Startup Dad

Jason Smith is the Co-Founder and CEO of Klue, an AI-powered competitive intelligence platform. He’s a five-time startup founder, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and a father of two daughters. But his most transformative experience wasn’t raising capital or scaling companies. It was stepping away from it all to travel the world with his wife and kids.
When his daughters were just 8 and 9, Jason and his wife quit their jobs, pulled the kids out of school, and spent a full year traveling across 11 countries. We discussed:
Leaving work to reconnect: What prompted Jason to walk away from startup life and plan a year-long trip around the world with his wife and two daughters.
When things go wrong: Why Jason believes travel disasters make the best family memories and how they used setbacks to teach adaptability and problem-solving.
Building deep connections off-grid: How spending 24/7 together changed their family dynamic, from independent dinners to hard conversations.
Teaching self-reliance through discomfort: Jason shares his philosophy on preparing kids for the real world and why he sees challenge as essential, not optional.
From startup grind to dad mode: The binary approach Jason takes to work and parenting, and why he believes being all-in matters more than balance.
How his daughters see him now: Why watching their dad work hard, and then totally disconnect, influenced how his kids think about careers, failure, and ambition.

Where to find Jason Smith
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onemoresmith/  

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:
(00:00) Welcoming Jason Smith, Co-Founder and CEO at Klue
(01:09) What sparked a year-long trip around the world
(02:21) How planning the journey went from 6 weeks to 12 months
(05:08) The wild story of renting their house before quitting their jobs
(06:33) Early travel struggles and breakthrough moments
(09:54) Teaching kids on the road and bringing learning to life
(12:48) Volunteering in Peru and breaking the privilege bubble
(17:03) Favorite travel memories and embracing the unexpected
(24:51) Why real connection takes getting off the grid
(36:17) How his daughters see startups and business now
(39:35) Navigating AI and the new rules of work
(41:15) Building resilience by leaning into hard things
(46:27) United front parenting and avoiding the ‘ask mom, ask dad’ trap
(48:26) How the parent-child relationship evolves over 20 years
(51:44) Teaching work ethic and financial independence
(01:00:49) Lightning round: parenting quirks, movie picks, and minivan takes

Resources From This Episode:

Klue: https://klue.com/ 
Jason’s Travel Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1vMnTDHe6c 
One More Smith (Jason’s Blog): https://onemoresmith.com/ 
Jolly Jumper: https://jollyjumper.com/ 
The Matrix (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/ 
Frozen (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/ 

Support Startup Dad

For sponsorship inquiries, email: [email protected].
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

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 Galán
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliogalan/ 
X: https://x.com/emilio_galan

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:
(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 moments

Resources 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 
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Support Startup Dad

For sponsorship inquiries, email: [email protected].
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

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 Goodbody
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoodbody/ 
Twitter: https://x.com/mcgunome

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:
(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 skills

Resources 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/ 
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Support Startup Dad

For sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected].
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

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 Song
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajsong/ 
Twitter: https://x.com/ASong408

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:
(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 minivans

Resources From This Episode:

Make Sunsets: https://www.makesunsets.com/
Termination Shock - Neal Stephenson: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57094295-termination-shock
Terraform 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/sora
Alva 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.htm
iPad: https://www.apple.com/ipad/

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Support Startup Dad

For sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected].
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

This special episode looks back at the most powerful moments from Startup Dad in 2025. Host Adam Fishman reflects on a year of raw, honest conversations with 46 founders, operators, and leaders who are also Dads (and sometimes, Moms) navigating the chaos of startup life while raising families.
From redefining balance and sharing mental load to leading through crises and building parenting systems that actually work, this episode captures the hard-earned wisdom from a community trying to do both: build companies and raise kids without losing their minds. We discussed: 
What balance really means: Why Startup Dad guests reject work-life balance in favor of integration, trade-offs, and showing up fully wherever they are.
Systems that protect what matters: From calendar blocks to structured rituals, the frameworks Dads use to stay present and sane.
Raising resilient kids: Why letting kids fail, struggle, and make decisions is key to building confidence and grit.
Mental load and invisible work: How Dads are learning to share not just chores, but the cognitive labor of running a household – and how far we still have to go.
Building true partnerships: What it takes to communicate clearly, divide responsibilities, and support each other in parenting and work.
Letting kids lead: From college choices to daily decisions; why modern fatherhood means preparing kids to own their path.

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:
(00:00) Startup Dad’s biggest year yet and what’s coming next
(02:12) Why balance is a myth and integration is the goal
(09:23) Letting kids struggle so they grow stronger
(13:54) When everything falls apart and you keep going anyway
(21:55) What it really means to be the lead parent
(25:41) The invisible work that’s burning parents out
(30:05) Tech boundaries that actually work at home
(37:37) Guardrails for parenting when you’re tired and overwhelmed
(44:31) Becoming a dad doesn’t happen all at once
(47:05) Helping your kid own their journey after high school
(50:09) Making marriage and startups work at the same time
(52:10) Why you need a village (even if it’s a group chat)

Support Startup Dad

For sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected].
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com