Startup Dad

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

Daniel Borok is a Managing Partner at nvp capital, an early-stage venture firm investing in founders building the next generation of vertical AI companies. With a focus on B2B applications, Dan spends his days meeting visionary entrepreneurs, making high-conviction bets at the pre-seed and seed stages, and helping early teams build durable companies. Before nvp, he held operating and investing roles across finance and tech, giving him a sharp eye for both product-market fit and founder grit.But Dan’s most demanding portfolio companies might be his two young kids. He and his wife, Abby, a real estate investor, are raising their family in Manhattan’s West Village, just blocks from where he grew up. Whether he’s sprinting to catch the school bus, navigating dual-career logistics, or caddying for his daughter in junior golf tournaments, Daniel brings the same thoughtful, systems-driven mindset to parenting as he does to investing. We discussed:Why mornings are sacred: How Daniel and his wife start every day as a family, despite their busy careers.Balancing careers and family: From nannies to grandparent backup, Dan shares how they manage the scheduling puzzle.Letting kids fail on the golf course: Dan reflects on caddying for his daughter and learning to let go of control.Raising kids in New York City: Why Dan believes the city is one of the best places for kids to grow up.The importance of practice at work and home: Lessons from sports that translate into career and parenting growth.Why he tracks family time like OKRs: Dan shares the analog system he uses to ensure he’s prioritizing what matters most.Where to find Daniel BorokLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dborok/ X: https://x.com/danielborokWhere 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 Daniel Borok, Managing Partner at nvp capital(02:10) Balancing two careers in a dual-working household(04:35) How the family manages childcare and travel schedules(07:10) Starting a family later in life(08:45) Raising kids in Manhattan vs. the suburbs(14:40) The family’s big sports focus and weekend logistics(17:34) Dan’s experience as his daughter’s golf caddy(20:12) Most surprising parts of parenting(23:43) How Dan thinks about tech exposure for his kids(26:26) Using a weekly checklist like OKRs for parenting(30:35) How he uses AI to reflect on weekly habits(35:01) How he uses AI tools with his kids(37:39) Helping kids discover their passions(39:31) Applying sports practice frameworks to venture investing(42:03) Lightning round: walkie-talkies, golf tees, dishwasher chaosResources From This Episode:nvp capital: https://nvpcap.com/ The Disengaged Teen (Book by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop): https://www.thedisengagedteen.com/ Training a Tiger (Book by Earl Woods): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/546636.Training_a_Tiger Atomic Habits (Book by James Clear): https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (TV Show): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063950/ Bunk’d (TV Show): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4591680/ The Goonies (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089218/ iPad: https://www.apple.com/ph/ipad/ —Support Startup DadFor sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected] Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

Oji Udezue is an AI Product Expert at ProductMind, and a veteran product leader with more than 25 years of experience across Typeform, Twitter, Calendly, Atlassian, Bridgewater, and Microsoft. He’s known for his deep thinking on product craft, leadership, and the future of work. He’s also the co-author (with his wife, Ezinne Udezue)  of Building Rocket Ships, a guide for builders and operators navigating high-stakes decision-making in fast-moving environments.In this episode, we explore Oji’s philosophy on parenting through the lens of resilience, how it’s shaped, why it matters, and the role adversity plays in preparing kids for the real world. Oji shares a perspective informed by his multicultural upbringing, his frameworks for fostering independence, and the intentional choices he and his wife have made while raising two teenagers in a dual-career household. We discussed:Building resilience: What resilience means to Oji and why discomfort and challenge are essential for kids.Independence through decisions: How his 10,000-hour framework helps kids practice choice-making and responsibility.Learning through mistakes: Why micro-failures matter and how parents can stop rescuing children from small consequences.Kids as expanders: How children rise to expectations and adapt when treated as capable from an early age.Shepherding, not owning: Why parents should guide their kids’ path rather than shape them as extensions of themselves.Balancing careers and family: How he and his wife navigate dual careers and maintain steady routines and connections.Where to find Oji UdezueLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ojiudezue/ X: https://x.com/ojiudezueWebsite: https://www.productmind.co/Where 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 Oji Udezue(03:12) Starting a family while holding high-pressure, fast-growing careers(05:26) Early parenting years: maintaining identity and bringing kids into adult life(07:16) Defining resilience and why modern parenting often gets it wrong(10:45) The 10,000 hours of independent decisions framework(13:16) Lessons from Nigerian boarding school and developing early autonomy(17:15) Letting kids fail safely: micro-failures, consequences, and growth(19:51) Evaluating resilience through reactions under pressure(22:31) Kids and career visibility: why children don’t care what you do for work(24:27) Individuation: why Oji’s teens want their own paths, not his(26:21) Rituals, routines, and staying connected in a dual-career household(28:13) Advice for new parents: clarity of purpose, instinct, and overcoming fear(31:17) Core parenting frameworks: oxygen mask, expanders, and shepherds(43:10) AI, technology, and raising creative lateral thinkers in a changing world(50:19) Lightning round: humor, parenting quirks, and closing reflectionsResources From This Episode:Building Rocket Ships (Book by Oji Udezue & Ezinne Udezue): https://a.co/d/0nMe2WM  ProductMind (Substack Newsletter): https://productmind.substack.com/ ProductMind.co (Website): https://productmind.co/ Lenny’s Podcast (Episode featuring Oji & Ezinne): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-ai-is-reshaping-the-product-roleThe Time Machine (Book by H.G. Wells): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2493.The_Time_MachineTypeform: https://www.typeform.com/Calendly: https://calendly.com/Atlassian: https://www.atlassian.com/Bridgewater Associates: https://www.bridgewater.com/Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/Amazon Echo: https://www.amazon.com/echo Big Hero 6 (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/—Support Startup DadFor sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected] Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

