Matt Korn is a Partner at Pierson Ferdinand LLP and the founder of Dad, Esquire, an online community dedicated to supporting fatherhood within the legal profession. He built the community after spending years in Big Law, navigating the demanding culture of corporate legal practice while striving to be an emotionally present father to his four children.

He’s married to Haley, and together they are raising four kids; three biological sons and one adopted daughter. His parenting journey has included managing extreme sleep deprivation to build his practice, navigating a powerful wake-up call about work-life balance from his wife, expanding their definition of family through an emergency domestic adoption, and developing a deeply intentional approach to digital screen boundaries. We discussed:

• The isolation of the legal profession: Why law firm culture makes it particularly difficult for dads to build community and why Matt created Dad Esquire to ensure no father navigates law or parenthood alone.  
• The cost of running on empty: How sleep deprivation became Matt's default strategy for balancing Big Law with a big family, and what that reactionary approach ultimately cost him over time.
• A marital crossroads: The exact moment Matt’s wife told him she felt like a single mom, and how that wake-up call forced him to radically renegotiate his career and prioritize his family.  
• Physical presence vs. emotional presence: Humbling lessons on modern parenting, the reality of screen-time guilt, and how to stay truly engaged when your kids are competing for your attention.
• An unexpected adoption journey: The logistical, financial, and emotional realities of their family's short-notice domestic adoption, and what it taught them about bonding and loving unconditionally.  
• Navigating the digital future at home: How Matt thinks about AI and technology as a tool for his kids' future success.

Where to find Matthew Korn

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewkorn/
• Dad, Esquire: https://dadesq.com/
  
  

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 
• X: https://x.com/fishmanaf
  
  

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Welcoming Matt Korn, Partner at Pierson Ferdinand LLP and Founder of Dad, Esquire

(02:28) Raising four distinct personalities from the same DNA 

(03:39) The isolation crisis among lawyer fathers 

(06:22) The physical and mental toll of chronic sleep deprivation 

(09:58) The wake-up call: When your wife feels like a single mom 

(12:48) Inside Dad, Esquire: Why you shouldn't do law or fatherhood alone 

(19:07) The diverse and unexpected members showing up to community gatherings 

(21:46) Finding a safe space for raw, judgment-free dad chat 

(26:59) Expanding the definition of family: The adoption decision 

(35:39) How a baby girl shifted the all-boy pool dynamic 

(36:47) Navigating a finalized home dynamic, foster care questions, and future biology talks 

(42:24) Career pivots, autonomous big law models, and making it home for dinner 

(47:16) True emotional presence versus zoning out on Minecraft stories 

(51:27) Caleb’s shower confrontation: The phone box reality check 

(54:16) Opening up a child’s eyes to the creative endeavor of Claude and ChatGPT 

(01:01:15) Generational shifts in federal parental leave and providing beyond financial means 

(01:04:45) Rewinding the clock to zero-to-one transitions and ignoring conventional advice 

(01:08:55) Lightning round: Desitin, organized dishwashers, and the truth about minivans

Resources From This Episode:

Dad, Esquire: https://dadesq.com/

Dad, Esquire Merch: https://dadesq.square.site/ 

Lead Dad of the Week (Paul Sullivan on Matt Korn): https://thecompanyofdads.com/why-making-a-difference-at-work-and-in-your-community-matters-matthew-korn/ 

Matthew’s Blog Post about Adoption: https://dadesq.substack.com/p/im-pretty-im-smart-im-specialim-madison 

Desitin: https://www.desitin.com/ 

Heavyweights (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110006/ 

Like Mike (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308506/ 

Moana (2026 Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27419466/ 

The Goonies: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089218/ 

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30825738/ 

—

Support Startup Dad

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

Zach Jaffe is an M&A professional at Create Music Group, where he focuses on independent record label acquisitions. After years in the LA music industry and startup world, Zach became the first in his friend group to have a child, which meant navigating early fatherhood without much of a roadmap or many people around him who could truly relate.

