Startup Dad

Alex Cohen is Sr. Director of Product at Carbon Health, a modern health clinic that provides urgent and primary care for easier everyday health. He is also a serial entrepreneur, investor, and one of the most prolific "shitposters" on Twitter. He's a loving husband and the father of 1 kid, born during the peak of the pandemic. In this episode we discuss:

Getting fired from Office Depot

Marrying his high school sweetheart and prom date

Being the youngest parent in your neighborhood

His wife's take on his internet celebrity

How "shitposting" has made her choice to not work outside the home easier

The difficulties of parenting without community, family, or friends

Bringing home a baby during the peak of the pandemic

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Where to find Alex Cohen

- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/anothercohen

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-cohen/

Where to find Adam Fishman:

- Newsletter: https://www.fishmanafnewsletter.com

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fishmanaf

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In this episode, we cover:

[1:30] Introductions [2:02] Professional background

[5:16] Angel investing

[7:51] Marrying your high school sweetheart

[12:26] Leaving California for Texas

[17:51] His wife's decision to stay home

[18:32] Her take on his internet fame

[20:22] Starting a family

[21:46] Earliest fatherhood memory

[22:53] Lack of support network

[23:53] Instagram VS. real life

[25:56] Most surprising about being a new Dad

[27:38] Frameworks for parenting

[29:26] Having a Pandemic kid

[31:05] What his kid's reaction to an internet famous Dad will be

[33:33] Establishing strong partnership with his wife

[35:42] What did you give up to be a Dad?

[38:08] Rapid fire round

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Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/

Episode art designed by Matt Sutherland at https://www.mspnw.com/

Adam Grenier is VP of Growth at Eventbrite, a ticketing company that is bringing the world together through live experiences. Prior to that he led growth for Masterclass and Lambda School, was an EIR at Reforge and was Head of Growth Marketing at Uber. He's also a loving husband and the father of 3 kids, including an autistic son. In this episode we discuss:

• Adam's humble upbringing in the Midwest


• How he got into improv and made his way to California


• Poop (of course)


• Raising a child with special needs


• How to communicate your capacity to your spouse


• Advocating for your children


• Some of the shame around parenting


• Setting up family guardrails and balance

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Where to find Adam Grenier

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AKGrenier

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akgrenier

Where to find Adam Fishman:

- Newsletter: https://www.fishmanafnewsletter.com

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fishmanaf

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In this episode, we cover:

[1:23] Introductions

[2:11] Adam’s Background

[7:12] Parents

[9:26] Discussing Role Models

[11:19] Arriving in California, Adam’s wife and kids

[20:08] Talk about Poop

[21:45] What it’s like with a special needs child

[24:15] Discussing capacity and Brene Brown

[26:06] How to advocate for your child

[31:55] Shame around parenting

[33:38] New parent support group anecdote

[34:06] Family guard rails

[37:12] Parenting disagreements

[39:03] How to balance work and family

[45:25] Rapid fire round

[51:21] Parting advice

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Links we reference:

Second City 
https://www.secondcity.com/

SNL 
https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live

Brene Brown 
https://brenebrown.com/

Butt Cream 
https://www.forbes.com/health/family/best-diaper-rash-cream/

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Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/

Episode art designed by Matt Sutherland at https://www.mspnw.com/

Nick Soman is the founder and CEO of Decent, a healthcare company that helps small businesses band together to get more affordable health insurance for their employees. Prior to that he led growth for Gusto, was a product manager on the Kindle at Amazon, and started a company that he sold to Napster! In this episode we discuss:

• How Nick's parents influenced his own parenting


• The challenging early times as a Dad and startup leader


• Discoveries he's had as a Dad


• The importance of partnership in your marriage and how to navigate conflict


• His "irrevocable guidelines" around family


• Silicon Valley hustle culture and incompatibility with family life


• Bringing his own values into his company


• Many mistakes he's made as a father and what they've taught him

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Where to find Nick Soman:

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicksoman

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicksoman/

Where to find Adam:

- Newsletter: https://www.fishmanafnewsletter.com

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fishmanaf

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In this episode, we cover:

[1:50] Introductions

[2:36] Nick and Decent Health

[4:28] Nick’s background

[7:08] His Parents

[8:58] Family life and Starting a family

[12:27] Challenging early times as a Dad

[16:00] Responsibility cape/choice vs. obligation

[17:12] Masculine energy/Nature vs. Nurture

[20:44] Dad discoveries/Do as I say, not as I do.

[24:41] Dissonance between partners

[25:32] Importance of partnership/conflict

[28:00] Marriage advice

[30:22] How do you and your wife recharge?

[32:46] “Irrevocable guidelines” around my family

[33:27] Silicon Valley “hustle culture”

[34:19] A trap he fell into/a walkabout

[37:44] Bringing values into his company

[40:46] Mistake he’s made as a father

[44:28] Rapid fire round

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Links we reference:

Rivian
https://rivian.com/

“Hold Me Tight,” Dr. Sue Johnson 
https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Me-Tight-Conversations-Lifetime/dp/B084G9QFZY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=194BNQXYUKRWA&keywords=hold+me+tight+sue+johnson&qid=1680733560&sprefix=hold+me+tight+sue+%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-2

Nick's company, Decent
https://www.decent.com/

Andy Johns - How to Know When to Stop
https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-know-when-to-stop

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Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/

Episode art designed by Matt Sutherland at https://www.mspnw.com/

Welcome to the very first episode of Startup Dad!

Every week, Adam Fishman will interview entrepreneurs, leaders, founders, and many people you may have heard advice from before. This time it's different because they're also all fathers. Instead of talking about product development, the latest growth strategies, or fundraising we talk about balancing work with family life, parenting strategies, and the hard and hilarious parts about parenting.

Get full access to the FishmanAF Newsletter at www.fishmanafnewsletter.com/subscribe

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Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/

Episode art designed by Matt Sutherland at https://www.mspnw.com/