Startup Dad

Rob Schutz is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of multi-billion-dollar online health company, Ro. He has also founded the domain name service company, Snagged. He invests alongside me in the 20Growth fund. In addition to his skill as a founder he’s also a husband and the father of two kids. In our conversation today we discussed:

* How to set a good example for your kids in how you treat others

* Not putting too much pressure on yourself to have hard and fast rules or systems

* Adjusting your life to be more present

* The emotions and feelings you go through as a new Dad

* The most surprising aspects of fatherhood

* The difference between the relationship he wants his kids to have with technology vs. social media

* Some exciting new rapid fire/lightning questions!

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Where to find Rob Schutz

* Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robschutz/

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

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:

[1:29] Welcome

[1:59] Professional background

[3:45] Rob’s Childhood

[6:39] Rob’s family

[8:15] Starting a company

[10:58] Decision to start a family

[11:57] Music

[12:30] Earliest memory of being a dad

[14:43] Setting a good example for kids

[16:43] Is this perspective how you/partner were raised?

[18:39] What emotions arose when becoming a dad

[23:08] Most surprising things you’ve learned?

[26:20] What does “being present” mean to you?

[30:59] Advice to younger Rob

[33:14] Advice to ignore

[34:23] What book do you gift new dads

[35:04] What book do you read to your kids?

[35:47] Frameworks

[38:52] Balance of parenting

[41:52] How has parenting evolved

[45:13] Aligning as parents

[47:33] Kid’s relationship to technology

[51:51] Mistake as a dad

[53:10] Follow along

[53:56] Rapid fire

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Show references:

Ro: https://ro.co/

Snagged: https://www.snagged.com/

20 Growth Fund: https://www.thetwentyminutevc.com/20vc-fund/

Bark Box: https://www.barkbox.com/

University of McMaster: https://www.mcmaster.ca/

IBM: https://www.ibm.com/us-en

Isaiah House:https://isaiahhouse.org/

Penn State: https://www.psu.edu/

Cornell:https://www.cornell.edu/

Habitat for Humanity: https://www.habitat.org/

Mega Touch Machine: https://www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/megatouch-video

Crunch Labs:https://www.crunchlabs.com/

Finasteride: https://ro.co/lp/medications/hair-loss/

Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads by Gary Greenberg & Jeannie Hayden: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Prepared-Gary-Greenberg/dp/0743251547

The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak: https://www.amazon.com/Book-No-Pictures-B-Novak/dp/0803741715

Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/en/

iPad: https://www.apple.com/ipad/

Cloth diapers: https://www.grovia.com/

Tesla: https://www.tesla.com/

Is It Cake: https://www.netflix.com/title/81333845

Mighty Ducks: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104868/

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

Blockbuster: https://www.blockbuster.com/

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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.