He’s also a dad to one three-year-old daughter and brings a candid, funny, and deeply thoughtful perspective on parenting, work, attention, and what really matters when life gets chaotic. We discussed:

• The first six months are brutal: Why Zach believes the early stage of parenting is harder than most dads expect and why more honest conversations are needed.
• Being first in your friend group to have kids: How Zach navigated isolation, shifting friendships, and a totally new version of availability.
• Parenting through real emergencies: What Zach learned from driving through a storm with a baby and evacuating during the Pasadena and Altadena fires.
• Parenting with ADHD: The systems Zach uses to manage distraction, hyperfocus, reminders, and the everyday chaos of family life.
• Protecting attention at home: Why Zach is intentional about slow media, screen time, and keeping dopamine loops away from his daughter.
• Parenting makes you better at work: How fatherhood made Zach calmer, more empathetic, and more solution-oriented as a colleague and manager.

Where to find Zach Jaffe

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-scott-jaffe/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachscottjaffe/ 

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 
• X: https://x.com/fishmanaf

In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Welcoming Zach Jaffe, Create Music Group
(02:39) The first terrifying moments of becoming a dad
(04:13) Why the first months of parenting are brutally hard
(08:41) Losing your old social life after becoming a parent
(11:41) Building the village before you really need it
(14:10) How fatherhood builds patience and empathy at work
(19:13) Going into survival mode during the LA wildfires
(23:02) Why sleep matters more than startup culture admits
(30:19) Parenting with ADHD and building systems that work
(35:58) Why slow media matters in a fast dopamine world
(40:59) Why Zach keeps AI out of parenting
(42:25) Why creativity needs friction and struggle
(49:31) How parenting makes you better at work
(53:57) Why attention is everything
(01:08:40) Lightning round: butt spatulas, dark clothes, and sensible family cars

Resources From This Episode:

Create Music Group: http://www.createmusicgroup.com 

The Road (Book by Cormac McCarthy): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6288.The_Road 

Waking Up (Meditation App): https://www.wakingup.com/ 

Waking Up (Book by Sam Harris): https://www.samharris.org/books/waking-up 

Baby Diaper Spatula: https://a.co/d/04SZjxQc 

The Muppet Show (TV Series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074028/ 

My Neighbor Totoro (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096283/

Spirited Away (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245429/ 

Star Wars (Films): https://www.imdb.com/list/ls070150896/ 

Alien (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078748/ 

Top Gun: Maverick (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1745960/ 

Honda CR-V (Car): https://automobiles.honda.com/cr-v 

—

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

Jamie Kaler is a former Naval Officer turned actor, stand-up comedian and stay-at-home dad. He is best known for his role on TBS's "My Boys" and decades of work across television and commercials, from Friends and Will & Grace to How I Met Your Mother and The Family Stone. He spent five years as a U.S. Navy officer before moving to LA at 30 with no connections to pursue acting, eventually becoming one of those guys everyone vaguely recognizes but can't quite place.

He's also the father of two daughters, ages 11 and almost 13. When "My Boys" wrapped and his wife's career took off, Jamie stepped back from the road to become the primary caregiver, cooking, driving, coaching soccer, and homeschooling two kids on iPads for 18 months during the pandemic. That experience became the foundation of his stand-up comeback, his viral Soccer Dad persona on Instagram and TikTok, and a whole new chapter in his career at 60. We discussed:

• Becoming a stay-at-home dad at 50: How Jamie walked away from touring after "My Boys" wrapped and became the primary caregiver for two daughters.
• Applying military structure to parenting: Why Jamie runs his household like a ship, schedules, reveille at 6:30, and uniforms during pandemic Zoom school.
• Going viral as Soccer Dad: How a spontaneous sideline rant at his daughter's first club game launched a brand, a T-shirt army, and a touring stand-up act at 60.
• Why sideline parents have lost the plot: Jamie's take on delusional sports parents, the reclassing phenomenon, and why he got red-carded as a coach.
• Stand-up as therapy: How Jamie uses comedy to process fatherhood, and why he now asks his daughters' permission before telling stories about them on stage.
• Raising kids who can talk to people: Why Jamie runs improv and public speaking drills at home, and why he believes verbal communication will be the most valuable skill of the next generation.

