Startup Dad

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: podcast@fishmana.com
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: podcast@fishmana.com
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: podcast@fishmana.com
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: podcast@fishmana.com
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: podcast@fishmana.com
For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com