History/Game-Boy/Game-Boy-627031.html

Nintendo 64: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/nintendo-64-nintendo-switch-online-switch/

IBM: https://www.ibm.com

Sacramento A’s: https://www.mlb.com/athletics/sacramento

iPad: https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-ipad

Utah Jazz: https://www.nba.com/jazz

Kings: https://www.nba.com/kings

Paw Patrol Show: https://www.pawpatrollive.com

Owlet: https://owletcare.com

AirPod: https://www.apple.com/airpods

Barney: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144701

Paw Patrol: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3121722

YouTube Kids: https://www.youtubekids.com

Sonic The Hedgehog: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3794354

Super Mario: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6718170

Tron Legacy: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104001

Tommy Boy: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114694

Happy Gilmore: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116483

—

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/

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 seriously

Where 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.app

GoFundMe: 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-us

Patagonia: 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_Productions

Judd 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.com

Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at

http://www.armaziproductions.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 Dad

Where 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-oster

Winnie: 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 Children

by Alison Gopnik: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gardener-and-the-carpenter-alison-gopnik/1122824922

I Am a Bunny by Ole Risom, Richard Scarry (Illustrator): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-a-bunny-ole-risom/1100058404

Detective Beans: and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/detective-beans-li-chen/1144786389

Jonathan 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.com

Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at

http://www.armaziproductions.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_ZQ

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:

[1:49] 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/csharpfritz

Microsoft: 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/X7EeM9ig1Wv9k9ayG9KZM

Visual 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-US

Rocky: 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