Where to find Jamie Kaler

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-kaler-b6143452/ 
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamiekaler/ 
• Web: https://jamiekaler.com/ 
• Who Needs Podcast: https://jamiekaler.com/who-needs/ 

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 
• X: https://x.com/fishmanaf

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Welcoming Jamie Kaler, Actor and Standup Comedian
(02:50) Breaking down Jamie's wild resume: Navy, bartender, improv, and Hollywood
(03:07) Why he pivoted from naval officer to stand-up comedy
(09:22) Moving to LA at 30 with no connections to become an actor
(10:13) What his military family thought about leaving the Navy
(11:27) Becoming famous as "that guy you vaguely recognize"
(15:38) Transitioning from red carpets to stay-at-home dad at 50
(20:04) How he became a stay-at-home dad
(24:23) The most lost he's felt as a dad and his "survive and advance" philosophy
(26:54) The origin story of Soccer Dad going viral
(38:16) Why parents on the sidelines are delusional and the re-classing phenomenon
(38:21) Getting red-carded as a coach and the walk of shame
(42:05) What pulled him back to stand-up and touring again
(01:00:33) Rewatching "My Boys" 20 years later what he remembers (nothing)
(01:04:29) Advice for new dads: accept that you don't know everything
(01:08:28) Lightning round: dishwashers, dad wardrobes, minivans, and Full House

Resources From This Episode:

Who Needs (Podcast by Jamie Kaler & Mike Bunin rewatching "My Boys"): https://jamiekaler.com/who-needs/ 

Flappers Comedy Club (Burbank, CA): https://www.flapperscomedy.com/

Punch Line San Francisco: https://www.punchlinecomedyclub.com/

Homeschooled (Album by Jamie Kaler): https://music.apple.com/us/album/homeschooled/1582539985

Bringing Up Bébé (Book by Pamela Druckerman): https://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Up-Bebe-Pamela-Druckerman/dp/0143122967

Dad Is Fat (Book by Jim Gaffigan): https://www.amazon.com/Dad-Is-Fat-Jim-Gaffigan/dp/1451669747
My Boys (TBS Series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758745/

The Family Stone (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356618/

Full House (Series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092359/

American Housewife (Series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5578850/

Tacoma FD (Series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8242858/

Robot Chicken (Series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437745/

The Loud House (Series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4847782/
Olukai Slippers: https://www.olukai.com/

—

Support Startup Dad

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

Davis Smith is the Founder and Chairman of Cotopaxi, an outdoor gear brand built around fighting poverty and doing good in the world. Before stepping back as CEO after a decade of leading the company, Davis grew Cotopaxi at 85% CAGR into one of the most purpose-driven brands in the outdoor industry. He left and moved with his wife and four kids to be a mission president for his church in Brazil, leading nearly 500 young missionaries from 24 countries over three years.

He's a dad of four, married to his wife who studied family science and served as a court-appointed special advocate for foster children, and together they've raised their kids across Latin America, Brazil, and the United States with a family culture built around service, faith, intellect, travel, and hard work. We discussed:

• Leaving a dream job to serve others: Why Davis walked away from the CEO role at Cotopaxi at the peak of its growth to lead 500 young missionaries in Brazil for three years.
• Building intentional family culture: How Davis and his wife created five core values tied to the letters S-M-I-T-H, complete with rituals, traditions, and a weekly family meeting.
• Values as a compass, not a club: Why family values should guide behavior rather than be used as a weapon when kids fall short.
• Unconditional positive regard: How loving your kids and missionaries no matter what gets better results than demands, disappointment, or conditional approval.
• Raising kids with financial discipline: The Bank of Smith Savings, the 50/40/10 rule, and why Davis matches whatever his kids save by age 16 for a car.
• Letting kids go through hard things: What Davis learned watching his daughter struggle through a mission in the Philippines and why he believes difficulty is essential for growth.

Where to find Davis Smith

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davismsmith/ 

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 
• X: https://x.com/fishmanaf
  
  

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Welcoming Davis Smith, Founder & Chairman at Cotopaxi
(02:37) Why Davis walked away from his dream job as CEO
(05:12) Moving the whole family to Brazil for three years
(07:23) What almost broke him in the first year
(09:36) Why stepping away from comfort at a young age is transformative
(13:53) Survival trips with his daughters and the origin story
(16:18) How Davis built intentional family culture at home
(21:03) Breaking down the SMITH family values
(24:08) Unconditional positive regard and how to lead with love
(28:19) The Bank of Smith Savings and the 50/40/10 rule
(32:06) The most surprising things he's discovered as a dad
(33:32) What the teen years and adult kids have taught him
(38:59) Advice for parents who are building companies
(41:04) Frog Mouse bedtime stories and using AI as a dad
(43:18) Lightning round: smoothies, Back to the Future, and minivans

