How to be a Better Girl Dad as a Solopreneur with Ben Erez | Dad of 1

from Startup Dad · host Adam Fishman

Ben Erez is a former founder and product leader turned solopreneur and instructor. He teaches a popular Maven course for aspiring product managers, hosts the podcast Supra Insider, and is a proud girl dad living in Brooklyn. In this episode, Ben shares what it’s like raising a daughter while building a portfolio career on his own terms. We discussed:How solo parenting can feel easier: Why Ben finds weekday solo parenting less stressful than co-parenting, and how clarity in routine helps him stay grounded.Making the leap to fatherhood: The pros and cons exercise Ben used to think through becoming a parent and what ultimately pushed him to take the leap.What makes a portfolio career work: How Ben structures his time across fractional work, teaching, building an AI product, and podcasting without feeling overwhelmed.Structure as a path to freedom: Why routines have become essential for Ben and how they help him stay present, productive, and connected to his family.Handling disagreements as partners: Ben reflects on navigating different parenting styles with his wife and how they’ve built a process for staying aligned.Creating connection through community: How a local dad group gave Ben a deeper sense of belonging and why it’s made parenting feel a little less isolating.Where to find Ben ErezLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/ X: https://x.com/viableben Where to find Adam FishmanFishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introducing Ben Erez(01:12) Raising a toddler and golden retriever(04:29) Experiencing the magic of girl dad life(08:42) Building a sustainable portfolio career(14:56) Rethinking job security as a solopreneur(18:35) The pros and cons of having kids(22:36) Discovering the ease of solo parenting(27:31) Why weekends feel less flexible now(30:02) Feeling at home while traveling with kids(34:28) Bedtime routines that actually work(38:20) Handling disagreements with your partner(42:22) How a dad group changed everything(47:47) Navigating screen time and tech exposure(53:08) Lightning round: morning vs. evening routinesShow references:YouTube Kids: https://www.youtubekids.com/iPad: https://www.apple.com/Perplexity.ai: https://www.perplexity.ai/Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/Sound Machine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE?th=1Table top changing pad: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KHD615KUnspeakable: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwIWAbIeu0xI0ReKWOcw3egBlippi: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5PYHgAzJ1wLEidB58SK6XwMoana: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3521164/Ghostbusters: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087332/Porsche: https://www.porsche.com/usa/—For sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected] Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com

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