Allison Daminger is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she specializes in gender, family dynamics, and social inequality. She’s also the author of What’s on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life, which explores the often invisible cognitive labor that drives the daily operations of households.In this episode, we talk about the concept of cognitive labor, how it’s defined, why it’s disproportionately placed on women in heterosexual partnerships, and the emotional and mental toll it takes. Allison shares insights from her years of research, including interviews with over 170 individuals in diverse family structures, shedding light on how cognitive labor impacts both professional and personal lives. We discussed:What is Mental Load and Cognitive Labor: Defining and explaining these concepts and her research.Understanding cognitive labor: How the mental work of anticipating needs, making decisions, and following through often falls disproportionately on women.Real-world examples: The everyday household tasks where cognitive labor shows up and how couples can divide this invisible work more equally.The Superhuman and The Bumbler: How gendered expectations shape household dynamics, with women often taking on the “Superhuman” role and men the “Bumbler” role.Breaking the mental load myth: Why cognitive labor isn’t about personality traits but about societal pressures and norms that influence how responsibilities are shared at home.Strategies for rebalancing: Practical ways couples can collaborate on household responsibilities, including setting up routines, improving communication, and managing expectations.Where to find Allison DamingerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisondaminger/ Website: https://www.allisondaminger.com/Substack: https://allisondaminger.substack.com/Where 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 Allison Daminger, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison(02:44) Defining cognitive labor in the home and workplace(04:27) Real-life examples of cognitive labor(07:56) The invisible mental load: What it means for parents(13:42) Research on cognitive labor and family dynamics(19:53) Household dynamics and gender roles in domestic labor(26:01) Rationalizing the imbalance in cognitive labor at home(46:56) Exploring gender roles in household leadership(48:11) Motherhood and cognitive labor: The unseen work(48:43) Ideologies vs realities of balanced households(49:15) Career dynamics and household roles: The juggling act(49:54) Challenges in achieving cognitive labor equality(55:04) Balanced households: Structures for satisfaction(01:15:36) Personal insights and reflections on cognitive labor(01:27:47) Lightning Round: Final Thoughts and Quick TipsResources From This Episode:What's On Her Mind (Book by Allison Daminger): https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Her-Mind-Mental-Workload/dp/069124538X The Daminger Dispatch (Newsletter): https://allisondaminger.substack.com/ The Second Shift (Book by Arlie Hochschild): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51848.The_Second_Shift Fair Play (Book by Eve Rodsky): https://www.amazon.com/Fair-Play-Game-Changing-Solution-When/dp/0525541942 Love To Dream Swaddle: https://lovetodream.com/ The Little Mermaid: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097757/ University of Wisconsin, Madison: https://www.wisc.edu/NYT Wirecutter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/gifts/—Support Startup DadFor sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected] Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

Jamie Nacht is the co-founder and CEO of Havium, a company he built from the ground up with his wife and co-founder, Cristin. Together, they’re raising two young kids while juggling the nonstop realities of startup life, marriage, and modern parenting, all as a fully integrated team.In this episode, Jamie shares his honest and often hilarious take on building a company with your spouse, creating parenting systems that actually work, and why sometimes the best way to help your kid process big emotions is to scream right along with them. We discussed: The value of routines and structure: How simple systems like Pizza Friday and bedtime rituals help reduce friction and create predictability for young kids.Why “screaming it out” works: Jamie shares how he defuses tantrums by yelling alongside his kids, helping them process their emotions without shame.Teaching negotiation and responsibility: From chore taxes to bedtime story debates, Jamie’s approach helps his kids understand how the world really works.Practicing perspective as a parenting superpower: Whether it’s a hard week at work or spilled art projects, Jamie explains how he reframes moments to build resilience.“Anything is possible” parenting: How Jamie’s confidence borders on delusional (his wife’s words), and why he’s intentionally passing that belief on to his kids.Where to find Jamie NachtLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamienacht/ Website: https://havium.com/Where 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 Jamie Nacht, co-founder and CEO of Havium(01:56) Building a startup with your spouse while raising kids(06:58) Parenting frameworks that actually work(07:05) Why perspective is Jamie’s superpower(09:32) How much of your kid’s personality is already baked in(15:06) Pretending to be a mermaid changed my parenting(27:51) Teaching negotiation and real-world responsibility(33:34) Your kids hear everything (even when you think they don’t)(35:57) The rule we use for yelling in our house(37:25) Giving kids tech that’s just annoying enough(40:04) Using AI to make custom coloring books for your kids(42:51) Why my in-laws moved 5 minutes away(48:09) The bond with your kid doesn’t always start right away(51:58) What I hope my kids learn from me(56:35) Lightning Round: Must-haves, Laughs, and Dad hacksResources From This Episode:Havium: https://havium.com/Do Not Ring Doorbell Sign: https://a.co/d/4AK9A3j Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet: https://a.co/d/glUlvO5 Bluey (TV Show): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7678620/ Sword In The Stone (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057546/ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091042/ The Little Mermaid: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5971474/Migration: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6495056/?ref_=fn_t_1Kia EV: https://www.kia.com/us/en/ev—Support Startup DadFor sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected] Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com