Resources From This Episode:

Cotopaxi: https://www.cotopaxi.com/

H2O: Just Add Water (TV Series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814976/

Back to the Future (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/

Peace Corps: https://www.peacecorps.gov/

Brigham Young University (BYU): https://www.byu.edu/

—

Support Startup Dad

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

Matt Pasternack is the co-founder and CEO of Once, a science of reading-based software that teaches children ages three to seven how to read. He built the company after watching his wife teach their daughter to read in just 15 minutes a day during the pandemic, and realizing every parent could do the same.

He's also a father of three, with kids ages six, eight, and ten. His parenting journey has included launching a startup while raising young children alongside his wife Becca, an OB-GYN, navigating the demands of her residency with a newborn at home, and developing a deeply intentional approach to raising independent, curious kids. We discussed:

• Building a reading company as a parent: How Matt launched Once during the pandemic while homeschooling his daughter and became his own proof of concept.
• Fixing a broken system from the inside: How years of classroom teaching shaped Matt's belief that schools alone can't solve the reading crisis.
• Keeping startup stress in perspective: Why Matt believes that teaching a child to read matters more than any company milestone he'll ever hit.
• Taking an evidence-based approach at home: How Matt and his wife Becca stay aligned on parenting decisions, from sleep training to screen limits to raising independent kids.
• Letting kids own their own lives: Why Matt believes in giving children real responsibility early, from making their own lunches to managing their own social calendars.
• Choosing books over screens in a distracted world: Why Matt limits devices, teaches reading as a daily ritual, and believes literacy is the greatest gift of independence a parent can give.

Where to find Matt Pasternack

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpasternack/ 
• X: https://x.com/mattpasternack
• Web: https://tryonce.com/

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 
• X: https://x.com/fishmanaf
  
  

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Welcoming Matt Pasternack, Co-founder/CEO of Once
(02:17) What Once is and how it teaches kids to read
(03:00) Is having a doctor spouse a blessing or a curse
(04:14) The three parenting books every new parent needs
(04:49) The Happiest Baby on the Block and the five S’s
(05:31) The Good Sleeper and teaching babies to sleep
(06:10) Oh Crap Potty Training and the one-day method
(08:02) Raising autonomous kids and the Montessori mindset
(12:45) Why where you live is your biggest parenting decision
(18:31) What is the science of reading
(25:46) Why every parent can teach their child to read
(34:00) The US reading crisis and why it hasn’t moved in 50 years
(49:30) Advice for founders starting a family
(52:16) Finding the screen time sweet spot for kids
(01:02:57) Lightning round: diapers, the SNOO, and Magic Tree House

Resources From This Episode:

Once (Reading App): https://tryonce.com/

The Happiest Baby on the Block (Book/Video): https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/happiest-baby-on-the-block

The Good Sleeper (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Good-Sleeper-Essential-Guide-Healthy/dp/0761177582

Oh Crap! Potty Training (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Oh-Crap-Potty-Training-Everything/dp/1501122983

SNOO Smart Bassinet: https://www.happiestbaby.com/products/snoo-smart-bassinet

Tin Can Phone (Toy): https://tincan.kids/ 

Tin Can Founder on Startup Dad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MmdPkMhqe8

Skylight Calendar: https://www.skylightframe.com/

Sold a Story (Podcast): https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/

The Magic Tree House (Book Series): https://www.magictreehouse.com/

Ramona (Book Series): https://www.amazon.com/Ramona-Complete-Collection-Beverly-Cleary/dp/0062228641

Batteries Not Included (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/

—

Support Startup Dad

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

David Reich is the Founder and CEO of Fambot, an AI-powered assistant built to help parents manage the overwhelming admin work that comes with modern family life. Previously, David was President at UnitedMasters, a Director at Uber, and the founder of Assured Labor, a marketplace for blue collar jobs across Latin America.

