Startup Dad

Ben Lauzier is the co-founder and CEO of Nurra – an AI-powered health assistant that helps you navigate your healthcare and gives you a health advocate for your complex needs. Prior to that he was the VP of Product at Thumbtack and a long-time product leader at Lyft, where we first met. In addition to being an incredible founder he’s also a husband and the father of one daughter. We discussed:

* Leaning into fatherhood when your spouse has health challenges

* How his wife’s health issues led him to start his company

* Differences in parenting between France and the U.S.

* What it’s like to start a company with a two year old

* Advice for Dads on balancing self-care with fatherhood

* Remembering that change is constant in parenting

* Hopes for the future of technology with his daughter

Where to find Ben Lauzier

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminlauzier/

* X: https://x.com/bnjii

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

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

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

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In this episode, we cover:

[1:44] Welcome

[2:10] Professional journey

[5:23] Childhood

[7:11] How did you meet your wife?

[8:10] Decision to start a family

[9:44] Earliest memory of becoming a dad

[11:31] Navigating the US healthcare system

[14:49] Starting a company with a 2 year old

[17:02] Emotions that came up when daughter was born

[17:54] Surprising discoveries since becoming a dad

[20:05] Advice for younger Ben

[24:33] Advice to ignore

[26:36] Favorite book to read to daughter

[28:04] Differences in parenting between US and France

[31:23] Family ground rules

[33:03] Parallels between becoming a dad and Management style

[35:45] Area where you don’t align with spouse

[37:12] Kid’s relationship to technology

[38:48] Recharge batteries

[39:35] Automations in household

[40:43] Mistake as a dad

[42:08] Hustle culture

[43:49] Follow along

[44:46] Lightning round

[50:36] Thank you

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Show references:

Nurra: https://nurra.me/

Thumbtack: https://www.thumbtack.com/

Lyft: https://www.lyft.com/

Northeastern: https://www.northeastern.edu/

Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/

Cater2Me: https://cater2.me/

SEMTAC: https://www.nationalgrocers.org/semtac/

Reforge: https://www.reforge.com/

Martin Glover’s Episode:

Bluey: https://www.bluey.tv/

Cluck O'Clock by Kes Gray: https://www.amazon.com/Cluck-OClock-Kes-Gray/dp/082341809X

Ty DeGrange’s Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVs8FnMNIQI&t=8s

Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman: https://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Up-B%C3%A9b%C3%A9-Discovers-Parenting/dp/0143122967

Emily In Paris: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8962124/

Nanit baby camera: https://www.nanit.com/

Keekaroo changing mat: https://www.amazon.com/Keekaroo-0130009KR-0001-Peanut-Changer-Vanilla/dp/B00KSW970Y/

Finding Nemo: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266543/

Harry Potter: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241527/

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For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.

For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

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



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com

What is Startup Dad?

Adam Fishman (author of a top business newsletter on Substack with 11K+ subscribers) interviews executives, entrepreneurs, and company leaders in technology companies who are also fathers. They discuss the tough aspects of work, parenting, family, the mistakes made and lessons learned along the way. All episodes at www.startupdadpod.com.