Startup Dad

• Why Working Parents Are Assets, Not Liabilities | Alex Egeler (Dad of 4, Empathic Egg)

  Alex Egeler is a former engineering executive turned parent career coach. He’s also a father of four boys, a husband, and a stay-at-home dad who helps other working parents navigate meaningful careers that support, not strain their families. In this episode, Alex opens up about the unpredictable reality of parenting, the generational mental health patterns he’s determined to break, and how becoming a dad transformed how he views success. We discussed:Letting go of the career script: How Alex’s first paternity leave revealed the emptiness of his “perfect job” and led him to walk away, and how each child helped him rewrite what meaningful work really looks like.Undoing generational pressure: Why the deaths of Alex’s father and grandfather pushed him to question everything he believed about work, identity, and what it means to be a good dad.Parenting with emotional honesty: Alex shares how he learned to show all emotions and not just the “good” ones, and how that shift helped his kids build trust, empathy, and resilience.Supporting a child with bipolar disorder: Why Alex and his wife approach parenting as a tag team, how they talk openly about mental health with their 12-year-old son, and what they’ve learned about showing up differently in crisis vs. calm.Building flexible careers for parents: How Alex coaches other working parents to question old assumptions, set realistic job goals, and own their value in the job market — especially in roles that support both career and caregiving.Where to find Alex EgelerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-egeler-empathic-egg/ Empathic Egg: https://www.empathicegg.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 Alex Egeler(02:10) How becoming a dad reshaped Alex’s career path(05:08) The false promise of boundaries between work and family(09:12) When Alex realized his job wasn’t meaningful anymore(12:06) Four generations of men and mental health struggles(16:15) Grieving his father through the eyes of his own son(20:20) How Alex and his wife talk about depression with their child(24:05) The invisible support team behind every successful parent(27:15) Why stepping back from work was harder emotionally than socially(31:00) Parenting four boys including surprise twins(34:30) The sibling dynamics that no one prepares you for(38:15) Teaching emotional regulation to young kids(44:30) Using Dr. Becky’s “Good Inside” framework in daily life(54:40) The power of reframing parenting as support, not punishment(01:03:00) Lightning round: must-haves, mindsets, and momentsShow references:Inside Out: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673/Batteries Not Included: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/ ‘Alex’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-egeler-empathic-egg/Stanford: https://www.stanford.edu/Fibonacci Sequence: https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fibonacci-sequence.htmlGood Inside, Dr. Becky: https://www.goodinside.com/Company of Dads/Paul Sullivan: https://thecompanyofdads.com/Paul Sullivan’s Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJSbH8uydFoMidjourney: https://www.midjourney.com/homeChatGPT.comIf I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-i-built-a-house-chris-van-dusen/1109327478Caillou: https://en.caillou.com/—For sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected] Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

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• The Portfolio Career That Made Him a Better Parent | Ben Erez (Dad of 1, PM Coach/Product Advisor)

  Ben Erez is a former founder and product leader turned solopreneur and instructor. He teaches a popular Maven course for aspiring product managers, hosts the podcast Supra Insider, and is a proud girl dad living in Brooklyn. In this episode, Ben shares what it’s like raising a daughter while building a portfolio career on his own terms. We discussed:How solo parenting can feel easier: Why Ben finds weekday solo parenting less stressful than co-parenting, and how clarity in routine helps him stay grounded.Making the leap to fatherhood: The pros and cons exercise Ben used to think through becoming a parent and what ultimately pushed him to take the leap.What makes a portfolio career work: How Ben structures his time across fractional work, teaching, building an AI product, and podcasting without feeling overwhelmed.Structure as a path to freedom: Why routines have become essential for Ben and how they help him stay present, productive, and connected to his family.Handling disagreements as partners: Ben reflects on navigating different parenting styles with his wife and how they’ve built a process for staying aligned.Creating connection through community: How a local dad group gave Ben a deeper sense of belonging and why it’s made parenting feel a little less isolating.Where to find Ben ErezLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/ X: https://x.com/viableben 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 Ben Erez(01:12) Raising a toddler and golden retriever(04:29) Experiencing the magic of girl dad life(08:42) Building a sustainable portfolio career(14:56) Rethinking job security as a solopreneur(18:35) The pros and cons of having kids(22:36) Discovering the ease of solo parenting(27:31) Why weekends feel less flexible now(30:02) Feeling at home while traveling with kids(34:28) Bedtime routines that actually work(38:20) Handling disagreements with your partner(42:22) How a dad group changed everything(47:47) Navigating screen time and tech exposure(53:08) Lightning round: morning vs. evening routinesShow references:YouTube Kids: https://www.youtubekids.com/iPad: https://www.apple.com/Perplexity.ai: https://www.perplexity.ai/Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/Sound Machine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE?th=1Table top changing pad: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KHD615KUnspeakable: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwIWAbIeu0xI0ReKWOcw3egBlippi: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5PYHgAzJ1wLEidB58SK6XwMoana: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3521164/Ghostbusters: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087332/Porsche: https://www.porsche.com/usa/—For sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected] Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

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• Me, Me, and We Nights: Keeping Identity as Parents | Jeff Okita & Jamie Lee (Parents of 1, Tilt & JME Labs)

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

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• This Founder Started A Company To Save His Son's Life | David Apple (Dad of 2, Shark Tooth Biotech)

  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 [email protected] the show -  For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

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• Juggling Startup Life and Single Parenting | Alex Medick (Dad of 2, TensorWave)

  Alex Medick is the Director of Marketing at TensorWave, an AI infrastructure company. Prior to this role, he served as the President and Chief Marketing Officer of Inside.com. He’s also a single dad to two kids, a son and a daughter, navigating the challenges of parenting while leading in the startup world.  We discussed:- Balancing parenting with startup demands: How Alex manages being the primary parent while navigating the challenges of working at a fast-paced startup.- Communicating with kids during a separation: The approach Alex took to talk to his young children about his separation and how it affected them.- Unexpected fulfillment from fatherhood: How becoming a dad has brought a deeper sense of fulfillment and perspective to Alex’s life.- Giving yourself grace as a parent: Why Alex’s motto is to give yourself grace, especially during the hectic and overwhelming times.- The “sucky” moments that create lasting memories: Alex shares how saying yes to the challenging moments, like chaotic travel and events, leads to some of the most memorable experiences.- Old school parenting in modern times: Alex talks about his approach to parenting, influenced by older generations, and why he believes kids need more structure and less coddling.Where to find Alex MedickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajmedick/  X: https://x.com/ajmedickTensorWave: https://tensorwave.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 Alex Medick(02:10) Balancing parenting with startup life(03:15) Talking to kids about separation(08:15) Unexpected fulfillment from fatherhood(10:06) Giving yourself grace and embracing imperfection(16:20) Old school parenting in modern times(19:31) Hospital quarantine story and new perspective(22:28) Travel chaos, flight disasters, and survival tips(33:29) Raising kids with tech: balance needed(36:03) Empathy and life principles guiding Alex(39:50) Lightning round: must-haves and parenting quirksShow references:YouTube Kids: https://www.youtubekids.com/iPad: https://www.apple.com/Perplexity.ai: https://www.perplexity.ai/Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/Sound Machine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE?th=1Table top changing pad: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KHD615KUnspeakable: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwIWAbIeu0xI0ReKWOcw3egBlippi: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5PYHgAzJ1wLEidB58SK6XwMoana: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3521164/Ghostbusters: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087332/Porsche: https://www.porsche.com/usa/—For sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected] Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

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