He’s also a dad of three, married to an executive at Airbnb, and together they’re raising their kids in San Francisco after family chapters in New York and Mexico City. We discussed:

• AI for overwhelmed parents: How AI helps parents cut through the chaos of emails, calendars, newsletters, and family logistics.
• Becoming a parent while building companies: Why David believes you should build life around family instead of waiting for the “perfect” time.
• Making work more human: How bringing kids into the office can build empathy across teams and help children understand their parents’ work.
• Raising kids across cultures: What David learned from parenting in New York, Mexico City, and San Francisco.
• Optimizing for presence: The systems David and his wife use to manage three kids, two demanding careers, and very  limited time.
• Raising tech-ready kids: Why David wants his kids to use technology as a tool while still building independence, empathy, and critical thinking.

Where to find David Reich

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidreich1/ 
• X: https://x.com/David_Reich

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 
• X: https://x.com/fishmanaf
  
  

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Welcoming David Reich, Founder/CEO of Fambot
(02:28) Why David built Fambot
(03:07) How parenting became an admin job
(05:48) Why AI needs to be proactive for parents
(08:23) Solving the two parent inbox problem
(09:39) The chaos of school newsletters
(13:20) What AI still cannot solve for families
(15:11) The future of carpools and community coordination
(17:37) Why life comes before work
(21:21) Becoming a parent while building a company
(25:23) Why kids should spend more time at work
(28:09) Raising kids in New York, Mexico City, and San Francisco
(34:56) Teaching kids global empathy
(38:48) The systems that keep family life moving
(01:04:45) Lightning round: coffee, dad jokes, SpongeBob, and minivans

Resources From This Episode:

Fambot: https://fambot.com/ 

Fambot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fambotai/ 

Coffee Maker: https://a.co/d/0ia6XGaO 

SpongeBob SquarePants (TV Series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206512/ 

Star Wars: A New Hope (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/ 

Percy Jackson & The Olympians (Book Series): https://rickriordan.com/series/percy-jackson-and-the-olympians/ 

The Lightning Thief (Audiobook): https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Lightning-Thief-Audiobook/B002V0JZOO 

—

Support Startup Dad

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

Richard Petts is a Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean of the College of Sciences and Humanities at Ball State University. He’s also the author of Father Involvement and Gender Equality in the United States, a book that explores how fatherhood is viewed today, why dads still aren’t more involved at home, and what it will take to change that.

He’s a husband and father of two kids, ages 13 and 12. Richard’s research has been shaped deeply by his own experience as a dad, including a traumatic month-long NICU stay with his daughter that revealed just how little support exists for fathers during medical crises. We discussed:

• The new fatherhood ideal: Why dads are expected to be more nurturing than previous generations, but still face a very low bar for what “involved” actually means.
• Why dads still default to breadwinning: How cultural expectations keep men focused on work first, even when they want to be more present at home.
• The importance of paternity leave: Why the earliest days of parenting matter so much, and how leave helps dads build competence, confidence, and stronger family bonds.
• What startup founders should know about leave: Why paid parental leave needs to be real, supported by culture, and designed so dads actually feel permission to take it.
• Mental load and cognitive labor: What happens when fathers share more of the planning, managing, and invisible work that keeps a family running.
• Gatekeeping and trust at home: How couples can start small when handing off responsibilities and why delegation is not the same as truly sharing the load.

Where to find Richard Petts

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-j-petts/ 
• X: https://x.com/pettsric
• Website: https://www.richardpetts.com/ 

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 
• X: https://x.com/fishmanaf
  
  

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Welcoming Richard Petts, Associate Dean at Ball State University
(02:47) Why father involvement became personal for Adam
(07:14) The NICU crisis that shaped Richard’s research
(10:21) Why dads are often overlooked in healthcare settings
(15:26) What the new fatherhood ideal actually means
(19:40) Why dads still struggle to be more involved at home
(22:53) Why paternity leave is where parenting really starts
(25:03) How paternity leave strengthens relationships
(27:41) Why dads still fear taking leave
(31:05) How startups should design better parental leave policies
(39:20) Why sharing cognitive labor helps everyone
(42:00) How Richard and Amy split the mental load
(43:24) How couples can fix gatekeeping at home
(50:21) How religion can support father involvement
(01:07:12) Lightning round: sound machines, dishwasher rules, Caillou, and minivans

Resources From This Episode:

Father Involvement and Gender Equality in the United States (Book by Richard Petts): https://www.richardpetts.com/book.html 

Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives (Book by Darby Saxbe): https://a.co/d/07Vd3ih2 

Fatherly: https://www.fatherly.com/

Sound Machine: https://a.co/d/04is55O1 

Indiana Jones (Raiders of The Lost Ark) (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082971/ 

Back to the Future (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/ 

Caillou’s New Adventures (TV Series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0262153/ 

—

Support Startup Dad

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

Ben Norment is the Founder and CEO of Stork Exchange, a company helping parents access high quality baby gear at more affordable prices by working with retailers and manufacturers to resell returned products. He started building the company right as he and his wife, Cyndal, were expecting their first child.

He’s also a father of three, with kids ages five, four, and seven months. His parenting journey has included the chaos of launching a startup while becoming a dad, moving states, and navigating an incredibly difficult NICU experience with his second child. We discussed:

• Starting a parenting company as a new dad: How Ben launched Stork Exchange while expecting his first child and became his own target customer.
• Surviving a traumatic NICU experience: How Ben’s second son’s medical complications and hospital stay changed his view of parenting.
• Keeping startup stress in perspective: Why performing CPR on his infant son made company problems feel more manageable.
• Taking a team first approach at home: How Ben and his wife stay aligned, support each other, and avoid being pitted against each other.
• Letting kids be bored: Why Ben believes boredom builds creativity, independence, and imagination.
• Choosing analog parenting in a tech heavy world: Why Ben limits screens, avoids outsourcing parenting to AI, and wants childhood to stay hands-on.

Where to find Ben Norment

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-norment-83425b50/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stork_exchange

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 
• X: https://x.com/fishmanaf
  
  

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Welcoming Ben Norment, Founder/CEO of Stork Exchange
(02:57) How Stork Exchange helps parents save on baby gear
(06:04) Starting a company while expecting his first child
(10:19) Why nothing fully prepares you for dad life
(11:43) Surviving the NICU and infant CPR
(16:46) How trauma changed his view of parenting and startups
(20:44) Advice for founders starting families
(23:46) Why kids need to be bored
(25:39) Letting go of perfect parenting frameworks
(28:54) Why every parenting season eventually passes
(32:38) How Ben and Cindel tag team hard moments
(34:07) Building a unified front in marriage
(36:52) Why kids need to see parents as people
(39:06) Letting kids be kids instead of chasing achievement
(48:50) Lightning round: BabyBjörn, Toy Story, rocks, and minivans

Resources From This Episode:

Stork Exchange: https://storkexchange.co/ 

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

BabyBjörn Bouncer: https://www.babybjorn.com/products/baby-bouncers/ 

UPPAbaby Vista V3: https://uppababy.com/strollers/full-size/vista-v3/ 

Doona: https://www.doona.com/car-seat-stroller/discover-doona 

Toy Story (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114709/ 

Home Alone (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099785/ 

—

Support Startup Dad

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

Darby Saxbe is a clinical psychologist, professor at USC, and one of the few researchers in the world studying how men’s brains change when they become fathers. She is also the author of Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men’s Lives, a book that explores the neuroscience, hormones, mental health, relationships, and social shifts that come with becoming a dad.

She’s also a mom of two teenagers and a returning guest on Startup Dad. We discussed:

• Understanding how fatherhood changes the brain: Why Darby believes becoming a parent is a major window of brain plasticity, similar to adolescence.
• Writing Dad Brain from both science and personal experience: How Darby’s own father, stepfather, husband, and kids shaped the story behind the book.
• Rethinking testosterone and masculinity: Why testosterone often drops in new dads and how that can support bonding, patience, and caregiving.
• Recognizing dad mental health risks: How depression and anxiety can show up differently in fathers and why dads are often invisible in postpartum care.
• Building confidence through hands-on parenting: Why dads need reps, trust, and real responsibility instead of being treated like backup caregivers.
• Making fatherhood more supported at work and at home: How better leave policies, dad communities, and cultural expectations can help men become more engaged parents.

Where to find Darby Saxbe

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darbysaxbe 
• Website: https://www.darbysaxbe.com/
• Natalgazing Substack: https://darbysaxbe.substack.com/
• X: https://x.com/darbysaxbe
  
  

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 
• X: https://x.com/fishmanaf
  
  

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Welcoming Darby Saxbe, Author and Professor at University of Southern California
(02:19) Celebrating the launch of Dad Brain
(05:17) How Darby’s dad shaped the book
(11:19) Writing about stepfathers, grief, and family complexity
(13:52) Why parenthood rewires the adult brain
(18:17) The U-shaped curve of dad brain changes
(22:07) Why fatherhood is both costly and rewarding
(30:04) What testosterone changes reveal about fatherhood
(38:50) Why the manosphere gets masculinity wrong
(43:56) Rethinking oxytocin, cortisol, and hormone myths
(47:14) Why dads’ postpartum depression gets missed
(51:26) Why the NICU can feel like a no man’s land
(53:48) Why the dad bod is real
(57:10) Why bedtime dads help the whole family sleep
(01:00:36) How rough and tumble play helps kids grow
(01:02:48) Why dad brain belongs at work
(01:14:43) Why paternity leave needs a better design
(01:23:48) Lightning round: sea horses, Homer Simpson, sushi, and tiny cars

Resources From This Episode:

Pre-order Darby’s Book, Dad Brain: https://bookshop.org/p/books/dad-brain-the-new-science-of-fatherhood-and-how-it-shapes-men-s-lives-darby-saxbe-phd/0dec68c3d890e5a7 

Darby’s Substack, Natal Gazing: https://darbysaxbe.substack.com/ 

Darby’s previous episode on Startup Dad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBvgqimMv6E

What’s On Her Mind by Allison Daminger: https://www.allisondaminger.com/book 

Father Nature by James Rilling: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262048934/father-nature/ 

—

Support Startup Dad

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

Walter Velazquez Taboada is a consultant and former operations leader at Winning by Design, where he helps executive teams navigate complex decisions and organizational change. Originally from Cuba, Walter has lived across Spain, Mexico, and China, bringing a global perspective to both work and family life.

He’s also a father of two, navigating parenting with an 8-year-old daughter and a seven-month-old son while balancing differing parenting styles, cultural perspectives, and the realities of modern technology. We discussed:

• Parenting without a playbook: Why Walter and his wife skipped the parenting books and learned by adapting in real time instead of following rigid frameworks.
• Having kids eight years apart: How becoming a dad again later in life completely changed Walter’s perspective on stress, presence, and enjoying the newborn stage.
• Letting kids find their own path: Why Walter believes children aren’t blank canvases and how he tries to guide his daughter without forcing his own ambitions onto her.
• Using FBI negotiation tactics in parenting: How Chris Voss’ “Black Swan” framework helped Walter uncover what his daughter was really feeling.
• Navigating parenting disagreements with your partner: How Walter and his wife work through different views on screen time, hygiene, and risk tolerance.
• Helping kids navigate technology and AI: Why Walter is delaying full internet access and thinking carefully about screens, AI, and digital habits.

Where to find Walter Velazquez Taboada

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walter-velazquez-taboada-87244529 

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 
• X: https://x.com/fishmanaf

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Welcoming Walter Velazquez Taboada, Architect at Winning by Design
(02:32) The Disney rollercoaster story that traumatized his daughter
(04:56) Growing up across Cuba, Spain, and Mexico
(07:32) Starting a family young and figuring it out as they went
(08:33) Having kids eight years apart changes everything
(13:44) Parenting without a playbook or parenting books
(17:31) Screen time, hygiene, and parenting disagreements
(19:43) Why Walter doesn’t believe in a perfectly unified parenting front
(22:53) The crocodile soccer ball rescue mission
(27:50) Why kids mirror everything their parents do
(30:28) Letting kids find their own path in life
(35:55) Using FBI negotiation tactics to understand his daughter
(41:42) How fatherhood changed Walter’s leadership style
(46:30) Helping kids navigate screens, AI, and the digital world
(53:55) Lightning round: diaper genies, minivans, and terrifying Halloween costumes

Resources From This Episode:

Winning by Design: https://winningbydesign.com/ 

Never Split the Difference (Book by Chris Voss): https://a.co/d/0hv2cKv1 

Diaper Genie: https://diapergenie.com/ 

Inside Out (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673/ 

Alien: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078748/ 

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (Book): https://a.co/d/0iZ25Y78 

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067992/ 

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005) (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367594/ 

Wonka (2023) (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6166392/ 

Electric Screwdriver: https://a.co/d/0881w1k7 

—

Support Startup Dad

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